One of our most popular lines are the Sticky Mosaics art kits. We’re so excited to be able to offer 3 new designs in time for the holidays (we’re expecting them to arrive in early December). Sticky Mosaics Fairies is similar to the Princess and Jewels designs, featuring jewel tiles and 4 beautiful designs. The other two new items are quite different – for the first time, Sticky Mosaics have gone 3-D! Children can build their own Sticky Mosaics Castle, complete with colorable action figures, or a unique Sticky Mosaics Jewelry Box with both foil and gem pieces.

We are now taking preorders on all three items.

1. Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled By WeGlow International Due to Risk of Lead Exposure2. Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Recalls Children’s Jewelry Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

As my younger child grows, I am introducing more and more activities that focus on his fine-motor development without being tedious or frustrating for him.  One of his favorite activities is to play with lace-up toys.  It is a perfect activity for increasing eye-hand coordination as well as being a lot of fun!

There are several kinds of lacing toys that you can find online and in stores.  First, you have the traditional lace-up cards.  Usually there is a picture of an object with holes punched along the borders, and the child weaves a shoestring through it.  I always put a knot at one end of the string for my son so he doesn’t lose his patience with the end always pulling through.  At his young age, I have found it useful to start with shorter strings and fewer holes.  He can complete one easily and in a short amount of time; perfect for his attention span.  I also favor the ones that are cut to the shape of the object as opposed to being simply a rectangle with a picture imprinted on it.  It is easier for little hands to spot the punched holes around the object and reach.  They make terrific beginning stencils as well. 

There are also alternative lacing activities.  We have a book about tying shoelaces, and the cover of the book is a cardboard “shoe” that the child can lace.  He LOVES this one.  I just have to be careful – a week ago I found my tennis shoes unlaced!  Also, I have found a variety of the “Dressy Betsy”-style toys.  These are usually dolls or animals with all sorts of fasteners on them: snaps, buttons, zippers, velcro and yes, laces.

Another lace-type activity that we love is stringing beads.  These can be anything from large wooden colorful shape beads (which work great for teaching patterns!) to soft foam pieces and even colored (or uncolored) macaroni.  We make necklaces, bracelets, garlands and even a backpack “decoration” for Big Brother.  Beading is something children as young as two can enjoy as well as pre-teens.  It all depends on the materials used.

By giving your child the opportunity to explore such activities as lacing, you are helping to develop their fine-motor skills, their eye-hand coordination, and providing an outlet for fun for everyone!

Back when my older son was really little, my husband and I realized just how precious our Saturdays were.  The weekdays were filled with work and meetings, appointments and chores.  Sundays were spent at church and with family.  Saturday was essentially our only day together, just us.  So, we instituted Special Saturdays.  It is our one day each week to plan (or in some cases) not plan anything…well…special.

We typically start our Saturdays with a pajama party, complete with pancakes and bacon.  In recent years, we’ve turned to more of the IHOP style of pancaking – whipped cream, flavored syrups, and pancakes the size of the plate.  Cold, wintery mornings bring out our hot chocolate stash, and in the summertime we make a buffet of fresh fruits and smoothies.  Sometimes, we pull out leftover birthday plates and cups to give it a festive flair, and on occasion we even drag out the good china and drink milk and juice from crystal goblets.

Saturdays are our time to spend together.  We may go to the local children’s museum or zoo, maybe we’ll paint some pottery or swing at the city park.  Or, perhaps we all get out in the back yard and work in the flower beds, planting new landscaping and making bird treats to hang in the trees.  We have an occasional movie day, popping popcorn and stretching out on the sofa to watch our favorite flick or loading up the car to catch the latest on the silver screen.

In recent times, we’ve found ourselves with commitments that crop up into “our” day – sporting events, birthday parties, cub scout outings.  And, those are okay, too.  We try, for the most part, to still do them as a family, and even if we still have to lose part of our day to “outside forces”, we make it a point to put aside the rest of the day for just us.

Spending quality time together as a family is the core to a healthy family relationship.  What are some traditions or ideas you and your children have?

When I first started planning my older son’s decor, the themes available were quite limited.  I wanted something for his room that could carry him through his infant years and into elementary age (and possibly further).  Yet, it was difficult to find themes for him that weren’t too babyish and not too mature.

We decided on a transportation theme.  It was very “boy” and was something I could see staying with him for quite a number of years.  We had sheets with trains, planes and trucks on them.  His comforter was a solid color, but he had a traffic light bedside lamp, a tractor fan pull, a fire truck rocking chair, and a cute school bus rug. 

Then, my husband was transferred, and I was faced with redecorating yet another room.  This time, though, my son was older.  And, he had a few opinions of his own.  While the transportation theme had been cute, age-appropriate and fun, it wasn’t HIS.  He wanted to choose his own style, and my husband and I agreed.

His new room is a space theme.  He (and now his little brother) have handmade quilted comforters with planets, stars and rockets on them.  We painted his room a light navy and adhered glow-in-the-dark stars to the vaulted ceiling.  My son wanted the planets painted on a wall in his room, and while I was happy to oblige, I also wanted him to take ownership in his room.  So, I took artists’ canvas board and painted them to match the wall color.  Then, my son had a ball, painting his own planets on the canvas boards.  We hung them on the wall, and his room is now alive with rockets, stars and space toys.  He creates his own decorations from time to time, and he designed a space mobile that hangs in front of his window.

By allowing my son to take part in the transformation of his space, I have given him ownership and responsibility for it.  He takes great pride in showing everyone his own abilities, and he tends to be more careful with his belongings and furniture, especially since he helped pick it out.  Involving your child in a process such as this is a wonderful way to teach planning, budgeting, organization and ownership.  After all, your child has to live there, too – why not make it someplace they truly enjoy?

Wonderbrains has an amazing assortment of decorating themes for children.  Be sure to check out their products and suggestions.