save your skin

You've got kids and they wear you out. But they wear out your skin too. Suddenly, you have dry skin from running around outside, dry knees from constantly kneeling down to their level and dry hands from washing dishes and giving baths. Thankfully, Jergens has an answer to these skin care problems. New Jergens Sensitive Skin Relief Daily Moisturizer ($5.99) is fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, and dermatologist tested, plus it's designed to instantly soothe and protect dry, sensitive skin for 36 hours. It's fast-absorbing and super-hydrating so you can apply it and get on with your day (they know we've got lots of other things to do!). Since it's made for sensitive skin, it's even gentle enough to use on the kids--so it's definitely a staple to have in the house. Learn more about this moisturizer or some of the other great Jergens products at www.jergens.com. Or try it yourself at a food, drug or mass retailer in your neighborhood.

travel essentials for the home

Here's why I like this product. Sure, it makes your airline seat more comfortable. But I'm a stay-at-home mom and probably not flying anywhere anytime soon. Instead, I plan on using it at home. For example, my daughter wakes up at 5AM. After I take her out of her crib and cuddle her, she usually falls asleep on the couch next to me and I end up sleeping sitting up for another 45 minutes before she wakes up for the day. Soft Hugwear's Travel Essentials Set ($20) can help. I'd put the mask over my eyes to block out the rising sun outside the living room window, lean back on the comfy neck pillow and throw the mini blanket over my lap. The neck pillow would also come in handy when I'm reading a book to her before bed and she falls asleep before I finish but I still have to sit still for a few minutes until she's really zonked out. The ear plugs will likely be a lifesaver when my son decides to play all three of his bongo drums at the same time (trust me, it happens). The Soft Hugwear collection is priced between $3 and $29 and is available exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide and online at http://www.walmart.com/. Stock up now!

a modern classic: little red hoodie

We all know and love the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Writer Adrianna Kruse and illustrator Patricia Kruse give the famous tale a 21st century twist. Little Red Hoodie is a tech-savvy young girl and the Big Bad Wolf is a not-so-ordinary granny who rides motorcycles and takes karate. You can imagine where the story goes from there. My kids are 3.5 and 2 and a bit young for the message but their interactive internet days are fast approaching--and it totally makes me nervous.

"I, like many other people, have been continually horrified by stories of tragedies caused by social networking sites," says Adrianna Kruse. "One day while watching a talk show that focused on a young girl who was kidnapped by a person who she met online, I thought of the parallel between online predators and the Big Bad Wolf in the Little Red Riding Hood story. I have always been a collector and lover of children's literature, and it felt like a natural fit to turn my idea into a book. The biggest challenge in writing Little Red Hoodie was getting the serious message of the story across while maintaining a light-hearted and humorous feeling that would appeal to kids."

While it makes a great read, Little Red Hoodie is also a catalyst for parents to discuss safe internet practices with their kids. "I hope that this book can initiate a conversation about Internet safety among families, and that it will inspire kids to think twice about how much they really know about the person on the other end of the computer."

Kruse even adds some important safety rules at the end of the story, including the priceless, "When in doubt, log out!" Listed at $13.99, Little Red Hoodie is now available on www.amazon.com for $10.07, which means there's no excuse not to buy it.

picture perfect: ABC Art for Kids

Some people count sheep when they can't sleep. Annette Back comes up with innovative new business ideas.

"One night when we were staying with friends at the Jersey Shore, I couldn't sleep," she says. "I had a son Aaron--he was two at the time. And I just saw it in my head: Some sort of artwork featuring Aaron's picture along with other objects that start with the same letter as his name (ie: apple, alligator, airplane). It would work for other names, letters and objects in the same manner. When we got home from the shore, I got to work. That's how ABC Art for Kids got started."

"Since I am a graphic designer, I knew where to look for the art. I found just the right illustration style, had the perfect photo and designed my first piece. Finding the right output for this took a lot of research. I settled on producing the idea on canvas. When it arrived at my house, Aaron and I thought it was gorgeous! I created a few more as gifts for my friends' kids. Everyone loved it. I was encouraged to start selling so I went to work designing a website."

Annette's creations aren't gimmicky and don't try to hard to be classy. They're beautiful, fun and engaging--definitely a labor of love. I hope to get one for each of my kids soon. They will definitely be an improvement from all the homemade "art" on their walls!

"I started this business to get the art out. I did not like any personalized art out there (with a few exceptions) everything else was so cutesy and soft, monotone and predictable. I thought this was fun and alive."

Her kids Aaron (4.5 years) and twins Joshua and Sara (age 1.5) don't leave her much time to work on the business but they are a sure source of inspiration. Says Annette, "Their faces are so super yummy; as I imagine every parent feels that way about their kids."

