St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, is also the gateway to adventures in education with so many ways to play—and learn at the same time! Meet the Budweiser Clydesdales or plan a mission to Mars in the many museums of this Midwestern city.

The historic Grant’s Farm invites families to visit the cabin of America’s 18th president, and to see some elephants perform! Formerly owned by the Anheuser-Busch family, the farm was acquired by the St. Louis Zoo in 2015. Animal encounters abound with the chance to feed a baby goat by bottle, feed parakeets, or visit the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales in their stables. Daily, families can watch elephant shows or see the famous horses’ “official prep school” where they learn to earn their reputation! Head over to Grant’s little wooden cabin nicknamed “Hardscrabble” before finishing up with a cold beverage at the Bauernhof, a 19^th century Bavarian farm and courtyard.

If the animals at Grant’s Farm aren’t enough, scurry over to the St. Louis Zoo to visit all of their scaly, furry, and feathered friends. Pet stingrays at Caribbean Cove in the zoo’s Lakeside Crossing area. Sneak past Big Cat country with its lions and tigers in the Red Rocks Zoo zone. Learn about the Gorilla family house in the Wild Zone, or wander past Black Rhinos in the River’s Edge Zone. The Discovery Corners area offers the Monsanto Education gallery and the Emerson Children’s Zoo, both with chances to get up close to some creepy, crawly creatures!

Visit a Mars base, learn about the human body, and get involved in the Hollow Tree Animal Clinic at the St. Louis Science Center. Start beneath the ever-turning kinetic sculpture at the entrance, then head into adventures like the Amazing Science Demonstrations of Dino Mysteries and Physics Phun. With three floors of fixed exhibits, rotating daily events, and a planetarium, the Science Center is ever-evolving with activities. Kids can attend a lab class in Family Medical School or attend one of the regular dissections. Everyone is bound to find something to pique their interest with the diversity of hands-on games and activities.

A trip to St. Louis wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Gateway Arch. Towering a total of 630-feet over the banks of the Mississippi, the Arch represents the history of America’s Westward expansion. Ride the encapsulate tram a short four minutes inside the leg of the Arch to the observation deck for a 30 mile view of the landscape on a clear day. Look at the toy-sized town of St. Louis and see if how many landmarks like Busch Stadium or the Old Courthouse you can find. Ride back down the Arch and visit the nearby Old Courthouse to learn about Westward expansion and the Lewis and Clark expeditions that made their way down the mighty Mississippi.

The City Museum, imagined by artist Bob Cassilly and concocted out of the former International Shoe Company, is a playground for kids of every age. A hodge-podge of items collected from around the city, the museum has brought together twenty-artisans to create a playground and funhouse out of the salvaged items. Play in a giant ball pit, climb through tunnel ways on the roof, and hop from circle to circle past recovered objects that include old construction equipment, tile mosaics, chimneys, bridges, and airplanes! This museum, as with all the brilliant educational opportunities in St. Louis, encourages visitors to learn the best way– through play.

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Here’s something that’ll help you breathe a little easier this school year: Revolar, a device that allows the user to simply press a button when they need you to send for help.

How many times have you panicked because your little one is taking too long to walk home from school, or your teenager won’t answer their phone? How about when you’re out for a run and you notice someone kind of sketchy following you? While 99% of the time, there are very plausible explanations for these situations, there’s still that 1% chance something could happen. That’s why Jacqueline Ros created Revolar.

After Jacqueline’s sister was assaulted as a teenager, all she could think about was how she could have saved her. How, if only there was a button her sister could’ve pressed that would have alerted someone of her dangerous situation, she wouldn’t have been assaulted. In order to prevent other people from similar situations, she created a small button that syncs to a smart phone, and allows up to 5 contacts to be alerted of your situation.

The set up is simple: just download the free app and connect the Revolar device to your phone. You can clip the device to your clothes or put it on a keychain. This allows you to keep the Revolar nearby while your phone is in a purse or backpack. When you do need to use it, Revolar works through WIFI or cellular data to send alerts.

There are two types of alerts: yellow and red. You can speak with the people in your contacts about what each one means. For example: yellow could mean your child just needs to be picked up maybe they’re walking home and are feeling uncomfortable. Red, on the other hand, means that they need emergency services and that you should call 911. Everyone’s alert means something different, so make sure to have clear definitions of what each alert signal represents when you get them set up!

