2) Give your children ample opportunity to feel needed, important, and powerful. Even though it may be easier just to do it yourself, letting your children help you will not only teach them important skills, but will also boost their self-esteem by showing them how capable they are.

3) Avoid using consequences and punishments that are arbitrary. They should instead be as logical as possible. For example, if a child breaks something, take the money to replace it out of their allowance so that they’ll learn the value of the object. When possible, use real-life consequences. If your child forgets his lunch, don’t bring it to him—he’ll survive a few hours of being hungry and it’ll teach him not to forget again.

4) When reprimanding your children, always make sure they know that you love them. Separating your intolerance from what they did from your unconditional love for them is crucial to building and maintaining their self-esteem.

5) Always maintain the balance between firmness and tenderness. Too far to one side and your child will have no discipline and will walk all over you. Too far to the other side and your child will be fearful of you and have poor self-esteem. Keep this balance in mind with every action you take.

6) Parent for the long-term. Instead of thinking about the fastest solution to a problem, think about the adult you want your child to grow into.

Parents and child care experts agree that instead of forcing children to apologize mechanically, they should be made to think about what they did wrong, why it was wrong, and what the consequences for others were. After they’ve had time to think, ask them what they could do to help fix the situation.

Talking thoroughly about feelings will also help to rectify behavior. If you can make your child understand that what he or she did made another child feel bad, then that will have a much more heartfelt, lasting impact that simply apologizing. Be sure to let your children know that you love them at the same time that you admonish them.

In order to help establish a manner of behaving that applies everywhere, not just in the home, make sure that your day care provider is on the same page with you and that there is a consistent and standard set of consequences.

It turns out I was wrong—not only did she find the blanket, but she refused to give it back! I came home to find her asleep snuggled up with it, and when I told her it was meant to be a birthday present, she begged me to let her have it early. Of course I gave in, and now the two are inseparable. Everywhere she goes she’s got her Little Giraffe blanket with her, and there’s nothing I love more than cuddling up with her and the blanket.

Trumpette is quickly gaining recognition for its top-of-the-line, haute-couture baby socks. One of their most popular items is their Mary Jane Toddler Socks. Available in an assortment of bold or mellow colors, these socks make your baby look like she’s wearing a cute little pair of Mary Jane shoes! Aside from the attention-grabbing design, these socks are also slip-resistant, soft, comfortable, and they’re designed to stay on a baby's feet well.

Trumpette socks also make a fantastic gift. Give your child a pair today and it won’t be long before people everywhere are asking you where you got them!

Let me tell you: it was a great decision. Now my mornings are even better since I can spend them in my Little Giraffe robe. It’s so soft and so luxurious, and I never want to take it off and get dressed. They’re made from satin, chenille, and velvet, the three softest materials I can think of, and every time I step out of the shower I feel like I’m getting the full spa treatment.

I found out that a robe is one item that’s worth splurging on, and I could not be happier with mine from Little Giraffe.

That’s why, as long as it’s warm enough of course, I have no problem letting my Kayden jump around in the puddles for a while. I feel that kids should have a full appreciation for the natural world, and teaching them that rain and mud are things to be scorned is an unhealthy attitude. As long as they’re dressed right, I think its great for kids to romp around in the rain. I must admit though, that ever since I got it for her Kayden will take any excuse to put on her new Kidorable rain coat.

These blankets combine either blue, pink, or celadon chenille with beautifully rich mocha faux-fur, and they look fantastic. They’ve got a fabulously elegant look that’s both modern and classy. And these blankets are soft. When I cuddle up with my baby in one it feels like I’m snuggling a cloud. And best of all (because we all know how messy a baby can be), they’re a snap to clean. I just pop mine in the washer and dryer and they come out feeling softer than ever.

So if you’re looking for a baby blanket, look no further—these blankets are simply perfect!

1) Material—obviously, it’s got to be soft. I love chenille and satin, as well as faux-fur. All are great options, as is organic cotton for the environmentally conscious.

