Parenting Children

My kids are now at a age where every little tiny mark on their body warrants a bandage. This is not only annoying but time consuming, I just have to keep telling myself it is just a phase.
I don’t know how they are ever going to get out of this phase with our new Ouchies bandages!

Ouchies came about when the founder couldn’t find any cool bandages for his five year old daughter, so he made some!
Ouchies has a great line for girls, boys and a make your own bandage that comes with blank bandages and markers! How cool is that?

The girl Ouchies include cupcakes, pink camo, hearts/tic tac toe, Hawaiian dolphin and tattoo heart with wings that says “Girls Rule”.
The boy Ouchies include fire, blue/green camo, skull and cross bones, dragon and surfing wave. They are a step up from Spiderman band aids!

These bandages really stay on too, they are not like some bandages that fall off 10 minutes after you put them on.

Buy It: Ouchies are available at retailers nationwide.

Win It: Ouchies is offering one lucky Parenting Our Children reader an Ouchies Gift Pack which includes a boy pack, a girl pack and a make your own pack!
To enter, visit Ouchies website and then come back here and tell me which Ouchies bandages your kids would like best.

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Kids get bullied every day, there is no news there. But how they are being bullied is new, cyber bullying is now how most children grades 6 through 10, through the internet or phone calls.
According to the study by the National Institutes of Health, “20.8 percent of respondents reported being perpetrators or victims of physical bullying in the past two months; 53.6 percent were victims of verbal bullying; 51.4 percent were victims of relational bullying, which involves social exclusion, and 13.6 percent of cyber bullying on a computer, cell phone or other electronic device.”

Bullying was defined as hitting, kicking, pushing, shoving, locking a classmate indoors, calling someone mean names, making fun or teasing in a hurtful way, saying mean things about a person’s race or religion, spreading rumors or socially excluding others.
Cyber bullying — bullying through a computer or other communication device — is still a small phenomenon. Researchers found that 8 percent had received harassing computer pictures or messages, and 6 percent were bullied by cell phone. More boys were cyber bullies; more girls were cyber victims.

There is no way to stop bullying, it is so common especially in middle school. Being an active participant in your child’s life gives them confidence and a chance to talk to someone about their situation. While most kids survive bullying, you should make sure to talk to your child about kids who bully and being a bully themselves.
For more information, check out this web site.

cyber bullying, bullying, bullys, children, middle school, parenting, parenting children

These days blogs and social networking sites are a huge part of our every day lives. Whether you use a personal blog as your platform to talk about your family’s life, facebook to post pictures of your kids or twitter to swap stories, everyone is on the internet.
But not everyone is on those same networks and places for the same reasons we are. Most likely there are some bad people on those sites trying to collect information or pictures for their own use.

You may have noticed that I don’t post pictures of my kids on my site. There are many times I would love to share a picture with you or a video of my kids, but my husband and I agreed we will not post pictures of our kids on a public forum.
An occasional picture of my kids fully clothed and not of their faces is all you will get on this blog.

What if you posted a innocent picture of your child at the beach, in your home or in your backyard and happen to find out later it has been posted on a child pornography site?

Raising The Bar on TNT that will be premiering tonight, Monday June 29Th at 10p.m. (ET/PT), will talk about this very subject:
“A father is arrested when an innocent photo he posted of his son in the bathtub finds it’s way onto a child pornography site.”
I have received an advanced copy of this episode and I have to say, it is a great episode and raises many questions.

I want to know if you post pictures of your children online and why? Also if you do post pictures do you edit those pictures in any way, only post certain pictures or do you say “to hell with it” and post whatever you want?

children, internet safety, mom bloggers. mommy bloggers, dad bloggers, posting picture on the internet, Raising the Bar, TNT shows, bloggers, parenting, parenting children

It seems like money is tight for everyone right now. I joke that it is a good time to have money because there is so many great sales and deals on vacations! Instead of sipping a frozen drink sea side on St. Barts we will be drinking Coronas watching our kids play in their pool in our backyard. We are taking a staycation!

As it turns out, more and more families are spending extra time at home because of the economy. According to a recent Clorox survey, over 60 percent of the Moms surveyed reported an increase in cleaning around the house as their families now spend more time at home! Just what we need- more cleaning!
Mom Central has teamed up with Mommy Docs to give you a list of Five Tips for Summer Staycations to keep your family safe (and your house cleaner too!)

Stay Safe at BBQs- According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are cooking outside now that the weather is nice.
Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping your children away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don’t forget to check that your child’s hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean- If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach to one gallon of water. Don’t forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning. Never leave any water in the pool and I suggest turning it upside down so rain water doesn’t collect in it .
Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water.

Staying Healthy and Hydrated- Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours. Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.

Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds- Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts.
As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!

Saving on Spills- Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don’t have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink. Don’t forget to rinse and dry when done. A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria.
* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products

staycation, mommy Docs, parenting, summer vacation, summer staycation safety, kids, keeping kids healthy

When my twins came home from their last day of school, they each had a note from their teacher next year. Each letter reinforced the need to practise their reading and writing over the summer. It is something we knew we were going to do, but now we will step it up so the kids don’t lose anything.

Math
Everyday there is a new chance to teach math. At the store have your child look for the prices and add them up. Have them pay for their purchases with money and receive the change.
When they go outside, have them wear a watch and tell them what time to be back in the house.
Bake with your child and have them help with measuring and when the pie should come out of the oven.
Take sidewalk chalk and write numbers 1-10. Call out math problems and have yoru child jump to the correct answer.

Reading
Read, read, read. Read a book together every night or better yet, have your child read to you.
Have your child make a book. Buy an inexpensive journal or blank book and have them write about what they did each day.
It will make a great keepsake!

Science
Have your child help with your gardening or go on bug scavenger hunts.
Science is all around us. Buy a butterfly growing kit, or a bug house. Study the bugs or lizards under a microscope or magnifying glass, or other things like feathers, your hand or a coin.

Lastly if your children are into video games (and whose kids aren’t?) give them learning games like the ones from Vtech or Dream Box.
What do you do to keep your kids on track during the summer?

summer school, parenting, parenting children, kids, teaching kids during the summer, learning to read, teaching math, keeping up with school work

My son had gone a little too far in the deep end in the pool last month and freaked out. He didn’t want to return to the pool without floaties. I would be fine with that if he wasn’t 6.5 years old and already knew how to swim!
What did we do? We signed him up for swim class to gain back his confidence.
It is working, at least it was working until he hit his face on the side of the pool yesterday and needed a stitch!

How can you teach your child to swim at your local pool, lake or Y? Follow these steps:
Hold the child beneath the armpits and walk him around in the water to develop a feeling of comfort in the water, your child already trusts you, so this will be easy.

Have them hold onto the side of the pool and practice their kicking, Remember to have them kick with their whole leg not just with their knees.

Have your child blow bubbles in the water, to get him used to putting his face into the water.
Gradually have her put his whole head under the water. If he is getting water up his nose, tell him to hum- this will not let water go in his nose.

Hold your child around his waist and begin having him stroke with his arms making his hand into a “cup” shape. Make sure he keeps kicking!

Let your child swim a short distance from the wall to you. Gradually increase the distance.

Let your child jump off the side of the pool to you, eventually adding distance.

Remember: Take your time with each step and don’t rush your child.
The first day, only do the first step. The second day, do the first step again and then add the second step. Start each new lesson with a review of the previous lessons and advance to the next step, but only if the child is ready.
Make it fun and don’t have the lesson last too long or it will take the fun out of learning!

Most important- make sure you are CPR and infant CPR certified!

teaching children to swim, water safety, CPR, infant CPR, swimming, teaching kids to swim, parenting, parenting children, summer, water fun

I am trying to go green when it comes to my household products, my children’s and baby gear. But, what about things you use everyday, are in every household and you need them for many baby gear products? Yes, I am talking about batteries.

Fuji EnviroMAX, one of the first eco-respectful, high performance batteries on the market, won two awards creating a “family friendly” identity for the brand. The 2009 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center called the batteries “impressive” for their performance and reviewers vowed to rethink their own future battery purchases. Fuji EnviroMAX was selected from thousands of products submitted winning its designation in the New Technologies category.

What is different about these batteries?
The materials that make up a Fuji EnviroMAX battery are derived from the basic elements of the Earth. There is nothing inside a Fuji EnviroMAX battery that will harm the environment if it is disposed of through normal waste systems.
Fuji EnviroMAX batteries contain no harmful mercury, cadmium - nor are they packaged with dangerous (and non-recyclable) PVC plastic. Instead, Fuji EnviroMAX batteries are made in some of the world’s most eco-respectful battery plants, operating under some of the most strict standards of environmental responsibility. In fact, most of all resources used in the Fuji EnviroMAX manufacturing process are reused and recycled!

These batteries work as well as standard batteries and do not cost any more than traditional batteries, a huge plus for me!
These are my new go to brand for me and the way we go through batteries- the Earth is thanking me!

