May 2011 Archives

We are taking advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend (and then some) by visiting my mom. Kellan loves visiting Grandma, especially since it involves getting on an airplane. This kid talks about trips for weeks before we're set to go. My mom blames both my husband and my love of travel for instilling early life wanderlust in Kellan. I think there's nothing wrong with that!

The one thing that really lets me witness how far my child has come from the sleepy little bundle we brought home nearly four years ago to the ball of energy he is today is how he interacts with other children. I wish I could be invisible for just an hour while he plays with his friends because it is so hilarious to witness preschoolers socialize.

Last week, Kellan's class took a trip to a nearby park and I tagged along as a chaperone. Some kids play together right away, but some do their own thing. After a while, everyone gets together to join in one game or activity. Then they break off again into little groups or some go off on their own.

I love how preschoolers sometimes sound like mini versions of their parents or teachers, saying things like "keep your hands to yourself" or "that can be dangerous." But what I really like to hear is the conversations kids have when they are just hanging out. I overheard Kellan telling a classmate that spiders are our friends and that lead to a discussion about other bugs. My little baby is growing up and I'm getting more insight into what he's thinking. How cool is that?

One very encouraging change in Kellan lately is that he's more willing to try new foods. He's not always cooperative, but he's definitely opened up to some foods that I was sure he wouldn't take a bite of a few months ago. I'm taking full advantage by preparing more green vegetables. Not only are they good for the kids, even parents could benefit from an extra serving of greens.

Kale has been my go-to side dish lately. It is packed with vitamins and fiber, and is super easy to cook. I like to sauté kale in olive oil with plenty of garlic and a dash of red wine vinegar. It also works well in soups, like white bean or minestrone. My babysitter told me it tastes great in stir-fries so I'm going to try that next.

Another recent favorite is broccoli rabe, also known as rapini. It's a vitamin packed veggie related to broccoli that's easy to cook and quite tasty. When I sauté broccoli rabe with our favorite teriyaki sauce, my husband and son eat it up. Kellan only likes the stems but that's fine by me.

Cabbage often gets a bad rap, which is too bad because it really can be delicious as well as nutritious. You don't even have to cook it. I combine shredded green and red cabbage with julienne carrots and cilantro. I whisk fresh lime juice and mayonnaise in a separate bowl then combine. The proportions depend on how much cabbage I'm using but I try to go light on the mayo about half a cup for two cups of cabbage - for a low fat slaw that goes well with spicy fish or chicken dishes. If you make this an hour or two before your meal, the lime juice and a bit of salt helps soften the cabbage.

Does your family have a favorite green dish? Please share in the comments.

When Kellan was toddler, he'd want to read the same book over and over again. First there was Trucks. Then in was Dino Trucks. Then it was Road Works. Do see a pattern here?

It was a relief when he started to expand his interests and we got away from reading transportation related toddler books over and over again. Choices are good! But lately, Kellan has wanted to read his Busytown books over and over again. We've been reading these books for a while now, but it seems like all of a sudden he really gets the situational humor in the stories. The characters are animals and the books show them doing everyday things, like working, going to school, or traveling. There's usually a mishap of some kind and a resolution. Kellan now uses his toys to act out the stories.

So here we go again, but at least all of this repetitive reading is fueling his imagination. What's your preschooler's favorite book? 

With summer around the corner (at least that's what I'm telling myself), I've been slowly putting winter clothes away. Kellan seems to outgrow another shirt or pair of pants every week. Lately, I've been dressing him in clothes he won't be able to fit into very soon. Even if it's a fancy dress shirt from his grandma and we're only running errands, he's wearing it one last time!

I've been good about putting old clothes away just in case we need them again but we don't have much storage in the house so I probably need to let some of this stuff go. If you like the idea of clothing swaps, thredUp is a site lets you swap a box of your gently used kids clothes for another member's box. You can search by size and read what's in each box to find the type of clothes you need. Each swap costs $5 plus shipping. It's a great way to reuse clothes and reclaim some storage space in the house.

Do you have other ways to reuse and recycle your kids' clothes?

Preschool is quickly wrapping up for the year  and I've had several conversations with other moms about what to do with our kiddos this summer. We've been comparing notes on classes, camps, and other activities to keep our high-energy preschoolers busy. 

I've always wondered about the appropriate amount of hours to schedule in a child's day. We haven't ever signed on for too many things at once, but when summer rolls around, it is tempting to make each day productive and fun. Kellan and most of his friends don't nap any more so with a little bit of down time in the afternoon, it's possible to have plans all day. Of course, all of this means life gets busy for the parent shuttling the kids from activity to activity, but it's nice to have your kid fall asleep without a fuss at the end of a busy day.

Is summer about lazy days or keeping your kids active?

If there's one thing Kellan finds irresistible, it's dirt. It can be in the yard, on the street, or in a pot. It doesn't matter. Kellan will stick his hands in it. He often has dirt under his fingernails, which drives me nuts. I suppose a little dirt never hurt anyone, but it does make me cringe a little when I see him eating his peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the tips of his nails are black, even after he's washed his hands.

Well, lucky for me I found this handy little tool. It's an adorable hedgehog shaped nail brush! The bristles are soft but get the job done and Kellan loves playing with it while at the sink. In fact, now I have to tell him time's up.

If your kid is like mine, you should check out Kids in the Wild Garden. It is an excellent way to teach children about the amazing things nature has to offer in your own yard. There are lessons about plants, animals and yes, even dirt. The pictures are engaging and it's appropriate for a wide range of ages, from preschool to grade school.

What used to be seen mostly on sailors and rebel rock stars is now a cultural norm. Tattoos have been around for thousands of years but it seems like now body art has truly become ubiquitous. I think I can safely say this because temporary tattoos for kids are everywhere. Whether tattoos are airbrushed on the skin or transferred like a sticker, kids are getting in on the ink action. 

I've wondered about the dyes used for these temporary tattoos. Are they irritating? Are they safe? According to the Food and Drug Administration, some temporary tattoos can cause skin irritation, but products sold in the U.S. have been deemed safe. If you don't see the cosmetic ingredients listed clearly on the label, you definitely want to steer clear of that product. Airbrush tattoos are created with stencils and FDA approved cosmetic inks, which wash off easily. You may have seen these at fairs or birthday parties.

Kellan got an airbrush tattoo of a rainbow colored ship on his arm at a friend's party. It took him forever to choose a design. This is exactly why I don't have a tattoo. I would never be able to decide on anything that permanent.

What do you think about temporary tattoos for kids?

Over the weekend we took Kellan to see Rio, his first movie at the theater. It was in 3D so everything was brand new to him. We bought popcorn and M&M's and settled into our cushy seats. Well, it was cushy for Erik and me, but it was so deep that Kellan literally sat on the edge of his seat for more than half the show.

We weren't sure he would like his special 3D glasses, but he didn't have a problem keeping them on the whole time. What he did have a problem with was asking loud questions every once in a while. It was a kids' movie, so we didn't feel too self-conscious. We answered his questions and told him to try to whisper if he had a question. Too bad he wasn't having any of that. Oh well. That's part of the fun right?

Do you take your preschooler to the movie theater?