We all know that screen time in excess can be harmful to infants and toddlers, and that it isn’t great for older children either. And I would guess that there aren’t too many parents out there that want their children to struggle with things like obesity, ADHD or cognitive and language development.

So why are so many young children still getting so much screen time? Well, because parents are tired!

Caregiving—especially quality caregiving—requires a ridiculous amount of attention, patience and energy. It’s totally understandable to want a few moments of peace every day to (gasp!) use the bathroom alone.

So, are a few minutes of television going to irrevocably damage your child? Of course not. But what if you could have a break without using the TV or your iPhone to entertain your little one?

Luckily there IS a way to have a low media (or media free) child without losing your mind. The answer is…

Self-directed play!

Self-directed or independent play is play chosen, initiated and directed by the child. When your child is able to engage in independent play, being with your child becomes less demanding. You are no longer the entertainment. You can sit back and just observe what your child is exploring. You may be able to read, check your email, work, eat chocolate—whatever—and all while he plays and explores. What a relief!

Cultivating intrinsically motivated, independent exploration does more than just give parents a break though. Self-directed play builds social and emotional health, confidence, creativity, self-discipline and problem solving skills. TV can’t even touch those awesome benefits!

In fact, TV damages a child’s instinct for discovery and self-directed play. Not only is increased TV viewing linked to shorter attention spans, but TV viewing encourages the need and desire to be entertained over interest in discovery and exploration. So the more TV they watch, the less they are able to engage in self-directed play and the more they “need” TV. (Same goes for tablets, phones, and all other screens.) What a bummer, right?

Luckily, self-directed play can take care of your need for a break as well as encourage your child to engage in more self-directed play!

So, the 10 million dollar question is: how do you get your child to play independently?

Turn Off the TV

As I said, watching TV can actually decrease children’s ability to engage in self-directed play so stopping TV viewing is an obvious first step.

Some families will find that going cold turkey works best, while others gradually wean TV watching out of their child’s daily schedule. It will also depend on your child’s age.

Here are the AAP’s guidelines on screentime for kids

Per this article, the AAP recommends the following screen time limits by age.

• 0-18 months – no screen time (except for video chatting)
• 18 months to 2 years – the AAP mentions that media can be educational beginning at 18 months, though they don’t sound very convinced of this
  • I’m assuming the AAP recommend less than 1 hour of screen time for 18-24 month olds, but they don’t say.
• 2-5 years old – no more than 1 hour per day
• 5 years and beyond – the AAP don’t recommend a specific amount of screentime but do urge parents to place consistent limits

Note that these are upper limits.

There’s no benefit to television for young children despite what marketers want you to believe, so erring on the side of caution is a good idea.

If you need some help breaking a TV habit this article written by Janet Lansbury is very useful.

Create a Safe and Engaging Environment

The way you design your environment will depend on many factors but here are some guidelines to get you started. Don’t be overwhelmed; there are many inexpensive ways to create an appealing environment for your child. Be creative!

Safety is the number one concern. If you want to be able to leave the room or focus your attention elsewhere, the environment must be 100% safe. This might mean gating off unsafe rooms or gating an area of your living room for the child to enjoy.

If you can, an outdoor space is wonderful! If you have an open floor plan, a wood stove or lots of stairs it can be challenging but gates, outlet covers and drawer locks are your friends!

Organize your child’s play space so that it is engaging and orderly. Children are especially sensitive to disorder. Keeping things neat, tidy and uncluttered (as best you can!) helps your child to stay focused.

• Instead of putting toys into large toy boxes, place materials in smaller baskets, on trays or on shelves. This makes viewing and choosing materials easy (learning to put them away is much easier too).
• Make sure all materials are accessible to your child (they don’t have to ask you to get something down) but remember that if they are not using a material appropriately you can always put it away for another day.

Find a balance between enough toys to offer choices but not too many so that your child feels overwhelmed or overstimulated. When there are too many toys children tend to play with each one for a shorter time. You can store excess toys and rotate them out depending on what she is most interested in. When you rotate these toys back in it’s like having brand new toys!

Child sized tables and chairs are a great addition to the play space. When a child sits in a chair that is just his size he is more confident and able to focus on his activities. Child size furniture can be expensive but you can save a lot by finding them used or you can get creative and use what you have available (we used a file folder as a mini table for the longest time!).

Stools are great for cultivating independence as they help your child to do a lot for themselves that they would otherwise need help with (reaching the sink, removing clothing, helping with cooking).

Choose Toys Wisely

When selecting or deciding whether to keep a toy, remember that simple is good.

Choose toys that will foster imagination and discovery rather than toys that move or make noise. In fact, get rid of (or take the batteries out of) all battery-powered toys. As infant expert Magda Gerber said “Active toys make passive children; passive toys make active children.” And active children are wonderful at discovering fun and entertaining activities that will keep them engaged!

Here are some ideas for toys and stations that you can incorporate into your child’s play space.

