If you are a fan of spending time in the great outdoors, there is so much for you to do in Little Rock, Arkansas. Outdoor recreation can run the gamut from a relaxing picnic with family to adrenaline pumping runs or bike rides.
If you like to relax outside, get your blood pumping, or even just enjoy some quality time outdoors with your family, there are so many options for you in Little Rock. The following outdoor activities in Little Rock will give you and your family or friends lots of fun times to remember fondly:
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Little Rock is known for outdoor activities, partly because of its location near rivers and mountains, including Pinnacle Mountain. At Pinnacle Mountain State Park, if you are feeling ambitious and adventurous, you can climb to the summit of the mountain itself.
For those who prefer not to literally climb a mountain, they can enjoy hiking, biking, and kayaking at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. If you are looking for an outdoor activity for the whole family, Pinnacle Mountain State Park also has a playground for the kids. Little Rock is unique in being the state’s capital and most populous city but also having a state park right on the edge of the city itself.
Moss Mountain Farm
If you are looking for something different to do outside, consider a tour of Moss Mountain Farm, which consists of the home and gardens of famous horticulturist P. Allen Smith. The gardens are done in the English style, and bring a gorgeous change to the typical Arkansas countryside.
There are occasional tours where the owner himself speaks. In addition, lunch is offered, but you do need to book in advance as spaces fill fast. This is certainly a unique experience at lovely gardens that focus on sustainability.
Parks, Parks, Parks
Little Rock is also known for its number of parks. If you want to spend some quality time outside, there is no shortage of parks in Little Rock to enjoy. At Riverfront Park, kids can enjoy playgrounds, and there is also a sculpture garden, plus the actual “little rock” that gave the city its name.
At Two Rivers Park, you can enjoy flat, paved hiking and biking trails, wildflower meadows, and amazing views of Pinnacle Mountain. At Wildwood Park for the Arts, you can enjoy strolling through the manicured gardens to Swan Lake. There are also dozens of other parks in the city to visit, and if you find that you want to relocate to fully enjoy all of the parks that the city has to offer, there are plenty of Little Rock houses for sale.
If you love the outdoors, Little Rock, Arkansas is the city for you. From adrenaline-pumping mountain climbing to relaxing strolls through gardens or along park trails, there is some outdoor activity for everyone. Plan to enjoy some of the natural beauty that Little Rock has to offer on your next visit, or even plan to stay.
I’m not one to spend much time in the kitchen, but I will not hesitate to tell you that I have figured out the world’s best banana bread recipe. Through much trial-and-error, I’ve finally created a banana bread recipe that will without fail result in the most moist, delectable, can’t-stop-eating-it banana bread you’ve ever had. In fact, I’m inhaling an incredible slice as I write this and thinking thank goodness I know how to get paid to lose weight, because I literally can’t stop eating this banana bread.
Best Banana Bread Recipe
This banana bread recipe calls for some pretty specific steps. Toy with them if you must, but if you want the best banana bread, you need to follow this recipe closely. I set out my eggs and butter the night before if plan on baking in the morning. This recipe calls for three mixing bowls, beaters, a sifter, measuring cup, tsp/TBS measuring, and a loaf pan.
Ingredients
3 ripe bananas + pinch of salt
2 eggs (room temperature because we don’t bake with cold ingredients!)
1 stick of butter (again – room temperature)
2 tsp Penzey’s Cake Spice – I’m not affiliated with Penzey’s, but believe me when I say this spice is an absolute MUST! Don’t try just doing cinnamon if you want the BEST banana bread.
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBS almond milk (regular milk is fine, too)
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Sugar topping (if desired)
2 TBS brown sugar
2 TBS butter
1 TBS water
Preheat over to 325. Mash your bananas in a bowl with the Penzey’s cake spice and a pinch of salt. I like to use my beaters to mix this up well. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes. I usually do this and then get the rest of my ingredients measured out and ready.
In a separate bowl, cream together your sugar and butter until smooth. Save your butter wrapper to butter your loaf pan. Add in your 2 eggs and mix until combined. Add in your splash of vanilla and give it a quick mix. Add in bananas and your tablespoon of milk. Mix until combined.
In another separate bowl, mix together your 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt.
Add wet to dry and mix until combined. I recommend using a rubber spatula to really get in there, as the flour tends to hide in pockets sometimes.
Butter your loaf pan well and pour in the batter. Bake 65-70 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool (if you can!) before cutting into it.
