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5 Tips For A Healthy & Interesting Lunchbox For Preschoolers

January 27, 2017 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Kids, especially the ones under the age of 6, are picky eaters and making a lunchbox for them can be quite a daunting task. If you’ve only been packing sandwiches in your preschooler’s lunchbox, it is time to switch it up and make it interesting for you and your little one! It’s essential that your child’s lunchbox is healthy and also gets him excited for lunch time. Here are some simple and easy ways to make your child’s lunchbox more fun!

1. Get creative.

Cut out vegetables and fruits such as carrots and oranges into fun shapes. You can use various cutters or even cut it out yourself. Make funny faces by including various veggies and set your inner creative artist free. This will not only make the lunchbox fun, but it will also make your preschooler giggle. Try to keep it exciting by choosing a different vegetable every single day.

toddler lunchbox picky eaters — image credit: laundrya/pixabay

2. Keep your child hydrated.

A bottle of homemade orange juice or a yummy smoothie will surely liven up your child’s lunchbox even more. Include fruits such as bananas and strawberries, which will be a nutritious addition to the lunchbox. You can also buy colorful and attractive water bottles, so that your child drinks a lot of water throughout the day and stays hydrated.

healthy lunchbox ideas kids — image credit: digihanger/pixabay

3. Think outside the sandwich.

Instead of the same old sandwich, how about preparing some wraps, rolls, or even some pasta? Including these food items will ensure that your child’s lunchbox is never boring. Increase the health quotient of these recipes by adding some broccoli, peas, and corn. You can even add some chicken and various sauces to ramp up their flavor. Your preschooler will thank you for it.

healthy school lunch ideas — image credit: theandrasbarta/pixabay

4. Pack the power trio.

Healthy eating is a must, no matter what your age is! Make sure that you add the power trio to your preschooler’s lunchbox. The power trio consists of fiber, protein & healthy fat. Whole grain oatmeal, fruits like apples, pears, oranges, are all rich in fiber. Eggs, poultry, fish, dairy products are all great sources of protein. Avocados and hummus are sources of healthy fat.

lunch ideas for 2 year old — image credit: miltonhuallpa95/pixabay

5. Make it fun!

Whatever you do, just make it fun! Kids love different shapes and colors. So, work with that in mind and make the lunchbox very colorful. A wonderful and healthy lunchbox is nothing less than artwork. Make pinwheel snacks, veggie dips, heart-shaped cookies to keep your little one super excited for lunch time! Happy eating!

5 Yummy Christmas Breakfast Ideas For Kids

December 23, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Christmas is a couple of days away and the holiday cheer is all around us. People all over the world are excited because it’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of the best things about Christmas is the scrumptious Christmas breakfast that you enjoy with your family and friends. It’s a beautiful experience to prepare breakfast for your loved ones, especially for your little munchkins. A fun Christmas breakfast is something every child looks forward to, so why not make it even more interesting for them? Below are 5 easy and creative ways to make Christmas breakfast that will make Christmas even more magical for them.

1. Pancake Santa

Making Santa pancakes is a simple way to incorporate Santa Claus in your child’s breakfast! The steps are easy:
– Make a plain pancake with your usual recipe. Here’s one simple recipe from allrecipes.com.
– Place a pancake on a plate. Add strawberries to make the Santa hat.
– Slice a strawberry to make Santa’s nose and place it in the middle of the pancake.
– Pipe whipped cream onto the pancake to make Santa’s beard. Also add a little whipped cream at the end of his hat.
– Place two berries to make Santa’s eyes.
– Finally, make him smile with some chocolate sauce and you’re done!

2. Christmas tree cookies

– Christmas tree cookies can be made by first making your regular cookie dough. Here’s a detailed recipe.
– Once the cookies are baked in the shape of a Christmas tree, make sure you let them cool completely.
– Then, pipe green colored frosting on the cookies.
– Add some sprinkles on top of the frosting to mimic ornaments of the Christmas tree
– That’s pretty much it. You can also add a star shaped candy on top of your very own Christmas tree. Enjoy!

christmas cookies breakfast ideas — Some more ideas for cookies!

3. Reindeer brownies

– If you love baking, making brownies will be very easy for you. To make Christmas special reindeer brownies, follow this recipe to make the basic brownies first.
– Once they’re made, cut up your brownies in triangles to make the faces of the reindeer.
– Place some brown candies to make the eyes of the reindeer.
– Draw a smiley face with some whipping cream.
– Finally, add some pretzels to make their antlers. Reindeer brownies are ready!