• Montessori style grasping toys
• Montessori (rolling cylinder)
• Textures basket
• Containers to be opened and closed. Recycled food containers are great for this.
• Art table. Add crayons, paper, stickers, and scissors in neat containers. You can opt for washable crayons, for easier cleanup.
• Dress up basket. Collect old clothes, costumes, scarves etc.
• Nature tray. Go outside and pick up a few leaves, pinecones, rocks etc.
• Blocks
• Cars or trains
• Books
• Musical instruments
• Kitchen with play food, pots and pans, broom and dust pan, and dust rag.
• Puzzles
• Sensory materials that your child can put her hands in. Offer different spoons, cups or other tools for her to manipulate the materials with. Some ideas: sand, rice, water, beans, play dough, ooblek.
• Sorting or matching trays.

How to Cultivate Self-Directed Play

Observe and follow your child as they explore their surroundings. You will learn more about which materials she enjoys and which ones she ignores (those can be put away).

• Resist the urge to help. Allow your child to struggle a bit. It’s all part of learning. Don’t show them the “right way” to use a material. Let them explore! If you choose materials that are age appropriate then your child will be able to use them without your help anyway. There will be times when you may need to offer some support and that’s ok too.
• Don’t interrupt. Children are doing very important work when they are playing. When you let them explore their environment on their own terms they are learning that what they are interested in is worth being interested in.
• Trust him. Let him decide what to play with, how to play with it, and for how long. Some days he may focus on one toy for a long time, others he may jump from one toy to another. Both are ok. The important thing is that he learns to follow his inner compass and develop the ability to direct his own play for long periods of time. It will take time and effort but soon you will find that your child is so focused on what she’s doing that you can read a few lines of the newspaper, get dinner started, or just relax… Phew!

What about you?

How do you limit screen time and encourage actual play in your home?

The post How to Raise a Low Media Child (Without Going Insane) appeared first on Mama Natural.

Why Electronics and Reading May Not be Best

Sure electronics are a quick fix, but they may not create the family atmosphere you want to create. Plus, studies show that too much screen time can negatively affect children’s brains, so we want to steer clear of multiple hours in the car on the iPad!

What about reading?

While certainly a wonderful pastime, motion sickness can render reading in the car difficult for some kids. Because the brain depends on information from a variety of sources—sight, touch, joint position, the inner ear—motion sickness (disorientation, nausea, vomiting) occurs when all of the information your senses are processing don’t align. Reading in a car is a common cause of motion sickness, because your senses don’t agree on what’s happening. Your eyes are fixed a still point—the book—but your inner ear thinks you’re moving because of bumps, turns, and changes in speed. (source)

But don’t despair, there are plenty of other ways to pass the time. Here, the best road trip games for kids of every age:

Road Trip Games for Babies and Toddlers

Babies are obviously the hardest of all the age groups to entertain for any length of time, although they are also the ones most likely to sleep for the longest periods.

Since they do have periods of wakefulness, here are some ideas to keep babies and toddlers entertained:

• Peek-a-Boo: Bring along a car seat mirror to play peek-a-boo or make silly faces at your baby from the front seat. You’ll be entertaining them and mirrors are also great for a baby’s development.
• Sing: Babies love music, but it’s easier on everyone if you can find songs you also enjoy singing, like these modern lullabies. More old-fashioned, repetitive children’s songs are also entertaining for toddlers.
• Teethers and hanging toys: Handling toys improves baby’s hand-eye coordination and motor skills. (source) Try toys with contrasting colors to help baby’s developing eyesight, too.
• Make a baby wallet. Keep an old wallet in the car with various baby-friendly items in it for little fingers and mouths to explore. Mix it up with different textures and colors. You could also make a sensory book to take with you.
• Sticker books: For toddlers, sticker books are fun and a great way to improve fine motor skills.

Road Trip Games for Preschoolers

As kids age, the road trip activities can get a little more sophisticated. Some of these might even keep adults entertained!

• I Spy: Whoever starts chooses an object either inside or outside the car and states what letter the object begins with— usually by saying “I spy with my little eye something beginning with….” Everyone guesses what they are thinking of and the person who guesses correctly takes the next turn. If children are still too small to know how to spell, try colors instead.
• Simon Says: One player takes the role of “Simon” and issues instructions to the others like touch your head or wiggle your tongue. The instructions should not be followed unless they are prefaced with the words “Simon says.” Anyone who forgets is out of the game.
• Audio books: This is a great alternative road trip activity for kids who get car sick when reading. You can buy or download versions that are narrated in a way to make them especially interesting to younger children.
• Drawing: While having loose pens and paper in the car can be tricky, the old-fashioned Etch-a-Sketch is still popular with youngsters.

Road Trip Games for Kids

Once kids hit elementary school age, road trip games can become a lot more involved.

• • Memory games: There are many benefits to memory games, including improved concentration, greater attention to detail, and expanded vocabulary. Try a game like I’m Going on a Picnic. Essentially, each person, in turn, chooses something to take on the picnic after repeating what has already been added. Remember: Nothing is too big or too silly to be packed!

