How Do I Make Homemade Clay?

Make your own craft clay and save money while also teaching your children some basic chemistry. Craft clay is simple to make and amazing for children to see the transformation of three common ingredients turn into instant fun. Older children can help make the clay too, but younger ones should only watch - craft clay creation involves heating on the stove so adult supervision is required.

Craft Clay Recipe

2 cups Baking Soda
1 cup Cornstarch
1 1/2 cups Water
Optional: Food Coloring for variety

Cook all the ingredients in a larger saucepan on the stove. Stir over medium heat until the mixture becomes too thick. Remove from the stovetop, letting it cool enough to be handled comfortably. Knead until smooth on a large flat surface. Keep the dough wrapped in plastic until ready to use.

Have children create their objects and designs. Items made from the clay dry at room temperature within one to two days. Once they are completely dry, feel free to paint them with acrylic or poster paint.

My Child is Afraid of our Family Doctor; What Can I Do?

At some point in all children’s lives, they will begin to fear a trip to the family doctor. The following are some tips to help mediate this difficult transition:

• Discuss all the worries ahead of time and work out a plan of action.
• Reassure that all the people who work at the doctor’s office have the child’s best interest in mind.
• Bring along fun activities, like favorite toys, books or crayons and paper to keep busy while waiting.
• Be completely honest and do not pretend something like a shot will not hurt. The reality is, that it does, and misleading them will only lead to distrust.
• Allow your child to express feelings and prepare yourself for some tears or tantrums.
• Have your questions written and prepared ahead of time to ensure the visit is quick and simple.
• Let the doctor and nurse know immediately that your child feels uncomfortable, as they will help with the situation.
• Read books about a child’s trip to the doctor and role-play, particularly letting the child pretend to be a doctor themselves to ease any anxiety about the physician’s role.

How Do we Know What Medicines are Safe for our Kids?

With all the recent press regarding problems associated with approved drugs, like the vioxx lawsuits pulling the pain reliever from the market due to related deaths, many parents begin to panic when providing medicine to their own children. How can we trust the drugs we buy are safe? Even OTC options are under fire and still, after many FDA tests, prescription drugs are being recalled. Add in nursing moms and pregnancy, it becomes even more complicated.

As a parent, it is our role to protect our children. Whether we scrutinize the headache pills we take while nursing or question medication prescribed by our pediatrician, it is the adult’s responsibility to cover all the risks. In today’s drug filled world, doctors are thrown a world of options for treating ailments. Unfortunately, that can leave patients confused and potentially at risk. Before consuming or providing medicine for your family and yourself; take the following steps:

• Have the doctor print out the most recent drug write up from the company before filling the prescription and review the information with your doctor at the office.
• Research online information regarding the drug, whether prescription or over the counter.
• Talk to your pharmacist about all new drugs your family takes, whether prescription or not.
• Be careful of any herbs, as they are all technically drugs in other countries and should be treated as such.
• Always notify your doctor and pharmacist of other drugs you take, including OTC, vitamins and herbs.
• Read the literature that is provided with the medicine, before taking the first dose.
• Report any side effects immediately, particularly with young children.

Why Create a Parenting Blog?

Recently I was notified by a fellow blogger that she had tagged my blog. She informed me that it was a method of spreading the word about who I was, and what I was attempting to accomplish regarding my blog. After a moment of consideration, I decided to continue the game by answering the questions she posted along with the tag. The process also created some reflection on why I am blogging, which is to essentially build a community of fellow parents with normal questions and concerns.

I was tagged by Aurelia of Real Life Solutions http://reallifesolutions.blogspot.com/ , so here is some information about me

Four Jobs I Have Had:

1) Retail Fashion Buyer
2) Inventory Control Manager
3) Marketing Associate
4) Freelance Writer

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over:

1) Lord of the Rings – All Three Movies
2) It’s a Wonderful Life
3) Crash
4) The Black Stallion

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch:

1) Survivor
2) Law & Order
3) CSI
4) Local News

Four Places I’ve Been On Vacation:

1) Jamaica
2) San Juan Islands
3) Disneyland
4) New York

Four Tunes That Play In My Head:

1) You are my Sunshine
2) I like to Move It
3) A…B…C…D…
4) Those are a few of my Favorite Things

Four Favorite Dishes:

1) MooShoo Pork
2) Pad Thai
3) Burrito with all the fixings
4) Marinated Flank Steak

Four Websites I Visit Daily:

1) WAHM.com
2) Google.com
3) LoveToKnow.com
4) Craigslist.com

Four Books I Really Love:

1) Watership Down
2) Blink
3) Anything by Micheal Crighten
4) Books on Parenting

Four Places I’d Rather Be:

1) At the Beach
2) Hiking in the Forest
3) At the park with the kids
4) Snuggled in bed

Four Bloggers I’m Tagging:

I discovered these blogs by searching for other blogs that supported similar efforts to mine at Mom2Mom – The Mom Connection. Hopefully, they will enjoy reading through my parenting material and pass on the tag!

1) http://munchskins.blogspot.com/ - Mom 2 Mom Blog by The Mom

2) http://advice-for-parenting.blogspot.com/ Parenting Advice by an assortment of Moms

3) http://expertmom.blogspot.com/ - Real Advice from a Real Mom

4)http://blogs.salon.com/0002504/ - This, That and the Mother Thing by Anita