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I like holiday-wear that is not over-the-top (insert holiday) so that my kids can wear it long after the decorations are gone and the parties are over.
These fun glow-in-the-dark long-sleeved shirts from Mini Boden are perfect for dusky autumn evenings before and after Halloween. One features an applique cat with a night sky and a rainbow (I’d love to see that IRL), and the other, several forest animals and the moon.
These comfy shirts are made with 100% cotton for easy wear and care. They’re perfect for layering as the days and nights get colder.
The Cat T-shirt is $32 and available in sizes 2–3y to 8–9y (larger sizes sold out). The Brilliant Blue Animals shirt is $28 and available in sizes 2–3y to 11–12y.
Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anon says
What do you pack for snack/lunch for your kids? It’s getting challenging without a microwave, and I won’t do a thermos bc it would mean packing lunches in the am.
Clementine says
A couple go-to cold lunches. (My kids’ classrooms are all nut free, so everything is nut free.)
Sandwiches – cheese or turkey are favorites. Whole Foods has deli turkey that is just normal turkey breasts sliced if you’re looking for something less processed than most deli meats. Other options are cream cheese and jelly or sun butter and honey or tuna.
Our household favorite – cracker stackers (aka homemade lunchables) – crackers, cut up cheese, maybe some deli meat if we have it or leftover sliced chicken. On the side I’ll usually do a fruit, a crunchy thing (carrots and ranch or pretzels or those beet seed crackers from TJ’s), and sometimes a fruit leather or some dried fruit.
I also often do a variation on grab bag which is a yogurt and a cereal bar plus some fruit and maybe a cheese stick. A friend does deli turkey wrapped around the cheese sticks because she’s always trying to make sure the little one consumes protein (kid exists on a 90% carb diet and doesn’t drink milk, only eats cheese sticks).
Our frequent snack options: yogurt, cereal bars, applesauce pouches, new favorite one is a yogurt with graham crackers to dip in it, Trader Joe’s beet crackers (which my kid calls pepperoni crackers), pirate’s booty, fruit, cheese or cheese sticks, and I have been known to send in (this goes in a thermos) Hot Chocolate at my kid’s request.
Anon says
We usually do cheese, fruit, and yogurt plus a “main” and a veg. For things that don’t need to be heated we do pb&j on ezekiel bread and maybe steamed carrot sticks or cucumbers. I think one day we’ll work up to hummus and things that can be dipped in it.
TheElms says
I have a toddler in a peanut and sweets free classroom and we send cheese sticks, yogurt, hummus, crackers, all types of fruit, berries, raisins, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal (which she will happily eat cold???), cheese sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, cream cheese on toast, sunbutter or sunbutter and jelly sandwiches, carrots, bell peppers, snap peas (usually with ranch), pirate’s booty, goldfish, pretzels, freeze dried puffed snap peas (I don’t know the real name apologies), kidney beans and black beans (both she will eat plain / cold???), granola bars, homemade muffins or bread if I have made any or have some in the freezer, toaster waffles, cherrios/cereal.
AwayEmily says
I’d at least try sending “hot” foods cold. I’m sure it varies by kid, but both of mine will eat cold baked beans and cold tortellini/pasta, and one loves cold oatmeal (which I find horrifying). Oh, chopped up cold hot dog with a little ketchup packet works, too. You can experiment! We use a bento-type lunchbox so I reserve one compartment for random leftovers, and if the compartment comes back empty I add those to the rotation.
GCA says
you want horrifying — we went camping with family friends a few months back and discovered that their kids ate oatmeal cold – as in an instant oatmeal packet mixed with cold water!! (I mean, it certainly simplifies things for their parents.)
Anonymous says
How do the oats get soft in cold water?!?
Cold tortellini tossed with vinaigrette or pesto = pasta salad.
Anon says
My 3 year old will only eat oatmeal if it’s made with cold water, lol.
anon says
Yep, we regularly send cold leftovers and only go for more typical lunch things when whatever we had for dinner either didn’t make leftovers or is too messy to eat at school (looking at you, soup).It takes the thought out of it for me, because one compartment of the bento box is leftovers and then I can fill up the rest with a fruit, a veg, and an extra carb.
Leftovers this week have been baked beans, rice and dal, and quiche, none of which I’d love to eat cold but kids are weird.
Spirograph says
I aim for a protein, a fruit, a vegetable, some kind of grain and a couple pre-packaged snacks (usually TJ’s fruit leathers and their version of nutrigrain bars).
Proteins: hard boiled egg/egg salad, cheese, hummus, sunbutter, gogurt-style yogurts, cold cuts (rolled into little tubes, my kids don’t like normal sandwiches for some reason), tuna salad.
Vegetables: Snow/snap peas, baby carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers
Fruits: berries, apples, grapes, pomegranate aryls
Grains: mini bagels (+ cream cheese), pita, tortillas
If I’ve baked any muffins, banana/zucchini bread, etc recently, they get a slice of that as dessert (our school does not allow candy or cookies). I try not to keep crackers and pretzels in the house because I can’t resist them, but if they’re around, they go in lunch boxes to get rid of them quicker.
Lifehack: I have a lunch schedule written on the fridge with the dinner meal plan. Monday: sunbutter & jelly, Tuesday: Tacos (beans in a thermos, rolled tortilla with sour cream and cheese in the lunchbox), Wednesday: “lunchables” (cheese, cold cuts & pita) etc etc. It takes a lot of the mental work out of grocery shopping and lunch-packing.
