DryErase ABC Book

I am always looking for new ways to introduce my kids to the alphabet, numbers and other topics. Awhile ago I read about using a photo album to create a picture book. I thought it sounded like a nice way to create a toy/activity for my kids that could be personalized to them or to a concept I wanted to teach.

I decided to make more than just a picture book. I figured why not make a reusable coloring ABC book. So that is what I did.

Materials Needed:

photo album (I got mine at the dollar store)

scissors

Crayola DryErase crayons

ABC printables

* I made these printables myself. Feel free to use them or just use them as a sample and make your own. I promise I won't be offended.

This is so simple to make. If you use the printables it will only take about 20 minutes - enough time to cut out the pictures and put them in the book.

Step 1:

Cut out the pictures.

Step 2:

Insert pictures into the photo album

Optional:

Insert cover

Step 3:

Hand book and crayons (dryerase markers can also be used) to your child and let them color away.

I told you this would be an easy project. My son LOVES this book. We talk about the letters and their sounds as he colors. I am also hoping that he will learn some new vocabulary words - like octopus and quail.

 I like that it is small enough to fit into the diaper bag. I plan on using when we are out on errands that require a lot of waiting (doctor visits, anything to a government office).

I hope you like this idea. It is a really inexpensive way to introduce the ABCs and have fun with your kids.

Let us know if you have any fun teaching ideas or projects for kids.

I am always on the hunt for new ideas!

~Lisa~



Scaredy Cat!!

 

Friday night we went up to my in-laws for dinner. This spring they decided to try raising chickens and the chickens are left out to roam the yard. Well, one of their roosters attacked Lucas. He had a couple of scrapes on his shoulder but was other wise all right. However, because family from out of town is visiting we were back up there again on Sunday and Lucas is now afraid of the chickens. Whenever one gets close to him, he runs in the other direction or to the closest adult. I understand his fear, I was attacked by a rooster when I was around his age and didn't like chickens for a long time either, but I don't want him to be afraid of them because then he doesn't want to be out in grandma and grandpa's yard. We can't put the chickens in a pen because they are free ranging chickens and are only locked up at night. So, any suggestions on helping a child scared of an animal?

- Megan -

Picture Schedules

Anyone who has ever worked in preschool settings or with kids with disabilities have seen or used picture schedules. My personal background comes from the angle of working with kids with autism - severe and high functioning/aspergers. I have used picture schedules for a multitude of tasks. Let me say..

I Love Them!

Picture Schedules use picture cards to show the sequence of events for a given time period or detail the steps of a specific task (ie morning/bedtime routine, brushing teeth, chores).

While typically used for kids with disabilities, I think they have great benefits for kids of any age and ability. I especially like them for introducing new routines or skills.

Benefits of a Schedule:

• Kids can visually see what is coming up next. There is no guessing for the parent or the kid.
• Kids see how many steps are left until they are done.
• If a reward or treat is associated with the task, the kids know what they have to do in order to earn the reward.
• This one was really useful for me when I taught my son to brush his teeth. He earned a sticker when he was done. Once he saw what he had to do before he got the sticker, he was much more cooperative with the process.

Here is how I make a picture schedule...

Step 1: Figure out the sequence of event in your schedule.

The schedule I made last was for our bedtime routine.

The steps:

brush teeth

pajamas

read 3 books

read scriptures

prayer

in bed with lights out

Step 2: Find a picture to represent each step.

I just google images. You can also take pictures of your own kids doing each step. Some kids really like seeing pictures of themselves on the schedule.

Step 3: Make your board or folder where you will display your schedule.

I used a white posterboard. You can also use a manila folder, cardstock or anything surface really that will fit your needs. (The manila folder works well for traveling).

The line down the middle separates the "To Do" from "Done." When a step has been completed, either you or the child moves the picture from the left side to the right side to show that that step is done and it is time to move on to the next step.

Step 4: Laminate pieces

I use contact paper. For other laminating options, read Alyssa's great post from a couple of weeks ago.

Step 5: Velcro!

Craft stores have velcro dots you can use for easy application. I just cut pieces off of the long strips of velcro. Just make sure you buy the velcro with the sticky back.

Step 6: Set up the schedule

Step 7: Teach your child how to use the schedule

This is by far the most important step. For all your hard work to pay off, you need to teach your child what each picture means and teach them how to use the schedule.

