Summer Outdoor Fun
It’s time for Outdoor Fun & Games
Water toys are huge at my house. It’s the best way to stay cool on those hot summer days. You can never have too many Sprinklers
Like most people, my children are so totally different, so we often find ourselves buying them things at both ends of the spectrum. I have the athlete and the artist. Thankfully, they both love the water! But, to keep my artist entertained, we find ourselves buying Sidewalk Chalk
Whatever your kids are into, there are tons of things for you to keep them outside and off the video games. Best of all, you can play them all as a family and get some needed fresh air.
Happy shopping and have a great summer!
Rae Lynn @ Kidz Comfort
Nintendo Wii Fit Plus Review
Let me start by saying that like most people, I have a hectic schedule. I work part-time, I own a business and I have two very young boys. I have a hard time going to the gym and for several reasons….I like being home, I don’t really enjoy exercising, I get bored, it’s too much time away from my family…the excuses are endless when it comes to being fit. I even have an elliptical machine at home so that I can do some cardio, but even that is a struggle for me.
As I hit my 40’s I’ve noticed that my body is not what it used to be. I’m sure you can relate…as we get older, some things just don’t look or work the same. Well, my issue is with my back and neck. I was frequently stiff and often times pulled muscles just by bending or moving the wrong way.
It was time to begin a routine that would stop this stiffness, muscle aches and pains.
I swore up and down that I would not give in and allow my kids to start playing video games at such a young age. After all, they are only 5 and 6 years old. There will be plenty of time to let them become video addicts.
Well, guess what “Santa” brought this year! A Wii!
To my surprise, I am enjoying it sooo much. With some extra Christmas money that our family received we went out and purchased Wii Fit Plus. I LOVE IT!
Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
When we first purchased the Wii Fit Plus I set up my profile and added a goal for myself. Not a hard one, but one that I could actually attain. All this is done directly through WFP (Wii Fit Plus). I also created a routine that I felt I could handle and then modify as I got better at it.
Each morning, I turn on my WFP and do my body analysis. It tracks my progress and tells me what I need to do to meet my goal. It measures my BMI, weight, and can even track my calories.
I then head over to my personal trainer and do the routine that I had set up for myself. It is 30 minutes of stretching yoga poses and also strength training. After that, I do some aerobic activities that are also a lot of fun: Hula Hoop, rhythm boxing, step aerobics, etc.
Besides the great routines you can set up, you can also do tons of balancing and coordination games. From ski jumping, snow ball fighting, soccer heading, skateboarding, biking, running, Segway racing…the list goes on and on.
The best part is that my kids are exercising along with me. They aren’t just sitting on the couch with a controller. They are up and moving around. Our whole family has Wii nights now where we compete in tennis, baseball, bowling and more.
I cannot say enough about it. It was well worth the money. I wake up with much more energy, my back is no longer stiff and sore and my balance is better, making my posture better as well.
So, if you still have doubts, send me a note and I’ll tell you everything I’ve experienced so far with our own Wii Fit Plus.
Best money we have spent in a long time.
Here is another review of the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
Thanks!
-raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
PS: There are affiliate links within this email, so keep in mind that if you actually purchase a Wii Fit Plus through the links included above, I will receive a very small commission. This is not why I wrote the post though….I truly do LOVE my Wii Fit Plus!
Kid-Safe Chemicals Act
We often hear news clips or read articles about the dangers of exposing our children to a variety of products due to their chemical make-up. We’ve also seen news clips and articles about the food we eat and the pesticides that can cover our fruits and vegetables, not to mention the foods that we buy that are made using many chemicals for a variety of reasons: to thicken, to thin out, to color, to stay fresh, etc… What about the water we drink? What about the air we breathe. The list is almost endless.
You will be shocked to see this video. It is almost hard to comprehend. The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act will change the current, and very lenient, regulations for new chemicals that are used in our environment, in our food and in our personal care products. An overhaul of our nation’s chemical regulatory law is CRITICAL.
