A Letter to First-Time Kindergarten Parents

By Karen Johnson

July 1, 2016

Photo: pixabay.com

Dear Newbie Kindergarten Parents,

I know what you are going through. I know because I was there, just one short year ago. I can remember the ache, the fear, the frantic loss of control knowing that your baby will suddenly, abruptly, be away from you for so many hours a day.

Kindergarten is game-changer. I get it. We all get it, who have been there. Preschool is AA ball; kindergarten is the MLB, the real deal. You’ve held them in your arms for so many years. How did the time pass so quickly? How is he possibly old enough for this? Well, moms and dads, the reality is that he is old enough. And he is ready, even if you’re not.

Having been in your shoes quite recently, I’d like to tell you that it’s okay if you are scared. It’s okay if you cry—like ugly cry. It’s alright if you ask 8,001 questions. Don’t feel like you need to sign up for everycommittee, but it’s okay if you do. Your child’s teacher has likely had newbie parents like you before. So when you invent completely inane reasons to email his teacher, just so you can make some sort of connection with that little person that you miss so much, that’s alright too. You’re not the only one.

The night before my eldest started kindergarten, I stood in my kitchen and cried. I cried hard. I didn’t know why, but now I do. It’s more than the pain of missing them and the fear of them growing up too fast. This is our big test, and that’s terrifying. How did we do as parents? Did we do our jobs the past 5 years? Are they ready to walk into a room, without us by their sides? Are they able to wait their turn? Will they handle themselves well on the playground—with the mean kid and with the quiet kid who has no friends? What if they are scared? What if they are hurt? Will they know what to do? Can they wipe their own butts? Will they remember to wash their hands? What if they can’t open their applesauce during lunch?

Well, here’s the thing. Even if your kid can only do some of these things, and even if she can’t do any of them at all, she’s going to be okay. Because you did it. You passed the test already. She’s loved. She’s proud of herself. She’s got her Elsa backpack and she’s good to go. You got this.

This post was originally published on Today Parents.

Karen Johnson

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Karen is a former English teacher turned SAHM and is now a writer and editor. Her blog The 21st Century SAHM is a cathartic mix of sarcasm, angry Mama Bear rants, and heartfelt confessions. Follow Karen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

by Erin LemMay 16, 2016

photo: chadilaksono via flickr

We love how versatile muffins are–they’re great for breakfast, snack or even dessert. Satisfy those hungry tummies all day long by reaching for these healthy muffins that are packed with fiber. Expect about twelve muffins from this fantastically easy recipe from Susan Schuman of Our Family Eats.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup light brown sugar, or palm sugar
4 ounces unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl stir together coconut oil, milk, eggs, sugar, and applesauce.

4. In an additional mixing bowl, stir together oatmeal, flour, baking soda, salt, and flax seeds.

5. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.

6. Fold in chocolate chips.

7. Divide mixture evenly between muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

8. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan.

9. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

What’s your favorite muffin recipe? Share yours below!

Susan Schuman is a working mom with two small kids and a hungry husband. She writes Our Family Eats to share ideas for fun, wholesome meals that anyone can fit into their hectic schedule. You can connect with Susan on Twitter @ourfamilyeats.

March 2016 – GoGo squeeZ Issues Voluntary Recall

by Red TricycleJanuary 7, 2016

GoGo squeeZ is voluntarily recalling specific applesauce pouches that may not meet quality standards. According to the company’s recall announcement, “Food product residue” was found by Michigan State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in two product pumps in the GoGo squeeZ Michigan production facility.

The recall includes any non-organic applesauce pouches with:

1. “Product of USA” statement and

2. a 5-character production code beginning with the letters US followed by a 3-digit number beginning with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, or 08 and

3. a Best Before Date between 12/04/15 and 3/04/17 are included in the voluntary recall.