2) Color—the color of a blanket determines how the baby will respond to it. Cool pastels are more conducive to rest and relaxation, while deeper, richer colors are more eye-catching and elegant.

3) Size—you want to make sure that it’s big enough to cover your baby without being overwhelming. Something around 30” x 30” ought to be about right for a baby, while something smaller like 14” x 14” is better for a travel blanket.

4) It absolutely has to be machine-washable.

5) For an extra little personal touch, you might consider monogramming with your baby’s name or initials.

Hope this helps! If you have suggestions for anything that should be added to the list, let me know.

Kids love the eye-catching, engaging designs that set off their imaginations, while parents love the durable construction and unbeatable quality of Kidorable products. Even as other manufacturers and retailers have experienced tough times, Kidorable has continued to grow and prosper, with the brand name gaining strength and being asked for by name in stores across the country. The company’s stylish designs have even inspired a number of knock-off companies, just as with fashion icon Louis Vuitton and other purveyors of high-end fashion items.

At 36” by 46”, these blankets are big enough to wrap your baby comfortably, but small enough to travel with or keep in the car. And they are so soft. I felt one myself and wanted to curl up with it and fall asleep right there!

Study after study shows that children who play, know, and appreciate music have enhanced cognitive abilities, are better and faster learners, and do better in school. So there’s no reason not to teach your child the joys of music as early as possible. The Schylling Baby Grand Piano is perfect for this.

With its solid wood construction and beautiful, distinctive design, this piano is eye-catching as well as educational, and with its 19 3/4" x 22 1/4" x 19 1/2" dimensions, is perfectly sized for your youngster. Recommended for ages 4 and up, the Schylling Baby Grand Piano comes with matching bench, sheet music and stand, as well as a colored key chart to help your little composer learn the fundamentals of music.

With this Baby Grand Piano from Schylling, it’s never too early to give the gift of music!

Although many parents’ instinct is to emphatically praise their child’s innate intelligence, this study shows that this can actually promote an unhealthy mindset that can lead to a lack of motivation and effort later in school. What happens is that children believe that they do well in school without effort because they are naturally gifted. They see hard work as a sign of lower intelligence, so when they are forced to confront a difficult problem or assignment, they see it as a challenge to their ego. This can quickly lead to demotivation and falling grades as soon as the child transitions to a level that is more challenging for them.

The solution? Change the child’s mindset. If, instead of being praised for success due to natural intelligence, children are taught that their success was due to their effort, they will see challenges as a positive experience to be confronted and tackled, as opposed to an affront to their intelligence. Researchers have definitively proven that cultivating this ‘growth mindset’ has significant positive effects that are both immediate and long lasting. Grade-school children will be more motivated to take on a challenging math problem, and college students will be more persistent in studying through a difficult class.

Luckily for parents, this is not an inaccessible miracle cure. Simply by shifting the subject of your praise from natural intelligence and talent to hard work, persistence, and effort, a parent can cultivate a mindset that will help their children throughout their entire lives—from preschool through college and into the workplace. Click here for the full article.

One of their most popular is this Vehicles Chunky Puzzle. The Melissa & Doug line of chunky puzzles is perfect for babies and toddlers because its large, easy-to-grasp pieces are perfect for little hands and stimulate the development of motor skills. The puzzle set includes nine pieces, each of which can also stand upright to be played with: three train pieces, an airplane, a police car, a fire truck, a school bus, a sail boat, and a cruise liner. Each piece also has a full-color image underneath.

Check out the full assortment of Melissa & Doug Kids’ Puzzles here.

What I found may not be perfect, but it’s as close as I can imagine: the Little Giraffe Satin Nap Pillow. It’s sized perfectly for naps or travel, and I can tell you first hand that it works great in a car. It’s made from silky smooth satin and feels fantastic on your skin. And since I was worried about carsickness, I made sure they were machine washable. Let me tell you—two of these made eleven hours in the car a lot smoother!