All hail, Caesar! Your little dictator’s–I mean diva’s–wardrobe just got a whole lot more stylish with the new Couture Collection of shoes from Pedipeds. This fashionable footwear is not only known for its sense of style, but for unbelievable comfort. Your little one’s precious tootsies need extra cushioning, and these shoes deliver without sacrificing style. In the new spring/summer collection, pedipeds is offering Roman-inspired gladiator sandals.
Right off the bat, you’ll be captivated by the cool gold packaging. Nestled inside the box are the most darling shoes that’ll be the envy of the playground. Metallic leather sandals with buttery soft straps keep wiggly toes in place, while enabling the flexibility to move as fast as those little feet can. Choose from among a variety of styles and colors with names that will transport you to ancient Roman times: Aurelia Silver, Aurelia Gold, Octavia Ivory (in crocodile embossed leather) and Portia Pink (also in crocodile embossed leather).
While you may be tempted to save these shoes for a special occasion, they’re designed for everyday use and are available for babies up to age 2. So if you’ve got a little Cleopatra on your hands, be sure to give her the sense of style she commands.
One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day with the kids is simple: head outdoors! On April 22, here are some ideas from the National Wildlife Federation to enjoy with your children:
Cultivate your child’s green thumb.
Garden with your kids and give them a sense of responsibility when caring for plants and flowers. Let them help you develop a wildlife-friendly garden so they can learn what wildlife needs to survive. Add wildlife-attracting elements to your yard including a water source and native plants, and watch your child’s face when wildlife actually shows up.
Play Outside
Play some good old-fashioned outdoor games, such as Capture the Flag, Red Rover, and Duck Duck Goose.
Introduce your children to bird watching.
You don’t have to know the names of all the bird species to enjoy watching them, but it’s fun to look up what you have seen in a bird guide and try to identify it. Once they get the hang of it, kids love starting their own “life list”.
Show your kids the importance of conserving energy in your home.
Get your children to turn off the lights in rooms they aren’t using. Let them help you change out light bulbs to compact fluorescent ones, which can reduce energy use by up to 75 percent.
Make a worm compost bin.
Kids love this one – Red wigglers will devour banana peels, apple cores, lettuce, leftovers-gone-bad, etc. and then they’ll poop them out as black castings which make great fertilizer for gardens and houseplants.
Walk or Ride
If your child can walk to school, do it; if they can’t walk, bike; if they can’t bike, take the bus or carpool. It’s not always possible to walk or ride, but when it is, it’s great for kids’ health and the environment.
Hey, Mama! Daddy, listen up too. Good morning? Not when baby’s cries get stronger through the night. If your family is on sleep lockdown, try these nursery rhymes. Our gentle renditions of Kanye’s coolest melodies will rock a little fella to a peaceful night’s slumber. Welcome to the good life.
Watch out for that hair! Would you have thought that someone with a ‘do like that would end up selling over 100 million albums and winning 5 Grammy awards?
Mariah was born on March 27, 1970 on Long Island, New York (again, the hair), and if you’re wondering where the voice came from, her mother was an opera singer and vocal coach. She began singing at the age of three, attended Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York and spent a lot of time as a demo singer for local recording studios. Carey moved to New York City to chase her dreams and attended beauty school before becoming a back-up singer for Brenda K. Starr. Hard to believe with her voice that she would ever back someone else. In 1988 Mariah met Columbia Records Executive Tommy Mottola (through Brenda K. Starr) and her career was launched with her debut album, Mariah Carey, in 1990.
If you look back on all the success Mariah has had over her career, there is only one lesson to take away from all of it. You should have been an opera singer and taught your kids to sing when they were three years old.
Are your kids old enough that they know you’re probably spending a bit too much time on the computer while they’re stuck watching the same SpongeBob episodes again? Well, maybe it’s time to get your kids online. Yes, it’s scary, but that’s what that parental control panel on your computer is for. After restricting pretty much everything, head over to Hellokids.com to set up an account for your kids.
Right after creating an account for your child, you can select the age group for them to view other kids, from 0-10, and start uploading your child’s pictures or write about their favorite toys, anything that tells the world who your child is becoming. They’re able to completely customize their profile, with your help of course, and they can add elements like video and music to their page as well. There are even coloring pages to print, jokes, poems, games and more to keep their attention.
For the kid who loves music, there are tons of fan groups for acts like Justin Beiber, Hannah Montana, and Taylor Swift that any of the 15,000 members can join. There’s even a gardening game for the future green thumbs of the world. Head over to HelloKids.com today to get your kid started in the world of 0’s and 1’s today.
