Spring is right around the corner!  What do your children’s wardrobes look like for the upcoming season?  New fashions are in store this year!  Hairpieces, dresses, skirts, cardigans, shorts, pants, shoes, and jewelry, are just a few of the items of necessity for your child’s fashion break through this spring.  Not sure of what’s in?  The tips below will lead you to the latest fashions and incredibly cute children!

Where Do I Start Looking?

Look at the latest trends.  Where does one look for the latest trends?  Celebrities, of course!  Celebrities tend to dress their children in fashions from the hottest boutiques available.  In fact, many celebrities are sent children’s clothing pieces from designers.  Designers hope to see the children of those celebrities wearing their children’s clothing to promote their clothing line.  If you are wondering where to see the latest trends simply “Google” your favorite celebrities with children and see what their children are wearing!

What Do I Pick For My Child?

Children can have their own style!  Many celebrities create a style for their children but it is not necessary to follow every trend among the famous! Be creative when choosing your children’s clothing.  Choose clothing that fits their personality.

What Is The Trend Now?

Girls

Do I hear FLOWER POWER?  Mothers are stocking up on flower hairpieces for their girls.  Hairpieces add a little pizzazz to every outfit.  Try looking for flowers on cardigans, shirts, and dresses as well.  Adding any flower brings a little springtime flavor to your little princess’ wardrobe!

Boys

Boys look handsome in just about anything.  But if you want to spruce up the outfit your little boy is about to wear, you’ll want to add a bit of style.  What style?  Hairstyle!  The latest trends in hairstyles for boys are the foe hawk, curls, shaggy chic and beach lock look.  You’ll be surprised at what a simple haircut can do for your handsome little man!  If your little man doesn’t have hair quite yet, hats are just as fashionable (see picture below!)

Save on Fashion!

You don’t have to spend as much as celebrities in order to have cute celebrity looking children.  Take your time looking and you will be smart with budgeting.  You may want to make your own fashions for you children based on what you like from current fashions.  Be creative and have fun dressing your precious little ones!

Resources:

http://community.parents.com/content/talktoparents/story/15903007/Childrens-Spring-Fashion?storytype=storyidea

http://www.dashinfashion.com/celebritymom.html

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You may have never thought of the grocery store as an educational warehouse but it is! Why not take advantage of all the colors, numbers, and letters at the grocery store? By playing a few simple games with your child as you browse through each isle you can educate him too! Who knew the grocery store could be so educational? You’ll be surprised how much your child will enjoy each of these games and before you know it he will be begging you to go grocery shopping! You’ll even find yourself looking forward to these fun trips together.

Grocery Store Colors

Red, green, yellow, orange…you can find it all at the grocery store! A great way to give your child some practice recognizing and naming colors is to take a piece of paper and write down the names of colors in big letters with a crayon that corresponds to each color (i.e. red, blue, green). Then have your child cross off each color as he finds it on items at the grocery store. You can even reward him at the end for crossing all of the colors off with a snack! Depending on his abilities you can make the list long or short!

Another fun game to play that will help your child learn his colors is to have him sort the cart out onto the conveyor belt by each color. The tomatoes, peppers, ketchup, and strawberries could all fit into the red category. Then the pickles, broccoli, and lettuce in the green category, etc.

Grocery Store Numbers

There are endless ways to practice counting the grocery store. Your child can count how many isles are in the store, how many items left on the list, how many you have already crossed off, how many bananas are in a bunch and so on. Your child will learn how to count backward and forward all while you take care of your grocery shopping!

You can mix learning colors and numbers by having your child count how many green, red, or blue items are in the cart. Using the scale in the produce department can also create a fun guessing game. Each time you place a fruit or vegetable on the scale have your child guess how much it will weigh and see how many he can get right!

Grocery Store Letters

Last but not least, you can help your child explore the alphabet inside the grocery store. You can make a bingo card with different letters of the alphabet in each square. When he finds an item that starts with the letter “A” like apple, he can cross it off. If he gets a bingo you can reward him with something fun.

Playing detective is entertaining too! Have your child imagine he is a detective looking for a green leafy vegetable that starts with the letter “l” and when he gets it right move on to another item with a different clue.

