Choosing Toys for Your Infants Monday, Sep 24 2007 

Babies and Childcare and Children and Toys nannylauren 11:00 pm

Here is a guide that I wrote for one of my education courses, maybe some new parents out there will find this helpful or interesting?  I will probably post another with more infant toys… maybe later this week!  Anyways, I hope this is helpful:

Considering the Cognitive Development of Your Infant

            While many well-meaning friends may tell you that for the first few months of his life, your infant is unable to interact with the world around him, so you needn’t waste your money on infant toys, recent research disproves that thinking.  Providing proper loving care is the most important aspect of parenthood during the early months, however stimulating your baby’s ever-changing and growing mind is also of principal significance.

Newborn babies are familiar with voices they heard before birth, display signs of imitative behavior between 7-10 days after birth, and can see at birth, especially contrasting colors like black and white.  Within three months of birth, an infant can recognize his mother’s voice, distinguish between voices and other sounds, and follow a moving object across the room.

According to Jean Piaget, a Swiss philosopher and developmental psychologist, an infant up to two years old is in the sensorimotor stage of development.  This means that infants within this age range learn about the world through their five senses.  They are learning to coordinate sights and sounds, smells and tastes.  Such is the reason objects tend to go directly from an infants hand into his mouth.

While infants cannot operate the way young children over the age of two years do, they are learning and absorbing information every second through their many daily experiences.  This is why choosing an appropriate infant toy is an important task for parents.

 

Developmentally Appropriate Toys for Infants

            When choosing toys for your infant, you must take into consideration the safety of the toy and the developmental appropriateness of the toy.  There are many different types of infant toys.  The best ones have bright or contrasting colors, are soft to avoid injury, and are large enough to eliminate any choking hazards. 

During the first year, toys that stimulate the senses are best, especially those that combine senses, such as toys that make a crinkling sound when they are touched.  Toys such as these enhance cognitive development, motor skills, and active play.  Floor gyms, plastic mirrors, rattles, and soft animals, dolls, blocks, or balls make the best infant toys.

The Evenflo Exersaucer is an excellent choice for infants ages 4 months and older. The Exersaucer develops gross motor skills in babies.  Leg muscles will be developed and strengthened to prepare for crawling.  The Exersaucer also has a variety of engaging activities attached to the tray within reach of baby.  These include mirrors, rattles, and squeaky toys.  While many of the toys attached to the tray are not soft, they are attached to the tray to prevent injury.  This is also an easy toy to sanitize as the pieces on top are made of soft plastic and are removable.

The Tiny Love Gymini is another wonderful choice for infants.  The soft padded mat is perfect for baby to develop gross motor and cognitive skills.  The toys attached to the top are soft and reachable.  There is also a mirror for engaged play.  The mat itself is brightly-colored and soft, with three dimensional animals and plants that make squeaking and crinkling noises.  The Gymini is an excellent way for infants to be stimulated and engage in active playtime.

 

Developmentally Inappropriate Toys for Infants

            While many toys marketed for infants are first-rate when it comes to development, there are a few exceptions.  Among them are the Baby Einstein DVDs.  While music and colors are very stimulating to infants, the best way for them to be stimulated is by providing them with engaging and experiential play.  The television does not substitute active playtime.  While these DVDs are marketed as products that encourage your infant’s cognitive development, they are inappropriate toys for infants and should not be used for children under the age of two years.

 

Cooking with Kids (Without Losing Your Mind!) Thursday, Sep 20 2007 

Childcare and Children and Food and life nannylauren 2:51 pm

Cook with your kids! Let them get into the kitchen, make a mess, and make dinner… I know, it sounds so frustrating and messy, but the benefits are far more reaching than your messy kitchen… and with the proper supervision, it can be done without much stress. It just takes a little patience and a little time! Trust me, it’s actually fun!

BENEFITS:

  • Develops fine motor skills (stirring, mixing, adding ingredients. This is especially true with baking)
  • Develops cultural awareness in children/preschoolers (try exotic dishes– Mexican food is a good way to start. Think chips and salsa or guacamole!)
  • Develops cognitive thinking skills (measuring, the reaction of mixing and baking, for older children fractions and amounts, for younger children size and color)
  • Develops inter-generational relationships (share grandma’s cookie recipe, talk about what it was like to cook with your mom, talk about the differences between cooking now and cooking then. These verbal connections are so important in children of all ages. Take the time to connect with them!)
  • Develops self-confidence (When you cook with your child, he feels important, special, and loved. As he learns the skills involved in cooking, his self-esteem will soar. Think Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages– for children, Industry vs. Inferiority)

This list could really go on for days– there are so many developmental reasons to cook with your kids, but I think I’ve made my point pretty clear. Now, how on earth do you go about cooking with your kids without going completely crazy? These are my personal, kid-tested techniques for cooking in the classroom or at home with your kids. Feel free to experiment with them, some things will work with your children and some will not! This is by no means the end all to cooking with children, rather it’s just a starting point!