It also includes any non-organic applesauce packs with:

1. “Product of USA” statement on back of carton and

2. a 6-digit code ending in 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, or 08 and

3. a Best Before date between 12/04/15 and 3/04/17 are included in the voluntary recall.

Photo courtesy of GoGo squeeZ

If you have purchased the pouches listed above, you may contact the company directly at 1-844-275-5841 or click here for a replacement voucher.

This recall does not include the GoGo squeeZ Organic line or the GoGo squeeZ Yogurtz, and no illness have been reported.

Use Your Noodle: New Kids’ Menus to Slurp Up at Noodles & Co.

by Kate LowethOctober 29, 2015

Whether you prefer your noodles buttered, pesto-ed or Pad Thai-ed, Noodles & Co. has united a world’s worth of pasta under one menu. And now, with a brand new kids’ menu, the popular national chain (with three existing Bay Area locations and two more coming soon) can finally achieve, if not global peace, at least an extremely peaceful and easy family meal. Read on to find out what we love about the new Noodles & Company kids’ meals.

Photo: Noodles & Co.

Giving Kids the Right to Choose
Giving kids a choice in what they eat is every parent’s dream (especially when it’s not you who is playing short-order cook). The new Noodles & Company kids’ meals give kids age ten and under the ability to design their own meal made fresh-to-order with quality ingredients. Starting with the entree, kids have four options: the ever-popular Wisconsin mac & cheese, traditional spaghetti & meatballs, basic buttered noodles and grilled chicken with marinara dipping sauce for those who may not want pasta (this week anyway). Gluten-free pasta is available at no additional charge. Then they can pick two sides, from a list that includes broccoli, carrots, applesauce, seasonal fruit and the Kids Crispy (which is a kid-sized version of a rice crispy treat). A beverage is also included—choose from milk, juice or a fountain drink. Still hungry? Additional veggies or proteins can be added at the regular protein/veggie add-on price. When putting together the new kids meals, Noodles & Company partnered with the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program to provide flavorful options verified by Healthy Dining’s nutrition experts. And possibly the best news of all—each meal is only $5.

It’s All in the Family-Friendly Details
Beyond healthy, affordable meals that kids can’t wait to eat, Noodles & Company used their noodles when designing all the aspects of a family-friendly dining experience. They offer a “fast-casual” dining experience, where you place your order at the counter and then the meal is made fresh and delivered to your table in no time flat. Not only does this mean dinner is served up fast, but it eliminates worries about kids carrying a trays full of food to a table by themselves (often challenging if you are a parent dining alone with your kids). Another great feature of the kids’ meals are that they come to the table ready for kids to eat. The chicken is cut up and the fruit and veggies are bite-sized. The applesauce is in a convenient squeeze package. The food is delivered and they dig in, and that means that you can dig in, too. Insider tip: ask for chopsticks with a chopstick buddy to make the meal even more fun for the kids to eat!

Grown Up Meals with Big Flavor
Not only do the littles get to pick what they want from lots of amazing options, but you do too. The Noodles & Company menu is chock-full of global flavors from Pad Thai to Steak Stroganoff to Bangkok Curry. Add your favorite protein like marinated steak or sauteed shrimp and you’ve got a filling and delicious meal. The menu even offers soup, salad and sandwich options for those not interested in noodles. Complete your meal with the addition of an appetizer (highly recommend are the potstickers).

Photo: Noodles & Co.

Kids Helping Kids
With the introduction of their new kids meals, Noodles & Company has partnered with No Kid Hungry to provide meals to hungry children around the globe. With every kids meal purchased through September 2016, Noodles & Company will provide $0.05 to No Kid Hungry (up to a total of $100,000). Every dollar given to No Kid Hungry provides ten healthy meals to a child who needs them. The goal is to provide 1 million meals!

Where to Get Your Noodle On
Three Bay Area locations to choose from with additional restaurants in Concord and San Jose coming soon.

