Toddler Feeding Schedule – Example and Benefit

July 10, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

There is lots of preparation in learning how to be a good mom and since you arrived here, you are on the right path! Even though children may act like they can do anything without needing help, this is never the case. The first step to helping your kiddos grow healthy and strong is to develop a daily schedule of meals and snacks that they will love. Today I am going to show you why you need to implement a toddler feeding schedule, what are the benefits, and what is the best feeding schedule to follow.

What are the benefits of a feeding schedule?

First and foremost, your children will develop healthy eating habits. They will learn how to eat properly from an early age and as they grow older, they will not have problems with weight or have cravings at 3 in the morning.

Following a strict feeding schedule, your children will also learn to make the difference between snacks and healthy meals. In addition, children can throw tantrums when they are hungry and this will not happen if you feed them at exact hours.

Example Meal and Snack Schedule

Your toddler’s feeding schedule changes depending on what time they get up in the morning. Your primary goal is to make sure that all the meals and snacks are at the same hour, every day. It’s okay if you miss one hour, but you should try to keep the same schedule as much as possible.

Let’s say for example that your child eats something at 12:00 p.m. on Monday and at 13:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Nothing bad will happen, but you should try to and adjust the next meal so that your child’s tummy is not too full. You can check out an example feeding schedule below:

Example:

Breakfast: 7 a.m.
Quick Snack: 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: noon
Second Snack: 3 p.m.
Dinner: 6 p.m.

Top 5 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

July 1, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

Summer is here and one of your biggest priorities as a parent is to find fun activities for kids. The sunny days of summer are best to create fun memories that your kids will look back at them with nostalgia. As a parent, you want to make sure that your kids have lots of fun activities to do. Here is where I come in. Today I am going to show you my top five favorite summer activities for kids. Without wasting any more time, let’s jump right into it.

#1 Backyard Camping

If you have a small garden or open space around the house, then you can never go wrong with a backyard camping adventure. Your kiddos are going to love the fact that they can stay outside for as long as they want. To make things even better, you don’t need to do anything else other than to set up a tent. If the weather starts getting bad, then you are only a couple of feet away from the house.

#2 Bike Rides

It’s always a good idea to get kids to exercise. Here is where bike rides come in to save the day. Take the kids out for a fun bike ride around the house and I promise that they will love it. If you have any forest or river close to the house, then you should make sure to visit it.

#3 DIY Chalk Bombs

If there is one fun summer activity that all kids love, then it has to be throwing DIY chalk bombs on the ground. What’s great about this activity is that it’s really simple to clean up the colors from chalk bombs. You can just use some water and the colors will be gone in an instant. The trick to making great DIY chalk bombs is to us a soap-dispenser pump to fill water and chalk-paint mixture into the balloons.

#4 Look for Shapes in the Clouds

Do you want to encourage your kids to be creative? If that is the case, then you should ask them to start looking for shapes in the clouds. Place a blanket in the grass and simply stare up at the sky. Let your imagination run free and you are surely going to find some funny shapes.

#5 Community Park Activities

Kids have more fun when they are with friends and thanks to this, going to community park activities is always a great idea. Parks offer lots of fun summer activities for kids this includes sports, arts, crafts, music, swimming, and many more. In addition, there is no entrance fee to the community park.

Art Projects for Kids – Have Fun with Your Little Ones

June 12, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

Kids get bored easily and the best way to keep them occupied is to start DIY art projects. The kids are not only going to have something fun and exciting to do, but they will also get an outlet where they can express their creativity and learn new skills. To make things even better, art projects for kids are super simple to learn and they can be done with everyday items that you have around the house. With that said, check out our top six favorite art projects for kids.

Top Six Art Projects for Kids

#1 Marbled Art

Your kiddos are going to love creating marbled art. This art project is super simple and more important, very fun! All you need is some rubbing alcohol and white titles. All that is left is to encourage your kids to get creative with the colors.