AwayEmily says
Yes! We also do a lunch schedule (along with breakfast and dinner) on the fridge. It’s not that there are THAT many options, but it’s nice to have one less thing to think about. This week’s is: leftover pasta, turkey sandwich, whole wheat apple muffin, bagel with cream cheese, PBJ (this covers what goes in the main bento box compartment, then I supplement with fruit/veggies/cheese sticks/pretzels).
anon says
Our school also doesn’t allow candy or cookies and it bugs me so much! My home-baked zucchini muffin with low sugar, whole grain flour, and mini chocolate chips is actually not substantially worse for my kids than salty tortilla chips, but one of these is allowed and one is not…
anon says
I have bento boxes (LunchBots) with four sections and packing lunch super easy for my elementary schooler:
section 1: cheese/nuts/edamame/nut butter
section 2: fruit
section 3: some kind of carb, like crackers or pretzels
section 4: veg or dried fruit or more fruit
octagon says
My kid loves kielbasa/hot dogs so we will cook some of those on the weekends and send them. He doesn’t mind if they are room temperature. If I’m really ambitious I will make little pigs in a blanket with the little smokies. Also +1 on tortellini.
Anonymous says
Is there some reason not to have a microwave?
FWIW, I microwave leftovers to piping hot and put in a thermos. I grew up on Chef-Boy-Ardee ravioli and my kids like leftovers of spaghetti and meatballs. Only one kid likes cold sandwiches and then only tolerates them for summer camp or when we go camping.
SC says
Since last year, my kid’s school has had kids eat lunch in their classrooms so they stay with their cohorts. The classrooms don’t have microwaves. Parents have asked, but the school hasn’t provided them. (My guess is that other kids can’t deal with the various smells in the classroom.) Pre-Covid, the cafeteria had microwaves.
Anonymous says
You can nuke at home and just put in a thermos. I love a hot meal when it is cold out (my kids are cut from this cloth).
Anonymous says
It would take too long for several kids to microwave their lunches.
Anon says
What do you pack for lunches for your kids? It’s getting challenging without a microwave, and I won’t do a thermos bc it would mean having to pack lunch in the am.
Anon says
I solo parent my 1 year old on Saturdays because husband works. He is an active child and loves people, so he does super well at daycare during the week but it has become very clear that he’s so bored (and cranky!!) at home with only me on Saturdays. Any ideas on things to do with a 1 year old that is stimulating enough for him but won’t wear me out completely? He doesn’t walk or stand unsupported on his own yet…
We went apple picking last saturday and he LOVED it but it depleted me completely.
Cb says
What about a long walk in the buggy or a bike ride, with a stop for a snack and a play?
Clementine says
I’ve always done a lot of solo parenting. What I found really helpful was to have a predictable routine for me and the kiddo.
Ours in the before times was usually something like wake up, kiddo plays, we go grocery shopping together, we go do an activity (Target counts. We used to often have like baby swim class.) and then I would get a nice coffee on the way back and we would go to the park and I would take a walk with a podcast and kid would get to ride in the stroller and jabber at the ducks and other people. As they get older, this turned into playground time. We also have a big local museum and I would often do the walk there in bad weather – same idea, just stroll around and get the kid out of the house.
Then I do lunch and – here’s the key – I would actually rest while the kid had nap. I would also highly suggest baby wearing in the house while you get chores done. I am an extrovert and also really like just inviting a friend over for coffee (morning or afternoon) and to catch up. Kids are often entertained just to have new people around.
AnonATL says
My son is the same, but he’s walking. He loves riding in the stroller at the walking trail near us. Some mornings I will walk and sometimes I jog. On mornings we walk, I’ll take my coffee and we just have a leisurely stroll. He waves and says hi to everyone we pass. Pack lots of snacks!
When I solo parent, I take him grocery shopping or to target first thing Saturday when it’s not busy and he loves that too.
anon says
I’ve been there! Errands totally count as a stimulating event for a 1-year-old, and they can gawk and smile at all the people they see. I also leaned on going to the park or going on walks around the neighborhood, both of which will wear you out less than Outings with a Capital O. I agree with Clementine that having a friend or grandparent stop by and visit for an hour or so will help break up the day, give you an adult to interact with, and give DS someone new to see.
Also, if your son naps well, shamelessly take breaks to recharge and don’t feel like you should do chores the whole time!
Anon says
Around that age my kid loved this giant tupperware bin that I filled with cornmeal and measuring cups/spoons. He might also be able to sort things (like pom poms) into muffin tins or maybe do play-doh. My kid also weirdly liked flippering up the rug with a plastic spatula and any time spent outside. I’d take him on errands like the grocery store (loved riding in carts), library (they have books on play ideas with toddlers), farmer’s market, maybe a hike or walk where you stick him in a carrier on your back. Bath time was fun and so were songs with hand motions. I also would sometimes pull out the nugget and make it into a ramp – kid loved crawling on it and pushing trucks up and down it. Ditto to a play tent/tunnel.
+ Covid says
Tagging onto this: how do you think about covid with this? It’s clear that covid is going to stay and my 1-year old isn’t going to vaccinated anytime soon. My husband is ultracautious about our dense urban area that’s a hot spot (we don’t eat indoors, baby can’t go indoors in public unless medically necessary, we defer most errands). For my sanity, we need to figure out how to live with covid rather than flatly avoiding it. Any suggestions for indoor activities that could be safe? I like suggesting to DH going to Target in the early morning hours, or library during off-hours during the week.
Anon says
Why do you think your 1 year old won’t be vaccine eligible any time soon? Pfizer has said the data on under 5s is only 1-2 months behind the data on the 5-11 group. I’m counting on kids >6 months old being eligible by January or February at the latest.
