Boy do these playhouses make me wish for the days when my littles were little. They had a nice indoor tepee (we still have it actually) and several cardboard playhouses (remember the ice cream truck) but these take the concept of an indoor fort or playhouse to a new level. And to think I spent my childhood draping sheets over furniture!

Any of these playhouses would make an amazing addition to a child’s room or a rec room. Enjoy!

Giant Whale Playhouse – Oh how I love this. How many hours of creative play and underwater imaging can your child have with this whale playhouse?

I love how colorful and unique this Geodome playhouse is. It looks so roomy and the bright colors make me think of rainbows and sunshine.

Your little outdoor adventurer and Indiana Jones wannabe will need a base camp like this adventurer playhouse. It is rugged and campy and if you have a boy scout or a girl scout they will love this one.

 This camper playhouse is so much fun! It even has awnings and curtains. Oh and you actually can buy the cloth campfire with smores!

We have a plain tepee but I love this flower tepee. I think girls would especially love it.

This whimsical toadstool playhouse is just perfect. I adore it so much! It would make the ultimate fantasy playroom.

 If your kiddo loves fantasy, monsters, dragons and the like then they will adore this monster playhouse. For some reason it reminds of Angry Birds, which my son loves. I am pretty sure he would want this right now, even though he is ten.

This playhouse is for those with limited space. It can be hung on a doorway or hallway.

Plastic cups for soooo yesterday! Nowadays it is easy to buy kids plates, utensils, and drinking cups without having to resort to cheap plastic just because you are afraid of breakage. Yes, you may not want to give them your regular dinnerware or china because it can be dangerous if they break it. Trust me I know, my youngest ran through the house with ceramic bowl when he was a toddler. He fell on it, broke it, and has a nice scar as a reminder of the experience.

Plastic is not your only option though…it’s only the ugliest and most wasteful. Newer stainless cups, plates, and utensils do not break and they also do not have the chemical nasties and toxins that plastic does. Stainless lasts a long time and through multiple children so they are economical as well as practical, even if the per piece price is a bit more than what you can buy in the kiddie section at Walmart. Look at the stainless options available and fall in love.

Stainless Steel Dish Set for Kids, with Plate, Bowl, and Cup:

Kids Stainless Steel Utensil Set:

A few weeks ago I posted about wearable GPS trackers for kids and why this may be a trend for parenting of the future. I am not by any means a helicopter parent and I won’t be tracking my teens everywhere they go but even with my more relaxed, free range parenting ways I saw a need for devices like these.

As I explained in that post, I am the mom of two special needs children (autism spectrum) and one in particular has a tendency to wander. Parents of high needs children have enough on their plates as it is. Anything that can alleviate some of our ever constant worries, gets an A+ from me.

For a couple weeks I have been able to test drive the Not Your Child GPS trackers.

I love that the device is small and sturdy. It is after all going to be in the hands of littles who don’t quite grasp the concept of being gentle. It can easily go in a backpack pocket, pants pocket, or it can be put on the custom lanyard that comes with the device. That way it can be worn on their person. I personally liked to use it in a cargo pants pocket. That way my son didn’t even have to know it was there…and frankly no one else would either if something nefarious is your concern. The lanyard option though is great for travel or a trip to the state fair where you can put it around their neck when you head out.

It is so small and light that it would be amazing to take with you while traveling. Congested subways and busy cities would not be so nerve racking if you had this little bit of piece of mind with you. It works in 103 different countries.

The device and service allows you to set a variety of alerts to be delivered to your cell phone by S.M.S or via email; alerts including…

• S.O.S – emergency
• Geo-fences  – notification of them leaving and leaving a predetermined address or area
• Landmarks – What landmarks are nearby
• Speeding – how fast they are going and if they have reached or exceeded the speed threshold you have set
• Status – idle, moving, stopped, speed altitude, direction of movement
• Low battery (threshold also customizable)

I can see the value in many of these as an autism mom but if you are the type who just wants to spy a little on your older kids…well it would be easy to do. It might also be a good way to look into route and speed information for the transportation services you use for childcare or schools.

As your children grow up and start using smartphones, Not Your Child can still grow with them. With their Track Now software, you can turn their phone into GPS tracker that has the same functionality you loved in wearable GPS device plus speed alerts to see how fast your child is driving, SOS alerts to notify you with the push of a button if they are in trouble when they cannot call or speak on the phone and more. Traffic accidents in rural areas and teen parties are two scenarios that come to mind where that would be handy.

It is a great device and service and I highly recommend it if your circumstances require it.

This post was written in partnership with Not Your Child Corp. but as always the opinions I share here are my own and based on my own world view.

I remember a conversation I had from years ago in a moms group when my kids were much smaller. They were discussing the concept of “chipping”children like you do pets. I was firmly in the camp of heck yes, as long as it was safe. Even though I am very far removed from the role of helicopter parent I won the autism lottery and was blessed with not one, but two autistic children. The challenges are numerous but two challenge in our case at least, are that they wander and they are quick to forget safety rules.

