Reading Time – Recommend A Nice Kids Story Or A Good Book.

What’s Your Favourite Kids Book? What’s Your Own Favourite Book?

Did you know that having as few as 25 books for children to access in the home significantly increase the literacy skills of children – simply having them in the house! Reading when you can make the time with rugrats around is a wonderful mental escape for us mums too. What’s you kids book library like? I raid fetes and fairs as often as I can!

Let’s see what a range of Mum and Baby sites have to recommend as a must-have kids book, or mum-time book from their experience: Reading Time – Recommend A Nice Kids Story Or A Good Book.

Denise from Mama Moo recommends:

Peter Rabbit Munch book.  Room for adding lots of actions and developing a healthy appetite for healthy food.

Charndra from Part Time Nappy Free recommends:

I have “Riley and the Sleeping Dragon” by Aussie author Tania McCartney, which we got from Emma at Brindabella Baby. We love it, and even went to the book launch in Canberra (where we were living at the time). My son got to (briefly) play with the plane in the pictures and the book has been read at his kindy and now reception classes at school. Great story. I’m also a proud Twi-Hard, or Twi-Mum, having read the so-easy-to-read Twilight series of books 4 times. (Ooh, have you read the rough draft of Midnight Sun?)

Kyra from Bubbalooba recommends:

Some of our favourite books include classics like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Spot“, but one of my favourite “newer” childrens books is the “Poppy Cat” series – they are short (about 4-5 pages) which just a few lines of text, and they have felt flaps – my toddler can tug and pull on these flaps and they still look as good as new! It has been a favourite since before he turned 1 right up until the toddler years.

Kirsten from Mums Little Outlet recommends:

At the moment I am loving “The Memory Keepers Daughter” by Kim Edwards.

Kendall from Australian Baby Supplies recommends:

I love Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French. Bruce Whatley’s pictures are fantastic and the story is funny. I have read this book so many times and will no doubt read it many more. A must read!

Laura from Cloth Nappy Co recommends:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Nyree from Kodomo recommends:

Anything by Mem Fox! I especially love ‘Tough Boris’ for little boys.

Our Comment Question is about kids books:

What is one of the popular kids books in your family? What’s you kids book library like? I raid fetes and fairs as often as I can! Leave your recommendations and stories in the comment box below.

- Charndra

P.S Are you registered to play in our regular nappy giveaways?
Be sure to sign up to have your chance to WIN a free modern cloth nappy for your baby!

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners… Want a new Washable Nappy? Start here.

Recommend A Modern Cloth Alternative To A Disposable ‘Something’…

Reusable – Disposable – there are many choices to replace something ‘disposable’ with something ‘reusable’.

What do you prefer as a reusable product over one you did use as a disposable?

Let’s see what a range of Mum and Baby sites have to recommend as an alternative to something that is usually considered disposable:

Recommend A Modern Cloth Alternative To A Disposable ‘Something’…

Emma from Wrap ‘Em recommends:

Breastpads…

Obsidian from Obsidian Star recommends:

With all the fantastic fabrics around, from soft bamboo velour to stunning designer print cottons, cloth pads can be beautiful as well as being environmentally friendly and more comfortable to wear.

Kyra from Bubbalooba recommends:

Modern cloth menstrual pads are a great alternative to the “normal” sanitary pads – and they are really convenient if you have a baby in cloth nappies too – I just rinse and store the used pads in the nappy bucket until washing day!

Kirsten from Mums Little Outlet recommends:

Washable Cotton Nursing Pads. These feel better, look better, are absorbent whilst allowing the skin to breathe, they save the planet and save you money!

Charndra from Part Time Nappy Free recommends:

Not a modern cloth thing (unless you count its bag), I totally recommend a Diva Cup over disposable sanitary products. Awesome, it all feels so much more hygienic once you get used to using one it is a breeze. They last for 10 years!

Kendall from Australian Baby Supplies recommends:

Reusable bamboo nursing pads are a nice alternative to disposbale nursing pads and come in a variety of designer fabrics.

Laura from Cloth Nappy Co recommends:

Organic cloth wipes. They’re great not just for cleaning baby’s bottom, but for wiping faces, sticky fingers or even bathtime.

Nyree from Kodomo recommends:

It’s not quite cloth, but a Lunette Cup is something I bought during the Cloth Nappy Hunt one year. I’d never heard of menstrual cups but stumbled upon them whilst icon hunting. I did some internet searched and started reading about the health benefits of them over tampons and thought why not? I won’t lie, they take practice but I’m happy I made the investment in one.

- Our Nappy Experts -

Discover Expert Advice About The Modern Cloth Nappy - Information About Modern Cloth Nappies - Advice About Frequently Asked Cloth ‘Newbie’ Questions - Lots of Tips and Tricks to Help You With Your Reusable Nappies - Learn From the Experts in Cloth Nappies -

Discover More from Our Nappy Experts...

