Family Traditions

When it comes to family time, what do you remember most?  What you got in your Easter basket/Christmas gifts/birthday presents?  Or do you remember trekking to the pumpkin patch each year?  Or other family traditions from being a kid? 

In today’s world of internet shopping, instant communication, and satellite tiv, it’s easy to forget, but things and toys are rarely what stick in kids’ minds- what they remember is what we  do with them, and how we spend our free time.  Make family traditions- they can be as simple as a certain kind of dessert at Easter, or as elaborate as a special summer vacation spot, or even making caramel apples in the fall. 

Our family has tried to implement a handful of activities we do regularly- Daddy cooks pancakes every Sunday morning.  Every Christmas we try to find a tree farm to cut a fresh tree.  (We’ve lived in 3 states- In New Mexico, you can buy a $10 permit to cut your own from the National Forest.)  We have a special bedtime routine.  And Mom and the boys make chocolate chip cookies regularly. 

And every Friday night is PIZZA NIGHT.  No takeout or delivery involved.  We get a kid movie from netflix, and dad makes pizza to order for each person.  It’s the one night the boys are allowed to eat in the living room.  [as an aside, this post sounds like mom doesn't cook, which isn't true... not sure why dad's cooking seems more special... I do mix the pizza dough when I arrive home from work, and it rises until dad is ready to cook.]  Pizza night is special, and our kids look forward to it all week.  By about Thursday, when they are exhausted, the words, ‘one more night til pizza night’ is enough to get them going.  In a few years, they’ll be too big and busy for family pizza night,  but while they’re little, we are soaking it up.

Our routines are not perfect for anyone else- each family has to create their own traditions and special activities for themselves.  They can be simple or involved.  The important thing is that you make it special and fun for your family!  Just think, in 25 years or so, your kids may be telling their own kids, ‘when I was little, we would always…….’

Giving up the Binkie

Parenting.com has come up with 10 ideas to help your child give up the pacifier. My favorite suggestion:

Bring it to the fire station.
Or the doctor: The key is to tell your child that they collect pacis from big kids. They’ll play along.

Our solution: Start daycare. Eventually peer pressure will encourage him to give it up on his own.

Snow in the tub

Yes, it’s spring, but many areas of the country get a late snow in April- it’s cold, wet, and often breezy.  And what do you do with the kids?  Why, bring it inside, of course!  Tired of muddy boots, wet gloves, and pink noses?  Fill a large plastic tub with snow, and haul it into the bathroom.  Don’t worry, it’s light.  Bring 3 or 4 loads in and dump it into a clean bathtub.  Give the kids a couple of big spoons, a few beach toys, and throw some towels on the floor.  It’s clean and it melts clear, and best of all, you don’t have to stand outside in the cold for your little ones to enjoy the snow!  And aside from a few (or a lot!) of drips on the floor, there’s no cleanup- it simply melts and runs down the drain!

Reduce Seperation Anxiety

They say that seperation anxiety is something that children suffer from. Well I think mom’s suffer from it too. I will never forget the first day I sent my son to daycare. I cried all the way home and had a miserable time without his adorable little face. Even now I get a knot in the pit of my stomach. Goodparenting.com has some hints at how to survive seperation anxiety for the child and parent:

Have someone watch the baby while you’re home. This is important, especially if you are adjusting to a new child care provider. You want to make sure she cares for your baby the way you would. Especially if you are planning to go back to work, you want to feel comfortable. Having someone watch your baby while you’re home is also a great way to get things done around the house.

The Never Ending Fruit Bowl

I have three boys- it seems like they eat non-stop!  To quell the before-dinner snacking, I filled a big pretty fruitbowl with seasonal fresh fruits that are easy to eat out-of-hand, and sat it smack in the middle of the kitchen table.  The bowl may hold apples, pears, bananas, tangerines, and often those miniature boxes of raisins. 

When the boys come in for a late afternoon snack, I simply point them to the fruit bowl, especially if dinner is within site!  Sure, kids often want to eat junk, but if they’re really hungry, that fruit bowl gets more and more tempting…….. and it keeps them satisfied until dinner!  And if any of the fruit gets past its prime, I use it in banana bread, baked apples, or other simple recipes- That they boys will also eat!

Don’t think your kids are that into fruit? Take them to the grocery store or farmer’s market, or even a local fruit farm and let them pick it out themselves.

