We all want our children to be kind, confident, cooperative, and assertive. It can be hard to teach our children to handle so many different behaviors. We miss providing learning opportunities for our children when we unknowingly make these damaging parenting habits. Many times, these habits that we started as a way to help them
I believe living with gratitude is the key to happiness. Let's dive into 5 ways to teach gratitude to children.
A big obstacle adoptive and foster parents face is their child’s lack of sleep (aka: refusal to sleep or rest, inability to sleep). Many adopted and foster children have a difficult time falling an…
Dreading the preschool drop off every day? Does your child have separation anxiety? Follow these 7 guidelines.
Being a mother is incredible! These inspirational motherhood quotes put into words the feelings, strength & love a mother has for her child.
We are big fans of calm down jars. These simple rainbow calm down jars are perfect for big emotions and calming any child.
My daughter would have to be handed off to her teacher in the morning. Floods of tears from her and an enormous feeling of guilt from me. How could I just walk away knowing that she’s so sad and anxious? Even though I knew she’d be distracted quickly and move on with her day, she was still feeling anxiety from Sunday through to Monday morning, and every other night when she knew she’d be apart from Mum and Dad the morning after. I’d like to preface this with, there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with your child. Some kids just feel their feelings more deeply, and that means you can help them through this transition. After having a support system from birth, the child has to leave their guardian for hours at a time and learn to navigate new situations. It’s totally ok to be scared and need some extra support. Does my child have Separation Anxiety? To deal with anything, you have to understand it. Generally speaking, the most common and easy-to-identify signs of a child with separation anxiety are: 10 Tips to ease Separation Anxiety Here are a few tips that have come from learned lessons, trial and error, or from other parents and parenting experts. – FYI, I’m not a doctor and my only qualification is that I’m a Dad. So, after reading this, feel free to consult with a Child Psychologist or Therapist. Remember, just because your child might be crying, having a tantrum, or full-on melting down, they’re still a good kid. They’re just a good kid who is having a tough moment. We’ve all been there. Pin This!
Sleep issues are a hot topic in the adoption and foster care community. Last week I highlighted why hurting children have problems sleeping in my post, Why Adopted and Foster Children Have Sleep Is…
Simple box with ribbons that lengthen and shorten as pulled is this DIY tugging box for fine motor development. Never-ending fun for young children.
Early fall, and it's time for canning. My son couldn't stay behind, and had a joyful afternoon of pretend play while canning flower petals.
We at the "White Place" really want to keep our viewers coming back for more! Since we only have 2 shows a year to "sell" our awesome stuf...
The ultimate guide to toy-free experience gift ideas that are clutter-free, super fun and make lasting memories! Plus creative ways to wrap experience gifts up!
I used these positive birth affirmations for both my pregnancies and labours - they really do help!
Whether you are teaching your prechooler at home or working with them in preparation for school, here is a preschool learning folder for you.
There're really only 5 Things to Try If Your Baby Won't Stop Crying. And you know what? They're the only things that work if the crying just goes on and on.
Kids love getting ready for Christmas and a great way to involve them is to make something from this Christmas ornament craft list with them.
