Banana Muffins We Bake Again and Again

 

I can't tell you how many bananas I've rescued from becoming compost simply by turning them into muffins. At this point, my kids know exactly what happens when the bananas start getting brown.

"Are we making banana muffins?" 

 The answer is almost always yes.

Making muffins with the kids is always about more than just using up our ingredients that are going bad, though.

It's a learning opportunity. One is practicing fractions while measuring out the chocolate chips, the other kiddo is practicing number recognition as we set the temperature on the oven.

We take turns, we stir things up, we dance to music, and we enjoy our time together and muffins afterwards!

Are you looking for a great treat, that's super easy to eat and a staple in our house?

Here's my gluten-free banana muffin recipe, be sure to pin this so you can come back and make it again!

Banana Muffin Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan or grease each cup.
2. Mash the bananas in a large bowl.
3. Stir in the melted butter.
4. Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla, mixing until combined.
5. Stir in the baking soda, flour, and salt.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips. I said 1/2 a cup but we always just pour until the kids are smiling.
7. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin cups.
8. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool slightly...if your family can wait that long.

A Little Encouragement, Mama

Some of the sweetest family memories aren't made during big vacations or elaborate activities.

Sometimes they're made while mashing bananas at the kitchen counter, laughing over spilled flour, and waiting for the timer to ding.

Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids (Free Printable)

I don't know about you, but some of my favorite childhood memories happened outside.

Not on expensive vacations or at fancy attractions—but in the backyard, collecting interesting rocks, chasing butterflies, and seeing who could find the biggest leaf.

Now that I'm raising my own kids, I've realized those simple adventures are still some of the best ones.

Whether we're checking on our garden, looking for lizards in the flower beds, or simply wandering around after dinner, there's always something new to discover when we slow down long enough to notice.

That's exactly why I created this free Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt.

It's a simple way to encourage curiosity, get kids moving, and turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure.

Why We Love Nature Scavenger Hunts

One thing I love about scavenger hunts is that they don't require much planning.

Print the page.

Grab a pencil.

Head outside.

That's it.

Some days we'll spend fifteen minutes checking things off the list. Other days we'll end up outside for over an hour because one tiny discovery leads to another.

A butterfly lands on a flower.

Someone spots a ladybug.

We find a feather.

Before we know it, we've forgotten all about screens and we're completely wrapped up in exploring.

Those are the afternoons I hope my kids remember.

Why This Matters

I think our kids spend enough time being entertained.

What they don't always get enough of is the chance to simply wonder.

To ask questions.

To notice the tiny details most adults walk right past.

Nature has a way of slowing all of us down.

It reminds us that not every afternoon needs a schedule.

Sometimes the best adventures happen just a few steps outside the back door, exploring the wonder right in front of us.

Download Your Free Printable

Built with Kit

Ready to head outside?

Click above to download your free Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt and see what your family discovers.

I'd love to hear what your kids find first!

A Little Encouragement, Mama

You don't need an elaborate plan to create meaningful memories.

Some of the sweetest afternoons begin with nothing more than a printed page, a curious child, and a backyard full of tiny wonders waiting to be noticed.

Slow down. Look closer.

You might be surprised by what you find right outside.

Our Homeschool Morning Basket: What We Keep Inside (and Why We Love It)

*This post contains amazon affiliate links, these don't cost you a thing but they do help me earn a teeny percentage of Amazon's $, feel free to click through and shop!*

When we first started homeschooling, I imagined our mornings would begin with everyone happily gathered around the table, books open, pencils sharpened, and ready to dive into the day.

Reality looked a little different.

Someone couldn't find their math book. Someone else was fingerpainting with their yogurt before I was even able to get a sip of coffee. The dogs were barking, Alexa was belting out K-Pop and there were the remains of an intense game of 'The Floor is Lava' left all over the house.

It wasn't chaotic, it was just...life.

That's when I realized we needed a gentler way to ease into our homeschool day.

Enter our morning basket.

It's one of the simplest things we've added to our school-year routine, but it's made one of the biggest differences. Instead of rushing straight into independent work, we start our day together with books, conversation, and a few favorite activities that help everyone settle in.

If you've been curious about homeschool morning baskets or are wondering what to put in one, here's a peek inside ours.

What Is a Homeschool Morning Basket?

A morning basket is simply a basket (or bin, tray, tote, or even a shelf!) filled with the books and activities you want to enjoy together each morning.

There's no single "right" way to create one.

Some families use it for Bible study, poetry, and read-alouds. Others include memory work, music appreciation, nature study, or fun educational games.

That's one of my favorite things about homeschooling—you get to create routines that fit your family instead of trying to fit your family into someone else's routine.

