Kris’ Korner

So many kids are comfortable sitting in front of the television spending hours playing video games. Parents may feel like they have no control over how long their kids play video games, but there is alternative. When parents provide educational toys for kids to play with their kids are much less likely to turn to video games for entertainment.

The earlier parents begin to offer their children educational toys the better. Older children tend to get set in their ways and become resistant to change. Years of playing video games can make a child feel like there’s no reason to try anything else. Be creative when encouraging your kids to pick up educational items, such as utilizing personalized childrens books or toys.

My kids love Halloween; every year they get so excited as the holiday nears. I start preparing unique childrens costumes for them months in advance. But something bad happened this year. A couple days before Halloween I had picked up my son’s costume from the alterations shop, then stopped at the grocery store.

This part is almost too sad for me to tell, but I will. My car got broken into, and everything was stolen, including my son’s costume. He was devastated. And I had to be quick to come up with something new for him to wear. Luckily my husband had an old felt cowboy hat, some leather chaps, and worn out boots—so my son dressed as a cowboy. Thankfully, the holiday wasn’t ruined.

Many parents spend the last part of the day reading to their children before putting them to bed. Experts recommend that parents keep reading to their children for as long as their children will tolerate it. Kids who hear their parents reading to them will grow up believing its okay to read.

Many kids, once they get older, will even choose to read to younger siblings or cousins. While educational books seem like the best choice of reading material for kids, let them have a little fun and pick out the books they find entertaining. You can cultivate a passion for literature further by indulging them in a customized childrens book.

For many kids, the best part of the day is when they get tucked into bed, and their parents read them their favorite bedtime story.  And while every kid has his or her favorite bedtime story, there are certain stories that have prevailed across generations as tried and true bedtime staples. No matter what type of book your child likes, there are some common elements that run across every popular bedtime story. For one, popular toddler books always have interesting or well done illustrations.

Kids are usually very visual. That’s why it’s so important to let the kids see the picture while you’re reading them the story. Whether it’s “Where the Wild Things Are” by the incomparable Maurice Sendak or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by children’s book icon Eric Carle, these books have intriguing stories as well as illustrations that can be appreciated even by the adults reading the story. This combination of high quality stories and visuals ensures these books entertain and tuck in several generations of children. Now you can even add your child into the plotline with a customized kids book.

The thought of having one baby is quite enough to have a mother and father stressing out with preparations, but two babies can inspire a near panic. Though it might seem like a lot of work, having two babies is not a whole lot different than having one. You’ll require the same kinds of equipment, just in double the amount, and you’ll also need a fair amount more time. It’s good to think about purchasing items that compliment twins, like dual strollers, or a twin baby crib. You will also need double the clothing, so it is a good idea to search around for discount baby clothing.

Having someone to help you out with your twins is essential, whether that be a good friend, a spouse, or a family member, it’s near impossible to go it alone all the time. You will find that once the twins are grown, they’ll tend to keep each other occupied, which is at least one clear benefit!

When I was growing, my parents emphasized the importance of being informed and actively seeking to discover the world around me. They bought me several subscriptions to magazines for children, including Zoo Books and Sports Illustrated for Kids. Although it has been years since I’ve read them, and I can’t recall any specific information off-hand, reading magazines at a young age has cultivated a lifelong passion for knowledge.

We’ve all read the horror stories about the death of print publications, but there are still several reputable magazines and newspapers that rely on the revenue from the print editions. While there is a myriad of information available online, you often don’t know where it is coming from and how credible it is. Nevertheless, I enjoy reading online newspapers and features. The constant gazing at a computer monitor, however, is horrible for eye sight and I often refer back to the old print copy.

When I was growing up, kids were content to play all-day long with a stick and a ball, which is hardly the case anymore. It seems like the attention spans of today’s youngest generation are getting shorter all of the time, and parents are always having to find new and innovative ways to entertain their children. As my grandkids have grown into that stage—somewhere around age three—when they are beginning to talk and investigate the world around them, I have had to work to find ways to keep them captivated.

Luckily, toy manufacturers have recognized the need to continually devise more creative childrens toy lines. Now you can find interactive toys that engage the child’s mind and provide hours of entertainment. Admittedly, I sometimes even enjoy playing with these hi-tech playthings.

Before entering kindergarten, when I was still learning to read, my parents found an innovative learning tool to help me along the way. It all started during my birthday party, when my mom claimed she had found a book that was written just for me. I had never shown much interest in books before, but as we all know, kids believe that they are the center of the universe. Obviously this would be a book worth reading.

As I later discovered, the miniature novel had been custom ordered from a catalog. My parents had supplied the company with my name, my best friends’ names and a few of my favorite things. The concept was a lot like an extended version of Madlibs, except that I was made the star of my very own book. It made the content instantly relatable and – best of all – it helped to whet my appetite for reading. These days it’s easy to find similar personalized books for kids online.

The best children’s books share several elements in common. They blend humor, quality storytelling and whimsy with a message that even kids can interpret. Dr. Seuss is the author who stands out as a classical example of this approach. From “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” – a screed against miserliness and greed – to “The Butter Battle Book” – an anti-war manifesto fit for first-graders – the good doctor was constantly couching his messages in a veneer of childish rhymes and dazzling artwork.

While few of today’s works of basic children’s literature compare to the classics, “Spongebob Squarepants: Just Say Please” might be a worthy successor. Among the many discount childrens books on the market, this one provides a teachable lesson in etiquette and politeness. And of course kids will enjoy the goofball characters that populate Spongebob’s underwater domain as well.

Getting your kids excited about reading can be a challenging task. With TV, iPods and the internet, children are often reluctant to sit down and take the time to read. Although electronic media can be a solid source of information, reading engages children’s’ minds in a unique way.

Instead of forcing your child to read books and other “educational” materials, try getting them a magazine. Whether your kid is into sports, animals or the planets, you can find a magazine that will interest and engage them. Childrens magazines are available with a variety of themes and contain up-to-date information.