Milestone Moments and Moms | #playpanel

That little, musical, stack-able, 10 year old Fisher-Price toy pictured over there has taught my 3 babies actions and consequences, melodies, hand-eye coordination and how to smile.

All parents like it when toys help baby reach milestones like soothe, sense, move, discover, socialize, learn, create and imagine. This toy did it for me. Three times over. It's music soothed the savage beast (teething infant), it wobbled and swayed, it was built up and pushed down.

Dr. Deborah Weber, Senior Manager for the Fisher-Price Child Research Department (and also an expert in early childhood development) has a tip that fits the description that little toy of ours...

Encourage your child to play with toys in different ways. Be sure to join in the play with them and show them all of the special features of the toys including the lights, sounds, different shapes, colours. This is learning.

As a busy Mom, I'm not really thinking about milestone moments. I'm thinking of activities to keep little Thing 3 occupied so that I can do the switch laundry loads, call the doctor and perhaps tweet just a little.

I'm glad that Fisher-Price is thinking of the milestone moments. Because underneath the layer of fun...my baby is learning...and so am I.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Easter Egg Decorating for kids

Back in the Parent Club archives you'll find a post on Easter Egg Decorating for kids - jr & senior edition.

Click on the post for complete instructions but the gist of it is...

Egg Decorationg for little kids
Use hard boiled eggs, sponges and tempra paint.

Egg Decorating for bigger kids
Use foods (such as carrots, blueberries, tea) as natural dyes

And for a tried & true method...

Easter Egg Decorating with Food Colouring

You need:

Hard boiled eggs (or blown out ones)

Food colouring

Water

Vinegar

Container

Spoon (or wire)

Paper towel

Mix about 20 or so drops of food colouring with 1 tbsp of vinegar and 1/2 cup of tepid* water.

Repeat this step with different colours to create a rainbow (tip: use clean, used, coffee cans to hold the mixtures - then you can trash them).

Using a spoon (or my friend once made an egg holder with copper wire) lower the hard boiled egg into the colour mixture. The longer you leave the egg in the more vibrant the colour.

Pat the coloured egg dry with a paper towel.

Remember: food colouring stains so break out the art bibs.

*tepid means not hot, not cold, but just right.

Ssshh! Chocolate Cheerios | #LMDConnector

As a #LMDConnector...an opportunity presented itself...which really I shouldn't share. But I will. Because I'm a share-er. But don't tell anyone. Just between you and me.

Chocolate Cheerios

Really.

Whole grains, low in fat, chocolate and fibre (see how I ended that with fibre totally skimming over the chocolate part...never mind about that...ignore the chocolate...nothing to see here...move along...)

Tho, they will be on Canadian store shelves June 3rd I had a chance to test-drive chocolate cheerios. And let me tell you, great for dry munching as you type...nom nom nom.

I also sent said dry munchies off to school for 3rd snack (the sweet one) and the kids much enjoyed them. (Dry cereal us a go-to for school snacks in our house - they are nut free, easy and a good sweet alternative).

There is going to be a FREE chocolate cheerios coupon offer...so check back here in the comments section where I'll reveal where/when/how later in June.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Mark's Work Warehouse Giveaway!

Last year, I was one of the media peeps invited to experience Mark's Work Warehouse "#Marksover" (Make-over) to get hands-on on how Mark's refreshed brand represents what Mark’s has become to Canadians – the place for innovative and fashionable men's and women's casual apparel and footwear. (Read the Parent Club #Marksover review and see the dress that is honestly the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever worn!).

Mark's Work Warehouse is now running a Spring reStyle contest, (running now until June 15) where they are asking men and women from across the country to share their need for a fashion refresh or upgrade (worth a check out people because the prizes are re-donk-u-lous!).

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THE GIVEAWAY

THE WHAT: a $50 Mark's Gift Card

THE WHY: Because Mark's knows parents want style (and comfort and affordability)

THE HOW: Comment to this post about why you need a ReStyle (be honest, funny, rant, have a pity party if you like...)

THE RULES (because life has rules):

Gift Card Giveaway Timeline: to mid-May

Open only to Canadian residents (excluding Quebec)

One comment per day

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES - LEAVING SEPARATE COMMENTS

• Follow @ParentClub on Twitter and tweet the contest (and comment here that you did so) = an extra entry
• Become a "Follower" on Parent Club (over there on the right -> the google friend connect thingy)

Disclosure: a winner will be picked randomly. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Head's up: As per the Canadian Sweepstakes Law Canadian winners will be asked to answer a mathematical skill testing question.*

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Comments now closed - thanks for entering! (15/05)