Guest Blog

Must have 'add-ons' for mom-mobiles

Guest — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:49:00 GMT

Must Have 'Add-Ons' for Mom-Mobiles

Safety, Technical and Entertainment Features that help moms Negotiate the Drive

Moms are masters at multi-tasking: they drive the kids to soccer practice, set the doctors appointments, keep the youngest ones entertained and feed everyone afternoon snacks, all within a given day. Women-Drivers.com , recently featured in Wall Street Journal and ABC News, is the premiere site which connects women and families to women-friendly car dealerships. With 39% of the moms on Women-Drivers spending at least 1.5 to 2 hours a day taxing the children to various places, Anne Fleming, company President and Car Buying Advocate, has recommended these safety, technology and entertainment features that are some of the top 'must have add-ons' for moms.

SAFETY

Side-view and rear-view cameras help moms peek around corners at a blind intersection or see what is behind the car when backing into a parking space
Some car makers, including Mercedes, Volvo and Kia, offer technology that deters falling asleep behind the wheel. This system records a driver's general behavior - speed and pedal pressure tendencies, for example, to create a standard of driving habits. If the driver is not operating at that level, the system estimates the driver is too tired to continue operating a vehicle and an alert sounds.
Select GM models offer OnStar, a safety feature that provides automatic crash response
Ignition breathalyzers prevent driving when under the influence of alcohol; a great resource for parents with young drivers
Innovative intuitive technologies, like Volvo's Collision Avoidance Package, detects and alert moms when they are driving too close to another vehicle, and can even auto brake, if required

TECHNOLOGY & ENTERTAINMENT

Apple iPod or MP3 connectivity & DVD entertainment systems with rear-seat player keep the kids entertained
GPS Navigation systems provides the most efficient route from the eye doctor to the piano teacher, with capability to avoid traffic and construction areas all while re-calibrating routes
Satellite radio offers music choices for every taste, and even kid-friendly stations
Climate control systems purify the air and eliminate airborne germs while keeping everyone happy
Bluetooth®-enabled communication offers hands-free driving for increased safety while on the road
Hands-free Microsoft's SYNC is used exclusively on many Ford automobiles. SYNC is a speech engine that provides moms with voice control over the entertainment systems including external devices like USB and Bluetooth.
NAV and Radio systems that provide 24/7 weather and traffic forecasting
Portable MiFi network enables multiple users/devices to hook up mobile devices (laptop, netbook, camera.) Small, portable and easy for storage when traveling. Provides 4 hours of internet surfing time. $99 at Best Buy stores with 2 year contract; $59.99 monthly fee.
Last, and not least, the emergence of more hybrid cars - the selection from almost every auto maker is growing in the latest launch of 2010 models.

With vehicle options at various price points, every family can find the right mix of luxury, design, drivability and practicality. For more on the latest information about technology trends in automobiles, visit the Women-Drivers.com Trends Section .

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Today's guest blog comes from Anne Fleming, car buying advocate from Women-Drivers.com. Anne once struggled with negotiating at a car dealership. Now, she has vast knowledge in this area and shares her insights on negotiating and creating the best dealership experience possible. Anne's goal is to empower women to take charge of their automotive experience and have it be rewarding each and every visit. Appearing in the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, USAToday, Anne has effectively used social networking to elevate her company to the national spotlight.

50 Toys in 50 Days - Conclusion

Guest — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:50:00 GMT

10 Great Travel Toys

If you are heading on a road trip or on the airplane and need a new activity to keep your kids occupied. Here is a list of 10 fun activities. Not all of these would I recommend on a regular basis, but for travel they are perfect.

TRIPtivities--This 120 page block of Klutz-clever puzzles, brainteasers, mazes, doodle pages, word games, giggles and goofiness is bound like a flip-pad. The write right on them pages are securely attached to an easy to grip work surface. No need to search under the car seats for a writing tool----TRIPtivities comes with an official pencil that lives its own little holster. Finally, sheets of stickers give younger travelers one more cool way to make their mark on the pages. It's hard to believe so much entertainment could be packed in such a neat, efficient, take it anywhere package.

Sticker Activity Tote: At the Airport--Reusable stickers for on-the-go fun! Each tote includes 2 scenes (6 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches) and lots of reusable stickers. There are other themes, but this one seemed the best for travel.

I Spy Road Game Play Book--I Spy Road Game is made of cloth and the pages have colorful, roadside images. It is a great travel game to keep the little ones amused in the car. There are 25 squares to be flipped over when you spy the matching item. A horse, a motorcycle, a stop sign, how many can you find? This is a quality made book. This cloth book comes in a clear vinyl carrying case. It was designed in France. Made of mixed cotton/polyester fabrics.

Zoobies--Zoobies are plush toys, but also a comfy pillow and super-soft blanket all in one. A Zoobie is a comforting friend, a soft place to lay a head, and a warm and snuggly blanket. The plush animal measures approximately 16 x 7 x 6 and the large extra soft fleece blanket measures approximately 33"X 55".

Bananagrams--Easy to carry around, great while waiting at the airport or the restaurant. This award-winning word game needs no pencil, paper, or bulky board. It is fast and fun. One hand can be played in as little as 5 minutes.

Car Valet--Play games, create art, or just keep gear within easy reach with a portable, adjustable, mobile play center and organizer. Attaches to the rear of the front seat and folds down for easy access to supplies. Fold and zip up when finished. The perfect bag for travel. Measures 14W x 12H x 3D. Suitable for Ages: 3+

Flip to Win Bear Hunt--Choose a bear and try to guess your opponent's choice before they guess yours! Charming bear illustrations with lots of details to aid the process of elimination make this fun to play on long or short journeys. Includes two game boards, each with a spinning bear selection wheel. No loose pieces. There are other Flip to Win games including travel bingo, four-in-a-row and hangman.

Etch a Sketch Freestyle--Much easier for young children and children with special needs to play. It's Etch A Sketch with a twist! You can draw with the fun Freestyle controller. Create lines, loops, circles and curly-Qs! Like the original Etch A Sketch, you can shake to erase!

Travel Notebook--This travel notebook is a great addition to your next vacation. It includes 128 pages for drawings and notes. This spiral bound notebook includes 16 fold-up sheets for stationary, 2 sheets of stickers, address pages, 3 packing lists, 8 weeks of daily itinerary, daily log pages, sketches pages and a pocket for mementos.

See listing

December 22 50 Toys in 50 Days comes to an End

Another year of 50 Toys in 5o Days has come to an end. As usual we talked about a lot more than 50 toys. I think it was closer to 125 toys. I hope that you enjoyed what you read and will keep it book marked as you look for toys throughout the year. You can always start your shopping at the Let Kids Play blog--we will always direct you to the best toy stores.

