Built-in Storage Ideas

Built-in Storage

By: JOSEPH D'AGNESE, This Old House magazine

Read more about the articles below

Built-in Spaces

Homework Alcove

Integral Bar Cabinet

Stand-up Desk

Under-Window Cabinet

Columned Room Divider

Stair-Wall Wine Cellar

Fireplace Niche

Mudroom Bench

Wall-Ordered Wardrobe

Dressing-Room Shelving

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

[Ever wonder where this cutesy little rhyme came from?  Well here it is!  Courtesy of rhymes.org.uk  Enjoy.]

image courtesy amazon.com

Imagery used in Twinkle twinkle little star

The beautiful words of Twinkle twinkle little star have been immortalised in the poem and music has been added thus increasing its popularity. The simile ' like a diamond in the sky' teaches children how words can be used to paint a picture in the imagination. The words create a comparison between the twinkling of the star to a sparkling diamond thus providing a perfect illustration of clever imagery and excellent use of the English language. The joint authors of Twinkle twinkle little star were two sisters called Ann Taylor (1782-1866) and Jane Taylor (1783-1824).
The first publication date was 1806.

Blasts from the Past: Family Trip Ideas Inspired by History

Slow down this summer at these five historic resorts where ice-cream socials, paddleboats, kite-flying, and other simple pleasures of childhood are the rage.

By Cheryl Lock  (parents.com)

Sure, family vacations are fun and memorable. But they're not always relaxing. If you want a place to kick back with the kids, check out these old-timey resorts. Being in business for 80 years or more has helped them figure out what families need: entertaining (but not overstimulating) activities, a leisurely pace to the day, a program to take the kids off your hands so you can get a break, and babysitting if you ask. You won't find waterslides or high-tech kids' camps here. But you know what? You won't miss them either.
Great ideas for vacations this summer:  
Basin Harbor Club (Vergennes, Vermont)Madden's on Gull Lake (Brainerd, Minnesota)Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island, Michigan)The Homestead (Hot Springs, Virginia)Skytop Lodge (Skytop, Pennsylvania)
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Getting Ready for a New Baby Sibling

When it comes to shifting from only child to older child, your firstborn is bound to have plenty of questions. Use these activities to provide answers and reassurance about what life with a new baby will mean for the big kid in the house.

You might be (pretty) well-prepared for the arrival of a new baby in the house, but your firstborn has no idea what (and who!) is about to descend upon her tidy little world. She may have fears about life with a new baby sibling…or not. She might be indifferent…or just confused. No matter what she’s feeling, you can help her prep for her baby sibling (and her brand-new life as a big sister) with these activities. These simple games and strategies can simultaneously head off feelings ofsibling jealousy and resentment, send a message that you’ll love her just as much as always, and get her excited about meeting the new baby.  Subjects include:

NEWBORN 101

BURP A BABY

THE CRYING GAME

GOLDEN SLUMBERS

SNUGGLE TIME

PRACTICE RUN

PLAY, BABY, PLAY

NICE NICE BABY

HANDLE GIFTS WITH CARE

Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Welcome to Cool Science

Great website for K-16.  Take a gander...

KIDS.GOV website

 

http://kids.usa.gov/Assets/kids.gov/shared/images/Logo_Kids.png

national aquarium

Science for Preschoolers

What a great website on SCIENCE for the Preschooler!

Healthy Snacks for Kids: 23 Toddler-friendly Ideas

Is your tot too busy — or full — to eat much at mealtime? Healthy snacks help toddlers get the nutrients they need to grow big and strong.

Despite what your mother used to tell you when you were a kid, snacks don’t have to spoil your appetite. In fact, when it comes to toddlers, healthy snacks should be a staple of their diet. It’s practically impossible for toddlers, with their tiny tummies, to eat as much as they need at mealtimes. And even if it were possible, you’d be hard-pressed to get a toddler to sit long enough at the table to eat a large meal (after all, toddlers are a lot more interested in playing than eating). So nourishing snacks are needed to fill in the nutritional gaps — and to keep those little tummies filled up. And if that’s not reason enough to keep the healthy snacks coming, consider this bonus: Snacks at regular intervals mean fewer hunger-fueled meltdowns.

Need some healthy snack ideas? Try these the next time your toddler is hankering for a bite to eat:

