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How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

November 5, 2017 · 10 Comments

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

Play is a fundamental childhood experience.

As well as being an important part of our children’s development, it’s also fun and many of us have fond memories of childhood toys.

Toys are something our kids will come into contact with nearly every day and they love exploring them with their mouths! So, it’s incredibly important to make sure toys you provide them with are safe and non-toxic.

“The World Health Organisation has emphasised that infants and young children are more vulnerable to gene-damaging chemicals than adults” Dr Peter Dingle


What to avoid when choosing toys

There can be many toxins in cheap toys including things like PVC, BPA, BPS, phalates, polyethylene terephthalate, fire retardants and heavy metals. They can be ingested, inhaled or transferred through the skin.  These toxins are linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental delays, and reproductive system damage. Scary stuff!

As well as being toxic, cheaper toys tend to be very poor quality and can break easily. Be wary of anything that has small pieces that can break off and become a choking hazard. Anything smaller than a ping pong ball can get trapped in airways.

Cheap toys are not designed for longevity. It’s a vicious cycle of consumerism where plastic toys are bought cheaply, broken and then discarded to landfill. Every bit of plastic ever made is still in existence.

There are also issue of fair-trade and ethical practices to consider. Denying a worker in a third world country a decent wage and safe working conditions so kids can have all the latest toys for Christmas is pretty messed up, no matter which way you look at it.

Wishbone 3 in 1 Bike

What to look for when choosing safe toys

♥ Choose a reputable store where you know the owners are eco-conscious and ethical.

♥ Choose natural and untreated materials such as wood, bamboo, metal and natural fibres like cotton, wool or felt. These materials are also an environmentally friendly option.

♥ Check that soft toys are not stuffed with toxic fillers.  Natural fillers like bamboo or GMO free corn starch are preferable.

♥ Check that the paints, dyes and treatments used are natural and non-toxic.

♥ Check that wooden toys are not made from MDF or plywood or use toxic glues.

♥ Look beyond the labelling. Just because something says it’s non-toxic or wooden doesn’t mean it’s safe.

♥ When choosing plastic toys, look for recycled plastic that is food grade safe and free of toxins. Some good brands are Green Toys and Miniland for dolls.

♥ Personally, I also look at who makes the toys and where they are from. Is the company ethical and are they looking after their workers? It’s just good karma!

 

Some of my top picks:

♥ Hevea 

Hevea make rubber toys that don’t contain holes so there is no chance of mould build up. The safe rubber ducky! See more here.

♥ EverEarth 

EverEarth make beautiful wooden toys from sustainable wood and water based non-toxic paints. Find the whole range here.

♥ Maud n Lil

I am so in love with Maud n Lil soft toys. You will see them featured often on Natural New Age Mum. They are beautiful quality and certified organic with corn starch filling and no small buttons. Find them here.

 

What about family and friends?

I hear you. A new child in the family gets everyone excited and they want to buy all the baby things!

I find it’s best to nip this in the bud early and explain your stance on toxins, plastics and cheap toys. You might instigate a ‘books only please’ policy or something else that works for your family.

If you need some help navigating those conversations, have a read of my article, What to do when your family and friends don’t support your lifestyle choices.

Kinderboard

Good quality, eco-friendly toys should last a lifetime and may even become family heirlooms. You will be able to pass them on to siblings, other families or sell them when you are finished.

It’s also worth remembering that kids (and babies in particular) don’t need a lot of toys for stimulation – that’s what we are here for! There is something to be said for providing less to encourage more imaginative play.  Simple toys without all the bells and whistles (or flashing lights and sounds!) are often best.

Choosing quality over quantity is a safe bet for your kids and the environment. Good quality, ethical toys do cost more than cheap plastic junk from the discount stores but I think our kids are worth it.

 

What do you think? Do you actively search for safe, non-toxic toys?

Further Reading and sources:

Slow Death by Rubber Duck

Healthy Home, Healthy Family

Is your home making you sick?

 

Filed In: FAMILY, HEALTH / Tagged: babies, baby, children, gift guide, kids, lead, plastic toys, toxic toys, toxins, toys, wooden toys

How to get your kids to eat more veges

October 5, 2015 · 8 Comments

How to get your kids to eat more veges

My mum dobbed me into my kids the other day when we were visiting.

Yes, my vege phobia as a child was uncovered!! I really only ate potato and a few salad veges. My poor mum!

This lasted right into my mid 20s until I decided to get over myself and eat some darn veges. However, I still do a bit of a dry retch at the thought of a big plate of boiled veges.

