Parenting

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!

5 Memorable Things To Do With Your Kids During Christmas Break

December 17, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

This Christmas break, be prepared for the possibility of bored kids with ideas of things to do with them. Christmas break is a great time to capitalize on family time and make memories with your kids to last a lifetime. Here are 5 memorable things to do with your kids during Christmas break.

Things To Do With Your Kids During Christmas Break

Not everything you do with the kids during Christmas break has to fun and games. In fact, some of the things you can do involve organizing after the influx of new toys. Here are some ideas!

If you're looking for things to do with your kids during Christmas break, you're in the right spot! Sledding is one of the funnest things you can do during their break from school.

If you live in a snowy climate, be sure to take time for winter sports during Christmas break. It’s the perfect time for skiing, snowboarding or sledding. If an ice skating rink is near your home, that’s a fun activity too.
One family takes the opportunity to build a giant snowman every New Years Eve day–provided the weather cooperates. After your snowman building activity, head back inside for hot cocoa and a favorite family movie.
After Christmas and before New Years is a great time to remember those who aren’t as fortunate. One of our favorite things to do with the kids during Christmas break is to head to a soup kitchen and help serve meals to the homeless. Another idea is to visit a local retirement home and entertain the residents.
A favorite family tradition is to open a new puzzle and spend the lazy, cold afternoons putting it together. It’s especially fun to find a puzzle with special meaning to your family, such as a picture of a favorite travel spot or activity.
Before Christmas, spend time collecting an assortment of new recipes the family wants to try. During Christmas break, take the kids shopping for the ingredients. Then spend time cooking and baking together and enjoying new foods!

Can you think of additional things to do with your kids during Christmas break?

How To Tell Your Kids About Santa Without Looking Like A Liar

December 12, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

As kids get older, it gets harder to keep the Santa secret. But how to tell your kids about Santa without looking like a liar? That’s a tough one, and a lot of parents are afraid of approaching the subject for fear of their kid’s reaction. Today we have some good advice for talking to your kids about Santa, so you can be prepared instead of scared.

How To Tell Your Kids About Santa

Look for the signs that your kids are ready to talk about it

Have you been getting questions from your kids about who Santa really is? Or have they just out-and-out asked you if you are Santa? These are telltale signs that it is time to talk to them about Santa. It’s definitely easier said than done, though! We all like to keep belief in Santa alive and strong, because it’s fun. But it’s also a good idea to let them in on it before they hear it at school, or get teased for still believing.

It’s helpful to know that the average age when a child starts to question whether or not Santa is real is somewhere in the years between 7 and 10, depending on the child. When your child does ask you if Santa is real, ask him what he thinks before you answer. Your child’s thoughts can help guide your discussion.

Santa is a big deal to kids, so it can be hard trying to figure out how to tell your kids about Santa. It will make the whole process so much easier.

Be ready for a range of possible emotions

When your child hears that Santa isn’t real, her reaction may vary from anger or sadness to excitement. She may feel anger that you lied, or she may feel sadness that Santa isn’t real. Some kids feel like being let in on the secret is a sign that they are growing up–you can help them feel some responsibility to help keep the secret from younger siblings!

Are you stressing over trying to tell your kid that Santa isn't real? Here are the best tips on how to tell your kids about Santa. They'll help so much!

Help your child transition from believing in Santa to becoming Santa

How to tell your kids about Santa is a question some parents love to take on, and actually look forward to it. Plan ahead for this important talk. Take your child somewhere special, just the two of you–such as out for lunch or a shopping trip. Explain that she is getting old enough to “help” with Santa, and this is a big responsibility! Little kids get to experience the magic of believing in Santa, but older kids and adults get to be Santa–and that’s the most fun of all!

Not only do your kids now get to help be Santa at home, but in the community. Challenge them to think about the spirit of Santa Claus and how they can help spread it around to those who really need it. Teach them to notice the people around them, and watch for opportunities to “be Santa” to people who need it.

