ready to roll

My 3-year-old has perfected the art of relaxation. Thanks to one of her preschool teachers who is instructing her classmates on the practice of yoga, she knows how to breathe deeply when the going gets rough. “In through your nose and out through your mouth, Mommy. Like this,” she says as she demonstrates her newly found technique. I smile to myself because her older sister learned the same thing and, much to my amazement, it came in especially handy over the years when she just “needed a moment.” Now that I have two kids and am often found carting around both girls on errands, to and from activities, meltdowns aren’t exactly, shall we say, convenient. In my experience, I found that when my kids know what to expect, they are less likely to fret. Like many of you out there, we follow a routine that they’ve come to know like the back of their hand. Maybe that’s why the new board book, On-the-Go Time, is a comfort as it re-establishes the rhythms of our day. Just in time for holiday shopping with little ones in tow, this book offers practical tips for managing kids when you’re out of the office, but in a lighthearted style. It reads almost like a sing-along (“Get ready, get set…GO get your coat…Get ready, get set…GO get your coat.”) and as the experts tell us, music is a great motivator (for kids big and small). Of course, my favorite part of this delightfully illustrated story is the part where the kids are denied sweet treats while grocery-shopping (I’m so glad this mom doesn’t cave!), and deep breathing ensues. Yes, into each life a little rain must fall, but if you’ve got the tools to get through the day with your child, you’re one step closer to sanity–and bedtime.

In a Nutshell: More than just a good read, this board book is the ideal traveling companion for what to expect when heading out the door with little ones.

Tags: Free Spirit Publishing, holiday shopping with kids, on the go with kids, On-the-Go Time, parenting books, toddler books, Toddler Tools Series