13 Proven Tips for Effortless International Travel with Kids

13 Proven Tips for Effortless International Travel with Kids

little boy with snorkel mask on holding up a starfish in the ocean

“You took 4 kids on an airplane?! Are you crazy?!”

I’ve heard this question enough times to know that international travel with kids on an airplane is not at the top of most people’s bucket lists.

But I’m here to tell you that, when done right, it is not just possible – it’s completely worth it!

Here are my top tips for having a great trip when doing international travel with kids on an airplane.

Booking Tips: What To Think About Before Booking Flights

It is important to plan ahead for these things before booking your upcoming trip:

1. Seat Selection Is Often An Added Cost

When budgeting for your trip, keep in mind that selecting seats together will likely be an additional cost.

New policies are being put in place to keep children beside their parents for no extra fee. However, many airlines are still not able to guarantee this. They claim they will place you close together, but their policies don’t guarantee that you will be seated beside your child. They may be in a separate seat, in a separate row.

boy looking out airplane window

This means that if you want to sit beside your child, you will probably need to pay the extra cost for seat selection (at least for now).

Be sure to look closely at the specific airline’s policy before booking your flights.

2. Pros and Cons of Direct Flights and Indirect Flights

Direct flights are often more expensive but they are extremely convenient when travelling with a family.

If you have to book a connection, look carefully at how long the layovers will be on indirect flights.

If you have ever seen someone running through an airport trying to catch their connection, you know how valuable those minutes can be.

Factor in the extra time it will take to get your kids off the plane, stopping for the bathroom, walking to the next terminal etc… and then add an extra hour or two!

 

toddler sleeping on a suitcase as father pulls it through the airport

3. Leg Room For Longer Flights

baby girl sitting in a plane bassinet in front of her parents on flight

Photo from Turkish Airlines

For most international travel with kids, you can often book specific seats that allow for a small bassinet provided by the airline.

These seats are usually the bulkhead seats, or the seats with extra legroom.

This can be a great option for your baby! The extra legroom can also be a handy place for a toddler to sleep on a long flight.

A lot of parents dread that their child won’t sleep on the plane but the “white noise” of the airplane actually provides some quality hours of sleep for the kids!

Tips For Luggage: What Is The Best Way To Pack For International Travel With Kids?

1. Research How Much Luggage/Carryon Bags Are Allowed

It’s important to know exactly what your airline will allow you to take on the plane with you. It is no

longer a guarantee that you will have free checked bags when you fly, even on international flights.

Some low-cost airlines may not even allow for a carry-on, so it’s very important to figure out what you are allowed to bring if you don’t want to be charged extra at the airport.

2. Decide the Number of Bags/Suitcases Needed For Your Whole Family Before Packing

child sitting on suitcase with head tucked under his parents sweater, while being pulled behind with another suitcase

Consider how many “willing hands” will be able to carry or roll luggage through the airports.

Our 6-year-olds were thrilled to wheel a mini suitcase through the airport which opened up the possibility to travel with carry-on bags.

However, if you have a mini stroller to push, and more than one child to wrangle, it will absolutely be worth the extra money to NOT have carry-on bags to worry about.

If you do choose to reduce cost and travel with carry-on luggage, see if you can have it checked in at the gate as you board the plane, rather than looking for overhead space after you board.

3. Use Packing Cubes

The goal of limiting bags means that each child having their own small backpack isn’t the best option.

So to keep yourself from tearing apart your suitcases when you arrive looking for each child’s pyjamas, toothbrush and ‘can’t-live-without-it-lovey’, use packing cubes!

9 packing cubes being put into a suitcaseWith packing cubes, you can group together a family set of pyjamas and bedtime items in one cube to quickly grab when you arrive at your destination.

Have a separate cube packed for each day (rather than for each kid), with every child’s clothing, socks, undies etc needed for that day.

Or if your kids are independent enough to keep their own cube organized, you could pack each child’s clothing in their own packing cube.

These packing cubes are amazing because they can be zipped to compact everything and save you tons of space in your suitcases!

 

a large and small turquoise set of packing cubes

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Tips for Car Seats and Strollers: How To Travel With A Car Seat And Stroller

For international travel with young kids, car seats and boosters can become a big hassle to get to your destination. They are big, cumbersome, unstackable and often heavy! Not ideal – especially if you have to carry more than one!

