Good Manners Placemats from one of our creative parenting faves Moms On Edge teach good manners and positive behaviour at a time when the family is (hopefully) together to practice. They come in a set of 6 and each placemat teaches a different lesson about good behavior including manners, sharing, safety and more. They’re regular “placemat material” (whatever that is) so they’re easy to clean and very durable. I love the idea of using these at a dayhome or in a home with multiple children and letting the kids teach each other about the lesson under their food and practice together.

We’ve got a 6 pack to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with GOOD MANNERS in the subject line and tell us one of the other topics covered in the set. Contest closes Friday 7/6/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Betty!

After the fifth or sixth “get up” even the most patient parents is bound to lose it just a little. The brains behins Moms On Edge developed the Goodnight StopLight because they’ve been there and they feel your pain!

The Good Night Stoplight is a 19” tall felt “stoplight” with removable green & yellow lights and an attached red light. There’s a handle to hang on a doorknob, drawer handle, or wall hook.

Directions from the site: Explain to your child that he/she is allowed to get up from bed two times (i.e., to use the potty, get a drink of water, or have another kiss). Each time the child gets out of bed he must hand one of the two removable lights to a parent. Green means, “Go!” Yellow (last chance!) means, “Uh-Oh!” Parents should take each light and return the child back to bed quietly. Once the removable lights are used up the stoplight is Red, and that means “Bed!” Remind the child that he must now stay in bed: “The light is red, so you must stay in bed.” Sounds simple enough to make it worth a shot!

We’ve got one to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Stop Light in the subject line and tell us what ages this product is recommended for. Contest closes at midnight MST on 7/5/07. Congratulations Maren!

The Naughty Spot time out mat from Moms On Edge is a great tool when you begin to introduce time outs as a discipline strategy.

It’s portable and comes with age-adjusted instructions, a traveling pouch and a digital timer. It’s very durable (important when your child is very angry) and is machine washable. I love the idea of an attached timer – the child can watch the clock count down and have a visual reminder of exactly how much time is left.

The time-out side has sad face and gets the message across quite clearly. After the time-out is over, your child can turn the mat over to see happy face and “I love you.” A great reminder to end all discipline on a positive note and a reminder that the behaviour may be bad but the child is not!

Take it to Grandma’s, send it to daycare & keep it consistent at home. Your child will see it coming and perhaps even shape up before you say a word!

We’ve got a Naughty Spot to give away! To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Naughty Spot in the subject line and tell us the retail price of this item. Contest closes at midnight MST on 7/4/07. Congratulations Jaz!

Planning some summer travel?

Whether long or short, car trips can be the bane of your existence (“When will we geeeet theeeere?”) or, if you plan right, they can be the making of some great memories.

The Four Peas Mini Sports Fan Activity Pack from Mom4Life is a great addition to your vehicle.

Intended for children aged three and up, this way cool activity pack comes in a cool plastic case with easy to use sliders and a convenient handle for carrying. The kit includes a pad of coloured paper, an activity pad, silly putty, crayons, make-a-race car sticker sheet, assorted stickers, a mini porcupine ball, a pull back race car, a notepad, a squishy frog, and magic springs. Enough to keep even the most hard-to-entertain kid busy for a few hours. (The “Girly Girl” kit is similar but includes different ‘girly’ stickers, a bracelet, a stamper & linking shapes instead of the stereotypical boy-ish goods.)

Once your child has used all of the goodies that came with it, the case is perfect to refill with toys and other activities to keep your car stocked and ready for the next trip. Great for the car, in restaurants, while waiting for appointments and anywhere else you need a little kiddie entertainment. It’s also perfect for taking into Aunt Myrtle’s house so she doesn’t make the kids count Q-tips for ‘fun.’

Twenty dollars for some sanity in a tidy little box. Count me in.

Get 10% off any Four Peas activity pack order at Mom4Life. Enter “Opinionated Parent 10% off” in the customer comments area during checkout and your discount will be refunded when the order is processed.

As a new-ish mom, it’s been a while since I’ve carried a real purse. Everything gets tossed in my diaper bag and I just hope to be able to find something when I need it. The one item I consistently need and can never find is my cell phone. (Yes, I’m an addict. Admit it – you are too.)

