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Category Archives: Kids Do

Apps We’re Loving Right Now

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One week into summer and our once crazy, hectic routine is M.I.A. Our mornings are now lazy and unregulated. That’s okay, of course. No one is complaining. One of the kids’ favorite things to do now is revel in extra screen time.

Playing on the iPad is a treat usually withheld during school until the morning routine requirements are met: teeth, hair, clothes, breakfast, lunch-packing. But during the summer, the kids can lounge in their pajamas, sip on chocolate milk and play on Mama’s iPad.

Must be nice.

All sarcasm aside, as I poured myself my morning java, I enjoyed hearing the kids’ excited voices showing one another what they’d accomplished or discovered. It may be screen time, but it helps them interact in positive ways and those are the moments I love.

Here are today’s HOT APP picks by my eight year old and five year old:

TURBO RACING
Have you seen the trailers for this new film coming out in July called TURBO? It’s about, of all things, a snail who discovers he is fast as lightning! He is found by a man, named Tito who just happens to run a snail racing team. Cool, huh?

My daughter is currently head-over-heels for snails. We have seven in captivity at this moment. I have to say, they’re nice pets: no shedding, barking, litter boxes or vet bills. However, they are a bit odd, slimy, and not particularly willing to be petted (although my girl would argue with that).

Check out TURBO RACING. It’s a ton of fun for FREE!

DON’T LET THE PIGEON RUN THIS APP
The wonderful children’s book series by Mo Willems is phenomenally brought to life in this app narrated by the author. Here kids can inject their own humor into the story, Mad Libs style, following prompts by the author. The kids pick rather amusing situations which the app interjects into the story via the recorded answers by the kids themselves (which adds an air of coolness for them).

I apologize that I don’t recall the price of this app, but I know for a fact that I rarely agree to pay more than a couple of bucks. No matter, this app is an oldie and a goodie; my kids return to it time and again. So, in my opinion, it’s worth a TON of money.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and that these new app ideas bring smiles to the faces in your house… Theirs AND yours!

 
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Posted by on June 17, 2013 in Kids Do

 

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Advice Substantiated

My seven-year-old argued with me and absolutely refused to put on clean underwear one morning recently. It baffled me. I could not understand why in the world she was unwilling to remove her panties and change into a nice, new clean pair. Especially since she was in the act of changing from her pajamas anyway. No argument would make her budge. Not the “it’s just what we do” stance or the more frightening, “but if you don’t you may get sick and need a SHOT!” tactic. She stood firm.

Many minutes, precious morning routine minutes, passed during this debate.

I forget now what made her cave, but she eventually did. (Thank goodness.)

Yesterday I got the reinforcement I had prayed for, but in the strangest of places.

She was enjoying one of her favorite treats, a bottle of Sweet Leaf honey-mint green tea. The underside of the lid always offers a ‘Grannyism’. Yesterday’s was perfect! My girl turned stone-faced as she read it aloud.

Mom wins!

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Posted by on September 9, 2012 in Kids Do

 

Play the Game

Okay. I admit I must be a failure. I must be playing the game ALL wrong.

My 7YO refuses to take a bath. I insist, telling her, “The other kids at school are gonna call you ‘Stinky’. You don’t want that, do you?” Doesn’t budge. I tell her, “You have to keep your body clean, to be healthy. You don’t want to be sick just because you didn’t bathe, right?” Nothing. I get more firm. “You have to take a bath. Mama bathes. Daddy bathes. Nana bathes. Mimi bathes. It’s what we do. We may not want to… but we have to. Now, get in the tub.” Tears start. (Hers, not mine.)

By this point, I’m angry.

Here’s a beautiful bathtub filled with just-right-temperature water complete with bubbles and toys and she refuses to get in. Refuses to take her clothes off. What do I do?

I call in Daddy.

He tries the same techniques, then HE gets angry, too.

What’s left? Giving her choices. It’s all the Parenting Rage to give them CHOICES, right? So, Daddy says, “You’re taking a bath. You may choose to get in yourself, or I will help you. Your choice.”

She continues to refuse. She continues to cry.

When I finally ask her why she doesn’t want to take a bath, she replies, “I don’t want to get wet.”

I’m flabbergasted.

We threaten with this: No bath. No birthday party. (There’s one on the horizon she really wants to attend.)

Nada. Just more tears.

Suddenly, out of nowhere we hear a small voice: “I wanna get in!”

It’s little brother. He wants to play in the bath. I say, “Okay, honey, jump in!”

Within seconds BOTH kids are naked, in the bath, having a blast.

I am exhausted and it’s morning. I just woke up.

I call my daughter My Dream Come True. Today, well, I guess I’ve still so much to be thankful for: She’s bright, creative, funny and has a big heart (especially for animals). This will of hers might come in handy some day. I hope she’s this stubborn when some idiot offers her drugs or asks her to marry him at age 16.

Sheesh!

 
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Posted by on August 30, 2012 in Kids Do

 

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