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Showing posts sorted by date for query toys. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query toys. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query toys. Sort by relevance Show all posts

How to get Baby to Sleep for a Nap

Foolproof ways to tire your toddlers out for nap time


Are you struggling to get your little toddler to take a breather and rest? Nap time can be heaven for both you and your toddler. They get some much-needed rest before carrying on with their day, giving you a chance to get a few things done, or simply take a minute for yourself. You've probably wondered, how to get your baby to sleep for a nap, here are some tips to earn that well deserved quiet time.


How to get Baby to Sleep for a Nap


While nap time sounds like a dream, getting your toddler down and asleep is much easier said than done. Although some days may not run to plan, there are some great ways to encourage a toddler to take his nap, so you can have a moment to get through your to-do list. Here are some infant nap time parenting tips so you can get some things done around the house.


Encourage or play active games with them


Active games are a great way to burn off all that extra energy before a nap. It can be as simple as a game of Simon Says or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Not only are these games fun and easy, but they also require minimal set-up and clean up. 

Simon Says can help kids learn about body awareness and movement, as well as how to pay attention, follow instructions and be a leader. Whereas Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes can help kids with their balance, coordination and learning about their bodies.

Other games like Duck Duck Goose and Ring Around the Rosie lets kids literally run around, but can also help them develop strategic thinking skills and spatial awareness – although you’ll need more than one child (or adult!) to be able to play them.


Get some fresh air and/or exercise


This goes without saying – exercise is a great way to tire your little ones. Ideally, any exercise you choose to do should burn through their excess energy without giving them a second wind and keeping them wide awake. The key is to stay active and keep babies moving, but not to have too much fun so they won't fight sleep when it comes.

The old stand by activities are great for tiring out your baby for outside play: 

  • Bouncing or kicking a ball.

  • Riding a bike or scooter.

  • Playing chase.

  • Blowing bubbles.

You can even go for a light walk around the block or to their favorite playground. Let them loose on the play equipment and they’ll be ready to nap when they get home.

If the weather isn’t the best, you can still get your toddler moving at home. Encourage them to have a dance along to a music video or get them running and climbing with a make-shift obstacle course. 


Put them to work with some household chores


If you’ve got a few jobs to get done around the house, why not get your toddler involved? This will take a little patience, the job will likely take a little longer, but every little chore will get your toddler closer to sleep.

The easiest way to make this nap time trick work is by giving your kids chores that are appropriate for their age, which also keep them active. Start with simple things like picking up their toys or tidying up their room. You can add a touch of fun to the household chores by having clean-up races, enjoying a toy scavenger hunt to be found in the bottom of the laundry pile, or making a game of loading the dishwasher.

Not only will doing household chores wear your kids out, it also teaches them responsibility about how a household functions. These are valuable life skills your children will carry with them throughout their lives. It’ll also help you get through the household chores on your to-do list, even if they’re not perfectly done!

 

Encourage winding down activities


Even with all their energy burnt off, your little one might not just drop straight off to bed. Sometimes they need a little quiet time to help them settle and wind down.

Relaxing activities that will keep their attention are key to quiet time. These activities can be as easy as giving them an age-appropriate puzzlea simple coloring activity, or engaging them in quiet building activities, like a Lego set.

When all else fails, a good-old children’s book is a sure-fire way to help them unwind. You can encourage them to curl up on the couch and read to themselves or mimic bedtime and read to them as they fall asleep.  


Create a nap time ritual


Complement winding down activities by creating a nap time ritual to follow. This should be similar to creating a bedtime ritual. It should be consistent, such as setting aside a specific period of time everyday for the nap, dimming the lights, reading a story to them, and playing some white noise (like rain or wind) to block out outside noises.

This nap time ritual gives your baby's body a cue to fall asleep, rest, and recharge.

Once you start giving these nap time sleep methods a try, you’ll soon be watching your little one drift off to sleep with ease, allowing you some much needed me time.