My youngest in particular has always wandered. He has no concept of danger, not from walking out in traffic and not from taking off in a crowded place. He has the impulse and he just goes with it. Whenever we go anywhere as a family I am constantly looking over my shoulder to look for him every minute or two and it is not uncommon to utter the phrase “Where’s Parker?” 20 times in day during a family outing. Luckily he hasn’t realized that holding his mom’s hand is uncool yet or it would be much worse.

Having a child who simply does not comprehend that he could get lost or separated from me if he wanders off is HUGE. This is one reason why it is in his IEP that he is picked up and dropped off at his front door instead of left at a bus stop. Supervision with him is critical and yet we can’t watch every second of every day. I recall that on the first day of his bus transit the driver forgot about his IEP requirement and dropped him at a bus stop about 2 houses down from ours. I heard the bus from inside the house and stood at the open door waiting for him. What I saw was him streaking past our home and towards a busy cross street. Had I not run out and started screaming his name I am not sure how that one would have ended.

Another issue with this child in particular is that I believe firmly he would go anywhere, with anyone, if they lured him. We have discussed safety and strangers but you are talking about a child with no concept of what is socially acceptable behavior himself so you cannot expect him to recognize suspicious behavior in others. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I am often worried about my own child putting himself in harm’s way.

It was of great interest to me to see that a company called Not Your Child was running with the concept of wearable GPS trackers. Not so scary as an implant but still accomplishing the same thing. The tech provides a safe way to know where your child is, and how to find him or her if they have wandered away and are lost. Not Your Child™  will also help authorities to track missing children more effectively. It’s all about keeping our kids safe. The device is comfortable, it’s accurate, and it can be tracked online.

It works in 104 countries so it can be used while traveling. It is both web and app based, so data is accessible anywhere and notifications can be received via email, SMS, or push notifications on iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices. It is available for purchase on their web site.

Is this the future of child safety?

Enter the Giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was written in partnership with Not Your Child Corp. but as always the opinions I share here are my own and based on my own world view.

Of the many reasons to get a pet for your household, perhaps one of the biggest and most influential ones is that it’s great for your kids. Having a pet has many benefits for your children, and not just with social aspects or self esteem—pets can actually help your children develop great immunity. So whether you’d like a pooch or a kitty for your home, check out these reasons why pets are great for your kids!

1. They Teach Responsibility

Having a pet in your home helps to teach your children responsibility. Even if you have a six-month-old or a toddler, they can help in small ways to take care of the animal. This helps to instill in children that animals need care and they need to be treated kindly. As your child gets older, you can teach him or her how to feed Fido and take Fido outside to play.

Pets also help your children to realize that creatures need gentle handling. Their care and nurturing of a pet can teach them empathy and compassion for creatures, but also with people too. Having a pet can teach your kids some valuable life lessons!

2. They Increase Self-Esteem

Nothing boosts your self-esteem like having an animal who adores you. Kids who have pets tend to have higher self-esteem and even perform better in school. It can also help kids to feel important and needed when taking care of a pet. Pets also function as many children’s first best friend. Kids share a unique relationship with their pet and love to play with pets, spend time with them, and even read to them.

Having a dog, cat, rabbit, or bird in the house can make your child feel great about him or herself in addition to teaching them responsibility and empathy for others.

3. Your Children Are Less Likely to Get Allergies

Research shows that having a pet in the house when your child is a newborn or before your child is six months old shows that your child is less likely to get allergies later in life. The research also shows that your child is less likely to suffer from skin problems such as eczema and respiratory problems with a dog in the house at birth.

Your child’s immune system could benefit from having a pet in the house—pets may play an important role in building up your child’s immunity to different allergens. What more of a reason could you want to get a dog?

4. They Reduce Stress

Reducing stress may be even more important for parents than it is for kids, but regardless, having a pet can help you reduce stress and maintain a healthy balance in your life. Some people may think the contrary—that having the extra responsibility of caring for a pet can be more stressful. However, having a pet to care for has many health benefits.

Having a pet encourages you to get outside and exercise, socialize with other pet owners, and be affectionate. Getting exercise, talking with others, and snuggling with your pet can all help reduce your stress. These are big benefits compared to the extra expense and care a pet will require!

Dr. Mike Maddux of Nippers Corner Pet Medical Center shares that “for a very small time commitment, a pet can greatly improve the quality of life for you and your family.”

Getting a pet for your household is a big decision. Consider adopting a dog that’s already been trained and outgrown that puppy stage from a shelter. There are plenty of dogs and cats out there that need homes. If your schedule doesn’t allot for regular walks, consider getting a bunny.

Having a pet can help build your child’s immunity, reduce stress, build self-esteem, and teach responsibility. What are you waiting for? Adopt a pet today!