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The Terrible Twos Really Are Terrible!

November 20 by Jessica Timmons

Parenting Styles: How to deal with the terrible twos and keep you sanity.

About a year and a half ago, I wrote about my crazy-naughty three-year-old son. I pissed and moaned about the terrible threes and complained that the terrible twos were nothing. Well. About that. It turns out, you can have four kids and know nothing about anything. Because I’m here to tell you that the terrible twos are not only real, they are no joke. I’m navigating this two-year-old like I would a grenade, something that could go off any second and obliterate everything in a two-mile … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: parenting styles, parenting toddlers, terrible twos, toddler discipline

MPMK Gift Guide Glimpse: Top 20 S.T.E.M. Toys for Kids

November 18 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

MPMK Toy Gift Guide: Top STEM Toys (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) for all ages - so many cool picks I'd never thought of and I love, LOVE the detailed descriptions and age recommendations. Such an amazing resource!

It’s time for another “MPMK Gift Guide Glimpse”… For those of you not exactly sure what I’m talking about, this is a day when we highlight one of our favorite sections of the:  2016 MPMK Gift Guides Why? Because I realize that our MEGA gift guides are a lot to take in- detailed descriptions and age recommendations of over 400 toys, books, games, and more divided into 15 themed guides takes some concentration to get through. I’ve heard from several moms in fact, both via email and in real … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: best engineering toys, best hot wheels toys, best LEGO sets, best programming toys, best robotic toys, best science toys, Best STEM toys, MPMK gift guide, STEM gift guide

5 Ways You Never Knew Huggies Had Parents’ Backs

November 17 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

If you're a regular here, you know that I have the honor of being part of the 2016 Huggies Parent Council. And if you follow me on facebook or instagram, then you also know that a few weeks ago I got to take a little trip to Chicago (right in the middle of their historic World Series win, no less!) to learn more about the brand's No Baby Unhugged program. What is No Baby Unhugged? It's Huggies vision to ensure all babies get the hugs they need by helping parents understand and embrace the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Everyday Tagged With: no baby unhugged

#MyBestLife: How to Find Time to Read as a Busy Mom

November 15 by Janssen

How to find time to read, reading time for moms, when do moms read?

As parents, we spend a lot of time rushing around making sure that all of our kids' needs are met. But what about us? What do you do to make sure that you're fulfilled? Today we're working with Doctor's Best to explore what it means to be living #MyBestLife in the midst of kids and chaos. When I asked our contributor Janssen to name one thing she prioritizes for herself in order to live her best life, she instantly responded, "Reading!". This wasn't a big surprise being that she's a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: #mybestlife, doctor's best vitamins, finding time to read, how to read more, when do mom's read

It’s Back! MPMK Gift Guide Sales Page – Updated Daily!

November 14 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Amazon Toy Sales Alert Page - Part of MPMK's famous mega-gift guides. This is where you can see which toys have gone on sale. There's also an email sign-up so you don't have to check back each day... This page blog gives the most detailed toy descriptions and awesome age recommendations and now you can save $ on all their picks- hooray!!

  Each year my mega gift guides collection grows in popularity and each year, right around this time, I start seeing a lot of my favorite items from the gift guides go on sale. And each year I try to figure out the best way to quickly let you know about these sales before they are over. One of my favorite things about this time of year, after all, is getting my kiddos the perfect engaging toy at a steal of a deal! So last year I tried something new. Because most social media … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Tagged With: Amazon Black Friday toy sale, amazon sales, amazon toy deal of the day, amazon toy goldbox deal, amazon toy sale, amazon toy sale alerts, best toys, Black Friday toy sales, Christmas toy sales, MPMK toy gift guides, top toys, toy sale alerts, where to find toys on sale

Free Webinar: Get Kids to Listen Without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling

November 8 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Everything you need to know about positive parenting. These tips have saved my early evenings with the kids when everyone is a little tired from a long day and patience is running low.

Image Credit: © fairuz othman (text added) | tears | CC by 2.0 Tired of the yelling? Tired of the whining? Tired of being tired? (And, no, I'm not talking about the election...) You’re not alone. From toddler temper-tantrums to teenage talking back, parents wonder what it takes to get kids to cooperate. If you’re tired of nagging, reminding and yelling to get your kids to listen – I've got just the thing for you. I'm excited to once again partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: how to stop yelling at your kids, parenting without yelling, positive parenting, positive parenting solutions

The 2016 MPMK Gift Guides are Here!!

November 1 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

MPMK 2016 Toy Gift Guides - Best gift guides for kids ever! 11 themed guides with detailed descriptions and age recommendations staring at babies through teenagers. These famous toy gift guides get bigger and better every year and have been viewed by millions of parents!