Seeing as the device can fit in the palm of your hand, it’s small enough to clip to your kid’s jacket and to your running clothes. You can even use it when traveling abroad, again, as long as you have cellular data or WIFI! It’s also durable, with a long battery life and water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet or charging the battery.

Whether your kids are off to first grade or freshman year of college, this is the ideal way to keep everyone feeling safe and protected this school year and beyond! Pick one up at Bestbuy.com, Brookstone stores and at Revolar.com.

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Play is an important part of a child’s physical, emotional and social development, yet many external factors can quickly become barriers to active play including busy schedules, technology and the costs of sports equipment. A survey conducted by Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s Let’s Play initiative, which is dedicated to getting kids and their families active, found that only 33 percent of children are participating in active play daily, down from 41 percent in 2015.

Don’t let barriers get in the way of keeping kids active during the school year. Instead, turn those barriers to play into opportunities to get active with the following tips.

Fill down time with play time: Children’s active play time is impacted by busy schedules – 64 percent of parents said busy schedules were a barrier to play this year, up from 56 percent in 2015. Active play doesn’t have to happen all at once; it can be spread out through the day so try fitting it in when you can, even if it’s in 10-minute increments. Waiting with your kids at a bus stop? Make it active by playing a game of Simon Says. Need 10 minutes to get ready to leave the house? Send the kids outside to play before loading up the car.

Make DIY toys: Sports equipment can be pricey to purchase and maintain. Instead of breaking the bank, try recycling objects around the house to make them into toys. You can make old socks into a hacky-sack game by filling them with beans or fill balloons with sand and create a fun game where you toss the balloons into buckets.

Get wired for play: According to the survey, 78 percent of parents said their children spend more than 30 minutes on an average day watching television and 71 percent said their children spend that time on a computer, smartphone or other device. Instead of letting technology get in the way, incorporate play into their time with technology. Have your child play an active video game that encourages players to move around their environment or try playing a game between TV commercials, such as tag or hide and seek. It can also help to set a limit for how long your child can use the computer or watch TV per day.

Be your kid’s playmate: According to the survey, 53 percent of parents said having no playmates was a barrier to their child’s play. No one likes to play alone, so when siblings and friends aren’t available, join in on the fun and create games you and your child can play together. Whether it’s playing Marco Polo or throwing a baseball back and forth, you can find ways to spend quality time with your kids and have fun while doing it.

Learn more about the importance of play and get tips and advice for how to make active play a daily priority at LetsPlay.com.

*FF *Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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It can be easy to forget to take the time to recharge and reconnect with your family to really enjoy the time shared, whether it’s before school or during an afternoon snack.

For the parents preparing for the back-to-school rush, General Mills offers these five tips to decrease the frenzy and maximize family time:

1. Do your back-to-school shopping early.

Waiting for the first day of school to shop is a recipe for disaster. Beat the rush and picked over shelves by getting in your shopping early, when shelves are freshly stocked and the crowds are minimal. You might not have the full supplies list, but you know the essentials.

2. Prep meals for the family.

The first week of school can be pretty hectic and as a result, your family’s eating habits can suffer. Take one thing off your plate and prep your meals in advance. Prepping individual portions of cereals and pre-cutting fresh fruit means there’s one less question mark in the morning. Meal prep gives you more time to enjoy the company of your family.

3. Prep your kids for back-to-school mode.

The transition from summertime to school time can be a hard one, so ease your kids into school mode a week in advance by setting the alarms in the morning, having them work on learning activities during the day and having their “after-school” snack time. You can use these tips and get creative with your “snack game” by using their favorite cereal to help them beat the back to school blues.

4. Create a homework station.

It’s easy to get distracted when you’re doing something boring, that’s why creating a designated space for homework and studying is necessary. No more sitting in front of the TV while you “read.”

5. Take “cariño” time.

It’s easy to over-plan, over-schedule and over-stress with the arrival of the school year. Sharing a snack with your kids means time to relax and just enjoy their company. Whether it’s first thing in the morning or when they get home from school, enjoying a bowl of their favorite cereal or some cut up carrots and hummus together is good for the whole family both physically and mentally.

With all these tips in mind, parents and kids alike will be able to transition into the new school year full recharged and ready to take on the day! Additional quick breakfast recipes and school-friendly snacks, see quericavida.com for more.