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Crafting Builds Confidence and Self Esteem in Children

 Essential Crafting Skills That Every Child Should Learn


Art and crafting activities have positive mental and physical benefits. Studies show that when children work together on craft projects, they build language skills as they create together, and more easily understand the perspective of others. Crafting also helps cultivate a child’s sense of achievement, building confidence and self-esteem through creation and experimentation.





In addition to learning important skills, supporting your child with creative outlets for free expression is good for their overall well being and health. Crafting is a wonderful way to relieve stress and offer space to learn to experiment and create. With a few simple supplies and an open mind, children will have a lot of fun while learning to enjoy crafting, all while developing a wide range of important skills. Here are some recommendations for teaching essential crafting skills to your children.


Junk Modeling

Open-ended art projects encourage the development of critical thinking skills. As a child makes a mental plan for what they want to make, they are building visual-spatial skills and exercising both right and left brain function. Designing models and sculpture helps children learn to evaluate shapes. An assortment of containers, wires, plastic, and random bits of household junk can be transformed into robots, toys, or mobiles. Provide glue and tape to help secure the pieces together, and paint and decorations for embellishing the model.


Help them turn a box into a pretend stove.


Sewing

Hand sewing tasks, like threading a needle or tying a knot, help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. As noted by the Philly Art Center, the small muscles in a child’s fingers, wrists, and hands are strengthened through arts and crafts activities, which helps to make learning to write easier. Older children may enjoy designing costumes or simple bags. Providing a sewing machine for children is a creative and fulfilling way to encourage artistic expression. Math skills, including spatial reasoning, measurement taking, and shapes are skills that can be learned through pattern making and design. Offer to host a fashion show for children to share and reflect on their creations.


What are the Cognitive Benefits of Crafts?


Making A Collage

Teaching crafting skills like cutting with scissors and drawing encourages the development of fine motor muscles. Suggest a collage theme and set a table with an assortment of papers, magazines, fabrics, leftover crafting supplies, and glue. Children will also learn about dimension and composition, gaining concentration skills as they assemble materials to create their art. Encourage children as they create unstructured work, focusing on the process and exploring the creation of art rather than the end product.


String Art

Children who engage with creative activities exercise and develop a creative mindset, learning there can be many ways to complete a task. With yarn, flat top nails or pins, and a bit of scrap wood or cardboard, kids will build skills like measuring and the steps involved in creating geometric and linear art. Patience and imagination will be stretched as they figure out how to transfer their ideas to the surface. Older children can be challenged to make elaborate templates or intricate designs with parabolic curves and repeating patterns. Dr. Kerry Freeman (Head of Art & Design Education, Northern Illinois University) adds that when kids engage in crafting and art for expression and are given the ability to take risks, they are developing lifelong innovation skills that will contribute to their success academically and as adults.


Learning essential crafting skills has so many benefits for your child, contributing to both their physical and emotional development as they grow. Plan to engage your child with age-appropriate creative activities every week. Enjoy spending family time together to teach these essential crafting skills to your child, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bond and create memories.


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How To Be a Cool Aunt or Uncle

Are you a cool uncle or aunt?


Whether or not you have your own children, being an uncle or aunt is a different experience. Because the parenting duties don’t fall on you, you get to be the cool relative! Here are some tips so your nephews will be in awe of you, and you'll know how to be a cool uncle or aunt!

Gift buying

Gift buying can be difficult, but with the guide on Wicked Uncle, you can find fun toys for your nephew. They simplify gift buying for all age groups. For 0-3, they have suggestions such as the Pull Back Town Vehicles or the Amphibious Remote-Control Car. For older children, their suggestions include Interactive Glow T-shirts and the Bean Boozled Jellybean Challenge. Whatever you decide on is almost certain to gain you the title of favorite aunt or uncle.


how to be a cool uncle or aunt gift ideas


Give your Nephew experiences he will cherish

Although many adults look back fondly at memories of their childhood toys, experiences can create happy memories too.

