A dad of three is the brains behind an innovative website that lets babies and toddlers play internet video games – with no mouse! Jim Robinson was frustrated when his older kids enjoyed exploring internet games, only to have their little sister left out. So, he created KneeBouncers. This one-of-a-kind website is loaded with 18 games – so little kids can make magic happen on the screen… with any tap on the keyboard. Already, a million parents around the country are logging on. It’s a free program!
The characters, like Sly Cat, are colorful and fun. The sounds the games make are a joy to little ears. The games are interactive and educational. Really, the whole package is so brilliantly put together, I can’t imagine a toddler not enjoying time playing on KneeBouncers! They just use the keyboard in a carefree sort of way by pressing any key to play! Both my kids loved the site when they were younger!
Ever since I watched the Grammys last Sunday night, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the hip hop performance where most of the songs’ words were censored from network television. While art should always be about free expression, I couldn’t help but think about how to counteract the casual acceptance of colorful language at younger and younger ages. So, this week I went in pursuit of great musicals to watch with my classy girl. And given the snowstorm, my timing couldn’t have been better.
Now I know we have all seen the Disney musicals-The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast, The Little Mermaid– either on video or on Broadway, and we know most of those songs by heart. But I went in pursuit of Broadway before Disney. We watched and listened to The Music Man, My Fair Lady, and Fiddler on the Roof. Coming up we have Annie, Gigi, and we might try The King and I. My tween daughter is fascinated by these videos. She not only enjoys the stories and the music, but she bombards me with questions about the time period, the fashions, the culture and the roles of men and women. There is something really magical about sitting with your daughter and watching her watch an old classic Broadway musical.
My daughter will probably not want to download any of the songs from these musicals to her ipod unless she finds herself participating in a school play, but sitting through these classic musicals-together is a great treat for both of you. Micro some popcorn and try one next weekend.
Healthful Mom, Deborah Hernan
Founder, Ottilie & Lulu
Whenever I look at my tween daughter’s face, I can’t help myself; I smile. She is My Little Valentine. I love the way she smiles; I love the way she launches into explanations of things that she knows so much about; I love when I can see her thinking; I love when I see her totally engrossed in the task at hand. Well, you get the idea because I know you feel the same way.
That’s why Ottilie & Lulu is featuring the perfect gift for your Classy Girl this Valentines’ Day. Give Ottilie & Lulu Face Essentials, (a $33.00 retail value), the perfect tween gift and get a 15% discount when you use the coupon code MLCGV (My Little Classy Girl Valentine).
I often look at my classy girl’s face and try to see how she will look when she is older. I see her wide forehead, her crystal blue eyes, her peaches and cream skin, and her beautiful lips. How can I help her to keep her natural beauty?
As most mothers do, I encourage my tween daughter in a good, daily hygiene regime. I also talk to her about how important it is to take care of her skin. She cleanses twice a day with Ottilie & Lulu Clean Skin Face Wipes. She applies Everyday Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 20 to keep her skin from becoming dry or chapped and to protect her from the sun. And, she carries her Sunshine Ball of Lip Balm with SPF 20 in her back pack for application whenever her lips feel dry.
This Valentines’ Day give your beautiful tween Classy Girl all she needs to keep her face naturally beautiful. Give her Ottilie & Lulu Face Essentials . This special gift set comes all wrapped in a delicate white organza bag tied with a red Valentines’ Day ribbon.
A life-long regime of caring for her beautiful face is the best Valentines’ Day gift you can give your Tween Classy Girl!
Contributed by:
Healthful mom, Deborah Hernan
Founder, Ottilie & Lulu
“It’s Never Too Early To Start Protecting A Girl’s Natural Beauty.”
In light of the situation in Haiti, you are perhaps wondering how to share tragedy with your children. Should you avoid the discussion and not mention it unless they do? Should you watch the news together and explain what you see? I think both of those options are quite drastic. Something in the middle is more appropriate and beneficial to your child. After all, you want your child to be compassionate and teach them how to show their love for those hurting but you don’t’ want them to have nightmares or anxiety!
Here to help us understand the best way to help our children through a catastrophe is Dr Charlotte Reznick, with an excerpt from her book, ” The Power of Your Child’s Imagination”.
Tips to Help a Child through a Catastrophe
By Charlotte Reznick PhD
Adapted from her book, The Power of Your Child’s Imagination
The emotional effects of a large-scale crisis or disaster, such as earthquakes, riots, and terrorist events, on children can be tremendous. One of the difficulties experienced by parents is that they have not had adequate time to deal with their own reactions when they are called upon to deal with the impact of the disaster or crisis on their child.
