Love This: Kickstarter Projects for Kids

 

Kickstarter is a website that helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. 

There are some really cool projects focused on children / mothers / families on Kickstarter.  Here are some current highlights:

 
ScrubBugs:

 

Invented by a Mom to help keep her kids healthier throughout the year, Scrub Bugs are creating an entirely new category of healthy hygiene for kids.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hands are the #1 carriers of sickness causing germs.  Despite this, kids don't actually wash their hands well enough to remove all the germs.  Scrub Bugs to the rescue!!!  Scrub Bugs make hand washing both more effective and more fun. They are the new critical component to every kid's hygiene routine.

Such an awesome idea.  I cringe sometimes when I watch my kids 'wash' their hands. If I'm not there over their shoulder there is a good chance they are breezing their hands through the water and moving on - disgusting.  A scrub bug is something I think they would totally use, just as that superman toothbrush gets my son to actually brush his teeth!


Penny Powers:

 

PENNY POWERS is the superpowered alter ego of fourth grader Penelope Powski. No one knows Penelope's secret except for her superpowered sidekick, and cat, Pepper. Together, these two heroes protect their school and their neighborhood from the forces of evil as PENNY POWERS and HYPER-CAT!

We love a girl super hero -- even more so one whose sidekick is her cat!  Awesome drawings and a funny storyline, something we can imagine kids really enjoying.

 

Kind Doll:

 

We have created soft and huggable dolls to team up with your children to be a force for good. Each doll comes with a bag of heart tokens that are given away as an act of kindness. Plus, for each doll purchased a doll will be donated to a child less fortunate.

Not only are the dolls really cute, we love the idea of inspiring your children to commit acts of kindness while giving back to those in need.  The back story of the founders is heartwarming and inspiring.  Best of luck to Kind Doll!

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Inspired to fund one of these projects?  For as little as $5.00 you can take part in KickStarting a dream.  Let us know about your favorite Kickstarter projects!

Love This: Chore Charts (Free Downloads!)

A ongoing challenge in many households is getting your kids to do their chores.

We want to raise responsible & capable adults - and we have to start somewhere.  Whats the end goal?  Well ideally by the time they go to college they will know how to do their own laundry.

A good way to get started on implementing a chore system is with a chore chart.  Ruth over at Living Well Spending Less has an excellent series of printable charts & lists to implement chores in your household.

We love her printable popsicle stick chores.  Print them out, glue them onto popsicle sticks and the kids can draw a stick to determine what chore(s) they are assigned for the day.

Can their first chore can be to make the chore sticks? Sounds like a great way start!

Top 10 Gifts for a One Year Old

Trying to find a perfect gift is tough - and its even tougher when your mommy brain cant remember one thing that your now 5 year old played with at 12 months!

Consider this your refresher course!

Here is a tried and true list of great gifts for any one year old:

Board Book - Good Night iPad
Chances are the parents got a copy (or two, or three) of Good Night Moon at their baby shower.  Fast forward a year or so, and this book just might be a little more fitting. Good Night iPad by Ann Droyd will put a smile on the parents face while also serve as that reminder we all need to unplug.

Wooden Activity Cube
Many brands make these toys, I am especially fond of the B Zany Zoo Activity Cube that is found at Target.  The cube is heavy and sturdy, and the flap doors are a major hit.  At the same time, each side has a different activity, and the top has a great tactile bead game.  Animals, colors, shapes - it has everything to keep 1 year olds entertained.

Stack and Roll Cups
At first glance thing toy seems basic and boring - dont be fooled.  I was amazed at the number of ways my son's preschool teacher used this item to teach.  Stack them, make them into balls, play pop the ball, hide the ball inside, teach numbers, teach colors -- the list goes on.  The toy can be used for kids 6 months and up, but with so many different ways to utilize it, it will be used for a number of years.

Levert Pajamas
You can never have enough pajamas! We especially like Levert Pajamas because, unlike others, the material actually improves with time.  No pilling, no scratchy fabric - I dont know how they do it, but they seem to get softer with each wash!  They have great designs and at a price point that wont break the bank - a real quality buy.

Straw Bottles
Once babies hit the one year mark, many start the transition from bottle to sippy cup and/or straw bottle.  A great product to try is the Monstraw's straw bottle.  One of the best things about this bottle is that it can be fully taken apart and washed - no little parts for yuck and guck to get stuck!

Swipe Toy Cell Phone
Yes, we recognize this post will probably be obsolete in a matter of days, but in the meantime - what does a one year old really want to play with?  Your phone!  For a long time the toy phones were virtually unrecognizable to today's kids - not anymore.  Vtech has created a great Swipe Cell Phone baby toy.  While I cant promise it will replace your little one's desire for you smart phone, it will entertain them in the meantime.

Diapers
Yes, its boring.  But yes, it is oh so practical and necessary!  If there is one thing that every one year old needs and every parent is tired of buying - its diapers.  So help a parent out, bring a box of diapers.  Not sure of the size -- chances are a 5 or 6 will suffice.  Better too big, they will grow into them eventually!

Growth Charts
Right around one the little ones start standing up - perfect time to start charting their growth.  There are so many options for growth charts, and many can be personalized.  This is also a perfect opportunity to support a small business / etsy store.  For example, check out CreativeByClair's personalized growth charts.  So adorable!

