With a set of paints, a box of markers, a pair of scissors, and a bit of imagination, it’s easy to give a simple, ordinary egg carton a whole new life.  From critters to games to science experiments to costumes, get ready for hours of fun and entertainment with just a handful of simple household supplies.

EGG CARTON CRAFTS and ACTIVITIES

A few favorites from BonBon Break:

ANIMALS

INSECTS

FLOWERS

VEHICLES

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

PRINTMAKING

FUNCTIONAL PROJECTS

COSTUME IDEAS

Fairy Crown from Mom to Two Posh Lil Divas (pin it)

EXPERIMENTS

IMAGINATIVE PLAY CRAFTS

FINE MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Find all of these great projects and MANY, MANY MORE on our Egg Carton Crafts and Activities Pinboard:

Follow Bonbon Break’s board Egg Carton Crafts & Activities on Pinterest.

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Here are some great art supplies to have on hand for impromptu projects of all kinds (click to buy now using our affiliate links to Amazon  —  no extra charge to you and a little perk for us):

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Your goal is to make your child sleep. You devise a strategy in your mind and get him to bed. However, whatever you try never seems to work. You scream, you pin him to the bed, you call in the army…but in vain. Nothing seems to work! Your child’s boundless energy and refusal to sleep compromises your daily mission.

The fact that we all need sleep is understood. Children need it the most as adequate sleep is essential for their growth and development. Toddlers are said to require about 12-14 hours of sleep every night. By pre-school, they need about 11-13 hours. Once they are older, children will need about 10-11 hours of sleep. However, these days, children have a lot of sleep disorders due to various aspects like illness, improper intake of food as well as psychological factors.

So how do we get our children to sleep without having to put in so much effort? Here are some of our favorite tips:

10 Sleep-Inducing Activities for Easier Bedtimes

1. Playing Soft Music: This is a short-term solution, yet used widely by most mothers. Playing soft music in the background can help him drift into sleep effortlessly. The calming music will help induce dreams and make your child fall asleep. Lullabies are also fine, because the child may best respond to your voice. However, a music box or a CD of your kids’ favorite tunes will work equally well. The only thing to remember is not to make this a daily routine where your child will only sleep if he has music!!

 

2. Building Trust: A reason many children do not go to sleep is the fear that their parents aren’t going to be around. While trying to put him to bed, slowly say that you’re going to run an errand like wash dishes or feed the dog, etc. Promise him that you would be right back. Remember to keep that promise so that he knows that he can trust you. Then, repeat the same after a few moments. Leave for a longer duration this time. Do this for the next few days and make sure that the period you leave becomes even longer. Gradually, in one of those waiting sessions your child will fall asleep without you there.

 

3. Read stories: The good old-fashioned book reading technique works wonders with toddlers. Just make sure you have the right book, and you keep the toddler interested to listen to your story. Make sure your child is tucked in and comfortable before reading the story. Slowly as you read on, your child’s concentration levels begin to lessen and sleep starts to take over. Make sure your child doesn’t use any gadgets, watch TV or use a computer before sleeping as these can affect his chances of gaining a sound sleep.

 

4. Drink Warm Milk: The traditional strategy of drinking a glass of warm milk before bed can help your child fall asleep. Milk products are rich in the amino acid L-tryptophan, which induces sleep by increasing the levels of serotonin and melatonin in the brain. The effect is also psychological for your child as your toddler might just get reminded of memories when he was an infant and was fed and held in your comfortable arms. The warmth of the milk can also make the child sleepy. Just make sure that your child brushes his teeth to avoid cavities from forming.

 

5. Provide a comfy room: Every child’s room should be a comfortable space to be in. It should bring happiness and relaxation each time your child goes in. Set your child’s room temperature at a comfortable, soothing level. For a good night’s sleep, make sure the room is dark enough for your child to fall asleep. Check if the clothes and blankets do not restrict movement while lying down. Keeping a table lamp handy would be ideal in case he is afraid to sleep in complete darkness. Give advance notice about the child’s approaching bedtime, which can keep his mind ready for a rest.

 

6. Brain Muscle relaxation: This helps for older children who have a tough time trying to sleep. Ask them to apply a brain relaxation technique. From the toes to the head, ask your child to tighten and then relax every muscle group from the bottom up. Make them repeat out loud after you, “let your toes relax, and then your ankles and now your calves.” Make them do these relaxation exercises all the way up to your scalp.

 

7. Play Five Things: Ask your child to play the game ‘five things’ with you. This simple game just needs your child to name five things they can see, five things they can hear, five things they can feel and you can continue on and on. You could also use a book or any other material to make the game more interesting. Before you know it, your child will be so tired, that his eyes will shut midway through the game!