#2 Puffy Paint

If you are looking for art projects for kids that only take a couple of minutes to create, then you don’t need to search anymore! Just squeeze 4-ingredient paint on a piece of paper and microwave the artwork for around 5 seconds. The paint will puff up and your kids will learn an important lesson about science.

#3 Key Windchime

Do you have a lot of keys that are no longer useful? If that is the case, then you might want to paint them in different colors and transform them into a DYI key windchime. The trick to making the windchime work is to place the keys about one inch to each other.

#4 Paper Bread Necklaces

With just a couple of strips from scrapbooking paper, your kids will be able to create unique and colorful paper bread necklaces. The paper strips need to be rolled into beads and then you can glue them together with paperclips or a string. You can even use newsprints to get more colorful beads.

#5 Paper Planes Game

We think it’s safe to say that most kids already saw how to build paper planes in school, but you can take things to the next level and build a game around that. This DIY flight school game is only going to take 5 minutes to craft and your kids are going to have lots of fun with it. Who can get the most points?

#6 Floating Chalk Paint

Fill a small tub with water and scrape colored chalk onto the top of the water. The chalk dust will start floating and now you can start mixing the colors with a skewer. The last step is to gently place a piece of paper on top of the water’s surface and the colors will instantly become a print.

Best Barbie Gifts for Girls

June 5, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

Some kids love getting coloring books for their birthdays, while others like it more when they get video games. However, there is a gift that is going to bring a smile to the face of any little girl. We are talking about the famed Barbie dolls. The awesome thing about Barbie-themed toys is that there are thousands that you can pick from. If you are not sure what is the best one for your kiddo, then you have arrived at the right website. Today we will show you the best Barbie gifts for girls.

#1 Barbie Camper

The Barbie Camper is a set that your kiddo is not only going to love, but she will also have blast playing with. The set contains three different Barbie dolls, and yes you guessed it, a camper bus. The bus is called DreamerCamper and it can transform itself into a playset with the push of a single button. What’s really cool about this toy is that the back of the camper bus holds a closet and a bathroom with a sink, shower, and even a toilet on one side.

Get the Barbie Camper

#2 Barbie Glam Convertible

If your kid already has a Barbie Gift that she loves, then the best thing that you can get for her is the sparkling pink Barbie Glam Convertible. This is a two-seater push convertible that will help Barbie get to all her friends and to work! The details inside the Barbie Glam Convertible are really impressive.

Get the Barbie Camper

#3 Barbie Dreamhouse with Pool Slide and Elevator

Birthday gifts are something special that kids look forward to all year long. If you want to make sure that your daughter is blown way by the gift that you get her, then you can’t go wrong with the Barbie Dreamhouse with Pool Slide and Elevator. The dollhouse measures in at 3-feet tall and 4-feet wide. This is super big! To make things even better, the house has a total of eight rooms where Barbie and her sister can live.

Get the Barbie Dreamhouse with Pool Slide and Elevator

#4 Barbie Ambulance and Hospital Playset

There are many versions of Barbie Gifts and the most popular one is Doctor Barbie. The reason behind this is that Doctor Barbie comes with an ambulance that is equipped with flashing lights and siren. If this isn’t impressive enough, then you should know that the vehicle can be instantly transformed into a full clinic where Doctor Barbie can take care of all her sick friends.

Get the Barbie Ambulance and Hospital Playset

#5 Birthday Barbie

What better way to make a birthday girl feel special other than to give her an amazing toy such as this one? The Birthday Barbie is dressed for celebration with a festive pink gown that features a floral overlay and sweet details. The toy features space where you can write a personalized happy birthday wishes for your little kiddo to bring a smile to her face.

Get the Birthday Barbie

Top 6 Awesome Activity Books for Children

May 20, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

What better way to keep kids inside the house other than to show them the wonders that they can learn while reading activity books for children? Getting kids to like reading is tricky. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. After all, kids can watch cartoons the TV or YouTube and keep themselves entertained without having to ever pick up a book. This is why it’s a great idea to get them interested in reading from a young age.

