November 2016 - KidloLand

5 Tricks To Raising Your Twins That Will Help You

November 29, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Your life changes completely when a little bundle of joy enters your life, but how much does it change when two of them join your family at the same time? Well, it changes drastically. Giving birth to twins can mean double the joy, double the blessing but also double the effort and sleep deprivation. Raising twins needs a lot more energy and involvement from both parents than raising one child. If you have infant twins or you’ve received the good news from your doctor that you’ll have twins soon, firstly – congratulations! Secondly, don’t stress. Proper planning, preparations, and scheduling of your time right from the beginning can be very helpful.

How should you handle twin babies?

You will come across a lot of problems and issues which parents with one child usually do not experience. Identical or not, raising two little babies who are so similar yet so different is a challenge. So how can you handle the mischief of cute little twins? The following are some things that we think will make it much easier.

Embrace their differences

Right from the beginning, your identical or fraternal twins will be quite different from each other. They will have different likes, dislikes, one of them might be a happy little love bug, while the other might wake up the whole neighborhood with his cries. As a parent, it is essential to embrace their differences and work with them. Remember to never make either one of them feel excluded or unloved. Value their choices and individuality even if the society only views them as a ‘pair of twins’. There will be moments when your twins do not seem to like each other that much, but if you handle it with care and love without losing your temper, such situations will be resolved very quickly. Healthychildren.org has useful guidelines for balancing your life with twins.

Set a schedule

It’s no easy task, but try to set a common schedule for the twins. If your children’s feeding time, bathing time and sleeping time is the same, it means that there will be some time left for you as well. Partner up with your significant other and schedule your nap timings accordingly. With some practice, you can breast-feed both babies at the same time or you can choose to feed them formula. Although having twins can mean sleep deprivation for parents, it doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare.

Multi-task

If you’re a parent of twins or even triplets, multi-tasking will be an important part of your schedule. There will be times when one of your babies is throwing a tantrum while the other one is just playing with his toys quietly. At such times, you can pay a bit more attention towards calming the crying baby without feeling any type of guilt for it. Being a mom of twins means you need to juggle multiple things at the same time while keeping both your babies occupied without losing your cool.

Ask for help

Even if you can successfully multi-task, don’t refuse any help when it comes your way. Ask for help from your mother, mother-in-law, baby sitters or any of your best friends and they’d be glad to help you out. You can use this time off to sleep, eat well, go swimming or do anything that helps you relax.

Manage stress

Raising twins is a stressful duty but there are a few ways you can effectively handle the stress. Don’t isolate yourself. Take breaks during the day. If you’re depressed, talk it out with someone. Express yourself. Find some time for yourself and unwind. Don’t lose the spark of your marriage with your significant other. Join Twins and Multiples support groups. Lastly, don’t worry, things will get easier gradually.

In a nutshell

Having twins is an experience like no other. It’s a challenge but it is also greatly rewarding. It can get crazy, your house might become a complete mess, you might even envy parents with one child – but don’t panic, it’s all worth it in the end!

The Best A-Z Guide For Your Baby’s Day Out This Thanksgiving

November 17, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Traveling with little kids is stressful, but it gets worse during the Thanksgiving season. People throng to airports and cause traffic jams on the roads in huge numbers in order to visit their families for the holiday. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year and the long wait at airports or traffic jams can be incredibly frustrating for your little one. No matter how you’re traveling, by flight or by car, you absolutely need a checklist to make sure you have everything. Your travel bag should consist of all the essentials – a first-aid box, food and medicine, electronics, toiletries for your baby and more. Here’s an A to Z guide that can come in handy when you travel for the Thanksgiving holiday!

A

Anti-bacterial wipes – These can be useful to wipe your hands after a diaper change in the car.
Allergy medication – If your baby is prone to allergies, make sure you carry the necessary allergy medicines.

B

Baby food – This is essential because your child will get hungry during the long car ride or flight.
Bib – Carry a plastic-coated bib to catch any spit, drool and to make it easier to clean up after feeding time.
Bowls – Bowls or small plates are important to carry so that your toddler can eat from it easily.
Band-aids – Necessary to cover your child’s cuts and scraped knees.
Blankets – If you’re traveling to a colder region, this is a must!
Bathing suit – Carry a bathing suit if you’re traveling to a warmer town.
Baby creams – Carry travel-sized lotion and moisturizer which will keep your baby’s skin soft and free of rashes.