 

8. Reduce After School Activity: One of the chief reasons for your child not able to sleep properly could be his/her participation in too many after-school activities. They would be overburdened with work, pushing back dinner, study time and eventually bed time. It is important only to make your child do what he/she can handle. Plan play-time with more stress-free sports like running and jumping. Keep this time scheduled for a fixed duration and ensure that your child doesn’t drain out all his/her energy by exerting too much. This way, when the time for bed arrives, your child will feel sleepy automatically.

 

9. Set up a Reward System: Kids love to be appreciated by their parents. A good way to make sure they sleep on time is to set up a reward system, where you can gift your child a sticker or a star for each night she goes to bed on time. As she collects a particular number of stars or stickers, you can get her a bigger prize. This will motivate and provide incentive for the child to keep the sleep schedule at all times.

 

10. Give them protection tools: Children sometimes feel afraid of “the monster under the bed” or the spooky shadows on the wall. Provide him with tools that help him feel safe in bed. A flashlight, a stuffed animal like a teddy bear, an “anti-monster spray”, etc. are some examples of tools you could arm him with. He will feel more protected this way and won’t feel worried. Assure them that you are just a call away, and the table lamp is close by just in case he needs it.

 

Getting your child to sleep can be quite worrisome for some parents. With patience and the careful following of the above techniques, you are sure to get your child slipping into a healthy sleep routine in quick time!

Editor’s Pick for Sleep Training Books:
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 This post was written by Aradhana exclusively for BonBon Break Media, LLC

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Several times this spring and summer, when the weather kept everyone inside, it became very clear to me that I had two choices:

Let my kids watch a mind-numbing amount of television until bedtime.

OR

Get creative.

Now, I’m not hating on screen time. I’ve plunked my kids in front of an episode of Team UmiZoomi more than once to get dinner cooked. Just being honest. Besides, they really do learn stuff like sign language, Spanish, music, nursery rhymes, patterns, shapes, and even how to turn the dumpiest house in the neighborhood into the home of your dreams!

Wait…that last one is Fixer Upper. That’s my jam.
Moral of the story: Screen time in moderation is fine in my opinion. What I’m talking about is not medicating the looong hours of nail-on-chalkboard boredom that your kids face when the weather doesn’t cooperate by hooking them up to a screen like tiny cyborgs.

So, here is my list of tested and approved activities to get your kids up and moving, and to engage their imagination and creativity (and YOURS). Most of these activities involve everyday objects lying around the house (like couch cushions…or a card table…or you).

11 Screen-Free Rainy Day Activities for Kids

1. Make and mail some homemade cards

Supplies:
Paint
Paint Brushes
Crayons/Markers
Construction Paper
Scissors
Glue

Clear off a table and set up some watercolors and crayons. Grab some scissors, glue, and construction paper (supervise the cutting!) and make a card for the grandparents, friends, or someone else special. Let it dry and send it to them in the mail. Wouldn’t that brighten anyone’s day?

Bonus Tip: If the children are too young to draw a picture, try tracing their handprints with their names and ages below each one, then let them scribble on the cover and add a message inside.

2. Build a car ramp

Supplies:
Card Table
Box or Couch Cushion

Sometimes happiness is my 2-year-old boy racing every car, truck, and train in his possession down a race track for an hour. Place one end of a card table (or some other flat, hard surface like a large lid) on a couch cushion or box. Grab every toy with wheels and send them flying down the ramp (sound effects encouraged).

Bonus Tip: Add a second ramp on the other side of the cushion and hold a drag race.

3. Build a maze

Supplies:
Cushions
Pillows
Chairs
Boxes
Ottomans
Bed sheets/Blankets

Clear a space in the playroom or living room and assemble a maze with your children using furniture and boxes. Create tunnels using bed sheets and blankets. Hide objects and send them on a rescue mission to retrieve them. This activity is a bit more involved, but it also gives your children a chance to use their imagination and construct something fun with their hands.

Bonus Tip: For a circle track, place an ottoman in the middle of the room, leave a large space around it (for running), and then surround it with a wide circle with chairs, boxes and pillows.
Leave some exits otherwise you’re probably going to clean up after some very dizzy kids.

4. Create a “dry” muddle puddle – (My Kids’ Favorite)

Supplies:
Cushions
Pillows
Blankets
Stuffed Animals

Desperation was the mother of this invention. I was babysitting my friends’ boys who were around the same age as my two. My four tiny charges were moping around the house devastated that it was raining and they couldn’t go outside to play. Attitudes were disintegrating.

So we threw every soft item we could find into the middle of the floor and (SAFELY) took turns jumping into our very own indoor “mud puddle.” By the end, all four kids were red-faced and panting with giant grins on their faces.