4. Christmas tree waffles

-Waffles might be a staple breakfast food in your home, but how do you make Christmas themed waffles? It’s simple!
-First, prepare your waffles (here’s a recipe if you need any help!). If you want to make it even more accurate, add a bit of green food coloring in it.
-Next, cut the waffles into triangles.
-Place these triangles under each other to look like a Christmas tree.
-Add some sprinkles on it.
-Your Christmas special waffles are ready!

Christmas breakfast morning ideas — Place your waffles as shown here

5. Christmas tree cupcakes

-This one is simple and easy! First, bake some green cupcakes. Yes, green! Here’s a great recipe.
– After the cupcakes have cooled, pipe some green colored cream cheese frosting on top.
– Again, add some sprinkles for that extra Christmassy look.
– Place a tiny star shaped candy on top of it. It’s done!

Christmas breakfast toddler — Green cupcakes!

Summing up

Preparing and having your Christmas breakfast with your friends and family is a wonderful experience. These festive desserts will surely make your Christmas day even sweeter.
For more Christmas games, activities, songs and stories, you can download the KidloLand app here! Merry Christmas!

12 Adorable Baby Photo Ideas That You Will Love

December 14, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

A baby is a beautiful addition to a family and capturing the happy moments that come with your little bundle of joy makes for great memories to look back on. Time goes by fast and it’s natural to want to save all the wonderful moments that your child brings in your life. If you’re not a photographer, don’t worry! Here are some easy, helpful and adorable photo shoot ideas for your baby, toddler or preschooler.

Sleeping baby

This is a must-have in every baby photo album and you just can’t go wrong with this one. A cute, sleeping baby makes for a great opportunity to take photos. Wrap your child in warm hats and blankets and capture close ups of every wrinkle, folds of the skin and expression that your baby has while he’s sleeping!

baby picture ideas at home — image credit: tawnynina/pixabay

Use an accessory

Accessories like a crown, headband or a hat can add to your baby pics and make them unique. Capture the way your child reacts to such accessories in candid photos and watch him/her have fun with it. The combination of nice clothes and an accessory will definitely make your child feel awesome.

toddler photo ideas — image credit: esudroff/pixabay

Family moments

Ask your significant other to snap pictures of you cuddling and hugging your baby. If you also have an older child, even better! Hire a photographer or use a timer to take a picture to include your entire family. Cute family pictures will help you to see how exactly you all looked at that point of time.

newborn baby picture ideas — img credit: publicdomainpictures/pixabay

Take a photo with a pet

Your pet dog or cat can add great value to your child’s baby photos. Make a photo album where you include pictures of your child laughing, giggling or playing with your pet. You never know, you might end up with really funny pictures that will fill you with joy!

baby photography tips — image credit: koleida/pixabay

Dress up!

Don’t fret if Halloween has already passed, photo shoots are a great excuse to dress up your little one too! Find cute outfits (like a lion, bunny or turtle costume) that your children will love, especially if it involves their favorite cartoon character. That’s all it needs – then it’s time to take pictures of them enjoying all the fun!

baby photo ideas — image credit: kangheungbo/pixabay

Use props or toys

Surrounding your child with the things they love will make them happier than ever, so remember to incorporate that into your baby photo shoot! Keep some toys or props such as balloons, leaves or a sock puppet that your child can hold on to while posing for the picture. In such pictures, cuteness is guaranteed!

Baby feet

The littlest feet make the biggest footprints in our hearts! So true, isn’t it? Children grow up too fast and before you know it, your newborn is a toddler already. That’s why it is important to take a picture of every detail of your little one. A popular and adorable choice of photograph is the ‘baby feet’ picture!

Milestones

A child’s life is filled with important milestones. Record videos or take pictures of your child learning to walk, crawl, run and jump! Your young one will be thankful for these pictures.

Reactions to food

We know how children react to different types of food items, be it sweet, sour, bitter or even a little spicy! Grab a camera whenever your child is about to taste something new and capture his/her immediate reaction to it. We’re sure that it will be a moment to remember.

baby photo poses — image credit: avitalchn/pixabay

Laughing

A child’s laugh could simply be one of the most beautiful sounds in the whole world. A baby’s giggles can be brilliantly captured in videos or even photographs. It will definitely make your heart melt whenever you see it.

Seasons

Nothing is better than your little one enjoying the different seasons. Take your child to the beach on a summer’s day, ice skating on a winter’s morning, or just watch him playing with leaves in fall. Outdoor locations like these are prefect for clear and stunning photographs of your entire family.

baby autumn photo — image credit: publicdomainpictures

Being goofy

Silliness comes easily to every child, so why not capture that, too? The joy that comes with being goofy, especially in the tender years, is unbeatable. Just ask your children to make funny faces at the camera, or even better, join them!

baby funny moments — image credit: elizadean/pixabay

Bottom line

You don’t really need a lot of equipment or professional photography skills to capture beautiful moments with your baby. Your older self will thank you for taking these adorable pictures. Click away!