I tried lots of things and worked out how I liked my veges cooked and how I could add flavour to make them yum. Nowdays I love my veges – but please don’t make me ever eat mushrooms, peas or broccoli that has been steamed too long!

There is a lot of debate about whether you should hide vegetables or not hide, but I say, do whatever it takes to get the kids eating veges – their growing years are so important and good nutrition is vital. However, in saying that, don’t stress about it too much – fruit can also provide a lot of nutrients that are found in vegetables and kids won’t starve themselves!

My own kids went from babies who ate homemade pureed veges with relish (I mean the joy type relish not the yummy type) to toddlers who spat everything out to teenagers who still sometimes sigh at veges. It’s not the most fun bit of parenting, is it?

So here are my tips for jazzing up those veges and making them more appealing for kids (and big kids).

 

How to get kids to eat more veges:

♥ Add butter. Everything tastes better with butter (am I right??)  Toss some steamed veges with a knob of butter and a good sprinkle of Herbamare. You can also use olive oil. I am also going to say… add bacon, cream and/or cheese.

♥ Add salad dressing. Obviously salad dressing on a salad is delish but I also love it on my steamed veges! Try this recipe. We all know a little raw honey on carrots is a winner too!

♥ Add a tasty sauce. Satay, soy sauce, white sauce, cheese sauce, hollandaise, garlic mayo or roasted tomato sauce. Mmmm!

♥ Wrap them in pastry. Try these Mini Meat Pies.

♥ Dip them. A yummy dip and raw or lightly steamed veges are a winner. Try my Easy Herb and Garlic Dip, hummus, salsa, tzatziki, nut or peanut butter. Alternatively, put the veges in the dip and serve with some good crackers or crusty sourdough bread. Here’s a great round-up of dip recipes.

♥ Crumb them (because everything tastes better crumbed!!). Get an egg and a touch of milk and whisk and then dip in some breadcrumbs or almond meal, fry with some coconut oil or fat and bake in the oven. Zucchini cut into chips, crumbed and oven baked is amazingly yum! Also try it with rounds of eggplant, topped with a tasty tomato sauce and mozzarella.

♥ Cut them smaller. A big hunk of broccoli can seem daunting to a little kid. Small pieces seem much more manageable and tasty. I often cut veges like carrot and zucchini with my mandolin on the larger setting. It also means they cook quicker.

♥ Cut them into different shapes. A carrot stick might be boring but what about a lovely thin carrot ribbon? Would heart shaped roasted potatoes taste better?

♥ Buy the best quality, freshest veges you can find. They taste better and sometimes the ones in the supermarket have lost their flavour!

♥ Put them on a stick. Seriously, who doesn’t love something on a skewer? Dice some veges (zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and red onion work well) and pop them on a soaked bamboo skewer. Throw onto the barbie or under the grill. You can add a tasty sauce or baste with salad dressing before cooking if you like.

♥ Try cooking them differently. My kids hate pumpkin but love pumpkin soup! We can get into a cooking rut sometimes, but mix it up and try a new method. Roast some cauliflower instead of steaming it, stir-fry brussel sprouts with olive oil and bacon, make sweet potato chips instead of mash, make crispy kale chips, steam veges very lightly instead of boiling – you get the drift.

♥ Add them into meals. A stirfry, casserole, macaroni cheese or biriyani all make veges taste better when there are other flavours going on. Cut the veges small.

♥ Try them raw. Lots of kids will happily munch on raw veges but hate cooked! Obvs don’t do that with potato.

Animal Pizza Faces

 

♥ Put them on a pizza. No explanation necessary, because…. pizza!!! Pizza scrolls are also a winner. I love these animal face pizzas by Annabel Karmel.

♥ Puree them. Smart mums know that pureed veges can hide in all sorts of unusual places. What about spinach in pancakes, sweet potato in brownies,  greens in sorbet, avocado in chocolate mousse, cauliflower in cheesecake, anything and everything in pasta sauce and soup!

♥ Get them involved. Helping prepare food gets kids taking ownership of what they eat. You can of course ham it up and tell them how amazing their yummy meal is. Little kids can wash lettuce and tear it into strips, older kids can chop!

♥ Eat your veges when you are pregnant! This pub med study shows that kids can get a taste for veges via the amniotic fluid. Fascinating!

♥ Use the Learning Bowl technique. Nutritionist, Mandy Dos Santos at Little People Nutrition says this is a great introduction to new foods for those kids that may have anxiety or sensory issues.

♥ Start from the source by getting a vege garden happening or just grow some cherry tomatoes in pots. Not only is it a lot of fun, but again, taking ownership of food is important for kids.