• License plate game: Spot license plates from as many different states as possible. You could award points: one point for every adjacent state, two for more distant states, etc. Bonus points for plates from other countries.
• Sing-a-long CDs: You can buy books with included CDs that come with the song’s lyrics to allow children to sing along, while also looking at the illustrations. Here are some beautiful examples.
• Kid-friendly podcasts: These not only entertain children, but many also have educational roots. Podcasts can also help foster discussions about issues your kids might not otherwise know how raise with you. Browse podcasts suitable for kids and families here.
• Loaded Questions (Junior): If you’re looking for another way to start some interesting discussions, trythis card game.
• Highway scavenger hunts: Give each child a list of items to find along the route. The first one to find them all wins. Ideas include someone wearing a hat, a bike on the back of a car, a dog hanging out of a window, etc. If you don’t want to make up your own hunt, you can buy this ready-made version.
  Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game
• 20 questions: A very simple, but effective game. Someone thinks of something or someone and can only answer yes or no to 20 questions to help guess the answer.
• Word association: Someone starts by saying a word, then the next person says the first word that comes into their mind when they hear the original word, and so on. This game is simple, but it can be a good way to get insight into how your children think.

The Road May Be Long, But Remember…

While such a trip can be boring and frustrating, the days are long, but the years are short. You are sure to look back on these trips as very special times with your family!

And hopefully these road trip games for kids will help you prepare for—and maybe even avoid!—those inevitable moments of boredom.

How About You?

Have you ever been on a long road trip with your family? What are your favorite road trip games for kids?

The post The Best Road Trip Games for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide appeared first on Mama Natural.

Experts agree that putting down those devices and getting your kids outside is essential to their well-being.

“We know daily physical activity is essential for children’s growth and development,” says Dr. Kristen Copeland, a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Countless studies prove the physical and emotional benefits to spending time outdoors. Here, some of the most compelling:

1. Kids who do outdoor activities have lower BMI.

A 2015 study of nearly 3,000 preschool-aged kids found that the more children played outdoors, the more their BMI decreased. Just 60 minutes per daysignificantly improved BMI. Sounds doable, right? Another study found that only 5.7% of children are getting the recommended 60 minutes of outdoor activity.

2. Kids who do outdoor activities have better eyesight.

There’s some evidence that just 45 minutes of outdoor activity per day decreases the instances of nearsightedness in children. In the study, kids who spent more time outside were 23% less likely to develop nearsightedness. Though the research didn’t specifically address why time spent outdoors improves eyesight, lead author lead author Dr. Mingguang He said there is speculation that brighter outside light positively affects eye growth. 

3. Kids who do outdoor activities are smarter.

Many studies, including this one from the University of Michigan, show that just being outside improves memory and attention. When children engage in physical activity outdoors, the benefits are even greater. This Swedish study suggests cardiovascular activities stimulate the brain, improving intelligence scores over time. Another study suggests even simply being surrounded by green space can improve memory and attentiveness in school-age children.

4. Kids who do outdoor activities have better immune systems.

There is growing evidence that dirt isn’t just good for kids, it’s necessary for healthy development. One study found that kids who were exposed to a wide range of microbes (like those who grew up on farms) were less likely to develop asthma and allergies. 

“Kids who live in just a bit dirtier environments are actually more protected against asthma and allergies.” — Anne Sperling, an immunologist at the University of Chicago

5. Kids who do outdoor activities sleep better.

Still waiting for your child to sleep through the night? Studies say kids who engage in outdoor activities are less likely to wake up at night. The reason for this is two-fold. Exposure to sunlight helps regulate sleep patterns and physical activity helps children fall asleep faster and get a better night’s sleep. Conversely, the same study found that each additional hour of screen time was associated with a three‐minute shorter sleep. 

6. Kids who do outdoor activities are less stressed.

Experts say increasing outdoor time could protect kids from ADHD, antidepressant use, and high levels of anxiety. 

Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Outdoor play teaches kids to collaborate and solve problems. They are more confident, creative and even nicer. — Sydney Morning Herald

What’s more? Scientists say exposure to certain kinds of bacteria in soil may also increase learning capabilities. 

7. Kids who do outdoor activities get more vitamin D.

Most kids—7 out of 10!—are vitamin D deficient, according to a study of 6,000 children. Yikes! And since it’s very hard to get enough vitamin D from a healthy diet alone, getting outside is vital to kids’ bone and heart health. According to one study, just 15-20 minutes outside each day can help improve kids’ vitamin D stores. 

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” — Kay Redfield Jamison, clinical psychologist

Fun Outdoor Activities for Families

Are you 100% convinced your kids need to spend more time outdoors? Here are some fun ideas to add to your summer bucket list:

Visit a farm or a zoo

Early exposure to livestock and farms can help prevent allergies, asthma and hay fever. And simply being around animals can improve happiness.

Cultivate a vegetable garden

Learning about gardening with hands-on experience may increase vegetable consumption and make kids more willing to try (and like!) new vegetables.

Go for a walk

We already know that simply being surrounded by greenery can improve memory and attentiveness, but there’s additional research that suggests children with ADHD are better able to concentrate after taking a walk in the park.

Visit a National Park

Experts say access to public land, like National Parks, promotes physical activity, improves mental health, and may even reduce health care costs.

