by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Jun 18, 2025 | Education Materials, Homeschooling
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
(Post originally published in 2020) My son, who is 14, is on the autism spectrum. As a result, he struggles socially. Not only that, but he hates writing. So when I saw the Byron’s Games Connections Stationary Kit, I got excited over the possibilities. And it went even better than I expected!
To be perfectly honest, I knew my son would not be a happy camper over the idea of writing a letter. That’s why it is so cool that the Connections Stationary Kit has all of the neat accessories. I expected my son to give me a much harder time. However, that was not the case at all. And I know that part of the reason is that he was able to “cheat” a little.
For example, when he wrote the letters. Because the stationery papers have “Hello” at the top, he only had to write the name of the person. He wrote a total of five letters during the time I was doing the review. Now that’s a lot even for a typical kid!
There are several choices, including “Hello,” “Miss You,” “Explore,” “Thank You,” a big red heart, and a cool suitcase. Also included is a nice, black felt tip pen.
In addition, the Connections Stationary Kit contains a “Thank You” stamp, along with two choices of colors, blue and pink.
Obviously, all of the nice accessories make it much easier to sit down and write someone you know to let them know you care.
The Byron’s Games Connections Stationary Kit also includes plenty of envelopes and paper to make many friends and family feel special. The extras also take the pressure off kids who worry about making mistakes.
It was fun to see the progress Nathan made during the process as well. Below are some samples that illustrate what I mean.
The letters Nathan wrote were to the following people, and were written in the order the people are listed.
Grandpa
This was his first letter and he really had no idea what to do. He had never addressed a letter before and he didn't even understand the concept of a stamp. In fact, he needed a full explanation of why we needed a stamp. This was especially important once he realized that we were delivering it to the apartment next door through the post office.
I didn't get a picture of this. However, I can tell you that he told his grandpa about a truck he keeps seeing but hasn't been able to photograph. My son was diagnosed with Autism when he was 13. So, he doesn't really understand back and forth communication. But I liked that he talked about that because I know that his grandpa would appreciate it and know the “inside story.”
Grandma
The next letter was sent to grandma. His note to her was the temperature in Antarctica, which is crazy cold! (In case you're curious, the current temperature is -44 degrees F, feels like -78 degrees F).
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Therapist
His third letter was to his ABA Therapist and he wouldn't let us see it. However, I know he didn't use words.
His natural preference is to use pictures when he “writes.”
This is one of the reasons I chose Connections Stationary Kit project for him. I allowed him to do the pictures for this one. However, he obviously needs to use words when writing correspondence to most people.
Dad
I was especially pleased with the quick note he sent to his dad. I insisted that it be a “thank you” note. And this worked out well because of the “thank you” stamp. Also, having the “Hello” sticker helped reduce the number of words he had to use while writing. Below is a picture of his dad's letter:
Mom
So, this would be me. These are all of Nathan's favorite characters that he is always drawing. I'm not sure what exactly he is trying to say here. However, he did say “Thank You,” which I truly appreciate.
The next letter we want him to write is to a young friend he used to hang out with who moved far away. Nathan seemed particularly enthusiastic about this one. So, I will try to update you when he writes this letter!
In conclusion, if you have children who are struggling writers and/or struggle socially, I think the Byron's Games Connections Stationary Kit will be the perfect thing for you to use to help develop these skills. Not only will this cool kit help develop skills but it will help more people to feel important.
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Jun 3, 2025 | Cooking Tips
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
3 Reasons Fermentation is Fun. When we were given the opportunity to review the Fermentation Starter Kit by Fermentools, I was excited. As a Registered Dietitian, I know that probiotics are a healthy addition to your diet. I also knew this would be a great opportunity to give our 15-year-old son another hands-on kitchen experience. What I didn’t know was that this little tool creates a finished product in less than a week.
3 Reasons Fermentation is Fun
1. You get to spend time in the kitchen with your kids.
Our 15-year-old son has autism and is an introvert. As a result, it can be extremely challenging to get him to interact with us—unless it’s his preferred topic, which currently is trains.
When he knows it’s an assignment for school, however, he’s more than willing.
As you can imagine, Fermentools Starter Kit quickly became part of his high school curriculum. 😉
Thus, we all got experience and learned the process of preparing fermented food. Plus, we spent quality education time together.
And all of us learned, including my husband, who’s been cooking for 40 years. Speaking of which, my husband led with the experiments.
And the first thing he said when I asked him what he learned was, “How easy it was.” For example, the process uses very simple ingredients. All that is needed is distilled or spring (non-cholorinated) water, salt, seasoning (which you can choose based on your preference), and the chosen food itself.
Which leads to the 2nd of 3 reasons fermentation is fun.
2. You can ferment virtually anything.
Yes, that's right! We started with what we already had in the refrigerator–carrots.
A few days before we conducted our fermentation experiment, we went to the store and my hubby bought 5 pounds of carrots. The reason for this is that he was searching for yeast so that he could make homemade bread. He went to virtually every grocery store in the area until he found a large supply store that had yeast. While purchasing the yeast, he picked up some carrots. 😉
Since we had so many carrots in stock, we searched online for ideas and decided to ferment some of our carrots. Since my husband and son like garlic so much, they also added garlic. The carrots turned out great. However, I would recommend slicing them because the carrots we used were still crunchy, which I didn't care for. My hubby likes the carrots this way. However, I’m going to give it more time and taste them again. Which reminds me, it states that the longer you ferment the vegetables, the better they will taste. That’s good to know.