1. How To Travel With A Baby (With and Without A Car Seat)

In general, your regular stroller/car seat system will have to be checked at the baggage desk with the checked luggage (usually free of charge). If your baby will be sitting on your lap during the flight, umbrella strollers or baby-wearing carriers (👈 my fave) are the best options for cruising through the airport because they can be checked at the gate before boarding.

2. How To Travel With A Toddler Car Seat

If you are renting a vehicle at your destination, many car rental agencies offer car seat rentals for younger children – just be sure to reserve these in advance. This is a great option if you do not want to carry your child’s car seat with all of your additional luggage. If you are planning to use your kid’s car seat on the airplane, these car seat bags work well because allow you to carry the seat as a backpack.

3. How To Travel With Booster Seats for Older Children

For our older kids (over 4), we found these awesome mini travel boosters that became a lifesaver! The idea behind them is that they lower the seatbelt to the child’s height, rather than boosting the child up to the seatbelt – brilliant. They are so compact that you can easily throw them into your carry-on bag without taking up a ton of space.  Just be sure to measure out the straps and adjustments before you travel so that when you arrive, you can be on the road quickly.

Airport Activities: How To Keep Kids Happy At The Airport

  1. Pack snacks

    We use a rolling picnic bag which makes it easy to get snacks for everyone while waiting at our gate. Before each flight I pick a few snacks out for each kid to take on the plane with them in a mini cinch bag. Our favourite healthy snacks for the flights are mini granola bars, fruit-to-go bars, trail mix packs and raisins. Squeezable baby food pouches are also a hit (for all the kids!) and they don’t explode on the flight (but we pack them in ziplocks just in case!)

  2. Plan for downtime

    There’s often a lot of waiting around in airports, especially if you have a connecting flight. Stock up on a few new “fidget toys” before you travel. These are great because they take up very little luggage space/weight, yet they can keep kids entertained for a good chunk of time! I also grabbed some “new to them” activity books at the dollar store, as well as some mini-games, whiteboards/markers, and a few magnetic tiles to keep them entertained for a few hours. Between these and the onboard screens, the kids were well-entertained. Just bring headphones for them if you plan to let them use their seat screens.

  3. Explore the airport

    Many airports have play areas, nursing pods, and kid-friendly perks and exhibits. It’s worth a quick google search to see if the airport you are traveling to has them nearby! Also, check out your credit card benefits to see if you qualify for lounge access (which often includes free food and drinks!).

    Seattle:

    kids playing at seattle airport play area on play equipmentCascadia Kids

    Houston:

    houston children's play area including slideHouston Airport System

    Chicago:

    children playing in chicago play areaNBC News

  4. Bring a tablet or e-reader

    If you have long-haul flights or a long layover, bringing your own tablets or e-readers is worth it. You can load them up with movies, TV shows, books, and games in advance to bring out when your kids have reached their limit (you’ll know.)

Going Through Security: Tips And Tricks

  1. Wear slip-on shoes. Often, children do not need to take off their shoes when going through security. Adults definitely will. So grab something easy to get on and off!
  2. Baby-wearing. If you choose to carry your infant in a baby-carrier, many security screeners will allow you to keep your baby in the carrier as you go through the scanner.
  3. Have one parent walk through security ahead of the children, and one follow behind. The parent-sandwich is key for navigating through most of the airport!
  4. Pack your electronics in one bag if possible so you don’t need to open all bags when you reach security.
  5. Don’t forget to empty the kid’s water bottles before getting to security or you will be chugging a lot of water in line!

What should I pack for international travel with kids?

In addition to the snacks, games, etc already mentioned, here are a few more things to remember to pack when going on an airplane with kids:

  1. Gum (or a bottle/pacifier to suck for babies) for air pressure release in their ears
  2. Wipes
  3. Kleenex
  4. Tylenol/Advil (kid’s version and adult version)
  5. Passports and travel documents
  6. Travel pillow if your flight is near nap time or at night to help them fall asleep easier.
  7. Headphones for the kids (flight attendants can be gracious but it’s good to be prepared!)