We taught our bedtime routine as part of Family Home Evening last night. I let the kids play with pictures for a few minutes while we talked about what each picture meant. Then we walked through the schedule together.

Learning how to move the pictures when done with a step.

These kinds of schedules can be used to almost anything. Just have fun with them. You can use as many or as few steps as you need to help your child understand what is going on. You can also change the length of the activity depending on how much time you have. (For example, if we have a late night we might only read scriptures. I would show the change by just leaving the books off.)

Do you have any ideas for teaching new skills or routines? Or, do you have a skill you want to teach and have questions on how to do it? Leave a comment and we will see if we can help.

~Lisa~

Teaching Your Child The Alphabet

I felt pressured to be the BEST mom. There's just so much mothers need to teach their kids.  As a first time mother, I felt overwhelmed.  For starters, how on earth was I supposed to start teaching my boy his alphabet?  I didn't even know where to start.

I knew that on the developmental track, being able to recognize a handful of letters by age 2-3 and most of the alphabet by age 4-5 was within the realm of normal, so I didn't necessarily HAVE to force alphabet learning on my two year old son.  By all accounts, he seemed completely uninterested, and I knew it might be better just to back off for a while*.   But still, I felt pressure to try out different teaching methods.  I mean, maybe I just hadn't hit upon his learning style yet, right?

There are a lot fun ways to introduce the alphabet:

• Sign his name onto EVERYTHING.  His bed.  His sippy.  His artwork.  The door to his room.  Sound it out for him and point out the letters.  Eventually he'll get the idea that those letters work together to make a word.
• Help him play with alphabet puzzles or refrigerator magnets.
• Keep reading to him!  And point out specific letters for him.  Focus on a few letters per week.
• Once he starts recognizing letters, play word games like "What words begin with B?  Ball, boy, baby..." or if he's especially attached to the letters in his name (like my child), use those letters as a starting point.  "Your name has a special letter M in it?  Can you think of any other M words?"  You can also make simple letter-word matching games on flashcards (Letter M matches to a picture of Mommy, the letter P matches to a picture of pancakes, etc.)

I tried a bunch of different method, but kids have a funny way of being perfectly unique.  My son was incredibly active, uninterested in listening to me "talk" at him about letters, and had the attention span of a chipmunk...unless he was watching PBS television shows.  THEN he would sit still for a whole 15-30 min while the episode flashed across the screen.

And then we stumbled upon a learning dvd, The Letter Factory, by Leap Frog.  If your child is one that will sit still for TV, it can be a powerful learning tool.  The Letter Factory is formatted well so that even if your child won't sit still for the whole 35 minute movie, each segment on each letter is relatively stand-alone, so he doesn't have to finish the movie to get the learning going.  My son learned ALL the alphabet, upper and lowercase, and ALL of their sounds in two weeks.  I was astounded.  The Letter Factory has gotten rave reviews across the board ever since it came out a decade ago.  If you haven't tried it, I'd recommend borrowing it from a friend and giving it a go.  See how your child takes to it.

So, the DVD worked magic on my child, but he's the type of kid that would rather watch "things" (like TV or battery-powered toys) than people.  Remember, every kid has a different learning method.  I imagine if my boy was more of a social type, he would have enjoyed discussing letters with mommy a little more.  So, what kind of methods have you used?  What has been effective?  What was ineffective?  For those of you with more than one child, have you noticed a difference in how each of your kids took to learning the alphabet?  Make sure you describe your child's personality as well, so other moms have a starting point to get ideas for their own kids alphabet learning!

Thanks y'all!

-Alyssa

*Special Note:  This is an idea forum...not a guilt trip generator.  If your child is under age 4 and shows no interest in letters, don't worry.  Child development experts say that there's little correlation between early alphabet learning and super advanced reading skills later on, so if your child is still young and uninterested, it might be best to let it go for a while.  We all know kids are geniuses, and there's just a lot for a toddler to learn.  He might be trying to figure out something else right now.

FHE: Honesty for Toddlers

We have been having some issues with our three-year-old telling lies...often. I know that she doesn't entirely understand what a lie even is, and especially doesn't grasp the idea of why it's wrong. This week, we are going to focus on honesty for Family Home Evening to help her understand the need to tell the truth and what that means.

Prep: Create your smiley and frowny face cards (draw your own or find images online) and/or the pictures for The Lie Monster. You may want to come up with child-specific examples (see below) in advance if you don't want to think of them on the spot.

