Monthly Archives: July 2009

Gear Up for Potty Training

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Guest post: TheFind.com, New posts, Potty Training, , , ,

pottytraining

Arm yourself with everything you need for successful potty training. Start with a potty seat that is comfortable for your child. My recommendation for a potty seat is the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer. It adjusts to fit any toilet seat and has a rubber ring to keep it in place so that it won’t slip. It is made of one solid piece of smooth plastic so there are no sharp edges. There are plenty of different types of seats to choose from. Find one that suits the needs of your child and yourself.

Next you will need some “tools”. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Books– Sometimes it takes awhile to get the job done. Books help keep your toddler entertained while on the potty- hopefully long enough to make something happen. Books on the potty training topic are particularly helpful and can be read to the child prior to starting the training process to gear up.
  • Potty Charts– Children do well with positive reinforcement. Track their progress with stickers and reward them when a goal is reached.
  • Training Pants– Go old school with cloth training pants and a plastic cover for faster results. Your child will feel when he/she is wet and will likely learn a lot faster.
  • Potty Training Doll– a potty training partner in crime!
  • M&M’s– When all else fails, bribe them!

From our friends at TheFind.com.

Elephant Song free iPhone app – Madelyn watches over and over.. and over

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, iphone, New posts, ,

Elephant Song iPhone appThe YouTube sensation that is Eric Herman’s Elephant Song is now available on your iPhone for hours of entertainment for your toddler. Madelyn loves Elephant Song. She asks to watch it at night before bed.  I’m not sure how we got into that habit but it happened and it’s actually very entertaining to hear her sign along and watch her interact with the app.

The Elephant Song app is a music video and song that’s kids can interact with by tapping on the screen.  There aren’t any challenges like finding letters or numbers so this is a great iPhone app for young toddlers.   The song lyrics are funny and the graphics are simple, colorful and entertaining.   The screen shows a corresponding picture such as when Eric sings about a rooster who likes honey there is a rooster eating honey from a bee hive on the screen.  Next thing you know a cute little voice comes on saying no, that’s not right and corrects Eric.   The app moves through screens on its own and if your toddler wants to pause on a screen, she can press the pause button at the top of any screen.   Then when she presses on the animal on the screen she hears the sound that animal makes.  When the song is over Madelyn can build her own elephant from puzzle pieces that she can drag on the screen to put together.Elephant Song iPhone app

Just as I was writing this review and referring to the app, Madelyn walked up and stole my iPhone right from my desk!  She’s sitting on the couch, much like in the photograph above, watching the Elephant Song iPhone app, over and over again now.  It seems to never get old.  Good job guys!  We’ll see how this app entertains Madelyn on our 4.5 hr road trip Tuesday.

Download the Elephant Song iPhone app here Elephant Song.

The Twitter Book – one of my all time favorites!

Books, Business, New posts, Web/Tech, , ,

The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah MilsteinThe Twitter Book by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein is seriously one of my all time favorite books. You may know from reading previous posts that I am a geek and an ADHD postergirl. So I think at least. I love the idea of Twitter and Facebook just to name a couple of social tools.  Because I can’t concentrate long enough (ADHD) to read most books I don’t read many books.  However, because of it’s unusual 9×9 size and large font, The Twitter Book immediately appealed to me. This color and graphic rich book makes for an easy, fun, and informative read.  Because the font is so big, I was able to read The Twitter Book while on the treadmill.. without falling off, which is about the only time I am alone long enough to read a few pages of a book.  I got into The Twitter Book when I couldn’t get into Twilight.. a book I’ve heard most readers are instantly sucked into.

Until I read The Twitter Book, I didn’t know what re-tweets or a hashtags were or that Twitter has an extremely powerful search tool. When I want to learn something, I search the Internet.  When it comes to Twitter though, the results are overwhelming and ever changing so The Twitter Book is a must-have for users or potential Twitter users who want to learn the in’s and out’s of Twitter without sifting through oceans online search results.

The Twitter Book will teach you everything you need to know to quickly become a Twitter power user, including strategies and tactics for using Twitter’s 140-character messages as a serious–and effective–way to boost your business and for those stay at home moms reading this.. Twitter will allow you to be connected to other moms all over the world 24/7.  Up with the baby at 2a.m.?  Don’t be lonely.. jump on Twitter and join tons of other moms awake all hours of the night.

Co-written by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein, widely followed and highly respected Twitterers, the practical information in The Twitter Book is presented in a fun, full-color format that’s packed with helpful examples and clear explanations.

The Twitter Book – A Sneak Preview

View more documents from oreillymedia.

Buy The Twitter Book at Amazon.com here and learn more about The Twitter Book and the authors on the O’Reilly website here.

Where is your first aid kit? Do you have one?

