Carolyn Savage
Carolyn is a professional writer, proofreader, and editor living in Bend, Oregon with her husband and two pre-teen daughters. She has a background in wildlife management but switched to writing and editing when she became a mother. With her experience working for a small publishing company, as a freelance proofreader, and as a mother she shares insightful stories that support parents and grandparents.
She is the daughter of Raising Families co-founder Rick Stephens and holds the rank of black belt in taekwando. In her free time she loves reading fantasy novels, learning to craft from her enormously talented children, and then teaching what she’s learned to her enormously talented grandmother.
Posts by Carolyn Savage
6 Fun Family Rituals for the Extra Sunlight in the Evening
Age: anyTime: variesMaterials: depends on activityFocus: strengthen family bondSpring is around the corner, and that means losing an hour for daylight saving time. It also means gaining some extra sunlight in the evening. This extra sunlight at the end of the day gives us an opportunity to create some new family rituals that we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise (i.e., in the dark). So while I may not be fond of losing an hour of sleep, I am looking forward to creating some more family bonding time with these ideas for family rituals.Extra Sunlight Ideas for Family Rituals1. Go for
5 Easy Family Building Projects for Your Garden
Age: 4–5+Time: variesMaterials: depends on projectFocus: Develop life skillsWith spring quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to teach your kids how to use some tools while doing a few family building projects for your garden. If you aren’t a tool master yourself, that’s okay. You can show your child how to use the resources available in your area to learn how to use tools safely.How to Teach Your Child to Use Tools SafelyMost large hardware stores, like Lowe’s and Home Depot, have a tool rental program, so you don’t have to purchase a tool if you don’t think you’ll use it
Pick a Family Word for the Year
Age: 1+Time: variesMaterials: paper and pencils or pensFocus: teamwork - strengthen family bondHave you heard people talk about their word for the year or have you picked a word yourself? It’s a rather simple process but not always easy to narrow it down to just one word. In this Family Bonding Challenge, you’ll be picking a word (or two) as a family. The word will be a reminder of what the family agreed upon as what you want for the year. Whatever word you pick will need to be agreed upon by everyone for it to create a bonding experience. This
1 Simple Way to Show Kindness to Seniors
Age: 2 and upTime: 30+ minutesMaterials: colored and/or plain paper, markers or pencils to write and decorate, scissors, glue, or different supplies depending on the type of valentines you decide to makeFocus: bring happiness to seniors in your areaSeniors in assisted living facilities are often overlooked in our community, especially if they don’t have family in the area. When Valentine’s Day comes, it can be a hard day, especially if their loved ones have passed. There's a simple way to show kindness, brighten their day, and let them know they haven’t been forgotten. It’s as easy as making some extra valentines
Choosing a Family Community Service Project
Age: 5+Time: variesMaterials: variesFocus: strengthen community engagementThe New Year is a great time to engage with the community, give to others, and explore new interests. This Family Bonding Challenge is about selecting a family community service project that will give back to your community in a way that resonates with your family while sharing your values with your kids and creating some wonderful family memories.Your Service Project Represents Your ValuesWherever you live, you are surrounded by a community of people and businesses that support you and your family. Without even thinking about it, you engage with your community whenever you
