Bring the Magic of Christmas Back

“…and I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

Those famous words of the big jolly elf, Santa Claus, ring through the ears of little ones all over the world.

Remember the magic that is Santa Claus?  Remember how you felt opening up that special gift from Santa when you were young?

Help bring that same magic back to your kids this year with a letter hand-signed by Santa that is uniquely theirs.  Each letter is personalized with only special information that Santa would know.  You can choose from 3 cool letters:

1. Basic – includes letter, stickers, crayons and coloring book
2. Reindeer Food – includes letter, personalized wooden scoop, a package of reindeer food and a recipe card from Mrs. Claus’ kitchen
3. Pillowcase – includes letter and a personalized Santa themed pillowcase

Click on the following link to order this little piece of magic and watch your child’s face light up!

http://www.myspecialnote.com

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Silverlit Gyrotor Radio Control Helicopter

 

Product Name:  Silverlit Gyrotor X-Rotor RC Electric RTF Mini Helicopter
Submitted by:  Melissa Birckbichler; New Castle, PA
Rating:  8
Where to buy:  Amazon.com

Description:  The Silverlit Gyrotor X-Rotor RC Electric RTF Mini Helicopter comes ready to fly with an already installed two-channel proportional radio control. It comes with an auto stability system, which makes this great little helicopter safe for both inside and outdoor use.

It comes with everything you need so there are no additional products you need to buy to start your teens flying experience. It’s lightweight at only 38 grams and will provide up to 10 minutes of flight between charges with its lithium polymer flight battery that is integral.

Made from expanded polypropylene foam, the Gyrotor Helicopter is made to last. It also is supplied with a portable charger, r/c transmitter, flight battery and instructions.  Your teen will need not need any experience to fly this helicopter and will be off having hours of fun in no time.

Features:

* Miniature design for indoor flying
* Built-in Li-Poly batteries for long flying time
* Unique roto-blade system for steady lifting-up
* Stabilized by sophisticated gyroscopic effect
* Precision speed control and excellent flying stability
* Two channels digital proportional control
* Pre-selected Tri-bands system
* Power indicator for throttle
* Rudder Trimmer
* Equipped with LED light while flying
* Real-shape body design
* Durable foam body

Specifications:

* Length: 240mm (9.5″) excluding rotors
* Rear Rotor Diameter: 75mm (3″)
* Product Weight: 38g
* Rechargeable Flight Battery
* High capacity integral Lithium Polymer battery
* Charging Time: 20-30 minutes for full charge
* Flight Duration: 5-10 minutes between charges
* Control: Supplied completely assembled and already charged ready-to-fly, with pre-installed 2 Channel Proportional Radio Control. Take off, hover and descend, turn left and right. It has a pre-set forward motion.
* Range: Up to 100ft
* Frequency: 27MHz Bands A, B, & C to allow up to three Silverlit models to be flown together, on different Spot Frequencies.
* Batteries Required: 9v Battery for Transmitter
Review:  Sometimes it’s harder to grab the attention of teen boys and pull them away from the fun and excitement of computer’s and video games.  This hot little product will keep your teen boy entertained for hours. 
 
Criticism:  The cons I have found with this product though can be the ten minute flight time with up to a 30 minute recharge time so make sure you have something to captivate your child’s time while your waiting for this item to recharge.  It is best used in calm outdoor weather. Despite these issues I have experienced the kids having fun and enjoying flying their Gyrotor. The kids will be lined up waiting for the time to pass when they are recharging.

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Holiday Shopping at It’s Personalized Best

Do you hate the mall this time of year?  Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be too much.  I’ve found a great alternative and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home!

My Special Note has the perfect solution to “what do I buy little Susie this year?” – Personalized Children’s Books

            

Your child (or niece, nephew or grandchild) can become the star of their very own story with some of their favorite cartoon and comic book characters.  They’ll never tire of reading their special story.  It will become a treasured keepsake for years to come!

