Safety Tips for this Fourth of July
With all of parties, parades, and barbecues that will be going on during the 4th of July, it's important to remember a few tips and tricks to keep your loved ones safe, cool, and happy! July is one of the hottest months of the year, and the 4th is no exception. Staying hydrated with water or electrolyte filled Gatorade will help keep everyone cool and ready to survive the summer heat. Schedule professional ac repairs or tune-ups to prepare your ac units which are essential to keep your home comfortable throughout the summer. On the subject of heat, when it…
Keeping Kids on Track Academically this Summer | #education
Every kid looks forward to being free from school and spending the entire summer doing nothing. However, studies are showing that kids experience a loss of academic skills over the course of a summer filled with vegging out in front of the TV. But thanks to a few sneaky ways to learn while having fun, you can keep your kiddos ready for a new grade in the fall! Sign up for reading clubs or programs at your library: Getting your kids to read over the summer is a huge accomplishment. Make it even more fun by signing up for reading programs…
Homemade Popsicle Flavor Ideas
Popsicles and dried candies from Kanpai Foods are the perfect snack during these hot summer months, but buying boxed popsicles can get expensive. And as for making your own with expensive molds, forget trying to figure them out or even make room in the freezer for them. Thankfully, 5 ounce Dixie cups and popsicle sticks are perfect for making easy, delicious popsicles. Simply pour the liquid of your choice inside the Dixie cups, add a popsicle stick, and place the cups on a cookie tray in the freezer overnight. The flavor ideas for homemade popsicles are unlimited. You can use…
Hands on Activites for Toddlers
It's no secret that toddlers love hands on activities, especially messy ones that involve paint and markers. In case you're strapped for ideas to keep your little munchkin busy, here are a few tried and true methods that toddlers love. Sparkle Finger Painting- It's like regular finger painting, but let your child sprinkle glitter over their final product! Kids love the final glittery effect and it makes for some pretty cool artwork after it's dried. For easy cleanup, have your toddler wear a smock and put a mess mat under their chair while they're having fun being creative! Glue and…
Healthy Summer Snacks for Kids | #snacks #healthy
With summer comes the longer days and the endless struggle of trying to feed hungry little munchkins. This is especially a challenge if you don't have the budge for prepared items, or have picky eaters. Here are a few tried and true snack ideas that kids are sure to love. Frozen grapes- Wash and remove the stems from a bag of grapes, line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place the grapes on it. Place in the freezer over night. The next morning you'll have an easy and healthy snack for the kids! Fresh fruit cones- Fill ice cream…
How to Make Homemade Butter With Your Kids! | #recipe
If you've ever watched the Little House books, then you know all about the homemade butter that Ma would make. Making homemade butter is a fun experiment for a rainy day with your bored kiddos. What you need: A clean pint mason jar with a lid. Enough heavy whipping cream to fill the jar 3/4 of the way. A pinch of salt. All you need to do is have the kidlets take turns shaking it. After about eight-ten minutes small curds will begin to form in the cream and after another ten minutes of being vigorously shaken or rolled around,…
What You Need to Know About Cyber Bullying | #bullying #cyberbullying
Technology is a device that can be used for the greater good of society, but there is a darker side to it as well. Schools have been dealing with bullies and aggressive students for decades, however, many kids are turning to the internet to pick on their peers. This new form of peer bullying is called cyber bullying, and it happens to one in three teenagers. And out of every ten children who experience cyber bullying, only one will tell their parents when it occurs. Cyber bullying is often done anonymously via nasty YouTube comments, or Tumblr messages. The aspect…
Five Adventure Based Apps that Kids Love | #apps #tech
With popular companies like Disney and Pixar releasing apps along with the rest of their merchandise, there are plenty of adventure and character based apps for kids to enjoy. Frozen Free Fall- Featuring a game that's like candy crush for kids with your favorite Frozen characters, it's no wonder kids love this app considering the success of both Frozen and Candy Crush. (Free in the App Store) Minion Rush- In this app, kids get the chance to become one of Gru's minions and go on a race to catch all the bananas while avoiding obstacles. Based on the successful Despicable…
Natural Ways to Avoid a Sun Burn this Summer | #summer
With all the hype about certain sunscreens being linked to cancer, it's no wonder that so many parents are looking for natural ways to reduce the risk of sun burns and skin cancer this summer! Use natural sun screen- One of my favorite brands is Lavanila, and their gluten free, natural sun screen is perfect for every family this summer. While a bit more on the pricey side, a little bit goes a long way and it effectively works to cut back on sun burns and exposure to the sun's ultra violet rays. Consume more vitamin D- Vitamin D is important, and…
Natural vs Organic – Which is Really Better? | #organic #natural
There is a huge debate between natural foodies as to whether or not natural or organic food is better for your kids. On the one hand, certified organic food is in fact certified and almost guaranteed organic. On the other hand, certified organic food is more expensive in some cases. Organic food is popping up everywhere, there are even organic restaurants showing up on different street corners. With all the information on what is really in food these days, more people are turning to organic food options. The downside is that organic food can often be expensive, too often it's…