C

Comfortable clothing – Long rides can be boring; comfortable clothing for kids can help them doze off faster.
Car charger – If you plan to use some electronic devices for your child to play with during the journey, pack a car charger with you as well.
Car seat – A car seat is mandatory for your child’s safety. Healthychildren.org has great guidelines for infants, toddlers, preschoolers & older kids.

D

Diaper bag – Pack these necessities in your baby’s diaper bag.

E

Eatables – These can include some of the snacks that your child loves to eat. It’s okay if it has a few unhealthy options as long as it keeps your child happy during the journey.

F

First-aid kit – This can come in handy for any unexpected problems that may arise.
Formula – Formula, breast milk and juice for infants or toddlers are permitted through the security checkpoint at airports. For more information, you can read the TSA’s rules.

G

Gloves – This is another essential for travel to colder towns.

H

Hand sanitizer – Hand sanitizer can be very helpful to keep your hands clean during long rides.
Hair supplies – Hair ties, combs, etc. are some important additions to the checklist.

I

iPad – You can carry any electronic device where your toddler can play with apps. KidloLand is one such educational app where children can have fun with learning.

J

Jackets – Jackets or sweaters are a must-have to keep your baby warm.

K

Kleenex – Tissues can be very convenient to keep your hands clean.

L

Lollipop – You can give lollipops to your children to ease the pressure on their ears during take-off or landing.
Lullabies – Apps which have good lullabies and bedtime songs can be really helpful when your child is having trouble sleeping.

M

Medicines – For unexpected sicknesses.

N

Napkins – An essential in every travel bag!

O

Baby Oil – Pack travel-sized baby oil to moisturize your baby’s skin.

P

Pillows – Make sleeping comfortable for your little one by taking some small pillows with you.
Pacifier – Use of a pacifier during naps or bedtime can significantly lower the risk of SIDS.
Portable Potty – A travel potty can help your child relieve himself in times of emergencies.

Q

Quilt – Cozy bedding can enable your child to have a pleasant journey.

R

Reading material – You can either carry story books or get an app which has stories and fables to entertain your child.

S

Sunscreen – Pack a travel-sized bottle of sunscreen to protect your child’s skin.
Socks – A pair of socks are perfect to keep those little feet warm.
Stroller – If you’re on a car journey to your hometown, make sure you bring a stroller along with you.
Shampoo – Travel-sized shampoo can come in handy while you’re on a long-haul flight.
Sippy cups – Sippy cups can keep a child engaged on flights and also help him during take-off and landing.
Stuffed animal – Your child’s favorite stuffed animal can be the perfect companion for your baby if he gets scared or worried.

T

Toothbrush – An essential part of your toiletries packing list.
Toothpaste – Pack a small toothpaste tube.
Toys – When your child gets bored, he’ll need some toys to play with. Make sure you don’t pack the squeaky toys.
Thermometer – For any unexpected illnesses.
Towel – To clean up easily.
Trash bag – You can use a trash bag to collect your child’s soiled diapers for disposal.

U

Underwear – Always keep an extra pair of your child’s underwear with you.
Umbrella – For any unexpected rain.

V

Veggies – Cook your child’s favorite vegetables and bring them with you for a healthy snack.

W

Wipes – An essential for a child’s packing checklist.
Water Bottle – Your child will get thirsty often, make sure you have enough water with you.

Z

Ziploc bag – You can pack individual outfits of your child or pack snacks in Ziploc bags.

moms-relaxation-tips-to-make-you-stress-free

Moms! 5 Relaxation Tips To Make You Stress-Free

November 16, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

A baby is truly a blessing for every parent. Being a mom is a beautiful experience and there is no doubt about it. Raising a child is also a very stressful 24-hour job with no vacations for a really long time. Moms have a tendency to forgo their own needs and relaxation over everything else which can lead to exhaustion and other health risks. It is necessary for every mom to make a conscious effort to relieve your stress and anxiety by investing some time in self-care. But if you have a lively little infant, toddler or a preschooler, you just don’t have time! How can you de-stress with such a busy schedule? Don’t worry, here are 5 simple and easy tips for you to relax and clear your mind of all the pressure and anxiety that comes with parenthood.

