Thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion last week about half-birthdays here on Mama’s Little Helper, on our Facebook page and on Twitter. It was great reading some of the creative ways to celebrate those winter birthdays.
This week’s question: How much TV do you allow your children to watch and how do you control what they watch?
The average child watches 3 hours of TV a day — 2 hours of quality programming is the maximum recommended by the Academy.
Active play time is needed to develop mental, physical and social skills.
Children who watch violence on TV are more likely to display aggressive behavior.
Young children don’t know the difference between programs and commercials.
In our house, with the exception of this past extreme winter, we try to limit TV viewing to about a half hour in the morning and an hour or so while mom makes dinner, although there are many nights my son is so involved in play that we don’t have it on. When the weather is lousy and we don’t have a planned activity, I allow one movie in the afternoon for quiet time if needed. We mainly watch PBS. Very recently he showed an interest in Disney Junior and Imagination Movers, so we have added that to our DVR recording schedule. My son is three, so as he grows older I presume this type of viewing schedule will change. He is easily distracted away from TV viewing with books, games and imaginative play. What do homes with a variety of ages of children do? Do you set time limits, or not? No judgement here, just curious about everyone’s opinions!
Feel free to join this discussion here by leaving a comment!
Do you have a suggested question or topic for this weekly feature? Email your ideas to diane@mamaslittlehelper.org. Thanks!!
The Cutest Baby & Toddler Photo Contest, in which people can upload their child’s photos to be judged online, is open for entries now. It’s easy to enter your most adorable photo of your little one. Just find your favorite photo of your baby or toddler and upload it on the “Submit an Entry” page and you’re good to go!
Every approved submission will receive 2 tickets to the Baby and Toddler Expo April 16 & 17 at the Greater Philadelphia Area Expo Center in Oaks, PA.
Then get your friends and family to vote, view other entries and vote for your favorite. Voting will begin March 14, 2011.
What can your cute baby win?
The winner will participate in a photography session with Montgomery Media’s professional photographer, and the winner’s photo will appear on the cover of an upcoming Parents Express issue.
Montgomery Media- Target Big, Target Small with 14 weekly newspapers: Public Spirit, Willow Grove Guide, Ambler Gazette, Springfield Sun, North Penn Life, Montgomery Life, Souderton Independent, Valley Item, Spring-Ford Reporter, The Globe, Times Chronicle, Glenside News, The Colonial, Perkasie News-Herald and Roxborough Review.
Parents Express-Celebrating 20 years as Philadelphia’s Monthly News Magazine for Families. Awarded 2010 Keystone Award as Best Specialty Publication by the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association
The Baby & Toddler Expo will be held on April 16 and 17th at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. It is there where the final judging takes place for the Cutest Baby & Toddler Photo Contest. www.babyandtoddlerexpo.com
I remember a time when my son took two, sometimes three naps a day and I would wonder if I’d ever be able to get out of the house for more than two hours at a time again. Then around age 18 months he stopped his morning nap and settled on a long afternoon nap. Over time, that nap shifted from starting at 12:30pm to starting at 2:00pm and lasting until 5:00pm if I didn’t wake him. He loved to sleep all afternoon. I loved it too! While it meant not being able to stay out long during the day, it worked out well for us. I could get all my errands or activities done in the morning and then know I’d have a few hours in the afternoon to catch up on writing, emails, reading, or house chores. Then the winter of 2011 hit us, along with my son really settling in to being age 3. Sometime shortly after Christmas he began falling asleep later and later in the afternoon. Waking him up was terrible. It would have been easier to wake up a hibernating bear. Dinnertime was miserable most nights. Suddenly, around 7:15pm every night my darling boy would get his second wind and be completely pleasant, cheerful and full of energy. Trying to get him to bed by 8:00pm was impossible. We had a great bedtime routine that we started when he was a baby. He started stall tactics and every method of delay he could think of to interrupt bedtime. By the time we got him into bed we were all frazzled, angry, and exhausted. (Well, the parents were exhausted!) Then he would play in his bed until 10:00 pm or later. Every morning he would wake up the same time, around 7:00 am, no matter what time he fell asleep. It was a crazy cycle that was not working.
After talking about my frustrations with my son and his napping/sleeping schedule with a dear friend she dared to suggest giving up naps. After a lot of thought, I decided to give it a try. My theory was that if he didn’t nap, he would fall asleep earlier at night and get a longer period of sleep in a row and therefore feel better overall. My son was completely happy to not have to nap. I first encouraged him to have “quiet time” in his room for an hour, but trying to get him to his room was a huge fight or he would end up falling asleep and we were back to our original problem. With all of the snow/icy weather we had in January, we were stuck home more than usual. This compounded our problem, because now my three year old had cabin fever. I decided to have quiet time after lunch each day in the family room. We would settle on the sofa with blankets and cuddle while watching an appropriate kid’s show or movie. This is a treat, since I limit television. This has been working well for us most days, but more recently he wants less quiet time and more active time. I suspect that as soon as the snow finally melts and the playgrounds are available again, we’ll be spending more of our afternoons out playing.
