If my college days taught me anything, it was that there are many ways to use and interpret the things that you learn.

Holly’s message was not only about finding time as an adult to do the things you love, but also that if you take the time to play with your children, they will grow to become healthier and happier adults. If you take the time to always play even as you are growing older, your children will enjoy spending time with you.  Let’s face it, who wants to hang out with parents who are always sitting on the couch?  In the spirit of one person who made a difference in the lives of many, I hope that Holly’s message will inspire you to do more and play more.

It is a well known fact that a family that plays together stays together.  If you want to have a close family, then you will need to put effort into it.  Take a few minutes every day to spend a few minutes with your children and you will reap a lifetime of benefits.  It really does not matter what you do, so long as you do it.

Kids product directory retailers have a host of unique and wonderful toys, crafts and outdoor equipment that can help to inspire you to do more.  Here are some of my favourite Kids product directory activities for families.

Musical Instruments from Design Child

Why not have a ENI puzzle challenge?  These are available from Sukimama and are one of my top choice for educational toys.

For those families that like a little bit more outdoors fun, why not a sandbox also from Design Child?

Which products have inspired you to do something unique and different with your family today?

Need more inspirations, join us every few days for new an exciting products from kid and big kid world.

The post A family that plays together stays together. appeared first on Kids Product Directory.

Via www.birthsource.ca

Discipline is one of the those touchy subjects for me, it always annoys me when people say things like, ‘I wish I could slap my child just this once.”  It annoys me further when these comments and statements are posted on social media platforms for the entire world to see. It only displays to the world a lack of parenting skills and makes the parent look angry and dramatic.

I do not think they really mean what they say, I think they are simply frustrated because they do not know how to effectively deal with the situation and they are using social media as a platform to vent. Venting in public, is probably not the best approach for any issue. You should always appear positive in a public forum, after-all it follows you where-ever you go.

Without proper discipline, your household becomes unbearable, you become frustrated and children learn how to control and manipulate you.

Via www.kidspot.com.au

Why do you think most children take tantrums in stores? They do it, because they know they can.

Chances are if your child takes a tantrum and you leave the store, they will never do it again. It is called, learned behaviour and it is part of being consistent. Consistency is the best type of discipline there is, children will know what their limits are and while they may push them, they will not push that far, because they know better.

Personally, I do not believe in any type of corporal punishment, it is not an acceptable form of discipline, it is based solely on invoking fear. Fear is only a form of control, it is not discipline.

Discipline is best served as a method to teach your child something and it should be relevant to the crime.  There is no sense taking a child’s bike away from him, if he is being disciplined for something he did on the computer.

Via 4.bp.blogspot.com

For a child under three, the best way to stop a tantrum or change unwanted behaviour is to simply redirect them. If you show them something more interesting, I guarantee they will forget why they were even upset about in the first place.

It is amazing how many times that I have to model behaviours for parents. Parents can actually be the cause of the problem and it is not fair to the child. Many parents get upset when a young child bangs on a table if they are in a restaurant. I simply bang it along with them and laugh. They are seeking attention, because the adults are talking and ignoring them. Simply acknowledging the child for a minute or two will please them and they will move on to something else.

Parents always look confused when I do this, but it is meant to show them, that they are the only one who is bothered by the child’s noise. The truth is, more often then not, the parent is embarrassed because their child is loud.  If your in a family restaurant, you should not care what other people think, if they do not like children or loud noises, they should be dining in an adult only restaurant.

Discipline is a huge subject with a considerable amount of grey areas but one thing if for certain,the best methods are to redirect, teach and be consistent.

It is simple ~

• If you tell your child that you will leave if they continue with the behaviour, do so.
• Do not make idle threats, children will learn this.
• Show them that you say what you mean, and you mean what you say.

Via cdn-b.static-modernmom.com

If you stick to the same style of discipline, and are consistent, by the time your child is old enough to understand, you will have little discipline to invoke. They will have learned what is expected out of them and life will be easier for everyone.  A little effort when they are young will go along way.  Now does that not sound like a better plan than being frustrated all the time?

