Healthy Snacks Kids Love

Supplying your children with healthy snacks is important to providing good nutrition, supporting lifelong healthy eating habits, and helping to prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. With just a little planning ahead, healthy eating is easier than you may think. The following snack ideas will be fun for children to prepare with your assistance.

1. Fruit Kabobs

First, cut fruit into bite-size pieces. I find that the best fruits for making fruit kabobs are cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, strawberries and watermelon. Next, slide pieces of fruit onto drinking straws (much safer for little ones than metal or wood skewers). If you have difficulty sliding the fruit onto the straws, then first poke a hole through each piece with a skewer before sliding the pieces onto the straws. Serve with yogurt or fruit dip for dipping.

2. Veggie Pillows

Chop carrots and celery and then mix them together in a small bowl with ranch salad dressing. Then, cut a slice of pita bread in half and fill each pocket with the veggie mixture.

3. Monkey Milkshakes

To make a yummy milkshake your kids will go ape over, blend 1 cup of vanilla ice cream with 3/4 cup milk, 1 small banana and 4 to 5 tbsp. chocolate syrup in a blender.

4. Ants on a Log

Stuff celery with cream cheese or peanut butter and then, top with raisins.

5. Yogurt Parfait

Layer yogurt with blueberries, raspberries or mandarin oranges, or all 3 if you like in clear, see-thru cups. Top with granola.

6. Veggie Wraps

To start, spread a little cream cheese on one side of each tortilla. Kids would probably have fun spreading it themselves with their fingers. Then, fill it with your child's veggies of choice. Some good ideas are grated carrots, shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, alfalfa sprouts, sliced peppers or diced tomatoes.

7. Veggie Sculptures

This is a really fun idea to encourage children to try new vegetables. First, cut up an assortment of vegetables. Using cream cheese or peanut butter, have your children "glue" the vegetables together to create architectural structures, shapes or anything else they can think up. When they are done, have them take their works of art apart and eat the vegetables.

Who says healthy eating can't be fun?

Are School Exercise Programs Shortchanging Kids?

Kids do a lot of sitting. Between resting in a chair at school seven hours a day - and watching television when they get home, it’s not surprising that kids are overweight and develop health problems at a younger age. Even school exercise programs fall short in helping kids get the benefits of exercise.

Are Kids Exercising at School?

A report published by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development points out that kids only get around 25 minutes per week of vigorous exercise as part of most school exercise programs. This is woefully short of the four to seven hours per week most experts recommend.

The Benefits of Exercise for Children

How important is exercise for kids? A recent study carried out in Germany looked at the benefits of exercise for children. They divided sixth grade kids into two groups. One group took part in a daily school exercise program, while the second group participated only in school sports activities, which amounted to about two hours of exercise per week. They tested the physical fitness level of the kids before and after the three year study through treadmill exercise testing, blood work and a physical exam.

Did the kids who exercised at school experience benefits? The children who took part in a daily school exercise program had lower blood pressures at the end of the study than the control group, and they had better cardiovascular fitness, which could mean a lower risk of heart disease later in life.

The benefits of exercise for children are well described. Not only does it help with weight control and heart health, it relieves stress, boosts confidence and reduces the risk of health problems such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes later in life. Unfortunately, most school exercise programs aren’t giving children the amount and intensity of exercise they need for health.

For example, according to this survey, just under 6% of kids had physical education five times a week. Most had it only two times a week. Sadly, during that time, they only engaged in, on average, just under five minutes of vigorous exercise and about 12 minutes of moderate exercise.

Kids aren’t exercising at school enough, so it’s important for parents to motivate kids to stay active at home. Limit kid’s television and computer time and send them outdoors to play - or take them to a playground for an hour when they get home from school. Get them involved in a sport they can participate in most days. Give them the task of taking the dog for a brisk walk every afternoon. Find ways to help them get at least thirty minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

Kids Exercising at School: The Bottom Line?

Since schools aren’t doing their job of keeping kids active, parents need to take up the slack. Don’t put your child at risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, because he’s too sedentary. Keep your child moving.

References:

Medical News Today. “Daily School Exercise Decreases Blood Pressure in School Children”

National Institute of Health News Release. “Study Suggests Schools Lacking in Exercise Programs for Children”

10 Frugal Tips for the Single Parent

Raising a family as a single parent can be tough. Between keeping the bills paid and spending quality time with your family, it can be very difficult to incorporate frugal living into your hectic lifestyle. From using coupons to purchasing healthy foods, there are many excellent frugal tips for the single parent to follow.

Don’t be afraid to use coupons. A coupon can be classified as free money. Not only will using coupons help you save money, but they’ll also help keep your next shopping trip productive and organized.

Buy generic brand products. Purchasing generic brand products will allow you to save a great deal of money. Generic brand products are usually cheaper than name brand products and are usually just as great, if not better, than name brand products.

Eat leftovers. Cooking a meal every day for your family can be a tiring and stressful task to accomplish, especially if you’re a single parent. Opting in on cooking one huge meal and then eating the leftovers for days on end is an excellent way to incorporate the frugal way of living into your lifestyle.

Purchase healthier foods. Feeding your family fresher, healthier meals is a task all parents want to accomplish. It’s a common fact that junk foods are priced higher than most health foods. Not only will purchasing healthy foods whip your family into shape, but you’ll also end up saving money in the long run.

Buy used. Whether you’re intent on purchasing a vehicle or clothes, opt in on buying the product used, if possible. Thrift stores and yard sales are excellent places to find used products for a great price. Purchasing products used is a surefire way to save money as a single parent.

