Teach My Toddler

Teach My™ Toddler was created by (Canadian) mom, Christy Cook. When she was looking for items to help her toddler with the alphabet, numbers, colours and shapes she had a hard time finding things, especially pieces that worked together.

So....Teach My™ Toddler was created.

In a portable tote lies everything you need to help your toddler learn basic numbers, letters, colours and shapes. Each of the four sections comes with

• a fully coordinated puzzle
• board book
• teaching chart
  
• and flash cards

We've been using our Teach My™ Toddler kit with my 2 1/2 year old for about 2 weeks, for the recommended 20 minutes a day and we are more than impressed. Before, using the Teach My™ Toddler kit our toddler could identify about 50% of the alphabet and he is now pretty close to 100%. The other day we started using the letters in the puzzle to spell words, like cat, dog and other simple ones. He loves doing the puzzles and reading the books and you can tell the sense of pride and accomplishment he feels when he is playing.

Other than the clear learning advantages Teach My™ Toddler has helped make our toddler feel special. Since we have a new baby in the house, it's easy sometimes to forget that your toddler needs as much attention as the new baby. The 20 minutes a day have become a special time for him with Mommy or Daddy and he asks to play with his Teach My™ Toddler kit. In fact, in the morning it is the first toy he grabs and he insists that we play 'school' and he becomes the teacher -- the imaginative play aspect is a bonus!

I really like the fact that it's an all-in-one solution and that everything colour coordinates, as well I love seeing my little one's eyes light up when he goes "to work with his briefcase!"

Breaking the Good Mom Myth by Alyson Schafer

Alyson Schafer is one incredible lady! She has a talent for writing a book that hits home with Moms! I felt so refreshed after reading this book. I walked away feeling good about myself, as a woman and as a mother. I also learned many great new parenting techniques and visions for the future.

Breaking the Good Mom Myth is a book all about letting go. It's about letting go of our expectations of ourselves as mothers as well as societal expectations and embracing who we are as a parent and moving forward.

Alyson Schafer is a great motivator. She encourages Moms to take care of themselves and to have confidence. She encourages Moms to worry less about what other people think and to focus more on their long term parenting goals.

This book was very motivating to me as a mother. I felt encouraged like I never have before. After reading this book, I can walk away with a new confidence about my parenting skills and choices. Schafer reminded me that we are all individuals and we all have our differences. Becoming a Mom does not change that.

The 8 myths that Schafer discusses in the book are the following:
Self Care is Selfish
My Children Are a Reflection of Me
My Marriage Can Wait
Good Mothers are All-Caring and All-Protecting
Good Mothers are in Control
Good Mothers Manage Sibling Conflict
Only the Best Education for My Child
Good Mothers Make Life Fun and Entertaining

In the book, Schafer offers many helpful and practical suggestions for dealing with your marriage after children as well as for many common parenting challenges.

I highly recommend this book to new and "old" Moms!

For more book reviews, please go to Amanda's Book Nook on our York Region Baby website!

Book Review: The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill

The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill
Review by Tricia Flindall


This book is written by Fiona Neill, who writes a column in the London Times newspaper called "Slummy Mummy". Her column was so popular that she turned some of the material into a novel. Her book centres on Lucy, a mother of three boys. She is married to Tom (Husband with a Short Fuse) and gave up a successful journalism career working for Newsnight, to bring up her children. They lead a fairly middle-class existence.

Fiona Neill really captures what it's like for a mother who is just going through the daily routine of making meals, school runs, school meetings and trying to keep up with all of the cleaning. Lucy begins to get bored with things and starts looking for something, or someone (Sexy Domesticated Dad), to liven up the domesticity.

I found this book a little bit hard to get into at first, however, once you read through the first couple of chapters you are hooked. The main character Lucy is a little bit wacky but very likable. The book focuses very much on adult relationships. It is interesting to read about the dynamics between her and her single/non-married friends (as we've all been there as the relationships change once someone gets married and has kids). It also details Lucy's relationship with her husband, other parents from her children's school and her relationship with her own parents and mother-in-law. While you often find yourself relating to these relationships, the story line can be a bit far-fetched at times yet entertaining all the same.

Custom Made for Kids: The First Adventures of Incredible You

By simply answering a few questions on the website Custom Made for Kids you can create a totally personalized and absolutely magical story for your child.

The first (we hope of many!) story called The First Adventures of Incredible You is a story that your child will have you read over and over again (and you actually you won't mind!)

The First Adventures of Incredible You takes your child on an adventure that visits local places and people that are special in your life. The illustrations are as bright and cheery as the verses! When reading to our toddler his face lights up at the mention of playing at his favourite park or visiting the Central Park Zoo (which reminds us of our New York City trip this spring).

When reading the story, it feels as if I have written this story for my child and really, that's how I knew that The First Adventures of Incredible You is incredible!

Here are some other reasons to love The First Adventures of Incredible You:

• They ship to Canada (and very quickly!) if you want to get it here for Christmas you'll have to choose expedited delivery.
  
• You can go on a virtual tour of the book.
  
