Parenting Children

I am looking into buying my kids new movies because I want to occupy their time once the baby comes home. I don’t normally let them watch more then two 25 minute shows or one movie a day, but these aren’t normal circumstances. We will be bringing a new baby home in eight days unless this baby wants to come sooner (please baby come sooner!) and their routines will be messed up along with their lives. I think some new movies will be in order and maybe even new ones from the Easter bunny.
Here are some new releases that maybe your child would enjoy:

The biggest one is 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition. It’s been re-released from the Disney vault as a double disc with improved colors and sounds from the original feature. It has a bunch of bonus features added, including a virtual dalmatian game for kids.

Little Einsteins: Race for Space - My kids love the little Einsteins and so will yours!

Thomas and Friends Engines and Escapades, perfect for any Thomas fan and only $9.99.

Handy Manny: Fixing it Right - Cheer on Manny and his tools as Rusty heroically overcomes his fear of heights to repair a jungle gym

Enchanted is a movie that will be released on March 18th. It goes from animated to non animated through the movie. On Amazon it is selling for $15.99 as a pre-release price.

I know I will be renting some movies for my husband because I don’t know the next time we will get out of the house.
What are the new movies you or your kids are waiting to come out on video?

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I love play doh and just the smell of it can bring me back to my childhood. My kids love it too and since it is a overcast, boring day here and I am waiting for a human to come out of my body I decided it was a play doh day. We will be breaking out the doh and some fun accessories after nap time.

Of course there is old school traditional play doh or you can get this awesome organic play doh set. It comes with six 4 oz scented playdoh tubs in strawberry, lemon, blueberry, orange key lime and grape and tools! You can also order refills for this kit. At $38 it isn’t cheap but makes a very cute gift.

This value play doh accessories set is great. I think this is a steal at $21.99 for all that you get. It comes with four textured rolling pins, one smooth rolling pin, four patterned clay mallets, four double-ended wooden modeling tools, a rolling wheel cutter and six sticks of modeling clay. Endless fun!

If you have cheap plastic cookie cutters around your house like I do (really I am a terrible cookie cutter baker, and I need to use metal cutters) they are perfect for play doh. If you don’t, do you want 100 of them? You can get them for $9.99 on Amazon.

If you don’t have any dough and want to make some there are a ton of recipes out there.
Put 1 part flour, 1 part water and 2 parts oatmeal in a bowl and mix. OR
put 1 C salt 1 C of water and 1/2 C flour in a saucepan and mix and cook over medium heat, until thick. When it cools add flour until it makes dough.

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When our family dog died it was a terrible time for us. Not only for E and I because she was our first baby but for our kids who just started to really enjoy her. They were only three but had loved her so much. Granted we still have two cats at home (only one actually comes out and socializes with us) but we still miss our dog. I believe kids should have pets, like I did when I was a child. After this baby is a little older then we will get another dog for our family.

Kids look to their pets as companions or friends when they are upset. I remember crying in my room cuddling my family dog to remind me that at least someone loves me. Pets also teach kids responsibility, if you let them learn. Let kids pick up the dog poop from the backyard or clean the cage. Teach them to change the food and water every day. That shows them that their pets need love and attention, but they need to be taken care of too.
Lastly, having pets in the home can lower your children’s risk of having certain allergies like dust mite and ragweed allergies.

What pet is best for your house or child? Dogs are probably the hardest to care for, but could build the strongest bond. They are man’s best friend. Cats are great but scratch often when they are kittens. They require slightly less care then a dog and are more independent. Many kids are allergic though.
Birds are great but are messy. Some live a VERY long time so research what type of bird you would like before going to by one that is pretty.
Don’t ever underestimate fish. Maybe best for younger kids new to pets. Of course many don’t live that long so unless you are ready for the long march to the toilet, maybe this isn’t the right choice for you.

Tell me what type of pet you have in your house and do your children help with your pet(s)?

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Is it really on February? This winter is going as slow as any I can remember and being almost nine months pregnant doesn’t help matters. It is all I can do to keep my poor five year old twins entertained in this house all day. Plus we haven’t even had the fun of snow to play in all winter long! Here are some ideas of fun indoor things you can do to keep your kids bodies and minds moving:

Hullabaloo My kids love this game. Think of it as a more motion filled Simon Says game. Players move from one colorful shape to another and use their bodies to perform the many Hullabaloo move, when you hear “Freeze!” the player on the lucky pad wins! I love this because even one child can play by themselves. 1-6 players, ages 4 and up.

