Archive for Parenting

Eggy Alphabet App

Eggy Alpha 1

 

The Eggy Alphabet App is available for your iPad and/or iPhone in the iTunes Store.

When you start up this app, it asks for your child’s name and each time you log in it will welcome your child.

The home page has 2 available activities “Letter” and “Letter Game”.

When you select “Letters” a friendly voice will tell you to select a letter.

eggy Alpha 2

 

After selecting a letter, they will direct you to select an activity.  Your child can select an upper case or lower case letter for their activities.  The available activities are Dot-to-Dot, Draw the Letter, Copy the Letter, or Letter or Not?

Dot-to-Dot is just that connecting the numbers to draw the letter. It will make your child repeat the letter Dot-to-Dot several times with numbers, then they will take away the numbers are show just dots, then take away the darkened letter to make your child draw the letter by themselves.  I really like the repetition of the letter.

eggy Alpha 4

 

Draw the letter is just that. They give you a blank page and your child will draw the letter.

Copy the letter – they give you the letter and arrows to give the direction your child should use to write the letter.

Letter or Not? and the Letter Game (From the home page) –  It will give you different pictures and ask if the picture starts with  that letter.  For example see below.

eggy Alpha 3

 

Does the word insect start with the letter i?  In this case yes, it does. The next picture may be a vase or flowers.

When your child finishes a level they receive a critter.  We received “Mr. Cheese the Mouse” for playing for 10 minutes straight and “Blue the Whale” for completing our first Dot-to-Dot activity.

This is a great learning app for your beginning readers, writers and learning the alphabet for your little ones.

Best of all Moms & Dads, you can check their progress!

Look for my next app review – Eggy Sight Words!

 


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CraftProjectIdeas.com

CraftProjectIdeas.com is dedicated to kids’ arts and crafts projects for preschool children through tweens.  The website offers step-by-step instructions to inspire kids with arts and crafts.  The products shown on the site are all available in the Kids’ Crafts aisle at popular retailers.  CraftProjectIdeas.com has a “How To” section featuring basic techniques, a featured material for each month, rainy day projects, seasonal projects, and even a teacher’s corner.  There’s also a “Products” section, which shows an array of different materials and craft kits, a “Videos” section showing clear concise directions and what the end project should look like, and a “Store Locator” where you can find a store that carries the products.  My favorite feature of the site is the Project Finder search engine.  Just choose the age, season, theme, and materials and it will find a project you can make!

I received a wonderful selection of products from them including the following:

  • Glow in the Dark Alphabet Beads
  • Metallic Pony Beads
  • Large Bling Acrylic Jewels
  • Shimmer Poms
  • Neon Glitter Shakers
  • Craft Buttons
  • Multi-Size Suction Cups
  • Mini Wooden Clothespins
  • Skinny Sticks

craftprojectideas1

I decided to help my toddler make some Valentines for his grandparents with some of the supplies.  I had some red and purple foam sheets on hand so we used those as our base.  I also had pink foam stickers that he enjoyed sticking on.  To add some more sparkle he stuck on a few Large Bling Acrylic Jewels.  They were super easy to remove from the sheet, and they stuck on easily to the foam.  Then I had him pick out the letters to his name, “R, O, C, K, Y” from the Glow in the Dark Alphabet Beads and we glued them on each valentine.  The beads were nice and flat and glued on easily.  Finally we used the Neon Glitter Shakers to finish the valentines.  I wished the glitter would have come out a little better than it did.  You had to hold it at a certain angle for enough to shake out.  Overall, we had a blast making them and the grandparents LOVED them!

craftprojectideas2

We also decided to make some picture frames for some birthdays that are coming up.  I had my son color the Skinny Sticks with markers and then we glued them into triangles and squares.  Then we glued Craft Buttons onto each corner.  I loved how flat the buttons were; it made them very easy to glue on.  To finish off the triangle picture frame we glued on Shimmer Poms to the Craft Buttons.  These took a little effort to stay glued on, but with enough glue they finally stuck.  All we need to do is add a picture to the back, and they will be perfect!

craftprojectideas3

All of the products I received were of excellent quality.  The colors are so vibrant and the pieces are very child friendly to use.  My favorite part?  Most of the bags are resealable so you when you are all done with a project you can seal the bag without losing any extra pieces!  I am so excited to make even more projects with my son.  He loves doing arts and crafts and doing projects teaches him so many skills.  The sky is the limit with all of the inspiration from CraftProjectIdeas.com!