1. Find some time for yourself.

Wake up early if you have to, but find some quiet time where you can be in your own company. Make yourself a cup of hot coffee, take a long warm bath, snuggle in the sheets or read a book. While your baby is taking a nap, try to relax your mind, body and your soul. This will energize you for the long day of parenting responsibilities that await you.

relaxation tips for busy moms — image credit: stokpic/pixabay

2. Take a deep breath.

A calm mind ensures that you won’t let out your anger on your little one or your significant other. Make sure you take a deep breath every time you feel stressed or anxious. Meditate whenever you get some free time. There will be moments in your day when your toddler is throwing a massive tantrum which can irritate you, but a deep breath can help you think clearly and make you calm.

working moms stress management — image credit: PublicDomainPictures/pixabay

3. Take a break from your mommy routine.

It’s not wrong to want some free time in your daily routine where you can do something that you want to do, be it shopping all by yourself, going out with your friends for dinner or even a quiet walk down the street. Ask your significant other to hold the fort at home while you’re away. Such time-outs can be a breath of fresh air and can also be helpful to slow down your otherwise hectic life of running after your toddler.

tips for busy stay-at-home moms — image credit: liblicas/pixabay

4. Get some exercise.

Now, running after your toddler isn’t enough exercise! Organize your busy schedule to include some yoga during your child’s nap time. Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hit the gym every day. You can do simple, 10 to 20-minute workouts at home or jog around your neighborhood. It will make you feel pumped, refreshed and also make you fitter for the long day ahead of you.

tips for busy working moms — image credit: skeeze/pixabay

5. Find a creative outlet.

Everybody has a hobby – it can be painting, doodling, writing or dancing! An important part of every mom’s ‘me-time’ should include you returning to your hobbies and enjoying yourself. A mom’s busy schedule can get so overwhelming that their creative side takes a backseat. Finding a creative outlet not only helps you to get refreshed and enjoy your time, but it will also make you a happier person in general.

relaxation ideas for mothers — image credit: Stocksnap/pixabay

Children are a source of immense joy, but make sure you don’t stress yourself out in the process of raising them. Some strategic organizing and planning of your day will help you find the perfect balance that is required for motherhood!

Thanksgiving : Best Craft Activities For Your Toddler

November 14, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

It’s mid-November already and Thanksgiving is near! What better way to celebrate it, than with awesome Thanksgiving craft? Make this holiday memorable for your toddler by engaging in Thanksgiving themed craft activities together and adorning your house with your little one’s creations. Thanksgiving was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest, but soon it also became a way to be vocal about the things and people in your life you are thankful for!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are 5 simple and creative Thanksgiving craft ideas that you and your kids can easily do together!

Thanksgiving paper turkey

Carefully cut out a simple circle or the outline of the number 8 on a brown paper. This will be the body of your turkey.
Stick googly eyes or draw them on with a marker.
Cut out a small triangle from a paper for the turkey’s beak.
Stick a small red piece of paper for the snood of the turkey.
After that, you need to cut out leaf-shaped pieces out of papers of different colors.
Stick the pieces next to each other and then, they should look like the feathers of a turkey!
Finally, glue the body of the turkey to the ‘feathers’ you just made.
Ask your preschooler to write one thing he’s thankful for on each of the ‘feathers’ and then it’s done! You have your very own cute little thanksgiving paper turkey.

turkey-thanksgiving — image credit: graphicmama-team/Pixabay

Paper plate turkey hat

First, cut out a paper plate in half.
Paint all over the plate in any shade of brown!
Glue the circular sides of both the halves together. Keep the straight side as it is. This will be your paper hat.
To decorate it, stick a pair of funny-looking eyes, a beak and a snood, all cut from paper, on one side of the paper hat to make it look like a turkey.
Get some colorful feathers which you can find from any craft shop.
Stick the ends of the feathers to the back of the paper hat.
That’s all! Your happy little toddler can wear this turkey paper hat all day to celebrate Thanksgiving!

thanksgiving craft ideas for kids — image credit: Graphic mama team/Pixabay

Thanksgiving greeting card

A greeting card is a great way to show how thankful you are for all of the things that you’re blessed with.
On a piece of white paper, you can paint the trunk and branches of a tree with brown or black paint.
Ask your child to dip his finger in paint (make sure you’re around when he does this!) and stamp on the paper.
Once it is done, your tree will be complete.
Write down all the things that your child is thankful for next to the fingerprints once they’ve dried up.
Your hand-made Thanksgiving greeting card is ready!

Waffle turkey!

