Parents & Children


As any mother with a young child will tell you, babies grow very quickly. So for new mothers, making the most out of baby clothes is of the utmost importance. So what do you do when those onesies just don’t quite snap anymore? How do you get an extra month out of those jeans that are a little too short for the winter months?

The great thing about onesies, is that they’re a very workable cotton fabric, and there really isn’t any hemming necessary to turn a couple of onesies that fit at five months into a couple of shirts that fit at eight months. Simply cut them off right at the leg holes, and gently pull the material around the edges so that it rolls a tiny bit. This way there are no exposed threads for baby to pull at or chew on. The same can apply to footsie pajamas. By simply snipping off the feet, you can easily get another month’s wear out of the sleepwear.

Adding extra buttons to overalls or snappy shirts makes them naturally grow with your child. Perhaps one of the best investments a new mother can make is in a mid-priced sewing machine. This makes alterations and additions a breeze, and gives you a new hobby for when baby naps (Just make sure there is enough wall between you and the crib so that the whirring of the machine doesn’t make undue stress for you!)

Things like adding extra material to the bottom of a dress or skirt can be done in just minutes, as can letting out the hem of a pair of jeans or overalls. Buying clothes initially that are mid-priced and made of a cotton material with a lot of elastic and snaps makes transitions that much easier. Shoes are always going to be a problem, but buying a canvas sneaker in the spring can convert into a mule for summer wear, as long as the baby is not walking yet. Socks without built in heels is keythat way the baby can grow a little bit longer in the socks. Also, even though socks with ducks and elephants are cute, sticking to a plain color can help extend the life of individual socks if one gets lost. In the summer a grey or white sock is less likely to irritate a sweaty baby’s sensitive skin because they don’t contain dyes.

Think of ways that you would extend the life of your own clothes. T-shirts that come three to a pack can easily be downgraded to rags or dust cloths. Jeans and pants that have become worn or are too short can be cut and hemmed for summer shorts. Sweaters can become blankies. Things like first outfits and special occasion’s clothes can be put into a special chest to pass on to your child for when they have children of their own. For the most part, making baby clothes last, laundering aside, is about ingenuity and personality. Learn the basics of stitching and hemming and let the designer in you shine through!

Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.

Before you go looking at baby cribs you should determine your budget. A good idea is to have a price range to work with. This will allow for more choices in the long run.

The main concern you should have whether you are buying a new crib or a used one. The crib must meet government standards. When you put the crib together be sure to so following the manufacturer’s directions exactly to ensure the greatest amount of safety for your child. It should also be used properly.

Safety concerns include the mattress. The mattress must be firm and tight fitting and there should be no missing or broken hardware. There should be no missing or loose slats. The slats should not be any more than 2 3/8 inches apart - about the width of a soda can. There should be no cutouts in the foot or headboards. If there are corner posts they should be no more than a sixteenth of an inch above the foot or head bar.

Drop sides on a crib is very convenient and is probably the most used feature on any crib. Fixed sides do not have the drop down feature and is great for tall people or those who will only be occasionally using the crib.
Most parents opt for a single drop down sided crib that allows them to easily lift baby out of the crib and to place him in the crib. This is especially convenient if your crib is placed against the wall. Double drop down sided cribs are a popular option among those parents who have room to place the crib so it’s not against the wall.

There are several ways in which drop sides can be lowered. There is the knee push lever and all you have to do is lean your knee against the crib side and it will drop. This is convenient if you have your baby in your arms.
The knee push sides may be the most common type available. Another common type is the foot bar. You balance on one foot and push the bar down with the other to lower the side. There is the double trigger drop mechanism. There are levers on both ends of the crib and you need both hands free to use them. You squeeze the triggers and then the side will drop. The problem with this type is that if you have the baby in your arms it will be next to impossible to operate.

The wheels on a crib are a great asset because it makes the crib easier to move to clean under or retrieve dropped toys as well as changing bedding. Make sure the casters are strong and turn easily. If you don’t think you will need them you can put them aside in case you change your mind.
There are adjustable mattress heights available on all cribs with the exception of the cheapest models of cribs. The three position option is available and is the wisest choice. Two height position are acceptable. Single height mattress is not a safe choice because as your child grows the mattress should be lowered to prevent him from climbing out of the crib or toppling out of the crib.

