A friend asked me the other day, “so, is your preschooler into Barbie, yet?”  My gut reaction:  what on Earth do you mean by yet?  Yet assumes living in a Barbie World (thanks, Aqua) is inevitable.  First off, I don’t think the Barbie phase is inevitable.  But, back to the question.  The answer is yes.  My preschooler has just started to show interest in Barbie.

I realize the word “Barbie” alone can stir up the liveliest of debates among parents, especially moms.  Some draw the line at Barbie.  Others say, “what’s the harm?”  Still others lie somewhere in between–”maybe one or two dolls, but forget the dream house and hundreds of accessories.” 

As much as I’d like my preschooler to remain interested in her natural and simple wood Ryan’s Room dollhouse and miniature Waldorf-inspired wood people,  I can’t deny that she’s losing interest in favor of Barbie and the KidKraft line of dollhouses (which by the way, are quite dreamy) that accommodate Barbie (and like sized) dolls.  Oh, in case you’re wondering, she doesn’t watch much t.v.–and when she does, it’s commercial free.

Please help me out here.  What’s the going age for Barbie?  When does life in plastic begin?  When does it end? 

If you really want to rock that breastfeeding mom’s world this holiday, I have some great ideas for you–affordable ones, too.  These gifts are sure to make her happy.  And, what she might just love even more is the message behind the gifts:  that you support her decision to breastfeed.

Scarf.  Scarves are not only trendy this season, but they double as “emergency” cover-ups while nursing in public.  Of course, she’s also bound to appreciate a true nursing cover.

Nursing Bra.  There is nothing quite like wearing a nice bra, especially when it comes to nursing bras.

Nursing Necklace.  Nursing necklaces are designed to keep babies focused while breastfeeding.  Necklaces are soothing play toys.  They also offer babies visual and tactile stimulation.

Nursing Pillow.  Nursing pillows are multi-functional–a huge hit among breastfeeding mothers.

Nursing Stool.  Nursing stools allow mom to get comfortable while nursing–something that’s not always easy to do. 

Breastfeeding compatible carrier or sling.  If there’s one product on the market that makes breastfeeding easier, it simply has to be a nursing sling–one that allows a mom to easily, and even discreetly, nurse on the go.  The secret lies in finding a quality and comfortable sling.  Of course, a hip and trendy carrier is good, too–after all, breastfeeding shouldn’t mean foregoing style!

As I piled my kids into the car after the first snowstorm of the season, my preschooler asked, “Mom, is it safe to drive the car after it snows?”  After giving a brief age appropriate explanation about snow driving, I started thinking about ways to minimize driving hazards in all weather conditions–not just in snow.  Driving with precious kid cargo aboard makes safety an even bigger priority, especially since kid-related distractions can potentially increase driving risks.

Here are 7 tips for safer driving:

1.  Buckle up.  Everyone in the vehicle should wear a seat belt.  Kids should be properly restrained in age appropriate child seats–also be sure car seats are properly installed in your vehicle.     

2.  Be alert.  Put down the cell phone (or consider a hands-free headset if you must talk while driving).  Leave the MP3 player or radio alone while you’re in motion–wait until you’ve stopped.  Concentration is crucial.

3.  Keep safe distances.  Years ago, my driver’s education instructor explained the importance of the two (or three) second rule.  That rule says you need to stay a couple of seconds behind the vehicle you’re following.

4.  Be on guard.  This goes with being alert and keeping safe distances, but it also entails driving defensively–being ready to avoid accidents.  Having an escape route.  Just in case.

5.  Observe road rules.   Speed limits.  Road construction signs.  Cross-walks.  Red flashing bus lights.  Obeying traffic laws is a critical component for safe driving–as a bonus, when you obey those laws, it teaches your children to respect them, too. 

6.  Keep loose objects secured.   If you get into an accident, loose objects in the car, like toys or trash, could become projectile missiles.  Consider cargo nets or backseat organizers to contain your objects to keep you, your kids, and others safe.

7.  Discipline later, when possible.  A calm car is incredibly important for safe driving.  Teach your kids that your job is to keep them (and others) safe on the road.  This means they’ve got to behave in a safe way, too.  No throwing objects.  No yelling–that includes you, too!

Making charitable donations this time of the year goes hand and hand with the holiday spirit.  Each holiday season, my little ones and I prepare food and toy donations for drop-off at a local charity.  Although we engage in other charitable endeavors at other times during the year, I use this time of year to teach the point of the holiday season–giving to others.  This year, like every year, charities rely upon donations of all sorts.  Money.  Food.  Clothes.  Time.  Toys. 