Try forest bathing

Forest bathing has many benefits, including decreased risk of heart attack, decreased risk of obesity, improved sleep and mood, decreased inflammation, clearer skin, relief for sore muscles, and more. Read more about why I love forest bathing (and how to do it) here.

Set up a scavenger hunt

This kind of activity is fun for kids, but it has some hidden benefits parents love. Scavenger hunts teach problem-solving skills, exercise both the mind and muscles, and encourage teamwork.

Pack a picnic and read a book together

Since being outdoors can improve concentration and make it easier to learn, a nice day is the perfect time to tackle that summer reading list.

Host a lemonade stand

Creating some sort of front yard sale, whether helping with a family garage sale or hosting their own lemonade stand, helps kids learn valuable entrepreneurial skills. Bonus points for saving a portion of the money and donating the rest to charity, which teaches kids to be smart with their money and philanthropic.

Getting Outside This Summer

When the kids are home all summer long, it’s up to parents to keep kids busy. While it’s tempting to set them up in front of the TV to buy yourself some extra time between activities, resist the urge. There are so many ways to raise a low-media child without going insane. And, as you can see from the above, the benefits to getting outside are real and vast. But don’t beat yourself up if every hour of the day isn’t structured with a planned activity. Kids need unstructured play, too. When you need a break (yes, we all need a break sometimes!), let your kids find ways to safely entertain themselves—they’ll be better for it!

How About You?

What special outdoor activities do you have planned this summer? Share your ideas below!

The post Fun Outdoor Activities (And Why Playing Outside Is SO Important!) appeared first on Mama Natural.

I’m not talking about depriving them of fast food or candy—I don’t feel bad about that. I’m talking about bubble baths.

There are few things that can compare to the JOY of a bubble bath. I still remember soaking in a big vat of suds in my parent’s laundry tub, sculpting Santa Claus beards on my face and making towers and bubble castles.

My mom used JOY soap for the bubbles, but hey, it was the 80s.

Why I Don’t Give My Kids Bubble Baths

Same old story: Most of the bubble bath soaps on the market contain some really terrible ingredients… parabens, fragrances, even formaldehyde. Yep.

But should that obstacle stand in the way of a natural mama and her kids’ bath time? Not in my household.

I did some research, tried out a few options, and have some good ones for you listed below. Scroll down even further and you’ll see some DIY options that you can whip together for a safe and sudsy good time.

Safe Bubble Baths

The key is to find a natural bubble bath that actually bubbles.

Don’t be fooled: Many natural bubble bath options are pure but don’t create big or lasting bubbles. You’d be better saving your money and using a simple olive oil bar.

But, thankfully, there are a few super pure formulas on the market that actually get the job done.

Art not only builds motor skills in the little ones, but it helps kids of all ages learn how to think critically. Through the process of making decisions with their art, kids learn how to be creative, solve problems, and embrace visual learning.

Unfortunately, even non-toxic art supplies are full of chemicals. Non-toxic only means that inhaling fumes or ingesting a small amount won’t be fatal. It does not mean that it won’t make you sick. Luckily, there are many art activities that are perfect for natural paint, eco crayons, and veggie chalk.

So, the next time your kids are stuck inside and sick of doing chores, try these 10 art activities that are safe, flexible for different ages, and super fun!

1. Marble Painting

Because this activity requires little artistic talent and is a lot like a game, even kids who don’t like art will have a fun time. The best part is that each print is as unique as its creator!

Supplies:

• Cardboard box
• Paper
• Natural paint (where to buy)
• Marbles

Place the paper in the box. Glob some paint onto the paper. Dump the marbles into the box and tip, move and shake the box so that the marbles roll through the paint and leave trails on the paper.

Variation: Fill cups with each paint color and drop one marble into each cup. Then pull the marble out, covered in paint, and drop it into the box. Tip the box in all directions to create trails of colors.

2. Paper Garland

This activity can be adapted to almost any season or occasion, which makes it a great go to activity just before a big event or holiday.

Supplies:

• Construction or craft paper
• Scissors
• Hole punch (optional)
• Natural paint, markers, crayons or embellishments (optional)
• Ribbon or string

Cut out snowflakes, leaves, hearts, circles, etc. from whatever paper you choose. At this point you can add paint, stickers, glitter, or other decorations. Then, use the hole punch or scissors to cut two holes, one on the left and one on the right, of each shape. String your shapes onto the ribbon and hang.

3. Felt Boards

This activity has endless possibilities. Felt is great because it sticks to itself so you don’t need glue, but it also comes apart easily so it can be reused over and over again.

Supplies:

• Felt
• Stiff cardboard or canvas
• Stapler
• Scissors

Cut a piece of felt that is about 2 inches wider and longer than your piece of cardboard. Fold over the edges and staple. Then cut out shapes that can be layered to create a scene. Some ideas:

• Things at the beach
• Christmas tree and ornaments
• Under the sea
• Flowers
• Pumpkin and jack o lanterns
• Parts of a house
• Animals in the forest

4. DIY Window Clings

This activity is fun and easy with virtually no mess! It’s perfect for a late afternoon activity when everyone’s energy level is low.