You should look at the mattress supports as well. Some have vinyl straps that could wear out and break others have metal bar supports which is a better option. The best option however is a metal spring system where the entire mattress is supported and is the most durable of the three options.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Baby Crib Bedding
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

You will need to begin gathering the things your baby will need, now that you got the news that you are expecting a bundle of joy. You may feel overwhelmed if this is your first baby with all the decisions that need to be made.

Deciding on the type of stroller you will use for your baby is one of the biggest decisions you will need to make. You need to determine your budget first before you begin choosing from among the many different types of strollers. The cost of strollers can range from $10 to $400 and higher.

The lower end strollers are generally the lightweight umbrella strollers. Easy folding and storage give these strollers an advantage. High prices for a stroller could indicate greater quality and better features. You should know which of the variety of features that come with strollers is important to you?

Which would you want a convertible travel system or a stroller and a car seat? A travel system has a stay in the car base, a stroller frame to which the infant carrier/ car safety seat is attached. These are wonderful especially for your newborn baby.

A play tray that has places for a bottle or juice cup come with strollers. Many strollers come with canopies that have vinyl windows to let you keep an eye on the baby. Easily applied foot brakes that are attached to both rear wheels and a wrist strap brake that can be used together are included on most strollers.

While you have the strap on it gives you extra safety while you are stopped because the stroller can’t roll away. Strollers are now coming with a parent tray that fits over the handle bar as well as a large storage basket that fits under the seat(s). It has a holder for a cup of coffee or a soda, your cell phone, snack, and your keys.

Reversible handlebars that can be moved from front to rear or vice versa and are height adjustable are now on most strollers. The reversible handlebars can help you to see your baby while he rides if necessary and the height adjustable feature is a great back saver.

Next to be considered is the seat. Will the seat recline enough, if it reclines, to allow your newborn to lie almost flat? Will the seat be comfortable for your baby and well padded? Can the seat padding be removed so it can be washed? Blankets that can be attached with snaps to the seat come on most upper end strollers

Your baby’s stroller becomes like a bunting on wheels with these blankets. Your baby is protected from wind and harsh sunlight with the use of these detachable rain hoods. Another twist comes with your decision about a baby stroller. You can have for free a stroller that is almost brand new from your friend. She promises to get the stroller ready for you and cleaned.

Is it a safe choice for your baby to have a used stroller? Before you place your baby in it you will need to look over some things and it could be a very good choice for you and your baby. No gaps, dents, or cracks should be found in the frame. Bolts and screws must all be in place.

If it were anything less your baby could be seriously hurt in an accident. Are there any sharp spots on the frame? Can your baby be cut by screws sticking out or are there loose screws? Is the frame and handle bar properly joined?

Do you need to look over the wheels for leaks in air pressure or are they solid?

The wheels; are they worn?

Do the wheels need replacement?

Are the wheels turning appropriately?

Are the axels crooked?

Are the brakes holding when applied and working properly?

No matter if the seat is in straight us position or reclining position, does the seat hold?

Your baby could be seriously hurt if the seat does not hold the position well. Is the seat lining fitting the frame properly and is it clean? Strollers have a variety of options, types, and styles. Multi-seated strollers are available for two children or more.

There is a variety of seating arrangements including tandem and side by seating as well as stadium seating which a variation of tandem seating where the rear seat is higher than the front allowing the second child to see more than just the back of a head.

Jogging strollers have a triangular wheelbase with one large one out in front and two in the rear. Jogging strollers also come with multiple seating. Used or new enjoy your outings with your baby or children.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Baby strollers
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

There is a near endless array of baby bedding on the market that includes sets that are gender specific and others that can be used for either a boy or a girl. You can buy each piece separately but if you really think about it, it is the most expensive way to go. Just as there are ‘bed-in-a-bag’ sets for adults they have them for your nursery as well.

A bed in a bag set includes sheet, pillow cases, a comforter, shams, and skirts for adult beds. Bed sets for the baby is the same way. If you are looking to have your bedding co-ordinate the theme of your nursery then purchase sets. You can purchase single sheets so that you can mix and match your bedding.

When you are shopping for be aware that the bedding will be separated by fabric, colors, and styles. Your preferences will no doubt influence your purchase. Do you want cotton, flannel, fleece, or silk? Many parents prefer the cotton or flannel fabric because they are less expensive than silk sheets and are easier to clean.