Each of these games will keep your child engaged and amused. They won’t even realize they are increasing their ability to read, count, and pick out colors while they are playing these enjoyable games. If you don’t have time to make up games on your own a quick way to find a few is to go online and check out a few sites that have grocery store game printouts ready for your use. Make your next grocery shopping trip an educational one!

Resources:

http://printables.familyeducation.com/games/shopping/63232.html

http://wondertime.go.com/learning/article/one-banana-two-banana_2.html

http://www.education.com/activity/article/grocerystore_kindergarten/

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This is a guest post by Kitty Holman. She regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

This winter has been anything but mild. In January, 49 out of 50 states had snowfall in at least one city or area. If you are living in the Northeast or Midwest, you have probably already had the kids home at least two or three extra days this year. Are you wondering how to keep them busy without resorting to overdoses of Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon? It doesn’t have to be so cumbersome! Here are some tips on how to keep your children occupied on their next snow day:

Art Projects: Exercise Creativity and Spend Some Quality Time Together

Maybe your children aren’t likely to be the Vincent van Goghs of the 21st century. Still, engaging them in art projects can be the perfect way to spend a chilly day indoors. Be prepared for a snow day with a large box or crate full of art supplies and project ideas. It can be helpful beforehand to print out ten or twenty art projects with instructions. Place the project ideas inside the crate as well. Decorate the crate with bright colors and pictures of items or hobbies your kids enjoy. This will help get your children excited about spending a day working on the projects you have chosen for them. Here are some craft ideas according to age, provided by Disney Inc.

Children’s Dance and Fitness Videos: Tire Your Kids Out Before Nap Time

Extremely cold weather can prevent us from getting the exercise our body so desperately needs. During regular school days, your kids at least get a few minutes to scream and run around the playground. This helps them release stored energy and endorphins, which can be extremely important for their mental and physical health. If the weather permits, bundle them up and take them outside to play in the snow. If it’s too cold to go outside at all, it may be a good idea to invest in some children’s fitness videos. These videos don’t need to be like those abs or buns of steel videos we see advertised for adults. Rather, there are plenty of videos that incorporate dance moves and simple work outs for children. These programs are usually set to kid’s pop music or children’s tunes. If your children enjoy certain types of dance, such as jazz or ballet, you can definitely find something that fits their interests. Check out the variety of Children’s Fitness Videos available online. Don’t forget: after they get some exercise in, they’ll be more than ready for a nap.

Winter treats: Teach them to Lend a Helping Hand

Lastly, involve your children in your normal routine during their days off. If you are used to cooking during the day, get them to help. Make it an exciting activity! Try to incorporate winter treats your kids enjoy into your cooking or baking schedule. Hot cocoa, sugar cookies, and warm, savory soups are all great, easy options!

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Are you a fitness enthusiast or just want to get more exercise?  This spring you can get in shape while your child is with you.  Jogging strollers are the perfect way to boost your fitness routine while keeping your child entertained.  There are varying differences in jogging strollers so make sure you get one that fits your style and is suitable for you and your family.  Check out the tips below to help you decide which jogging stroller will fulfill your wants and needs.

Jogging strollers have a wonderful carrying capacity that will suit your workout easily.  Most models are lightweight allowing for your strenuous effort exercising to be kept to a minimum.  Your average stroller may wear easily on gravel paths or uneven sidewalks but a jogging stroller is designed to overcome those obstacles.

(Instep Flash Fixed Single Jogger)

Features of jogging strollers vary.  Make sure that you have a compact stroller to move easily from place to place allowing for easy storage and tow for a variety of jogging locations.

(Bumbleride Indie Stroller)

Pay attention to the fine detail jogging strollers have to offer.  The tires on strollers differ and can make your experience more enjoyable and long lasting.  No longer do you need to worry about difficult steering or your stroller becoming cumbersome.  Let the stroller do the work for you.  The bigger the wheels the more shock absorbency you will experience on rough terrain.  Keep this tip in mind for your ideal walking and jogging adventures.

(Baby Jogger Performance Series 20” Wheels)

Double strollers and triple strollers make it possible for the whole family to go along for the ride.  When your family grows your prepared and ready!  The extra preparation will not leave you unsatisfied.