Bonus Tip: You can change the title of this game as the seasons change – once again engaging
your child’s imagination. In the summer, we call it a splash pad. In the fall, it’s a leaf pile. And in the winter, it’s a snow mound.

5. Dinner prep together

Supplies:
Ingredients
Mixing Bowls
Tiny Taste Testers
Aprons (optional)

Remember how I said I let my kids watch a show while I got dinner ready? That was becoming a normal pattern for us, so I decided to invite the children to help me get dinner ready. It could be as simple as letting them stir or add seasonings or bang a wooden spoon on a bowl while you do the cooking.

My daughter got a little apron for Christmas last year and now little brother wants one, too. It’sone more way to see my kids enjoy time at home doing something together without that habitual pre-dinner Netflix show.

6. Indoor Hopscotch

Supplies:
Large cardboard box
Scissors
Marker

Slice open the biggest box you can find, lay it out, and draw a hopscotch board on the inside. Clear a space in the house and let the bouncing begin. This game helps your children learn their numbers.

Bonus Tip: Get out some crayons and let your children practice tracing the big numbers (or adding their own drawings for fun).

7. Card Games

Supplies:
Deck of Cards
Bowl of Snacks

I mean, do you remember how fun “Spoons” was when you were a kid?

8. Hire some help

Are your children old enough to sort socks, fold towels, make their beds, load the dishwasher, clean up their room or set the table? Hire them to help you. Not only does this help them develop a work ethic, but you can begin the conversation about what to do with money, how to save, how to spend, and how to give.

You shouldn’t pay them for every task they ever do, but you’re not spoiling them by instructing them how to earn and use money responsibly at a young age.

Bonus Tip: If your child is young (3-5 years old), pay them for tasks the moment they’re complete to make sure the lesson makes the most impact.

9. Easy Playtime Tent

Supplies:
Table
Bed Sheet
Blanket

Clear off your table and use the chairs to create a walking path leading up to the table. Spread a fleece blanket on the floor under the table. Throw a large bed sheet over the table and chairs to make a roof. Tada. Tent.

10. Recreate the outdoors in your living room

Supplies:
Blankets Pillows Laundry Baskets Household items the color of nature

My 3-year-old invented this game on a lazy, rainy day. She found a small, round, green laundry basket and held it up, asking, “Can we make this into a tree?”
Before long, the entire living floor was transformed. A floral blanket became a meadow. A blue pillow case was a lake. The green basket sat atop a stack of boxes with a brown towel draped over one side as a tree trunk. Pillows became boulders. I’m pretty sure at one point I was playing by myself, so lost was I in the transformation.

11. Change up story time

Creating new fun can be as easy as changing an old routine. Instead of reading a storybook in bed or on the couch, try a few of these fun alternatives:
 Listen to an audio book. The library has a lot of these, from picture books to chapter books. Not only does this give your children a new way to enjoy story time, but it teaches them how to sit still and listen which will help them in countless ways down the road.
 Read where you land. Was today “mud puddle” day and you’re all lying in a heap of pillows and blankets right before bedtime? Great! Grab a book and read there. If it’s
under a table, then read under the table.
 Read by flashlight. Pitch a tent with a few chairs and blankets. Kill the lights and read in the tent.

Hopefully, these 11 ideas gave you some inspiration on your next rainy day with the kids. What will you do with your kids after the TV and iPads are turned off on the next rainy day?

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My littlest came running in showing the tiny little tooth that came out. It was her first – and my last ‘first tooth’ experience. There is something about these little moments that make you savor them. She was jumping up and down with excitement and the fact that the Tooth Fairy was coming her way. The Tooth Fairy!! I gave her a big hug and sent her off to write THE letter with a little tear in my eye.

That’s when my oldest turned to me and said, “The Tooth Fairy, hmmm.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in a gentle inquisitive tone.

He looked me square in the eyes and said, “Mama, I don’t think she’s real. She isn’t a real fairy, right?” I felt the air leave my lungs in a massive sigh.

I’ve promised myself that I wouldn’t lie on the big things just to keep them going for my sake. Now was that moment. Would I keep it going or would I fess up?

“No, Bub. She’s isn’t real.”

His head hung low and while his chin pointed down, his eyes looked up.

“Is Santa real? What about the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns and the elves – they are all fake. They are all lies,” he said with a whisper and the tears welled along the edge his dark bottom lashes.

“Not lies,” I said. That was all I could muster and I knew I had to think quickly and yet, be truthful and comforting all at once. I remembered this story  I read from a mom in the same situation and I knew where to go.