Banana Bread Topping
I also really like making a sugar drizzle to go on top. You can do this quickly by melting 2 TBS butter in a microwave safe mug then stirring in 2 TBS of brown sugar and drizzling over. If you prefer to do it on your stove top, I like to add in a tablespoon of water at the end for an easier drizzle.
It’s hard to say whether this or my overnight french toast is my family’s favorite, but for me? This is truly the best banana bread recipe and if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to grab another slice.
My kids absolutely love scary stories, even at bedtime! They’re in first and second grade, so while we’re still very mindful about what’s read to them before bed, they love spooky books. Both my husband and I grew up with the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books. If you’ve been on my site at all, you’ll quickly realize we love Halloween just a wee bit. While our kids love spooky books too, we didn’t want to traumatize them with the Scary Stories series, as it’s for far older kids.
Best Spooky Bedtime Books For Kids Who Love Scary Stories
We always make it a priority to read to the kids before bed, and so we’ve accumulated quite a few kids’ horror books. Scouring both Amazon and the Scholastic book order for frightening fare is just second nature.
The following are our favorite spooky bedtime books for kids who love scary stories but who are too young for actual scary stories. These are the books that are on constant repeat at bedtime, with the worn covers and dog-eared pages. I’m certain your own children will enjoy these spooky bedtime books.
Disclaimer: I’m an Amazon affiliate and the following links may be affiliate links through which I can earn commission should you make a purchase.
Scary books for younger kids
When Halloween starts to creep around, our nighttime book schedule changes to a spooky theme. Some of our favorites from when the kids were younger are still in rotation today. These are fun books with just a tinge of spookiness, that even littles can enjoy.
The Scary Book by Joanna Cole
There is another book out there also called “The Scary Book” but it’s not this one. Admittedly, this is an older title that doesn’t appear to have any newer printings, but you can still find it online.
The stories are not significantly scary – many are cute actually, and these are classics you probably read as a kid. Regardless, they still hold up and your kids will love them, too.
Who doesn’t love a ghost hunt? Structured like the classic “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” book (and others like it), this is a fun, atmospheric Halloween story. The pictures are big, beautiful, and equally fun for kids in preschool into middle school.
The repetitive nature of the sentence structure is really good for early readers, too. My daughter loved this book when she was in kindergarten, as it gave her a fun way to practice her reading.
With big, cute pictures and bright black-and-orange coloring, this was a favorite when our kids were younger. A young witch has a ghost problem and, instead of being scared, solves it herself. It’s perfectly Halloween-themed, cute, and quite a bit of fun.
This one is a classic – if you’re around my age, it was probably a library favorite. I remember having a copy that had the hardcover hanging off, but I still made it work. I feel certain that your children will love it as much as mine do (and as much as I did, too!) She swallowed a fly, and some coal, and a ton of other things, so it should be obvious that this little old lady isn’t afraid of anything. In this book, she proves it by taking a spooky walk through the autumn woods. A great addition to any “Little Old Lady” collection, but perfect for the spookiest time of year as well.
We love this book because it’s perfect for two seasons – we read it as Halloween approaches and again during Hanukkah and Christmas. It’s got the perfect mix of a compelling story and, well, goblins! The illustrations are some of my daughter’s favorites, as they’re not the cartoony type that you normally see in children’s books.
If you’re looking for creepy books for first graders, or those who are learning to follow along, what follows should be perfect. They’re spooky but not so, and they match early reading development perfectly. Some of these were my kids’ first stories they read by themselves (we’re a spooky family, what can I say?)
Short Scary Stories To Read Together
These stories are just perfectly creepy and designed to be read with mom or dad. They’re wonderfully illustrated as well, and encourage recognition of words and sounds for early readers. Older kids, they’ll be able to read these stories with little difficulty and without scaring themselves too much (just a bit!)
I love the illustrations on this one, probably because I grew up with Nightmare Before Christmas. The story is cute and extremely atmospheric for Halloween; my kids love it. Finnegan the skeleton travels across the land with his spoon and bowl, always looking for something new and delicious to eat, which leads him to a new place for a Halloween feast. You and your kids will love this spooky but sweet story.
Want to spook your six and seven-year-olds and make them laugh? Read a book about creepy, glow-in-the-dark undies. They’re going to have a great time with the Halloween fun and underwear-centric jokes in this classic. If you’re looking for a book with humor, Halloween spirit, and bunnies (with creepy undies), this is a perfect choice.