IDEAS:

  • Be sure to let your children do the cooking!!! The temptation is to take over when a task becomes too difficult, DON’T! Think about your child’s zone of proximal development… when you help him, he can do so much more than he can on his own. When the cookie dough is lumpy, verbalize to your child how to mix the lumps in better, explaining that it makes the cookies taste much better. If he still has trouble understanding, stand behind him, your hands on his, showing him how to mix the batter with a strong hand and swift motions. In younger children, this also increases their vocabulary.
  • To avoid the crazy mess in the kitchen, supervise closely!!! Stay in the kitchen, talking to your children and showing them new things. Introduce them to new tools and ingredients. Yes, this takes a lot of time and patience… Yes, the kitchen will still be a mess. However, there will not be spaghetti stuck to the ceiling. Use the mess to explain that clean-up is an important aspect of cooking.
  • Make or purchase an apron for your child. This goes back to developing self-confidence. Putting on a “uniform” instills a certain amount of pride in a child. Allow him this pleasure, it makes the whole experience more exciting when he feels like a “real cook”
  • Cracking eggs is not easy. To teach young children this skill, let them crack the eggs into a separate bowl. This way, he can remove any pieces of shell from the bowl before adding the eggs to the other ingredients.
  • Use a cookbook with illustrations. This will help your child develop cognitive thinking skills by learning to follow sequential instructions.  I like the Good Housekeeping Illustrated Children’s Cookbook.

I hope this proves to be helpful… at some point I will post recipes that I’ve tested out on kids. Until then… I’m sure all of you resourceful readers out there can find some on your own! :)   Have fun, enjoy your children, and enjoy your dinner!

 

Maple Street Bookshops Monday, Sep 17 2007 

Books and Children and Culture and New Orleans nannylauren 12:03 am

Maple Street… one of my favorite places in the world! Nothing too fancy, just a street in uptown New Orleans cluttered with coffee shops, cafes, boutiques, and best of all: the Maple Street Bookshops. These two bookstores (The Maple Street Bookshop & The Maple Street Children’s Bookshop) have been around since 1965. They are, without a doubt, the best place to find children’s books with a New Orleans or cajun theme.

Opened in 1965 by sisters Mary Kellogg and Rhonda Norman, the Maple Street Bookshop boasted of “five rooms full of paperbacks”… something New Orleans was lacking in that time.

Next door to the original Maple Street Bookshop sits a cheery pink cottage with a swing out front. Inside is the Maple Street Children’s Bookshop, a house full of books for children and babies as well as teachers and parents. Each Saturday storytime draws many locals and visitors to the store.

One of the best things about the Maple Street Bookshops (aside from the quirky, homey feel) is the wonderful staff. They really will treat you like a member of the family. They will special order anything… provided it actually exists! Maple Street Bookshop is located at 7523 Maple Street. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and visit the Maple Street Bookshop for a wonderful experience. While you’re there, be sure to ask WHY the door handle is in the middle!

 

Putumayo Kids Thursday, Sep 13 2007 

Childcare and Children and Culture nannylauren 3:19 pm

Many of you may have already heard of Putumayo World Music. This record label, birthed in 1993, is well-known for its upbeat sounds and rhythmic collections of international music. Putumayo is easily recognized by the folk-y artwork displayed on their albums (artwork by Nicola Heindl.) Although you can find Putumayo music in record stores, you are much more likely to find it in one of the 3,000 specialty stores, coffee shops, book stores, and gift shops that carry their albums. Among these is Whole Foods Market.

In 2002, Putumayo World Music launched a division called Putumayo Kids. This was created to expose children to world music through fun, funky, exotic beats. Since the release of the World Playground CD, Putumayo Kids has become one of the leading children’s record labels. The Playground series has won numerous awards for their children’s CDs and multicultural activity kits. Among their many children’s CDs, my personal favorites include Dreamland (a lullaby collection), New Orleans Playground (obviously near and dear to my heart), African Playground, and Folk Playground (a collection of American folk songs mixing traditional sounds and lyrics with contemporary artists and beats).