The advantages to buying your bedding in sets is that everything already matches. You won’t be mixing fabrics, colors, or themes. With everything in one bag you can actually change the atmosphere of the room buy the bedding sets you purchase.

It is important that you match your bedding with the gender of your child. You wouldn’t want to, for example, saturate your son’s room in pink. In a girl’s room however, it is ok to put blue. Most manufacturers are knowledgeable about current thinking regarding gender and what is believed to be acceptable or not. They tend to know what customers want. You most likely won’t have any trouble finding what you want.

Generally accepted themes for boys rooms include airplanes, trucks, or fire engines. Sports is another theme to look for boys. They are generally designed in bright colors - reds, blues, greens, and oranges.

Themes for girls could include ballerinas, faeries, Barbie, princess, butterflies, or flowers. Girl’s bedding generally comes in softer colors such as pink, yellow, mauve, blue, and teal among others. Girl’s rooms themes are not limited to the above mentioned themes.

Non-gender specific themes for bedding include animals, the solar system, favorite characters such as Barney, the Smurfs, Jimmy Neutron, Sponge Bob Square Pants, and others.
You also have the option of having your crib bedding custom made. There is a chance that you might not find just the right pattern you are looking for. If this is the case you can have someone make you bedding with your exact pattern. If you sew you can create your own bedding sets for your baby. There are even materials in gold and silver to use for your child’s bedding so they can sleep in the lap of luxury.

Crib bedding doesn’t refer to sheets only. You can get bed in a bag as mentioned earlier. You will find a sheet, a baby blanket, and a baby quilt in most sets. If you prefer to buy separate pieces you can still do that. Most stores have single pieces as well as bedding sets.

As you can see buying bedding for you baby can be a challenging task.
Keep your budget in mind as well as your preferences. You can create a theme in your baby’s room with the types of bedding you use. You can use character bedding but know that kids often outgrow certain characters and as your child grows you will likely have to change your themes.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Baby Crib Bedding
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Make sure you check out this marvelous page for Safety 1st rear facing car seats facts.

Safety regulations must obviously be the biggest concern when purchasing a seat for your baby, but the variations in style aren’t just aesthetic, and it’s important to understand what the effects of your decision are before making it.

Safety 1st, Cosco, Graco — brands like these manufacture top quality chairs aimed at babies of up to 12 months or 20 pounds. Don’t forget, when choosing between potential products, to settle on a preference between rear facing chairs and seats which can face in both directions so as not to settle on a chair out of line with your needs. All parents know that moving your baby from the car back to the house while they’re sleeping will almost inevitably lead to their stirring — although help is at hand with a number of these chairs doubling up as baby carriers, the opportunity to avoid this improves. Convertible seats will fit your child from birth to the point when they grow too big for safety seats, though a convertible seat comes at a higher price tag. As experienced parents can point out, generally these chairs aren’t designed to be carried outside the vehicle.

A comprehension of the notable features of any given model comes from available comparisons and reviews, helping you pick out not only the best chair but the best for your circumstances. Choose your seat in confidence, knowing that most available reviews are unbiased.

After growing larger than about twenty pounds, your baby still needs a safety seat until around eighty pounds; and that’s where the booster seat comes in. Key options will either be the integration of the car’s integral safety belt or the five-point harness: booster seats fasten in two possible ways and either may be more comfortable for your little one, so the sensible thing to do is to find out how each feels before your purchase. Educational toys are often built into seats like these, helping to keep your toddler happy and quiet while you get on with driving. We hope that what was discussed here has simplified the process of identifying the best seat for your daughter as the choice ahead is an important one. Just begin with booster seat comparison reviews to discover the very best.

When your child shows a majority of the signs of potty training readiness, you can start introducing him to the idea of using the potty.

Potty Training Books, Videos, & DVDs - Potty training books, videos, and DVDs provide a great opportunity to introduce your child to the idea of using the potty. Read a book as a bedtime story or watch a video together. Your child will probably have questions and be delighted when he finds a potty chair of his own in the bathroom!

Potty Chair or Seat - As you begin introducing the potty to your child, be sure to put a potty chair in the bathroom. Children love to imitate other family members and your child will probably sit on it when he sees you use the bathroom. After watching a potty training video or reading a potty training story, your child will have a pretty good idea what the potty is for.

