Search Results for: blog is the sky your kids limit

8 Things Kids Need to Know about Money

It is never too early to start teaching your children about money. While many parents shy away from discussing financial issues with their kids, this can be one of the biggest mistakes that they make. Instilling good habits and a basic understanding about how finances work can give your child an edge that will stay with him or her for a lifetime. 1. There is a difference between the things that you want and the things that you need. Wants versus needs can be a tough concept for kids to understand, but teaching them that real necessities must be met … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Crinkle Baby Toys

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My six month old is like your typical six month old. He loves (or is obsessed with) anything crinkly. Yes, I have been known to entertain him by throwing a plastic shopping bag his way (under intense supervision, of course) so that he will be happy. I’m afraid though, that I’m creating a monster! Today, when I was putting away the groceries, he was lunging at the counter while in my arms. I realized he was lunging for my grocery sacks sitting on the counter. Oops! He also loves plastic in any form, really. If it crinkles, he is entertained … Continue reading →

Would You Buy Your Kid a Barack Obama Doll?

Remember the stampedes that ensued when the original Tickle Me Elmo hit the shelves back in 1996? Thousands of parents pushed, shoved and pummeled their way through toy stores to get their hands on the furry red monster. Back then Sesame Street’s most famous resident was the hottest toy around. Elmo was hands-down a mass marketers’ dream come true. But this is 2008 and Elmo (even the newest version) has been upstaged by a truly historic presence. According to reports, the new Barack Obama action figure is flying off store shelves. The 14-inch plastic version of Obama is dressed in … Continue reading →

What Will They Think I’m Doing to One of Their Kids?

Yesterday I wrote about whether when people see me with my kids, they think of my interactions with them as a reflection on adoption. Sometimes I would like to be a bit less conspicuous. There is another situation which brings on an even more intense feeling of being conspicuous. That is when I am around people from my daughters’ country. There are times when I have sat quite demurely patting my child’s back while she screams and kicks the sidewalk at our city’s central plaza. It took her a full half hour to realize she wasn’t going to get what … Continue reading →

Setting Limits Without Causing Resentment

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One of the responsibilities of parenting is setting limits. Unfortunately, setting limits won’t necessarily endear us to our kids. In fact, in most cases it causes a lot of resentment. Dr. Haim Ginott offers parents a way to set limits and lessen the amount of resentment that may follow. If you follow these steps, you should end up with a child who, although unhappy about the limitations you have set, will cooperate. First, recognize the child’s wish and rephrase this wish in simple words. For instance, if you have a “no dating before the age of 16” rule in your … Continue reading →

Sensory Friendly Events in February

Parents of children who have autism, or who have a sensory processing disorder, may find it difficult to attend movies, plays, and other events. The sensory aspects that others find entertaining can be overwhelming for their child. Fortunately, an awareness of this difficulty has resulted in plenty of sensory friendly events. Here are a few that will take place in February of 2013. February 3: Sensory Friendly Monsters, Inc. movie Where: Cineworld cinema at Valley Centertainment in Sheffield, England. When: 11:00 A.M. What: Lighting will be kept on. The volume of the movie will be reduced. No advertisements or trailers … Continue reading →

The Whopping Family Cell Phone Bill

Cell phones as we know them are only a few decades old, and yet it is hard to think about living without them, despite the fact that humankind survived centuries without cell phones. It isn’t unusual these days to be spending $250 or more a month for your family cell phones. In some families, the cell phone expense may be the second highest monthly bill, after the mortgage or the rent. Doing without other things, from eating out to dental care (in some cases) in order to afford cell phones has become the norm. How did things get so crazy? … Continue reading →

No Carve Pumpkins for the Whole Family

With Halloween just around the corner the kids are itching to get started on their pumpkins! But if you are anything like me, the whole idea of handing those little pumpkin carving tools over to my four year old is a little frightening. Last year Mommy had to do the whole thing for him. Needless to say, neither one of us had much fun with it until it was finished and on the porch. This year I’m thinking we might try a new approach. No carve pumpkins are an easy solution to this little dilemma, and certainly just as fun! … Continue reading →

Online Popularity Contest

A warning to parents: Excessive use of Facebook = depressed kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that equation to be 100% true. So, all you moms and dads with Facebook obsessed kids: Be afraid. Be very afraid. I am not on Facebook. Consequently, my second grader has no clue that the social networking site exists. Thus, zero exposure to Facebook = darn happy kid. Despite this fact, I will try to remain humble and not turn this post into an exercise in self-validation. Rather, I will just stick to the facts. According to the AAP, a link exists … Continue reading →

Preserving Summer Memories

Now that summer has officially arrived, there’s no time like the present to preserve all those seasonal memories. Whether it’s a cross-country trip to grandma’s house, experiencing the thrills and chills of a world-famous theme park or having fun in the sun at the beach, don’t forget to pack your camera so that you can document every fun-filled moment. Once you get home you can sort through your shots and create a storyline of your summer fun in a themed scrapbook. While you are organizing your pictures think of ways to pair them with appropriate embellishments that will make your … Continue reading →