I Never Grew Up---Ideas and Reviews to Help Parents Entertain, Care for and Educate their Children

Thursday: The Importance of the Arts—Lullabies

vanessa — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:00:17 +0000

Have you entered the giveaway from Baby Steals? If not click here.

Music is used in my home many times a day to help lift moods, to initiate laughter, to wake up but most of all to calm. Lullabies play an important part in our home life and I honestly can say our lives would be different without them. They are used to soothe crying, diffuse temper tantrums during car rides, for special bonding moments and to fall asleep to.

This is just another reason I love Stephanie from Nie Nie Dialogues she introduced me to this beautiful album:

Here is where it is available for purchase and download.

Lullabies sung in our home include:

Baby Mine from Dumbo

Golden Slumbers by the Beatles

Edelweiss and My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music

In the Leafy Treetops from the LDS Primary Songbook

Lullaby by Matt Costa and Jack Johnson from the Curious George Soundtrack

What are the lullabies sung in your home?

Wednesday: Mid-Week Ramblings—Eco-Friendly Toys & Books

vanessa — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:00:54 +0000

This list is of the Eco-Friendly toys and books I am currently in love with:

Indoor Gardening Kit by Green Toys Inc.

Nesting Birds at Natural Pod

Skittles Bowling Set at Natural Pod

Anamalz at Child Trek

Little Gre en Bo oks

Tuesday: Weekly Book Review—-Language & Grammar

vanessa — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:00:45 +0000

Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day by Robin Pulver and Lynn Rowe Reed will introduce your child to grammer in a very playful way. This is a book I have checked out from the library but need to buy to have at home, this one is a keeper!

Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Robin Pulver and Lynn Rowe Reed is a story about a teacher that decides to let punctuation take a vacation and the class learns how valuable punctuation really is.

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni is a clever parable that will teach your children about letters, words, sentences and paragraphs.

Sparkle and Spin: A Book About Words by Ann Rand and Paul Rand explains the power of words you use everyday. The illustrations are colorful, witty and original! The text is clever and flows very well with lots of excitement in it.

Be sure to pick up these books to help develop your child’s language and grammar skills.

Freebie: Computer Game–Dress Up the Christmas Tree

vanessa — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:00:31 +0000

Came across this fun game, Dress Up the Christmas Tree!

Monday: Weekly Family Activity—Twelve Days of Christmas

vanessa — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:00:40 +0000

One of my fondest Christmas memories was seven years ago when I recruited my fiance and family to join me in a Twelve Days of Christmas project. What I did was pick a friend who I thought needed some extra love sent her way. We secretly left a little something on her door every night to for twelve days until Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
2nd Two turtle doves
3rd Three French hens
4th Four calling birds
5th Five golden rings
6th Six geese a-laying
7th Seven swans a-swimming
8th Eight maids a-milking
9th Nine ladies dancing
10th Ten lords a-leaping
11th Eleven pipers piping
12th Twelve drummers drumming

For this particular family I did not do things that went along with the actual themes for the twelve days of Christmas although I did leave tags with the song on them. We gave them things we knew they were in need of or things her little girls wanted from Santa J If you are interested in having it go along with the song more check out these great links:

-Comments at Thrifty Fun

-Great Ideas from EHow

Your family will have a fantastic time doing this. Choose someone you know or maybe don’t know to well that you think needs some extra joy this holiday season.

Thrilled

vanessa — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:14:51 +0000

So excited for the Beehive Bazaar in 4 days, here I come!

Sunday: Entertinment Review—Social Networks for Kids

vanessa — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:00:05 +0000

No not Facebook and MySpace, did you know there are Social Networks for children as young as three?

Whyville.net

“Whyville is a virtual world where boys and girls from all over the real world come to chat, play, learn, and have fun together. You design your face, earn clams by playing games, hang out at the beach, and go to town events at the Greek Theater. You can start your own business, buy a car and give your friends a ride, or write for the town newspaper.”

ClubPenguin.com

Club Penguin is a snow-covered, virtual world where children play games and interact with friends in the guise of colourful penguin avatars.

Imbee.com

imbee is the first free social network designed for young people!

imbeeis your personal spot on the internet. It’s full of fun things to do like

Create a blog
Upload pictures
Make trading cards
Create and join groups

My take on this…coming for a probably to overprotective mother of two little girls….NO. I am going to go with the old fashioned building social relationships face to face with my children. I am also going to follow my Aunts and Uncles rules they have in their home with social networks. My ”tween” (ages 12-14) cousins just barley were allowed to have Facebook but have their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins AND friends as Facebook friends. That way we can all keep tabs on each other and it is very visible to everyone what we are all saying and who we are adding as “friends.” They also have strict rules in their home about where the computer is located, at what hours of the day it is to be used and have rules for how long their children can use the computer per day.

If you do allow your children to use social networks, use these guidelines:

Quick Facts

While social networking sites can increase a person’s circle of friends, they also can increase exposure to people with less than friendly intentions.

Here are tips for helping your kids use social networking sites safely:

Help your kids understand what information should be private.
Explain that kids should post only information that you – and they – are comfortable with others seeing.
Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s website.
Remind your kids that once they post information online, they can’t take it back.
Talk to your kids about avoiding sex talk online.
Tell your kids to trust their gut if they have suspicions. If they ever feel uncomfortable or threatened by anything online, encourage them to tell you.

Taken from the website http://www.onguardonline.gov.

Share your opinion. What do you think of social networks for young children?

Giveaway #16—BabyLegs from BabySteals.com

vanessa — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:05:06 +0000

Baby Steals is hosting this weeks giveaway and will be awarding the winner TWO pairs of BabyLegs for their baby!

The company Baby Steals sells one quality baby or maternity item per day at 50-80% off until is sells out (like the product below). They drop one amazing deal daily at 9am MST and they sell out fast! Be sure to sign up for their Daily Alerts in the upper right hand corner of their home page.

To win this amazing giveaway you MUST:

-Comment on this post ONCE

-Visit Baby Steals and comment on the fun deal they are promoting that day. It changes daily so the correct item must match what day you post a comment so don’t just re post what someone above you said

-Once again if you BLOG about this giveaway I will enter you 5 ADDITIONAL TIMES!

Good Luck Everyone!

Saturday: Shop!—Handmade Christmas #6

vanessa — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:00:24 +0000

I knew there would be something I did not get to for my Handmade Christmas and jewelry making was it. Thankfully I can buy beautiful handmade jewelry items through Etsy. Here is what I was planning on trying to make but found on Etsy instead

Fisheye Gemstone Bracelet by Jonessa Jewelry 30.00

Calm and Cool Adventure Green Earnings 14.00

My Heart Longs for the Sea Necklace by Cinnamon Sticks 40.00

Rose Quartz Chunky Nugget Sterling Silver Ring by Phoebe’s Treasure 14.00

Next year hopefully I can make some of my own!

Thankful for Joy

vanessa — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:52:37 +0000

Joy that Mr. Lucas has brought to my baby sister in proposing…

Joy that my baby baby sister has been called to go on an LDS mission to one of the dearest places in my heart, New Hampshire (with parts of Maine and Massachusetts). Get ready this girl is a hoot.

I am Thankful for all the joy this holiday weekend has brought. I love you guys.

Anyone want to do pictures for free or cheap at a wedding in January in return for free advertising on my site Let me know

What do you think of Social Networks for YOUNG children?
	no way
	Yes with many restrictions
	yes
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