http://www.minti.com/members/tracey/advice/ Most Recent Advice on Minti by tracey Copyright 2009 Minti en-uk tracey Taking photos of your adolescent child can be a challenge. As kids grow up they tend to get more self-conscious and not so agreeable with getting their photos taken. They tend to either they cop and attitude, get mad or they just act super-silly which makes it even harder to capture a good shot. Here are a few tips on ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5908/Take-Better-Pictures-of-Your-Older-Child/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5908/Take-Better-Pictures-of-Your-Older-Child/ Mon, 14 May 2007 11:10:06 -0700 tracey Family vacations are complied of fond memories so how about capturing some of those moments in photographs so that you may relive your trips for years to come? Here are a few ideas to ensure that you’ve got your holidays covered! Shoot some close-ups. Just because you’re on vacation at the beach doesn’t mean you have to have the beach ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5873/Taking-Great-Photos-of-your-Family-Vacation/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5873/Taking-Great-Photos-of-your-Family-Vacation/ Fri, 11 May 2007 13:27:38 -0700 tracey  Many parents tend to limit their family activities to those that are solely fit for kids. That certainly makes good sense and is probably a good idea most of the time but many grown-up activities can be fun for the kids as well.It’s important to give children a variety of experiences to navigate and explore, even when they are young. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5821/Activities-Both-Parents-and-Children-Will-Enjoy/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5821/Activities-Both-Parents-and-Children-Will-Enjoy/ Mon, 07 May 2007 23:27:14 -0700 tracey Because at times it seems that everyone out there has children, it’s ironic that when you become a parent it can feel terribly isolating. It’s totally normal to feel alone in parenthood sometimes but that doesn’t make it any less difficult.One of the most important things to do for yourself when you feel isolated is to reach out. Finding other ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5672/Making-Connections/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5672/Making-Connections/ Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:50:14 -0700 tracey  Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #8- Get Silly with It Sometimes kids get tired of having their picture taken. It’s understandable. It can be exhausting, not to mention boring when you’re being ordered around and asked to smile time and time again.  One easy way to lighten the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5588/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-8/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5588/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-8/ Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:38:23 -0700 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #7 Time to Say Cheese-Not often enough are we actually in photos with our children. When we are the family photographers, there are very few pictures of us. Some parents aren’t fond of having their picture taken but this is no excuse! One ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5587/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-7/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5587/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-7/ Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:18:56 -0700 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #6 - Knees & ToesEveryone loves baby feet. They’re just so yummy! These days, it is more common than not that both professional photographers and parents alike will get at least a few photographs of baby’s feet. But don’t let your child’s age ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5301/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-6/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5301/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-6/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:16:27 -0700 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #5 - Head & ShouldersThe most common of all photos is the basic head and shoulder shot; child looking at camera, hopefully smiling (or not). But what about when you give this predicable picture a little twist. Try getting a shot of the back of your ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5299/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-5/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5299/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-5/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:04:31 -0700 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #4 - Sleep StoriesA sleeping baby is a beautiful baby. And the same goes for children of any age. When children sleep there is something angelic and ethereal about them. I think all parents can relate to the feeling of peace that ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5201/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-4/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5201/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-4/ Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:31:07 -0700 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #3- Food FunOne might never consider the act of eating as the most attractive time to take pictures but when it comes to mealtime and children, food can be very fun! Many of us take photos when our children first learn to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5030/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-3/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5030/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-3/ Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:05:17 -0800 tracey   Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids. Idea #2- It’s in the DetailsThe big picture of raising children can feel overwhelming at times. Breaking down  the day-to-day into smaller parts can help give a little perspective and make things feel less daunting. This idea can