Your Guide To Moving With Kids (Without Going Insane!)

If there’s one thing that just about everyone can agree on, it’s that moving house can be pretty stressful. Of course, if you really want to make things as difficult as possible, try doing it with small children in tow! Anyone with kids will know that they make trying to do just about anything three or four times harder and more time consuming than it would otherwise be. So when you’re faced with the stress of moving house combined with the madness of dealing with young children, it’s enough to send just about anyone round the bend. But fear not brave parent! Because here is your guide to moving house with kids without going completely insane.

Start planning ASAP

The worst thing that you can do when you’re getting ready to move house is failing to plan. Without a clear plan, the entire move is pretty much guaranteed to be total chaos. No one is going to know what they’re doing, you’ll be stressed, and your kids with be running around like maniacs with no direction. The best way to avoid this is to have as clear a plan as possible, as early as possible. You should know exactly where everything needs to go, what needs packing first, and what you’ll need straight away at the new house. Knowing these things will mean that you have to spend that much less time worrying and more time making sure that everything is running as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Use a mover

Of course, if you really want to make things as difficult as possible for yourself, the best way to do that is to try and do everything on your own. A moving company like Shiply can make a huge difference to just how simple and easy your move really is. As long as they know exactly where things need putting and how they need to be packed, you pretty much just need to point them in the right direction, sit back, and relax. Of course, there will still be plenty that you’ll need to handle yourself, but that way you can focus on keeping the kids happy and under control rather than having to worry about every single little detail.

Give them specific job to do

Nothing is more dangerous than a bored child. When they don’t have something to occupy them, kids are that much more likely to get up to all kinds of mischief. If you really want to keep them out of trouble during a house move, the best thing that you can do is to give them a specific task to accomplish. Kids often love being given tasks to do, since it makes them feel involved and really rather grown up. It doesn’t need to be a big or particularly significant task. Even something like making sure that their toys are packed away in boxes can make your child feel involved in the entire process which is likely to make everything a lot easier for both you and them. Moving can be tough on kids and giving them something that will occupy their minds can make the whole process that much smoother.

 

Unique Ways to Preserve Family History

Connections are a critical part of our culture. It is in our basic nature to search for connections with other people. Ancestors and families can assist in creating a huge sense of connection. Many times though, we can feel as if we are alone, but if we reach out and try to learn more about our ancestors, it can at times give us the answers and or the sense of belonging that we need. We feel as if we are a part of something larger than ourselves. Each family has its own heritage and it is well worth it to preserve that heritage.

Photos

How many boxes of old family photos do you have in your attic? How many photo albums are on your shelves? Now, how often are those photos looked at? Maybe once a year? When family comes in from out of state? At reunions? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have some special photos, or one special photo to pass down that would be looked at more often? That is easy to do. Now, you can have custom photo blankets made. Just find that special photo that you want to remember and for your progeny to remember for years to come and have it made into a blanket!

Videos

How many of you remember mom, dad, or some other older family member chasing you around with a video camera of some sort? That was a great way to capture more than just a moment. Do you ever go back and watch those old home movies though? You might consider having a family movie night one night and get out all of those old home movies and watch them. This could be a great way to show your kids what life looked like when you were their age.

Record Those Memories

Yes, media changes through the years, but you can always have recordings changed over to the latest and greatest media. How cool would it be if you had recordings of your great grandparents’ voices as they were telling stories? This is a great way to preserve family memories. Even if you don’t have recordings of your elders, you can make recordings for your future generations to listen to. You can also interview your elders to make recordings for you and for the future. Preserving living memories and connecting with your family members are critical aspects of a family history. You can use a digital recorder or even a smartphone app. A camera will also help you preserve those old stories and share them with other members of the family while preserving them for future generations.

Record Everything You Learn

As you begin to learn more and more about your ancestors, you can add the information you come across to the family tree. You can also share it with other members of your family. Remember to encourage them to share what they learn with you as well.

Start a Blog

This doesn’t have to be for the general public, but it would be a good idea to start a family or personal blog. It can be a fun way to make sure that the important experiences in your life will be recorded for future posterity. You can also share the blog with your family and friends. Many of the blogging services you can find online are free and most of those free ones are also quite easy to use.