The Bead Shop from Fashion Angels Enterprises makes these fabulous Ziplettes mini-purses that are perfect for my cell phone. (Actually, I need three because it’s also perfect for my iPod and as a grab n’ go credit card & lipstick holder.)

Ziplettes are available in 16 styles from white to black and everything in between. They’re a pretty cool concept – the Ziplette can be unzipped as much or as little as you need to store your stuff. If you unzip it all the way, it’s a super long zipper sewn into a coil (fascinating for even the coolest kids & parents!) The sequins & other funky trims are sewn in between the zippers so the zipping action is totally smooth.

Perhaps the best feature is that they easily clip to a diaper bag, a belt loop, your purse, backpack or really anywhere. Great for tweens & teens, and awesome for moms who need some bling for their ring.

Enter to win the white on white ziplette seen here. Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Ziplette in the subject line and tell us your favourite Ziplette style available from the website. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/14/07. Congratulations Jonathon!

The Learning Tower from Little Partners Inc. is an indispensable piece of furniture once you’ve tried it. You know the type – one you may not have thought to purchase for yourself but once you have it you don’t know how you lived without it.

Kids love to help in the kitchen. Little boys and girls learn invaluable skills by helping an adult prepare meals, do crafts and bake treats, and it’s a lot easier if they can reach the counter with no fear of falling off that rickety old step stool. (For the sake of future wives everywhere, please PLEASE bring the boys in there too! And maybe they can use it to clean the bathroom?) There’s great joy to be found in cooking with kids, but there’s also great frustration and many tears (not just the kids) if you don’t have the right equipment.

The Learning Tower is so much more than a step stool. Designed for children ages two to six, the platform can be lowered as children grow to enable children at any stage to be at counter height and is easy & quick to adjust to accommodate different age children. The sturdy, non-tip construction makes it very safe for toddlers and young children. The platform has four sides for safety and is roomy enough for two kids to be comfortable (and, we hope, working together without fighting? Does it come with something for that?) It’s made of durable sturdy hardwood with a durable high gloss finish that just wipes clean.

It meets all safety standards for home playground equipment, which is nice when you have kids that resemble monkeys (in actions, not looks). It’s, admittedly, a large presence in the kitchen but it’s such an incredible sanity saver that it doesn’t take long to get used to moving around it. We tested The Learning Tower with four kids from 18 months to 4.5 years and there was not one child who didn’t ask their mom to buy them one when they got home. (Well, the 18 month old said “Mama, MINE!” and tried to take it home, but I’d say that’s pretty much the same thing!)

The optional but way cool playhouse kit transforms the learning tower into an imaginative play space like a puppet theater or fort. We took The Learning Tower to a local preschool full of at-risk kids and set it up as a playhouse. The kids fought for turns in it (which we quickly put to a stop, but you get my point) and the creative play that came out was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that we left it there forever.

One piece of furniture that keeps kids from falling, allows them to help so you can keep your eye on them and they’re not flushing your bra and gain valuable skills & independence and keeps them entertained for hours outside the kitchen? I’d say that’s a hit.

Find a retailer near you or online.

Summer is fast approaching and it’s the time of year when we start to apply sunscreen to our little ones to protect their delicate skin. But what about their eyes? They’re irreplaceable, and they can get sunburned too. In fact, according to the FRUBI SHADES site, “The human eye is ten times more sensitive to harmful UV rays than your skin. The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Approximately half of the entire time we spend outdoors in our lifetime occurs in the first twenty years of our life.” Armed with that knowledge, we should all be picking up a pair or three of Frubi Shades!

Designed to fit kids from 6 months to 6 years of age (with a version for older kids coming soon) they’re made of a non-toxic, spongy, form fitting material that’s molded into one comfortable piece. (And I knew they were comfortable when my son actually forgot they were on!) They were originally invented to prevent early eye disease in babies and have grown into much more.