Like other classic children’s books, this one follows a numeric formula that makes it an easier read for kids. As the witch takes over the ghosts’ house, she gets increasingly crafty trying to scare them away. But after a while, they realize it’s up to them to save Halloween and their home. It’s fun, cute, and your kids will have a blast noticing all the small, hidden details in every picture.
This is probably my daughter’s favorite book of all time and close to one of mine! If you’ve not read this book, it’s an ABSOLUTE MUST BUY…like right now. Stop reading and just get it. While it’s not strictly a Halloween book, it’s got some spooky-season themes that are a ton of fun. The rhyming scheme is easy to learn and helps foster reading ability as well and the illustrations are timelessly wonderful. It’s a truly fun book that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Last Halloween, the witch planted a pumpkin to make a pumpkin pie, but now it’s enormous and she can’t move it. My son loves how this story builds on the input of each spooky character trying to help the witch resolve her pumpkin problem. The illustrations and story are both classics and I love this book just as much now as I did when I was a child. I also really love the theme of teamwork throughout!
These books are getting into more frightening territory. The happy witches and smiling pumpkins are gone, replaced by actual horror and longer stories. Some of these you might remember from your childhood, and others are newer ones we’ve discovered recently. Regardless, these scary books are perfect for second graders and older kids who are reading on their own.
Of course, they might want to read them with you, too, though they may not admit it.
In a Dark, Dark Room
One of the best spooky story anthologies that exist, In a Dark, Dark Room was one of my favorites as a kid. You probably remember the story of the girl with the green ribbon around her neck; it’s classic kid reading material. That story along with many others sits in this book to tingle your spine and make you shiver. Be sure to come back next Halloween, as I’m definitely planning the green ribbon costume to fit my frugal Halloween needs.
You surely thought these stories were going to be on this list, didn’t you? The illustrations alone are enough to evoke nightmares in even the bravest of souls. The boxed set comes with all three spine-chilling books, which is great because once you finish one, you’ll want to go to the next immediately. These books are the foundation of scary childhood literature.
This is easily one of the best children’s books I’ve ever read; it’s atmospheric and the story builds tension masterfully. My second grader can read it quite easily on his own, too, which makes it a great read-alone book that won’t freak them out too much. If your child loves scary stories and is good at reading alone, Took is a great choice.
I have to preface this entry by saying this suggestion comes from my husband, who said this book terrified him as a child. The fact that the stories are “true” adds a layer of “this could happen to me” which makes things even spookier. Since it’s told from the point of view of the kids who experienced the hauntings, it makes them relatable and perhaps more believable.
I love these story collections but unfortunately, a lot of the ones in the last 10 years or so try too hard to be Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Not so, with this one; Out to Get You has unique, wonderful spooky stories that thrill. I highly recommend this scary book for middle-schoolers to read by themselves, but it’s also fun to read along with your kids.
Everyone loves to be scared – it’s a wonderful little thrill. Kids, in particular, seem to relish being spooked, when they know they’re safe. These are some of my favorite scary stories for kids, and while it’s not an exhaustive list, I think you and your children will be pleasantly surprised and scared.
Do you have a favorite spooky bedtime book that you love that I missed? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Despite being over 100 years old, the Montessori Method seems to be gaining in popularity. It’s no wonder, though – Montessori has a lot to offer! While I wouldn’t say I’m a strict Montessori mom, there are definitely pieces of the Montessori philosophies that I have incorporated into our lives, even when my children were babies.
What is the Montessori method?
The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907. Italy’s first female doctor, Dr. Montessori opened the Casa dei Bambini as a way to provide education to low-income children in Rome. Instead of using traditional teaching methods though, Dr. Montessori decided to test her own educational theories in the classroom. These eventually developed into the child,-centered educational theories we now most commonly know as the Montessori Method.
Isn’t Montessori only for rich people?
When I first looked at potentially sending my children to a Montessori preschool in our area, the tuition floored me. I had heard that Montessori was expensive, but yikes…
Deciding I neither wanted to sell my kidneys nor commit wire fraud, I felt the next best thing was to start to incorporate Montessori at home.
It was when I was researching Montessori that I learned about Maria Montessori, developing her teaching methods in some of the poorest districts in Italy. It’s interesting that while modern Montessori schools tend to be pricey, the roots of this teaching style are the exact opposite of elitist.
Incorporating Montessori at Home
In the interest of being thrifty, the idea of going out and buying a bunch of furniture/toys/supplies that was supposedly “Montessori” didn’t sit well with me. This is where the Montessori(ISH) comes into play as I began to incorporate Montessori without going all in.
