Mary Bockert

Tips on How to Get Moving and Stay Active with Your Kids

When it comes to heart health or health in general, it’s important that we think not only of our own cardiovascular health but also that of our kids. A study last year found that obese children and teens have as much plaque in their arteries as a 45-year-old adult, setting them up for heart disease and other serious health conditions much earlier than their parents. This breaks my heart!

If you’ve got kids, of course you want to make sure they grow up fit and healthy. But you also know it’s hard to juggle work, family, and physical activity. Still, setting a healthy example is a good start. research shows that parents who are physically active increase the likelihood that their kids will be active as well. So if you’re looking for ways to get your kids involved, check out how I have incorporated an active lifestyle in our household.

By Mary Bockert, ago

10 BEST Kids Educational Apps and Games

Being a homeschooling momma to a preschooler I have to be very strategic in what I allow my daughter to “watch” or “do” when we have finished with the days work and there is time to “kill.” I use parentheses because honestly it can be easy to get in a rut of allowing her to watch the television while her sister takes her afternoon nap. I am an entrepreneur and it would be easy for me to set her in front of the “babysitter” and get some work done.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Potty Training with Sensory Processing Disorder

My first born child couldn’t have been easier to potty train. It went smoothly and frustration levels never hit the roof. In fact, I was amazed at how easy it was. So, naturally I thought it would be that easy with my second child. She was showing all signs of being ready: She wanted to sit on the potty, refused to wear a pull-up and only wanted underwear, wanted to be like her big sister, etc., etc. As we started this potty training journey, I soon realized that it was going to cause headaches, frustration and doubt that it was ever going to happen. I obviously know she will get there eventually, but the reality set in when after 4 weeks of trying and trying some more, sitting on the potty for several minutes at a time, and cleaning up more messes I care to count, there was something going on more than just potty training.

I put a message on my Facebook wall to ask for help from some seasoned momma’s and that is when several people reached out to me about Delise’s Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Duh! Why hadn’t it occurred to me that this could be related to SPD? So, like I do in true Mary fashion, I started researching it and looking into books about it (thanks Julie). I was AMAZED at what I started reading and how SPD and potty training go hand in hand! Here is what I found:

By Mary Bockert, ago

37 Wishes I have for my Girls…

I often think about what my girls will be like when they are grown. Will they love the Lord? Will they be close sisters? Will they want to spend time with me? Who will they date? Will that person treat them with love and respect? What will their personalities be like? What job will they take on? etc., etc., etc. So…I came up with 37 wishes for these sweet girls. From a momma to her daughters, here goes:

By Mary Bockert, ago

Infant CPR…Do you know what to do?

I know as a mommy of two little ones, I have had my heart stop a few times over my child choking on a piece of food. It is scary and it causes me to go into panic mode, slapping my child silly on the back until they are okay. It dawned on me that maybe I should learn the proper technique to dislodge a food particle or even if one of my kids stops breathing for whatever reason. What a thought right!?!

By Mary Bockert, ago

Parent/Teacher-Led Art: What’s Best for Your Child?

“Let them create! Don’t intervene in their imaginative artwork!”

I heard this from many parent friends. The truth is, when homeschooling my daughter, I recognized that she was having a hard time taking the creation in her mind and translating it onto paper. She needed guidance to accomplish the image she so desperately wanted to display for all to see.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Creating Goals with Your Kids for 2017

I am a firm believer that a goal without a plan is just a wish. As an adult, I annually write out my goals and spend the year breaking them down into more attainable goals that I can “check off” a list. When I taught 3rd grade, I did this same process with my students. I taught the importance of having big and small goals. These are the strategies I used in my classroom to help my students create concrete, attainable goals. These same steps can be applied to your child at home (best for ages 7 and up).

By Mary Bockert, ago