Do You Use Clip On Chairs For Your Kids?

Read this newly released product warning if you do!

Ready To Get Outside For a Bybicle Ride?

May is National Bike Safety month. SafeKids USA has some good advice on how to have fun while being safe.

Which Breakfast Cereals Are the Best?

Well if you are like me, shopping for healthy food items can be difficult with all the fancy advertising and misleading catch words. I was particularly interested in this article about healthy breakfast cereals for kids. Using the helpful guidelines in this article can make your choices much easier.

Product Recalls For April 2011

Here is the newest list of children's products that have been recalled for safety issues. Check it out to make sure they are not in use in your home.

Helping Children Through Tough Times

Here is a link to a wonderful short video from the American Academy of Pediatrics on helping children cope with difficult times. It's a must see!

Mother's Day Keepsake Album

Here is a quick project that requires a few supplies but creates a wonderful gift for a Mom, Godmother, or Grandma.
You will need:  a few storage size zipper style plastic bags
                       card stock, any color
                       ribbon, twine, or yarn
                       a hole punch
                       glue
                       old greeting cards,calendars or magazines
                       markers

To begin, choose any number of plastic bags, depending on how many "pages" you want in the album.  Line them up and punch two holes in the sealed end (bottom) of the bag at each end. The bags will be put into the album with the zipper side on the right. Refer to the first photo. I am pointing to where I punched the holes.

Line up the bags so that the holes are in the same place for each bag.


Next,  choose 2 pieces of card stock. Cut them to 71/2 " by 9 1/2 ". You can use markers to decorate the front cover, or you can recycle pictures from old calendars or the fronts of used greeting cards. You can also make a montage of several pictures. Make your decisions based on your Mom's favorite things and colors.
Punch matching holes in the front and back card stock covers. Line up the bags with the bad name/logo/label on the back so that the top of each "page" will be clear. Starting with the back cover, lay each bag with the opening to the right. Top with the front cover. Poke ribbon or twine from the back through the holes toward the front and tie with a knot or bow. Place you name and the date on the front or back cover

Now Mom can put special keepsakes into each bag and zipper it shut. Ideas would be notes, letters, postcards, recipes, garden notes/seed variety packets, business cards, photos or any thing else she would like to keep organized.
Top it all off with a big hug and kiss! Happy Mother's Day to all.

7 Mistakes Parents Make When Feeding Their Kids

Acording to Joy Bauer, there are seven common mistakes that many parents make when it comes to feeding their young children. I have to admit that I was guilty of some of these when my children were young. Follow this link to read the entire list and the healthier alternatives.

9 Unexpectedly Unhealthy Kid's Foods

I was reading my newest email from Cooking Light Magazine and found this article on unhealthy kid's foods. I was surprised to read what they were since many sound so healthy. To check the list follow this link.

Sports Safelty Web Cast

This Safe Kids sponsored web cast event is on May 2 at 12:00 pm. Prepare, Prevent, Play will give you the safety information you need to be able to enjoy your children's sports events this summer, while helping to prevent serious injury. Follow the Safe Kids USA link in the sidebar for more information.

Toxic Cleaning Products?

Wow! There's a lot of good information here for everyone but especially if your children have asthma or allergies.

March 2011 Children's Products Recall List

Follow this link to check the children's products that have been recalled.

April 2011 Reading and Craft Ideas

April books suggestions:

Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond, published by Harper Collins. From the author of the famous If You Give a Mouse a Cookie comes this delightful Easter book. I bought it as a board book to give to my 9 month old grandson. It is a charming story that teaches color names.
The Night Before Easter, by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Kathy Couri, published by Grosset and Dunlap. Following the format of the famous "Twas the Night Before Christmas", this adorable book takes you along with the Easter Bunny as he visits and leaves lovely gifts to a boy and girl. This is the book I am giving to my 3 year old granddaughter.



Cupcake Paper Flowers:

You will need: construction paper, glue, colorful muffin/cupcake papers, colored buttons

Out of green construction paper, cut some stems and leaves. Glue them to blue construction paper. Cut a sun shape out of yellow and add to the blue background. Choose some colorful paper liners and glue them to the top of the stems. Add a colorful button to the center of each "flower." You can add a sentiment if you decide to give your scene as a gift or a card.

NOTE:
Another wonderful craft to make adorable sock bunnies is available at this link