Mary Ellen Barrett

This simple craft uses bits and pieces of nature collected hither and yon and says, Easter is coming my friends and the joy of the Resurrection is at hand.

Mary Ellen has practical tips and a house full of fun activities to keep you and the kids on top when circumstances threaten to turn your world upside down.

It can be difficult to pray the Stations of the Cross in church but this craft brings the Stations home, and on a schedule that better suits young children.

As we journey through Lent with our family, Mary Ellen Barrett shares activities to draw you closer to each other and prepare your hearts to welcome Jesus.

It can be hard for children to sacrifice but blessing bags can teach that we are called to see the face of Christ in all people and to love them as He does.

This homemade crown of thorns can make it easier for your little ones to tackle their sacrifices in small daily bits and see how their penance bears fruit.

This Lent, Mary Ellen Barrett helps families count down the days of their Lenten journey with activities that could become traditions that last a lifetime.

A collection of timely crafts, books, and activities for Advent, in weekly snippets, can help families welcome the Christ Child into their hearts and homes.

A collection of timely crafts, books, and activities for Advent, in weekly snippets, can help families welcome the Christ Child into their hearts and homes.

A collection of timely crafts, books, and activities for Advent, in weekly snippets, can help families welcome the Christ Child into their hearts and homes.

Mary Ellen Barrett shares her family's traditions, crafts, and recipes through the season of Advent with books and activities for saint and feast days too!

Making this Advent Calendar is a great way to keep your children in the spirit of Advent, and prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.

Mary Ellen Barrett shows us how opening your home to guests in the holiday season is an act of love, which blesses both your family and your guests.

Be creative! You make lapbooks from two file folders for math, science, literature, religion, history, even music. You are only limited by your imagination.

Moms ask if you can provide a real childhood experience for your kids along with an excellent education. Yes, but there is a catch says Mary Ellen Barrett.

Summer, long car rides, and picnic blanket lunches - even occasional rainy days are all great times to introduce new ways to learn math with fun math games.

Mary Ellen has a fun craft for children to create pocket shrines honoring the Blessed Mother and the Sacred Heart of Jesus in their months of May and June.

Mary Ellen Barrett says family traditions are not only fun but extremely appealing to children because structure and routine are of great comfort to them.

A salt dough Crown of Thorns is a Lenten craft idea that you can use to point your children toward the Cross and show how their sacrifices will bear fruit.

The secret to getting organized is to carve out an hour every week and treat it as sacrosanct to keep up with grading, planning, and tidying the shelves.