Personalized Time out Mat, Nanny Recommended, Parent Loved, Kid Approved

TresChicTimeOutSpotPersonalized

The SUPER NANNY, Nanny 911 and Dr. Phil all recommend the Take Time Out Mat concept for child behavior  modification. Anything Joe's Personalized Gifts for Kids Decorator styled, Kid Themed, personalized Time Out Spots provide a consistent time out spot that will also fit in with your kids room decor so that it can be left out at all times or it can be rolled up and brought out when needed. Why not take it with you or to the Grandparents for overnight trips.  Please read the entire article for useful tips on this important child disciplining concept.

To view the Personalized Time Out mat choices click here: http://www.anythingjoes.com/search-products-list.cfm?sea ...

We strongly feel that a Time Out must be balanced with a Time in.
What's a Time In??, just read further to find out!

When I was young my Mom, when extremely put out with my behavior or frustrated with me, would send me into a large walk-in storage closet where I stayed until she asked if I was ready. Not as bad as it sounds really, the door was never locked and there was plenty of room and light and I could actually enjoy it, so it probably wasn't boring enough to be effective, but I knew when I was in there that I'd better have an apology ready to present when she asked if I was ready to come out.... No apology, then I must not be ready. She didn't call it Time Out, but that's exactly what it was.

Basically the Time Out is the best discipline technique for children 2 to 5. It is a tough concept to begin with, but if you are diligent and stick to your guns it is very effective. Don't become discouraged. Focus on one behavior at a time, but be consistent, don't say it if you don't mean it! Keep it up, they'll be fine and remember it as a good thing, just as I do my closet time.

We chose this list of Time Out How To's from a leading parenting website, because it balances the Time Out with a Time In. A brief time when you show affection when you catch them being good.  Be sure to do your own research before implementing by asking other parents what has worked for them.

Some parents become discouraged with time-out. Their child repeats misbehavior immediately after release from time-out. Other children seem to improve temporarily but by the next day are repeating the behavior the parent is trying to stop. Some children refuse to go to time-out or won't stay there. None of these examples means that time-out should be abandoned. It remains the best discipline technique for 2- to 5-year-old children. If you use time-out repeatedly, consistently, and correctly, your child will eventually improve.

The following recommendations may help you fine-tune how you are using time-out.

* Give your child more physical affection each day. Be sure your child receives two time-ins for every time-out each day. A time-in is a positive, close, brief human interaction. Try to restore the positive side of your relationship with your child. Catch him being good. Try to hold your child for 1 or 2 minutes every 15 minutes when he's not in time-out or misbehaving. Play with your child more. Children who feel neglected or overly criticized don't want to please their parents.

* Use time-out every time your child engages in the behavior you are trying to change (target behavior). Use time-out more frequently. For the first 2 or 3 days you may need to use time-outs 20 or more times a day to gain a defiant toddler's attention. Brief time-outs are harmless and there is no upper limit on how many times you can use them as long as you off-set them with positive interactions.

* Use time-out. Don't just threaten to use time-out. For aggressive behaviors, give no warnings, just put your child in time-out. Better yet, intercept your child when you see her starting to raise her arm or clench her fist and before she makes others cry. For other behaviors, remind your child of the rule, count to three, and if she doesn't stop immediately, put her in time-out.

* Put your child in time-out earlier. Put your child in time-out before his behavior worsens. Your child is more likely to accept a time-out calmly if he's put in early rather than if he's put in late (and screaming). Also, putting him in early means you will be more in control of your emotions. Try to put your child in time-out before you become angry. If you are still yelling when you put your child in time-out, it will not work.

* Put your child in time-out quickly. Don't talk about it first. When your child breaks a rule, have her in time- out within 10 seconds.

* Don't talk to your child during time-out. Don't answer his questions or complaints. Don't try to lecture your child.

* Ignore tantrums in time-out. Don't insist on quietness during time-out because it makes it harder to finish the time-out.

* Return your child to time-out if he escapes. Have a back-up plan for further discipline; for example, holding a young child in the time-out chair or grounding an older child.