“Not really lies, just stories to teach you about different lessons when you are young. Santa? He teaches us about the joy of giving. It is so hard to teach a baby or toddler about that joy because they are too young to understand. We teach them how much fun it is to receive a surprise. Once you are old enough, you get to experience the truly special part – giving.”

He looked at me with a quizzical look and I could see his wheels turning.

“Just to get you in the spirit this year, I want you to listen to the stories of those around you. Find someone who really needs something and cannot get it for themselves. You have a budget of $30. When you figure out who and what, we will go get the gift and then you can secretly leave it for them.”

Now his eyes lit up. “Anyone?”

“Yes, anyone!” I cheered.

“Ok. What about my sister? Can I help keep the secret for her until she is ready?”

“Absolutely! You will see how much fun it is to be part of the surprise!”

With that, his energy changed and mine did, too.

These milestones come along – sometimes you get 5 in a day – and we figure out how to navigate them on the fly. There is no right way, just our way and that is the beauty we pass along to our kids. Since that day, he and I have planned for the Easter Bunny, Santa, our Elf on the Shelf and we’ve placed little wrapped packages on friend’s doorsteps, delivering something he just knew they needed or wanted.

I’ve come to realize that celebrating on this side of the bridge is a lot of fun as well. Watching your child appreciate the Spirit of Giving is the greatest gift of all. Yes, Santa is real and his spirit lives in us all.

Happy Holidays!

MORE CHRISTMAS INSPIRATION

Redefining Elf on the Shelf

Sorry Kids, No Christmas Wish Lists This Year {Printable}

Christmas Book Countdown: A Family Tradition Advent Calendar Idea

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This is such an easy project to do with your little ones, it only takes two ingredients! This Snow dough is super easy to make and since you don’t use a stove to make it, your little ones can have fun mixing it up. You play with it just like playdough but it is so much softer and smells great. too!

TIP: You can add glitter to make it sparkle like snow, or if you want fun colors just add a little food coloring

Snow Dough Recipe

To make this snow dough you will need to add 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part conditioner. ( I did 2 cups cornstarch to 1 cup conditioner)

1. Add two parts cornstarch to a bowl

2. Add 1 part of the hair conditioner to the cornstarch

3. Mix the two ingredients together until they are incorporated well

4. The fun part! Use your hands to form the mixture into a dough. If your dough is a little sticky just add more cornstarch.

TIP: All conditioners are different consistency so you might have to add a bit more cornstarch, only if your dough is a little sticky.

Now have fun! We put out cookie cutters and rolled balls to make snowmen, and spent lots of time smelling a squishing our soft dough.  It is such an easy dough to make and it makes hours of fun play.

To store your Snow Dough just place in an airtight container or a zip lock bag.

Enjoy! 

ABOUT KATIE: Katie spends her days with toddlers, as their preschool teacher. She loves to bake, cook, camp, and read, but she her greatest love is creating crafts and sharing them with kids. Katie and her newlywed husband are living happily ever after on a little island in the Pacific Northwest where she was born and raised.

This post was written by Katie Myers exclusively for Bonbon Break Media, LLC

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Before I became a mother, I had many ideas of what parenthood would entail. I envisioned trips to the library, afternoons reading books in blanket forts, hours of coloring and finger painting. When my children were born, however, I soon realized that they were not built for sitting. Their bloodstreams appeared to be composed entirely of adrenaline and their minds perpetually set on adventure. We abandoned leisurely indoor pursuits and headed out into the sunshine instead.

The fresh air works like a spell on their bodies. Grumpiness melts away, tantrums cease, and curiosity outshines boredom. After a few hours of being at home, my children see only a sea of trucks, puzzles, and books that have already been explored, and I see a mountain of tasks I need to accomplish before lunchtime. We enter into a pathetic waltz. I dance around them in an attempt to get chores done, they run after me, begging to be held and entertained.

The indoors for children is both overstimulating and boring, argues Dr. Karp, the pediatrician who authored The Happiest Toddler on the Block. It replaces the constant and gentle stimulation of nature – the moving clouds, the waving trees, and bombards us with flat walls, flashing TVs, and noisy toys instead. Outdoors, I rarely need to amuse them. As they explore, they are more independent, and yet we are closer together.

Although certainly a benefit, peaceful mornings free of tantrums is not the main reason I take my children outside. Our children’s generation will see the reality of the threat that has been hovering over our heads for the last few decades. Their seas will rise, their storms will be greater, and their earth will warm in new and alarming ways. It is our duty to protect what we are giving them, but the work needed to undo the damage will extend past our own lifetimes.

I cannot expect my children to care about an earth they have never felt seep between their toes or to protect the life of a bird they have never heard sing. I am arranging a romance, hoping they will fall in love with the world they live in.

