Ok moms, let’s face it, kids are always on the go, especially in the summer. Sometimes it can be difficult to get them to stop every now and then to take a sip of something cool. Small children can get dehydrated pretty quickly on those hot summer days, and it’s not always easy to get them to drink their water. I just want to give you five tips and tricks to keep your kids hydrated and ready for all those fun summer activities. And by the way, these aren’t just for the kids, moms need to take care of themselves, too! 

Tip # 1: Either mostly or completely cut out soda from your child’s diet. There is no nutritional value in it, and all it does is dehydrate their body even more than it already is. If your child is going to miss the soda, try giving them water with some fruit slices that will naturally add some flavor and sweetness.

Tip #2: Provide your children with snacks that will not only fill them up, but hydrate them. For example, cucumbers are almost completely made up of water, which makes them a light, refreshing snack. Other good choices are watermelon, citrus fruits, grape tomatoes, and colorful bell peppers. If your child gets turned off by the veggies, try cutting them into fun shapes or providing a healthy dip like yogurt or hummus, which also gives them a protein punch.

Tip #3: This one helps when you have kids who are too “busy” playing to stop to munch a snack, is to make it fun. My daughter almost always comes running when I make fruit caterpillars for her. All you need are toothpicks and fruit (just be careful if you give these to small children). Kids can even help make these, which can be a fun learning activity as well. Your child can make patterns with the fruit alternating grapes, blueberries, strawberries, or kiwi pieces. You can also make veggie caterpillars, which when you add some small pieces of cheese, adds some protein as well. The munching possibilities are endless!

Tip #4: Here’s a simple one, if you know you’re heading outside to be in the sun, try to get your kids to drink some extra liquids before you leave, so you won’t have to worry quite as much once you get to your sunny destination.

Tip #5: When your kids have their hydrating snacks and drinks, make sure you join them! It’s just as important that mommies take care of themselves as well. You set the example for your kids, so if they see you taking care of yourself, chances are they’ll follow!

By guest blogger Marina Hentz, http://betterinbulk.net/2010/06/lollis-guide-to-savvy-parenting.html

I’ve been a mother now for over 13 years. If you count the time that I was pregnant with KitKat, my darling teenager, then we could just round up to 14. Fourteen years. Motherhood is a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week job. If I’ve done my math correctly, I’ve clocked approximately 122,640 hours of parenting. No wonder I’m tired.

During those 122,640 hours, I’ve learned a thing or two about raising well adjusted, independent, happy kids. I’m far from perfect. Most days, I I don’t even know if I could consider myself “good” at this. Let’s just say that it’s easier to have brilliant ideas than to put them all into practice.

   1. Read together regularly, even when they get “big.”
   2. Teach your kids how to cook basic meals and treats as soon as they start school. Cooking is great practice for math, science, and reading.
   3. Learn how to cut kids’ hair (and then start taking them in to the salon once they hit middle school)
   4. Cut loose and act silly around your kids. They’ll respect you all the more for it (although they will most certainly give you funny looks in the mean time)

   5. Volunteer in their classrooms whenever possible. Chaperone field trips.
   6. Talk to other parents with kids your family’s age. You will be shocked (and comforted) to find that other people are dealing with the same issues.
   7. Bribery is perfectly fine.
   8. So is time out. There must be consequences.
   9. There are certain things that are not negotiable–like wearing seat belts or using the big scissors. Be clear on those non-negotiables and don’t make exceptions. In other words, be consistent.
  10. Tell your kids you love them and have some kind of physical contact everyday.

What have you learned in your years as a parent?

As I was making this “serious” list, I was totally imagining the things that would make it on to my “don’t do this” list. What would YOU add to that one?

Evenflo just launched a witty & humorous video series called the “SavvyParents Guide” on the Juice Bo

Reposted from BetterInBulk

I'm not sure about you but for me the last thing I want to be doing in the summer is spending the hot afternoon in the kitchen coming up with a great meal for my family. But they still have to eat. And I would still like them to have nutritious meals, not just peanut butter and jelly.

For all of those reasons and many more, I long ago decided to prepare our meals for the entire month on one day. One day? Are you crazy? Perhaps, but I find that it saves me so much time and energy each and every day. And it gives me so much more time to be enjoying my family at the pool instead of at the stove.

I make a plan for the meals that we will be having, shop for the groceries, and bunker down for a day (perferably a cool day) to prepare a months worth of breakfasts, lunches and dinners for our family of four. This summer I came up with a menu that doesn't even require me to turn my oven on during my cooking day! There are healthy summer meal ideas like fruity breakfast burritos, frozen fruit cups, and buffalo chicken wraps that my family loves to eat.

And it saves me time each and every day so that I can spend more time with my children. I simply defrost the meals and throw them on the grill or in the slow cooker on the day that they are needed. We return home and have a meal waiting for us or only have to take the short time to grill the items. It is a win-win situation for everyone!

Making meals this way not only saves me time it also saves us a lot of money. And the only thing better than having more time in the summer to play is having more money available to play with!

