From the Sidelines

More reasons to let kids be kids

    During the holiday seasons, do you lament that your kids loves the boxes more than the toys inside? Don't!
    In this essay at Frog Design Laura Sergent Richardson explains why play and imagination are important resources for kids to develop and adults to have.  My kids love to build with Legos and Lincoln Logs how about yours?

Gwen Stefani’s boys show off their style in World Tour Shirt

You know a celeb has style when they dress their kids in Wes & Willy t-shirts. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale show off theirs at Thanksgiving.  Sporting the World Tour long sleeve tee, Gwen and Gavin’s boys Kingston and Zuma are on their way to a turkey dinner in one of the coolest t-shirts available this fall. See all the pics at CelebrityBabyScoop.com.

Want a Quiet Car Ride this Holiday?

 

While driving over the river and through the woods, keep your kids from asking "Are we there yet?" by offering one of these "delightful" Thanksgiving dishes (yes, they are real, but not very kid friendly). I rank these up there with the Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger and Deep Fried Snickers.

 

 

Turducken “What is turducken? It is a chicken stuffed inside a duck which is then stuffed inside a turkey. The term turducken comes from the combination of tur(key), duck, and (chick)en. It is fast becoming a popular recipe for Thanksgiving.” Really? Popular with whom?

 

           

Avocado Gelatin Turkey Nothing says Thanksgiving like green, turkey-shaped food.

 

Thanksgiving Turkey Cake  I know all food goes to the same place once you eat it, but shouldn’t it mostly start in different places?

Twelve Tips to a Fun and Safe Halloween

    My kids love Halloween.  They can’t wait to transform themselves into princesses and goblins so they can wander the neighborhood trolling for candy.  It’s also one of my favorite holidays, but, as a parent, there is always some anxiety about little kids, costumes, and candy.  Are they warm enough, is it a safe to go out?  So, if you’re like me, here’s a list of tips to answer these questions and make this night fun.

• Haunting the House
  • Kids love to get in the decorating action and it is a great idea to let them.  Just make sure that if you are stringing up lights or other electrical decorations, that their cords are in good condition and you are not overloading any sockets.
  • It’s always a special treat for kids to light the jack o’ lanterns.  It’s safest and least stressful to use electric substitutes or glow sticks instead of candles.
  • Picking out their costumes is the first treat of the season.  Try to steer your kids toward bright costumes, but if they’ve gone with a darker one, use reflective tape so they are more visible at night.
  • I try to choose make-up to masks whenever possible.  If we are using make-up, I have my kids draw out what they want their make-up to look like for Halloween and follow their sketch as best as I can.
  • Give each little ghost its own glow stick or flashlight. They can make spooky faces and shadows while hunting for candy and be seen by traffic.
• On the Prowl
  • If trick or treating with small children, make sure they have adult supervision and stay in large groups.  There is always safety in numbers. 
  • Plan your route, meeting location, length of tick or treating, and what to do if separated. Tell your little monsters to avoid alleys and shortcuts, and not to accept rides with anyone. 
  • Visit well-lit homes with decorations, in familiar neighborhoods.  If you have to walk too far or there are too few houses in your neighborhood, consider having a party instead.
  • Make sure your little ghosts follow all the rules for pedestrian traffic (cross at lights, use crosswalks, etc.) and watch for cars.
  • Remind your goblins to stay on sidewalks, and not to cut through yards.  Even vampires respect other’s property.
• The Sugar Score
  • Always say thank you (even if the dentist is giving out toothbrushes).
  • Parents must check candy before consuming for damaged, unwrapped items.  Although tampering doesn’t happen often, it does happen.

What’s Your Child’s Favorite Style?

            My son’s a casual rocker.  What’s that you ask?  He loves to wear casual and comfortable clothes, such as jeans and cargos with rock ‘n’ roll themes.  I love the fact that he picks out denim and 2 in 1 shirts from Wes and Willy when he gets up in the morning.  Why does this matter?  It tells me that their boys clothing is comfortable and cozy. I also know from this that the graphics and styles aren’t too cutesy for him. He’ll wear them out to the park or to hang out with his friends.

            My daughter is the same way, but more of a princess. In the morning, her first outfit of choice is the soft yoga pants with a tissue tee or basic tank.  You wouldn’t think she would tumble in the yard with her friends in pink cozy pants, but once the games begin the tomboy comes out.  Fortunately for us, the GRL 98 line of girls clothes by Wes & Willy are not only soft enough for a little princess, but durable and long lasting letting her run with her brother and cousins.

            What’s your child’s style?  Is he a sports fanatic or likes to be comfortably dressed up? Is she a tomboy or princess? Tell us your child’s style her or at our Facebook page, we’d love to hear from you.

            This week, Red 21 Boys and Pink 21 Girls have our favorite style of girls and boys clothing on sale.  You can find some of our favorite styles at a great discount.

My Son Can Tie Himself to the Goal Post. What Can Yours Do?

Well, summer’s over.  Labor Day came and went, school’s started, and the rush of fall activities has begun.  Between music, dance, and sports, my kids seem to have somewhere to be every day.  I enjoy sitting with the other parents at the games watching the young kids on the field.  It is always a treat to see them learning the rules and having fun at the same time. One of the highlights of the time spent at practices and games is watching some of the crazier things that kids do! 

One of the team dads told me this story.  His son was 5 or 6 and playing goalie for his soccer team.  His team had been at the other end of the field for a while, so, apparently, he got a little bored.  He had been leaning against the goal post playing with the net when the other team kicked the ball toward his goal.  Unfortunately, instead of watching for the ball, he managed to get his shirt tangled up in the net.  With the goalie securely attached to the goal post, the other team had had a wide-open shot to the goal.  Luckily, the half ended before they could score and the goalie was quickly freed.  For the rest of the game, he watched the game a little closer and stayed clear of the octopus-like net.

If you have stories about your kids tying themselves to the goalpost, eating grass on the field, or watching a helicopter as the other team dribbles past, please let us know.  I’m sure you have some funny stories of your own!

We would love to hear from you.

Saving Tips for Back to School Shopping

    With back to school gearing up, everyone is getting ready for the new school year.  Sports equipment needs, classroom activity days, and school supplies are just a few lists that will drive you to the local stores.  While I can’t make Rice Krispie treats for you or pass out milk to your child’s class, here are a few tips from my own experience that might help you save time and money when shopping for school supplies.

 

• Somehow I don’t think you need the electron microscope for first grade science… Not everything is required on a school supplies list. Start off buying just the essentials (i.e. pens, pencils, paper, glue, etc.). Purchase the more specialty items once it becomes clear that you child will need them.
• Good thing we have 500 unsharpened pencils from last year, if I only knew before we bought 500 yesterday. If you are like me, you have reams of paper, and dozens of brand new pencils and pens in their packaging laying around your desk. Before you buy more, check your home office.
• Mom, I know your write a lot of notes, but can I use one of the 200 blank notebooks for school?  Stock up your home office supplies at the beginning of the school year. This ensures that you have extra for around the house, in case you child runs out during the school year, and that you may have extra for the following year.
• Yes, dad, the Wii is on my school supply list.  My teacher said I have to have it!  Take a list and stick to it! Good advice for shopping in general. You have more of tendency to purchase more if you don’t have a list.
• While were getting gas lets get some school supplies.  I’m sure they are the same price. Shop around for school supplies. Many office supply stores as well as department stores have great deals on school supplies.  You’ll be surprised at the selection and price if you look around a bit before you shop.

 

Do you have any school supply tips or stories? Feel free to share...we love to hear from you!

Beat the Heat with Cool Summer Fun

      As we reach the hottest months, it is a challenge to keep our kids active and outside.  With a little bit of creativity, you can keep summertime safe and fun, even in this heat. 

Here are a few ideas to help keep your kids cool in the heat.

• High Quality H2O!  Drink lots of water!  Don’t wait until you’re thirsty.  By that time, you are already dehydrated.
• Freeze it!  Keep frozen treats on hand.  These may be as simple as throwing some grapes into the freezer and as easy as filling an ice cube tray with fruit juice and Popsicle sticks.  No matter what you make, if it’s frozen, your kids will love it!  Just Kids Recipes has 49 Frozen Treat Recipes if you need some new ideas.

• Plan for the heat!  Wear light and loose-fitting clothing.  Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen as well as light colors help keep the heat off your body.  You can always check out the tees and tanks at Red 21 Boys and Pink 21 Girls for some great summer tops and shorts.
• Just add water!  Frequent trips to a water park, pool, or lake can be a fun experience for kids.  Not only will they get some great exercise, and have loads of fun, but they will stay cool in the process.  If you can’t get to the pool or beach regularly, kids love the sprinkler!  I get my kids into their swimsuits, add some water balloons or water guns and they are happy for hours!  I love the crazy games they make up while they are out in the wading pool.

 

Feel free to share any summertime activities that your family enjoys!  Pictures, stories, fun games...we love to hear from you!

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors (Pt 2)

    Last post, I talked a little about some summer activities that you can do with your kids, in particular camping.  I hope the few ideas that I posted about the planning and packing steps in preparing for a trip.  This post I’ll focus on the meals and activities that you can do while you are out of doors.     

 

Meals

            Planning and making meals while camping is another great opportunity to educate your children and get them involved in the trip.  Have them help you make the meal plan, but make each meal simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and hobo pies are easy to cook and clean up.  You can find some great tin foil recipes at Family Travel and other great food ideas at camprecipies.com. If your kids are at a good age, let them cook or help cook their own food and definitely, definitely let them help clean.  Campsite chores like cleaning, collecting fire wood, or filling water jugs can be exciting for little ones. Plus, it gives us parents a little more down time.  Finally, don’t forget the snacks.  The outdoors has a funny way of making kids have huge appetites.  Make them easy to put together and familiar.  A child’s tolerance will be pushed on their first camping trip you want them to be as well fed as possible. 

 

Activities

            A camping trip should be as fun and memorable as possible.  Allowing your children to pick a few of the available activities will keep them active as well as involved.  Keeping a video, audio, or written journal of the trip is a fun activity and will help them get ready for the next by replaying their favorite moments.  Disposable cameras are a great way for little one’s to help capture the memories.  They can snap all the pictures they want of the things that were important to them.  Now, if you are a crafty parent, collages are another way for kids to make memories.  Take paper, glue, scissors, and crayons and let them pick leaves and pine cones to add or keep in a memory box.  Whatever you plan, make sure you have alternatives or back up plans.  Unforeseen interruptions such as weather or broken gear can torpedo all excitement and no back up can sink them.  Check with your campground.  Most parks will have a list of activities in the area, some will have kid friendly ones organized for you.

           

Above all, camping can be perfect learning experience for your children.  In this day and age of electronics and big cities, a quiet and calm weekend in the woods can teach kids much about themselves and their surroundings.  Taking time to teach your kids safety -identifying poison ivy and sumac for example- and respect for the outdoors is a great place to start.  Remember to take only memories and leave only footprints.  While there might be no one around for miles, there is no one and nothing around for miles. Teach them to keep within eyesight, for the little ones, and earshot for the bigger kids.  This will help them from getting lost.  If they find themselves lost, teach them to find a tree and stay put.  If they keep a back or fanny pack with them, make sure a whistle is inside along with a small first aid kit.  They should know that three blows is the standard signal for “Help!”

            Don’t forget to check out all the rugged shirts and cargos at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy and feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors

Summer vacation can be both a blessing and a burden for parents.  On the one hand seeing your children all day is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them.  On the other hand, seeing your children all day can be a dreadful experience when you don’t have activities lined up! Over the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some different summer fun that can engage your kids and make the time you spend with them enjoyable and not painful.

            Since I’ve been focused on sports these last few posts, I though we could take a break and focus on another outdoor activity, namely camping.  I remember fondly taking camping trips when I was young and all the great experiences I had.  Making S’mores, taking shelter because of possible tornadoes, and games by the campfire are memories I’ll never forget.  If you are a new parent or new to the outdoors, the last thing you might want to do is take your kids into the middle of the woods.  At first thought, camping with kids, especially young kids, can seem daunting.  However, with a little extra care and planning, a family camping trip can be one of the most memorable experiences for you and your children.

Before you begin planning your trip, I think the most important thing to remember is to involve your kids every step of the way.  Having them help plan the location, meals, and activities will ward off the complaints and make them feel like their opinions count

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning and packing for a camping trip with children.

 

Planning

As mentioned, a little extra care needs to be taken when preparing for your family camping trip.  If this will be your first family camping trip, make it a short one.  One or two nights will be about all little ones can handle.  Plus, if there is a major inconvenience such as bad weather, much more than a few nights can be unbearable.  Your first trip should be a fun as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to get yourself or your kids motivated for a second.  It’s also helpful to pick a site with running water and facilities.  I know most dads think they are Bear Grylls or the Survivor Man, but having running water and restrooms will ease your children into camping.  Any state run campground will have this information readily available.

 

Packing your gear

Pack light, but be prepared.  If you are not renting a cabin, make sure you have a sturdy, waterproof tent.  If you’ve never pitched it before, try it out in your backyard.  This will make sure that you have all its pieces and if you make it to the campsite at dusk, you’re not flying blind while in a hurry to get it built before dark.  Every one should have a sleeping bag and pads.  Air mattresses are nice for the kids, but I find them a little bulky to take one for everyone.  There should be a battery powered lantern for each tent if possible and a flashlight for each person.  Light sticks are always a good back up and can also double as entertainment. Finally, a basic first aid kit, bug repellent and sun screen are all must haves with kids.  When I was younger, I neglected to put sun screen on my feet while on a three day canoe trip.  Let’s just say shoes were optional for a while after that trip.

The right clothes are important on any camping trip.  If you are going to be hiking or taking nature walks, make sure each child has a good pair of boots.  Although rain may not be in the forecast, rain gear is also good to have on hand, as well as an extra set of warm clothes.  Children get colder faster than adults.  Keeping them warm and dry will go a long way for their morale.  I find that organizing their clothes by day into zip lock bags makes it easy for them to dress.  They can also put their dirty clothes back into the dirty bags when they are done (although this doesn’t happen all the time).  If this is your first trip, it is especially important to have a few familiar items.  Make sure you take their favorite pillow, Mr. Blankey, or stuffed animal to comfort them at night.  It is also helpful if you limit extra items to one backpack.  Not only is it easier for parents to pack, but it will help teach your children to pack light.  For a good checklist of supplies, try this list from KOA campgrounds.

            Next time, I’ll talk more about meal planning and what activities are kid friendly. Until then you can find many more ideas at kidscamping.com. If you are looking for some great boys gear, the shirts at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy are durable for any outdoor activity and are cargos are perfect for carrying all the goodies your son may find on a hike.

            Feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!