Great news–if your older kids help with Santa, they can also help with your Elf on the Shelf!

A Lesson in Gratitude: Thank You Letters for Santa

December 11, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

How many kids write letters to Santa asking for the stuff they want for Christmas? We all know it’s a lot! But how many of those kids write thank you letters to Santa after Christmas? Probably not nearly enough.

A Lesson in Gratitude | Thank You Letters | Thank You Letters for Santa | Thank You Letters for Kids | Santa Claus | Letters to Santa | Gratitude

You might be saying, “But what does it matter?” It matters because it is an opportunity to teach children a lesson in gratitude. Teach children how to write thank you letters for the gifts they receive and the kind acts done for them because it is a worthwhile task. Raising grateful children reaps dividends as they grow older. Gratitude positively affects attitude and behaviors for everyone!

Here are some tips to help you teach your children how to write thank you letters. It really doesn’t even matter if your children are pre-school age or teenagers. There are tips to help with every age:

No matter how old your children are, explain that receiving thank you letters makes other people feel happy.
Write the thank you letters as soon as possible, but skip out just because you think it might be too late. Later is better than not writing one at all!
Spend a little time with your child talking about the gifts he received and why he feels thankful for them. Help your child translate those thoughts into his thank you letters.
Keep fun, colorful craft supplies on hand for creating and writing thank you letters. This helps make it more fun so that your child will want to participate.
If your child isn’t writing yet, allow them space to draw or scribble on the thank you letter before adding the words. Try to write down your child’s own words about the gift. This makes those thank you letters more special to the recipients.
Let your child do as much as his age allows, including applying the stamps and dropping thank you letters into the mailbox.
Allow older children to come to the store and pick out their own cards if it helps create interest in the project.
Play music and drink hot cocoa while writing thank you letters to Santa to keep it fun!

Make writing thank you letters a regular part of your child’s upbringing. It’s worth the lessons in gratitude he will learn and apply for the rest of his life!

For more tips on thank you letters, see Emily Post.

Ingenious Ways To Manage Your Child’s Halloween Candy {Without Hiding It!}

October 26, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Every Halloween, a lot of parents worry about how to manage their child’s Halloween candy. Do you resort to hiding it–and then re-hiding it every time your child finds it again? Well, there’s a better way. Today I’ve got some ingenious ways to manage your child’s Halloween candy–without hiding it. Free yourself from Halloween candy stress once and for all!

Ways To Manage Your Child’s Halloween Candy

As with anything else, the best way to manage is with a plan. Plan ahead for the Halloween candy you know you’re going to have to deal with, and you’re halfway there to maintaining control.

One way to plan ahead is not to buy your Halloween candy too early. If your house is like mine, everyone knows it’s there, and that means we’re all fighting to stay out of it before Halloween. That just doesn’t happen! So don’t buy it too early and you won’t be tempted {and neither will the kids!}.
If you get the chance to have a say in your child’s class Halloween parties, push for healthier choices. So many times our kids get sugared up before they’ve even left school–and trick-or-treating hasn’t even happened yet! A party full of games and healthy snacks is just as much fun, and I’m sure other parents will thank you for it.
Hiding the Halloween candy isn’t actually managing it. What happens when you hide it? The kids just go on an all-out quest to find it and when they do they’re going to eat even more than if you just let them have it in the first place. So there’s something to be said for establishing rules over the candy.
Rules to manage your child’s Halloween candy are individual, but I find that when they include all the times the kids CAN have some of their candy, they’re much less likely to go crazy. For example, your rules may state that you child can choose a piece or two of candy after meals, or as part of their after school snack. You might let your child choose some candy to include in his school lunch.
Practice some swap outs. Have healthier choices in your pantry that the kids like and can swap out some of their candy to get.
Some parents establish a candy buy-out after trick-or-treating. This allows your child to give you some or even all of their candy in exchange for money. For some kids, money is preferred over candy!

