Kid Stuff

6 Sensory Bottles That Will Calm Upset Kids

February 9, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Sensory bottles are used to help children (and adults) calm down when they become upset or anxious. The idea is to give the individual a safe object on which to focus their attention, thereby diffusing anxieties within. It’s kind of like an interactive “I Spy” book inside a bottle. Grab an empty bottle and fill it with water and tiny objects that will interest your child. It really is just about that simple. Read on for 6 suggested sensory bottles for kids that will calm them when they are upset. You may or may not catch me using bottle #3 to calm down on rough days in my classroom…

Halfpintpeeps.com will give you all the inspo you need to become not just a regular parent, but a cool parent. Find activities and ideas you and your kids will love. Try out these homemade sensory bottles that are great for upset kids.

Sensory Bottles For Kids

1. Do You Want To Build A Snowman Bottle?

Rhythms Of Play shares a snowstorm in a tube with this Frozen-inspired sensory bottle. Fill the bottle with snowflake confetti, sparkles, glitter, and any other Frozen related items. This sensory bottle will be sure to help freeze all those anxious feelings.

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2. In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Space enthusiasts and Star Wars fans in particular will get great use out of this galaxy sensory bottle. Use mineral oil, blue candy dye, glitter, and any space themed trinkets you can find. Read more from Preschool Inspirations.

3. Just Keep Swimming

Don’t let a meltdown get in your way. Keep your little Ocean Explorer swimming with an ocean-inspired sensory bottle. The sand is the best part! A Little Pinch of Perfect shares how to make your own.

4. It’s Nice With Rice

Keep everyone nice and calm with a rice-filled sensory bottle. The colorful pom poms are fun pops of color. Get the DIY tutorial from Mama Instincts.

5. Glowing Attitudes

This glow-in-the-dark sensory bottle will help get upset attitudes glowing again. Use a Sharpie to draw on a Jack-O-Lantern face at Halloween time for an extra haunt of fun. Get the directions here.

6. Where Bluebirds Sing

I don’t know if bluebirds really do sing “somewhere over the rainbow,” but hopefully your child will with a rainbow sensory bottle. Fill the bottle with colorful water beads to make the rainbow effect. Get more details from Ryan and Marsha.

Looking for more things to make? Check out my post on how to make a kid-approved lava lamp in 3 groovy steps.

How to Make a Pillow Bed for Your Kids

February 2, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

I totally get that throws and couch pillows are just that… pillows. They have stuffing in them, they’re on the couch, so why not use them for resting your head? It makes sense until you become the one who carefully takes the time to find or make the pillows and then watches as they become flattened, wilty, masses of fabric that no longer add charm to your home decor. My biggest struggle is when my boys sit on the pillows to play video games. I knew I had to learn how to make a pillow bed for them!

Halfpintpeeps.com is your guide to smooth parenting! Find loads of fun ideas for you and your kids. Get your kids ready for sleepovers and more with these easy to make pillow beds they're sure to love!

When I came across a DIY project for making a pillow bed, I knew I had found my pillow-saving solution. I made one for each of my boys using their choice of fabric. They get them out every time they play video games, when we have game night or movie night, or just when they’re hanging out between school, soccer, and every other thing they have going on. We love our pillow beds! I’ve also made a couple for my classroom for our reading nook (Teachers would LOVE to receive a pillow bed as a gift!) If you’re ready to make one too, here’s how to make a pillow bed for your kids (and you too!).

How To Make A Pillow Bed

Materials

Normally I’m fairly picky-choosy when it comes to fabrics for sewing projects, but I let my boys have total freedom (okay, ALMOST total) for this DIY. I always walk out of Joann’s pretty happy with their selection of fabrics. However, if you’ve not yet discovered the awesomeness of fabric.com, now is your chance! My boys had SO much fun picking out their favorite Star Wars and soccer prints. Here’s what you’ll need for the pillow bed:

– 2.25 yards flannel material in pattern 1 and 2.25 yards flannel material in pattern 2. OR, you can opt for 4.5 yards of ONE flannel material for pattern 1 AND 2.

