After being awoken several times last fall to my son screaming about the “scary eyes” he was seeing. I shelved a few of our books (that I hadn’t considered scary until his reaction). In light of those events, I have scoured the bookstore and vetted several toddler-friendly Halloween books that aren’t scary.

Good for Babies

Baby Touch and Feel – Halloween

This lighthearted book is perfect for ages 0-24 months. It has simple Halloween-themed images. Baby will love feeling all the pages like the sticky cauldron and furry cat.

My First Halloween (Touch-and-Feel)

Filled with sweet, Disney-inspired Halloween Illustrations, this book is a perfect and bright way to get your baby in the Halloween spirit.

Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin?

Help baby find her pumpkin as you lift the flaps to discover the Halloween surprise hiding underneath!

I Love You, Little Pumpkin

I Love You, Little Pumpkin is a brightly colored lift-the-flap book where each page features a baby in a cute costume. Your little one will also love the squishy pumpkin on cover. This book is 0% scary!

Peek-a-Boooo!

Peek-a-Boooo is a sweet book that features a mirror adorned in costume on each page so baby can play “dress-up” as you read together.

Spot’s Halloween

Spot’s friends are choosing their costumes but what will spot be? This is a great book to get kids in the Halloween spirit without any of the spooky stuff.

Fun for Toddlers

Halloween Flip-a-Flap

Halloween Flip-a-Flap is my favorite on this list of Halloween books that aren’t scary. Its pages are colorfully-filled with detailed Halloween scenes. And even better, under each flap are prompts for your little one to search for specific shapes, count characters, or compare pumpkins by size. If I could only choose one Halloween book, it would be this one.

Eek! Halloween!

Eek! Halloween! has been a favorite in our house for a few years. It’s a cute story about some chickens who are confused by the interesting characters they keep encountering.

Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger!

Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger! is another family favorite. Follow along as Daniel and his neighborhood friends choose their costumes for the big day.

Boo: Peek-a-Flap Board Book

If you are looking for a book loaded with Halloween illustrations and fun facts, this book is for you! What I like the best is that it discusses traditions like pumpkin carving, costumes and trick-or-treating with flaps and peek-a-boo surprises. This book stands out as the most informative on my list of Halloween books that aren’t scary.

Spooky Pookie

What will Pookie be for Halloween? Follow along as Pookie chooses a Halloween costume with mama.

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Pumpkin

This playful pop-up book is sure to delight your toddler as they flip the pages to uncover the Halloween surprises hiding just behind the flaps.

And that wraps up my twelve baby and toddler-friendly Halloween Books!

Best of all, if you’re in a pinch or can’t find these at your local library, everything on my list of Halloween books that aren’t scary, ships free with Amazon Prime!

Have I missed any of your favorites? Let me know!

The post 12 Not-So-Scary Halloween Books for Babies and Toddlers first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post 12 Not-So-Scary Halloween Books for Babies and Toddlers appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Colton will be starting full-day preschool next week. Last year he did a two-hour program twice a week. This year, he will be attending Monday through Friday.

To put it lightly, I am overwhelmed. It’s a longer schedule than I would like but he was approved for a program through the state, for which we are very grateful, however the program is five days a week.

So in light of this, here are five simple steps to help prepare your toddler for preschool.

Introduce Them to the School

Colton’s previous nursery school has a distinct church steeple and he always exclaims “my school!” when he sees it. I have started to excitedly reply, “Yes! That is your old school. You will be going to a new school this year!”

When we drive by his new school, I mention excitedly, “Look, that is your new school!”

We have taken Colton to play at his new school’s playground. I wanted him to have fun, run around and explore the playground on his own terms so that when school starts, he’ll already have some familiarity.

If your preschool will allow you to take a peek inside, even better! We got to do this in the spring when we were choosing a program.

Books

I love to use our story time as a opportunity to convey new and important things to Colton. From holidays, to becoming a big brother, books serve as a fun and organic way to educate and expose your child to new ideas, concepts and events.

Books about going to school can be a great way to introduce your child to the specific kinds of things they will be doing (or feeling) when they are there.

Here are some suggestions to help prepare your child for preschool.