In case you missed anything, here is a complete list of toys we recommended this year, sorted by the store where you can purchase them. If you have suggestions for next year or any other comments, I would love to hear them.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season, whether your holiday is over or is just starting. Spend time playing with your kids during their winter break. Remember, every child (and adult) needs to play for at least 60 minutes every day. See the complete list.

Thank you and happy holidays!

Mara

50 Toys in 50 Days - Toys for less than $20

Guest — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:48:00 GMT

Monday- Review of toys under $20

Week 7 of 50 Toys in 50 Days is all about great toys at an affordable price. All the toys, I will talk about this week will cost less than $20; many of them a lot less. On Mondays, I usually talk about the importance of this type of toy--but most of us know why spending less is a good thing. So instead, I am going to remind you of the toys that we have already talked about that are less than $20. Click here to see the list.

Tuesday -- Puzzles--high play value, low price

Melissa and Doug puzzles are excellent educational gifts with a high play value with a low cost. Most of their puzzles cost no more than $13 (some of them go as high as $20) Puzzles allow children to work on child's problem solving and reasoning skills. They can work on their visual spacial awareness. Because of the size of puzzle pieces, children have fun working on fine motor skills when putting a puzzle together. Puzzles also help children with their hand-eye coordination. Puzzles help children recognize patterns. Depending on the theme of the puzzle, children can work on number, color, and letter recognition.

Melissa and Doug puzzles are well made puzzles. They have a wide variety of puzzles. For young children or children who need to work on their fine motor skills, they have jumbo knob puzzles. Then as a child progresses, they can try wooden peg puzzles and then jigsaw puzzles. For children who want sensory input there are puzzles with sounds and puzzles with textures. Read more about puzzles.

Wedneday- Art supplies

There are many new art supplies that help children with special needs and young children learn to draw and paint with the right grasp. These great tools for your child are less than $20. There are also fun art craft materials that are easy to use for all children.

Wikki Stix Rainbow Pak--The Rainbow Pak has 24 8-inch Wikki Stix in 6 rainbow colors, plus sheet of ideas and activities. Under $5

Jumbo Triangular Crayons--12 high quality Farber Castell crayons have more color pigments resulting in brilliant colors, a smooth texture and no waxy build up. The triangular shape fosters a correct three point writing grasp and ends frustrating “roll away!” Under $5

Total Control Scissor For Kids--Same great Fiskars quality with shorter, precision ground blades, blunt tip, safer cutting angle and an extra index finger loop for better cutting control. Teaches proper finger placement right from the start. Under $5

Scissors--many different types of adapted scissors are available at Pocket Full of Therapy for people who are right or left handed.

Washable Triangular Crayons--The right shape to help guide their fingers into the tripod position for more purposeful and controlled drawing. There are 16 in package. There are also triangular markers.

Thursday--Pretend Play

Imaginative and pretend play is essential for a child's development. However, these types of toys are often expensive. This is where your imagination can come in. Go to the dollar store and purchase tablespoons, bowls, and whisk and you have a fun kitchen set. Go to a second hand store and purchase scarves, ties, jewelry, and any other interesting clothing you can find and you have a dress up set.

If you are interested in purchasing some items for less than $20 here are a few excellent toys. Continue reading…

Friday—Brainteasers and Games for One

Looking for a game for one person—a good brainteaser game for people from the age of 3 to 98 years. Then here is a list of 10 great games for less than $20. ThinkFun is the leading designer of these types of games and you get go wrong with any of them.

R iver Crossing--This innovative brainteaser game (winner of 16 prestigious awards) is as challenging as they come. The jungle adventure theme makes it compelling to play. Forty Beginner-to-Expert challenge cards show where to place stumps and planks to start each game, and a magnet in your feet makes moving the planks a snap. Finding your way all the way across...that won't be so easy. $15

Rush Hour--Rush Hour is the mind-challenging game of pure bumper-to-bumper fun! Players set up the cars and trucks on a game grid to match one of forty color-coded challenge cards, and then try to maneuver the red car to escape the gridlock. Four levels of play range from beginner to expert. $18 Many different versions.

Read about more games…

Saturday—Visual-Perception Activities

Visual-Perception Activities from Pocket full of Therapy for less than $20

These games involve varying levels of visual-perceptual skills along with some degree of motor control. For many, the motor component may be eliminated. Some of the skills addressed include matching, directionality, spatial relations, visual attending, memory and discrimination, scanning and tracking, sequencing, organization, classification, visual planning and critical thinking. These games may also be played on the floor or mat allowing for alternate positioning. See list…

Sunday—Science projects

Here are some great science projects that cost less than $20. Each of these projects come from wonderful companies. Check out other items that they offer if your child is interested in science. These can be really fun activities do while your kids are on vacation.

Nyokkis are hand-made in Japan from glazed ceramic, shaped like an egg. Filled with a growing media and rye grass seed, Nyokkis are easy to grow. Seeds germinate and grass grows to full height in less than two weeks. From Noted*

Zoom T oo l Crazy Bub bles--Ever seen a square bubble? Build basic 3-D shapes to dip into soap solution and create amazing bubbles. Full color instructions make bubble-sculpting a breeze. 72 parts: 12 white nodes, 12 each of 3 lengths blue struts, 4 each of 3 lengths yellow struts and 4 each of 3 lengths red struts, and step-by-step color instructions packed in a convenient plastic jar. Instructions include a bubble recipe using ordinary dishwashing soap (not included). $11

See the rest of the products.

50 Toys in 50 Days - Active and outdoor toys

Guest — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:25:00 GMT

Monday: Children need to play for 60 minutes

All of the current research says that our children need to be actively playing 60 minutes every day. This means that they need gym, recess, and time at home to go outside and play. Organized sports activities are great for older children, but for younger children--just let them play! All children regardless of their age need to play--not just for exercise and fitness, but for fun. If they are having fun, it will create a lifetime habit of play.

This week I will be sharing with you some fun toys that will get you and your children outside playing and having fun.

The NFL, United Way, and President Obama have join in the crusade to ensure that parents know how important play is in their children's lives. You can learn more this initiative and ways for you to help at Play 60 and Kids Get Fit. Watch their Thanksgiving Video…

Tusday: Wobble Deck--a toy for children with and without special needs that improves balance

According to the therapists at Pocket Full of Therapy, the Wobble Deck" improves balance, coordination, reflexes, mental focus and auditory processing. You can also use it on table top with hands to control the movement of the board." Playing the game does require a lot of auditory processing and quick balance responses, so it can be frustrating for some children. Therefore, if your child isn't ready for all the games, it can be used as just a balance board.

Dr. Ron Savage the President of the North American Brain Injury Society says, "The Wobble Deck develops attention and processing skills for children with special needs, including children with traumatic brain disorders (TBI). The Wobble Deck improves visual motor coordination so children develop the ability to match their physical/motor output with visual input." Continue reading and watch the Wobble Deck in action….

