Owner: manicmama URL:http://www.manicmama.co.uk Join Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:46:46 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Funny links for parents (I wanted to go out and change the world but I couldn't find a babysitter) Site statistics:Click here
Jokes I like (1) 2007-04-10 11:25:29
Source: andrea2382@flickr
A six year old comes crying to his mother because his little sister pulled his hair. "Don't be angry," the mother says, "Your little sister doesn't realise that pulling hair hurts."
A short while later, there's more crying, and the mother goes to investigate. This time the sister is bawling and her brother says, "She knows now." Read more:Jokes
Coping with Allergies 2007-04-10 11:20:17
Source: yashima@flickr
Tonya, over on Tears'n'Tantrums, has some great tips for dealing with allergies. I just wanted to add my suggestions for helping children cope with airborne irritants (eg pollen, dust):
Vacuum regularly
Remove dust collectors from your child's bedroom eg soft toys, rugs
If possible, install wooden floors
Fit your child's bedding with special plastic covers and wash at a high temperature every 2 weeks
Visit your doctor to find a suitable antihistamine for your child
With any luck, your child will outgrow their allergy. However, it may be worth considering alternative treatments such as acupuncture or homeopathy. Read more:Coping
, Allergies
Is it payback time? 2007-04-10 10:32:05
Source: all that comes with it@flickr
Due to my large size, I was pacing the house last night thinking about two things:
When I read other blogs I really enjoy discovering the personality of the writer
If you were a difficult child, then will this mean that when you have children they will be hard work too ie is it payback
time?!
I started to think what an evil child I was (at least until age seven) and just hope that my theory is proved wrong. To give you some idea of what I was like, here are a few facts:
My nickname was "The Incredible Sulk" (for a good reason)
If I did not get my own way I would hold my breath until I passed out (yes, it is possible)
I remember discovering that if I told the teacher I felt ill, Mummy would have to come to collect me from school
I decorated the entire hallway with my artwork whilst the babysitter watched TV
I was "na-na" (banana) sick in the car on most journeys
I talked non-stop to the lady sitting next to me
Which Pregnancy Manual? 2007-04-09 18:12:23
mahalie@flickr
In general, I don't think it is a good idea to read too much about pregnancy / motherhood when you are expecting. This is for two reasons: firstly, you will probably become paranoid about what could go wrong and secondly, ignorance is bliss!
My personal favourite, that has seen me through three pregnancies, is Queen Charlottes Guide To Pregnancy
And Birth. It has pictures of what your baby looks likes each week, together with just enough detail about how the baby is growing and how you might be feeling.
Alternatives that you may prefer are:
Mumsnet Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Mumsnet Guides)
Pregnancy for Dummies
Your Pregnancy Bible
Birth and Beyond
Your Pregnancy Week by Week
The Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (Rough Guides Reference Titles)
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Revised)
Amusing Quote (1) 2007-04-09 17:35:22
tostadophoto.com@flickr
People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one. Leo J. Burke (Author) Read more:Quote
Scissors, Paper, Stone 2007-04-09 15:26:47
Source:meme!@flickr
Recently, whilst waiting in the Dentist's reception area, I was trying to distract my children so that they did not become too nervous. I started racking my brain for games I could play with them and to my surprise Scissors, Paper, Stone
proved a big hit. My children now ask to play it regularly.
If you are interested, the rules are as follows:
Each player must hold one hand behind their back
One person counts out loud "1, 2, 3"
On the count of 3 each player must reveal their hand in the form of scissors, paper or stone
The winner of each round is determined as follows: scissors cut paper, paper wraps stone, stone blunts scissors
If you want to keep score, each win is allotted one point.
It is a great game because even very young children can play. Have fun!
Help your children to grow up strong and healthy 2007-04-08 13:24:03
tierecke@flickr
In order to ensure that your children grow up strong and healthy
, you need to teach them some good habits. Not only do you have to educate them about the importance of good nutrition but you also need to encourage physical activity. The best way that you can do this is by setting a good example (and that is the hard bit!).