See the facts about babies that are being born pre-polluted with as many as 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world. It is frightening…
How to Choose Books For Children
By Heidi Rosenberg
When purchasing books for the lovely children in our lives the highest priority should be to seek out books with meaningful content. Try to avoid poor quality and commercialism.
Go back in time when my generation (children of the 70’s) and older were growing up. Almost all the books were good quality books, with great content. I am sure you still remember some to this day. In the 80’s two things happened, big publishing houses and mass retailers! Because of this profit margins became the driving force for the production of books. All of a sudden books became based on TV cartoons, video games and general commercialism.
So getting back to the question, how do you choose good quality books for children when there are so many books out there?
1. Seek out books that you remember from your childhood. (House that Jack built, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Hen, Three Billy Goats Gruff and many more)
2. Look for new books that will build on important values for your family. There are lots of new great books out there.
3. Avoid books that will take the child back to the television or computer.
4. Give your child good quality books.
5. Read to your child and enjoy good quality time together. Books with music CDs are a great way to enjoy a story (you should see our house when my 3 year old has her playgroup, its so much fun)
Barefoot Books, a small independent company that started in 1993 by two working mothers, Nancy Traversy and Tessa Strickland has the vision and goals to publish and share books, gifts and arts that promote children’s love for learning, independence of the spirit, multiculturalism and protection of the environment. Barefoot Books products include award-winning books, music cds and colorful artworks that appeal to children and all children at heart.
About the Author
Written by Heidi Rosenberg I became an independent stallholder for Barefoot Books in September 2008. I have two young children and we love reading together. Being an independent stallholder has given me the opportunity to stay home with my children but still earn a little bit of spending money. We love the books; they have such great artwork and fantastic stories and many of the books have facts for the reader in the back.
My Website
Barefoot Childrens books Winter sale ends Feb 2nd
Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Kids 4-8 years old
I know, I know…IT’S TOO EARLY TO BE THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! Yet, most of us are. I know I am. I want to find the perfect gifts for my two little boys. I can’t wait to see the excitement in their eyes on Christmas morning when they open the gift(s) they always wanted.
Like many Americans, we are on a tighter budget this year, so we are looking for great gifts at reasonable prices. We are thinking long and hard about our choices. Will they truly be interested in this item, enough to make the price worth paying? Can we see them using it for more than a few months? Is it age appropriate?
With these concerns in mind, we have made a top 10 list for Christmas gift ideas for children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old. Of course, use your own judgement with regards to how your own kids will understand and be able to use these suggestions.
- Mouse Trap Game
is a great gift to help enhance a child’s coordination and thinking skills. Our boys LOVE this game.
- Why Don’t Eyelashes Grow Book
- Monopoly Junior
- Marble Mania Genius
- Ultimate LEGO Building Set
- ScienceWiz Chemistry Experiments Kit
- Leapfrog Leapster Learning Game System
- IlluStory Make Your Own Story
- Melissa & Doug Underwater Floor Puzzle
- Planet Heroes Action Figure Gift Set
I hope you’ve found this to be helpful in your Christmas shopping quest. For more shopping ideas, visit Amazon.com Toys & Games
And, if you haven’t heard of this yet, Amazon.com now offers Frustration Free Shopping! I am certain that you can related to the hour long struggle trying to get those little metal twisties undone, as if you were trying to get into Fort Knox. Well, now they offer frustration-free packaging for your convenience! Great news.
Take care!
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
Tees to Please!
Visit Main Squeeze Tees Today!
I have come across a fantastic site! Here is an excerpt from their About Us page:
Every couple goes through the process of getting familiar with each other. At some point you get to a place where you know what your partner will say before they say it. Or you think something at the very moment your partner speaks it.
MainSqueezeTees is about those responses, actions, playful antics, that you come to know and appreciate or maybe tolerate about your partner. Read More…
Really, if you have a great sense of humor and you are in one of those relationships, you have got to visit this site! MainSqueezeTees.com
Enjoy!
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
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