I got the sweetest letter from a reader thanking me for the musical themed discussion prompts I published last week, so I’m sharing another set today. These Friendship Themed Conversation Starters will help promote meaningful conversation with the people gathered around your dinner table, whether they be family, friends, or — as is the case…
It’s been awhile since I’ve published any dinnertime discussion prompts. But since September is Classical Music Appreciation Month, I thought now would be a good time to share these new Musical Conversation Starters In this set, you’ll find questions such as… If you could play any instrument you’d like, which would you choose? Do you…
It’s been awhile since I’ve published any of my free printable dinnertime discussion prompts, but since summer reading programs are now in full swing, I thought a few Conversation Starters for Book Lovers might be in order. Our family loves to read. We read lots of books aloud — even though our children are mostly…
Want to prompt some interesting around your dinner table and build your children’s biblical literacy at the same time? Our set of free printable Bible Knowledge Conversation Starters can help. In it you’ll find questions like these: Can you name, in order, what God made on each day of creation? Who killed Goliath? How and…
We are in Hawaii this week visiting our son and his family, who are stationed there with the Army. We’ve enjoyed lots of lively discussions around the dinner table during this vacation, which makes me think now would be a great time to share these Travel Tales Conversation Starters. This set joins our other themed…
Since today is officially the first day of fall, I thought it would be the perfect time to share these Autumn Days Conversation Starters. Use them to stimulate great conversations around your dinner table — or while riding in the car, sitting in the living room, or tucking kids into bed each night. Sample Questions…
Today I’m sharing these Good Neighbor Conversation Starters, another in our series of dinnertime discussion prompts. This set of questions all center on the theme of being a good neighbor: Have you ever befriended someone with whom you have little in common? Explain. If we had to move to another town, which neighbors would you…
The kids and I took a break from some of our homeschool coursework but have kept the basics going all summer long. But that break is winding down. Our homeschool co-op resumes meeting in just two weeks, so we are gearing up and getting ready for that. Among our other end-of-summer traditions, I’m adding these…
This a big day for our family. After years of planning and dreaming and schooling and preparing and training and working SO HARD, my son is finally joining his father in practice. And today is his first day doing anesthesia cases at the hospital. Isn’t that exciting? For as long as I can remember, Samuel…
Another in my series of free printable dinnertime discussion prompts for families, this set of Freedom-Loving Conversation Starters comes just in time for Independence Day. Freedom-Loving Conversation Starters Inside you’ll find such questions as: If you could have dinner with three figures from American history, whom would you choose? Do you know any veterans? How…
Today I’m sharing my all-new summertime conversation starters. Use these handy questions to prompt dinnertime discussions. Or pull them out in the car or before bed. They’re sure to get your family talking. Won’t it be fun to see where those conversation lead? Sample Questions: Do you like shopping at garage sales and thrift stores?…
I’m back with more free printable mealtime conversation starters today. Use these handy questions to prompt dinnertime discussions. Or pull them out in the car or before bed. They’re sure to get your family talking. Won’t it be fun to see where those conversation lead? Sample Questions: Name a food you didn’t like at first…
In keeping with our other seasonal discussion prompts, today I’m sharing our free printable Easter Conversation Starters. Conversation Starters for Easter Use these questions to cultivate meaningful conversations with your family and friends around your dinner table. Or on long car rides. Or while tucking children into bed. Really, anytime you’d like to talk but…
Winter is drawing to a close, and so are the winter-themed discussion prompts I published last month. So I’m back today with a new batch of springtime conversation starters. I hope you will print and use them to keep the lines of communication open in your home, too. Free Printable Springtime Conversation Starters This resource…
The conversation starters I’ve published in the past few months have been so popular, I’m back today with a new themed set: Conversation Starters for Winter Days These include discussion prompts such as: What do you like the most about cold weather? Share a favorite memory involving snow. Do you prefer pullover sweaters or cardigans?…
All the questions I posted before Thanksgiving and Christmas have fostered lots of great discussions around our family’s dinner table. So, wishing to keep a good thing going, I’ve designed another round of conversation starters for New Year’s. Click on the linked images or download button below to get your own copy of this new…
Our family had such a good time going through the discussion prompts for Thanksgiving I posted last month. And we’ve heard lots of similar comments from readers who used them. So I’m sharing a set of Christmas Conversation Starters today. This set contains 24 holiday-themed questions, such as the following: Share a favorite Christmas memory….
Today I’m sharing a little project I designed for a women’s group I lead on Mondays: Thanksgiving conversation starters. First we decorated these mason jars together in class last week. Nothing fancy. A spray painted lid. Some twisted paper bows. A craft paper tag embellished with fall-themed stickers and labeled with colored sharpies. Then we…
Our Winter Fun Print Pack is a collection of winter-themed cards, games and activities, craft ideas, conversation starters, decorations, bucket lists, and other printable resources to help you make the most of cold-weather months
NOTE: This listing is for the digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your Winter Fun Print Pack immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Our Big Book of Christmas Printables Volume 2 is a collection of holiday-themed printables: games and activities, Christmas movie trivia quizzes, craft ideas, seasonal thank you cards, conversation starters, gift tags, treat bag toppers, coloring pages, and much, much more to make your family’s Christmas celebration both merry and bright.