Brilliant Space-Saving Tips For Traveling With Kids

  1. For shampoo/conditioner, go for travel-size!
  2. Leave your body wash at home. These microfiber body cloths leave your kids (and you) totally clean by just adding water. They are perfect for bathing your kid when a bath is not an option. (and to be honest, they are all we use at home now too!)
  3. Resist the urge to overpack clothing. While it’s fun dreaming of family vacation pictures in all of your favourite outfits, choose items that pair with multiple outfits. Like those black leggings instead of the pink and orange flower ones!
  4. Wear bulky items on the plane, rather than packing them. This includes bulky shoes, sweaters, jackets etc.
  5. Roll, roll, roll! You will be able to fit SO much more in your suitcase if you roll each item. Use packing cubes to keep organized, but definitely roll each item in your packing cube!

Best Foldable Strollers For Traveling With Kids

As we’ve already covered, space is a very valuable commodity when traveling as a family. If you are looking for a space-saving stroller that will make international travel with kids easier, here are some great options!

  1. Baby Jogger City Tour 2: This lightweight stroller folds up compactly and can fit in the overhead compartment of most airlines. It also has a UV 50+ canopy to protect your child from the sun.
  2. gb Pockit+: This stroller is the smallest in the world when folded up and can fit in a backpack or handbag. It’s perfect for families who want to travel light.
  3. Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller: This stroller is lightweight and has a one-handed fold, making it easy to store in tight spaces. It also has a large canopy to keep your child shaded and a storage basket to hold your essentials.
  4. Mountain Buggy Nano: This stroller folds up small enough to fit in an overhead compartment and comes with a travel bag for easy transportation. It also has a full recline for napping and a sun canopy for protection.
  5. Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight Graphite Stroller: This stroller is perfect for families with multiple kids, as it can hold an infant car seat and has a standing platform for older children. It’s also lightweight and folds up easily for travel.

These strollers are just a few examples of the many great options available for traveling internationally with kids. When choosing a stroller, it’s important to consider factors such as weight, size, and features that will be useful for your specific travel needs.

I hope these family travel tips have been valuable!

With some early planning, a few of these tricks up your sleeve, and an exciting destination….it is absolutely worth it!

Your kids may surprise you and be completely enthralled with the excitement of the airport and airplane itself!

So go on! Plan that family trip you have been putting off.

Happy travels!!

Resources To Help You and Your Kids Thrive

📌 Reading Rescue Blueprint 

Reading Rescue Blueprint on laptopTake these reading lessons with you on your travels! The entire platform is digital and can be accessed on any device. Imagine your child learning to read on your next layover! Check it out!

📌 Monthly Meal Planning That’s ACTUALLY Easy! 

In this post, I share how I plan our family’s meals out one month in advance. There is even a free template that you can customize for your own family’s taste preferences! It comes together exceptionally easily – so head on over if you want to take the stress away from knowing “What’s for dinner?!” before 4pm.

 

Photo credit:

Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Photo by Tommaso Pecchioli on Unsplash

Photo by Frank Wit on Unsplash

3 Important Tips For Choosing The Best Educational Toys

I generally steer clear of toy stores.

The magnitude of toys is absolutely mind-boggling.

There are a million brands, and every single one has a bajillion options. Especially around the holidays!

But there comes a time in one’s life, when she must throw caution to the wind and bravely walk the aisles of these wild stores.

girl looking at educational toys for kids in the toy store

And when that time comes…it is absolutely critical to choose a toy that:
  1. Won’t get neglected after it’s first week of use
  2. Doesn’t turn the “gifts” budget line into a small mortgage payment
  3. Will teach my child something they didn’t know before

3 Important Tips For Choosing The Best Educational Toys For Kids

1. Choose “open-ended” toys to build creativity

If you have been around children playing long enough, you’ll know that they can turn ANYTHING into a toy.

Give them a kitchen funnel, they’ll make a spinning top.

Give them a soccer ball pump, they’ll make paper rocket launchers.

This incredible creativity is the reason why open-ended toys are the best toys to have around your home.

Open-ended toys are essentially toys that can be built into anything, torn apart, and rebuilt into something new.

It’s no secret that Lego and Duplo blocks score high on the hit list for many children. It’s incredible to see what they can build.

My personal favourite open-ended toys are magnetic tiles.

I often say, “If I had to sell ALL the toys and only keep one, it would be magnet tiles hands-down!”