Kids product directory is dedicated to the philosophy that “The more you know about parenting, the more you grow as a family!  We try to help you get there with tips and information on our website.  We are the one stop place for all things in kid world.

Better discipline = Happy Families.

Via www.firstoptiononline.com

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Parents often try to please themselves when they plan events and activities and if it does not meet their standards, or is not something they want to do,  they will simply refuse to do it. The truth is, your child just wants to experience it, they would be happy no matter how it turns out and you should not base your decision on your own needs, you should do it based on what your child’s needs are.  It is not you who is experiencing it, they are.  You already had your turn.

That being said, there are some activities that do not cost anything and they are the perfect choice if your on a zero budget.

1. Visit your local library, they always have free activities, art projects and offer displays about different topics. They usually have hands on type activities that are interesting and educational. Call ahead and see what subject is on the agenda, find ones your children are interested in and plan to attend that day.
2. Hold a picnic in a nearby park. Bring lots of games and activities from home, the park will be a change of pace and you can spend an entire day if you plan to have a picnic.
3. Encourage your children to help out in the garden. Gardening is a great way for your children to learn about the environment, is healthy and it gets their hands dirty. Encourage them to get wet with the hose while watering the plants and help them to plant a tree.

• Create a community treasure hunt. This is an excellent way for your child to learn about the town that he or she lives in. The object is for you and your child to take a walk through your town while trying to find different treasures at different locations. For example ~ you might ask your child to find the numbers located on the main post office side wall or keystone. The child will have to get to the post office in order to locate the numbers. You can even make it much more fun by asking the local merchants to answer questions about their stores or products. Take your child to the local police and fire station, your child should know where those are located, this could actually come in handy in an emergency situation later on in his or her life if your child needs help.

As you can see, there are many activities that you can do with a zero budget, it just takes a little inspiration.  Speaking of Inspiration, what do you think of this amazing idea?

What you put into your child’s life is what you will get in return.  The saying is true, a family that plays together, stays together.

If you take the time to make your child’s life enriched with games, crafts and fun activities, chance are you will receive a lifetime of good memories in return.  In the end, sometimes a memory is all we really have.  Cherish them, create them!

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I do not remember ever having one of these, although I have been told these toys were once popular back in the 70′s.  A blast from the past, space hoppers are the newest trend to reach kid world.

Huge plastic balls, they look like what we picture to be cute little aliens. They are made of a durable resistant plastic that allows children as young as three to safely bounce around inside and outside like they are floating in space.

How disappointed I am that I did not have one of these as a child.

The great news, the Oobi Space Hopper can hold up to 100kgs of weight, so that means mums and dads and even I can use them too. I think I just may go out and join the little ones for a bouncing good time.

via: www.pupsikstudio.com

It is mother’s day and I can do whatever I want.  What I want is to spend the day relaxing with my favourite little aliens in the back yard while we bounce around in space with my featured find of the week.  How did you celebrate your Mother’s day back home in Australia?

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Black patent leather shoes are always the best choice in kids shoes when it comes to dressing up for a family outing and no design is better than Czarque hand made shoes because they are comfortable.

How do designers define a classic children’s fashion piece? 

A classic piece refers to anything that is created in a neutral color or tone such as ~ black, white, silver or grey.  Essentially, these are colours that match with just about everything. Classic also refers to the materials that are used to create the design such as; cotton and denim.  It can also refer to the design itself, a classic design is a more simple and elegant design that does not have many accents.

Here is a perfect example of a great classic design from Whimsy Child.  This dress can be worn for years and will never go out of style.  It is a made from basic neutral colors with a small amount of accents.  It can be worn with leggins, denim and shorts depending on what is in style.

A true classic children’s fashion will withstand the test of time because they are  usually made from fabrics that are easy to take care of and highly durable. This type of clothing can be passed down from generation to generation saving parents a great deal of money.

