Parent Extremis

It’s that time of year again kids … time to put away the flip-flops and swimsuits and breakfast at 10am while watching Noggin, time to starting going to bed ON TIME and start using those new binders with the questionable factory-plastic smell. Parents: Can you hear that tune in the distance, it sounds to me like …CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON!.

Yeah folks, it’s back to school time!

I bet you didn’t know that you can be creative and make a lot of your school supplies, or at the very least, spruce up that bland notebook with something as simple as MASKING TAPE. Readers Digest just recently published an article about the many creative uses of masking tape! We’re not talking about just labeling folders here, you can fix a broken umbrella and design a road for Matchbox cars all using this wonder tape.

You can get creative, resourceful and organized with a few tips and products like aluminum foil and an old milk-crate or cardboard box.

Did you know that you can use aluminum foil in place of a brillo pad to scrub a soiled pot? Uncrumpled you can lay a sheet of it flat on the bottom of the oven to keep drippings from baking on to the oven.

You can use old return address labels for all those pesky school supplies that are always getting lost. A missing pencil bag might just find its way back home with an address label affixed to its side.

Click here to read the entire article on Homemade School Supplies and learn some great tips for labeling, organizing and using everyday household items in new ways.

Parent’s Magazine has a new list of the best books for children, broken down by age.

I have very strong memories of my Dad reading me Dr.Seuss books. I love the crazy words, the images and the wacky scenarios.

Reading to children is one of the best activities and gifts you can give them. It is calming, bonding and promotes conversation about things you may not have talked about otherwise. Also, hearing the rhythm of language and sounds teaches kids about language and improves their own language skills. Reading promotes imagination and play, a venue through which kids learn.

Child Literacy (dot com) recommends the following based on age:

For babies and toddlers up to 2 years

• point at pictures and say or ask names of things (depending on age)
• use a slow sing-song voice
• use different voices for different characters - be entertaining
• spend time talking about the pictures before turning the page
• say a name and ask your older baby or toddler to point to the item
• give huge praise each time your child points at and names an object

For 2-4 year-olds

• give your child time to look at the pictures before you read
• ask, ‘Where’s the…?’ ‘What’s that called?’ ‘What’s she doing?’
• always follow text with your finger as you read
• with familiar stories, see if your child can join in or finish phrases
• ask questions like: ‘Why did he do that?’ ‘What happens next?’
• discuss things you both liked/didn’t like and why

For 4 year-olds and over (and possibly some 3 year-olds)

• as for 2-4 year olds
• ask your child if he can remember the order of events in the story
• try paired reading (sometimes called shared reading)

It’s no secret that most parents remove the batteries from those horrific god-awful muzakal baby toys at some point on their way out the door to the looney bin. You can imagine the look of thanks-but-you-shouldn’t-have that crosses my face when we get a new baby toy that makes any sort of sound. But! We just got a toy that I LIKE. A LOT.

Leap Frog’s Baby Counting Pal PLUSH is really cool. I like the songs it plays. They are cute and catchy and I’m totally walking around singing one little birdie flying through the air, one little birdie goes tweet tweet tweet. This right here is true evidence of what parenthood does to your brain. My brain used to entertain me by recalling and singing to itself Springsteen and Maroon 5, but now? Now?! Five little lady bugs meet for lunch, five little lady bugs, crunch crunch crunch.

But seriously folks, this toy is non-offensive. I would even call it pleasant. Enjoyable! It has four different settings, it will count, sing songs, and sing about colors and numbers. It also has a classical music memory game that I have yet to master.

This toy also has velcro straps so that it can attach to the front of a carseat or stroller. It’s amazingly versatile. The songs are pleasant. READ: NOT ANNOYING. Noah loves it and it’s small and compact for easy transport from the car to the playroom.

The age recommendation is three to twenty-four months.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Highly recommend.