Potty Training Doll - Dr. Phil recommends purchase an anatomically correct drink & wet doll for potty training. The best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Dr. Phil’s potty training method involves having your child teach the doll to use the potty. When the doll gets lots of praise and attention for using the potty, you child will want to use the potty as well!

Training Pants - Potty training pants facilitate potty training by enabling your child to feel that he or she is wet. Diapers draw the moisture away from your child’s skin and make learning to recognize the need to poop or pee difficult. Training pants allow your child to feel the wetness while protecting everything else from leaks.

Potty Training Incentives - Rewards and incentives such as stickers, snacks, and certificates can be great potty training tools. They work especially well for children who understand the basics but need an incentive to stop what they are doing and sit on the potty.

Copyright 2004 ZIP Baby. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author
Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training information as well as a large selection of potty training products. For more information about potty training, or to browse the potty training store Potty Training Advice For Parent’s of Toddlers.

Selecting the best car seat is something that needs a more detailed awareness of the market than is common, as with the features offered by the different brands and the safety rules, it’s far from a simple choice. We’ll break down, piece by piece, what you need to know for easy comprehension. Graco, Cosco, Disney - brands like these make high-quality products aimed at babies of up to twenty pounds or twelve months. Remember, while choosing between potential models, to set your preference between rear facing chairs and more flexible chairs so as not to settle on a chair that doesn’t suit your requirements. Several of the best of these chairs double as baby carriers, meaning it’s less problematic to get from house to car without your baby stirring.

Your child won’t grow too big for a convertible car chair until they’ve grown enough to use the car without safety seating. Useful throughout the years during which children need safety seats, the higher price they go for is due to their being useful for longer. It’s worth bearing in mind that convertible chairs aren’t as useful as baby carriers. Safety seat comparisons are the optimal method of gaining a comprehension of exactly what each model offers not to mention what aspects are the most useful. Make your decision confidently, secure in the knowledge that these reviews are third-party. The larger child can trust a booster chair while they weigh between approximately thirty to eighty pounds. You’re faced with two primary decisions in fastening - the five-point harness and a design using the car’s own safety belt: which makes me highly recommend checking both approaches with your little one in the seat to determine which suits the best while keeping the child comfortable. Educational toys are often attached to seats like these, keeping your child quieter and occupied as you concentrate on the road. Your family’s needs, your budget, the life you lead - all factors that must be addressed before the purchase of any seat, and this article was written to make it quicker. Simply put, the reviews and ratings on offer comprise the best resource you will find.

We do suggest you visit this superb source for Cosco child booster seats instructions…

Do you want some creative baby shower invitation wording? Okay, the first thing you need to do is to sit down and think about who to be invited.

Have a conversation with the mom-to-be and decide the guest list. Or if your shower is a surprise one, phone up her close friends and relatives for the information about whose faces she would be happy to see.

Already have the answers? Great, finish your guest list, and we can start writing unique baby shower invites.

Baby shower theme sets the tone for the special event. So, the easiest approach is to have the wording reflect your shower themes.

For example, here is an idea for Winnie The Pooh baby shower invitation wording: “Mama Pooh, Daddy Pooh and what… a new Baby Pooh is on the way in the Smith Den! Celebrate the entire Smith family for their new arrival!”

You can easily change it to fit any other cute themes that use words like “Bear”, “Duck”, “Snoopy”, and “Frog” to replace the “Pooh”. The ideas are endless.

If your theme is holiday or special occasion, there are so many free baby shower invitation verses on the internet.

Let’s say you’re making a Halloween baby shower invitation, type something like, “Soon the Frost will be on the Pumpkins! We have been waiting so long, and now we have a new little one coming to our Patch! Proud Parents: Tina & Fred. Our little Punkin’ is expected on December 11, 2005.”

If you don’t have a theme, no worries - it can’t be more appealing to use those infant essentials in your invitation wording, like “Bottles & bootties, diapers & pins, Bibs and More. This is where the love begins!”

And use a cursive writing for an elegant theme, or use a sillier, cutesy typing for a funny shower invite.

It’s always good enough that simply tell people it’s a shower for baby girl or baby boy. If you want to reflect the baby’s sex on the invitations, the basic rule is to use pink ink for the girl or blue for the boy for the printing.

If the soon-to-be-parents don’t want to find out the baby’s gender before it is born, you can write the baby shower invitation verse like this, “A new baby is almost due, we don’t know if it’s pink or blue, Heather Shirley can hardly wait, please join us as we celebrate…”

How about the new mom is having twins? First, double congratulations to your friend!