575 Market St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-543-5700

20735 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, Ca
408-343-1154

3141 Crow Canyon Place
San Ramon, Ca
925-275-8105

Online: noodles.com

What’s your favorite dish at Noodles & Company? Let us know in the comments below!

–Kate Loweth

All photos by the author unless otherwise noted

7 Fall Traditions to Start with Your Baby Now

by Oz SpiesSeptember 24, 2015

Looking for fun and inexpensive activities to welcome the season? Pumpkin-spice up your fall with these autumn traditions tailor-made for creating special memories (and awesome photos) with your baby. Read on for your next weekend activities!

photo: jermaineyoung via Pixabay

Visit a local Pumpkin Patch: Any tradition that takes place during daytime hours is great for the under-two set. Grab your red wagon and head on out to a pumpkin patch to find the perfect gourd. Bonus: Snap that classic photo of your kiddo sitting next to a pumpkin three times their size.

Explore a Harvest Festival: All those sights, sounds and smells—harvest festivals are made for babies. Watch the sunflowers wave in the breeze, enjoy the scent of warm apple cider, pet a pony. Strolling around with your little one strapped in a carrier brings dozens of new delights. Plus, hayrides take the perennial baby fav bouncing-on-a-knee to a whole other level.

photo: The Conmunity via Flickr Creative Commons

Choose Baby’s Halloween Costume: Babyhood is the one time in your child’s life that you get to choose their Halloween costume. Sweet little ladybug? The painter to your easel? World’s tiniest Darth Vader? Now’s your chance to put your baby in the costume of your dreams before they insist on being one of the ten Queen Elsas in the preschool class. Make the most of it.

Eat Pumpkin Spice Anything: While babies won’t be sampling a pumpkin spice latte anytime soon, the all-natural good stuff in the squash family is made for baby food, thanks to its mild, mushy flavor. You can feed baby some pumpkin puree straight out of the can, or make seasonally appropriate pumpkin-apple baby food. Cook up some butternut squash soup, or try roasted acorn squash with a little butter and cinnamon. It’s delicious for parents and tiny gobblers alike.

photo: Thomas Kohler via Flickr Creative Commons

Adventures with Leaves: Rake up a pile and leap inside it with baby in your arms. Throw armfuls of leaves in the air and watch your child’s delight as the leaves drift down. There’s nothing better for a new walker than discovering the noise and joy of stomping through a crunchy leaf-covered path.

Experience Fall Colors: Take a walk and enjoy the beauty of trees in the autumn, pointing out all the rich colors to your baby. Then, bring the fun inside your house by collecting a handful of red and gold leaves. Use contact paper to create a fall placemat your kiddo can use for finger foods this year and cozy fall breakfasts next year. Find the project thanks to the geniuses at Kiwi Crate.

Whip Up Homemade Applesauce: Harvest a few apples at a local orchard or farmers’ market, or just pick up a bag at the grocery store. Follow this simple sugar-free recipe to make cinnamon applesauce that little ones can eat, and grown-ups can pair with entrees like pork chops. It’s a delicious fall tradition you can revisit year after year.

—Oz Spies

12 Autumn Sensory Play Activities You’ll Fall for

11 Fall Art Projects Baby Can Help Create

Fun with Fruit: Creative Ways to Save Summer’s Bounty

by Abigail MatsumotoAugust 10, 2015

Whether your last u-pick adventure with the fam was a whopping success (you have the bushels and buckets of fruit to prove it) or you want to savor the last berries from your CSA box, it’s time for a bit of recipe inspiration. From easy-peasy blackberry jam to homemade berry Newtons and apple chips, we’ve rounded up a select bunch of ideas to maximize on summer’s bounty. Scroll down for 11 fruitful ways to cook with the kids.

photo: My Frugal Adventures

1. 10 Minute Blackberry Jam
The magic trick behind this ultra-quick blackberry jam is getting the right consistency while cooking on the stove top. With minimum prep and a little bit of heat, you’ll have tasty jam for the whole fam. Get the how-to here.