Thanksgiving is incomplete without any food! Here’s a wonderful edible craft idea for Thanksgiving.
You will need one big circular waffle and one small circular waffle. This will be the cute body and face of the turkey!
Place the small circular waffle on top of the big waffle.
Cut out small circles out of some chocolate, and place them on the small waffle as the ‘eyes’ of the turkey.
A triangular piece of fruit will serve as its beak.
Next, cut two triangle shapes out of a new waffle. These are the turkey’s wings.
The final step is to cut various fruits in triangular shapes and position them as the turkey’s feathers. And it’s done!

Turkey hand print art!

Ask your child to dip his palm into some paint and print it on a paper.
Now gather some fall leaves and paint them in crazy colors.
Stick them around your little one’s hand print.
Draw a pair of eyes, beak and a snood to give it the full turkey look!
Your creative little hand print turkey is ready!

thanksgiving hand print art — image credit: NadineDoerle/Pixabay

Why Do 275+ Mom Bloggers Recommend KidloLand?

November 12, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

We use technology for almost everything these days. Our day begins and ends with our smartphone or tablet. We use it for purposes of entertainment, work, to stay connected and even to get educated! Yes! Parents, especially moms, all over the world have embraced the fact that education has become modernized with the advancement of technology. It’s a fast-paced world and it has become essential for children to keep up and become tech-savvy.

With the availability of online educational games and services, websites which facilitate learning and informative apps, technology have revolutionized education. The combination of education and apps for kids can have great results if used in the right way. If you are a parent with a curious little child, you have probably wondered – Can technology actually help my kid to learn? Is screen-time beneficial for my toddler? Well, over 275 expert mom bloggers from around the world agree! All of these moms have extensively used the KidloLand app for their little ones to learn, think, memorize and also have fun along with it. Jacqui Bester, a mama of 4 babies, writes, ‘KidloLand is bright, colorful, engaging and everything is interactive so little ones can tap away and see new and exciting things pop onto the screen!’

Why do 275+ Mom Bloggers recommend KidloLand?

It keeps your child engaged.

Traveling on long-haul flights or car journeys with your child is nothing short of a nightmare for parents. Since it involves sitting and waiting in one place for a long period of time, kids can get restless and impatient, throw tantrums, and the worst – start crying loudly. With KidloLand, you can keep your baby engaged and entertained for long hours, be it in a restaurant, doctor’s waiting room, or long journeys. People around you will thank you for it. Mom blogger Alison’s daughter Annie loves KidloLand because it is filled with lots of little puzzles to keep her busy on long flights.

child playing with Kidloland — image credit: anniebobs.com

Interactive content improves your toddler’s dexterity.

Your child’s little hands are still growing and learning. Small movements which involve the muscles of the wrists, hands, feet, toes are all part of fine motor skills which are essential for your toddler’s growth. When you choose interactive content such as ‘Jelly Splat’ on KidloLand, your child stays mentally alert, uses his fingers to touch and tap the characters thus improving his dexterity. Casey, a working momma, loves that the characters on KidloLand spring up surprises with each tap of the finger.

tapping games for toddlers — Jelly Splat

Great for children with special needs.

Learning has to be extremely fun for children with autism and special needs and KidloLand does exactly that. With high quality illustrations and animations, this app can be thoroughly useful for every child. Sharna Mahanidis, whose son James was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, recommends the app for neurotypical and special-needs children who are known to be intelligent visual learners.

child playing with educational app — image credit: jameshealthjourney.com

Your child can sing along and dance along to the songs.

If you’re concerned about your child not getting enough exercise, don’t worry! Moms have loved the fact that KidloLand has 375+ nursery rhymes and songs for your child to sing along and dance along with. Right from the famous Old MacDonald to original Christmas Songs, this app has everything for your cute little pre-kindergarten student. Caroline, a mum of three, writes that her son Arthur loves to sing along to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to himself while he plays!

Your child can learn all about ABCs, phonics and more.

The best part of KidloLand, according to every mom blogger, is that the app lets your child learn and play at the same time. Getting your little one acquainted with the ABCs, phonics, nursery rhymes, early reading stories and fables is very easy with KidloLand. Kami, a mother of three, says, ‘I can see my 2-year-old counting and singing ABCs with this amazing app.’ The colorful animations, funny surprises, and soothing voice narrations are great to keep your baby interested.

child learning ABCD — image credit: jameshealthjourney.com

Available offline with no annoying ads!

