children Archives - Strange Daze Indeed

Get your kids to eat more veggies? Yes, with a school grant from Action for Healthy Kids!

March 30, 2018 By Debra Pearlstein Leave a Comment

Parents can be a formidable force for change in schools, especially when it comes to starting health and wellness programs. Ensuring that our kids are eating healthier foods, learning about nutrition, and being more physically active in school not only sets them up to learn lifelong healthy habits but, according to a growing body of research, it helps them be better prepared to focus and learn in class. Studies also show when parents are involved in a child’s education, their children demonstrate higher academic achievement, better attendance, better social skills, better-eating habits, increased physical activity and less emotional distress.

Yet, despite wanting to do what’s best for students’ health, many schools lack the necessary resources to implement health and wellness practices that help students eat better and stay physically active. That’s why Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) has announced a new Parents for Healthy Kids grant just for parents for the 2018-2019 school year. The grants, which are provided through funding from ALDI, are designed for parents, caregivers and parent-groups (e.g. PTAs, PTOs) to lead school-based physical activity and nutrition initiatives and to engage more parents and family members in student and family health.

If you’ve ever thought of starting a school garden, getting kids to eat more fruits and veggies at school lunch, or finding ways to ensure they get more physical activity in and get the wiggles out during the school day so they can better focus in class, then this grant opportunity is for you. If you can think of a way to improve school and student health, AFHK can help you do it. In addition to providing schools with needed funding (grants up to $1,000), AFHK provides grantees with technical support and resources to activate their grants successfully.

Parents can learn more and apply for a grant by April 13, 2018 by visiting ParentsforHealthyKids.org/Grants. While you’re there, check out the resources to help you get involved in school health, and sign up to receive news your family can use to create a healthier school and home, today!

This sponsored post is brought to you by Action for Healthy Kids and coordinated by Wendy’s Bloggers.

The Sleep Zzz Pillow is a game-changer for your kids!

March 6, 2018 By Debra Pearlstein Leave a Comment

If you have kids, then you know how difficult it can be to get them to sleep and to stay asleep.

Introducing the Sleep Zzz Pillow from the makers of the Twin Z Pillow as Seen on ABC’s show Shark Tank! The Sleep Zzz Pillow is a kids sleep pillow (ages 3 and up) that surrounds your child with the snuggly softness and security of their very own body pillow sized perfectly for them! This pillow helps kids fall asleep faster and most importantly STAY asleep providing a more restful nights sleep for your child and you! Everyone wins! Check them out on FaceBook!! and their website.

$5 OFF Coupon – Sleep Zzz Pillow Special!

Save $5 off your Sleep Zzz Pillow purchase and enjoy a more restful nights sleep for the whole family! Use Code: SLEEPY http://sleepzzzpillow.com
https://www.usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=13640&dealid=3549

Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Sleep Zzz Pillow and US Family Guide

Tried-And-True Tips to Help Your Children Sleep at Night

February 22, 2017 By Debra Pearlstein Leave a Comment

If you are a parent, chances are that you are well aware of the struggle of getting your little ones into bed on time. Unlike us grownups who would actually kill for some more sleep, kids hate going to bed. To them, it’s the end of all things fun, like ruining the newly wallpapered bedroom with pen scribbles, playing catch with your grandmother’s antique flower vase or dipping your Smartphone in the flush because “daddy, it gets thirsty too”. Be it 2 year olds or 10 year olds, getting them to sleep on time is an uphill battle.

Newborns and toddlers need around 16 to 20 hours of sleep per day. Children require an average of 9-12 hours of sleep per day. Children who do not get the required amount of sleep tend to be more problematic than those who do. Their emotions get out of control; they get easily irritable, irrational and hyper. They may also suffer from behavioral problems, focus issues or weight problems. As a parent, it is very important that you make sure your child gets the amount of sleep his/her body requires. The more important sleep is for the development of infants, toddlers and school going kids, the more unappreciated it is by them.