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Wondering what else you can do to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your family or make it more special for your children. You can make it more then just a Hallmark holiday. Here are some ideas for some mid week Valentine’s fun for everyone:

-Wear all red or pink. Dress everyone in head to toe in the colors of love.

-Eat only red foods! Spaghetti and sauce, tomatoes, red velvet cake, apples, pomegranates, red peppers with dip, shirley temples and champagne with grenadine, etc

-Write love notes on napkins. Write little notes about how much you love your child or your spouse and send them off to school or work with them, or put them around the dinner table.

-Eat by candlelight. You can have a nice special dinner with your whole family not just your husband.

-Eat only finger foods. Tea sandwiches, crudite, mini quiche, shrimp cocktail or mini burgers. Melt some chocolate for dessert and have everyone dip in their favorite fruits like strawberries, pineapple or grapes, marshmallows, graham crackers or even their fingers in!

-Make rice krispie treats for your kids but use strawberry marshmallows instead of plain ones, so they will be pink!

-Give everyone Valentines tattoos.

Looking for some ways to decorate your house for valentine’s Day? Maybe you are just interested in some arts and crafts or snowy day activities to do indoors with your children. Either way, I have great ideas for you.
Here are some ideas for Valentine’s day or any day to keep the boredom at bay.

Decorate Branches
What you need:
branches
colored paper
crayons or markers
colored yarn or string
scissors

-Gather some branches in your yard
-cut out some heart or cupid shapes
-color them or decorate with glitter or what ever you have around the house
-cut out a hole in the top and string yarn through
-place on your branches and put in a vase!

Lollipop Hearts
What you need:
colored construction paper
scissors
lollipops
glue

-Fold a 12-by-3 1/2-inch piece of construction paper in half vertically, and trace four half-hearts along the fold and cut out hearts
-stack hearts and punch a hole 1/4 inch up from bottom
-position petals to form a flower, making sure holes line up. Secure by applying glue around holes then let dry.
-insert lollipop
-then you can write classmates names on them and give them out or display in a small vase!

Love Coupons
what you need:
construction paper
scissors
markers or crayons

-Cut out “coupons”
-write what they are for (massage, hug, extra story at bedtime, favorite dessert etc)
-color and decorate

Then hand them out to family & friends. Perfect for kids who want to give something to their loved ones!

I hope you like these ideas and check back on Wednesday for more Valentines day fun ideas!

Staying home all day with twins is hard, staying home all day with twins when your husband has to go away for work, is the worst. It has happened dozens of times over the past five years. The worst was when he needed to go away for a month. He flew home on weekends but I was on my own with TWO, two year olds. He did something I would have never thought to do though, he joined the Disney movie club for us and had them send us movies.

We are not huge believers in television for kids, but when you are alone with twins for a month, anything goes. He picked out which movies he wanted, paid a small fee and the next week we had a surprise stack of new movies to enjoy. All of E’s favorites were on the list like, Lady and the Tramp, The Lion King and The Incredibles. We had to buy a couple of more movies (that were no more expensive then buying at the Disney store or Best Buy) over the next year so then I got to pick my favorites like Aladdin and Cinderella.
If you are looking for something to give your kids this Valentines Day or for summer vacation or just because this is a good deal. They have over 1,000 Disney titles, including new releases, animated classics, preschool favorites, and live-action features. You can now get 3 Disney movies for only $1.99 each and FREE SHIPPING! or, you can give the gift of Disney movies for as low as $14.95 each and FREE SHIPPING by signing up for Disney DVD Gift Express.

Get 3 Disney Movies for $1.99 Each, Plus Free Shipping! Join Now!

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There are only so many toys I will allow in this house. There are some things I think my kids can never have enough of one of them is books and the other one is games. I love games and now so do my kids. When I had the chance to review the new Cranium Bloom kids games designed just for preschoolers, I couldn’t wait for them to arrive. I love Cranium games and I knew my kids would too.

The first one we played was the Let’s Go To The Zoo Seek and Find Play Puzzle. It is a large size 24-piece puzzle of a zoo and everything you would see in it. My kids love puzzles so this was great alone. Then you each draw cards to find something. There are beginner cards that would ask you to find something red or find three dolphins, and advanced cards which would ask you to find something that starts with the letter “K”. You circle your finds on the puzzle with an erasable marker. My kids loved this game. It is for ages three and up and even one person can play.

The next game we tried was Cranium Bloom’s Let’s Play Count and Cook Game. I knew this one would be a hit because both of my kids love to cook and bake with me. This is a game complete with a “recipe book” and you have to take turns moving around a board and collecting the ingredient cards you need for one of the recipes in your cookbook. It actually comes with some real recipes to make with your kids and kitchen tips. This game is for ages three and up and is for up to four players.