If you’re looking for more suggestions, you local library (and librarian) are a great resource whenever you are in search books on a specific topic.

Practice Lunchtime

At home, I prepare Colton’s lunch and sit with him while he eats. As such, Colton has never had to serve himself lunch.

After realizing this, I did not want his first day at school to also be the first time he has ever used his lunch box or containers.

This week, I have prepared his lunch in the bento box and lunch box that I will be sending with him. I also let him know that we are practicing how he will eat lunch at school.

As hard as it is, I am refraining from helping him unzip or open the containers unless he asks me.

Here are some bits of information I have mentioned to him about eating lunch at school:

• If he needs help with anything he should ask his teachers and make sure that they hear him.
• He and his friends will have different things in their lunch boxes depending on what their parents packed for them.
• He can choose the order in which he eats his food but I would like him to try a little bit of everything.
• He does not have to finish everything in his lunch box.

Our practice was just as helpful for me as it was for him. This is because it gave me a sense of how much food I should pack and also tipped me off that I should pack the stuff I want him to eat in the top of the lunchbox.

Calendar Countdown

Now that we are at the one-week mark before school, I have printed out a calendar to cover our last week of summer. I understand that time can be a confusing concept at this age and I want him to have a visual of the days leading up to school.

We are checking off the days and treating it as though we are leading up to an exciting event.

Give Them (Just Enough of) A Say

If you are trying to prepare your toddler for preschool, getting them excited about it is helpful. One way this can be done is letting them choose their school gear, clothing or supplies.

This is the first year that Colton will need a backpack and lunch box so of course, I headed to Target! I did a quick scan of the options while Colton was distracted with a box of crackers. I pulled two options off the shelf and presented them.

The contenders were sharks versus dinosaurs. It was a quick knockout, “dinosaurs!”

If I had just set him loose in the aisle to decide, the task could have gotten out of hand, quickly.

By giving him two options, he was able to feel like it was his choice and I was able to avoid the meltdown that would have occurred if he had chosen something that wasn’t the appropriate size, style, etc.

I have done the same thing with his lunch box, thermos, water bottle, and bento box.

The Roundup

To recap, my five simple steps to prepare your toddler for preschool are:

1. Introduce the school
2. Read books
3. Practice eating lunch
4. Keep a calendar
5. Give them a say

While I am anxious about this transition, I keep my tone lighthearted and excited when we talk about school. I try to make quick mentions and not harp on any of these concepts for too long as that tends to create anxiety in Colton.

I’m sure there are countless other creative ways to prepare kids for preschool. Do you have other ways or ideas? Please share them with me!

For now, I am savoring our last few full days home together. And of course, we are squeezing in one last trip to the beach.

If you are also headed to the beach before the new school year, check out my earlier posts for helpful Tips for Taking Toddlers to the Beach and Seven Items for a Better Beach Day with Kids.

The post 5 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post 5 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool appeared first on A Family Inspired.

If you’re looking to maximize fun and minimize meltdowns, here are our tips for taking toddlers to the beach.

1. Consider your family’s schedule

Arriving at the beach just as your child is ready for his nap won’t be fun for anyone.

If your children are finicky nappers, it may be best to time your drive to or from the beach around their typical nap.

If your kids aren’t picky about where they sleep, go ahead and try for a beach nap.

2. Pack your lunch

From picky toddlers to overpriced snack stands, it is much easier to have your food with you.

Pack a variety of snacks in zip bags as well as sandwiches, diced fruit or salad in plastic containers.

Freeze water bottles to serve as ice packs at the beginning of the day. They will turn into extra drinking water later on.

3. Apply sunscreen before leaving the house (or car)

We have done it both ways, and it is 100% easier to lather children up before the sand can stick to everything. For reapplying at the beach, we have found it’s easier to use a spray sunscreen for their bodies.

4. Put swim diapers on at the last minute

Disposable Swim diapers only hold poop. They let pee pass through.

We were fortunate to be staying only two blocks from the beach so we put them on right before we walked out the door. Otherwise, I recommend waiting until you have arrived at the beach.

5. Make a plan for shade

Whether you use a beach umbrella, canopy, or tent Be prepared to provide shade for your little ones. It will help protect them from overheating and sun exposure.

