ML Interest Tag: grocery-store

38 Gift Ideas for Curious Preschool Kids

by Aimee Della Bitta

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From the must-have Paw Patrol air carrier to cool book bundles, your busy kids will love these holiday gift ideas.

Parents of preschoolers know this stage is all about curiosity, exploration, and boundless energy. If you’re on the hunt for the just-right gifts that balance and encourage this playful combo—start with this list. From books that spark imagination to a scavenger hunt game that gets them outside, these innovative holiday gifts for 4-5-year-olds hit the mark. Need something for a different age? Check out our guides to the best gifts for 6-9 year-olds, tweens, and even stocking stuffers!

With a flash of light, these whimsical fairies come to life! Kids can control their movements with their hands and they can be released again and again. 

L.O.L. Surprise Magic Flyers ($30)—Buy them here. 

Fat Brain Air Toobz

gifts for a 4-5 year old

Arrange and connect in just about any way, over anything! Can kids make the foam balls move from tube to tube? Can they use enough force to make them spin? 

Fat Brain Air Toobz ($140)—Buy them here. 

Melissa & Doug Wooden Deluxe Grill, Smoker & Pizza Oven

melissa and doug deluxe barbecue is a good gift for 4-5 year olds.

The ultimate holiday toy for a preschooler who loves to whip up a good meal. Whether they feel like making steak, pizza, corn, or veggie burgers, this pretend-play outdoor kitchen has what they need. 

Melissa & Doug Wooden Deluxe Grill, Smoker & Pizza Oven ($170)—Buy it here. 

VTech® Go! Go! Smart Wheels®4-in-1 Zig-Zag Raceway™

Tots with a need for speed will adore this speedy 4-in-1 Zig-Zag Raceway™ and electronic SmartPoint stunt car. They can rev up imaginative play and lessons around first words, fun tunes, phrases about feelings, and cool sound effects by cruising over three SmartPoint areas.

VTech® Go! Go! Smart Wheels®4-in-1 Zig-Zag Raceway™—Buy it here.

Disney The Little Mermaid Ariel Doll

Inspired by 2023’s live-action remake of the classic Disney animated film, this Ariel doll has a beautiful ombre tail and classic long red hair. 

Disney The Little Mermaid Ariel Doll ($11)—Buy it here. 

Paw Patrol Mighty Aircraft Carrier HQ 

Paw Patrol Air Craft Carrier

A must-have toy for preschoolers in 2023, they’ll love the dual vehicle launchers and Chase figure that comes with this aircraft carrier from Paw Patrol: The Might Movie. 

Paw Patrol Mighty Aircraft Carrier HQ ($99)—Buy it here. 

The Noggin Preschool Learning App

Noggin

Make screen time smarter with a kid-safe, ad-free app for ages 2-7. The Noggin Learning app is so easy, and it's the gift that keeps on giving. Build math, reading, wellness, social & emotional skills with 1000+ educational games, videos, and books starring your little one's favorite characters.

Get 50% Off an Annual Noggin Subscription or 60 Day FREE Trial—Get it Here.

JACADI Jacquard Holiday Dress

JACADI

This dress is one that they'll want to wear over and over again. And, with JACADI's heirloom-quality pieces, they'll be able to. We also love the ultra-festive bold hues that are perfect for any holiday party.

JACADI Jacquard Holiday Dress ($189.00)—Buy it here.

Sketch Pals Doodle Board

They can keep this adorable new Boogie Board attached to their backpack and use it after their school day is over.

Sketch Pals Doodle Board ($20)—Buy it here.

Hearthsong Regatta Boat Swing

Regatta Swing

An outdoor swing, but with a little sailing style thrown in for good measure. Perfect for two kiddos, it comes with adjustable, durable nylon ropes and O-rings for easy installation. 

Hearthsong Regatta Boat Swing ($170)—Buy it here. 

Super Mario Adventure Game DX

Super Mario Adventure Game DX is a good gift for five year olds

Your preschool kid might be a little too young for video games, but they’re never too young to love Super Mario Bros. With this board game, they get to enjoy the characters while having screen-free fun. 

Super Mario Adventure Game DX ($30)—Buy it here. 

Color Pop Books Being Brave Bundle

Being Brave book bundle

Encourage their love of literature with a collection highlighting the power of courage and confidence.

Color Pop Books Being Brave Bundle ($45)—Buy it here. 

Little Live Pets My Puppy's Home

Pet lovers will be able to pet, feed, and nurture to their heart’s content. There are 25 different sounds and the puppy reacts to touch. 

Little Live Pets My Puppy's Home ($50)—Buy it here. 

Crayola Imagination Art Set

Get your preschooler this 115-piece set and watch their creativity blossom. 

Crayola Imagination Art Set ($25)—Buy it here. 

Story Telling Shadow Puppet Theater

shadow puppet theater

Not only is this a gorgeous gift, but it gives preschool kids the chance to tell the story of Cinderella in their own way. 

Story Telling Shadow Puppet Theater ($67)—Buy it here. 

Star Wars Forge Ultimate Lightsaber Kit

With this toy, kids get three different Mandalorian-inspired weapons, including the Dark Saber, a vibro-blade, and an electro-bayonet. 

Star Wars Forge Ultimate Lightsaber Kit ($35)—Buy it here.

Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage

The hot wheels ultimate garage is a great gift for a 4-5 year old

No preschool gift guide would be complete without Hot Wheels! This multi-level playset has dual racing tracks, a loop stunt, and pretend play opportunities on the first level of the ‘garage.’ 

Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage ($109)—Buy it here. 

Jaq Jaq Bird Reusable Wall Decal

Give them a (safe) place to scribble on the wall with this fun chalkboard panel that can be easily applied and removed from flat surfaces. 

Jaq Jaq Bird Reusable Wall Decal ($25)—Buy it here. 

VTech Switch & Go 3-in-1 Rescue Rex

VTech Rescue Rex is a good gift for 4-5 year olds

The fire truck, police car, and rescue helicopter combine to create a 20"-long T.Rex ready to save the day! The police car makes sounds and has a driver, too. 

VTech Switch & Go 3-in-1 Rescue Rex ($30)—Buy it here. 