NOTE: This listing is for digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your files immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Our Back-to-School Survival Guide is a collection of school-themed printables to help you organize and enjoy your academic year. It includes scheduling and record keeping templates, back-to-school games and ice breakers, calendars and lesson planning sheets, conversation starters, pennant banners and other decor, coloring pages, pretty prayer guides for teachers and students, and much, much more.
NOTE: This listing is for digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your files immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Our Easter Print Pack is a collection of Easter-themed printables: games and activities, trivia quizzes, craft projects, conversation starters, coloring pages, pennant banners, and much, much more to help your family center your hearts and minds on Jesus this holiday season.
NOTE: This listing is for digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your files immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Tired of eating your meals in silence? Sick of watching your family members eat with their eyes glued to their digital devices? Use these conversation starters and discussion prompts to connect with one another around the dinner table, on car rides, over breakfast, at bedtime, or whenever else you want to talk but don’t know where to begin.
NOTE: This listing is for the digital files only (PDF format). If you would prefer to read the print version, follow this link to purchase a paperback copy through Amazon.
Our Thankful Hearts Print Pack is a collection of Thanksgiving-themed printables: games and activities, trivia quizzes, blessing lists, place cards, thank you notes, treat bag toppers, conversation starters, and much, much more to help your family cultivate an attitude of gratitude this holiday season.
NOTE: This listing is for digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your files immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Our Reading Rewards Print Pack is a collection of bookmarks, reading challenges, time logs, coloring pages, book plates, and more — all embellished with thought-provoking, bookish quotes fellow bookworms are going to love.
NOTE: This listing is for the digital files only (printable PDF format). You will be able to download your Reading Rewards Print Pack immediately after purchase and will have lifetime access to any and all future updates of this digital product.
Since September is “National Better Breakfast Month,” and I have better breakfasts on the brain, I wanted to share a breakfast-themed brain workout for you in the form of a new word find puzzle. Print out several for your kids and see how many words they can find in the morning before you get breakfast…
Pregnancy & Childbirth Great Expectations SEE ALL PREGNANCY POSTS Babies are such a blessing. Whether you love being pregnant and watching your belly expand, or you spend nine months puking your guts out, we count down the days to delivery with high hopes and grand expectations. Newborns & Babies Beautiful Bouncing Bundles of Joy SEE…
Today I’m sharing Days of Creation Printables in two different styles. Both feature a poem we used to teach the order of creation to our children. On DAY ONE: God made light when there was none. On DAY TWO: God made skies and seas of blue. On DAY THREE: God made grass, and flowers, and…
This is National Week of the Bible, so I thought I’d kick it off by sharing this brand new free Books of the Bible Printable. click to print free Books of the Bible Printable This printable divides the 66 books of the Bible into Old and New Testaments (with 39 and 27 books, respectively), then…
My new, hand-drawn All Scripture is Given Coloring Page features 2 Timothy 3:16-17. These verses read: “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” click to print All…
We’ve all seen it before: Whiny, selfish, entitled children pitching fits when they don’t get their way. And, sadly, many of them never outgrow it. An alarming number of adults act that way these days, as well. So how do we combat that? How can we raise our progeny to be moral, upstanding members of…
We’ve had so much fun playing our Famous Couples Matching Game at bridal showers and Valentine brunches that I decided to make a companion game in honor of National Friendship Month. That’s September! So challenge your friends and family to see who can finish our brand new Famous Friends Quiz the fastest. click to print…
Summer reading is in full swing! My younger kids and grandkids are busily checking off time and titles in all the various Reading Rewards Programs their parents have signed them up for. But along with the standard time logs to which they’ve grown accustomed, they have another fun way to track their progress this year…
One of my favorite holidays is just around the corner. Not because I love colored eggs and fuzzy bunnies. But because I love the finished work of Christ on the Cross. And since I’ve published lots of resources over the years related to that event, I’ve decided to group them all together in this Ultimate…
Today I’m sharing links to the Top 10 Flanders Family Posts of 2021. As has become my habit, I always like to look back in January at the most popular posts of the preceding year. Since my goal in writing this blog is to serve my subscribers, it’s instructive to see which posts readers find…
Eleventh in my monthly series on celebration-worthy moments, below you’ll find a lengthy list of November Holidays and Quirky Celebrations. I hope these posts will help you make every month more memorable this year. You’ll notice that some items on this list are linked to other pages. Click through for ideas and resources to help…
Tenth in my monthly series on celebration-worthy moments, below you’ll find a lengthy list of October Holidays and Quirky Celebrations. I hope these posts will help you make every month more memorable this year. You’ll notice that some items on this list are linked to other pages. Click through for ideas and resources to help…
Eighth in my monthly series on celebration-worthy moments, below you’ll find a lengthy listing of August Holidays and Quirky Celebrations. I hope these posts will help you make every month more memorable all year long. You’ll notice that some items on this list are linked to other pages. Click through for ideas and resources to…