We found the pop-up tents didn’t allow enough air flow so we prefer to use two beach umbrellas. One for our chairs and one for the blow up pool.

It also helps if everyone in the family has a beach hat to shade their faces.

6. Have alternative ways to cool down besides the ocean

Not all kids like to splash in the waves so it’s good to have different options to help cool them down.

In addition to providing shade, consider any of the following:

1. A small spray bottle filled with water
2. A handheld fan
3. A small inflatable pool (major hit in our family)
4. A wash cloth you can dampen and rest on their necks
5. Insulated water bottles to keep their drinks cold

7. Pack an extra set of clothes

I like to have an extra set of clothes for the boys. Sometimes they don’t want to be wet anymore and it is nice to be able to get them dry and cozy.

You will also want these if you are driving home from the beach.

8. Bring baby powder

I wrote about this baby powder trick last week in my post about Seven Items For A Better Beach Day With Kids. This is one of my favorite tips for taking toddlers to the beach.

Just sprinkle baby powder on sandy hands and feet and rub well with a towel. The baby powder absorbs the moisture which allows the sand to fall off easily.

9. Limit the number of toys

Between the three families we went to the beach with last week, we had a ton of beach toys. Only about 10% of them were played with.

If you don’t mind lugging a lot of toys, go ahead and bring them all! But if you’re looking to cut weight, here were the favorites throughout the week with six toddlers:

• Bucket
• Shovel
• Sifter
• Plastic boat

10. Get rolling with a beach cart or wagon

They say the greatest invention was the wheel and they are right. This is our third year with a beach cart and it has been a life saver. It holds ALL of our gear (chairs, beach bags, cooler, two umbrellas, and sand toys).

Whether you prefer a cart or wagon, I encourage you to invest in something with wheels to get your gear to and from the beach.

11. Wear one of your children in a carrier

It is not easy to lug everything across the sand. As I just mentioned, we use a beach cart (not a wagon) so our kids either have to walk or be carried.

I always wear one of our kids in a carrier for the walk to the beach. It keeps both hands free to hold something (or someone) else.

12. Have cash and small bills

Even if you have packed your lunch, it is helpful to have some small bills on hand for the ice cream truck or a snack stand.

13. Limit your valuables

There is no need to risk the loss (or theft) of your valuables. I have a slim wallet that I use to only bring my license, a debit/credit card, and some cash. I often leave my wedding rings at home as well.

14. Keep organized

We try to keep our chaos under control as much as possible by organizing our beach essentials into a few different bags.

• Main beach bag
  • Towels, bathing suits, sun hats, swim diapers
  • Ziploc bag filled with sunscreen and baby powder
• Sand-free bag
  • Diapers, wipes, extra pacifier
  • Small personal pouch
    • lip balm, sunglasses, phone, keys, slim wallet
• Mesh toy bag

15. BEACH SAFETY

While this is not fun to think about, beach safety it is the most important thing on this list.

Note: this is not a comprehensive, all-inclusive list of beach safety. These are simply a few things to keep in mind.

• Keep an eagle eye on your children at all times
• Never leave your child unattended (especially near the water)
• Remember that drowning doesn’t look like drowning. Familiarize yourself with what drowning really looks like (note: it is not like the flailing arms and screaming you see on T.V.). I read this article every year to remind myself to be vigilant.
• Try to keep your cell phone down unless you have confirmed that someone else is watching your child.
• Remember what your child is wearing so you can describe it if they get lost. It’s even better if you take a picture of them that day to show someone if necessary.
• Never assume that because you are in a large group that someone has an eye on the children. Maintain responsibility for your own child at ALL times. 
• If you decide to go in the water or step away, make sure your partner, or someone in the group, has “tagged-in” to be responsible while you are gone.
• While it’s imperative that you always keep an eye on your children, if you can be a back-up set of eyes for the other children in your group, that’s wonderful, too.

And Finally,

Now that we got the scary stuff out of the way, the last of my tips for taking toddlers to the beach is to let go of expectations. A beach day with toddlers will never be as relaxing as your child-free days but once you accept that, you can embrace the day for what it is.

