Parenting

Fun and Effective Ways to Prepare Your Older Child for a New Sibling

Parenting

How to Keep Your Family’s Electronic Devices Organized

Parenting

Mess-Free Elf on the Shelf Ideas That Will Make Your Christmas Extra Merry

Daycare

Disposable Diapers vs Reusable Diapers, What Should You Pack for Daycare?

In Daycare

Cleaning Tips & Mold Prevention for Kids’ Silicone Sippy Cups, Bottles and Toys

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No one wants mold and bacteria around — especially not in sippy cups and water bottles that are going right into our kids’ mouths. There are endless options and styles out there, but they can sometimes be complicated and time-consuming to clean. The first step to keeping your child’s drinkware germ-free is to label it clearly, to avoid mix-ups at daycare, camp, sports and school. Once it comes home for washing and re-filling, try these tips to enhance the cleaning process. Clean mold from Sippy Cups When you invest in a new sippy cup for your toddler, you don’t want it to become damaged or unusable due to a washing blunder. So, don’t immediately throw away the outer packaging or the little insert that comes inside the cup — there is valuable information on there! Read the “wash and care” instructions and follow them carefully. You can also visit the…

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In School

How to Prepare for Kindergarten; Tips from a Teacher and Mom

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With our kids starting school in just over a month, many first-time Kindie moms are beginning to feel like they can’t be prepared enough for what is about to happen. From the emotional rollercoaster, the school lunches, routine changes, worries about our kids’ making friends, eating their lunch, and all the other elements of independence they’re about to embark on. It’s hard to know where to begin with getting our kids prepared. Here is how to prepare for Kindergarten; tips from a teacher and mom. The only thing most of us know for sure is we’re about to be a sobbing mess on that first day of school. Have I prepared my little one for this?   We asked Kindie parent and teacher, Ms. McNulty, what tips she would give to other parents. What does she expect kindies to know on the first day of class, and how she’s preparing her…

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In School

How to Label for School: A Breakdown of the Top-selling Name Label Packs

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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%…

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school anxiety
In Parenting

Anxious Kids; Transition Tips for Starting a New School Year

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It’s the time of year that starts to creep up on some families. No matter how fun summer has been, it comes to an end; some of our kids become anxious and dread the unknown ahead. A new year at school can be exciting, but it can be a tough transition for other kids. New class, new teacher, new friends, some see the unknown as exciting and fun. However, for kids who struggle with transitions and change, these exciting times can require a lot of planning and care. Here are some anxious kids transition tips for school. First, parents may begin to see behavior changes in their anxious or sensitive kids this time of year. Kids may start to ask a lot of questions about the new year (which is particularly difficult when you don’t have the answers for them).    Some signs they may be struggling with transition to…

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back-to-school shopping
In School

Tips to Save Money on Back-To-School Supplies

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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…

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In Summer Camp

How to Pack a Lunch for Day Camp

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As a kid, I spent most of my summers at day camp. I have fond memories of those days too. It’s where I learned how to play Capture the Flag. It’s where I fell in love with canoeing. It’s where I learned a ridiculous amount of camp songs and games that I still remember to this day. It’s also where I learned how important sunscreen is for a pale, freckled redhead. If you have plans to send your kids to camp this summer, you can be sure they’ll spend their days swimming, making new friends, playing sports, learning new games, exploring nature, singing songs, laughing, and making memories to last a lifetime. That’s why packing lunches for day camp that will fuel them for endless days of fun is so important. Need some tips on how to pack a lunch for day camp that they’ll love? We’ve got ‘em! Keep…

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In Parenting

Summer Chores for Kids by Age + Extra Jobs to Help Them Earn Money

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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…

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In Parenting

Signs Your Child May Be Dyslexic; And How to Help Them

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Dyslexia is a word we hear thrown around often, but many parents don’t fully understand what it means or how to recognize it. If your kids are struggling to read, and you’re worried that these struggles may be beyond regular development, then you’ll want to read on! We asked Heather McNulty, a reading expert, to help us break down the reading process. Here are the signs your child may be dyslexic, what to do next, how to advocate and tips on successfully helping your kids learn to read. In fact, even if your child isn’t dyslexic, you’ll probably find this very helpful as your little ones start to learn to read, enter kindergarten and take an interest in reading. So arm yourself with these tips, and you’ll find you and your little one will have a smoother transition into the literary world! So, what is Dyslexia? Dyslexia “is a neurologically…

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In Parenting

Tips to Help Your Kids Manage Their Night Terrors

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Many little ones struggle with night terrors, and it can really catch parents off guard! It can be heartbreaking not to know how to help them. Here are some tips for helping your child with night terrors. What are night terrors?  Night terrors occur when the child is in non-REM sleep. This is when they are transitioning from a deep stage of sleep to a lighter stage. It can be stressful for parents to experience their child struggling with night terrors. While one in six children usually experience them, every child may react to them differently. Night terrors are often confused with nightmares. Your child may be having night terrors if they: Wake up abruptly at night, usually within three hours of sleep. Wake up sweaty, with a rapid heart rate and breathing heavily. Appear to be unresponsive when spoken to, even though their eyes are open. Thrash around aggressively.…

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