Social Media

There are so many tools that you can find online today. Take advantage of these tools to share your photos, or other types of updates with your friends and family. You can even upload images of important family documents. Social media is a great way to make sure that your family history is shared with the family.

Remember that your family history consists of so much more than simply research, records, and dates. It is the stories behind the people. It is the culture and knowing where you came from. It can’t define you, but it can let you know what is in your past. It is important that you learn this and then save it for future generations. Knowing your family history can give you a sense of purpose and belonging. It can connect generations past, present, and future. Take the time to discover and preserve your family history while you can.

 

Portable travel bed for your toddler – critical tips for choosing the best

Any parent that decided to remain active after they world has been turned upside down when they brought a child into the world knows the struggle.

The struggle of trying to balance between the needs and wants of your child and Sisyphean efforts to keep doing what you love doing. Traveling, hiking, whatever it is, chances are your schedule has suffered.

But when the moment comes and you can finally start bringing your toddler on trips, it’s crucial that you know what you’re doing when preparing for the trip.

So, instead of learning from your mistakes, in this guide will address one of the most important aspects to plan – SLEEP.

sleeping while traveling

It’s hard enough getting them to sleep as is, let alone in strange new place on a different bed.

But if you play your cards right, they might end up liking the new bed more then they like the one at home.

So, let’s dive right in and talk about the one thing that can make or break your trip – the choice of travel bed for your kid.

We’ll be analyzing the pros and cons of three main styles of travel beds for toddlers:

  1. Air mattresses

  2. Foam folding travel beds

  3. Cots for toddlers

So, let’s dive right in, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

Airbeds for kids

One of the most popular options, mainly because of its convenience, is a toddler air mattress or a blow-up bed as you might hear people calling it.

blow up mattress

Three main fortes of this choice include:

  • Easy to use, practical and pack small – they usually come with a pump that also deflates the bed, so they pretty much pack to the original size. They pack neatly and can easily be carried in a suitcase, which makes them convenient for air travel.

  • Safety – when we say safety here, we refer to two aspects. The first one comes from the fact that airbeds for kids usually come with side rails (see the image above) and that keeps even the restless sleepers from rolling over during the night. The other safety aspect is the concern about the chemicals – the industry of inflatable furniture has changed a lot during the last few decades and no hazardous substances are used in the production (the bed in the image above – Shrunks Tuckaire toddler is an extreme example of that – it is eco-friendly and chemical-free and it comes with an optional sleeping bag).

  • Easy to clean, doesn’t hold smell – if your little one is still prone to accidents, an air mattress without a flocked top but with a fitted cover (Aerobed usually makes this type of inflatables) is your best bet. That way, if a wet mishap happens, you can just throw the cover into the washing machine and clean the smooth surface of the PVC (something you can’t do with the two other styles we’ll talk about in a minute).

Potential negatives:

  • Plastic smell – not a big issue per se, you can resolve it by airing the bed out for a few hours ( a day in extreme cases) until the smell of plastic is gone. But it can be worrisome if you don’t know the facts, the plastic smell will be there (it’s PVC after all), but what’s important is to pick a product that explicitly says that it is free of phthalates and BPAs (the mentioned Shrunks Tuckaire is a good example of that)

  • Potential air leaks – you don’t want to see your child waking up on the ground if the bed deflates during the night and you certainly don’t want that kind of trouble on a trip.

There are three pieces of advice we can give you here:

One – don’t buy the bed a day before you go on a trip. Getting it a few days or weeks before will both give your child a chance to get used to it and give you a chance to see how the bed works and if it loses air.

Two – don’t rely on the patch kit that usually comes included. Instead, get yourself a PVC patch kit from your local store.

Three – go to the websites that carry them and read the air mattress reviews – who could be a better source of information than the people using the products today. Spending some time on websites dedicated to reviewing the airbed and chose the ones that are top-rated. A half an hour extra of your time here will mean night of your child being sound asleep.

Conclusions about inflatables mattresses for kids

An airbed is the most popular choice among portable travel beds for kids, and for a few good reasons that we listed above.

Still, before deciding to go with it, think about the nature of your situation and needs.

For example, if you need it for a night or two and will probably never use it again, a simple cot might do the trick. Also, if you can spare the extra bucks for the comfort of your child and they are accident-free, a foam folding bed might be your best bet.

