Packing your hospital bag is an important and exciting job before your baby arrives! A well-organized hospital bag ensures you have all the essentials for yourself, your newborn, and your partner. Being prepared ahead of time will allow you to feel less stressed out in the weeks leading up to the baby’s arrival, and once in the hospital, it will make your stay much more comfortable (and when in the hospital, we need all the comfort we can get!). Many new parents turn to the internet to ask what to pack in their hospital bag for their 2024 birth. Firstly, make sure you pack your hospital bag ahead of time. It often seems daunting, so we put it off, but believe me… you do not want to get caught off-guard and end up at the hospital without a bag! The hilarious (in hindsight) items your partner will pull together in…
Taking the school bus can be a scary responsibility for kids and very overwhelming for parents. But it doesn’t have to be. Talking to your kids about the bus being prepared and organized can make the bus system a good experience for kids. But how do you do that exactly? Here are school bus safety tips for kids, great tips to talk about and be prepared for. School Bus Rules for Parents to Be Aware of: There can sometimes be confusion about the bus procedure and where the responsibility lies. Here are some general rules that most school districts and bus companies follow that are good for parents to be aware of. -It’s the responsibility of the parents to understand the safety procedures and talk about them with their child. -Parents are responsible for their children until they board the bus and again immediately as they step off the…
Lice, just the word alone, can give parents the ick. The beginning of the school year is often a big time for lice; there are so many new heads to infest! With classrooms getting more and more kids each year, it’s unsurprising that it’s so easily spread. When your child comes home with lice or even the dreaded note indicating there are lice in the classroom, immediately our heads get itchy, and we feel squeamish. Here are some tips to prevent and treat lice. We know action needs to be taken immediately, whether you need to treat lice, or are aware it’s spreading throughout the class and you need to prevent it – the time for action is immediate. The good news about lice: While the thought of lice is unsettling, it’s good to remember that lice aren’t a major health risk, nor do they carry any disease like other…
We live in an area with relatively few extreme weather episodes. Sure, it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter – but rarely do extreme hurricanes, tornados, or earthquakes hit our area. However, this year forest fires have been a bigger concern than usual. It seems that every time we turn on the TV there is a natural disaster somewhere. Combine that with the smoke we’ve experienced this year, and my 6 yr old is now very concerned, even scared of natural disasters. She’s learned that weather isn’t just something we dress for; it’s something that can hurt us. So, to ease her anxiety, I set out to learn how to talk to kids about natural disasters. How to talk to kids about wildfires: We can’t always control what our kids see and hear or what potential disasters we may one day face. What we do have…
When sending our kids to school on the first day, there is often a wide array of emotions. One of the best ways to touch base with your kids is to include a note in their lunch box to let them know we’re thinking of them. Lunch box notes for kids with words of encouragement during their first days or any important day can be the encouragement they need to try something new, make a new friend, or ace a test they’ve been worried about. Mabel’s Labels washaway lunch box notes are the perfect way to include something special in their lunch bag. These lunch box labels will completely disappear each night; just wash them either in the dishwasher or by hand, and they’ll quickly and easily disintegrate. Each pack comes with 24 labels, so there is enough to cover the first week, plus any special days or a note…
We all know that labeling your kids’ stuff is super important; it prevents lost stuff and, therefore, costly re-purchases! Stops lost & found bins from overflowing and helps kids and parents stay organized. Plus, name labels prevent germy mix-ups and swaps. Teachers can’t possibly keep track of the items each kid in the class belongs to; it takes up their time and is impossible. Kids’ name labels allow teachers to know who’s is who’s with one quick glance, allowing them to focus their time on teaching our kids. Mabel’s Labels has been around for over 20 years and is the expert in kids’ name labels. This time of year, the Back-to-School label combos are one of the top items parents want to purchase. But where do you begin? We’ll break down the best school labels to make your back-to-school label shopping easier! Firstly, Mabel’s School Combos have great features! -100%…
Want to ease some of your child’s first-day-of-school butterflies? Cozy up together and read a story that will give them a better understanding of what’s ahead. The books we’re suggesting don’t gloss over the fact that kids may feel apprehensive about starting school – they address it head-on with patience, positivity, and humor.
Times are tough; with interest rates and inflation rising rapidly, we’re all starting to look at our spending. Back-to-School is one of those times of year that can add up quickly. Before you know it, you’re over budget. But, there are ways to shop smart. Here are some tips to save money on back-to-school supplies. It’s time to get creative and shop smart! 1) Buy only what you need. Before buying everything you need, check with the teacher and request a supply list. Perhaps you don’t need to buy as much as you think. So save your money and only purchase what the teacher requests. If you’re eager to start, check out these School Supply Lists by Grade. 2) Bundle and buy in bulk. Sometimes purchasing items together is cheaper than individually. If you find your kids don’t need everything in the bundle, you can pair up with friends who…
We would all love Summer to be an idyllic time with our kids, but let’s be real – it isn’t. If, like many parents, you find yourself constantly dealing with nagging your children to do menial tasks, then you’re not alone! Summer is a great time to start a chores list with your kids. Giving your kids chores teaches them responsibility, allows them to earn screentime (or whatever that may be in your house) and teaches them that chores are a necessary part of life and a part of working together as a family to keep a household running. Here is a list of chores by age that your kids can do summer, plus some added tasks that can help you out, and teach them about earning money, and prepare for their first job. Firstly, every child should be responsible for their own stuff, and their own personal care chores…
Author Robert Fulghum spoke the truth with the phrase, “all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.” Even so, he probably didn’t know it all on the first day.