Song: Keep the Commandments or I Believe in Being Honest

Scriptures: Exodus 20:16, 13th Article of Faith

Lesson: Explain in simple terms that telling the truth means saying things that really happened. Telling a lie means we say something that isn't true or that didn't really happen. Give a few examples of truth and lies and have your child identify which is which. Start with easy ones:

~The sky is purple
~Dad is wearing pants
~I have a cat on my head
~The door is closed

Explain that when we tell the truth, we make ourselves and those around us happy. Most importantly, we make Jesus happy. Choose one of the following activities, depending on which you think would be more appropriate for your child and family.

Option 1: Happy or Sad

Give each person one smiling face and one frowning face card. Share a story that happened during the day, like "We had sandwiches for lunch today" or "We played with our friends today." Each person should hold up the smiling face. Do a few examples of truth, pointing out that telling the truth makes us and others happy.

Next, share a few examples of things that didn't really happen, like "We flew in an airplane today" or "We went to a party today." Each person should hold up the frowning face. Explain that telling a lie, or saying something that is not true, makes us and other people sad. We should tell the truth so we can be happy.

Go through as many examples of truths and lies as you want to help your child understand the difference.

Option 2: The Lie Monster

This activity is from sugardoodle.net. Click here for the story. Read the story aloud and display the pictures as indicated. Discuss why lying makes things harder for Tommy and what he can do to fix it.

Closing

Throughout the week, pay attention to when your child tells the truth and acknowledge it positively. If they do tell a lie, gently remind them that it makes us sad when we tell lies and help them fix it so they can tell the truth.

Living the Gospel in Latter-Days: Family Scripture Study

My family is quite young, with our oldest being 4 1/2 and our youngest being only a month old. Because of this, family scripture study isn't always the most spiritual experience. But they key is to be consistent.

In the October 2009 General Conference Elder Bednar said: "Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results... Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

Remembering to be consistent is what sometimes keeps me going despite my "Bedlammites." Not all scripture reading sessions are a spiritual experience (in fact, very few of them are), but we are building the foundation.

So, how DO you do scripture study as a family when you have young children? For us, the answer is different depending on each child. Right now, honestly my 1 month old baby is not involved in scripture study. If she's in the room while we are reading, it's great, but if she's asleep - so be it!!

My 2 1/2 year old son is read to every night from this Board Book set of scriptures. This is how we started with my daughter as well. He listens to one page (which for a long time has been all he could do) and we talk about it (time permitting). We started reading to him from this book when he was about a year old (perhaps younger, I'm not sure). Now that he is older, he is almost ready to move on to more difficult text. When my baby is ready this is the text we'll start her out on.


My 4 1/2 year old daughter is read to from the illustrated scriptures each night. We read her one story and also talk about it. We started using these scriptures with my daughter sometime between ages 2-3 (again, mommy memories are not perfect). Soon we'll stop using the board books with my son and have him read with his sister out of the illustrated scriptures.


*With both of these sets of scriptures everyone is in the room together at the same time and we follow up scripture reading with a prayer. We also have purchased all 4 books of the Board Books and all 4 books of the Illustrated scriptures (Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and Book of Mormon). We rotate through the different books.

When my daughter begins to read on her own, I fully intend to switch her scripture reading to the actual Book of Mormon. Eventually all our children will be old enough to read it.


I know however, that some families start right off with the scriptures, instead of the illustrated or board book versions. Whatever works for your family is what is right for you!! But, please, share your ideas.

How do you read scriptures as a family?
Do you read each night or morning?
How did you decide how to do your scripture reading?
Do you read with your spouse as well either before your children wake up or after your children are in bed?
What are some ideas for making scripture time as a family enjoyable and memorable?

Scripture study in our home only takes about 5 minutes, but the key part is that we are doing it and we are together as a family. I know that as we persevere in this we will see the promised blessings down the road.

~Tannie

What Chores Can Kids Tackle?

Probably more than you'd think.  Beginning with toddlers, who incidentally are the PERFECT candidates for household chore help...what with their almost overflowing desire to please adults and "Eelp!" mom, our job as parents is to instill the importance of keeping the house in working order as well as responsibilities...all while fostering a sense of empowerment in our children.  Now, ALLOWING the help may take you longer.  It may slow you down.  But the boost of confidence it gives your munchkin to be a valuable part of the family (everyone, including a child, loves to feel needed), the look on his face when he gets it right, and not to mention the magical event of a self-cleaning room (kind of) will be well worth your efforts.