Learning what your child is feeling at bedtime and how you can resolve it is the key to getting them in bed and snoozing. Every parent has to struggle with opposition from their kids at bedtime. Let’s start by breaking down every parent’s struggle into phases.

Phase 1: Pooper and Tooters (0-1 Years)

This is the most difficult phase for a parent as the baby keeps waking up every few hours. Infants need to sleep 4 to 5 hours since they have small stomachs and cannot hold food in for very long. Once they get it out, they get hungry again! This can be quite disturbing for the parents too during the night since that is the time we fill up on our sleep. Here are a few tips you can use to get your crying poop machine back to sleep.

⦁ Get your spouse to take turns with you to feed the baby during the night. The baby will get up after every few hours, so one of should be ready to feed him/her. Once fed, chances are that the baby will go back to sleep.
⦁ Babies cannot differentiate between day and night. And after being fed, they are ready for some playtime. If the baby wakes up during the night and does not go back to sleep after being fed, try not to engage playfully with him/her. Keep the lights turned off and be as quiet and subdued as you can.
⦁ If your baby refuses to sleep, check the obvious details like are the baby’s clothes comfortable? Does he/she need a diaper change? Is the environment around the baby sleep inducing? Just like adults, babies also need a sleep inducing environment to sleep.
⦁ Make sure the baby is not over stimulated before bedtime. Playing peek-a-boo and piggyback rides are not a good idea before the baby’s bedtime.

Phase 2: Monsters and Bedtime Stories (1-6 Years)

This is the stage where you have to focus on setting a consistent bedtime routine for your growing child. At this age, a child needs to sleep around 11 – 12 hours per day.

⦁ Start by incorporating bedtime activities before putting your child to sleep. Set a routine of having the child brush their teeth and change into their jammies. Grab a book and cuddle up with them in bed and read them a story.
⦁ Keep the lights low and have them follow the bedtime routine at least an hour or thirty minutes before they get in bed.
⦁ Don’t let your child watch TV or go anywhere near digital screens or anything that gets them excited before bedtime.
⦁ The most important thing is to stay consistent with the bedtime routine even if your child does not sleep on time. This will enable their body to automatically detect bed time and start inducing sleep when the brain associates the bedtime routine with sleep.
⦁ If your child is wetting the bed or suffering from fear, be supportive and take action. For example, if the child complains of a monster in their room, you can help calm them down by spraying the room with ‘monster killer spray’.

Phase 3: Homework and Video Games! (7-12 years)

At this stage, your child has already gotten used to sleep. Kids this age require an average of 9 hours of sleep. The difficult part now is staying consistent with the bedtime routine. A proper sleep routine is very important for the child because the child needs to focus in school and that is not possible if he/she is sleep deprived.

⦁ Stick to the child’s bedtime routine and focus on bedtime hygiene as well. Kids this age have a tendency to nag when it’s sleep time (“Ten more minutes please mommyyy?”). Don’t fall for it and make them go to bed on time.
⦁ Do not allow activities that can cause the kids to be hyper before bedtime. These include video games, TV, iPads, phones etc. The bedroom environment has to be calm, dark and sleep inducing.
⦁ Do not allow the kids to stay up past their bedtime even on the weekends since it disturbs the body’s biological clock.

Despite the years of sleepless nights annoyed parents spend being woken up in the dead of the night by their children, they are always sad to see them go away to college or move out when they grow older. Hopefully these tips will help you and your children get some sleep and some amazing memories to look back upon down the lane.

About the Author
Eugene Gabriel is a passionate blogger. He has always been fascinated by sleep and how it relates to health and wellness. Read his post on How Sleep Changes with Age. You can follow him on twitter @eugenegabrielj.