Flour Shop Cookie Cake Kit

Introduce preschoolers to baking with this fun kid that comes with everything you need to make a cookie that looks just like a pizza!

Flour Shop Cookie Cake Kit ($40)—Buy it here.

Magic Power Potion Necklace Kit

They can keep a little magic close to their hearts while at school with this sweet gift perfect for preschoolers. It comes with eight ingredients, a booklet with five potions, and four different necklace styles. 

Magic Power Potion Necklace Kit ($45)—Buy it here. 

hand2mindNumberblocks Super Secret Step Squad Headquarters

Fans of these mathematical superheroes will love this playset from the popular series. There’s a lookout, a ride-on elevator, and it comes with a Numberblock Three figurine. Get the rest of the Numberblock crew here. 

hand2mindNumberblocks Super Secret Step Squad Headquarters ($40)—Buy it here. 

Haba Animal Upon Animal Game

HABA Animal upon animal game is a good gift for 4-5 year olds

Who will be the best at stacking this colorful collection of animals? The first person to use all their game pieces wins! 

Haba Animal Upon Animal Game ($25)—Buy it here. 

Embroidered Icon Bag

This adorable tote has a drawstring closure so they’ll be able to store all their treasures without the fear of one going missing.

Embroidered Icon Bag ($45)—Buy it here. 

Omy Giant Games Poster

Not just a gigantic coloring sheet, but an activity sheet as well! Kids can do dot-to-dot games, wend their way through mazes, and more. 

Omy Giant Games Poster ($23)—Buy it here. 

Kinetic Sand Deluxe Sand Castle Playset

Kinetic sand is a good holiday gift for 4-5 year olds

Everyone’s favorite sensory toy got a beachy upgrade. With nine different tools, kids can make, create, and break for hours of fun. 

Kinetic Sand Deluxe Sand Castle Playset ($15)—Buy it here. 

Lilies & Roses Stripes Bangles

These charming baubles are the perfect accessory for when they want to get dressed up. 

Lilies & Roses Stripes Bangles ($22)—Buy them here. 

Bluey Hammerbarn Shopping Center

The Bluey Hammerbarn is a good gift for four year olds and a good gift for five year olds

The must-have for Bluey fans, this four-level playset has 45 sounds and phrases from the popular kids’ TV series, nine different play areas, and a real-working lift. 

Bluey Hammerbarn Shopping Center ($64)—Buy it here. 

Qniglo Walkie Talkies

These cuties operate on USB charge, come in several color combos, and allow kids to communicate up to three miles apart. There’s even an option to listen to FM radio. 

Qniglo Walkie Talkies ($37)—Buy them here. 

Learning Resources Human Body Activity Kit

The perfect way to introduce a preschooler to all the wonderful ways the body works, this fun gift for ages four and up had a 3-D model, activity books, a magic “X-ray” machine, and much more. 

Learning Resources Human Body Activity Kit ($14)—Buy it here. 

Tangrams Shape Puzzle 

With 36 wooden pieces and 60 pattern cards, preschoolers will have plenty of ways to practice their patterns. The bright colors and fun animals add to the fun. 

Tangrams Shape Puzzle  ($11)—Buy it here. 

Thomas & Friends Talking Toy Train Set

Thomas the Train talking set is a good gift for 4-5 year olds

Little engineers can use the control panel to move the trains, load cargo, and even let Percy and Thomas meet on the track to chat. 

Thomas & Friends Talking Toy Train Set ($50)—Buy it here. 

Magic Mixies Pixlings Doll

Magic Mixies Pixlings are a hot gift for 4-5 year olds in 2023

A hot toy for holiday 2023, these magic mixie dolls are offered as a deer, a unicorn, or a mermaid, and all come in a sweet jeweled bottle. Just say the magic words and watch the mysterious potion reveal the treasure inside. 

Magic Mixies Pixlings Doll ($18)—Buy it here. 

The Bad Seed 6-Book Set

You’ll love reading these food-based stories about self-acceptance to your preschool kid. Choose between The Smart Cookie, The Sour Grape, The Couch Potato, and more! 

The Bad Seed 6-Book Set ($54)—Buy it here. 

Jaq Jaq Friends Wipe Clean Activity Book

Covered in the sweetest print, this activity book is perfect for on-the-go creativity. It comes with a set of ButterStix®, is erasable and washable, and is easy for little hands to handle. 

Jaq Jaq Friends Wipe Clean Activity Book ($24)—Buy it here. 

Breyer Wooden Stable Playset

A classic addition to any preschooler’s play arsenal, there are six different horses in this sturdy set. 

Breyer Wooden Stable Playset ($25)—Buy it here.

BillieBlush Heart Print Fleece Coat

a fun coat is a good holiday gift idea for a 4-5 year old

Keep them warm this coming winter with this bright and cozy jacket. 

BillieBlush Heart Print Fleece Coat ($138)—Buy it here.

Jr. Jigsaw Supercar Racers Puzzle

A fun puzzle for kids who love things that zip and zoom. 

Jr. Jigsaw Supercar Racers Puzzle ($14)—Buy it here.

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination

Sparky is a special figment agent, and he delivers the FBI (Fantastic Bureau of Imagination)’s mail. One day, disaster strikes when the Cave of Untold Stories is too full, and Sparky must recruit more special agents. With lovely illustrations and fun prompts, this book is charmingly interactive. 

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination ($14)—Buy it here. 

Hearthsong Cabin Fantasy Fort Kit

Kids will have 32 wood-like pieces and double-sided hook and loop tape that’ll allow them to build their own play space. 

Hearthsong Cabin Fantasy Fort Kit ($99)—Buy it here. 

At the time of publication, all items were available for purchase.

All images courtesy of retailers.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

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11 Less Obvious Pics That Should Make It Into Every Baby’s Photo Album

by Abigale Schreier

Remember when our parents used to lug around an actual camera and cross their fingers that we’d hit some new milestone or do something adorably silly while it was on hand? And don’t get me started on those massive, back-breaking camcorders that seemed to be running at all times. Lucky for today’s parents, whose smartphones are practically glued to their hands, capturing moments for your baby’s photo album couldn’t be easier.