Help your Child with their Homework

Sometimes it’s easy to want to step in and do your child’s homework for them - especially when they are having difficulty with a subject that seems so easy to you. The National Education Association put together some tips on how parents can help their children get the most out of their homework:

Homework Hints

* Assume that your children will have studying to do every night.
* Ask your children if they understand their homework. If they do not, work a few examples together.
* Ask your children to show you their homework after the teacher returns it, to learn where they’re having trouble and where they’re doing well. See if your children did the work correctly.
* Stay in touch with your children’s teachers. Ask about their classes and what they are studying. Ask their teachers how you can support what they are studying (flash cards, spelling, etc.).
* Remember, you and their teachers want the same thing — to help your children learn.
* Don’t be afraid to get in touch with the teacher if you and your child don’t understand an assignment or if your child is having a great deal of trouble. Almost all parents run into these problems, and teachers are glad to help.
* Don’t do your children’s work for them. Help them learn how to do it themselves.
* Show your children that you think homework is important. If you are at work during homework time, ask to see their work when you get home.
* Praise your children for doing well. Make praise a habit.
* Maintain a portfolio of “best pieces.”
* Ask your school about tips or guides for helping your children develop good study habits.
* Help older students organize their assignments by recording them on calendars or planners, along with due dates, dates turned in, etc.

Delegate Chores to Your Children

Chores are great things to give your children. Sure they’ll free up a little bit of your time, but they will also teach your child personal responsibility. Follow these tips from BusyMomsOnline.com to ensure a smoother path to teaching your children to do chores - at all ages.

Begin training your children to help you around the house when they’re young. Children as young as two can start learning to pick up their own toys, put their dirty clothes in a hamper, or feed your pets. Toddlers want to help, so start teaching them when they’re eager.

From Field to Table

With all the media attention on fresh, local food, here’s a great idea for getting your kids involved.  Try a local pick-your-own, or U-Pick farm.  These are found all over the country, and kids absolutely love it.  I grew up on a farm, but my three boys are suburbanites, so the chance to get their hands dirty is always a great spring activity for them, especially when it involves food, another of their favorites.  We’ve picked raspberries in California and Northern New Mexico, peaches and blueberries in Florida, strawberries in Louisiana, and more.  Most U-Pick farms are family friendly and don’t frown on eating while you pick.  In fact, if the raspberry farms were really concerned with making money, they would have weighed the boys on their way in and again on the way out!  Most will have baskets to pick in, and some even supply little red wagons for carrying what you pick.  (or tired kids!) 

To find a local farm in your area, visit www.pickyourown.org , which lists u-pick farms by state.

Travel Snacks

Spring break is upon us, and many families will be taking a vacation, even if it is relatively close to home.  Long rides in the car with kids can result in multiple fast-food drive thru’s, (plus the accompanying squished trash in the floor of the backseat), never-ending discussion of they want to eat, and the always popular, “how much further?” 

To keep down the cost, hassle, and junk the kids consume, I make them a snack pack before we leave.  For each child, I put in several healthy snacks plus a napkin or two in a paper lunch bag.  Great options include cheese sticks, raisins, crackers, fruit in a ziplock, and other easy to handle snacks.  When the first child starts asking for snacks, I pass out the brown bags.  They don’t all have to eat the same thing, and they can pick and choose what they want, plus the brown bag makes a handy trash bag.  The only other thing I need is a small cooler with juice boxes or water on gel ice packs, and we’re set for a road trip!

Rainy Day Blues?

Stuck inside during another rain shower? Can’t wait for summer? We may not be able to take care of the weather, but as mom’s we can always plan some fun nostalgic activities. Sometimes thinking back on the days when we were children can help come up with some fun inside games. Organizing Your Life the Easy Way has come up with some fun ideas using the game “Remeber When…” Play a few rounds and see what memories you can share with your children.

Remember When-

You used a blanket, threw it over a table or a clothesline in the basement, and made a tent. It was great, that blanket became a tent, a house, a large size dollhouse, a garage and countless other things. Wasn’t using your imagination fun?

Tips for Cooking with Children

Bright Eyes Learning has put together a list of tips on cooking with your children. From fun ideas to try, to rules you need to set before getting started - making sure that you’re prepared will make this a fun kid oriented activity.

Store plates in a low cupboard so your child can help set the table.

Keep napkins and silverware in drawers they can reach.

Keep anything sharp up and back out of reach of children.

For any job that a child is not ready to do just tell them it is your turn (you may want to tell them why).