How To Get Your Toddler To Eat Healthy Food

October 27, 2016 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Let’s be real – if you keep a bowl of veggies and a slice of pizza in front of your toddler, he will most likely go for the pizza. Your child is growing and you definitely do not want his diet to consist of fast food and junk food. A nutritious and balanced diet composed of healthy food plays an important role in a child’s overall development. Vitamins, minerals, calcium, carbohydrates, proteins – your kid needs them all.

If your child is a picky eater and heavily prefers sugary treats over fresh vegetables and fruits, this list will come in handy. Here are some recommendations for you to get your toddler to eat healthy food!

Make food fun

Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring! Cut soft carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers or strawberries, bananas etc. and make funny faces with those slices. Vegetables & fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals to your child and it’s necessary to make it a part of your toddler’s meal time. Remember, eye-catching presentation goes a long way!

kids healthy food — image credit: Bubblejuice/pixabay

Sneak in some healthy food

Prepare a purée of certain vegetables that your toddler wouldn’t eat otherwise, and use it as a sauce. Make a dip made of beetroot or avocado and serve it to your unsuspecting child. You can also disguise a few vegetables inside a bowl of chicken soup!

Make healthier options for toddlers

If your child has very limited choices in terms of food, don’t worry, you can make healthier versions of them! Include bread and cereal in his diet that is made from whole grain. Bake potato chips instead of frying them. Make pasta, but include veggies and puréed vegetable sauces in them.

toddler-healthy-fruit — image credit: Jill111/Pixabay

Be a good role model for kids

Practice what you preach! Don’t expect your children to follow a healthy balanced diet if they see you munching on fatty foods. Be a good example – eat healthy, nutritious food and your child will follow your lead.

toddler-healthy-eating — image credit: tookapic/pixabay

Set a schedule

Your child might feel like snacking on something only because he is bored. Avoid this by setting a schedule of eating. If your toddler really likes to snack in between, give him some fresh fruits to nibble on occasionally.

Set limits

If your toddler craves for some unhealthy food or chocolates occasionally, don’t refuse him completely. Make your rules clear to your children and stick to them. A small cookie, candies are completely fine as long as they are eaten in moderation.

healthy-food-toddler — image credit: EdMontez/Pixabay

Be innovative

Children get bored very easily. Make it interesting every time by adding new veggies, fruits or by presenting it in a different way. As a parent, you have to be on your toes if you don’t want your toddler to get bored with healthy food!

Consult a doctor and decide on a good, balanced diet for your child. Kidshealth.org has a nutrition guide for toddlers that you can check out.

Halloween : Top 5 Craft Ideas For Kids!

October 24, 2016 kidloLand

Get crafty on Halloween with your little ones! Halloween is the perfect time to get your creative juices flowing. Create, fold, wrap, paint and go crazy! Little kids absolutely love crafting new things. You can take it up a notch by setting a Halloween theme to your crafting activities. Pumpkin shaped lights, skeletons, spooky wall hangings – the ideas are endless! If you’re looking for some fun and innovative craft activities to do with your children, here are the top 5 Halloween craft ideas that you can easily do!

1. Paper pumpkins

Take an ice-cream stick and paint it orange.
Cut 6 vertical strips (carefully!) from an orange craft paper. Every vertical strip should have one more strip of the same exact length.
Make sure that the length of the strips is more than the length of the ice-cream stick.
Stick the ends of the strips to the ends of the ice cream stick.
Cut two small green strips for the stem and bend them upwards.
Hang the pumpkin with a thread!
That’s it! Hang a few pumpkins of different sizes to get crafty this Halloween!

2. Paper plate bats

Trace a bat wing template onto your black paper using a pen or pencil.
Then flip the wing template over and trace it again.
Cut out the bat wings.
Using tape, attach the bat wings onto the paper plate.
Using the glue stick, attach googly eyes to the front of your bat and draw on a small mouth with a white paint pen.

3. Puffy cotton ghost

Start by cutting out a ghost template.
Glue cotton balls on it until the ghost is completely covered.
Cut out some eyes and a mouth (make it a smile so the ghost looks friendly, not spooky!)
Glue those on as well.
If you want, you can add a string to the back and hang your ghosts up somewhere in your house.