As this double happiness deserve double baby gifts, type your baby shower invitation wording with a lot of “Two” and “Double”, such as “Two by two…here they come! Stacy’s having twins boys. Double the diapers, double the pins, double the fun! We all two happy two have to you here!”

Or even place two socks or shirts in each envelope - so everyone knows this is a twin baby shower. You can use the same techniques for baby triplets or even more babies!

Copyright Qing Gu, All Rights Reserved. Reprint allowed with all the text and links intact.

Qing Gu is a Baby Shower Party Enthusiast who publishes the high quality monthly newsletter, Baby Shower Planet at www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/ezine.

You can take part in creating the Web’s ultimate baby shower ideas resource for everyone to share and enjoy at www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/contest. And you can WIN a cool prize and the chance to showcase your photos and write-ups for others to enjoy and learn from.

Keeping your baby safe at all times is one of your greatest concerns and responsibilities. There is so much to consider and it is very easy to overlook something that might be fairly obvious to some but escape others. Things like covering electrical outlets, putting up baby gates and turning pot handles to the rear of the stove are discussed in this article and is presented in a question and answer format.

Q. What is the best way to approach baby-proofing our home?

The best way is to see your home from the eyes of your child. It is recommended that you get down on your hands and knees and crawl around your home. This will enable you to see hazards you might not have recognized at your full height. Are electrical outlets in baby’s reach or are there electric cords hanging down that your baby can pull on or get tangled in? Does your furniture have sharp corners? Are there precious items at your baby’s level that should be put up out of reach?

Q. What is the most hazardous situation for my baby?

Any situation that places your baby in harm’s way is the worst situation for your baby. The most hazardous situation for your baby is choking or anything that might cause him to stop breathing. The most hazardous situation for you baby is one that caused an injury that could have been prevented.

Q. What are some things I need to consider when I am baby-proofing our home?

There are many things to consider. Your baby is a quick mover so it is never really safe to leave him unattended if at all possible. Consider putting up all valuables and breakable items out of reach of your baby’s. Anything that is small enough to fit in his mouth should be removed. If in doubt as to whether any one item is small enough to fit in your baby’s mouth and pose a choking hazard take an empty toilet paper roll. If it fits inside the tube it go in his mouth and possibly harm him.

Q. Why do I need baby safety gates?

Baby safety gates can be placed in doorways or at the top and bottom of staircases. The gates can prevent your baby from getting into the kitchen or bathroom. They can also prevent your baby from tumbling down the stairs or climbing the stairs and falling. The mesh or the holes in the gate should not be large enough for your baby to put his toes through to climb the gate. Gates now are being made to operate hands-free or one handed. There are gates being made with the bars going vertical instead of horizontal reducing the chances of your baby being able to climb the gate.

Q. What are electric outlet covers or locks?

Electric outlet covers look like plastic plugs when they are inserted and prevents your baby from sticking his fingers or something else in the outlet and getting a serious shock.
Electric outlet lock plates can replace typical outlets and in order to insert anything into the outlet the plug has to be inserted and turned.

Q. It was suggested to me that I have motion alarms on our doors and windows, why would I need them?

Some kids are very active and able to do things you would be very surprise about. Children have been known to open windows and fall through screens and become seriously injured. There are many news stories where toddlers have gotten up in the night and unbeknownst to their parents open the door and go outside. Some are found wandering around and others are not so lucky. Some windows now come with a mechanism to prevent the window from being opened more than an inch or two. The alarms will alert you to the door opening and you can intervene before something tragic happens.

Q. What kind of baby-proofing products are available?

There all kinds of baby products available and most are reasonably priced. There are motion sensors, corner cushions for sharp corners on furniture. There are electric outlet covers, cabinet and drawer locks of different types and cord retractors for window blinds.

Q. Is there anything available to protect my baby from getting in between banister posts?

There is netting available that can be attached with screws that will prevent your baby from getting between the banister posts. This product is similar to the deck netting available for outdoor decks.

Q. Are there baby proofing checklists available?

Yes there are baby-proofing checklists available. You can locate them online and they are printable. Specialty stores, hospitals, and pediatricians are all possible sources for such checklists.

