Archive for category Parenting

What Makes a Great Kids Toy?

Posted by admin on Thursday, 14 July, 2011

Some toys, like building blocks and baby dolls have truly passed the test of time. Generation after generation of children have played with and loved these simple toys. But what is it about the classic children’s toys that make them so enduring?

Simplicity is the key element to great children’s toys. All the classics start with a simple idea that’s fuelled by imagination. Whether a little girl is holding a Barbie Doll or a Kathe Kruse doll, the fuel for play is found in the child’s brain, not a microprocessor.

The same holds true for one of the most basic toys created, the building block. Boys and girls alike find the process of making, and destroying, fantasy castles to be incredibly engaging. And while parents have a lot of options when it comes to building toys, Legos, Kapla blocks and Erector sets, the concept is basically the same: take the picture in your mind and make it come to life.

Video games and computers are lots of fun, but they set children out on a very distinct pathway that’s controlled by a machine, not the child. Classic toys like the kind made by Kathe Kruse may be a little harder to find, but their simple elegance makes them a great choice for stimulating play time.

Getting Pregnant

Posted by admin on Monday, 30 May, 2011

fertility is complicated and if you are trying to get pregnant it can be frustrating. If you are thinking about having a baby there are a few things you can do to increase your odds of success. Here are a few tips to help you speed up the process.

ovulation – The first thing you need to do is determine when you are ovulating. You can use an ovulation calculator to get a general idea of when you will be most fertile and during this time use ovulation sticks. These sticks work like a pregnancy test, you simply pee on them and they will tell you if you are ovulating.

Prenatal Vitamins – You should be taking prenatal vitamins that contain foliate as soon as you want to start trying. You can buy these vitamins at any drug store or big box retailers like Target or Wal-Mart.

Schedule – It may sound simple but in order to create a baby you need to have sex on a regular basis. Keep your schedules clear and be ready to have sex on the days you are ovulating. Stress can affect fertility so avoid stressful situations during your ovulation period.

Conceiving can take some time so don’t worry if it happens right away. If you follow these tips hopefully you will soon be in your first trimester pregnancy.