It is normal for a young child  to become attached to a particular item.  As someone once said “You can’t get enough of a good thing.”

For some children, it is a toy, such as a tractor or train.  For others, it might be a special outfit or a cup.  For some, it is reading a particular book over and over or…

Most of us find nutritional labels and claims confusing and difficult to decipher, surveys actually show that people find them unhelpful.  Over the past few years more and more companies are making a slurry of claims on their packages, some which matter and other that may be irrelevant and almost misleading, but ultimately it's important to know what it all means in order to make the right decisions on what to buy.  Here's the Cliff Notes version:

Types of…

December and January provide challenges to staying active.



The days have gotten shorter, so there is less time to play outside after dinner. The temperatures have dropped quickly. Not to mention the busyness of the holidays.



These obstacles to activity pose extra reasons to be mindful that everyone, young and old, needs to get a daily dose of active play. Turn the screens off—TV, iPods, computers and the like—and enjoy a…

Stress and anxiety is contagious, and the holidays can make parents and children more like Scrooge than that lovely Norman Rockwell painting.

Here are some things that can make the holidays calmer.

• Start with planning ahead as a family. Have a family meeting, encouraging each member to share thoughts, expectations, and hopes for the holiday. Then, make plans integrating those priorities. Mark the “have to”…

Toddler Hors d’oeuvres are my favorite kid’s snacks, because they are so nutritious and easy to make.  They are actually more than snacks – serve them with a fruit or a vegetable and they make a meal.  You can make a whole batch and refrigerate or freeze them, then thaw when ready to serve.

Fresh Fruit Hors…

1. Fall nature walk

Fall is a great time to go on a nature walk to look for trees, leaves, and other items on the walk. Use the following activity to introduce this section of the Fall Theme.

Materials needed: 1…

The statement, “Play is a child’s work” is used frequently, perhaps even overused.

Nevertheless, the truth and reality of the comment may be understated. Children learn through their play. The learning spans a broad spectrum, including social and emotional learning and development of relationships…

Kids are fascinated by how many pennies are in a dollar, or how much candy they can really buy for 75 cents.  But teaching them the value of money and the importance of saving – now that’s another story.  Children (and many adults) tend to live in the moment, so encouraging them to…

I recently reviewed two new apps (by Cavallo Media) for preschoolers. I no longer have a preschooler, but have worked with hundreds over the years and I have access to two cuties next door (4 and 20 months) who helped me review.

Letter Buddies AlphaBooks…

Recipe courtesy of Sara Baer-Sinnott from The Oldways Table: Essays and Recipes from the Culinary Think Tank…

It’s the first day of school and there are tears on the way to school. The tears are those of Mom and Dad, and maybe the young student.

(She doesn't look too thrilled!)

 …

A young child’s eyes light up when he or she sees something common used in a new way. A common object like a cardboard tube can become a source of fun and exploratory learning.



If you start playing simple surprise games with common household objects, your child will begin to look for creative connections in other parts of her daily activities. That is, she’ll learn, by following your lead, to think of multiple uses for one object—a…

Books for 1-2 year olds

Quiet Loud

Check out our blog for Summer Water Party ideas:

http://par-t-perfect.com/2011/07/summer-water-party-ideas/

Par-T-Perfect has been serving Asheville, Hendersonville & all of WNC's Children for over 6 years. We offer Inflatables, Clowns, Face Painting, Balloon Artist, games and almost anything to entertain your kids for a 2 hour Birthday…

Original, Affordable Works of Art: Custom Toy Portraits by Jennifer Maher

I love the idea of having a portrait done of a favorite toy! When Jennifer contacted me to ask if we would like to have one as a giveaway, I did not know that there was such a thing as toy portraits - when I saw the site …

Ingredients

½ cup butter, melted and cooled

¼ cup honey

¼ cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups oats (not instant)

½ cup shredded coconut (either sweetened or unsweetened)

¾ cups…

Pretty prints of illustrations by Animator Jennifer Borrell Anderson from Asheville. Check out Jennifer's other prints here http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelloPrints#…