Wednesday: Yackle Ball--soft, safe and easier for children with and with disabilities to play catch

I met Patricia Littwin at Toy Fair this year. She invented the Yackle Ball because it frustrated her that her children were so athletically different and they couldn't all play together. Her youngest was not very good with balls. He had a hard time catching and he lacked good motor skills to be good at active play. My daughter feared being hurt. She would close her eyes when a ball would be thrown to her. Her oldest son very athletic and was very good at all outdoor activities. She found that children with special needs love the Yackle Ball. She told me to make sure to tell parents that if they have a child with Special needs that they should certainly purchase Yackle Ball Jr. as it is lighter and easy to manipulate. It is designed for children 2-6 years of age. Continue reading and watch the Yackle Ball in action…

Thursday: Balance Bikes helps children to ride a bike

Balance Bikes help younger children learn to ride a bicycle easier. The KaZAM Learner Bike won this year's Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products - 2009. The description: "Learning to ride a two-wheel bike is all about balance. The KaZAM is the only balance bike on the market like it. Its patented design includes a uniquely positioned footrest that helps the rider develop the balancing skills necessary to learn to ride a bike. After pushing with their legs, children lift their feet up naturally and glide, positioning their feet on the footrest to maintain a center of gravity. This is undoubtedly the most realistic approach to learning to ride a two-wheel bike and without post-training wheel trauma! This is a patented design – the ONLY bike like it with this kind of footrest. Feels like a real bike. Adjustable molded seat, high quality hand grips, ball bearing headset. Enables kids to gradually build confidence."

The Skuut Bike won Dr. Toy Guide's Top 10 Active Children's Products for 2006. The description: "Your little biker will enjoy this well designed wooden framed bicycle that does not have pedals. It is a great way for your aspiring cyclist to learn balance and control while gaining a sense of independency. The European-style bicycle is sturdy and sized just right for growing legs. It eliminates the need for training wheels. Have fun walking, gliding, riding and "skutting" with this product. Young riders will gain key developmental skills along with beginning steps to learning to ride a bicycle with pedals" Continue reading and watch a balance bike in action…

Friday: An outdoor game for the entire family--BlongoBall

I believe that the best games are the ones the entire family can play together. That often means that rules need to be modified for different members of the family. BlongoBall is fun for everyone--adults are playing all over the country. It is easy to modify the game just by deciding where each person stands when they throw.

BlongoBall can be played outdoors or indoors and is fun for families, physical education classes, team building games or any activity where you want to add a little spark of physical activity. BlongoBall is easy to learn and fun to play for any age from 5 to 105.

BlongoBall includes two BlonGoals that are easy to put together and are very sturdy and 2 sets of BlongoBall. Continue reading…

Saturday: Play catch even if you can't catch

Dodge Tag is another great product from Diggin Active Toys. It comes with comes with two air mesh vests and six soft balls. You throw the ball and the other person tries to catch it using their vest. It is great for children first learning to throw and catch.

Sunday: 10 more active outdoor toys for children with and without special needs

1. Bilibo

2. PlasmaCar

3. No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket

4. Balls

5. Hyper Dash

6. Sensory Stepping Stones

7. Stepper

8. Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker - The Original Ball

9. Rhino Toys

10.Rody Horse

Read descriptions of all of these great active toys.

True Meaning of Christmas…Do Your Kids Know It?

Guest — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:46:00 GMT

True Meaning of Christmas…Do Your Kids Know It?

Do you teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas? Now, let me say right off the bat, I love to give and get gifts and I love the lights and the Christmas music. I am not an old “scrooge!” But I think something huge is lost if we don’t take time to reflect on the true meaning of the season and teach it to our kids.

Some kids grow up to think that Santa Claus is the hero of Christmas. He is a fun, mythical figure representing love and giving. That’s ok. But he is not what Christmas is all about.

When our kids were young, we would bake a cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus at breakfast Christmas morning. It was the only day of the year that we had cake for breakfast!

We also did a play each year, reenacting the original Christmas as told in the Bible. My son and daughter dressed up as Mary and Joseph. Our bichon frise was the sheep – right color and everything. I have to tell you it was quite cute hearing my young daughter say “but how could this be when I have not known a man!”

We always read the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas morning too, before we even went downstairs to see the presents under the tree. We wanted to keep everything in the right perspective.

Sometimes, weather permitting, our family went to a live Nativity nearby. When we got a whiff of the animals scent, we were reminded of what the conditions actually were like for that young couple having a baby, all alone that special night. It made the true meaning of Christmas come alive for us.

We also baked Christmas cookies, bought and wrapped gifts, watched Christmas movies and rode around and looked at all the pretty Christmas lights there were on the houses in our town.

There are so many things to do at Christmas time, and we each have our own traditions. Those are important! But don’t forget to teach your kids about the true meaning of Christmas. It is a celebration of Jesus coming to earth to ultimately make a way for us to go and live with Him in heaven. There is no better gift or reason to celebrate than that.

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Sandy Long owns an online gift store and offers a beautiful selection of Gift Baskets for Womengift baskets for women. http://www.giftexpressionsonline.com

50 Toys in 50 Days - Fidget and Tactile Toys

Guest — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Monday: 50 Toys for 50 Days week 5--Fidget and Tactile Toys

Next time you are at an adult training, conference or even a meeting, look around and observe your peers. You will find someone clicking their pen cap; someone doodling; someone tapping their foot; someone whispering a question to a colleague; someone chewing gum or ice. Most likely they are not bored, but actually very interested in what is going on. What is happening is that through their life they have figured on coping skills to help them concentrate. This why you can find so many fidget toys in office catalogs. Many people find it very helpful to keep their hands busy so that they can listen or think.

Now the next time you are in your child's classroom and see the same behavior, wiggling, doodling, chewing gum, you will know that the children are learning a coping mechanism that helps them learn. Unfortunately, a majority of teachers do not know this and stop this behavior. For most children, the teacher stopping the behavior is not going to greatly effect their schooling. But for others, children with ADHD or sensory processing disorders or other issues, they may absolutely need these tools in order to be successful at school. Read more…

Tuesday: Finger Fidget Kits for children use Sensory Processing Disorders

You can start to determine what type of fidget you (and maybe you) really like by purchasing one of Pocket Full of Therapy's Finger Fidget kits. They have two different ones.

Why a finger fidget kit? According to the therapists that run Pocket Full of Therapy these finger fidgets can influence a child's level of energy and arousal. Many children have not found what works for them or what they have found is making their teachers crazy! Using these kits can help you and child discover which works best to increase alertness or decrease and channel excess energy. Read more…

Wednesday,: Toys for fine motor development, sensory input, and motor planning

Today I wanted to introduce you to another toy manufacturer that I think makes wonderful products for children with and without disabilities. You can find Pencil Grip toys at both Fat Brain Toys and Pocket Full of Therapy.