– Sewing machine and thread

– Sharp scissors or rotary cutter

– Pins

– Measuring tape

– Pencil or water soluble marker

– 4 bed pillows

Directions

Step 1

Use scissors or a rotary cutting tool (use this Pickled Barrel article to help you work with one) to cut both pieces of flannel to measure 34.5″ X 75″.

Step 2

Match the two flannel pieces together with their right sides facing in. Pin around each side EXCEPT for one long side (3 of the 4 sides will be pinned).

Step 3

Sew the three pinned sides together, making sure to leave a 1/2″ seam.

Step 4

Trim the stitched corners off with scissors. Be sure not to get too close to the stitching!

Step 5

With the long side that has not yet been sewn, fold the material over twice and pin so you have about a 1/2″ seam. Sew the edge of the 1/2″ seam using your machine. Do NOT sew the two sides together! Turn right side out after the last edge has been stitched.

Step 6

Using a measuring tape and starting at either of the short ends, mark a line every 18.5″ until you reach the opposite short end. This will divide your fabric into 4 equal sections. Stitch along each marked line with the sewing machine to make the 4 pillow pockets.

Step 7

Stuff each of the 4 pockets with pillows and ENJOY!! Don’t have 4 spare pillows? Check out Amazon for some very affordable options.

Find more crafts at Half Pint Peeps:

10 Paper Plate Christmas Crafts for Kids

Cute Egg Carton Crafts for Kids

Find Fabrics, Supplies, and Ideas From:

Bed in a Bag Star Pattern for sale on Great Little Trading Co.

Fabric sold at Joann’s

Quality Fabric, Patterns, Craft/Sewing Supplies and more sold on Fabric.com

Pillows Sold On Amazon

10 Awesome Ways To Think Outside the Brick With Legos

January 26, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

There is no doubt about it… we are a proud Lego household! From my 14-year-old to my 7-year-old (and Mom and Dad too!), you’ll find Legos in bedrooms, the play room, on backpacks, playing on video game consoles and tablets, on t-shirts, ringing alarm clocks, on the wrist, and just about anywhere else you can imagine. But while building new sets with the instruction manual is fun enough, there are so many other ways to enjoy these amazing toys as well. Here are 10 totally awesome ways to think outside the brick with legos!

Halfpintpeeps.com just gets kids. Find countless ideas that will be fun for you AND them! Keep your kids busy and creative around the house with these original Lego ideas!

Ways To Think Outside The Brick With Legos

1. Run, Lego, Run!

Develop those engineering skills by designing a vertical Lego run maze. Challenge Little Builders to think of ways to incorporate moving parts and levers. Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls offers some great tips to get you started.

Ways To Think Outside The Brick With Legos

2. Zip Zap

Look out below! This Lego zip line is such a perfect building project to teach your Little Adventurers about gravity and the laws of motion. Who said Sir Newton couldn’t come along for some fun and laughter!? Source.

3. Bridge the Gap

Bridge the gap with this STEM activity. See if your Aspiring Engineers can defy the laws of gravity by constructing a bridge worthy of it’s heaviest foes. This is another perfect activity for teaching about forces and simple machines as well. Read more here.

4. Monster Mash Match

Grab your toddler for a game of Monster Match. Start by having your child create colorful paper bag monsters with open mouths. Then, learn all about colors by placing color-matching Legos in the appropriate monster’s mouth. Cookie monster has nothing on these monster friends! Read more from Toddler Approved.

5. Non Dispensable

This great activity is non dispensable for sure! Teach Young Builders all about simple machines with this candy dispenser project. Get the how-to here.

6. AlphaLegos

Keep Little Learners busy mastering their ABCs with this Lego activity. Have them replicate the Lego letters shown on cards by building one themselves. How many words can you think of to spell with that letter while you’re constructing what you see? Get the free printable letter cards here.

7. Count On It!

Little Mathematicians will have no problem mastering their counting skills with the help of Duplo Lego bricks! SHOW them representations of each digit by counting them out and stacking them in order. Similarly, 7-year-old and above can master their times tables by stacking Lego arrays and seeing how multiplying two numbers gives you a new product. Such a more exciting way to learn math than with worksheets!