♥ Get the kids to select some veges at the farmers’ markets or supermarket. We need five small carrots, can you find a crazy looking potato for your dinner – that sort of thing!

♥ Add grated veges to everything. Muffins or cakes (try my Carrot Cake recipe and this Chocolate Zucchini Loaf), burgers, meatloaf, bolognese, chicken nuggets or a zucchini slice.  Grated veges cook down well into foods. Peeled zucchini is especially easy to hide if your kids are super duper fussy!

♥ Try them powdered. Especially for the extra fussy child who likes to pick out every bit of vegetable, powdered veges work a treat. We love the Take a Broth Tasmania Vegetable Broth Powder. You can stir it into food just before serving or sprinkle it on popcorn or plain rice crackers.

♥ Keep putting the veges on the plate. Experts say it takes up to ten times for kids to be exposed to a new food before they will eat it.

♥ Put them in a smoothy or juice. Green smoothies are all the rage! Add a handful of spinach (which is tasteless in a smoothy) to some coconut water and a few pieces of fruit and blend. Sneak in a little carrot or cucumber into a freshly squeezed juice.

♥ Use some marketing skills. Veges are good for super strong muscles like Superman, this green drink is what Shrek drinks, this makes you grow, this makes you run fast and play. This isn’t broccoli, it’s dinosaur trees!

♥ Don’t forget brekky and snacks. Offer veges throughout the day, not just at dinner. Eggs cooked in capsicum rings and cut up carrot sticks with some peanut butter are yum.

♥ Eat dinner earlier. Most adults I know struggle to eat well when they are tired. Get in early and feed the kids a nice wholefoods dinner with veges before they start getting overtired. Just after school can be the ideal time for dinner.

♥ Make sure they are hungry. I know most kids graze, but I found it helpful to stop snacks at a set time to ensure the kids were hungry for dinner.

♥ Practice what you preach. There is no way kids are going to love vegetables if you are not eating them. Set a good example. If you want to ham it up a bit and exclaim with joy every time you eat veges, you can do that too!

♥ Try new vegetables all the time. Get the kids excited about purple carrots and qukes (mini cucumbers)!

♥ Make vege fritters or hashbrowns. Yum! Try these zucchini hashbrowns or make a smiley face vege fritter.

♥ Make it fun. If you have the time and can be bothered, making some fun things out of veges can work well – presentation is often half of the battle! Check out Pinterest for some cool ideas – not all of them are time consuming and fiddly. I am seriously in love with these Capsicum Frogs!

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♥ Serve vegetables in something different. For toddlers, serve cut up veges in ice cube trays or mini-muffin tins. Older kids might like making a creation with food on one of those special Face Plates.

You can even make the veges the serving container like these cute cucumber dip cups or serve their sandwich in a rolled up lettuce leaf instead of bread.

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♥ Don’t lose your cool. Yeah, I know how frustrating it is when you shop, prepare and cook and those little rugrats turn their nose up!! But, when you lose your cool, you are creating negative feelings and associations around food. Keep it positive and then if they won’t eat, be neutral. Don’t ever force, bribe, negotiate or threaten.

♥ I’ve always enforced the ‘you don’t have to like it, but you do have to try it’ rule. All of us have veges we hate and so will your kids – respect that but do make them at least try it before they decide they don’t like it.

♥ Persevere. Kids go through stages, so keep at it and don’t give up!

My kids are now in their late teens and love eating vegetables – cooking them for meals, making up salads for their lunches and just gnawing on carrots and celery. I think this has a lot to do with their long term familiarity with vegetables. They still hate pumpkin though!!

 

Need more help?

Food Critic Flower Essence Blend. Try this amazing flower essence blend by Megan at The Simplest Remedy. She shares some other great tips too.

Feeding Fussy Kids. Sydney naturopath and nutritionist, Julie Maree Wood shares her expert advice and recipes to get your kids eating nutritiously. I love this book!!

Deceptively Delicious.  Jessica Seinfeld is a master at hiding vegetables in her kids’ favourite recipes.

Check out this blog post listing kids books all about vegetables.

Naturopath Iwa Brown from Magnolia Naturopathy also has some great tips for Feeding Fussy Kids.

 

I would love to hear your tips – do you have something else to add to my list??? Leave us a comment or some links to your favourite vegetable recipes!