Of course you’ll be sure to document the first crawl, first smile, and very first picture with mom and dad in the hospital, but there are so many other sweet snaps that may pass you by in your baby haze. So we’ve gathered 11 of our favorites to add to your mental checklist and share with family and friends on the Tinybeans app (and they’re going to go nuts over that shot of baby tasting a lemon, we promise).

Our Fave Moments to Capture for Baby’s Photo Album:

Seeing the world through their eyes

There’s something so absurdly cute about a baby’s tiny head looking out a big window at the world beyond. And since you’re never in the pics, Mom, ask your partner to snap a photo of you holding your babe up to a window while you both look out together. You might not know this yet, but there will be so many moments where you get to see the world through your kid’s eyes and it’s magical.

Big diaper, little baby

Sure you’ll take tons of pictures of your scantily clad baby, but there’s something about seeing that teeny tiny newborn in a massive diaper that looks like it takes up their entire body. The way it shows off their gangly little chicken limbs and memorializes just how small they were is a total *chef’s kiss* and you’ll want to share this pic with family and friends immediately.

The many faces of squish

Whether they’re aggressively pushing out a poop, looking panicked and puckered as they try lemon for the first time, or just throwing out a toothless grin, babies give hilarious face. Be sure to capture as many as you can.

When the latch hits right

If you’re planning on breastfeeding, a photo of that first latch is really powerful and touching. While some unicorn babies latch on immediately like it’s nothing, for many of us it takes a minute (or many) to figure it out. But once they’re latched and that oxytocin starts coursing through your body, you’ll want photographic evidence of this special time. Sharing with loved ones optional, of course.

Siblings (human or furry) meeting for the first time

While my husband told his mom to take his baby brother back to the store, hopefully, your child will be a bit more welcoming. And if not, it’s still super hilarious. Whether it’s a sweet or sour moment, your kids will one day appreciate having the moment memorialized. And for the record, after beating each other up for 11 years, my husband and his brother ended up best friends.

But wait, don’t forget your furry firsts! As a house that has many heartbeats in it (so many we call it the Funny Farm), it was crucial for us to grab a photo of our “first babies” meeting the tiny human one. We even have a sign that says, “First we had each other, then we had the furbabies, then we had you, and now we have everything.” I’m so glad we captured the dogs sleeping by my son’s car seat and “guarding him” when we first brought him home, especially since one of them is no longer with us. But we’ll always have that cherished moment of them meeting their little “brother” in our baby’s photo album, one that our now five-year-old loves to look back on.

Impromptu family nap time

It was the best of times, it was the sleepiest of times. Grab photos of each other dozing on the couch with baby on your chest to commemorate both the sweetness and the exhaustion. It helps you remember that amid all the poopsplosions and colicky tears and soul-crushing monotony, there were awesomely serene, cozy moments.

A particularly messy meal

There’s nothing better than a baby photo with an entire bowl of spaghetti on their head, complete with noodles falling over their eyes and a full beard of red sauce. Whether it’s spaghetti, queso dip from the Mexican restaurant, macaroni and cheese, smashed peas, or applesauce, make sure you capture this sweet and hilarious moment before you have to clean it up. Bonus: In addition to baby’s photo album, this messy meal pic makes a great slideshow addition for their wedding rehearsal dinner.

Milk-drunk and dozing peacefully

There’s a certain look of complete calm, serenity, and joy when a newborn is milk-drunk. Whether they’ve just inhaled a bottle of warm milk or finished a nursing session, that look of contentment on their face is the best (especially when there’s a little drop of milk dribbling down their chin). Plus, you’ll want to look back on this peaceful moment when your child is five and screaming “poopy poopy bum bum” at the top of their lungs while diving off the couch. Trust me.

SO excited to see you

The first time you go to get your baby from a nap and they’re standing in the crib facing the door and beaming with excitement, your heart might just explode. The cuteness is doubled if they’re in a sleep sack. When they’re a teenager rolling their eyes at you,  you can open up your Tinybeans app and remember the good old days, when your mere presence lit up their face.

First bath (and hooded towel) of many

Most babies hate that first bath; It’s weird and uncomfortable, and they get really cold, really easily. (Pro tip: Wet a washcloth with warm water and drape it on their tummy to keep them toasty.) If they’re rage screaming throughout the bath, you’re going to want to grab a photo or two, but you might have better luck once they’re all clean and wrapped in their little hooded towel. Beyond. Later, when your babe is used to it, there will be tons of bath cuteness to capture, from their first time hitting the tub with siblings or cousins to their little bums as they stand peering over the side of the bath while it fills.

Selfies, selfies, and more selfies

Remember what we said about you never being in the pics? Sure your partner may not think to take those beautiful candid shots when you’re hanging as a family (or find a way to only capture poses where you look like a troll), but it’s time to take matters into your own hands. Whether you’re strolling through the grocery store and it’s baby’s first time sitting in the cart or you’re lazing around playing on your bed, snap a few selfies whenever you can. It’s the “proof of life” you’ll be so happy to have down the road when those moments are just a distant memory in the baby book.

Make sure to capture all these adorable moments—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids and makes it easier than ever to turn them into a keepsake photo book.

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7 Smart Replies When Your Kid Makes a Rude Comment

by Casey Clark

These thoughtful replies to rude comments are helpful without being harsh

It’s going to happen. Your kid will say something out loud (and loudly) about another person/kid, and it’s going to be embarrassing/rude. Your knee-jerk response may be to apologize and put your child in time-out with the hopes they recognize their inappropriate comments were wrong and they shouldn’t do it again. But is that really going to help in the long run?

“The point of discussing a rude comment with your child is to teach them why something is rude and to teach them appropriate morals and values,” says Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the “How Can I Help?” podcast. “This is why being rude back doesn’t help; it teaches them to continue being rude. Explain how what they said was hurtful or disrespectful, and with what is appropriate to say or an appropriate way to behave.”

With that in mind, here are some inappropriate comments that your kid might make, whether on purpose or by accident, and some smart responses you’ll want to have in your back pocket for a teaching moment.

1. “I don’t want to play with those kids. They are weird!”

If your child is at a playground and in the sandbox, you might encourage them to play with the other children—we’ve all been there. But what if your child isn’t interested and verbalizes it? Therapist and life coach Daniel Rinaldi says you can respond by saying:

“I’d like for you to keep an open mind and include everyone when you are playing. Different interests and ways of doing things make the world an interesting place. If you give other people a chance, you might find you have things in common.”

