With the kids going back to school, you may find it harder to make sure that they know just how you feel about them. This article offers you some great ideas for showing your little – and big – ones just how much you care!

10 Little Things
By Julie Miller

We all love our kiddos, but so often we run out of time or ideas on how to show them that we love them. Here are 10 simple, easy and inexpensive ways to show your little ones that they are the apple of your eye. It just takes a moment each day to assure your child that they are special and loved.

* Write a Letter ~ Even little ones that can’t read yet LOVE to get mail. Find a special card, or make one yourself. Write a letter to your child and let him know that you love him and he is special to you. Be sure he is the one to get the card out of the mail box. Read the letter together. Then, keep all of the cards that you send in a special place…when he’s older, you can give them all back to him as a reminder of all of the reasons he is dear to you.

* Special Breakfast ~ For an unexpected treat for your little one, cook her favorite breakfast and serve it for dinner! Better yet, have her help you cook…kids love to help cook.

* Little Love Notes ~ Write little love notes for your child. Leave them in hidden places that he will find…under his pillow, in the refrigerator, under his dinner plate, in his school book, tape it under the toilet lid (great when he’s potty training), on his car seat, anywhere that he will find it. This also works great if you have to leave for a few days…then there are reminders that you love him even when you’re gone.

* Have a date ~ Even little ones love dates! Take her out to “coffee” with you…steamed milk with a bit of vanilla and cinnamon makes a lovely treat. Pack a picnic lunch, go out to a movie, look at the stars, take a stroll together. She will appreciate the extra attention, and you can use that time to let her know how much you love her.

* Get involved ~ Pay attention to your child’s favorites. Does he love trains? Take him for a walk by the train tracks. Does she love flowers, help her start her own garden. Does he love to read, take him to the library and let him pick a special book for you to read together. Doing things together that involve something he loves is always fun and will let him know that you are paying attention to him.

* Set a Timer ~ Pick a time, 15 minutes, 30 minutes…whatever. Then set the timer and use that time to completely focus on your kids, play, paint, sing, dance, run around, laugh, giggle…anything! Don’t get distracted by anything else…ignore the phone, the house, the dishes, give this time to your child. He will thank you for the undivided attention.

* Snuggle ~ Go to the video store and let your child pick out a movie. Then pop up some popcorn and snuggle under a blanket with your little one and watch the entire movie together. So often we get involved in other things that we forget that a good snuggle and a movie can really let a child know that they are worth your time.

* Hugs ~ This one is so easy! Simply give your child a big hug and tell him you love him. Tell him some special things about him that you appreciate and love. Tell him why you are happy that he is your baby.

* Journal ~ Get a notebook and write down all of the little memorable moments in your child’s life. Remember to write down things that are funny, amazing, silly, kind, and things that come out of his mouth that are incredibly profound. Write your thoughts and prayers for him as he grows. Then give him the book when he is grown. It makes a great gift for him when he has his first child.

* Display Their Work ~ Your child will give you countless pictures, drawings, paintings and projects. Find a special place in your home to display them proudly. The refrigerator is a great way to show your child that you appreciate his work. Another idea is to attach a small strip of metal to a wall (Under a cabinet works great). Then you can hang current artwork up with magnets and change it out as new masterpieces are created. This pride in his work will show your child how much you love him and appreciate his artistic talents.

Remember that you are the first one to foster your child’s self-esteem. Showing your child each and every day that he is special and that you love him and appreciate him will help him to grow knowing that he is a special child of God.

Reprinted with permission.
© 2005-2007 Julie Miller
Julie Miller is a work at home mom to two small boys and currently resides on the lovely Central Coast of California. She owns and operates two home based online jewelry shops. Her first,Little Girls Pearls’, is an upscale online boutique which offers heirloom quality pearl and sterling silver jewelry for girls of all ages. Her other, Jules, offers elegant and whimsical handcrafted jewelry.

Summer is here, and this is the perfect thing to take a regular Summer vacation and make it magical The Fairy Bower is a gauzy green hideaway that can fit quite a few kids inside, and turn their outdoor playtime into something very special. They can pretend that they are fairies hiding away amidst the flowers, or be princes & princesses. Only their imaginations will limit them!

Once Summer is over, you can bring it inside and hang it from the ceiling to let the magic continue…

If you are looking for a great gift for a family on your list – or your own kids – you need to take a look at a new book by Sara Ann Denson called Christmas Turtles. This great story is about Sara’s own grandmother, and the wonderful turtle candies that she used to make every year when Sara was growing up – even though her grandmother couldn’t eat them herself!

This is a wonderful and heartwarming story that may bring back fond memories for you Moms, Dad’s and Grandparents, and it includes a recipe for turtles and a wooden mixing spoon to help you create new memories of your own!

Christmas Turtles is available from Purple Sky Publishing, and if you use the coupon code “cottagegiftspecial” you can save 15% on your total purchase. Hurry over to check it out – there may still be a few autographed copies left to order!

Christmas Turtles is also available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and borders.com, however the 15% off coupon is good only at purpleskypublishing.com

Do you want more info about the author & illustrator?

Sara Ann Denson has been a nationally published author since the age of 18. In 1995, she received the first place One-Act Play Award at the annual Alabama Writer’ Conclave and she went on to publish three books of scripts and play along with various magazine credits. She currently lives in Jefferson City, Missouri with her husband, Boyd, and their two sons, Samuel and Gideon. She is a member of the MOMpack.

Tara McMillen as always had a special love for art. Tara is a painter who has done numerous murals in the Kansas City area. Her attention to detail and her intuitive nature makes her the perfect illustrator for children’s books. Tara has been married for seventeen years and has two wonderful children, Ericka and Kyle, who have also been blessed with their mother’s artistic ability.

For additional information regarding the author and illustrator, as well as other authors and illustrators employed by Purple Sky Publishing LLC, please visit purpleskypublishing.com

This hand-knit beanie hat is absolutely adorable! My daughter has one and wears it often – even when it’s not cold outside!

They come in your choice of color – you simply tell them the colors you want & they make it to order! They say that they will fit toddlers to elementary-aged kids, and it looks like they will. The two-toned color scheme really adds to the cute-ness factor too.

Cold weather is coming soon, and kids will need something to keep them warm – may I recommend this cute beanie to anyone with young kids. Choose your child’s favorite colors & it’s a guarantee that they will love it!

http://taterberrycottage.com/hand-knit/hats-for-children.html

Are you looking for a wonderful gift for an elementary aged child? Take a look at My Twinn! I purchased one of these for my oldest daughter a couple of years ago, and it is amazing how similar you can get a doll to look like a child! She gave her doll her middle name, and loves to dress her and take care of her.

You can choose from a wide variety of face shapes as well as eye, skin and hair colors to create a doll that looks almost identical to your child – they will even paint on distinguishing marks like freckles or birthmarks, all you have to do is send them a picture of your son or daughter – yep, they have boys now too.

They also have matching clothing and accessories available at the site, so your daughter (or son) can have fun dressing themselves & their doll identically. These dolls are larger than 18″ tall, so be forewarned. You have to get My Twinn clothing for it to fit them (they also wear infant 12 months clothing – my daughter chose some of her old clothes for her doll).

Take a look at these dolls if your child has an upcoming milestone or birthday that you want to make extra special!

Review by Jennifer