5 Tips for Getting Kids Up and Ready for School in the Morning

May 30, 2013 by 3 Comments

When you really stop to think about it, kids have to be up and ready for school pretty early each day. So, it’s no wonder why sometimes, they can be a bit on the sluggish side. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some things that you can do that will put a bit of “pep in their step”, though. That’s why we wanted to provide you with five tips on how you can get your kids up and on time to school every single morning.

get kids ready for school

Make sure they get (at least) eight hours each night. Oftentimes, it’s hard to get your children up the next day because they didn’t get enough sleep the night before. There are many studies to support the fact that children of elementary and even high school age need at least eight hours each night in order to be in tip-top condition the following day. That’s why it’s important to enforce some kind of nighttime routine that consists of them having a bath and getting to bed at a regularly scheduled time during the weekdays.

Have their clothes ready every evening. You know, a lot of time in the morning could be simply by making sure that your kids’ clothes are ready the night before. Check to see that their [Read more…]

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How to Help Kids Adjust to a New Neighborhood When You Move

May 30, 2013 by 1 Comment

Whether your kids are young or old (or they span a wide age range) you’re bound to face some issues when it comes to uprooting them. Forcing them to move away from the family, friends, and home they’ve always known, taking them out of the schools and other locales they’re familiar with, and plopping them down in a foreign place where they don’t know their way around and they have no friends is bound to raise their ire. And you’ll have to help them deal with a slew of negative emotions, possibly including anger, frustration, depression, helplessness, sadness, and fear. They may experience some or all of these, but mostly they’ll probably be confused about how to feel. As a parent you face the unfortunate prospect of watching your kids suffer for your decisions. But you’re not without means of helping them through this difficult process. There are several steps you can take to make the move easier on your kids so they can more quickly adjust to their new surroundings.

kids moving

The first thing you’ll probably want to do is prepare your kids for what’s to come, and this entails having a family meeting before you move to talk through the process. When children know what to expect they can temper their fears and anxieties. This will also give them a chance to discuss their [Read more…]

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Swim Safety – Ideas to Help Keeps Kids Safe

May 28, 2013 by 5 Comments

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, many public spaces and private homes have opened up their pools for the summer season. Pools and areas where there is water can be a dangerous place for kids, especially non-swimmers. Keep your kids safe in and around water by teaching them safety rules and keeping them in protective gear.

kids water safetyProtect your kids (and yourself) from the sun and painful burns. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, just one bad childhood sunburn more then doubles the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. Babo Botanicals has a line of sport and swim products desinged to protect and rehydrate your children’s skin while spending time in the sun. The new Clear Zinc Sunscreen (in green bunny packaging your kids will love) has both a sunblock cream and easy to carry stick that contain zinc oxide, an all natural mineral that both protects and is less likely to irritate your child’s skin. Many children have skin that is easily irritated by the chemicals in sunblocks, so natural products like these are a lifesaver in the summer. After a long day in the sun, refresh and rehydrate your child with the Organic Cucumber and Aloe Vera shampoo and body wash, also tear free. It is created to remove chlorine, salt, and other grime as well as replenish skin and scalp. If your child gets dry hair as well, there is even a conditioning spray. These products are certified organic, soy, dairy, chemical, and nut free, and made in the USA. For more information, go to http://www.babobotanicals.com

babo botanicalsRashgaurds and hats- another way to protect against the summer sun. One place I recently discovered that had a fantastic line containing nearly every sort of bathing suit, rashgarud, and hat imaginable is Polarn O. Pyret . Yes, the name is funny (Sweedish) but the line is vast. The best part is that you can mix and match products to create exactly what you are looking for. Want a long sleeve swim top and shorts, all 98% protective of UV rays? Or perhaps you prefer a one piece, or a rashgarud top and girls regular bottoms. You can find what you want in matching colors, and even hats that go along. Great for boys, girls, and babies. For more information, go to http://www.polarnopyretusa.com/

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5 Tips for Traveling Internationally With Children

May 28, 2013 by 8 Comments

Traveling anywhere with kids can be a trial, even if you’re only making your weekly trip to the grocery store. But when you have to keep children calm and collected throughout the duration of an international flight, you’ll no doubt find that your difficulties increase exponentially. At least when you’ve got them strapped in the car for a road trip, you’re the only one who has to live with their discomfort and the tantrums it can produce. When you’re stuck on an airplane, everyone has to deal with the repercussions associated with fussy kids. And the situation can get pretty ugly if you’re unable to rein in your tots. Luckily, there are steps to ensure that your trip goes a little more smoothly, despite the fact that your kids are unused to sitting still for several hours at a stretch. Here are some tips to keep your kids calm and to carry on when you take an international trip.