Annoying ads can be hazardous, especially if your child is left alone with an app. Parents don’t have to worry when their child uses KidloLand because it is completely ad-free and also needs a grown up to answer a math question to get through to the settings. This makes sure that your munchkin doesn’t click on in-app purchases without your knowledge. You can also save your precious data because the downloaded content on KidloLand is available offline! Just download a chunk of content while you’re on WiFi and it will come in handy when you’re outdoors with your little one. Sam, a mom from Scotland, thinks that this is a big bonus!

kid playing with kidloland — image credit: travellingwithourkids.co.uk

Certified Kid-SAFE!

You don’t have to feel guilty about handing your device over to your child to play with KidloLand because it has the ‘Kid-SAFE’ seal of approval which means that the content your child is interacting with is kid-friendly, age-appropriate and beneficial. Belle, a mom of two adorable kids, is very picky with what her kids watch and loves that KidloLand is certified safe! With the playlist feature of KidloLand, your baby can play and learn with 25 of his favorite songs back-to-back while you do your other chores or just relax. You can delete and download any content you want, any time!

children playing with kidloland app — image credit: oneawesomemomma

With so many positive and great features, moms have been wholeheartedly accepting apps such as KidloLand as a crucial part of their kids’ learning experience. Moms have also given it a big thumbs up by honoring the app with the Gold Mom’s Choice Award®. You can mix fun and learning for your child, too, by downloading KidloLand here:

Top Benefits of Educational Apps For Your Toddler’s Growth

November 8, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Ever since the dawn of the Digital Age, means of education have become easily accessible to everyone through apps. Screen time for kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, has been a much-discussed topic among parents around the world. According to a majority of parents, screen time is alright only if the content is educational and rightly so. There is a wide selection of educational apps available for kids on the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon App Store, but what should you be looking for in those apps?

What makes the content educational?

It is important to check if the apps that you’re exposing your child to, impact your child in a positive way. If your child has learned something new, memorized a name, counted objects after using the app then you have a winner. A good educational gaming app aims to educate, build children’s brains, assist their early learning, help them grow cognitively and sharpen their fine motor skills.

How can your child benefit from learning apps? Here’s what we think:

1. ‘Mom, I can pick the odd one out!’

Apps which enable your child to learn to classify different objects are the best. Matching objects with their shadows, finding the odd one out, sorting objects according to their colors, shapes etc. are all the activities which prepare your children for the early stages of math development.

2. ‘Which object is bigger?’

Another aspect of learning about classification is comparing between two or more objects and organizing them. Through apps which encourage learning, your child will be aware of the fact that a drum is bigger than a pair of glasses, which is essential information to prepare him for preschool and kindergarten. He will learn to identify and compare articles, think logically and decide which one is heavier, lighter, longer, shorter, bigger and more.

3. ‘I can count!’

Identifying numbers and counting is another early math skill essential for your child’s development. Having a strong foundation with numbers and basic math will help your child in the long run. If your toddler can count from 1 to 10 just by memorizing, that’s half the battle won! The next step is to make him understand the concepts of greater than and less than so that the basic idea is crystal clear in his mind.

4. ‘Popping balloons is fun!’

Fine motor skill is the synchronization of hands and fingers with the eyes, making it a crucial skill for every child. It involves small movements of wrists, hands, fingers, toes, and feet. Interactive games which motivate kids to tap, pop balloons, paint on the screen or perform any other activity with their fingers are great for developing their dexterity.

5. ‘Let’s get up and move!’

If you’re worried about your child having a sedentary lifestyle because of games, you can go for apps which encourage your child to get up and move! Games and songs which make your child dance along, jog, skip, jump are perfect for your toddler. Fun times for you and your little one are guaranteed!

6. ‘It’s so interesting!’

With the constant updates that online gaming apps constantly roll out, your child just cannot get bored with them. Good quality and interactive learning apps know how to grab your child’s attention and pique their interest and curiosity. It’s much better if your child spends time learning and having fun rather than just mindlessly watching videos with no informative value.

7. ‘I have learned all the good manners!’

Some of the best learning apps for kids teach good manners, promote positive behavior and habits right from the beginning. Good practices like recycling waste, cleaning, planting and watering saplings all make a wonderful addition to your child’s early education. Children imitate what they see on the screen and if the animated characters on the screen are practicing good habits, your child will do, too.

Summing up

Educational apps which have a positive influence on your child are the best to keep him engaged, interested, and also keeps him ahead of the curve. If you’re looking for such an app, you can download Kidloland which has everything – right from Nursery Rhymes, Games to Fables and Stories with so much to learn from.
Download Kidloland here: