Monday, February 25, 2008

In No Particular Order...

I thought I'd share some of my favorite kid products as of late. Kid stuff has come a long way since I was little. I'm amazed at some of the stuff on the shelves these days. I'm sure my list could be incredibly long, but here's my current top three in no particular order...

Children's Mucinex Mini-Melts. The commercials alone were enough to make me never want to purchase this stuff. But I sent Spencer to the store to get cough medicine for the kids. I'm usually not a big fan of cough medicine. I doesn't help them get better any faster. And it usually seriously alters their spirit...meaning it makes them really drowsy and cranky or knocks them out completely. While I admit that that can be nice on occasion, I don't like that a drug is changing them. I only occasionally like it when medicine does that to me...so I imagine my kids don't like to be controlled by a substance. But my kids were just up all night with a nasty cough so it was time to try something. This was fantastic. It got rid of the cough better than anything else, but didn't alter their state of being. They could even take it during the day. And it comes in this powdery substance...like Pixie Stix. Parker loved it. Reid, not so much. But Reid doesn't like any medicine. And even still, it dissolved on his tongue pretty quick. Besides that...it can be taken simultaneously with Tylenol or Motrin...unlike other cough medicines. So when Reid's fever was so bad, I didn't have to choose between suppressing his cough or reducing his fever. I could do both. It's worth a try.



Crayola Bathtub Crayons. Abbey got these for Reid for his birthday. Thanks Abbey. They give kids a creative outlet to color on walls. Reid will spend hours in the tub doing this if I'd let him. Then by the time he's finished, he's all colored out and doesn't have as much of a desire to color afterwards...which occasionally turns into artwork where it shouldn't be. Besides coloring on bathtub walls...you can color on kids bellies. I turn them into Care Bears and superheros in the tub on a regular basis. I have been known to color on my kids bellies in the past. I used to use Crayola Markers. They're washable right? Well that's true, but it takes a couple of scrubbings to get them off their bellies. So I was a little embarrassed during one well child check up to the doctor when she had to put her stethoscope on the bellies of Fun Shine Bear and Good Luck Bear. With these crayons, they get washed off before the crazies even step foot out of the tub. Plus, Spencer and I can use them to write inappropriate messages to each other in the shower.




Leap Frog Letter Factory. It's very poorly animated and the kind of movie that's not really fun to watch as an adult. It's way behind the times. Seriously, they could have done the exact same thing and updated it a little. Although the kids don't really care. After one viewing, Parker knew all the sounds the letters make. He knew all his letters already, but not their sounds. It is very cleverly done. The sounds and letters are all linked to something that can really help kids remember. Really, it's brilliant. Even Reid who's just barely two has learned quite a few letters and sounds from this. I know I shouldn't be using a video to teach my kids something that I could be teaching them, but I couldn't have taught it that well. This is something they can really remember. Besides, we have discussion about it regularly. I had taught Parker all his letters beforehand, but I'm really not good at formal education with my children. It's not a strength of mine as a parent. I have three very small crazies at home and very little time to devote to one on one attention in the form of preschool. So for now...I'll leave that up to Leap Frog. I allow my kids a certain amount of TV time per day anyway. Might as well watch something educational.

This is not a tag or anything, but I just wanted to share since I know so many of my readers are mothers of young children. If you have something great, you might as well share.

8 comments:

Traci Elizabeth said...

Great recommendations...I will definately try the mucinex with Olivia, and I will try the bath crayons for me and Cameron =)

my thing is Huggies Disposable washcloths. I hate, hate, hate regular washcloths. I hate having used ones in the shower and I just have a phobia that washcloths never really get as clean as they should be. So, Disposable washcloths are my first love!! they already have the soap in them , you just get them wet, wash your kid, and throw them away! Lovely.

Judds said...

I have heard that the leap frog movie works wonders. We have the leap frog letter magnets. They are letter magnets and you put them in a holder. The holder then sings a song that says the name of that letter and the sounds it makes. Ari will play with it forever and she is even able to recognize letters.
I will have to try the crayons. They sound like fun, I think the girls will love them. Thanks for the recommendations

Kelly said...

I love the list- I have never tried the mucinex, though, but I will now! I so love Gerber Sweet Pea body wash- all 3 of mine use it, and it smells so yummy! Normally I love J&J stuff, but this one is a favorite. I have had the crayola crayons before, but never thought to use them for messages to Dana- although Alex can read now, so it probably wouldn't be as inappropriate as yours!! have fun!!

Autumn said...

AH!HHHH!!!!!! No way!! This was so my idea! Oh Katie seriously. You are too good. Okay, I'm collected. I'm going to go back and read it. (Credit to you-I think it was actually in my head to begin with-inspired by your fav products for adults-which I still have drafted-which I really really am going to do soon.)

Autumn said...

I didn't realize Leap Frog did movies? I thought they were just the little computer games.

I very much like ANY type of medicine. Not able to use OTC yet for Ells but surely will appreciate it soon enough. Seriously, its a great era to live in. I'm so thankful I don't have to worry about a child crying out every little pain!

If you ask me, once you're married, its all appropriate. :)

Heidi said...

I've heard great things about the bathtub crayons. ill have to invest one of these days!

Erin said...

I love the leap frog videos. We have Math Circus and Word Factory too. My two sponges learn great with music.
I personally love the new single doses of Benadryl. I can bring 2 in my purse instead of the whole bottle. Really helps with allergy girl! I also love Color Wonder, it has saved so many church outfits.

jeanine said...

I've seen the bath crayons and thought about buying them for a while... with your recommendation I'll get them for sure! I'll have to keep in mind the mucinex the next time the boys are sick too!
William got this little leap frog computer that hooks up to the TV from my in-laws for Christmas. I'm sure that's how he's learned most of his letters.