Category: Livable for Kids

• Quiet Ways to Spend the Holidays

  

  Looking for some peaceful, quiet ways to escape the hustle and bustle this holiday season? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

  aprilbarcalow

  December 5, 2025

  Hobbies and Recreation, House and Home, Livable for Kids, Livable Relationships

  activities, christmas, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, disability, entertaining, family, fatigue, hanukkah, holiday, hosting, ideas, kwanzaa, new year, tips

• Helping Kids Cope with Anxiety and Depression

  

  If you read the headlines, you know that mental health struggles are on the rise, especially among kids and teens. There are a host of factors believed to contribute to this (including the pandemic, electronics, etc.), but regardless of the reasons, coping with mental health issues has become a major player in many families’ lives.…

  aprilbarcalow

  May 9, 2025

  Livable Blog, Livable for Kids, Livable Relationships

  Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, children, coping skills, Depression, family, ideas, kids, mental health, parenting, teens, tips, tools

• Books Featuring Mental Illness

  

  Looking for book recommendations that include mental illness/discussions about mental health? Here are a few historical fiction recommendations from books I’ve enjoyed!

  aprilbarcalow

  April 11, 2025

  Hobbies and Recreation, Livable for Kids, Personal Care

  Anxiety, book recommendation, books, clean reads, closed door, dementia, Depression, historical fiction, mental health, mental health awareness, Mental illness, PTSD, reading, suicide, suicide prevention

• Back-to-School Items that Make Spoonie Life Easier

  

  You may think the back to school sales are only for classroom-bound kids, but what if I told you the stores are FULL of really useful items for those of us with chronic illness? Here are some of the things you might want to watch for this time of year!

  aprilbarcalow

  August 15, 2023

  Fashion and Accessories, House and Home, Livable for Kids, Medical Equipment, Personal Care

  bedding, cane, chronic, chronic illness, disability, fatigue, flare day, hacks, ideas, medical, mobility, organization, solutions, spoonie, tips, walker, weakness, wheelchair

• Great Gift Ideas for Kids with Disabilities or Chronic Illness

  

  Just in time for the holidays, here is a round up of some of my favorite inclusive, helpful kids’ gifts for children with chronic illness or disability.

  aprilbarcalow

  October 25, 2022

  Livable for Kids

  accessible, babies, birthday, books, cancer, chemo, children, christmas, chronic illness, disability, gift guide, holiday, ideas, inclusive, kids, toys

• Round-up of Great Costumes for Kids with Disabilities

  

  Looking for creative adaptive Halloween costumes for your child? Here are some ideas to get you started!

  aprilbarcalow

  October 4, 2022

  Livable for Kids

  accessible, adaptive, chronic illness, cochlear implant, costume, crutches, disability, dress up, Halloween, hearing impaired, ideas, walker, wheelchair

• Low-Energy Fall Activities to do With Your Kids

  

  Read on for a collection of fall-related family activities that are flare-day friendly.

  aprilbarcalow

  September 27, 2022

  Livable for Kids, Livable Relationships

  activities, children, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, disability, family, fatigue, hobbies, ideas, kids, parenting

• Low-Energy Summer Activities to do With Your Kids

  

  Here are some of my favorite low-energy activities to enjoy with your kids this summer, even on flare days!

  aprilbarcalow

  July 5, 2022

  Livable for Kids, Livable Relationships

  accessible, activities, children, chronic illness, chronic pain, disability, family, fatigue, ideas, parenting, solutions, spoonie

• Low-Energy Spring Activities to do With Your Kids

  

  Here are some great ways to celebrate the arrival of spring with your child, without much energy required.

  aprilbarcalow

  April 5, 2022

  Livable for Kids, Livable Relationships

  accessible, activities, children, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, disability, family, games, ideas, kids, parenting, solutions, spring, tips

• PEG Tube and G-Button Accessories with Personality

  

  If your health journey (or your child’s) includes a gastrostomy, there are great options to reflect your personality and meet your medical needs. Here are just a few to get you started!

  aprilbarcalow

  March 22, 2022

  Livable for Kids, Medical Equipment

  accessible, accessories, adult, baby, bard, chemo port, child, chronic illness, dialysis, feeding tube, g-button, gastrostomy, hearing aid, ideas, infant, medical accessory, medical device, mickey, neonatal intensive care, NICU, pediatric, PEG tube, peritoneal dialysis, PICC line, premature, reusable, solution, special needs, tips, trach, tracheostomy