Fuji EnviroMAX, eco-friendly products, eco-friendly batteries, kid’s toys, mom reviews, batteries

The official start of summer is here for us and I know how hard it is to keep kids entertained all summer long. I found that making a list on my calendar helped me pick a fun thing to do every day. Here are 45 cheap or better yet free, great ideas for summer fun for you and the kids:

Catch fireflies

Decorate t-shirts outside with paint or dye

Have a tea party outside

Make a birdhouse

Make your own ice pops

Bake a pie or cookies

Feed the ducks

Go swimming

Plant a garden or a herb garden

Play with water balloons

Play with water guns

Go on a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood

Play hide and go seek in the dark

Find a new playground

Have a picnic

Make S’mores

Learn how to knit and teach your kids, maybe even take a class

Visit the zoo

Visit a museum or children’s museum

Let your children play outside in the rain

Make a theme day, like a “red day” wear red eat only red foods (tomato, apples, strawberries, polish your nails red) or “dinosaur day” (read about dinosaurs, color dinosaur pictures, eat only veggies that day)

Write a letter to a grandparent or friend

Have a lemonade stand

Pick fruits or veggies at your local farms

Make an indoor sand or (Rice!) box
Find free movies in your town

Play hopscotch

Draw with sidewalk chalk

Make a tent indoors with blankets

Play with bubbles, have a biggest bubble contest

Race some bug you find on the ground

Join a reading club for grades 1-6

Have a “day of beauty” paint nails, have masks, give your kids a massage

Go to a free reading time

Buy a hammock and take a nap together

Play with a remote controlled RV or boat

Visit a day fair or carnival

Go for a hike

Can berries for the winter

Grab your sleeping bags and sleep on the floor together

Do some arts & crafts

Grow butterflies (My kids LOVE this!)

Visit a neighbor

Make a bubble pool in your backyard

Make ice cream

Check out free classes at Lowes or Home Depot

Make a trip to a board walk

Bowling!

Have movie day at home complete with popcorn and candy

What are your favorite family summer fun ideas?

summer fun, summer vacation, entertaining kids, free summer fun, cheap summer fun summer activities for kids, rainy day ideas, parenting, SAHM, moms, parenting children

People are not born knowing how to share. It is a learned skill, and it is a skill. Many adults have still not mastered sharing and I am sure you know some of them. In the Pre-operational stage (Toddler and Early Childhood) egocentric thinking predominates, meaning your child does not know anyone else has needs or wants besides them.
You need to help your child learn to share.

Demonstrate sharing yourself. If you have a snack and your child wants some, let her have some and tell her “Oh, you would like some of my snack, okay I will share with you”. This lets your child hear and see that you are sharing.
Go off and play with one of their toys, they will come over and want to play with you, say “Let’s play together and share the toys”.
This is especially important if you have an only child, you have to be a peer and share for them to learn to do the same.

When they do share, praise them. Say “good job letting your friend have some crackers, that is good sharing”. Give them positive attention and you will get positive behaviors.
They will see that sharing gets a positive reaction and make them feel good.
Of course children will not always want to share all of the time and that is normal and okay. If you see your child doesn’t want to share or is having a hard time with sharing redirect their attention to something else and try again later.

sharing, teaching kids to share, toddlers, kids, parenting, parenting children, preschoolers

God sends children to enlarge our hearts, and make us unselfish and full of kindly sympathies and affections.
– Mary Howitt

The thing about being a mother, or a parent at all for that matter, is that it is hard. So very, very hard.
That is what they do not tell you in the pregnancy books or the motherhood web sites.
It is not all flowers and picnics on the front lawn. It is not all fairytales and sweet summer dress and hugs. It is also poop, and exhaustion and crying in the bathroom because you can’t have a moment alone.

The simple truth is, that caring for another human being is hard, exhausting and boring. It can wear on you. You can feel alone resentful or just too tired of the monotony of it all.

Then you get a night when your child crawls into bed with you and places his small hand on your chin, the same hand that held your finger moments after he emerged from your body, and says “You are the best Mom, I just love you”. That, is when your hear melts and although you don’t forget the bad times, they just finally seem worth it.
Like seeing a rainbow for the first time and appreciating its beauty.

That is something that they also never tell you in books, that you will have hard times, times when you doubt yourself, but with one smile it all gets wiped away.

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motherhood, moms, parenting, parenthood, first time moms, parenting children

Summer is officially here and my children couldn’t be happier. I, on the other hand love summer but dread the things that go with it like bug bites, diligently watching kids by the water and skinned knees. I have armed myself with ointments, band aids and bug spray in preparation this year. Mommydocs.com has some great summer safety tips for your family:

Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide “broad spectrum” coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child–daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don’t forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.

Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellant. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old. (I wasn’t meticulous about this one and my son had chigger bites all down his legs from the park just last week!)

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted “swimmers,” after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it’s a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.

High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.