Folding travel beds – foam-based

Hands down the most comfortable choice, a foldable travel bed is made entirely out of foam and designed with side rails. Having said that, the foam is very soft and the sides are not that high, so there’s a chance or rolling over the edges.

kid sleepovers

Who is it for?

  • Families who have resolved the issue of nightly mishaps – cleaning this bed after an accident will prove to be quite a job and you’ll never get the smell completely out of the foam. If you still want the unparalleled comfort of the folding foam bed, it’s a good idea pairing it with a waterproof cover.

  • Families who are not on a tight budget, it’s the most expensive choice of the three

  • Families who don’t plan to take the bed on trips that involve air travel – it’s great for basking around the house, but it is bulky and can only be carried as a separate piece of luggage. Still a good option for camping.

If you do decide to go with this style, make sure that you choose quality (the bed in the image above, LeachCo BumpZZZ, is the one product that stands alone in the category).

Cots for toddlers – the budget solution

As we mentioned, a cot will most likely be a good choice if you need it for a sleep-over and you’re not very likely to use it often.

child's cot

It’s made of steel and plastic and a lightly padded canvas on top. The canvas is not tight or padded enough and, unless your kid is still very light, chances are they’re going to feel the beams that run across the surface underneath.

It’s still comfortable enough for it not to be problem for most kids, but if your little one is a particularly choosy sleeper, you won’t get much peace.

If you choose a cot, the plus side is that they are so inexpensive that you can easily choose quality – the cot in the image above “Regalo My Cot” is a safe bet.

Packing – the cot folds up like a folding chair. It packs smaller than a foam folding bed but not as small as an air mattress. It packs just small enough for air travel to be an option.

Summing it all up

The purpose of this guide was not to tell you which portable bed to choose for your kid.

It was to give you guidelines about the right questions to ask yourself before you make the decision.

If we managed to do that, our work is done.

Happy trails.

The Glow at Monmouth Park Racetrack, NJ

If holiday lights are your bag of tea, or if October is your favorite time of year, you will love The Glow.   The Glow at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ is fun for everyone.  This walk through seasonal event is a Halloween lovers dream, with over 5,000 carved pumpkins ranging from pirates, to rock stars, to movie stars, and even dinosaurs and Pokemon carved into them.

pumpkin carving

There is a carving that is destined to be your favorite.  Your visit starts with a warm Fall beverage and a meeting with a real pumpkin artist as he creates a work of art.  Then there is a small tour through some Halloween themed exhibits, with various Jack o Lantern, pumpkin, and Halloween facts on display and indoor pumpkin decor.

halloween events

Then comes the main event, a walk through outdoor light up event where you can go scene by scene through the time of the dinosaurs, an extreme skate park, and more.  There are even local NJ spots like Asbury Park to visit in gourd form.  Check out government officials commemorated in pumpkin, as well as those running for president.  Best thing about those? They rot quickly, LOL.

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Some of our favorites of the night were definitely the 15 foot tall T Rex, the pirate ship along with pirates and loot all made out of pumpkins and carved with intricate detail, and the Pokemon collection.  Some displays are animated, but all of them have ambiance and accompanying sounds to complete the experience.  Once you are done walking through the display there is a chance to walk through a pumpkin patch and get a pumpkin to bring home and start your own display. There is also a little stand where you can buy snacks and drinks- a candy apple and some cider really are a must.

pokemon pumpkin

The Glow is a great way to spend a nice evening  it’s  a fun, family friendly Halloween event, just be sure the weather is co-operating.  The Glow is on display throughout the month of October Friday and Saturday from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm and from 6:30 to 9:30 Sunday.

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Win Tickets- Curious George at the Liberty Science Center #LSCCuriousity

 

 

liberty science center

The Liberty Science Center in nearby Jersey City, NJ has a ton to do for kids and families. They also constantly rotate exhibits and events so no one ever gets tired of doing anything. The latest event is Curious George: Let’s Get Curious, which opened this weekend.

“Letting curiosity and inquiry be their guides, children explore familiar buildings and locales from the “Curious George” books and television series on PBS Kids in Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! The exhibit presents key concepts in science, math, and engineering, which are woven throughout the exhibit. Activities invite children to learn like Curious George does—through direct experience and problem solving!

You can also meet Curious George in person at the Science Center. George will visit October 1, November 11, November 25, December 28, and December 29. Come take photos with him and give a big, friendly hug. Curious George can’t wait to meet your family!”

liberty science center

You can also get plenty of Curious George souvenirs in the gift shop.

All the fun an excitement was a wonderful way to get kids and adults to learn science and mechanics in a hands on way, while having tons of fun- the true Liberty Science Center fashion. The kids also loved meeting Curious George himself.  The exhibit will run until Jan. 8, 2017.

hands on learning

 

There is also the “Bodies Revealed” exhibit that older kids, parents- and really anyone will enjoy. It does cost more, so as a premium exhibition, it is available with the Premium Pass or a Combination Ticket.

“Bodies Revealed* presents real human figures and organs that reveal the wonder and beauty of the human form. The exhibition shows detailed views of human anatomy, from whole body displays to individual skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, and circulatory systems. Unlike models that idealize the body through the eyes of an artist, this exhibition shows the body and its systems as they really exist, including natural variation.

The figures, skeletons, and organs in Bodies Revealed came from individuals who donated their bodies to accredited medical universities in the People’s Republic of China for the purpose of study and education. All donated bodies were examined by an anatomist and a biological anthropologist to confirm that they died of natural causes. A separate gallery respectfully displays the stages of human development in the womb. All of the embryos and fetuses died of natural causes before birth. (Viewers enter the gallery through clearly marked doors.)”

hands on learning

Don’t forget to sign up for fun experiments! Staff is on hand if you or the kids need help. (And yes, the kids took turns, LOL)

There are also IMAX and Real 3D movies playing. These are also for an extra fee, but worth the price.  We saw “Beautiful Planet” in the IMAX theater, which was not only visually stunning, but also gave the audience insights as to the changes our planet is going through and why.  Hopefully, it also encourages people to make better choices to help the planet as well.

 

All this and more can be found at the Liberty Science Center, where science comes alive on a regular basis. Make sure you check out the ever changing schedule of IMAX movies (where where the gigantic IMAX screen makes the smallest of critters and the liveliest of robots come to life)- it’s very cool to see a movie in a giant dome.

If you would like to win a 4 pack of tickets, please just leave your name and email in the comments below. Ends Oct. 20, 2016. Thanks!

Why it’s Important to Get Your Kids to Eat Right

You need to make the right decisions now that your kids are in their formative years. It’s important to ensure that you influence them in the right way. And one of the ways to do this is to get them eating right as soon as you can.

Sets a Good Example

As the parent, it is important to set a good example to your children. They learn from you, and you don’t want them to pick up bad habits. Consider what your kids are going to learn and pick up at home. They will be influenced by things like bad language and the attitude you have toward things. But, they will also be influenced by eating habits. Junk food and unhealthy snacks set a bad example for the kids and could lead to them becoming unfit and obese. Healthy eating will promote a positive example, and they will naturally adopt more healthy eating habits.

Helps Them Work Towards Positive Body Image

You have to understand how important it is for your children to be comfortable with who they are. They need to develop a positive body image from a young age. This is going to help them with self-esteem and confidence. It will make them feel good about themselves and make good decisions when they become older. Developing a healthy body image is something that can be nurtured through positive eating habits. The healthier they are eating, the more likely they are to stay fit and healthy. This promotes the benefits and positivity of fitness. And they will take this into later life and develop a positive body image.

It’s Healthy for Them

The best thing about wasting right is that it’s good for you. It’s going to be great for your children, and their health, to get them eating the right things. You need to look at companies that are producing healthier food alternatives. For instance, you might decide to learn about Hampton Creek on Instagram. They are a company that produces eggless mayonnaise, among other things. These healthy alternatives are a great way to keep kids excited about the prospect of going healthy with their eating habits.

Leads to Other Positive Steps

The good think about healthy eating is that it encourages the kids to make other positive steps. They will understand the importance of looking after themselves, and this will lead on to other steps such as fitness and rest. You need to set these positive benchmarked for your children when they are developing. And you have to equip them with the necessary tools involved to take other positive steps at points in their life. That’s why you have to make sure you encourage healthy eating in the home as much as you possibly can.

