Does your kid know how to call you?

Many children know their home phone numbers, but does your 5 year-old know your cell number? Even a young child of 4 can learn to memorize her mom’s cell number if you make it into a song. Say the number with a bit of a tune, and break up the first three and second four numbers. Then, repeat it in the same way each time. If you work on this together for about one month, she will get it.

 

Teach your children how to use both your home phone and your cell phone. This can start as young as 5 by having your children call Grandma. Practice a few times together, then let your child try it on his own. Teach not only the buttons, but also how to talk into the speaker section and hold the ear piece properly.

 

Once your children are in elementary school, you can teach them how and when to call 911 from both your home and cell phones.

Fast and Super Healthy Kid-Friendly Breakfast

This quick breakfast packs in loads of omega 3 fats as well as antioxidants. Best of all - your kids are sure to love it! Serve with a side of fruit or fresh-squeezed OJ and the kids are ready for a productive day at school.

Serves 2 children under 12:

Grind the flax and sunflower seeds in a coffee grinder and keep in the refrigerator.

½ cup old-fashioned, slow cooking oatmeal

1 cup non-fat milk or organic, unsweetened (not plain)* soy milk

1 tablespoon ground flax seed

1 tablespoon ground sunflower seed

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

2 chopped dried dates or 1 tablespoon pre-chopped dried dates

2 teaspoons unsweetened powdered cocoa (the type used in baking)

 

Place oatmeal and milk in a medium, microwave-safe cooking bowl and cook on high for 2.5 minutes. Otherwise, cook on stove top just prior to boiling and transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Do not overcook.

 

Mix in ground flax and sunflower seeds with a whisk or fork. Mix in walnuts and dates with a spoon and divide into two serving bowls. Sprinkle top of each serving with 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa and serve.

 

*Plain soy milk is loaded with sugars, salt, and fillers. Only serve your children organic, unsweetened soy products.

When bulk (and sale) buying costs you more...

We've all heard the advice to take advantage of sales. Especially at the grocery store, when a product we already buy is on sale. Did you know this could be ruining your budget?

Here's an example. Our family uses 9 cups of organic, frozen blueberries each week in our daily smoothies. That's a lot of blueberries. So when they are on sale, I'd like to buy up the whole rack! We know we are going to use them (eventually). But what happens when that purchase puts me over my weekly food budget?

 

If you consistently go over your weekly budget, then your annual costs will be more. Your "budget" then becomes a fantasy and is useless. If you are only $10 over budget each week, that comes to $520 per year (or a plane ticket to Hawai'i). How much were you over budget this week?

 

Sticking to your weekly food budget applies to all purchases.  Do not be tempted to over buy when you see sales and bulk pricing. Most people can't adjust from week to week to accommodate $10 over one week and $10 under the next. The excuse, "But I will use them," just doesn't work. You either hit a budget or you don't.

 

If you have children shopping trips can be great educational tools on life-skills, budgeting, saving money for items, and living within your means.

 

Next time you see ground beef, blueberries, milk, or coffee on sale, make sure you don't over buy - stick to your budget!

Are Kids' Foods Ripping You Off?

Save Money Now! Stop buying food items labeled "baby" or that are designed especially for kids. Most of the time you'll pay almost double for the same product just because the manufacturer has packaged it for babies or kids.

For example, if you want to buy apple puree for your baby consider buying organic apple sauce in larger containers. Not only do you save money, you're helping the environment by choosing products with less packaging.

Healthy kids' cereals usually have an adult equivalent with a lower price tag. The same goes for granola bars, cheese sticks, and cracker snacks. Look for the same type of product that is for adult use. Do you give your kids fish oil supplements? Compare the price and dosage size to the adult product. And we are sure you know to look at the unit price rather than the per item price when comparing.

If you have a easy money saving tip, please share it with our Spot On Ideas community.

UV Protection To Go

If you are planning an outing on a sunny day and want to protect your infant from the sun; give the PeaPod by Kidco, Inc. a try (http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5). The outer cover provides UV protection for baby and with an inflatable mattress it can double as a travel bed. Amara used one on a recent vacation and found it to be the perfect way for the baby to take a nap and be protected from the sun while the rest of the family enjoyed the beach. It also folded up easily and did not take up too much room in her suitcase.