(Baby Jogger Summit XC Triple)

Other Important Possible Benefits

*Comfortable handlebars

*Durable Brakes/handbrakes

*Some jogging strollers can include a pedometer

*Canopy for shade

*Some include a parent cup holder

*Safety Reflectors

*Storage

Resources:

http://www/womenshealthcaretopics.com/bab_stroller.htm

http://www.the-fitness-walking-guide.com/stroller-walking.html

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It’s the middle of the week and your son has basketball practice, your daughter has dance class, and you have a P.T.A meeting to get to. When does dinner come in? Making your busy schedules flow is hard enough but is making time for family dinner worth all the trouble? Yes! Many studies have been conducted by social psychologists who are amazed at the tremendous benefits children experience just from sitting down at the table with the family a few times a week to eat dinner.

Benefits

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse the number of families eating together 5 times a week or more has only gone up 11% in the past 10 years and the children are seeing the affects of it. A number of studies show that children who eat dinner with their families regularly are less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol than those who do not. They also tend to get better grades, exhibit less stress and eat better. Trying to get the whole family together for 15 or 20 minutes can be quite the juggling act, but it is possible if you decide to make it a priority.

Tips for Cooking

If you do end up getting the family together chances are you probably don’t have much time to cook! Here are a few tips on ways to cut down cooking time…

1.     Plan Ahead- Make your dinner schedule a week in advance so you only have to make one trip to the grocery store for your ingredients. Doing so helps you avoid the temptation to grab fast food on the way home or to avoid making a big meal.  You can also get ideas from your family as to what they would like to eat so they are more excited about family dinners.

2.     Delegate- If your children are old enough and you are too busy to get dinner on the table every night, give a each family member a night to cook. This will help children learn how to cook healthy balanced meals before heading off to college and relieve you of some stress!

3.     Cook Extra- Make a double batch one night and stick half of it in the freezer so you can cut down on your cooking time in the future. Usually doubling a recipe doesn’t take much longer and will give you a chance to pop something in the oven later on in the week when you don’t have much time.

Things to do during dinner…

If you are one of those families that can’t seem to find anything to talk about while sitting down to dinner we have a great source for you! A few mom’s created a list of topics you can talk about while at the dinner table. All you have to do is cut them up and put them in a jar and have someone pick out a slip and get the conversation going. It’s a great way to learn more about your children and let them learn about you! Here are some examples…

* Tell me the five best things about you.

* Which of your friends do you think I like the most? Why?

* What is the most enjoyable thing our family has done together in the last three years?

* What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

Or you can even try a few trivia questions to get their minds going!

* What helps to keep you from crying when you are chopping onions? Chewing gum

* T/F Dalmatians are born without spots? T

* How far can large kangaroos cover with each jump? 30 feet

* A dragonfly has a lifespan of how many hours. 24

Resources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/nyregion/05dinner.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2

http://www.howdoesshe.com/christmas-present-to-our-readers

http://my.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/meals/dinner_meals/seven_ways_to_save_time_cooking_dinner.html

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Are you wondering when the best time is to open up your child’s palate to all of the different and exciting flavors that food around the world has to offer? Or is your child stuck in a rut of cereal and hot dogs for the majority of her meals? There is help! With just a few simple tips, your child could become a fan of healthy and flavorful meals that you can all enjoy eating together.

So when do you begin? If you’re a pregnant mother…now! Researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were more eager to eat foods with that same taste after birth. Want your baby to eat his or her broccoli later?  Eat yours now! While some of your child’s taste buds are genetic, the majority of them are acquired over time. So how do you train your child’s taste buds to love basil, cilantro, sauces, pastas, and different meats?

1.     Talk It Up- Are you having something a little different that she hasn’t tried? Talk it up with sensory words that excited their sense of smell, taste, touch, and sight. Children tend to “eat with their eyes” so pay attention to how your meal is displayed for your child and even try to hide veggies and fruits in other dishes if you have to!

2.     Sit Down Meals- Most parents understand how important it is to have regular family meals together. Not only does it strengthen family unity but it gives your children a good routine and they tend to eat healthier. Don’t be discouraged if you are a busy family, a 10 or 15 minute meal is much better than nothing at all!