* Consider increasing the length of time-out. If your child is over 3 years old and needs to be placed in time-out more than 10 times each day, a longer time-out may be needed to get her attention. A preschooler with a strong-willed temperament may temporarily need a time- out that lasts 2 or 3 minutes per year of her age. Children younger than 3 years should receive only brief time-outs (1 minute per year of age) because it is difficult for them to stay in time-out any longer.

* Make the time-out place more boring. If your child doesn't seem to mind the time-outs, eliminate sources of entertainment. Move the time-out chair to a more boring location. If you use your child's bedroom, close the blinds or shades. Make sure that siblings or pets aren't visiting. Temporarily remove all toys and games from the bedroom and store them elsewhere.

* Use a portable timer for keeping track of the time. Your child is more likely to obey a timer than to obey you.

* Be kinder in your delivery of time-out. This will help reduce your child's anger. Say you're sorry he needs a time-out, but be firm about it. Try to handle your child gently when you take him to time-out.

* Praise your child for taking a good time-out. Forgive your child completely when you release her from time- out. Don't give lectures or ask for an apology. Give your child a clean slate and don't tell her father or relatives how many time-outs she needed that day.

* Don't punish your child for the normal expression of anger, such as saying angry things or looking angry. Don't try to control your child too much.

* Give your child more choices about how he takes his time-out. Ask, "Do you want to take a time-out by yourself or do you want me to hold you in your chair? It doesn't matter to me." (For older children, the choice can be, "By yourself or do you want to be grounded?")

* Give your child the option of coming out of time-out as soon as she is under control rather than taking the specified number of minutes. Some children feel overly controlled.

* Use a variety of consequences for misbehavior. Ignore harmless behaviors. Also use distraction for bad habits. Use logical consequences--such as removal of toys, other possessions, or privileges--for some misbehavior.

* Clarify with your child what you want him to do. Also clarify the house rules. Review this at a time when your child is in a good mood. This will help him be more successful.

* Use time-out with siblings when appropriate. Be sure that one sibling isn't being treated preferentially. If siblings touch the timer or tease the child in time-out, they should also be placed in time-out.

* Teach all caretakers to use time-out correctly and consistently.

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Anything Joe's

Now that school is back in, the next big holiday on the kids minds will be Halloween!  The one day of the year, when asking for candy is cool and acting out and dressing up is accepted by parents, teachers and friends alike!  This is  a kids dream of a holiday!  A holiday where their unique and creative ideas can shine!

Halloween ideas are rampant, but will take some serious thought and preparation from both the kids and the parents.  Who or what are you going to be this year is the first big question.  Next, are you going to create your own Halloween costume or just buy off the shelf?  Lets hope you can help create their own Halloween costume!    Whether it is their favorite pop star, a simple ghost with a sheet and two eyes cut out, most costumes can be created from items right in your own closet or attic and these will be the most memorable and also the most affordable.

Of course this is not an option for everyone, but there are ways to still make it a Personalized Halloween even  if you can't stitch up a costume.  And the candy, how are you going to carry it??  A halloween bucket, bag or if you're expecting a big haul, how about a pillowcase!

At Anything Joe's Personalized Gifts for Kids, we've featured bags, of every size, but the cutest and most enduring choice for a Halloween Candy tote idea are the personalized Halloween Buckets hand painted by our artists. 

These sturdy Halloween buckets, 10"H   come in Black, Orange and Dark Purple and are personalized with the child's name, a Halloween Candy design and feature a nylon rope handle.  Strong enough to carry anyones take on Halloween evening!  This is a great way to make their Halloween experience more personal.  The buckets can also be used over and over for several years and they are a great place to store the Halloween Candy until it's all gone.

Need a more customized theme?  We can do this too, we can do something to match their Princess Costume, Super Hero, or whatever character they envision!

These Personalized Halloween Buckets are also great for whoever greets at your front door to pass out the candy.  Another choice for your Front Door Ghoul would be our personalized Halloween Snack Bowl.  This can be painted with the family name, such as, "THE JOHNSON'S TREATS" and will look great as you dish out the candy or on your counter for the Halloween Party!

OK, so now that we have that out of the way, we always like to include our

Top Halloween Safety Tips:

So, as you prepare your child for the Candy Grab Night, remind them of these points and then be sure to escort your little trick-or-treater on his rounds or make sure that there is a responsible adult present with them.