They click together magnetically and can be created into an endless list of designs.

(It is worth noting that the cleanup of these toys is a breeze. The magnets actually make tidying them up kind of fun!)

They are also great for a variety of age groups.

While my 6 year olds design intricate ships and well-engineered castles, my 3 year old is learning that 2 triangles can make a square (because the 6 year olds have all the squares again…).

3 pictures of ships and towers made with magnet tiles
He also loves to sort them by colour and make garages for all his hot wheel race cars. Even when he was 1 year old, he loved sticking them onto the fridge and taking them off again (an excellent “while making dinner” activity for any busy baby!)

2. Choose a skill you would like them to learn, and then choose a toy that fits (not the other way around!)

For example, let’s say your goal for your 3 year old is to have them learn their letter names and letter sounds.

Your job at the toy-store then, is to find an educational toy for kids that has accurate letter-sound pictures.

I have come across many alphabet puzzles, games and toys that do not help your child learn what letters actually sound like (which is the most important building block for learning to read!) See if you can spot the wrong one in each set below.

Do you see how using the giraffe for the letter G does not help your child learn the most consistent sound of the letter G?

Preschoolers who don’t have a strong letter-sound understanding are not ready to learn “ow” for “owl” which SO many games tend to use.

An (o)ctopus, or an (o)strich would be a much better choice for their reading development!

So when hunting for a great educational toy, start with the goal in mind, and then use your toy-store time to make sure that the skills being taught are accurate and intentionally designed.

And if you are looking for an educational toy for 3 year old kids that DOES have excellent sound-letter association, here are some ideas!

Melissa and Doug’s Self-Correcting Alphabet Wooden Puzzle
letter sound and picture puzzle educational toy for kids
(G is ‘goat’, ‘O’ is octopus, ‘I’ is inchworm)

Learning Resources: AlphaBlasters

(G is ‘goat’, ‘O’ is octopus, ‘I’ is igloo)

If you want to learn more about how to help your child develop strong letter-sound skills so that they can become a strong reader, check out my Reading Rescue Blueprint program here!

3. Choose educational toys for kids that are STEM/STEAM based

What is a STEM game?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (and STEAM includes Art).

These educational toys for kids are designed to intentionally focus on growing a child’s knowledge in one of these subject areas.

However, this label is thrown (sometimes carelessly) onto many toys these days.

Sometimes it seems the only requirement to call it a “STEM” toy is that at least two pieces must be fit together.

So how do you KNOW if it’s really STEM or not?

stem authentication symbol indicating well tested educational toy for kids

First, if it is authenticated by a STEM organization, then bonus points! Because it’s already gone through some rigorous checks to get the stamp of approval.

If not, asking yourself these 6 questions will help you decide if it stands up to the name “STEM/STEAM”.

Gravity Maze game - educational toy for kids age 8 and up

    1. Are there real problem-solving opportunities when using the game/toy? Does the child need to think critically to solve the problem (this will look different for different ages, but there should be some form of critical thinking to solve a problem).
      For example, ThinkFun Gravity Maze (8+) requires kids to re-think their marble-run design when the marble doesn’t end up where it should. As the challenges get harder, the more critical thinking required.
    2. Is there a hands-on aspect to the toy that requires the child to physically manipulate it?
    3. Does it allow the child to gradually grow in the targeted skill? This may be through built in levels (beginner and advanced versions etc). It may also be simply in how basic or intricate the designs can become (in the case of open-ended building toys like lego, or magnetic tiles).educational toy for kids called botley the robot 2.0
      For example, this Botley 2.0 Coding Robot has levels of coding built into it from beginner to advanced. It also has a “free play” element where your child can design their own code to see what happens. Having both of these options built in makes it an excellent (T)echnology option for learning coding.
    4. How many different ways can the toy be used and re-used? Or is it a one-and-done type toy? Sometimes children are enamored by a new toy, but after “figuring it out”, they set it aside for months because it no longer challenges them. Is there creative potential beyond a single-intended use?
    5. Does it give your child a real-world learning experience in order to develop a real-life skill?
      For example, Elenco’s Snap Circuits gives kids the real opportunity to learn the basics of electrical work. They absolutely love the real-life circuit creation that results in a light turning on, or a fan blowing.
    6. Does it enhance muscle control in fine motor skills? Not all STEM-based educational toys for kids will enhance fine motor skills, but it’s always a bonus when they do. If children are learning to put together small pieces, or do experiments with specific measuring etc, you’ll be allowing them opportunities to develop muscles that are often neglected on screen-based activities.
Here are a few of our choices for the best STEM-based educational toys for kids.

