'Tis the season to be jolly...

Birthdays, play dates, holidays oh my...

Many of you may be feeling the pressure to buy gifts for other children and wonder if you should go for the popular games of the season, or think of something more original.  Here are my tips for gift giving...

• Originality can be lovely.  If the child is young enough and doesn't really recognize the toys being given, give a small amount to charity in his/her name.  The family will appreciate it, you would be helping a much bigger cause, and that little child will grow-up knowing he has already contributed in a big way!

• Buying the popular gift of the season means it is very likely this child already has it.  If you must, then do provide the receipt so that the parents can return it and buy something else.  If you are on the other side and find yourself with 3 similar gifts, it is OK to re-gift! Just make sure you put a note on who gave you the gift to avoid re-gifting the same person (Culturally I understand the hesitation, but everyone knows the price of popular toys, give the gift receipt and smile).

• When possible, involve your own child in buying his friend the gift.  It allows them to practice generosity and understand sharing.

• Do not buy live pets as a gift! no matter how cute! (Unless clearly asked or discussed with the recipient family).

• Experience-based gifts are wonderful and so much fun!  Use a creative way to let the child and his parents know that his gift is.  An examples of experience base gifts include family boweling night, ice-cream day for 5 friends, tickets to a show, etc.  This is something different and ensures that you return the nice invitation with an invitation (Two birds, one stone).

• For very young kids, it is ok to get a gift for the parents or the home, with a small symbol for the child.

• Educational toys, DVDs,  and books are excellent.  Yes the child may not be jumping up and down when receiving it, but the parents would certainly appreciate it.

• Be weary of any allergies, rules and/or limitations the families have.  You can ask the family directly, otherwise it is always best to err on the side of safety.  Avoid giving sweets, toys/games that are violent and culturally/religiously bound toys.

• Be sensitive to the families' economic situation.  Do not buy expensive gifts if the recipient family would not be able to return something in a similar amount.

Do you have any tips of your own? Do share them with us!

November update...

• New poll on the left so Vote Vote Vote (you are allowed multiple answers this time)...

• Old poll results suggest Arabic translation can wait. Sorry for the 10 percent who wanted it, but it WILL happen!

• There is less than 2 months left on our fabulous 10% off offer for ALL maxi-cosi products from Just Kidding (Link).

• Some of you might be celebrating Thanksgiving this month... Let us all be thankful for what we have and take the time this month to share our thanks together with our families.

• I will be presenting a lecture on child abuse and prevention on the 30th of November for Kuwait Child's Rights Society.  Anyone interested in the full powerpoint, email me at : zalzabin@gmail.com.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  Be aware by educating your self and others... Some warning signs when it comes to kids (Both types of Diabetes):

Always thirsty

Urinates often

Eats frequently but still thin

Family history of Diabetes

Overweight/obese

Enjoy this gorgeous weather... Stay warm!

Higher Risk

Autism Risk "High" for Kids with Older Sibling With the Disorder

This is the title of an article which discusses a new study by UC Davis Mind Institute, the largest infant sibling thus far, linking increased risk of Autism in younger siblings of children with Autism.  Follow the link for the full discussion (link).

My two fils?  

As a precautionary measure, it is always recommended to test/assess or simply monitor younger siblings of children with a variety of difficulties, including  medical and developmental disorders that have a proven genetic link (but also those that do not necessarily do).

Eid in the 70s...

عيدكم مبارك وكل عام و الجميع  بخـــير

Yes you can!

Healthy children's website is one of the sites I have to regularly check. This recent article was helpful and I wanted to share it with you. They list 10 tips for children's success in school. These are the tips, but do go on to their website (link below) for the full article and description of these helpful tips.

1. Enforce Healthy Habits
2. Stick to a Routine
3. Create a "Launch Pad"
4. Designate a Space
5. Read, Again and Again
6. Learn Always
7. Take the Lead
8. Talk Often
9. Show Interest
10. Expect Success

HealthyChildren.org - Ten Tips for Your Child's Success in School

4.5 Lessons for Eid

As a holiday, Eid represents the perfect opportunity for family bonding time and communication.  One of my favorite things to say is “every opportunity is a learning opportunity” so these are my four lessons for Eid:

• Take the time to try something new together; this is helpful for couples and families.  New experiences present challenges and excitement; they also allow the couple and/or family to share something mutual and exclusive. 

• Something very unique about Eid is that adult family members would usually give children money (eediya). Use this time to teach kids about giving, and not just receiving.  Discuss poverty and need, and perhaps help them find toys or clothes that they could donate to charity.  

• Another wonderful lesson is saving.  With older kids you can discuss the concept of a bank and a savings account.  With younger ones, you can explain through showing them different prices of toys/products, and discussing how saving can you get something you may want/need later (or something more special).  Use point collection (for good behavior) rather than money with the younger ones to learn about saving.  This lesson also helps teach our youngsters about patience, and impulse control. 

Perhaps not this young!

• Eid represents rituals and socio-cultural traditions.  It is a nice time to come up with your own rituals with your kids or renew an old tradition.  This can be a special breakfast that you have every Eid, or an activity you do on Eid evening; something which is special to you as a family.  This would develop feelings of excitement within your family about that day, and will bond you even when your child is older and away from home for college or to start their own families:)

Renewing the old. Family meal time can be wonderful!

The most important lesson is learn to enjoy family time... Wishing you a blessed and fun-loving Eid... 

Elmo lends a teaching hand

As the name of this blog suggests, we LOVE learning and TEACHing and PLAYing, and what better way to do it than through song, dance and visual representation!


Thanks to Oleana's post, I was reminded of how helpful the Sesame Street and Elmo videos are.  Here are two of my favorite teaching ones based on learning the alphabet and counting.  And as a bonus to us adults, they chose the beautiful voices of India Arie and Feist.  Love it!

Feist's counting video (link):



This is the alphabet video with India Arie (Alphabet Video):