We are like your husband – avoiding all public indoor areas, and also not seeing friends indoors. I don’t see why I need to “learn to live with Covid” when my kid will be vaccinated in a few months and things will be much safer then.
Anonymous says
+1.
+ covid says
This is a good reminder. A few more months is “soon” in objective terms. I’m grieving all the things I’ve already missed with and for my pandemic baby, and I’m so burnt out by the logistical nightmare of parenting during a pandemic. Where I’m at emotionally is that I feel desperate to enjoy more of my time with him rather than slogging it.
I think we’re embarking on a new normal, too, where covid (or other contagious illnesses) will be a risk. In light of a “new” normal (whatever that means!) I want to reconsider my family’s comfort level with existing in public places, outside just our small condo.
Anonymous says
So you are basically saying you want your husband to accept a higher risk of illness in the future?
My tolerance for all illness has actually dropped, and I will be much more cautious about exposure to all types of illnesses in the future. It comes from the realization that life is so much better when I don’t spend at least 50% of it trying to power through bronchitis or whatever other crud I’ve caught. Even if the threat of COVID diminishes, I’m never again entering a plane or theatre without a mask. I will probably avoid crowded indoor public spaces and indoor dining during the winter, and will push back hard against attending meetings or family gatherings where someone is ill.
Anon says
I get it, but your child is 1. They truly do not need anything other than their parents and a loving, safe home environment right now, and they will never even remember this time.
Covid will always be some level of risk, but vaccination will reduce the risk to your family significantly. People always compare to it drowning and say “we don’t avoid water!” But we do avoid letting our kids play unsupervised around ungated pools, and to me waiting for the vaccine is akin to taking sensible precautions around water, not avoiding water completely. Also I don’t think drowning is a good analogy because it’s not infectious. I’m worried about my own kid getting Covid but I’m equally or even more worried about her being patient zero at daycare and spreading it to a kid who is higher risk than her and not eligible for the vaccine. Once her classmates have all had the opportunity to get the vaccine, that will weigh on me much less.
Anonymous says
With you right there on grieving things I’ve missed with my pandemic baby. Being pregnant and having a baby during the pre-vaccine phase of Covid was awful enough, and then taking care of a newborn with no in-person support (including no access to lactation help) is the hardest, most isolating thing I’ve ever done.
Anon says
My thoughts exactly.
Anonymous says
Not OP but I thought the next bucket of kids was 2-5, and under 2 was even farther out. Would love to be wrong on this. –Parent of 6, 4, and 1 year old.
Anon says
Yes, that’s correct, but Pfizer has said each bucket is ~1 month behind the next bucket so it shouldn’t be a huge delay even for the littlest ones. I also suspect they may combine the buckets when submitting to FDA because it’s all the same dose for 6 months to 4 (which is a smaller dose than 5-11).
Anonymous says
Lurking Auntie here- one of my favorite things my friend who is often solo parenting does is meet me for Saturday breakfast. She and the bub are always up earlier than me so they’ll drive in from the suburbs (30 mins), pick up bagels, and come eat them at my place. I also will drive to them and meet up at a park and hang. If you have single friends who like your kid it can be a pretty low key way to break up the day.
OP says
I love all these suggestions! Thank you! Just set up a stroll/coffee date with a friend with a kid and plan on going to Target as soon as they open.
I also did not mean to sound so dramatic about the solo parenting on Saturdays—I know many here are single parents or do a lot more solo parenting than I do.
Anonymous says
You didn’t! And you don’t need to apologize it is hard!
Anon says
No apologies required. I despise solo parenting
anon says
Same here. I’ve done weekend solo parenting since my kids were OP’s age. They’re now 7 and 12. I still hate it. We keep it together on the solo day, and then all he!! breaks loose the following day when DH is home but completely wiped out and not, um, the most present.
Anonymous says
Am I the only one who finds solo parenting easier? No husband = one less person’s needs and preferences to deal with. If it’s just me and the kids, I do whatever makes the most sense to me and things just go so much more smoothly.
Anonymous says
The only idea I have to add is play baths. May be less exhausting with a slightly older kid, although you can enjoy this period of not having to try to get the kid to sit down every 10 seconds.
Anonymous says
So, I mostly do chores and errands with my 2 year old. Our nanny got our son super into doing all aspects of laundry, so we gather dirty laundry, change his crib sheets, give his blanket/lovey a “bath”, and he helps me load the laundry(or move wet clothes to the dryer). Even at 1 and not walking yet he LOOOOVED watching this process and would sit and clap his hands with so much excitement I thought he would hurt himself clapping. We also do a baby music class that is 100% outdoors. It’s super chill in that while there’s a teacher singing songs and we should be clapping or playing an instrument, some kids just run around and that is a-okay with all of the teachers and parents.
We also color a lot of cards and then walk to the big blue official mail box to them to friends. And when it was super hot outside in the summer, I 100% set up buckets of water outside and gave him paintbrushes to “paint” (with water) the side walk, or just cups to pour water. He would get soaked, but have a blast.
We also walk to our nearby coffee shop and we don’t hang out inside, but he gets a muffin, I get coffee, and the walk and fresh air are good for us.
Anonymous says
Ikea Mula walker and park. The rubber wheels on the Mula are sturdy enough for dirt, cement paths etc. while normal plastic walkers will not survive a truly active kid. Outdoors (birds! squirrels! moving leaves!) was really wonderful for my active kid.