Annette is currently working on a new concept for parents and grandparents that features headshots of their kids on a themed background (ie: "beach" for a summer house or "food" for the kitchen, etc.) as well as more sophisticated options for older kids. She also creates customized canvases to suit each individual's style and taste. Email her at abc@abcartforkids.com with your ideas or go to www.abcartforkids.com to start your personalized art collection now. Enter code "2010" and take advantage of a special holiday promotion.

november giveaway: win a braininsights packet with cool activity ideas to do with your kids

Exciting announcement for you and your baby!

You have the chance to win the easiest and real way to support your baby's brain development! Do you want to win a free gift set of the beautiful and unique braininsights packets for newborn to three-year-olds? All you do is, sign up to be a follower of kidandcaboodle and add a comment to the braininsights post about a fun, interactive activity you do with your child! (include your email address so I can contact you). Then post the link to your kidandcaboodle comment on another social networking site. You will get a chance to win the set and you will be contributing to creating greater awareness of real brain development! A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the month...it may be you! By signing up for the kidandcaboodle site, you will get updates on the giveaway, lots of ongoing parenting information and you'll also get to see all the shared ideas from other parents!

So sign up now....and enter as many times as you'd like. Just make sure you post the link on a social networking site each time! Also, watch for the three- to five-year-old gift set contest coming soon!

brain insights: what every parent should know

I came across braininsights on LinkedIn and I was immediately hooked. This is something every parent should know about and practice.

Deborah McNelis is the creator/owner of braininsights, a presenter, and a brain development specialist. Her training comes from her degrees in Early Childhood Education and Adult Education and her experiences as a preschool and kindergarten teacher, an instructor for an Early Childhood Associate degree program, a brain development specialist, and coordinating a family literacy program. So basically, when it comes to brain development, she knows what she's talking about!

Her product consists of packs of cards, bound together on a ring, that offer activities to do with your child geared to his/her particular stage of life with an explanation of how these activities aid in brain development. Choose from Love Your Baby: Making Connections in the First Year, Fun While I'm One, More To Do While I'm Two, Play with Me While I'm Three and Let's Learn More While I'm Four (Help Me Thrive While I'm Five will be out soon!)

My daughter, Ava, turned two on Sunday so I tried some of these activities with her: Squeezing water out of squirt bottles into the bathtub (uses hands, muscles and brain connections to prepare for writing and drawing), creating an obstacle course for her to crawl through (gets her thinking through challenges to figure out solutions) and hiding objects in a box and letting her tell me which are missing (builds new brain connections and helps organize them). They sound so simple! But I don't seem to have time in a busy day to remember these fun little games so having the card deck in front of me is so helpful. Every time I have a few minutes to spare, I grab the deck and flip to a page and get her involved. She loves every minute! You can even do some of them while grocery shopping or doing the laundry; they help make the most mundane chores a fun, interactive learning experience.

Here, some more brain development tips from McNelis: Ninety percent of your child’s brain develops primarily from experiences in the first five years. Isn’t it wonderful to know that you can have the most valuable impact on brain growth through loving interaction and play?

The following is information your child wants you know and use everyday:

Provide different (safe) things for me to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I learn a lot when I get to use all of my senses.

~ Learning happens when playing with real things. Television, videos and workbooks do not provide the best way for my brain to learn

I need to know you consistently are there for me when I am frustrated, scared, sad, excited, etc.

~ My brain is not developed enough to control my emotions. Giving me comfort when I need it will help reduce the stress and insecurity that is not good for my brain.

Develop daily routines for my meals, naps, bath, and bedtime.

~ If my life is too chaotic it is very confusing. Knowing what is going to happen next is comforting And helps organize my brain.

When I am in an active mood just have fun with me. Do piggy back rides, roll around on the bed, tickle me, crawl after me on the floor, dance to music, etc.

~ Physical play increases oxygen to my brain. It also improves the connections to my muscles for developing increased skills.

Talk to me, read to me, sing, do nursery rhymes, tell me stories. Have “conversations” directly with me even before I can talk.

~ My brain makes connections through repeated experiences. You are my favorite “toy”!

Check out McNelis' blog, braininsights.blogspot.com for regular updates.

clip tip

Trying to find a way to cart your kid's sippy cups, playground toys, change of clothes and snacks while balancing your Starbuck's latte and talking on your cellphone can be challenging. Time to get Baggino's Duo Clip ($4.50) and give your hands a break. The two tiny straps hook onto your stroller bar, allowing you to keep gear, toys and other necessities neat and organized. You can clip toys and snack traps right onto the hooks or clip on a basket to store them all in. The best part is that they won't snap and break like some of the plastic versions (believe me--I've bought my share of those!) Duo Clip comes in pink or blue. Get one at http://www.baggino.com/ and be hands-free (well, except for your latte!)