I love watching my boys run around playgrounds, bike down dirt paths, splash in puddles until their clothes are soaked in mud and I drive them home in nothing but diapers. While their lives will not be perfect, as white middle class suburban children, they are undoubtedly privileged. I do not want them to grow accustomed to ease, to fold at the first sign of adversity. Eventually they will grow and be faced with challenges, a warming earth and a world full of unrest and injustice, and I do not want them to back down from them, but to be as strong as the world needs them to be.

My youngest son has recently abandoned the stroller, determined to no longer be left behind by his older brother on our weekly hikes. I watched him the other day, attempting to scramble up a hill some older boys were playing on, tumbling down once or twice before attempting another path. He was determined, and the idea that he was too young, or that his legs were too little did not occur to him. The boys spent the rest of the morning throwing rocks into the lake, running along the dirt path, challenging themselves, and ignoring the possibility of failure.

We go outside to learn, explore, and accomplish things we never dreamed possible. Playing outdoors has taught my children that they are capable of accomplishing difficult tasks, and as we are staring down the reality of climate change, this is what our world needs. We need people who are not afraid to challenge themselves, who look at a hill and refuse to believe they are too small to conquer it. We need children who have played and lived in the world outdoors and who will fall in love with the challenge of protecting it.

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This post was written by Jackie Semmens exclusively for BonBon Break Media LLC.

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However, finding radio stations that both the kids and I can enjoy proves a challenging task. While I do suffer through some genres I don’t love for the sake of the kids, I refuse to listen to children singing “Mary had a Little Lamb” or “Itsy Bitsy Spider” all day. Here are my 10 go-to Pandora stations for when I’m with the kids.

1. Children’s Indie Radio combines classics like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and The Vespers’ “All I Want Is You” with contemporary songs like Jack Johnson’s “We’re Going to Be Friends.” Children’s Indie Radio helps cultivate a fun and mellow mood for playtime.

2. Baby Mozart (For Deep Sleep) Radio is based on a track by Steven Snow and plays instrumental arrangements of familiar songs like “A Whole New World,” “Canon in D” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” It’s perfect for preparing babies and toddlers for nap time.

3. Coffee Shop Soundtrack Radio offers laid back, relaxing background music for anytime of the day. Personally, I love how it offers new renditions of popular songs from bands like Boyce Avenue. Some songs featured on this station include Jason Mraz’s “Lucky” and Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know.”

4. Italian Cooking Music Radio sets a positive mood while preparing lunch and snacks throughout the day. Enjoy the smooth, rich tones of Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore” and Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”

5. Radio for Kids Radio plays songs from movie soundtracks including “Frozen.” This station also includes children-friendly songs such as Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister,” Lyle Lovett’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” and Ylvis’ “The Fox” (What does the fox say?). Overall, it’s a great mix of songs kids enjoy and songs I enjoy, but it will occasionally play an obnoxious song. Thank goodness for Pandora’s thumbs down button.

6. Acoustic New Age Radio features acoustic guitar and piano sounds. This station often features instrumental versions of mainstream songs such as The Piano Guys’ “A Thousand Years,” Yiruma’s “River Flows in You,” and Antoine Dufour’s “You and I.” Overall, this station provides a wonderful backdrop to craft or quiet time.

7. Family Country Radio adds fun Americana to car rides and impromptu dance-offs with a mix of well-known country hits from artists like George Straight, Faith Hill, and Brad Paisley. Songs featured include Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” Don Williams’ “Louisiana Saturday Night,” and Phil Vassar’s “Just Another Day in Paradise.”

8. String Quartets Radio plays classical music. Although classical music doesn’t necessarily make babies or their caregivers smarter, classical music has been linked to memory, cognition, and problem solving. This station features songs like Louis Spohr’s “String Quartet No. 21 in B Flat Major” and Alexander Borodin’s “String Quartet No. 1 in A Major.”

9. Hipster Cocktail Party Radio showcases light, classy music that’s great for tummy time or coloring. Sample tracks include Nina Simone’s “Feelin’ Good,” Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” Marvin Gaye’s “Got it Give it Up,” and Vance Joy’s “Riptide.” Although some songs do have more adult themes, this station works well with babies and toddlers.

10. Boy Bands Radio provides an instant mood booster. Relive the days when Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, and Hansen topped the charts. Honestly, the kids should thank you for letting them experience these great artists or at least for the fun mood these songs generate. Songs include “Bye Bye Bye,” “As Long As You Love Me,” and “MMMBop.”