 

Filed In: FOOD, HEALTH / Tagged: dinner, eat more vegetables, feeding fussy kids, fussy, fussy eaters, how to eat more veges, how to get your kids to eat more vegetables, kids, veges, vegetables, vegies

10 Cool Nature Crafts for Kids

September 28, 2015 · 5 Comments

10 Cool Nature Crafts for Kids

10 Cool Nature Crafts for Kids

Using items found in nature for craft or creative play is a great idea.

As well as being eco-friendly and sustainable, kids are getting hands on with nature – learning and appreciating our natural wonders. You don’t have to buy plastic stuff that ends up back in landfill – just throw it in the compost.

Here are some fun ideas for kids of all ages!

 

naturalbrushes-008

 Natural Paint Brushes

 

nature-boats

Nature Boats

 

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Dinosaur Play World

 

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Butterfly Finger Puppets

 

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Easy Pine Cone Bird Feeders

 

Echidna-Hedgehog-Grass-Head

Echidna Grass Head

 

nature-crafts

Pinch Pots with Nature Designs

 

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DIY Terrarium Necklace

 

DIY-Seashell-Wind-Chime-Shells-and-Beads-windchime-artsychicksrule-600x839

Seashell Windchime

 

Nature Dream Catcher

 

I hope these 10 Cool Nature Crafts for Kids have inspired you!

Want more?
Check out the Mother Natured blog. Penny has some amazing ideas.

Do your kids love nature and nature play?

 

Filed In: FAMILY, HOME / Tagged: activities, children, craft, creative, diy toys, holidays, kid's activities, kids, natural craft, nature, nature craft, nature play, toddler craft

Princess Pikelets

June 11, 2015 · 67 Comments

Today on the website, I am thrilled to be able to share a healthy pikelets recipe with you from the lovely Amy Crawford, health and wellness practitioner and founder of the online wellness hub The Holistic Ingredient.

 

Princess Pikelets

Vital Stats: gluten free, dairy free, nut free

Makes 40 small pikelets.

You’ll Need:

1 ½ cups buckwheat flour

1 cup tapioca flour

2 tablespoons coconut flour

2/3 cup milk of choice (coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk etc)

3 tablespoons raw honey

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Pinch sea salt

Coconut oil for frying

Method:

In a large mixing bowl whisk the eggs. Sieve the flours into the bowl and add all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, ensuring no lumps in the batter.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat and melt 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Spoon dessertspoons of the mixture into the pan. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbles form. Flip and cook for less than a minute or until golden. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more coconut oil as required.

Eat warm with Jammy Raspberry Goo or store in an airtight container for 5 days.

 

Jammy Raspberry Goo:

You’ll Need

1 ½ cups raspberries, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons chia seeds

3 tablespoons rice malt syrup

Seeds of one vanilla pod

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Use a fork to mash up the raspberries. Cover and place in the fridge for a minimum of one hour or overnight. Store the jam in a sterilised airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. Spread between pikelets.

 

 

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: Amy Crawford, ebook, kid's food, kids, Nourishing Kids, party, pikelet, recipe book

5 Tips for Fussy Eaters

June 8, 2015 · 6 Comments

 

5 tips for fussy eaters

 

5 Tips for Fussy Eaters

I am so excited to have naturopath and mum, Jess Donovan from Energetic Mama here today to share with us her tips for fussy eaters. It’s one thing that makes parents tear their hair out!! These tips will help to fuss proof your kids and broaden their food horizons.

♥♥♥

 

Yuck, I’m not eating that! Sound familiar?

I’m sure all parents have heard this from their children at some point and it can be extremely frustrating when you have spent an hour or two slaving away in the kitchen.

Is it really possible to get your kids to eat the meal you have spent the last hour preparing?

Maybe not today, nor tomorrow but over time it is possible to improve your child’s eating habits over time. Here’s what I recommend.

 

♥ Add nutrition to their favourite foods

A great place to start to broaden your children’s food horizons is to look at what they enjoy to eat and add more nutritious ingredients to it. If your child loves pancakes, how about adding some flaxseed meal to the batter and topping them with antioxidant rich blueberries. If your kids enjoy pasta dishes, add some extra vegetables into the sauce. If they eat cereal for breakfast try sprinkling over some chopped almonds and walnuts. This approach will help them to get used to new tastes and textures while eating food they enjoy.

 

♥ Make dinner a family affair

I know families (mine included) are busy. Parents work late and kids have busy schedules so it is not realistic to think that the whole family can sit down and eat meals together every single day. What I will say though is kids that sit down to family dinners are less fussy and more likely to eat what is put in front of them. All too often kids are getting their dinner plonked down in front of them while they are watching television and mum or dad go off to get the chores done. I recommend at least one parent sitting down with the kids to eat at least one meal a day, it might be breakfast, lunch (if your kids aren’t at school yet) or dinner. The more meals you can sit down with your kids the better but I like to set realistic goals for busy families. Turn off the television and other technology and talk. Meal times are the perfect time to check in with your kids, to find out how there day was and to tell them what you have been up to.