also be true in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5029/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-2/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5029/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-2/ Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:12:56 -0800 tracey Part of a series of ideas to help any parent take endearing and meaningful pictures of their kids.Idea #1- Playing FavoritesMany children have a one of a kind favorite thing. It could be a blanket, or bunny, a bear or a binkie. This objects of affection become a part of our daily lives yet we often forget that these raggedy ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5024/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-1/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5024/Capturing-Family-Life-in-Photographs-Idea-1/ Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:15:14 -0800 tracey This advice is a follow up to my “I Did Something Right” or IDSR blog post HERE. Being on time is one thing I am pretty good at. As a parent, getting my children to school and social functions on time is very important to me. And being prompt at pick up time is equally so. It’s not always easy, and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4804/In-a-Timely-Manner-IDSR/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4804/In-a-Timely-Manner-IDSR/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:16:33 -0800 tracey It seems a parent’s work is never done. There are kids to tend to, household chores to do, bills to pay, calls to make, and the list goes on and on. Although I have heard that multi-tasking isn’t always the best way to get through the day sane, I have found some success in paring up our regular activities with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4504/Pairing-Up/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4504/Pairing-Up/ Thu, 08 Feb 2007 08:53:12 -0800 tracey Since I’ve read the book “Little Sugar Addicts” by Kathleen Desmaison and doing my best to make some slow and  steady, positive changes in my families diet I have discovered a few secrets to getting a little more protein in at breakfast time.Protein powder (more specifically WHEY protein powder that is not sweetened with Aspartame or an equivalent as SOY isn't ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4007/Jump-Start-Your-Morning/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4007/Jump-Start-Your-Morning/ Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:13:45 -0800 tracey I have found that mealtime can be more fun when you mix things up sometimes. During our recent holiday break from school I tried to find ways to keep my kids entertained without having to go out and spend tons of money. When it came to lunchtimes, I found a few creative ways to get my kids enthusiastic about eating. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3858/Adventures-in-Eating/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3858/Adventures-in-Eating/ Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:41:17 -0800 tracey Talking to our children about sex is one of the hardest things we parents must do. The topic conjures up different emotions for everyone and for some it may feel a more daunting task that for others but I’m not sure any parent feels fully confident in the whens/whats/hows of discussing this sensitive issue with their kids. I know I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3675/Lets-Talk-About-Sex/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3675/Lets-Talk-About-Sex/ Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:57:09 -0800 tracey I know many parents avoid taking their children out to restaurants. I’ve been there and I get it. But just because you have young children doesn’t mean you’re trapped in your own dining room forever. Instead, you just have to plan ahead a little and be prepared. I have found that keeping my girls engaged and busy while we are ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2872/You-Too-Can-Eat-Out/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2872/You-Too-Can-Eat-Out/ Sun, 03 Dec 2006 23:16:40 -0800 tracey    Recently, we’ve discovered that our 3 year old has a sensitivity to sugar. As in, too much of it mixed with not enough protein makes her a very unhappy girl. I wrote a post about it a while ago (see link below) and got some great responses. Since then, we have come up with a few strategies that have ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2718/Cut-Backs/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2718/Cut-Backs/ Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:38:12 -0800 tracey Most parents with school aged children find themselves rushing around from home to school, to the soccer field or dance class (or both) and back home again. In between the social shuffle there’s making lunches, running errands, doing homework, eating dinner, bath time, and usually more homework. Life’s pace doesn’t give us much time to spend together. Not in big ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2578/Making-the-Minutes-Count/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2578/Making-the-Minutes-Count/ Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:50:02 -0800 tracey Going to daycare or preschool for a young child is a big step into the world of the unknown. It can be difficult for both parent and child in the early stages of this kind of separation. In my case, my daughter is still weepy when I drop her off at school and it’s been almost 2 months. Who knew?  ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2128/Take-a-Little-Comfort/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2128/Take-a-Little-Comfort/ Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:00:42 -0700 tracey I have always loved writing notes and now that I am a parent my notes have never been more appreciated. My girls not only love the notes I give them, they have come to expect and anticipate them. There are all sorts of occasions when notes are appropriate. Here are some of ours: School lunches. Perhaps this is the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1897/Noteworthy/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1897/Noteworthy/ Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:58:08 -0700 tracey Taking pictures of our children is something we all do. Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you do it even better!   Try not to say “cheese”. When kids are asked to smile for the camera they tend to flash a big forced and fake smile. When taking photos of my kids I often will ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1732/Taking-Great-Pictures-of-Your-Kids/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1732/Taking-Great-Pictures-of-Your-Kids/ Sun, 01 Oct 2006 08:54:45 -0700 tracey How can I get my 3 year old to listen and behave? Lately he has been a little monster. I have tried the naughty chair, time outs everything I could think of. He is into hitting now, and I am getting frustrated. There is somedays I just want to walk out. Is it called three year old terror's? Omg I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1458/The-Roles-We-Play/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1458/The-Roles-We-Play/ Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:24:49 -0700 tracey Because many Minti members are expecting babies, I thought it would be helpful to get some insights and advice from a mom who works closely with expectant and new parents in her career. A mom-friend of mine has worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse for 18 years. I asked her a few questions I thought Minti parents might want ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1457/An-Interview-with-a-Labor-and-Delivery-Nurse/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1457/An-Interview-with-a-Labor-and-Delivery-Nurse/ Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:53:59 -0700 tracey I cut my toddler's hair myself. I've discovered that doing it while she is taking a bath makes it easy. She is distracted in the tub and feels less pressured so it's not so traumatic and then hair just falls into the bath. When we are all finished, I stand her up, drain the water, rinse her off and fill the tub again to wash off all the hair. It works ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1398/Cutting-Your-Childs-Hair/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1398/Cutting-Your-Childs-Hair/ Fri, 08 Sep 2006 22:27:31 -0700 tracey Here's a little trick I came up with. I consider it under the category of using 'an everyday object in a whole new way'. Since the tiles on my bathroom walls are slightly textured, I have never been able to hang a "bath toy holder" with suction cups in the tub for my kids stuff. What I came up with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1397/A-Bath-Full-of-Toys/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1397/A-Bath-Full-of-Toys/ Fri, 08 Sep 2006 22:15:30 -0700 tracey Here's a little something I've re-discoved. Kids love frozen peas. I had forgotten. When my oldest daughter was a toddler she and some of her toddler friends would eat them by the bowlfull on warm summer days. How could I have forgotten that? Well, ust recently she asked for some. And then my youngest daughter wanted some. I wasn't sure ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1396/Eat-Your-Frozen-Veggies/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1396/Eat-Your-Frozen-Veggies/ Fri, 08 Sep 2006 22:01:49 -0700 tracey My work as a children’s portrait photographer has provided me with a lot of insight into family life. Through the years of spending time with a ton of families, I have come to recognize a few things I’ve seen occur that I now consider somewhat universal. Anyone who has had professional pictures taken of their kids knows that once the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1376/Expect-The-Unexpected/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1376/Expect-The-Unexpected/ Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:55:12 -0700 tracey Playing board games is a fantastic way to spend quality time with your older child. But what about the younger set? Never fear, board games can work for them too. Although young children won't really be able to "play" the game as it is intended to be played, they can play in their own way. Board games are all about ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1265/Little-Gamers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1265/Little-Gamers/ Tue, 29 Aug 2006 23:36:16 -0700 tracey My family and I recently enjoyed a weeklong, end-of-summer vacation together. The excitement of planning, the preparations, and the task of packing kept us busy right up until our flight left for the lovely Island of Kauai. If you’ve traveled with children you know that although you might be going on what is called a “vacation”, it’s not always exactly ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1248/The-Value-of-Vacations/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1248/The-Value-of-Vacations/ Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:04:33 -0700 tracey  This is a story I worte when I sent my first child off to Kindergarten.   Well, I did it. This morning, I dropped my daughter Julia off at school, for her very first day of kindergarten. I’ve anticipated this moment since the day I gave birth almost five years ago, somehow knowing it would be here in the blink of an ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1020/The-Kindergarten-Question/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1020/The-Kindergarten-Question/ Sat, 12 Aug 2006 13:09:39 -0700 tracey Being a parent takes almost everything we've got sometimes. Quite often we are overwhelmed and overtired. At the end of the day, when the kids are asleep we rarely have enough energy left over to do the things we like to do. Unfortunately, we don't usually make much time for ourselves. We get into the habit of ignoring our wants ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/984/Creativity-101-Grown-ups-only/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/984/Creativity-101-Grown-ups-only/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:00:47 -0700 tracey Want to get rid of stuff? There are many ways to