Buy products in bulk. Purchasing products in bulk, like toilet paper and certain food products, is an excellent frugal living tip for the single parent. Not only will you save money by buying in bulk, but you’ll also end up saving your precious time and energy by not having to go shopping every week.

Take your family along on your next shopping trip. While not feasible for all single parent families, taking your kids along on your next shopping trip is a frugal way to teach your family the value of the almighty dollar.

Bypass the barber and cut your own hair. Going to the barber costs money. Cutting your own hair, as well as your children’s hair, is an excellent way to save a bit of money.

Visit the park. Parks serve as a great place to entertain your children. Not only are parks great for entertaining, they also serve as a free place to exercise.

Don’t be shy, ask for the specials. As a single parent, money will definitely be tight. Asking for the specials, whether you’re at a restaurant or your local grocery store, is an excellent way to save money and live the frugal life.

Educational Toys: How to Encourage Cognitive and Motor Development in Your Infant or Young Child

Educational toys are designed to encourage healthy cognitive and physical development as they stimulate little ones to explore their world and interact with caregivers and other children. The best developmental toys are created to help children develop specific skills, such as gross and fine motor control, problem-solving, sorting, and numbers. It is important to choose educational toys that are appropriate for your child’s developmental stage – most toys are marked with an age range to help parents select the ones that are most suitable for their baby’s or toddler’s skill level. Here are some hints to help you decide which toys are best for your child’s age group:

0-6 Months

Young infants respond best to toys with contrasting colors such as black and white and to objects with faces. By 3 months of age, toys with bright colors, lights, and sounds are stimulating for your baby; dangling toys such as colored rings are particularly appropriate. By 4 months, babies typically begin to reach for toys, so objects that they can grasp are perfect for this age. By 6 months, babies often begin to play independently, especially when they are able to sit on their own. Toy phones, stacking cups, and other similar toys will encourage your baby to explore and play.

6-12 Months

Babies who can get around on their own are ready for more independent play. At this age, pull toys, stacking and sorting objects, board books, and toys with buttons that produce lights and sounds are the most appropriate; these help your baby to develop fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.

12-18 Months

Between 12 and 18 months, young toddlers begin to think in more complex ways and experiment with their environment. Throwing balls to see what will happen is typical at this age; encourage your little one to experiment and develop problem solving skills with toys like puzzles, shape sorters, and reality-based toys like train or construction sets.

18-24 Months

By this age, most babies are walking easily and getting into everything! Your toddler will love to play with manipulative toys, musical instruments, and role-playing games. Toy vehicles and objects that teach shapes, colors, and phonics are a good choice for this age range.

24-36 Months

By now, your toddler is growing into a “big kid” and will be ready for more sophisticated play. Dress-up, puppets, dolls, role-playing, musical games, and active toys such as tricycles and swings are perfect, as well as finger paints, crayons and chalk.

Where to find the best educational toys for babies and toddlers

A Kid Place offers a fantastic selection of award-winning educational toys for children. One of our favorites is the Anatex Deluxe Mini Play Cube, which encourages sorting, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Visit us and check out our huge variety of fun educational toys for kids of all ages.

The Holidays are Over, the Gifts are Unwrapped – Now, what to do with all those toys?

'Tis the season, when your living room, den or playroom fills up with dozens of new toys, little accessories, dolls, stuffed animals, puzzles, games and more. While the excitement on your child's face as she unwraps each new toy is a gift to be treasured, once the mountain of wrapping paper, gift tags and ribbons are disposed of, you are left wondering what to do with the new pile of loot. If this scenario is familiar to you, be sure to add a new toy box to your shopping list.

What to look for in a toy box

When shopping for children's furnishings, safety is always the most important issue. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has several recommendations when it comes to toy boxes. First, the toy chest should be equipped with a safety lid, with slow-closing hinges that remain in place when opened; this will prevent your child from becoming injured by a falling cover. In addition, the top edges should be recessed to prevent pinched fingers when closing the lid. The best toy bins also come with side vents, to prevent suffocation in the event your child accidentally becomes trapped inside the chest.

Look for storage bins with rounded, smooth edges, to prevent bumps and bruises during playtime. The toy box you choose should be manufactured from non-toxic materials.

Recommended toy boxes and playroom storage

The following manufacturers have a reputation for producing safe, durable, affordable, and adorable children's furniture and toy storage bins:

Kidkraft - Maker of the Limited Edition Toy Box, Kidkraft makes a huge array of wooden toy boxes and chests, see-thru storage bins and toy caddies in various colors and finishes to match any decor.

Guidecraft - Manufacturer of classically designed children's furnishings and also whimsical hand-painted creations for both the home and the classroom, in your child's favorite themes - even Major League Baseball teams.

Nilo - Maker of the world-famous multi-activity table, Nilo also produces a coordinating multi-use toy chest and roll-out storage bins with dividers for storing train pieces, legos, block-building accessories and more.

Levels of Discovery - Creator of unique, beautifully handcrafted and hand-decorated children's furnishings for the bedroom and playroom. Each piece comes with a little something extra to delight kids and adults alike. Your daughter will flip for the "Always a Princess" themed bench toy chest built to look like a real throne; complete with padded seat cushion and royal gold detailing.

Where to find affordable toy storage

Here at A Kid Place, you can find everything you need for the playroom or nursery, including dozens of innovative storage ideas. Look for great holiday deals on toy boxes and toy chests, retro items, educational toys, children’s waiting room furnishings, creative play solutions, and more – shipping available in plenty of time to start getting all holiday goodies organized.