Monthly Archives: August 2011
Kid’s Easy To Make Bird Feeder
By now you know how much we support wildlife and how many benefits there are for children to be outdoors. We love this easy-to-do bird feeder that helps your kids be creative and gives them more opportunities to get close to nature.
What you need:
- Pine cones
- Peanut butter
- Spoon
- Newspaper
- Birdseed
- String
What to do:
- Put down newspaper so you don’t get your table all full of peanut butter.
- Tie a string on the top of the pine cone.
- Take a spoon and spread peanut butter on the pine cone. (You can also use a butter knife if your child is old enough)
- Roll pine cone in the birdseed.
- Hang up pine cones in trees or near windows.
Keep a little notebook by the window to use as bird log. Whenever someone sees a bird eating out of the “feeder” they can record it and share their sightings with the family.
What You Need to Know about Buying a Baby Carrier
Baby carriers are not only a great way to bond with your baby, but they are essential for busy moms and dads in need of two free hands. Here are some of our helpful tips for using and buying a baby carrier:
Things to consider before you buy:
Tips for using your new carrier safely:
The Jeep 2-in-1 Sport Carrier gives you the freedom to go anywhere with your baby close by. The forward facing option and adjustable seat and leg openings accommodate a growing baby, while the mesh window and wide padded shoulder straps offer you comfort and support.
Fun Peach Party for Children to Celebrate National Peach Month
August is National Peach Month and what better way to celebrate this yummy fruit than to have a fun-filled Peach Party with your kids. You can even invite over their friends for a real peachy event!
What you will need for the party:
- Peaches
- A copy of James and the Giant Peach
What you will need for the craft:
- Tissue paper in orange, yellow and pink
- Non-toxic glue
- Paper plate
- Scraps of brown and green paper
- Scissors (adult use only unless child is able to use safely)
What to do:
Set up an area outside if possible for your peach party. Have a big bowel of washed peaches in the middle of the area where you will hold the peach party. If you want to be really creative you can have several peach dishes for the kids to eat such as:
Read James and the Giant Peach while the children enjoy their peach snacks. Have everyone clean up from eating their juicy peaches and begin the peach craft.
- Tear or cut tissue paper into squares.
- Put glue on a portion of the plate (you don’t want to put it on the whole plate because it may dry by the time your child gets to decorating that side of the plate).
- Put the colored tissue all over the paper plate that has glue on it. Once finished, put more glue on plate & then put down more tissue paper.
- Cut out a small rectangle of brown paper for peach stem.
- Cut out leaves with the green paper.
- Attach stem and leaves to top of peach.
- Leave to dry.
- When the plate is dry trim any rough edges.
Fun Facts about peaches to share with kids:
- Peaches are a fruit that grow on trees.
- Georgia is known as the peach state.
- California, however, provides half the world’s supply of peaches.
- Peaches are believed to be native to China.
- Peaches are a good source of fiber and vitamin C.
Enjoy!
Back to School Tips
School is back in session, or will be soon, for many youngsters. To help ensure a smooth transition from the lazy summer days to the busy school year, we have a few helpful tips:
The American Academy of Pediatrics has even more great back to school tips on everything from backpack safety to good study habits.
Kolcraft’s Newest Mom
We are happy to announce a new member to the Kolcraft family. Michelle, our marketing communications manager, and her husband welcomed a baby girl last week. We wish their family well and we look forward to meeting the newest Kolcraft baby.
Colleen Fahey, our digital media specialist, will be leading the conversation on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Take a look at some of the great topics we have coming:
- Balancing work and parenting
- End of summer picnic
- Elephant appreciation day
If there is a topic or craft you want us to share on this blog, send it to cfahey@kolcraft.com and we will do our best to get it in the schedule.
Happy Mom Monday Michelle! Congrats!
Spending the Night Under the Stars with Your Family
As the summer months are coming to a close, it’s not too late squeeze in one last staycation this weekend! Camping in the backyard is a fun way to explore the many wonders of outer space with the whole family. So pack up your sleeping bags, tents and flashlights and head out to the backyard with your future Galileo or mini Neil Armstrong for a fun-filled night of discovery! Here are a few ideas to make your backyard adventure a night to remember:
Happy camping!
Jeep 2 in 1 Travel Booster Seats & Everyday Bag
Do you love going out to eat with your family but dislike the old, grimy booster seats and high chairs that restaurants provide? Want to go to your favorite French bistro, but can’t because they don’t have high chairs for the little ones? The Jeep® Travel Anywhere Sport 2-in-1 Booster Seat & Everyday Bag is the perfect solution for an on-the-go family of foodies.
Moms and Dads alike will love this convenient, light weight diaper bag that easily converts into a travel booster seat. The large storage compartment will keep all of baby’s necessities neatly organized, while the exterior cargo pockets ensure baby’s essentials are close at hand. When you arrive at the restaurant, the shoulder strap and seat strap easily attach to most dining chairs to become a booster seat for your child. Keep your baby safe and clean with the 3-point safety restraint harness and easy to clean padded seat.