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My friend told me once that I could find the silver lining in anything. Here’s a big one that I’ve found: Being the parent of an autistic child has humbled me and made me a better parent. Specifically, I’ve stopped caring about what strangers think about my parenting skills. It took me a lot of searching to find that particular silver lining, and it wasn’t easy to find.

Sometimes Bella can’t handle all the people at the store.  Sometimes she doesn’t want to leave the spring fair at the elementary school.  Sometimes she can’t share or take turns the way other kids can at her age.  It could be anything or nothing at all.  But her reaction is often huge, her meltdowns epic, and when they’re public meltdowns, well, you can imagine how fun that is.  I’ve been screamed at full-blast in Target over a toy I didn’t buy.  I’ve had to coax an anxiety-overloaded child off of the floor at Jo-Ann Fabrics because she’d just had enough.  I’ve left parks carrying my child like a sack of potatoes kicking and screaming because she wouldn’t leave any other way.  I’ve been slapped, scratched, kicked and almost bit while strangers watched (or pretended not to watch, but lingered just a little too long to leave any question as to whether they were shopping or watching).

It’s not always meltdowns, though.  Sometimes it’s just all the quirky things you don’t notice around the house that are glaringly obvious when you venture out into the real world.  I had to tell Bella once that no, not everyone in the store thinks it’s funny when you stand in front of their cart, put your hand up, and shout, “STOP!”  Also, kids tend to notice when your daughter licks every doorknob in the hallway at morning drop-off.  Here eccentricities are amusing at home but were mortifying in public.  I found myself saying, “No, Bella…” the entire time we were out, which only aggravated me and put her on edge.

I used to walk out of public places feeling embarrassed and humiliated.  Partly because of how my child behaved, but also partly because of how I behaved.  So often, I found that I was parenting for the benefit of those around me.  I felt their eyes watching me, judging me, and so I would perform for them.  I said what I thought I “should” say, what I thought people were expecting me to say.  Instead of calmly and patiently waiting for Bella to cool down before talking to her, I would jump the gun and reprimand her when she wasn’t ready to process what I was saying.  I would speak harshly to her so people could hear that I was in charge, that I was doing the “right” thing — even though the “right” thing for Bella doesn’t look or sound anything like what the “right” thing might be for other kids.

My worst parenting moments, the ones I am least proud of, happened because I was trying to impress a bunch of strangers I’ll probably never see again.

One day, after a particularly awful meltdown at the grocery store, I was driving home and had a simple but important thought flash in my head:

I’m not responsible for those people.

I have no control over those strangers’ reactions toward or perceptions of me.  To put it simply, who the hell cares what those people think?  The only people’s opinions that matter, the only people I am responsible for are my kids.  I’m only beholden to them.  I care about what they think of me, and how they feel.  No one else.  Those lingering people in the store can just piss off.

Once I stopped trying to impress strangers, my life got a whole lot easier.  I don’t worry about what people will think of Bella and her behavior in public anymore, because I seriously don’t care.  I focus only on my kids and how they’re feeling. If they’re happy, I’m happy.  If they’re upset, then we deal with it the same way we would deal with it at home.  Sometimes that means I have to stand in the store and wait a minute for Bella to pull herself together.  Sometimes it means I have to stay calm and not react when my daughter tries to claw my arm.  I know it’s because she doesn’t know what to do with the overwhelmingly intense feelings she’s experiencing, and reacting physically towards me is the only way she knows how to deal with those feelings.  Other people don’t know that, but I don’t have to explain myself to them.  If someone says anything dumb, I ignore them — I literally pretend they’re not talking.  If someone lends sincere help, I accept or decline politely (depending on whether it will make things better or worse, in my opinion).

People stare, and I’m sure some people go home and judge the hell out of me.  Why should I care?  I get to go home and feel good about how I treated my children.

My girl’s opinion of me means a whole lot more than your opinion, lady.

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ABOUT JANEL: Janel Mills is the librarian/thug behind the blog 649.133: Girls, the Care and Maintenance Of, where she writes about raising a princess, a wild child, and the happiest toddler on Earth using as many curse words as possible. Janel is a contributor to NickMom, and has also been featured on In the Powder Room, Scary Mommy, and was a contributor to the wildly successful anthology “You Have Lipstick On Your Teeth”. When not blogging or librarian-ing, she keeps busy raising three beautiful little girls with her beardedly gifted husband in the wilds of metro Detroit.

Follow Janel on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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The post Parent Like There’s No One Watching first appeared on BonBon Break.

The other considerable benefit to camping with kids (aside from the simple fact that it’s a blast), is that camping gets children unplugged from the screen-filled world of digital devices that are turning their grey matter to oatmeal. Camping gets the kids—and you—unplugged, connects kids to nature, and facilitates family bonding. It’s all worth the effort. Here are a series of tips from my book, The Down & Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids, for making the packing and planning of a family camping trip go smooth as peanut butter (the creamy kind, that is).

