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What Color is Your Name? Synesthesia Tool Lets You See Your Name!

There is a form of synesthesia where people see letters and numbers as colors! It is a beautiful way to imagine the world, and it seems like it would automatically bring more personality to each and every name, word, or equation that you come across. (Would taxes be more enjoyable if they were more colorful??) Of course, the first question that comes to mind when learning about this phenomenon is, “What color is my name?” Luckily, there is a synesthesia tool created to let you discover and share just that!

What Color is Your Name?

Go HERE
Type your name
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I had fun looking up my family members’ names, and then looking up other words in general!

I also encourage you to spend some time browsing the synesthesia site and learning more about the topic! It is a fascinating project that is a great reminder of just how differently we see the world sometimes 🙂

Check out our FREE PRINTABLES library

How Many Days Have You Been a Parent?

How many days have I been a parent? This simple question resulted in a whirlwind that has reached 2 million people on Facebook (and counting)! To find out for yourself, Google this: “How many days since [ your first child’s birthdate ].”

– Check out the viral Facebook post HERE –

How many days have I been a parent personally? 3,500 days right on the nose! And that number was amazing to see.

Those numbers are validating because we know just how much goes into each and every day as a parent! Being a parent is not a 9-5 job. There is no paid time off (in fact you don’t get paid at all). And you work nights and weekends. Picturing thousands of days of parenting makes you understand why you feel permanently tired!

It also puts the various stages of parenting into perspective. My heart goes out to the parents who haven’t even hit triple digit numbers yet. Those early days of parenthood are so challenging in so many different ways! Making it through baby’s first year is an accomplishment all on its own because each and every day is so intense.

There are the parents like me that are currently in that sweet spot of parenting. Our kids still need us, but their problems are still relatively small. Sure, we spend hours in the minivan trekking to and from youth sports and other activities; but the kids can at least buckle themselves into said minivan unlike the toddler stage that is in your rearview mirror.

I was able to look up to the parents just a few thousand days ahead of me and respectfully understand that they are trying to navigate the teenage years. Those parents have bigger concerns with real world ramifications for their children, and I can only imagine how many sleepless nights they are still enduring. The waiting, the worrying, and the wondering that goes along with raising a teenager can’t be easy.

Parenting also doesn’t stop once your child becomes an adult! There were many people commenting who were well past the 10,000 days mark, and yet they still have an incredibly important role in their children’s lives. Parenting is a beautiful commitment to a lifetime of love and helping your family through the ups and downs.

So whether you have been a parent for 8 days or 8,000… you are amazing! And you deserve credit for the many, many long hours you have dedicated to raising your family.

How many days have YOU been a parent? Share with us on Facebook!

And for parenting tips and resources, check out our full website: AdoreThemParenting.com

Reindeer Food Recipe and Free Printable Poem

Our family loves celebrating Christmas! We enjoy opening a door of our advent calendar every morning. We like writing letters to Santa. Sipping warm cocoa. Decorating the house. Searching for the elf on the shelf. Baking cookies, and so much more! But one thing we are always sure to do, is mix up some Reindeer food, read the special poem, and sprinkle it in the yard on Christmas Eve. Because this magical recipe will help ensure that Santa’s sleigh finds it way to our house 🙂 Below is our favorite Reindeer Food Recipe, along with a free printable poem. Enjoy!

This article is written by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

How to Make Reindeer Food

Some years we enjoy making this at home together as a family. And other years, I offer to go into school and help each of my children make it with all of their classmates. It is always a huge hit! What I love is that it is less messy than decorating cookies or gingerbread houses, but still offers something fun for the kids to take home and show their parents.

If you decide to make this at school, or with a group of kids, I suggest pouring the ingredients into large separate bowls. Have the kids form a line, and walk around the table (almost like a buffet), adding a scoop of each item to their goody bag. At the end of the line, have a parent or teacher make sure each bag is sealed, and staple the poem to the top. Now their parents will know exactly what to do with this fun reindeer food!