How great would it be to get all of your Christmas shopping done ahead of time this year AND to feel confident your kids are going to love their gifts and keep returning to play with them again and again? I've got some HUGE news today friends! Drum roll please...   The 2016 Toy Gift Guides are here!   In case you're unfamiliar with our famous gift guide collection, this is not your average roundup of a few of our favorite things - Oh no. This is an incredibly extensive … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting, The Everyday Tagged With: best Christmas gifts for kids, best S.T.E.M. toys, best toys for babies, best toys for burning off energy, best toys for kids, Christmas gift guide for kids, Kids gift guides, MPMK gift guides, MPMK holiday gift guides, toy gift guide

Parenting Styles: How We Accidentally Became a No-Devices-For-Kids House

October 26 by Jessica Timmons

How to Stop Your Kids' Technology Addiction: One Mom's Story

My husband and I did something capital C crazy a few weeks ago, completely on a whim. No parental strategy, no thoughtful discussion weighing pros and cons. Nope, he just made a passing comment about how our kids’ screen time on their various mobile devices – a few hand-me-down iPhones and a Kindle received as a Christmas gift last year – drove him up the wall, and I agreed. So we rounded everything up and stashed them all away. It’s crazy to me that taking away mobile devices is a crazy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jessica, Parenting, The grown ups (that's you!) Tagged With: kids and phones, kids and tablets, screentime for kids, technology rules for kids

MPMK Gift Guides: Hottest 20 New Toys of the Year!

October 23 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

The famous MPMK gift guides are back! Here are the top 20 toys of the year - picked from a collection of 400+ toys that tens of thousands of parents shop from each year to find the best of the best for their kids!

I've been behind the scenes working like crazy on this year's MPMK Gift Guides. If you don't know, our gifts guides have become somewhat famous and lots and lots (and lots!) of parents use them each year to find the perfect gift for their kids. That's a lot of pressure! And I work really hard to try to live up to the expectations.   One last thing, I do my best throughout the year to keep our readers up-to-date on any sales I see on our gift guide items.  To be in the loop, be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: best toys for 2 year olds, best toys for boys, best toys for girls, best toys for kids, best toys for preschoolers, best toys for toddler, Best toys of the year, top toys

Savory Breakfast Idea: Turmeric Oats with Acorn Squash

October 19 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Savory Breakfast Idea: Turmeric Oats with Acorn Squash - who says oatmeal has to be sweet?! #spon

*This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company, all opinions are 100% our own. When it comes to breakfast, are you a salty or sweet lover? Although I'm notorious for my sweet tooth, I just can't do too much sugar, or even fruit, first thing in the morning. Which is why I cannot wait to try this nutritious breakfast creation from our contributor, Kristin. Instead of traditional oatmeal toppings like fruit and brown sugar, she's gone savory with turmeric oats, eggs, and red onions. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen Tagged With: fall oatmeal recipe, savory acorn squash oats, savory oatmeal recipe

Round-Up: 9 Best Educational Apps for Your Kids

October 18 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

9 Best Learning Apps for Kids picked by a Tech Journalist - a great list and don't miss the awesome programming website recommendations too!

Image Credit: © Stephanie | Smart Kid and the Smart Phone | CC by 2.0 When it comes to screen time, I want only the best for my kids. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to research the mountain of supposedly "educational" apps and websites available. Luckily, today we have an expert here to guide us all. She's a tech journalist as well as a mom and she's researched this topic.. A LOT. Psst - Don't miss her two recommendations below for websites that teach kids to code too! Hint: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: best educational apps, best educational apps for kids, best learning apps for kids, top educational apps

Chatbooks: An Honest Review from a Professional Photographer

October 17 by Kristin

I'm always so interested to hear how pro photographers deal with saving their own special memories. So when I found out our contributor (and photographer), Kristin, is a fan of the service Chatbooks, I asked her to write a post on why she loves it. Psst - Don't forget, you can get a free Chatbook along with lots of other cool stuff as part of the "Time for You" Bundle, ENDING TODAY! Years ago, I'd spend hours putting together an album every year for my family photos.  It was a time consuming … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kristin Tagged With: chatbooks, diy photos, making family albums

Quiet Time Activities Perfect for Getting Kids to Calm Down for Bed

October 10 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

A great list of activities to help kids wind down before bedtime - love that it's broken up by age group (toddlers, preschoolers, school aged kids)

Image Credit: © Suzette Pauwels (text added) | 01.09.11 | CC by 2.0 Today I have something uber useful for you guys - a bedtime post from Jillian of A Mom with a Lesson Plan (a great site you really should check out if you're not already familiar). I've posted Jillian's game-changing, quiet-time-before-bedtime idea on MPMK's facebook wall a few times and have always gotten a huge response. Today she's here to expand on the idea and share her favorite pre-bedtime quiet activities broken … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Educational Activities, Parenting, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: before bed activities, getting kids to bed, help with bedtime, kids bedtime routines, quiet time activities

Do You Have a Halloween Ritual?

October 5 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Definitely starting #19 this year and LOVE #30 for all the candy!Definitely starting #19 this year and LOVE #30 for all the candy!

Our family is big on traditions.  We've got them for major events like birthdays and Christmas, as well as small things like Saturday mornings and bedtime. Recently, I’ve been thinking about all the Halloween activities and projects we’ve tried (or wanted to try) since the kids were born. This year, I’m looking to officially elevate a few of them to “tradition” status. As I was compiling ideas, it occurred to me you too might be interested in starting a family Halloween tradition. So I’ve … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Projects, Seasonal Fun, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: Halloween crafts, Halloween kid activities, Halloween recipes, Halloween traditions, Halloween treats

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