What are you waiting for?  Get over to My Special Note and check out all of the cool titles!

http://www.myspecialnote.com

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10 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About the Big “C”

Anyone watch Desperate Housewives?  I’m hooked again…this season, for some reason, has got me hooked.  Maybe it’s Dana Delaney’s new secretive character…I don’t know.  But, one of the storylines that has caught my interest is Lynette’s cancer.  My mom had cancer when I was a teenager, and it frankly scared the crap out of me.  You’re always afraid your parents are going to be taken away from you.  I am enjoying the Lynette storyline because of the open communication she is having with her entire family.  Cancer is hard enough for adults to deal with, but it is extremely difficult to explain to children. Kids usually can understand a lot more than we think.  It just has to be explained in a way that makes sense to them.  Whether it’s an adult in their life that has the cancer or the child themselves, honesty is the only way to deal with explaining it.

1. Keep it simple, especially with younger children.  A good rule of thumb is to let them ask questions and simply answer what they ask.  Don’t give them more information than they need at the time.
2. Practice what you want to say before you sit down with the child.  It won’t prepare you for all their possible questions, but it will help you to have a better idea of the direction and tone of your conversation.
3. Reassure the child that the cancer is not catching.  When they hear it’s a disease and it makes people sick, they will want to know if they can get it.
4. Talk to them in terms they will understand, such as the cancer cells are like the bad guys attacking the body and the doctors are like Superman or Batman, trying to fight the bad guys.
5. Tell them it’s ok to be scared and mad.  Show them healthy ways to express and deal with those feelings.
6. When treatments begin, explain the changes that will occur: the stomach problems, the hair loss, weakness and any other differences to what they are used to.
7. Find a support group for the family because it helps them to know they aren’t the only ones going through this. Knowing someone else has been where they are can really help a child to feel like there is hope.
8. Let them know that people can and do survive cancer, but it will be a tough fight and the family will have to work together to make the most of their time.
9. Talk to the child about death, especially if they haven’t lost a loved one before.  It’s a tough concept, even for adults, but it will help even if just a little.  Remember to keep it in terms they can understand.
10. Always take the time to make memories and tell them you love them.

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Micro Spy Kit X-2

Product Name: Micro Spy Kit X-2
Submitted by: Caleb Lauth, Atlanta, GA
Rating: 8
Where to buy:  Amazon.com

Description: The Micro Spy Kit X-2 contains a micro ear light that you wear around your ear which has an adjustable stem to make it fit. It has a secret agent pen that writes with invisible ink, and a decoder light to use with it to read the messages you wrote. It also has a spy micro listener with microphone, ear bud and carrying clip that lets you hear things far away. It also has a spy motion alarm that you can use to detect intruders. It comes with a utility belt that you can wear all the gadgets on for convenience. It costs around $20 at toy stores and needs.

Review: My favorite tool would be the secret agent pen and spy motion alarm. Sometimes when my brother isn’t looking I turn the spy motion alarm on. And the secret agent pen lets me write secret messages to my friends. I like the  micro listener because I can hear what my brother is talking about even when he’s far away. The micro ear light is cool because it helps me see in the dark (I’m afraid of the dark). But if your kid likes Spy Kids, he’ll like this toy.

Criticism:  The micro ear light doesn’t fit my ear so well.

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Homemade Costumes Can Be Fun for Everyone

Cost and time are always the two main factors when you’re deciding whether you should purchase or make your Halloween costumes.  One other factor to consider is the FUN FACTOR.  Making a costume from scratch is a great way to get the creative juices flowing and also a great way to get your kids to appreciate using their heads and their imagination.  Lots of costumes can easily be made from clothing that’s already in your closet.  The FUN FACTOR comes in with the accessorizing and makeup!

Here are some ideas to help give you a jumpstart:

Scarecrow:
Somewhere in your family closets there is likely to be a well worn, torn and frayed pair of jeans, and an old shirt. You may even be able to find an old straw hat. From that foundation costume, glue some straw under the hat and around the cuffs of the shirt and pants. You might find a bird you can sit on the hat from your Christmas tree decorations. From there, most of your effort will go into face painting and finishing off the overall look.

Pirate: 
A basic costume can begin with an old shirt and cut down old jeans, with a bandana around the head. Your main effort would go into setting up the accessories such as a broad belt and sword, an eye patch, face painting and artificial tattoos.

Basic Outfit to Jumpstart Many Costumes:
Start with a long sleeved turtleneck top and pants (sweatpants or skinny pants).

Witch – A black outfit like this needs only a black cape, a witch’s hat and some makeup and you are ready to cackle!