When it comes to toys, though, in light of recent recalls, charities are reminding parents to properly dispose of recalled toys.  Disposing of recalled toys does not mean bringing them to a charity. 

Many charities, such as the Salvation Army, rely extensively on volunteers to help sort toys and weed out recalled ones.  This season is keeping charities especially busy.  

When toys are recalled, proper disposal of toys is essential for child safety.  The U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission (”CPSC”) and manufacturers usually provide specific information on what should be done with recalled toys, such as contacting the manufacturer for replacement or refunds.

Check out the CPSC web site for additional information about recalls.  

Every parent knows all about bad toys. I’m not talking about the kind of toy that gets recalled because it’s bad in the unhealthy or dangerous sense. I’m talking about the toy that is bad because it drives you absolutely insane. Be it the noise. Be it the appearance. Be it the fact that it drives your child insane, which then only further pushes you to (or over) the edge.

I vividly remember the first bad toy to enter my life as a parent. I still cringe when I think about it. To make matters worse, I’m the one responsible for inflicting the pain on myself. I purchased the toy. On an impulse, I bought what looked like a cute and innocent little steering wheel–kind of like those lil’ driver toys, minus the classic features like a turning key and stick shift. It looked just perfect for entertaining my baby, who was then around nine months old.

What I didn’t realize when I bought the toy was that it made more than just typical car sounds. The toy also randomly belted out–in the most annoying, high pitched voice–expressions, like let’s go driver. The slightest movement was enough to get the toy talking! I learned this when I hit a bump while driving away from the store (by the way, the toy startled me so much that I immediately hit the break, thinking, turn around, take that thing back to the store–but I didn’t).

The toy never stopped irritating me. It even seemed to irritate my baby. Visitors even thought it was annoying.

That toy now sits in the closet. Way in the back. I simply can’t get rid of it. It reminds me that there are too many wonderful toys on the market to have to suffer through bad toys. Of course, I could always donate it to charity, but how could I live knowing that I inflicted a bad toy on another family?

‘Tis the time of year when bad toys are on the brain. Or, at least will be once the kids tear off that wrapping paper.

So, what’s your bad toy story? Has a bad toy made you a more conscious toy shopper?

Really, it’s never too early to learn a language.  I know.  My little ones are hooked on learning Spanish.  Sure, Dora the Explorer or Diego probably have a little bit to do with it–at least with getting them interested in the language in the first place.

Seriously, though, when sports and activities sign-ups roll around, my kids *beg* for Spanish classes.  As far as I’m concerned, that’s a great thing, especially since studies suggest that the child brain is incredibly receptive to learning a foreign language. 

Language classes are a great way to help a child acquire a second language.  But classes aren’t the only ticket to picking up another language. 

Here are five ways to help your child learn a language: 

1.  Play language CDs–even music in the language.  Play the CDs in the car.  Around the house.  Play them during pregnancy.  Play them during infancy.  The sooner you start, the better. 

2.  Find learning aids.  There are so many products on the market today designed to help language acquisition.  Flashcards.  Games.  CDs.  DVDs.  Podcasts. Talking Toys. 

3.  Label your house in the foreign language.  Label the refrigerator.  Label your furniture.  Label your children’s toys.  Make reference to these items in the language and watch your child’s vocabulary grow.

4.  Have fun!  When learning is fun, your child will only crave more.         

5.  Of course, total immersion is probably the fastest–and maybe even the best–way to pick up a second language.  But not many of us can simply pack up and move to another country!

Does your child speak more than one language?  If so, at what age did they start learning the language, and how did you go about teaching your child the language?

Maybe it’s because the cups are just so darn cute.  Maybe it’s because they make kids feel so grown up.  Reasoning aside, kids simply love tea parties.

I vividly remember one of my first childhood tea parties.  I sat at a plastic pint-sized table surrounded by my stuffed animal friends–come to think of it, that was a pretty ugly table.  It would probably pass for “retro chic” today, given the big gaudy flowers displayed all over it. Table and all, I remember those tea parties.

My preschooler really digs tea parties now.  She loves her tea set, especially when I fill the tiny serving pitcher with chocolate milk.  She absolutely loves to fill (and refill) her own cup. 

Tea parties unleash her imagination.  I love hearing my preschooler engage in full conversations with her imaginary friends, stuffed animals, and dolls.  I can only hope she looks back on her childhood and remembers her tea parties, like I do mine.  Maybe she’ll even remember her table–minus the flowers.