<em>Faith and Family Reviews received the following product free from
<a href=”http://www.Craftprojectideas.com“>www.CraftProjectIdeas.com</a> in exchange for writing a
review about these crafting supplies. While we consider it a privilege to
receive free products, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the
product.</em>


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SafetyTat Review

tatsWe’ve all had it, that sudden panic blood rush in an amusement park, in the store, or in a large crowd.  Where is my child!  This is one of those products that I love the idea but, hopefully will never have to use it to it’s fullest extent.  SafetyTat is safety tattoos that you write on for an emergency situation.  They are very easy to use too!

Step one you need a clean area on the skin – SafetyTat suggests the inside of the forearm.

Step two peel the entire tattoo off the backing and stick to the child’s skin and firmly press for 20 seconds.  No water needed for these as the adhesive will stick because of body heat.

tats 3

 
SafetyTat Review

Step three peel the band aid like top layer off, then write your mobile number on the tattoo.

tats 4tats 5

Removing them is also easy they peel off like a band aid.  However, when they are removed they will NOT stick again.

They are very durable and waterproof!  We tested the waterproof feature under the sink and yes, they are waterproof.

Tats 2

At SafetyTats online you can order many different tattoos for several occasions too!

Click here to order your SafetyTats at their website!

 

 

 


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Messages of Love – Wordless Wednesday

Messages of Love

On Valentine’s Day the children enjoyed making sugar cookies. They did the usual with flour on the table and rolling out the dough. My youngest daughter took it a step further and made me messages of love in the flour. So precious!

Messages of Love 2

Then as I am doing this post putting the watermarks on it she saddles up to me and says, “No not pink” for the words “Messages of Love”. She takes me through yellow, blue, green when I finally say, “You just want to see the words change colors!” She snickered and nodded her head and promptly told me, “Pink!” She also informed me that she had other pictures and that she would choose the colors. So without further adieu her are the other ones she chose, above and below…

Messages of Love 3

Messages of Love 4

Messages of Love 5


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Children’s Mucinex Review for Smiley 360

Mucinex 1’tis the season. Oh the joys of noses running and hacking coughs. As much as I appreciated the Smiley 360 Blogger offer to do a Children’s Mucinex review, I didn’t want to have to try it. I’m sure all you Mom’s understand. Well, low and behold my little darling started showing signs of the stuffy nose and cough. Good thing we had our Children’s New Formula of Mucinex in the closet. The multi-symptom cold with expectorant cough suppressant and nasal decongestant was just the thing we needed. It covers the stuffy nose, cough, chest congestion and breaks up mucus in a favorable flavor of Very Berry. After I read all the warnings, uses and directions the first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the dosing cup. It’s a short and wider than other dosing cups included in other brands. Which was much easier for my daughter to drink, it fit her mouth more like a cup she normally drinks out of. She’s not fond of tastes of medicine (but who really is, right?), she said it was good. The Children’s Mucinex helped her cough and stuffy nose, especially throughout the night, which makes this Momma happy. :)

Children’s Mucinex is alcohol free and there are 7 kinds of liquid forms to choose from depending on the ailment. In addition, there are 3 “mini melts”. From what I read about Mini Melts, you open the packet and pour the contents on your child’s tongue and they swallow it.

Complete drug facts, uses, warnings, dosing chart, and active ingredients please click here.

If you are unsure about using Children’s Mucinex® Multi-Symptom Cold liquid for
your child, talk to your pediatrician. With Children’s Mucinex and all medication, please read all the instructions before you dispense it to your child! Please call the toll free number 1-866-MUCINEX (1-866-682-4639) if you have any product related questions.

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product and promotional products from Smiley 360 in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

 

 


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Sears All Things Baby Sale #Baby @Sears #Spon

Sears All Things Baby Sale

New parents often have a long list of items to purchase and to do before their little bundle of joy arrives. There’s the baby nursery to prepare, a pediatrician to choose and a birth to plan. It is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting and stress can take its toll if expectant parents are not careful. Added stress can be finances. If you are expecting or already have a new baby, the Sears All Things Baby sale is just for you! Relaxing techniques are physically helpful but baby sales are wallet savers! http://bit.ly/124Q0ne

Eddie Bauer Baby Gear


“This is a sponsored post. I am a Sears blogger, though all opinions are my own.”

 

 


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Demise of Guys Because of Technology?