Beauty & Skin Care, New posts, Safety, Travel, , ,

It’s summer, the kids are out of school, and I’m sure you need something to do right? Well, pack your bags and hit the local trails but don’t forget your first aid kit.  My guess is that at least 50% of hikers including families on day trip hikes, don’t carry a first aid kit.  Like I said, that’s just my guess but that doesn’t have to be the case. I always pack bandages, sunscreen, insect repellent, and water when planning a day trip, even a trip to the pool.  No kidding..always.  If it were up to me, I would have a location unit like the kind skiers use so rescue teams could find us quickly in the case of an emergency. As you might know from some of my previous posts, I am a paranoid, ‘germaphobic’ mom.  I have anti-bacterial gel and wipes in my handbag, car, and even in our garage for when the kids play in there while I’m on the treadmill or doing laundry.  I know.. studies may show that using a lot of anti-bacterial stuff doesn’t help them get used to germs but the thought of my kids hands being on a shopping cart handle that has some other kids invisible snot on it grosses me out.  Library books even disgust me.  That’s terrible, I know.

CVS/pharmacy first aid and survival products

I am a big fan of drugstores because I know that I can get in and out quickly. Yes, you tend to pay more for name brand products at the drugstore but think about it.. you don’t have to buy name brand products!  For example, did you know that CVS has their own line of first aid products that are the same high quality and more affordable than ‘big brand’ first aid products?  CVS/pharmacy has their own line of bandages, band-aids, sunscreen, insect repellent, and anti-itch spray and as a mom on a budget, I appreciate the affordability of their products.

Below is a list of items you can grab at any CVS/pharmacy store, that should be included in your first aid kit:

  • Bandages, band-aids and alcohol wipes to handle cuts and scrapes
  • Sun protection – whether you’re looking for a sunscreen that’s waterproof with a high SPF, something for the kids, or a cooling sunscreen that can be applied quickly, CVS/pharmacy has a line of continuous spray sunscreens that work great, smell nice and spray on evenly. Don’t forget to wear a hat to protect the face and neck.
  • After-sun relief, in case you forget to re-apply your sunscreen or miss a spot behind your knees. Packing a bottle of CVS/pharmacy’s instant burn relief spray with lidocaine & aloe vera can make all the difference.
  • Insect repellents and anti-itch remedies for bug bites and rashes. CVS/pharmacy has a variety of convenient, pocket-sized spray pens that relieve pain and itching associated with insect bites and minor rashes due to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac

Visit the CVS/pharmacy website to take interactive quizzes such as this one on how well you know your insect bites and this one on common first aid mistakes.

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving a lucky reader a kit with all of the following products:
•    CVS Kids Sunblock Continuous Spray Spf 50
•    CVS Cooling Mist Sunblock
•    CVS Aftersun Instant Burn Relief Spray
•    CVS Instant Itch Relief Spray
•    CVS Waterproof Bandages
•    CVS Antibacterial Plastic Bandages
•    CVS Travel First Aid Kit

To enter to win, leave a comment telling us what your favorite summer destination is and which of the products above you can’t live without and why. Contest ends August 15th, 2009.

ZulaWorld.com, an online virtual destination for kids ages 5+

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Games, New posts, Online Fun for Kids, , ,

ZulaWorld, a fun and educational online virtual world for kids ages 5 and up, is based on the PBS show The Zula Patrol.  In Zula World’s virtual world, kids can create their own avatar, fly their own spaceship, and discover for themselves that when it comes to science, exploring is never boring. Sebastian has found that there are endless possibilities when in Zula World and enjoys playing the games to earn Zlinkles to by stuff for his spaceship and pet Fweeble for example. Players can see other players and ask them pre-written questions such as “Want to play a game?”.  All ‘talking’ between members is via pre-written phrases so your kids are not at risk of reading anything inappropriate.

In ZulaWorld™, a user’s experience is full of discoveries and play that encourage and reward scientific thinking. They will play games, go on quests, and be assigned missions that reinforce and foster the development of their science, math, and critical thinking skills!

ZulaWorld - online website for kids ages 5+

VIP Membership – As a Premium “Galactic” Member of ZulaWorld, you can:

  • Create, accept and send Secret Handshakes to your friends
  • Visit your friends inside their Spaceships
  • Buy Premium items for your Alien and your Spaceship
  • Fly your Spaceship to other worlds
  • Buy a lot for your Spaceship in one of Zula’s Neighborhoods
  • Wake up your Fweeeb from hibernation
  • Play advanced games
  • Accept and complete “missions

As a free member of ZulaWorld, you can:

  • Create an Alien
  • Build your own Spaceship
  • Get your own communicator and stay in touch with your friends
  • Accept Secret Handshakes from your friends
  • Have Pet Fweebs to take care of
  • Play entry level games and quests to earn Zlinkles(Ż)
  • Buy upgrades to your spaceship (Sebastian has a moon patterned spaceship)

ZulaWorld - online game for kids ages 5+

Learn more about and join ZulaWorld here.

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away a VIP Membership to ZulaWorld.com to a lucky reader!  To enter, leave a comment below telling us why you want to win and the age of your child.  Contest ends August 15th, 2009.