do it. You can have a garage sale. There’s also the option of local non-profit pick-ups and drop off locations. You can give things away to family and friends. But there is one thing you may not have considered; offering a handful of small toys and books to your ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/904/Project-Give-Away/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/904/Project-Give-Away/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:48:45 -0700 tracey I have organization on the brain lately. Perhaps I'm a little obsessed. I guess it's just that with 2 kids, a husband and a home office, I am in a constant state of feeling unorganized. I wrote in a related article about the joy of containers, bins, boxes, and bags. I have been reflecting on how "containing" the all the pieces ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/903/Whole-Package/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/903/Whole-Package/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:28:49 -0700 tracey I’m a big fan of containers. It doesn’t really matter what kind of container it is really; bins, boxes, bags, I like them all. When I put things into a container, I feel more organized. For the record, I’m not really organized at all so it’s just an illusion. Regardless, I still do it and I will say that when ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/889/Contain-Yourself/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/889/Contain-Yourself/ Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:03:29 -0700 tracey Big family activities or outings can often be costly and exhausting. When we only have one day to spend at an attraction, there is so much pressure to take it all in that we often expect too much from the experience. What can happen is that the exciting, fun-filled day we’ve anticipated turns out to be a big disappointment. Large ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/883/Are-You-a-Member/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/883/Are-You-a-Member/ Thu, 03 Aug 2006 23:05:35 -0700 tracey Parenting is tough work. We all know that. The trick is how to manage the job of raising our children, being our best selves. That can’t always be the case but we’ve all had moments when we’ve recognized that we’re doing a pretty good job as parents. For me the key has been to acknowledge what I’m good at and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/835/Parental-Balance/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/835/Parental-Balance/ Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:29:00 -0700 tracey Many of us parents have trouble when it comes to the bath time. Although most kids love the bath, they hate getting their hair washed and rinsed. Well, mom Karen shared this little tidbit with Parent Hacks and I thought I’d bring it to you all. She bought a plastic watering can and uses it like a baby “shower” while ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/780/Tub-Time-Tips/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/780/Tub-Time-Tips/ Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:46:55 -0700 tracey As our children travel from baby to toddler to big kid, we often get rid of the toys they outgrow. If we didn't we'd live in a house FULL of toys and no parent wants that. Although it's important to purge, a good idea is to keep some of those favorite "baby books" to pull out again when your child is ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/745/Save-Those-Baby-Books/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/745/Save-Those-Baby-Books/ Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:25:02 -0700 tracey I have found that my three year old always wants to “help” me. With dinner, with the dishes, with the laundry, with everything that is grown-up. I was finding myself turning her offers down regularly out of convenience. Most parents know that it’s easier to do the work alone, without little hands undoing what’s been done or doing something that ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/744/Little-Helpers/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/744/Little-Helpers/ Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:10:14 -0700 tracey After my first daughter was born there were lots of things that came in handy. All the baby items I got at my shower, the things I bought, the practical stuff, all helpful and very useful. When we first arrived home from the hospital people sent gifts and flowers and came to visit and it was so kind of everyone ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/725/Please-Send-Food/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/725/Please-Send-Food/ Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:17:47 -0700 tracey A Lesson in ToilettingMy daughter was rounding two when I began to notice potty talk popping up in daily conversation. I however, opted to dismiss the subject as long as I could. She was my second child and I had become more of a “follow her lead” kind of mom, having done it once before and all. Even as the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/720/Potty-Break/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/720/Potty-Break/ Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:11:55 -0700 tracey The other night as I tucked my 8-year-old daughter into bed, I was stroking her back, as I do every night and was looking around her room. It was dimly lit by the hall light, but I could see just enough to remind me of what an incredibly strong, smart, and confident girl my husband and I are raising. As I scanned the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/703/My-Voice-in-Her-Head/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/703/My-Voice-in-Her-Head/ Sun, 16 Jul 2006 16:08:36 -0700 tracey My son, who is 23 months, will be a ring bearer in my brother's wedding on Saturday. I am excited and nervous. I'm not sure he will follow the directions and walk down the aisle. We will have someone positioned in the front and back of the aisle. Has anyone's child done this before? Any advice on getting him