Monthly Archives: February 2012
Fun Finger Paint Craft for Kids
Finger painting can be fun for kids and babies. It allows babies to begin to create art – always a plus for imagination and creativity – and the symmetrical designs helps children learn about mirror images.
What you need:
- Non-toxic finger paint
- Construction paper
- Newspaper or drop cloth to cover painting surface
What you do:
- Squeeze various colors of finger paint in different sizes on one side of construction paper
- Fold the paper in half
- Have your child press down on the paper with her foot or hand. She can rub across the paper to spread the paint. If you are doing this with a baby, just have baby sit on the folded piece of paper to spread the paint.
- Open the paper to see the symmetrical designs
- Allow paint to dry
We love how your baby can create art that will be a wonderful keepsake for years to come.
7 Money Saving Tips When You Have Kids
Having a baby is expensive, but the cost doesn’t end when you pay your labor and delivery bill. Kids have a way of depleting your bank account very quickly, but these 7 money saving tips can help keep you in the black.
- Samples – Don’t be afraid to ask for samples. Your pediatrician often receives samples or coupons from manufactures for everything from formula to diapers to lotion. Don’t be shy, your pediatrician will be happy to share.
- Clothes – Don’t buy a lot of baby clothes in advance. Baby won’t need much more than the white hospital shirts for awhile and you never know how fast baby will grow. Newborn clothes may last all of a week because your baby may hit a sudden growth spurt. And don’t bother with baby shoes. Baby isn’t walking so no need for shoes.
- Two in One Furniture – Look for baby furniture that does more than one thing such as a bassinet that is also a changing table.
- Rewards Programs -Babies R Us, Pampers, and more have reward programs where you receive special coupons and freebies. All you have to do is sign up via email. The savings are worth the 2 minute sign up.
- Classes – Ballet, art, and other classes can get expensive. Check out your library for free story-time and classes where you child can learn and have fun for free!
- Field Trips – Most museums, zoos and cultural centers have a monthly or weekly free day. Check websites to see when you can take your child to one of these places for free.
- Car Bag – Keep a child care bag in your car in case you forget your diaper bag or something from it. It’s more expensive to have to buy diapers, snacks, etc. on the fly.
We also love Thrifty & Chic Mom and Coupon Mom for great coupons and savings!
Mom You Are Doing Great
We love this commercial from Johnson & Johnson that pushes aside mom guilt and reminds us that while we may only see our mom shortcomings, our baby sees us with the eyes of the heart.
5 Simple Ways To Have Fun with Your Kids
At times our lives seem so over scheduled – play dates, soccer practice, ballet, homework, jobs, errands and the list is never ending. We thought on this fun Friday we should stop the scheduling for one day and enjoy the simple ways we can have fun with our kids.
- Box Discovery – Look around your house for large box. Have fun imagining what it could be. Can you cut holes in it and make your little one a race car? Can you turn it into a house complete with drawn-on curtains? Can you cut a hole in the side, put objects in it, then have your child put her hand through the hole and guess what objects are in the box?
- Drawing Time – Get paper and some crayons. Draw a line – curvy, squiggly, straight – and have your child draw a picture using that line in the picture. Have your child draw a line for you and enjoy becoming a Picasso with your child!
- Tissue Fun – Pull out a lot of tissue paper from your wrapping paper supply. Sit on the floor with your baby and let him pull and rip the paper. You both will giggle in delight as he discovers and laughs at the sound. We recommend using white tissue paper so when he puts it in his mouth, he isn’t sucking on dye. Make sure baby doesn’t choke since he will try to eat it as he explores with his mouth.
- Bean Drums – Put some beans into different size containers with lids. Use lentil beans, black beans, peas, etc. Start your own band with your kids using the filled containers as shakers, drums and more!
- Laugh Machine – Lay on the floor with your kids. Everyone puts their head on someone’s tummy so you are all connected via tummy. If you have a baby, place your baby on your tummy so she can join in the fun too. Go around the “circle” saying “ha”. Everyone says it one time, than twice, than three times until the room is filled with giggles. We guarantee even your baby will be giggling by the end.
What simple ways do you have fun with your kids?
Win $100 Gift Card
We love our Sealy Baby crib mattresses and are excited about all the savings on these crib mattresses during Baby Days at Walmart. To continue the celebration, we are giving you the opportunity to win a $100 gift card to Walmart.
How to win:
- Create a 60 second or less video telling us why you love your Sealy crib mattress. If you are pregnant, explain why you are excited that your baby will be sleeping on a Sealy crib mattress. Be sure to show the crib mattress in the video.
- If you purchased the video during Walmart’s baby Days, please note that. (It’s ok if you didn’t though!)
- Take whatever creative style you like – funny, informative, etc. You are the director so you can be as creative as you like!
- Submit the video on Kolcraft’s facebook page.
- One entry per person.
- Winner receives a $100 Walmart gift card
Contest begins on Monday, February 27 and ends on March 31, 2012 at midnight CST.
We are excited to see the next Oscar-worthy Sealy crib mattress video. 
Storytime with the Lorax
We are very excited that The Lorax is coming to theaters, but nothing can capture imagination like reading Dr. Seuss’ original The Lorax book. We have often talked about the benefits of reading to your children and we love that Target Stores support this.
This Saturday all Target stores across the country are having a Dr Seuss Storytime reading of The Lorax. We applaud Target’s Read Across America program. Reading opens a child’s imagination and you can take that even further with these easy crafts & activities to go with a Lorax celebration. Get ready for a treeriffic (ok a little corny) fun with your kids.
Lorax Tree Art
What you need:
- Cotton balls
- Non-toxic paint
- Pipe Cleaners
- Non-toxic marker
- Non-toxic glue
- Construction Paper
What to do:
- Talk to your children about why trees are important, what they are used for & how important it is to take care of them.
- Have your child put his/her name at the beginning of this sentence on the construction paper, “(child’s name) listens to the trees.”
- Give your child several cotton balls & pipe cleaners cut into various lengths.
- Have them dip a cotton ball in the paint and then swirl it on the paper to form a tuff-top tree like in The Lorax.
- Glue pipe cleaners on paper to form the tree trunk.
Try these fun tree related activities from our friends at National Wildlife Federation to complete your Lorax celebration.
What is your favorite part of The Lorax?
Contours New Options LT Tandem Stroller
Meet the newest addition to our family, the Contours Options LT Tandem. Weighing just 33.8 lbs., this is our lightest tandem stroller yet. With it’s reversible seating options, never-flat wheels, infant car seat adapter and convenient fold, it’s the perfect stroller for an on-the-go mom!
To keep up with the latest in Contours Baby, be sure to “like” the Contours Baby Facebook page!
Don’t foget our Sealy Baby Twitter Party Today
All the details on the party can be found in yesterday’s post. Hope to see you there!
Win Sleep Products at the Sealy Baby Twitter Party
We interrupt Mom Monday to share with you the exciting news that tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21, we will be hosting a Twitter Party to celebrate Baby Days at Walmart.
During the party we will be talking about the many different crib mattress options – coil crib mattresses, foam crib mattresses, etc – which is best for your baby. We will also be sharing some bedtime sleep rituals for baby, have our crib mattress expert available to answer questions, talk about what savings you will receive during Baby Days and win prizes!
The Sealy Baby Party Info:
- When? Tuesday, February 21 from 11am – 12pm CST
- Where? On Twitter. Be sure to follow @Kolcraft to win prizes
- How? Just show up & use hash tag #SealyBaby
See you there!