I wish I could tell you what my son thought of the taste of the carrots, but he was unwilling to try them. Maybe some day! What I can tell you is that he helped prepare them by cutting up some of the carrots and putting the ingredients in the jar.
My son was fascinated by the process, though! In fact, he kept watching as the bubbles started forming–the very next day, and the day after, and so on.
The bubbles continued to form until the carrots were ready to be put into the refrigerator. It was completely surprising to all of us that the bubbles formed so quickly. It was a surprise to both me and my husband that the final taste included a vinegar flavor. Especially since the jar contained no vinegar!
Everything you need to ferment a food is included in the Fermentools Starter Kit. All you need is a large-mouthed jar and the food/water/herb combination.
During our research, we also discovered that root beer and sarsaparilla, familiar drinks to most, are fermented drinks! We printed a recipe for these two drinks, but haven't tried them yet as they require exotic ingredients such as sassafras. (You can easily find a recipe online for these drinks).
Reason number 3 of 3 reasons why fermentation is fun is:
3. You can teach your family about other cultures.
Plus, you get to try new foods you've never even heard of before!
After we completed the carrots, the next three foods we considered were:
- German Sauerkraut with Bratwurst, Kielbasa, Pork
- Korean Kimchi with (virtually anything you want).
- El Salvadorian Curtido with Puposas
I’m not fond of sauerkraut and I wasn’t sure what we would eat the Kimchi with. Thus, I thought it would be more fun to create Curtido. (I didn’t know what it was called. However, while I was in graduate school, I took a class which introduced me to this unique ethnic food).
When we visited the little “Hole in the Wall” El Salvadorian restaurant in San Bernardino, California, I fell in love with Puposas and the accompanying “slaw” it is traditionally served with. But I never knew the name until now!
This is the Curtido when it was first put into the jar.
So, I chose Curtido because it would be a good excuse to encourage my husband to make Pupusas from scratch. And they turned out delicious! Again, I am amazed that the Curtido tastes like it contains vinegar when it doesn't! The only ingredients included in the Curtido are cabbage, carrots, sweet red peppers, oregano, Malaysian salt, and non-chlorinated water. Yum!
My son and husband enjoyed the puposas, but not so much the Curtido. And again my son wouldn't taste the Curtido. That is fine with me because that means I get it all to myself!
To each his own, they say!
3 Squash, cheese, and green chili puposas and homemade El Salvadorian Curtido.
Don’t forget to check out the Fermentools Starter Kit now. This cool kit not only allows you to quickly ferment your favorite vegetables, but is super simple to use.
And if you grab one before June 30, 2020, you will receive a 15% discount if you use coupon code CREW2020
And don’t forget to read the other reviews by our awesome Homeschool Review Crew members.
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | May 16, 2025 | Nutrition and Health
You have heard that you need adequate magnesium. However, have you been wondering why? Magnesium is good for what? Keep reading and find out, including a delicious recipe.
Magnesium (Mg) is WAY MORE important than most people realize.
Magnesium is Good for What?
- It is a mineral that is responsible for numerous bodily processes.
- This mineral is the fourth most abundant mineral in our bodies.
- Magnesium is essential for carrying out over 300 reactions within the body.
- Magnesium deficiency can lead to potassium deficiency, an important mineral for healthy heart and fluid balance.
Building block for RNA and DNA synthesis.
- RNA and DNA are the building blocks of life and are important for healthy genes.
- Not enough Magnesium in your diet can lead to increased risk of genetic damage (mutations) in the adult as well as in the unborn.
- This can lead to increased risk of cancer and other diseases, as well as increased risk of birth defects.
Proper transportation of certain nutrients in the body
- This mineral is needed for transport of calcium, silica, vitamin D, vitamin K, and mg.
- So, even if your diet is sufficient in these other nutrients, they won't get to their destination without magnesium.
- This means the bus that takes your kids to school will breakdown on the way if there is not enough magnesium to help run the bus.
Muscle Contraction
- This mineral is important to proper muscle and nerve function.
- Therefore, insufficient magnesium can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and cramping of the legs
Prevention of Excess Blood Clots
- Magnesium is important to maintain calcium balance in the blood.
- Too little Magnesium can lead to excess calcium in the blood. This could lead to life-threatening blood clots in the lungs.
Strong Bones
- Magnesium is just as important as calcium for strong bones.
- When too little is in the diet, the body will leach out magnesium from the bones in an attempt to function.
- Insufficient magnesium leads to weak bones.
Creating Energy in the Body
Acts as a Precursor to Serotonin
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter important for many things including mood regulation.
Prevention of Depression
- Proper neurotransmitter function helps prevent depression in susceptible people.
- Necessary to help ensure neurotransmitters are working correctly.
Important for Digestion of Food
- Magnesium is important for the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the diet.
Detoxification
- Important mineral in helping the body to rid itself of toxic substances taken into the body.
What are the signs of low magnesium in the body?
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or Vomiting
- Fatigue and weakness
- Numbness and/or Tingling
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Personality changes
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- High blood pressure
- Blood clots
- Headaches
Many more conditions are being treated with magnesium therapy. Here are couple well-written and researched article by trusted sources:
I just ordered the below package of dark chocolate almonds tonight from Amazon.com because I love almonds and dark chocolate. Plus, each serving of these almonds has a whopping 66 mg of magnesium! That is 15% of the US Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for an adult. And it is a really good deal!
These are a new product, and are most likely going to be in the grocery stores soon. They may already be there, in fact.
For further reading, here are my most popular posts:
Diet and ADHD in Kids Part 1
Why a Zinc Deficiency Can Lead to Pickiness
What is Turmeric Good For?