Gregg over at My Job Chart shared an article about the book The Demise of Guys and the alarming trends about guys and technology. It’s quite sobering when you think about it. Like Gregg, we have four boys to raise and we want to raise them to be responsible adults, not game junkies.

Demise of Guys Endorsement

We’ve used media to motivate our boys to work, they seem to need more motivation than our girls ever did. Either that or else our memories are very poor! But we limit the amount of time we give them on the computer, games and watching movies.

One of the many reasons we moved to the country was to create more work for our children…say what?! I can hear some of you screaming, but it’s true. We want our children to know how to work hard, be responsible and be high functioning adults. Not lazy, not gamers etc. but able to provide for a future family. After all God made work and regardless of what many may think work is good. Just look at where He put Adam and Eve after he created the, in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

Take a good look at this infographic…

Heads Up on being Heads Down

What does it reveal to you? Do you see a problem trending towards the demise of guys because of technology and other unhealthy internet use? (Do not want to even use the term for fear of who it will bring to my website!) Leave my your thoughtful comments!


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Keep Children Healthy this Season ~ Avoid RSV in Young Children

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a very scary thing for new parents…or any parents for that matter. Premature infants are at greatest risk! My first child was a month early and weighed in under 5 pounds. My sister had premature twins that were only 3 pounds each at birth. We both had our scares with RSV…but were very fortunate not to contract the virus.

The treat of RSV is one of the reasons I chose to stay home with my children and quit teaching in the traditional classroom. Daycare was very scary for many reasons to this protective mama…and RSV was one of those scary things!

When my daughter entered school she had pneumonia 3 times in kindergarten and I cannot help but think to imagine what she could have picked up had she been in a daycare setting.

We have had a few friends who have had to deal with this disease and it can be devastating to a family. But remember since almost 100% of babies will contract RSV…we may have had it and not even known it!

In fact the fact that my daughter had pneumonia 3 times in kindergarten could partially be because of the RSV virus. Luckily we were able to treat or and not have any further complications. However, sometimes if not treated or prevented RSV can be deadly.

I have 3 children and the only one who ever showed signs of RSV or its negative effects (pneumonia) was my oldest daughter. She was a preemie and I took all of the precautions of dealing with RSV and other sicknesses she could contract. I mean she had no other siblings, I did not work (so no daycare), we limited visitors to the house, we practice good hygiene and hand washing….yet somehow we still had our bout with illness.

My other 2 children were always relatively healthy and never showed signs of illness aside from the common cold. Even when having school age siblings…did I do anything different? NO, in fact I was probably more “loose” with the next two …taking them out more often, etc. But they STILL might have had the disease and been carriers and I would never know it.

PLEASE take the time to educate your self on RSV as it could have long term and devastating effects on your family or others with whom you come in contact.

RSV Infographic

Please read the information below to learn more about the threat of RSV

The Threat of RSV in Child Care and School Settings

It is estimated that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care. Whether it’s five or 50 hours a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same — increased exposure to contagious germs and viruses.

Children’s inborn behavioral habits such as a need for close interpersonal
contact and lack of good personal hygiene, combined with an environment that promotes and rewards sharing, make daycare settings an environment for infection spreading. Because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, this is especially worrisome for very pre-term babies in daycare, or with school-aged siblings who bring germs into the home.

Premature infants are very susceptible to infection in the early weeks of their lives, so contracting something as small as the common cold can present danger. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common, seasonal virus that affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two, because it’s highly contagious. RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing.
Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.
RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection.
Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.
The RSV season typically runs from November through March, so during the winter months parents should be especially
careful to watch for signs of RSV.

Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:
· Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
· Fast or troubled breathing
· Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
· Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
· Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

If a child has milder symptoms of RSV, the virus will likely run its course without any cause for parental alarm. It is important; however, for these parents to remember that even a mild case of RSV can be spread to other children, some of whom may be at high-risk for developing a serious infection from the virus. For this reason, it’s always best to keep a sick child home when possible, to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
Once contracted, there is no treatment for RSV, so working together to prevent the risk of RSV is critical. All parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including always washing their hands and child’s hands, and asking others to do the same. It’s also important to remember to keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean and avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season.
Prevention is especially important for babies at increased risk of becoming ill from RSV. Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of highrisk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

A few facts about RSV that all parents, caregivers and loved ones should know:
· Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.
· Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000
hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.
· RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November
and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
· Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a
pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.
· Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths;
blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents
should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.
· There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (wash
hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).

Visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection on Twitter for more information.

 

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

www.momcentralconsulting.com

 


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5 Christmas Toy Dangers for Older Children

5 Christmas Toy Dangers for Older Children

When the topic of toy hazards is brought up, most minds jump to infants and toddlers: small toy parts, plastic bags, too-long cords and drawstrings are just a few items on the “list of things to be aware of.” But, risks to children don’t suddenly stop at age three or six, and toys can pose a threat to older children too; they just do so in different ways. To help you keep your kids safe and teach them good habits, here’s our list of the top five Christmas toy hazards to be aware of for older children:

1. Loud noise – Nowadays, it seems like every kid has a pair of earphones permanently attached to their head, but these toys can end up causing some serious harm in the form of hearing loss. When a child, or anyone for that matter, is continually exposed to high levels of sound, the pressure from the sound waves can damage tiny hairs in the ear. These hairs are responsible for transmitting the sound to the brain, and if they cannot do so effectively, then the person will experience hearing loss. In fact, a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) showed that 14.9% of kids in the U.S. have low- or high-frequency hearing loss of “at least 16-dB hearing level in one or both ears.” Teach your children to set the volume on their music players and phones only up to a certain level. You can also set a maximum volume limit on many music players like the iPod and iPhone to make sure they don’t exceed a set point.

2. Laceration dangers – Big kids usually get bigger toys, but metal ones like pogo sticks and scooters have parts which can become dangerous during rowdy play. If a part breaks off, or a child falls onto the toy, it can cause a laceration, so always make sure they wear safety equipment, and avoid toys with sharp edges or points whenever possible.

3. Age or size inappropriate toys – Always look for and heed the manufacturer’s recommended age limits, and consider your child’s size as well when purchasing toys. A toy that is too big or too small can be dangerous because it is more difficult for the child to operate. In any case, make sure they are always wearing the appropriate safety equipment.

4. Defective toys – Toy recalls are not uncommon, and unfortunately, many defective toys make it to the market every year. However, SaferProducts.gov offers a searchable online database of harm reports for products that are still available on the market, as well as those that have been recalled. Check this before making any Christmas toy purchases to ensure there aren’t prior instances of injury with the product.

5. Riding toys – Bicycles and scooters may be fun to ride, but they also mean your child may be playing on or near the street, and the vehicles traveling on it. Teach your child to ride only on the sidewalk or in the driveway, and if you live on a busy street, you may simply want to restrict play to a park or other space designated for children. Furthermore, always make sure they are wearing a helmet and protective pads.

As you can see, these Christmas toy hazards are serious concerns, but it only takes a little effort to protect yourself and your children against them. By keeping up to date with recalls, ensuring proper equipment is worn while playing, and encouraging healthy habits in your children, you can make this Christmas fun and worry-free for all.


Kara Alcamo is a concerned mother, freelance writer and contributor to the Ross Feller Casey blog. Visit the website to learn more about these Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers.

This is a paid guest post.


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U by Kotex Wrap Up #KotexMoms

It’s been great to be a part of the U by Kotex for tweens campaign. I know it has made me re-think how I was educating my daughters and in many ways it evoked some more dialogue about menses and the changes the girls bodies are going through or will be going through.

Our girls liked the Kotex tween products, except one of the girls did say more coverage was needed for heavier flow days. They liked the cool packaging and the surprise packages throughout the campaign. The last surprise was a $25 gift card to treat the girls to dinner out. We went out last night to Panera Bread for soup bowls..YUM! cheddar broccoli and tomato were our soup choices. We talked, laughed and watched my 12 year old antics which made us laugh even harder. The girls came to the conclusion that we needed to do a girls dinner out more often!

In the last package the girls also received calendars. Last month I said even I needed more discipline in this area because I have not been charting like I should and now that I am in my 40’s who knows when things will start to change for me. My middle daughter put her calendar to use right away by applying it to her wall. My oldest said she didn’t like calendars because she doesn’t like things that tie her down and charting her cycle ties her down – she’s funny that way, that one is (wry smile). My third daughter didn’t have much to say other than to ask what they are for, but she has yet to start her period so things are still a little obscure to her. Remember she’s my Amelia Bedilia and I say that quite affectionately. You just have to meet her to see for yourself.

What I loved best about this campaign is what I always love about blogging, that I get to include my children, it’s on my top ten things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”


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