MomTrusted on Parenting, Kids, and Early Education Archive:

5 Important Steps When Planning A Huge Birthday Party For Your Child

Each year your child gets one year older and you want them to remember it in the best way possible. If you want to start off on the right foot you can do it on their birthday. That means throwing them the best party in the world. One they will cherish forever. One that all their friends will talk about for years. A great birthday party can score massive brownie points for your child with all their friends. Did you ever experience something like this when you were growing up?
 
If you’ve never had one before you might not know how difficult it is. It’s easy enough throwing a small celebration for friends and family, but when you step up a level and start inviting the kid’s whole class it gets much harder. You want the day to go off with a bang and nothing terrible to happen, so you need to be prepared. Let’s have a look at some steps you’ve got to remember to take. This will ensure there is smiles all around.
 
Decide on a theme
 

 
This is a decision you will have to make with your child. There’s no point organizing something that they don’t want. Even if they have a favorite ‘thing’ they should still have the choice. Don’t let yourself think they might want a surprise. It sounds like a good idea, but the events leading up to the party are important and they will enjoy themselves for much longer. They might want a theme that would be more suited in a pool or on a football pitch. Just wait and see.
 
Get your invitations sorted
 

 
If you have a look online these days you will find some amazing party invitations that suit all tastes. Then they can be delivered to your door in plenty of time. You should send them out as soon as possible, so the other parents can record it in their calendar. When children are at a certain age there might be different parties happening all the time. You want to make sure people know about your child’s before they make other plans.
 
Get the decorations sorted
 
Luckily you only need to go to your local party supplier and you should find everything you need. You always have the Internet if you’re stuck. If you’re having the party at home you should start decorating the place a day early. You might have a lot of running around to do on the actual day. If you’re having the party somewhere else and they aren’t going to set it up for you, try to get a small team organized that can do everything on the morning of the party.
 
Get ready to play some games
 

 
You can have an amazing theme and some lovely cake, but don’t get the games right and kids will be bored. There’s also going to be more things to organize if the party is in a different place, for example, if it’s in a swimming pool you might want to buy some toys for the pool. Entertainment can also come under games and if you plan on hiring someone like a magician you better book them before their schedule is full.
 
Cakes, food, and drink
 

 
After all that running around the kids are going to get thirsty. Make sure you have plenty of refreshments available. Try to remember that different parents might have different rules about what their children can eat. Lastly you have the cake. The centerpiece of the party. You’ll know what kind they’ll like, so just order an amazing one in plenty of time.
Gavin Caleb is an enthusiast blogger and renowned online marketer. He recommends personalised banners as a great way to promote services.
 
 

Attached Images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source

Why We Love PBS

Sure we love Arthur and Clifford, but TV shows with cute animals isn’t the only reason we love PBS. PBS has perfected fun education by producing interactive activities and even developing it’s own learning initiative program.

Ways PBS is helping tots and preschoolers:

Early learning for children through the Ready to Learn Program
The Ready to Learn (RTL) program’s goal is to narrow the achievement gap in education. RTL, a partnership between PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, uses media to promote math and literacy education, especially for at-risk kids.

While a lot of the RTL program is geared toward older kids, PBS dedicates a special commitment to early education. The program uses educational content in its media to make learning fun. Both math and literacy skills framework, based on state guidelines, help direct RTL television content, such as Curious George and Sid the Science Kid. The framework also influences RTL educational video and computer games.

Educational computer games
Computer games on PBS Kid’s website are engaging for kids, but also promote learning. The Cat in the Hat’s Sketch-a-Mite teaches shape recognition through drawing, while the Hermit Shell Crab Game demonstrates measurement by having the kids match crabs into the right sized shells. Dinosaur Train Camera Catch’s flying dinosaurs instill pattern recognition in children 3 to 5 years. With scores of free, educational games, and a large portion of them for preschoolers, PBS makes learning more fun than ever.

PBS Parents
PBS doesn’t just cater to the tots. It has its own section for parents, filled with recipes, game ideas and crafts. Read up on how to make yummy (and simple!) chocolate bark. Learn how to make crystallized snowflakes out of pipe cleaners. But it’s not all crafts and treats in PBS’s parent corner. The site offers helpful advice on everything from building confidence in girls to helping your little ones eat healthier.

Sources:
–PBS.org
–PBSkids.org

Attached Image License: Some Rights Reserved image source

Lack of Early Education…a National Security Issue?

