kids

Last year I wrote a post about affordable items that can serve as 10 Fun Stocking Stuffers For Kids Under $10. That blog post got me thinking of other great gift ideas for this year. This Christmas, I decided to come up with a list of objects that we as adults consider ordinary, but which will arouse children’s curiosity. Most importantly for us as parents, they will keep kids busy! 😉  Here’s my new list of household-items-turned-toys that will make great stocking stuffers for kids. Also, they will definitely not break your wallet!

Did you know that there is a 75-90% misuse rate for car seats? With statistics that high, the odds are that you are making at least one mistake that could compromise the safety of your child during a car accident.  This week marks Child Passenger Safety week, so we would like to share 8 car seat safety tips that you can use.

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On Saturday, September 13, 2014, round up your kids and visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for a day of family fun, food, prizes and most importantly, free resources! It’s the Sing, Talk and Read (STAR) Family Festival!

So you’ve gotten through daycare and preschool, now what? Kindergarten can be a big transition for your little one, especially if they are going from a private child care center to a public school. They are leaving everyone that has become familiar behind, and have to learn how to cope with the higher demands that come along with being a kindergartener. The following tips for transitioning from preschool to kindergarten will help you as a parent in guiding your child along the way:

We all know that children have personalities of their own and that everyone learns differently. Some are more hands on, some prefer the abstract world, and others would like tangible puzzles to solve. In this post, we’ll first look at some different personality combinations in children, based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Knowing your child’s personality type will help you figure out the preschool teaching style that suits her best. After an overview of different personality traits, we’ll review the best preschool teaching philosophy by personality.

I t’s almost that time of the summer again when fireworks and red, white, and blue take over! With young kids your plans may have changed a little since when you were young but we’ve got you covered on all the family- appropriate fun there is to be had!

• A Colorful Breakfast
  Start your independence day off together in the kitchen to fill your tummies with American goodness! Get the kids involved and let them help make their own breakfast. Be sure to stock the house before with all the ingredients you’ll need for patriotic parfaits and yummy red, white, and blue pancakes that everyone will love!

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Going “green” and becoming more sustainable has grown to become an attractive and popular trend for many companies and organizations. Not only is it great for the environment, but those things that are harmful to the environment can also be unsafe for your children. When looking for childcare, things like wall paints, pest control practices and cleaning supplies are likely the last to cross your mind.  However, making sure that your center of choice is conscious of these things is important.

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As I was checking out the greeting card aisle, searching for the perfect Father’s Day card, I came upon a particular realization.  I picked up one after another that looked just like the last and I realized that society has completely conditioned us into associating our fathers with ties, a symbol that strictly reflects the working world and yet has nothing to do with what the holiday is actually about, family

We are accustomed to believe that ties, cufflinks and another pair of socks are the way to Dad’s heart, but what if what he really desires is something that costs less money and requires more thought? A present and a card will never compensate for quality time with the man who brought you into this world. Here are a couple ideas to get your wheels turning for Father’s Day.

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Typical care times: 9am – 12:30pm, with afternoon or evening care Ages: 3-5 years old, preferably potty trained Philosophy: “Play is a child’s work”

Overview
If you’re starting to look for a preschool, you have undoubtedly come across the highly popular Montessori program, but what exactly is it? The Montessori method of teaching was developed in the early part of the 20th century by Maria Montessori of Rome who developed a method of teaching that places a great deal of emphasis on individual-based creative, hands-on learning and student independence, all while allowing the students to be academically stimulated.

In a Montessori program, kids ranging in age from 3-5 all share the same room, with the older kids acting as role models for their younger peers. The students will typically have the same teacher (or “guide” as they are frequently known in Montessori schools) for several years which allows students to develop a closer relationship with their instructor.

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We hope you are just as excited as we are to officially kick off the summer with some family fun this Memorial Day. If going away for the weekend isn’t feasible this year, we’ve got you covered! We have some fun, inexpensive ways for you to celebrate patriotically with your kids.

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