Customized Baby Gifts to Surprise New Moms

Posted on | by KD Novelties

A woman’s first Mother’s Day is the biggest personal milestone of the first year of being ‘mom.’ While flowers and brunch are the traditional way most moms celebrate their day of appreciation, think outside the box by giving a gift that makes that first Mother’s Day personal and much more memorable.

Tailor the gift to her personality. Some women love cute mugs with baby’s handprints or photo. Others want more extravagant presents with a personalized touch like birthstone jewelry that commemorates the baby’s birth month.

No matter what gift you select, make sure it’s well thought out—no last minute rushed trips to stores. Plan ahead and create the perfect inaugural Mother’s Day. Looking for a few unique gift ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Baby Books

Every baby might have a baby book commemorating the first year and beyond. But a personalized baby book tells the baby’s first year in story form. The books includes pages devoted to the birth, homecoming, gifts from friends and relatives and all the classic baby book features including dental records, immunization details and a family tree. However, each page features baby’s name as a personal touch. The baby book commemorates the entire first year of baby.

Story Books

Personalized story books also make cute gifts for new moms to read aloud to their little ones. Featuring favorite Disney favorites including Pocahontas and Aladdin, popular friends like Dora, Elmo and Bert & Ernie, and even beloved classic characters like the Flintstones and Bugs Bunny, all books incorporate baby into the story.  Reading begins at any age, and these sweet stories make wonderful bedtime stories.

Cookie Bouquets

Sure flowers are the tradition—especially carnations. But edible is best! For really sweet blooms, order her a cookie bouquet designed in an array of frosted flowers! You also can create your own cookie designs.

Music

Teach baby about rhythm and beat with a personalized music CD. Baby’s name is included throughout the songs for a fun sing-a-long that both mommy and baby will adore.  Choose nursery rhymes, lullabies or music from Disney favorites or Sesame Street. Motivational and religious CDs also are available.

Baby Videos & Personalized Animated DVDs

Compile a ‘Baby’s Greatest Hits’ DVD that includes the silliest, cutest and most memorable moments of baby’s first year. Most parents have the first roll, first steps, and other firsts (including holidays) caught on video. Set the DVD to her favorite songs for a creative gift that she will watch over and over again. Not sure how to compile a DVD? You can also order movies that animate baby into favorite cartoons like the Care Bears.

Spa Day

The first year of momming is one of the hardest. Long nights turn into early mornings. Sleep deprivation zaps energy, and many moms run on love…and caffeine. Give her the ultimate break with a gift certificate to a spa for a day of pampering. Give her the gift of relaxation to help her unwind for a day of stress free luxury.

Book Club

For a major nod to Mother’s Day, enroll baby in the Book Club Membership. Each month, mom and baby will receive one personalized book with baby as one of the main characters in the stories. The Book Club is offered in two membership levels: 6-month membership (that includes six books) or the 12-month membership. The 12-month membership also includes a personalized birthday book on the child’s birthday month. A Book Club membership ensures that baby will have many stories and adventures with beloved characters that they can re-visit and enjoy over and over again.

Guarantee a memorable first Mother’s Day by celebrating her day with a gift that offers a personalized touch. While framed photos, flowers and brunch nod to tradition, thinking outside the bouquet of flowers is always appreciated. And if you really want to win Mother’s Day, give her gifts that guarantee some much-needed relaxation…and maybe a nap!

Tips for Raising a Child with ADD/ADHD

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not that uncommon, though learning that your child has such a learning disability can be difficult – and raising a child with ADD or ADHD can be a challenge as well. From the moment you learn that your child has a learning disorder, it is important that you understand their condition as much as you can. Not only can it help you understand them more fully, but also it can allow you to see how they think and it can provide you with more insight regarding how you raise them.

It’s Not a Character Issue

The first thing that parents need to understand is that a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD is not necessarily a bad thing. These conditions generally refer to a pattern of behavior that will have an effect on how your child interacts with the world around them, especially since many social atmospheres call for very specific modes of behavior – like school. Kids with ADD and ADHD tend to be more active, fidgety, and are unable to sit still for long. Their thoughts may move quicker than their attention spans, or even their mouths, making holding conversations with them rather demanding and fast-paced. These characteristics may make sitting in school all day hard, and it may have an effect on your child’s grades or overall academic performance, but that does not mean that your child is not smart. Because kids with ADD or ADHD do not operate as well as others when in stricter environments, it helps to understand how their minds work and how you can help adapt your thinking and modes of understanding to get on their level and keep up with their active brains.

Don’t Let it Be an Excuse

It’s still important for parents to monitor their child’s behavior and to understand their intentions. ADD and ADHD can make things like reading or completing homework a challenge, but that should not stop you or them from attempting them.

