We are a noisy, messy, happy, wacky family in rural Minnesota. Our family consists of me (Alicia), my wonderful lug of a husband (Daryl) and five kids — Victoria, Annalee, Jack, Alex and our lovely surprise baby Fiona.
I started my website A Magical Childhood in 2001, when my older girls were tiny. At the time, I had a newsletter that I sent out full of magical ideas, crafts, links, musings and such. I sent the Magical Childhood newsletter out for about 8 years but more and more time elapsed between issues as our family grew. In 2009, I replaced the newsletter with a mostly-daily blog (first at LiveJournal, then moved here).
There are no ads on the Magical Childhood website or here on the blog. This has never been about making money for me. I love children and I love people who love children, and this is just a place for me to share the same sorts of things I wrote in my newsletters all those years.
I hope you find something here to make you smile. 
~Alicia
Hi
I just found your sites through Peaceful Parenting’s blog (and your article there) and I’m enjoying reading! I just wanted to let you know that I was checkin’ you out 
Warmly,
~h
Thanks so much for sharing your playful and imaginative ideas. They are so aligned with what I try to do, and it is so inspiring to see all of your activities on days that I am feeling stuck. I love how having children has brought the magic of childhood back into my life.
love your blog, thanks for a fun and refreshing perspective on life!!
love and light
jane x
I used to get your newsletter & am happy to find your blog. I have only 2 and am a full time working mom – very different – but I enjoy your insights, suggestions, perspectives etc. You seem like you have such a great family!
How amazingly wonderful your blog is! Thank you for the great posts. I used your “Things a 4 year old should know” list on my blog and cited and linked you in it. I hope that is okay… you really did a wonderful job!!
Thank you and keep ‘em coming!
Hello,
I am really enjoying your blog!! I saw “Things a Child Should Know Before Entering Preschool” and I thought it was absolutely inspired. I am an intern with IDEA, I’ve included our website in case you would like to check us out, I think you may find some of the things we are advocating very interesting. I hope you’ll take the time to check us out, and please get back in touch with me!! Once again, I love what you’re doing, and please keep up your awesome work!!
Warmest regards,
Nichole Ezell
I think your blog is a great idea. My siblings and I are trying to start one right now; getting all those memories and thoughts in one place would be so cool. The latest blog entry (also the second…) is a funny conversation my two sisters had about parenting, which you might find funny: http://unusualbrood.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/kids/.
Anyway, I like your blog
- Patty
I can’t say enough about your 4 year old article. I help run a private preschool learning center and this article explains it to the tee!
Thank you! It is nice to know that other parents think the same way!
I just have to say WOW about your 4 year old article. I’m a stay at home mom with two little girls and it was really touching. You mentioned ‘character building’ in the article and I was wondering if you have anything more to read (or say) on that topic? Thanks so much!
I love what you wrote about 4 year olds. I will be one of your blog stalker for sure. Can I also share your blog and your articles in my blog?
Sure! Just provide a link to the site. Thanks!
I think your blog and your family are great. The ideas are inspired and I am so looking forward to trying all of them out with my children.
Thank you for sharing!
Aw, thanks!
I have had fun reading about your magical life. Love it!!
I recently read your arcticle on what 4 years olds need to know in our e-mail homeschool newsletter in Bemidji, MN. I really enjoyed it and was inspired to check out your blog seeing you were from MN as well. Thanks for all the fun stuff you share!
sooooooo gonna be a regular reader! you have some fantastic ideas for stimulating the brains of my wonderful little people!!! thanks for taking the time to share!!!
I’ve been reading your blog off and on for awhile and am always inspired by the fun things you do with your family. I just finally read the ‘about me’ section and realized you also hail from Minnesota too. I guess great people tend to collect in the same places!
Keep doing what you do!
Thank you so much for the 4 year old article. Truly inspiring.
Liane – UK.
Your site is absolutely FABULOUS! I found it on Pinterest and am thrilled. Thank-you for all your hard work here! WOW! I’m a mother, teacher of young children…so I’m in heaven with this site!
I keep sharing links from your blog on my book’s FB page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Range-Learning/144797732198536 on Google +, so thought I’d say thank you for all the inspiration. A magical childhood can’t help but lead to a lifetime of wonder and awe.
I just read your article about what a 4 year old should know. It is very insightful and made me really appreciate my children. I am having issues with the school and my 8 year old. She is in the 2nd grade and is having behavioral issues. The teachers keep complaining as they feel she is disturbing their lessons. However, I feel she is just be I a kid. It is not like she is being mean or anything, she is just a social butterfly and like to talk and play. She doesn’t like the sit in your set for 6 hours and don’t move. She is a very hands on learner and all they do now is lecture and practice. She is a tactile learner. I am just lost as to what to do and this article made me realize how magical she is and what an amazing daughter I have!!! Thank you
i found your blog and love it!
Hi, My name is Amarilis and I’m a mommy of a wonderful four year old boy who gives me the honor (and priviledge) of sharing his amazing imagination and mind’s eye so I can see the world again through his lenses… I’m also a pediatrician. I would LOVE to translate (I live in Brasil) and use your list/post in the office (with your name and link to your blog). Would you mind?! It’s so perfect that it should be shared!
Certainly, Amarilis.
Thanks for asking!
I just found your lovely blog via Pinterest and I’ll certainly be trying out some of your fab ideas. I’ve just started my own blog to document my children’s lives and share ideas. I’d love you to visit and hope I can inspire you too
x
just found this! Nice
I put your blog entry on 100 ways to make today magical (or something like that), and keep coming back to it for ideas. Thanks!
Hello from another Minnesota mom! I am so happy to have found you!
I LOVE this blog! All of it! AMAZING! Thank you so much!
in fact, just to follow that up, I found this via my children’s homeschooling site, and we made cloud soap today and painted it with food colouring, and they were amazed. I was too. I’m going to be coming back here a LOT for ideas. I especially love that you homeschool too. I was nervous about it, at first, but I’ve never done anything in my life that’s brought me more joy, and I think it’s a huge benefit for me and for the kids. I love hands on learning. Kids learn the most when they’re having fun.
Thanks Alycia! I’m glad you guys had fun with the cloud soap and that you like the blog.
Now that we have five kids I don’t get to write as much as I once did but there are oodles of ideas in the archives and I try to keep it up with fun ideas. We love homeschooling too. Nice to meet you!
Dear Alicia
You are interesting mother and interesting teacher!!!!
Thanks
Marcela