*BPT

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The folks at Rubber Mulch have put together these leading safety tips for playground safety that includes what to inspect on the playground, the correct length of the soft surface under the swings, basic ideas for safety and more. The following tips will help you plan the perfect playground for plenty of fun filled days with your little one.

Top Tips for Playground Safety 

•Maintain a visual line of sight with children.

•The opening in playground equipment should be less than 3.5 inches or larger than 9 inches so a head cannot get caught.

•Check metal slides to make sure they’re not too hot to the touch.

•Make sure kids wear shoes or sneakers in the playground to protect their feet.

•The length of soft surface under swings should be double the height of the swing set.

•Choose equipment that’s right for your kids’ size and age—toddlers cannot use metal swings seesaws or slides yet.

•Place rubber mulch, mats or soft surface under the playground to cushion falls—it’s best to avoid playgrounds with a concrete surface.

•Inspect the playground and sandbox for splintered wood, broken glass, sharp metals, uncovered chains or loose bolts, wet spots or missing ladder rungs.

•Remove necklaces, scarves, and handbags, clothes with drawstrings or clothing that may get caught.

•Apply sunscreen on the kids before letting them play in the sun.

•Fence the playground in so kids can’t run into traffic.

Playgrounds have been making kids happy for many, many years.  While accidents can happen, following some of this sage advice, will help reduce injuries and ensure that kids can play safely and have fun at their neighborhood or school playground.

Bio:

Miriam Sonenschein is the marketing coordinator at RubberMulch and a mom of four active kids  She’s all too familiar with the myriad of safety concerns and potential hazards on the playground turf and provides expert advice about playground safety.  Since 1997, Rubber Mulch (http://www.rubbermulch.com) has manufactured top quality rubber surfacing products for playgrounds, residences and commercial markets. Playsafer Rubber Mulch was handpicked by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House playground due to their stellar reputation for superior safety, quality and service. Rubber Mulch pioneered the tire recycling industry with the most advanced technology and equipment to process scrap tires.

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As parents, we are responsible for teaching kids how to be affectionate, at the same time we need to keep them safe.  Kids often use intuition as a gauge to determine who they like or don’t like.  Parents need to pay attention to their kids’ reaction when meeting new adults and discern how to handle situations when kids don’t feel comfortable showing or receiving affection among family and friends.

First and foremost, kids need to know they are in control of their own bodies.  Forcing kids to hug or kiss people they don’t want to leaves them vulnerable.  Most abusers are people they know, so this is a dangerous habit to instill in young kids.  It is important to teach kids that they are allowed to have their own physical space and comfort zone.

This does not, however, imply they should be rude or disrespectful to relatives they don’t see often.  Instead of a kiss or a hug, start out by waving hello, giving a high five or shaking hands as a non-threatening greeting.  Hopefully with time, the child will warm up to great grandma before the end of the trip and willingly offer a hug or kiss goodbye.

If your child refuses to give hugs or kisses to friends or relatives, simply explain your family policy on touching and personal space.  Clarify that by allowing the child to initiate affection when he is comfortable means it is truly genuine and not just an obedient act on a request from an adult.  Empowering a child to have control over his body builds confidence and healthy self-esteem.

When it comes to saying goodbye, if the child is still not comfortable, have them blow a kiss or wave goodbye.  You may even create a special goodbye handshake for instances like these.  Always aim for your child to be respectful in moments like these as it is easy for relatives to have hurt feelings.  Reiterate that your child isn’t comfortable hugging or kissing people he is not familiar with and not to take it personally.

To avoid awkward encounters with new adults, take time to prep your kids for situations where they will be meeting new people so they are not taken by surprise.  Let them know the expectation of hugs or kisses hello and goodbye and let them know they are in control of who they kiss or hug, however, they need to be willing to offer another form of greeting like shaking hands, a high five or blowing kisses.  If the child is old enough to speak, saying, “Hello, nice to meet you” is always appropriate.

About Jennifer Chung & Kinsights:
Jennifer Chung is a parenting expert and co-founder of Kinsights.com: part parenting community, part online health record. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more.  Connect with Kinsights at https://kinsights.com to learn more and sign-up! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@kinsights).

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How many times have you heard someone say that their two children are completely different?  Experts believe that birth order is closely linked to everything from general temperament, to career preferences, to the way children make friends.  And while kids are certainly born with unique personalities, the way we parent them can definitely shape, refine and reinforce that personality.  So, should we parent differently based on birth order?

