My toddler is frustrated. Not that that’s an unusual occurrence, but it’s because she can’t quite bicycle as well as her older sister. Granted she is not yet 3 years old, but she takes her inability to master new things right away very personally (don’t we all?). When we took the girls out for a bike ride around the neighborhood, the little one was having difficulty grasping the concept of keeping her feet on the pedals; she just wondered rather loudly “why it won’t go?” So we resorted to her dragging her feet (literally and figuratively) as my husband pushed her from behind. Needless to say, his back was killing him before we made it down the street. For parents with aching backs everywhere comes [&hellip
The Playful Walnut Archive
I know it’s spring because our cat is a bit more kooky than usual. Blame it on those warm breezes wafting through the open window, beckoning her outdoors to play…but she can’t because she’s an indoor kitty (sorry, Peanut). Nevertheless, my daughters think her frequent pouncing and jumping into mid-air before barreling down the hall is a riot. But I know she’d much rather be outdoors soaking up the sun and fresh air, and I feel a little guilty that I’m such a stickler for keeping her housebound (we live in woodsy setting across from a pond, and we fear that, if given the chance, she’d head out the door and never look back. Plus, I’m afraid of a resident hawk who’d swoop down and [&hellip
My 1st grader is zipping through Junie B. Jones. Having recently developed a voracious appetite for reading, she is devouring nearly every book she can get her hands on…and I couldn’t be more delighted. Since my husband and I are true bookworms, we’ve happily passed along this gene and helped cultivate it over the last 7 years. There are times, of course, when my daughter would rather snuggle up with one of us than read alone, but because we’re hoping to instill more independence in this little girl who we’ve affectionately nicknamed “Glue,” it helps to have a companion for reading time. That’s why the line of book-inspired plush dolls from MerryMakers is a real plus for newly minted readers. From picture book favorites like [&hellip
With April already half-over, it makes me realize that May is just around the corner. A busy time in our family, both my daughters have birthdays this month, as does my sister. But of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t remember one of the more popular holidays that month: Mother’s Day, of course. While I’d like to think the day is all about me (ha, ha!), I can’t forget about my own mother and mother-in-law. When I’m on the lookout for gifts, plush is always a fun choice and the more endearing and soft, the better. How can you resist the new assortment of cuddly friends from Fiesta? It’s hard to suppress a smile when receiving the lovable “I Love You” Polka Dot [&hellip
April showers bring May flowers–and headaches for moms. After a rather brutal winter spent mostly indoors, I’m not welcoming this rather rainy spring. I’d much rather have my girls outdoors digging up worms than inside fighting over who gets to man the Calico Critters treehouse (A war between hedgehogs and bunnies is not a pretty sight.) So, on those afternoons when we’re stuck indoors, I really appreciate an activity that lets my kids’ imaginations run wild, even when they can’t. Just in time for Earth Day and a week-long school break comes the perfect boredom buster. Eco Crafts from ALEX contains all the necessary ingredients that turn ordinary household items into fab, “Hey, I made that!” creations. This kit is chock-full of projects ranging from [&hellip
Spring has finally sprung, and that can only mean one thing. No, not your allergies. We’re talkin’ bikes. If you have a toddler with an older sibling, you know how much your little one wants to be just like her big brother or sister. In our house, my little one tells me, “I’m not your baby anymore; I’m a big girl.” (Don’t worry about hurt feelings; I’ve developed a thick skin by now.) But I digress…when we dusted off our two-wheelers this weekend, wouldn’t you know the little one wanted to ride her bike, too? Because it’s no shocker that kids seem to be growing up faster these days, we think the Smart-Trike will truly hit its stride with precocious preschoolers everywhere. This versatile ride-on, [&hellip
For my sister, it just wouldn’t be Easter without her marshmallow Peeps. This hasn’t always been the case, though. When we were kids, I remember her preference for jelly beans over any other basket sweet. (For my brother, biting off his bunny’s ears was the first order of business. Don’t worry…it was a chocolate bunny…and that’s what they’re made for, after all!). But as years passed and the stresses of life and motherhood replaced those carefree childhood days, Peeps became her favorite springtime treat. It’s so I can’t help but think of her and another friend when stocking up on Easter basket staples this time of year. That’s why I know they are going to be psyched that they no longer have to decide between [&hellip
It’s impossible not to walk into a store and knock down a display of jelly beans, chocolate eggs, marshmallow chicks and the usual springtime suspects. Yup, Eastertime is here and it doesn’t take much to lure me into a buying frenzy of more sweets than my family can handle. If you’re playing the Easter Bunny for your own little posse and are looking for some alternative to this sugar fest, consider the new line-up from Jelly Belly. These guys aren’t only known for their flavorful confections; now they’re introducing an assortment of everything from candles and stationery, to scented bath products…and bubbles! That’s right: fruity bubbles that smell like cherries, grapes and bananas. I just know my daughters will eat these up…well, not exactly, but [&hellip
How is it that even if I take one day off from doing laundry, the amount of clothes in our bathroom hamper appears to triple–no, make that quadruple– overnight? It’s one household task that no matter how frequently you check it off your to-do list, bang! there it is, waiting for you the very next day. To make the chore a little less tedious, I’ve tried to inject some fun into it lately by making it into a game for my preschooler. We sort by color, talk about opposites (“wet” vs. “dry”) and, of course, I let her pitch some socks into the dryer every now and then. But once the machines start their whirling and spinning, she freaks out and our game is over. [&hellip
We have so many types of batteries in our house, it’s become a regular Radio Shack. While I mainly stock up on extras in case of power outages, they are inevitably used for the myriad of electronic toys that my two daughters can’t seem to live without. Be it a talking cat keyboard, or my older daughter’s Leapster, it seems we are forever in a state of gadget dependency. Sure, it’s nice when the girls can play unoccupied and I can get some work done, but the reality is that I’d much rather my kids’ rely on their already-active imaginations during playtime. Maybe that’s why Wikki Stix are such a win-win for our household: the girls can engage themselves in a creative project that doesn’t [&hellip