Science

Technology

Engineering

Math

 

 

The Morning Routine Chart Proven to Keep Everyone Calm (+ Free Printable)

Getting out the door in the morning can be a battle. By the time everyone is dressed, and has clean teeth and shoes on their feet, it is somewhat of a miracle if all members of the family are still smiling and calm. 

Stay with me to the end of this post because I’ve got a free printable morning routine chart that will revolutionize your mornings!

In most families, there is at least one child who hears their name more often than the rest. 

girl holding two boiled eggs over eyes

“(Name), get ready!”

“(Name), we’re going to be late!”

“(Name), stop talking and finish your breakfast!”

Chances are, if they are hearing their name on repetition at home, there’s a high probability they are also hearing their name often at school, church, camp, day care etc. 

What if you could simplify your mornings, with a few less exasperated comments to (name) and a little less stress all around?

Why Visual Morning Routine Charts Work So Well

As a primary and special education teacher, I’ve seen visual calendars and other similar tools work incredibly for all kids. 

executive functioning skills wheel

Brain Power Academy

Brain development plays a huge role in our morning chaos. Being able to stay on task for a multiple-step process, being able to manage our time well, and being able to both start and complete a task are all part of their little brains developing ‘executive functioning skills’. 

There’s far more depth to all of this, but it is important to realize that children’s brains are not developed enough to expect a high level of mastery in these areas. 

They may need a little more support in these areas, and that is okay!

This is why visual supports work across the board, not only for kids with identified learning challenges, but for every child whose little brain is still developing (and let’s be honest, even as adults, visual supports and checklists help us to manage our time and stay organized!)

adult hand writing to do list with pen

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that my passion is to give you resources to help your children thrive!

So I’ve put together a free printable morning routine chart.

This is the system that I implemented on day 1 of school and I can tell you, it has worked flawlessly. 

It has been a beautiful thing to wake up to my kids already dressed, beds made, teeth brushed, faces washed, and with “Good morning, Mom!” smiles on their faces ready for their morning hug (yes, I added this to their schedules because mornings can be SO busy that we forget even this simple gesture!)

You can download it for free by clicking on the big green button below!

Click Here To Download Danae's: Miracle Morning Routine Builder

How The Morning Routine Printable Chart Works

I have a 4-task schedule posted in their bedroom, as well as the bathroom and the kitchen. Each night before bed, they choose their clothes for the next day and place them on their dresser. 

When they wake up, there are 4 tasks for them to complete in their room before heading to the bathroom (though going pee takes priority over all of course!)

  1. printable morning routine chart task cards including dressed, pjs put away, make bed, morning hugGet dressed
  2. Put your pajamas away
  3. Make your bed
  4. Morning hug 😀 (my fave!)

Each of these tasks has a card they place on the chart when they have finished the task. When their chart is full, they move to the bathroom. 

In the bathroom they find 4 more pictures:

  1. Toilet
  2. Brush teeth
  3. Wash face
  4. Comb hair

When this chart is full, they are ready to come downstairs to eat breakfast. In the kitchen, I have 4 more pictures. 

  1. Eat breakfast
  2. Pack lunch (this is usually ready to go in the fridge for the little ones)
  3. Books in backpack
  4. Backpack fully packed

As soon as all of these tasks are complete (and there is time before we leave), they now have time to play, colour, or whatever they would have been pulled away to during the “PLEASE GET READY!!” phase of life. 

Prepping For Your Own Smooth Morning Routine

There are few ways you could set this up at your house. Each home is different, and each child is different so choose the one that will work best for your family!

Option 1: Laminate printable picture cards

  1. Print off two copies of the visual schedule. Hint: Print off one in black/white and one in colour to really help them see what is complete and what still needs to be done. 
  2. Post them up in a place that they can reach and see easily. I used sticky tack, but you could also use pockets and have your child place the completed pictures in the pockets. 
  3. Walk your kids through the process step-by-step. It’s important that this is presented during a time when they are receptive. Try to avoid presenting this as a ‘consequence’ for stressful mornings. Your kids will be the ones who need to carry it out, so explain it as a positive, helpful and exciting new system. You can choose the ‘reward’ for them completing all of their tasks on time – each child is motivated differently so think through what would motivate them personally.

