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! 

If there’s an expectant mama in your life and you need a thoughtful gift idea, you’ve come to the right place, especially if you want to score some serious “just thinking of you” points. 

A maternity pillow is the ultimate gift.  Every mother-to-be craves quality sleep.  A pregnancy pillow, which is designed specifically to assist expectant mothers achieve sleep comfort, is a pregnancy must-have.  A pregnancy pillow can be used during pregnancy, after childbirth, and during nursing sessions.

Maternity pillows are great for reducing pressure, improving body alignment, and for providing belly support.  Pregnancy specific pillows come in a variety of shapes, although they share the similar goal of nurturing the pregnant body.

Popular pregnancy pillow options include:  The Boppy Pregnancy Wedge, the Hug N Rest Maternity Pillow, and the Snoogle Original.  

You simply can’t go wrong giving the gift of better sleep to a mother-to-be.

The holidays are all about giving, right?  There’s a lot you (or your company or organization) can do to add some holiday magic to another’s life.  For example, Coca-Cola is teaming up with consumers this holiday season to donate 100,000+ toys to the Toys for Tots program.  You can also encourage your children to get involved in the magic of giving to others by taking the lead–after all, children learn well by example!

There are several ways you can help make holiday dreams come true for kids and families this season.

1.  Donate money to reputable charities (if you’re not sure whether a charity is legitimate, do a little research before making a contribution).  Examples include donations to Toys for Tots, children’s hospitals like St. Jude, or non-profit organizations such as those where your contribution buys gift kits, like the MercyCorps child health kit.  

2.  Donate toys.  You can search for state-by-state toy donation information at the Toys for Tots site.  

3.  Donate food.  Contact your local food bank and find out what items are most needed this holiday season.     

4.  Let others wrap your gifts.  Charities, like the Red Cross, often offer gift-wrapping services in exchange for a small contribution which supports the needy.

5.  Assemble care packages for soldiers or participate in fund drives for families of soldiers.  There are a number of non-profit organizations that share the mission of supporting soldiers and their families this holiday season and need donations.

6.  Volunteer your time.  Whether you sing holiday carols at an elderly care facility or bake cookies for a sick neighbor, the gift of your time will surely light up the holiday season.    

I’m nearly convinced that one of the best gifts for a toddler/pre-K aged-child is a train table–with trains and a bunch of accessories, of course!  My children (and the children of nearly every parent I know) are drawn to them whenever they spot one, such as at Barnes and Noble or at the pediatrician’s office.

While the floor or dining room table may seem like an okay place for train play, nothing quite beats a train table that is specifically designed to keep kids busy for hours by encouraging imaginary play, while also neatly containing train parts.  A separate play space for the kids is a nice perk of a train table—fewer train parts to step on around the house, fewer times asking (okay, let’s get real here, begging) your kids to “clean up” their toys.

A quality train table can last for years.  Even after your kids outgrow the table for train play, it can be used as a versatile storage table (most train table manufacturers offer deep storage drawers as an add on accessory) or as another surface for doing other activities, like school assignments or art—some parents elect to paint a table’s surface with chalkboard paint for extended use.

There are a number of popular train table manufacturers, including reasonably priced tables by KidKraft (which offers tables in a choice of color, complete with colorful and fun play surfaces).  Baby-wise.com offers free shipping on orders over $99—that makes giving a train table gift this holiday an even merrier idea.

Christmas arrived early for my little one this weekend.  The grandparents arrived in town bearing a fabulous gift:  a Britax car seat.  Perfect timing, considering that it’s already difficult to fit my baby into her infant seat, especially when she’s wearing bulky winter clothing.  

I’ve learned along the parenting path that you simply can’t underestimate the value of having a great car seat for your child.  Of course, safety is the first priority when selecting a car seat.  But after that, a car seat designed with the latest bells and whistles–like recline options or plush car seat covers–can go a long way in terms of child comfort and adult happiness while on the road.  Sure, those features may cost a bit more initially, but they are the kind of gift that keeps on giving. 