These games are educational, fun and inexpensive. I loved them as much as my kids and I will buy Cranium games for all ages as gifts for upcoming birthdays this year. You can find all the entire line of Cranium Bloom games at Target.

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Kids can have all the toys in the world and still get bored. Have you found that already even though Christmas was just a few weeks ago? Being a stay at home mom may give me a little less patience on this issue then most. Are you tired of them complaining they have nothing to do, especially now that winter is here to stay?

Make a bored jar.
Use a cotton ball container or an old jar and place cards with things to do on them. Make up games, have an arts & craft idea or even a recipe for something simple but will keep them occupied.
Whenever someone cries “bored” take out the jar and have them pick something.

If you don’t want to make a “bored” jar then buy one. Land of nod has an amazing arts and crafts jar filled with great things for kids eight and up. It comes with googly eyes, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, glue pens, construction paper, wavy craft scissors, wooden buttons, spools, beads, craft sticks and more. All you need is $29.00 and your own imagination.

If you are looking for learning activities for your child see if there is a Lakeshore Learning Center by you, or order online. This store is amazing resource for parents or teachers. You can find something for your baby up until eleven years old. Sign up for their free catalog.

If they are still “bored” after all of these ideas, just tell them to get a job.

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I think January and February is the worst time of year in New Jersey for having kids. There is not much to do with them outside because the weather is cold (but not a sign of snow here yet!) enough to force you to stay inside but cabin fever is rampant. My kids are bored and I don’t blame them. We try and go to indoor play places and do outdoor things as much as we can but it is hard this time of year and expensive. Here are some great games to combat cabin fever and some you can do when you are in a restaurant or waiting room.

I Spy- take turns looking around the space you are in and pick one thing. Give the other people clues and let them guess what you picked.

Memory- everyone looks at the same room/space/area for 30 seconds and try to memorize everything you see, the color of the pictures, the shoes/dirt etc. Then everyone writes down what they remember, the person with the longest accurate list wins!

Scavenger Hunt- give your kids some index cards and ask them to write or draw pictures of some things they might see on an upcoming car trip. During a car ride give them the cards and then they can match what they see with the cards. The person with the most matches win.

Feather Keep it Up- Each person has to keep the feather over their head by blowing it. Whoever keeps it up the longest wins. You can do this with a balloon too.

Obstacle Course- Make your own! Jump over pillows, have to put a small puzzle together, have to recite a list of cousins names, crab crawl through the kitchen, carry a plastic egg on a spoon, the possibilities are endless.

Keep Outdoor Toys In- When my kids were 2 they received scooters as a gift. I let them keep it inside the house until the following summer. they scooted around the house all day every day and the wheels were rubber so no tearing up my floors. Do this with other ride ons.

Card Games- There are so many. Teach your kids new ones or go for old favorites like memory, old maid, crazy 8s or go fish. This is also great for when a storm knocks the power out.

What are your favorite things to do with kids to beat the boredom?

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We love books in our house, I have so many I have no place to contain them all anymore. My kids have lots of books too but I don’t mind. I would rather buy them books then toys. My kids also love going to story time at our local library and our Pottery Barn Kids and it gets us out of the house.
I have compiled a list of books for your kids of all ages and their parents to enjoy during this holiday season. If you have already finished your Christmas shopping, or don’t need any more books in your house, then take them out from the library for your whole family to enjoy.

We Three Kings. Buy this book for the illustrations alone! First written in 1857, We Three Kings is one of the best Christmas carols as it tells of the wise men’s journey to visit the manger in Bethlehem.

The Christmas Story. This is the story of Christ’s birth from the bible. Again, this book has beautiful illustrations.

Olive the Other Reindeer. It really is a cute story complete with pop ups, pull tabs and scratch and sniff.

A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree. From Amazon “Feeling sad because no one chooses it as a Christmas tree, a bedraggled forest pine discovers the importance of being appreciated all year long.” A great story for kids to hear.

The Tale of The Firebird
This book is based on three popular Russian fairy tales. The artwork is stunning. This book is great for preschoolers to adults.

What are your family’s favorite Christmas or holiday books?

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Part one was safe gift ideas for girls, and now we have some boy themed ideas. All of these are safe toys that are lead free and most are made in the USA.

Have a train lover on your hands? Why not take a stroll down memory lane and get these trolleys you may remember from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. They can also be personalized!

