Toddler

Lifestyle, Motherhood, Product Reviews, Toddler
Curb Cravings With Honest Kids
- 11:38 am
- 2 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
Let’s chat about kids and the way they suddenly get very hungry or thirsty whenever they leave the house. I’m sure this is not unique to my children, I remember suddenly craving sweet snacks whenever my mom took me out as a kid. Oh and even now as an adult, I have to sometimes give myself a little lecture. But let’s be honest, this isn’t caused by any really hunger pangs or dire thirst. It’s just that strong desire to indulge. I’m all for indulging in moderation but when my kids start complaining as they put on their seatbelts you know we have a problem.

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I want to ensure that they are forming healthy habits especially at this age so I’ve become more and more intentional about walking with healthy snacks for them. Honest Kids Organic Juice is one of their favorites which works well for me as each Honest Kids pouch contains only 9 grams of sugar.

The kids have been enjoying them after playing in the park while waiting or while driving in the car. My kids have always been huge fans of the Super Fruit Punch flavor however recently Honest Kids sent us their two newest flavors Cherry Go Round and Twisted Tropical Tango.

We had fun doing a taste test on Snapchat and The Princess Fairy fell in love with the Twisted Tropical Tango flavor. I guess toddlers have different preferences because he’s been reaching more for the Cherry Go Round flavor.

The timing of the release of the new flavors is perfect for all our family’s outdoor adventures. I’m really happy that the kids have something new to tastes for the mommy is comfortable with. I am looking forward to serving them in different creative ways as the weather warms up and of course I will share it all with you.

How do you curb your children’s cravings on the go?
Motherhood, Sponsored, Toddler
How to Prepare Your Child for A Dentist Visit
- 6:04 am
- 2 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
How to Prepare Your Child for A Dentist Visit.

I try my best to take my kids to the dentist every six months, as dental health is essential to our family. Sometimes we’re a few months behind schedule, and honestly, finding a dentist that we trust was the hardest part of the process, but it’s essential to establish healthy dental habits with kids when they are young. Here are a few tips to prepare your child for a dentist visit:

My older daughter’s very first dentist visit was back when she was 2-years-old, and I am happy that although she sometimes gets a little nervous, she’s quite comfortable with visiting the dentist. Now that we’re a few years into pediatric dental visits, I feel like I have enough experience to share a few tips to help you prepare your kids for their dental appointments. Here are a few ways to prepare your child for a dental visit.

1. Let them know what to expect.

My daughter loves surprises, but I know that a surprise trip to the dentist doesn’t fall in the happy surprises category. So, I make sure to let her know about her upcoming visits and what to expect. I always keep the information as positive as possible, highlighting the benefits. Before her very first visit, I let her know that a dentist is someone who makes sure our teeth are healthy and removes gross plaque. I knew that there was a possibility of discomfort, especially when the dental hygienist cleaned her teeth, but I made sure to focus on just the positive.

2. Prepare dental insurance documents prior to visiting.

The last thing you want to have to sort out with your kid at the dentist —especially if it’s their first visit—is dental insurance. My dentist emailed me all the forms, and I filled out everything, scanned our insurance cards, and sent them before our appointment.

2. Find a dentist that specializes in pediatric dentistry.

The easiest thing to do is to take your kid to your dentist, right? After all, it’s just teeth, but I wanted to make sure that my kids have a dentist who is trained to care for children’s teeth and is very experienced with kids. You can find an excellent pediatric dentist by asking friends, reading reviews, getting recommendations from other parents at your child’s school, or by using the dentist locator on your dental insurance website.

3. Inform your dentist about your child’s personality prior to the appointment.

My two older kids’ first dentist visits were fun and will always be beautiful memories for them because her dentist was prepared and made them feel comfortable. Some kids love to chat and want to learn all about their teeth and the process, and some kids prefer to watch a movie during the visit quietly.

4. Bring along a toy to keep your child distracted.

Just in case your child has nervous jitters or experiences some discomfort, it’s nice to have a small toy on hand that can keep them distracted. This will also come in handy if you have a long wait. One time my daughter’s dentist had to attend an emergency, and our wait was an hour-long, a toy would have come in really handy then.

5. Reward your child.

Once you get through the dentist, make sure to reward your little one for their cooperation. There are so many scary stories and negative conversations about dentists visits that you want to make sure that your kids have an entirely positive approach to their dental health. After all, failing to take care of their teeth can lead to decay, cavities, and, eventually, tooth loss, which isn’t cool. Just don’t reward them with sweets or candy. your child for cooperating at the dentist.