Cute Storage
Now granted, this is not on the top of the one year old's wishlist -- but I betcha its on his momma's!  Kids have so much stuff -- sooo much stuff!!  And it really can start to get cray cray around the one year mark.  Let's give a gift that is cute, functional and sanity-inducing.  A nice big basket that can be filled with toys, blocks, or even laundry (sooo much laundry!).  LoveJoyCreate has great fabric patterns and the cutest of storage containers.

Adirondack Chair
A outdoor take on an already popular gift - the kids chair.  Nothing says spring and summer in New England like an kids sized Adirondack chair! As most things available at Target, we love this design and the bright colors.   Bonus Points - if you're bringing this as a gift it would be oh so sweet of you to assemble it ahead of time! 

Storytime: For Tots with a Passport

Its wonderful to expose your children to many cultures and diverse communities.  If your little one loves to try new things, experience new cultures and learn new languages, why not encourage these interests through the library at your home. 

 
 Bee-Bim Bop, by Linda Sue Park

This is a charming story of a young child eager to help her mother grocery shop, prepare and cook dinner.   A wonderful addition to this story is the author's very own recipe for Bee-bim Bop to try with your own family.

Have You Seen My Cat?, by Eric Carle

As to be expected with Eric Carle, this story is delightful and beautifully illustrated.   A young boy visits different cultures throughout the globe searching for his cat, all along learning about native animals in different regions.

Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox

“Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world"  - this is the wonderful lesson Mem Fox weaves throughout this colorful children's book.   The author points out differences and similarities throughout many cultures, and does so in a way that children can understand and learn from.




Do you have suggestions for great multicultural books?  We'd love to hear from you!

Plan Ahead! National Find a Rainbow Day is April 3rd (Free Download!)

Did you know April 3rd marks National Find a Rainbow Day?  What a great excuse to plan a fun day for your kids and their friends!

The topic of rainbows will not only draw your kids' attention, but its also a great opportunity to work a mini-science lesson into your day by explaining how the natural phenomena occurs. 

Breakfast:  Rainbow fruit skewers and pot of gold yogurt.
This is a fruity breakfast option to start your day.  Take wooden skewers and skewer fresh fruit in the following order - strawberry, cantaloupe, banana, green grape, blueberries, and red grapes - Viola! a rainbow appears before your own eyes.  For pot of gold yogurt, take a serving of plain Greek yogurt in a small cup, pour a thin layer of honey over the top.  Doesnt get much easier than that!

Storytime:  A Rainbow of My Own, by Don Freeman.
"If I were a rainbow where would I hide?"  Follow along in this engaging book as a little boy plays with his imaginary friend - a rainbow.

Playdate:
Unfortunately April does not always provide the best weather for outdoor activities.  Make your own rainbows with many items found within your home.

Take a box of Fruit Loops, have the kids separate the colors, teaching the little ones ROY-G-BIV (red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet). Then take the colors and paste them onto this free printable activity page.

Not into Fruit Loops?  Take pasta wheels, cook and use food dyes (we suggest mixing both the regular and the neon food dyes) to color the pasta the night before. 

Dinner:
With a little creativity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables, most meals can be turned into a rainbow experience.  Rainbow TexMex Tortellini Salad is easy, healthy and tasty - a true crowd pleaser.

Late-Nightcap:  
Look what mama found at the end of her rainbow!  An April Rain Martini is your beloved vodka martini with a hint of refreshing lime.  Easy to make and sure to put some Spring in your step.

Big News!

Woowwweee!

C'mon, you didnt fall for that did you? 

Now go have some April Fools fun!  You have our permission to use the banner above - email it to your partner, post it on FB or send it out in a Tweet!

To Do List: Berries & Cherries

It is a little known fact that March is the Berries & Cherries Month.

Why not spend the last day of March celebrating these wonderful fruits with the following activities:

Breakfast: French toast and berries is a no-brainer, turning them into sticks is sure to entertain your family.  Lets face it, kids love finger foods, and with a recipe this easy - we love making them!

Storytime: Blueberries for Sal, by Viking Kestrel & Robert McCloskey (author of the beloved Boston based book, Make Way for Ducklings) is a classic.  Chances are you already have it in your collection - this is the perfect occasion to re-read this time tested tale.

Lunch:  When you're dealing with Berries & Cherries, you don't need fancy recipes to make food taste great.  Your kids will love a classic peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich, and even more so when you pair it with a fresh berry lemonade. 

Playtime: Listen, we're not saying that tie-dye is making a come-back... lets put that on the record!  But we know for sure that this is an activity that everyone will love.  Not only is Berry-Tie Dye fun, but its 100% green.  So get in touch with your very distant past, pull out the rubber bands and show your kids how to tie-dye like a pro!

Dinner:  Its important for your kids to experience new flavors.  Try topping your regular grilled chicken dinner with berry salsa. Its an interesting twist on a basic meal, the flavors will delight the whole family.

Late-Night Cap:  We all know the Cosmo - early Carrie Bradshaw, no need to say more.  Try the Merry Berry Cosmo for a new flavor profile on the classic vodka beverage ... 4-inch heels not required!