Archive: Uncategorized

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

Our Latest Preschool Activities

We’ve had a lot of fun lately doing activities with the kiddos and wanted to share them with you. Try our latest preschool activities with your kids this weekend or after school!

Learn how to draw your hand in 3D using this simple optical illusion technique.

Painting with balloons gives your child a new squishy, flexible tool to work with.

A bunch of ideas for teaching your child about the five senses.

Recipe for how to make flubber.  This stuff has an amazing consistency and isn’t as messy as it looks. :)

This is an adorable printmaking idea that your kids will love.  I want to try this on canvas next time!

Fun little science project that’s easy, you probably have everything you need on hand, and the kids get to keep their experiment to play with.

We made this as a gift for my mother’s garden.  She loved it and was surprised at how easy it was to replicate this project.

I am totally fascinated by spin art.  My kids could do it for hours because each piece turns out different.

Cute printable coloring page for your little friendship bracelet makers.  Just in time to start the school year.

Looking for a gift idea for grandparents?  This one is perfect.  Click through to see how to make this reverse hand print artwork.

Also be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest to get your daily preschool activities!

List of Special Needs Child Care Providers in San Francisco

Elana J. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Elana “I have worked with children on the autism spectrum in addition to children with OCD and ADHD. I’m very comfortable providing care to children of varying developmental abilities.” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Katherine C. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Katherine “I have experience with preemies, asthmatics, children on the Autism spectrum and children with ADHD.” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Stephanie B. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Stephanie “i will do as directed and trained.” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Alyssa B. is a Babysitter who offers special needs support | Note from Alyssa “I have experience with autism. I was actively involved in an autism awareness club at my high school where we had guest speakers come and teach us about autistic children and how to care for them. I currently tutor a high school student with aspergers, helping with reading, writing, and building vocabulary and comprehension skills.” Contact this Special Needs Babysitter

Abigail T. is a Babysitter who offers special needs support | Note from Abigail “In my childcare experience, I have worked with children with autism, learning disabilities, and physical health issues. While I do not have specialized training in caring for children with special needs, I am dedicated to learning about your child’s specific needs and working to provide the care and support required to keep them safe, healthy and happy.” Contact this Special Needs Babysitter

Vicki T. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Vicki “I have worked with young children (6-years- to 13-years-old) in group home settings; one-on-one, intensive, in-home behavioral therapist for children with autism (6-years- to 17-years-old).” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Julie S. is a Babysitter who offers special needs support | Note from Julie “Very familiar with OT issues, children on the autism spectrum, and speech disorders” Contact this Special Needs Babysitter

Monique D. is an Inhome Child Care Provider who offers special needs support | Note from Monique “Please inquire – each child is different” Contact this Special Needs Inhome Child Care Provider

Laura G. is a Babysitter who offers special needs support | Note from Laura “I worked at a special needs day camp for 8 years, have been certified by the ARC of New Jersey and have provided one on one care for multiple special need children.” Contact this Special Needs Babysitter

Hayley O. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Hayley “While employed I worked with various children aged 2-12 years old providing individualized treatment for autism spectrum disorders. I was responsible for directing one on one therapy that includes discrete trials training, applied behavioral analysis, relationship development intervention, and errorless learning. I implemented and designed child specific behavior plans, and worked with the parents to encourage their involvement and influence in improving their children’s behaviors. While in college I provided individualized in-home treatment implementing ABA early intervention through the Far Northern Regional Center with a four year old girl with severe autism. My intent was to meet each one of her behavioral goals including communication improvement, decrease in negative behaviors, and increase her skills in attending and instruction following.” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Genesis H. is an Inhome Child Care Provider who offers special needs support | Note from Genesis “I can work with anyone under any circumstances. I may require a little training but I am a fast learner and will do my best.” Contact this Special Needs Inhome Child Care Provider

Jacky E. is a Nanny who offers special needs support | Note from Jacky “I am a trained occupational therapist” Contact this Special Needs Nanny

Thanks for stopping by our booth at 2012 CAEYC Conference!

Come see us in San Diego this week!

We’ll be exhibiting at the 2012 Annual CAEYC Conference and Expo in San Diego March 15th – 17th.

Stop by our booth and say hi. Enter to win a new Kindle Fire and find out how well your center is connected online…ps it’s actually pretty astonishing to learn how many people you’re connected to.

Hope to see you there!

Getting your kids to help with the laundry

Guest Post by Amanda Nicholson

Like changing a flat tire, I think laundry is a life skill we all must eventually learn. Mom will not move with you after college and self-cleaning clothes have yet to be invented. So it goes without saying, if you live in my house, you will learn to do laundry, and the best way to learn is by doing. Now you might be thinking “I’d have more luck getting them to eat broccoli than fold a single shirt”. Yes it is not a simple battle to win – you’ve got to have multiple strategies and tactics that vary depending on child and age. It may not be an easy battle, but it is one you can win and I’m going to share with you easy tips and tricks to turn laundry day into a family affair.

