tips Archives - KidloLand

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!

How To Deal With Your Toddler’s Tantrums

January 25, 2017 kidloLand Comments 0 Comment

Every parent of a toddler will agree that the dreaded temper tantrums are a complete nightmare. Your adorable and sweet little child turns into a screaming and bawling one. Raising a child is not easy and handling a crying toddler is definitely one of the tougher tasks involved in parenting. So how do you manage your little munchkin’s massive temper tantrum? Here are some simple ways:

Stay calm.

This might seem like a no-brainer but it is the most important thing to do. If you start panicking or start yelling at your already distressed child, things will only get worse. Your toddler’s fit of anger will recede slowly if he sees you being calm about the situation. Toddlers are still growing and they will end up getting angry about trivial things. Make sure that you take a deep breath and handle the whole outburst calmly.

Give her time.

When your child is overcome with emotions and gets really frustrated, she will throw a tantrum. In this case, one of the things you can do is leave her alone. That doesn’t mean that you should abandon her. Just let her sit in a safe space all by herself and you stay nearby. Once she has calmed down a little, you can come back and talk to her in a soothing voice. Avoid saying things like, “You’re a bad kid!” or “You annoy me!” Be gentle and help her to feel better.

how to stop temper tantrums — image credit: publicdomainpictures/pixabay

Change your surroundings.

Sometimes, toddlers find the worst places to throw a tantrum. It can be a restaurant, a supermarket, or the Doctor’s office. It can be very difficult to pacify your child when he is crying his eyes out about something, especially in public. In such situations, get out of where you are and go somewhere you can be alone with your child. A change of surroundings or some kind of diversion can help to take his mind off the original reason for frustration.

toddler tantrums 2 years old — image credit: jordan whitt

Hug!

Reasoning with your toddler will not work, so just go ahead and hug! When a child hugs his mom, it releases a hormone called oxytocin in his body which results in him feeling good. It helps to calm down his flared up emotions. Some soothing words and a comforting hug will surely benefit your toddler and make him feel happy.

Be funny.

Making the situation funny for your child can help her see the brighter side of things. With the help of any nearby objects, try to say and do something funny to distract her. You can also make funny faces to make her laugh! Even if it doesn’t completely calm her down, it will definitely help in some way to ease her frustration. Also, don’t forget to appreciate your child when she successfully calms down.

toddler temper tantrums — image credit: amandacatherine/pixabay

Try to avoid future tantrums.

If your child is freaking out so that he can make you buy something that he really doesn’t need, like some candy or a certain toy, politely refuse. Don’t give in. If you do, your child will realize that throwing a tantrum can give him whatever he wants. In order to avoid future tantrums, make sure that you always carry some snacks, in case your little one gets cranky due to hunger. Figure out whether your toddler gets out of control when he’s hungry, bored, angry or sad. Be prepared and tackle the situation before the storm arrives.

Bottom line

Handling your toddler’s temper tantrum is all about some patience and some clever strategies. If your child gets too hysterical and you feel like you cannot handle it, don’t be afraid to contact a child health care professional.

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.

7 Tips To Become An Ideal Parent

September 20, 2016 kidloLand

Parenting is both an art and a science. An ideal parent is the one who displays unconditional acceptance of what the child is. A parent’s relationship with his/her child has great
influence on child’s actions including child behavior problems. If your relationship with your child is not good, they’re not going to listen to you. See yourself how you relate to
other people. If you have a good relationship with them, you tend to trust them more, listen to their opinions, and agree with them. If you don’t like someone you just don’t
like, you will ignore their opinion.

7 Tips to become an ideal parent are:

1. Avoid harsh behavior

Don’t yell, be loud or vent your frustration on your kid. Convey your message in a soothing tone. Always remember to make a proper choice of words. Talk to them about their
mistakes and teach them not to repeat the mistakes again. There are many other ways to discipline a child, including ‘time out,’ which works better and does not involve
aggression.

2. Motivate and appreciate

If your child is less motivated, it can be a source of great worry, frustration, sometimes even despair and that’s where the trouble can begin. Convincing your children to do
things they don’t want to do can be too challenging. Also making them stop doing the things you don’t want them to do can be even trickier still. If your child experiences
failure, motivate him to try hard and leave a trail of positivity! Also appreciate your child for good work, which boosts confidence!

3. Parents should adapt and adjust with time

Keep a proper track of your child’s development. Your child is growing up. Consider how age is affecting the child’s behavior. Encourage question answer sessions and appreciate
their curiosity. Answer every question they ask you and are curious to know. A child’s curiosity knows no bounds! Get on track with them so that they travel ahead smoothly!
After all you play a vital role in the smooth life cycle of your kid.

