The Innovative Dad
A psychologist’s blog about raising and educating children through the lens innovation.
An Unusual Thanksgiving: Menu Plan – Week of 11/21
It's another unusual Thanksgiving in our home. We're not traveling and we're not hosting because of a combination of factors. The pressure to cook an intense, typical Thanksgiving dinner just isn't there. Thanksgiving for us feels different because unlike many of the...
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients 3 large sweet potatoes 1 egg 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mini marshmallow (optional) Place the unpeeled sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water. Seal the pressure cooker and set it on high for 15 minutes.Use the...
That One Picky Eater: Meal Plan – Week of 11/21
Most families have at least one - someone who eats to the beat of their own culinary drummer. A picky eater can be the bane of your existence if you have limited time to prepare alternate meals and just want everyone to eat the same thing. Here are a few strategies to...
Dealing with the Tantrum Monster
Nobody enjoys a temper tantrum. Not the kid, not the parent. They often end with everyone feeling more miserable than when they started. And that's just the best-case scenario. Our kids have meltdowns for three basic reasons. First, they are struggling with naming or...
Happy, Happy Birthday!: Menu Plan – Week of 11/7
We had a birthday in the house for one of my kids and part of our family tradition is getting to pick the menu for Shabbat dinner. Naturally, I forgot about this when planning last week, so Friday night dinner quickly became Shabbat lunch. On the flip side, I'm...
Put on Your Oxygen Mask: Calming Yourself to Calm Your Child
When I flew for the first time with my oldest, I remember hearing the flight attendant give his shpiel and reminding those of us traveling with young children to put on our oxygen masks first before our child. This struck me as odd. I did everything for my daughter...
Pizza Quiche
This is an old family favorite. It's a yummy mixture of eggs, cheese, and tomato sauce. The bonus is that you can prep it in advance and freeze it. 1 cooked pie shell 1 cup Italian Sauce 3 eggs 2 T white wine 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese ¾ cup milk pinch sugar,...
Trick or Treat: Menu Plan – Week of 10/31
I wish I could tell you that I had an amazing trick-or-treat-oriented menu but I just don't. Mostly because the theme of dessert for the rest of the week is going to be dolling out pieces of candy collected during trick or treat on Sunday evening. There, of course,...
7 Cooperative Board Games to Try for Family Game Night
I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't think that I can ever play another round of Candy Land. The game has its merits, like being a great way to introduce your preschooler to taking turns and gameplay, but at its core, it is a pure game of chance involving...