So how to go about doing it?

Here are some age appropriate chores too divy out to our little angels:

AGE 2-3:
-Help make their bed.
-Pick up toys (with supervision)
-Help sort laundry (big clothes and little clothes)
-Dusting (perhaps start by slipping Daddy's sock over his hand and teaching him the basics)
-Food prep (mixing batter, helping "measure" ingredients, frosting cookies, etc.)
-Setting the table (plastic, please!)
-Sweeping and vacuuming alongside mom
-Putting away groceries (learn about all sorts of shapes and colors in the process!)

NOTE FOR PARENTS:  At this age, sticker charts may not be necessary, but be sure to LAVISH on the praise!  And...as always, make sure your number one helper is out of the room before you start filling in spots he missed while dusting. :)

AGE 4-5:
-Getting dressed
-Making their bed with little parental help
-Matching socks in the laundry
-Hang up towels in the bathroom
-Clean the floors with a dry mop
-Carrying and putting away groceries

NOTE FOR PARENTS:  For our adorable little lovers of new adventures, the thrill of learning something new may be reason enough to make chores fun.  Physical rewards at this age are very motivating.  A sticker chart or, for some preschoolers, a small allowance may be just the ticket to make chores into something fun and give the kids a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

AGE 6-8: (In addition to the chores already laid out above)
-Make their beds by themselves
-Brush their teeth
-Choose their fashion-forward outfit for the day and get dressed by themselves.
-Be responsible for taking care of a pet
-Vacuum and mop (for reals :)
-Take out the trash
-Put away dishes from dishwasher
-Answer phones (with supervision)
-Fold (with supervision) and put away laundry
-Write thank you notes (love this one)

NOTE FOR PARENTS:  Kids, at this age, most likely won't have that budding excitement to "help" as they did before.  Instead, that is replaced with an overwhelming desire to be independent.  "MO-OM!  I can do it myself!"  At this point, make use of a chore chart to keep track of responsibilities.  The chart will also be a gentle reminder without you having to nag (as much).

BUT...and that's a big BUT...every child's different.  And millions of moms have been using millions of combinations of ingenuity, patience, and discipline to get this whole "chore" machine well-oiled and working throughout the years.  The most important thing is to DO IT!  Chores are invaluable for instilling confidence, a healthy attitude about work, and basically how to be a good adult in the future (which really is our ultimate goals as parents, right?)

So now, I'd like to hear from all you brilliant guys and gals...

What have you done with your own kids?  And what kinds of new ideas are you forging to make your current system work even better?  

Reader Requests 2011 - Post 2

This week we are talking about........



Check out what our reader said:

"I would love to see some tips on how to teach the concept of humility to kids. I have a six year old that KNOWS IT ALL. I know that's really common for her age, but it's worrying me.

Our daughter is really bright. She's very curious, always reading and wanting to learn new things. I definitely don't want to squelch that passion as I do see it as one of her God-given gifts and talents, but I think being humble is equally important.

Outside of modeling humility, how do you teach the concept? Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated!"

So give us your ideas on teaching humility to the little ones!! Great question - and thank you for your Reader Request, keep them coming.

I don't like that!

My daughter is quickly approaching three years old, and she's what I would call a picky eater. My question today is more concerned with the principle of the matter, however, rather than the nutrition.

I base our lunch menus around what I know my daughter will eat. She gets plenty of nutrition from breakfast and lunch. Dinner is another story. My husband and I prefer a more varied diet than a toddler, surprise surprise. It is not uncommon for us to serve up dinner, only to promptly hear "I don't like that. I'm not going to eat it," as the plate is pushed back across the table.

My questions:

How do I teach my daughter that she needs to eat what is served, even if it isn't her favorite? I don't want her growing up thinking that she gets a specially prepared meal just for her every night!

What do I do twenty minutes after the table is cleared when she comes to me and says she's hungry? Probably because she didn't eat anything for dinner...

Where do you draw the line between putting your foot down about eating what is served and making sure your child isn't going to bed hungry?

Thanks for your suggestions!

~Laura~

Requests from our Readers: Week 30

Two reader requests in a row! Thanks--keep 'em coming!