Animals – Other colors could become animal costumes with the addition of a tail, ears, mittens and some face paint. Some costume shops have partial costumes such as faces, noses, tails and ears available to add these features to your basic costume. For a tiger, for example, some black fabric paint on a yellow outfit could be used to create stripes. A little stuffing under a yellow outfit and you have the beginnings of a plump Winnie The Pooh.

Skeleton/Zombie – Use luminous paint on a black outfit like this to draw a skeleton front and back and you have a very scary Zombie costume. Just add some white fabric around the head and some face paint for a skull.

Tin Man – This beloved character from the Wizard of Oz could be represented by spray painting this basic outfit with a metallic paint. Gloves, old shoes and a hat could also be painted to complete the costume.

By using this approach, instead of spending a lot of time cutting out and sewing fabric, most of your effort in making the costume will go into the FUN FACTOR that your children will take pride in helping with.

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Good Study Habits – Instill Them Early

When I was a kid, if homework didn’t get done, there were severe consequences.  Today, with TV, video games, and other distractions available for kids to put off studying and completing homework assignments, encouraging study habits at the beginning of the school year can make all the difference in a child’s educational achievements.

Need some good ideas to help motivate your child?  Here are a few:

• Designate an area or room where your child has a desk and chair.
• Ensure there is no TV, stereo or other distractions in the room.
• Determine when homework should begin.  Some children are eager to begin and get their homework done right after school, while others need a little time to regroup and rest before tackling the assignments.  Decide with your child which method will work best for him.
• Allowing a specified time for homework is also recommended.
• Taking ten minutes breaks in between homework assignments can alleviate the child becoming too tired to continue.
• Getting up and walking around the room or simply stretching can also alleviate leg and back pain.
• Ask family members to eliminate as much noise as possible during study time.
• If your child has a problem with a subject area, it is recommended that you offer assistance but not to engage in completing any homework assignment.
• Ensure the child has a good night’s sleep.  Oftentimes children are so tired they come home and take a nap, thus they begin their homework at a late hour and the cycle continues the next day.

It is estimated that children today have to spend more time attending to homework and studying than the average person spends in an office.  Whether your child attends elementary, middle, or high school, having the tools to achieve success begins with a set of rules and regulations for the entire family which can help your child maintain good study habits.

Children have a lot of pressure at school and are bombarded with assignments every day.  Whatever can be done to alleviate any stress associated with homework and studying can only lead to good habits and a happy and healthy outlook.

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Dr. Suess Recipes and Activities Your Kids Will Love

My friends over at Dine Without Whine came up with these terrific things to do with the kids and they all relate to Dr. Suess books!  Read and enjoy…

What child doesn’t grow up with Dr. Seuss books? We have quite a few of them lying around the house. The kids love the silly characters and the rhymes. The Dr. Seuss inspired recipes and activities that I’m about to share with you have been a great hit in our house. Of course the famous green eggs and ham are included, but there are also quite a few other snack and meal ideas. Create a fun Dr. Seuss inspired afternoon with some of these recipes and of course don’t forget to read a few of the books with your kids. (If you don’t own any, enjoy a trip to your local library.)

Green Eggs and Ham
This has to be the most famous Dr. Seuss inspired dish. Scramble a few eggs, add a couple of drops of blue food coloring to the mixture and cook as usual. You can serve a warmed up slice of ham with it, and if you want to go all out, brush the ham with a little green food coloring.
My kids love either biscuits, or mashed potatoes with this dish. Add a little food coloring (either green, or a complimentary color like red) to the biscuit dough or the finished mashed potatoes for even more fun.

Cat in The Hat Snack
Make the Cat’s Hat for a fun snack. All you need is a few Ritz crackers, gummy lifesavers (preferably in white/clear and red) and a little vanilla frosting. Put the Ritz cracker on a plate. Use a little bit of vanilla frosting to glue the first lifesaver on the cracker. “Glue” more lifesavers on top of the first one alternating between red and white.
These snacks are so cute; you may want to take a picture of your child’s creation before it is devoured.
 