1. Stay on the sidewalk, if there is one, if not, stick close to the curb, facing oncoming traffic.
2. Choose the safest route, not the shortest! Emphasize the importance of crossing only at corners. Crossing mid-block increases your risk of an accident.
3. Remind kids to look both ways (left-right-left) before crossing the street, and don't assume that motorists will yield to you.
4. Limit your territory to familiar streets and neighbors. Make it clear if certain areas or houses are off-limits. There's advantages to trick-or-treating with a group: there's safety in numbers, and it's more fun!
5. Halloween is a great time to remind kids about stranger danger! Teach your child to be polite but cautious around neighbors they haven't met, and to never, ever enter a stranger's home or car.
6. Beware of black cats…and other nocturnal critters. Halloween, with its constantly ringing doorbells and throngs of people, can make even calm pets nervous. Advise your child to steer clear of pets he or she doesn't know, and consider removing your own pet from all the action.
7. This one is never popular…but don't let kids sample their treats until you inspect them. To lessen the disappointment, serve up a fun, Halloween-themed meal first. How about a Worm Sandwich (hot dogs cut into squiggly strips, curled up on a bun)? Or Spaghetti and Eyeballs (with strategically-placed olives embedded into the meatballs)?
8. Set rules regarding candy consumption, starting on Halloween night. It's no coincidence that physicians see a rise in upset stomachs after Halloween!  A great idea we heard was to once you get home, divide the candy into 7 bags, ziplock sandwich sized, so they will have a weeks worth of candy.  Keep it in the kitchen in a safe, unreachable place and divvy it out each day!  Anything left over seven days worth, divide into bags and take to the local nursing home or shelter, they will appreciate it so much!
9. Spook-proof your yard for visiting trick-or-treaters. Clear the walkway of wet leaves and other obstacles; turn on all the lights. If your decorations require extension cords, get them out of the way.
10. As far as Jack o' Lanterns go, never let young children near carving tools. Non-toxic paint, stickers, and push-in picks are safe decorating alternatives. Or let your child draw the face, while you do the carving. Instead of candles, illuminate your pumpkin with a safe, battery-operated alternative.
11. Falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries on Halloween, according to the National Safety Council. So shorten that hem, leave the high heels home, and make sure you think safety!
12. Get the pictures before you start!  Stay focused on helping them have a great time!

Heading off to school, kindergarten or Daycare can be an exciting time or something you and they are just not quite ready for.  It kind of feels like you are heading off into the unknown. 

Usually once the initial shock is past, it will be fine for both of you.  We've enjoyed watching our little niece Isabella make the progression into 3 day Daycare this year.  Of course she's the leader of the class, and it was not a hard transition.  But if you had been on the outside looking in you would have thought it would have been tougher for her.  She was a little shy with folks other than family and had been blessed to have her Mommy at home so she was used to having constant attention of a loving parent.

To us she is like a different child now, much more sure of herself, not shy a bit and a definite leader in her little class.  This year she heads off to Kindergarten and we're sure she will become the class president!

But on the subject of choosing a "cute"  Daycare backpack we did want to share what we've heard from Moms and the kids too!  So first off it should be cute! Even the young kids are establishing their persona and once they get to school they need a sense of "hey I'm cool, you better like me".   It will also serve as their little Anchor, something familiar from home and Mom.  You are kidding yourself if you think kids don't notice what the other kids have....you will see traces of peer pressure at this young stage too.  So you may as well start them at the head of the class with a cute backpack that is serviceable.  Because rest assured you will want then to have a bag that everyone else wants, right?

So what do you look for??  It should be age appropriate.  Can they actually wear it and handle it?  Iin the eyes of loving parents and grandparents they are SO BIG, but they still don't need the big backpacks used in grade school.  It will just frustrate them and the teacher.  Ask the teacher if they will be bringing home folders, etc.  If so you know it will need to be at least 10"W and 12"H.  For the ilttle ones it is usually required to have at least a shirt or top to change into in case of accidents, you may be asked to send a snack or a drink, but usually for Daycare and preschool it is mainly something to carry papers back and forth and small items.  So no big books, no overnight gear.