photo: The Viet Vegan

2. Baked Apple Chips
If an apple-picking adventure left you with bushels of apples, consider this: baked apple chips! It’s a sweet and crispy snack for after school, movie marathon couch sessions, and more. Head here for the recipe.

photo: All Day I Dream About Food

3. Berry Newtons
These homemade berry newtons have all the familiarity of the store-bought version but with a major homemade twist. The crust uses whole wheat flour and flax seed, the berry filling goes easy on the sugar, and the result is the perfect size for little hands. Snag the recipe here.

photo: Tartelette

4. Berries Sorbet
Did somebody say sorbet? Don’t put your ice cream machine away just yet, because this very berry treat is a great way to use up your u-pick haul. Find the instructions here.

photo: The Vault Files

5. Frozen Greek Yogurt & Coconut Covered Strawberries
Need a pop-in-your-mouth and eat-on-the-go snack? The kids will love these frozen berries that have the added fun of greek yogurt and coconut. You can even win extra points by using their fave yogurt flavor. Read more here.

photo: Drizzle Me Skinny

6. Mixed Berry Monkey Bread
Sometimes you just need a sweet indulgence, right? Cue this berry-fied monkeybread and its ooey-gooeyness. Thanks to Pillsbury biscuits, you can whip this up without too much fuss. Get the whole how-to here.

photo: Neighbor Food

7. Crock Pot Applesauce
The tots will love using the apples they picked for this homemade applesauce. You’ll love that this recipe calls for your good friend, the crock pot. Bonus points: You can freeze this applesauce and then thaw overnight when you’re ready to eat. Click here for the instructions.

photo: Divas Can Cook

8. Homemade Strawberry Fruit Rollup
All-natural fruit rollups that are ultra-easy to make? We’re in. This recipe only calls for strawberries and a touch of sugar so it’s all about minimum work and maximum fruit leather enjoyment. Get the instructions here.

photo: Julia’s Album

9. Mixed Berry Muffins
We’ve got your new favorite muffin recipe right here. In addition to greek yogurt, these muffins are rocking three types of berries–which makes them extra moist. Get the kids to help measure and stir and you’re halfway there! Head here for the recipe.

photo: Eat Good 4 Life

10. Raspberry and Cream Popsicles
Thanks to Dixie cup molds, these popsicles are cute and just the right size for the littles. There’s greek yogurt involved, plus maple syrup, coconut cream, and, of course, berries! Get the recipe here.

photo: Gimme Some Oven

11. Homemade Apple Cider
If you’re ansty for autumn, we’ve got just the thing to warm you up and tide you over. This apple cider recipe has very little prep work and the aroma of simmering apples and spices will make your house more homey than ever. Get the instructions here.

Which recipe will you use for your u-pick haul? Share with us in the comment section below!

—Abigail Matsumoto

Just Opened: Roseway Play Cafe

by Kelley GardinerJuly 8, 2015

Gregory Heights, Montavilla, Cully and Parkrose parents, this one’s for you. With its housemade sangria, slippery toddler slides, blissful air conditioning and close proximity to the library, the Roseway Play Cafe that just opened in June is quickly becoming a neighborhood hub. Read on to see what we found when we took a peek inside this cafe with awesome perks for families.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

The Lay of the Play Land

You’ll find this welcome new member of the Roseway neighborhood at 72nd and Sandy, and according to the chatter from the parents in the room, it’s already attracting visitors from the neighborhood, as well as from Montavilla, Cully and Parkrose.

As you walk in the door, you’ll see a narrow seating area featuring one long communal table. To your right, there’s bench seating and tables for two. To your left, bar stools that overlook the partition to the play area. Behind you is a small, low comfortable seating area, and a shelf with a few games. Straight ahead is the counter where you can order food and drinks, or just sign your child up for play time. There isn’t a ton of parking for strollers in the entry. Maybe one or two will fit comfortably. During busy times, a few might be parked out on the street.

