Kids stuff

I’m Free to Do Anything… If My Mom Says I Can – State of the Kid Results from Highlights

Who else has fond memories of reading Highlights magazine as a kid? They were some of my very favorite things to read. And I love that they have 3 versions, perfect for kids of all ages – Abby just outgrew the Hello magazine for ages 0-2, and is now reading High Five, the version for kids 2-6. Then when she grows older, we’ll transition to traditional version for kids aged 6-12. We didn’t find a preschool for her this year, so I’m trying to do “preschool at home” – and Highlights are such a great resource to make learning fun! I think one of the reasons that Highlights does such a great job at creating content is that they truly believe in listening to kids, to learn what they like, what they think, what they want to know about. Which is where the State of the Kid survey comes from…

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 21, 2013 Filed Under: Parenting | No Comments

The Importance of Outdoor Play – and How to Support It!

Kids should have time to play — at home and at school. We know that creative play can make kids happy and healthy, but some kids aren’t getting enough of it. That’s why the makers of Children’s Claritin are teaming up with the national nonprofit KaBOOM! to help bring innovative play spaces to schools in need. And since I’m a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I wanted to be the first to tell you all about this exciting program.

Why this is a great partnership to support play [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 1, 2013 Filed Under: Giving Back | 2 Comments

Fun Ideas for Monsters Inc or Monsters U party!

As a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community, I’m super excited that they trusted me to share some sweet info about the new Monsters University themed toys and gear available at Walmart. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

Monsters University just hit U.S. theaters nearly 12 years after the original “Monsters, Inc.” theatrical debut… Have you seen it yet? I am craaaazy-excited to take the kids to see Monsters U this week! We are such big fans of the original Monsters Inc. movie – {I sometimes have a hard time finding cartoons with a really good message to them, but this one rocks} – so obviously as soon as I heard the news that there would be a new Monsters movie I was stoked. Then I read the review of Monsters University from Sippy Cup Mom, and got even more excited.

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 23, 2013 Filed Under: Celebrations, Theme Parties | 8 Comments

Angry Birds Waffles – #EggoWaffleOff

Angry Birds is such a hit with kids these days, that I hate to even admit this, but…. I have NEVER played the game. At all. Ever. We own a bunch of Angry Birds “stuff” – board games, stuffed plush, video games, and tee shirts. But I’ve never even played this game that everyone seems to find so amazing. But, even though I’m clearly current trend challenged, I do know that the kids love Angry Birds, and thought that making a fun themed breakfast one morning before school would be a ton of fun. Check it out..

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 2, 2013 Filed Under: Food | 2 Comments

Neighborhood Toy Store Day – #ASTRA

Did you know that Saturday, November 10th is Neighborhood Toy Store Day? This is an awesome day to take time to enjoy the amazing events happening in your area, promote shopping locally, and checking out the unique selections of quality toys available right in your own neighborhood!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 8, 2012 Filed Under: Celebrations | No Comments

Do You Know the True Cost of Trick or Treating?

The true cost of trick or treating…. Let’s break it down: Approximately 38 million trick-or-treaters will roam America’s neighborhoods this year, collecting candy from nearly 59 million households. That means for every one trick-or-treater, there will be about 1.5 homes distributing treats. Sounds like good odds, right? Now, the average adult spends $21.05 on Halloween candy. So, if all the purchased candy were distributed equally among all trick-or-treaters (which it actually isn’t, since 41 percent of adults eat candy from their own bowls), every child would come home with a bag of candy worth $31.58. That’s a $10.53 profit for every trick-or-treater! So, if your household is sending out at least one trick-or-treater, by the end of the night you may have earned back your initial candy investment and then some. But wait, there’s more to consider… [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 26, 2012 Filed Under: Holidays | No Comments

Teach Your Kids Kindness During Anti-Bullying Month

October is National Anti-Bullying Month… Did you know that American Justice Department bullying statistics show that one out of every 4 kids will be bullied sometime throughout their adolescence? As someone who was bullied for years and years as a kid, that’s a really sad statistic to read. And, it’s one of those problems that sometimes feels overwhelming – You think, “Well what can I do about it? My kid isn’t a bully…” But bullying isn’t just about the really dramatic, in your face type of meanness that happens. It’s also about the small things – Whispering about a classmates new dress behind her back. Not picking the new kid to play a game at recess, even though he’s sitting alone. Those little acts add up. And with the negativity and nastiness in so much of the media – from trashy reality stars, to the sometimes equally-trashy anchors on cable news shows – it’s more important than ever that we constantly strive to set good examples, and teach our kids compassion and kindness.