Option 2: Individual task cards

Some children may find 4 steps at a time to be too overwhelming. In this case, I would recommend cutting each image apart and displaying it in a horizontal line. They could then move through the tasks in order, moving along the ‘timeline’ of tasks. This method would be beneficial to students who have a hard time focusing on more than one task at a time. 

Option 3: A picture ring

  1. If you are hesitant about placing pictures up around your home, or if your child gets ready for school in different homes from day-to-day or week-to-week, a picture ring may be a solution for you. 
  2. Hang the ring in a location and have your child complete the tasks on each card. Then flip the card to the next card when they are ready for the next set of tasks. 
  3. When they have completed their ring, have them give it to you so you can verify they have completed everything. 

In Closing

Are you excited for stress-free mornings? I hope this is a game-changer for your family!

Don’t forget to download the free morning routine printable chart! Once you have this set up and have walked through the steps (and rewards) with your child, start looking forward to that first “Good morning, mom!” hug – it’s pretty epic!

You can download the printable morning routine chart by clicking the big green button below! 👇

Click Here To Download Danae's: Miracle Morning Routine Builder

Resources To Help You and Your Kids Thrive

📌 Reading Rescue Blueprint 

Reading Rescue Blueprint on laptopIs homework time hectic too? If you have a struggling reader at home, squeezing in time to read can be really stressful. Check out my Reading Rescue Blueprint course and curriculum so that your child can excel at reading in just 15 minutes per day (conflict-free!) Learn More Here

📌 Monthly Meal Planning That’s ACTUALLY Easy! 

In this post, I share how I plan our family’s meals out one month in advance. There is even a free template that you can customize for your own family’s taste preferences! It comes together exceptionally easily – so head on over if you want to take the stress away from knowing “What’s for dinner?!” before 4pm.

 

 

 

4 Simple Secrets For Keeping Your Kitchen Under Control – Kitchen Cleaning Tips

Are you staring at another sink/counter full of dishes and wondering how on earth we got here again?! 

In this article, I will share my top 4 kitchen cleaning tips so that you spend less of your precious time with your hands in a sink of dirty water!

Food, dishes, more food, dishes, “Mom, can I have a snack?”, dishes….repeat. Is this the never-ending cycle of your kitchen too?

If you are like the majority of Americans surveyed below, dishes are tied for the most disliked chore.

graph showing least popular chores with laundry, dishes and bathroom indicated as the most disliked

today.yougov.com

That being said, a messy kitchen can be a sign of good things like family connection, well-fed kids, and delicious food. 

So instead of dreading the aftermath of these wonderful things, check out these 4 kitchen cleaning tips and tricks to help you keep your kitchen feeling and looking like “the heart of your home!” 

  1. Always start the day with an empty dishwasher.
  2. Only touch each dish once.
  3. Serve food in lid-friendly dishes.
  4. Clean one appliance daily.

Kitchen Cleaning Tip #1: Always Start The Day With An Empty Dishwasher/Dish Rack

There HAS to be a place for the breakfast dishes to go. Even just a few plates piled into the sink or on the counter after breakfast will create a domino effect throughout the day. 

empty open dishwasher

As much as we like sitting down to the soothing hum of the dishwasher at the end of the day – emptying the dishwasher before going to bed sets us up for the ability to be on top of the mess all day. 

They say habits take 21 days to really sink in (ok, more recent research says 18 to 254 days). Let’s start with 30. Try emptying the dishwasher before bed everyday for 30 days. Trust me when I say you will be motivated for the next 224 when you see the difference it makes!

My passion is to equip you with resources that help you and your kids thrive!

So I’ve put together a free guide for you called “30-Days To A Dish-Free Counter”. In this guide, you’ll find a Clean Appliance Planner (for Tip #4!) and a New Habit Tracker. You can print them or use them digitally to track your progress toward these game-changing habits!

You can download it for free by clicking on the big green button below!