 

♥ Make one dinner for everyone

One of the biggest mistake I see parents make when it comes to feeding their kids is preparing multiple meals to suit everyone in the family. This approach may prevent conflict at the dinner table but long term it narrows a child’s food horizons. You will never broaden a child’s food horizons by asking them what they want for dinner every night. They need to be encouraged to try different foods by being served what the family is eating, perhaps with the exception of a spicy curry!

 

♥ Get them involved

Not giving your children an endless choice in what they have for dinner every night doesn’t mean that kids shouldn’t have a say in what the family is eating. In fact, I encourage parents to get their kids involved in the food journey. If kids have been involved in the creation of a meal, whether it was planting herb seedlings and taking care of them, picking out the vegetables at the market, chopping, mixing, cooking or serving the meal they will be more interested in eating it.

 

♥ A fresh food kitchen

Kids will eat what is available to them, so if the kitchen is stocked with white bread, packets of biscuits, chips, shapes and lollies then that is what they will eat. On the other hand, if there is an array of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other healthy foods on hand their food choices will change. If your kids are used to having lots of convenience foods at their disposal there is likely to be some “there’s nothing to eat” complaints to deal with as you are transition to a healthier kitchen but once they are equipped with some fresh food skills they will be well on their way to a lifetime of healthy habits.

 

Your children happily eating a wide range of healthy foods doesn’t have to be a distant dream but to broaden your child’s food horizons you need to make some changes to the food routines at home. Start slowly, working on one thing at a time and be patient. Good luck, it will pay off in the long run – I promise!

 

 

Jess Donovan

About Jessica:

Jessica Donovan is a mama of 2, naturopath and holistic health expert who helps families thrive. She is passionate about educating parents on nourishing their children with real food, helping to boost their health and heal naturally. Jessica combines her deep naturopathic knowledge with a realistic, empathetic, inspiring and down to earth approach to empower women to look after themselves and take charge of the wellbeing of their families.

 

Want to learn more from Jess? 

♥ Starting at the end of June, Jess is running her very popular Natural Super Kids program again. Registrations open tomorrow and the early bird discounted price goes until the 16th of June.

“As a naturopath I see way too many kids in my clinic who are sick all of the time, have eczema, asthma, allergies, behavioural issues or poor gut health. I help these kids overcome their health challenges with real food, nutrition and natural therapies. I also help the children and their parents understand simple nutrition and the benefits of eating good food.” Jess

Check it out here.

 

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Filed In: FAMILY, HEALTH / Tagged: fussy, fussy eaters, kids, naturopath

The Best Lunchboxes for Kids

January 12, 2015 · 20 Comments

 

The Best Lunchboxes for Kids

It’s nearly back to school time again!

If you need to update your lunchboxes, check out my round up of the best lunchboxes for kids. Depending on the age of your child, your budget and your preferences, there are lunchboxes for everyone!

♥ Planetbox

These lunchboxes are so popular and with good reason! They are the ultimate in waste free, safe lunchboxes. Made from 100% great quality stainless steel, they are able to go in the dishwasher. There are lots of different sizes and options to suit your child’s appetite.

PlanetBox is designed to keep foods from “touching each other.” When you close the PlanetBox the top and the bottom meet so that foods will not co-mingle, even when carried and stored on its side. The seal on the PlanetBox itself is not designed to hold wet, messy foods like yogurt, dips, and applesauce. The Dipper included is the best option to use for foods such as these. They have a silicone rubber seal that engages when placed inside the PlanetBox to create a tight leak-proof seal.

Get Planetbox online here.

♥ Cheeki Leakproof

This is what mums everywhere have been waiting for and wanting. A stainless steel lunchbox that is affordable and leak proof!!

This new one from Cheeki is double layered and has a silicone seal under the lid (which doesn’t touch your food) – genius. There are three variations: double stacked, regular and large so you can find a size that suits you.

Get Cheeki leakproof lunch boxes here.

♥ Lunchbots Quads

These stainless steel lunchboxes from Lunchbots are great for waste free lunches. Made of the highest grade stainless steel, you can get them with or without a protective, colourful cover.  They are easy to clean, easy to open, virtually unbreakable and will not rust or stain. They are not watertight, so best for snacks without a lot of juice!