These could be anything from fun days out, such as a local farm or a theme park, a visit to their favorite park with ice cream afterward, an activity such as Segway, or you could join the family on their next vacation. This lets you spend time with your nephew and your sibling and their family while being part of memories your nephew will have when he looks back on family vacations.


Act like a kid sometimes

As an aunt or uncle, you can be relaxed. So, you get to be a little childish sometimes. If your nephew is having a fun dress up party, you can dress in a silly outfit, and perhaps even save money for his parents by being a clown or magician. You don’t need any special skills, and if you get everything wrong, that could be part of your act. Remember, you're the cool uncle!

Alternatively, something simple like a trip to the park could make you more popular with your nephew. You can make playing on the slide or swinging from a climbing frame more fun by joining in. You get to have fun and be a big kid, and he'll think you’re a fun uncle = cool uncle!


Stay up to date with trends

By keeping up to date with the latest trends for boys his age, you will be able to talk about things he enjoys. This could be anything from the latest TV show, band or singer, or a recent video game that everyone his age is talking about. If your nephew is into video games, you could ask to play against him on one of his favorite games. If you’re not great at these games, it doesn’t matter, because he'll be happy to win against you.

Also, just by talking to him, you can find out what he’s interested in, then either ask him more about it or research it later and be able to talk about his interests in detail. He'll like that you understand him.

Being a cool aunt or uncle doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be lots of fun and help you recapture some of your own childhood. So, get out the and be the fun uncle!

 

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-Guest Post

How to Renovate a Nursery for First Time Parents

How do you Plan a Nursery?


The prospect of becoming a first-time parent is an equally daunting and exciting journey. There are many things that need to be done in preparation for your baby’s arrival, and for first-time parents, the list can often seem never-ending and overwhelming. Wondering how do you plan a nursery? A key task within that list is decorating the nursery, and organizing a space for the newest member of the family. Although it’s a joyous project, there are various factors and small details that are required to create the perfect nursery for your baby. Here at We Buy Any Home we’ve composed a guide on how to renovate a nursery for first time parents, along with things to include and some helpful tips. This article is written by Holly Herbert.


This post contains Amazon affiliate links.


How do you Plan a Nursery?



Planning a Nursery Step-by-Step Guide


Step 1- Make A Plan:

It’s no question that preparing for the arrival of the baby takes planning, and planning the nursery is no exception. Your nursery will serve as a multi-functional room, not only will it be the place where your baby will eventually sleep, but it's where you will dress them, change, teach and feed them. Ensuring you have an in-depth plan is a great way to make sure you have everything you need and no little detail is missing.


Nursery on a Budget Ideas


Step 2- Cleaning and Maintenance:

It’s vital that you ensure your future nursery is pristine before you begin to think about decorating. Babies are incredibly susceptible to germs that arise through dust, pet hair and mold, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time cleaning all surface areas. However, try to refrain from using harsh chemicals when cleaning as the fumes can linger in the air and be toxic if inhaled by your baby. 

It’s important to consider the smaller factors about the room. Are there drafty windows? Is the main light overbearing? Do the door hinges creak? All these small maintenance checks need to be fixed prior to the arrival of your baby, as you want them to have the most comfortable time in their nursery.


Whimsical Nursery Decor Ideas


Step 3- Themes and Painting:

Once you have decided where you are going to put the nursery, then it's time to get creative. If you're thinking about painting then your options are limitless. Traditional colors are usually pink and blue, however neutral color palettes are becoming increasingly popular for a minimalist feel to the room. If you're thinking of being extra creative then you may want to consider going with a theme or perhaps a mural wall. A side note- if you opt to paint the nursery, make sure you buy a non-toxic paint that won't flake.

Don’t forget to decorate the ceiling too. Babies spend a lot of time on their backs, so why not give them a feature to look at. Consider adding a ceiling mural or a soothing color to enhance your nursery.


