Parenting Children

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!

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Many of you have sent me emails about getting last minute Christmas ideas. I know this year everyone is watching their spending and last minute gifts are more of a necessity, waiting for sales, waiting for one more paycheck, ect. Today I will write about some of my favorite gifts this year for girls and they are not too late to get by Christmas!

I know my daughter (and her twin brother) LOVES the littlest pet shop by Hasbro. She received many of the portable pets and playsets last year for Christmas. I have to say that was a big hit and they still play with it. They are perfect for girls ages 4 and up and we even gave some sets to The Salvation Army because we know all girls love to play with them.

VIP friends are adorable stuffed animals pairs. Not only are they Very Important Pets but they are Virtual Interactive Pets! Each pet has a secret code hidden in its collar you then can visit littlestpetshop.com to unlock a world of exclusive games, activities for both of your pets to play. My daughter loves this because she is just getting into the online games and I love it because I know she is playing on a safe secure web site. She would be on my computer all day with this toy. So much fun!

The Littlest Pet Shop digital planner allows kids ages 6 and up to plan their day and customize their virtual pet! It includes a phone book, calculator, 25 games and activities and a calendar. It will be the one thing your child takes wherever they go. It has a very cool touch screen and my daughter LOVES this planner. It is on our list for the next birthday party we go to.

These gifts can still be ordered in time for Christmas through Amazon.com (and most are on sale!) and you can always get them at your local toy store.
Come back tomorrow where I will share some of my favorite last minute boy gift ideas.

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I have written a lot about safe toys for kids and how the safety standard in this country have to be stricter for children’s products that we get from China. If you are a regular reader of this blog you know I love supporting small businesses, especially mom owned businesses.
I am all for making the safety standards of mass-produced toys made in China stronger, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead in all of our toys, and feeding products.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has passed the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act which goes into effect in February of 2009. This will eliminate the small toy manufacturers, crafters and all children’s product makers. The ones I am buying from this holiday season, the ones who make safe toys for our children right here in America. They same ones I beg you to buy from to support mom owned businesses, they will be obsolete. The price of testing and labeling all products will be too great for small businesses and I think all children’s products will go up if even large companies like Gap has to test everything from zippers to trims on clothing.
So in February basically all handmade toys and clothing will now be illegal.

Here is what you can do:
-Send everyone you know this artical to help save safe toys
-Write to your congress person and senators
-Send a letter directly to the CPSC
-Join the Handmade Toy Alliance and check out their proposed changes to the act

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Most toys that are purchased this holiday season will be from China. Many of those toys are laden with phalates, lead or are a choking hazard and you should be aware of what youa re buying this holiday season. A report, Trouble in Toyland, concentrates this year on substances that can be toxic to children. Several of these toxins have been outlawed under a new U.S. law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, but some provisions of that law won’t take effect until next year.

last year more than 80,000 children under 5 years old were taken to hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, and 18 died.
Phthalates, which can be found in many soft plastic toys, can cause serious problems when exposure occurs in the womb or during crucial stages of development. Problems include premature delivery, reproductive defects, early onset of puberty, and lower sperm counts. You know your toy has phalates if it has a “plastic” smell like baby dolls or shower curtain liners.
In February 2009, toys with a phthalate content that exceeds 0.1 percent will be banned. Currently, the phthalate content of some toys is 40 percent!

Lead exposure to lead can result in lowered IQ, delayed mental and physical development.

Remember not to buy cheap toys and try not to buy toys from China. Buy wooden toys, made in America toys and buy wisely. You may pay more but the toys will last and they are safe for your children.

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My kids are new to the Build-a-Bear scene but they love the idea of it. I can see why, you get a basic something and then create whatever you want from there. Both boys and girls love it and build a bear birthday parties are wildly popular. If you are looking for the same type of place, Ridemakerz is the hottest thing for boys (and girls) to get into.

At Ridemakerz you create your own 1/18 model of a car! Ridemakerz has all of the very cool materials that are needed for creating and pimping out your own toy car. They offer traditional model cars or for an additional $25 they can create their own remote control car instead.
You start by choosing a body for your car from a HUGE selection of model types like pick up trucks, Mustangs, or Mini Coopers. Then you chose all the fun stuff and customize your car. You can choose roll bars, spoilers, decals, pipes, wheels and more.

My son loved his Ridemakerz and my nephew is now asking for one for Christmas. It provided hours of fun and bonding between him and his Dad and I. He wants to collect them all so you can say this was a hit!
They also will host a birthday party! You can find a Ridemakerz shop near you by clicking here. You can always order your custom car online.

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My kids are like most, if you ask them what they would like for Christmas they will have no problem rattling off two- or twenty things they would like. As they get older there are more things they can play with, more games they can learn and toys they can play with. Now though, they ask for gifts that we don’t like, or want them to have. I ask you parents, how do you handle your kids asking for a toy you don’t want them to have?

Last Christmas my daughter was almost five years old. Her number one must have was High School Musical 2 DVD. I thought she was waaayyy to young for High School Musical, but at the last minute I relented and let my sister buy it for her. I am glad I did because every gift she opened Christmas morning she said ” I KNOW this is High School Musical!” Needless to say that DVD was her favorite gift.

This year she is asking for a Bratz hair style. I have no idea what that is, but she saw it last year on television and has never forgotten it. We have a “no bratz” rule in this house, I don’t like those toys and will not buy them.
Will she get over it after she gets other gifts that she will love as much if not better? Sure, but you always want to give your kids the things they truly want.

How do you deal with your kids asking for something you don’t want them to have or is not age appropriate? Do you give in thinking about how you never got what you wanted as a child or do you hold firm?