Double the Savings on Luvs Diapers! #SharetheLuv

September 23, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 2 Comments

This review was made possible by iConnect and Luvs. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

If you have children in diapers, it seems you can never have enough of them. Kids go through them so quickly, and, of course, you want the best! There’s no way around the fact that parenting is expensive, but Luvs, the official diaper of experienced moms, is offering great money-saving opportunities for parents with little ones.

Softer and more absorbent than ever before, with large stretch tabs for easy fastening, ultra-leakage protection and a money-back guarantee, Luvs Ultra Leakguards with NightLock Plus™ provide the high-quality features babies and parents need for less cost than the premium brands.

HOW TO SAVE

1.Keep an eye out for this Sunday’s newspaper – September 25, 2016 – for a brandSAVER insert from P&G with a Luvs coupon offering $2 off of any one diaper pack.

2.Two weeks later on Sunday, October 9, you can also find another insert inside your newspaper with an additional Luvs coupon offering $2 off any one diaper pack.

3. Use these coupons at any mass, discount or grocery store where Luvs Diapers are sold. Luvs diapers are available in sizes newborn through 6 and feature fun designs in every pack.

All Luvs Diapers are included in this particular offer, except trial/travel sized diaper packs. The expiration date for the September 25th coupon is 10/8/16, and the expiration for the October 9 coupon is 10/22/16.

For more information on Luvs diapers, visit Luvs Diapers online or their social media channels on Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube.

Potty Training is Easier with #PampersEasyUps and a Giveaway!

September 23, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 51 Comments

This post and the accompanying giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Pampers Easy Ups. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Although potty training is a wonderful milestone for toddlers and parents, it can also be very stressful! But, fear not! We have some help for you. Often, potty training can seem overwhelming and when minor leaks or accidents occur, it can feel like a a disappointment. Luckily, Pampers Easy Ups help makes this journey a little easier by providing wonderful leak protection!

We tried everything in the quest for the perfect way to potty train, but, the truth is, there is no perfect way. It’s good to tailor your program to your children and your particular style of parenting. Some tips that worked for us are reading to the kids on the potty to take their mind off focusing too hard on the task at hand as well as putting their books in a basket nearby so they want to stay longer.

While these all worked to some extent, I really feel that the most successful method is support and encouragement as well as minimizing failures. Make the process fun not stressful. Show your children love and they will get there when it’s time for them.

Training pants support the diaper-to-underwear transition for toddlers and their families as they have a more underwear-like look and feel while still helping to keep messes off clothing, bedding and other surfaces no matter where accidents happen: at home, on-the-go or overnight. New and improved Pampers Easy Ups work during the day AND night, enabling toddlers and moms to confidently and completely transition from diapers to underwear. Now, that’s something for kids and moms to get excited about!

Little ones will think it’s underwear, but you’ll know it’s Pampers.

Pampers Easy Ups have a 360° stretchy waistband for an underwear-like fit that’s easy for your toddler to pull up and down by themselves and they’re super soft, like cotton underwear, to keep your toddler comfortable. They also tear easily at the sides just in case it’s needed and dual leak-guard barriers around the legs prevent any leaks that can happen when your little ones are on the move.

A collection of Thomas the Engine and Dora the Explorer designs will help make potty training fun! Easy Ups is also now rolling out new Hello Kitty designs.

SAVE

To help make the potty training process easy and more affordable, Pampers is offering a coupon that you can print at home for $2 off 1 pack of new Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants.

You can clip the Pampers Easy Ups coupon at http://www.coupons.com/brands/pampers-coupons/.

You will need to open a coupons.com account if you do not already have one. It’s free and easy! Then you can print, shop and save – and keep an eye out for more Pampers coupons in the future.

New Pampers Easy Ups are available nationwide in sizes 2T-3T, 3T-4T, and 4T and 5T.

LEARN MORE

Visit Pampers online where you can learn more about Pampers products, join the Pampers Rewards program, and find ideas and info to help your baby get the most out of love, sleep and play. For more information, you can also visit Pampers on Facebook, on Twitter, and on YouTube.