Before suggesting some tips to help you do this, you need to be aware of the basic principles of healthy eating and exercising. Most of you will already know that a healthy diet consists of:
Eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day (they need to be different and potatoes don't count)
Monitoring the size of the portions you eat
Varying your diet as much as possible
Limiting the amount of sugary and high fat foods that you eat
With regards to physical exercise, you should be aiming to take 30 minutes of exercise per day.
So, how are you going to be able to do this? The easiest way to adopt a healthy life
How to explain Easter to kids 2007-04-08 11:54:24 niceness@flickr
Your children may have reached an age when they start asking awkward questions about Easter
. How do you reconcile the religious celebration of the resurrection of Jesus with the pagan celebration involving the Easter Bunny and easter eggs?
One possible solution is to tell your child that Easter is a combination of two celebrations:
a) Firstly, you can explain
how Christians believe that Jesus allowed himself to die on the cross so that all the sins of mankind would be forgiven. On the third day after he died, a miracle occurred and he came back to life.
b) Then, you can say that Easter falls at the start of Spring, when everything is bursting back into life. Easter Bunny and eggs are symbols of growth and renewal and this is why we have other traditions at this time of year as well.
Hopefully, this will give your child enough information to decide for themselves what the meaning of Easter is.
Happy Easter to you all!
Toys for Children with Special Needs 2007-04-07 12:52:10
There is now a new website called AblePlay (developed by the National Lekotek Center, a leading nonprofit) that has been set up to provide independent reviews of toys for children with disabilities. As the site explains, it is a toy rating system that:provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs so parents, special educators, therapists and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilitiesOn the site you can:
Search for products
Find out where to buy them
See how well toys are rated
Join the bulletin board
Please pass on this site to anyone who has a child with disabilities. Also, if you do have a child with special needs, you might be interested in India Knight's blog: Isn't she talking yet?
Finally, thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom for the tip. Read more:Children
, Special
, Needs
Some Light Relief 2007-04-07 11:50:31
May Contain Nuts: A Novel of Extreme Parenting by John Farrell is the perfect book if you are looking for a bit of light hearted entertainment for the Easter holidays. It is very funny because it is painfully close to the truth! I don't even know where my copy is now because so many friends have borrowed it.
Water Play 2007-04-07 09:47:58
Source: {dpade1337}@flickr
It is supposed to be good weather this Easter, so here are a few suggestions for water play:
Let your kids wash their bikes or your car
Make a water pistol out of an empty plastic washing up bottle
Put some washing up liquid in a bowl and give your child a hand held whisk to whip up bubbles
Let your child paint the wall or outside of your house with a brush and water
Give your children a sieve to sort filter out bugs and leaves
Plastic tubs, funnels, jugs and cups are always popular
Partially fill balloons with water and tie the ends tightly. These can then be thrown around.
Add food colouring or tub tints to the water to make it more fun
Finally, have a spare set of clothes and a towel to hand for when the games are over.
How to play with a Newborn Baby 2007-04-05 11:57:00
Source:skysdad@flickr
This post is not supposed to be patronising! The reason I am writing about this is because I will soon be in the position of playing with a newborn myself and it is easy to forget how important it is to play with your baby. Whilst the skills might come naturally to some, they don't to all. Things you can try are:
Having lots of eye to eye contact
Providing plenty of physical contact
Talk to them as much as possible, leaving pauses for them to react
Massage a baby with Olive Oil
Smile and pull faces at your baby
Show different objects to your baby, especially ones with a black and white pattern on
Introduce your baby to different sounds eg rattles and music
These might seem like silly suggestions but they help your baby to develop physically, emotionally and socially. Read more:Newborn
Everyday Objects become Toys 2007-04-04 11:28:00
Source:jgclarke@flickr
There was a great post on Play Library about everyday household objects that are popular toys with kids. They are:
1. Plastic Coffee Cans2. Paper Towel Rolls3. Adult T-shirts4. Blankets and pillows5. Plastic Party Cups6. Metal pots and wooden spoons7. Plastic containers8. Old computer keyboards9. Rocks/pebbles10. Boxes
I definitely recognise a few of these as favourites but I now have some more ideas. In my house the following items are also popular:
1. Old catalogues for cutting and pasting2. Plastic cups / containers at bath time3. Hand winding whisk4. Plastic Syringes (type used to give children medicine)5. Plasters / Band-aids for role play
Babblz - find the best parenting blog posts 2007-04-04 11:12:00
Babblz is an exciting new way to keep on top of the best new parenting blog posts
. You can submit posts, vote for others and find the most popular posts on particular topics. As the site says, it: allows you to submit an article that will be reviewed by all and will be promoted, based on popularity, to the main page. When a user submits a news article it will be placed in the "unpublished" area until it gains sufficient votes to be promoted to the main pageSo far, there are several different categories: Raising Kids, Work Life, Family Life, Home and Garden, Funny Stuff, Sex Life, The World and Blogging.