Emotional reactions vary in nature and severity from child to child. Children’s reactions to a disaster are determined by their age, previous experiences, temperament and personality, and the immediacy of the disaster to their own lives. Parents need to be aware that children feel especially helpless when they see horrific images on TV, such as homeless, injured, or orphaned Haitian children following the earthquake. Kids also absorb worry and sadness from their parents, or from classmates who have family ties in Haiti.
Here are some tips for parents to help kids comprehend and deal with such a catastrophe.
- Talk to your children and provide simple, accurate information to questions. Allow them to tell and draw their stories about what happened.
- Talk with your children about your own feelings.
- Listen to what your children say and how they say it. Try to acknowledge the underlying feelings in their words and their actions. For example: “I can see it makes you sad to think about all the people who were hurt by this earthquake.” This helps both you and the children clarify feelings.
- Reassure your child: “We are together. We are safe. We will take care of you.”
- Be honest and don’t deny the seriousness of the situation. Saying to a child: “Don’t cry, everything will be okay,” does not reflect how the child feels and the child knows that, at least in the immediate future, this is not true.
- Respond to repeated questions. You may need to repeat information and reassurances many times.
- Hold your child. Touching is especially important for children when they are distressed.
- Spend extra time with your child and when putting him/her to bed. Talk and offer assurance. Leave the night light on if necessary.
- Observe your child at play. Listen to what she says and how she plays. Frequently children express feelings of fear or anger while playing with dolls, trucks, or friends.
- Have your child imagine not only how it “feels” to be safe, but what it looks like, what sounds she hears, what smells she detects. Evoking as many senses as possible will make the experience seem real.
- Provide play, art, and writing games to relieve tension. You can have him act out, draw, or write out a positive outcome for the situation.
- Plan something practical that your child can do to help (do a pennies fundraiser at school or draw a picture memorializing a person who may have died).
Resolving all of the feelings related to the disaster may take your child (and you) quite a while. It is normal for a child to bring up the crisis long after it has happened and when you least expect it.
* * * * *
Charlotte Reznick PhD is a child educational psychologist, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at UCLA, and author of the LA Times bestselling book The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee/Penguin, 2009). In addition to her private practice, she creates therapeutic relaxation CDs for children, teens, and parents, and teaches workshops internationally on the healing power of children’s imagination. You can find out more about her at www.imageryforkids.com.
This year my classy girl needs an extra special dress for a special occasion in May. After talking to a few moms, I discovered that a lot of girls have upcoming special occasions for which they too will need dresses. So I did what any smart mother would do, I thought about how I could get a special dress without spending my free time (!!) going from store to store and still share a great fashion experience with my classy girl. So we hosted a Trunk Show. Don’t laugh until you try it!
Of course, you need a willing manufacturer. Many small manufacturers are interested in developing personal contact with customers. Luckily for me, I have a good friend who makes special occasion dresses. Like most of you, I have a contact list of mothers who are active, social women. The manufacturer brings the fashion; you bring the buyers. It’s a great combination. Given that it is the dead of winter, my daughter and I decided to turn our trunk show into a fashion mini-party. We had refreshments–some sushi, cheese & crackers, chocolate cookies and vanilla cupcakes. We also had sparkling wine and sparkling water or milk. We purchased some inexpensive craft items for the girls to work with while the mother/daughter teams looked through the racks.
Save the Date cards went out about a month and a half before the date, and the actual invitations went out two and a half weeks before the event. Given that communications were sent via email, the time commitment was minimal.
Our home was transformed into a fashion atelier–complete with background music. Our Buddha Bar CD provided a silky feel. Once the mothers and daughters started going through the racks, dresses were everywhere! It was so much fun to see the girls trying on all the beautiful dresses, posing in the mirror and for each other, and complimenting each other on how nice they looked.
Yes, it took a bit of effort to organize, but the rewards were well worth it. Everyone had a fantastic time–including the event’s organizers! My daughter can’t wait until we do another trunk show. Depending on the manufacturer, you may get your purchase in exchange for organizing the event. Smart fashion choices, a great mother/daughter evening, hosting a trunk show is a great way to start the new year!
If you would like to host a Trunk Show for special occasion dresses similar to the gorgeous ruby silk pictured above, go to A Little Indulgence at http://www.alittleindulgence.us/trunk_shows.php
Contributed by:
Healthful mom, Deborah Hernan
Founder, Ottilie & Lulu
“It’s Never Too Early To Start Protecting A Girl’s Natural Beauty.”