Why We Started Using One

Before we had a morning basket, our homeschool mornings sometimes felt rushed.

Everyone knew what needed to get done, but it took a while to find our rhythm.

Now, our morning basket gives us a gentle starting point.

We gather together, enjoy a few shared activities, and ease into the day before everyone branches off into their individual lessons.

I've found that beginning with connection makes the rest of our homeschool day feel much smoother.

What We Keep in Our Morning Basket

Our basket changes throughout the year, but these are the items we reach for most often.

Read-Aloud Book

We always have a chapter book we're reading together. It's one of the easiest ways to build vocabulary, spark conversations, and create memories..

Bible or Devotional (Optional)

If faith is part of your homeschool, this can be a peaceful way to begin your morning together.

Memory Work

Whether it's multiplication facts, Scripture, geography, or famous quotes, spending just a few minutes reviewing together adds up over time.

Nature Journal

We love taking our basket outside when the weather cooperates. A simple nature journal gives the kids a place to sketch interesting leaves, insects, birds, or flowers we notice throughout the week.

Colored Pencils and Dry-Erase Markers

Keeping basic supplies in the basket means we're not constantly getting up to search for them.

It sounds like a small thing, but it saves us from a lot of unnecessary interruptions.

Conversation Starters

Sometimes our favorite part of our morning isn't a lesson at all—it's a good conversation.

A few thoughtful questions can lead to discussions about kindness, gratitude, history, or whatever happens to be on our minds that day.

The Best Part? It Changes With the Seasons

One thing I love about our morning basket is that it never feels stuck.

During the summer, we might add field guides, books about ocean animals, or simple nature activities.

In the fall, we'll swap in stories about changing leaves and harvest time.

Around Christmas, our basket naturally fills with seasonal books and family traditions.

It grows right alongside our family.

You Don't Need Fancy Supplies

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this post, it's that you don't need a Pinterest-perfect basket to make this work.

Use a basket you already have.

Borrow books from the library.

Print a few free activities.

Add one meaningful item at a time.

The goal isn't to create something beautiful for social media.

The goal is to create a rhythm that helps your family start the day together.

A Little Encouragement, Mama

If your homeschool mornings feel messy, you're not doing it wrong.

Some mornings our basket is the centerpiece of our day.

Other mornings it barely gets opened because life takes us in a different direction.

That's okay.

The beauty of homeschooling isn't found in perfect routines—it's found in the freedom to adjust, try again tomorrow, and create a home where learning feels welcoming instead of rushed.

Start simple, stay flexible, and remember that the moments you spend reading, talking, and wondering together often become the ones your children remember long after the lesson is over.

The Best Learning Happens Outside the Classroom

"What did your kids learn today?"

I think people often wonder this about homeschool kids.

Most people expect the answer to include math worksheets, spelling tests, or whatever chapter we're working through in science.

Sometimes it does. We don't skip textbooks, but we don't strictly learn from them either.

Some of our favorite learning moments don't happen at a table at all.

They happen while baking cookies, walking through the grocery store.

Watching a thunderstorm roll in, measuring sticks to build a backyard fort, or trying to figure out why the moon looks so big on the drive home.

Those moments may not look like school, but they've taught my kids some of the most memorable lessons.

And honestly? I think every family, whether you homeschool or your kids attend public or private school—can find opportunities for learning in everyday life.

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Learning Through Everyday Life

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that it has changed the way I look at ordinary moments.

Instead of seeing errands as something to check off my to-do list, I see little opportunities to spark curiosity.

A trip to the grocery store becomes a math lesson when we compare prices or estimate the total before we get to the checkout.

Cooking dinner turns into reading practice, measuring fractions, and learning how to follow directions.

Even something as simple as folding laundry can become a lesson in sorting, matching, and responsibility.

None of these moments require expensive curriculum or elaborate lesson plans.

They just require slowing down enough to invite our kids into what we're already doing.

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Curiosity Is a Better Teacher Than Pressure

I've noticed something over the years.

When my kids ask a question because they're genuinely curious, they remember the answer so much longer than when I simply tell them what they need to know.

Some of our best rabbit trails have started with questions like:

"Why is the sky orange tonight?"

"How does a bridge stay up?"

"Why do flamingos stand on one leg?"

Instead of rushing to give an answer, we'll look it up together.

Sometimes that turns into a five-minute conversation.

Sometimes it turns into an afternoon spent learning something neither of us expected.

Those are the days I treasure most.

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It's Okay If Learning Looks Different

For a long time, I thought learning had to happen sitting at a table with pencils and workbooks. But it's that and so much more.

Then I realized my kids were learning just as much while:

• Building elaborate LEGO cities.
• Digging holes at the beach.
• Helping Dad fix something in the garage.
• Watching butterflies in the backyard.
• Creating imaginary worlds with cardboard boxes.

