Nudik's Profile

Carrie, Love you for your honesty!

After 3 years of Toy Fair - I can call myself a "toy snob" too. First year - you feel like a kid in a big toy store. It wears off quickly...
ETE - got that too! Such a huge difference between so called preschool toys in US and EU.

TOTY - look at the process of submitting a nomination for the awards - small companies can't always afford that. That's why there are same companies year after year. I wish they were awarding on play-based value and creativity of the toy, and quality of the materials and overall moral image of the producer; not based on how much profit a toy can generate. TOTY has no value to me as a consumer.

I always feel bad for the kids who have to share BD-parties with their siblings, especially if they are diff. genders and have a big age gap. We've been to some successful shared parties, and it seems that no-theme parties do much better (like a back-yard carnival in the summer if you have space; or a party at the local art studio or amusement center; if there are a lot of guests, you can rent the space for 2 consecutive hours, have 2 parties and save some cash).
When kids are small or if it's a party for family - ask for shared gifts. When they are older and it's a shared party for friends - the gift-giving is straight forward: friends of one sibling bring the gifts to that sibling, friends of the other one bring gifts to him. The invite we got always had a name of only one of the kids, who my daughter was in the same class with. So, I never felt like I have to bring a gift to a child I don't really know.
Let them each decide on one activity or project, and pick a cake they like the best.

I think 6-7 (and up) is the perfect age for Little Passports, as their concept is to spark the interest in the kid, and encourage them to find more information on their own later. And the online activities are too difficult for younger kids. I am planning to signed up for my daughter's 6th birthday this year.

"Why don't more parents use floor beds?" a) the mattress gets dirty VERY fast. b) There are a lot more allergens this way - mites, dust, you name it. c) It's colder. d) it's not comfortable for parents.

we use Kids&Pets - for laundry and spot cleaning of rugs and furniture. It's the only thing that permanently and easily removes pee, puke and sweat and all other disgusting organic stains. I wish I new about it earlier.

I use them to store clothes (on the top shelf) in the closet. Something seasonal or things that are too big.

First, get a humidity meter. And make sure you use the humidifier only when you have to (humidity level is low)
Also, use distilled water - this way there's no mold growing inside your humidifier and no need to use extra chemicals.

koosh balls (you can make quite a few Montessori'sh activities with them or they are fun as is)

I can never fall asleep before 3-4 am, so instead of tossing and turning in the bed, I went to the Mall at 2am (some stores at the mall opened at midnight, most at 3am). It was more for a cultural experience than for shopping. It was almost as much fun as being in a flash mob. :-)
I just bought a new pair of Converse and some clothing for me and my kid. I bought everything else, like electronics and toys, online.

we used mini labels that stick onto tags. They stay on well in laundry, but can be removed easily when the child outgrows the stuff. I think I got mine from Mabel Labels