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My kids love to draw and their imaginations just are amazing. I would love for something they had drawn to come to life for them. When I heard North American Bear and FAO Schwartz had a make your own monster kit, I had to get more information on it.

The Make Your Own Monster Design Kit comes with colored pencils, paper and a detailed questionnaire. With the kit your child can create their own “monster” but also his personality. Once your child is done creating their very own monster, you submit the kit along with $249 (ouch!) to the lab and wait for your reproduction to be delivered to your home in about 8 to 10 weeks. The 20″ soft, plush monster comes with a descriptive tag that tells your child’s story.
The process really is fascinating.

If your child is not ready to design their own, or the price tag is slightly too heavy for you, they can buy a ready to go monster. My son has Yucky and LOVES him. A portion of the sales go to Global Action for Children.
My own monsters has received such honors like Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Products.

This would be an amazing, unique gift for any child, heck I want to make my own monster! With five year old twins, the cost is too much for me right now but maybe one day.

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I may be a little late for spring cleaning but cleaning and organizing are some of my favorite things-when I am in the mood to do it. I try to keep the house organized because organization is the key to keeping a house running and keeping up with the kids. Today I am going to talk about what I do to keep my house from being overrun by clutter and keeping my children’s things organized.

Closets
Keep your children’s clothing on an adjustable hanging rail that can be raised as your children, and their clothes grow. This way you can teach your children how to hang up their own clothing and they can reach a sweater if they want one. I keep a collapsable canvas containers on the floor of the closet filled with their dress up clothing and accessories.
Store off season clothing in a bin in your attic and donate the clothing they have grown out of.

Storage
Get clear under the bed storage bins for your kid’s toys. They can see what is in it and they are out of the way. Keep art supplies in a portable container and label the compartments “crayons” “brushes” etc.
Get a hanging net for your children’s stuffed animals.

Organizing
Get a large wall calendar and put everyone’s activites on it. That way everyone can see what is coming up or what that days activities will be.
When you get an invitation RSVP, mark it on the calendar and throw the invite away.
Buy a small bin or basket for everyone’s keys, cell phones and/or wallets to go in. That way everyone can grab and go in the morning.

What storage or organizational tips or tricks do you and your family have to share with me?

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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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I have so many favorite things to share with you today, the last day of February. I love looking all over the web and in stores for the cutest and coolest things for moms, and children. I also love supporting mom owned businesses and try to promote my favorites whenever I can.
Here are some great things that have caught my eye in the past few weeks:

I love everything sock monkey. Target has had a lot of sock monkey products lately from slippers to sheets. If you want to make your own, here is a good rainy day activity for you and your kids, make your own sock monkey kit.

I have always loved anything with my name on it, but who doesn’t? This site is closed for maternity leave right now, but it has everything personalized for baby from diaper covers to bibs and headbands. I can’t wait for her to get back because I need to get my daughter a personalized headband of her own!

Practice Spanish with these cute dominoes. These are English/Spanish dominoes and for $6.50 are a steal because they are well made and so cute!

Every little one needs a pair of converse sneakers!

Check out my latest reviews on the ultimate receiving blanket

Eco-friendly baby gear

A blanket that is easy to carry and so soft you will want your own!

Great burp cloths and

This amazing pregnancy planner I cannot live without!

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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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My twins will be five next month, just old enough to have definite ideas about what they want for Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, they have always had “favorite” items on their lists like a Little Einstein movie they had seen or a Dora doll. This year they have been preparing their lists for weeks. I introduced them to all the great Christmas movies from my childhood, Rudolph, the Grinch and Frosty. All of which were on regular television, which they are not used to watching. Anything they watch I Tivo and it is from Noggin or Nick Jr where there are no commercials. With these classic movies came the introduction to commercials for everything they don’t need but have to have.

Two weeks ago my daughter started asking for High School Musical 2 DVD. I have no idea what this movie is about, I have only heard of it in passing. I told my daughter this movie was for older kids and that she could get it when she was older.
That was not the answer she wanted to hear.

So for days now, she tells me “I know I am going to get High School Musical!” and ” I know Santa is bringing me High School Musical”. So what do I do? My fear is she will open all of her gifts and wonder where this one DVD is, the one thing she wanted. On the other hand is this movie for older kids and if so should I stick to my guns and not get it for her?

What happens when your child really wants a gun and you do not approve of them? What about when your daughter wants a Bratz doll or makeup and you think those are not great gifts for children?
What do you do when your kids ask for gifts that are not age appropriate?

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I have had many emails asking me how can parents know if their child’s toys are safe, so I decided to write some tips you can look for when you are buying toys. Chances are if you have older kids, their hand-me-down toys are not all safe. Since babies and young children put everything in their mouths, you may want to replace your toys. You can check on the manufacturer’s web site to see if they were recalled. This web site also has a list of recently recalled toys you can check out.

The paint on your child’s toys probably have volatile organic compounds (VOC). Check for toys that have water-based paint with low VOC or ones with no VOC paints. They will say so on the box!
Cheap plastic toys are cheap for a reason, they are almost always made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Sippy cups, teethers and baby dolls are almost always made with this material. PVC contains phthalates which has been linked to cancer and hormonal problems. Look for PVC free toys.

Try wooden toys. Not only are blocks and building systems fun for kids of all ages, if you buy non treated wood, it is safe for your children to put in their mouth (watch out for splinters!). These toys can be more expensive but try buying them on Ebay or craiglist, or find a relative or friend that has older kids and would be willing to give you their old toys.

You can always check out this website for more information on being green in your home.

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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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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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