Playing Games with Toddlers

Entertaining a toddler can be difficult, but thanks to these tips from Little Kids’ Games Online, you can be better prepared for what may happen. Use some of these tips to become actively involved in play with your child. Teaching them the fundamentals of imaginative play will help you out as well - you may be able to snag 5 minutes of free time while little Jonny pretends to race around his cars!

Enjoy your games together
One of the most important aspects of playing games with toddlers is making sure you have fun together. There’s no pressure to play things a certain way, no rules, no winners or losers. That time will soon come. But for very small children, a competitive element is too much to cope with.

Base your toddler games around their daily routine
Play regularly with your child. This doesn’t mean exhausting yourself all day - you’ll end up exhausting your child, too! But for two or three minutes, and several times a day, concentrate on making something extra special - by making it into a game.

Show your toddler how to play imaginatively
This means you sitting down on the floor with the blocks, running around in circles in the park - and you laughing and enjoying it. The result? Not only will your child learn how to have fun with you and the family - they’ll also be able to amuse themselves trying out the things you have shown them. Toddlers love to imitate - give them some ideas!

A variety of games and activities is useful
It’s great to have a variety of different games and activities that your toddler likes. This way, when they get bored doing one thing, you have another up your sleeve to distract them from their grumpy moments!

Baby Closet Organizer

Okay, we have all been there.  We are in a hurry trying to get our child dressed properly and we cannot seem to find that one pair of shorts that we need to match that one shirt.  And then we cannot find the socks, and then the shoes.  Every drawer is maxxed to the top by crumpled-up clothing and blankets that we’ve tossed around in our search.  By the time 20 minutes has gone by, we are utterly frustrated that our house is so disorganized that we have decided to change the outfit completely…and so the madness starts again. .

Well, I came across this product on babyearth.com and I really think this is a must-have for every person out there.  It is a Baby Closet Organizer , and I got so excited when I saw this that I am personally going to buy one for my son’s room!  Maybe even two!  The Baby Closet Organizer is an essential to get your child’s room organized and decluttered.  The organizer easily hangs on to your closet rod so no assembly is required, and it has 8 shelves underneath so you can fold clothes or blankets or store toys.   In addition to this, the Baby Closet Organizer has compartments on the side of it so you can store your child’s socks or shoes or anything else you see fit to store in it.

Just click on any of the hyperlinks in this article, and you will be directed to babyearth.com website where you can order your own organizer and begin the first steps to organizing your home.  You can find the organizer under the “Nursery” tab and then under “Organization”.

Regain Childhood for Your Children

Anne R. Pierce, author of Ships without a Shore: America’s Undernurtured Children made a guest post at BusyMomsOnline.com on the current state of childhood. With children being pushed harder and harder to succeed at an early age it’s easy to lose sight of what it means to actually be a child. Her article helps put things back into perspective.

We have become unsympathetic to exhaustion, vexation, and demoralization, seeing them as necessary corollaries to high achievement. ”Come on you can do it” parents shout as children “try again” to achieve the perfect pitch of the ball, the perfect ballet pose, the perfect runner’s mile, the perfect musical performance. Thus, we are taken by surprise when success strategies backfire; when, instead of gaining momentum, children and teenagers lose energy, motivation and enthusiasm. But, this end result simply makes sense. For, it takes freedom to be creative, time to be a thinker, and opportunities for independence to become inspired. Moreover, when we emphasize outward displays of accomplishment over children’s actual moral and intellectual advancement, children feel a void.

High Chair Solution

Parenthacks.com posted this little gem of a tip on how to use those giant wooden highchairs at restaurants. Currently I use my own highchair - a handy little thing that clips onto the side and is amazingly sturdy. Every once in a while though, the table is a bit to thick to hold the chair… so I revert to this great tip. Thanks Kat!

This falls under one of those “I can’t believe I didn’t realize this sooner” moments for me, but if it saves another frustrated new mommy from making a scene at a restaurant, I’ll share!

Many times, when using (or trying to…) those wooden high chairs at a restaurant, I couldn’t understand how freakishly small the last kid must have been to allow the straps to actually buckle together. Something had to be amiss, but what?

FINALLY, I saw another mom pull the straps straight up through the opening at the back of the chair… NOT up around the sides like I was doing, and had seen waitresses and others also do when trying to help me figure out why the straps that had been long enough for everyone else weren’t long enough to go around my kid’s lap.