Hi everyone Carin here! For my tutorial today to celebrate the fact that spring has finally arrived I decided to make a butterfly mobile to hang in my window in the beautiful spring sunshine (or for those of you who are heading into Autumn now it would work as something to cheer you up when those long winter days come!) Of course for this I just had to use the stunningly beautiful Gabrielle range. I started by cutting out a load of butterflies with my die cutting machine using Gabrielle Fairest, Romance and Stripe. I used a Cuttlebug die which is quite large but of course you can use any punch or die and size of butterfly. I chose to have a different length for each string starting with 1 butterfly on the first string and working up to seven so I used a total of 56 butterflies (28 back to back). I also chose various beads to add that would catch the light! Start by cutting a 2cm x 55 cm strip of very strong cardboard (I used mount board) then staple the ends together a good few times so you have a ring to work with. Cut two 60cm lengths of ribbon loop the ends over the ring and stitch together making a cross so that you have something to hang your mobile with, I also stapled them in place once I had them centred to keep them in the right place. Cut some small flowers out of some coordinating card stock, I used Coral Dot Coordinating Double Dot and a small 5 petal punch and cut about 34 flowers out. Use your paper piercer or something else thin to curl your petals. Stick 2 flowers together back to back and pierce a hole through the middle. Then it is time to start making your strands. I used a stretchy jewellery elastic, the longest piece for the seven butterflies was about 28 inches. I started with these gorgeous chandelier style beads which I tied on then added another bead and threaded the end through then put a spot of clear glue in the end of the bead and once that dried, cut the end of the cord off and added one of the flowers. Start gluing your butterflies (after bending the wings out a bit) onto the string, using a hot glue gun or glossy accents using a thin line down the centre of the butterfly, putting the string through the centre and then adding your second butterfly on top. Add more beads wherever you would like them along the string by tying a knot to hold them in place and threading some beads and a flower on (I added them after every second butterfly). Once you have completed all your strands tie them along your cardboard ring that you made earlier and then cut off the excess. I then took some of the Gabrielle Promenade paper and cut some of the circles out of that, cut them in half and inked the edges. I also had a piece of Gabrielle Stripe paper left over from my butterflies which I used an edge punch on and then cut two 1 and a half inch strips and inked the edges of those. Use some double sided tape and stick the edged strips along the top of your cardboard ring. Put some foam pads on the back of the semi circles to add some dimension and then stick to your cardboard ring overlapping them by about 2 and a half centimetres. Use the Gabrielle stamp set to stamp some butterflies on some acetate with Stazon then cut them out and stick on the edges of the circles alternating with some of the Gabrielle bling. You then have your finished mobile to hang somewhere to make you smile! I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and if you decide to make your own mobile we would love to see it so please share it with us on our Facebook page here. Happy crafting!
Modern cloth diapers are softer and easier to use. Here’s how to choose one that works for you and your baby.
Are your kids eagerly trying to work out who they are going to be dressing up as at this years Book Character Parade? I've put together a collection of book week costume ideas to inspire you, along with a list of some great Aussie books.
Make this handy baby shower gift that supports mum for years to come! 3 green inserts to keep mum's sanity intact for a lifetime! Includes digital files of the popular Newborn Feeding Tracker, Sleep Tracker, and Chore Request Chart. As baby grows, simply remove the back and replace the newborn tracker with one of the included inserts: track sleep and mum's mood, or ask your partner for help with chores/tell them how great they are! Continue to use your tracker to facilitate communication in your family, and to maintain your sanity. Newborn Feeding Tracker (0-12 months): With your newborn comes sleep deprivation like you've never experienced. When you think to yourself, "I JUST fed you 10 minutes ago!" the Dry Erase Newborn Feeding Tracker can set you straight. Sleep Tracker (3-24 months): Once your baby has made that glorious 6-hour sleep stretch, you might be ready to move on from the Dry Erase Newborn Feeding Tracker. The next stage in baby’s development is their naps! I’ve found that mamas are still quite sleep-deprived despite the longer stretches, and it’s helpful to see at a glance baby’s sleep pattern for the day. Moreover, being at home with a baby lends itself to a range of moods for yourself! Share with your partner how you’re feeling, and keep communication