Back in the potty-training days, my younger daughter was a bit baffled by her potty seat. Right from the start, she asked me why it looked so different from the one we used. And truthfully, I didn’t have a good answer for her (“This one is so much more colorful, see?”)…and smart cookie that she was, she wasn’t buying my fabricated response. How cool is it that today’s potty-training kids can feel more like a big kid with Summer Infant’s My Size Potty? This pint-sized floor model resembles an adult-sized standard toilet, complete with a toilet handle that makes realistic flushing sounds much to the delight of little toilet trainers. There’s a clip-on splash guard that’s helpful for training young boys, and a removable bowl [&hellip
On the eve of All Hallow’s Eve means that Thanksgiving can’t be too far behind. One of my favorite pre-Turkey Day memories comes from hunkering down to watch (of course) “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on TV. Before my favorite part when Snoopy and Woodstock sit down to their own feast (natch), the Peanuts gang piles into the family station wagon and heads out to Grandma’s house singing, “Over the River and Through the Woods.” It always made me laugh to hear their voices practically tripping over each other; never mind how out of synch they sounded, their cacophony created its own special harmony…much like family life. That’s the same feeling I got from reading the new picture book by the same name as the popular [&hellip
Sesame Street has always been ahead of its time. Since its inception, this beloved children’s television series has represented the diversity of our culture and the very rich tapestry that makes up its own urban neighborhood. Now, with the introduction of its new online program, Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, families can now better understand autism, which reportedly affects one in 68 American children. At the heart of this digital content is Julia, a preschool character who is also autistic. Despite her differences, she is still a little girl who loves to play and have fun with her friends, a reminder that the universal traits of childhood are still timely. Her experience is played out through a host of online extras, [&hellip
In our family, Halloween is a pretty big deal. Every year, my husband transforms our front yard into a cemetery complete with ghouls rising up out of the ground, a gnarled handed witch gesturing to her magic cauldron and a skeleton bursting out of his coffin. Because our kids like to get in on the act, we save the inside decorating for my 7-year-old (our 6th grader is busy still trying to figure out her costume). Because our younger daughter considers herself “pretty crafty,” ordinary construction paper bats and pumpkins just won’t do. This year, she’ll be flexing her creative muscles using the Wikki Stix Halloween Fun Kit. If you’re not familiar with Wikki Stix, they are thin, bendable strips (made from yarn and wax) [&hellip
Eating with kids can take the joy out of…well, eating. How many times have you sat down to a healthy, home-cooked meal with your kids (you know: the one you planned ahead, bought fresh ingredients and actually got onto the table in record time)…only to have a little one upend his dinner plate and burst into tears? Yeah, we’ve been there, too. But thanks to a revolutionary new mealtime accessory, those trying times may be a thing of the past. The ezpz Happy Mat is an all-in-one placemat and plate that affixes to the table or hard surface, minimizing the potential for accidental knock-overs. Made from BPA-free silicon, this clever product stays put via suctions, keeping your kid’s food contained in one place. With its [&hellip
When my older daughter was a baby, we were fortunate to move to a home with a beach at the end of our street. As a new mom, I couldn’t wait to head down to the water with my baby in tow. After precariously loading up our stroller–with beach bag, sand toys and extra-large blanket tucked underneath; folded beach chair balanced on top; and umbrella bag slung over my shoulder–we headed out. Of course, we didn’t get very far without me having to stop every minute to shift my position and re-adjust all of our belongings. Luckily, my daughter remained intact, but I couldn’t say the same for my sanity. Eventually, I learned to master our beach-bound excursions, but had always longed for a stroller [&hellip
I made a meaningful discovery doing laundry the other day. While emptying out the contents of a pair of pants, I came upon a handful of unexpected treasure: a piece of sea glass and an acorn. I didn’t need to know whose clothing these came from; judging from these finds, I knew it had to be my 7-year-old. She’s the first one in our family to bring home a red fall leaf, and has been known to stuff her pockets with weeds, wildflowers and pine tree pieces…only for me to find them in paper cups filled with water on her bedroom dresser. Little slices of childhood like these are more precious than gold, but to the parent of a young child, they can be also [&hellip
I always loved taking a bath…until I had kids. My visions of soapy, rubber duckie bath play quickly vanished, and were replaced with a grim reality: Bending over that deep bath tub to wash a little babe became back-breaking work. And trying to hold on to a squirming baby with one hand, while opening up a towel to bundle her in? Good luck with that. Finally, someone has invented a baby bathtub worth splashing about. Angelcare’s Near & Dear Bather is an upright, foldable tub that’s designed to sit inside a full-sized bath. Made from a quick-drying mesh material, it stands in a locked position, offering your baby a safe and comfortable spot in which to bathe. What’s great about this tub is that you [&hellip
When my girls were in diapers, I absolutely hated that I could never get through a diaper change without messy hands. It wasn’t from the contents of those diapers, mind you, but rather having to contend with sticky fingers from smearing diaper cream. I always wound up using a baby wipe, but then noticed how quickly those wipes disappeared…until it was time to open yet another (costly!) new pack. There had to be a simpler way to get clean without having to run to the bathroom (leaving either girl unattended while making a mad dash was a definite no-no). Had the Baby BUM Brush been around when my daughters were mere babes would have made this mom’s life a little less complicated. It’s essentially a [&hellip
I don’t care how old my kids are; I still can’t resist checking out new picture books. Maybe it’s that irreplaceable smell of the freshly printed pages or the excitement of an inviting cover whose illustrations are begging me to find out what’s inside…whatever the reason, I’m hooked on books–and they’re not even for me! As a mom, I find the best books speak to me as a parents as much as they do to my kids. Witty puns read like inside jokes and tickle my funny bone on days I can use it most. And that’s the beauty of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, an ode to breakfast gone awry. Much like my kids fighting over the last ice pop on a sweltering [&hellip