Pencil Grips is a family owned company that started with just one item, a "Pencil Grip". They have now expanded their line to include many products that help with fine motor development, sensory input, motor planning, and more. Besides they are just plain fun.

The original pencil grip now comes in a variety of colors and shapes. According to The Pencil Grip's website "The Pencil Grip is a revolutionary applied technology that works with the body’s natural physiology to gently place fingers in the proper position for gripping. Allowing over a 90% surface contact with its soft comfortable gripping surface. It works for both right and left handed users." The Jumbo Grip is about 40% larger than The Pencil Grip providing extended comfort and support up to the second knuckle. It also can come in metallic--which makes it look great. See more Pencil Grip products…

Thursday: Splatter Mat--it changes colors by adding heat

This was one of my favorite discoveries at this year's Toy Fair-Splatter Mat. I could have played with it all day.

Splatter Mat is the amazing color-changing activity that kids and parents love! Each of the 7 puzzle pieces are coated with a totally unique material – Flip Faze® – so warm water or sunlight can transform the red pieces to orange and the green pieces to yellow in just seconds. Read more…

Friday: The ultimate fidget and therapy toy for children with and without disabilities

Are you looking for the original toy that can be a puzzle, a movable sculpture, a desktop toy, a fidget, a brain tool, an anti-stress device, a teacher supply, or even a cosmic art toy with special powers. Then you are looking for a Tangle. You probably has seen one and started to play with it. It is very hard to put down. It is addictive. Now there a lot different types of Tangles. The one above is the original Tangle with texture. Read more…

Saturday: Sculpting toys for children with and without sensory processing disorders

According to the Sensory Processing Disorder website, "Children who have tactile defensiveness are sensitive to touch sensations and can be easily overwhelmed by, and fearful of, ordinary daily experiences and activities. It is our goal to introduce tactile experiences slowly and gradually as the child is ready to experience them, so this defensive/aversive reaction is avoided! A child with tactile defensiveness should never be forced to touch anything they do not want to, as this will cause further apprehension and avoidance."

If you feel that your child has significant tactile defensiveness, you want to get them tested and start working with an Occupational Therapist. There is a lot more information on Sensory Processing Disorders and how to help your child at the website referenced above.

Children do need to touch a variety of textures and play with them to develop normal tactile processing. If your child will not play with messy items, it is even more important that you continue to find fun and creative ways to introduce these to them. Here four different types of materials that are fun and creative.

Sunday: Sensory and Tactile toys for children with autism for less than $10 each

Here are some wonderful sensory and tactile toys from Pocket Full of Therapy. You can find them all by going to the sensory section of their site and then scrolling down. There are more than what I listed here.

These sensory and tactile toys are great for children with autism and sensory processing disorders. But all children love playing with them. Not everyone will love every type of texture, but it is fun to determine, what you like and what you don't like. All of the toys in this list cost under $10, many of them under $5. Read more…

50 Toys in 50 Days - Pot Luck

Guest — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Monday, November 23 --Thanksgiving a time for pot luck

I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays. I love autumn, all the colors, all the wonderful different ways you can set your table. Thanksgiving in our house is one of the only holidays where the menu is not solidified by years of tradition. Besides the turkey, we do different recipes each year. Thanksgiving is also a great holiday for pot luck--ask people to bring a dish and it all goes together no matter what people bring.

Therefore, since everyone is busy this week with Thanksgiving, I thought I would give you a pot luck listing of toys. These are some of my favorite toys that just didn't fit anywhere else in the 50 Toys in 50 Days series.

Today, I thought I would remind you of my favorite toys from last year. I am trying hard not to repeat any toy this year, so you are missing out on some pretty great toys. Here is a list from 2008's 50 Toys in 50 Days, with a link back to the original article. Continue Reading..

Tuesday, November 24 --Saying thank you

I have noticed that our children do not know how to write any more. Yes, they still teach handwriting and cursive in school, but our kids do not practice it. They use the computer for writing everything. My own daughter has gotten to the point that she cannot think and write an essay using paper and pencil. Her mind just doesn't work that way. Give her a computer and you have an award winning essay.

In my mind this is fine. The most important thing is the ability to create, not the tool you use. However, I have explained to her that there is one very important exception. You have to hand write thank you notes. Continue reading…

Wednesday, November 25 Little People celebrate the holidays

Growing up, my siblings and I loved to play with Little People by Fisher Price. We would make huge cities in our basement. We would use our blocks to connect our different houses and other Little People buildings we had.

Now there are even more choices for Little People. They can celebrate holidays. Look at the different sets that are available. There are more Christmas sets then I listed. To find those, click on the Amazon box to the right of the blog posting and search Little People Christmas.

Have fun using your imagination to play out tons of holiday scenes at your house this year. Look at more pictures of Little People celebrating holidays.

Thursday, November 26--Teaching emotions through toys

Happy? Smile. Sad? Frown. Kimochis help children identify and express feelings and help parents understand the thoughts their children try to communicate. Kimochi is Japanese for feeling. Each interactive Kimochi has a pouch to store its feelings, felt cushions in bright colors with a facial expression on one side and the name of the emotion on the other side. Children learn by placing the cushion that best matches their feelings into their Kimochi and sharing the experience. The process calms, comforts and instills confidence. When kids can communicate their feelings, they cultivate confidence, kindness, self-awareness, self-control, resiliency and gratitude.

Younger children can use Kimochis to learn to identify feelings. Older children can use the Kimochi to work through communication challenges, and learn to express and navigate their feelings positively through puppetry and play. Kimochis are a fun toy, but also an evergreen TOOL that families can use as their kids grow. Continue Reading..

Friday, November 27--40 positive children's books with people with disabilities as characters

Here is a list of 40 books that have at least one character with a disability. All of the characters with disabilities are portrayed in a positive light. There are characters who have autism, down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, speech delays, dyslexia, spina bifida, synesthesia and who use a wheelchair.

The books range from picture books appropriate to preschoolers up to and including books for middle schoolers. They are in an age appropriate listing. It is very difficult to find what age a book is best for, therefore, I used multiple sources some of which used grades, while others used ages.

I have not read all of these books myself. I created the list by using the winners of the Dolly Gray Award and the Schneider Family Book Award. I also used books from lists compiled by Sandy Lahmann, Cherl Pesto at Disaboom and Mary Anne Prater & Tina Taylor Dyches from Teaching Exceptional Children.

All of the books are available new at Barnes and Nobles. There are many additional books on the above lists that you might find at your local library, but are not currently being sold by Barnes and Nobles. The two award programs also have books for young adults that I didn't include.

