HOW IT'S HIP HOP BABY MOMS PLAN STRESS-LESS BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR THEIR HIP HOP BABY KIDS

Here are some easy tips and goals to ensure a successful birthday party day for your Hip Hop Baby kids:

1. Planning is good.
Put it down on paper, enlist help, and have backup activities if you believe that you might run out of entertainment halfway through the party.
2. Theme the party.
Themes have fallen by the wayside, but if you enlist the help of a theme, you do not have to rack your brain to come up with decorations and games. Instead, many themes naturally lend themselves to games and activities already.
3. Do not give the invitations to your child to hand out at school, unless you are inviting the whole class.
If your child gives invitations only to a select few, there will be hurt feelings. If you are keeping the numbers small, mail the invites or call the parents of the other children directly.
4. Limit the number of kids that will attend the party.
Although a free for all ensures a good turnout, the idea of inviting one child for each year of your child’s age is a good way of limiting the expense and chaos you might experience.
5. Be honest with yourself about your comfort level.
If you don’t like the sound of this idea, consider enlisting an outdoor venue or visit one of the fast food locales that offer party packages with food, entertainment, and – best of all – cleanup!
6. Keep the party short and sweet.
Do not make it an all day affair but specify a starting an ending time. The younger the child, the shorter the duration of the party. This is a good rule of thumb to keep kids from acting out.
7. Goodie bags are a must and there be sufficient bags for each child present, including the siblings.
It should be a fun little item that says “thank you” to the kids for coming and helping your child celebrate.

Reference: Parent News, Birthday Party Ideas

ARE IT'S HIP HOP BABY MOMS WORRIED THEIR CHILD IS BEHIND IN POTTY TRAINING?

Want to hear some potty tales told by parents around the US? See how they were able to conquer potty training and become masters in creative ways to install good potty habits in their Hip Hop Baby:

A little bribery goes a long way
M&M's and stickers! Promise that each time your kid goes potty, he or she gets two or three, but if she wipes herself (a huge challenge for most) then she gets four or five!

Miniature man
Buy "manly-man" underwear, just like Dad's, and then have him spend the weekend in the big boy underwear and check-in every hour or so to see if he needs to use the restroom. This makes him feel grown-up and just like dad!

Trouble with the aim
Teaching boys to learn the standing-up style can be difficult. Put five Cheerios in the potty and have him aim at them when he uses the toilet. This makes going to the bathroom less intimidating.

Loving Mom
Kids need a lot of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection, and pride when learning unfamiliar things. Making a big deal about small steps in progress is key.

Timing is everything
Putting him or her on the toilet every 20 minutes is a good way to start. If your child attends daycare, seeing other kids learning the same thing makes them want to learn too. You can also purchase a “Potty Watch”, which many children love. The parent programs the watch to play songs and light up at 30, 60, or 90-minutess. Makes the big boy or girl feel in control.

Comfort in location
Purchasing a mini potty seat with characters on it can look less intimidating to children. Some parents even choose to keep the potty in the living room, since they spend the most time there. Then, you can gradually move it closer and closer to the bathroom.


Reference: Parents, http://www.parents.com/

IT'S HIP HOP BABY MOMS CRAVE CHINESE FOOD

Everyone loves Chinese food in all of its greasy, fatty glory. But can you really have a healthy option for this craving? Check out the 5 star recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken with Brown Rice from the Food Network that has a 5 minute cook time, serves 4, and is a beginner meal option for all Hip Hop Baby moms! Make tonight a family dinner night!


Ingredients
2 cups instant brown rice
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons finely grated or minced ginger
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
6 cups bite-size pieces of vegetables, such as snow peas, broccoli and bell peppers
1 5-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained

Directions
Prepare rice according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, whisk vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch and apricot preserves in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink on the outside and just starting to brown in spots, about 2 minutes more.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic and ginger to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds. Add broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add vegetables, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in water chestnuts and the chicken. Whisk the reserved sauce and add to the pan. Simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is heated through, about 1 minute. Serve with the rice.

HOW IT'S HIP HOP BABY MOMS HANDLE KINDERGARTEN QUERIES

Many Hip Hop Baby kids, especially those with older siblings, have longed for this rite of passage. But, others may be fearful of the change from the often small, loving, and comfortable preschool situation. How to make this an easier, more fun transition for your little one? Well, attention to a few issues and some major empathy on your part will do the trick. Usually your child’s concerns relate to simply getting through the day in one piece (schedules, how the day will proceed). As a mom or dad, answering a few simple questions will be very comforting to your kids. Here are 7 that you can start with:

1. Where’s the bathroom and when can I use it?
2. What if I don’t make it to the bathroom and have an accident?
3. What if I get hungry? Will they feed me?
4. Do I have to take a nap?
5. Will I have homework like my older brother has?
6. What happens first? Then what do we do?
7. What if you don’t pick me up on time?


Reference:
MSN Today, http://www.msn.com/

60 MINUTES OF EXERCISE DAILY FOR IT'S HIP HOP BABY KIDS IS NOT A MYTH

Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends that children participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity every day at least 60 minutes?

Parents must realize that kid’s fitness is completely different than fitness for adults. Check out the top 5 Hip Hop Baby fitness tips every Hip Hop Baby parent must know.

1. Encourage and facilitate your kid’s participation in activities they enjoy. They may want to play a sport, join the boy scouts, practice ballet, rollerblade or simply play on the monkey bars for hours. Whatever makes them happy is what they should do.

2. Seek out fun fitness classes and fitness professionals when you're at a loss. A few fun classes or sessions with a youth fitness trainer can spark interest simply because the instruction is coming from someone other than mom and dad.

3. Provide healthy snack options, promote small frequent meals, and limit sugar. This prevents mood swings, strange energy surges that often lead to wild behavior, and controls fat storage.

4. Set a good example by participating in some type of activity on a daily basis. Walk, wash the car, do a set of pushups, garden, or play a quick game of tag. Children love to imitate so take advantage and ask them to join in every chance you get.

5. Limit the amount of time kids spend in front of the TV, and computer. A couple of hours a day is more than enough. Plan a certain number of hours a day when they are expected to be active to make it easier for them.


Reference:
BellaOnline, http://www.bellaonline.com/