Our Comment Question is about Reusable Versions of Disposable Things:

What do you use and recommend?

- Charndra

P.S Are you registered to play in our regular nappy giveaways?

Be sure to sign up to have your chance to WIN a free modern cloth nappy for your baby!

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners... Want a new Washable Nappy? Start here.

Top Tips for Surviving Toddler Tantrums!

Top Tips for Surviving Toddler Tantrums!

What is your best advice for avoiding or minimising a toddler tantrum?

When I had a wee babe in arms I remember being scared of the impending ‘Toddler Tantrums’ stage. I even asked about solutions and strategies for managing tantrums on the ABA parenting forum! Great advice to be found in the responses. This post is to collect other tips and share them.

Do tell us your own advice for avoiding and minimising toddler tantrums in the comment section below.

Emma from Wrap ‘Em recommends:

Cuddles. Often popping my toddler up on my back will avoid most issues as he is up where he can see everything without being able to touch

Denise from Mama Moo recommends:

Loving but firm. Bub is never too young to be “exposed” to alternatives to tantrums. Set a good example as an adult for the little ones, encourage non-tantrum behaviour. Be firm and quick about “tantrumy” behaviour.

Charndra from Part Time Nappy Free recommends:

I got some Tantrum 911, a sweet blend of essential oils that will ‘short circuit’ a tanty, I am having some success and some flops with it though. Baby wearing has always been a great way of diffusing negative energy and helping bubbles to feel calm and connected, food is a great help of course, cuddles are always a winner, distraction and change and even looking at diet can be a strategy, avoiding certain nasty additives can turn down the incidence of tantrumming in kids. Fed Up is the place to find info about this, things such as Preservative 282 in some bread products, Natural or added MSG in spreads, and all manner of other psycho colours and additives, of which the amounts are ever increasing in bought foods! The book is helpful, and this free ebook has fab recipes that are ‘Failsafe’, or free from all manner of nasties.

Kyra from Bubbalooba recommends:

Distractions! I find a lot of our toddler tantrums happen while we are out shopping – the Westfield shopping centres usually have balloons at the Concierge Desk, so I remind my toddler that he can have a balloon (usually halfway between errands). Otherwise, I try to have a distraction of some sort in my handbag…little toys are great (especially if they can attach to the pram/trolley!), and even iPhone toddler apps can be useful!

Jodee from BabyBaby recommends:

‘Perfect for the ‘witching hour’ – BabyBaby Organic Calming Body Wash

My toddlers always fell apart between the 4-5 pm period when you are trying to do ten things at once, get dinner organized, feed the baby etc.

My key to a calm, tantrum free evening is to put the kids in the bath at that time when they are starting to get whiney and you are at the end of your tether.  For kids who love water this will calm them down immediately, even better add some Award winning Babybaby Organic Calming Body Wash.  Both you and your child(ren) will enjoy the aroma of our baby safe organic essential oils of Lavender and Chamomile combined with organic herbs and plant extracts which gently cleanse the skin and soothe both child and mama.  This gorgeous body wash is perfectly safe for even the most sensitive, delicate skin.  You can relax knowing this product is free from harmful chemicals and is made from all natural, organic and certified organic ingredients.

I have also been known to feed fussy eaters while in the bath too – they are having so much fun in the water that they are not taking notice of what you are putting in their mouth!

Kirsten from Mums Little Outlet recommends:

Pre-warn your child of any change in activity if possible . For example, before you pack up the toys or get up to leave a location, give your child a 3- to 5-minute warning. Say things like “We need to go home in 5 minutes. It is almost time to say ‘Goodbye.’ We need to start packing up in 2 minutes. After we pack up we will have a quick snack.”

Laura from Cloth Nappy Co recommends:

Teach your baby that when you say no, you mean it. That way they don’t discover that throwing a tantrum gets them what they want. It’s not a quick-fix, but it’s a positive long-term one!

Nyree from Kodomo recommends:

Time to ‘fess up then, when we’re out I always make sure I’ve got a healthy snack (yep, a bribe) that takes a little while to eat, like sultanas. At home, I just let tantrums take their natural course!

Preschool Computer Time – Wonderful Website Resources for Kids on Computers.

Posted by Charndra in Mama * Earth * Kids on Jun 2nd, 2011 | no responses

Computer Time – Share a website resource that is wonderful for littlies?

There are plenty of well designed websites for children these days. Lets look at a few recommended you check out for your little ones, from click-only to learning to read and create and having fun with educational games…

Fight free and fright free is the name of the game when looking for suitable sites for kids to have a play. Computers are part of modern life, and it’s amazing what quality has been developed, so you can avoid the rubbish!

