Tips to communicate with your 2-3 year olds

Thanks to Tipaholic.com, we have some helpful tips to aid you when communicating with your 2-3 year olds. 

1. Settle feelings

2. Avoid a harsh or yelling voice

3. Speak eye to eye

4. Keep it short and sweet

5. Try to avoid negative statements

6. No if's

7. Give them choices

8. Help them to vocalize

9. Follow through

10. Pick your battles

11. Don't be afraid to apologize

For more information and tips, click here.

Helpful Job Charts

TheCraftingChick.com has come up with a super fun and easy way to get children to do their chores around the house. Click here to get the full instructions! 

Restaurant Kit

We know the kiddos can be a challeng when we take them out to restaurants. Thanks to Angela at Blue I Style, here is a great way to make a restaurant kit. From coloring pages to wet wipes, this is a must have for any parent. Click here for the full list. 

The Importance of a Routine for Young Children

7 Benefits of Routines

1. Eliminates power struggles: You aren’t bossing the child around. Children learn that the particular activity is what you do at that time of day.

2. Helps children cooperate: reduces stress and anxiety because they get accustomed to transitions.

3.  Helps children learn to take control of their own activities:  Over time, children will learn to brush their teeth, pack backpacks, and get dressed, without constant reminders.  They love feeling in control and being as independent as possible. This feeling increases their level of autonomy, sense of mastery, and competence.

4. Children learn the concept of "looking forward": For example: your child may want to go to the playground now, but can learn that we always go to the playground in the afternoon and can look forward to it then.

5. Regular routines help children get on a schedule: helps them fall asleep faster and feel secure.

6. Routines help parents build in precious connection moments: Don’t simply push through the routine, take time to truly engage with your child. Some examples: create a fun way to greet your child – give them a big squeeze or “there’s those pretty blue eyes!” etc. Take time to talk with your child, help them with transitions, or simply teach. Example: after a bath- "Let's dry your toes...your calf...your knee...your belly... etc."

7. Schedules help parents maintain consistency in expectations: If everything is a fight, parents end up settling: more TV, skip brushing teeth for tonight, etc.  With a routine, parents are more likely to maintain healthy expectations for everyone.

Tips to Start

- Make it fun, and give incentives for the children.

-  Remember to empathize with their feelings, but also reinforce your limit: "I know you don't want to brush your teeth and get ready for bed. You were having so much fun playing. But look at the schedule,  it's 7:30pm, and that means it's time to get ready for bed.

-  Remember not to be so rigid that you become frustrated or upset when the schedule is thrown off. Do your best to keep it simple and stay positive.

- Find a schedule that works for you and stick to it- soon enough it will become natural.

Markham, Dr. Laura, (2015). 7 Benefits of Routines, http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines).

Board Games for 3 Year Olds

Itsy Bitsy Fun came up with 10 fun board games for your 3 year olds!

Here's the list:
1. Candy Land
2. Hi Ho Cherry-O
3. Count Your Chickens
4. Chutes & Ladders
5. Go Fish!
6. Snail's Pace Race
7. Spot It Alphabet
8. Feed the Woozle
9. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirell
10. Snug as a Bug in a Rug

For more information on the games, click here.

Re-usable Mint Tins

These are perfect to keep in your purse for when your kid needs a little distraction. Here are some ideas to recycle your mint tin. 

Mouse House Playset

 Mini Kitchen Set

On the Go Chalkboard/Doodle Kit

 Lego Set

Princess Pea Playset

Tic Tac Toe

Succulent Mini Garden 

Magnetic Fishing Set

Visit Mommo Design for more information regarding these fun crafts!

Your Newborn Survival Kit

For more helpful types and charts, click here!

5 Sight Apps for Kids

Thanks to Krista at While He Was Napping, we've got 5 sight apps that can help your kids to read. 

For the full article, click here. 

Cooking With My Little Ones

by guest blogger-- Stacey Starley

I sit writing this, giggling to myself at our fun adventures this week.  Andrew and Abigail assisted me in many cooking projects.  We made homemade rolls, roasted chickpeas for a snack, and chocolate dipped pretzels for a dessert. 

Each day was eye opening at just how much my kids like to help me.  I will be honest, that old adage about food being the key to a man's heart was certainly true for my Andrew.  I was number one love up until he turned one and stopped nursing.  Dad became his true number one.  When I made these rolls though, wow!  He couldn't get enough of mom time and mostly her rolls.  Melt my heart.

 For the rolls it was mostly dumping ingredients into my stand mixer and brushing melted butter onto the dough before we rolled it.

When we shucked the chickpeas/garbanzo beans mass giggling erupted.  Truly it was simply washing a can of beans and then wiping the covering off before putting in a bowl of seasonings and then laying them on a cookie sheet.  But Andrew, 22 months, was determined to be like his big sister and mom, and be a sous chef in the making.

Pretzels were simply dipped into a tall cup of melted caramel, chocolate and toppings sprinkled on top.

What fun cooking experiences have you shared with your kiddos?

This week we will surely be having fun with Dr. Seuss!  Check out the local libraries, there is usually a party happening!  Happy Literacy and Cooking! 

Roll recipe courtesy of LittleSousChef.com.

Crescent Rolls

Yield 3 dozen

Ingredients:                            

2 C warm water

2 Tbs active dry yeast

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C butter, at room temp

2 tsp salt

2/3 C nonfat dry milk

5-6 C flour

1 large egg

1/2 melted butter

Directions

1. Chef: Adjust water to a temp of warm, not hot.

2. Little Sous Chef: Add water and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer.

3. Chef: Let it stand 5 min.

4. LSC: Add sugar, salt, dry milk, and TWO cups flour.

5. Chef: add butter

6. LSC: Tap egg on counter top to crack open.

7. Chef: add egg to bowl and discard shell.

8. Chef: Turn on mixer to low and beat until smooth (about 30 seconds or less).

9. LSC: Add more flour, one cup at a time, until soft dough is formed.  (Dough should not stick to the sides of the bowl and should be soft but not sticky).

10.  Chef: knead dough with bread hook, in the mixer for 3 min.  Dough should be smooth.

11. Chef: place dough in a large greases bowl, cover with towel and allow to rise until double in size.

12. Chef: preheat oven to 350 degrees

13. Chef: divide the dough in thirds with knife.  Roll each third with rolling pin into a circle 1/4" thick.

14.  LSC/C: using a pastry brush, brush melted butter on the circle of dough.

15. Chef: using a pizza cutter, slice dough evenly into 12 triangles.

16.  Chef: roll up the triangles starting at the long end and ending at the pointy tip.  Tuck the tip under and place on a greases baking sheet.  Bake for 12-15 min and golden brown.

17.  Chef: remove from oven and brush with melted butter.