Yes, the sunshine might be calling your kids outdoors—and by all means, let them go! But it doesn’t mean you have to put aside storytime. Instead, grab a blanket, pull up a deck chair and welcome the wonders of the warmer weather with some classic children’s stories that celebrate springtime. You may, in fact, remember many of these treasured fables from your own childhood, so dust off your copy and share them with your little ones.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Little mischief makers may recognize themselves in the little bunny who always managed to get himself into trouble. And who could forget that horrible Mr. McGregor? This is one story that will show you how to parent, tough love-style.
The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit turns the magic of make-believe into reality when a stuffed rabbit that longs to come to life realizes the power of true love. It’s a heart-tugging tale that may recall your old lovey which you toted around until it was practically in tatters.
The Ugly Duckling illustrates the timely theme of recognizing one’s strengths, no matter how flawed they might seem. Regardless of how you were raised or where your family came from, this story reminds us that beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder.
The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Brown
The Runaway Bunny shares the delightful antics of a baby bunny that tests his mother’s love by keeping her at arm’s—or paw’s—reach. A gentle reminder that childhood can be fleeting and a longing for independence is simply a sign of growing up.
If you haven’t heard of the Imagination Movers on the Disney Channel, ask your kids because I’ll bet you they have. It’s a group of four guys from New Orleans who play music that adults can listen to as well (even if the lyrics are strictly targeting the kids). They’re a hit. Each episode features new songs that your kids will listen to over and over again (trust me, mine does). Aside from the show they have put out 5 CDs and are usually touring. They can be seen this year at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 25, 2010. So check out Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty because you’ll probably dig them, unless your favorite becomes Warehouse Mouse like my son’s.
I know many parents are hesitant about letting their kids play video games, because once you open that door there’s no going back. And while some games might be too complicated for younger kids, here’s one that my family enjoys. By now everyone has heard of (and most have probably rocked out to) Rock Band. Well, late last year Harmonix released Lego Rock Band. Rock Band is a little challenging for younger children, but this game lets you rock out with your little ones. Tracks include hits by Tom Petty, The Police, Queen and Jackson 5. You can invite over other kids and form a full band while watching your Lego avatars. The Lego characters will definitely appeal to wee ones, most of whom have already played with the ubiquitous construction toy. So strap on a six string and teach your kids how to play Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69!”
It only seems natural that as the calendar turns to spring, we pay tribute to our natural surroundings: our home planet. And since we’d love our kids to spend more time outdoors and not take nature’s beauty for granted, Earth Day seems like the perfect excuse to get them interested in how to preserve their home turf. In celebration of this important day, PBS Kids will be airing special episodes of its beloved preschool powerhouse shows on April 22. Among the eco-friendly featured shows will be Caillou, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, Sesame Street and others. This cast of characters will explore everything from cooking with solar energy, to understanding nature in the backyard.
If you want to join your child in her learning experience, check out www.pbskidsgo.org and visit the EekoWorld section to discover the effects of pollution on the environment and the importance of conservation. Visit www.pbsparents.org for recyclable craft project ideas and tips on how to throw an eco-friendly birthday party for your child (hint: be sure to incorporate a little “green” into the color theme). And of course, don’t forget the best way of all to celebrate Earth Day: Unplug and get outside!
One of the greatest storytellers to ever live, Hans Christian Anderson, is celebrating a birthday today. He would have been 205, if he were an immortal. He wrote a few little ole stories you may have heard of, such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Thumbelina,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and many more. His stories have been translated into over 150 languages and have been made into many films.
Anderson, originally from Denmark, was told that because of his dyslexia, he would never become a writer at a young age. He lived quite a dark childhood, being abused in order to, as he said, “build character” and he had bouts of depression. But he didn’t let others discourage him, and in 1835 he published Fairy Tales. It not sell well at first, but would eventually become one of the most well-known books of all time.
One interesting story about Anderson is that he was a great fan of Charles Dickens, and when he got a chance once to stay with the famous writer, he stayed for five weeks, not even noticing that Dickens kept dropping hints for him to get out. It’s said the character Uriah Heep in Dickens’ David Copperfield was modeled after Anderson. Well, he meant well, even if he was a bit weird. But come on, what guy who writes Fairy Tales isn’t a bit odd?
Anderson has been celebrated around the world since his death in 1875 with statues and even a $13 million theme park in Shanghai, opened in 2006. The park features games related to the fairy tales and was chosen as the park theme because he was a “nice, hardworking person who was not afraid of poverty”.
To celebrate Anderson today, jump online and print out some stories of his to read to your kids. Here’s a good place to start!