Supplies:

• Foam sheets
• Water
• Clean window

Cut fun shapes out of the foam sheets and use water to stick them to the window. Let your child build whatever scene he wants. Refer to the list under felt boards for some inspiration!

5. Crayon-Watercolor Resist

This activity is great for discovery. Kids learn how different materials react together. In this activity the watercolor will be repelled wherever the crayon is on the page.

Supplies:

• Watercolor paint (where to buy)
• Watercolor paper
• Crayons or oil pastels (where to buy)

Draw with crayon or oil pastel on the watercolor paper (use white for a secret drawing). Then use the watercolor to paint over the drawing. The paint will resist wherever there is crayon.

6. Collages

The great thing about collaging is that you can use just about any materials you want and each project will come out vastly different than the others. There are endless possibilities. This activity could even be an ongoing family project that you add to every time it rains.

Supplies:

• Cardboard
• Magazines, construction paper, photos, etc.
• Scissors
• Natural glue (where to buy)

Cut out shapes from colored or patterned paper or choose interesting colors from magazines. I like to use nature magazines because the photos are so beautiful. Paste your pieces of paper onto the cardboard in whatever way you want.

7. Cotton Swab Pointillism

This activity requires a bit of thinking outside the box so it can be frustrating for some kids at first.  However, once they figure out how to make a “line” with dots they’ll be hooked.

Supplies:

• Natural paint
• Cotton swabs
• Paper

Use the cotton swabs to dab dots of paint onto the paper. Let your imaginations go wild! For little kiddos: use the cotton swab as a brush.

8. Chalk Stencils

A fun and quick activity, chalk stencils are great for making cards and decorations. Smudging the chalk makes the images look like they are glowing, which makes this a great activity for Christmas and Hanukkah!

Supplies:

• Black paper
• Natural Chalk (where to buy)
• Card stock

Cut shapes out of the card stock to use as stencils. Trace around the edge of the stencil with the chalk and while still holding the stencil on the paper, use your finger or a paper towel to smudge the chalk away from the stencil.

9. Handprint Trees

Supplies:

• Construction Paper
• Natural glue
• Pencil
• Scissors

Trace your child’s hand onto a piece of brown construction paper (this will be the trunk of the tree). Cut the tree trunk out and glue it to a piece of construction paper.

Cut out leaf shapes from construction paper and glue those onto the branches. You could also cut out circles instead of leaves for a modern look.

Variation: Use natural finger paint for the leaves.

10. Straw Blow Painting

Much like marble painting, this activity creates abstract art that is wonderfully unique and exciting to make.

Supplies:

• Paper
• Cardboard box (optional but helps contain paint splatter)
• Natural paint
• Paper drinking straws
• Glass dropper or spoon (optional)
• Water

Thin out the paint until it’s about the consistency of milk. It needs to be thin to move across the paper well. Use the dropper to deposit paint onto the paper and then use the straw to blow the paint around the paper.

How about you?

What art activities do you like to do with your kids? Share with us in the comments below!

The post 10 All-Natural Art Activities for Kids appeared first on Mama Natural.

But I’m happy to report that in the past month, our family flew to San Diego (4 hour flight) and Fort Meyers (2 1/2 hour flight) with no meltdowns or hysterics. Woo hoo!

Top 10 Tips for Traveling With a Toddler

1. Find a flight that isn’t too full

Not always possible, but when you can, chose flights that aren’t that full. You can see how many seats are still available when you book your flight and want to chose your seat. If you see lots of empty spots, book that flight! If you see only a few openings in the rear, keep looking.

2. Schedule flights during naptime or bedtime

Our mantra is the less baby is awake on plane, the better for everyone around you. Griffin isn’t the easiest guy to fall asleep and even he went down easily on several flights. Having the middle seat open helps a ton since baby has his/her own “space.” You and daddy can then tag team soothing to get baby to nap (back rubs, keeping them from trying to climb all over, singing, stroking hair, etc.) Can’t find a flight that works during normal sleeping hours? No worries. Encourage baby to take a late afternoon or mid morning “catnap” which can do wonders.

3. Book an aisle and window seat

This might sound counterintuitive as we normally want to sit next to our husband, child or travel companion but this way you have a better chance of scoring the middle seat and acquiring the whole row for your family.

4. Arrive at the gate early and talk with flight attendant

If you book a flight that isn’t full, most airline attendants will move things around for you to get the empty middle seat. One tip, when you go to talk to him/her, bring your baby with you. It brings your challenging scenario to “life” a bit more and helps breed compassion :).

5. If child is under 2, bring proof of age

Griffin has been on 1/2 dozen flights and we’ve NEVER been asked this until our flight home last week. According to FAA regulations, all lap children need some sort of identification to show “proof of age.” (Aw, isn’t that cute… they are getting “carded”). Medical records, copy of a birth certificate, or even a picture of your child’s certificate that you can show via your phone will all work.