Let’s see what a range of Mum and Baby sites have to recommend as a suitable computer resource from their experience:

Obsidian from Obsidian Star recommends:

I think you can’t go past the ABC kids website, you can be confident there is nothing there unsuitable, no ads the kids might accidentally click on. Up to Ten has some free games and online colouring. For older kids, Club Penguin is a free online community based game my daughter seems to like.

Charndra from Part Time Nappy Free recommends:

My son loves Up to Ten, doing his ABC Reading Eggs, In the Night Garden, Boobah and Tux Painting!

Kirsten from Mums Little Outlet recommends:

Simple: Play School

Kendall from Australian Baby Supplies recommends:

My son loves listening to the nursery rhymes on youtube. His favourite is the Baby Boost videos. For older children Starfall Kids is great for phonics instruction.

Laura from Cloth Nappy Co recommends:

Another recommendation for the ABC kids website.

Nyree from Kodomo recommends:

If you don’t mind the Americanism, I love Starfall Kids for Literacy and Cool Maths for Kids for numeracy development in the early primary years. So much fun they won’t even realise it’s educational, I promise!

A quick-click gallery of recommended kid friendly kid websites:

 

- Our Nappy Experts -
Discover Expert Advice About The Modern Cloth Nappy – Information About Modern Cloth Nappies – Advice About Frequently Asked Cloth ‘Newbie’ Questions – Lots of Tips and Tricks to Help You With Your Reusable Nappies – Learn From the Experts in Cloth Nappies -

Discover More from Our Nappy Experts…

Our Comment Question is about Computer Programs for Little Kids:

What do you allow your kiddy to play with and why?

- Charndra

P.S Are you registered to play in our regular nappy giveaways?
Be sure to sign up to have your chance to WIN a free modern cloth nappy for your baby!

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners… Want a new Washable Nappy? Start here.

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Pinky McKay – Free Teleseminar: Balancing Baby and Business

Posted by Charndra in Mama * Earth * Kids on May 2nd, 2011 | no responses

pinky mckay

Balancing Baby and Business

FREE TELESEMINAR…

Balancing baby and business – can you REALLY have it all and do it all AND stay on the treadmill without falling off, trading off or being consumed with mummy guilt?

Call Date

11am (Australian Eastern time)
Thursday May 19th

Have you….

• climbed the corporate ladder, built a brilliant business or been acknowledged as an authority in your field? But the prospect of balancing baby with business has you filled with terror as you worry, how will I recover from birth and bond with my baby AND keep my career on course?
• got littlies already, but suffer with overwhelming ‘mummy guilt’ because you feel like you are barely keeping up with a speeding treadmill of angst as you juggle kids, career, childcare, your relationship, home, health (your own and your child’s) ….….?
• want to start your own business around your baby or small children, but don’t know where to start or how to make it work without spending a fortune or losing even more sleep, to make it happen?

Relax! You CAN combine business and babies and make it work, in a way that works for YOU!

Learn how on this FREE teleseminar with leading Australian baby care author and business woman, Pinky McKay, and Alli Price, entrepreneur, business mentor, life coach and founder of Motivating Mum, a business supporting and advising business mums in Australia and the UK .

Find out more and register for this wonderfully empowering talk…

pinkmckay

Water: Wonderful Colour Mixing Activity

Posted by Charndra in Mama * Earth * Kids on Apr 7th, 2011 | one response

More Mama*Earth*Kids articles...

Mama*Earth*Kids is a category for sharing activities to do with kids; activities for mums and kids; Recommendations for mums, kids and our planet; Our Green Hour; things to do that involve recycling or reusing and things for mums generally.

In this activity we took down a collection of pretty glass bottles I have spend years collecting (I love how pretty they are in the light) and finally got around to adding coloured water to them so they look good up on the shelf.

My original plan was to have them on a high shelf in the bathroom so the sunlight could shine through them, but kids – well, that seems a silly thing to do for a few years!

I turned it into an activity and the kids had a great time mixing food colouring into the water with pipettes and syringes and watching it disperse and mix, making different colours, comparing and adding more until it was ‘just right’.

 

I was inspired to turn this into a science-like activity from a suggestion on the blog “Science @ Home’, such as ‘10 Things to do with Water’ one I regularly visit for ideas to turn everyday observations into a science experiment! Being an art teacher myself, I look at things from an arty-crafty angle, but loved science at school, so am enjoying all the new ideas I am getting from Deb’s blog. Go check it out! She has a great (and free) e-book you can download to give you a running leap into seeing your child’s world in terms of science. It’s called ‘Young Scientists’.

Visit Science@Home...

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