Here are some posts for you to read while I am breaking. Click on the image to read the article.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Happy Thanksgiving (and some posts for you to read)
Happy Thanksgiving week to you! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States. I will be hosting a meal tomorrow, then attending a meal Saturday and another meal Sunday. So I may have some weight to lose next week!
7 Tips for Attending Parades with Young Children
Brayden's first big holiday of his life was Independence Day. We lived very close to the parade route, and as a first time mom, I was so excited to get him all dressed up in his holiday outfit and take him to the parade. Despite the fact that he was a mere 6 weeks old, I was ready to make some memories!
Well, that we did. He screamed. And screamed. And screamed some more.
At some point, a kind woman, a mother herself, came to me and offered for me to take Brayden up to her porch. She lived on the parade route, so I would still be at the parade, but I would be removed from the major noise and action.
It worked. He calmed down and we both were much happier with our parade experience.
Since that day, I have had three more children and many more parades. Parades are a fun tradition, but they are not exactly baby-friendly. Some babies, like Kaitlyn, will just go to sleep and shut out the noise and stimulation. Other's, like Brayden, will react with screaming. Here are some tips to help you get through your next parade with a little one. This post contains affiliate links.
1-Find the best location
With a baby on up through toddler and preschooler, you will want a location with certain perks. One is shade. Everyone wants shade, right? So that can be hard to find. For one parade we frequent, we just bring our own shade with us. We bring an EZ up pop up shade
so we can have shade. That way, we don't have to go hours early to find a shady spot. We pull up a few minutes before the parade starts, set up in the hot, sunny spot, and we are on our way. A huge benefit to this is that it allows us to let our baby sleep at home until the last possible minute.
so we can have shade. That way, we don't have to go hours early to find a shady spot. We pull up a few minutes before the parade starts, set up in the hot, sunny spot, and we are on our way. A huge benefit to this is that it allows us to let our baby sleep at home until the last possible minute.
I also highly recommend a spot where you can back away from the parade route if possible. If you have a baby or child who is upset by all of the noise, you will want to be able to get away from the route like I did with Brayden. A spot with a fence right behind you isn't the ideal spot for you.
2-Bring water and food
If you have a baby, you won't be feeding baby water, but it is wise to have the ability to easily nurse or bottle feed your baby if needed. Parades are often hot places, so your baby or child will need to be hydrated.
If your child is eating solid foods, have some food or snacks on hand. A hungry child is never a fun child, so it is always wise to have some snacks to turn to in a pinch.
3-Bring the diaper bag
Make sure you have diapers, wipes, underwear for the potty training child, etc. You might even throw in some small toys to play with while you wait.
4-Bring lovies and comfort items
Parades are fun, but they are also highly overwhelming and can be scary to a young child. It can help to have a favorite stuffed animal or blanket there for your child to turn to if/when she feels overwhelmed.
5-Bring chairs, blankets, slings, and strollers
It is great to have chairs 
or a blanket 
to sit on. If you have a mobile child who likes to wander, a stroller is a great place to put that child during the parade. It of course is a great place for a non-mobile child to watch the parade, also. A stroller is also handy if you have a walk a ways from your vehicle to your watching spot.
or a blanket to sit on. If you have a mobile child who likes to wander, a stroller is a great place to put that child during the parade. It of course is a great place for a non-mobile child to watch the parade, also. A stroller is also handy if you have a walk a ways from your vehicle to your watching spot.
A sling is another great option, especially if your baby needs to block out some of the stimulation. Slings are also very helpful for keeping the crowds from touching your baby without your
permission.
6-Bring headphones
When my children were young, my parents would often bring along some head phones for my children to wear at parades. They are just the headphones 
my dad uses when he mows the lawn.
my dad uses when he mows the lawn.
7-Bring ways to cool down (or warm up)
We often bring a big cooler
of water to parades. At the least, we bring a water bottle for each person. A squirt bottle full of cool water can be nice for cooling people down, also. A little cooler of otter pops can go a long way to keeping people feeling cool enough.
of water to parades. At the least, we bring a water bottle for each person. A squirt bottle full of cool water can be nice for cooling people down, also. A little cooler of otter pops can go a long way to keeping people feeling cool enough.
If you are going to a parade in cold weather, be sure you dress warm enough for the weather.
These seven tips can help you have a successful parade. What tips have you found helpful for parades? Comment and let me know!
Easter Basket Stuffer Ideas
The older my children get, the more and more I deplore the idea of filling things like the Easter basket with random, cheap items. I am not talking inexpensive; I am talking the items that break after a week, and even the items the lose interest in after a few days. I don't want to fill the basket with randomness just for the sake of it being full. Here are some of my favorite things to put in the Easter basket. Kid friendly, mother approved. This post contains affiliate links.