Picture this: happy child vs. screaming child.  Relaxed parent vs. frazzled parent.

I’ve heard parents all too often say, “my child screams whenever I put him in his car seat.”  While the car seat isn’t always to blame for unhappiness on the road, sometimes it is responsible for those distressing cries.  I learned that from experience–I know a quality, comfortable car seat can completely transform car rides.  I’ll take a happy ride over the alternative any day.

Jump on over to baby-wise.com for a great selection of safe and cozy car seats. 

My kids are picky eaters, at least right now. They haven’t always been this way. Their food preferences wax and wane–what they love today might just become the food they despise tomorrow. There’s no rhyme or reason behind their preferences. At least not that I’ve yet figured out.  Sometimes I wonder if the snack plate or cup in which I serve the food has anything to do with it.

Coming up with snack ideas for picky eaters–healthy ones–isn’t always easy. Trust me, I know.  To make snack time more enjoyable (for parents and kids), I’ve put together a list of 10 simple snacks.

Go ahead, print out this list and tape it to the inside of a kitchen cupboard for use as a quick and easy snack planning reference.

1.  ‘Ol fashioned ants on a log. Celery with peanut butter*, add raisins on the top for ants (optional).  *Be sure your child is old enough for peanut butter–ask your pediatrician for guidance.

2. Pitas & hummus. Cut up small pieces of pita and let your little one enjoying dipping the pieces into hummus.

3. Apple slices (or small chunks) and cheddar cheese. Cabot Cheese is a favorite in my household.

4. Fruit salad. Combine assorted fruit in a bowl, like cut apples, pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries, and chill before serving. You can even mix in mini marshmallows or yogurt for a kid friendly touch.

5. Chocolate dipped strawberries. Melt a few milk chocolate chips in the microwave, and dip strawberries into the chocolate. Let cool and serve.

6. English muffin pizzas. Let your kids pick their favorite toppings.

7. Pinwheels. Roll up deli meat, cheese, and kid-friendly condiments (like mayo). Slice into bite-sized pinwheels.

8. Pretzels. Sure, you can buy pretzels, but you can also make them with your child–a fun, relatively quick activity with an edible end product!

9. Ice cream cone cupcakes. Prepare a cake mix, fill ice cream cones as you would if you were making cupcakes, bake until done (about 20-25 minutes).

10. Bagel pieces and cream cheese. Spread cream cheese on a bagel. Cut into bite-sized pieces. For variety, lightly spread a favorite jelly on top of the cream cheese.

If you have a simple kid friendly snack idea that you want to share, please leave a comment and tell me all about it–the more ideas for my picky eaters, the better!

November 21, 2007:  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a recall of select models of Boppy Slipcovers, which are imported by The Boppy Company of Golden, Colorado.   

The recall involves particular Boppy Slipcovers (see CPSC for specifics), including certain velvet and boa slipcovers. 

According to CPSC,  “The zipper pull on the slipcovers can break, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, paint on the zippers contains excess levels of lead, which violates the federal lead paint standard.”

No injuries have been reported.

For more information, check out the CPSC news release. 

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Note:  If you own a Boppy Slipcover, keep in mind your slipcover may not necessarily be affected by this recall.  When I heard about the recall, I got a little jumpy when I saw a slipcover resembling mine on the CPSC site.  After checking the tag on my slipcover, I was relieved to learn it wasn’t recalled (the date code didn’t match the slipcover listed on the CPSC site).

The family Thanksgiving breakfast may be over in my house, but the day of feasting is far from over.  It’s now time to get cracking on late afternoon feast preparations.

In between all the cooking, I’m going to make it a priority to spend lots of time with the little ones–especially snapping lots of holiday photos and capturing video.  I never want to forget these moments.  Since having children, Thanksgiving has taken on a whole new meaning–I have three special reasons to give thanks today.   

Wishing you a happy day.