A small cubby is near the entrance to the play area is a convenient place to stick your shoes. A separated infant zone has soft flooring and a few toys for sitters and crawlers.

The rest of the play area has a little bit of something for every kid and every mood — a play structure to scramble up and a twisty slide to shoot down, a train table, doll house, riding toys, large soft blocks and lots of loose toys. Under the play structure are little alcoves where toddlers can paddle around and play with a pretend kitchen, do pretend laundry or just curl up with a book.

On a recent morning, a few toddlers were making their way through the play area, while their mothers tended to younger children on the other half of the partition. An afternoon visit on a hot day was quite a bit busier, with older kids playing a little more rambunctiously, with crashing noises and loud whoops. Afternoons will undoubtedly stay busy over the summer, with the air conditioning humming along to keep play time comfortable and cool.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

The Price of Admission

A visit to the play area costs $3 per child, but that charge will let them stay all day. That’s good news for people who live in the neighborhood, or who want to make a quick stop before and after a visit to the Gregory Heights Library just a few blocks away. Socks are required for the little ones (and really, for parents too, if you’re going to be in the play area. You can buy some onsite for $3 a pair if you forgot them.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

Chow Down

Coffee, beer, wine and homemade sangria are available to wet mom and dad’s whistle. Locally pre-made sandwiches are available, as well as applesauce, juices and bottled water. There aren’t any kid-friendly water cups, so bring your own for the baby/toddler/preschool/clumsy members of your family. Pastries are from Bakeshop, a lovely bakery just down the road on Sandy Blvd., and coffee is from Cafe Umbria. Ask for the Wi-Fi password, and you’re set to work, catch up on email or add cool stuff to your Pinterest board while the munchkins play.

photo: Kelley Gardiner

What’s Coming Down the Pike

Keep an eye out for the preschool classes and other activities and events that may pop up as the finishing touches are finished in the cafe’s event space.

7135 & 7137 NE Fremont St. (NE 72nd and Sandy)
503-477-9441
Online: rosewayplaycafe.com

Have you visited the Roseway Play Cafe yet? Let us know in the comments!

—Kelley Gardiner

Inside Red Tricycle’s Pedal + PLAE Event

by Brandi McWadeApril 20, 2015

Childhoods are full of firsts: first words, first steps and the first day of school. This past weekend Red Tricycle along with Wheel Kids Bicycle Club and PLAE Kids Shoes helped pint-size riders achieve another milestone: riding for the first time without training wheels. Scroll through the photos below to get the scoop on this fun event.

Wheel Kids Bicycle Club and Red Tricycle families flocked to the Panhandle for the introductory bike riding class aimed at cruisers 2.5 to five years old. Wheel Kids provided the bikes, helmets and safety instruction while the kids brought their enthusiasm.

The lesson focused on promoting movement, balance and socialization through challenges and games such as red light green light, riding in circles and squares and working their way through obstacle courses.

After a couple of hours learning to balance on two wheels the kids worked up an appetite. On hand were plenty of Annie’s Bunny Grahams, GoGo Squeeze Applesauce packets and water.

Each rider was outfitted with a pair of PLAE Kids Shoes. With eco-friendly materials, shock absorption and active traction, PLAE customizable shoes are ideal for playing and biking.

Want to create amazing memories? Click to check out these awesome family adventures you can’t afford to miss!

It’s a Date! The Coolest Ways to Hang Out With Your Baby

by Ayren Jackson-CannadyFebruary 13, 2015

It’s Friday night (er, afternoon) and it’s just you and the bambino. Instead of vegging out at home—with pizza and strained peas—try out one of these ideas for a fun mini-date with one of your greatest loves.