An added bonus is that having the straps come from behind your kid leaves much less wiggle room than the other way, preventing the all-too-common (at least, with us) mid-dinner escape.

How Not To Lose Your Temper

Every Mom can relate to this scenario. You’re running late to get to your child’s PTA meeting. You just scarfed down your dinner and now your running around trying to stuff your kids into their shoes and jackets. You can’t find your keys and the phone is ringing. Just then, your two year old emits the odor of a dirty diaper. You freak out because you really don’t have time to change it but you can’t pretend no one is going to smell your kid at the meeting. You’ve reached your breaking point and you’re about to yell at everyone is sight. You don’t have to lose your temper. There’s a better way. Losing your temper not only scares everyone around you, but it also makes you more stressed out than you have to be. If you do yell, you’ll raise your blood pressure, get more upset and end up probably even feeling guilty for losing your cool. Try this trick instead. Good old-fashioned empathy. Put yourself in your children’s place and think about how they would feel if a big, old mean adult was screaming at them for no reason whatsoever. You are mad at the clock, and maybe even  yourself, but you aren’t angry with them. Close your eyes and take some time to picture the scenario and by the time you realize that you’ll accomplish nothing by losing your temper, you probably will have calmed down. Change your toddler’s diaper and get to the meeting, which probably wont start on time anyway, with everyone’s composure in tact.

Capture Childhood with a Signature Keepsake

Pictures are great for creating flat reproductions of moments in your child’s life. Birthday parties, first steps, family gatherings - these are all great ways of capturing special moments. But wouldn’t it be great if you could have a more tangible keepsake of your child? Good-Parenting.net has done a review of several businesses that create dolls with such detail you’ll swear your looking at a 3d photo of your child.

…MyTwin allows parents to capture a child’s beauty in a doll that looks as if it is the child’s twin. Parents can either upload or mail in a photo of their child, and then choose hair, eye coloring, skin tone, clothing, and all the characteristics that match their child; these features will be placed onto the doll. For instance, if a child has freckles, these speckles will be added to the doll’s face….

The Art Of Hand-Me-Downs

Hand-me-downs are a wonderful thing, unless of course you’re the kid who gets to wear them! Young kids won’t know the difference and probably wouldn’t care if they did. Older kids might be excited to get clothes from an admired older sibling or cousin, but at some point, they like to express their own style and personality. Sometimes the age difference between siblings is too great to make outdated clothes viable to be reworn. When hand-me-downs are an option for your family, they can be a great money-saving tool. The best way to plan to save clothes for a future sibling is to buy gender-neutral clothing. Take meticulous care of each item and remove stains and repair damage immediately. White clothing can be bleached if the label states as such. When your first child outgrows each item, inspect it, fold neatly, and store in a labeled bin by size. Shoes can also be handed down since kids outgrow them so quickly and they don’t suffer much wear. Gender-neutral shoes are also available for purchase and are a smart buy. Coats are a wonderful thing to hand down since they are usually more expensive but can be harder to find in gender-neutral colors and styles. Save some money by reusing perfectly good clothing for your children!

How To Form A Mommy Co-op

Imagine how wonderful it would be if a group of trustworthy Mommies got together and decided to help each other. One could watch the others’ kids while the rest did some shopping. They would return the favor by picking up her groceries while they were out. Or they could come up with a carpool schedule so everyone wouldn’t have to drive to school every single day. Sound good to you? Here’s how to set up a Mommy co-op:

1. Bounce the idea off of some of your closest friends or neighbors. Have those interested commit to the co-op and set up an e-mail account or group chat room to communicate with each other.

2. Come up with a list of chores or favors you’d like your co-op to help each other with. Choose a leader and use a voting system to make decisions.

3. Have a common calendar with everyone’s availability each month. Have each person express how they would like to contribute to the group. (Example: I’ll take the kids to school every day if someone runs errands for me, etc.)

4. Try to have a monthly meeting to make sure everyone is getting what she wants out of the co-op. Adjust accordingly.

5. Keep the co-op rather small so it can be managed successfully. Consider charging a small monthly due to cover gas expenses for Moms who contribute car-related favors.

No need to go it alone…let a Mommy co-op make your life easier!

Test that Allergy

If you’re concerned that your child may have an allergy the best place to test your theory is at a doctors office. At least that was the controversial subject over at parenthacks.com. Whether you think the advice is sound or not, you should discuss this with your doctor before actually attempting. Read the pros and cons on this topic before making any decision and make sure you’re aware of the potential complications of a peanut allergy.