It should be washable!  We have backpacks like the Quilted Backpacks from Stephen Joseph which are perfectly sized, can be thrown in the wash and used for at least a couple years.  These are hightly reccomneded and a great value.  So start with these.   If you ever have questions feel free to call us to check sizes.  We are always glad to help at Anything Joe's Personalized Gifts for Kids

Storage of toys, plush pets, books and art supplies are a daily challenge to Moms and their kids.  When choosing storage options, it is important to select storage containers that are functional and will blend with a kids room decor and can also grow with the child.  Early organization skills can be taught to children as young as two, as long as you keep it simple....this box for toys, this box for blocks, this box for pets, etc.  You can make this learning process a game with the Clean Up Song:

Clean up, clean up.
Everybody clean up.
Clean up, clean up.
Put your things away.

We have found several great ideas for dealing with these toy storage problems, large to small  These personalized gift items are not only practical, but they are cute too with hand painted designs and personalization providing a workable level of style and usability for their rooms and play areas.

For large toy storage, we have a our Large Personalized Toy Box storage units that can be painted with their name and choice of designs.   These is perfect for the nursery right up through their Kindergarten days.  This includes a rolling toy tub that can be rollled around to pick up the toys.  Another large storage choice is the Treasure Chest. Shaped like a pirate's chest, this can be used for boy's toy storage with a Pirate Design and also makes a great Dress Up trunk for little girls with a princess or dress up clothes pattern.

A Mom favorite is our folding fabric hampers / toy bins Painted with a design to match their room decor it can begin their life as a toy storage bin and later be used as a hamper.  Available in ocean blue, fuschia pink and lime green, this large fabric box, 16" x 16" x 19"H, is a versatile choice.

Got lots of art supplies?? Our new Art Supply Tool Chest is perfect for boys and girls who love projects, but can never find all of their supplies.  This Art Box with it's outside boxes, inside divided lift out tray will get them on the road to organization.

Book storage is one of our specialties.  Tired of digging books out of the toy chest, off the floor, from under the bed?  Get them our practical personalized book rack and watch them learn to put their books in a proper place by their bed or even in the living room.  This little personalized gift has been one of our customers favorites for years!

We hope these storage ideas will inspire you and offer a solution to your storage problems.  Happy organizing!

This time of year our minds start preparing for the next upcoming Holiday, EASTER!

The Easter tradition at our house include a personal visit by Peter Rabbit who left our full to the brim Easter Basket on the front steps (bunnies don't do chimneys and can't open the door my Mom said).  Along with the basket he would scatter a trail of eggs for us to find before we began dressing in our Easter finery and heading off to church, our pockets full of chocolate that always melted before we could eat it.

We now see more and more that this holiday has become one of gift giving, but the key is still the Easter Basket.  But the basket is now larger and a container for many other gifts, along with the candy.

Our three favorites this year are our Sol Totes, a "croc bag" that is made of the same material as a croc and will serve as their purse or beach tote all summer.  So in these days of watching the budget, it is a two fold gift that will be a hit and used all spring and summer on beach, lake or pool trips.

Our next favorite is the traditional personalized wicker Easter Basket for kids with the Chambray liner.  This is a traditional gift that will bring excitement to Easter morning.  Large, deep and lightweight this basket will become part of your Easter Tradition.

Last but not least are our pesonalized Easter Basket bags that are the perfect size for filling and for the Easter Egg Hunt and when the holiday is over, "crush flat" for storage until next year.

So happy Easter Basket filling and Easter Egg Hunts to all!

Storage of toys, books and art supplies are a daily challenge to Moms and their kids.  We have several great ideas for this problem.   These personalized gift items are not only practical, but they are cute too with our designs and personalization providing a workable level of style and usability for their rooms and play areas.

For large toy storage, we have a our Rolling Toy Box, (19" x 14" x 11"D) that can be painted with their name and choice of designs.   This is perfect for the nursery right up through their Kindergarten days.  Another large storage choice is our Treasure Chest. Shaped like a pirate's chest, this can be used for toy storage and also makes a great Dress Up trunk for little girls.

Got lots of art supplies??  Our new Art Supply Tool Chest is perfect for boys and girls who love projects, but can never find all of their supplies.  This Art Box with it's outside boxes, inside divided lift out tray will get them on the road to organization.