Get Lunchbots online here.

Yumbox-Original---Pomme-Green-Filled♥ Yumbox

One of the only lunch boxes that is leakproof! The Yumbox has five different 1/2 cup compartments and a little dipper. It has one lid to seal it all up. Yoghurt, dip and sauces will be not leak out!  It has a kid-friendly latch and is designed for toddlers upwards.

Made from food safe materials, it is BPA and phthalate free, dishwasher safe and durable. Yumbox comes in pink, green, purple and blue and they also fit snugly into the the seriously cute So Young lunchbags.

Get Yumbox online here.

♥ Goodbyn

Goodybn lunchboxes come in a range of colours and sizes. They are a great waste-free lunchbox, with separate compartments and one lid. The lunchboxes are made from safe plastic –  #5 PP (polypropylene) – one of the most benign plastics on the market and 100% FDA approved materials . There is no lead, BPA, phthalates or PVC and they are totally 100% recyclable.

It’s a sturdy lunchbox and you can get extra accessories like a leak proof dipper container, ice bricks, stickers and insulated lunch bags.

Shop Goodbyn online here.

 

Have a great back to school! 

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Filed In: HOME / Tagged: back to school, best lunchboxes, ecofriendly lunchbox, Goodbyn, kid's lunchboxes, kids, Lifefactory, lunch, Lunchbot, lunchbox, Planetbox, Tuck a Stacker, Yumbox

Teaching your baby to sign

December 18, 2014 · 3 Comments

teach your baby to sign - OMGG

 

Today’s guest post is from the gorgeously talented and beautiful Allison Davies, music therapist at Oh My Musical Goodness. She has two beautiful kids and signs with them as a way to communicate. It’s really interesting and in this post she will give us some more info and tell us the benefits. You may remember Allison being on the blog before telling us about music therapy.

 ♥ ♥ ♥

 

Teaching your baby to sign.

 

Why would you teach your baby to use sign language?

Are my Children Deaf? No.

Sensory difficulties? No.

Developmental Delays? No.

Language Deficit? No.

Cognitive delays? No.

Can they still benefit from sign language? A big fat YES!!!

I have such enthusiasm for this language and the powerful effect it can have on you, your child and your attachment/relationship. Sign language is one of the most powerful gifts of communication you can offer your child.

I taught my daughter how to sign at around 12 months and now I am teaching my son. Read some more about that here.

 

OK, so what’s so great about it?

AUSLAN (our Australian sign language) allows for both verbal and non-verbal communication, it allows your child to express their needs before they can talk, it helps with physical development and it just gives so much joy!

Generally children develop their gross and fine motor skills before their verbal communication skills and therefore the gift of sign language is a very beautiful, empowering and practical tool for children to have.

And perhaps most importantly, the highly interactive nature of sign assists in strengthening the bond in your relationship. When you sign you face each other, make eye contact, you gesture and are animated – these elements are often eliminated from verbal language as we text, talk on the phone, call out from the next room or chat whilst doing other things – yet these elements are integral to our relationships and we should be embracing them!

 

And just how does giving children an outlet, whereby they are NOT required to verbally speak, encourage speech I hear you ask?

Well, sign stimulates neural development and, as opposed to spoken language, engages both hemispheres and various cerebral lobes, which in turn strengthens their capacity for learning language and communicating verbally. It will reinforce your child’s language skills by giving them visual cues, a tactile experience and greater emphasis on facial affect and body language. In young children a second language is highly recommended by pediatric specialists and sign is a fantastic option for this very reason.

 

 OMGG

 

So how do you start?

When your baby starts to display gross motor coordination they may be ready to start sign. It’s not something you actively TEACH them, it’s something YOU learn – then you do the signs as you speak to them and they just kind of pick it up over time.  And they often pick it up very, very quickly! You may be amazed at how early on in life your baby responds to you with moments of facial recognition because they’ve understood your sign. And these moments usually start happening before they’ve developed the skill of signing back to you. (And are so completely heart warming!!!)

Introduce just a few signs to start off with, stick with half a dozen that are key words you like to use – Thankyou, please, more, finished, stop, bed, hungry, milk etc. are ideal signs to begin with.

Be patient with the process, there’s no rush for your baby to start signing back or for you to learn every word under the sun. Make it fun – learn a couple of nursery rhymes, find some AUSLAN apps to play with, look things up on Youtube, make up some sign games. Take a look at this video I did with my kids:

 

 

Don’t worry too much about whether you or your child’s signing technique is perfect – you aren’t aiming for fluent dialect – just basic communication skills. Most young children and infants will adapt signs to their own little mindsets regardless! That’s all part of the fun of it!

