Goodbye Summer...School is here.

Sadly Summer is saying goodbye to us...school is starting...

How do your kids feel about it? Excited, scared, angry, or sad? Little bit everything?

It is completely normal for kids to have back to school jitters. You may notice they either have a lot more energy and are bouncing off the walls...or they may be isolating and seem more sluggish than usual.

Some signs that your child may be feeling nervous for school:

Belly Aches

Headaches

Short and Shallow Breaths

Grouchiness

Loss of appetite

Restless Sleep

Clinginess

More on this subject real soon.

besitos, 

xo

My love for my BabbaBox and GIVEAWAY CLOSED

It came. 

The package I have been waiting for.

The BababaBox from BabbaCo.  

I must tell you how excited I was- it was like Christmas!

 I carefully opened the box lid...

Peeled back the cute little sticker...

To find that the theme this month was: "The Way I Feel."

My favorite topic!

...And there it was a magical box full of activities, creative crafts, exploration games, and a book all revolving around feelings!

I mean there was EVERYTHING...

...from a little tiny glue bottle to a pair of scissors! I never had to get up once to find something I needed. 

It was ALL THERE!

In one of the "Explore" sections we found the coolest "Feeling Finder" shades. 

 You and your child can put them on and explore and identify how other's are feeling. As a mental health counselor working with children- I can't tell you enough the importance of teaching our kiddos to learn how to "read" the facial expressions of others. It activates the part of the brain that increases emotional intelligence and increases their empathy and self identifying their own emotions. 

There was also a "Feeling Journal" where your child can track the feelings they find that day. Like if they see mommy laughing- they get to put a happy face in their journal. But watch out-if mommy is grumpy- (they go hide in the closet) then they put the mad face on.

Genius. 

Then, we made sock puppets and acted out many different feelings. 

 

Playing sock puppets with one hand while trying to take photos in the other- nearly impossible. But believe me- those sock puppets Henry and Wilma followed us everywhere throughout the day. 

Love it.

And as if BabbaCo didn't think of everything already...they included a little gift for me. 

Awwwww... I heart them.

And wanna know the best part?? 

You can get one.

BabbaCo is giving one lucky WeedstoWishes reader a FREE BabbaBox!!

*Offer ends Monday July 30th*

Lots of quick options to enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! and Enjoy!

besitos,
xo

Get a little messy.

Today we woke up feeling like getting a little messy. So, out came the shaving cream... nothing is better than shaving cream because it's a quick and easy clean up.  Young kiddos are using all their senses to learn and explore their world and rubbing things through their fingers is part of it. So get MESSY!

Idea: spray some shaving cream on both sides of the window- then each of you take one side of the window and mimic whatever your child is doing! It promotes a lot of giggles and they love feeling watched and connected that way. 

Draw or write a love notr to each other as well. 

Great way to connect with one another. 

WARNING: this is SUPPOSED to be messy. Let go and allow it to happen. 

xoxo- besitos,

 

The magic of the glittery pink recorder.

I am the first one to admit that not all parenting methods work for every situation and every child. That being said...I am pretty convinced the book "Playful Parenting" can be applied on a daily basis.

This morning is a prime example. I wake up thinking I am doing such a fabulous job as a mom- getting up before anyone wakes to go to the grocery store, making a HOT Breakfast (see post here), and setting the mood for the start of a new day...I am thinking that my son would wake up bubbly and excited to eat a delicious stack of blueberry pancakes... um not so much.

Instead, he woke up grouchy and inconsolable (weaning off the bottle has been a rough road for this kid) throwing himself on the ground...crying...throwing things. It was quite a sight...one I have never seen from my own child.

There I was in the kitchen trying to hold it together (but act like it was affecting me) and trying the old "ignore" trick while he rolled around on the floor. I tried leaving the room to further ignore his behavior... nope... he followed me around clinging to my legs. I tried picking him up to hold and rock him- worst idea yet- he wiggled and squrimed right back on the floor where he threw an even BIGGER tantrum... And the reason? That is still unknown.

At that point I had run out of ideas and found myself stuck. Then I saw a very hot pink glittery recorder on the ground...

...and I picked it up in one hand and carried the squirmy little boy in the next arm and in the best conductor voice I called out, "All a board" and we proceeded to march around the room to the beat of the sound of the glittery instrument.

His crying came to a halt... but a dead halt...he became very still....and maybe even cracked a smile...maybe. Then, to my surprise he took the sippy cup (that he had early thrown on the floor) and it was then when we began breakfast... just like I had originally envisioned.

Okay people- I am convinced. I really heart this book now. I love it so much that I think I will extend this giveaway for one more week to get a chance to write more about what I learned from it and the power of play in parenting and also to give you a chance to spread the word!

So new ending time is NEXT FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd.

All you have to do is follow this blog and write a comment  about a favorite childhood memory. Go HERE for details on the giveaway and to enter a comment! I am loving the memories.

My childhood memory today is: sitting up on a barstool and watching my grandpa make us the most fluffy and delicious pancakes I ever have had. mmmm.... I miss you and your pancakes grandpa.

xoxo,

 

Sometimes we just need a FUN DAY.

Since children process their emotions through play- there can be all sorts of emotions that arise. Every now and again during my play dates (counseling sessions) with kids there reaches a point where they feel emotional and may cry. Furthermore, if they are a kiddo who is shy from showing emotions- then it can embarrassing, scary, uncomfortable, and/or vulnerable.


So, to off set that- I offer "fun passes" that they can hand to me on a day where they are not in the mood to go to that emotional place. No talk of serious stuff or activities that illicit emotional responses (pinky swear)- just  45 minutes where a kid can escape from their life stressors and just be a kid in a fun an safe environment. Doesn't that sound nice? 


 I think we all could use a fun day. 


Idea: Try handing out "fun passes" as rewards.