Cb says
My first work time away (7 days this time, 3-4 going forward) went really really well. Everyone at the new job was amazing and one of my colleagues and her partner took me on a tour of the city and showed me the best brunch, coffee, donut shop. We FaceTimed while we ate our dinners each night.
T and husband were champs, it was pretty mellow (mother in law came for the weekend) and our reunion was so sweet, I got the longest, full body cuddle when I got him out of the car and a “I missed you and love you lovely mummy”. I’m heading in to the city for a meeting today and springing him early from nursery to go get a scoop of ice cream (like 65 degrees and rainy but we are vegan ice cream enthusiasts despite the weather).
anon says
I’m so glad! Enjoy your weekend. Love happy updates like this.
Curious says
You are making it work! So glad for you :).
Another family photo question says
Any suggestions or tips for shopping or styling from my closet for family photos? I’m don’t mind buying new outfits for the kids because they need new clothes constantly, but I’m trying to pare down my wardrobe and when I looked at it recently, I feel like I’ve already worn every dress or skirt or sweater at a previous photo session.
My husband, too, has worn one of two sweaters for every family photo.
Maybe it really doesn’t matter?
Boston Legal Eagle says
I’ve worn the same boots and same style of jeans in every photo shoot, with rotating sweaters, and husband also has only a few shirts that he transitions. I like our family photos because it shows the transition of the kids as they grow up, whereas we basically look the same from year to year. Then again we’re not really fashion forward or anything so it captures us. I wouldn’t buy a new dress or skirt because I just don’t wear them, but maybe a new sweater that I could wear again.
Anon says
+1 I just wear jeans and a sweater. It’s not trendy but neither am I and I like the continuity.
anon says
I struggle with this, too. I’ve decided that I am really not into buying DH & I clothes for family photos unless it’s something we needed anyway. I basically build our outfits around whatever I pick for the kids (which means we’re in neutrals a lot, while the kids have more color). Most photogs say “pick out mom’s outfit first!” I get where that advice comes from but it doesn’t work for me.
Anonymous says
1. I honestly don’t think anyone would notice if you wore the same thing or something extremely similar as a previous year. You could buy some fun earrings or new makeup but these are also not necessary.
2. I once wore a $300 dress for photos. They’re honestly pretty meh because the dress style isn’t me. My favorite outfit is a $7clearance rack dress from Forever21 of all places. If you have time, you can probably find a bargain. Have you looked at goodwill?
Mary Moo Cow says
FWIW, I pour over holiday cards with family photos every year, but I can’t remember what each family wore from the years before. If these photos are for cards, I wouldn’t stress. If they are going to be hanging up on the wall next to each other, I might worry a bit more but at the end of the day, eh. I would go with an outfit you love, even if you’ve worn it or pieces of it before, and get new accessories (scarf, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, shoes.)
Anon says
I either wear dark jeans with a sweater, or dark jeans with a cute top and cardigan. I will usually buy a new sweater or cardigan for the photo, which then refreshes an older one in my closet. (I don’t buy expensive clothes so my sweaters and cardigans tend to look more raggedy after several rounds of shaving.)
I do pick out my clothes first, then use that for everyone else. My husband is in khakis with either a button down or sweater, so I have him find or buy a shirt in a color that coordinates. Then based on that color pallette, I pick out new clothes for the kids. Usually I get them at Old Navy or Children’s Place, and try to get them more interesting clothes like maybe a pattern with both of our colors, or a striped shirt with a color and a neutral. We all wear various colors of brown shoes.
It looks different enough each year that you can’t really tell we have “uniforms” or that my husband has worn the same gray button down in 3 of the last 5 years.
Clementine says
My mood today (just listen to the first 30 seconds).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhYWNPzBuiM
Anonymous says
Oh yes.
Anonymous says
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/excerpts-from-frog-and-toad-are-doing-their-best
The first one is my house the past few days.
Spirograph says
I could not love this more.
Anokha says
I love both of these!
Party Animal says
My just turned 3-year-old’s preschool teacher is telling us that he is refusing to nap or quietly lay down on his mat during their daily naptime. I definitely understand that it is disruptive to the classroom for him to do this and want to do what I can to help, but I’m not sure what that is. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised by this info as he often refuses to nap or stay in his room for quiet time at home and has done so for several months. My husband and I talk to him about listening and being quiet during nap, but I don’t think he really understands the connection between what we’re saying and how he’s acting. The teacher has been very kind about it and is willing to work on this together. I suggested she let him quietly look at books on his mat, which sometimes works at home. We do try to put him down at home at the same time as school nap. I will say the school naptime seems rather long to me- 12:00-2:30 pm- especially if he’s not actually sleeping. Any suggestions on how else my husband and I might work on this with our son?
Anon says
Following with interest because this is my son too.
Anon says
I think it’s mostly the school’s problem. When our daughter was 2.5 or so her daycare teachers complained to us that she wasn’t sleeping at nap time, and my daughter was whining about being made to sit in the dark with no books or toys for over 2 hours. I asked the teacher if they could give her books to look at while the other kids napped and that seemed to solve everybody’s complaint. I was kind of surprised the teacher didn’t think of it on her own because it seems very obvious, but whatever.
You might also check your state regulations around naps – in ours non-napping kids have to be offered a quiet activity after a certain period of time, I think 1 hour. I’m pretty sure our (fully accredited, top rated) daycare was in violation of that until we asked that she be given books.
Things will likely get better when he can move to a pre-K room. My daughter is in a 3-5 year old room now and no one naps. There’s officially a quiet time but it sounds like it’s not very quiet. I assume it’s rough on the handful of 3 year olds who could still use a nap, but it’s much better for our kid.