There are soft pads at each temple which add to the comfortable fit and also eliminate the need for the small parts [read:choking hazards] that are on many children’s sunglasses. The special nose piece prevents them from rubbing on the child’s eyelashes – a very important factor in comfort. The specially designed “Ultraguard” lens is non-shattering and extremely protective (from both the sun’s rays and foreign objects!). Frubi Shades are safe for water wear as well, and if they come off, they float. Sounds fun, but they’re not toys. They were designed by an ophthalmologist and are backed by some hard core science.

They’re only $15 for 1 pair or $30 for 3 at the FRUBI online store or at many other retailers (Prices are USD – currently about $17.30 & $34.60 CDN) – a steal of a deal for that much protection!

For eye protection tips, visit the Frubi blog.

Order yours via www.frubishades.com and get $2 off a 3 pack with the code FTOP07 (maximum of 3 packages) until August 31, 2007.

We’ve got a pair of Frubi Shades to give to one lucky TOP reader. To be entered in this random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with FRUBI in the subject header and submit the correct answer to the question “Where did the two inventers of Frubi Shades, Dr. Gary Hall and Renee Resler, meet?” Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/8/07. Congratulations Maia!

Necessity is the mother of invention. Or maybe it should be mothers invent out of necessity. Either way, Yvonne Huang has hit the proverbial nail on the head with her invention of Dwink – the universal drink box holder.

Designed to fit standard juice boxes as well as soy, mini and pouches, the Dwink originally appealed to me because of the horror of hot lunch day in my classroom with 20 juice boxes being inadvertently squirted on the floor. As if the caretakers didn’t already hate me enough…

We don’t drink much juice in our house aside from the occasional organic blueberry juice as a treat – we’re water folk – so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Dwink also holds the Rubbermaid litterless juice box and allows my infant son to drink his water independently without getting himself and the carpet soaked. The Dwink is dishwasher safe, easy & comfortable to hold and has a non-skid bottom.

They’re available in 4 colours for only $5. Sold.

In the mood to win? Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Dwink in the subject line and tell us one place where you can buy your own Dwink. You’ll be entered to win one of two we have to give away. Contest closes at midnight MST on 4/12/07. Congratulations Thea & Jess!

TOP favourite Zoom Distribution has done it again.

The MOBI TykeLight Buddy, available in Canada from Zoom’s retailers, is a great little gadget for children’s rooms, from babies to teens.

It’s a funny little man-shaped figure that sits on an electric charger which is completely safe with no exposed contacts. It takes about 6-10 hours to fully charge and automatically turns on and off when removed from and placed back on the charger. (It actually turns off about an inch from the charger with is totally fascinating for a toddler!) The auto-on function also activates during a power outage.

The light is soft and unobtrusive, with low and high settings adjusted with a smooth button on the bottom of the “little guy” (as we’ve taken to calling him around here). When put under the crib overnight, it illuminates the floor and the entire room perfectly for those middle of the night feedings but it’s not so bright as to be annoying or painful to the newly awoken eye. The batteries are supposed to last up to 10 hours, but on low they last well over 14. With both the light and the charger being completely smooth, it’s very easy to clean and there are no grooves to dig random kid-gunk out of. The MOBI TykeLight Buddy isn’t just for nurseries and toddler rooms. Older kids will love the portability of it when exploring their room at night or making their way to the bathroom. It doesn’t look at all “baby-ish” so it can carry a child right through the teen years as an emergency light for power outages (because, of course, they’ll be way too cool for a night light). Heck, I’m thirty (until tomorrow) and I want one for my room!

It’s available in four mod colours – green, orange, blue & yellow (pink and lavender will be available as of April 27) for $29.99 Cdn. Another WAY cool product. This has got me hoping someone’s having a baby soon because it would be a hit at the shower!

Two lucky TOP readers will win their own MOBI TykeLight Buddy courtesy of Zoom Distribution. Email theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Tyke Light in the subject header and the answer to the question What’s another MOBI item that Zoom Distribution carries? before midnight MST on 3/24/07. Congratulations Amelia & Rody!

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When my daughter turned 8, I decided it was time to have “the talk” –well, the first of many “talks” anyway. She’s not one of those girly girls who loves stuff like that, so I knew that I needed to approach it in a matter of fact, everyday type of way. A commercial for pads was on TV. No boys were around. The perfect opportunity.