2. You’re at the grocery store; you tell your child they can’t get the sugary cereal, and they say, “Why are you so stupid? I hate you.”

Depending on your child’s age, they might resort to “stupid” and “hate” because they don’t know how to describe exactly how they are feeling. In these situations, clinical social worker and therapist Christina Granahan says you can respond by saying:

“It’s perfectly okay for you to be angry or have other feelings about me saying ‘no’ to you right now, but it is not okay for you to call me names.”

You can add that you will talk more about this at home and you thank them for being patient in the interim.

3. “Why are they so fat?”

As kids begin to see that people come in different shapes and sizes, they may ask out loud, why is that person so fat? According to Jennifer Kelman, LCSW and JustAnswer mental health expert, a simple response to your child is to let them know that you love their curiosity and then educate them. For example:

“Some people are tall, and some are less tall, some people are smaller, and some are larger in size, and that is what is great about people. We are all different and we can learn new things from others.”

Kelman adds that if this question is asked directly to another person, you can let that person know that you are sorry if their feelings have been hurt and that your child is learning about the world and is showing their curious mind.

4. A child says “Get out of my way” to someone in a wheelchair.

Dr. Saltz has a smart reply parents can utilize in a situation where a child disrespects an individual in a wheelchair:

“They are in a wheelchair because they are having some difficulty with walking which is hard for them. We are never unkind or disrespectful in general, but especially to someone who is struggling in some way.”

Additionally, Saltz adds you’ll want to tell your child to apologize and instead ask if they need help, and if they say they don’t, they can simply move around them.

dad has a smart reply to a rude comment his son made
iStock

5. A child says to someone with a limb difference, “What happened to your hand? It looks weird.”

Rachel Heitman, a licensed clinical practitioner at Carolina Minds, says that a response to inappropriate comments like this is really age-dependent. If it’s an older child who understands more than say, a toddler or preschool child, a more direct answer is necessary. For a younger child, approach the topic with something like:

“I want to go back to earlier when you said the person’s hand looked weird. Their hand didn’t look like my hand or like your hand—lots of people will look different than you and me. That doesn’t make them good or bad. Sometimes the word ‘weird’ can sound like it’s bad. You can always ask me about things you notice.”

Heitman says the most important part about crafting thoughtful replies to rude comments is to acknowledge your kid’s feelings and intent and then coach them.

6. “Why does your breath smell so bad?”

This question may come up while spending time with a friend or family member. Kelman suggests responding by saying something like the following:

“When we eat, it can leave an odor in our mouth, and this is why we brush our teeth regularly so that our mouth is clean and fresh. Perhaps they haven’t had a moment to brush their teeth after they ate, but it’s not nice to comment on someone’s breath, especially if you are in public.”

Depending on the child’s age, you could tell them that sometimes it may be appropriate to pull the person aside to let them know, but otherwise, it is smarter to be quiet.

7. “Why does Grandpa look so old?”

This type of inappropriate comment is bound to come up when a child sees an adult that looks older than their parents or those they’ve seen before. Kelman says you can say something like:

“Grandpa has lived a long time, and as we get older, we start to look a little older, just like you don’t look the same as when you were a baby. We all grow and change, but it’s not nice to tell someone they look old just like how you don’t like being called a baby.”

Related: The Best Advice for When Your Toddler Starts Commenting on People’s Body Types

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The Fastest Ways to Get a Squirmy Toddler Into a Car Seat

by Tinybeans Team

Screaming child? Check. Flailing arms and legs alternating with stiff-as-a-board posture? Check. Sweating, red-faced adult? Check. The only thing missing is a white van—which at the moment, I am grateful not to have—to make me look like a legit kidnapper. But I’m not a predator. I’m actually just a mom, trying to get my two-year-old into his car seat while passersby debate whether to call the cops.

Experience has taught me that the use of my upper torso and collarbone to smush him into his seat while I’m blindly trying to fasten his five-point restraint as he makes animal noises and screams might not be the solution. Obviously, I can’t leave him at the curb, but his uncanny ability to cage fight from the car seat has left me considering it. Instead, I do what all parents do to develop a trusted parenting strategy: I text my friends. I even reach out to an expert. And because we’re all in this together, I’m sharing my findings with you. Consider this the Holy Grail of Car Seat Drama Diffusion.

What Friends Have to Say

My friends’ responses affirmed that the struggle is real, and it’s neither because of bad parenting nor a personality disorder. For 6 months, my best friend had to ask friends, teachers, and once even a stranger (who looked nice) to put her daughter in her car because she was guaranteed a struggle if she tried.

She urged me to remember that this is just the same old nonsensical toddler tantrum but in a really inconvenient place. “Instead of freaking out more, try to block out the strangers staring at you, take a deep breath and a step back and just ride it out.” This is obviously harder than it seems when you’re sweating bullets and your grocery cart is rolling away. But she’s right. Sometimes, the best way to de-escalate the situation is simply not to engage.

Related: 8 Phrases to Bring a Toddler Back from the Brink

But what happens when you’re in a rush, or there’s a car waiting for your spot, or you’ve had all that you can take and you just. want. to. get. home. already? Try the Jedi Eye Trick. You really have to center yourself before doing this; otherwise, you’ll end up glaring at your child, which will make the matter worse. Instead of reasoning, bargaining, pleading, or despairing, take a deep breath, plaster a pleasant but bored expression on your face, and go for eye contact. It might take a minute, but when they see that you’re doing the opposite of what they expect, close the deal by making comforting physical contact. A leg rub or (if you can get it) a handhold means you’re money. Cue the relaxed posture as your child goes from viewing you as an antagonist to a tender-hearted nurturer.

Expert Advice and Top Tips

When I asked an expert how best to diffuse a car seat meltdown, she immediately suggested that parents recognize the problem for what it is: a power struggle. “Toddlers have very little say in what they do and when,” says Teresa Woodruff, a licenced professional counselor and art therapist who is the owner and clinical director of Art it Out Therapy Center in Atlanta. (She is also a mother of three.) “When we put them in the car, it is constraining. Also, it separates them from us, which often causes anxiety. Screaming is a way for them to communicate that they don’t want to be stuck.”