Anonymous says
That is her job.
GCA says
As the average age in my 3yo’s preschool room has gotten older and more kids drop their naps, the teachers have suggested to parents that we send in a quiet time kit — special quiet toys, books etc from home that the kids get if they are willing to sit quietly on their mat to play. I’ve also been working with our teachers on this as kiddo only sleeps about half the time, and today I sent her in with a jigsaw puzzle.
Anon says
There is a Daniel Tiger episode about this. Which is my go to solution for most challenges with preschoolers
Anon says
My daughter was like this starting at about age 2. She was allowed to look at books on her cot, she sometimes talked quietly with the teacher, sometimes color quietly at a table once the other kids were asleep, and sometimes she went to the next classroom up if she had too many wiggles to be quiet.
Honestly though the daycare teacher suggested all of these to us and deployed as necessary. I’m surprised they’re asking you for ideas. What things have they tried with other kids in the past?
ElisaR says
your user name made me chuckle!
we had the same problem at that age and I agree, the teacher just has to figure it out. It’s commendable to want to work on it, but I’m not sure there is much to be done.
Anonymous says
My kids all stopped napping at 2 and change. One made it all the way to 2.5. I think you and the teacher need to agree on an alternative quiet activity- puzzles, coloring, etc. I’m pretty surprised this is new issue for daycare. Of all the 3 year olds I know (youngest is 3.5), only half still nap at all.
Anon says
Agreed, a 3 year old who doesn’t nap should not be weird to a daycare teacher. Last year kids in my daughter’s class turned 3 during the school year and by the end of the year less than half the kids napped.
octagon says
How do I teach my 6yo to put on his socks? He can get himself dressed with everything else but socks are a continuous struggle. He struggles to get them over his toes. Then pulls them up and they are inevitably twisted. Whatever I’ve tried isn’t working, I would love some different approaches.
Spirograph says
Socks are an advanced skill! My 6 year old still gets them twisted sometimes, but my approach:
1. find the toe seam – that needs to be on top
2. roll/bunch up the sock (like you’d do with tights) so there’s just a little spot to stick your toes in
3. Start pulling them over your foot and get your heel in the heel pocket. if it’s not there, STOP, the sock is twisted. go back to step 1
4. Then, and only then, pull them up over your ankle
Some socks seem to be easier than others, too — we have the best luck with crew socks that have a very distinct/exaggerated foot shape. Dress socks seem to be tricker because they’re thin and don’t hold shape as well. Also, my oldest thought heel was “peel” for the longest time. :)
ElisaR says
i find some socks tend to be easier than others…. ankle socks seem easier. it’s clearer where the heel is….
Anonymous says
Try thick wool socks this winter (they hold their shape). And ankle socks for the rest of the fall.
Anon says
Our daycare just implemented a policy that if anyone in the household tests positive for COVID the child has to stay out for 20 days. Is this a normal thing now? FTM in this crazy time so not sure what other daycares policies are. I know daycares have struggled a lot over the last 2 years and are just trying to stay open too.
Not normal says
This sounds CRAY. I wonder if this is their way to address a staffing shortage?
OP says
Said they’re trying to avoid closing classrooms altogether, but just trying to imagine how that would even be managed with work, god forbid it happen.
Anon says
Ours is a minimum of 14 days, although in practice most families have been out more like 21-28 days as the virus infects people sequentially, e.g., parent tests positive -> 10 days later sibling A tests positive -> 10 days later sibling B tests positive, etc.
I wouldn’t worry too much about this – hopefully someone testing positive in your household will be a very rare event? I’m much more concerned with the policies for run of the mill illness, since that happens frequently.
Op says
I guess that makes sense, especially in a larger household.
Thankfully they do have well laid out policies for the normal illnesses one expects in daycare.
Anonymous says
This is what happened to us. I didn’t test positive until a month after my husband’s positive test, even though I was testing weekly.
Anonymous says
In my experience it only takes a couple of days for the next person to get it – especially with Delta 10 days is a long time. My vaccinated husband and I both had symptoms within 3 days of our son’s first symptoms. OP, cross this bridge if you come to it. If someone in the house gets COVID, unvaxxed child will almost get it too unless you are really good at isolating, and then maybe you will only have to worry about their 10-14 day quarantine.
Anon says
I know a lot of people who didn’t become symptomatic until >10 days after their close contact first had symptoms. All Delta era. It really just varies a lot.
anon says
20 days?! That is insane.
Anon says
20 days is like double the recommended quarantine. It’s crazy.
Anonymous says
It is not. Read the guidelines.
Anon says
Here it’s 10 days, but that’s after last contact. So I guess if the person has Covid for 10 days then tests negative, 20 makes sense.
Anon says
The thing is though, you’re not just exposed to your family member the first day they’re contagious. You’re exposed to them every day until they stop being infectious. The idea is they’re infectious for up to 10 days, and then there’s a 10 day incubation period when you could develop symptoms, so 20 days total. Pretty much everyone I know who got Covid from a family member had >14 days between their family member’s positive test and theirs, so this is very logical to me.
blueberries says
This is a good explanation.
In my jurisdiction, public health has required kids to stay out of school/daycare for the infectious period of household member + incubation period for exposure throughout the pandemic.
I’m surprised the OP’s daycare is just now implementing this rule.
It sucks a lot, but I don’t see a way around it if you don’t want potentially infectious kids at school. Families with the ability could shorten the quarantine by moving the healthy people out (so they only have to quarantine for 10 days past last exposure rather than waiting for the household member to be done with the infectious period).