Book storage is one of our specialties.  Tired of digging books out of the toy chest, off the floor, from under the bed?  Get them our practical personalized book rack and watch them learn to put their books in a proper place by their bed or even in the living room.  This little personalized gift has been one of our customers favorites for years!

We hope these storage ideas will inspire you and offer a solution to your storage problems.  Happy organizing!

Personalized piggy banks make wonderful gifts for every age.  In these days when we hear so much about the financial state of our country and our families it is a great way to start a child off with savings habits.

Personalized banks make the saving process more of a personal activity...this is my bank and my money.  Children, given the chance, are great savers and learn quickly about the value of the dollar if you show them how.  Our own business, Anything Joe's, was started by Joe as a teenager who was having to save money to buy his first car and started doing craft shows to accomplish his goal.  Those special tennis shoes or the latest game will gain new meaning if the child has saved to buy it with his or her own dollars!

The classic ceramic personalized piggy banks we offer come in three sizes and can be personalized not only with their name, but a theme to match their interests or room decor.  You can also give us your own ideas on a theme for adults a favorite is our beach scene with "Joe's Vacation Fund" or for newlyweds the "Honeymoon Fund."

A favorite that Grandparents love to give younger children are the Big Belly Banks that look like a dinosaur or flower and the money rolls down the neck into the belly.  You actually "feed" your bank!

We also have specialty banks like the purse bank that is perfect for a little girls room and My First Bank that makes a unique baby gift.

Whatever your style bank, we can assure you that you child will love it and be on the path to saving just as soon as they open the box.

The answer to that question would be a resounding yes.  Just ask almost any parent who has found out about Elf on the Shelf or the kids who wake up to find him every pre Christmas morning.

Every so often a Christmas Tradition takes hold and becomes a part of our lives.  In the last six years there has been a tradition revived by a mother/daughter team that has brought excitement and good behavior home for the holidays!  Author Carol Abersold began this tradition with her family in the '70's and a few years back 'packaged' the idea and made it easy for everyone to start this same tradition with their children.  We began selling this item a few years back and it is always sell out by the end of the first couple of weeks of December, but folks still try to track it down.  It's called the Elf on the Shelf! 

The Elf on the Shelf concept is simple, but must be followed closely to be a success in your home.  After purchasing the elf set, you study first so you know what parts of the story to emphasize when telling.  Pick a quiet night and make it a family event, invite the Grandparents over and have the best storyteller read the book to the kids. 

In the story the Elf, Your Elf, must be named to become magic.  Thereafter, each night he will report into to Santa, telling if you've been good or bad and then before you awake he returns to his watch, but he will land in a different spot, so each morning the kids get up to see where he has landed....this is how you know he is magic!  Now you can't touch him or play with him because he will lose his magic....he just sits and watches all day long!

This tradition is growing each and every year and has now been adopted into daycares, schools and thousands of homes across the land.  The best success stories of course come from the kids and here is our favorite that we've heard in our store:

A little boy came in and told us, "hey I got one of those elves!  His name is Ruckus.  Last year, one time I was so bad, that elf didn't come back for two days!  So I had to straighten up and then he came back!  Mom said he was embarrassed that I had been so bad!"

Christmas traditions are fun to build and see how they grow each year.  It might be through decorating your family Christmas tree with  personalized Christmas Ornaments or decorating the front Holiday Doors.  And who could leave out hanging your personalized Christmas stockings on the mantle, it all adds up to family fun and Christmas traditions to last a lifetime.

When I was young my Mom, when extremely put out with my behaivor or frustrated with me, would send me into a large walk-in storage closet where I stayed until she asked if I was ready.   Not as bad as it sounds really, the door was never locked and there was plenty of room and light and I could actually enjoy it, so it probably wasn't boring enough to be effective, but I knew when I was in there that I'd better have an apology ready to present when she asked if I was ready to come out....  No apology, then I must not be ready.    She didn't call it Time Out, but that's exactly what it was. 

Everyone is pretty familiar with the term Time Out  these days, but not every one knows exactly when and how to use this very effective form of discipline and training for their children.  We at Anything Joe's do not claim to be parenting experts, but have found a parenting web site we can recommend for you to further your own research.  Today's parents and teachers would balk at the thought of putting a child in a closet but now we have the time out corner or Time Out Mats to create a confined area for the children.