Not only is this music wonderful because it encourages diversity and cultural-awareness in children, its truly fun and “dance-able” Your children will beg to hear it in the car, at home, at a friends… wherever! The best part, though, has to be the fact that while it’s fun for kids, it’s fun for adults, too!

Putumayo does an excellent job of mixing traditional with contemporary. The music is inspiring, fresh, and upbeat… “guaranteed to make you feel good” as the company’s motto says! Be sure to check out Putumayo World Music soon! Feel free to click on any of the links for more information… especially on the CD titles for a sample of the album’s WONDERFUL music!

 

(Even More) Places to Take Kids in New Orleans Wednesday, Sep 12 2007 

Children and New Orleans nannylauren 2:03 pm

Wow… this has turned into a three-part post!  I guess I had more ideas than I thought I did!  Alright, we’ll do a quick recap of all the wonderful places to take your kids in New Orleans, then I’ll continue with #9 on the list of places to visit!  I hope this proves helpful to yall as you plan a trip to New Orleans, or even as you move to the city!

  1. Audubon Zoo
  2. Storyland at City Park
  3. Cafe Luna
  4. Swamp Boat Tour
  5. Aquarium of the Americas
  6. Mule-Drawn Carriage Ride
  7. Cafe du Monde
  8. Steamboat/Riverboat Cruise
  9. Mardi Gras World- Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World is a year-round display of larger-than-life mardi gras props.  Located at 223 Newton Street, this west-bank studio is 75,000 square feet!  If you won’t be in town during carnival season, be sure to stop by here!  Children will love having their picture taken with giant Fred Flinstone or the Bacchasaurus!  Mardi Gras World offers tours between 9:30am and 4:30pm, and no reservations are necessary for groups under 10!  Each tour includes king cake and coffee, so be sure to visit this fun attraction wile in New Orleans!
  10. Audubon Park- a large park located in uptown New Orleans, right across the street from the Audubon Zoo.  Audubon park is a great place to walk, ride bikes, or push baby in a stroller.  Filled with beautiful live oaks, fountains, and playgrounds, it’s a very fun place to spend a relaxing afternoon.  I recommend packing a picnic lunch and a fun art project, finding a spot under a nice shade tree, and relaxing for the day!  Audubon Park is located at 65oo St. Charles Ave.
  11. Streetcar Ride- Although the St. Charles streetcar is not yet running (it should be within the next few months), the Canal streetcar (which runs through the french quarter) is running!  $1.25 takes you one way, children 2 & under are free. A fun, classic, and cheap way to show your kids the city!
  12. Louisiana Children’s Museum-  More fun than I can even describe… 30,000+ square feet of hands-on, engaging activities!  Located at 420 Julia Street, make sure to pay a visit to the Louisiana Children’s Museum and learn all about agriculture, industry, and culture in the  state of Louisiana!  Admission is $7.00 per person, and the first Sunday of every month is Starbucks Free Sunday… everyone gets in free thanks to The Starbucks Foundation!  Hours of operation are 9:30am-4:30pm Tuesday-Saturday and Noon-4:30pm on Sundays… be sure to come by and enjoy!

Well… I think that about wraps up my list of wonderful, kid-friendly places!

 

(More) Places to Take Children in New Orleans Tuesday, Sep 11 2007 

Children and New Orleans nannylauren 3:36 pm

I ran out of time yesterday when posting, so I’ve decided to continue posting on the top places to take children in New Orleans… if you are a local, be sure to check all of these out– they are some of the GREAT places that I grew up visiting and that I visit now with children of all ages!

The first four have detailed descriptions in yesterday’s post… but #5 on is all the new stuff! :)