Reindeer Food Recipe

Each child will need one goody bag to store their mixture. What goes in it is up to you, or each little chef. But my favorites are:

1 cup of Oatmeal
1 cup of Birdseed
A few dashes of colored sprinkles
A few dashes of glitter

Print Recipe

Reindeer Food Recipe

A fun recipe for kids to mix up and sprinkle on their lawn on Christmas Eve. Help guide Santa's Reindeer to your house!

Prep Time2 mins

Total Time2 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Holiday Side Dish, Reindeer

Servings: 1 person

Author: Karissa Tunis

Ingredients

1 cup Oatmeal
1 cup Birdseed
Colored Sprinkles
Glitter

Instructions

Grab a goody bag and fill it with the ingredients above.
Sprinkle on your lawn on Christmas Eve night to help guide Santa's Reindeer to your house. Enjoy!

Free Reindeer Poem Printable

Grab some cardstock, print this out, and staple it to your goody bags. Read it again on Christmas Eve night before you sprinkle your Reindeer Food on your lawn.

Submit your email to receive instant access to this FREE printable!

For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

30 Best Video Games for Kids on the Nintendo Switch

In a world ruled by Fortnite, parents are reasonably concerned about what their kids are playing. I’ve had many parents come to me because they were thinking about buying a Nintendo Switch, but then they were concerned about what games their kids would play on it. You also don’t want to spend money on a video game that your kids will never play. You want something that holds their attention, and that they genuinely enjoy. The worry is always that you’re going to buy a video game console like the Nintendo Switch and then it ends up being a parenting battle over appropriate versus inappropriate video games for young kids. Here is a list of the 30 best video games for kids for the Nintendo Switch so that the whole family can enjoy the experience!

This article contains Amazon affiliate links. These links do not change your price or buying experience, but they do help us out! Thanks for supporting Adore Them.

This article is written by Shari Medini
For more on this topic, check out the full Gift Giving collection

Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids

Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 is such a unique game for the Nintendo Switch! It allows kids to create their own video game levels by using logic, strategy, and design. They can customize the way their levels work, and the way they look!

I am always amazed at the creativity of what my boys have come up with… They have made levels that are more like puzzles where certain doors lead to certain paths. They have made levels filled with bad guys, and you have to find the right power up to beat the level. They have made levels where you have to speed run through the entire level as quick as you can.

And once they complete their level, you can choose to upload it to the Super Mario Maker community so that other people around the world can also play your level.

Both of my boys (ages 6 and 9) have spent hours playing this game, which means we have definitely gotten our money’s worth!

Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee

This game includes a lot of really unique features that are very impressive! You can choose to buy the Pikachu or the Eevee version – they are the same game just the one you start with Pikachu and the other you start with Eevee. And I would highly recommend getting a bundle that includes the Pokeball Plus. Yes, it is an extra expense, but it is what brings the game to life!

As with all Pokemon games, you go through the universe catching Pokemon. But what’s unique is that you can actually put your caught Pokemon into the Pokeball Plus! Once you “put” them in your Pokeball, you will hear them make their noises, and it will light up with their colors. You can “play” with your Pokemon in your Pokeball and walk around with it to level it up so that when you transfer it back to the game, it is more powerful than before.

The other really cool feature is that this video game works in cooperation with the mobile game Pokemon Go. You can transfer Pokemon that you caught on your phone into the Let’s Go video games.

The technology is really incredible, and if your kids are Pokemon fans, they will love it!

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

This game is so creative and fun (especially for kids just learning to spell). Scribblenauts is an adventure and puzzle type of game, but what makes it unique is that you can create anything that you can imagine! You type words into the game to create objects to solve the levels. If there is a person that is cold, you can type in “sweater” to make them warmer and happy. If you need to get to a higher place in the level, you can type in “wings” and fly up there yourself!

I appreciate that this game feels like an educational game in that kids are practicing spelling and problem-solving. At the time of posting this, the game is only $19.99 on Amazon, which is such a great deal!

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

While many of the Rabbids games are kind of crazy, this game is actually really great for kids! It is essentially a strategy game that involves a lot of puzzles and logical thinking. It is almost like a very involved and vibrant game of chess where each level gets a little trickier and includes beloved characters.