During this transition, we had several problems pop up that were not anticipated. The first was dinner time. When my son was napping and waking at 4:30 or so, he would have a snack and then eat dinner with us when my husband came home from work at 6:30. Now that he isn’t napping, he is hungrier earlier. It took me over a week to realize this! Duh! So now I try to have dinner ready for him earlier, as early as 5:30 usually, and I try to sit with him while he eats (unless my meal is ready too and then I eat with him. He is ridiculously picky with eating so he usually gets his own meal and a sampling of our meal if it’s ready in time.) Eating earlier helps. After he is done, he has some time to play before bedtime. It is also a nice time for my husband to play with him when he gets home and we have dinner after our son is in bed. (That tends to happen more on weekends.) Another problem was that while we stopped naps, we didn’t shift bedtime earlier, so my son was still sleep deprived. Over the course of a week we slowly moved his bedtime up earlier. Now we work towards the goal of starting the bedtime ritual around 7:00pm, sometimes a bit earlier or later. My goal is to have him in tucked into bed by 7:45 so that he can take a bit of time to settle in and still be asleep by 8:30pm. He has been more tired at bedtime now and is less resistant to the bedtime routine. This has had a tremendous impact on his attitude. He has been more pleasant during the day and hasn’t had a temper tantrum since we implemented earlier bedtime. We are now having a problem with bath time, but that is another blog post all together!
Ironically, I discovered that most of the kids in my son’s preschool playgroup are going through the same thing lately. I wonder if once the warmer weather is here and there is more time to play outdoors and to tire out in the sun my son will want to nap again. The one thing I’ve learned from parenting is that nothing lasts forever. He keeps me on my feet with the continuous changes!
How do you handle nap time/bedtime issues? Has your preschooler given up napping yet? How are you handling it? Please feel free to leave comments here to continue this discussion. I’d love to hear tips from other parents. It never hurts to have new tips to try out when something stops working!
The Little Treehouse Play Cafe in Chestnut Hill PA is thrilled to present the new family entertainment series: Treehouse Rocks! Beginning in February 2011, Saturday nights at Treehouse will get families moving & shaking! Join us as we host a variety of children’s performers, have parties and other special events!
One of my goals this year is to become more organized. This may be my life-long goal, but now that my son is a bit older and I am still at home with him, I have an opportunity to get my home and our lives more organized with a long term plan to keep the organization going when I return to work outside the home. I’ve begun two different techniques to help me with two different tasks: menu planning and AboutOne.com.
AboutOne.com is a secure online service that makes it easier for moms to manage family life by providing one convenient location to quickly and easily store and manage family memories (text, photos and videos) and household information (health, possession, and education records, contacts and more) and providing the ability to access this data, at home or away, with a computer, cell phone, or other web-enabled device.
So for the past few weeks I’ve been utilizing AboutOne’s online service to organize my family’s information. It is incredibly easy to use and update. One of the features I really like is the memory saving. My son is three years old and is constantly saying the funniest things or doing something that I’d like to remember, but I never manage to write them down. I’ve been adding memories to my AboutOne site as soon as they happen and can even upload a photo from my phone to add to the memories. It is like an online scrapbook that is private. Another feature that is incredibly helpful is the ability to keep all of my family’s health data in one place where I can access it easily from my phone if needed. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting in a doctor’s office trying to fill out forms and recall various details. With AboutOne’s online health facts storage, I can access that info from my mobile phone. This feature also puts me at peace of mind as I will be able to have a list on hand of all the medications my family takes in case of an emergency. I do not know the names of the meds my husband takes and I’ve worried that if something were to happen I would be clueless in an emergency situation. By accessing my AboutOne account, I can pull up a list of his meds quickly.
Another great feature I’ve found on AboutOne.com is the ability to create “printables” which are various ways of organizing your information. There is a newsletter option, which will assemble all of the memories and “firsts” you have recorded and want to share into a newsletter format that can be emailed to family. What a great way to share your kids events with their grandparents or family that is not nearby! Another printable is to keep track of volunteer hours. This would be a great tool for kids who are required to keep track of their community service hours over the school year.
AboutOne.com has enabled bank level security features on their site, so users feel secure storing their information online. They offer wonderful, personalized customer service, including live help, if needed. There are several helpful online videos that explain AboutOne by real users.
