Archive for April, 2009

Top 8 FREE Things to Entertain Your Little Ones this Summer!

Let’s face it– we don’t all have the money to blow on going to the aquarium, the zoo, or an amusement park anytime we want. Mommies have be creative and find ways to entertain their little ones for FREE!

  1. Take advantage of your public library! Most libraries have storytime or something similar for children.
  2. Go to the park! It’s a great way to entertain your little ones and let them interact with other children.
  3. Go on a walk or a bike ride! Most kids love being outside. It doesn’t matter how fussy my baby is– when I put her in a stroller and walk her down the street, she is happy! She also loves to take the lead and walk around with her mommy and daddy following her.
  4. Put on some music and dance! It’s okay to act silly sometimes. Besides, it’s good exercise for everyone.
  5. Go swimming! Don’t have a pool around you? Break out the water hose, and let them play around a sprinkler.
  6. Arts & crafts! There are a million arts and crafts activities you can do with your little ones. Check out this article called “Crafts by Age” at http://familycrafts.about.com/od/craftprojectsbyage/Crafts_by_Age.htm
  7. Movie night! Watch a movie you already have, or head to the library and check one out.
  8. Put on a play, puppet show, fashion show, or concert to show the family! Kids love to be creative. If your kids are too young to write their own script, have them sing songs and prepare dances. (Reader’s Theater Scripts @ http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm)

5 Ideas to Help Develop Your Child’s Spirituality!

  1. Take religious books, coloring books, and toys to your place of worship to entertain small children. From a young age, children need to learn that a place of worship is a place to be quiet and respectful. I usually see parents break out the toys to entertain their tots, and the rest of my Sunday morning is spent being distracted by a little boy driving his race car on the pew or a little girl playing with her dolly’s hair. Instead, keep your church toys church-related so that your kids will be well-behaved while learning about God!
  2. Teach your children prayers to say at specific times such as mealtimes and bedtime. Simply telling your child, “say your prayers!” usually isn’t enough until they are old enough to understand prayer. Guide them so feel confident in talking to God.
  3. Talk about God at home. Be an example for your child and include religious talk at home. Make sure you give God thanks and praise when good things happen, and ask God to guide you when things are going wrong.
  4. When celebrating religious holidays, be sure to discuss the meaning of them to the level of your child’s understanding. I have seen many children that celebrate holidays without knowing why they are celebrating.
  5. Teach your child religious songs. Most kids love to sing! So use this to your advantage, and make sure to include some praise songs when singing with your child.

Happy Easter!

Here are some fun Easter activities to do at home with the little ones! Remember to eat healthy and be active today!

  1. Do a traditional Easter egg hunt in your yard but put nuts or Easter stickers inside the eggs instead of chocolate and candy.
  2. Get out your fingerpaints! You can make little baby chicks using your thumbprints as their body. Try making an Easter bunny with your fingerprints as his ears.
  3. Read an Easter story together.
  4. Make Easter bunny ears using a headband and construction paper.
  5. Draw Easter cards for family and friends. Inside, write an Easter poem or write a cute saying like ”Somebunny wanted to say, ‘Happy Easter!’”
  6. Print out some Easter coloring pages from a website such as this one: http://www.coloring-page.net/easter.html
  7. Cut out 10 Easter eggs out of thick white paper. Divide the eggs into 5 pairs. Each pair should be decorated the same way. Then, mix them up and place them in 2 rows of 5 face down. Play the memory game.
  8. Have a bunny hop race with the whole family.

Go Green, Baby!

Go Green, Baby – Visit babyearth.com for the biggest selection of eco-friendly baby products in the market today.

Today’s mom needs products that are…

Convenient!
- bumGenius 3.0 Cloth Diaper: Just as easy to use as a disposable diaper!

Safe!
- GumDrop Pacifier: cheap, safe, and cute!

Helpful!
- Baby Bjorn Soft Bib: catches extra food so you don’t have to clean the floor after every meal!

Adorable!
- Rolled Waist Pants:  styled like yoga pants, these will be a cute addition to your baby’s wardrobe!