1-Experience Gifts
The idea of the experience gift is gaining traction in the world, and for good reason. "Stuff" doesn't really lead to happiness. It seems an activity like traveling is more beneficial long-term than owning stuff. That isn't even considering the benefit of not filling your house with things you then have to sort, organize, and clean! Consider adding to the Easter basket movie tickets, a season pass, or a punch pass. You might even have a vacation thrown in there. Give your child an experience rather than a load of dollar store toys.
2-Candy
It is Easter. Throw some candy in there.
3-Book
I love promoting a love of books with my children, and one way I do that is to give them books as gifts. I feel like if I show I value them enough to gift them, it helps them to feel a love for books. If you need some book ideas, see my book lists. I have chapter books, picture books, board books, and gateway chapter books. I can help you find a great book no matter the age of your child.
4-Bubbles
5-Chalk
Chalk is another great Easter basket idea. Do not be fooled into just buying the cheap kind; for some reason, I have found Crayola is often even cheaper than "cheap" kinds. Amazon has this 24 pack of chalk for a great add-on item.
6-Outdoor Toys
I often take Easter as a time to add to our outdoor toy collection. Need a new outdoor basketball? Give it as a gift at Easter! Jump rope, toy lawn mower (this was such a favorite of Brayden's when he was little)... for more of my outside toy recommendations, see Outside Toys Worth the Investment (All-Star Toys) and Baby Stuff I Love: Outdoor Toys.
7-Jewelry/Watches/Accessories
For the older children, accessories can make a great addition to the Easter basket. Kids love watches, and can easily make good use of them as young as first or second grade. You might find some fun jewelry, scarves, belts, bows...something you can fit in the basket and can also be useful.
8-Coupons
You know how kids are always giving parents coupons at holidays? They love getting them, also! "One free chore" or "One late-night" or "One movie of your choice" or "One mommy-son date" are all fun ideas that will excite your child. Bonus points for not taking up space in your house!
9-Media
You might also like to add a new movie or a gift card for music.
Happy [Martin Luther King Jr.]/[Civil Rights]/[Human Rights] Day!
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, you should definitely put that on your list.
I hope you have a nice day off today--hopefully you have a day off. My kids do but my husband doesn't. Take time to share with your children the reason for this holiday. If you aren't in the US, happy Monday :). And any day is a good day to reflect on and talk about human rights.
For some ideas for teaching your kids, check out my Learning Ideas board. If you search Pinterest for more ideas, you will find a ton!
Happy Thanksgiving Break {Plus some light reading}
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Having Patience with a Strong-Willed Child |
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Feeding/Napping Away From Home |
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Pre-Toddler Goal: Don't Lose Ground |
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Birth Order: The Youngest Child |
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Nursing A Newborn: Keep Baby Awake! |
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Best Things...11-12 Months Old |
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Planning Your Schedule |
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Babywise II: Establishing Right Patterns |
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Logical Consequences: Hitting and Biting |
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Parent Directed Feeding {PDF} |
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First Time Mom Reflections: Easily Discouraged |
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Efficient Mommy: Kitchen Products |
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Hunger Cues |
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Logical Consequences: Saying "no" When Given Direction |
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Book Review: Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood |
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Chore Cards |
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Babywise and Triplets {Guest Post} |
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How I Get Stuff Done With Three Children |
My Halloween Playlist
Every Halloween, I wish I had a playlist of songs that are fun for the holiday. This year, I finally did it! Here are my songs of choice. You will find the songs below. You can click on a link to listen to a sample of each song and/or purchase each track. This post contains affiliate links.
This song is a hilarious parody of "Uptown Funk." It is sung from the perspective of Voldemort. We love Harry Potter around here and have really enjoyed this song.
This just almost seems like a required song for a Halloween playlist.
Once again, requirement.
This song is on this album linked (track 02).
Once again, we are looking at a song that is a requirement for a Halloween playlist.
This is a fun update on an older song. Go for one of the Hi Tack songs on this album.
Another classic. This is Brinley's favorite song on the playlist.
This is not your typical Halloween song, but the words work. There are a few artists who have done this song over the years. I like CCR because my dad loves 70s rock and it just brings me back to childhood.
Another Harry Potter song. I like to have these sprinkled through the playlist. Brayden loves these songs best.
This is another song not as well-known for a Halloween playlist, but it works.
Any '90s music fans out there will love having this as part of the playlist.
This is such a great album from the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. I really like track 17, which is only available in an album purchase. This is a great album to get some of the best Harry Potter songs from.
This is another song that is not a typical Halloween song, but fun for a Halloween themed playlist.
Again, you don't hear this song on its own and think "Halloween!" but it definitely works on a playlist.
Do you have any favorites for a Halloween playlist?
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