6. Bring extra diapers, drinks and food

You want to be prepared for on flight blowouts and the munchies. Just like we tend to eat more junk at the airport, I pack treats for Griffin since it’s a special occasion. Some ideas include: freeze-dried fruit, Wasa crackers (Griffin loves to chew on and 1 cracker takes him 1/2 hour to finish. Great distraction!), grapes, Starbucks smoothies, ice chips from the online drink service.

7. Bring special toys and books

This goes without saying but pack toys and books for plane. Since we don’t want to carryon heavy luggage, chose a few of the choicest toys you own. For us, this can include Griffin’s musical book, an etch a sketch and toy phone. Regular old books are great additions since it gets the child to be still and sleepy. Not to mention, they can copy what many adults are doing around them… READING.

8. Dress your little one in layers

Planes can be cold. Planes can be hot. If you dress your tot in layers, you can roll with any temperature with ease.

9. Wear a nursing shirt

For many youngsters, nursing is a soothing activity for take offs, landings and before nap time. My favorite shirt is Mountain Mama’s Olema shirt since it has two layers and keeps my belly covered. Chose one that works for you.

10. Bring a pillow onboard

OK, sounds kinda fussy, but find a really soft, packable pillow to bring onboard. This will help soothe the child and make holding, cuddling and nursing much much more comfortable. Even when we didn’t get the middle seat on one flight, Griffin fell asleep on me thanks to the softness of a pillow. And if you DO get the middle seat, you have an instant pillow top mattress!

So there you have it… our top 10 tips when traveling with toddler. Now if I could only find a way to neutralize all timezones… LOL!

How About You?

What are your travel strategies with your little ones? Share with us!

The post 10 Tips for Flying With a Toddler appeared first on Mama Natural.

Let your kids explore with fun sensory activities

Sensory activities are great for kids of all ages. Not only do they keep kids busy, but they also help them develop cognitive, linguistic, social/emotional, and fine motor skills. Each child can use the materials how he or she wants, and since there is rarely an end product, the emphasis is on the process.

Did I mention that they’re tons of fun?

If you’re stuck inside because it’s too cold, too hot, or too rainy to go outside, here are 10 sensory activities for toddlers to keep everyone happy and sane!

Sensory Activities: Oobleck

Getting it’s name from the Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck, this silly sounding goop is both entertaining and educational. Oobleck has properties of both a liquid and a solid at room temperature. You can run your fingers through it like water, and then place more pressure on it and it acts like a solid. Very cool stuff!

What you need for this project:

• 2 cups of non-GMO cornstarch
• 1 cup of water
• Natural food coloring (optional)

Pour the water into a bowl. Add these natural food dyes to the water if you choose, or instead of water you could use leftover beet or berry water.

Slowly add the cornstarch until you reach the desired thickness.

Some ideas for using oobleck:

• Have your kids mold the oobleck into containers. What happens when you remove the container?
• Have them slowly lower their hands into the mix and then quickly try to remove it.
• Ask them to squeeze the oobleck between their fingers. What happens?

Sensory Activities: Slime

Another fun goop to play with, slime is a great sensory activity to exercise little muscles and is lots of fun too.

What you need for this project:

• 1 cup natural glue
• 1 cup liquid starch
• A bowl
• Natural food coloring or glitter (optional)

Mix the liquid starch with the food coloring or glitter first. Then add the glue and stir. Keep stirring until it starts to gel. At this point you can use your hands to continue the process. The more you play with it, the less sticky and more goopy it gets.

Sensory Activities: Play Dough

What sensory list would be complete without play dough? It’s easy to make at home, and is fun for kids (and adults!) of all ages.

What you need for this project:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons oil (olive works fine)
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Natural food coloring or glitter (optional)

Add all ingredients to a pan and cook on medium/low heat. Keep cooking until it’s doughy and not sticky anymore.

Add food coloring and knead the dough until the color is distributed evenly. You can also color your play dough with concentrated beet juice.

Sensory Activities: Indoor Snow

This “snow” can be used for building, scooping, shaping… you name it! It is a bit messy, so make sure to have newspaper or an old sheet to protect surfaces.

What you need for this project:

• 3 bars of soap, grated
• 1 roll of toilet paper
• Warm water
• Plastic bin

Tear up the toilet paper into small pieces and throw it and the grated soap into the bin. Next add warm water a little at a time while squishing and smooshing the mixture.  It will feel like squishing your hands in mud (which is why it’s also known as clean mud).

Sensory Activities: Explore Music

Music is a great way to get active when you’re stuck inside. Hitting a drum, blowing into a harmonica, and singing all exercise the body.

If you don’t already have instruments available, you can make simple homemade drums with just about anything around the house: Coffee cans, pots and pans, even cardboard boxes are great, and each one sounds different.

Singing or listening to music together is another fun way to explore music. For younger kiddos, choose a sequencing song to sing together. Sequencing songs are songs that repeat the beginning many times throughout the song. Feel free to add hand or body movements to go with the lyrics.

Some examples are “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea,” “Five Little Ducks went out to Play,” “Old Macdonald Had a Farm,” “The Farmer in the Dell,” “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” and “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.”

Older children might enjoy sharing their favorite songs with you or exploring new genres of music such as African rhythm, Classical, Bebop or Latin.