Under the Sea Children's Bathroom Decor


Step 4- A Focal Furniture Piece:

Most nurseries are centered around a focal piece of furniture such as a crib, but there are other options to choose from. A painted dresser can work well, or a large window or alcove. A small checklist of essential nursery items includes:

A helpful tip is to ensure that everything is in reach of the changing table- including wipes, changing table covers, diaper disposal system, laundry hamper and a pacifier. This will allow you to reach for things with ease, avoid stress but more most importantly, keep your eye on your baby at all times. 


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Step 5- Don’t Forget About Flooring:

As your baby grows, you will notice that they will begin to spend more time on the floor- therefore it's an important factor to consider before they get to that stage. If you’re opting to lay down a carpet, ensure it’s a shade that won't highlight stains and spills.  Wooden floors are a popular choice, and you can put down a rug to add a pop of color and cushion any tumbles.


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Step 6- Sentiment:

This is your baby’s first room, so don’t forget to make it feel like home. Including items of sentiment for example, family photos, generational gifts such as soft toys and blankets are a neat touch to completing your nursery.



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Nursery on a Budget Ideas

Decorating a Creative Nursery on a Budget: A Guide


Having a baby is an exciting time, and as a result, many parents go all out to create the perfect, creative space for their new bundle of joy. However, due to restrictions such as maternity leave or working only part-time, parents are often looking for inexpensive ways to transform their spare room into a creative nursery space for their infant. If you're looking for ways to design your nursery on a budget, here is a guide with some top tips for saving money while decorating the new baby's room.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Nursery on a Budget Ideas
Portable crib doubles as a playpen. Get one here: budget friendly crib by Baby Delight.


Use Furniture Store Coupons  

If you want to buy new furniture for your baby’s room, but struggle to save up the necessary funds to give your child the nursery that you've dreamed about, consider finding coupons for furniture stores in your local area.



Table and chairs for baby's room from Bed Bath and Beyond.


For instance, a Bed Bath and Beyond coupon can cut the cost of a range of vital items that you'll need for the renovation, including beds, bedding, rocking chairs, and vanities. This will ensure that you can create a special space for your child without over spending.


diy wall art for baby's room nursery


Create Your Own Decor and Wall Art 

One of the best ways to create a bright and inspiring nursery for your child is to install eye-catching wall art and fun nursery decorations in their space. Although you might not be able to afford the extravagant ornaments of home design magazines, you should consider DIY to make your baby nursery decorations that they'll love. The more vivid, the better for baby to see!


For instance, you can use tape, paint, and stickers to create inventive murals for your child, or create flags, soft toys, and cushions out of scraps of leftover fabric. As your child gets older, you can also help them make their own wall art by framing their paintings.


make your own wall art with fabric scraps kids room


Buy Pre-Loved Items 

If you want to invest in child-friendly furniture without the high cost of buying new, consider purchasing pre-loved items? Not only is shopping second-hand much cheaper than buying from your local store, but it can also help you find one-of-a-kind gems that match exactly what you have in mind! You can buy pre-loved furniture from charity shops, antique and second-hand furniture stores, and even through buy-and-sell groups on social media like Facebook Marketplace.


Re-purpose Furniture You Already Own 

Many families have a vast array of unused furniture stored in their attic and garage. Hoarded furniture comes in handy when you're looking to create a nursery for your newborn. You may discover that much of this old furniture can be adapted toward a new purpose in your nursery, which saves you money. Redo it in funky colors and add new nobs and hardware to give it a modern look.

Buy Long-Lasting Furniture

When you're considering how to decorate your baby’s bedroom on a budget, you also need to think about saving money in the long term. For instance, buying long-lasting and multi-purpose furniture, such as loft and desk beds, allows your nursery to grow with your child and reduces the need to replace furniture as your child ages. You should also think about choosing furniture in durable materials that can withstand the chaos of childhood play. It may not save you money upfront, but in the long-term you'll be thankful for the wise purchase.


nursery dresser that grows with child
Get a quality nursery dresser that will grow with your child.

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