• Ants on a log — spread peanut butter on celery sticks and sprinkle them with raisins (Experts used to recommend waiting to serve peanuts until a child was age two or three — to help prevent a peanut allergy. But now, experts believe there may be no benefit to waiting that long. Talk with your pediatrician about when you should offer your tot peanuts and other allergenic foods, especially if food allergies run in your family.)
• Whole-grain tortilla chips topped with veggies, salsa, and shredded cheese, alongside guacamole for dipping
• Apple slices with string cheese or peanut butter (if your pediatrician says it’s okay to introduce peanuts to your toddler now)
• Frozen no-sugar-added fruit bars with a glass of milk
• Berries topped with a smidge of low-fat frozen yogurt
• Crinkle-cut carrot “chips” with hummus
• Whole-wheat pita-bread triangles or baked wheat crackers with melted reduced-fat cheese for dipping
• Dip a banana in yogurt, roll it in crushed cereal, and freeze it for a tasty frozen snack
• Whole-wheat tortilla chips with bean dip
• Low-fat yogurt topped with granola and fresh or dried fruit
• Cottage cheese with cut-up peaches, nectarines, pineapple, or bananas
• Whole grain, fiber-rich cereal with (or without) milk
• Graham crackers with applesauce for dipping
• Yogurt smoothie made with low-fat yogurt, milk, ice, and any fruit (toddler favorites include bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and cantaloupe)
• Baked whole-grain crackers with almond butter, and four to six ounces of 100 percent fruit juice (you could also dilute the fruit juice in carbonated soda water to give your toddler a fizzy, fruity drink)
• Canned salmon mixed with low-fat mayo and spread on baked whole-grain crackers or celery stalks
• A graham cracker sandwich filled with a scoop of frozen yogurt and sliced bananas
• A small baked potato with melted reduced-fat cheese and salsa
• Graham cracker with low-fat cream cheese, along with four to six ounces of 100 percent juice (you might consider diluting the juice to make it last longer and to cut the sugar quotient)
• Whole-grain pretzels, soy crisps, baked pita chips, or rice cakes with a slice of cheese
• Cucumbers, celery, or red peppers with low-fat dressing for dipping
• All-fruit fruit leather with a glass of milk
• Mix one cup of whole-grain oat cereal with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup dried cranberries for a healthy trail mix

HIKING TRAILS WEBSITE

[A great website for finding trails where you live.]

Children's Health and Safety

Keeping your little one safe and healthy is a big part of your parenting job (and not the easiest part, either!). Find out how you can treat those inevitable colds, coughs, bumps, and spills, and learn what you can expect month-by-month, from the early days of infancy to toddlerhood.  [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

Read more on all health and safety issues with children.

Fuss-Free Family Activities for Preschoolers

These seven family-activity ideas are foolproof and fantastic. Please try 'em at home!  [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

Whether you’re up for hosting a campout in the backyard or doing something easy, like serving breakfast for dinner one day a week, special traditions bring your family closer and create lasting memories for your preschooler. Here are seven fun family-activity ideas that cost little or nothing at all, plus common challenges that crop up with simple solutions for each (and ways to make your time even more fun).

Read more on the following subjects:

FRIDAY NIGHT FLICKS

GAME NIGHT

KIDS DECIDE DINNER NIGHT

BACKYARD CAMPOUT

FAMILY OLYMPICS

CARPET PICNIC

SUNDAY SCIENCE

7 Fun Family Outings That Don't Cost a Dime

These free toddler activities will entertain your tot, satisfy his love of adventure, and keep your money in your wallet. [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

There’s nothing a toddler likes better than exploring — spelunking for dust bunnies under the bed or scaling the sofa in search of, well, anything. And now that your little one’s walking, it’s time to give him a bigger world to discover by lining up a few fun family outings that are tailor-made for the toddler set. Luckily, setting off on an adventure with your one- or two-year-old in tow doesn’t have to break the bank. Toddlers, with their keen powers of observation and endless curiosity (“Wha dat?”), can pick up plenty from places that don’t get a second glance from grown-ups (when’s the last time you got excited about riding the escalator?). So check out these family fun ideas for cheap or free toddler activities that are sure to fascinate your little adventurer.
Read more on the following subjects:
CONSTRUCTION SITE
LIBRARY STORY TIME
PLANT NURSERY
PET STORE
MALL ESCALATOR
HIKING TRAILS
A FIREHOUSE

The Diaper Debate: Cloth Versus Disposable Baby Diapers

What kind of diaper is best for your baby? Here's the lowdown on both types.  [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

Cloth or disposable diapers? Does the decision make you want to throw in the changing pad? Like almost all parenting choices, the right one is what feels best for you and your child. You can stick to whichever one of the two types of diapers that work with your lifestyle or you can alternate — a cloth baby diaper, say, when you’re home and disposable baby diapers when you’re out and about. For the pros and cons of cloth and disposable diapers, read on:

CLOTH DIAPERS (pros and cons)
DISPOSABLE DIAPERS (pros and cons)

Growth and Development Month by Month

Find tips on everything from toddler play to toddler patience with these month by month toddler development tips.  [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

As exciting as it is to watch your little bundle of energy develop (the first running steps, the first sentence, the first scribbled picture), toddlerhood is also pretty frustrating. Your toddler is trying out new skills, developing awareness, and struggling with independence and attachment, all while you’re trying to teach manners and self-control—no small feat with a headstrong tot! Here’s a guide of month-by-month tips that will help you maneuver the ins and outs of toddler growth and development.  Read more 

One-Year-Old Toddler

12-Month-Old Toddler: First Words, First Steps, First Birthday

As he nears that big banner birthday, your baby may approach two more milestones: first words and first steps.

13-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Communication: I See Your Point

When your baby points a chubby finger to show you something, she's reached a language milestone without uttering a word.

