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One of the best moms I know, Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship, joins me again this week for a discussion of natural parenting tips and organizational strategies\\xa0that she has learned in her years as a teacher and mom of four.

In her seven years blogging, Katie has published eight eBooks covering the spectrum of real food from lunch to dinner, snacks, and even camping. She has also created the Kids Cook Real Food course, which helps moms include their children in the healthy cooking process.

Tips for\\xa0Natural Parenting

Katie offers this advice for raising helpful, well-behaved kids:

1. Be Consistent

Katie has found that sticking to what you say helps her kids believe what she says and learn to behave accordingly. She acknowledges that this isn\\u2019t always easy (as any mom knows) but shares tips for learning to stick to a consistent routine, schedule and parenting style.

2. Acknowledge Your Mistakes

No mom is perfect, but that\\u2019s ok!

In fact, one of the best lessons to teach a child is to let them see you work through your mistakes. Katie suggests to acknowledge the fact that you\\u2019ve made a mistake in the first place, and explain that you\\u2019re trying to do better. This will not only show vulnerability and work to build your relationship and mutual respect with your children, but also provide a valuable example of humility.

3. Create a Culture of Service

Another lesson best taught by example. Encourage your kids to help each other and serve others in the family. This has helped Katie\\u2019s kids move through the self-centered phases of childhood faster. This can be as easy as little acts such as\\xa0helping a younger sibling or fetching a diaper for a parent, or a bigger action like taking canned goods\\xa0to a food kitchen or helping at a local charity.

4. Let Good Behavior \\u201cTrickle Down\\u201d

A great suggestion and one I\\u2019ve noticed in my kids as well. If you\\xa0have (or plan to have) more than one child, spend a lot of time teaching your oldest. Inevitably, he/she will pass on the knowledge to the younger siblings and the process will get easier with each child. This also creates a positive culture among the children where they help each other and remember rules more easily (because they remind each other). Little kids love to emulate older siblings so positive habits that older kids learn get passed on easily.

The Teacher Perspective

Katie Kimball taught 3rd grade before having kids of her own. Her educational background has influenced her parenting in many positive ways, including:

• Teaching her kids language through talking without \\u201ckid language.\\u201d
• Making reading fun.
• Value and encourage curiosity

The Summer Vacation Survival Kit

Now that summer has arrived, many parents are struggling to keep their kids occupied with positive activities. Katie Kimball has put together a guide to help parents make summer fun and healthy for you kids (and doable for moms). Here are a few of her suggestions:

• Gather ideas for chores, learning, work and fun activities together, then choose one of each after breakfast each day. (This is\\xa0Katie\\u2019s \\u201cLazy Summer Vacation Organizational System\\u201d)
• Create routines around breakfast, because it happens every day
• Encourage your kids\\xa0to create their own pretend activities
• \\u201cI\\u2019m bored,\\u201d means they get to do a chore

Last Piece of Advice\\u2026

Katie Kimball rounded out this episode of the podcast by expressing just how powerful it is to love your kids, especially through physical touch. Hugs and snuggles at an early age make a huge difference!

Resources

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