Prep Kids Ahead of Time

My kids have always loved camping without reservation. But some children will require some pre-trip preparation.

• Read camp-themed picture books before you go.
• Camp in the backyard.
• Take a night walk in the neighborhood to get kids used to the sounds of the night.
• If your kids are afraid of the dark, bring portable nightlights and headlamps.
• Pack disposable glowsticks and tuck them into the tent’s mesh pockets just before bedtime.

Use Checklists

Kids require a surprising amount of gear. We’ve skipped the checklist in the past and arrived at the campsite without diapers. Not good! Now I have checklists for my checklists.

• Print out a complete family camping checklist.
• Use the checklist as you pack!
• Double-check the list before you pull out of the driveway.
• Revise the list during your trip if you realize something’s missing.

Organize Your Camping Pantry

Even if you’re car camping, try not to over-pack. It makes it hard to find anything.

• Simplify by getting rid of extra cardboard and plastic packaging on food.
• Portion out the food you need rather than bringing that industrial size carton of Goldfish.
• Put spices and ingredients in small plastic containers or little baggies.
• Label everything.
• Crack eggs into a Nalgene bottle for scrambled eggs so you don’t have to worry about eggs cracking in the cooler.

Pack a Portable Crib

When our kids were babies and toddlers we always brought along one of those handy fold-up cribs. They fit nicely in a tent as long as you have a giant manor-like family tent. Sure, a pack-and-play is a big-ticket gear item in an already full car, but it can keep babies and toddlers contained and help them sleep at night. When you’re setting up camp, you can pop your little cherub in the crib. At night and for naps, the familiarity of a pack-and-play will help them get to sleep.

Bring The Kid Potty

Of course, if your child is in the middle of potty training, you’ll think to pack the little potty. But even for kids who are recently potty-trained, you might consider bringing along a small kid toilet and stowing it in the atrium of the tent. It’ll save you trips to the campground’s bathroom and will make nighttime potty breaks a simple affair.

Start a Nature Journal

For hikes or even just around the campground, bring along a nature journal and a small box of pencils, colored pencils, crayons, and markers as well as a field guide (print or online) to identify flora and fauna. My kids love knowing the scientific names of plants and animals. Here are some other journaling ideas:

• Create beautiful pages with leaf prints by coloring the backside of a leaf with kid markers then pressing the leaf on the paper.
• Use the side of a crayon to make a rubbing of tree bark or a trail sign.

Prepare to Play

When we camp as a family, our kids find entertainment with sticks, rocks, and pine cones. They can spend hours playing in a stream. However, it’s wise to pack balls, a pack of cards, and travel-sized board games just in case they announce that they are bored—right when you’re making dinner. And if you need to retreat to the tent during a rainstorm, small toys and games can help pass the time. Here are some game time ideas:

• Playing cards (for Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Hearts, War)
• Card games (Snap, Wig Out, Spot It, Rat-a-Tat Cat)
• Travel-sized games (dominoes, chess, checkers, Scrabble, Boggle, Blokus, Apples to Apples)
• Lengths of rope for knot tying
• Frisbees, hackey sacks, Nerf football, Whiffle ball and bat
• Small trucks and cars
• Polly Pockets
• Bubbles
• Sand toys
• Camp-themed kid books

Go with Friends

We love to camp with just our family, but we also enjoy group camping with other families. It’s a different vibe for sure. Most kids have more fun and whine less when they’re with their peers. Adults can enjoy chatting with other adults. Group camping also means you can divide up meal responsibilities. Another upside: If you forgot something important (like marshmallows), your friends probably have it.

Remember the First-Aid Kit

Always bring a well-stocked first aid kit with bug-bite remedies, children’s ibuprofen, Band-Aids and about 26 other things. I always include a pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass. Kids are forever getting little splinters and prickers.

HOT TIP: We tried out Coleman’s memory foam sleeping bag and it is a game changer!! There is NO reason that mom shouldn’t be comfortable and warm as well.

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The post 9 Tips for Camping with Kids first appeared on BonBon Break.