Here are a few tips for easing the car seat struggle:

Distraction is key

They’re just way too young to understand our logic, says Woodruff, so your best bet is to dangly a shiny thing and distract, distract, distract. Some fun ways to keep them entertained:

  • hand them a favorite toy or book
  • sing a silly song
  • ask them to repeat animal noises or sounds
  • tell them a funny joke or two

Give them choices

As a toddler parent, you’re now well aware that giving your tot the illusion of control is your secret weapon and a lot of the time this translates to giving choices. You can start empowering your little leader when you’re leaving the house and go from there. Some examples:

  • Do you want to bring your green dinosaur or your blue dinosaur in the car?
  • Do you want to close the door or should I?
  • Do you want to be the line leader (a coveted position, always) or should I?
  • Do you want to climb into the car all by yourself or should mummy/daddy help you?
  • Do you want me to put on your favorite song before or after we buckle you up?

Make up a job

Let your creative juices flow and come up with some kind of seemingly very important job for your little to tackle while you calmly and swiftly insert them into their car seat. They could be on the lookout for any number of things (very cool birds, yellow cars, etc.) or the official car key holder while you do up their harness. They could also be in charge of buckling their straps, which gives them some skin in this car seat game.

Incentivise their ride

Find a book or toy that your toddler really loves and only give it to them in the car. They’ll have something to look forward to each ride (once they’ve allowed you to buckle them in, of course) and you’ll save yourself another trip to the chiropractor.

When all else fails… bubbles

“If you really want to go above and beyond, keep a small container of bubbles in your bag to blow anytime your child is struggling with the transition into a car seat,” Woodruff says. “This distraction can get them over the initial shock of being constrained.” Bubbles, as it turns out, really do make everything better.

My Kid’s Take

I also go straight to the source: my nearly 4-year-old. I tell her that I am trying to help other parents figure out what to do when their kids won’t get in their car seats. Wise beyond her years (and also a little frighteningly opportunistic), she puts down her muffin, looks me squarely in the eye, and says, “Tell him he can watch a show when he gets home. Or sing him a song.” Maybe it’s that simple. I’m not above trying it, that’s for sure.

At the end of the day, car seat meltdowns are stressful for everyone—your toddler included. Try to keep calm. Avoid raising your voice or trying to force your child into the car seat; it’s just going to fuel their fire, escalate their mood, and cement their determination. It’s a bumpy road, but you’ll get down it—and hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you avoid losing a tire along the way.

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Put Your Kid in Charge of Elf on the Shelf for a Real-Life Holiday Miracle

by Anna Rollins

When my son, George, returned home from preschool that first day in December, he couldn’t wait to tell me about their new class elf, Snowflake. “She made a snow angel on our teacher’s desk!” he said, giggling.

Each day, he came home with new stories about Snowflake: she built a fort out of peppermints, she played in a ball pit of M&Ms, she got herself stuck on the ceiling fan. I laughed at each report, thankful for the creativity and care his teachers invested in curating this magical, new tradition.

About a week into the festivities, though, George arrived home with a question: “why don’t we have an elf at home?” I gulped and shrugged my shoulders as I unloaded the dishwasher.

“I guess, well, because Mommy doesn’t want one,” I replied.
“Why wouldn’t you want one? They’re so fun.”
“They seem like a lot of work to me,” I said after a short pause.

I actually couldn’t imagine taking on more responsibilities. Between work and motherhood, I could hardly keep the house plants alive. I felt myself falling short in every area of my life. And I had the perpetual sense that someone was watching me, evaluating my performance, taking note of each time I served chicken nuggets for two meals in a row or bribed my kids with candy to take their baths.

Related: A Genius Answer to “Is Santa Real?”

I had a list of unwritten rules about what was required to be a good mother. Each day we did not work toward our goal of 1,000 hours outside or 30 minutes of read-aloud time, I sensed that I was receiving a demerit. That someone, somewhere, was going to place me on the naughty list.

The idea of adding an elf—a figure I had to move, arrange, and play pretend with, all after tucking my kids into bed—to my already full load felt like an unwelcome burden.

Still, George wanted an elf. He was enamored… and persistent. So I conceded to his wishes and placed an order for our own house elf. When it appeared on our doorstep, my son was ecstatic. He nodded at me as I lifted the elf from his package. In it, there was a book: one that detailed a narrative about the elf. There, we were also introduced to a list of rules.

According to the Elf on the Shelf book that accompanies the figure, kids are told that 1) they can’t touch the elf without it losing its magic, and 2) the elf leaves each evening after bedtime to visit the North Pole and returns in the morning. After reading the book aloud, I said to my son, “but that’s not how the elf is going to live here.”

I proceeded to invite my son to take charge of the elf. I told him that he got to touch him and move him—that he was responsible for creating the magic. At first, he resisted: “that’s not what they let us do at school,” he replied. But then I told him, “not all elves have to live the same way.”

He accepted my logic. And it ended up being such a success! While I cooked dinner, my son made the elf a wardrobe out of construction paper. As I tidied the house at night, he built the elf a palace out of Magna-Tiles. On more than one occasion, I overheard him singing the elf a lullaby before they both went to sleep, together, in the same bed.

These new rules, where my son was in charge, fostered pretend play and imagination. It didn’t have to go this way, of course. There is no textbook for these sorts of things. The magic was in the freedom. By refusing to follow a formula, I gave myself a holiday—one where I could bear witness to just how good, how perfect, my son is without my micromanagement.

I found, too, that I could have an actual vacation whenever I resisted some of my internalized beliefs about good motherhood. I purchased grocery store brownies for a potluck rather than dirtying the kitchen to make homemade. I counted Christmas movies not as screen time but as memories. I prioritized my own joy rather than some projection of perfection—and my whole family had a happier holiday because of it.

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Your Baby’s Routine Is Slowly Driving You Mad, Isn’t It?

by Elizabeth Broadbent

You’ve figured out what works—congrats! Maybe your baby sleeps in a crib. Maybe you co-sleep. Maybe you’re bottle-feeding or nursing. But you finally know what your baby wants: They want to wake at a regular time (usually too early). They want to eat, they want to be changed, and they want to nap. This leaves you with enough time to race through a few chores when—surprise! It happens all over again. The routine does not vary. Life has become a little bit less confusing but a whole lot more boring.