  1. Audubon Zoo
  2. Storyland at City Park
  3. Cafe Luna
  4.  Swamp Boat Tour
  5. Aquarium of the Americas- A definite Must-See!  Tons of exhibits including an aquatic tunnel filled with fish, sting-rays, and sharks of the Caribbean Reef!  Adventure Island is a NEW play-zone featuring lots of exhibits to climb on, in, under, and over!  The best part of Adventure Island is definitely the sting-ray pool, designed to let visitors get up close and personal with sting rays by touching and feeding them!  The sea otters exhibit will also be a big hit with children!  The Aquarium of the Americas is located in the Historic French Quarter, so make a day of it by taking a ride on the John James Audubon river boat or the Canal Street streetcar, walking a few blocks to Cafe du Monde for beginets, or just walking through the Quarter!
  6. Mule-Drawn Carriage Ride- A great way to experience the French Quarter for the first time!  Royal Carriages was started in 1941 and is still a family-owned business.  Your carriage will pick you up at Jackson Square on Decatur Street in the French Quarter and will take you for a half-hour tour of the Quater for $50.00.  Children will enjoy the wonderful sights, sounds, and SMELLS of the French Quarter!  It’s unlike anything they see on a regular basis!
  7. Cafe du Monde- This historic French Quarter location will always be near and dear to my heart.  I can remember visiting as a child with my parents and enjoying the powdered sugar covered treats!  I can also remember blowing powdered sugar all over my sister– oh wait, I still do that! :)   Makes a great cheap dessert or breakfast, with all of the French Quarter charm.  Located at 800 Decatur Street, it’s right next to Jackson Square.  If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a local musician or band playing jazz music right in the street!
  8. Steamboat/Riverboat Cruise- This New Orleans steamboat company offers two riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River.  The Natchez offers dinner cruises and harbor cruises, the latter being more fun and less sit-down for children.  The John James Audubon offers a seven mile river cruise between the Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium of the Americas!  Make a day of it and start at the Zoo, cruise to the Aquarium, and take the streetcar back!

Well, that’s all for now… I’ll continue to add more as I have time!

 

Top Things to do with Kids in New Orleans Tuesday, Sep 11 2007 

Children and New Orleans nannylauren 1:03 am

Well… I thought I’d make a list of the best, most child-friendly places in New Orleans.  If you’re new to the city, visiting, or even a seasoned local, be sure to visit these wonderful places with your children!  These are spots that I have loved as a child and even now, enjoy as a nanny!

  1. Audubon Zoo- I know, I know… It’s such a typical attraction, but really, the Audubon Zoo is a GREAT zoo with a wonderful calendar of events year-round!  Coming up in October, one of my personal favorites, Boo at the Zoo.  Seriously… you can’t ask for better good-clean-family-fun than this one!  If you’re in town… Check it out!!
  2. Storyland at City Park- This is such a fun place, especially for children who know all the classic fairytales!  Storyland is a charming fairytale playground featuring 20+ large fairytale sculptures, it is currently only open on the weekends. Storyland is located at Victory Ave., New Orleans, La 70112.
  3. Cafe Luna- Cafe Luna is a wonderful uptown coffee house/cheap eats place with a kids cafe, free wi-fi, lending library, and large front porch.  Cafe Luna accepts credit cards (whoo hoo!), and is a wonderful place to just relax!
  4. Swamp Boat Tour- a 2-hour paddleboat ride through southern Louisiana swamplands.  A Louisiana local guide drives the boat and gives the tour. A great way to show children the natural wonders of Louisiana, and a personal favorite pastime.  Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours also offers transportation to/from local hotels.  See website for more information on pickups, prices, and other information!

Alright… more to come!

 

Something New Friday, Sep 7 2007 

Food and New Orleans nannylauren 1:44 pm

So, at work yesterday, I took the baby for a walk. We walked the block from Camp St. to Magazine St., and then walked Magazine from Napoleon all the way to Jefferson… it was quite a hike, but it went fairly quickly.

While we were out, we stopped at the New York Bagel Company (I’m not sure whether or not this is a chain, or if it’s just local, but it had a very local feel to it) and I got an Italian Cream Soda… YUM! I had never had one of these before. Of course, I’ve heard of them. It just seems like every time I go to a coffee shop, I actually want coffee. But yesterday, it was just so hot, I couldn’t get coffee. I had a caramel flavor, and it was SO delicious! So, you should all go to The New York Bagel Company and try a Caramel Italian Cream Soda (or whichever flavor strikes your fancy!)

New York Bagel Company
3923 Magazine Street

 

Hello, World! Thursday, Sep 6 2007 

Childcare and New Orleans and Work nannylauren 1:43 pm

Well, here I am… my first real blog.  I thought it was quite appropriate since this is also my first week of my new job as a nanny.  I’ve never been a nanny before, and I’m not sure what it is about the job that seems so wonderful to me.  I think it’s just that I’ve romanticized it a bit… In any event, I seem to like it so far!

My first day was Tuesday, and it went very well… the poor little man (who is 2 m/o) screamed and cried for 15 minutes before I could get him down for a nap, but that was the worst part of the day.  Other than that, he was a dream!  They live uptown, just a block off Magazine Street, so we went  for a long walk down Magazine.  I think he enjoyed it just as much as I did!   Next week, we will have an adventure to Audubon Park (which is like a block away) and to the French Quarter, which will require driving, but will probably induce sleep on these babies!