The “trick” to make books interesting is to pick something that all kids like. Here is where activity books come in and save the day. If you are not familiar with activity books, then you should know that they are designed to present kids with interesting and fun activities that will help them later in life.

For example, there are children activity books that show them how to cook, fun facts about science, and much more! With that being said, let’s go ahead and check out what are the best activity books for kids that boost their curiosity and creativity.

Awesome Activity Books for Children

#1 Jump Pad of Picture Puzzles by Highlights

Who doesn’t love puzzles? Kids are stoked about them and the Jumbo Pad of Picture Puzzles by Highlights features more than 125 unique puzzles. To make things even better, the books also contains fun, learning activities such as Spot the Differences, What’s Wrong, and even some Hidden Pictures.

Get the Book

#2 Unbored Activity Kits

If you want to make sure that your clever kids always have something to pique their interest and keep them entertained, then you can’t go wrong with the book called Unbored Activity Kids. This book is actually a set of three. It includes the following titles: Unbored Time Capsule, Unbored Disguises, and Unbored Carnival.

Get the Book

#3 The 50 States Activity Book by Gabrielle Balkan (Author) and Sol Linero (Illustrator)

Do you want your kids to learn more about the US? If that is the case, then getting The 50 States Activity Book by Gabrielle Balkan (Author) and Sol Linero (Illustrator) is the best decision that you can make. This book will take the kids on a wonderful journey across the magnificent US and all 50 of its states.

Get the Book

#4 Doodle Town by Dominika Lipnieskwa

When it comes to fun activities for kids, there is nothing that tops doodling. After all, kids love nothing more than to take their crayons and start doodling on everything, including the walls. The Doodle Town by Dominika Lipnieskwa is going to help you ensure that your kids always have an interesting drawing to doddle and keep them learning. The book teaches kids lots of interesting things such as tips, tricks, and special drawing techniques.

Get the Book

#5 Playing with Food: An Activity Book by Louise Lockhart

Learning how to cook is typically a skill that most kids have to discover on their own when they leave for college. First experiences are never good when cooking. This is why it’s a great idea to get them Playing with Food: An Activity Book by Louise Lockhart so that they can be guided in their cuisine adventure. We need to mention that the book only features age-appropriate recipes and tips.

Get the Book

#6 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Mad Libs

This is one of the world’s most popular children activity books, and there is a good reason for that. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Mad Libs focuses on showing kids just how powerful their imagination can be. The book encourages them to write hilarious that feature funny characters from the Wimpy Kid Gang. Who knows, maybe your kid will discover a newfound love for writing scenarios?

Get the Book

5 Tips to Make Your Child Eat Its Food

February 20, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

Every mother knows that the key to proper child growth is healthy and nutritious food. A child’s diet needs to be healthy and diverse, but it’s pretty challenging to make them eat their veggies and other foods. When children refuse to eat something, parents are ready to do everything they can to make them. It’s a vicious cycle that involves petty blackmail that can have unforeseen consequences. But, worry not – we have a few tips that will make your child eat.

Whenever your child refuses to eat, leave them without food for hours

It may sound cruel, but it’s a method that works. Whenever your children refuse to eat, take the food off the table for a couple of hours. This method will make your child a bit irritated, but they’ll eat whatever’s on their plate later.

Never feed your children when they’re tired

If you want your children to eat whatever you’ve prepared, never do it when they’re tired. Force-feeding them just to meet expectations isn’t going to lead you anywhere. Let them have a break and you can try again later.

Let your child help in preparation of meals

Hey, what child doesn’t want to make a mess in the kitchen? If it helps, why not try it? The next time you’re preparing a meal for your kid, let them help. The chances that they’ll eat it will be far higher.

If they hate something, don’t go for their favorite dish

If your child doesn’t want mashed broccoli, don’t go with pizza or whatever their favorite meal is. It may calm them down at once, but they’ll also learn how to manipulate you.

Make mealtime fun

Fill the period with songs and stories that’ll make the whole process fun. In this way, your child is guaranteed to eat anything you put on their plate.