Wiggly Fish
This snack was inspired by  “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”. Prepare several different colors of Jello according to package directions and pour each flavor into a shallow pan. Use a fish shaped cookie cutter to cut the Jello into fish shapes.  (If you don’t have a fish shaped cookie cutter you could also just cut fish shapes with a knife.) You can also add small pieces of fruit to the Jello mixture before it cools. This is a great way to sneak an extra serving of fruit into your child’s diet.
 
Pink Ink for The Yink
The Yink in “One Fish, Two Fish” love to drink pink ink. Make your own version by combining a few strawberries (either fresh, or frozen and thawed) and some milk in a blender. Add a few drops of red food coloring if the “ink” isn’t pink enough.
 
A Fruity Hat For The Cat
How about this for a fun Sunday breakfast? Whip up a batch of silver dollar pancakes and cut up some fresh strawberries. Grab some whipped cream and let the kids assemble the Cat’s hat by stacking pancakes, and strawberries on top of each other using the whipped cream as “glue”.
Enjoy a few of these Dr. Seuss recipes and activities with your family, or invite a few neighbor kids over for a Dr. Seuss party. Either way they are a lot of fun and a great way to bring some of the Seuss stories to life.

Want more family friendly recipes and crafts ideas?  Visit Dine Without Whine for a sample weekly menu plan your entire family will love and www.kinderinfo.com for tons of craft and activity ideas that are sure to keep your little ones entertained. 

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Reader Rabbit Preschool Learning System

Product Name:  Reader Rabbit Learning System Preschool
Rating: 9
Where to buy:  Amazon.com

Description: Reader Rabbit is an aged based software set that will help your young child to learn patience and how to listen and apply what they hear to help them learn.  It teaches developmental skills though a combination of learning techniques and aides. 

Review: This 3 CD software set is perfect for your preschooler.  It is very easy to follow and understand.  Because it is completely oral (no reading involved) your child can listen and know exactly what they are being shown and how to apply it. 

It has 3 CD’s that include games and lessons, printable activities and original song sing-a-longs.  It also includes flash cards and stickers.

It has wonderful animation to help keep your child’s attention while they are learning.  If you plan to home school your children this is the perfect way to start your preschooler.  It is also age appropriate so you can begin at a young age and work your way up into school age children.

There are demonstrations of all activities along with child participation. A correct answer will receive positive feedback and a wrong answer will follow up with helpful hints for your child so they can find the right answer on their own. This also gives your preschooler the satisfaction of “getting it right”.

Criticism:  This software works wonderful on Windows based PCs, but when used on a Mac you can have some issues trying to get it to work properly.

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Take Some “Couple” Time With Your Spouse – It’ll Do Wonders for the Kids Too!

Let’s face it SuperMom, taking care of a family, the house, and working full time can definitely deplete your energy.  This can have a direct affect on how you deal with your children.  Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all with your husband and spend some quality time together.  If you are becoming more irritable, snapping at the kids, or losing sleep, here are some suggestions on how couple time benefits the kids.

• Stress! – We all work hard to support our families, but in doing so we can become increasingly irritated over the small stuff.  When it comes to kids, they can push buttons like no one can, right?  If you and your husband are overworked and extremely tired from all you have to deal with on a daily basis, and you begin taking it out on the kids, it’s time to stop, take a breath, and arrange some alone time together.
• Recharge Your Batteries – Call upon a family member to watch the kids on a Saturday, and you and your husband either go to the beach, the park, golfing or whatever suits your fancy.  Perhaps you’d like to have dinner at your favorite restaurant?  When was the last time you were able to do that?  Or maybe you haven’t been to a movie in ages, and would just like to watch it in peace. 
• Adult Conversation – Sometimes you just need to be able to sit and talk, catch up, and simply enjoy each other’s company.  These are the things most couples with children need to do.  If you spend all day with the kids, you miss out on adult conversation.  When your spouse arrives home, he too may be too tired to talk.  Thus, the irritation builds up and you find your kids caught in the middle of your meltdown.
• Kids Feel What You Feel – If you fly off the handle at them because you are stressed at your situation, they blame themselves, which is not conducive to a healthy familial relationship.  However, after you and your husband have had a day to yourselves, you are more energized, better able to cope with the events of the day, and especially able to take care of your children calmly, lovingly, and without undue stress. 

Monitor both you and your spouse’s behavior.  At the first sign of a problem, nip it in the bud before it escalates.  Your children will be the better for it.

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