AboutOne is offering two of Mama’s Little Helper Readers the chance to try out their service for free for one year, a $30 value. In order to enter this giveaway, please visit the AboutOnesite and leave a comment here about one feature that you would find helpful to you and your family. For a second and/or third entry, leaving a comment for each, follow AboutOne on Twitter and/or like them on Facebook. This giveaway will end on February 11, 2011 at 11:00pm EST. The winner will be contacted by email. AboutOne is responsible for the delivery of the prize. Good Luck!
‘Tis the season for spring consignment sales! If you’ve never shopped at a consignment sale, you are in for quite an experience. Consignment stores, open year round, are different from consignment sales, which are typically held for only a few days or a weekend and are usually held bi-annually. Consignment sales are a fun way to purchase the next season’s clothing for your child at great prices. The clothing is gently used and priced by the original owner/seller, whereas at a consignment store the prices are set by the shop. Many people are familiar with consignment stores, which are similar to shopping at a boutique or small shop only the items are second hand. There are some fantastic consignment stores in the Bucks and Montgomery County areas and New Jersey. Consignment sales are held seasonally and are another way to shop for your child while staying on a budget.
While many shoppers go to consignment sales and shops for new kid wardrobes at a good price, they are also great places to pick up those baby items that are only used for a short time period and sold gently used, such as bouncy seats, play mats, bumbo seats, swings, co-sleepers and pack and plays. High chairs, strollers, baby gates, toddler beds, books, cloth diapers, feeding supplies, and bedding for babies and toddlers are great finds at these sales and also found for good prices. Outdoor toys are another great buy, since many times these items are only used for a season or two before being outgrown.
Consignment sales can be overwhelming if you’ve never been to one. Here are some shopping tips to help get you started to a successful shopping experience:
Know your kid’s sizes, including shoe size and bring them written down, especially if you are shopping for more than one child. Remember that you will be most likely purchasing clothing for the next season. If your child is currently on the border of a size it may help to buy the next size larger. Sometimes bringing your child’s measurements is easier, especially since sizing from different manufacturers varies. Bring a tape measure with you to compare your child’s measurements to the items you are interested in purchasing. Good measurements to have include length from back of neck to hem for dresses, pants length, inseam, waist, hip, and chest. Land’s End has a great sizing chart that may be helpful for obtaining and understanding your child’s measurements. If you are unsure of current shoe size, stop by a shoe store to have your child measured before the sale or trace your child’s foot onto cardboard and bring it with you to “try on” shoes without the child present.
To make shopping easier, leave your kids home, if possible. It really makes it much easier to shop. Consignment sales are often huge and crowded. I’ve been there when kids have been lost and that isn’t a good experience for anyone.
If you can, bring a laundry basket or large tote bag(s) to hold your items while you shop. Those blue Ikea bags or reusable grocery bags are great too. I’ve even seen people shopping with a clean large plastic trash can on wheels!
If there are particular items you are looking for, it helps to make a wish list. Sales floors are often crowded and it can be easy to be overwhelmed. A list adds a bit of order to the trip and may help you stay on budget.
Is there a special occasion coming up (Holiday, photos, wedding) that you will need dress clothes for your child? Consignment sales are wonderful places to pick up dress clothing, shoes and accessories. They are often only worn once, so can be resold for like-new at a fraction of the original cost.
Shop early, shop often! Going on the opening day will give you a better chance of finding items that are on your wish list. Many times the last day of the sale is the discount day when most items are half off the listed price.
Consider volunteering to work at your favorite consignment sale. Typically, volunteers get to shop first on a special night before the sale opens to the public. It’s a great way to get the first pass at the goods for sale. If you cannot volunteer, but are considering consigning some of your things for the sale, there is usually a sales time set aside for consignors to shop after the volunteers, but before the sale opens to the public.
Make sure you have money! Check the rules of the sale you are attending ahead of time to learn what forms of payment they take so that you do not have problems making your purchases. Many sales are cash only, so if you are like me and use a debit card for everything, be sure to hit the ATM on your way to the sale. Using cash also makes it easier to stick to a budget!
Be aware of brands and pricing of items. You do not want to overpay for an item that you could get brand new on sale or at Marshall’s. I’ve often found what I thought were great buys only to be disappointed to find out I could have purchased an item new at Kohl’s on sale. Typically, if an item is in like-new to good condition, expect to pay about 25 to 33% of the original price. Many times there are items for sale that are new with tags. Expect to pay a bit more for brand new items.