Cute and Healthy Bug Snacks that Will Give Your Child All the Nutrients it Needs

February 18, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the word bugs? Nothing pleasant, we’re sure. Bugs are nasty little critters that can make our skin crawl and we’d never associate them with snacks. Well, until you see these lovely pieces of sweet heaven. Healthy snacks are vital for children – according to studies, they contribute to over 20% of their daily energy intake. Of course, we’re talking about proper, homemade healthy snacks – not chocolate bars. The fruit and veggie bug snacks you can see below not only look cute – they will give your child all the nutrients and energy it needs during the day.

Cute Fruit and Veggie Bug Snacks

This is a great way to make your kid eat all the vegetables and fruits it needs. We all know how hard it is to make them eat broccoli or celery, but with these bug snacks, it’s effortless. They’re easy to prepare, taste great, and contains all the nutrients your child needs per day.

Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

Veggie Bugs

5-7 black olives
½ cup cream cheese
10 cucumber slices
2-3 celery stalks
1-2 small cucumbers
Chives
A cup of cherry tomatoes
10 cashews

Fruity Bugs

A few strawberries
2-3 celery stalks
1 apple
A cup of green grapes
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup blueberries
½ cup cereal
¼ cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Veggie Bugs

Use a straw to cut out tiny eyes from the olives. Put small dots of cream cheese on a plate and decorate with the olive ‘pupils’. Leave the ‘eyes’ to chill in a freezer for a while.

Fruit Bugs

It’s the same process for the eyes except this time you’re using the chocolate chips for pupils. The chips should also be glued to the cereal with a bit of cream cheese or peanut butter. The process is the same for the body. Use the pic to do your best and get creative. You don’t have to stick to your bugs – you’re very welcome to create your own bug kingdom.

A Clever Mom Finds a Great Life-Hack for Milk Spills

February 13, 2020 by Lyra White Leave a Comment

Raising children is not an easy task. It may look easy from the outside, but trust us – it can be a hell of a mess, especially when they start walking. Messes, when you have small kids at home, are inevitable. It’ll either be spilled milk, broken glasses, or something even worse. Up until now, no one thought milk spills could be prevented until one clever mom found a clever trick.

Kate Anderson recently posted an ingenious ‘life’ hack that will help parents with small kids prevent milk spills. Yes, it exists, and yes, it truly works. The post got over a thousand shares on Facebook in just a few hours, with many thanking Anderson for her life-saving life hack.

Milk spills are one of the most common messes children make. Considering how accident-prone they are, it’s not even a surprise. Don’t take it from us – just watch Big Daddy with Adam Sandler. However, there is finally a way to prevent milk spills and it’s much simpler than anyone could ever imagine.

via GIPHY

Kate Anderson claims that she discovered it by chance. One day, she was readying old bottles for recycling and noticed that sauce bottle lids fit perfectly on bottles of milk. She tried the experiment and to her surprise, the lid fit like a glove. She then gave the bottle of milk to her 7-year old and problem solved. Anderson has been cleaning up milk spills almost every day before work but thanks to the genius solution, she doesn’t to that anymore. Moms:1 – milk spills:0

via GIPHY

It may have been a small step…scratch that. This solution is a game-changer and a BIG step for parents with small kids.

50+ MORE Superhero Crafts

September 2, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Whether the superhero-lover in your home is a little child or a grown adult, these 50+ MORE Superhero Crafts, printables & more will totally make their day!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure policy for more info.