I hope you find the list helpful. I would love to know if you what other books you have read in this genre. Happy reading! Read about the 40 books

Saturday, November 28—Ways to keep toys on the wheelchair tray

Every parent has experienced of playing the wonderful game babies play. The one where they drop a toy or napkin or whatever and then dropping it and then expecting you to pick it up; just to have them drop it again. When they drop it again, they give you that little smile that says "Your Turn".

It is a great game that makes every parent smile, the first couple of times you play it. But after 16 years of Samuel dropping his toy on the floor and then looking at us to pick it up--it gets old. We went looking for solutions to having always having to pick his toy back up.

Velcro has become our friend. We have put two pieces of Velcro on his tray and then put it on the back of all his toys in the exact spot to match the tray. We use very heavy duty Velcro--Velcro Industrial Strength .

One of his favorite toys that we attach to his tray is Hasbro Playskool Busy Gears (seen above) It is easy for him to hit the main button. He gets great effect with a music, lights and the gears moving. The music is short so it isn't a toy that drives you crazy.

Another way to keep a toy on the tray is using a suction cup. TheWhoozit Table Top Toy adds the suction cup for you and again provides a lot of sensory experience for your child. It includes bead rattle, mirror, peek-a-boo star, and ribbon tags. Read about more ways to keep a toy on the chair.

Sunday, November 28—Great family owned toy stores

As you can see from the side of the blog, I am promoting some specific toy stores. I thought I would take today's blog and let you know why I like these companies.

Fat Brain Toys is a small family owned business started by Mark and Karen Carson seven years ago. They decided to start the company when they could not find what the toys they wanted for their own children. Mark and Karen have the same philosophy that I do that toys should be of high quality, open-ended, playful and educational. You will not find licensed, violent, or cheaply made toys on their site. After I made my list of toys I wanted to highlight in this year's 50 Toys in 50 Days series, I found that almost all of toys I selected could be purchased at Fat Brain Toys. Read about the read of the family owned toy stores, I recommend.

50 Toys in 50 Days - Green Toys

Guest — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Monday—What is a Green Toy?

Today everyone is concerned about the environment. That, of course, extends to our children who will inherit the world we leave them. So green toys have become a growing part of the toy industry. Many of the award programs are now giving out awards to companies that make "green toys"

But what makes a "green" toy? There are a lot of different definitions that you might not know exactly what they mean. A "green" company or toy may embrace some or all of these principals. Do your research so that you understand when you purchase a toy that is advertised to be "green" or "eco-friendly" you know what philosophies they are embracing. Continue reading…

Tuesday—Green Toys

Eco-friendly toys made by a company named Green Toys. Got Milk! Well, Green Toys does. They make all of their toys from recycled milk containers. The same ones you and I drink our milk out of. When we throw our container away in the recycling bin, it gets sorted out and sent to Green Toys. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. The material is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

All of the work to recycle the plastic, make it into toys, package and ship it is done in California, dramatically cutting down green house gases caused by shipping from another country. Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses. Continue reading…

Wednesday—Enviro-Blox

Enviro-Blox are made of corn starch, yes corn starch. The colors come from vegetable dyes. You can build almost anything with them. All you need to do is moisten them and stick them together. When you are finished playing with it and don't want your creation anymore, all you have to do is wash it away. No trash! Watch a video of Enviro-Blox in Action…

Thursday—Orange Blue Games…

Not only is Orange Blue Games an Eco-Friendly company it makes some of the best games around. Blue Orange Games has over 20 games designed for kids, families and adults. Blue Orange Games are made of wood, in order to provide quality and durability, warmth and appeal. Blue Orange uses natural playing materials. Pine, Birch, Beech are among the trees planted by Blue Orange Games for renewal of the environment. Blue Orange plants two trees for every tree used to create Blue Orange games. Read about my favorite Blue Orange Games

Friday--Cardboard

According to Cardboard Design, "cardboard, made from natural reusable materials, has one of the best environmental records, manufactured using high percentages of secondary fiber (including Kraft paper, old newspapers, and even straw) thereby diverting these materials from the municipal solid waste stream."

Cardboard is also strong and a wonderful palate for coloring and designing. Here are a few different products made from cardboard:

Saturday—Amazon Takes on the Environment

Amazon is the biggest on-line retailer. They have a lot of power to impact the environment or just leave everything the way it is. They have decided to impact the environment for the better through Amazon's multiple initiatives.

Frustration-free packing--is a multi-year initiative designed to alleviate "wrap rage," featuring recyclable boxes that are easy to open and free of excess materials. The Frustration-Free Package is recyclable and comes without excess packaging materials such as hard plastic clamshell casings, plastic bindings, and wire ties. It's designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging. Products with Frustration-Free Packaging can frequently be shipped in their own boxes, without an additional shipping box. Continue reading…

Sunday--Top 10 Green and Eco-Friendly Toy Manufacturers

PlanToys--PlanToys are wonderful wooden toys that have very high play value. All PlanToys are made with clean, natural rubberwood from rubber trees which no longer produce latex. PlanToys does not use dyes containing lead or any other heavy metals. They use non-toxic water-based dyes on their toys and soy and water-based inks on their printed materials. They use solar energy and low emission biofuels to power the machinery that kiln-dries the wood and the finished toys. Read more about Plan's Green Philosophy.

Haba--Haba Toys are made primarily of indigenous maple, beech wood and water-based paints. Fabric, felt, leather, cardboard and glass add dimension and variety to the Haba line. Their manufacturer process includes thermal energy and using wood scraps instead of coal for heating. Awarded national and international prizes for their top-quality, child-oriented design, Haba's inventive playthings are a perfect match for inquisitive minds. Read more about Haba's Green Philosophy. Continue Reading…

50 Toys in 50 Days - Construction Toys

Guest — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:17:00 GMT

Monday—Importance of Block Play to a Child’s Development

In week two of the Let Kids Play, 50 Toys in 50 Days, we will be discussing construction toys.

Blocks and other construction toys have some of the highest play value of any toy on the market. Blocks are open-ended toys and have unlimited play possibilities. Blocks grow with your children. At first they may simply stack the blocks to see how high they can go before the tower falls. Then he might put all the blocks in the bucket and then throw them all over the floor and pick them up again. Soon they discover that an object can represent something else. Then they begin to create and use their imagination. Children can play with blocks from the time they are 18 months until, well forever.

The learning that comes from playing with blocks is huge. Here are just a few of things children learn.

Math skills they can develop:

Stacking and piling
Grouping and sorting
Adding, subtracting, and multiplying
Understanding geometry
Counting
Using fractions
Awareness of depth, width, length, symmetry, and shape

Science concepts they can learn:

Gravity
Balance
Classify, Measure and Order

Language arts skills they can develop:

Build vocabularies
Boost Language development
Understanding that objects can represent something else. This skill is crucial for learning to read.