It is a great idea, so don't forget to pop over and have a look.
Tips about using Band-Aids / Plasters 2007-04-03 15:14:00
Source:harpersbizarre@flickr
Band-aids or Plasters are probably the most important item in your first aid box. Here are a few extra tips about them:
Draw a picture on the band-aid to improve its healing power
Buy different sorts of band-aids eg pirates for boys, fairies for girls
To prevent a band-aid moving, cover it with tape/a wristband/part of a cut-off sock
Let your child put on the band-aid himself/herself
Allow your child to put a band-aid on their teddy/doll in the same place as they hurt
If your child complains of eg a tummy ache, let them put a band-aid on it to recognise the pain
In order to remove band-aids, wait until bathtime and try removing the band-aid under water as quickly as possible.
Keeping Shampoo Out of Kids' Eyes 2007-04-02 11:34:00
Source:salimfadhley@flickr
Most children I know hate having their hairwashed because they worry about shampoo hurting their eyes. Some ways around this problem include:
Buying "tear-free" shampoo eg Johnsons
Giving your child a washcloth or sponge to hold over their eyes
Making your child wear Swimming Goggles and turning it into a game
Ask your child to lie down in the bath to wet their hair so they are in control
Let your child hold the shower attachment and rinse their hair themselves.
Ensure your child's Toys are safe 2007-04-10 14:51:10
Source: hiddenloop@flickr
It is easy to forget that toys, which are obviously made for child
ren, can actually be a hazard. The following tips will help reduce the risk children are exposed to:
Follow the age recommendations on the box - so the toy is suitable for the chid
Only buy toys which have a safety symbol
Be careful with young children playing with older children’s toys
Make sure any pens or crayons you buy are non-toxic
Follow the instructions and warnings provided with toys
Make sure you buy toys from a reliable manufacturer, not counterfeit products
Take extra care if buying toys from a car boot / jumble / yard sale
Check toys periodically to ensure they have not become dangerous eg sharp edges
Avoid toys with long ribbons / neck-ties / loose-pile hair / sharp edges / finger traps
Supervise young children at play
Link Library: 12th April 2007 2007-04-12 20:31:00 This is the start of my link library where I will provide links to the most useful parenting posts I have read:
Adoption Blogs: Attachment Tips and Resources gives some tips for ensuring that your adopted child settles well into your family
You've got your hands full: Coping with Chicken Pox provides a shopping list of all the items you will need to deal with this childhood illness
Free Stuff 4 Kids: Learning to Tell the Time gives you a printable sheet that will come in handy when your kids are practising telling and writing the time Read more:Library
, April
The Start of Something New? 2007-04-12 15:52:50 I am still waiting for this baby to appear and so I have been playing around with some ideas. One plan is to design some greetings cards specifically for parents. Here is my first attempt (all comments welcome!):
(c) All rights reserved.
Thanks to Mayasmom.com - Where Parents Share. Read more:Start
, Something New
Do you have a headache? 2007-04-12 12:04:08
Source: ende@flickr
If you have a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle - take two and keep away from children.
Building a Den 2007-04-12 11:22:53 I was at home with the kids yesterday and so I let them build a den. They had hours of fun rearranging duvets, bedspreads, cushions and toys. Soon, they had constructed a "secret" place where I was not allowed (nor could I fit!). To be honest, I couldn't follow the imaginary games that then followed.
