When toys don't play so well on rugs...

Do you have puzzles, toys with little pieces like legos, or small cars that need a slick surface? When toys don't work so well on a rug (where we usually play) and if you don't have any hardwood floors, a White Foam Core Board works great. You can find these in any store next to the poster boards.

It's sturdy and lightweight making it safe for kids (granted a little disposable if they like to poke holes in it!). It's white so you can see all the little pieces and if you keep it all on the board, things stayed organized.

This also works well when playing on a camouflaging Kids Road Rug where it's hard to see the toys you're playing with.

For other great ideas, be sure to visit Works for me Wednesday!

A Sharpie Moment

With so many toys in the house and so many that are battery-powered, it's hard to keep them all turned off. Kids can't read the ON/OFF words. And for some, the print is so small, that we grownups can't even read them!

I had an Ah-Ha moment and pulled out my red and green Sharpie permanent markers. I went through all the toys and color-coded each switch. Green for on, red for off. Now, nobody has to read anything and even a two year old knows which side is off! Be careful though if you have kids who still put everything in their mouth. Sharpies are non-toxic, but I wouldn't feel safe eating it.

Exposed tummies

Time and time again, I see baby's tummies exposed to the elements. When we carry our babies or when they are crawling around on the floor, their shirts can go up and their little tummies can get a little cold.

In our family, we dressed our babies with a short sleeved, legless bodysuit or onesie (we like Carter's brand) under everything.

With the snaps under their diaper, their tummies stayed covered and warm. Then we usually layered this with cotton elastic-waist pants and a sweatshirt. This also works great for babies who like to take off their own blanket sleepers, pants, or diapers! They usually can't undo the snaps.