Want to encourage your child’s imagination through a tea party?  Here are five simple things you can do to make a tea party super special.

1.  Invite a friend to the party.  Tea parties are even more special when a ”real” friend joins in the fun.  Even if that friend is mommy or daddy.

2.  Give your child her own special tea set.  While ordinary dishes will do, there is nothing quite like a miniature child-sized set.

3.  Dress up.  Encourage your child to dress up for tea!  What a perfect occasion to wear dress-up clothes, costume jewelry, fun scarves or mommy’s heels (okay, maybe the not-too-high ones).

4.  Get fancy.  For a “formal” tea party, make tea time invitations with your child and send them to guests (bonus feature:  what child doesn’t love to send and receive mail?).

5.  Serve treats.  Tea parties are fun with imaginary tea and snacks, but even better with the real thing.  Consider chocolate milk or another special drink as a “tea” substitute.  Consider mini cupcakes or mini cookies as a snack.

Most importantly, don’t forget the camera!  You’ll definitely want to preserve those tea party moments!

Does your little one like tea parties?  What have you done to make them even more memorable for your child?   

My preschooler learned a new word at school.  Mean.  I had hoped she wouldn’t come to know the definition of the word so soon.  But now that she understands the meaning, her use of the word ”mean” is growing in frequency. 

I’m starting to think bringing home lice would have been better. 

At first, a boy in the class was mean.  Then a visiting child was mean.  Another child was said to be mean because she didn’t want to play.  Now my preschooler says her sibling is mean.  For taking her first choice crayon color.  For eating the last piece of candy (even though she ate much more than her fair share).  For doing something first, like getting to the bathroom sink when it’s time to brush teeth. 

There’s no doubt, addressing ”mean” behavior and ensuring a safe, healthy environment takes top priority on the parenting scale, but what happens when “mean” descriptor is overused?  And why are kids mean in the first place?

My gut instinct tells me that the word is popular with my preschooler because it’s a new word–a new concept.  She finally has a label to attach to a particular behavior.  I’m also guessing that she’s attaching the word to behaviors for which she doesn’t yet know of other descriptors or doesn’t yet fully understand emotionally–like jealousy. 

But, I also venture to guess that she’s hearing the word a lot at school.  Maybe, too much.  I’ve even heard the word mentioned in conversation by two mothers.  It was also used by two of my child’s playmates, on separate play dates. 

So, why are kids mean in the first place?  One theory is that kids model the behavior they see at home.  Other theories include lack of discipline or setting of boundaries, exposure to violence, including on television, and absent or disinterested parents or adult figures.

There are plenty of terrific resources out there to help steer children away from “mean” behavior–and toward healthy emotional expression, including books like 1-2-3 Magic or Supernanny, online parenting courses, podcasts, and community education programs.  Some schools even offer parenting classes or awareness seminars on unwanted behaviors, like bullying.

Parental involvement can go a long way toward stemming aggressive behavior.  That saying that it’s about ”quality of time” spent with kids holds true.  Even time or cash strapped parents can make amazing contributions to a child’s development.  Taking time to do projects or activities with a child–playing a game, going for a walk, baking dinner together, talking, or reading a book–has the potential to transform mean kids into loving ones, and maybe even make for less “mean” talk at home.   

Helping your child develop her inner artist is a good thing.  Studies show that exposure to the arts and creative play is healthy for kids–not to mention linked to better grades in school.  Artsy and crafty kids watch less television.  Art encourages creative thinking.  Art builds self-confidence.  Art gives kids an avenue to express themselves.   

As a parent, you don’t have to be an artist to instill a love for the arts in your child.  You certainly don’t need to share DNA with a famous artist.  In fact, you don’t even have to consider yourself artsy or creative in the first place.

Alex Toys makes terrific arts and crafts products for children, including art studio and art to go projects and activities.  The Crafty Kit is the perfect kit for your budding artist–and for drawing out your child’s artsy side.  The Kit comes with easy project ideas–which take away the fuss of having to come up with creative art ideas.  The Kit also contains the materials your child needs to complete the projects. 

Alex Toys also makes a whole line of children’s art supplies, including Chunky Chalk which is perfect for little hands–and for creating sidewalk art! 

Are you raising an artsy or creative kid?  If so, what tips do you have for getting kids hooked on arts and crafts?  Leave a comment and share your secrets!