international travel with kids

  1. Identification. For the safety of your kids and for your own peace of mind, it’s important that you tag all family members with appropriate identification. This could mean strapping an I.D. bracelet on each child’s wrist or equipping them with a lanyard that features a plastic pocket to store a printout of pertinent data (including their name, any allergies, and of course, a means of contacting you if your child is found). You might also want to carry a current (and clear) photo of each child on you (school pictures are a good option) just in case one of them wanders off or gets snatched in the busy and crowded airport or while you are abroad. Hey, kids are prone to wandering [Read more…]
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Drive It Home – Teen Safety #DriveitHome #CGC

May 21, 2013 by 2 Comments


Drive It Home is an initiative of the National Safety Council. The initiative focuses on new teen drivers and some possible dangers which parents and teens are probably not aware of, but could save a life. Speaking of which, did you know that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for US teenagers?

Drive it HomeThe way the Drive It Home show presented the data was not only through hard facts but also through humor from the funny folks at Second City. They put on a faux Dr. Phil show which revolved around parents being more involved, responsible, and active parents. But also teen drivers should be aware of the road and their surrounds while also bringing in mind they are not masters of the road so they should be active learners.

Drive it HomeThe second main portion of the presentation involved a woman who lost her daughter. Her daughter was a passenger in a vehicle during a crash. The number of teens in the car at the time of the accident was three. The next valuable piece of information given out was the more teens in the car the chance of getting into a crash increases- With each additional passenger in a new teen driver’s car, the chance of a crash goes up 50%. For adults it is the opposite, each adult acting as another pair of eyes on the road around them, possibly catching [Read more…]

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What to Expect When Your Teen Enters High School

May 17, 2013 by 1 Comment

Children entering adolescence undergo all manner of changes; physically, mentally, and emotionally speaking. And watching kids go through this transformation can be difficult for many parents, especially considering that teens begin to turn to their peers for advice and support during this time, breaking away from their parents in an effort to establish an independent identity. But aside from the changes inherent to adolescence, parents will also have to cope with the fact that their young teens are entering high school, an environment that is not only demanding academically, but that also embodies hazards associated with peer pressure and the desire to fit in. So what can you expect when your teens enter high school? Here are a few things to prepare for.

For one thing you can expect the demands of the curriculum to increase. Whereas kids in elementary and middle school are often subjected to rote learning, those at the high school level must begin honing comprehension and reasoning skills. In short, they’ll be required to think. So whereas essays in younger years may have consisted of book reports or a letter detailing their summer vacation, they’ll now have to learn the five-paragraph essay structure and deliver work that shows more than the ability to regurgitate information. They’ll have to exhibit intuition, innovation, and independent thought. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. [Read more…]

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Top 5 Relaxation Tips for New Moms

May 13, 2013 by 1 Comment

Back when you first found out that you were pregnant, although you probably suspected that your life as you knew it would change, nothing can really prepare you for just how much it actually will. Having the role of the mom of a newborn means that you’re held responsible for another human being; that you are the one who your baby depends on it meet every single need. And while that can be a great honor, at times, understandably, it can also be extremely overwhelming and a bit exhausting.

new momThat’s why we wanted to provide you with a few ways that you can take a break, make time for yourself and relax. The awesome thing about these recommendations is that you don’t need a lot of money to do them—just a few minutes of your time (while the baby is napping, of course).

Drink some tea (next to some candles). There is nothing that “hits the spot” quite like a cup of warm tea that’s flavored with honey. And, when it comes to sipping some herbal teas, you can actually feel your stress and anxiety literally slip away. Some of the best teas to help you relax are chamomile, cat nip and peppermint. Also, if you’re sitting in your favorite chair, don’t forget to light a [Read more…]

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5 Tips for Getting Kids to Take Yucky Tasting Medicine

April 20, 2013 by 6 Comments

We’ve all had to face the tears and tantrums that seem to go hand-in-hand with forcing kids to take foul-tasting medicines. And while most of us would rather not subject our kids to this trauma, the truth is that they have to take their medicine, like it or not, if they want to overcome whatever illness all their classmates have contracted and passed around this week. So here are just a few ways that you can make the ordeal a little easier on everyone involved.

getting kids to take medicine

  1. Change the flavor. If it turns out your child is averse to certain flavors of medicine, simply ask at your local pharmacy about changing the flavor. Many pharmacies offer a laundry list of kid-friendly flavors for liquid medicines, including favorites like grape, orange, strawberry, and bubble gum, just to name a few. And if your medication is prescribed in a pill form (something of a rarity for children’s medication) simply ask if it comes in a liquid or if there is a comparable alternative that comes in liquid form.
  2. Try a new delivery system. When your kids see you coming with the bottle and spoon they might be aware of exactly what lies ahead. So try switching things [Read more…]
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