Social skills they can work on:

Sharing
Cooperating
Increasing impulse control

Motor skills they can develop:

· Building the strength in their fingers and hands

· Developing eye-hand coordination

· Learning where their body is in space

Art skills they can develop:

· Understanding perspectives

· Developing skills in design, representation, balance and stability

· Creativity

Life skills they can work on:

Building longer attention spans
Problem solving
Planning
Developing dispositions toward curiosity and learning
Discovering wonder and exploration

Tuesday—Best New Blocks--Twigs

Twigs are a new building block system from Fat Brain Toys . I love them. The colors are great, they feel good in your hands, they are "green", everyone can play with them from little kids to adults. I know 2-1/2 year olds as well as older children with developmental delays who play with them and having a ball. I bought a set for my brother who is an architect and 40 years old, he plays with them while watching TV. Continue reading…

Wednesday—Q-BA-Maze

Q-BA-MAZE is a marble run set. One of the best ever made. It is another construction toy that both child and parent will want to play with.

According the Fat Brain Toys ' website "Creative play and critical thinking comes naturally with these eye-catching transparent blue and green cubes. Interlocking cubes come together for fabulous marble run variations. Being able to view racing marbles in their run from start to finish, brings the fun to a higher level and gives you an inside peek at where you need to adjust your marble run design next to make marbles spin and roll at the speed and in the direction you desire." Continue Reading…

Thursday—Great Textured Blocks

Bumpity Blocks are great for young children first using blocks as well as for children with certain disabilities because of their texture and weight. They are made by The Pencil Grip, which is a wonderful family owned company that carries tons of toys and equipment for therapy and play. I will be talking about other The Pencil Grip items as the weeks go on.

According their website, "Bumpity Blocks are a weighted foam alternative to classic blocks. The extra weight and unique texture provide increased motor control. The non-standard shapes help avoid self-stimulatory behavior and encourage creativity in building." Continue reading…

Friday—Great Blocks for Children with Special Needs

Magneatos Jumbo use magnets to connect the oversized pieces. This makes it wonderfully easy for young children and children with special needs to be successful while builiding. They are a similar concept to popular sets made for older kids, however, Magneatos jumbo-sized pieces are designed for small hands and huge imaginations.

In 2006, they won The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio SNAP Award(Special Needs Adaptable Product). Here are what the reviewers had to say, "Children with special needs like to have toys that are like their peers and siblings. ...The upsized pieces are easier to grasp than the usual tiny scaled pieces-thus encouraging children with less dexterity an opportunity to develop their eye hand coordination with less frustration. The larger pieces also create a showier construction and their bright primary colored forms have great eye appeal. In many ways they suit both the needs of preschoolers as well as older children with physical challenges." Continue Reading…

Saturday—Blocks Made out of Stones

Stonees are colorful stones that you stack together to create whatever you imagine. When at Toy Fair, I really enjoyed how these blocks feel in your hands. I like the texture, the colors and the different type of material. You can see below examples of how children play with them. If your child is still mouthing toys, I would not recommend Stonees as they can be a choking hazard.

Stonees are made by Zabazoo which is committed to making "green" toys. Zabazoo products are made in Canada using safe, alternative materials that significantly reduce impact on the environment. Their products reduce the use of plastics by 98% and do not use paints, dyes or chemicals. Clean manufacturing processes and local production mean significant reductions in factory and transportation emissions. Carefully selected recycled materials and efficient design reduce wastefully excessive packaging. Zabazoo products are fun, educational and reduce environmental impact. Continue reading…

Sunday--Top 15 Best Block and Construction Sets

We have reached Sunday of the second week of the Let Kids Play series 50 Toys in 50 Days. This week was all about blocks and construction sets.

To recap, we recommended:
Twigs
Q-BA-MAZE
Bumpity Blocks
Magneatos Jumbo
Stonees

We would also recommend that you consider
Widgets--they come for all different ages, in different sized packages, and in different colors

Dado Cubes
Gears Gears Gears
Zolo-a-go-go
Tree Blocks
Zoob
Tall-Stacker Pegs Building Set
Fantasy Blocks
Rainbow Blocks--either with water or sand in them
Standard Unit Blocks

Enjoy building. Send us pictures of your children's (your) creations!

Black Friday shopping tips

Guest — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Black Friday Shopping Tips from the Gift Therapist

1. Get organized! Clean out your wallet to include only the cash, credit cards and photo identification that you will need to make your purchases. Leave all unnecessary items at home to lighten your load, resist the urge to overspend, and protect against loss or identity theft. Creating a separate shopping wallet is a simple and effective way to keep your lists, cash, cards, and receipts organized throughout the holiday shopping season.

2. Play it safe! Keep a detailed list of the credit/debit cards that you keep in your shopping wallet in a safe place at your home. Be sure to include the card name, account number and customer service phone number. Should you lose your wallet or have it stolen, having quick access to this information will save you valuable time and stress should this unfortunate experience happen to you.

3. Pack a snack! The old rule "never go shopping hungry" still rings true, especially while holiday shopping. During a long day of shopping, keep your blood glucose balanced by nibbling on a granola snacks, protein bar, or homemade trail mix. These are healthy and filling treats that will boost your stamina, mood, and budget!

4. Dress for success! Minimize your morning primping and select your most comfortable clothes and sneakers to get the job done! Leave your bulky coat in the car and rely on a fleece pull-over or hoodie to shield you during your long walk to and from the parking lot. You can always tie your hoodie around your waist later and still have two hands to manage all of your shopping bags!

5. Prioritize your list and shop backwards! Buy the small gifts first and big gifts last. Find great bargains by taking 10 minutes to browse the clearance racks irst. Challenge yourself to come in under budget. Applying your savings toward the bigger purchases on your list, next year's gift budget or your favorite charity!

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Jennifer Melnick Carota (a.k.a. the Gift Therapist) is an expert gift giver and bargain shopper featured nationally in major market gift guides, personal finance websites, and lifestyle columns throughout the US and Canada. Check out her new free holiday gift giving survival guide, ‘Giveology’ and learn how to spend less but give more!

50 Toys in 50 Days - Products for kids living with disabilities

Guest — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Week 1 - Products for kids living with disabilities

Monday - The discussion:

Well, it's that time of year again. Time for Let Kids Play to start its annual 50 Toys in 50 Days series. For those of you who read the blogs last year, you know that you end up learning about way more than 50 toys. This year, I have divided each week into a different category, with Monday being an introduction and Sunday being a list of toys I wanted to included by didn't have room earlier in the week.

This week, I will be talking about clothes, gadgets, and toys that parents who are raising children with disabilities have told me they can't live without. All of the toys this week, have been recommend by a parent with a child with special needs--so you know that it works for at least one child. Please send in other items that you can't live without, and I'll share them as we go along.

Let me review what I think makes a good toy.

