Latest / 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids. / Tips for Navigating the Holiday Break Well w/ Ashley Wall, Founder of Mama Bear Books

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Tips for Navigating the Holiday Break Well w/ Ashley Wall, Founder of Mama Bear Books · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another episode of the Five Minute Parenting Podcast.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Karen Ferguson, wife, mom, grandmom, and children's book author with a background in K-8 education and a passion for equipping parents to raise confident and God-confident kids.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: In this podcast, we'll cover parenting practices from both a practical view and a biblical view.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our goal is to help you raise kids with a positive, godly self-image so they can become all they were created to be.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: I know you're busy, so we'll keep it short.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take just five minutes and dive in.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, listeners.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Today I have author and founder of Mama Bear Books, Ashley Wall, back on the show, talking about tips for surviving the holiday break.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: Ashley is a Texas native former teacher and award-winning children's author with a passion for inspiring young minds.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a Bachelor's of Science degree in education with over a decade of experience in the education field, where she developed a deep understanding of the transformative power of storytelling.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Ashley's books are designed to captivate young readers while encouraging important values like empathy, generosity, and the importance of community.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Ashley, welcome back to the show.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: I am so glad to be back.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, I'm glad you're here.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I just want to say, congratulations.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: You have a new book coming out, The Day I Had a Spaceship.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: So it's coming out in October.
• 1:35
  unknown: Yeah.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, I love how your books teach important values to kiddos as they go on these creative reading adventures.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited to read this one too.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: But I know for today you're going to bring parents some tips for surviving the holiday break.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we all know the holidays can be hectic, and it seems like kids' energy levels are at new levels during this season.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm just glad you're here to provide some encouragement and practical ideas for this season.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, what do you have to share today?
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, being an author and a book lover, I'll start out with some, you know, book ideas.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, one thing I think is underutilized is going to the public library.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it can take up an hour or so of your time and it's just a fun little activity if the weather's bad, if it's cold.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, they always have crafts, sometimes they have events, author readings, book readings, and then you can just check out a whole bunch of books.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: You can read the books in there.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, my kids will spend so much time just going up and down the aisle.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: So utilize the public library and it's free.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, or most of them are free.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then, you know, lay books out.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: The other day I put a bunch of books out on the floor when my kids got home and they're like, What is it?
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm like, I don't know, what do you think?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: And they created a library.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: And then they created a bookstore and they played like two hours just by putting these books, like and some stuffies out.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_01: So it's like, but bringing things out and not always sometimes kids are great, like they'll just go and and find something to do on their own.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes you just gotta lay a few things out and let their imaginations go.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then another thing, kids are a little bit older, you can deconstruct a story, kind of like take a book and have them maybe combine a few stories together and just get really creative with some fun projects that revolve around books.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then another thing that is just super simple that I have found when my kids are home on holidays, summer, breaks, weekends is just involving them in everything.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: Like, hey, you guys want to come help me bake?
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: It's a little messy, but then it just takes longer and we clean up and the hours and the long days tick by.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, come help me wrap some gifts or you know, let's, you know, what whatever.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go walk with a dog and just involving them in all kinds of, you know, we're busy, right?
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: We want to be present with our kids, but we also have to get stuff done.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but involving them, it empowers them, and then they end up having fun doing it too.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: So just involve them in all those day-to-day tasks that have to get done, anyways.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Great points, yes, I agree.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: And I love it.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: I I so enjoyed taking my daughters to the library, and I know a lot of times they have special um uh special programs where they can log the number of books they read.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: I know they do that in the summer at least, so but I think that's a great idea.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, centering centering it around books.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: And so while we have you here today, tell us a little bit about your book series.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_01: So the Day Hat series is it's just this really fun um book about these four sweet characters, and it each book has the same characters, their own unique little personalities, and they use their imaginations and their toys come to life.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um and they spend the day uh helping each other, helping others, you know, working together.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: They are making the decisions of their day.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and there's a lot of like super silly pictures and some funny little mishaps.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, because I really want kids to just love reading, and I want them to learn from the books, but also just want to turn to books as well.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: So they uh there's some funny, little silly humor in there as well.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, that's awesome.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I've read uh several of them and they're so cute, so and very engaging, and I love that.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: So then do you have um a page or someplace where parents can go if they're looking maybe for your books, of course, and also for other resources, you know, again, just to to give kids something to do to survive this holiday break.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you know, we want to give kids a break over the holidays, you know, from from all the school, but also want to kind of keep it and keep the learning going.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_01: So we do have a lot of resources and they connect with our books, and they're also educational but fun on our website.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_01: It's mamabearbooks.com and then in the um resources section, they're free.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_01: They're you can print them out, and um, it gives, yeah, another activity um for the kids to do.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we will have links to that in our show notes.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, Ashley, thank you for being here again today and sharing these tips.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you're you're just a great resource for parents, so I really encourage our listeners to go to your website and check out your books and all that you're doing to promote reading, you know, for families and for young kids.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: So thank you again for being here, Ashley.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: And listeners, thank you for joining us.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: Be sure to check the show notes for links to Ashley's website and to the resources we discussed today.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Share this episode with another parent you want to encourage.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: And if you haven't already, subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, have a blessed week.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: Are you looking for creative, biblically based books for that special child in your life?
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Would you like to inspire in your child a love for reading and a love for God's word?
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: Check out Questions for Kids, a picture book series your whole family can enjoy.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: You'll follow the adventures of Lucy and her Papa Joe as they journey into the Bible to discover unique periods in Bible history, getting answers to life's important questions, learning all about God's never-changing, never-failing, and never-ending love.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Each book counters the cultural narrative by diving into the Bible to explore the people, places, and events that will help shape a strong faith in God.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: With these delightfully illustrated books, you'll help build your child's biblical literacy.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: One bold, beautiful book at a time.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: You'll find the Questions for Kids series by Karen Ferguson on Bookshop, Amazon, at your favorite book retailer, or visit Karen's website at Karenferg.com.