The Jeep Travel Anywhere 2-in-1 Booster Seat and Everyday Bag is a must-have for parents and grandparents who love going out to eat. Bon appetite!
Secure Baby Monitor That Gives Parents Peace of Mind
When baby is sleeping we want her safe. We have made sure she has a crib that has passed modern safety standards. That his sleep environment is free of blankets, pillows, toys, etc. That she has a crib mattress that passes industry tests. That he is sleeping on his back. The list goes on and on. One thing that can help give a parent peace of mind, is being able to hear and see baby while she sleeps.
Unfortunately, we have all heard horror stories of how our neighbors and strangers can pick up our conversations and even see into our house via our baby monitors because the signal is not secure. Digital has brought us a long way from analog, but it’s still not perfect. Enter the WiFi Baby™ monitor.
The WiFi Baby™ monitor is the most advanced baby video monitor on the market. This monitor is a wireless camera that connects to your WiFi network and offers password-protected video and audio. GENIUS! You don’t need to physically connect to a computer and it’s compatible with PC, Mac, iPhone & iPad (Android compatibility is in the works for the end of this year).
All you need prior to purchasing a WiFi Baby™ monitor is a computer, internet connection & a wireless router. We love how compact this monitor is. It is so easy to put in the nursery & not have to worry about it. The picture is very clear and you can watch baby from anywhere if you connect it to your iPod, iPhone or iPad.
Things we love about the monitor:
- Secure signal – password protected
- No additional subscription required for WiFi/3G
- Video & audio streams to computer or phone both at home or away
- Clear video and sound
- Can be used as a nanny cam or home security device
It took a little more effort to set it up than some of the other monitors out there, but they have great tech support if needed. We think that is a small inconvenience to pay compared to the peace of mind you have from a secure signal baby monitor.
Wifi Baby 3 G retails for $272. You can find out more about it & purchase it on the Wifi Baby website.
Inexpensive Birthday Party Ideas
Birthday parties can be a lot of fun and inexpensive! Here are some of our ideas for a fun party that is easier on your wallet.
- The Pseudo Sleepover: A sleepover can be a big task for any mom and dad. Kolcraft’s friend Sharon suggests the pseudo sleepover. This birthday party includes all of the sleepover essentials: guests wear their pajamas, watch a movie, eat pizza, and play games. Depending on your child’s age, end the party at 10:30. All of the kids will have a great night’s sleep after a night of fun. Best of all, they’ll enjoy their own beds.
- Alternatives in accessories: Visiting a party store can put a strain?) on anyone’s budget. Try and think of alternatives to your decorations, party favors, and activities. If you were throwing a Hawaiian themed luau you can use black garbage bags to create everyone’s grass skirt. The drawstrings offer a way to tie the bag around your party guests and you can cut the ends into the skirt. You also can buy paper bags for your guests to decorate and create their own party favor bag. It adds an activity to your party and personalizes the experience for the kids.
A Mom Who Was Born To Impress
One of our favorite days of the week is Mom Monday because we get to share with our community all the talented moms (& dads) that we meet. We have wanted you to meet Jenniffer for some time now. She has a wonderful blog, Born 2 Impress, with helpful reviews, fun giveaways, resources, etc. But what we can’t get enough of is her Born 2 Impress handmade children apparel and accessories. Jenniffer makes the cutest hats, bows, purses, headbands – you name it, she makes it & your child will look like she’s born to impress in these sweet accessories! Grab a cup of coffee or tea & enjoy the impressive world of Jenniffer.
Where do you get your inspiration for such cute designs? My little girl….She is the one who inspired me too start making the hair pieces.
How would you say motherhood has changed for you and how has it “directed” your talent? Oh My. I am a totally different person since I became a mom, and I love dressing up my daughter, so I like to create “ pretty things” for her and her friends.
What is your favorite part of being of mom? Motherhood!
What has been your greatest challenge as a mom? I think trying to be the best mom I can be for my little girl……They do not come with manuals 
If you could give ‘expert advice” on one aspect of parenting to new parents, what would it be? Patience and love will get you through anything coming your way.
Where do you see yourself in 25 years? That is a good question….I think right here with my family.
Now for a quick glance into Jennifer’s life.
What is one thing always in your fridge? Grapes.
What is your one guilty pleasure? Just one? Coke, coffee, chocolate…I know not good for my diet, so we don’t keep them in the house
If a genie could give you one wish but it couldn’t be immortality or 2 more wishes, what would your wish be? Health for me and my family.
If you had a free day to yourself, how would you spend it? In bed watching TV!
If someone were going to write a book on your life, what would they title it? Jennifer’s Motherhood diaries