People say, “It’ll be easier once you find a routine.” And it’s true. But they don’t tell you, “You will also have to stick to this routine, and sometimes you will want to scream, because while feeding/changing/sleeping is very interesting to an infant, it’s far less so to the adult who has to oversee it.” This has nothing to do with love and everything to do with babies lingering over their meals like old French women over lunch. It has nothing to do with gross-outs over diapers; instead, it’s about those chores that will never be done. There you are, deciding what’s for dinner, laundry piling up, for the third day in a row that you haven’t left the house or changed your sweats.

Someone’s going to sing that song about cat’s cradles and silver spoons. They will warn you that babies grow up and you’ll miss these days because that sweet baby will be a miserable teenager one day. Shove an infant their way and say, “Here, you clearly miss your baby, so hold one for a minute while I shower.”

Babies do grow up, but this does not mean they automatically spark joy. People who insist they should have forgotten the inherent tyranny of infants. Teenagers want things. Infants demand them. You can walk away from your 13-year-old; a crying baby creates a visceral, measurable hormonal flood that sends you scrambling to fix it through any means necessary.

Related: I Miss the Attention I Got When I Was Pregnant

Like most of you, I survived the baby doldrums with electronics: a Kindle and a phone. Sometimes, when I had a sweet, cuddly baby at my breast, I also had my eyes plastered to a screen. What, was I supposed to stare at my kid’s face for hours at a time? And don’t say, “Yes you were. You were supposed to stare at that precious little squish to promote prosocial interaction and help them learn to be a perfect human.” Hours. Literally hours, every single day, on the couch, unmoving, a cup of ice water at my elbow. You’d have to be a Buddhist monk not to reach for your phone or cue up an episode of Abbott Elementary.

It’d be one thing if this were just a few weeks. But the routine becomes your life—and it can be extremely isolating. To avoid disrupting the schedule, you have limited time to accomplish outside activities. This is a logistical nightmare that people without infants simply do not understand and willfully forget once their children grow up. Car nap? No car nap? To feed at Target or not to feed at Target? Will your child sleep in a baby carrier? Will your baby startle awake like a zombie in the middle of a grocery store run and demand to have their diaper changed? Will your mother-in-law banish you to a back bedroom to nurse (and how will you feel about that)?

Just take them wherever you go! some will say. But if your kid’s one of those who clings to their routine, all those admonitions to get out more can set your teeth on edge. You’d be thrilled to get out more. You’d give anything to be among the people. You’re also dying to go to Europe, but that is not happening in the foreseeable future. “I would love to see people,” you can say. “Would you like to come over and hold my baby?”

This is an important—and necessary—request. Don’t say, “I can’t have people come over. My house is a wreck.” Of course your house is a wreck. You are stuck in an infinite infant time loop! Real friends will notice your laundry piles and start folding. If your friends care about dirty dishes, look for ones who don’t. (In addition to Facebook groups and local message boards, there are apps like Peanut to give you an assist.) Surround yourself with love and positivity, not judgment.

Related: When You Realize Your ‘Mom Friends” Aren’t Your Real Friends

Only when you’ve accepted and settled into your mind-numbing groove will it… change: Your baby goes from two naps to one. Your baby transitions to solid foods. Your baby hits some vague developmental milestone and decides to stop sleeping entirely. This shift in routine is also routine, and it can drive you batty. You’ll have a month of boredom, then two weeks of catastrophic disruption, and on the cycle goes. Welcome to parenthood. Sometimes they make funny T-shirts about this stuff. They aren’t that funny, not really.

Parenting is hard. You can love your kid to pieces and still get bored. It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad parent or that you’re not cut out for this or that you should throw your arms in the air and re-examine your life choices. It’s just a slog sometimes. I wish I could offer a solution that wouldn’t sound like manic pixie stupidity: Dance in your kitchen! Bake some muffins! Sing along to your favorite music! But there is no magic bullet. Routine is hard and you have to find your own way through it. You’ll make it. You’ve got this.

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17 Costco Groceries That Make Packing School Lunches a Breeze

by Karly Wood

Stock up on these bulk products to shave time off your lunch-packing routine

Heading back to school is an exciting time for parents but the novelty of packing school lunches wears off pretty quickly. Between navigating picky palettes and keeping the pantry stocked for kids who love an after-school snack sesh, a Costco strategy is in order. The next time you hit up the warehouse, take our list of the best Costco products for school lunches to make packing mid-day meals easier than ever.

 

Soft & Chewy Granola Bars

Tossing in a granola bar is pretty much a must when it comes to rounding out a school lunch. This bulk option from Costco is free of artificial flavors or colors and is great for either a snack at recess or a dessert thanks to the real chocolate chips.

Price: $11.99 for 64 bars

 

Sabra Smart Snackers

Pack some extra protein with these smart snacks that come with ample hummus and pretzels. If your kiddos can’t eat the entire thing, it’s easy to split up a pack by scooping out half the hummus to save for the next day. You can also mix it up by sending it with pita chips or baby carrots to keep your lunches fresh and exciting.

Price: $8.99 for 6

 

Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars

When it comes to the best Costco groceries for easy school lunches, you don’t want to miss these Pure Organic bars on your next trip. Amazingly priced in bulk, these delicious snacks pack tons of real fruit and are easy to eat without getting your hands all sticky.

Price: $15.99 for 28

 

Variety Snack Box

Variety is the spice of life when you’re packing lunches all week. That’s why this box packed with bars, dried fruit, trail mix, and nuts will keep your kids on their toes. Just be sure your school is safe with the nut options!

Price: $32.99 for 51

 

ZBars

There are granola bars and there are ZBars—and kids know the difference. These organic snacks come in three flavors that are half the price of buying them at the grocery store or even Target, which makes them a must on your next Costco run.

Price: $24.99 for 36

 

Busseto California Snackin’ Bite Size Salami & Provolone Cheese

These California Snackin’ packs work just as great for a main dish as they do a snack for school lunches. They come packed with pre-sliced cheese and salami and pair great with a veggie and some dip. Lunch is served!

