The benefits of getting outside with your kids range from helping curb obesity, depression as well as spark imagination and other cognitive development. You also benefit from getting outside with your kids to relax and get some exercise. We recently went on a hide and seek activity with our Kolcrafts kids. It’s easy to do!

What you need:

1. Research – Google the park, path or part of your neighborhood you are going to.
2. List – Have a list of what you are looking for on your walk.
3. Comfort – Be sure you and your little hikers have comfortable shoes, sunscreen and water. If you have a child who gets tired easily, be sure to have a stroller on hand.

What to do:

1. Set out on your path looking for the “items” on your list. Tell everyone to be alert & look around. The items could be in the air, on the ground, in the water. Don’t be afraid to look under rocks or trees too!
2. Talk about what you see. For example, hidden in the picture are two ducks we saw on our hide & seek walk. We talked about ducks liking water and why the mommy duck blended in more than the daddy duck. We also taught our Kolcraft kids how to say duck in Spanish.

Try a hide and seek adventure & let us know how it goes!

                          

Technology is part of our parenting lives.  Smartphones have become part of who we are. We use it for grocery lists,  to remind us which child is supposed to be where at any given time, To help us remember which side we last breastfed from, to know what stage of development our child “should” be at and the list goes on and on. There are many parenting apps and they are wonderful and make our lives easier. At the same time, they can distract us from the very thing we are trying to do – make our children’s lives better.

We may want to send that one last tweet, update our Facebook or pay that one last bill while waiting in line all while shushing our kids because they are asking us a million questions. Maybe at least once a day we can give ourselves a smartphone time out and be a little more present to our kids. Maybe instead of doing that quick update on Facebook, we can play a quick game of I Spy or I’m Going on a Picnic, etc.

So join us in the smartphone parenting challenge where at least once a day we put down our phones and use a “filler” moment to pay attention to our kids. That “filler” moment will become tomorrow’s precious memory.

                          

We are still celebrating Mother’s Day so head over to Facebook to tell us why you love being a mom & you can win $100! It’s that easy! In the meantime, we want to hear about your Mother’s Day. Fill in the blank. My Mother’s Day was_______

Happy Mom Monday!

                          

May your day be filled with joy, love, hugs and kisses. Enjoy your day!
Happy Mother’s Day!

                          

There are many benefits to reading to your child for developing imagination, speech, reading skills, etc. You can bring your child’s favorite books to a new level by turning them into real life adventures. All it takes is some imagination and fun. Today’s book we are bringing to life is I Am A Bunny by Richard Scarry.

What you need:

• I Am A Bunny Book
• Bunny Ears or make your own by cutting out bunny ears from construction paper and gluing or taping to a headband. You can even wear a yellow shirt & red pants/overalls like Nicholas does.
• Outdoor space
• Camera
• Journal

What to Do:

• Read I Am A Bunny
• Put on your bunny ears & head outside
• Since it is currently Spring, reenact the Spring pages of I Am A Bunny by going to a field to look at the flowers (we don’t encouraging picking them) and talk about the different colors. See if you can find dogwood or daffodils like Nicholas does in the book. Talk about how Springtime brings flowers after the long winter. Try to find butterflies & “chase” them like Nicholas. If you live near a butterfly garden or sanctuary visit it to see the butterflies (or build your own!).
• Take photos of your book adventure and put them in your notebook/journal.
• With each season do the activity Nicholas does & record it. It will take a year to complete your book, but at the end you will have a wonderful memory of your I Am A Bunny living adventure.

What ways do you bring your child’s favorite books to life? If you have a children’s book you want us to bring to life on a Fun Friday, leave us a comment!

                          

Because it folds so easily with both seats on, parents will spend less time folding their stroller and more time with their children. Building upon the positive reviews of the Options line of strollers, the Contours Options LT tandem features our trademark reversible seats, a large storage basket and the ability to fit most infant car seats. For on-the-go parents looking for a customizable tandem stroller, the Contours Options LT provides a lightweight solution and is available in two colors – Crimson Red & Valencia Gold.

NAPPA’s independent expert judges and parent testers evaluated hundreds of submissions for their innovation, safety, quality and the degree to which they make parenting easier. After weeks of stringent testing, 25 products were selected to receive the esteemed Gold Award while 41 received Silver and 30 were chosen as Honors.

“Parenting can be challenging and overwhelming with all the distractions that we face today,” says Julie Kertes, NAPPA General Manager. “Our winner list cuts through the clutter and hones in on only the best baby gadgets, gear and tools so that parents can make smart choices for their families.”

                          

Today Kolcraft announced a voluntary recall in cooperation with the CPSC. Although we have made many bassinets with the name “Tender Vibes” and “Light Vibes”, only 4 models are part of the recall. This recall involves Tender Vibes models KB021-ARC and KB022-VER, Tender Vibes Rocking Bassinet model KB039-CMR1, and Light Vibes bassinet KB043-BNT1. You can find your model number on your unit frame.

The locking clip can appear to be locked on these models, but remain unlocked. This could allow the bassinet to fall resulting in injury. If you have one of these models, please call 888-624-1908 to order a repair strap that will make sure the lock is fully locked.

The Kolcraft family remains committed to making the best products for your children and we apologize for any inconvenience this causes you.

                          

We have blogged about the importance of indoor air quality and our crib mattresses being GREENGUARD certified. Springtime rains can bring a problem inside your home of moisture which can  bring mold and reduce your indoor air quality. A few tips to prevent mold from invading your indoor air quality.

1. Mold loves wet, moist places. If you have humidity levels of 70% and above, you should invest in a good dehumidifier to help prevent mold growth.
2. Keep your home at around 69-73 degrees and the humidity level at about 54%.
3. Replace porous surfaces if mold is present.  Porous surfaces include wall paper, carpeting or dry wall. These must be replaced immediately. They cannot be cleaned of mold.
4. Use organic soap or bleach to clean surface mold. Be sure to wear protective gloves.
5. Invest in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter which can reduce allergens like mold that can be tracked in the house on your shoes.

What tips do you have for getting rid of mold?

                          

In honor of Mother’s Day we had to post this quote – it’s so true.

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” -Washington Irving

Tell us why you love being a mom and win $100!

                          

• Totally Engineered Fabric System
• Stain Resistance
• GREENGUARD Certified
• Integrated, Impenetrable Moisture Barrier
• Odor Resistance
• Disinfectable
• Microbial Resistance

Babies spend most of their early lives sleeping on their crib mattresses. Help ensure they have a cleaner, healthier sleeping environment with a GREENGUARD® Certified Sealy or Stearns & Foster crib mattress with Crypton fabric technology.

• Sealy Soybean Serenity Crib Mattress
• Sealy Nature Couture Healthy Grow 2-Stage Crib Mattress
• Sealy Nature Couture Cotton Bliss Crib Mattress
                          
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