Y’all loved our original list of 50+ Superhero Crafts, so we decided to let the fun continue with even more great ideas for crafting, parties, games, printables and even superhero shirts! Gather all your DC Justice League or Marvel Avengers-lovers….heck, even Big Hero 6 or whatever hero is your favorite, and get creating together! For even more fun, book a Disney vacation to check out your favorite hero’s on a magical trip! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Avengers Bingo from Artsy Fartsy Mama

DIY Avengers Letters by Busy Mom’s Helper

Loki’s Chitauri Septer by Cation Designs

Hulk Smash & Other Superhero Care Packages by Crown and Cape

Avenger Bows by Magical Ribbons

Honey Lemon Bags & Other Big Hero 6 Ideas from Busy Mom’s Helper

Superhero Candy Bar Teacher Gift by I Heart Crafty Things

Batman Party Favors from My Litter

DIY Big Hero 6 Glitter Shirts by Busy Mom’s Helper

Avengers Perler Bead Patterns by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Superhero Door by Queen of the First Grade Jungle

Hawkeye Costume with PVC Bow & Arrow by Life Sprinkled with Glitter

Superhero Party Games by Queen of Theme Party Games

Spiderman and other Paper Crafts by Mini Papercraft

DIY Avengers Silhouette Shirt by The Love Nerds

Superhero Training Camp by Three Dot Design Studio

Baymax Stick Puppets from I Heart Crafty Things

Photobooth Backdrop by Pear Tree Greetings

DIY Superhero Shirts by Alpha Mom

Superhero Rules Printable from Kandy Kreations

DIY Avengers Shoes by Comic Con Family

Batman Science: Escape from Ice Mountain by Crafts on Sea

Make Your Own Superhero Soft Toy by Tuts+

Nursery Assemble by The Life of an Amy

Birthday Party Ideas by The Crafted Sparrow

Rainbow Loom Flingers by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Comic Book Birthday Party by Hostess with the Mostess Blog

Superhero Baby Shower Onesie Station by Craftser

Superhero Backlit Canvas by The Scrap Shoppe Blog

Etched Superhero Glasses from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

Spiderman Party Games from The Party Wall

Paper Plate Baymax by ET Speaks from Home

Batman Handprint by Messy Little Monster

Superhero Jumping Jacks from M Gulin

Make Your Own Avengers Weapons by Busy Mom’s Helper

Superhero Backdrops by Meaningful Mama

DIY Superhero Gift Boxes from M Gulin

7 great Super Hero Party Props from Spaceships and Laser Beams

Cardboard Tube Batman by Crafts by Amanda

Baymax Jumping Jack from M Gulin

DIY Comic Book Canvas by Mod Podge Rocks Blog

Super Hero Summer Boredom Buster by Sugar Tot Designs

Captain America Paper Plate Shield from Crafts on Sea

Comic Book Magnets from Crafts by Amanda

Superhero Bracelets by Activity Mom

Avengers: Age of Ultron Coloring Sheets from Busy Mom’s Helper

Iron Man Arc Reactor by Instructables

Heroic Dresser Makeover by apartment Therapy

29 Geek DIY’s from Buzzfeed

Felt Heroes by Mashable

Guardians of the Galaxy Party Ideas from The Nerd’s Wife

Don’t miss out the great ideas in our Original 50+ Superhero Crafts list!

30+ Fall Kid Crafts

August 16, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Now that school’s in full swing (yes, progress reports are already coming home!), I feel like I can really enjoy the Autumn season. Here in Texas our leaves aren’t nearly as beautiful as where I grew up in Utah, but I still love the cooling weather and excuse to pull out fuzzy blankets, sweaters and hot cocoa! Well, we’re not quite to the sweaters, yet, but hopefully soon. Here’s a great collection of 30+ Fall Kid Crafts so the whole family can enjoy the season!