to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/702/Young-Children-In-Weddings/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/702/Young-Children-In-Weddings/ Sun, 16 Jul 2006 14:12:45 -0700 tracey A blog post from Kilee got me thinking about my experience potty training my girls. Here's a little idea that might help with those unexpected (and inevitable) accidents. To protect your car seat put a plastic bag on the bottom of the seat and then place a thick cloth nappie or hand towel folded in half on top of that. When ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/686/Potty-Precautions/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/686/Potty-Precautions/ Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:41:53 -0700 tracey When you have a baby there are a few things that will never cease to amaze you. Here's a few questions I recall asking myself- How something so small can need so much stuff? How many onsies can a baby wear in one day? Can you have too many sleepers? Where can I hang this tiny bath robe?For me, the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/668/Hook-Me-Up/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/668/Hook-Me-Up/ Mon, 10 Jul 2006 17:18:44 -0700 tracey    When I became a parent, I realized that even though I thought I had things pretty figured out, I didn’t. Having a baby shook things up so fast and furious that even the most basic day-to-day tasks felt new, different and sometimes difficult. I think many parents feel the same way. Heck, my girls are 3 and 8 and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/661/Hey-Baby-Whats-Your-Sign/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/661/Hey-Baby-Whats-Your-Sign/ Sat, 08 Jul 2006 15:29:31 -0700 tracey I've heard conflicting oppinions about the e-card. Some say it's a nice and accepatable way to send a personal greeting, others say it's much more appropriate to send a hand written note via snail mail. But, parents know that efficiency is the name of the game, so finding a way to do something that saves time and money is usually a really ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/650/E-Card-Me/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/650/E-Card-Me/ Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:04:25 -0700 tracey There are many ways to encouraging your child’s inner artist.  Here are a few simple tips to show them you value their creativity and artistic efforts.  -Recognize that there’s more to art than just a painting. Some kids draw, others paint, some use legos or blocks and some play-doh or clay. Appreciating and nurturing your child’s creativity in all of ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/645/Encouraging-Whats-Creative/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/645/Encouraging-Whats-Creative/ Wed, 05 Jul 2006 19:10:23 -0700 tracey My oldest daughter and I had some time together tonight. Time alone, just she and I, which is rare anymore with a toddler in the house. It was about a half hour before bedtime and although I had piles of work to do and she was content playing a computer game, I asked her to steal away with me to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/628/Remembering-When/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/628/Remembering-When/ Sun, 02 Jul 2006 10:12:12 -0700 tracey Every parent knows that a child’s favorite toy isn’t usually a toy at all. It’s usually something like your cell phone, your sunglasses, or your purse or wallet. Here’s an idea- Create a “real purse” for your little one. Get an old purse, handbag, backpack, or wallet. Fill it up with real, grown up stuff like old credit cards, keys, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/623/Whats-In-Your-Wallet/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/623/Whats-In-Your-Wallet/ Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:28:53 -0700 tracey A fantastic way to get your child excited about a trip to the library is by encouraging them to use a interactive book like "Books to Check Out for Kids" (Chronicle Books). With it's journal-like format, mad-lib style book reviews, and stickers, it's certain to appeal to children of all ages and foster their love of reading. I enourage you to take ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/611/Check-This-Out/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/611/Check-This-Out/ Wed, 28 Jun 2006 23:12:54 -0700 tracey When my daughter was a baby we found that she slept better at night after an evening stroll. The fresh air and the evening sky seemed to soothe her. Even as a newborn, her most contented moments weret those being walked at dusk. Since she's been a little older (just turned 3) she has still loved to go on our walks but it ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/585/Go-Ride-a-Bike/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/585/Go-Ride-a-Bike/ Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:00:24 -0700 tracey My daughter and I gather with a group of moms and their children regularly. We've been getting together for coffee and playtime once a week with the same group for almost 2 years. There are 8 of us moms and 10 kids (2 sets of twins) and we take turns hosting it at our homes.  These moms have been a lifeline for me ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/584/Playdate-Peace/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/584/Playdate-Peace/ Mon, 26 Jun 2006 11:32:32 -0700 tracey Here are a few things to think about when planning a kid’s party.  Parties aren’t just for birthdays. It can be great fun to plan a party based around a holiday. When my daughter was younger we would host an annual Halloween party for her friends (and their parents). I adore little ones dressed for Halloween so it was ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/580/Lets-Party/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/580/Lets-Party/ Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:17:58 -0700 tracey When my oldest daughter turned one, a dear friend gave her a book called "On The Day You Were Born" by Debra Frasier. She signed the inside with special birthday wishes which made the gift even more special. When I read the book for the first time I cried (I was very emotional with it being my baby's first birthday). ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/551/First-Birthday-Gift/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/551/First-Birthday-Gift/ Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:24:54 -0700 tracey If your kids are anything like mine, they are much more interested in drawing then they are coloring in a pre-fab coloring book. It surprises me becasue I loved coloring books when I was young but not my two girls. No way. So, when I came accross a few of Taro Gomi's wonderfully creative alternatives to traditional coloring books, I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/545/Beyond-Coloring-Books/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/545/Beyond-Coloring-Books/ Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:12:35 -0700 tracey The other night during our evening stroll through the neighborhood, my just-turned-three-year-old daughter came upon a spider spinning it's web. She was spellbound and totally content to sit there and watch. After a while, I prompted her to continue with our walk and she agreed to carry on ONLY IF we could come back by on our way home to "investigate" (her ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/511/Little-Kids-Big-Words/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/511/Little-Kids-Big-Words/ Mon, 19 Jun 2006 15:41:56 -0700 tracey I’m not sure where I saw this idea first. I know I’m not the one who came up with it but I’ve used it and it works for my family. I bought a couple of hanging shoe organizers for storage for my daughter’s small stuffed toys. They each have one hanging in their room, at eye level that they use ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/509/Organize-This/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/509/Organize-This/ Mon, 19 Jun 2006 14:02:23 -0700 tracey When my first daughter was very young I received a special red plate from my mother. I don’t remember the occasion but I do remember noting the very fancy, formal box it was packaged in. From the way it was presented to me, I knew there must be some kind of story behind it. I unwrapped it as she told me ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/489/Well-Isnt-That-Special/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/489/Well-Isnt-That-Special/ Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:46:15 -0700 tracey My youngest daughter gets lots of hand-me-down toys from her sister. I have found it interesting to see which of her sister's favorites turn out to be hers too. They are such different kids. One "toy" that both of them have enjoyed is a children's cassette tape player. It's really easy to use so they can do it themselves (that's ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/471/Just-Push-Play/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/471/Just-Push-Play/ Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:18:00 -0700 tracey I always tend to forget how much my kids love to dance. I'm with them all the time, doing my best to entertain them, keeping them busy, creative, and active but I seem to forget the music. My husband comes home from work and turns on a cd and within minutes my girls are dancing around the living room. He'll ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/455/Everybody-Dance-Now/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/455/Everybody-Dance-Now/ Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:49:34 -0700 tracey We just celebrated my daughter's third birthday. I'm including a picture here of her decorating her cake. It's a tradition we've held to since we celebrated my oldest daughter's very first birthday. I'm not a "make a cake from scratch" kind of mom but I've managed to make the cakes for every one of my kid's birthdays with the help of a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/427/Let-Them-Make-Cake/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/427/Let-Them-Make-Cake/ Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:24:58 -0700 tracey When it comes to food, kids can be so picky. Here's a good way to mix up mealtime even if your child has a very limited palette. Serve their same old food with a new twist. It's something that may seem so obvious but we all have a tendency to fall into a rut so this option might be something ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/397/Food-Fun/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/397/Food-Fun/ Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:56:44 -0700 tracey All parents know how quickly kids grow out of clothes. Here's a little tip to help you get more mileage out of your children's pants. Belive it or not, some of the pants that your baby outgrows will actually fit again later. It's called the diaper/nappy factor (at least that's what I'm calling it). When my daughter grew out of her 12-18 mo. & ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/396/Dont-Get-Your-Panties-In-a-Wad/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/396/Dont-Get-Your-Panties-In-a-Wad/ Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:20:27 -0700 tracey  I believe that encouraging our children to express themselves artistically is a creative and fun part of parenting. Being a photographer, I find that a camera is an easy and accessible tool to share with them. Both my girls are comfortable and confident shooting pictures and some of the images they capture are awesome. The beauty of digital cameras is ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/385/Kids-and-Cameras/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/385/Kids-and-Cameras/ Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:38:18 -0700 tracey As a parent of two pretty crafty kids I know how quickly the masterpieces can accumulate. I keep a handful for a keepsake book and another stack I store in a drawer for when I need gift tags, cards or wrapping paper. I cut out the details of the painting or drawing that I love and either fold it in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/384/Extra-Art/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/384/Extra-Art/ Mon, 05 Jun 2006 23:42:40 -0700