• In the drop downs, the have Canadian choices! (ie, The Toronto Zoo etc)
• The book is good for children whether they are biological or adopted, any race or Nationality from traditional & non-traditional family structures
• York Region Baby readers receive a 10% off discount until December 31, 2007. Please enter "yrbaby10" when checking out.
  

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

We're at that stage in our house where our 2 1/2 year old has let us know on numerous occasions when faced with a vegetable, that "I, no like it" and either spits it out or ignores the fact that there is a piece of broccoli on his plate. Like many parents we try and try again and sometimes he eats, but most of the time he doesn't.

A few weeks ago I heard some buzz about a new cookbook called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld and was intrigued. Last Friday I saw her on the Oprah show, and after watching ordered the book. This was the first time that I've actually purchased a book from watching Oprah....

The whole premise behind the book is not new, we can hide veggies in our kids food -- but the recipes are brilliant!

I got it in the mail today and I am super excited and super impressed by the book. It's totally cute and retro in design and laid out so well. The recipes ranges from hiding cauliflower in scrambled eggs to Pita Pizzas with spinach.

I also love the idea that Jessica, does hide the vegetables and fruit in the food -- but also still serves vegetables to her children, as kids have to learn that these are important and needed to be healthy and happy.

I'm so excited to get going! Grocery shopping tomorrow, followed by pureeing and then cooking for my family. I'll be updating you soon with my favourite recipes from the book. You can check out some of the recipes here and you can purchase at any bookstore.

Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley

Book Review: The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers : Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Childs Sleep

Elizabeth Pantley writes an incredible series of parenting bookson topics including sleep, potty training and discipline.

Her book entitled, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers, is a must read for parents who have either:

• a toddler/preschooler who has never been a good sleeper and are looking for practical solutions for helping this situation
  

OR

• a toddler/preschooler who is having difficulty transitioning to a new sleep situation (e.g.new bedroom) or have begun to have sleep problems
  

Pantley’s book provides very specific suggestions for how to analyze your personal situation as well as a variety of steps/suggestions that you can try to improve your sleep situation with your toddler. Her practical and supportive text allows parents to take the information that sounds helpful and leave the tips that will not work for their family. She recognizes that every family as well as every child is unique and will therefore have a unique situation that requires careful thought and implementation of a strategy that will work for them.

In Part Two of her book, she lists eight sleep tips for every child. This section is a wonderful resource for all parents to read. She then writes about solutions for a variety of common sleep problems such as “Bedtime Battles”, “ Naptime problems” and “Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking”.

Throughout her book, Pantley emphasizes the importance of consistency as well as giving each plan a fair try. She provides parents with solutions that are easy to understand and follow.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and preschoolers is definitely a book worth reading. It is well written, is an easy read and will most likely assist any family experiencing bedtime issues.

Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less & Communicate Better as Your Family Grows

Product Name: Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less & Communicate Better as Your Family Grows by Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill & Julia Stone

Description: From Amazon.ca The Babyproofers are three women who wouldn't trade their roles as mothers for anything, and they love their husbands deeply. But after living through it and hearing the stories of hundreds of other couples, they know that with young children in the house, you need to block the stairs with baby gates, put plastic covers over the outlets, AND take the necessary steps to safeguard your marriage.

Babyproofing Your Marriage is the warts-and-all truth about how having children can affect your relationship. The authors explore the transition to parenthood in light of their own experiences, with input from their husbands and commentary from men and women across the country. Their evenhanded approach to both sides of the marital equation allows spouses to understand each other in a whole new way.

With loads of humor and practical advice, the Babyproofers will guide first-time parents and veterans alike around the rocky shores of the early parenting years. Don't fall prey to common relationship pitfalls: Babyproof Your Marriage!

Review: Babyproofing Your Marriage is the book that every parent and expectant parent should read -- on top of course of all the books about pregnancy & child birth. Babyproofing Your Marriage is different, it's all the information you need about how having a baby changes your relationship with your partner. It tackles the postpartum period, where many of go from having leisurely weekends to no free time at all and how that puts a strain on relationships.

The chapter on "What's the Score?" is an eye-opener, as partner a states all the things they did this week for the family and partner b retorts back with all the things that they did this week -- and in the end with attitudes like this everyone loses. The Babyproofers tell us why both sexes keep score (this book is based around mainly heterosexual couples) and how we can stop keeping score and be happier!

It really is a fun book to read and you'll find your head shaking "yes!" a lot and the Babyproofers give parents some great tools and tips on how to be happy with baby, and your marriage.

Product Name:Bilingual Books and Flash Cards from Il Cocco di Mamma

Product Name:Bilingual Books and Flash Cards from Il Cocco di Mamma

Review: Many of your know that Il Cocco di Mamma is a great place to get bilingual onesies for baby, but they also carry amazing book and flash cards in a number of languages. We like the Elmer and Friends, in the English- Spanish book, but think it's amazing that it comes in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Turkish!

It makes reading the story so much fun! When we've done the English, we start again and do the Spanish!

The Milet's Flashcards, come in English-French and 7 other language combinations! The cards are bright and colourful and with 60 cards, it's hours of fun for our toddler -- and we are brushing up on our french while teaching our toddler a whole new language!