We all want summer to be fun and relaxing, but let's face it, our jobs as moms still keep us very busy. Do yourself a favor and take some time to prepare some meals and freeze them so that you and your family can spend more time together enjoying the sun, the pool, the park, the beach or whatever it is that you love to do!

By guest blogger Tricia Callahan
http://onceamonthmom.com

Are we there yet?! Are we there yet?!

With summertime fast approaching, lots of families are beginning to plan road trips with their children.  The key to making long car rides fun for the whole family is to make them entertaining for the kids! If you’re planning a trip in the near future, try to make the experience for them as easy and enjoyable as possible – because if they’re not happy you won’t be either!

Last Christmas, we decided to go on a road trip and visit my husband’s family up in Ohio (we live in Florida), so the trip was about 1,000 miles long. By that time, my daughter was only two-and-a-half years old.  It was a long trip for the grownups, let alone a toddler!

To make the experience as easy as possible, I made a list of the items my little one might need during the trip -- her favorite snacks, blankets and take along toys.  Since our car doesn’t have a DVD player, we invested in a portable one (a real life saver…..I am speaking from experience). We also made a little plan, scheduled bathroom breaks and food stops in time intervals, and let her out of the car for a few minutes every so often to wiggle around.

One of my favorite tips is “talking.” We talked to our little one as often as possible and let her know about the things she was seeing out her window and who we were going to see when we made it to our destination. This was important to keep her busy so she wouldn’t be preoccupied with the fact that she was stuck in a car for so long.

Being comfortable for the long journey is very important for kids.  We avoided tight clothes that would keep our child from moving comfortably, and when we were driving straight to the next destination, we put on her PJ’s. 
 
By doing just a little bit of prep work, we made the 1,000 mile trip to Ohio and back to Florida without having a major inconvenience.  Best of all, the experience was much more enjoyable than I had expected it to be!

By guest blogger Jenniffer Powell - http://kidzborn2impress.blogspot.com/

Did you know that many car seats are installed incorrectly?

That's why we developed "Safety. So Simple!" as a solution to help parents facilitate proper car seat safety, car seat installation and use. Safety. So Simple!™ reflects Evenflo's commitment to world-class safety, innovation and consumer education.

We offer parents new car seats and educational resources like car seat installation videos, installation checklists and our online community of Child Passenger Safety Technicians that make car seat safety easier. Learn more at Evenflo.com/SafetyMadeEasier.

-Evenflo

Busy all week and  don’t have the time or the energy to figure out how to bond with your kids once the summer comes? Here are some fun ideas to make Mom-kid time extra special!

Mom's Day Out(side)

What do Memorial Day, Labor Day and July 4th all have in common? They each include fun, outdoor activities. Why not create your own outdoor tradition to be enjoyed each year? So start your family tradition by flying kites or having a tricycle race and relax knowing that even baby can enjoy the fun.

My Turn, My Turn!

Have your children suggest special Mom-kid activities to write on a piece of paper to fill an Activity Jar. Making cookies, reading a book, flying a kite, taking a walk in the woods, and putting a puzzle together are just some ideas. Let each child pull one slip of paper out of the jar; they'll be so excited to get their own special time with Mom.

Travel Talk

Take a drive to Grandma's house. Drive time is a great time for spontaneous conversations with your kids.  For older children, ask them to tell what moments with mommy they like best. Or ask them to share what they're going to do when they're

a mommy or daddy one day. You'll be delighted by their responses. Baby will love the soothing sound of your voice as you tell of your hopes and dreams and desire to keep her safe.

Green Gifting

What better way to celebrate summer than making a gift to Mother Earth? Plan a family outing to the local nursery to pick out a small tree to be planted in your yard. Imagine the fun when those little hands get dirty while planting.

Have you thought of recording your family traditions in a Mother's Journal? Shop for a special one that speaks to your heart this week and write an entry. It's sure to be a treasured memento of your life and your family.

-Evenflo

Evenflo Brings You Simple Tips to Keep Children Safe on Family Road Trips!

Have you made your summer travel plans yet? According to AAA, more families will be taking their vacations in the form of a good old-fashioned road trip this summer. With car travel on the rise, it is important to put vehicle safety at the top of your travel checklist - from learning about proper car seat installation to determining whether your child should still be using a booster seat.

A Sure Fit
The best car seat is one that fits your child, fits in your car and can be installed correctly every time.

Get a Boost
Any child weighing 40 to 80 lbs and under 57 inches should ride in a booster seat. Parents can get the most out of a booster seat by properly adjusting the lap belt so it fits low and snug across the child's hips. The shoulder belt should rest across the mid-chest and shoulder.

Back it Up
Make it a hard and fast rule that everyone under 12 absolutely must ride in the back seat. Many cars are equipped with frontal air bags, and while they can add extra safety for adults, air bags

BuckleUp or Bust
It may add a few extra minutes to the trip, but parents can set a great example for their kids by waiting until every person in the car (adults included) is buckled before starting to drive. Research shows that children are four times more likely to ride without a safety belt if they see their parents doing the same.

-Evenflo