The Basics of Birth Order. Here’s some background on birth order. The first born is often the product of more hands-on, inexperienced parents, which means they’ve had their fair share of attention from parents (who might be somewhat protective and/or anxious).  First born children often strive to be reliable and view themselves as the caretaker for the family.

As other children come into the picture, things can change – the first born may feel displaced and seek approval by being a perfectionist and high achiever.  And with each subsequent child, parents tend to become more confident and relaxed, which can result in siblings that are bit more laid back.

Middle children are known as the mediators of the family.  They are focused on fairness and keeping the peace.  And youngest children tend to be social butterflies – they typically benefit from lenient parents and use that extra rope to make friends, socialize, and be the life of the party.

And, of course, only children, children with large age gaps between them, blended families, and multiples all take on a unique set of roles in a family.  Being aware of the dynamics between siblings and parents in each of these roles can certainly inform the way you raise each child.

Birth Order & Parenting.  There certainly isn’t a recipe for parenting based on birth order, but understanding common personality traits can help you understand your child’s point of view and provide some important context.  For example, an oldest child might feel responsible for his/her siblings, so you may want to focus on how to alleviate that anxiety.  Family conflict can be especially stressful for middle children, who often feel like they have to play peacemaker – being aware of this may influence how you communicate.  And youngest children often get treated like the baby of the family, which can trigger jealousy from other siblings.

It’s helpful to have guiding principles and consistent rules for your whole family – but keeping birth order in mind can help you tailor your communication style for each child.

About Jennifer Chung & Kinsights:
Jennifer Chung is a parenting expert and co-founder of Kinsights.com: part parenting community, part online health record. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more.  Connect with Kinsights at https://kinsights.com to learn more and sign-up! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@kinsights).

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As difficult as it is as a parent to listen to your kids squabble, it is a necessary learning tool.  When kids interact with parents and other adults, they learn about authority and respect. When they interact with their siblings they are honing skills that will help them resolve conflicts, deal with differing opinions, compromise and negotiate as well as learning how to empathize.  This stage will pass and they will eventually become better friends and help protect each other.

Resolving an argument is an essential life skill that kids need to master.  If possible, avoid stepping in to provide a solution.  Coach them through the process by suggesting they look at their sibling’s perspective surrounding the situation.  Offer ways to help clarify the point of contention so keep them focused on the real issue.  Help them find creative ways to compromise and come to a win/win solution.  When these instances arise, it might help to focus on these 6 steps to problem solving:

1. Identify the problem. It is essential to be able to verbalize the problem clearly before it can be solved.  For instance:  “You use my things without asking.”

2.  Why is it a problem? Have your child identify why it is upsetting. For instance: “When you wear my sweater without asking, when I want to wear it I can’t find it.”

3. Brainstorm possible solutions. Make a list of potential solutions, allow the list to include sensible as well as non-sensible options. Don’t judge their ideas, leave that for later discussion.  Gather a list of at least ways to resolve the issue.

4. Evaluate the possible solutions. Discuss the positive and negative outcomes of each of the potential ways to resolve the problem.  Make a list of the pros and cons of each idea to see which idea has the most merit. Rank the results on a scale of 1 to 10 to help them identify the best scenario for finding compromise.

5. Put the solution into action. The first attempt to resolve the issue might not always work out.  Give it some time to work and make adjustments as needed to keep the peace.

6. Evaluate the outcome. Evaluate what is working well and what needs to be adjusted to prevent the problem from being a regular occurrence.

As kids grow into their teen years privacy and independence become key issues that set them off.  Creating healthy boundaries can help keep the fighting at bay.  Most preteens and teens squabbles can be boiled down to two distinct categories:  personal domain infractions and fairness issues.  This could include borrowing things without permission; copy catting with the older sibling does, controlling what to watch on television or who gets to sit in the front seat of the car.

Good luck and happy parenting!

Sincerely,

DaddyNickell

Parenting Expert and father of 7, Robert Nickell (aka Daddy Nickell) offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel for every stage of fatherhood, and the Daily Daddy Blog.  He is also the creator and producer of “My Life as a Dad,” the groundbreaking new web series that showcases celebrity fathers offering their personal experiences and parenting tips.

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