Children are naturally curious.

Sometimes our biggest job as parents isn't filling their heads with information.

It's protecting that curiosity.

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A Lesson I'll Never Forget

One afternoon, we were headed to the neighborhood park when one of my kids noticed a construction crew working nearby. Instead of hurrying past, we stopped.

For the next twenty minutes, we watched cranes lifting items and talked about how the crews were moving our power lines since our area is growing. We guessed what each machine did and counted the trucks driving by.

It wasn't part of our lesson plan. But I guarantee my children remember that afternoon far more vividly than many workbook pages we've completed.

Moments like that remind me learning isn't confined to four walls.

It's happening everywhere, if we're willing to notice it.

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You Don't Have to Homeschool to Learn This Way

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear.

You don't have to homeschool to embrace everyday learning.

In fact, families with children in traditional school can do this just as easily.

Ask questions at dinner. Bake together on the weekends. Visit your local library.

Explore a nature trail. Let your child help you plant flowers.

Turn everyday moments into conversations instead of rushing through them.

Those little moments add up.

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A Little Encouragement, Mama

If you're a fellow homeschool mom worried that you are not "doing enough," let me encourage you with something I've had to remind myself more than once.

Your children don't need every moment of every day to be educational.

They need a mom who's willing to wonder with them.

Some of the most meaningful lessons they'll learn won't come from a textbook.

They'll come from baking cookies beside you, spotting shapes in the clouds, asking questions you don't know the answers to, and discovering the world together. Those moments count.

Don't underestimate the power of simply being present.

Why We Homeschool Year-Round: Our Relaxed Summer Routine

One of the questions I get asked most often recently is, "Do you take the summer off from homeschooling?"

The short answer? Not really.

But that doesn't mean we're sitting around the kitchen table doing hours of schoolwork while everyone else is at the pool. I don't make the kids read a stack of books before meeting friends at the fence line for a backyard play date. 

In fact, this is how we school year round. My kids never have a regimented "school time". We fit school into their schedules naturally. Before we run out to a co-op meet up, we squeeze in an art history lesson. On our way to the art museum, we practice fractions. School happens where it fits, instead of fitting our days around a standard school schedule.

Contrary to public school schedules, during the summer we actually school more. But it's still at our leisure and I don't limit play time for school time, ever.

Summer honestly has become one of my favorite seasons to homeschool during because everything slows down for us. We almost always are on the go, but during the summer we stay home more, we spend time embracing air conditioning and learning neat things while staying cool. 

Don't get me wrong, we still make time for fun. We spend plenty of afternoons outdoors. We do it all the fun Florida things and spend tons of time exploring, swimming and sliding down our giant neighborhood slides, catching creepy crawly bugs outside, visiting the Tampa zoo, hitting the coolest parks up, or eating popsicles on the back porch. 

I've learned over the years that consistency doesn't have to mean rigidity and we don't have to follow anyone's timeline when it comes to school. We school more during the summer simply because it fits our schedule more, but we still squeeze in school to our schedules like we do year-round.

A short math lesson before heading to the pool still counts as school in our house.

Some mornings our lessons happen at the kitchen table with snacks and art supplies sprawled out from one end to the other. While other mornings we read pool side and jump in when we get 10 answers in a row correct... and honestly, I think maybe those are the days my kids will remember the most, because we have so much fun and embrace the chill... We laugh, we learn, we cool off in the pool, and no one feels like they've spent the day "doing schoolwork".

Instead of taking one long break and spending weeks trying to get back into a routine, we simply keep learning as part of our everyday life. It's slower. It's more flexible. And for our family, it's so much less stressful.

One day we may knock out 3 math lessons and read a few chapters all before breakfast and other days we may learn fractions while measuring a sand castle at the beach. We like to learn while on the go and learn via textbook, it's simple - school happens on our schedule, school is part of our everyday life. We don't fit life around school. We fit school into our life.

If you've been wondering what homeschooling actually looks like, I hope this little peek into our routine encourages you to create a rhythm that works for your own family—not someone else's.

A Little Encouragement, Mama

If you're feeling pressure to make your homeschool look a certain way this summer, let me remind you of something I have to remind myself often: your homeschool doesn't have to look like anyone else's to be successful.

Some seasons are filled with field trips and science projects. Other seasons are filled with library books, popsicles, and simply showing up each day.

Both are enough.

Give yourself grace, enjoy your kids, and remember that learning is happening even when it doesn't look like school.

💡 Bright Idea

Keep a basket in the car with library books, coloring supplies, and educational card games. Whether you're waiting for an appointment or heading to co-op, those little pockets of time become effortless learning opportunities.