Same says
+1
HSAL says
I think it sucks, but not surprising or crazy. Technically the child could be infected until the end of the family member’s “isolation”, and then the close contact quarantine would begin.
Lyssa says
I saw this come up for a few people I know last year, pre-vax (for elementary schools, not daycare, but same idea). The logic is that the kid is constantly exposed to the person throughout the time they are contagious, then has a quarantine period from the last day that person is contagious. (Ie, mom has Covid and is contagious for days 1-14; kid then has to quarantine for the time period following mom’s day 14.).
My hairdresser’s whole family had it, and she had to fight the school to show that her kids were actually positive (they were totally fine, just a cold for a day), which weirdly meant a shorter time out. I guess if you can separate the kid from the sick person right away, it should be shorter, but they’re probably assuming that’s not going to happen.
Anonymous says
That’s in line with CDC guidelines. For the first 10 days the positive person is contagious. After that, 10 days quarantine for the others from last day of exposure.
Anon says
+1. I’m surprised everyone is saying this is crazy. This is appropriate to me and I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with less, given the high rate of Covid transmission from an infected family member (a casual exposure is VERY different to me than a household contact being positive).
Anonymous says
It’s appropriate, and the 20 days should reset with each new positive test in the household.
Anonymous says
Ughhh yes, schools (and parents) don’t get that the clock needs to reset with each positive person. My daughter’s preschool classmate came to school infectious because his mom had tested positive >14 days ago but his dad had gotten a positive more recently and he presumably got it from his dad.
Like, I get it that it’s super annoying to keep daycare kids home every time their nose runs, because that’s all the time. But if someone in your family ACTUALLY HAS COVID how hard is it to stay the f home until you’re sure no one could be infectious.
Anon says
Could be worse! Our school’s policy is 28 days (14 for the initial contact and 14 for any family members).
Anonymous says
This seems like overkill if you are talking about a household where one person was exposed outside the home but does not actually have COVID. If the contact tests negative after 14 days (or probably even 10?), the whole family should be released from quarantine.
Anon says
I think this is talking about a family member who has covid, not exposure.
Anonymous says
OP is, but it sounds like 11:05 is talking about a family member who was exposed and didn’t necessarily catch it.
Anon says
This is if someone in your household actually has Covid. I agree exposure is a different standard. Exposure is also a far more common occurrence than actually getting Covid.
Anonymous says
Ours is 14 days. Even that seems pushing it from cdc guidelines although if it keeps more kids at school more of the time, that’s ok with me. 20 days seems extreme and possibly not supported by science.
Anon says
This is standard – the infectious time + the quarantine period. It is also not something that is likely to happen more than once; it’s unlikely that one person in the household would be infected now but no one else gets it and then someone else is infected later and you have to do the 20 days again.
Anon says
I actually think this is the correct quarantine length under most guidelines. You are supposed to start quarantine at the end of the family member’s quarantine. It’s annoying but consistent with public health guidelines.
anonamama says
What’s a good mask rec for new 2 year olds? We tried a kids disposable one and it was huge. Looking for something lightweight and sized for a smaller face! Crayola? thanks ladies.
anon says
Etsy kids mask, and ask the seller to make it specifically for a toddler (a little smaller than “kid”). StitchedwloveLindsey is the store I’ve used; just add a note.
Anon says
My kid was that age over a year ago, but at the time we found small ones on Etsy and they came in tons of prints. We particularly liked the ones from AiryMasks and MinaandmishaCo. From both sellers, we got the smallest size they offered. We also used some from old navy, but they were the pleated style and didn’t fit as well.
Anon says
For disposable ones, look for brands that make multiple kids sizes. We have good luck with Dr Talbots 2-5 Years or Just Play size small, which is 2-7 years. These fit my toddlers’ faces and I don’t need to adjust the ear loops, unlike many kid masks.
NYCer says
Crayola works for my 2.5 year old.
Klod says
Another vote for Crayola for cloth and Dr. Talbots (in the 2-5 year size) for disposable.
Anonymous says
What’s the right age for a pinata at a birthday party? We’re hosting our son’s birthday in a couple of weeks and I’m wondering if 2/3 year-olds are too young.
TheElms says
My two year old can definitely not swing a bat and hit a pinata. My friend’s 3 year old definitely can. I think if the kids are all closer to 3 it would be fine (carefully monitored) but if they are younger its probably not going to work very well. The 3 years olds probably can’t hit hard enough to break it open though.
Anonymous says
Too young
Anonymous says
I was at a 6 year old’s birthday party recently and they couldn’t break the pinata. If you do the pull-the-ribbon ones, I guess that could work… but that kind doesn’t seem as fun.
Anon. says
I think that’s probably too young to actually break it. We were at a 4-yr birthday party with kids from 18 months to 7 swinging. It took the older cousin (15) stepping in to actually break the pinata. The 4 year olds were all about grabbing the prizes, the littles were pretty overwhelmed.
Mary Moo Cow says
6 was the magic age for a whacking pinata in my house. We just did a pull pinata at my 4 year old’s party this year.
Anonymous says
I would wait until 4. However, I should add that preschoolers are not effective in breaking them but they sure love beating on them. My son’s friends still really enjoy demolishing the pinata on the ground after all the candy is out just as much. It made me realize that the ideal birthday party theme for him was “breaking things.”
Clementine says
Somebody will get hit in the cr 0 tch until they’re at least 6.
Anon says
I feel like my 3.75 year old would swing and miss or not hit it hard enough and get extremely frustrated at the pinata and scream and cry. But she appears to have inherited my below average athletic ability.