Continuing with my monthly series on celebration-worthy moments, below you’ll find a lengthy listing of July Holidays and Quirky Celebrations. I hope these posts will help you make every month more memorable all year long. You’ll notice that some items on this list are linked to other pages. Click through for ideas and resources to…
Last week over dinner, I asked my grandkids one of the questions from my newest set of Conversation Starters: What is your favorite Easter tradition? Two of them gave the same answer — Resurrection Eggs — though they used different words to say as much. The first proudly proclaimed, “I love when you use those…
January is almost over, and I just realized I haven’t published my December reads. But today’s the day. I finished seven books last month: Clutter Free by Kathi Lipp plus six others. Read on for my impressions of each (ranked according to when I finished reading them). The Poverty of Nations by Wayne Grudem and…
At year’s end, I like to look back to see which of my posts from the preceding 12 months enjoyed the most popularity. Hence, my Top 10 Flanders Family Posts of 2020 is born. Creating this list helps me better understand what kinds of resources have appealed most to my readers (that’s YOU) in the…
I normally set aside Mondays for responding to readers’ questions and requests, but I’m too excited about this one to wait. I received a message yesterday morning from Kristin asking whether we offered any free printable gospel tracts for Thanksgiving. She was looking for some she could print and place in food boxes she helps…
Emily Buchwald once said, “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” That’s the theme of this week’s coloring page. But I want to unpack it a little. What, exactly, can parents do to raise children who love to read? As a homeschool mom, I want my children to enjoy devouring good books…
We don’t have much need for mittens in Texas. My kids consider themselves lucky if we get one good snow a year. More often than not, it’s only a light dusting. Rarely do we get enough snow to build a decent-sized snowman. If we want enough snow for sledding or building snow forts or staging…
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is always good to be mindful of the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. And I’m glad our country sets aside a day dedicated to doing so. Over the years, I’ve published lots of resources that have a Thanksgiving theme. I thought this year would be…
The start of a new school year is just around the corner! Accordingly, this post is chock-full of fun ways to celebrate starting back to school. Even though, as homeschoolers, our family usually does lessons year-round, I still love the fresh start August brings with regard to co-ops and school supplies and new routines. I’ve…
I use Mondays to clear out my mailbox. Today, I’m tackling the topic of encouraging honesty in children. Question: What can I do to teach my child to tell the truth? Dear Jennifer, How do you handle it when a toddler admits to telling a lie? I want to teach my 2.5 year old son…
I use Mondays to clear out my mailbox. This week’s letter comes from a reader looking for financial charts for her hardworking kids. Read on to see what we’ve come up with. Question: Where can I find some kid-friendly business budget forms? Dear Jennifer, My husband and I have considered giving our kids an allowance…
Large families are a magnet for probing questions. Natural curiosity compels complete strangers who count our kids to ask if we’re done –or to blurt out all manner of other deeply personal inquiries. Many people can’t seem to hold back when they meet a couple with a lot of kids. It’s open season as soon…
Since so many of my blog readers seem to be as big a bookworm as I am, I’ve been trying to be more faithful about sharing reading recommendations. This post, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode (& more May reads), is part of a monthly series designed to accomplish that goal on a regular basis. Looking…
5 Kernels of Corn ‘Twas the year of the famine in Plymouth of old, The ice and the snow from the thatched roofs had rolled; Through the warm purple skies steered the geese o’er the seas, And the woodpeckers tapped in the clocks of the trees; And the boughs on the slopes to the south…
With the advent of summer, I’m sharing a list of boredom busters today. Most of our lessons are winding down for this school year. We’ll keep the basics going during the next ten weeks, but will take a needed break from history, science, and grammar. The abbreviated schedule will give both Mom and kids time…
I love pretty printables! I enjoy creating them, using them, and sharing them with others. If you like printables, too, you’ve come to the right place. Our family website offers a treasure trove of pretty & practical printable resources — calendars, chore charts, coloring pages, and much, much more. Clever uses for our pretty printables:…
Start Here So many books! So little time! That’s why I recommend beginning with the best book ever written: The Bible. That’s the book I start with nearly every day. It provides a solid foundation and framework for interpreting and weighing everything else I read. I’ve read all the way through the Bible multiple times…
Despite the fact my December was crazy busy, I finished reading eight books over the course of the month, including (appropriately) Kevin DeYoung’s book by that same title. 8 Books I Read in December The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson We listened to one of our favorite Christmas books on our way to…
As I’m thinking through goals for the new year, I’m not only making personal resolutions, but am also considering ways to improve our family life going forward. To that end, and to solicit feedback, I’m pulling out a printable list I’ have the fill out in’ve had family members fill out in the past whenever…
Help for Homeschoolers: Encouragement, Resources, FAQs We’ve fielded a lot of questions over the years on the topic of homeschooling. Below are a few of our most helpful (and frequently requested) posts, pages, and printables for homeschoolers — whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for years. Why Homeschool? There are as…
Third in my monthly series on celebration-worthy moments, here is a lengthy list of March Holidays and Quirky Celebrations. I hope these posts will help you make every month more memorable this year. You’ll notice that some items on this list are linked to other pages. Click through for ideas and resources to help your…