Lt. Gen. Norman r. Seip has a very interesting take on the need for early education. He believes that the lack of focus on early education is a national security issue. His reasoning?  National security isn’t about aircraft carriers it’s about having enough qualified women and men to fly them.  He says that “75 percent of young Americans are unable to qualify for military service, primarily because they are too poorly educated, physically unfit, or have a criminal record”.  That’s stunningly high.  Check out the article here for the full story.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/education/270897-prioritize-investments-n-early-learning

Top 5 iPhone Apps for Moms

5.        Mom’s Daily Planner: All-In-One Organizer

Price: Free, $4.99 for premium

Parenting can be a lot like the circus: messy, loud and full of juggling and balancing acts. Download the Mom’s Daily Planner app to help keep the chaos in order. This organizational tool offers shopping and to-do lists that users can color-code, set due dates for and cross off completed tasks. The included calendar comes with alarms and can sync with other calendars such as iCal, Google Calendar and Hotmail Calendar. Just because parenting is chaotic, doesn’t mean your life has to be.

Download app

4.        The Mommy Playbook Forums

Price: Free

Use this forum to talk to other moms and moms-to-be throughout the entire process, starting with trying to get pregnant, all the way through parenting toddlers. Ask questions, share funny stories and upload photos from iPhones. The Mommy Playbook Forums creates a community that helps one another through the challenging world of parenting.

Download app

3.         I’m Expecting Pregnancy App

Price: Free

Moms-to-be can track their pregnancies using MedHelp’s I’m expecting iPhone application. Compare symptoms with other moms-to-be and photograph a growing baby bump. Keep track of gained weight and find out if it’s too much, too little or right on target. Interact with other pregnant woman by posting and answering questions within the health community. Finally, store doctor information and appointments for easy access and organization.

Download app

2.         Life360 Family Locator

Price: Free

Life360 Family Locator helps moms keep their ducks in a row. Keep tabs on all family members and view their locations on the app’s map. View safety points or threats near users and send panic alerts to notify loved ones of any dangers. The group messaging feature also helps keep everyone on the same page for after-school schedules, pick-up duties and family dinners.

Download app

1.        SnipSnap Coupon App

Price: Free

This application helps busy moms save money without carrying around wallet-fulls of coupon clippings. Simply scan any coupon into the app’s database on your phone. Tired of missing out on deals because of expired coupons? SnipSnap Coupon App sends expiration alerts! Plus, the app will send a push notification when a store with coupons is entered so deals are never lost in the shuffle. Share savings via email, Facebook or Twitter so other moms won’t miss out.

Download app

MomTrusted Preschool or Child Care Scholarship No. 2

MomTrusted.com will be giving away a $1000 Scholarship to 1 lucky Parent selected after the December 31, 2012 submission deadline. If you have a child in preschool or child care center in the US, enter for a chance to win $1000 toward your preschool or child care tuition.

How do you want to enter?

MomTrusted Preschool or Child Care Scholarship No. 2 – Facebook Entry

HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:

Step 1: Share the image above on your Facebook Timeline.

Only 1 share is needed for submission. Multiple shares will NOT increase your chances of winning.

Step 2: Like MomTrusted on Facebook

Step 3: Register for a parent account on MomTrusted.com

Step 4: Find your current child care or preschool provider on MomTrusted.com and click “I am a current or alumni parent”
– Enter your zip code at MomTrusted.com
– Find your Preschool or Child Care provider in the list or search in the “Provider Name” search box by the upper right corner of the map
– Once on your current provider’s profile, click the link at the bottom of their profile that says “Provider Name has worked for us”
– If you can’t find your provider skip to step 5 to enter them manually.

Step 5: Fill out the entry form to complete your submission.

Bonus Entry: Get another chance to win by completing steps 1, 2, and 5 here! ;)

MomTrusted $1000 Scholarship No.2 Facebook Entry Official Contest Rules

MomTrusted Preschool or Child Care Scholarship No. 2 – Pinterest Entry

HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:

Step 1: Pin the image above on to any of your Pinterest Boards. Or you can also repin someone else’s pin of the image on Pinterest. Make sure #momtrustedscholarship is in the description of the pin.

Only 1 pin is needed for submission. Multiple pins will NOT increase your chances of winning.

Step 2: Follow MomTrusted on Pinterest

Step 3: Register for a parent account on MomTrusted.com

Step 4: Find your current child care or preschool provider on MomTrusted.com and click “I am a current or alumni parent”
– Enter your zip code at MomTrusted.com
– Find your Preschool or Child Care provider in the list or search in the “Provider Name” search box by the upper right corner of the map
– Once on your current provider’s profile, click the link at the bottom of their profile that says “Provider Name has worked for us”
– If you can’t find your provider skip to step 5 to enter them manually.

Step 5: Fill out the entry form to complete your submission.

Bonus Entry: Get another chance to win by completing steps 1, 2, and 5 here! ;)

MomTrusted $1000 Scholarship Pin it to Win it Official Contest Rules