Q. How can I baby proof my nursery?

You can baby proof your nursery by keeping your baby’s crib away from windows and blinds cords. Put outlet protectors on all outlets. Make certain to dress your baby in sleepers rather than using blankets. When your baby begins sitting up place the mattress in the lowest position. Do not put stuffed animals or pillows in the crib with your little one, they could nestle up to them and suffocate.

Q. How can I baby proof my kitchen?

Put all cleaners or chemicals up out of reach of your baby. Make sure all drawers and cabinet doors. While cooking put all pot handles toward the rear of the stove. Do not allow electric cords to hang over counters where your baby can pull on them. Better still, if possible unless you are feeding your baby keep him out of the kitchen.

Q. How can I baby proof my car?

You can baby proof your car by making sure the car seat your baby will ride in is installed correctly and that it is the correct one for your baby. Remove all loose items that could become missiles in a crash or quick stop, and place them in the trunk.

In Conclusion

The bottom line of baby proofing your home and your car is to be mindful that the most common things can be hazardous to a baby or small child. You can obtain a checklist of things to look for when baby-proofing your home. Window blinds cords should be shortened and outlets should be covered. Look at your home and car through your baby’s eyes, you might be surprised at hazards you miss when you are looking from adult height.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Baby Crib Bedding
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Are you a class mother or someone who is responsible for organizing a classroom party?

Organizing a classroom party can be overwhelming.
Unlike your child’s birthday party where you would only invite a few close friends, it’s harder to make a classroom party a success as you have more kids to please. - and it’s up to YOU whether or not the party goes well.

But don’t feel pressured. It really is easy to put together a fun classroom party which kids will remember for a long time. Here are 5 important things you need to know in order to throw an incredibly fun classroom party.

1. Communicate well with the helpers prior to the party

Once the party is planned, let the helpers know what exactly they will be doing prior to a party. By doing so, you will save yourselves some time on the day of party and you can get the party started promptly. Party time is limited and you don’t want to waste any time - even if it’s a just few minutes.

2. Split the students into 2-3 groups.

It is harder to make sure all 15-25+ students are enjoying their time at the party. So split them into groups. You can set up 2 or 3 tables and each group moves from one table to another, to work on different projects. Think of(…or borrow some ideas from www.child-gift-ideas.com) a few age appropriate crafts they can make, and with parent helpers’ assistance, children can enjoy making theme related crafts to take home. Since they will be small groups, it’s easier for parent helpers to have the children under control and also to help them with their project during party.

3. Everyone gets a reward for participating!

You may be planning some games to be played at the party. And you may also be planning to give winners a reward. That’s fine. Every time someone wins a game, give him/her a reward. Kids will most likely try to play harder because they want to get the prize. However, we need to think about ones who end up not winning any of the games. While winners feel great about doing well with the games, others may feel disappointed or even sad which is not a result you want. You have to make sure all the kids have fun. So what do you do? Give everyone a reward for participating! At the end of the game, hand out prizes to kids who are empty-handed. Tell them “You did a good job, thanks for participating.”

4. Eat the cupcakes at the end of party

We all know what sugar does to kids. so let’s have them eat towards the end of party. Enjoy craft activities and playing games FIRST, then the students can enjoy the food(right before they are dismissed). Kids are usually already hyped and excited at the beginning of a classroom party(or any parties for that matter), so there is no need to make the matter worse by giving them sugary cookies and cupcakes until after we do all the planned activities.

5. Take some pictures during the party

Whenever we have a party or a field trip, I always take pictures of the event so I can email them to the parents afterwards. This is a great way to keep in touch with the parents (other than when you need something from them) plus the parents, especially ones who weren’t able to attend the party would appreciate it. For photo sharing, I always use Shutterfly. With Shutterfly, it’s free to create an account, store and share pictures with others. What I love about the company is that they don’t inconvenience you in any way whatsoever. A recipient doesn’t have to have a Shutterfly account to view the photos while many other online photo sharing services don’t let you see all the pictures that are emailed to you unless you sign up to become a member. So, for this reason, I highly recommend Shutterfly!

That’s it. Follow these simple rules and the children will have a blast at a classroom party that you host. Happy Partying!

Asa Mills is a stay-at-home-mom to her two school age children and an editor/publisher of Child-Gift-Ideas.com and
Hello-Kitty-Gifts.com As a class mother, she enjoys brainstorming kids party ideas and is enthusiastic about providing the class with a fun time.

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