Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Why Bedtime Routines Are Important



Why Bedtime Routines Are Important


At one time or another every parent has experienced times when their child did not want to go to bed. This can result in drama that is unpleasant to deal with. Perhaps this is an issue on Sunday nights. When it comes to enforcing bed times many parents are more relaxed on Friday and Saturday nights. After all, most kids are able to sleep-in on Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

But when Sunday night rolls around problems can develop. Perhaps you recently dealt with a bedtime battle situation. Kids may find it difficult to understand why they should go to bed earlier one night than they did on another. In some cases you may deal with tantrums or other displays of frustration. So what can you do to avoid such problems in the future? The solution is a simple one – you need to establish bedtime routines.

Bedtime Routines Are About Behaviors and Actions

While it is good to keep a consistent bedtime it is even better to develop a bedtime routine.
A bedtime routine may start long before it is actually bedtime. For instance, if your kids go to bed at 8:30 pm you may want to start the routine as early as 7 pm. Perhaps it starts with something like picking up toys from the floor, followed by bath time. 
After the bath you will probably want your kids to brush their teeth. Then it may be time to watch a bit of TV, color a page in a coloring book, or maybe you will read a story to your kids. Other bedtime routines can include saying prayers, taking any needed vitamins or medications, laying out clothes and supplies for the next day, or tending to the needs of a pet.

Benefits of Bedtime Routines

An established bedtime routine helps prepare the child for sleep. Kids become accustomed to the predictive nature of taking their bath, then having a story read to them, and then falling asleep.
However, you should offer some built-in choices that make the routine more personalized and enjoyable for your child. For instance, you can let your kids choose the pajamas they will wear and let them decide which story you will read.

Top Bedtime Routine Tips


  • Keep bedtime consistent – even on weekends and during times off from school.
  • Similarly, do not stray too far from a regular time for your kids to get up.
  • Provide your child with a favorite stuffed animal or a special blanket. This can help him/her feel more secure when you leave the room.
  • A special night light can be a wonderful addition to any child’s room. It can add a comforting feeling for the child and make the room safer for everyone. It also makes it easier when you check in on the little one throughout the night.

The Package From Santa blogs offer information about everything from home decorations during the holiday season to tips about kids’ health. Visit the sites often to keep up with the latest posts.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Is Your Child Musically Inclined?

Is Your Child Musically Inclined?

 
Let her sing!

Many kids show a love for music at a very early age. Some like to sing and others seem to have a natural talent for playing instruments. If your child is musically inclined you will probably want to encourage the talent along. The reality is, some parents overlook the traits of a musically gifted child. Don’t let that happen to you – here are some things to be on the lookout for.

Signs of a Musically Gifted Child

If you think your child may be musically inclined you should watch for some of these signs:
  • ·         Your child has a strong interest in playing an instrument and needs little instruction or help
  • ·         He/she remembers songs and seems to be able to hear music in his/her head
  • ·         Your child enjoys spending long periods of time playing or practicing
  • ·         He/she writes songs

Of course, these are just some of the things you should look for. Other ‘signs’ can include the ability to read music at an early age and a great sense of rhythm.
Don't worry - he'll grow into the guitar!

Raising a Musically Inclined Child

So if you have discovered that your child is indeed musically inclined, you would probably like some tips on how to proceed. After all, the child’s talent should be encouraged – not wasted.

Let your child lead the way – that is, find out what it is that he/she wants to do with the talent. Is your child interested in formal lessons or would she/he prefer to ‘play’ with the idea of music? Perhaps it is better to provide some instruction as well as to allow your child to explore his or her music inclinations.
An instructor can provide insights based on experience.

Even if instruction is only a temporary part of the child’s life, it will help enhance the natural talent he/she has. In addition, a professional instructor can help deepen your child’s appreciation for music.

Making the Determination

Knowing whether your child is truly gifted or not can be more difficult than you might expect; it is wise to get opinions from experienced instructors.
Keep it fun!


Every child that has a love for music should be allowed to pursue that interest. Keep in mind, musically gifted and musically inclined children can be ‘turned off’ if they are pressured to do more than they are willing to do musically. Show support according to your child’s desires. This may be as simple as encouraging plenty of play time with a favorite instrument or by allowing your child to perform for you, or, at the other end of the spectrum, you and your child may opt for formal lessons. Who knows, your child may be famous someday!

This Package From Santa blog post was created by Debbie Allen.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Help Your Kids Get Organized

Help Your Kids Get Organized


Some kids seem to be natural neat freaks and others are far from it. In some instances it appears that kids mimic what their parents do; if a parent is well-organized her kids might be too. On the other hand, some kids tend to take the opposite course; they may be very unorganized.

Organizational skills can benefit people of all ages. In fact, these skills can help in everything from stress management to saving time. With that, helping kids get organized is a great way to help them work more efficiently in the classroom, on home projects, and much more. It can even help when it comes to money management and in workplace settings. In other words, this is a skill that kids can learn and then use throughout their lives.

Start With the Basics

While you wouldn’t expect a toddler to sweep and mop the floors, even very young children can learn to put their toys in a toy box or other container. Teaching them to do this is a wonderful way to help them gain an appreciation for organization. They will know where to find the things they want.

Toddlers Like To Clean

Toddlers like doing things like stacking blocks and sorting according to colors. These basic skills can be used to help teach kids more about organization. For instance, even young kids can ‘help’ with the laundry chores. They can find socks that match and they can help toss clothes into the washer and dryer.

Toy brooms, dustpans, and vacuum cleaners are popular items for toddlers. Kids in this age group do not think of cleaning as work – that is, unless an older person clues them in. That being said, cleaning and organizing tasks should be made to be fun.

Creative Storage

Storage solutions do not have to be the typical and expected. Getting creative can make using the containers more fun. For example, kids can make their own desk accessories. A simple craft project, like painting an empty jar to use to hold pencils can make a child want to keep his or her pencils where they belong.

Out of Sight Is Good

Kids can also be taught about the use of ‘unseen’ or unused spaces. This includes the space under a bed, in a closet, and in cabinets. Showing kids that ‘under the bed storage’ can be ideal for out of season clothing or for certain collections helps them gain an understanding that not everything has to be out, in the open. They learn to prioritize storage solutions according to how often an item is accessed or needed.

Do You Need This?

One way to instill good habits is to ask if an item still fits or if the child still plays with or uses it. The idea is to teach kids that it is important to ‘get rid of’ things that are not needed. This makes space for the things that are wanted and used.

Responsibilities Can Help

Giving kids chores or responsibilities is an excellent way to reinforce the need for organization. Start with something small and age-appropriate. As the child grows his or her responsibilities can be increased. But do keep in mind, everyone is different and some people are simply better organized than others. Setting basic standards is a good idea but you should also be willing to allow some flexibility.


Debbie Allen is a team member at Package From Santa. She writes about everything from home decoration and ways to save money to health topics and tips for parents. Visit her site for women at TheThingsWomenWant.com.