This week's question:

"I know this issue has been gone over so many times, but I am really really struggling right now and just wanted some other Mommy advice :)

I have a 4 1/2 year old little boy who is giving me a run for my money! He potty trained the week of his 3rd birthday flawlessly! He went months being amazing, during the day and night! Then the accidents started, only during the day time, then at night time only, then both, and they have yet to stop! We have good times and bad times, but right now we are having some bad times. Both "types" of accidents occurring multiple times a day, I'm at my wits end. We have tried every tactic we can think of or read about, but nothing seems to click for him for good, the accidents always come back. Right now we're starting a currency system where he can earn "money" for treats and fun things he likes to do. But I am at a loss as to "why" he doing this. No big changes have occurred, but I will be starting online courses in a couple of weeks and worry about how that will impact him. It is also impacting my 2 yr old daughter immensely. I am terrified to start potty training her because I just don't know if I can handle 2 kiddos having accidents.

I would love to hear any advice or suggestions, or even just horror stories letting me know I'm not the only one that feels they will have a school age child who isn't yet potty trained...."

So help her out!

What do you do when a child who was potty trained starts having accidents again?

Have you had a child start school without being completely potty trained? Any suggestions to avoid this?

Any tips on potty training two at a time?

And, perhaps most importantly, how do you deal with the mommy stress of potty training?

Requests from our Readers Week 29

This week we are discussing how to handle a situation where your kids are exposed to behavior you do not want them repeating. Check out what our reader said:

"I have a family member with children who often behave in ways I do not want my own children to behave. Since they are family and we love them I can't exactly not plan to do things with them, but I worry that my children will learn to act in the same ways they see their cousins act. Since parenting is such a sensitive topic I don't want to say anything to their parents, but I also don't want to have to re-direct my own children every time we come home from being with those cousins."

So let's help her out!

What would you do if your children were frequently exposed to inappropriate behavior by other children?

How do you teach very young children that they should not act in ways they see other children act, especially if if it someone they love and look up to?

Eating Out with the Kids

I'm sure you all know how embarrassing/frustrating it can be when you go out to eat and your kids are throwing a screaming fit and refusing to eat their dinner. Been there. Done that. Sometimes my husband and I try to pick out places to eat where the environment is not-so-quiet so that we can accommodate our rambunctious son. Doing this makes it just a little easier on us so we're not trying to make him "be quiet" the whole time. With that being said,

What are some of your favorite places to eat that are kid-friendly?

Do you have any tips for taking your kids out to eat?

Fair?

My question today is somewhat psychological, so please bear with me while I try to explain!

My oldest daughter is 2 and a half, my second is 10 months. I've been noticing lately that I don't treat them the same--obviously! The problem comes in that my 2 year old is also noticing that I treat her sister differently than I do her, and she doesn't understand why.

For example...

J (2 yr old) was climbing on the car jack laying on the garage floor. I asked her to get off and when she continued to climb, she had the consequence of sitting on the porch step until she was ready to listen again. M (10 mo. old) was climbing on the car jack--I picked her up and moved her away without really saying anything. All J saw was that she got in trouble and M didn't, even though they did the same thing.

M goes to bed with a pacifier every night. J has taken to getting out of bed and taking the pacifier from M so she can have one while she goes to sleep.

M drops food on the floor from her high chair--I pick it up and throw it away. J throws food on the floor and gets in trouble and has to clean up her own mess.

Get the idea?

While I see my responses changing based on differences in age and development, J sees that she gets in trouble and M doesn't.

So...

How do I teach the toddler why she has different consequences than her little sister?

How do I make sure that everyone feels loved while still teaching boundaries and consequences?

And for my own sanity...Any suggestions on the aforementioned pacifier situation?

Hope that made some sense! Let me know what you think.

Laura

Camping with Children

My family LOVES to camp, and so does my husband's. Each year we camp several times at least. This year we've already done it twice and will be again this weekend. But camping with little ones isn't always easy. It can be a lot of fun, but you have to be prepared! So here are some tips for making camping trips with little ones a bit easier.

