Are We Raising an Entitled Generation?
Xbox. Playstation. iPod. Cell Phone. 7 year old.
Which one of those doesn’t go with the others? If you are anything like me, you picked the 7 year old. These days, it seems kids never really go without anything and don’t understand how hard you and your family work to give them the things they have. Some people think we are raising an entitled generation and I would have to agree with them.
Make sure you talk to your kids about money and how you need to work hard for the things you want. They should understand that sometimes you have to sacrifice one thing for another. If they want that iPod, they should mow some lawns or weed the yard to help pay for it.
Made in the USA
After writing and reading about all the problems China is having with lead in toys, tainted food, etc, I began to wonder if it is possible to still buy anything that is made in the USA. The domination of China has been sneaking up on us for years now and only when we have problems with our products do we realize how much we get from them. It is pretty much everything or at least some parts of everything in case you are wondering.
So I cruised around Amazon and discovered you can actually search for Made in the USA toys
So check out Amazon and search for Made in the USA
Survey: Moms Tired of Working
A new survey finds that many moms are not as happy with working outside the home as they used to be a decade ago.
In the past decade, the percentage of working mothers who say full-time work is ideal dropped from 32 to 21, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Now, 60 percent of them say they’d rather work part-time, up from 48 percent in 1997.
How to Start a Family Without Breaking the Bank
In case you need more information on starting a family on a budget, check out How to Start a Family Without Breaking the Bank over at GetRichSlowly.org.
The bottom line here is that it is possible to start a family without breaking the bank. In fact, if you were to wait until you’re financially “ready” to have kids, complete with all the trappings that new parents often view as absolute necessities, you’d probably never start a family.
92 Percent Want ‘Country of Origin’ Labels on Food
In what can only be described as “obvious,” 92% of people want their food to have the country of origin on the label.
It should come as no surprise to people that having everything you and your children eat, wear and play with come from a country with horrible environmental and human rights records might be a bad thing.
One more reason to plant some heirloom crops, try make do with not made in China and eat locally grown foods.
Mattel to Recall 9 Million Toys
Another day, another recall. It seems there is something made in China being recalled every day now!
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will announce Tuesday morning that some of Mattel’s “Sarge” die cast toys from the Pixar “Cars” movie line will be recalled because of excessive lead in the paint.
Tuesday’s recall will be the second involving Mattel this month.
The affected toys also include Barbie Doll and Tanner, which the commission says pose hazards because of small magnets.
Read more about the latest toy recall. Also, see why even though we are having all these problems with Chinese made products, you probably cannot live without ‘Made in China’
Free Play at the Playground
The playground is a great, free place to spend the afternoon or morning or whatever time of day suits your needs. If you have one within walking distance of your house, even better. The playground can be a place to stop for 10 minutes to give the kids a chance to run off some energy (good luck getting them to leave after only 10 minutes, though). Or it can be the destination for a long afternoon. Or maybe it is a place to meet up with other stay at home parents or the local playgroup.
Find a park that fits your needs. For an infant, find a place where you can park the stroller and let the baby play on the grass or on a blanket. If you are outside, make sure there are shaded areas. Baby swings are great. If you have young twins, sit them in the baby swing back to back.
Your toddler might be starting to climb on anything and everything. If this is the case, try out the play structure area yourself. Make sure the steps are safe and if there are places where your enthusiastic little one might tumble, stay with them as they climb. Check out the ground cover around any climbing structure as well. Thoroughly check out any sand play areas, particularly if they are not covered and if there are cats living in the area. Baby swings are still great for toddlers until they get too big. If your toddler is a ‘runner,’ watch for areas where s/he could run off or run toward a street.
Bigger kids might want a more intricate climbing structure. If they are old enough to keep track of their own toys, take a kickball or other toy to keep them interested. You may want to label the toys you take to the playground with your telephone number (not your name or your child’s name!) in case they are left behind.
If you are going to spend a significant amount of time at a park or playground, pack a diaper bag before you go. Include diapers, water or other drinks, snacks and sunscreen. If it has been rainy recently, take an old towel to wipe down the slides and other equipment. If there aren’t benches, take a blanket to sit on. If there are muddy areas in the park, take a plastic bag for soiled shoes and clothes.
Teach your kids from an early age to stay within ‘vision distance’ of you. They should be able to see you at all times. And you, as well, should pay attention to them all you can. Although I know the chance to sit down and chat with other stay at home parents is mighty tempting. If you are taking your child’s friend with you, check with their parents to make sure they don’t have any allergies that you should be aware of. If the play structure is wooden, do a once over for splinter-y areas. If the structure is plastic or metal, check for heat before sending your kids onto it.
Start a Book Club With Other Parents
Tired of not speaking to adults all day?
Need some time talking to adults and a cheap way to do it?
By starting a book club, you can get out of the house, have a little fun and have it not cost too much in the process. Here are some great guidelines for starting your own book club.
How Many Nursery Rhymes Do You Know?
According to a study done in Britain, only 12% of parents could recite 3 or more nursery rhymes in full.
Out of nursery rhymes that respondents did know, the most popular were Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Ring-a-Ring O’Roses, Baa, Baa Black Sheep and Hickory, Dickory Dock.
Singing to your children, even if you are horrible is a great and fun way to bond with your kids. Nursery rhymes usually have the advantage of many years of refining to get some great and funny sounding words. So start belting out those tunes around your kids!
Baby Bargains Book
Although this might be better found at a garage sale, Baby Bargains is a good book to have along if you are embarking on the journey that is called parenting. Particularly if you are going down the single-income road or are just money-conscientious in general.
The book lists great deals and money-saving strategies for a wide variety of must-have items, from maternity wear, baby clothes, and diapers to furniture, bedding, and toys. Extensive charts allow parents to compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, child safety seats, baby monitors, and more. Now in its seventh edition, the book has been completely revised and updated to include new sections on toddler topics like potty training and booster seats;the latest news on hot strollers, including new models from Europe; new reviews on ultra-modern nursery furniture brands; extensive charts that compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, baby monitors and more; and a special section on Canada bargains, with expanded reviews on Canadian brands and discount sources.
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