Once you get through the dentist, make sure to give your little one a reward for their cooperation. There are so many scary stories and negative conversations about dentists visits that you want to make sure that your kids have a completely positive approach to their dental health. After all failing to take care of their teeth can lead to decay, cavities, and eventually tooth loss which isn’t cool.

If you’re not a fan of visiting the dentist or you’ve had some painful experiences, make sure never to discuss them in your child’s presence. Keep things positive, make trips regular, and it would be an excellent experience for you and your child.

How do you prepare your kids for a trip to the dentist?
Black History Month, Children's Books, Motherhood, Toddler
Black History Month: 7 Diverse Children’s Books
- 1:11 pm
- 2 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
It’s February and here in the United States, we are celebrating Black History month. During this month, we take the time to celebrate the legacy of our ancestors and to share powerful historical stories to inspire the next generation to strive to reach their maximum potential. As a mother, I’ve found that the best way to share our history and inspire my little ones is through reading. My kids both love books and within the past few years, I’ve made it a priority to collect diverse books that they can see themselves in and gain a greater depth of understanding in who they are. I wanted to share some of our favorites with you so your children can also benefit from these wonderful stories.

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1. Jake Makes A World: Jacob Lawrence, a Young Artist in Harlem by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts

I discovered this book at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Art Lab here in New York City over the holidays. My kids were busy playing at the Art Lab and I was keeping myself busy browsing through their library when I found this book. It’s a story about Jacob Lawrence, the famous Harlem Renaissance painter who is known for his Great Migration series. This book shares the beauty of life in 1930’s Harlem through the eyes of a creative child. This book has quickly grown as a favorite of my daughter who loves art and painting.

2. Kayla The Great Goes To Washington by Stephanie Davis

Last year, I shared our love for the Kayla The Great series and it’s still a favorite at our home. Kayla is loveable and fun, I would love to see her transformed into a cartoon. In this book, Kayla and her family visit Washington D.C. and after getting lost in the White House through a series of events she gets to meet President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

For most kids, 8 and younger there has been an African-American president since they were born, I love that this book documents that and makes him and his family accessible to children. With this being the last year of the Obama presidency, it’s a great time to grab this book for your little ones.

3. I love my hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough then you know that encouraging self-love in my children is a huge part of my approach to parenting. I am very intentional about ensuring that they are exposed to images and messages that build self-confidence. That’s one of the reasons that ‘I love my hair” is a book that I am love for my children. In this book, the main character shares all the reasons that she loves her hair and the bond that she shares with her mother because of the time they spend together styling it. It really adds beauty to that scared hairstyling regiment that most of us moms of color know. What I love about this book is that it shows all sides of the experience including how much the tugging on her hair makes her want to cry.

4. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

My daughter received this book as a gift when she was only a baby, we’ve read this book so much that she’s memorized the story. She loves this book and she’s even excited when he teacher reads it to her class at school. This book is about a little boy, Peter who explores his outdoors the day after it snows in his city. The illustrations in this book are incredible and I love how the story shows the deep love that his mother has for him, his relationship with bigger kids and his friends.

5. Yani and Shani’s Rainy Day by Shani Saxon-Parrish and Ayana Byrd

One way to encourage children to have a healthy understanding of who they are is to encourage their imagination. Yani and Shani are best friends who are stuck inside on a rainy day and use their imagination to explore the world in a fun way. This is a great book for our children encouraging them to use their imagination, dream big and make the best of every circumstance. The illustrations in this book are adorable with these two fashionable city girls that most kids will admire.

6. One Love by Cedella Marley

So of course, you know that there’s no way that I would put together a list like this and not include a book that includes some Caribbean influence. It’s well known that One Love is one of my favorite children books and it’s one of my standard gifts to kids in my life.

What I love most about this book at a time like Black History month is that it really encourages harmony between all races. It shows a diverse group of people working together towards a common goal (cleaning up a park).

7. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema

This book is a West African tale that gives a cute explanation of why mosquitos buzz in people’s ears. It teaches kids that miscommunication can lead to huge consequences that can affect a lot of people.

So these are 7 diverse children’s books that you should add to your children’s library or borrow from the library during Black History month.

What are some of your favorite diverse children’s books?