My older son was really into it for a while and ended up beating the entire game, and then just recently my younger son started getting into it too! And with it being priced under $30 on Amazon right now (at the time of posting this) – it is a steal!

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

I played the original Link’s Awakening game when I was a kid. I played it on my Gameboy, and I think it was the first game I actually ever completed! I was so excited to introduce this game to my kids, and they ended up loving it as much as I did.

It is a fun, classic-style Zelda game where you are using logic and problem-solving to work your way through dungeons and battling bad guys along the way. The graphics are cute and vibrant, and the gameplay is so much fun!

Rayman Legends Definitive Edition

My husband introduced me to Rayman a while back, and even though I was skeptical, I ended up really enjoying the game! It is another one of those games that can be fun for a wide variety of ages since the mechanics and concepts are simple, and the game teaches you as you play.

You basically run through the worlds collecting items as you go, and there are fun characters all along the way! My favorite levels are the the musical levels where your running, jumping, spinning, and ducking coincide with a song that makes it a fun rhythmical challenge! If your kids haven’t played this one before, I’d highly recommend it – especially since it’s priced under $30.

Super Mario Odyssey

Yes, you’re going to continue to see a lot of Mario on this list! But it’s because they do such a great job coming up with unique and kid-friendly concepts.

Super Mario Odyssey is an adventure game where you travel to different worlds, completing missions, and collecting items as you go. The worlds are so colorful and fun, and Mario games always seem to find the right balance of letting you choose how easy or challenging you want the game to be. If you want to be a completionist and find every last item, it is going to take even the most experienced gamer a good amount of time. But if you just want to do the bare minimum and waltz through the game, you are able to enjoy that too!

Minecraft

I don’t think I have to explain to anyone what this game is all about… I’m sure you are already at least a little familiar with Minecraft! The nice thing about getting the game for the Nintendo Switch is that it makes playing Minecraft much more portable.

After watching video about Minecraft for years, my 9 year old has finally gotten really into building worlds of his own. I am amazed at how creative he can get with this game, and it’s fun to see what he comes up with!

Cuphead

This game blew up in popularity, and while I never ended up getting to far in the game myself, my husband and my boys love it! It’s inspired by 1930’s cartoons and has a really fun vibe to it, and the gameplay is extremely challenging.

It is the type of game where you need to play a level over and over again to pick up on patterns and hone your skills, which requires a lot of patience but results in a fun payoff when you finally beat each boss!

Cuphead is a digital download for only $19.99, which I’m sure is part of why it’s become so popular! You can get it through Amazon below or simply buy it through the Nintendo store on your Switch.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Whether you actually understand the moves and strategy behind these battles, or you just like to button mash… this is a really fun game for a large group of people. When my son has friends over, this is usually what they want to play!

You can play this game with up to 8 people (if you have that many controllers), and you don’t have to know anything about the game to get started, which makes it a great party game.

This game brings about more yelling and laughter than most other games we’ve played, but that’s half the fun!

It also has a story mode type of game play that my boys have also enjoyed working through when they’re playing on their own.

Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield

These games are the latest in the Pokemon franchise and are following that similar style of releasing two similar games with a slightly different angle. The main difference between the two games is which types of Pokemon and Trainers appear throughout the game. Both of my boys say they want the Pokemon Shield version for what it’s worth…

These games are set to release on November 15th, 2019 so while we haven’t played them yet, they look like what you’d expect from the franchise. You collect. You battle. You power up. You complete missions. All things that my boys have grown to know and love, and they are really excited for this one!

Nintendo Labo

Nintendo Labo is basically an elaborate craft kit for kids that love video games, which is a fun way to bring things to life! The Labo kit comes with a game cartridge and a whole bunch of cardboard. The game cartridge has tutorials and interactive games on it, which is a great feature for tying it all together! My kids were able to follow the simple instructions to build all of the fun Labo creations, and then enjoyed playing the games that go with those creations.

There are things like a fishing pole where you can virtually catch fish and a piano that actually plays music. At the time of posting this, the Nintendo Labo Variety Kit is being offered for over 40% off on Amazon!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 is another one of those nostalgic games… I grew up losing horribly to my brother in Mario Kart, and I still love playing it today!

