Transitioning your younger children to days without their older siblings This year my son will be in the 1st grade. It’s a huge transition not only for him but also for my 4 year old daughter who hasn’t yet experienced a full day without him home. There is also the issue that it’s a milestone […]
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As a mom of three boys ages 3, 6 and 8, I can honestly say that on a daily basis I feel like I am living in the midst of a toy explosion. I can’t tell you how many times I have tripped or stepped on Legos, balls, Hot Wheels and their latest collecting obsession
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I’m a child of the 80’s which gives me a very unique perspective on life, I was around to see all the amazing Saturday/Sunday cartoons, great toys and stuffed animals. I got to grow up in a time that had really cool fads like Pac-Man, He-Man, Moon Walking, Hello Kitty, Rainbow Bright, Nintendo, Chia Pets,
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What defines a healthy balance of technology in our children’s lives? Often when the topic of kids and technology comes up, technology takes center stage. We sometimes become so consumed with the latest gizmo that we forget that our goal is simple – to raise healthy, well-adjusted kids. I’d like to shift from the usual technology-centric perspective and start this “kids & technology” article with that simple goal in mind: Kids First.
It’s the time of the year when children hear those most dreaded words, back to school time. For some parents back to school time is the best time of the year, especially after a long summer listening to their children whine “I’m bored. There is nothing to do“. Getting your child ready to go back
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Hi! I’m Wendy from Around My Family Table. I married my high school sweetheart and we have two beautiful kids (one who has special dietary needs). My mom taught me how to cook when I was younger and when I finally left home, I was able to prepare meals instead of boxed dinners or take
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I am a native Texan. I love it here, but now that I am also a blogger, I realize that if I want to find out what’s new and hot before everyone else, I need to be where the action is. The action seems to be in New York City or Los Angeles (bright lights,
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3D movies have been around for quite some time, tracing their origin back to the 1950s. The first 3D feature film released in America was in 1952, called Bwana Devil. It was set in erstwhile British East Africa (today’s Uganda) and centered largely on the hunt for two man-eating lions. The success of Bwana Devil,
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Every parent knows the tremendous value of a good toy, but often overlooked are the educational toys benefits. “Play is an essential component of healthy child development,” says Cindy Haines, MD, Chief Medical Officer of HealthDay News. “Play not only contributes to a child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being, it also offers numerous opportunities for
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Birthday parties are supposed to be fun but so many parents stress out when it comes time to celebrate their child’s big day. Here are seven tips that will make planning your next party child’s play. Focus on fun. Don’t worry about trying to impress your next-door neighbors. Your child’s big day isn’t about
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There is good news for the toy shoppers of today. Braving crowded store aisles is a thing of the past now that it’s possible to do all shopping online.
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During the holidays, family and children come together to celebrate many different things, but also to exchange gifts that were made, reused, or purchased. Gifts for getting the family together and toys that the whole family can enjoy make the holidays truly enjoyable.
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Cooking with kids both motivates and empowers your children to develop healthy eating habits. It also benefits the entire family as it provides quality time and is a valuable learning tool.
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In my earlier post, I mentioned my youngest son struggles with Dyspraxia. He is delayed about a year across the board. He is 2 and a half now and just recently started walking. Some things that helped him were toys! We had used all of the standard walkers, the grocery carts and other toys designed to help kids walk but I found a few of Chewy’s older brother’s toys that ended up helping him the most.
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My son is 2 and a half years old and has Dyspraxia (you can read more about dyspraxia and my sons other conditions on my blog). He has issues with his gross & fine motor planning and development. Our occupational therapist and I are always looking at ways we can use the toys we already have in a new way to help him work on a particular skill set.
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Now that the Back to School chaos is over and we are finally settling into a routine, the next big challenge on the horizon: the return of birthday party season.
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As a kid I was always excited about back to school. It was a thrill returning to the classroom with teachers and classmates. My birthday in September always felt extra-special, with textbook distribution happening around the same time. In middle school we spent more time in the hallways, racing from room to room. I noticed everyone else seemed taller, perhaps because of the October 31 cutoff date for registration. In high school I did well on the standardized college tests, and one of New Jersey’s most prestigious schools even offered me a scholarship. My parents and teachers encouraged me to accept. Instead, I went to vocational school and got a job.
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It’s that time of year again and families all over are heading to the beach. We head to the shore every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Yes, I confess, I’m a confirmed beach bum but have realized that heading to the beach with your baby is a lot more work than heading there with just your husband or significant other. Before heading to the sand with your little ones in tow, plan an agenda. Having all the essentials is a great way to make the day on the beach a happy and healthy one. First things first, make sure to lather your children with sunscreen about a half hour to an hour before you head out into the sun. This allows the sunscreen to penetrate the skin and begin to work. Applying every two hours after the first application is recommended by the professionals. Below is a list of my top five beach baby must haves to make your day at the beach a more enjoyable, relaxing and memorable one.
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There is nothing quite like city playgrounds. They are an entirely different animal than the suburban playgrounds that I grew up on. There is a lot of craziness and chaos, but along with that comes a lot of fun for the kids. Since most city kids don’t have backyards, city parks and playgrounds fill that role. This is where you will see the kids running and playing in order to release their pent-up energy from being cooped up inside the close quarters of home, school and such. It is also the place to see the hottest toys on display. Over the last week or so, I have been observing the warm-weather toys that the city kids are enjoying in addition to the slides, swings and jungle gyms. Below, are the top five:
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When the summertime comes, what better toy is there for your child to play with than a fantastic ride-on toy? These toys allow your child to go out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather while having fun on their new toy. There are many different types of ride-on toys of course, and choosing the right one can be a task in itself. Here are our top four picks for this summer:
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Great toys encourage creative play, building skills in many areas-but let’s talk language. Certain features in a toy promote language learning and pretend play. What toys stimulate a story in a child’s mind, start him weaving a tale, engaging in dialogue and solving problems?
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It’s summer, and that means it’s time for some fun in the sun. Summer is such an easy season for a kid’s party for several reasons: good weather means you can take the fun outdoors and summer vacations with school being out mean there is less pressure to invite absolutely everyone. Keep the following important tips in mind when planning your summer parties:
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It is widely agreed upon that one of the most important factors that contributes to a child’s success in reading are his or her early experiences with literacy. Since a child’s first teachers are parents, it is important for parents to offer their children many positive experiences with books and reading.
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On April 27 in New York City I had the opportunity to meet up with some old friends and make a lot of new ones at the Time to Play Spring Showcase. Thanks to Time to Play Magazine, I won an all-expense-paid trip to the Big Apple to see what’s new in toys this spring and summer season.
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