3.     Fruits and Veggies First! - A good technique to try is to lay out the fruits and vegetables that you are planning on having with your meal before you serve the other dishes. When children are hungry they tend to be less picky! Then you can lay out the filler items like starches and meats. This creates a good habit of filling up on healthy items first.

4.     Spice Up the Dish- For some reason we all think that children need bland foods. They are perfectly capable of eating the very same foods we do with all the flavors and spices! If you start your child out on bland foods it will be difficult to quench that habit. So try and start creating an adventurous palate early!

5.     Don’t Give Up- Your child might not respond well to your first few attempts of introducing them to new foods. Research has found that it can take up to 15 separate introductions of a certain food before it will be accepted by some children. Keep reintroducing the food to your child and she will eventually warm up to it!

Resources:

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/your-baby/week-21/open-wide.aspx

http://www.celebritybabyscoop.com/2010/09/23/chef-rock

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/8-tips-for-raising-an-adventurous-eater-1903734/

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/24/school-lunch-healthy-lifestyle-health-kids-healthy-snacks.html

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The time has come for us to choose a winner from our Featured Family interviews! But first, we would like to thank every one of you who took the time to share a piece of your lives and beautiful families with us! We really enjoyed reading all of the submissions that came in. Hopefully in the Spring we can do this again!

And the winner is…

The R. Family from Cape Cod! Congratulations!

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Tell us about your family.

My husband and I have two boys, Chase (24 months) and Bryce (4 months). We planned them close in age because we really wanted to give them the gift that we each had, which was a sibling/best friend to grow up with.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do away from home?

We love visiting the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, playing at the park, and spending time with the boys’ grandparents.

Do you have trouble getting out of the house? Do you have a routine that makes getting out easier?

It’s not that we have trouble, but with a toddler and new baby, it is a long process. We have to start early AND have a plan… otherwise things don’t work out and we never make it out.

When out and about, what items do you carry that keep the family sane?

We love the Snap-N-Go stroller for the infant along with my baby carrier (he prefers to be close to me, so I like wearing him on my chest). We take the Snap-N-Go more so for storage purposes. In the diaper bag we must have snacks and juice boxes for our toddler, along with the other stuff (diapers, extra change of clothes, etc). We don’t usually bring toys, since our destination tends to be entertaining enough.

Do you have any parenting words of wisdom? What is your family mantra?

My parenting words of wisdom are to get your children on a routine EARLY. Children need structure and limit-setting and they thrive this way. My boys are both asleep in bed by 7:30PM. They sleep the entire night and wake up refreshed the next morning. They also take scheduled naps during the day. Everyone in the household is happy this way – mommy, daddy, and the boys. Our mantra? Hmmmm. Well they are both so young, but I would like to instill in them something my mom used to always say: “Work First, Play Second.” Simple words, yet so valuable.

Keep in touch with Yakini on Facebook, and at her personal blog!

Featured Families are automatically entered to win a stroller valued at $250! Would you like to be interviewed for our Featured Families series? Send us an email!

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Tell us about your family.

Dave & I are the super proud parents of 5 amazing children. Jude is 10, Bella is 9, Luke is 4, Liza is 3, and Vivian is 13 months.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do away from home?

We enjoy geocaching, rock climbing and scouting. We have started a Timber Wolf Scout Group, part of the Baden Powell Scouting Association which is the first of it’s kind in America.

Do you have trouble getting out of the house? Do you have a routine that makes getting out easier?

We do have trouble getting out of the house. The easiest way is to leave the 3 year old at home. (Just kidding) We keep an extra bag in the car of diapers, sippy cups, crackers, the basics…. and things we usually inevitably leave behind.

When out and about, what items do you carry that keep the family sane?

The must haves right now are snacks, Nintendo DS’s for the older ones and pretend cell phones for the little ones.

Do you have any parenting words of wisdom? What is your family mantra?

Do Proactive Acts of Kindness

Keep in touch with Angie on Facebook, and at her personal blog!

Featured Families are automatically entered to win a stroller valued at $250! Would you like to be interviewed for our Featured Families series? Send us an email!

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