Keeping Things Accessible
With Montessori, I loved the idea of children being independent and free to learn/explore at their own pace. So even as babies, I let my children guide the way (while keeping them safe, of course!)
By following their lead, they were able to learn in a way that kept them excited and curious. In Montessori, this is called having a “prepared environment.”
What is a Montessori Prepared Environment?
A prepared environment is Dr. Montessori’s idea that a child’s surroundings can be designed to allow for maximum independent learning and exploration by the child.
The 6 main elements include:
Freedom
Structure and order
Beauty
Nature and reality
Social environment
Intellectual environment
Basically it’s the idea that you create space for your child that is meaningfully structured. Everything within their space should have a purpose and nothing should be such that it’s overwhelming to the child.
Do Montessori children play pretend?
Research shows that children under the age of six have a hard time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. This is why it’s so easy for children to believe in the idea of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc.
As such, Montessori encourages play to be rooted in reality. Think actually baking cookies rather than “playing restaurant”.
Personally, while I appreciate the concept, this is again where I don’t necessarily go all in when it comes to Montessori.
Playing School
Here’s a great example of why I think one can pull from Montessori without necessarily being strict with it.
My kids have always been very into playing baby dolls, which is technically discouraged by Montessori, but never by me.
My daughter is now in first grade, and still very much plays with her baby dolls. But now, every day after school and for a lot of the time on the weekends, she plays school with her dolls. She teaches them exactly what it is. She learned in school that week. From her hundreds chart and other mathematical facts to grace and courtesy and being kind to one another.
She is unknowingly reinforcing that which she is learning. Completely on her own…well unless you count the dolls. 😉
It’s a great example of how Montessori and traditional schooling can overlap in a beautiful way.
Discipline in Montessori
I was very blessed in that my children ended up at a preschool that – like me – is Montessori(ISH).
And one of the first concepts that was instilled at this preschool is the idea of positive reinforcement and conscious discipline.
As someone who was raised by a yeller, I knew that was never the kind of mom I wanted to be.
So while I was very cognizant of the tone and words I would use with my children, the Montessori(ish) preschool that my kids went to helped further develop that skill set.
When it comes to discipline within the Montessori method, it’s true in that punishment isn’t a part of the experience. There are no timeouts or groundings. Instead, it is on the parents or other adults in the child’s life to model ideal behavior and gently guide the children back on track should they stray with misbehavior.
Leading by Example
I’ve always found it interesting that many adults seem to hold their children to a higher standard than they hold themselves. It’s this idea of the adults demanding respect, despite not showing it themselves… Which is probably a whole ‘nother blog post in and of itself.
But how can we expect children to self-regulate with their emotions if we do not model how to do such? If we are constantly yelling, why would the children not then do the same? If we name call, gossip, degrade ourselves or others… Children will of course mirror those behaviors.
In that same vein, though, when we lead with kindness, children will follow suit.
And that’s a big part of the Montessori method that I’ve always found to be the most attractive – It’s on the adults to model ideal behavior to children and to use kind, respectful words to show children how to take care of themselves, their possessions, and the world around them.
Being Montessori-Ish
No matter the age of your child, it’s worth looking into Montessori and pulling from it that which you might find useful in how your parenting. Because keep in mind – Montessori is a collection of theories and principles, it’s not a list of hard and fast rules that you must follow in order to “be the best.”
When it comes down to it, Montessori is about following your child’s lead. Even if you enroll your children in traditional schooling, as I did mine, there’s much to be said about how Montessori can support their education outside of school.
I’m absolutely going to take a minute to brag on my own children, in that they are two of the brightest, most incredible kids. They love to learn. Their reading levels far surpass those of their peers. They are brilliantly creative in ways that blow my mind each and every single day. I fully expect them to have a better grasp on mathematical concepts than I do in the next year or two… Hehe though to be fair, I was in English major, math has never been my strong suit.
You can be Montessori(ish) and still reap so many of the benefits that come with following the Montessori Method. Believe me when I say that doing so will not only benefit your children, but your family as a whole.
My daughter is obsessed with sloths so for her 7th birthday, we of course had to throw a sloth themed birthday party! While sloths are absolutely adorable and seem to be trending, I found there wasn’t a lot in terms of sloth themed birthday party ideas. So if you’ve got a kid like me – or you are sloth obsessed yourself- check out these party ideas!