Sensory Activities: Lavender Rice Bin

This activity is less messy than some of the others, and is great for reducing stress. The lavender essential oil is safe and soothing so it’s a great activity for a post meltdown or after school activity. It’s also a great choice for sensory exploration because it incorporates three senses: touch, hearing and smell.

What you need for this project:

• White rice
• Lavender essential oil (where to purchase therapeutic grade essential oils)
• Storage bin, shoe box, or other receptacle
• Small toys and tools for scooping

Pour the white rice into the bin and add a few drops of lavender. Mix with your hands. Let your kiddo choose what tools and small toys to use in their new rice sandbox.

Sensory Activities: Scent Jars

Scent jars are a great way to explore smells and learn a bit about the scientific process.

What you need for this project:

• Jars with lids
• A cotton ball, small piece of fabric or paper towel
• Stickers to label jars
• Essential oils or other scents (where to purchase therapeutic grade essential oils)

Add the scent to the cotton ball and place the cotton ball in the jar. Then put the lid on.

Label the jars with color coded stickers.

You can make as many different jars as you like and use them in a number of ways.

• Make two jars of each scent and ask your child to pick which ones match.
• Write the name of the scent on a card and ask your child to match the smell to the name. Add a way to check their work by placing a same colored sticker on the back of the card as on the jar.
• Make jars with nice smells and some with yucky smells (vinegar, strong smelling herbs or essential oils) ask them to write down (or just tell you) which ones they like and which ones they don’t like. Older kids love getting grossed out by the yucky smells!

Sensory Activities: Water Play

Just because you’re stuck inside doesn’t mean you have to forgo water play.

Set up a few dishes with water as well as some scoops, sponges, and other tools for manipulating the water right on your dishwasher door. There is less mess to clean up, and the dishwasher door is usually a good height for little ones.

If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill the sink or tub with water, bubbles, tools, and toys. This activity will keep kids busy for quite a while!

Sensory Activities: Cook Together

Cooking with your kids is a great way to build their self esteem, provide an important life skill, teach math and science skills, and teach them to be healthy eaters!

• Experiment with opposites for your meal or snack: salty vs. sweet, crunchy vs. soft, hot vs. cold.
• Try new foods and have your kids write down what they taste sweet, salty, sour, or bitter and what other food it reminds them of. Making it an experiment is a great way to get picky eaters to try new things!
• Bake something together. Kids love to pour and stir. I bet they would be pretty happy to eat whatever they make too.

Sensory Activities: Sensory Bags

This activity is very simple. Just fill a freezer bag with shaving cream, hair gel, aloe vera gel, clay, dry beans etc., and you have a mess free sensory activity that your kids can use anywhere.

Kids love squishing and rolling the bag. You may want to put some tape on the top of the bag  just in case.

How about you?

What are your go-to sensory activities for kids? What activities hold their attention longest? Share with us in the comments below.

The post 10 Sensory Activities For Toddlers appeared first on Mama Natural.

I remember picking up rotten apples from our yard that had fallen from our apple trees and being chased by bees! Chores weren’t a big part of my childhood and I paid the price.

When I went off to college, I didn’t know how to cut an onion. Or that tomatoes didn’t belong in the fridge. Or even how to properly do laundry!

I was lost and clearly didn’t do adult-ing well. Science even says that doing chores is beneficial to kids: one study found that doing age appropriate chores can help make your child more successful as an adult.

So, I’m a believer of teaching our children how to be productive adults through age appropriate chores. And what if we even had a little FUN while doing them?! Here are some ways to do just that…

Age appropriate chores for kids

The key to raising kids who help out around the house is starting early with age appropriate chores. When they can accomplish a task on their own, they will feel more confident in their abilities and proud of how they can help the family. Also keep in mind that each child is different, so be flexible with what you can expect at each age.

Use the following list of age appropriate chores as a helpful guide when assigning tasks, but always personalize for each family member:

18 Months

• Water plants
• Practice sweeping dry messes with hand broom
• Pick up toys and put in bin
• Put books in a pile or basket
• Put a few groceries on the counter at checkout
• Dust low areas
• Pull weeds

2 years

• Place dirty clothes in hamper
• Throw away trash
• Put clothes in dryer
• Put away socks
• Pick out a few things at the grocery store
• Get diapers and wipes
• Get clean clothes from drawer

3 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Set the table
• Carry own laundry (small basket)
• Fold wash cloths, kitchen towels
• Put away clean silverware (except sharp knives)
• Wipe down exterior of appliances
• Spray and wipe windows, tables and countertops
• Prep age appropriate food (you can learn more about teaching kids to cook in this course)
• Clean up room

4 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Feed pets
• Get own drink of water
• Prepare simple snacks
• Scrub the tub and toilet with brush
• Make bed
• Bring in things from car
• Bring dirty dish to counter near sink

5 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Clear dishes from table
• Put away dishes
• Replace toilet paper and paper towel rolls
• Unload dishwasher
• Match socks
• Put clothes away
• Mop floor
• Get mail