Building
dens is a great activity for kids because it encourages them to be creative and also gives them a bit of independence. If only adults could build dens too!
Is your house childproof? 2007-04-12 10:36:22
Source: Brian "Doctorbu" Moore@flickr
You might think that your house is fine for small children, but just wait until you have one to visit. The period between when children crawl until they reach about 2 years old is the most hazardous. So, if you want to be able to sit and relax you might want to consider some of the following precautions:
1. Put covers over electrical sockets2. Fit window locks3. Invest in a stairgate4. Attach cupboard catches or locks5. Use a “finger shield” to prevent doors closing on little fingers6. Turn saucepan handles towards and the back of the cooker and use the back rings7. Keep medicines, alcohol and cleaning products out of reach8. Avoid using tablecloths to prevent toddlers pulling things down on top of themselves9. Move furniture away from windows to prevent kids climbing up and out10. Never pass a hot drink over a child’s head and keep hot drinks out of reach
I have to say that my house turned very minimalist when I h
Captain Underpants 2007-04-11 11:58:00
The Adventures of CaptainUnderpants
(The First Epic Novel) (Captain Underpants)
'Faster than a speeding waistband... more powerful than boxer shorts...'. Yes, it's Captain Underpants. This book is the first in a great series for kids centred around the adventures of two naughty boys named George and Harold. They go to elementary/primary school and create comics. Not only will your kids find the books funny, but as an added bonus they make very enjoyable reading for adults. In short, Captain Underpants makes perfect bedtime story fodder for children aged approx 5 years.
Thanks to my brother for introducing me to them :)
Raising Kids 2007-04-11 10:55:00 Raising kids is part joy and part guerilla warfare
Ed Asner Read more:Raising
Link Library 13th April 2007 2007-04-13 23:05:57 Don't miss:
Raising 4 Boys: 10 Simple Chores for Kids lists some ways children can help around the home. This is especially important if kids are going to learn what it takes to run a household
Thrifty Mommy: 25 Ways to Save Money with a Baby has some great suggestions for helping you to stick to a budget even when your family has just expanded
Scribbit: Teaching Children Table Manners discusses the "Manner a Month" method that Scribbit uses to help her children learn better manners (so important, yet often undervalued). Read more:Library
, April
Baby Books 2007-04-13 21:58:09
vintage patrisha@flickr
With the impending arrival of Number 3, it has dawned on me how much I have already forgotten of my other two children's development. My intention is to put together a baby book for each child so that as they grow older, they can look back at a record of their childhood.
So far, I am planning on including:
Time of Birth
Place of Birth
Weight
Age started crawling
Age started walking
First words
Christening details
Photo on each birthday
Age started reading and writing
Some of their artwork
Funny things they have said
Age started swimming
Age able to ride a bike without stabilisers
Some School Reports
Notable achievements
The list could go on and on. However, I think that the baby book will be most effective if I pick and choose the items to include (so there is not information overload). There are any number of pre-made baby books that you can buy to do this. But, for me, half the fun will be putting together t Read more:Books
Pregnancy Fast-forwarded 2007-04-13 21:36:34 To give you an idea of how much your stomach grows during pregnancy, watch this: Read more:Pregnancy
Another boy! 2007-04-21 16:49:16 I am thrilled to announce that I gave birth to my third boy earlier this week. He weighed a whopping 9 lbs 8 oz and I will be taking it easy for a while. My DS3 keeps me pinned to the sofa, feeding him, for the majority of the day so I am unable to write any posts. However, as soon as he gives me a bit of time off, I will be back :)
Homeopathic Remedies for Childbirth 2007-04-25 13:17:36 You might find the following remedies useful if you are suffering a little after childbirth. (They are safe to use even if you are breastfeeding.)
Bruising - Arnica 200c or Bellis Per 200c
Cracked Nipples - Phytolacca 200c
Soreness of Perineum - Calendula 200c
Too little Milk - Dulcamara 200c
Feelings of anger/resentment about birth - Staphisagria 200c
You can buy a full homeopathic remedy kit for childbirth from Helios Read more:Remedies
, Childbirth
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