BRIGHTER DAY PRESS BLOG

I was asking this question 4 years ago, so I'm writing the post I wish I'd had. 🥰A little background: Our family began officially homeschooling when our oldest son was entering kindergarten. I wasn't homeschooled and only knew a few homeschooling...

Do you homeschool an academically advanced child? Or maybe you're totally intimidated by that idea?I certainly was.When our oldest was 5 and we were weighing kindergarten options, he was tested at a local school and found to be reading and comprehending at a...

    Each Sunday afternoon, it's my joy to sit down with a cup of tea and plan our week. We currently have a 3rd grader (age 8), 1st grader (age 6), 4-year-old, and 2-year-old.      As this is...

Each homeschool week, I follow a simple Lunch Matrix - inspired by Rachael Alsbury - that the kids enjoy and that completely eliminates decision making. Basically, we have a main course that stays consistent each week, then I add a fruit and...

As people are setting out their carved pumpkins on their porches (some with happy faces, some with scary faces), let's use this as a golden teaching opportunity about the good news of the gospel for our children. The "Pumpkin Parable" is...

Last October as our family walked around our neighborhood with costumes and treat bags, our 7-year-old looked up at me as we passed fake gravestones and mummies and said, "I feel like we're celebrating death." I had always felt hesitant about...

It's beginning to look a lot like FALL here in Texas! Woohoo!Normally when I post books here, I've done loads of research (and library trips) to curate a perfect collection. This time I simply chose from those we already owned and loved....

Several years ago, our pastor Ray Ortlund would begin each service at Immanuel Nashville with these words. The room would quickly go from happy chatter to reverent silence as we listened... because ALL of us could find ourselves in one...

💙Give it time, Mama.💙What you see here is a handsome little guy about to play in an honors piano recital. He's 8 years old, reads over 300 chapter books a year, and is such a kind and loyal big brother.What...

I love sharing book lists for your children, but this one is just for YOU. I chose a number of categories and narrowed it down to my top three books in each. These books (in addition to the Bible) have...

  After each reading that's part of our homeschool, I encourage both of our children (ages 6 and 8) to narrate. If you're new to homeschooling - or to Charlotte Mason's philosophy - narration may be an unfamiliar concept.Simply stated,...

Happy (almost) SUMMER!     I've seen lots of Summer Reading Bingo charts (and loved them!), so I combined my favorite ideas into one grid.  Click here to download your Summer Reading Bingo chart.  Plus, I've made a list here...

Recommending board books feels a little personal, as everyone has different opinions on what they'd prefer to read over and over... and a thousand times over.   These are the board books that have been WELL loved in our house,...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." - Ephesians 4:29 If you've read the Old Testament,...

I polled my children to choose their favorite 20 read-alouds we've read together so far. We've read them all cover-to-cover and, in my opinion, they make the perfect read-alouds. I hope you'll be able to draw from this list if you're...

Last night, I reached out to this community in a place of need: we have a very strong-willed toddler. And WOW. You guys showed up with so many incredible resources, ideas, and encouragement. Thank you, friends!      I've made a list...

Our family is finishing up our 12-week study of Africa and we've compiled a list of our favorite Africa picture books. We are working through the Mission: World Wonders curriculum by Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood and adding in some of the book recommendations...

    Many moons ago, I owned a sewing business and sewed handmade clutch purses for bridesmaids. It helped put me through nursing school, but after sewing 1500 bags over a 2-year period (and even teaching my husband to sew...

This is such a satisfying Spring handicraft because the kids can do it nearly unassisted and it yields beautiful results! Here's what you need: + Clear, glossy contact paper  + Dried, pressed flowers* + An embroidery hoop (mine is 10")...

It's officially Spring! As a mom, this has become my favorite season because we get swing the doors and windows open and enjoy the outdoors. We're reading lots of books about planting seeds and tending gardens and buzzing bees and want...

    It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since our world changed in a big way. In an effort to make this March better than last March, our family decided to do a little March Book Madness...