You can enjoy the challenge of winning trophies in single player mode and unlocking new vehicles and upgrades. You can race with multiple people. Or you can have fun in battle modes where you can compete against friends or team up with them!

My boys tend to like being on the same team in battle mode the best because then no one has to lose to the other 😉

Splatoon 2

We got really into Splatoon when it launched for the Wii U, and it is a really fun and unique battle game! You are a squid/human hybrid that inks bad guys and runs through various levels. It might take a little bit to get used to the controls and gameplay, but once you get the hang of it, it is super fun!

My boys like to do battle mode where you battle against other players online from across the world, and I like that there isn’t a chat feature attached to this gameplay so that they’re not exposed to anything inappropriate. If you are looking for a Fortnite alternative, this could be a really good option!

Mega Man 11

My husband grew up on Mega Man games so he is a huge fan of the whole franchise, which also means that our boys now love it too! Each character has different abilities and strengths so they have fun figuring out what will work best in each scenario.

It is another one of those games that will take time and patience to master, which can be a good thing! Mega Man 11 is also a great value since it’s priced around $20!

Super Mario Party

Admittedly, Super Mario Party is one of my favorites because it’s the latest iteration of the game that I grew up playing as a kid. But it is also a great family game!

Super Mario Party is essentially a virtual board game with fun mini games built in. I do think that some of the more recent Mario Parties are trying to get to fancy and complicated, and I wish they’d just go back to basics a bit more. But… this game is still a staple in our collection.

This is a game we gravitate towards when we have friends over or just have a free evening as a family.

Just Dance

This is another game that has been around for what seems like forever, and each year they come out with an updated version with new, popular songs. It is a great game that gets your kids (and yourself) moving while having a blast together!

There is a wide variety of songs, difficulty levels, and dance styles that is fun to explore and try together. And there are even workout modes as a fun way to sneak in some exercise!

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD

This classic game just came out for the Nintendo Switch, and I can’t wait to try it! There are over 100 colorful stages to race through, and a variety of party games are available to play as well!

Considering this game is being offered at a significantly lower price-point than other Switch games ($39.99 instead of the usual $59.99), I think it will be worth the money. It is a classic Sega style game, and who doesn’t need some of that in their life?

Mario Tennis Aces

I was a little skeptical about this game initially, but it turned out to be really fun! You can play against each other like a virtual tennis match, or you can play in story mode where you come across some really unique challenges.

It is surprisingly addicting once you get into the rhythm of playing, and it’s of course filled with all of the usual favorite Mario characters!

Yoshi’s Crafted World

Yoshi’s Crafted World is another game that my older son got really into and completed fairly quickly, but what I love about these types of games is that even once you beat the story mode, you can then go back in and do all sorts of bonus missions.

This game has such adorable graphics and is so creative! The entire world is made out of craft supplies and has unique mechanics (like pulling on a piece of yarn to unravel the entire wall to find a hidden item).

The game also allows you to choose between easy mode and challenge mode so that you can adjust the gameplay to your liking. You can even switch modes mid-level, which keeps kids from getting stuck at a certain part and losing interest.

Sonic Mania

While my husband grew up on Mega Man, I grew up on Sonic. This game took me back in the best way possible! Sonic games took a weird turn a while ago, and they just weren’t the same. So when this launched with the old-school mechanics and gameplay, I was so excited!

Sonic Mania re-introduces this franchise to kids in the best way possible. Now my sons understand why I love Sonic so much! And for only $30, this game is worth having on your shelf.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I can’t say enough good things about this game! It was one of the first games that we owned for the Nintendo Switch, and we still consistently play it almost 3 years later!

This open world type game is beautiful but also so much fun to interact with. Younger kids will have fun running around and exploring while older kids (and adults) can dedicate hours upon hours to the game.

Some of the bad guys can get a little bit creepy at times so keep an eye out for that. But I would argue that this game is a must-have for anyone with a Nintendo Switch… especially if you’re a fan of the Zelda franchise!

1-2-Switch

This is one of the games that the Nintendo Switch originally launched with, and it is still one of my younger son’s favorite games. It does a good job of using the controllers in a unique way through a variety of mini games. All of these games are interactive and have to be played with another person, which makes it a fun family game.