I suggested to my friend that they give him the peanut sample at the doctor’s office at his next well visit. Next to the ER, that’s probably the best place to be if you’re having a reaction, right?

Kid’s Clothing Tips

Kids go through clothes fast. Not only do children grow like weeds, but they’re also messy people who like to stain everything in sight with food and art supplies. Some Moms surrender and let their kids run around in these stained articles, while others would never think to let their child out of the house with a mere speck on their shirt. Buying clothes for kids can get expensive so follow these tips to save some cash on your kid’s duds.

1. Buy black. Not that you want little Susie to look like a goth-in-training, but black clothes hide any stain (besides bleach) you can throw their way. If black is too extreme for your taste, get dark colors and stock up on stain stick just in case.

2. Don’t buy pajamas or playclothes. Kids look adorable in the character-emblazoned pajamas on the market but they can be pricey. Instead, dress your children in comfortable clothing that has stains or holes in them. They can also wear these items as playclothes and spare their school and special occasion clothing from damage.

3. For girls, buy leggings. Leggings are very inexpensive, stylish, and versitile. They come in many colors, but of course, black is the most practical. They can be worn in any weather and grow with your child since they are stretchy.

4. Consider buying at thrift or consignment stores or off the clearance rack. Kid’s clothes really are disposable so don’t invest a lot of money on any one item. Let siblings wear hand-me-downs.

5. Buy cheap shoes. Children’s feet grow incredibly fast and will only fit in shoes for a short period of time.

6. Buy clothing as large as possible without the articles falling off your child’s body. Most kids can fit into clothes that are one size larger than their age. They will be able to grow into these items, thus getting more wear out of them.

Shake Up Storytime

Do you have a baby who is less than enthralled with storytime? Perhaps your child is more fascinated by the mechanics of turning pages than the content on them. You can use these tips from Parenting.com to add a little excitement to your routine and keep your baby interested throughout story time:

Create your own plot for the book.
Cover up the pictures and ask “Where’s the bunny?”
Substitute your child’s name for one of the characters in the book.
Let your children play with the books, it’s ok to have a little fun stacking books or turning pages.

How to Pick Your Preschool

All kids, if able should attend some form of preschool before entering kindergarten. This allows your child to learn social skills with other kids before the big K. It can be a little mind numbing looking at all of the ads and choices for which Preschool is best for your child. Parenting.Savvy-Cafe.com has some great info on what qualties to look for in your preschool teacher candidates. Ask questions of potential providers to find out which is the perfect match for you and your child.

Does the teacher have the ability to inspire a love of learning?
Do children have a chance to play and develop social skills?
Do they have opportunites to do crafts and other creative activities?
Is the teacher prepared for your meeting? Prepared for class?
Can the teacher mediate disputes between children?

Use your iPhone as a Parenting Tool

The iPhone is such a versatile device that it should be included in your purse as the ultimate parenting tool. At least that’s according to Mommy Poppins. In one of her latest articles, Mommy Poppins describes how no parent should be without this Swiss Army Knife of mobile units. From cell phone usage to kid distractor, this device comes in handy in a multitude of different situations:

Ooh, and the last reason the iPhone is the ultimate gadget for parents: the thing is basically indestructible — just don’t let them “hide” it in the toilet.

Recycle Old Crayons

Somewhere at the bottom of the craft drawer, you probably have some old crayons. You know, the ones that are too small to hold, devoid of paper, and are usually avoided by your children like they’re last years socks. Well now, thanks to BlissfullyDomestic.com, theres a project you can do to put new life into those forgotten nubs:

First, peel all the paper off the broken crayons and discard. If your child is toddler age, you will probably have to do this part yourself.
Have your child dump the broken crayons into a foil lined baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until crayons are completely melted into a solid, rainbow block.
Let the melted crayons cool for about 20 minutes.
Using the foil, lift the block out of the pan and place it on the counter. It will still be warm and soft. This is the consistency you want, because the fun part is next!
Pick out a few chunky cookie cutters and let your child help to carefully press them all the way down into the wax, making a new crayon each time. You’ll want to start cutting around the edges where it’s cooler, saving the middle for last.
Place the cut out crayons on a plastic dish to fully cool. Soon you will be coloring together with your chunky, rainbow crayons!

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