After a child opens the box, s/he plays with the toy for more than a day, preferably years and years.
I don't love plastic. I prefer natural materials. However, some great toys are made of plastic.
Toys should be open-ended; meaning the child decides how it should be played with. So I don't like block sets where there is only one thing to build or an arts project that results in the picture on the front of the box.
I think toys should challenge a child, help grow their brain, develop their muscles, and help them learn to play together.
For the most part, I don't think there is a need for a "special needs" toy. I think that every child regardless of their ability has things they like to do and play with and most likely there is a toy out there in the general public that will work for them. This is especially true if the toy is for play and not therapy (there is a difference, but that is a whole different discussion).
I'm not big on batteries and plugs. Although rules can be broken.
Finally, I should be able to buy it on-line, so I never have to go to a mall, and hopefully the shipping is free.

I have found tons of toys through the years that meet my criteria. I have looked through hundreds of catalogues. I went to Toy Fair once again to see literally thousands of toy manufacturers. Sometimes the toys I write about will cost a fortune, and other times the toy will be under $20. On Mondays, I will share research about the importance about a particular type of play thing.

If you decide to purchase any of the toys, I would love for you to purchase it through a link in the posting or the link of one of the stores listed at http://letkidsplay.blogspot.com. I make a whopping 4-10% for referring you to the toy. None of your purchases are going to help me make my mortgage payment, but maybe I'll earn enough to buy a great toy for my kids. : )

I hope that you will make comments and let me know if you have used the toy before and what you think about it. . I look forward to sharing with you. If you like my favorites, share them far and wide.

Tuesday:

One of the ways to survive the ups and downs of raising a child with a disability is the ability to laugh at ourselves and at the world. Sometimes other people don't understand our brand of humor at all, but that's OK. We are still going to laugh and make black humor jokes.

Humor can also be a way of teaching others about our child in a safe, non-threatening way. Chrissy Lessey decided to raise autism awareness by putting together a line of clothing, bags, bumper stickers and more--many of them humorous. Chrissy has a son on the Autism Spectrum and started her website Spectrum Hope as a way to share her experiences with other parents. Continue reading...

Wendsday:

When another mom recommended Automoblox cars, I was so excited. I love these cars. They are high quality, durable, and provide a lot of play value for your money.

Automoblox are cars that come apart so that you can redesign it. It is a combination of a car and blocks (now you know why it is called Automoblox). When children are pre-schoolers, they play with an automoblox just like any car, moving it around and using their imagination. But because of the quality of the car, it feels good in their hands and it is easy to maneuver. Continue reading...

Thursday:

When I asked parents who are raising children with autism, what toy they cannot live without, the number on answer I got was a trampoline.

This is because children with autism often have sensory issues with their vestibular and propioceptive systems. According to Jason Ladock, "The vestibular sense is very important for the preception of movement in the body, and is routed through the stimulation of the inner ear as the head's position is changed. the propioceptive sense is the perception of movement in the body as communicated through the ligaments, joints, and muscles." Continue reading...

Friday:

One mother I talked to strongly recommended a Time Timer. She said, "It is a lifesaver. Just put it in front of him and tell him "you can play DS until the red is gone, but then we need to leave" or, "you have to eat your beans before the red is gone" - it's like magic. I couldn't live without it."

According to a Pocket Full of Therapy, "The concept of how much time is left, is difficult to grasp, especially for our special education students". These unique timers provide a clear visual display of the time remaining. Set to any time between 1-60 minutes, time is up when the red shield is no longer visible. Timers run silently but now have the option of a single auditory cue to indicate the end of that session. Continue reading...

Saturday:

Here is my story from when my son was little before we dealt with his GI issues...

We would feed him, carry him to the car seat, buckle him in and he would throw up. As all parents know, because all parents have been through this at least once in their life, there is nothing worse than having to clean vomit off a car seat.

Continue reading about Nomie Baby....

Sunday:

Here is a recap of our first week in our 50 Toys in 50 Days series. As you know this week, parents who are raising children with disabilities talked about toys and gagdets they can't live without.

Here is what they recommended:

Nomie Baby--the removable, washable car seat

Trampoline (from Fat Brain Toys or from Pocket Full of Therapy)

Automoblox

Time Timer

Spectrum Hope T-shirts

Soft clothing

Here are other suggestions that I didn't have space for this year:

Glitter Filled Crystal Ball Large Glitter or water filled balls for visual stimulation.

The Farmer Says See 'n Say

Hasbro Playskool Busy Gears

SmartKnit KIDS Seamless Sensivity Socks

Pencil Grips--Pocket Full of Therapy sells 13 different types to find the one your child needs)

Gripables--easy to hold spoon, knife and fork

Sandscape

Of course, as with any child, what you can't live without depends on the child's ability, interest, age, and disability. But this list comes from people who know.

NEXT WEEK BLOCKS AND CONSTRUCTION TOYS!

50 Toys in 50 Days

Guest — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:36:00 GMT

We're pleased to announce a special blog for the holiday season for PittsburghMom.com users. Mara Kaplan, former founder of the Center for Creative play and now an expert in toys and play spaces for kids with special needs, writes a daily toy list from November through Christmas. She blogs about her choices on her blog, Let Kids Play and is generously sharing her "toy list" with us again this year. We'll post her list once a week, with that week's toys listed in a single post.

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From Mara-

Well, unbelievably it is that time again--time for the Let Kids Play holiday toy guide for 2009. Time to start thinking about holiday gifts. Let Kids Play will be starting our annual "50 toys in 50 days" on November 1 and go until December 22. Each day I will recommend at least one toy. This year I have divided the weeks into categories to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. Here is the schedule:

The week of:

November 2—Products that parents who are raising children with disabilities cannot live without

November 9—Building and Blocks

November 16—Green Toys

Novmeber 23--Social Skills and Emotions

November 30--Fidgets and other tactile toys

December 7--Active toys/Go Outside

December 14--Great toys for under $20

December 21--Vacation and Family Time

On Mondays, I will be explaining the importance of this type of play or toy. Then Tuesday through Saturday, I will recommend a toy each day. Finally, on Sundays there will be a list of that week's toys as well as others in that category that I love.

If you would like to receive a weekly wrap up of the blogs, please sign up for my newsletter. Just add your email to the box on the right. Each Monday during this time, I will send out a newsletter with the past week's toys. If you have friends who would enjoy reading about the different toys, please pass this along.

Christmas is 10 weeks away - Advice from "The Gift Therapist"

Guest — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:53:00 GMT

Please join me in welcoming a new guest blogger, Jennifer Melnick Carota, better known as "The Gift Therapist". Jenn will share some of her fabulous gift-giving tips from now through Christmas. Our first post from Jenn is about how to give the perfect gift. Enjoy, and give Jenn your feedback!

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How to Give the Perfect Gift

A good friend and colleague of mine recently introduced me to a wonderful and inspiring book that seeks to help couples enhance their relationships by examining the various "love languages" that people often use to express their love and gratitude for one another. After reading "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman, I had what Oprah would call an "Ah-ha" moment and quickly realized that these principles also apply to gift giving...as giving tangible gifts is identified as a love language in and of itself! What are the 5 languages and how do they apply? Lets look at the languages, first:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

What love language do you speak? How do you show appreciation to people around you? Because we as humans tend to project our needs and desires onto others, the way we choose to give (and what gifts we tend to give) are usually reflective of the needs or affirmations we seek for ourselves...What we tend to "give" is a clear indicator or what we "desire". Ok...therapist hat off...

How does this relate to gift giving? It actually impacts successful gift giving in a major way. I believe it's safe to say that if you are reading this you are very interested in giving "the perfect gift" to someone you love, which requires creativity, inspiration, and often times a lot of thought.

By paying attention to the RECIPIENTS love language, you can pretty much ensure that your gift will be wanted, appreciated and a big hit. Never assume that because you prefer to receive tangible gifts that the recipient does so as well...they may have a completely different love language! Can you see how this relates to couples but also relates to showing our love to the world around us?

The moral of the story is...be open, observant, and sensitive to other's needs around you. Please don't buy an extravagant gift for someone who would much prefer a experiential gift with you, or a well thought out note of appreciation. By finding out the love language of another, we can take gift giving to the next level...and hit a home run every time! Happy Giving!

More about the Author
Combining her expertise as a licensed mental health counselor and reformed shopaholic, Jennifer Melnick Carota has become an expert source on smart shopping and charitable giving. Best known for her role as the Gift Therapist, Jennifer is famous for her gift giving advice, new product reviews, and annual holiday gift guide. Products and services that meet her high standards for quality, affordability and creativity receive her endorsement in the form of the Gift Therapist’s Seal of Approval.
You can contact Jenn at jennifer@thegifttherapist.com

Diaper dealing

Guest — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:31:00 GMT

Today's Gueest Blog entry comes to us from Lorena B. a freelance writer and designer, raising a couple of busy kids and blogging about it all at in Sublurbia, Florida.

Psst ... need some diapers diapers? I've got a case of pull-on style, soft and unbleached, whaddya need, whaddya need?

Actually ... I don't need diapers anymore. With one kid in grade school and the youngest toilet-trained, all I have left are a few pretty cloth diapers and some bags of disposable diapers (handy during hurricane season). But even those are going away, passed on to a friend adopting the cutest little boy. But diapers can get rather expensive, and finding a bargain diaper (when a bargain diaper will do) turned into a bit of a routine for me.

I found out early on that a cute little basket and diaper stacker were just that. Cute. To really stockpile diaper bargains, I needed to dedicate part of a cabinet or closet, marking each bag clearly to keep the sizes I was ready for handy. Ready-to-use diapers were kept near the front door - either to go to school or into the baby's room. "Not quite yet" diapers were kept on the top shelf of the closet and rotated down when needed. Outgrown sizes were kept in paper grocery sacks, marked by size and ready to hand off to friends, family, or sent out for donation.

Signing up for coupons and samples - I signed up for all of the diaper and coupon sites I could find. These were often good for coupons and free sample packs that were easy stash in the car for emergencies. I learned to put my due date a bit before my actual due date as my kids were a bit on the larger side and tended to be out of the size sample very quickly.

Using double and triple coupon days - Depending on the diaper package and coupon amount, these could knock off two or three cents per diaper.

Reward cards - ($X dollars off of $Y purchase) Walgreens, CVS or other stores with "reward cards" often have these promotions or print-out coupons. When mixed with clearance-marked diapers, you save even more.

Clearance-marked diapers - Open packages or discontinued sizes and brands get marked down at a number of grocery and drug stores. I live in an area populated with a large retiree population, so hitting a different local grocery store every week during and after pregnancy allowed me to stock my diaper closet with a lot of half-priced diapers in anticipation of my future needs.

Discount stores - I was very close to a couple of Big Lots stores back in the day. They often had national-brand diapers at a significant discount, and I'd stock up for myself or family. Cell phones made it easier to call around and see if anyone needed a stash of XYZ diaper in A, B, or C sizes.

Buying in bulk or on subscription - A number of online services will ship diapers in bulk if you've got a brand, size, and style you're comfortable with. I used Amazon's Subscribe-and-Save option to order dye-free, bleach-free, perfume-free diapers when it turned out my kids were pretty sensitive to all of that stuff. I was able to use the ordering function to have disposable diapers on hand when I needed them (long trips without washing machines, hurricane-caused week-long power outages) and to stop them when I didn't. At times sites have stock-up sales as well, entitling you to future discounts or rebates.

Swapping diapers - This one can work any number of ways: you've got too many baby diapers and your friend has too many size fours from her last kid, so you trade. Another might be for other goods: As I got my start on cloth diapers, another mom was transitioning off, so I traded some medium-sized paper diapers for some nice wipes, a wet bag, and some nice pocket diapers.

If you can keep yourself organized, are willing to buy ahead, and even keep a running list of diapers and their cost-per-diaper at your usual haunts, buying odd lots and big lots of diapers can save you a lot over picking up a bag at the grocery store every week. Trading prices and diapers among friends and family can save more - or simply save your not-fitting-anymores for donation to local shelters or diaper drives.

Mother Goose and Father Bach together at last

Guest — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:54:00 GMT

Today's Guest Blog entry comes from Post-Gazette classical music critic Andrew Druckenbrod.

Combining nursery rhymes with classical music has been done before, but I don't know if anyone has taken it this far. But it makes so much sense in this engaging new disc it makes you wonder why it took so long.

"Mother Goose Meets Father Bach" is the brainchild of violinist Monique Mead, who, in addition to being a talented musician and teacher, is the wife of PSO concertmaster Andres Cardenes.

"Mother Goose meets Father Bach" offers the imagined meeting between the two icons, with each teaching the other -- and children -- their respective crafts. Mead is Mother Goose and actor Gregory Lehane is Bach. The music is Bach's Orchestral Suites, taken from a previous recording by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The lessons are the likes of alliteration, articulation and pairing.

The concept is simple enough, to stimulate language skills of young-uns (no not to make them smart) by the combined use of rhyming and a structured musical language -- a sort of dual use of grammar. Here is a bit of the opening track, with the famous "Badinerie." The characters generally talk and sing on one track and then the music repeats alone on the next, so your child and you can match Mother Goose and Bach on their own. Some of the tracks/lessons (such as Bach explaining Rondo form) are for older children, but young kids will still enjoy the music.

You can buy the disc at various online outlets, or by visiting Mead's Mother Goose and Father Bach Web site. It is available locally at Borders Books in Shadyside (but, alas, not at Curtain Call anymore).