According to Gabriela Huber, owner and well known designer of Kamari Silver jewelry, every child should have some classic designs in their wardrobe.  She states,”Every child should have classic pieces because it is easier to add current trends to them in order to create a more modern and unique sense of style.”

Allowing a child to creating his or her own unique sense of fashion allows them to develop their own personality and identity and helps to foster self confidence.  Yes, even fashion is classic!  Here are some great children’s classic fashions that can be found on Kids Product Directory and purchased from Whimsy Child.

Bermuda style shorts just say cool kids and they go with everything!

While jeans are considered classic because they never go out of fashion and denim is always the choice of fabric, the look of them can change periodically.  Here is what is trending now in children’s jean world:

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I am filling my world with vibrant “happy” colorful things and I am excited about it.

Kids should live in a world full of colour and while I do not like yellow and rarely buy it for myself, I do often buy it for the little people in my life.

I found some adorable products on Kids Product Directory that scream yellow and I must admit, I adore them. To be honest, picturing them in any other colour would have changed their appeal in some way.

From Skip to my Lou, this adorable owl pendant comes in both pink and blue, I like it better in this colour.

Who can wear this adorable pendant without a matching handbag, also from Skip to my Lou? A girl has just got to do what a girl’s got to do, and that is; accessorize. Matching pendants and bags will surely do the trick!

From Six Things, this colorful Bee Backpack just pulls at my heart strings because it is perfect for both young girls and boys.

What would life “bee” for a kid without some colorful designs in it?

This next item is not just yellow, it is, colorful, and chic and I think it would make a great addition to any child’s room and bring some colour into their lives.

Perhaps some things were simply meant to be yellow and other things were meant to be colorful.  Things like rainbow.  Speaking of rainbows, how cool is this rainbow light from Six things?

 The rainbow light from Six Things is my top pic for the day, its unique, colourful and an excellent gift for children of all ages.  In fact, even this mum would want one, wink, wink, hint, hint, it is mother’s day this weekend!

The post Kids should live in a colorful world. appeared first on Kids Product Directory.

Grandmothers, step-mothers and even soon to be mothers are no exception to the rule.  If you have taken care of children, you are a mum!

Children should be encouraged to join in on the celebrations by creating or purchasing gifts for mum. Think back to when you were a child, how important was it for you to buy your mum a gift? If you were not able to buy or make one, you may have found yourself plucking flowers from the neighbour’s garden.

Thinking back, I can remember my son bringing home lavender because he knew how much I loved the smell, I never had the heart to tell him that I was allergic to them. It was the fact that he even knew that I like lavender that truly mattered.

Making mother’s day gifts will leave a child feeling proud of his or her efforts and this is what truly matters and is the true meaning of mother’s day.

Here are some great mother’s day gift ideas that children can make themselves:

I just love this photo frame, it is simply elegant!

via: 4 Blogspot

A great gift for mom’s who like to read:

Take a deck of cards and have your child place a reason that they love mum on each one, brilliant!

This idea could even be adapted to 52 chores they can do for her, one chore, once a week. A chore can be as simple as picking up the socks in my room.

TIP: Dad can give this to mom and schedule a date night or gift each week, such as;  a movie, foot massage, etc.  Truly inventive idea that can be used in a lot of creative ways.

Just because!

Gifts do not have to be perfect, they just have to be from the heart. Remember this day is for your mum and your child’s mum, think of what she likes and you could never go wrong.

Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to great mother’s day gifts.

• Do buy gifts that you know your mum or spouse likes, even if you do not. It is not about you.
• Do not buy gifts that entail her to have to work, such as pots, pans, vacuums or other household appliances.
• Do not let your mom or spouse cook or clean on this day, it is the one day of year that you and the kids should do it for her.
• Do buy dinner, she will appreciate it.
• Do not forget mother’s day, this will break her heart.  Even if it is a phone call or a simple card, it matters.
• Do consider mother’s to be worthy of gift giving, it will boost their spirits and make them feel like mums.
• Men, never say, “You are not my mother to your wife or spouse. ” If she had or is having your baby, spoil her.  There is no discussion on this matter.
• Gift do’s: Flowers, perfumes, gift certificates, jewelry, bath products, gift baskets, handmade items, dinner and a night out.
• Gift don’ts: Kitchen appliances, money, cooking products, things for the home.