6-7 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Take out trash
• Fold clothes
• Sweep floor
• Empty dishwasher
• Rake leaves
• Make age appropriate meals
• Answer phone
• Help pack their lunch

8-9 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Load dishwasher
• Wash laundry
• Strip and make bed
• Put groceries away
• Pack their lunch
• Make age appropriate meals

10-11 years

All chores listed above, plus:

• Make a meal for family each week
• Make all of their own snacks
• Clean bathroom from top to bottom
• Vacuum without supervision
• Wash windows without help
• Sweep basement/garage
• Manage their laundry

12 & up

All chores listed above, plus:

• Mow lawn
• Babysit
• Grocery shop independently
• Prune bushes and hedges
• Prepare meals regularly
• Clean out car and wash interior/exterior

Respect play time

Of course, you can’t have all work and no play. For kids, playtime is serious business! In fact, children learn so much from play that you can consider it their “work.”

When their play need is met, kids are more likely to cooperate with age appropriate chores. I generally will play with my kids for 15 minutes and then ask for their help with work around the house.

Add in some FUN!

Who says that all chores have to be boring? You can always incorporate fun into kids’ work time.

Play music while washing the floor and they can dance between squeezing out the mop (or lip sync into the mop pole).

If kids help you set the table, let them fold the napkins in unusual ways or serve sparkling water instead of flat.

My son Griffin helps me send out our Birth Affirmation Cards and he gets to decorate the envelopes with sparkly stickers. Paloma gets to help send out our Mama Natural Birth Course welcome kits, which she loves.

Reframe the name

Instead of using the word “chores” you can reframe the work by calling it “family contributions” or “home care activities” or “family work time.”

The point is, our children aren’t our little maids or work force, they are members of our household, and we all chip in to keep the home running smoothly.

Let them choose their chores

A chore that is chosen is a chore more likely to get done. If it doesn’t make a difference to you, let them choose which chores they would prefer to do. This helps them feel empowered and gives them some “skin” in the game.

Of course, there are always chores that no one wants to do (like putting away the dishes). In those cases assign everyone a “boring” chore and then divvy up the fun chores (e.g. spraying the glass table or going to the mailbox).

Another benefit of doing it this way is that you may uncover some strengths or interests. Maybe one child is especially good at organizing while another likes more ‘active” chores.

Create a chore chart

Who doesn’t like a pretty chart? Let your kids help make it and decorate it with stickers. Write everyone’s names on the left side of the chart and the chores they are responsible for next to their name. Let them be responsible for putting a checkmark or sticker next to their finished chores. This helps kids feel a sense of unity and teamwork.

Charts are also a great way to give a visual reminder to younger kids about what they need to do. It’s hard to remember everything! And if you want a more modular and less DIY chart, I love this magnetic one from Melissa & Doug.

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Magnetic Responsibility Chart With 90 Magnets

Make chores part of your routine

If chores are just “what we do,” then there’s less resistance. (And, if you’re implementing chores for the first time, you may come up against some resistance, but stick with it.)

I usually have my kids do some tasks in the morning (after we’ve eaten and played!) as well as right after afternoon snack time. These are high energy times when their other social and physical needs have been met.

Avoid doing chores when they are tired or hungry to avoid crankiness and resistance.

Model helpfulness

We are our children’s best teacher. They will do what we do (not what we say).

When you see a child struggling with a particular chore, offer some help. This models compassion and empathy.

Creating a respectful relationship will help your child learn to reciprocate kindness and helpfulness with others.

A good phrase to keep in your back pocket is: “I won’t do it for you, but I’d be happy to do with you until you get the hang of it.”

I also like to do my household work when my kids are busy doing their chores to show them that they aren’t alone and they aren’t my maids (while mom kicks up her heels and eats bonbons ?).

Build in natural consequences

I advise against using bribes or punishments as motivators for chores, but you can build in natural consequences.

So, if your son doesn’t help wash dishes, he won’t be served food because there are no plates to put  it on!

If your daughter must put her clothes away and doesn’t, she may not be able to find her favorite purple sparkle shirt.

Natural consequences help kids understand the reason for doing chores: taking care of the house helps make life easier in the long run!

Let them show you how capable they are

Chore time is really about educating your child on how to take care of themselves and the home. As the child gets older, the chores should become more difficult and take greater responsibility.

I find that this actually incentivizes my children and they can’t wait to get to the next, new responsibility, keeping in mind that they still need to do some of the same old ones, too. With each new chore, you’re again teaching your children new skills that will serve them their whole life.

You’re making a difference, Mama!

While it can be easier for us moms to just do the work ourselves, you could be robbing your children of important life lessons. By doing age appropriate chores, your kids take some ownership in their home, feel like an important part of the family, and build their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

They also develop patience, learn about delayed gratification (YAY!), and may even work alongside their siblings in peace and harmony (double YAY!)

But more importantly, by giving your child age appropriate chores, you are teaching them how the world works, how their actions make an impact and how to be productive citizens of the world.  

(And your future daughter or son in-law will thank you!)

How about you?

What chores did you do as a kid? What chores do your kids do now? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Age Appropriate Chores: How to Get Kids to Pitch In appeared first on Mama Natural.