As a parent, it is crucial to try to make sure your kids are following the advice you give them. It’s up to you to try to set good examples for them at a young age. These can help to shape their experiences and decisions they make as adults. So, you need to make sure you get them eating right as soon as you can.

@miraclegro Gro-ables #GroablesProject #ad

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro Gro-ables for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

There is a new way to grow a garden and it couldn’t be simpler or smarter at the same time. Gro-ables are a garden starter kit, in simple pod form.

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Each pod is planted int he ground and watered. Then before you know it, it sprouts and you have garden full of fresh vegetables. Is this an over simplified explanation? No, it isn’t. Each pod contains growing material, plant food, and a seed. The growing material nestles the seed perfectly, and when watered, delivers the perfect amount to bring about root growth which then grows into the plant food giving the plant the boost it needs to grow big and green. It brings you the most delicious garden greens and vegetables. From herbs, to vegetables, and even lettuce- there are lots of choices to pick from.

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In addition to the pod itself, there is also a Gro-ables app which helps you remember to water and cultivate your new garden and makes sure your Gro-ables do grow.

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“At Miracle-Gro®, we believe that there’s a lot to learn from even the smallest plants. So we started The Groables® Project: a movement to share the joy of growing herbs and veggies while giving kids truly hands-on learning experiences. Join us by planting your own Groables, taking part in the activities below and sharing your story!”

Gro Ables are available everywhere plants are sold as well as online. They are available as Jalapeno peppers, basil, cherry tomato, cucumber, globe tomato, lettuce, sweet peppers, watermelon, zucchini, and broccoli.

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Pardon the mint! He loves it, and won’t pull it out unless he’s using it.

These are prefect for those of us with a less then green thumb, and little kids who want to help in the garden. My son loves gardening, and these are a welcome addition to our annual vegetable garden. Every year we try to grow some new things in addition to our regular garden, and these will be fun (now that the weather has finally started to cooperate!)

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The White House Takes on Diapers #DiaperGap

I’d like to share some information that was sent to me from Renata Alexis of Covenant House.  Diapers are not something that we think about often, but for struggling women and families, it’s a real problem that needs a solution.  The White House is stepping up and stepping in to help those in need work to find a resolution.

“Diapers are basic necessities for these young women and their children, just like food and housing. We work to provide diapers to them as much as we can. But right now, diapers are a big expense: We pay roughly 33 cents per diaper and wait one week per shipment. When we run out, we need to make a run to the corner store, where we end up paying premium prices.

This isn’t just our problem. Studies show nearly one in three families struggle to afford diapers for their babies.

Policy experts say that low-income families spend twice as much on diapers every year compared to some wealthier families. That’s because low-income families don’t have internet access or credit cards to order diapers in bulk online, or often don’t have transportation to buy in bulk at a big box store.

When families can’t afford a healthy number of diapers for their babies, they’re faced with the choice between buying diapers and paying for food, rent, or utilities like heat. That’s a choice that no family should have to make.

Today, the White House is highlighting a new initiative by private and non-profit entities to help fix this problem and make diapers more affordable for all. Learn more about how it will help millions of families in need.

The initiative has three key parts:

  • First, the private sector and the non-profit community have teamed up to provide a more affordable way to manufacture and distribute diapers to non-profit organizations. This means that organizations like mine can pay less than half the cost of what we normally pay for diapers, and get them faster with free two-day shipping.
  • Second, any 501(c)(3) non-profit can sign up to participate in the Community Diaper Program and begin offering these more affordable diapers to families in their communities. The National Diaper Bank Network estimates that their 280 diaper banks will be able to order more than 14 million diapers this year thanks to this program.
  • Third, even more private sector organizations are helping address the problem through diaper donation campaigns to benefit families in need.

I cannot say how much seemingly small efforts like these can impact organizations like Covenant House. When we have cheaper, more reliable access to diapers, we can invest any savings into job training programs to help these young mothers find full-time jobs to support their families.

But more important than saving money, this initiative shows these women that people care about them. They are working so hard to change their lives and provide their children with a good future, and this is the kind of support that they’ll remember for a lifetime.”

Take a minute to find out what’s being done to help families get the diapers they need at wh.gov/DiaperGap.