14-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Art: Mastering Crayons and Scribbles

Build your baby's fine-motor skills by introducing him to crayons, paints, and other creative ways to make art…and a mess.

15-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Teething

The eruption of molars can mean a return to tantrums of volcanic proportions as your toddler revisits the trials of teething.

16-Month-Old Toddler: Time for Toddler Activities?

Is your child ready for music, art, tumbling, and more? Here's how to choose the right classes and activities.

17-Month-Old Toddler: Get Your Toddler's Motor Skills Running

As soon as your critter gets the hang of walking, it's a hop, skip, and a jump to more advanced motor skills and toddler sports like running, climbing, and kicking.

18-Month-Old Toddler: The Toddler Language-Development Explosion

For many toddlers, this is the month when language development takes off like a rocket. Enjoy the ride!

19-Month-Old Toddler: Top Toddler Learning Activities

After peek-a-boo and patty-cake, what comes next? Enriching, enticing toddler activities that boost development — and the fun factor.

20-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Fears Are Scary Stuff

As your toddler grows and changes, so do the things that worry him. From bump-in-the-night frights to flush-down-the-drain dread, find out about typical toddler fears.

21-Month-Old Toddler: When Parallel Play Becomes Playing Together

Babies play side-by-side, but older toddlers move beyond parallel play to really interact with their classmates and playgroup buddies.

22-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Attachment: Why Kids Love That Lovey

Loveys — from bears to blankets to Mommy's old T-shirt — provide reassurance during all kinds of toddler transitions.

23-Month-Old Toddler: Pretend Play: Tips for Boosting Your Child's Imagination
It's not just your imagination — pretend play is essential to your toddler's learning and development.
Two-Year-Old Toddler
24-Month-Old Toddler: Happy Birthday! Developmental Milestones at Age TwoIt's almost time for two! Don't worry — with all the amazing developmental milestones your child is meeting, age two is much more terrific than terrible.
25-Month-Old Toddler: Play Ball! Toddler Sports From Catching to KickingWant to have a ball? Give your toddler a ball! Newly developing motor skills mean toddler sports are more fun than ever.

26-Month-Old Toddler: You Don’t Say! Toddler Speech Milestones

Listen in as your toddler's speech develops — his language skills are growing by leaps and bounds.

27-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Independence Day: Four Things Your Child Can Do

Your ever-more capable child can now learn to brush her teeth, dress and undress, wash her hands, and even do simple household chores. Cue the brass bands and flag waving!

28-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Bed: Time for the Switch?

If your child is ready for the big switch, make the transition from crib to toddler bed safe and secure.

29-Month-Old Toddler: Potty Training Tips for Boys and Girls

When it's time to go potty, try these tips for helping both boys and girls triumph at toileting.

30-Month-Old Toddler: Child Development Now: What’s Normal, What’s Not

At two and a half, toddlers show a wide range of development — from quiet to chatterboxy, coordinated to klutzy, early bloomers to late.

31-Month-Old Toddler: Stop Thumb Sucking: Helping Your Toddler Break the Habit

By age three, some toddlers stop sucking on their own, but others need encouragement from Mom and Dad.

32-Month-Old Toddler: Toddler Manners: Three Tips for Teaching Your Tot

It's never too early to teach your toddler good manners. He just might thank you later!

33-Month-Old Toddler: Almost-Preschooler Activities: Eight Ways to Have Fun With Your Toddler

Keep up with your toddler's busy brain and body with activities and games that promote developmental leaps.

34-Month-Old Toddler: Early Learning: Time for ABCs and 123s?

Whether or not he's headed for school soon, your child may be showing an interest in learning his ABCs (numbers, shapes, and colors too!).

35-Month-Old Toddler: Teaching Kids Patience: Three Tips for Keeping Them Calm

When your toddler wants something — and when doesn't she? — she wants it NOW! Try these tips for teaching patience to your can't-wait kid.

Happy Birthday! Developmental Milestones at Age Two

It's almost time for two! Don't worry — with all the amazing developmental milestones your child is meeting, age two is much more terrific than terrible.

Break out those party hats and bake up some cupcakes — it’s party time! As your child approaches his second birthday, think about all the milestones he’s met this year, from walking to toddling to running like the wind (plus subtler new skills like pointing and pretending). Pretty amazing, right? Just wait — in the coming year there’ll be plenty more developmental achievements to make a mama’s heart burst with pride.  Read more on the following topics:

PHYSICALLY

INTELLECTUALLY

VERBALLY

EMOTIONALLY

SOCIALLY

Reading to a Toddler

It's true: Reading to a toddler is fundamental — especially for one- and two-year-olds, whose developing brains are ready to hang on to every word and sponge up every single syllable.  [courtesy of http://www.whattoexpect.com]

Your toddler has been devouring books (sometimes literally) since she was a baby, and now she’s ready to kick the “lit” up a notch. Here’s why reading to a toddler is so important right now.  Read more

Toddlers are little word processors.
Toddlers are ready to build their literary skills.
Reading to a toddler gives her a head start for school.
Toddlers can benefit from books about growing up. 
Toddlers still need bonding time.