Throwing a Sloth Themed Birthday Party
Do you have a zoo or aquarium nearby? If you’re lucky, you might be able to set up a sloth encounter with a real life sloth! Now this isn’t one we were able to take advantage of ourselves, but I did do an opossum encounter for my 32nd birthday – Yes an opossum. Yes for my birthday. Zoo encounters are an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate a birthday! Fair warning – if you bring a sloth (or an opossum) to a birthday party, good luck ever throwing a better party. But it’ll certainly to be one to remember!
DIY Sloth Decorations
If you like to go the DIY route, DIY sloth decorations are easier than you might think.
If you have a cricket or silhouette machine, you could certainly do some screen printed napkins. Alas, I am not lucky enough to yet have a machine like this, but I did pick up a sloth stamp to add to the corner of our party napkins. It’s a sweet touch, that adds to the overall sloth theme.
Another idea is to print out sloths onto clear vinyl stickers to add to party cups or party hats. A pack of these is super affordable! And these usually work with most printers, no special machinery required. Click here to get your sloth sticker set for only $1!
Sloth Goody Bags
Naturally we had to go all out for the goody bags. There are these pre-made sloth goody bags if you don’t want to go the DIY route:
But personally I didn’t want to spend the money on buying the pre-made ones, so I decided to take a chance at making them myself. I think they turned out pretty great! In fact, you can get the sloth template I made and used here for only $1!
You can print the template on bright white cardstock, have the kids help color in the hats and bow tie/ bows or you can trace onto construction paper. I used this pack of construction paper for the goodie bags pictured above.
Sloth Trinkets + Treats
I try to be really intentional in picking candy alternatives for goodie bags, so I went with as many sloth-themed trinkets as I could find.
Target had some really great wind up sloth toys:
I also picked up these amazing vinyl sloth stickers:
My daughter really enjoyed deciding what stickers would go in goodie bags versus which she would keep for her own collection, and goodness knows there were plenty left over!
We also got sloth stamps and sloth pens. Oriental Trading often has some great sloth themed toys! I can’t lie, I was really tempted to pick up these hugging stuffed sloth slap bracelets, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend $5+ per goody bag.
While not always in stock, it’s worth checking out:
Growing Sloths – stick ’em in water and watch them grow!
Sloth Bracelets– realllllly wanted to buy these for myself if nothing else! I mean c’mon…look how cute!!
Sloth Slime
I also toyed with the idea of doing some fun sloth slime. In the end, I decided against it, because I didn’t want the other parents to hate me. But if you don’t care, or perhaps want to get payback for someone sending slime home with your own kids, this is a fun add to a goodie bag.
Simply have your kids make a big batch of slime and then divvy it up into small 2oz containers. Use this sticker template for the tops of the jars:
You can also pick up the sticker template to have for just that – stickers! And let’s be honest, everyone loves stickers. Especially those parents who might otherwise hate you for the slime.
You might also think about adding this sloth party coloring page to the goodie bags. You can pick up a bulk set of crayons and every kid is sure to enjoy this fun sloth activity. Click to download a free set of sloth coloring pages!
Target also has a super fun sloth mask activity. All you need is scissors, fabric, glue, felt, and ribbon or string. Each child can then have their own adorable sloth mask! Target even has a sloth mask template you can download for free!
Another simple DIY idea for your sloth themed birthday party is to simply create branches out of brown craft paper. If your child is anything like mine, you probably already have a few sloth stuffed animals. Roll up the brown craft paper to make branches and simply hang the stuffies from there. Goodness knows your child will be extra excited to have these guests at her party!
Sloth Birthday Party Decorations
I did end up purchasing a few different sloth themed decoration so that I didn’t have to DIY at all. I got these great sloth balloons:
I did decide to get extra cheesy in that our family decided to wear sloth T-shirts. While I was tempted to make us all match, I decided to mix it up. There are a surprising amount of sloth t-shirt styles available!
I couldn’t get my daughter on board with a sloth pinata, but they do make them! And just like the t-shirts, there are quite a few options to choose from. I personally love this one:
Don’t have the time to get crafty or simply just not your thing? Purchase pre-made leaves and scatter them on tables or hang them from the ceiling and walls.
I hope this has given you plenty of ideas for throwing your own sloth themed birthday party. From DIY decor to goodie bag fun, and so much more, I hope you have the best sloth party. Be sure to tag me on Instagram at @amber_temerity if you use any of these ideas at your next sloth party!
Welcome! My name is Amber Temerity and I'm here to guide you on your journey toward a richer life.
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