Wonky nap schedules, excessive heat, sticky bodies, can make everyone a little cranky. It’s not always easy, but I try to let go and just enjoy the fact that I am able to make these memories with my family.

The post Tips For Taking Toddlers To The Beach first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Tips For Taking Toddlers To The Beach appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Some of these may seem simple but they have become our essential items for a better beach day with kids

A small spray bottle filled with water

Summer days can be sweltering and little bodies can overheat so quickly. Some kids love splashing in the water. Other kids, especially those new to the beach, may not be so quick to jump in.

I have been stashing a small spray bottle of water in my diaper bag every summer. It has come in handy more times than I can count. It is a great way to cool little ones (or yourself) down quickly without forcing any unwilling individuals into the waves.

Insulated water bottles filled with ice

There is nothing like an ice-cold drink to help cool you down in the scorching sun. Joel and I converted to insulated water bottles a few years ago and have never looked back.

Given that I was hearing Colton say “mommy, no more ice in my wawa,” ten times a day, I thought it was time to get the boys their own insulated bottles.

They have been a game changer. We have only had them for a week and I’m already considering replacing all of their cups.

I filled the insulated bottles with ice and some water. The ice stayed put all day, and I just brought an extra regular bottle of water to refill their new bottles as necessary. The boys had cold water the entire day and gone were the pleas for more ice.

Ziploc bags

1. Phone protection
   • All the parents we were traveling with knew this convenient beach hack. Just pop your phone in a iploc bag and boom! You will be able to use your phone while keeping it protected from sand, water, sunscreen, and sticky- ice cream hands.
2. Individual portions
   • We also used Ziploc bags to carry snacks every day instead of buying marked-up individual bags. You can portion control, mix and match, and even reuse these bags for the following day’s snack.
3. Makeshift ice pack
   • If you forgot your reusable ice pack at home, toss some ice in a Ziploc bag and you will be able to keep your cold stuff, cold.

Baby powder for sand removal

If you take only one thing from this post, please let it be this!

Our friend showed me this trick last year. Beach days have become so much easier ever since.

Sand has a stubborn ability to stick to everything! Enter baby powder. Sprinkle it on your little one’s hands, feet, groin, or anywhere sand is stuck and rub away with a towel.

The baby powder will absorb the moisture and the sand will fall away. This trick works like magic and is my favorite of all the items for a better beach day with kids.

Inflatable kiddie pool

My mother-in-law has been bringing a small inflatable kiddie pool to the beach for several years. We decided to buy one for our beach week with friends and it was a hit as usual.

It is an easy way to keep kiddos cool without bringing them down to the water. We inflated it the first day and tossed it over our beach cart. The kids had fun filling it with water, playing with their toys, and rinsing their hands and feet.

If you only have one child, the small size should be sufficient. If you have a group of children, I recommend, a slightly larger size to allow more room for play (this is what we have).

It is also perfect for the newer beachgoers who are hesitant about the sand and waves. Our little guy camped out in the pool all day, every day.

Plastic Food Containers

The same mom who taught me the baby powder hack brought a few plastic containers to the beach house.

I have always relied on plastic wrap or foil but these lightweight plastic containers were the perfect solution to prevent our sandwiches from getting smushed or soggy.

They also made it easier to bring salads and other types of leftovers to the beach.

Mesh Beach Mat

As I mentioned before I really dislike the feeling of sand sticking to everything.

This CGear beach mat has layers of mesh that let sand fall through. It was so nice to sit on this mat, and not have sand stick to me!

Other reviewers mentioned that it doesn’t do as well with wet sand. I will agree with that. Wet sand can kind of get caught in the layers. That being said this is still absolutely my new beach essential.

It also really helped with diaper changes. It is so easy for sand to get onto baby’s bottom. I simply lay a towel on top of this mat, and I truly had sand-free diaper changes!

We will be at the beach for another week later this summer and these seven items for a better beach day with kids will all be coming with us! I hope you found some new beach tips here.

Update: If you’re looking for a full list of Tips For Taking Toddlers To The Beach check it out here!

The post Seven Items for a Better Beach Day with Kids first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Seven Items for a Better Beach Day with Kids appeared first on A Family Inspired.