Anonymous says
they make pinatas where you pull the string vs hit it with a bat. If you’re set on a pinata that might be the best approach. then again, we did that at my 4 year old’s party and 3 kids cried that their string didn’t open it so….maybe not :)
Anonymous says
Threadjack, sorry. My daughter has always wanted a pinata at a birthday party. We are white, with no latinx/hispanic backgound. Is that okay? It doesn’t feel right in my gut.
Anonymous says
Do you eat those tacos with the ground beef in them?
Anonymous says
Clarification–a pinata is equivalent to what Californians call “gringo tacos” in terms of cultural appropriation.
Anon Lawyer says
Is it? I thought they were pretty popular in Mexico. (Not saying that makes it cultural appropriation – I thought they were just honestly popular there.)
Lily says
Pinatas are extremely popular in Mexico. But having a pinata at a non-Mexican child’s birthday party is not going to offend anyone whose opinion matters. By the way, plenty of Mexicans are “white.”
Anonymous says
Exactly–it’s not really cultural appropriation.
Anon says
Latina here. A piñata is something kids hit and candy comes out. They’re not sacred/sacred adjacent and it’s fine for everyone to enjoy them.
If you’re worried about cultural appropriation, just don’t go and buy saint candles in glass jars and use them as Halloween decorations.
anon says
I wouldn’t let 2/3 year-olds near a pinata because that’s an accident waiting to happen!
Anon says
DH and I recently bought a house. My parents generously offered to buy a swing set for the kids. We were planning on using our current furniture for the guest room and then buying new furniture for us for the primary bedroom..,but of course my in-laws offered to furnish the guest room. I realize that it is totally a first world problem, but we seriously have like no other furniture (moving from an apartment) and it is the one room we have furniture for
Clementine says
MIL, you’re just amazing. We can’t wait for you to come stay with us in our new guest room! You are so incredibly generous to offer to help us furnish that. Oddly enough, that is the room of the house that is already furnished as our old set fits perfectly in there (it’s really comfy – you’ll love it when you visit).
If you would still like some ideas for housewarming gifts, we have basically no other rooms furnished. One place I really am excited about is the kids’ play area. We’re hoping to put a rug and a couch in there – if you’re looking for a housewarming gift we only have a single bookshelf for that room so far.
Anonymous says
This. They probably thought of the guest room because it is a “new” room you didn’t have before and assumed it would be empty. Also possibly because they don’t want to sleep on an air mattress.
Anon says
Yeah, I think that this gift – while definitely very nice! – is more than a little self-interested. They want to sleep on a comfortable bed.
Anon. says
Agreed. In my family at least, this would be code for “I want somewhere comfortable to sleep when I visit.”
Anon says
yes this is my point/vent. My in-laws gifts usually are
Anonymous says
So I don’t think it’s that terrible that they want to furnish your guest room in their own self-interest, as long as they are willing to let you choose furniture to your taste. They get a comfy bed when they visit, you don’t have to spend money furnishing the guest room, everybody wins. Unless there is additional baggage like that associated with the family heirloom furniture my in-laws gave us for our guest room that we are now stuck with forever even though it doesn’t suit our needs. But still, it was kind of them.
If you want to put your old bedroom furniture in the guest room and buy new furniture for your own room, just decline the gift graciously. Let them buy a new mattress for the guest room if they want to.
Anonymous says
Is it possible the existing bed is uncomfortable and they know that from past experience?
Anon says
Why not tell them your plan?
High waisted jeggings says
Any recs for high waisted jeggings that don’t have super aggressive whiskering? I ordered some recently from JCrew Factory, and the fit was perfect, but the whiskering was like very stark lines that framed my crotch and it felt weird. My existing jeans have whiskering but it’s more subtle.
Straight sizes and 5-8, if that impacts your recs.
anon says
I like Liverpool jeggings.
Anonymous says
My 8 month old twins both have a cold. One is just sad and snuggly and the other screams like a mountain lion instead of sleeping. We’re on sick day 5 for twin A and sick day 2 for twin B. I’m staring down a long weekend with my 4 year old, whom I love dearly but I don’t think he’ll be thrilled to be quarantined at home all weekend. I’m exhausted and ready for this to be over. Will you cheer me up with a cute things your kid(s) did?
anon says
So not fun. We did popsicle bathtime thanks to something I read on IG and it was a hit for sick and non-sick kiddo recently. May that buy you 20 happy minutes.
Cutest thing – my LO has started telling us she’s “happy” all the time. Wakes up and shouts “HAPPY!” Its so precious.
anon says
I’ve heard glow stick baths can be fun too.
anon says
Have you done ibuprofen for twin B? I’ve had a super unhappy baby before, only to find out when I inevitably catch the cold that it comes with terrible aches, a terrible headache or an awful sore throat. Then I feel guilty for not medicating the baby when they were in pain.
Curious says
Baby girl is just starting to interact more and smiles so much when Daddy makes burbling noises with his mouth. It’s adorable. When he stops she looks at him like, MORE?
Anonymous says
Menu ideas, please! We are having 2 families over for movie night outside this weekend. 6 adults, 7 kids ages 3.5-9. Kids are all good eaters.
I was thinking chili (one spicy and one more mild), mac and cheese, cornbread but am having second thoughts about chili outside, and also not sure the kids will eat the chili at all (which is fine, nobody died eating mac and cheese and cornbread!).
BBQ pulled pork, mac and cheese, [some veg?]? With hot dogs available as a back-up for the kids? Need more food for this suggestion. Maybe a good slaw? Kale?