Prep Work: Before you begin assigning laundry duties, you’ll need to do some prep work. Start by giving each family member a mesh laundry bag. The bags will be used to collect each member’s dirty clothes until laundry day. Next select a laundry day. In our household that day is Sunday. I feel like we’re ready for the week ahead when everything is cleaned and put away. After you’ve designated family laundry day, go to each person’s room and show them how and where to put away clean clothes. Laundry will get done much faster if everyone puts away their own clothes. While you’re giving one-on-one laundry training, instruct them to turn clothes right-side-out before placing them in the mesh bag. This saves time later when you are folding.

Preschool: This is the easiest age to solicit help from. Preschoolers are natural helpers. They love doing what grown-ups do and being independent. The downside is they can create more work than actually helping. With this age group I keep tasks very simple and safe (no laundry products involved). I ask them to help mommy sort piles by colors; whites/grays on one side and dark colors on another. It’s a simple task that can be managed by little hands and also a great way to sneak in a lesson on colors. You can also ask them to help collect laundry bags from everyone.

Elementary/Middle School: With this age group you have to use a carrot or stick approach (or a combination of both). These are older kids who have now realized there are more fun things to do than help mom with the house chores. I wouldn’t expect much enthusiastic volunteering from this group. Pick one task and make it their primary job. If you will be responsible for the washing and drying, make them responsible for the folding. Show them how you fold then lower your standards of what constitutes “neatly folded”.  On wash day, give them back their mesh bag with clean clothes in it and have them fold and put their garments away. Carrot approach: Create a reward at the end of each week for carrying out this task. It doesn’t have to be something expensive; in fact it doesn’t have to have any financial cost. For example, you could give them an extra hour of TV watching or let them choose what’s for dinner on a given night. My kids like to deal with cash so I add a credit to their monthly allowance. Stick approach: If they give you excessive griping and complaining followed with a haphazard job, make a punishment. This could be extra chores or taking something of value away from them. I’m not a big fan of the stick approach but sometimes Mom has to be tough darn it!

High School: At this age your child should be well on their way to becoming a well adjusted, responsible adult. They get up in the morning all by themselves, have formed mature- social relationships with their peers, and may even be making life altering decisions like where to go to college.  Oh yes, at this age your “child” should be sorting, washing, folding all on their own without any prompting from you. If they’re not that means you’ve failed as a mother and should out yourself now so we can all judge your terrible parenting skills. The truth of the matter is that teenagers dread chores (as do adults). To make them take ownership of their laundry you’re going to have to use a bigger stick or better carrot. Since my son now has an actual w2 job and is off the Mom & Dad payroll, I have to use an all stick approach – do your laundry or else! For me the or else is time away from his PS3. He knows that at some point during the weekend he must finish his laundry. If this does not get done he will not be playing any PS3 during the following weekend, which consequently will leave him with plenty of time to do the laundry.

College: Now your little bird has left the nest. He or she is a young adult with young adult responsibilities. If they aren’t doing their own laundry at this point you might as well give up and call a laundry service (that’s what my company does!). To get your college-aged child to do the laundry you must treat them as you would an adult. Reason with them, remind them they weren’t raised this way!, send them care packages with a bottle of tide and rolls of quarters. If none of these tactics work you will just need to pray they find a girlfriend/boyfriend who is willing to do the laundry for them. Lucky for my mother-in-law that godsend of domestic chores was me.

Husband: He brings home the bacon, plays soccer with the kids and manages to give you the occasional back rub. This does not however excuse him from laundry duty. My husband will put all his garments away without any complaint or procrastination. Every sock will make its way to his sock drawer and every dress shirt will be nicely hung on a hanger, on the correct side of the closet. How did I turn this once laundry-phobic man into Mr. Wash & Fold you ask; I’ve offered him a pretty attractive carrot. Every laundry day that he puts his items away I let him decide what laundry I wear to bed. Let’s just say my knee length grandma-gown will not be worn that night.

It’s time for us moms to end our one-man operation and bring in some much deserved help. Your kids will one day appreciate your laundry lessons and you might actually get some time to spend doing something just for you!

Amanda Nicholson is a stay at home mom who started her own laundry service.

Did you know we link to inspection reports?

In an effort to make information more transparent, we’ve added links to child care inspection reports where they are available.   Now when you’re researching a child care provider be sure to browse their state inspections.

We currently link to inspection reports in Ohio, Texas, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

When looking at inspections keep in mind the range of compliance issues.  There are violations that involve missed paperwork and violations that involve unsafe conditions.  When you see a center with a violation take another moment to see what the actual violation is and think about how you feel about it.