Photo: Miriam Zemel via Flickr

Pack a Picnic for the “Park”
There’s a reason picnics are a favorite activity for spending time with someone special, and nothing is more special than your little bundle. Pack your favorite finger foods (sushi rolls, mini quiches, tea sandwiches?) along with some of baby’s favorites too (milk, applesauce, strainedsweet potatoes?). Grab the most comfortable blanket you can find and park baby and yourself somewhere grassy and beautiful (if it’s too cold outside, spread the entire set up out in your living room). Tell her about the sky and the clouds, the trees and the flowers. Watch the colors change as the sun goes down. These are moments you’ll cherish when she’s all grown up.

Get Snap Happy
You’ve likely snapped 154,872 candids of your baby, but when was the last time you were both in the same photo? Grab a tripod or the ever-popular selfie stick, or set your smartphone camera’s timer, and take a bunch of pics for memories that last a lifetime. Up the ante (and feel like a total pro) with outfit changes and DIY sheet backdrops.

Photo: craigfinlay via Flickr

Read Books at Your Local Bookstore
These days, most bookstores and libraries have special sections devoted entirely to the littlest loves in your life. Spend the better part of an afternoon or evening reading stories, poems and nursery rhymes to your precious babe. When she drifts off to sleep, you can mosey over to the in-store café and spend time sipping your favorite specialty coffee while getting lost in a good romance or crime novel. It’s the perfect date!

Go Out for Ice Cream
Is baby too young for an ice cream? Too bad, because you’re not! Whether you fancy a single scoop vanilla cone, or a double decker chocolate dipped cone with sprinkles, or a banana split with whipped cream and a cherry, you deserve whatever it is (you’ve been busy growing and caring for a tiny human for goodness sakes). Enjoy a special treat with your baby. And if you slip her a sweet, sugary bite or two, she will surely love you for it!

Photo: BenSpark via Flickr

Get Crafty
Those tiny baby feet can melt your heart in a glance. But they get a little bigger everyday until they’re no longer the cutest-little-things-you’ve-ever-seen. Spend an afternoon capturing the cuteness while you can. Find the nearest pottery studio where you can slap some paint on those piggies and make baby foot prints for wall hangings, mugs, tiles, and more. Don’t forget to make something for Grandma!

Peruse Your Local Pet Store
Slip baby in a sling and stroll through the nearest pet store. Babies have a way of connecting with other cute and lively little things. Who doesn’t enjoy watching kitties, bunnies, birds, and puppies, even if they’re locked (temporarily) in cages? Spend extra time near the aquariums. Baby will love the gurgle of the water tanks and the quick, colorful fish. Do those neon yellow ones really glow in the dark? Yes!

Do you have any great ideas for spending quality time with your baby? Tell us in the Comments section below.

—Jamy Bond

Apple Pie Fruit Leathers

by Christal Y.February 1, 2014

Fruit leathers are a sweet alternative to candy, but instead of getting store-bought snacks, why not try making these healthy treats at home? Kids will love chewing these flavorful fruit leathers as part of their lunch or after school snack. And while making this recipe (courtesy of My Whole Food Life), your house is going to smell like yummy spiced apples all day long.

Serving size: about 20 fruit leathers

Ingredients:
4 cups unsweetened applesauce (can also use real apple puree)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
2 T maple syrup (Optional)

Method:
1. If using an oven, preheat to the lowest setting or 135.

2. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

3. Line your baking sheets with parchment and spread the mixture out evenly and thinly.

4. Bake for about 4-6 hours (depending on how low the temp your oven will go), until tacky .

If you are using a dehydrator, line the trays with parchment. You can use the dehydrator sheets as well, but parchment is cheaper and works great. These go in a dehydrator at 135 for about 6-7 hours. Once it feels tacky, it’s pretty much done.

Have you tried making other fruit leathers? What kind of fruits did your kids love best?

This recipe comes from My Whole Food Life, a food blog founded by mom and wife Melissa. Focused on eating clean and wholesome foods, My Whole Food Life journals family meal time from breakfast to dessert. For more vegan friendly, healthy foods, check out Melissa’s blog here.

ML Interest Tag: applesauce

By Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

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