Oktobefest-ish dinner of sausages (on rolls), soft pretzels, [some kind of veg??]
Other ideas? I’m over burgers & dogs. We are in New England where it is fall and lovely out. Friends are bringing dessert which I can almost guarantee will be apple in nature :)
Anon says
I love the chili idea. I want to come!
Momofthree says
Can’t go wrong with pizza and a side salad.
Anon says
Walking tacos instead of chili. Still the same feeling of warm comfort food, but easier to customize and easier to eat outside. Include rice and beans for people to either add to the bag or eat as a side.
You can also have chips and salsa as a side (make/buy a “fancy” one for adults, like a mango jalapeno). Maybe even Mexican street corn, guacamole, or a side salad with queso fresco.
I make this every year for our fall neighborhood block party here in the Midwest, and it is completely beloved by kids and adults alike.
GCA says
Outdoor movie night sounds lovely! To continue the fall theme, crockpot meatballs with grape jelly? (I miss our old community garden plot which came with a bonus Concord grape vine that had been there for ages and allowed us to make jars and jars of jelly every fall!) Butternut squash in the mac and cheese? Some sort of salad with apples and cranberries?
Anonymous says
Mild chili + hot sauce for people who want to add spice. If you really want to make two chilis, make one with meat and one with sweet potato or butternut squash, or a red chili with beef and a white chili with chicken. The What’s Gaby Cooking sweet potato and black bean chili is so good. Cookie and Kate has a butternut squash chipotle chili.
Anon says
Chili menu sounds amazing and I think one non-spicy one with maybe some spicy add ins would be totally fine and easier on you.
CCLA says
If you can find the old navy ones (one color was back for a while!), those worked well for my newly 2yo last year. For disposables at that age, we bought the small size of Just Play brand at Target.
Laser tag party says
Planning my oldest son’s birthday party (he’s turning 8 in a few weeks). He is super extroverted and was miserable during zoom first grade all last year, with no in-person birthday parties. He loves nothing more than being part of a gang of kids playing a game (tag, hide and seek, etc). For his birthday, we’re planning on hiring an outdoor laser tag company and renting part of a public park + picnic pavilion nearby. We’re going to roll the dice on the weather (we are in DC); unless it rains, it should be warm enough for kids to run around in November.
However, some of our friends (parents of his good friends) will not allow their children to play with toy guns, and I support that. I’m not a fan of gun culture, but I do let my sons play with water guns (my friends do not) and we have our own laser tag blasters for home use.
Is a laser tag party insensitive to people who prefer their children not play with toy guns, or who feel strongly about gun violence? We’ll make it clear on the invite what the main event of the party will be, but I would hate for anyone to feel left out or for us to be unintentionally insensitive by picking a bad party activity. I’m kind of stuck, though – what’s a good outdoor activity for 8-year olds that will be special for a birthday party, in the fall, and that ideally is some sort of running around team activity? (we were thinking before of giant checkers or giant jenga but my son isn’t interested. Also, it seems like all the local kids are over bounce houses and things like that).
anon says
You can’t please everyone. If your son wants a laser tag birthday party, I really don’t see any harm in that. Your friends can choose whether or not to let their kids attend. Honestly, I’d see covid as being the bigger dealbreaker than a laser tag gun, but looks like you have that covered.
Anonymous says
+1. Parents who have an issue with laser tag won’t be personally offended unless they are very extra. We are 100% opposed to trampoline parks for safety reasons, but we don’t get mad when our kids are invited to a trampoline birthday party. We just decline the invitation.
Anonymous says
Not it is not. Have your party. They can simply decline.
Anonymous says
Now I want to hire an outdoor laser tag company for my own birthday.
anon says
As a data point, I really don’t like anything gun-related for my kids. I’d be very happy to let them play laser tag in a park, assuming safety stuff had been thought through (for example, that the laser guns are designed such that they wouldn’t be mistaken for actual guns and cause alarm to cops or passersby). I might feel differently if I’d ever been shot or ever had fear of imminently being shot, though.
Laser tag party says
Thanks everyone! I am definitely looking for a vendor that has the equipment that looks more like ‘blasters’ and less like guns. Some are a little too realistic. Fingers crossed for no rain.
Thumb sucking says
Any tips or tales of cutting off thumb sucking? We’ve let this go too long, kid is 4, and dentist is pushing us to stop it. I know people use the bitter polish but seems really cruel to take what is a comforting thing and make it unpleasant.
Anonymous says
Making it unpleasant is the only way, no matter how motivated the kid is. The kid does it out of habit, possibly without even noticing that they are doing it,. The icky taste is a reminder not to stick their thumb in their mouth, not a punishment.
Anon says
Maybe find a new dentist? My almost 4 year old sucks her fingers and our dentist doesn’t care. Doctors and dentist seems to vary widely on when this “needs” to stop and ours say it’s not something to worry about hugely before age 6.
EDAnon says
I sucked my thumb as a kid and literally nothing stopped me until sleepovers. My mom tried so much stuff. But peer pressure solved it.
For my son (5) who sucks his thumb sometimes. We really discourage it during the day. And I have removed it from his mouth when he’s sleeping (he is not a particularly strong thumb sucker!)
Anon says
The CDC’s ACIP committee is reviewing the FDA recommendations re: 5-11 vax on Nov. 2-3. Unless something goes terribly wrong, kids in that age group should be able to get vaccines on Nov. 3 or 4. Not quiiiiite Halloween, but they’ll have significant protection by Thanksgiving which is great.
EDAnon says
That would be awesome! At least one of my kids will be protected!