What are your mommy survival tips on summer safety?

mommydocs, summer, summer safety, summer safety tips, summer fun, parenting, moms

New research finds that stimulant medications commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children are associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Although rare the researchers in this study sifted through mortality data from 1985 through 1996, and found 564 cases of sudden death that occurred in children aged 7 to 19 and they found 10 sudden, unexplained deaths in children taking stimulant medications.
The study found that children and teens taking ADHD stimulant medications were seven times more likely to die suddenly than their peers.

“What we found — to our surprise — is that even if you take out confounding factors, the association between stimulant use and sudden death was still significant,” said study author, Madelyn Gould, a professor of clinical epidemiology in psychiatry at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City. “I’m confident the association is real and significant, but it’s very rare. I don’t want our findings to change prescribing patterns or for a parent to change their willingness to use stimulant medications if they’re called for, but physicians should monitor patients with any new medication you give a young person.”

Results of the study were published in the June 15 online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
As many as 2.5 million children in the United States take ADHD stimulant medications, such as amphetamine, dextroamphetamine (Adderall), methamphetamine or methylphenidate (Ritalin).
reserchers say that if your child has been on a stimulant for awhile there may be no need to worry and parents should not abruptly stop their child’s medications,. If you are concerned call your pediatrician and go over the risks and side effects of the medication and if necessary have a full physical of your child before taking these types of medications.

ADD, ADHD, ADHD and sudden death, children, parenitng, parenting our children. ADHD medications, adderall, ritalin, teens, school age children

The question of when you start feeding a baby cereal has come up within my circle of friends recently. One friend has a baby who is four months old and has not yet been introduced to cereal, another friend started her son when he was 3 months old. I started my own kids on cereal when they were almost five months.
So who is right?

There is no perfect time to start your infant on solid foods.
The optimum time to start a child on cereal is between 4-6 months.
How will you know your child is ready? You will know if you follow these guidelines:

-nurses or drinks eagerly and is looking for more when s/he is done

-Has she lost her tongue-thrusting reflex? This reflex — which prevents her from choking on formula — could cause her to push solid food from her mouth with her tongue.

-has control of her head and neck muscles

Remember, if you or any family member has any food allergies check with your doctor before starting cereals.
Start with rice cereal, then oatmeal and finish with barley. (remember ROB)
Feed each diluted cereal in addition to his formula or breastmilk for a couple of days to a week before trying a new one.

baby cereal, when to feed a baby cereal, when to start solids, infants, babies, moms, new moms, feedings, breastfeeding, formula

I love Mom Central and have been working with them for over a year now. The site is filled with great articles, info and I adore their gift guides. Filled with great gift ideas or new gadgets, this is one to check out!

In honor of Father’s Day, Mom Central has just posted its favorite gifts for Dad in their new Gift Guide! From DVDs and custom steak brands to a seven-person domed tent, a digital camera and imported beer steins, there is something for every father and grandfather. And the gift ideas are organized by price, so you can browse and still stay within your budget. The gift guide can be found at: http://www.momcentral.com/giftguide/fathersday/.

Also, Mom Central is having a new giveaway every day for dads now through June 18th! Prizes include barbeque accessories, a Jeep tent built for 7 people, CDs, DVDs, books, razors, and much more. Check here for a link to the daily giveaways: http://www.momcentral.com/reviews/fathers-day-giveaways.html.

On Mom Central’s gift guide, you’re sure to find a great idea for the men in your life for Father’s Day. Or maybe you will be lucky enough to win a gift!

mom central, mom central father’s day gift guide, gift ideas for Dad, Father’s Day, dads, giveaways, parenting our children, gift guides

I am one of those people who get bitten by mosquitoes all the time. Not as much as my husband though, they LOVE him. Two of my Aunt’s have never had mosquito bites, I guess it is their skin type, and I am very jealous.
Let’s talk today about how to prevent bug bites and how to make the hurt less when you do get them.

Stop Them
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Just a little bit of water is all it takes too, so check around your house for buckets, clogged gutters, pools or water tables and change the water in those frequently.
Mosquitoes like dark colors so dress in light colors and (common sense) wear long pants and shirts.

Repel Them
DEET is the most effective insect repellent, hands down. The AAP says it is safe to use on children and babies over 2 months old.
Do I think it is safe? Not really.
I use more natural repellents like Bug Bam or Don’t Bite Me.
If you do use DEET, you can spray it on clothing, but should not be used under clothing, over broken skin, or on the hands of children who may put their hands in their mouths.

Soothe Them
Hydrocortisone cream is what is the go to in standard bug bite treatments. There are other home remedies that I have heard work such as rubbing and ice cube on the bite, using toothpaste or a paste made from water and baking soda.

Tell me what your go-to bug repellent or bug bite treatment is.

bug bites, mosquito bites, summer, kids, parenting kids, Kids and DEET, bug repellent, home remedies for bug bites, keeping mosquitoes away