8. Car Racers

Channel extra energy onto the racetrack for the afternoon. Have your Mini Mario Andretti’s design race cars to duke it out in some epic car races. Use balloons to give the racers their acceleration. Don’t miss the opportunity to teach about forces and motion with this fun activity!

9. Foosball

Athletes and competitors will enjoy this Lego build. Have them construct a DIY foosball game and then play for additional hours of more fun. Get a kick out of this activity here.

10. Weigh Your Options

Kids won’t need to weigh their options when it comes to building a neat Lego balance. What a cool way to learn about measurement and different metric scales. Get the instructions here.

Can you come up with other ways to think outside the brick with legos? Leave a comment below.

14 Early Signs of Pregnancy

January 20, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

It’s been a few weeks since you and your guy, well, you know… and it’s still too early to take a pregnancy test. Waiting to find out if your pregnant can be the worst! But you may not have to wait until a pregnancy test after all… Here are 14 early signs of pregnancy (before your missed period) to help you get your much anticipated answers.

Halfpintpeeps.com knows all about parenthood--in every stage! Don't just wonder any longer by knowing these telling signs of early pregnancy!

Early Signs Of Pregnancy (Before Your Missed Period)

Shortness of Breath

Are you feeling unusually winded after even mild physical activities, such as going up stairs? This could be an early sign of pregnancy. Growing babies require oxygen too, leaving you with less than normal. Read more about it here along with suggestions for what you can do to relieve the symptom.

Early Signs Of Pregnancy (Before Your Missed Period)

Fatigue

Being tired after a long week at work isn’t anything out of the norm, but feeling downright exhausted at times you know are unusual for you might be an indication that you’re undergoing an increase in hormones. Learn more about fatigue during pregnancy from American Pregnancy Foundation.

Nausea

Can’t seem to beat that “flu” you’ve had for a week or so now? You might be experiencing your first go around with morning sickness. This symptom is most commonly noticed around week 6 of your pregnancy but can start earlier as well. The second trimester is usually a little kinder on the tummy than the first. Until things settle down for you, try to find foods that will settle your stomach. Saltine crackers and sipping on Coca Cola were my go-to nausea fixes. Find more info about morning sickness here.

Increased Urination

Find that you’re having to make bathroom stops more often? Increased urination is another early sign of pregnancy as your body is working to create extra fluids.

Headaches

Yet another sign of increased hormones, headaches can be in indication that you’re pregnant. If this is indeed the case, be careful to take pg-safe acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen to manage your symptoms.

Backaches

As your body has to adjust to the weight of a growing baby in your front, the ligaments in your back will loosen. This can cause lower back pain that will continue throughout your pregnancy. American Pregnancy explains more here.

Cramping

You might already be used to some PMS cramping, but if the pain is more persistent than normal it could be an early sign of pregnancy. As your uterus stretches to make room for a baby, it can cause some aches and pains. Parents.com gives more information here.

Food Cravings & Aversions

If your normal appetite for foods has changed in unusual ways lately, pregnancy might be the explanation. Whether you’re suddenly craving new (and possibly weird) foods, or if foods you once enjoyed now make your stomach turn, learn more about these signals here from Baby Center.

Constipation & Bloating

Extra progesterone produced during pregnancy can cause a sluggish digestive system, leading to constipation and bloating. To help fight those waistline blues, Healthline shares 5 remedies for constipation during pregnancy here.

Mood Swings

Feeling a bit like an emotional roller coaster lately? Pregnancy mood swings could be the culprit. All those extra hormones are hard to keep in check, but be assured that everything should return to normal with careful care of your changing body.

Higher Body Temperature

As your body prepares for a growing baby, your blood flow increases by as much as 20%. This jump in blood flow results in a higher basal body temperature making you feel unusually hot. Read more from Kidspot.

Smells

Are certain smells suddenly super repulsive or off-putting? This could be an early indication of pregnancy.

Dizziness

Low blood sugar and blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to dizziness. If you’re experiencing some new light headedness or head spinning, you could be pregnant. Find out more on The Bump.

Spotting

Wait? I thought being pregnant meant you’d miss your period…? It does, but if your period was a little earlier or lighter than normal, it might not be your period but, rather, a sign of implantation bleeding. This can occur after a fertilized egg attaches to your uterine wall. This is one of the early signs of pregnancy (before your missed period) that gets overlooked the most. American Pregnancy explains it all here.