Do you have any additional ways to manage your child’s Halloween candy {without hiding it}? Please share with other readers in the comment section. And before you go, check out these deliciously spooky Halloween snack ideas!

How to Survive Your First Month As A New Mom

September 30, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

As you anticipate that first month with baby, new mom worries may seem overwhelming. But there are several tips and tricks to know that will help you survive.

First Month With Baby Tips & Tricks

A dear friend of mine is a recent new mom. As I watch her go through the experience, I remember when I became a mom. I have such sweet memories of those first few months–it’s a profound experience to be a mom! But I also remember how overwhelming it is. You’re just home from the hospital and totally exhausted. And the reality that you are now responsible for someone besides yourself hits big.

All new moms learn a lot that first month. I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you, and one day you’ll pass it on to someone else!

Caring for the Cord

Today there are four simple steps to properly care for baby’s umbilical cord:

Keep it dry: Allow the cord stump to dry out. To do this, avoid covering it up as much as possible. Fold baby’s diaper under the cord so that it stays out of the diaper.
Keep it clean: When the cord stump gets dirty, use a soft cloth and warm water to carefully clean the cord. Gently dab it dry with a clean cloth.
Sponge Baths Only: It’s important to keep the cord stump as dry as possible, so no full baths until the cord has fallen off.
Leave the cord stump alone: Let baby’s cord stump fall off on its own. It should fall off within a few weeks of his birth.

What Baby Wants

I remember one of my biggest concerns was how I would know what my crying baby needed? After baby came, I surprised myself with what I realized… I somehow just knew. Baby didn’t always stop crying right away, but I knew what to do to help. I also realized I was doing all I could. Even after all his needs are taken care of, sometimes baby just needs to cry. And don’t forget, Dad can help and comfort baby, too!

Caring for Diaper Skin

Although you never want to disregard something that causes your baby pain or irritation, diaper rashes are fairly normal. Baby’s skin is adjusting to life out in the world and is super sensitive as a result. Any time her bum is sitting in moisture for too long, a rash can occur. The best way to prevent and treat diaper rash is to apply a diaper cream that contains zinc oxide. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is a great choice!

A more concerning symptom you’ll want to watch for is a rash made up of many itchy little red bumps. The itchy little bumps can signal a yeast rash. If you see these bumps, consult your pediatrician for a prescription cream.

About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is different for every new Mom and baby. Some of your babies take to you without a problem but others may be finicky. Dr. Jane Morton from the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto offers solutions to 10 of the most common problems with breastfeeding.

About Bath Time

Sponge baths are recommended for the first month with baby, until the umbilical cord is gone. After that you can make more of a splash.

Set Up: Be sure to prepare the bath area before you bring baby over. Make sure there are no items within baby’s reach. But be sure that you have easy access to everything you need!
Position: If you use a sink, face baby’s head away from the faucet.
Temperature: Test the water temperature on the inside of your wrist. It should be warm but not hot.
Cup: Use a plastic cup to help rinse soap off of baby. Be careful of her eyes.
Timing: Notice how bath time affects your baby. If he gets energized with baths, plan them during the day. But if bath time relaxes him, plan them right before bed or nap time.

Baby’s Bowel Movements

Breastfed babies have yellow, lose, seedy-looking stools. A formula-fed baby has stools of different colors and odors, but should still be fairly loose. Watch for red, black or white stools, or stool that is hard like small pebbles. Report these signs to baby’s pediatrician.

Caring for the Soft Spot

Another concern during the first month with baby is his soft spot. The soft spot, or fontanelle, is a thick, protective membrane on top of baby’s head where the skull bones haven’t grown together. This is normal, and allows baby to safely navigate out of the birth canal. Like any part of baby’s growing body, protect the soft spot as much as possible. However, it is not something to overly stress about.

Hopefully you feel more prepared for that first month with baby. My other tip is to be sure and take time for yourself!