• Before you camp buy some clothes at the DI or another thirft store. This will ease your mind as your child gets completely fithly!
• For simplicity bring your baby or toddler's booster seat to eat in around the campfire. Also, if you have a baby or child under two it's a good idea to bring their pack 'n play and just set it up in the tent for naps and bedtime (you'll need to make sure you have a big tent, at least a 4 man, we use a 6).
• Even if the weather will be hot plan on packing extra pants and shoes instead of a lot of shorts and sandals. It's easier on little legs and feet to be protected.
• If your kids have a hard time sleeping in a tent then try a few things. Some kids are used to a night light and therefore camping is scary. Hang a headlamp or other flashlight from the top of your tent to give off light like a night light (you might waste batteries, but you'll get more sleep). Also, make sure your child is WARM. My son who is less than 2 won't stay under the covers so we put two pairs of pajamas on him and a jacket with a hood.
• If you have a little girl - choose a hairstyle that will stay in tight and won't get in her way, something that you can easily fix the next day too.
• If you have a child under the age of two, bring a kid carrier so you can hike easier with your little one.
• If you have a baby, bring an old exersaucer (again, check the DI) that you won't mind getting dirty and let your baby hang out in that when you need a break. You can also bring BIG pieces of carpet to let your baby crawl around on if you don't want him/her in the rocks and dirt.
• If it's your first time camping with your children, don't plan a big trip for your first one. Only camp one night and then if you like it, try it out for more nights.
• Most of all - just have fun and realize that it might be a bit dirty and difficult, but you can make some great memories.

Now let's hear from you! What are some tips you have?? I'd love to hear your success stories and things that have worked for you while camping.

Requests From Our Readers: Week 26

This week we are talking about allowance. Check out what our reader said.....



"I have a 4 1/2 year old and I am wondering about allowance. I got an allowance growing up, but it wasn't a lot and I don't know how old I was when my parents started it. My daughter has never asked, but she also never has money. Her friends (who are sisters) purchased a new movie with their allowance. I love that they could choose to use their own money for a purchase like this. I like the idea of giving her something to save for a fun prize for herself or a present for someone else. Right now, she has no concept of the value of money other than quarters are better than dimes, which are better than nickels, and those are better than quarters. She doesn't know how much $5 really represents. I'd love for her to have a better understanding of saving, spending, and paying tithing at church.

Does anyone have a system that works for them for the allowance of young children?
When is a good age to begin?
How do you set it up and how much do you give?
What are the requirements for obtaining allowance?"


Help her out and answer her specific questions about allowance! And thank you all for reading.

More Potty Talk :)

I know we have had posts on potty training before so I apologize for writing another one, but we are embarking on this big milestone in the very near future and I have some specific questions that I would love some feedback on. We have been introducing the concept of potty training for a while now, but with a new baby joining our family and a big move coming our way we have yet to start the full blown thing. I just still need to decide on some specific techniques and which ones I want to use and that's where you all come in :)

So tell me your thoughts...
Pull-ups? No pull-ups? Training pants? A combo? Go cold turkey or practice a little each day while still using some diapers? Use diapers at night? What about for special outings like church-did you put a diaper on then? If so, for how long? Or did you just stay home and not go out much for a week or so until potty training was pretty much done? And what about a little potty? Did you use one? Or maybe a tight fitting seat cushion? Or did you just set your child on the big toilet?
Let me know your best "tricks" and wish us luck :)

Extra Curricular Activities and Kids

My little girl who is 2 years old absolutely loves to sing, dance, twirl and tumble. Though we have decided to wait for now, my husband and I have talked about how she would probably enjoy a dance or gymnastics class. In discussing whether or not we wanted to start our little girl in extracurricular activities a few points came up. One was that it can be a large expense. Another was that we have seen a few other families who are close to us end up with the parents being stressed because they feel like on top of all the other responsibilities that they spend numerous hours a week running their kids to and from practices, games, recitals, etc. And another was that a part of me just wants to let our daughter be "little" for a little while longer before sending her out into the world to "grow up". On the other hand we talked about how children can learn many good traits from being part of a team--things like leadership, patience, and the value of practice and self improvement. And as parents, I think we all want to see our children develop their talents and be involved in things that they love and enjoy. Soooo...

How do you decide at what age (and maybe for some people if) to start your children in extra curricular activities?

How do you balance your child's activities outside the home while still leaving time for unstructured family time together?

How have you chosen what activities to enroll your children in?

Did you do any research to try and make sure that the teacher or coach was a good fit for your child?

I would love to hear your personal experiences and thoughts on this.

Requests From Our Readers: Week 19

This week we are talking about switching from a crib to a bed. Check out what our reader said....