I hope these early signs of pregnancy (before your missed period) help you out during this exciting time in your life! If you are in fact pregnant, take a look at my post on safe exercises you can do while pregnant.

Birth Stat Signs: Personalized Nursery Decor

January 15, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

The newest big thing in baby nurseries is personalized nursery decor. Birth stat signs take your baby’s nursery to a whole new level. Today’s post has inspiration to help you choose personalized nursery decor you can definitely live with. Once the baby grows, their name or birth stat sign will become an heirloom to treasure. Here are some of my favorite birth stats nursery decor ideas.

Birth Stats Nursery Decor

At Etsy, you will find tons of handmade, personalized nursery decor to love! One of my favorites is this personalized sign from Forever Wedding Crafts. This is a custom sign made from birch wood, and the price is insanely reasonable!

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You will also find this custom birth details wall art made by Little Lady Print Shop. This is a custom printable file which is sent to you for printing. There are a whole slew of colors to choose from, in a variety of sizes.

A growth chart is another option for personalized nursery decor. Wayfair has a ton of options to choose from, so no matter what your nursery theme is, there is a personalized growth chart to match.

Amazon is yet another place to find personalized nursery decor. I love this personalized decal you can easily install on any wall in the baby’s nursery.

A picture frame is a great way to showcase baby’s birth stats in a way you can save forever. This is a solid wood frame that is made to last.

At Oopsy Daisy, find lots of unique styles of personalized nursery decor, like this Happy Animal Herd personalized wall art. This is a large 24×18 canvas with a resin finish that gives your personalized wall art a really beautiful finish.

Finally, check out Paper Source for personalized prints perfect for baby’s nursery. Their designs are printed on #130 weight paper that is made of 30% post-consumer recycled content. If you are concerned about being environmentally friendly, these prints fit the bill.

Now that your nursery is all set up, don’t forget to check out my post on how to survive your first month as a new mom.

The Absolute Best Pets For Kids

December 19, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

So your kids are begging for a pet? There are great reasons to get a pet, including helping your kids to learn more responsibility. But it can be hard to know what kind of pet is right for your kids. Today’s information on the absolute best pets for kids will help you make what can be a tricky decision a little easier.

The Best Pets For Kids

Dogs are the number one choice in pets for many families the world over. There’s plenty of reasons for that. Kids tend to bond with dogs like no other, and dogs are wonderful companions for kids and adults. Just know that there are important considerations to make first:

A dog {particularly a new puppy} requires a lot of care and training.
Research what breeds are best for families, because some are not well-suited for young kids.

So your kids are begging for a pet but you don't know what the best pets for kids are. You're in luck. We have a list of the best pets for kids. Guinea pigs are a great choice.

Some families adore having guinea pigs as pets. Do you know that guinea pigs are actually quite intelligent, and will respond to a child? They also handle well because they generally don’t bite. Guinea pigs are very social creatures! One of the considerations to be aware of is that guinea pigs need an abundant supply of vitamin C to be healthy.

So your kids are begging for a pet but you don't know what the best pets for kids are. You're in luck. We have a list of the best pets for kids. Birds are a great choice but they do require a bit of work.

One of the best pets for kids is a bird. Many kids enjoy birds, because they’re colorful to look at and fun to play with. Some types of birds learn melodies and will copy certain behaviors from your child. But be aware that some birds are noisy. It’s also necessary to clean the bird cage at least weekly–and it can get pretty dirty.

So your kids are begging for a pet but you don't know what the best pets for kids are. You're in luck. We have a list of the best pets for kids. Cats are always a good choice.

Cats are up there on the list of best pets for kids, probably right after the dogs! The main difference between having a dog for a pet, or having a cat, is the playful level. Dogs are definitely more playful than cats, but cats still like to cuddle sometimes {on their terms}. Cats are mainly independent, which is a bonus since they tend to take care of themselves. The downside of a cat is the chance of begin scratched, as well as changing the litter box.

Whichever pet you decide is best for your kids, don’t be afraid of the additional maintenance and care. Just add things like cleaning the litter box to your family chore chart!