I found an interesting video on YouTube yesterday while searching for baby related videos. It’s a trailer for a new video game on Nintendo DS titled My Little Baby that allows you to raise a virtual baby. From the trailer it seems there are a variety of real world activities you can take part in, when it comes to raising a baby.

“My Little Baby is a family-friendly game for the Nintendo DS that gives players the opportunity to raise a baby – all without the real-world messes, sleepless nights, or “terrible two’s.” Players start by creating virtual parents, whose unique characteristics – eye color, hair color, skin tone, etc.

Anyway, I thought this was interesting. Not sure what to make of it and I’m also not sure what audience this would appeal to. Since its on the DS, one would assume it would be for a failry younger audience.

I found an interesting article today with tips that are sure to create a lot of fun for your kids as well extra noise and headaches for you. MSN, Family & Parenting has an article about household objects that can be great toys (noise makers) for your little one. This makes a lot sense, as I’ve noticed babies usually ignore their bright and colorful toys and go after things we parents wouldn’t consider toys at all.

Baby bottle caps & straws seem to keep our baby occupied for several minutes. The straws aren’t so bad but the noisy bottle cap hitting and spinning on the floor can get to you. I sometimes ask myself, “why do I keep buying toys”? If my kid can be entertained by empty shoe boxes, cardboard boxes, wooden spoons, and other regular everyday items then Fisher-Price is going to start losing some business.

A few of the household items featured can also provide some fun educational benefits. With the different sounds, shapes, textures, etc. your child is sure to pickup a thing or two.

“Providing a variety of shapes and sizes will encourage your child to invent new ways to balance and build that a set of traditional square blocks might not. Plus, it gives him a chance to understand size relationships.“

Read the full article here: Terrific Toys from Around the House

My son LOVES the water. We take advantage of summer the best way we can and take him to water parks and pools or just sit outside and play in the sprinkler. But his new favorite water sport is sitting in our backyard and (luckily for me) there’s no admission fee!

We ordered the “Lil’ Squirts Baby Pool” out of the One Step Ahead catalog, and our little boy has loved it from day one. Its essentially like any other baby pool, except that you hook it up to the hose and he can splash around and play with the various “sprayers” that shoot out a gentle spray of water that makes him laugh every time he catches it.

The only downside is that when it was cool outside, the water from the hose was too cold for him to enjoy - but I haven’t figured out a way to control the weather yet so I’ll have to make due.

+12 months (and up) | $19.95 (via One Step Ahead)

Image from One Step Ahead

I don’t know about you, but with the recent addition of 500 reality TV shows on every network, its hard for me to find anything worth watching on television anymore. But apparently, the onslaught of mindless network shows hasn’t affected what your kids are watching.

In the U.S., the average child will watch up to 4 hours of TV a day. But this is by no fault of their own - most daycare centers (70%) have movies or childrens’ shows playing throughout the days to keep the kids entertained, and some school activities include films or movies for the children as well.

Although, studies show that most children start watching TV long before they enter school. And within a year, the average child spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV.

Of course, television, in moderation, can be a good thing: Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet and counting from shows like Sesame Street, grade schoolers can learn about animals and wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. Its obvious that TV can serve a valuable purpose in some cases.

But what are the negative effects of too much TV?

• Research has shown that children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
• Kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
• Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes.

Read More about the effects of TV

Yes, your infant or toddler may be too young to understand the words, comprehend images, or even put the two together. The fact that they do not yet understand what you read to them doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits by reading to your child.

According to www.childliteracy.com, the more you read to your child the better. By reading to your child you are helping them build knowledge through their senses that are still developing.”

“The effort of focusing on pictures develops eye muscles. And each time he hears a particular word, it imprints more strongly in his brain. Think: how do our brains learn? They learn by doing. Each time your baby sees, hears, or feels anything, brain connections form. Eventually, the connections are strong enough to create a skill or a piece of knowledge”, says www.childliteracy.com.

To me, the benefits are obvious and makes a lot of sense. Additionally, reading to your child is another great way to build that parent-child bond. Reading to your baby can be fun for all and very helpful to your child’s early development. Happy reading.

A list of books to read to the little one:

• Lamaze Where’s Caterpillar
• The First Years Pooh Peek & Teethe Crinkle Book
• Sassy Soft Book - I’m a Teapot
• Sassy Soft Book- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Well, here is another great toy I wish I had when I was a kid. I remember I was given a broken telephone to play with. Good times. Anyway, Fisher Price has done it again. Fisher Price’s Laugh & Learn™ Learning Puppy™ comes with two modes of play, learning mode and music games. With music mode there are 10 fun songs for your baby to boogy to.

Learning Mode has six spots on the puppy that teaches your child body parts, ABC’s, and colors. My little one at the moment has learned chewing on the puppy’s ears can be very fun. Learning Mode uses fun songs and phrases to entertain, engage, and teach your little one.

When learning is over it’s time for fun and games. Game mode includes a counting song, color song, the alphabet song, and a body parts song. In addition there are six extra songs for continued enjoyment, boogying, and fun.

Get this toy for your child. It’s fun and you’ll enjoy watching your little one learn while enjoying delightful songs and games. Or you can enjoy watching your child chew on the ears.

**Things you should know:

• Manufacturer Recommended Age: 6 months - 3 years
• Batteries: 3 AA batteries required. (included)

**from amazon.com | Laugh & Learn™ Learning Puppy™

There are numerous resources out there for parents. Whether you are an expecting parent or enjoying the first several months of you child’s life, there is a large library out there for those parents looking for ways to make their baby feel as comfortable as possible and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

For those of you that do not have the time or patience to read books, you’re in luck. DVDs like Infant Massage: Power of Touch are easy to follow and offers step by step guidance on how to rid your child of discomforts through safe, gentle massaging. According to The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine, infant massaging is proven to ease digestive problems, colic, and many other annoyances that would cause your child discomfort. “Doctors worldwide have recognized the positive impact of massage on infants’ well-being”, says The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine.

Other DVDs on the subject are available and some even cover massaging for newborns, infants and toddlers. Baby Massage Therapy: Newborns, Infants, & Toddlers version2.0, is a great DVD for those parents that want to cover all three stages in the their child’s younger years. Still not convinced? Below are a few benefits that infant massaging offers:

• Improves circulation
• Enhances senses
• Fosters trust in parents
• Reduces stress

Visit this page for a full list of infant massage benefits

Parenting Magazine has a great article about fun activities that your kids can do around the house. The best part is that the activities all include things that most of us probably already have laying around the house somewhere.

Theres been plenty of times when I’ve had to take a phone call and try to entertain my son so that I can hear the conversation I’m trying to have. Mostly because, at some point, even putting on Finding Nemo loses its appeal. Which is a shame since I love that movie!

Anyway, its definitely worth reading if you’ve ever had to battle for time to talk on the phone, read an email or take a breath while your toddler is running around the house.

Fun Activities: Keep Your Kids Busy | Parenting Magazine