I guess what it comes down to is that, for a very small amount of input, (ie. the use of half a dozen signs in your routine) you can achieve extremely significant outcomes. AND IT’S SO MUCH FUN!

 

Where can I learn some basic AUSLAN?

Well you’re in luck because I am a Registered Music Therapist and through my business, Oh My Musical Goodness, I offer online signing workshops catered especially for you. Face to face on skype over an hour you will learn up to 100 basic signs and a few nursery rhymes. Each session is valued at $70, makes a fabulously unique gift and will leave you feeling very clever indeed as you realize how simple sign can actually be! To find out more about these workshops or for a list of other exciting sessions visit here then go ahead and book your session today!

 

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About Allison:

 

Allison Davies (BMus/BTeachMasMusThy) is a registered music therapist with The Australian Music Therapy Association and owner of ‘Oh My Musical Goodness’. She lives and works with her little family in Tasmania, specialising in the areas of early childhood intervention and mental health. Alli is especially passionate about bringing music and sound based services to those in isolated and remote areas and therefore offers an array of online educational sessions.

 

Find out more about Oh My Musical Goodness on Facebook or on her blog.  Alli can be contacted by email at ohmymusicalgoodness@gmail.com.

 

Special Offer:

In the spirit of the end of one year and the beginning of another Alli would love to treat NNAM readers to 20% of any online session booked in 2014. Your session can be scheduled for next year but make sure you book it this year to claim your discount! Just email to secure your space!

 

 

OMMGBhead6

 

 

 

Filed In: FAMILY / Tagged: babies, baby sign, baby sign language, kids, natural parenting, parenting, sign language

Cool Christmas Crafts with Toilet Rolls!

December 5, 2014 · 5 Comments

Cool Christmas Crafts with Toilet Rolls!

Cool Christmas Crafts with Toilet Rolls!

 

Making your own advent calendars, decorations and bon bons is a great holiday activity to do with the kids.

Using toilet rolls is cheap and eco-friendly and when they look a bit worse for wear, just chuck them in the compost or recycle! I love these ideas.

What Christmas craft do you do? Share with us!

 

creatifulkids-Christmas-tree-kids-crafts-from-toilet-paper-rolls

Make a Christmas Tree

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Make cute owl tree decorations.

Christmas Advent Calendar

An easy advent calendar.

fairy3Christmas Fairy (with free printable)

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Wreath

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Easy Gift Boxes

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Christmas Crackers or Bon Bons

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Tree Decorations.

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Reindeer

 

 

Filed In: FAMILY, HOME / Tagged: Christmas, Christmas craft, holiday, kid's activities, kid's craft, kids, parenting, toilet roll craft, toilet rolls

Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

November 12, 2014 · 79 Comments

Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

Christmas shopping with all the crowds does my head in.

I love supporting local or small businesses. So for Christmas gifts, it’s the markets or online shopping for me. I have done all the hard work for you this year and found my pick of gifts for kids.

Of course, they must be eco-friendly, natural, organic, fair trade, sustainable, educational or healthy.

 

 

lester and darnie
♥ Play Make Up

Don’t kids love experimenting with make up! Lester and Darnie have a safe, non toxic solution for you from Orla and Maeve (Australian made and owned too). Each Play Make Up Pack contains 3 Lip Balms (red, purple & pink) and 3 Eyeshadows (blue, pink & gold). Choose from stars or hearts and reuse the containers when you are done! I am loving the gorgeous recycled gift box it comes with too. Get it online from beautiful eco store, Lester and Darnie!

 

sand55sm♥ Kinetic Sand

How cool is this stuff!!  Sand…Inside…The…House! If the first thought that went through your head was NO!! Then think again with the amazing Kinetic Sand which is 98% sand and 2% magic. So bring the sand inside to allow your little one a sensory activity that also develops fine motor skills and creative play.  Totally non-toxic and safe for little ones and most importantly, fun! Get it online from Finlee and Me.

 

 

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♥  Drink Bottle and Lunch Bag 

Safe drink bottles and lunch bags are so important as our kid’s food is directly in contact on a daily basis. My Green Lunchbox has it all sorted for you. This stainless steel drink bottle contains no BPA and keeps drinks cooler and much safer than plastic. There are loads of designs to choose from. The So Young lunchbox has a waterproof insulated interior that is easy to keep clean. There is no BPA, PVC or phalates. The outside is a laminated linen in funky retro design.