Help Young Kids Survive Birthday Parties

Just by preparing kids, having a sugar strategy, and limiting time, parents can help youngsters have a good time at birthday parties. Email this post now to all your friends with little kids!

We use these techniques for a friend's party that we attend, and our own kids' parties at our home. Many times children are more nervous about their own party.

Preparation: We all know that mental preparation and setting clear expectations helps parents and kids to be happier and more relaxed. Parents should decide ahead of time (and not 10 min before the party) a list of rules to review with their child. It is also good to discuss what will happen and possible scenarios. The preparation time and content will be based on your family, the age of your child, and your child's personality. In our experience, just the fact that we discussed the party ahead of time with our kids and some general expectations (both theirs and ours) was enough to create a more enjoyable experience for them.

Sugar: What about the sugar? We like to limit sugar intake in our kids, but don't forbid them to have cake and candy. Our rules are one piece of candy, cake, etc. The other thing we do to help kids survive is by serving them high-fat foods before we attend the party. Try to load them up with full-fat cheese, milk, eggs, before you leave the house. We also keep cheese sticks in the car for the drive home. In our personal experience, kids and parents are much happier when the kids were given a high-fat meal before birthday parties.

Time: Limit the time. Two hours is a long time if you are 4. Make sure you stay at a party only 1-2 hours for any child under 6. Don't overbook your kids! Make sure your child has down time before and after "big" events like this. If you overbook your kid, and she acts up or has a behavior issue, that's her signal to you that she is stressed out.

Below are some of our rules for young kids. You will need to add and modify based on the situation (e.g., is the party at a public park, at a pool, restaurant, etc.).

• If there is candy we may have one piece.
• When someone gives us a piece of cake or glass of milk, our family says "Thank You."
• We wash hands before eating cake.
• You will leave without complaining when mommy/daddy asks you (make sure to give them a 5-min warning prior to leaving event).
• You will cooperate when mommy/daddy asks you to go to the potty.
• If we get candy when we leave, we don't eat it in the car. We save that for another day.
• We are nice to friends and a share toys.
• We do not whine, we talk in a normal voice.

If you have tips for helping kids survive b-day parties, send them along for all to share!

Sooth Babies Quickly (and get them to sleep)

Amara had a new baby boy in February! Her trick for soothing him to sleep or to calm him during colicky periods...sit on an exercise ball. She has a big exercise ball; she can sit and lightly bounce on the ball with baby in arms. Exercise balls tend to be more comfortable for mom (also great alternative to chairs during last months of pregnancy). Dads like it too, most of the time parents are so tired from all the night feedings and laundry, that walking around trying to sooth the baby is exhausting. The ball is great for babies that like to be walked. In our combined experience, rocking chairs and gliders just don't work as well as the bouncing. Email this tip to all the new or expectant moms you know! Exercise balls make a fantastic baby shower present. You can find exercise balls at stores like amazon.com, Target, etc. Here is a link to the Gaiam site: http://www.gaiam.com/category/fitness-center/exercise-balls.do?gcid=S18376x028&keyword=exercise%20ball

Pack Emergency Meals

If you are traveling with kids, be sure to leave some room in your checked suitcase for food that can be prepared without having to hit a restaurant when everyone is exhausted, eat fast food, or make that late night stop at the grocery store. Foods such as instant oatmeal, individual apple sauce packs, or macaroni and cheese (with the squeeze cheese packets) are ideal because they only require little to no preparation. Now you can relax knowing you won’t have a food emergency. You can also put these in a purse or backpack during your vacation so you have instant meals kids eat.

Need a Restroom Break?

If you are out and about and your child suddenly needs to use the restroom; look for a Starbuck’s coffee shop. Starbuck’s shops are everywhere and have individual restrooms which is easier for families. This is especially true when Dad is out with the kids so Dad does not have to make the choice between bringing your daughter into the Men’s Room or sending her into a public restroom alone. Share suggestions of stores that have individual or family restrooms in your neighborhood with other parents so that you always know where to go when your kids “have to go.”

Simple Trick to Keep Track of Your Kids in Stores and Parking Lots

Tell your kids they need to keep one hand in one of your pants’ pockets. Not wearing pants? We use our purses, coats, or anything you are wearing. In the grocery store, my kids hold onto, or ride in, the cart at all times. The goal is you want to be able to keep track of them but allow them some independence since they do not always want to hold your hand. We always review the rules in a friendly manner right before stepping out of the car.