Click here to download Danae's: 30 Days To A Dish-Free Counter

 

Kitchen Cleaning Tip #2: Only Touch Each Dish Once

dirty plate with fork and spoon

Because we have a nice empty dishwasher (or dish rack) to start our day, our goal is to touch each dish the least number of times possible. 

So if we are carrying a dish to the kitchen (ie. breakfast bowl, coffee cup), these items should be placed directly into the dishwasher, rather than being placed in the sink or on the counter, and then retouched when we begin loading. 

This will obviously be harder to do after a full meal has been served. This is why it is important to teach kids to clear their dishes from the table, and depending on their age, to wash it or place in the dishwasher.

Sticking to this ‘one-touch’ rule for as many dishes as possible will make a huge difference in dishes piling up.

Clean Kitchen Tip #3: Serve food in lid-friendly containers. 

chicken fajita toppings in glass lid-friendly dishesI recently invested in some glass containers with lids – and what a difference this has made! I regularly use these to serve up our dinner sides, condiments etc.

After we are done eating, if any leftovers remain, I pop the lid on and stick it directly in the fridge (with no extra dishes!) This makes fajita/taco night such an easier clean-up! 

 

Kitchen Cleaning Tip #4: Wipe-down one kitchen appliance per day

While cleaning every kitchen appliance can seem like a huge job that we tend to put off – getting into the habit of giving one (and only one!) a wipe down is hugely rewarding. I like to work counter-clockwise around my kitchen. You can easily follow a schedule like the following depending on the layout of your kitchen:

kitchen with clean stainless steel appliancesMonday – dishwasher

Tuesday – oven, stove hood

Wednesday – fridge

Thursday – Microwave

Friday – toaster

Saturday – coffee maker/kettle

If you want to know my favourite time-saving tool that I use to make my stainless steel appliances sparkle in minutes using only water, click here to learn more.

Just like making your bed can make your whole room look cleaner, your sparkling appliances will make your whole kitchen feel cleaner and brighter! 

In Closing

I hope these 4 kitchen cleaning tips were helpful to you! A dish-free counter definitely makes me feel more at peace and rest in my kitchen…and we spend a LOT of time there!

Don’t forget to download my free “30-Days To A Dish-Free Counter”. Once you are on a consistent schedule for cleaning your appliances and starting your day with a clean slate – you’ll be off to the races!

You can download the planner and tracker by clicking the big green button below! 👇

Click here to download Danae's: 30 Days To A Dish-Free Counter

Additional Resource to Check Out:

📝 Monthly Meal Planning That’s ACTUALLY Easy! 

In this post, I share how I plan our family’s meals out one month in advance. There is even a free template that you can customize for your own family’s taste preferences! It comes together exceptionally easily – so head on over if you want to take the stress away from knowing “What’s for dinner?!” before 4pm.

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Monthly Meal Planning That’s Actually Easy!

“It’s 4:00 and I have no idea what to make for supper“. I know I’m not alone on this!

 

Meal planning just wasn’t happening around here. The odd time I’d try to scratch a quick list together before a trip to the grocery store but I’d often end up forgetting a crucial ingredient, or with extra food I didn’t need that would end up rotting in the fridge.

Not cool. 

I had once chatted with a fellow mom who planned her meals out a month in advance. A MONTH! I couldn’t wrap my mind around this. In fact, I chose not to wrap my mind around it and decided it wasn’t possible for me. 

Then COVID left our grocery store shelves scavenged over and created long wait times for scheduling grocery pickup (which I had fallen in love with pre-pandemic!) Now I was ordering groceries 3 weeks in advance. I thought I’d give this monthly thing a try! 

Turns out, it’s a game changer. And is remarkably easy. 

3 Reasons I LOVE Monthly Meal Planning:

Saves money with far less wasted food!

Have you ever wandered through the grocery store, grabbing random ingredients for things you might make that week? This was me for a long time…but I strongly dislike throwing away food. On “fridge-cleanout-day” you may have found me crying in a corner. Planning out my month of meals ensures that I buy EXACTLY what I need without anything in my cart that just doesn’t belong!

Easy grocery lists and recipe locating.