4. Balloon spider web

Blow a balloon. Tie a knot and attach a yarn thread around the knot.
Mix glue and water in a bowl. Add threads of yarn into the mixture.
Wrap the threads around the surface of the balloon in a random fashion. (Don’t wrap it entirely!)
After 5 mins, deflate the balloon and securely remove it out.
Stick some plastic spiders over the web! And there you go! The balloon spider web is ready!

5. Cotton swab (Q-tips) skeleton

Freehand draw some skulls on your white paper or print some off of online clip art.
Cut out a skull and glue it on the top of your paper. You will build your skeleton under this.
Stick the ‘ribs’ first and then glue the spine over the top. Use a dot of glue on each end of the Q-Tip.
Cut Q-Tips as needed for your skeleton’s fingers and feet.

Image Credits: Alexas_Fotos

13 Fun Halloween Party Games For Kids

October 3, 2016 kidloLand

Many parents are opting for Halloween parties as an alternative to trick-or-treating. But how do you keep your kids safely and happily occupied for a few hours? There are simple, easy to manage games and activities that will make your party a memorable one. Some fun Halloween themed games and activities for toddlers and preschoolers are:

1. Mummy wrap game

Buy some cheap rolls or crepe paper streamers in Halloween colors. Split the kids up into teams of two. One child will be the mummy and the other is in charge of wrapping up the child like a mummy. When you start playing the music the teams can start wrapping up the mummy. When you turn the music off the kids need to stop. The team whose mummy is more wrapped wins!

2. Donuts eating race

Thread donuts on a long piece of a string. Make sure that you leave space between each of the donuts. Have the kids race to eat the donuts off of the string with their hands behind their backs.

3. Pass the pumpkin

Sit in a circle. Provide a plastic pumpkin for children to pass while the teacher beats on a drum. Children pass the pumpkin to the tempo of the music. Alternate between slow and fast. When the music stops the child who has the pumpkin stands and takes a bow. Continue process

4. Eyeball mini putt

You will need approximately a dozen golf balls with pupils drawn on to make eyeballs. Decorate boxes or containers and cut out a large enough entrance/exit to allow the balls to pass through. Then just set up a miniature golf course inside or outside and practice putting!

5. Pin the grin on the jack-o-lantern

Draw a picture of a jack-o-lantern with eyes and a nose on a large piece of paper. Do not draw a mouth on the picture but cut a mouth out of black construction paper. Attach a piece of masking tape to the back of the mouth. Take turns blindfolding the children to see if they can stick the mouth onto the picture of the jack-o-lantern.

6. Monster freeze dance

Play Halloween music and have the kids dance around like monsters! The Monster Mash is a great song for this game. When the music stops the kids freeze in their monster positions. The first kid to move is out, and the game continues until only one child is left.

7. Pumpkin walk

This game is played like musical chairs. Place different colored pumpkins on the floor made from construction paper and the children walk around them to music. When the music stops the adult calls out a color and the children try to find a pumpkin of that color and stand on it.

8. Pin the heart on the skeleton

Buy or draw a skeleton on a big sheet of paper then tape a heart to the skeleton where a normal heart would be. Cut out hearts from red construction paper and put tape on the back of the hearts. Blindfold the children and have them put the heart on the skeleton.

This game is based on Bozo buckets and uses pumpkin buckets that children use to collect candy on Halloween night. Use five or six buckets and place them in a line (front to back). Give children bean bags to try to toss into each pumpkin beginning with the closest pumpkin.

10. Guess which paper cup has candy under it

The name of this game says it all. Have children turn their backs while you place five or six cups upside down on a table with candy under one. Tell them to turn around. Have one child at a time come to the table, guess until he guesses the correct cup. Give him a small prize for being such a good guesser.

11. Halloween eye spy activity

Go for a walk outside with the kids and look for Halloween decorations around the neighborhood. Take turns playing eye spy and describing things such as: scarecrows, black cats, witches, pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, monsters and vampires. Keep track of how many of each kind of decoration is seen on the walk.

12. Marshmallow bobbing

Take a large tub with ice water in it and float full size marshmallows in it. Each child is given a straw. They then have to race to see who can suck up a marshmallow the fastest. Once a child scores a marshmallow they can eat it, and sit out to let another child have a turn if they cannot all fit around the basin at one time. Keep rotating until all the kids have had one or two marshmallows.

13. Trick for a treat

Make up a bag with candy and a bag with slips of paper in it. The bag with slips of paper will have all the tricks apart from one which will have candies. The number of slips of paper should equal the number of children. All the kids who draw a ‘trick’ will have a specified trick that they will need to perform to get a piece of candy. One lucky child just wins a special ‘treat’. The tricks can be singing, doing jumping jacks or other fun things.

Image Credits: pixel1, condesign, OpenClipart-Vectors