Tips in Buying toys for kids

As busy parents having a hectic work schedule it is easy to go the easy route when buying toys for our kids. Some of our kid’s toys are come from Online without bothering to really check and research the items because its’ more convenient than to buy in supermarket or any toy store. To avoid from any confusions or discussions simply choose to follow what kids ask to purchase.

What some parents forget is that the toys play crucial role in the development of their child. Some of toys can help improve their spatial reasoning skills, encourage their creativity and help them learn how to interact with other children, it also helo improve their memory and even encourage them to be more physically active. For these reasons, it’s important for parents like me to take a more active role in choosing best toys for 2 year olds 

So the question is what should you look when buying toys for your kids? What are the good attributes for them to possess?

First, the toy should be appropriate for the age of your kids. For infants the best toy is to help them develop their abilities to recognize sound, shapes and color. Much better to choose toys that improve their imagination and develop social interaction skills.

In choosing the best toys for your kids, another thing that you need to consider is that “High tech” does not always equate to greater benefits. Don’t be easily fool by their intricate mechanisms and blink lights. Simple toys can be as beneficial like Spring Horse for boys and Dollhouse for girls (Many experts say that they are actually more beneficial) as their modern counterparts. Also modeling clay and building blocks or lego for example can help your kids learn how to determine shapes and colors improve their creativity. On the other hand jackstones and marbles help them to improve their spatial reasoning skills.

To much video games is not good for your kids instead you can pick toys that encourage physical activities. Give them basketball set, trampoline a bicycle anything that will make them want to get off the couch and go outdoor games. Another benefit of its is to promote better health.

In picking a toy, always go for educational and fun toys. Choose a toy that make their focus too much on the fun aspect and you deprive your kids of the benefits of a very useful educational tool.

Safety too, is one you need to consider when you are buying toys for your kids. When you’re buying for your younger children do not buy them anything with small or removable parts and sharp edges as tese put your kids in danger of choking or obtaining some serious injuries.

Toys play an important role in development stage of your kids. Unlike when we buy from online anything item on sale, where it’s okay to just pick the item that would look better, buying toys for kids should involve in serious thought. Use these tips and reminders to make sure that you only buy the best kind of toys for your kids. 

Five foods you shouldn’t have in your grocery list

Next time you do your grocery, take a mouthful of advice from the Dr. Oz Show Not too long ago, Dr Mehmet Oz, American  cardiothoracic surgeon, author and TV personality, had holistic nutritionist Gillian McKeith, host of UK’s You are What you Eat, on his popular show. They talked about a topic close to our hearts (and stomachs) and certainly a very absorbing one: nutrition and lifestyle choices. They came up with a short but weighty list of five foods we shouldn’t load into our carts when we go to the supermarket. This new year, we should make a healthy resolve and try to cross out the following from our grocery shopping list (or toss them out of our lives forever).

1.       Foods laden with simple sugars, carbs, and unhealthy fats. They’re simply called, uh, simple carbohydrates. It’s not that simple, of course. How can anyone resist simply divine treats such as “sugary breakfast cereals, donuts, pastries, cookies, ice cream, cakes, and soda”? These are sometimes called “empty calories”  Note: “The simple sugars are rapidly absorbed, spiking blood sugar levels for an initial energy high. This triggers an insulin reaction, driving levels back down and creating fatigue.

2.       Meats high in nitrates and saturated fats. Funny but to preserve their freshness nitrates (chemical additives) are added to processed meats (think cold cuts, bacon, sausages, hot dogs). Studies show that nitrates have been associated with stomach cancer and other degenerative diseases. A friendly warning: “these fatty meat products are also full of unhealthy saturated fat that can raise levels of bad LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease and strokes”. If you must have red meat, choose lean cuts like sirloin or tenderloin.

3.       Ingredients you can’t pronounce. Remember this rule of thumb: If you can’t pronounce it, its probably bad for you . How do ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate or partially hydrogenated soybean oil sound to you? Zero in on whole foods that contain only one ingredient. So instead of snacking on neon-orange cheese curls, slice up some carrots (healthy orange-colored) or celery sticks. Or enjoy fiber-rich popcorn. Or make your own homemade veggie chips: Thinly slice some beets , sweet potatoes (camote) or yams, sprinkle them with herbs and a little healthy oil, and pop them into the oven.

4.       Fake Health foods.  Don’t be deceived by foods that label themselves as “low in fat”, like certain cookies, salad dressings or yogurt brands. Read (the labels) before you buy. These items are usually lacking in flavor and they make up for it with their high sugar/ salt content . Then there are the packaged breads and crackers, which claim to contain whole grains. The truth about these fake health foods is that they contain considerably less fiber than 100% whole grain products. SO get real and choose real foods as much as possible.

5.       Canned foods chock full of sodium. Did you know the 80% of our sodium intake comes from processed and canned foods? Many canned foods are so full of salt, they contain half or more of your daily recommended intake.

Instead of canned soups , you can try and make your own, say, fresh and healthy  cream of carrot soup or hearty lentil in your own kitchen.

Hope this post help you especially for all mommies out there, I highly recommend this following information. Happy &  healthy grocery shopping everyone!.

Ten Tips for Parents

Always Be There.
Children want and need your physical presence and attention every time, from infancy onward. So being always in there side is a big factor.

Always Listen.
Being there means more than being present physically, Listening to them is very important to know them that you care.

Support your partner.
Working together on behalf of your children is a good example for them whether you are living together or not.

Learn to disagree appropriately with your partner.
Disagreement to your partner is a normal part of parenthood. It is how you resolve those problems and differences that you encounter.

Get to know and be known to the people in your child's world.
Teachers, doctors, caregivers and all professionals –all of them are an important in part of your child and your lives.

Get to know and be known to your children's friends and their parents.
If you have concerns about who your child is hanging out with, be sure to discuss this with your child. Getting know them is th best things to do to ensure their safety.

Play with your children.
One of the best and important ways to learn about and develop a lasting connection with your children’s is to play with them of course you are the first person that understand them.

Teach by example.
Children follow what you do more than what you say. Teaching them by showing example is a good ways to teach them.

Discipline with love.
This is the most important factor in parenting, to discipline means to guide or bring out the best in your child and that is best done with love.

Keep your sense of humor.
Nobody said parenthood would be easy. If you can survive parenthood, you can survive everything. 

Toys are Always in Demand With Kids

Kids love toys and always ask for new toys. Always remember that children have different preferences for toys as they grow older. The toys play an important role in the cognitive and learning development of the child.

Kids wanting best toys on every season, of course. It’s been happening in past 50 years. From 1965 until now 2014. Over the years, Responding to demand of people many company increase their toy production to make a large supply international. Over last 10 years, Many company seen the more dramatic change in the kinds of presents kids want.

Video Games – 1970

“Video Games”: These days probably have no idea how the video game industry got its firs break. Now with the use of high-tech innovations like motion capture, and development budgets, video games are almost as good as the real thing.

Rubik’s Cube – 1980

“Rubik’s Cube”: invented as a 3D teaching tool, the original cubic mechanical puzzle was all the rage in the 1980’s. Now it is with the same concept having new look as TouchCube, we’re bound to fall in love all over again!

Tickle Me Elmo – 1990

“Tickle Me Elmo”: The successive versions like TMX were also popular and the newest interactive Let’s Rock Elmo that recognize each instrument is sure to rock kid’s hearts!

“Zhu Zhu pets” - 2010

“Zhu Zhu pets”: Released in 2010. Now with their brand-new 3D movie, it gets more popularity in kids all over.

Pros & cons for having another child

Another advantage of raising two babies at once is that it can unify the family. "The early hardship of caring for two young children can help draw fathers into the action," according to Sybil Hart, Ph.D., author of Preventing Sibling Rivalry. Don’t stress yourself to much about psychological impact that bring of age difference. Big and small sibling’s gaps have their own benefits and challenges. The tasks are so demanding that even the most alienated and reluctant father would have to step in, here are some pros and cons to consider for planning another child.

                                                                                                                                                           

1. Classic Combo you will face a tougher transition for your big kid, because of some rivalry, jealousy, regression and defiance. Balancing with your firstborn activities for your baby’s needs can be tough. (what to do when big kid wants to go to the playground, but the baby needs to nurse? Or when preschool pickup conflicts with little brother's nap?). Mother’s body has time to recover from one pregnancy to the next. Yes, you get to enjoy each child's babyhood individually. And practically speaking, you can probably get away with only one crib.

2. Make extra time for you little one. After the baby is born, your time will be divided between both children, so while you have the time, spend it them wisely. It is also a good time for both parents to have some alone time with your child. Take some special trips, and do some of your child's favorite activities.

3. Back to back babies Caring a baby or toddler while pregnant are physically draining. Its not easy once your newborn arrives and you need to feed, clean and rock and diaper. Two under two may not get you a good night’s rest for a few years straight. Especially if you are getting breastfeed. Your body is on permanent loan and your two tiny tots so you may feel as though.  (And if you’re wondering if you’ll ever get it back.) If your first was born by C-section less than 24 months before your second arrives, it may be difficult (or dangerous) for you to deliver vaginally.  So probably you’ll need to invest in some extra baby gear like a crib or a double stroller (double-whammy does have its benefits) and less jealousy for your firstborn, and the chance to overlap your diapering, carrying, bathing, and spoon-feeding.

Easy Tips for Family Happy Dinner

Being a mother is very hard especially for those single moms like me, one problem that I encounter is making Dinner or foods for my kids. I found that most parents worrying about kid’s tastes were always changing and they still are. And sometimes they shift their good diet to Junk foods and that’s really bad.

And I try everything from scratch as often as possible, and I don’t often eat out due to budget constraints. Yes, our meals are always home cooked almost every meal and every day.  Our dinner range from something simple as Pork & beans over brown rice with some vegetables. If there appetite is in good mode they make some request such as chicken nuggets, past with sauce & salad (and yes, I make those things too), I have these Tips for easy family dinner.

 1. Always consistent with your mealtime rules

We do our full effort to cook foods for meals that everyone can eat,   and it’s their job to eat. Example if we are making Spaghetti for dinner, let make some plain chicken that anyone would like or maybe chicken and cheese with the set of tomato.  The chicken and cheese is for something picky eaters. We are making one meal so we are making same amount of food no matter what, but we need to make sure we have something for everyone in that meal. It’s like doing the same thing when we make pizza, making three pizzas so we make plain one and another bbq or chicken pizza.

2. Two thirds of meal is good enough

We know that sometimes there’s one part of the meal that kid doesn't like. Example, our youngest doesn’t like most of the meat, so at least we make sure that she’ll be eating alternative healthy foods like vegetables, and if needed always make an additional vegetable it means there’s one for everyone.  Bread not most often to serve for dinner because we know they will fill up on the bread and not eat the rest of the meal. If we say two thirds of the meal, one third of that is not bread.

3.  Dips are great way to feed everyone.

 Most requested by kids for their school snacks are Dip, and this is the best things to do and provide a wide variety. Try to alternate between a ranch veggie dip and fruit dip, When I make a ranch dip, I try to put up at least one vegetable that each child likes. The fresh veggies could include 4 to 5 of the following on every given day:  Grapes, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, baby carrots and black olives (Yes, I know those don’t count as a real vegetable but my kids love them,). I found out that my kids eat way more veggies and fruit when there’s a yummy dip.

4.    Let the kids make help

When I’m in the kitchen preparing and for cooking and sometimes my kids offer me a little help, I know it’s easier to do it by me. I find myself falling into the trap saying “No” or I don’t need any help for the reason of its faster and easier to do by myself when I’m cooking, but whenever possible let them help. Good for them to know their way around a kitchen, to have some little cooking skills and to take ownership or having part of the meal or even choosing meal. Like making Pizza is a good one for helping out, and baking is another great way to let the kids help. These kids are making proud to say that they made part in preparing a meal. And it makes them want to eat it too.

What are the best toys for 2 year olds

Hello to my beloved readers first of all thank you for dropping by here to my personal blog, here's my first post. Lately i found many mommies asking for "what is the best toys for 2 year olds"?  And I personally write this post for this common question hopefully to enjoy reading this. 

Kids that have an age of 24 months and above are full of Energy, exploration and enthusiasm, growing independence. There’s so many new skills that your child can’t wait to use them. Here see below our best toys for 2 year olds that help our toddler discover and enjoy new accomplishing new things.

1.     Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock

This clock made up in wood with colorful shaped numbers  that help children learn to help tell a time. While the 2 year olds may be just learning numbers, learning to tell time is a practical way to use of numbers that can assimilate them faster.

2.       Balls

Balls are very common for kids to play, continue to be a favorite.  Even more so how that your toddler can target his throws. Some of kids at the age of 2 make the occasional cath.  Set up a couple of wastebaskets as hoops and the two of you can have a terrific basketball game.

3. Construction Toys

Kids may become more interested in new construction possibilities. Giant building blocks or play sets with pieces that can be linked or snapped together.  Let their creativity use in building these construction toys.

So hopefully these posts help a lot for parents out there, it’s a matter to us how to choose the best toy for our children  safety is the priority concern,  this list is just a few ideas  instead there’s lot of resources on the internet.