Whether you are wizards battling each other with your wands, trying to unlock a safe, or running a race against each other, this game provides simple fun in short chunks of time.

Super Bomberman

This game is really different than other games out there, and my boys have really enjoyed it! They love playing against friends and family in battle modes, and if they’re playing on their own, there is adventure-style levels to work through too.

The nice thing about this game is that each round is fairly short. You try to bomb the other players without blowing up yourself too. There are power-ups to collect and a good amount of strategy involved. And since the rounds are so short, it is easier to accept that you win some and you lose some! For $25, it’s a safe bet that you’ll get your money’s worth out of this game.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Here’s another type of remake that takes me back to my own childhood. I remember playing Olympic type games on our old Sega, and I think this game is a fun way to get the kids into the spirit of the games!

My boys tend to enjoy these types of games where they can play a variety of mini games in short bursts of time. Plus, it’s Mario… and he rarely lets us down!

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

This Donkey Kong game is another fun, simple platformer game. You run sideways, you collect items, you throw barrels at bad guys. Kids are able to catch onto the gameplay quickly, and they have fun making their way through each of the levels!

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Octodad is a weird one, but my boys think it’s hilarious! You play as a dad that is an octopus, and you have to complete simple missions around the house, at the grocery store, and other normal locations. The trick though is that you have to control all of the octopus limbs independently. So walking is tricky, using your arms is tricky, and everything is very goofy.

For only $15, I think it’s totally worth the laughs!

Luigi’s Mansion 3

This game has been extremely popular – especially since it was released on Halloween! My son loves the story and puzzle-solving aspects of these Luigi Mansion games.

It offers the familiar style of Mario type games with a fun twist!

Kirby Star Allies

Kirby Star Allies is another cute and fun platformer game for a variety of ages (are you sensing a pattern here?). Throughout the game you can collect different types of power ups that allow Kirby to do different actions to make it through each level.

It is another one of those games that is fun and simple, yet challenging as you move through the levels.

Lego Harry Potter Collection

At the time of posting this, you will get two LEGO Harry Potter video games remastered in one package for less than $25! I love all of the LEGO games because there just seems to be something satisfied about smashing and rebuilding digital LEGO structures. I also love how creative they get with their LEGO worlds.

If you have a Harry Potter fan in your house, I highly recommend this one. And if not, there are many other LEGO titles that are also fun to play like Incredibles, Marvel, and more…

Co-Owner: Shari Medini

Shari Medini is the co-owner of the parenting website Adore Them. Her prior experience includes working as a marketing strategist and writer on multi-million dollar capital campaigns, website designs, advertising campaigns, and book launches. Shari’s parenting articles have been published in dozens of publications; and she enjoys doing various speaking engagements. When she’s not on her laptop, Shari can be found spending quality time with her husband and two sons exploring their hometown of Lancaster County, PA

Contact: Shari@AdoreThem.com

Are You Spending Way More than You Should on Kids’ Toys?

A study conducted by the University of Toledo suggested that children who have fewer toys are more creative and have longer attention spans. The Ohio-based university recruited 36 toddlers who were allowed to play in a room with either 16 toys or just four. They found that the toddlers who played with four toys used each for twice as long.…

Create Your Own Dr. Seuss Character

Create, draw, & name your own Dr. Seuss style character to celebrate his birthday!

— Click the image below to view, save, & print —

Get Organized – Family Conversation Starters

Created by Shari Medini
For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized collection

We hear all the time how important it is to open up the lines of communication. Communication improves relationships with partners, friends, & coworkers; but we can’t forget that it also improves our relationships with our children.

Taking the time to have a genuine conversation with your child can be so much fun & so insightful! It also helps to build up a great family bond, which is why we are offering a few family conversation starters to go a long with each curated collection of content….

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Make Sure that YOU Get to Enjoy the Party Too!

A lot of times we are so busy planning & hosting our child’s birthday party that we forget to enjoy with it them too! Here’s Shari’s reminder for parents…

Check out the full Party Planning Collection!