4. Cultivate your child’s independence

Children may undergo some restrictions imposed by their parents which means that even if the child wants to do something, he cannot do because of the restrictions. This
creates a sense of self-control. When a parent encourages independence, it helps the child to develop a sense of self direction in which the child is free to explore and perform
things! Independence is a gift that a parent can give to their children. Cultivate independence by showing confidence in your children’s capabilities, teaching them that they
have control over their lives and giving them the freedom to make their own decisions.

5. Be steadfast with your child

There is nothing more powerful than believing in someone unconditionally. We often see parents nagging at their children and pushing them to be the perfect child. No doubt
they love their children, but this very act of trying to change someone gives out a strong signal of disbelief. Be steadfast when your child is being stubborn or just plain bossy.

6. Parents must respect their child

The best way to get respectful treatment from your child is to treat him respectfully. You should give your child the same courtesies you would give to anyone else. Speak to
your child politely. Respect his opinion. Pay attention when he is speaking to you. Treat him kindly. Try to please him when you can. Children treat others the way their parents
treat them. Your relationship with your child acts as the foundation for his relationships with others.

7. Show unconditional love

Unconditional love is love without requiring anything in return. Some powerful ways to show unconditional love to your children are by learning their language, serving them
unconditionally, learning to listen to them, being spontaneous etc.

Image credits: Public Domain Pictures VaniaRaposo mh-grafik Unsplash

Flying With Toddlers – 8 Tips For Long-Haul Flights

September 15, 2016 kidloLand

Flying with little children can have either of the following outcomes; it can be a dream or
nothing short of a complete nightmare. It is more worrying if you’re traveling long-haul
flights which last from six to twelve hours or sometimes even more. Parents all over the
world board flights with toddlers with the constant fear that their child will throw tantrums,
get bored or cry their hearts out which leads to a bad experience for everybody involved.

It is very important to plan your journey beforehand because this planning will ensure safe,
happy travels for you and your child. If you plan to fly with your little bundle of joy any
time soon, here are eight things you should definitely take into consideration.

1. Purchase a seat for your child.

If your kid is younger than two years, the airline will give you a free ticket for your child for
domestic flights. For international flights, lap babies are charged 10% of the fare of the
adult accompanying the child. Carrying your child on your lap the whole time is a bad
idea in case unanticipated turbulence hits hard, especially if the journey is long-haul. Purchase a good seat early (airlines will most likely offer you a discount for your child) and buy a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved car seat which guarantees your child’s safety.

2. Ask for help from the cabin crew.

If you’re traveling alone with your toddler, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help
from the air-hostesses on board. They will be ready to assist you in case your toddler
understandably freaks out, especially if it is his/her first time on a flight.

3. Bring a tablet/mobile device with you.

Little kids need to be constantly entertained. If you bring a tablet or give your phone
loaded with kid entertainment apps, you can take a little break while your child is engaged
with the device. You can choose a variety of apps from the app store which has fun
elements and educational activities such as KidloLand.

4. Distract your toddler with candy.

Flying is scary, even for some adults! It is possible that your child will feel uneasy or want
to throw up while the plane is taking off and landing. Distract your child with some candy or
a juice box with a straw to comfort them and ease the ear pain which comes with the
change in air pressure.

5. Pack plenty of food and toys.

Make sure the snacks you pack are healthy for your baby. Even better if you can get creative with it! Since a child gets bored very easily with one form of entertainment, switch it up by offering toys (preferably not the squeaky ones) and fill your carry-on bag with his/her favorite food. After playing for quite some time, your child will get tired and eventually fall asleep.

6. Pick a good seat.

Make sure you pick a window seat for your child and a middle seat for yourself so that your
child has room to stretch and relax during the long journey. If that is not possible, ask
fellow passengers if they would like to kindly switch seats.

7. Select nap-time flights.

It is crucial to book flights with timings which coincide with your child’s nap-time. Most
moms prefer traveling long distances overnight. When the lights dim in the airplane, it’ll be
easier for your child to fall asleep.

8. Carry your child’s essentials.

Don’t forget to carry your toddler’s must-have products and supplies. Clothing,
diapers, soft blankets, medicines, socks are a few of the things you must carry with you at
all times which will come in handy in case of an emergency.

Traveling with toddlers doesn’t have to be scary if you follow the above tips. Happy
traveling!

Image credits: Fuzz, PublicDomainPictures, silverstylus.