ENTER TO WIN

We’ve also got a fantastic giveaway for you to get you started!

Simply enter via Giveaway Tools below to win a #PampersEasyUps prize package, which will include:

A $50 AMEX Card
Pampers Easy Ups
Ilana Wile’s book, “The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting”

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Living Inspired with #PampersDreams – and Two Giveaways!

June 24, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 117 Comments

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Dreams begin with a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s your little one or yourself, rest rejuvenates and allows imaginations to flourish! This is one of the main reasons we love Pampers products. They’re designed to help your baby sleep comfortably, offering up to 12 hours of overnight protection. A good night’s sleep for your child allows baby, mom and dad to wake well-rested and ready to take on the world.

This summer, Pampers is thrilled to partner with Mom and competitive swimmer, Dana Vollmer, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, her first Olympics since giving birth to her son, Arlen, last March. You can follow her family’s journey along with Pampers on their social channels during the Rio 2016 competitions (#PampersDreams) .

Pampers on Facebook Pampers on Twitter

We all need nurturing and support to pursue our hopes and turn them into reality. Love and encouragement from her family led Dana back to the pool. She was committed to getting back in the game after becoming a mom, so that her new son, Arlen, would grow up realizing the importance of hard work. Seeing his mom achieve her dreams as a competitive swimmer would hopefully ignite his own passions!

Dana’s journey to Rio will be shared with all of us! Her goal of winning gold at this year’s Olympics is not just her dream – it’s the dream of her entire family.

I also want to share a wonderful contest with you sponsored by Pampers:

#PampersDreams Instagram Contest Details

The #PampersDreams Instagram Contest will take place from June 20^th to June 30^th

The winner will receive a $400 AMEX gift card!

Rules:

Post a picture of your little one sleeping and caption it with a big dream that either they have or that you have for them using #PampersDreams
Follow Pampers on Instagram

More good news!

Here on Strange Daze Indeed, we are also hosting a giveaway sponsored by Pampers!
The winner will receive a #PampersDreams prize package which will include:

A $50 Babies R Us Gift Card and Pampers Diapers in your choice of size

Simply enter via Giveaway Tools Below

Entry -Form

Save Up to $200 off Digital Media Academy Summer Camps!

June 10, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 2 Comments

From California to New York, Digital Media Academy tech summer camps are filling up faster than ever! Don’t miss out on the summer experience of a lifetime.

Now is the time to save BIG on the perfect summer camps!

Find discount codes at http://dig.ma/promo to start saving at select locations near you!

At DMA, kids (ages 6-12) and teens (ages 12-17) learn computer programming, app development, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, filmmaking, and much more!

Choose from one week DMA Camps, or step it up with two week DMA Academies, all taught by industry experts and tech professionals.

Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.

Digital Media Academy also offers STEM camps just for girls, called Made by Girls! Learn from a female role model and tech professional in an environment of creative girls just like you!

Hurry, save up to $200 with discount codes found here.
See you this summer at Digital Media Academy! #CreateTheNext

Find your summer camp discount codes at http://dig.ma/promo !

Questions? Call 1(866)656-3342 or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org.

Fun New Educational Apps for your Kids Inspire Creative Play! Introducing #DumbWaysJR

June 10, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 21 Comments

This post is sponsored by Dumb Ways JR and The Motherhood, but all opinions herein are mine.

Open-ended play allows our children to discover, to wander, to dream! It is the doorway to the imagination. We can provide the foundation, but also leave the windows open.

Dumb Ways to Die began in 2012 as a public service announcement by Metro Trains in Australia. It was a campaign designed to promote railroad safety, and safety in general. Its inspiration is that people often pay more attention when learning is presented in fun, unique and interesting ways. The PSA video with its insanely catchy theme song soon became an internet sensation through social media and sharing. Since then, Metro Trains Melbourne’s Dumb Ways to Die apps have celebrated a combined 200 million downloads!

