Should My Kids Still Believe In Santa?

December 17, 2008 – 12:34 pm

I have a six and seven year old who both still believe in Santa. I also have a 3 year old that I definitely believe should believe in Mr. Claus. The older two have started to ask if Santa is real and I’m worried that if I tell them the truth, the news will eventually travel to their little brother. Do I tell the older two that Santa is real or no? - Mandy

Great question Mandy! While I think every parent needs to ultimately make that decision themselves, I for one believe in allowing kids to believe in Santa as long as possible. So until they come up with some comments or questions that hint at the fact that they really don’t believe anymore, I would continue to tell them that Santa is real and go through all the fun traditions like hanging stockings and putting out cookies for him that go along with believing in the guy in red. Enjoy those traditions while you can. All three of your kids will grow up fast enough.

Merry Christmas!

Kids and Fruit

May 22, 2008 – 5:22 pm

I can’t get my 4-year-old to eat any fruit other than bananas. Any thoughts?
Yes, I actually have quite a few ideas for you, since we had to deal with the same thing last year.

  • Smoothies This worked like a charm. I'd throw some fruit,yogurt and sometimes a little ice into a blender to make some quick fruit smoothies. My kids still think they are milkshakes and can't believe I'm actually letting them have these for breakfast.

    These smoothies work well with any combination of fresh or frozen fruit. If they turn out too thick, add a little juice or milk.

  • Dips
    If your kids don’t like fruit plain, offer it with a dip. We like flavored yogurt, honey and caramel dip for apples.
  • Bake It
    Use fruit in muffins, quick breads (like banana bread or strawberry bread) and even in (or on top of) pancakes.

Getting My Child Interested in the Environment

April 22, 2008 – 1:10 pm

Earth Day got me thinking about the environment and I’m wondering how I can get my 7 year old interested in the topic.

Great question and kudos to you  for involving you child and making sure he or she becomes more aware of the environment and the part he or she plays in it.

I would start with some simple recycling crafts like turning a can into a pencil holder, making homemade paper out of old newspapers and the likes.  Here are some other great earth day projects for the whole family… of course they can be done any day of the year :)

While you’re working on these crafts and activities talk to your child about why you are doing them and how it impacts the environment.

Keep an eye out for some local earth day activities today and this coming weekend and stop by your local library. They should have quite a few books on the topic as well and can help you choose one or two that are appropriate for your child.

Switching From Bottle To Sippy Cup

March 25, 2008 – 1:43 pm

My 12 month old still only drinks from a bottle. I’ve been trying to get him to drink out of a plastic sippy cup, but so far he refuses. Any idea on how to transition him away from the bottle?

Great question! At 12 months, your little boy is at the perfect age to transition away from the bottle. If you wait too much longer, you’ll have a pretty hard time getting him away from the bottle.

Even with this being a great time to switch, it’s still a pretty big change for your little guy, and it may take a little time for him to get used to it. Here are a couple of tips to ease the transition.

  • Try out a few different types of cups. One of my kids took one with a soft spout first and then transitioned to the hard plastic one. The other one preferred the hard plastic one from the start. You may also want to experiment with cups that have a valve and those that don’t.
  •   Keep offering the cup at meal time. Sometimes all it takes is a little time for him to get familiar with it.
  • If he likes juice, put it only in the sippy cup. He’ll get the point :)

Welcome To Mom FAQs

March 24, 2008 – 1:45 am

Being a Mom is quite the job, isn’t it? We create life and then do our best to raise this little person to become a responsible and successful adult. Unfortunately kids don’t come with a user manual, which I’m sure you’ve noticed by now ;)

Here at Mom FAQs, we are trying to answer some of those questions that come up as you raise your kids. Feel free to stop by and ask a question, or browse through our ever-growing collection of questions and answers.