Once you have picked out the items you are interested in buying, really check them out in good light, if possible, or even with a flashlight. Check seams and underarms for holes; look for stains that are unacceptable, zippers and snaps that work, or worn out knees/elbows. Usually the consignment sale’s rules restrict torn or stained clothing from being sold, but sometimes they slip in, so it helps to carefully inspect before you buy, since there is usually a no return policy. For purchasing toys, be sure all parts are included and in working order. I’ve had the experience of not carefully inspecting toys only to get home and find parts broken that were not obvious. If an item is taped shut, ask a salesperson/volunteer to open the item to let you inspect it. Be courteous and do not take apart taped up boxes or packages!
If you are looking to purchase a car seat, check the expiration date on the bottom of the seat. When buying, you are taking a slight risk that the seller is honest and that the seat was never involved in an accident.
Are you interested in consigning items at a local sale? Being a consignor has some great advantages. Besides getting rid of kid-related clutter in your house, saving items from a landfill by recycling them and making some money off of them, you can shop at the sale early, before the public, to get some great deals. Here are some tips for being a consignor at a local sale:
Check out the consignor agreement or rules for the sale you are interested in participating. Sign up early for the sale, since many sales limit the number of consignors due to space constraints. Each sale has its own rules regarding what can be sold, how it should be tagged, how it should be hung on a hanger and so on. Read the Rules!! Not following them means your items will not sell. The rules will also cover what percentage of the sales you will make and what the consignor fees are, if any.
Consignors are usually assigned a number for selling. It helps to keep the same consignor number from sale to sale. When signing up to consign at a sale again, check to see if you can keep your number. That way, if you pick up and keep your unsold items at the end of the sale, you can easily relist them at the next sale without having to re-ticket them.
At the end of each season when you are sorting through your child’s clothing, sort the items into piles…one to keep, one to donate, one to sell. Be picky about the ones that you sell. Make sure they are in good condition, not torn or stained. Think, would you buy the item used?
Found some great items but they have stains? Try treating the stain and washing the items again. Many times this works. Also, iron or steam out the wrinkles of your clothes. Button the buttons, zipper the zippers. A nicer presentation will sell more easily. Clean up shoes and tie the laces. Selling used toys or baby goods? Wash them too. No one wants to buy a toy covered in juice or crayon. Often toys are easily cleaned up with a magic eraser sponge or soap and water. Keep in mind the condition of the items that you are willing to buy and be sure that your sale items are in just as good condition.
If selling a two piece outfit, it helps to make sure both pieces are attached well so they will not separate during the sale. Safety pin the pieces together and wrap a rubber band or twist tie around the two hangers to keep them attached. When selling toys with many parts, place the parts in a sealed plastic bag and tape it shut. Clear packing tape works great to keep toy parts together that do not fit in bags. Use plastic bags (such as Ziploc) to contain onesies, socks, underwear, shoes, or other small items. Tape the bags shut so that buyers are not tempted to take the contents apart, resulting in loss sometimes.
Price your items to sell. Set aside your emotions for a cute outfit, as the buyer will not know that the sweater your little one wore in his first photo was special to you. If an item is priced too high, it will not sell. Also, consider the brand. A Circo brand tee shirt that was $4 new will not sell for more than $1 usually. On the other hand, a higher end sweater that cost $25 will not sell for $20. A general guideline for pricing is 25-33% of the original selling price, depending upon brand and condition. Selling a new item with tags could fetch 50% or more of the original price. Always keep in mind when pricing, “would I pay that for this item?”
If you are unsure of how to price used toys, baby equipment, outdoor equipment, and so on, check out prices on Craig’s List or Ebay to see what used items are going for currently and use them as a guideline.
When packing up your items to take to the sale, it helps to have a hand truck and those stretchy jump cords. Use plastic totes or boxes and stack them. It makes it much easier on your back to bring in your items. Many sales also require that you distribute your items on the sales floor. Having your items sorted by size and sex ahead of time makes the distribution process much faster.
This list of tips is certainly not inclusive. Please feel free to leave your own tips for buying and selling at consignment sales in the comments section to help others out. Happy Shopping!
Mama’s Little Helper is a free resource website for parents in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and the surrounding PA/NJ areas. One of the goals of this site is for parents to have a place on the net to access information regarding activities for children, including Indoor Places to Play, Outdoor Places to Play, Classes for Kids, and Consignment Sales. Mama’s Little Helper includes a calendar listing daily activities in the area, most of which are free. The site is updated frequently with new information, so be sure to check back regularly to find out the latest events. Mama’s Little Helper is also a useful tool for Grandparents, aunts and uncles, babysitters/nannies, and teachers who are looking for fun activities for kids while in their care. The Mama behind the site is Chrissy Cannavo-Glen, who can be contacted via email or on the site, on Facebook, or Linkedin. Mama’s Little Helper also has a Facebook page and Twitter feed that you are encouraged to “like” or “follow” for even more frequent updates and links to useful information. Be sure to let us know if you have an event you would like to share with Mama’s Little Helper readers!
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