Fall Kid Crafts

Pinwheel Scarecrow from Meaningful Mama

4 Easy Fall Garlands from A Beautiful Mess

Pumpkin Apple Stamps from Frugal Mom Eh

Thumbprint Acorn Craft from Fun Handprint Art

Watercolor Fall Wreath from Happiness is Homemade

Simple Origami Owls from Easy Peasy and Fun

Autumn Handprint Tree from Arty Crafty Kids

Watercolor Salt Dough Leaves from Hello Wonderful

Apple Lacing Paper Plate Craft from Kid Things

Fall Finger Puppets from Crafts by Amanda

Toilet Paper Roll Leaf Stamp from Crafty Morning

Tissue Paper Pumpkin Favors from One Little Project

Leaf Suncatchers by Stephanie Morgan

Pumpkin Jar from Fantastic Fun and Learning

Fall Napkin Rings from Happiness is Homemade

Beaded Pumpkin Craft from Gluesticks & Gumdrops

Apple Stamped Banner

Paper Bag Craft for Kids from SheKnows

Paper Pumpkin Craft from Pint Sized Treasures

DIY Fall Leaf Animals from Handmade Charlotte

Painted Junky Pumpkins from twelveOeight

Pipe Cleaner Owls from Lines Across

Simple Yarn Pumpkin Garland from Design Improvised

Pumpkin Toilet Paper Roll Lantern from Crafty Morning

Paper Pumpkin Craft from Meaningful Mama

Candy Corn Treat Jars from Tatertots & Jello

Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft from Crafty Morning

Sock Pumpkins from Meaningful Mama

DIY Shaped Bird Feeders from Eighteen25

12+ Fall Crafts for Kids

Lion King Printable Maze

July 10, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

As many of you know – especially parents – Disney’s live-action remake of The Lion King hits theaters soon. While we’re waiting, why not let your kids enjoy a movie-themed activity with this fun Free Lion King Printable Maze? Not only will it buy you a few minutes (depending on the kid, of course) of peace, but it’ll give their brains some exercise without them even realizing it!

This file is designed to print beautifully on 8.5×11 size paper, but you can go smaller if you want (based on your own printer, of course). If you’re planning a movie night for it’s release, want to surprise the kids with a trip to the theater, or are having a lion themed party – this is perfect for a simple, yet cute, activity for the kids.

It’s more geared for younger kids, as it’s not that tricky (as my older kids pointed out), but for the lower grades and kindergarten ages it’s perfect – just the right amount of thinking involved, without being overly challenging. Besides, I know this movie will likely be one to add to our ‘Movies to Watch Before Visiting Walt Disney World‘ list!

Download your Lion King printable HERE then print as desired!

Who’s your favorite Lion King character? Mine’s probably Rafiki!

Craft Lightning: Ladybug Bird Feeder Summer Camp Craft

July 8, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Wow, what an insane couple of months it’s been! I’d say time has flown by…but even that’s an understatement! In just a month, Wonder Woman will be heading to 3rd grade and ALL of my boys will be going to preschool three days a week. Am I excited? Heck Yeah!!!! But there is still a little sadness that the summertime fun is over. Until then, though, here’s a super fun activity for Craft Lightning: Ladybug Bird Feeder Summer Camp Craft! originally shared July 2014

As part of Craft Lightning with The Country Chic Cottage and 30 Minute Crafts, this month’s theme is Summer Camp Crafts. What could be more fun that a super-simple, totally adorable Ladybug Bird Feeder?!

For those that have checked out the Craft Lightning posts before, you know that the rule is they must be able to be completed in 15 minutes or less (not including drying time, of course). So as busy as the summertime is, I’m sure anyone can fit in 15 minutes of fun craft time to make this Ladybug Bird Feeder with their kiddos!

Ladybug Bird Feeder Supplies

Can (#10 works great, or you can do smaller if that’s what you have), cleaned out
Lid to can
Red paper
Black paint
Large googly eyes
Wood stick/peg
Scissors, tape and/or glue
Plastic foam-mesh pieces
Bird seed

Directions

Use your black paint to add dots onto the red paper. When dry, tape or glue it around your can sides.
Cut a large hole in the lid, and put it on the can. Cut or poke a hole in the lid for the wood stick/peg and attach it. Glue the googly eyes onto the top of the face (lid) part.
Cut the foam-mesh pieces into rounded wings for your Ladybug. Attach one to each side.
Fill with bird feed, and enjoy watching the birds come munch!

To check out the other awesome ideas based on this month’s Craft Lightning theme: Summer Camp Crafts….be sure to head over to check them out!!!