Via: bestmothersdaycrafts.com

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Ideal for a condo or loft, this doll house doubles as a coffee table when not in use by the child. Of course, it also makes the perfect addition to any child’s room, family room or living room, however, it is a bit “chic” for most family style homes.

All in all, it is an elegant clean design that is sure to be the talk of all professional mums.

Handmade in the UK, the Qubis doll accessories and people are made from wood and magnetic which offers a three dimensional take on the newest play trend known as magnetic play, which we have spoken about often on Kids Product Directory.

Want to see the house in action?  Click here for the Youtube Video.

Sold by Molly-Meg, the Qubis Haus meets my standard for the ideal child’s gift. It is educational, open-ended and it grows with your child. Whenever I look for a toy, this is what I am looking for, what are your standards? How do you measure the perfect gift?

The post Qubis Haus ~ modern design is child’s play. appeared first on Kids Product Directory.

Today while loading up the recyclable box,I noticed that I have a considerable amount of toilet paper roll ends. I never noticed this before, my family uses a great deal of toilet paper and while we use recycled toilet paper, I felt that I had to mention it to them. I politely asked them to consider using a tad bit less, whenever possible.

Putting all those toilet paper rolls away reminded me of when I was child and we used toilet papers rolls for our crafts in school. I decided to take a look around and see what other craft projects I could find.

Coincidentally, my first stop happened to be on one of our retailer pages that depicted one of the most beautiful toilet paper roll projects I have ever seen.  It inspired me to write this blog today.

From lottamagazine.com’s blog, here are some wreaths made from toilet paper rolls, paper and glue. These are simply amazing, can be coloured and used for almost every holiday and every season.

I really love the texture of these butterflies made from toilet paper rolls:

via: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/

You can create just about any critter that you could possibly imagine, including rabbits, cats and yes even little people like in this magic castle project.

via: muddle puddle

The benefits of spending time with your children making toilet paper roll crafts like the ones shown here is priceless.  They cost almost nothing to make, are relatively easy and fun to create and best of all, they are Eco friendly, what’s not to like?  What will you create today?

Toilet paper flowers from mwwah.com

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For some parents, it will be a hard decision and for others it will be easy.  It is of course, the moment your child asks you if he or she can have a pet.

If your accustomed to having pets, this is not going to be a difficult transition, however, if you have never owned a pet, you may be in for a great deal more than you bargained for.

There are many factors that will effect your decision and you should consider all of them before you answer your child.  The best response that you can say in that very moment is, “I will consider it and get back to you once I have had a chance to think about it.”  This is not telling your child “no” or making promises that you may not be able to keep, but it is acknowledging them, and that is all a child really wants or needs.

Before considering owning a pet, you should think about some of these things:

1. Is my child responsible enough to handle it?
2. If my child needs help, can and will I be willing to offer it?
3. Can we afford to feed and take care of it properly?
4. Does anyone in the family have allergies to pets?  There is nothing worse than getting a pet for you child only to realize that you cannot keep it.
5. Do we have time for a pet in our lives.? Often times families get pets and later   realize that everyone is gone during the day and weekends leaving the pet to fend for itself.  This is not the ideal environment for a dog, in this scenario a cat might be a far better option.

Once you have considered your options, you can make a more informed decision.

If your not really into having to spend a great deal of time with your pets,  you may want to tell your child that they should consider a more practical option like a fish or turtle.  Children just want a pet and a turtle in a small bowl will often suffice.

Owning a pet teaches children responsibility, but make sure they do not get in over their heads, it needs to be taken care of and they may need your help from time to time.  If you think your child needs a pet that involves a little less maintenance, perhaps a dog is not the best option.

Whatever choice you make, your child will think it is the most magical thing in the world to own his or her first pet.  Send us pictures of your families pets, we would love to post them on our social media!

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