Basically the Time Out is the best discipline technique for children 2 to 5.  It is a tough concept to begin with, but if you are diligent and stick to your guns it is very effective.  Don't become discouraged.  Focus on one behavior at a time, but be consistent, don't say it if you don't mean it!  Keep it up, they'll be fine and remember it as a good thing, just as I do my closet time.

We chose this list of Time Out How To's from the KidsGrowth.com website, because it balances the Time Out with a Time In.  A brief time when you show affection when you catch them being good.

Some parents become discouraged with time-out. Their child repeats misbehavior immediately after release from time-out. Other children seem to improve temporarily but by the next day are repeating the behavior the parent is trying to stop. Some children refuse to go to time-out or won't stay there. None of these examples means that time-out should be abandoned. It remains the best discipline technique for 2- to 5-year-old children. If you use time- out repeatedly, consistently, and correctly, your child will eventually improve.

The following recommendations may help you fine-tune how you are using time-out.

• Give your child more physical affection each day. Be sure your child receives two time-ins for every time-out each day. A time-in is a positive, close, brief human interaction. Try to restore the positive side of your relationship with your child. Catch him being good. Try to hold your child for 1 or 2 minutes every 15 minutes when he's not in time-out or misbehaving. Play with your child more. Children who feel neglected or overly criticized don't want to please their parents.

   

• Use time-out every time your child engages in the behavior you are trying to change (target behavior). Use time-out more frequently. For the first 2 or 3 days you may need to use time-outs 20 or more times a day to gain a defiant toddler's attention. Brief time-outs are harmless and there is no upper limit on how many times you can use them as long as you off-set them with positive interactions.

   

• Use time-out. Don't just threaten to use time-out. For aggressive behaviors, give no warnings, just put your child in time-out. Better yet, intercept your child when you see her starting to raise her arm or clench her fist and before she makes others cry. For other behaviors, remind your child of the rule, count to three, and if she doesn't stop immediately, put her in time-out.

   

• Put your child in time-out earlier. Put your child in time-out before his behavior worsens. Your child is more likely to accept a time-out calmly if he's put in early rather than if he's put in late (and screaming). Also, putting him in early means you will be more in control of your emotions. Try to put your child in time-out before you become angry. If you are still yelling when you put your child in time-out, it will not work.

   

• Put your child in time-out quickly. Don't talk about it first. When your child breaks a rule, have her in time- out within 10 seconds.

   

• Don't talk to your child during time-out. Don't answer his questions or complaints. Don't try to lecture your child.

   

• Ignore tantrums in time-out. Don't insist on quietness during time-out because it makes it harder to finish the time-out.

   

• Return your child to time-out if he escapes. Have a back-up plan for further discipline; for example, holding a young child in the time-out chair or grounding an older child.

   

• Consider increasing the length of time-out. If your child is over 3 years old and needs to be placed in time-out more than 10 times each day, a longer time-out may be needed to get her attention. A preschooler with a strong-willed temperament may temporarily need a time- out that lasts 2 or 3 minutes per year of her age. Children younger than 3 years should receive only brief time-outs (1 minute per year of age) because it is difficult for them to stay in time-out any longer.

   

• Make the time-out place more boring. If your child doesn't seem to mind the time-outs, eliminate sources of entertainment. Move the time-out chair to a more boring location. If you use your child's bedroom, close the blinds or shades. Make sure that siblings or pets aren't visiting. Temporarily remove all toys and games from the bedroom and store them elsewhere.

   

• Use a portable timer for keeping track of the time. Your child is more likely to obey a timer than to obey you.

   

• Be kinder in your delivery of time-out. This will help reduce your child's anger. Say you're sorry he needs a time-out, but be firm about it. Try to handle your child gently when you take him to time-out.

   

• Praise your child for taking a good time-out. Forgive your child completely when you release her from time- out. Don't give lectures or ask for an apology. Give your child a clean slate and don't tell her father or relatives how many time-outs she needed that day.

   

• Don't punish your child for the normal expression of anger, such as saying angry things or looking angry. Don't try to control your child too much.