Kids and adults alike have taken to the Dumb Ways characters, but, before they grew up, these silly guys were already making mischief in all sorts of places – in kitchens, planes, trains and more!

Check out Dumb Ways JR!

Dumb Ways JR is a brand-new educational platform for younger kids, aged 3-7 (though older kids love it too!). Recently released, now you can be one of the first families to explore the new apps which are similar to those for older kids but without any gore.

Two new Dumb Ways JR apps are currently available on Apple and Android devices.

Dumb Ways JR Boffo’s Breakfast focuses on teaching young kids about safety while cooking and encourages creativity and role-play fun. In this game, Boffo’s hungry and you’re the chef so it’s time to make him breakfast! Our 6-year old loved cooking up some delicious and not so yummy creations and watching Boffo’s reaction, from smiles and claps to grimaces when he ate a plate full of fish and toothpaste! The open-ended play gave her the chance to experiment and learn and the music kept her entertained while she waited with me for a doctor’s appointment.

This game is wonderful for so many reasons! It fans the fires of your children’s imagination without being too complicated. Kids interact with the game by tapping, stirring, mixing and swiping. This really allows their own creativity to grow and flourish as they create endless food mash-ups for their silly hungry new friend. It also subtly reinforces the lessons we teach them in our own kitchens, such as how to stay safe and not get burned.

Boffo’s face when the stove is turned up too high!

The second app we downloaded was Dumb Ways JR Loopy’s Train Set which was my daughter’s second favorite.

This game has two modes – Drive and Build – with three different levels in each mode, making it great for both younger and older kids. With the same adorable characters, it allows kids and families to explore how trains work, creating their own narratives as they help passengers board and exit the train. In Build mode, the children create their own tracks and can add houses, trees and animals. My daughter loved the train whistle. In fact, all the animations and sound effects are wonderful.

Both games have a For Parents button which is very helpful and insightful and both re-inforce the message of safety in a fun and engaging way.

There are also two more adventures coming from Dumb Ways JR, so be on the lookout! I would tell you more, but, I don’t want to spill the beans. Besides, then, someone might trip on them. 😀

Why not download the apps now. They’re ad-free and inexpensive with no in-app purchases.

Download Dumb Ways JR Boffo’s Breakfast: On The Apple Store and Google Play

Download Dumb Ways JR Loopy’s Train Set: On The Apple Store and Google Play

Connect with Dumb Ways to Die and Dumb Ways JR online:

Dumb Ways to Die website
Dumb Ways to Die Facebook page
Dumb Ways JR landing page
Dumb Ways JR Facebook page
Dumb Ways JR Instagram page

Do you encourage open-ended play for your children?

Save $100 at Digital Media Academy Tech Summer Camps!

May 22, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein Leave a Comment

Don’t miss out on the summer experience of a lifetime! Digital Media Academy tech summer camps are filling up faster than ever – now SAVE $100 with code CR8TECH16 when you register by May 31, 2016.

At DMA, kids (ages 6-12) and teens (ages 12-17) learn computer programming, app development, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, filmmaking, and much more!

Choose from one week DMA Camps, or step it up with two week DMA Academies , all taught by industry experts and tech professionals.

Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.

Digital Media Academy also offers STEM camps just for girls, called Made by Girls! Learn from a female role model and tech professional in an environment of creative girls just like you!

Hurry, save $50 with code CR8TECH16 when you register by May 31!

See you this summer at Digital Media Academy! #CreateTheNext

Find your summer camp at DigitalMediaAcademy.org! Questions? Call 1(866)656-3342 or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org.

Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Digital Media Academy

Potty Training Tips with Pampers Easy Ups and a Giveaway! #PampersEasyUps

April 28, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 50 Comments

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

While potty training is a wonderful milestone for toddlers and parents, it can also be very stressful! But, fear not! We have some help for you. Spring is the time many families kick-off potty training so they are ready for summer fun and then for the start of preschool. Often, potty training can seem overwhelming and when minor leaks or accidents occur, it can feel like a a disappointment. Luckily, Pampers Easy Ups help makes this journey a little easier by providing better leak protection than the leading competitor.

We had rewards like their favorite m&m’s, gummy bears, bubbles or stickers as they progressed. Special achievements included a trip to the toy store or an ice cream sundae. We had books specifically about potty training and we limited night time liquids.

While these all worked to some extent, I really feel that the most successful method is support and encouragement as well as minimizing failures. Make the process fun not stressful. Show your children love and they will get there when it’s time for them.

Pampers Easy Ups work during the day AND night, enabling toddlers and moms to confidently and completely transition from diapers to underwear.

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Tips from L. Jana, MD

1. Promote potty learning. Learning how to use the potty takes plenty of time and patience. It’s more than just training; it is a learning opportunity for toddlers and parents alike that should be enjoyable. After all, mastering this concept of “potty learning” with your little one is a big accomplishment and milestone.

2. Team Spirit. It is important to keep in mind that “teamwork makes the dream work,”especially in the case of potty training. You are not only your child’s biggest fan, you are also their potty training coach. Remember to stay calm in the face of potty accidents and encourage your little one to not worry and try again!

3. Be Prepared. Potty training is an unpredictable adventure that you can best prepare for by ensuring you have all practical supplies on hand. These supplies will help you through any obstacle and can help foster your child’s interest and independence – from a step stool (to improve access to the toilet) or potty seat to training pants. That’s why I’m happy to partner with Pampers, whose Easy Ups training pants are designed to help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to set aside their diapers and wear something with a more underwear-like look and feel that still helps contain accidental messes no matter wherever they happen: at home, on-the-go or overnight.

4. Celebrate every win. As with any learning experience, young children can learn a lot from both their potty successes and their setbacks. While potty accidents are an inevitable (and admittedly inconvenient) aspect of potty learning, they shouldn’t dominate your day-to-day discussions. Instead, simply help your child learn to cope with and clean up any messes, and focus your attention on celebrating your child’s efforts and successes with plenty of hugs and words of encouragement.

5. Watch for signs of readiness. Just about all children give subtle (and some not-so-subtle) signs that they are ready for potty training. These signs of readiness typically include using their words to express themselves, toddling their own way to the bathroom, pulling down their own pants, saying they want to use the “big potty,” and being aware of the sensation of peeing or pooping, characteristically noticeable when young children suddenly stop what they’re doing as they feel themselves start to go. It is also helpful and increases the likelihood of potty training interest when children start to be bothered by their messy diapers, as that can serve as a good motivation for using the potty instead!

6. Start making connections. There’s a lot that you can do to help your child be well-prepared to successfully use the potty long before he or she actually starts doing it. Making up a fun song or reading engaging children’s books about potty training, such as You and Me Against the Pee! (which I co-authored) can go a long way towards making the idea of potty training a more welcome and eagerly anticipated activity. You can take this familiarity a step further by letting your toddler accompany you into the bathroom when you need to go so that he both becomes familiar with the routine and comfortable with the idea of using the toilet, rather than being afraid of or intimidated by it!

JOIN IN!

Join @Pampers on April 28th from 9-10pmEST as they host a Twitter Party with Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician, award-winning parenting book author and potty training expert who co-authored to Its You and Me Against the Pee…and the Poop, Too! Dr. Jana will be sharing her tips to help simplify and improve the potty training experience for little ones and their parents. RSVP here!

CONNECT!

Pampers Website
Pampers on Facebook
Pampers on Twitter

WIN!

Just enter below to win a Pampers Easy Ups Prize Package which includes:

$25 AMEX Gift Card
Pampers wipes
Pampers Easy Ups

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