Easy. Is there really any other word that sounds more appealing in the craziness of raising small kids?! Taking a quick glance at the meals coming up for the week kicks you into high grocery-list-making gear! That list is done in NO time, leaving plenty of time for a peaceful (aka. snack filled) grocery shopping experience. All the recipe links are just a click away if you need to double check that all the ingredients you need are on your list!

girl writing a shopping list on paper

Stress free. No more 4pm frantic chicken defrosting!

The number of times I opened the fridge and freezer, staring at the array of food, hoping something would magically come together in my mind to create an epic dinner in under an hour, was exhausting. To already know what is planned for dinner before you even get to your (lukewarm) breakfast coffee leaves your mind ready for the rest of the wildness the day may hold in store! And that, my friends, is worth every minute of planning!

And remember, having a monthly plan doesn’t mean you must follow it to a T! It’s just a helpful guide. Somedays, on a whim, I’ll trade our Thursday meal for a Monday, just because it’s sunny. Or we may go out on an unplanned family adventure and just decide to order pizza on the way home. Life happens – keep it fun and enjoy the freedom of simply having a ‘plan’!

Click Here To Download Danae's Customizable Meal Plan Template

3 Steps To Customize Your Meal Plan:

  1. Identify 7 meal categories.
  2. Fill in your favorite 4 recipe names in each category.
  3. Hyperlink the recipes in your calendar for easy access! No printing required!

Step 1: Organize Your Favourite Meals by Category

This is where you get to customize to your family’s taste-buds! The categories are up to you. Our family loves trying food from different cultures. It’s so fun introducing our kids to new dishes from other countries and knowing that their appreciation for diversity is growing daily! 

I set up our monthly meals based around regions of the world.

Categories listed for each day of the week including Breakfast for Dinner, Ghanaian, Thai/Asian, Mexican, Italian, American

The categories are endless! You could try:

  • Meal Proteins – chicken, beef, fish, chickpeas etc
  • Types of meals – casserole, stir fry, instant pot etc
  • Family Member Faves – Monday-Mom’s fave, Tuesday’s – Tots fave, Wednesday – Wildest child’s fave

Fun right?! You get the idea!

One of our favourite traditions is “Breakfast for Dinner” on Sundays! Sundays are just one of those days that I don’t want to think, prep, or fret over dinner. I truly think it’s so important to take a rest at least one day per week, to recharge, refocus and reconnect as a family. Waffles and pancakes lend so easily to a rest-filled day!

Step 2: Identify Your Favourite 4 Recipes From Each Category

ItMexican food column from meal plan in Google Sheets‘s easiest to fill in your Meal Plan template by column/category. It just seems to fill in faster that way since your brain is already tracking within ‘Mexican Food’ (for example).

This is where the oh-so-handy Google Sheets app comes into play.  I love using it because I can hyperlink my favourite recipes right into the plan (or even attach a photo if it’s your Grandma’s secret!). This makes it a breeze to find the recipe quickly and not get sidetracked browsing Pinterest on my way to the recipe. The struggle is real my friends!  

Trust me…when it’s prep-time and you pop open the Meal Plan spreadsheet, you want to be only 1 click away from the recipe.  So go ahead and plug in your 4 favourites for each category!

Step 3: Hyperlink Your Favourite Recipes Into the Meal Planner

If you have recipes you find yourself going back to often, you’ll be glad you took the extra time to do this step. You’ll need to hop on a computer to add your hyperlinks in.

  1. Open your Meal Plan by going to sheets.google.com (sign in with your Gmail account).
  2. Click on a meal in your Meal Plan to highlight it.
  3. Click on the ‘insert link’ tool.
  4. Copy and paste the recipe URL in.

Google sheets screenshot inserting hyperlink for Greek Gyros recipe into meal plan template

Now that you’ve got your month ready to go, just imagine how EASY this will be next month! It’s just a simple copy, paste and tweak (or not!) from there. Basically, you just planned a year’s worth of meals. Congrats momma! You’ve got this!!

Here’s your new 4:00 scenario:

  1. Open Google Sheets on your phone
  2. Click on your Meal Plan
  3. Click on the link for your recipe-of-the-day
  4. Get cookin’!

I’d love to hear what categories you come up with for your family’s plan! Comment below and let me know what you’ve got planned. 

Here’s what our family’s meal plan looks like!

Monthly meal plan with all recipe links included

Click Here To Download Danae's Customizable Meal Plan Template