Price: $11.99 for 8

 

Taylor Farms Carrot Chips, Broccoli & Celery Snack Pack

Parents don’t love chopping veggies, especially if their kids don’t end up eating them! That’s why these snack packs, that come with a big side of Ranch dressing, are a sure thing! They include carrot chips, broccoli, and celery and can easily be split into smaller portions to last even longer.

Price: $9.98 for 6

 

Pacific Gold Original Beef Jerky Snack Packs

Meat eaters will love these pre-portioned packs of beef jerky. Each pack is gluten-free and smoked with real wood. They are great for young athletes who need a little extra protein and work wonders for kids who love a lunch with lots of sides instead of a large main dish.

Price: $21.99 for 12

 

Nutella & Go with Breadsticks

Admittedly, these are a treat that may not make it into your cart every Costco run. They made our list because they come in at $1 a piece (which is much cheaper than a grocery store) and are just a nice way to add something fun to surprise your hard-working kids!

Price: $19.99 for 16

 

Kiwi Chips

Kids tired of boring banana chips? Try these Kiwi chips! They are gluten- and nut-free and pack a fun sour punch that will mix up lunchtime in a big way.

Price: $9.99 for 5.29 ounces/Equal to 12 Kiwi per bag

 

Balanced Breaks

Are these glorified versions of Lunchables that adults love? Yes. Are they perfect for packing for any kids, but especially your older ones? Also yes. The pack of 12 comes in at less than $1 each thanks to the bulk pricing and is great for taking the work out of slicing and dicing.

Price: $10.99 for 12

 

Kirkland Lunch Meat Variety Pack

Deli meat is one of the grocery items that has skyrocketed in price these days, and that’s why this three-pack will save parents money and time from having to make multiple trips. Deli meat freezes beautifully and works great for sandwiches, pitas, and rollups.

Price: $14.49 for 3 varieties

 

Bel Gioioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese

Tired of string cheese? These delicious mozzarella snackers are individually packaged (and easy to open) and make a great serving of dairy for lunch.

Price: $9.99 for 24

 

Fresh Additions Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Bites

Costco school lunch ideas have never made more sense than these fully-cooked chicken bites.  They are great for tossing on a salad, adding to precooked pasta, or just serving alone. They also work perfectly for parent lunches and last-minute dinners!

Price: $14.89 for 8 packs

 

Spirella Minis Artisanal Meat & Mozzarella Cheese Rolls

Great for kids who love charcuterie boards, this pack of meat and cheese rolls comes with two types of meat and creamy mozzarella. Toss a few into your kid’s lunches alongside some crackers, veggies, and fruit and you have a well-rounded meal that does not involve hours spent rolling prosciutto.

Price: $15.79 for 30

 

Three Bridges Cheese Bacon Egg Bites

Forget brinner, these egg bites work great for packed brunches! Fully cooked, these can be heated up in the morning and then stored in a thermos or foil to keep warm for lunch. Pack a little salsa on the side and your kids have a great meal!

Price: $11.99 for 4

 

Big Roll Wrapped Grilled Seaweed Roll Snacks

For the kids who just can’t get enough seaweed snacks, we introduce you to grilled seaweed rolls! This huge box comes with 54 of them and three flavors that include BBQ sauce and spicy in addition to classic. These are perfect for mixing up lunchtime as you know it.

Price: $12.99 for 54

 

 

 

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

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Cookies & Popcorn Are Fine Dinner Options, According to Dietitian

by Christina Marfice

This dietitian just wants you to know that not every meal you feed your kids will be perfect, and that’s completely OK

We’ve all been there. It’s dinner time. You have hungry kids, but you didn’t make it to the grocery store today, and the fridge is empty. Or you do have healthy groceries, but you had a really busy day, everyone’s already hangry, and there’s no time to cook a nutritious meal. So what do you do? You hit the fast food drive-through. Or you toss some chicken nuggets in the microwave. Or you plop the kids down at the dinner table with a plate full of popcorn (as long as they’re old enough for it not to be a choking hazard) and cookies, like this dietitian mom did. And she wants you to know that’s totally fine.

Kacie Barnes is a registered dietitian who posts on Instagram as @mamaknowsnutrition. She’s a master of toddler and kids’ nutrition, especially when it comes to picky eaters. And you may be surprised to hear that her kids don’t eat perfectly planned meals every day. In a recent video, she shared that their dinner was nothing but cookies and popcorn and that was that because it was the best they could do.

“I’m a dietitian, but I’m also a human,” she said. “My kids basically ate cookies and popcorn for dinner tonight. I haven’t gone grocery shopping yet. We have like, no food in the house except for snacks. I was like, this just is what it is.”

If that isn’t relatable, I don’t know what is. And as someone who sees a dietitian regularly, I’d just like to say that popcorn is a high-fiber snack that she would absolutely approve of. Sure, she would gently ask me to try to add some protein to that meal, but with the caveat that not every dinner is perfect. Because this is real life and we aren’t perfect all the time, especially when kids are involved!

In the caption, Dr. Barnes wrote, “You’re not a bad mom when your kids eat like this and this kind of thing happens to ALL of us. Is it ideal? Of course not. But none of us are capable of meeting the gold standard every single day. I’m never going to hold any one of you or myself to an impossible standard! Nutrition is important but it’s not the ONLY important thing.”

Amen to that. So eat those snacks as meals—just only once in a while. And try to add some protein—if you can ❤️

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17 Witch Books for Kids That Are Only a Little Wicked

by Amber Guetebier

These witch books cast a seriously fun spell

There’s nothing that screams Halloween quite like witches. Of course, with all the famous witches we know and love (Samantha, Glenda, Sabrina—we’re assuming their names have to end in an “a”), it only makes sense to pull out our pointy hats and striped stockings this time of year. But we also know that little ones may not be into the ultra-scary. Halloween can bring up nerves your babes didn’t even know they had.

To have fun and overcome fears, there’s nothing better than books. And, when it comes to the best Halloween books for kids, witch books are some of our absolute favorites. There are some classics you’ll probably recognize, along with some new kiddo-approved characters. They all include absolutely loveable witches, especially those for the littlest kids. From silly rhyming books to darker (though still age-appropriate) fantasy, we’ve rounded up witch books for all kinds of little pumpkins. Which witch is your favorite?