Me: Have you ever wondered what those commercials are for?
T: NO!
Me: Well I’m gonna tell you anyway. When girls get to a certain age… yada yada yada period… yada yada yada blood… yada yada yada. If it happens at school, just use a piece of toilet paper and go and tell Mrs. Best-Teacher-In-The-World and she’ll help you. You’re only 8…it probably won’t happen for a long time…but with some girls, it starts earlier so I just wanted you to know so you aren’t scared if you happen to see a little bit of blood. Do you have any questions?
T: No. I feel kind of weird now.
Me: I know. It just means that you’re growing up. That’s a good thing! It’s normal. It happens to everybody.

She’s now almost 10, so it really could happen soon. I’ve actually thought about asking her if she would like to put a pad in her backpack just in case. Even though Mrs. Best-Teacher-In-The-World is wonderful, T still feels “’weird” about talking about grown-up things, so she would be uncomfortable about having to actually go up to someone and say “I think I got my period”.

Fortunately, the opportunity recently arose to review the Dot Girl’s First Period Kit for The Opinionated Parent. The only thing I have to say is that this kit is perfect!

The Dot Girl’s First Period Kit comes in a little round canvas pouch in either pink or blue. It’s perfect for leaving in her backpack. If her backpack gets dumped out, or if someone happens to look into it (like (ew!) a boy), no one will know that there are pads in there. Not only is the Dot Girl’s First Period Kit a great conversation starter, but it’s perfect for those girls who would be mortified if anyone saw anything ‘period related’ anywhere near them. It contains some feminine protection samples (one pad and a couple of mini pads), some hand wipes, a period calendar, a little guide that talks about periods matter-of-factly – no scary “Now you’re a woman” announcements and, the best part of all, a little reusable warm pad to ease the cramps.

I would highly recommend buying The Dot Girl’s First Period Kit for your daughter if she could be getting her period soon. I only wish they made one for adults…with a bigger warm pad and maybe some ibuprofen!

by Jenny

Win a Dot Girl’s First Period Kit in blue for the up and comer in your life. Just send an email to theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Dot Girl in the subject line and either the answer to the question “What are the names of the two developers of the kit?” or tell us your best period story. (Embarassing, humiliating, life changing or just funny! We’ll take anything!) Contest closes Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at midnight MST. Congratulations, Betty!

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…the best idea for a blanket I’ve ever seen! It’s The Slanket.

A blanket with sleeves. Who’da thunk it?

Gary, that’s who. When he was compelled to tear a hole in his sleeping bag on a chilly night in Maine, the idea for this very cool blanket was conceived. He commissioned his mom to make one for him the following Christmas and The Slanket was born!

The Slanket is available in five colours and is made of very thick, cozy fleece that you won’t be able to help but curl up under.

The greatest thing about The Slanket for parents? You can be completely covered up and still hold your squirmy children, pass a snack, wipe a nose (not on your slanket, please) or many of the other tasks you can never seem to leave behind once you become a parent.

Don’t throw your blanket off ~ get The Slanket! This is one gift that is not going to be returned or re-gifted. Ever. In fact, I recommend that you get one for each member of your family or you may never get to use yours. I say this from experience.

Two very lucky readers are going to win a Slanket of their very own! Email us at theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with THE SLANKET in the subject heading and the answer to the question “Which Slanket colour is your favourite?” Get your answers in by midnight MST on Friday, March 2, 2007.

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Mealtime at our house is getting increasingly messy. It’s not just the high chair, the floor, me and the dogs that are covered in food by the end of dinner. It’s all of the areas of our son’s shirt that are not covered by his bib.

Answer: Silly Billyz long sleeved bibs. (They’re sold in North America through Live Love Dream Inc. for only $12.)

Available in nine kid-approved colour combinations and 2 sizes, they’re made of anti-pill fleece on the front and rip proof nylon on the sleeves. (Rip proof = good for teething babies who chew their sleeves and anything else they can reach!) They have a velcro closure that’s large enough to make the neck adjustable – very handy for little people with teeny necks! My son tends to pull all but the most floppy terry bibs off because he gets too hot, but the open back feature of Silly Billyz long sleeved bibs allows him to stay nice and cool. He also has “issues” with many crinkly plastic bibs, but the sleeves of the Silly Billyz bibs are soft enough not to bother him.