If you have someone at home that loves to build or loves blocks this log cabin set would be perfect. When built, this 120 piece Woodlinks set is large enough to play with your toy animals or farm gear.

My son loves all superheroes but Spiderman is his favorite. Here is a Spiderman game for kids seven and up. Battle between good and evil!

This is a starter remote control dinosaur for your dino lovers three and up. Just press the button and talk into the remote to hear your T-Rex speak, or use the controls to make T-Rex spin and move. This is a must have for $19.99!

Do you need decorating ideas for your boy’s room? This is a racetrack for any age to enjoy. It comes with toy cars to race on it. Play with your toy cars on it or just build a room theme, this is so original.

Have you heard of Zome toys? Make buildings or spheres as big as your imagination. I think I would love these.

We got this marshmallow shooter for our 12 year old nephew for his birthday and he loved it. It shoots over 30 feet, is safe but should still be used outdoors. It holds up to 20 marshmallows for rapid fire shooting. I have to say it was hard to pry away from my big kid (my husband). It is reasonably priced at $23.00.

What are your favorite picks for the boys on your holiday list this year?

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My kids are just getting into playing games on the computer. They loved the Thanksgiving and Halloween printouts and games I found for them. It surprised even me, how may things there are for them to do online, since they are only four. Here are some things I have found that I know my kids love, we love and I know you will love too.

Go check out the Northpole for fun stories and activites. While you are there send a letter to Santa.

Whether you are baking Christmas cookies, putting up the tree or doing your homework play some Christmas music. This site has a ton of free streaming Christmas music stations.

This web site has all the answers to question you may have about Christmas traditions. It has Christmas tree facts, the history of mistletoe and Mrs. Claus or find out about Christmas traditions around the world.

If you are looking for some Christmas games to keep your kids occupied while you wrap gifts, try this site or this one.

Go elf yourself! Turn yourself and up to three other people into elves that sing and dance and is truly addicting. Call in and get your voice elfed too! This is so funny, we did our whole family and sent it to all of our family.

Lastly, get some Christmas jokes for your parties this year, track where Santa is on Christmas Eve, get the real lyrics to the carols you have been singing and do some crafts with your kids.

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Are you looking for Christmas crafts for do with your kids? I know I am always looking for arts & craft activities to do with my kids during this season. Maybe you just want a new way to decorate your tree? Here are some ideas both you and your kids can do even if the weather outside is frightful.

Make edible ornaments. Buy cookies that have a cutout center. Tie with 18 inch pieces of ribbon. Fold ribbon in half, pull looped end through the cookie, thread loose ends through the loop and tie. You can make cookies just for this, or decorate store bought ones.

Add some fun to your tree. Buy different color parasols in a gift or dollar store. You know, the kind that come in fruity drinks. Clip them all over your tree with mini clothespins.

Add some fun to your indoor decorations. Buy a styrofoam wreath and two white (or any color you want) boa at your local craft sore. Use craft glue to stick the end of the boa onto the wreath. Wrap the boa around the wreath form and glue the other end. Repeat with the second boa. This looks like a feather wreath I have seen being sold in stores for $19.99!

Let your kids make their own ball ornaments. Buy plain colored ball ornaments in various sizes and colored glitter at your local craft store. Using glue make any pattern you want on the balls and then sprinkle your glitter onto them over a plastic container to catch all the extra glitter. Cover the whole ball with glitter, let your kids do their name and date or make cool patterns. This is a great keepsake and fun to make.

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I don’t know any parents or grandparents that are not concerned about toy safety this holiday season. It is on all of our minds and with over 80% of our toys being made in China, I can see why. You have to be careful of small parts, age requirements, lead paint and now GHB in our toys? During the month of December I will be reviewing and bring your ideas for kids this holiday season that are safe for both kids and babies.
Today I have ideas for the girls on your list.

My daughter loves watching me get ready for the day. She is fascinated with everything on my vanity and loves everything girly. Why not this wooden makeup playset for the little diva on your list? Made in Germany, this set includes a comb, 1 spray, 1 mirror, 1 lipstick, 1 roll-on deodorant, 1 hair dryer and 6 hair-curlers.

Little girls would love these Mary Jane rain boots. Perfect for slush, rain or a sunny day, these are adorable and affordable at $27.00.

A pram for your little one will be her best gift. It has rubber wheels, removable blue flowered fluffy cushions, blanket and a adjustable handle to grow with your child. This is pricey at $144.00 but can be a family heirloom.

I also recommend books for older girls, games for school age children and there is always stories on cds for kids.

Coming soon, safe gifts for boys this season!

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