Toddler - The Frugal Ginger

Parachute Games for Toddlers : Easy Activities for Early Years

February 11, 2016 by hewella1 1 Comment

One of my daughter’s favorite toys is her parachute. We have played so many parachute games for toddlers specifically. They keep her so busy and entertained.

Parachute games can help kids with social skills, coordination, and fine motor skills. It is great for a single child or a large group of kids. This is the perfect party activity!

These are a few easy parachute games that we love to play. I got some of these ideas from her Gymboree class. There are so many things you can do with a parachute. You are only limited to your imagination.

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How to Cope When Mom Gets Sick

February 9, 2016 by hewella1 Leave a Comment

Whenever moms get sick, it’s like the world is coming to an end. The house is a wreck, everyone gets stressed but there are ways to cope when Mom gets sick. It is up to us to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our families. A happy and healthy mom makes for a happy family.

First and foremost is rest! Don’t worry about the dishes stacking up in the sink. Have someone grab some takeout so that you don’t have to cook. The family will survive for a couple of days so that you can rest and get better. Here are a few ways to get the family involved. It will depend on your kids’ ages as to how much responsibility they can take on.

Have the kids ride the bus or see if they can carpool with a neighbor
Grab some takeout for dinner or if you want to eat healthier, consider a food subscription service like, Hello Fresh.
If you feel like you are getting even a little sick, head to the store and stock up on any kind of medicine or vitamins you will need so that you don’t have to go out later.
Let the kids buy lunches at school so you don’t have to worry about packing anything.
Use your grocery store’s online shopping options if they have them. You can usually shop online and then just send someone to pick them up for you if you can’t wait until you are better. You can always use Amazon Prime if your store doesn’t offer this option.
Let your husband and the kids take care of the dishes, laundry, taking care of the pets or any other responsibilities they can take on.
Let go of the screen time limits. Turn on Netflix or your Amazon account and watch movies or TV shows with the kids. You can also give them more video game or tablet time so that you can get some more rest.
Call the grandparents, aunts, uncles, anyone that lives close and will let the kids have a sleep over for a night or two.
If you don’t have any family that lives close, you might want to consider using a “mother’s helper”. These are preteen age kids that can come over and keep the younger kids entertained while you are still in the house. It is a cheaper option than hiring a babysitter.
You can make some “busy bags” if you have toddler aged kids. I like having these on hand for when I get sick or for when you go out to restaurants. It keeps them occupied for a while.

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Elmo Birthday Party Ideas

January 13, 2016 by hewella1 Leave a Comment

My baby girl recently turned 2. I can’t believe it! She is currently obsessed with Elmo and anything Sesame Street. It was a given that I was going to throw her an Elmo birthday party. I thought I would share how we did it to get you inspired in case your little one wants an Elmo party, too.

The party was very small, only family and a couple of friends were invited. We just had it at our house and she had a blast. It isn’t easy having a party for her because it is right after Christmas and New Years Day so I am usually scrambling to get the Christmas decor put away and the party decor up.

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Must-Haves for Running Errands with a Toddler

January 7, 2016 by hewella1 Leave a Comment

This post is brought to you by Walmart and Healthtex courtesy of The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

As a mom to a spirited young child, I have learned that running errands used to be a pleasure that I now dread. I always keep several items with me at all times to make running errands with a toddler so much easier and more tolerable.

I stay at home with my daughter so if I need to go anywhere, she has to come with me. There is just no getting around it. She has actually started to look forward to going shopping with mommy and I think the fact that I always have a “survival kit” on hand makes it easier on both of us.

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How to Get Rid of the Pacifier: What Finally Worked for Us

January 5, 2016 by hewella1 2 Comments

I was so scared to take away my daughter’s pacifier. I think it was more traumatic for me then it was for her but we finally got rid of the pacifier once and for all!

I wanted to share what worked for us in case you were struggling with this issue as well.

My little girl was so attached to her pacifier. I knew it was going to be difficult to wean her off of it. I never wanted to give her a pacifier in the first place but she had a strong sucking instinct. It was the only thing that would soothe her.

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