Book Review: Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom

Welcome back to the Mountain Mom and Tots Outdoor Book Club! Today I review the book Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom.

Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J HanscomBalanced and Barefoot encourages parents to get kids outdoors by focusing on the benefit outdoor play has on a developing body. Written from a pediatric occupational therapist’s point of view, Balanced and Barefoot discusses gross motor skill, fine motor skill and sensory development in children. Continue reading “Book Review: Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom”

Best and Worst Ski Training Tools for Kids

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2021

When teaching kids to ski, these ski training tools for kids can make all the difference. I’ve had lots of experience teaching as a PSIA certified ski instructor (with a Childrens Cerification) as well as teaching my own tots to ski. That’s why I thought I’d review some ski training tools for kids. Some of these are great, and others are frankly terrible.

Child in ski harness and edgie wedgie
Continue reading “Best and Worst Ski Training Tools for Kids”

March Outdoor Challenge – In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Okay readers it’s time for my next monthly outdoor challenge! The March Outdoor Challenge is gonna be awesome – sign up below for all the details.

NOVEMBER 2018 UPDATE: My monthly outdoor challenges are now FREE for participants, but if you want a 1 in 50 or better chance of winning that month’s prize you must sign up as a $3 per month Mountain Mom and Tots patron. Sign up for the current monthly outdoor challenge in the boxes in this post or at www.mountainmomandtots.com/challenge.

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

My March Outdoor Challenge has the theme In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb. That’s the only hint you get for now, but if you sign up, you’ll get all the details right in your inbox on March 1, 2017.

All my outdoor challenges:
  1. Require you to get outside.
  2. Can be accomplished with or without kids.
  3. Cost nothing after the participation fee.
  4. Are a little challenging. It is a challenge after all.

Continue reading “March Outdoor Challenge – In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb”

Rocking Motherhood: Motherhood Moments

Rocking Motherhood

A big thanks to Hike Like a Woman for tagging me in their Rockin’ Outdoor Motherhood post. I love the idea of women sharing what they do well as mothers. In that post I was asked to share 10 ways in which I’m rocking motherhood.

Most people would feel awkward listing things they do well as a parent. To be honest I feel a bit uncomfortable too, but instead of being tentative I’m going to jump in with no excuses. Our polite society says it’s conceited to say or think nice things about yourself, but if you can’t recognize your own talents, how can you develop them?

So here’s how I’m Rocking Motherhood. No excuses. Continue reading “Rocking Motherhood: Motherhood Moments”