We’ve all heard the statement, “The days may be long, but the years are short.” No one knows the realities of long days like the stay-at-home parent of a baby or toddler. The rhythm of your days and weeks can easily become monotonous, if you let it. But that’s a big “if.” While incorporating high points with down times, you’ll be able to create some sanity in the midst of the daily routine, allowing you to enjoy the beauty and freedom that these special years offer.Start Early with RoutinesWheth …
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Did you know that soft modeling dough can be more than simply a fun way to make the best of indoor time? We touched on some of the benefits of modeling dough in Part 1 and Part 2. But this time we’ll explore three of the main kinds of benefits in a little more detail.Strengthen Hand MusclesEspecially for the preschool set, strengthening those hand muscles is necessary for learning how to write. While coloring is one way to encourage this, boys particularly may shy away from any kind of writing, …
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Soft modeling dough is a great calming, sensory activity that is perfect for those afternoons or evenings when you’re stuck indoors and need some kind of sensory outlet. Are your kids the kind that just sit there, when you tell them to play? Perhaps they need a bit more specific of an invitation — or even a challenge. If you haven’t made your own soft modeling dough before, start here; otherwise, keep reading. Don’t assume DIY modeling dough in general has lost its appeal among your kids; they m …
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As the temps get lower and the days get shorter, kids need more indoor sensory activities. One of the options you probably remember from your own childhood can take on a new shape for your own kids. First we need to think outside the package: Making your own soft modeling dough can be just as much fun as playing with it! And you don’t have to have a lot of ingredients or even a lot of cooking skills. In fact, making nontoxic "dough" for kids to mold and play with is easier than making homemade c …
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The #1 Dictionary.com definition for futon is a bit passe’: “a thin mattress, usually filled with layers of cotton batting and encased in cotton fabric, placed on a floor for sleeping, especially in traditional Japanese interiors, and folded and stored during the day.” It is true, though, that traditional Japanese futons were cotton-filled mattresses used for sleeping on floors and folded to clear floor space during the day.Modern futons, of course, are a bit different from that. Originally a fo …
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You’ll no doubt want to start your Catalina bedroom set with a combination of “core” pieces like beds and large storage pieces and “electives” such as a desk, bookcase, and other smaller pieces. But just like any collegiate wants more from their college experience than their studies, these “extracurricular” options listed below definitely sweeten the deal. Just like a well-designed dorm room, the designers of our Catalina Collection realize how essential storage space is to your student — and to …
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Designed with a dorm room flavor (minus the dirty laundry), The Bedroom Source is proud to introduce our Catalina collection, which consists of both light & dark variations. This fashionable, smart furniture is great for girls or boys and strikes a balance between the trendy and the timeless — like any good liberal arts education. Teens and tweens will be drawn in by this collection’s uniquely streamlined appearance, and then they’ll be absolutely stunned by some of the smart features included i …
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With its Parchment and Gray tones and crisp, modern lines, the Catalina Collection (Light) provides the perfect backdrop as your child progresses from Tween to Teen to Twentysomething. Offering a dorm room vibe, each piece includes its own surprising bonuses, thanks to the creative furniture designers. Once you’ve decided which of the 3 beds and larger storage pieces you’d like (see Part 1), it’s time to choose a few “electives.”Catalina Study PiecesThe Catalina Desk (Light) measures 56 inches w …
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Weekly rhythms are important, especially for the stay-at-home parent with preschoolers. Why? There’s little, if any, built-in rhythm to the week. Important routines can give way to either monotony or rigidity, though, so it’s important to keep them in their place, as we discussed in a previous post. Just like our daily and weekly routines need to serve us, not the other way around, your family can benefit from seasonal traditions that serve you, wherever you are in life.Put Fond Memories in Thei …
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No, your child doesn’t need all the toys. Or clothes. Definitely not all the electronics. Not even all the furniture or all the books. So what three things DOES your child need?A Healthy Imagination“The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere fantasy,” explains Paul Harris, a development psychologist and Harvard professor who studies imagination. Sometimes we as parents can get too caught up in how we present imaginary characters (such …
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