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Valentines Day is for toys, too

February 14th isn't too far away, and Valentines Day is a special day for the kids. From sending cards to special treats, it's a highlight in the mid-Winter calendar. It's also a time when many parents are looking for alternatives to candy for their kids. Here are some sweet ideas for inexpensive, but fun-filled Valentine's Day toys for your kids.
Lips

A music-based game in which you sing along to words on a screen without any instrument controllers? Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, but there was a time not long ago when these types of games, usually referred to as Karaoke, were the only form of music game available
Elf Island

My kids are constantly asking to go on the computer to visit their favorite websites. There are so many of them now. How do we choose which websites we allow our children to visit? How do we determine the amount of time they should spend on-line? These are tough questions. I highly recommend visiting Barbiegirls.com whether you have a boy or a girl to create B Smart Pact. The B Smart Pact will help you engage your children in a discussion about fun, safe and fair internet play.
Carry Me Everywhere Suitcase

The most important routine or ritual we have in our home begins at dinner and ends when my kids are tucked neatly in their beds. Each night we have dinner and then head straight up stairs for fun baths and to brush our teeth. Then we read stories until bedtime. Once my children are in bed, I sing songs and say prayers with each of them individually.
Traveling With Kids

I'm more frequently asked by people how they should deal with other people's kids while traveling than I am asked for tips on how people should manage their own kids. This leads me to believe that other people's kids are the real problem here, as seems to be the case with most things. I'm not an expert on other people's kids but can provide my own "how to's" for managing or avoiding the most common kid travel mistakes:
Being a Great Houseguest

'Tis the season for entertaining and travel and so it's a great time to refresh the fundamentals of being a good houseguest, nearly none of which apply if you're crashing with family (Sorry, grandparents!). But for others who may be hosting you and, more importantly, your kids, there are some considerations to keep in mind. Having recently experienced a painful, seemingly never-ending weekend hosting a family of guests, I offer up these tips from first-hand experience.
Top Toys for Your Pet

Whether it's for the holidays or a birthday, kids often make their lists of what they hope to receive as gifts. However, a very important member of the family doesn't get the opportunity to make that list. Pets are part of the family, and people love including their pets in their celebrations, more than ever before. So if you want a holiday gift for that four-legged member of the family, there are many dog and cat toys to choose from - all at very reasonable prices. Here are some of the hottest selling pet toys for that all important family member.
LEGO Creator Stegosaurus and Pink Brick Bucket

I have great memories of playing with LEGOs with my brother, and today I love to play LEGOs with my own children. LEGO is a great classic toy regardless you have a boy or girl. Each year LEGO refreshes its brand by adding loads of new LEGO sets.
A Lifetime of Reading

There is no better habit you can instill in your kids and the kids in your life than reading. It's a source of information, entertainment, a window on new worlds, and most importantly, it helps develop critical thinking and imagination.
Housing a Family of Guests

With the holiday season upon us, many of us are gearing up for an exciting period of entertaining and hosting overnight guests. While we know in the back of our busy minds that our guests are there to see us - not the state of our kitchen floor - we still obsess over the details and ultimately forget the pleasure we find in these seasonal gatherings. Here's my attempt at making Emily Post, and my grandmother, proud with my own modern take on readying for the crowds.