Opinionated Parents are all about safety so we were pleased to hear that these bibs are PVC free! Surprisingly, many bibs are not. And an important feature for any bib – just toss them in the washer and dryer!

Order through this link for 15% off your entire purchase from Live Love Dream Inc!

Win it! We have a size large lime/royal Silly Billyz long sleeved bib for one lucky little person (who will soon have much cleaner sleeves!). Just send an email to theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with Silly Billyz Bib in the subject line and the answer to the question What is one other Silly Billyz product available at Live Love Dream Inc? Get your entries in by midnight MST on Friday, March 2, 2007. Congratulations, Jackie!

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I have vivid memories of playing superhero games with my friends as a child with a towel hanging from my neck. What kid doesn’t have dreams of being a superhero?

Invisible-Girl (who’s parents never catch her in mischief), JunkFood-Boy (has never eaten an organic vegetable and can still scale tall buildings…fueled by sugar, of course).

Whatever the fantasy, Ellie Bellie Kids capes bring superhero play into the current millennium.

Opinionated Parents are all about creative play and getting kids off their butts and outside. I know having my very own cape would inspire some great play in me…and I’m thirty! It’s sure to work even better for children.

Par.entrepreneur Jennifer Cooper custom makes each cape from your choice of two funky colour combinations and personalizes them with a huge superhero-style letter. It just doesn’t get any cooler than that.

Save 15% on your Ellie Bellie Kids order with the code 15off.
Find Ellie Bellie Kids in the TOP Shops!

Do you know a SuperKid in need of some inspiration? Win a cape personalized with the letter of your choice. Send an email to theopinionatedparent[at]gmail[dot]com with ELLIE BELLIE KIDS in the subject heading and the answer to the question What is another great product available at Ellie Bellie Kids.com? Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, March 2, 2007.

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Though she grew up through the great depression, my grandmother always made sure she and her children had quality footwear. My own mother is the same way. They often say “You only have two feet and you use them all day long. Cheap shoes are not worth the price you pay in foot health and comfort.” They also raised me to believe that many adult foot issues are caused by cheap and/or incorrect footwear during childhood. (Note: by cheap, I don’t necessarily mean inexpensive. I mean in quality.)

When my son was born, I had no doubt that he would always have quality footwear. I’d rather spend a little bit of extra money to support his precious little feet than worry about his comfort and any future pain.

When The Opinionated Parent was given the opportunity to review Vincent shoes, I admit I probably got a little more excited than was necessary. We certainly have more shoes around here than the average family but I’m always excited to try new quality brands.

Vincent footwear is, indeed, “a big step for small feet.” They are very solidly constructed with smart features such as stylish rubber toe caps to protect the leather from little people who are constantly stubbing and dragging their toes.

Swedish designers Patrick Österman and Thomas Elbaum are the creative forces behind Vincent Shoes and the company is a family affair named after Thomas’ nephew, which is pretty darn cool. That’s one famous little boy!

Our team reviewed two of the Vincent models, the Dennis and the William and we cannot say enough good things about these shoes. Not only are they extremely fashionable, but they’re comfortable, solid and seem like they will last through several children. The hand-me-down potential is great. Their styles for girls are just as adorable. Check out the designers’ notes accompanying each style for insight into the inspiration for the designs.

Pre-walker and early-walker styles are available, but we especially love Vincent shoes as the “next step” offering more support and a firmer sole without compromising comfort.

If you’re in the market for some great shoes, shop the Vincent winter clearance sale on now!

We have two pairs of fun, fashionable and functional Vincent shoes in the style and size of your choice (pending availability) to give to our lucky readers.

Send an email to theopinionatedparent [at] gmail [dot] com with VINCENT in the subject line and the answer to the question “If you could have any three styles of Vincent shoes, which would they be?” Good luck choosing ~ it’s not easy!

Contest closes at midnight on Friday, February 2, 2007.
Two winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email.
Congratulations to Tara of PEI, Canada and to Michelle of New Mexico, USA!

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