   

• Give your child more choices about how he takes his time-out. Ask, "Do you want to take a time-out by yourself or do you want me to hold you in your chair? It doesn't matter to me." (For older children, the choice can be, "By yourself or do you want to be grounded?")

   

• Give your child the option of coming out of time-out as soon as she is under control rather than taking the specified number of minutes. Some children feel overly controlled.

   

• Use a variety of consequences for misbehavior. Ignore harmless behaviors. Also use distraction for bad habits. Use logical consequences--such as removal of toys, other possessions, or privileges--for some misbehavior.

   

• Clarify with your child what you want him to do. Also clarify the house rules. Review this at a time when your child is in a good mood. This will help him be more successful.

   

• Use time-out with siblings when appropriate. Be sure that one sibling isn't being treated preferentially. If siblings touch the timer or tease the child in time-out, they should also be placed in time-out.

   

• Teach all caretakers to use time-out correctly and consistently.

Every couple of years there is a new craze that hits the streets with kids.  The latest is the current Silly Bandz craze.    It started fall of 2009, escalated into 2010 and is still going strong. 

What you may ask are Silly Bandz??  Nothing more than colored rubber bands, worn as bracelets.  The neat feature is that they are pre-shaped into everything ranging from simple animal shapes to cars, princesses even college and team logos!

They originally were solid colors, but now are found in Jelly translucent, glitter, tie dye, glow in the dark and scented.   They have expanded their size and are now also available as rings.  The newest development are necklaces so you can wear your entire collection on a string around your neck.

They are generally marketed in packs of twelve ranging in price from $2.99 to $7.99.  There are the collectible varieties such as the college teams and Disney to more generic styles.  But all have value to kids from ages 3 up to 15.  They  are collected, traded, hoarded and cause the most fun parents to cringe.

As you can imagine the are source of concern for teachers as well.  Many now make the kids remove the bands during class.  So what do they do with them while in class?  We have a solution to Silly Bandz Storage:

Our Personalized Silly Bandz Box:  A small plastic box, personalized for silly bandz storage is a great way for kids to keep up with their silly bandz, take them off, throw them into their backpack or locker and put back on after school.  It is also a way to keep up with their collectible silly bandz. 

If the small backpack sized box is not large enough, they can move up next to our Snack Cup that can be painted with the same design or then if that is still not large enough, then try our Pencil Box which should easily hold several hundred.  These will make perfect Stocking Stuffers this upcoming Christmas gift season.

So good luck with your Silly Bandz and let us help you keep them organized.

"My hair is washed, my sneakers squeak, I'm so excited, I can hardly speak!

New things to do, new friends to meet-- Hooray! It's the first day of school!"

Is this how your kids are feeling??  Maybe not, but there is definitely excitement in the air.   First day of school activities include a new classroom, desk assignment, roll call from a new teacher, new subject matter, making new friends and of course sizing up the kids around you....who's got what, who's cute and who's not. 

The school and teachers have prepared you with a list of needed school accessories, trying to make sure everyone is prepared and on equal footing, but you know you want your child to have the edge.   Not only are you concerned with whether their personalized backpack will hold up, but is it cool enough for them to be proud of how they look heading into class?  Don't fool yourself, these things are of great importance to kids of every age from kindergarten right on through High School.

For the parent, first day of school can be very emotional.  Your little one is heading off to begin the next phase of their life.  You are not able to be there to pick them up when they fall or make sure they are understood, you always know just what they mean, but will that new teacher?    Many parents would love to get to know the teacher from the start, but sometimes you are not able to meet them for more than a second and from this chance meeting decide if this person will be the best for your child.  Scary stuff for the first timer, but it will get easier.  You've given your child the tools they need, they know how to interact, they know how to behave (hopefully) and now it's up to them.  Of course, it never hurts to "get to know the teacher" by having a special teacher gift for this person who will become such a big part of their life.

At Anything Joe's we help parents select the bags and accessories they will need for the upcoming school year.  But we also help the parents find items to help build memories.  We have Grade School Memory Books and our First Day at School Frame is one you will cherish for years.

Best of luck to all Mom's and Dad's sending their little ones off to that very first day of school this year.  Remember that we are here to help you with your child's school needs whether it's personalize lunch boxes or personalized backpacks or just hanging on to the first day of school memories.