When it comes to reading, writing, and other assignments that kids may need to complete for school, you can find ways to adapt the task to your child’s needs. It’s important that you, and your child, understand that ADD or ADHD can make these things challenging, but not impossible. Instead of saying or thinking, “I can’t do homework because I have ADD/ADHD” your child should realize that “Homework is challenging because I have ADD/ADHD” and there are ways to overcome these obstacles in a way that suits your child’s needs and preferences.

Play it Cool

For parents with children who have learning disabilities or behavioral disorders, it is important to practice patience. If you find your child having difficulties understanding or remembering rules, or forgetting to do chores and requiring constant reminders, think about keeping both verbal and written reminders around. Because kids with ADD/ADHD have trouble thinking in the long-term, you may need to try new methods of keeping them organized before you get upset with them for not cleaning their room or remembering to do the dishes. It could be a manner of accidental forgetting, and they may simply require additional reminders and tips to help incentivize them.

Emphasize their Strengths

Kids with learning or behavioral disorders may have problems with their self-esteem because of their inability to perform in particular academic areas, in specific situations, or other circumstances, but that does not mean your child cannot excel. Find subjects, hobbies, and other talents that your child is good at and find positive characteristics that can help them remain motivated. Kids with ADD or ADHD may have trouble concentrating in class, but they may excel in other fast-paced activities.

Don’t Overprotect Them

Just because your child has a disorder or disability does not mean that they cannot do certain things or that they should be sheltered. Every kid is unique, whether they have ADD/ADHD or not. Find what works for your child, what they respond positively to and what they like. Adjusting to your child’s needs does not require limiting them, just understanding what might work better for them or what may help them more.

Easy Chores Kids Can Actually Help With

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Parents and guardians have a great deal of responsibility, and on top of caring for children; there are plenty of chores involved, too. That doesn’t even include providing for the family, supplying food and other necessities, running errands, and countless other things. Kids should focus on growing, developing and learning, but actually having kids pitch in with the chores and cleaning can be helpful! Kids should not be forced to do labor, especially nothing that is unsafe or unreasonable for them to do, but giving children a household responsibility helps them develop that skill, as they get older. It can also help teach lessons in patience, gratitude, and discipline. Here are some chores that you can assign your kids from time to time, or have them help you with.

Vacuum

Kids shouldn’t handle any heavy, large vacuums, but slimmer appliances can actually prove to be fun! They make toy vacuums for a reason, right? Giving kids a light task like vacuuming the kitchen or the bathrooms provides them with some activity yet is still small-scale enough that they can handle it. Knowing that they have a small hand in the household chores can help them feel more important as well as responsible without feeling overwhelmed.

Sorting the Recycling

Going through bottles, cans and plastics can actually be turned into a fun game if you’re creative enough! Focusing on recycling is good for any household, and it can help provide a lesson for kids about being environmentally conscious. By giving them a hands-on role in the recycling, they can develop a better understanding of the impact they have on the earth, and what can be done to prevent pollution and other damages that trash or certain materials can do to nature over time.

Help with Laundry

Laundry is a pretty stress-free task, though time consuming. That’s what makes it a great group activity. Whether you have your child assist you with folding and sorting or you disperse the tasks among several kids, laundry can be done in so many ways that no matter who helps, the whole process goes faster. Kids will also appreciate more and realize the time parents take to wash, fold and sort laundry. Plus, laundry usually allows for some multitasking, too. You can fold laundry and watch a movie or a show at the same time. That way you get to spend some quality time together while still being productive.

Two brothers helping father to wash and dry dishes in kitchen

Doing the Dishes

This is a classic, but it works! It’s a great idea to have kids help out with the cooking prep if you can, especially since kids are more likely to try new foods (even veggies!) if they had a hand in making it, but helping with the dishes is a great chore to task them with, too. Having kids do the dishes can also help them be more mindful of the appliances they use, and it may inspire a desire to wash dishes as soon as they’re done being used. Even if you have a dishwasher, tasking kids with filling and emptying the dishwasher can help with organizational skills.

Dusting

An easy chore, but still necessary! Dusting is an essential skill, even if it’s not at all challenging. The problem is remembering to dust. Dust buildup can cause a number of different things, but allergies especially. It’s something quick and easy that kids can accomplish, but also helpful. Plus, your kids may be able to get into those hard to reach places you can’t quite get to!

Refilling Supplies

This task is another good observational and organizational skill-builder. Ask kids to refill soap bottles, resupply toilet paper and paper towels, and take inventory of other such essential goods.

Having kids help around the house can be beneficial to the both of you. Not only is it important for kids to develop a healthy sense of responsibility, but helping out with the chores can help them develop a better understanding and appreciation for what you do for them all the time as well.