1. EGG CARTON FLOWERS from our Playroom ideas – easy to make egg carton flowers that even toddlers can create – if you are working with toddlers and don’t want the flowers to be “preschool brown” then a top tip is to provide a colour and then swap it out to colour different flowers.
2. DAFFODIL PIN WHEELS from Nurturestore- capture the joy of those first flowers of Spring and create these beautiful pin wheels with the kids – want a mess free variety then use coloured paper and find a yellow egg carton to use.
3. PAPER PLATE ROSE from Danya Banya- these would make such a wonderful bouquet of Spring Flowers made by the kids to add to the Nature Table or on a windowsill at home and the bonus is you never need to add water and they will last all Spring long.
4. YARN WRAPPED TULIPS from School Time Snippets – once the yellow of daffodils die down, the garden explodes into a rainbow of colours as the tulips bloom. With all of the colours of yarn plus the mixed colours yarns, this easy craft for kids can mimic your garden flowers.
5. TISSUE PAPER LOLLIPOP FLOWERS from Red Ted Art – cute and delicious to these easy-to-make tissue paper flowers have a hidden secret in the centre, a little lollipop. Wouldn’t they just make the cutest party favours for a Spring tea party?
6. PLASTIC SPOON FELT FLOWERS from Crafts by Amanda – use up some of those left over plastic spoons from the party season and create some pretty flower pictures. Full instructions by clicking on the link.
7. HAND AND FOOTPRINT FLOWER CANVAS ART from Arts and Crackers – create some lasting art that holds memories for your kids with these hand and footprint flower canvas art pictures.
8. STAMPED AND BUTTON FLOWER from Happy Hooligans – ever so simple, these printed flowers make a wonderful addition to a card and are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers to use – look at how we used the technique to create a pretty tote over on Rainy Day Mum.
9. TEXTURED TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS from Buggy and Buddy – work on those fine motor skills and get the kids creating some textured tissue paper art, another simple craft that the youngest and oldest children can do at that the same time.
10. WATERCOLOUR COFFEE FILTER FLOWERS from Hands on as We Grow – mix up process art and craft to create these pretty water colour coffee filter flowers that even the youngest children can create.

Click to see more from the Playroom

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This post was written by Cerys exclusively for BonBon Break Media, LLC.

The post 10 Spring Flower Crafts for kids first appeared on BonBon Break.

During that time, I was at peace while I quickly realized my physical and mental strengths and limitations.  I finished my training in six months and ran my first ever marathon in 4 hours 1 minute and 7 seconds.  Six years and two babies later, I’m ready to feel that peace and get to know myself again.  I’m finding that it’s a whole new set of physical and mental strengths and limitations now though.  As I take this journey I want to share 5 Tips for Mom Runners that are getting me through the physical and mental trials.

5 Tips for Mom Runners

 1.  Set realistic and measurable goals

I didn’t decide on January 1st that fateful year that I was going to run a marathon.  Instead, I set a goal to train to run a 5K in two months.  Through my training, I realized a goal pace that I could be comfortable with and I modified my goal to finish the 5K under a certain time.  Even if you’ve never run a day in your life, training for a 5K is doable.  It’s just a matter of setting your mind to it.

2.  Be consistent

Figure out a time in the day that works best to get in a run and try to run at least three times per week.  Between my husband’s and my schedule, the best time for us right now is directly after work.  This entails some planning on my part, seeing as I leave my house by 6 am with both girls.  I make sure to pack everything I need the night before and leave it by the door before heading up to bed.

3.  Don’t feel guilty 

I’ve learned that the worst kind of guilt is Mom Guilt.  It literally, makes me lose myself because I become so fixated on the needs’ of my girls.  Let’s be honest for a second thought. The best mom is the one that is happy and healthy.  Running for me creates that balance that I need for my sanity.  It releases stress for me and I’m working towards my pre-babies body at the same time.  The biggest take away is that a happy mama is a good mama.

4.  Talk about your goals with your family and friends  

Once you put it on the table that you are aspiring to do something, it holds you accountable.  It took me a good two weeks before I told my husband that I was training for a marathon.  His response, “that’s a long way.  You’re going to need some new kicks.”  You’ll be shocked at how supportive family and friends can be.  You might even inspire someone to become your running buddy.

5.  Cut yourself some slack

As mothers, we’re already running in fourteen different directions so if it’s a day to run and you’re battling a cold, then take a rest day and modify your training schedule.  You need to do what works best for you and your family.

In the end, all that truly matters, is that you are finding time for yourself.  The bonus is that you’re going to start feeling better, which in turn will give you more energy.  So, this New Year carve out some time for you and take time to run.

ABOUT JENNY: Jenny is a wife, mother and reading specialist in a low income city school district.  She is also the the founder of thenymelrosefamily.com – a lifestyle website sharing crafts, recipes, diy and party planning projects perfect for those looking for something quick and easy.  With two girls under the age of five, Jenny’s projects are toddler friendly and the perfect opportunity to create a special moment with your family.

Follow Jenny via Google+ // Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Instagram // Youtube

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The post Tips for Mom Runners first appeared on BonBon Break.