open. Before the chaos erases all memory of the sweet little moments, be sure to jot down something that made you smile. Chore Request Chart (0-18 years): Once you've got this mommy thing down, you might be ready to focus on your house management and your relationship again! Politely request help from your partner, and bolster their confidence by saying something nice to them each day. How does it work? • Once you purchase, your order confirmation will have a link to download your file. • Print the inserts and explanation card at home, or place on a jump drive and print at your local print shop. • Once you purchase a pdf, you're welcome to print it as many times as you need! • Place in a 5”x7” frame of your choosing, and include a dry erase marker! Attach the explanation card to help your new mama get off to the right start. Design features: Newborn Feeding Tracker: Large space for tracking the last feeding makes it easy to read in a dimly-lit room. Note which side you fed last (or mark ounces if bottle-fed). Communicate with your partner exactly what you need (a confidence boost, a latte, a break, a shower). Sleep Tracker: Plenty of lines for naps (even those short, 15-minute ones!) Quick snapshot of how you’re doing Remember something sweet with the section at the bottom Chore Request Chart: Keep your relationship strong and your sanity intact by asking for help in a kind way Tell your partner something you appreciate about them What other customers are saying: "Second time ordering and can't wait to order again soon...A unique gift that is thoughtful, inspirational and supportive." ~Erika Z. "So pretty, my sister is going to love it!" ~Gladys J. "Darling. Fast service. Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much!" ~Vicki R. "so cute! can't wait to use this!" ~jschilPhoto "So adorable! I had one sent to my (very pregnant) sister and she loves it! :) Thank you so much!!!" ~Skyler S. ________________________________________________________ FAQ: If I print at home, how does this become dry erase? Once you print and trim, place in a picture frame with a glass front (not acrylic). You’ll be able to write and erase for years to come! Can these be customized? Unfortunately, no. Purchases are as-is. You do have space to make each tracker your own by asking for exactly what you need. Can I get a refund? Sorry, all digital downloads are nonrefundable. If you accidentally purchased the wrong color, please email me at jennifer [!at] committedgifts.com to remedy. I usually respond within 2 business days. Can you do a different color scheme to match my nursery? I have 3 colors to accommodate most decor schemes. New colors may be coming, but I can’t take custom orders at this time. Why don’t you sell these fully assembled and packaged? I used to! However, the cost of shipping a fragile item (glass picture frame) became too cost-ineffective to sustain. However, you are now able to choose your own frame, which many of my customers have asked for in the past! Why isn’t it printing right? Make sure you’re printing at “100% size” or “Actual size” and not “Fit to paper.” Use the best quality for the nicest-looking print. The colors look weird, not at all like my screen. Unfortunately, every screen and printer have different calibration. Please consult your computer/printer manuals for troubleshooting. Can I put this in a bigger frame? Sure! Then you’d want to print at 140% size to fit an 8x10 frame (use your printer's settings to adjust). In research, I found that the 5x7 size is great for a nightstand that tends to get cluttered with water bottles, late night snacks, alarm clock, nursing pads, and medications. If you have space for a larger frame, go for it! My husband wants a spreadsheet for diapers and feeds to share with our pediatrician. Why would I get this? Glad you asked! I started with the spreadsheet too! But I found that trying to read it in a dimly-lit room (and decipher my husband’s handwriting) was so frustrating at 3 am. The benefit of the Dry Erase Newborn Feeding Tracker is that you can write BIG, and you get vital information to YOU. But it doesn’t need to be exclusive. You can use a spreadsheet too! I’m exclusively bottle-feeding. Is this only for breastfeeding moms? Not at all! There’s space to note ounces under the time. Knowing how much was fed last will help know if it’s been long enough! Most of all, congratulations on your new bundle! If you’d like to share your late-night feeding shenanigans or naptime drama, please share on social media with the hashtag #victoryismoms ©2017 Committed LLC, all rights reserved.
I originally posted about my experience exclusively pumping. I wrote my first blog about pumping because I found it difficult to get...
This DIY baby wipes container craft will put the finishing touch on your nursery decor. DIY baby wipes container craft to match nursery decor. Use Mod Podge to add pretty fabric to refillable baby wipes containers - no need to hide your wipes box anymore!
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure policy here. My son, the Happy Baby, was born full-term, via C-section in April of 2012. He was in respiratory distress […]