 


Planet Eco Herb Patch Kit

♥  Herb Patch Kit 

Perfect for getting the kids excited about gardening and growing their own real food! The Herb Patch Kit from Planet Eco is made for children aged 3-12 yrs old. It contains 5 x seed packs (basil, chives, coriander, dill and parsley), 5 x bamboo plant tags, 18 x biodegradable pots and a picture based grow guide.  The Bottle Top Waterer attaches to most plastic bottles and provides a gentle stream of water when squeezed – no more drowned seeds and seedlings! Easy for small hands to hold and so much fun. You can get them online from beautiful eco warrior mumma, Anna!

 

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♥ Kids in the Kitchen 

The beautiful Kristin Cosgrove from Mamacino has just released her brand new cookbook, Kids in the Kitchen. Get the kids cooking real, whole foods and having fun! There are over 15 recipes, all beautifully photographed and most are gluten and dairy free.  Get it straight from Kristin online, with free postage!

 

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♥ Green Toys Submarine

I am so digging these toys from Sustainababy! The Green Toys range is made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs. There is no BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings and it meets the FDA food contact standards.  Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks too. The submarine makes a great bath toy or water play fun. Get it online from Laura at Sustainababy – the fabulous baby and kids ecostore!

 

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♥ Organic Cotton T-Shirts

You know what they say – something they need, something they want, something to read and something to wear! Well, these cute t-shirts take care of something to wear! In a range of cute animal prints (personally loving the penguin) they are 100% certified organic cotton. Get them from Belinda at Earth Me via her Facebook page. Great price too!

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 ♥ Kauri Jewellery Tree

One for the teenagers or older kids. Designed and made in New Zealand from Kauri timber, the tree comes flat pack, so it’s great to send. I love the little bird and butterfly details. Actually, I want one for myself! Get them online at Biome Eco stores.

 

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♥ Zoku Slush and Shake Maker

Gently encourage the kids into a much healthier way to have their fun drinks. No more frozen coke!! You store the  BPA free inner core in the freezer and it’s ready to make iced shakes or slushies in 7 minutes! Let the kids get inventive and make up new flavours. A fun idea for parties and it’s eco-friendly too – no more takeaway containers. Get it online here.

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♥ USB Salt Lamp

Another cool idea for teenagers! This  beautiful USB Himalayan salt lamp plugs straight into their computer! As well as a funky four colour light, the salt lamp counteracts the stream of positive ions being emitted from the computer. It will help purify the air in their room while they are studying or playing games! Get it online from Shop Naturally.

 

Don’t forget the eco cards and wrap!

Where to shop:

These are some more great online stores to check out that have ec0-friendly, upcycled or natural gifts.

Biome Eco Stores for all things good for the planet

Shop Naturally for a huge range of all things natural and healthy

Yardgames for outdoor and educational toys

 

 

 

{parts of this post are sponsored and contain affiliate links}

Filed In: FAMILY, HOME / Tagged: Australian, Christmas, Christmas gifts, eco friendly, gifts, kid's gifts, kids, online store

10 Healthy Muesli Bar Recipes

September 15, 2014 · 14 Comments

10 Healthy Muesli Bar Recipes

Muesli bars are such a great way to get a load of nutrients into your body that is also totally delicious!

Beware of commercially produced muesli bars – they have a whole lot of sugar and artificial additives going on there! It’s actually pretty quick and easy to make your own – just mix and bake (or not). We often bake double batches and freeze in portions to make it easy to pull one out for the lunchboxes or for a quicky brekky on the run.

I hope you love these 10 Healthy Muesli Bar recipes from my favourite Aussie wellness bloggers.

Muesli Bars

Grain Free, Nut Free Muesli Bars

Berry Bubble Protein Bars

Berry Bubble Protein Bars

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Homemade and Healthified Be Natural Bars

Easy Muesli Bars

Homemade Muesli Bars - Wholefood Mama

 Homemade Muesli Bars

No Bake Muesli Bars

Nourishing Hub - Raw Superfood SliceRaw Superfood Seed Bars

Double Chocolate Crunch Bars from My Whole Food Romance

Double Chocolate Crunch Bars 

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Lindy’s Superfood Muesli Slice

My Darling Lemon Thyme Muesli Bars

Spiced Orange, Apricot and Quinoa Muesli Bars

WANT MORE?

Try my Blueberry Breakfast Slice, Apricot Coconut Slice and

30 Super Healthy Lunchbox Snacks and 20 Nut Free Lunchbox Snacks

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: breakfast bar, cereal, granola, granola bars, healthy snack, kids, lunchbox, muesli, muesli bar, muesli bars, snacks

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