"I have a 17 month old son and another baby on the way, due in the middle of April. My son will be 20 months old when the new baby arrives. I am trying to decide when the best time would be to transition my son to a "big boy bed." From the articles that I've read, I've learned that you definitely don't want to switch a child over before he is ready. But they do say that if you are changing a child over to a big bed because of a new baby, you should start 6-8 weeks before to baby arrives to avoid feelings of jealousy. I don't think my son will be ready by then but I also don't know what else to do...so what do you think?

What has worked for you?
At what age did you transition your child to a "big bed"?
What was the reason for the transition (ie: new baby, potty training, child was ready, etc.)"

So help her out! Be sure to address her specific concerns and let us know what you think about timing for switching to a bed. Thanks for reading and commenting and thanks for submitting reader requests!

Requests From Our Readers: Week 18

This week we are talking about potty training and bed wetting. Check out what our reader said....


"Hi ladies! I know this is something we've covered before, but I need some help. I've tried keeping it short, but some background will help with the troubleshooting.

Okay, my 3.5-year-old is pretty much potty trained. I started potty training her over a-year-and-a-half ago, and we had a very rough go of it. I made a variety of mistakes early on, but a year ago, I just gave up. I stopped pressuring her to use the toilet, doing what I could to make it a positive experience. Now, she is in underwear and has only a couple accidents a week. (One good thing comes from all this: she can last upwards of six hours between visits to the bathroom.)

I hesitate to call her completely trained because usually she won't take herself; rather, I require her to go before she can get in the van, watch a movie, play with toys, etc. Do I call this potty trained, if she rarely has accidents but avoids deciding for herself to use the bathroom? What more can I do to make her want to use the toilet?

Like I mentioned earlier, bladder control is not an issue. However, a couple times a week, she wets her bed. I know this is normal. We can wake her up to use the toilet, but she screams and cries, and once we make a bargain with her, it still takes her forever to calm down and pee. If she wakes up by herself and we ask her, she refuses. The other morning, she was in my bed cuddling with me, and what does she do but wets in my bed! So what techniques do you use to prevent bed-wetting? Or, is this something I'll have to put up with because of the mistakes I made early on in her training? Is there something I can do to help her want to use the toilet in the middle of the night? Or in the daytime?

I'll appreciate any help I can get."

So help her out. Please address her specific concerns about bed wetting and daytime motivation to use the toilet! We've all been there ladies, so offer up that advice.

In the beginning...

We have discussed potty training previously, but it's one of those topics that just never goes away...


My daughter will be two in a month and a half. I know she is still quite young, but we have already entered the realm of potty training. I didn't bring it up...she started showing several signs that I have heard are good indicators of being ready to potty train. She talks about going potty often and asks to go--she's interested. She pulls at her pants or even pulls them down after she soils her diaper--she's aware. And she wakes up dry from naps--she's ready???

I have several questions that I think bear discussion, both for me and for everyone else out there who is maybe less than thrilled about venturing into the bathroom.

What indicators do you look for to know that your child is ready to potty train?

How often do you take your child to the bathroom?

So far, we haven't pushed too hard. My daughter generally takes a trip to the bathroom in the morning, before nap, before bed, and a few other times throughout the day, either when she asks or when someone thinks of it. Do you have a "bathroom schedule" or do you just let it happen as it will? Do you require them to sit on the toilet even if they say they don't need to go?

Are there any products you have found helpful? Not helpful?

I have stuck with pull-ups during the day (mostly for my own convenience in the whole deal) and regular diapers at night. I think I'm afraid to get too committed at this point. Do you start with diapers or pull-ups and eventually switch to underwear, or do you start with underwear from the very beginning? I've wondered about training pants (or cloth diapers) thinking that maybe it would help give the feel of regular underwear but keep me from having too much mess to clean up. Thoughts?

And in the toilet department. What do you think of self-contained potty chairs? The size seems nice, but I'm not excited about it needing to be emptied each time it is used. We recently bought a potty seat that sits on top of the toilet itself. That is nice for not needing any emptying beyond flushing, but would it be better if it was the child's size so they can be as independent as possible in the whole process?

And lastly, motivation.

I have shown an overabundance of excitement every time my daughter has successfully gone in the toilet, but she doesn't seem to get why I am so happy. I want her to get excited, too, with the idea that then she'll be that much more interested in going to the bathroom. How do you motivate your child to want to use the toilet? Candy? Stickers? Verbal praise alone?

What is your method? General tips?

Deep breath. We can all get through this together!