For Little Kids

Room on the Broom is a witch book for kids

Room on the Broom

$7 BUY NOW

Sure, you’ve seen a witch and her cat fly together on a broom, but what about a frog, a bird and a dog, too? This popular story of a generous witch will likely result in some serious broom riding up and down your halls. Ages: 2–5

It's raining bats and frogs is a witch book for kids

It's Raining Bats and Frogs

$14 BUY NOW

The time has come for the annual Witch Parade, but the threat of rain will ruin the day. So a little witch named Delia saves the day, sorta. She changes the rain to cats and dogs, then to hats and clogs, and finally to bats and frogs. Find out how Delia finally saves the day and the parade in this sweet story. Ages: 2–5

Dorrie and the Blue Witch is a witch book for kids

Dorrie and the Blue Witch

$18 BUY NOW

“This is Dorrie. She is a witch. A little witch. Her hat is always on crooked and her socks never match.” So begins nearly every Dorrie book in the series of twenty that catalog the adventures of a curious little witch (and her cat Gink) who seems to always find herself saving the day. Author-illustrator Patricia Coombs’ detailed pencil drawings are as enchanting as Dorrie herself. The series started in 1962 and they are timeless as ever. Start with "Dorrie and the Blue Witch" and your little imps will relate to the kid that saves the day.

Ten Flying Brooms is a witch book for kids

Ten Flying Brooms

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What’s a witch without her broom? This spooky-good counting book is perfect for kiddos learning to read and reinforces early readers with rhyming and beautiful illustrations. Ages: 3–5

Meg and Mog is a classic witch book for kids

Meg and Mog

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The bold drawings and simple text of this classic book will have even your littlest witch squealing with joy. The 40th Anniversary edition was published in 2012 and it's still going strong! Ages: 3–5

Strega Nona is a classic witch book for kids

Strega Nona

$8 BUY NOW

While this witch isn’t circling the moon on her broom or cackling in the dead of night, Grandma Witch’s magic pasta pot has been bewitching kids since 1975. Ages: 3–7

Zip Zip on a Broom is a witch book for kids

Zip! Zoom! On a Broom

$17 BUY NOW

From the creator of the NY Times Best Picture Book "From Letter to Letter, " Terri Sloat, and acclaimed artist Rosaline Bonnette, this is a fantastic rhyming book to celebrate the witchy season. Join ten feisty witches and one adorable kitten as they travel from spooky castle to graveyard and beyond. Ages: 4–8.

The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches is a classic witch book for kids

The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches

$5 BUY NOW

Poor sweet little Wendy. She just wants to be like her sisters and cast spells and fly her broom. But no one will teach her. Turns out, she’s already got all the magical powers but needs a friend and Halloween magic to prove it. This vintage classic was first pubbed in 1978 and was reissued in 2000 with new illustrations. Ages: 4–8

Sweetest witch around is a witch book for kids

The Sweetest Witch Around

$9 BUY NOW

A charmer of a tale of a little witch whose fear of humans doesn’t outweigh her desire for candy is a super sweet Halloween read perfect for beginning readers. Ages: 4–8

Wee Witches' Halloween

$11 BUY NOW

A super cute group of little witches head out on their annual scaring spree, but things don’t go quite as planned. Find out what happens to this not-so-scary group on Halloween night, as told in rhyme. Ages: 4–8

The Widow's Broom

$31 BUY NOW

What happens if a witch falls into your garden and leaves her broom? The artwork alone will leave you spellbound and the surprise ending will delight the kids. Ages: 5-9

For Big Kids

The Witches is a banned children's book.

The Witches

$9 BUY NOW

We can’t swear your kiddos won’t start suspecting their teacher or the nice lady at the grocery store is a witch, but that’s half the fun of this Roald Dahl classic. Read this short-ish chapter book together as a semi-spooky bedtime story. Ages: 7–10.

The Worst Witch

$7 BUY NOW

This funny, cute series follows little Mildred Hubble and her magical misadventures at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. As you might have guessed, Mildred is not exactly the best at flying on her broomstick without crashing or doing her spells right. And she's also got a Draco Malfoy-like problem: the teacher's pet, Ethel. Your kids will enjoy cheering for Mildred throughout this seven-book series. It's a chapter book, but even younger kids can enjoy it as a read-aloud or read together. Recommended age: 5–10.

The Witches of Benevento Series

$14 BUY NOW

This illustrated chapter-book series is about a group of kids in the little Italian town called Benevento. Inspired by the belief that Benevento, Italy, has long been a gathering place for witches, the marvelously illustrated chapter books follow five cousins—Primo, Emilio, Maria Beppina, and Sergio—on their adventures in and around Benevento as they try to evade local witches. There are currently six books in the series, which can be read as stand-alones or in order. By John Bemelmans Marciano and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Ages: 7–10

The Gingerbread Witch

$11 BUY NOW

Alexandra Overy's clever “fractured fairy tales” type of witchscapade, is a witch book that's out now just in time for Halloween. Told from the point of view of the gingerbread-turned-human-daughter of the witch (Agatha, of course!) in Hansel and Gretel, Maud storms off after a fight with her mother. Upon her return, she discovers that her mother has been pushed into the oven by a couple of nasty witch hunters—Hansel and Gretel. This forces Maud into a quest to find a magical spellbook that will hopefully bring her mother back. Incredibly clever, this would make a delightful autumnal bedtime story to read together. Ages: 8–12.

The Witch's Boy

$7 BUY NOW

Tumble through the enchanted forest of this story, written for kids grades 4-6, featuring Ned, a surviving twin and son of a witch. Action-packed, this story is full of rich characters and serious adventure. You’ll get lost in the brambles along with Ned and the Bandit King’s daughter. Ages: 9–14

The Thirteen Witches Trilogy

$7 BUY NOW

Jodi Lynn Anderson's fantasy trilogy features a young girl as the heroine, Rosie. She is the caregiver to herself and her mother because a curse is stealing her mom’s memory. Rosie vows to break the curse but must face dark magic and dark things to triumph. Ages: 9–13 or even a little older.

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

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