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Updates Tuesdays and Thursdays</description><title>CookiesKids.com Blog</title><generator>Tumblr (3.0; @cookieskids)</generator><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/</link><item><title>Hi i need to know when will my order be shipped as it is been on the processed status for two days now   order number : 737517</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I see your order has been packed and shipped and that you received a tracking number. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help with.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/22998117038</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/22998117038</guid><pubDate>Sun, 13 May 2012 18:05:55 -0400</pubDate></item><item><title>Time to Play Outside! </title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://i49.tinypic.com/2agkg1j.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;A lonely wind howls through the swing set. A tumbleweed rolls across the nature trail. Backyards, front yards, side yards – all abandoned. Where are all the kids? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;It’s no secret that kids are spending more time indoors than they used to. Between homework, various screen entertainments, and after school activities, there seems to be little time left in kids’ schedules for unstructured outside play. And some parents are concerned about everything from neighborhood safety to their kids’ clothes getting muddy. But despite the risks, being outside is an essential way for kids to get active and learn to appreciate nature. This spring, take these tips to get your kid outside – and loving it. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If your kids need some motivation, start inside – by planning fun outdoor activities. Make a list of some group activities to do outdoors, and ideas for individual play outdoors, too. Activities with family and friends might include capture the flag, a nature hike, or even a scavenger hunt, complete with treasure maps. Sorting through the garage might turn up some fun items for outdoor play: that pogo stick might just have some spring left in it, and – who knows? – maybe the kids will love bocce. Encourage your child to find some activities they can do on their own outside, too, like skateboarding, bike riding, tending to a few plants in the garden, or even bird watching.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;To get kids interested in the outdoors from a young age, go outside with them and point out all there is to wonder about: “See that tree? Did you know it’s alive?” If scheduling outdoor time is difficult for you, hire a babysitter for a few hours or skip the gym in favor of a bike ride or walk with the kids. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;For older kids, outdoor play is a great way to explore their independence. But be sure to set clear boundaries. Let them know exactly where they’re allowed to play – that abandoned construction site should definitely be off-limits. And if your child is out playing with friends in the neighborhood regularly, try to be in touch with your child’s friends’ parents. Knowing that other parents are keeping an eye on your child can be a confidence booster if you’re concerned about neighborhood safety. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;As for parents concerned about dirt and mud, there’s really no way around it. But ultimately a little mud isn’t so bad – it’s a small price to pay for a fun time outside. A bone-chilling soak in the rain is another story however, so if your children are going outdoors this spring, make sure they have the right equipment. Rugged outdoor clothes from &lt;a href="file:///Z:/Store%207%20do%20not%20delete%20consult%20al%20or%20jordan%20on%20'Unixcook'%20(Z)/FASHION08_1/Descriptions%20BDV/Taste%20of%20Cookies/CookiesKids.com"&gt;CookiesKids.com&lt;/a&gt; can boost your child’s confidence, motivating them to experience the outdoors no matter the weather. Rain? Wind? Mud? Bring it on! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://i48.tinypic.com/345n66b.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/kids-television-47102701"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/kids-television-47102701"&gt;http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/kids-television-47102701&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/kids-play-outdoors"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/kids-play-outdoors"&gt;http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/kids-play-outdoors&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182250254315196.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182250254315196.html"&gt;http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182250254315196.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/22321550046</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/22321550046</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 10:56:49 -0400</pubDate><category>outside</category><category>activities</category><category>kids</category><category>outerwear</category><category>parenting</category><category>spring</category></item><item><title>What do ps mean that I will be unable to order anymore clothes through you?</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;PS means that your order is in processing. You are unable to make changes to this order, but you can place another order.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20777720447</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20777720447</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:00:28 -0400</pubDate></item><item><title>what does ps stand for on order status?</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;PS means that your order is currently being processed and is pending authorization. The next time we run all credit cards for authorization, your card will be part of that batch. Thanks!&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20348697017</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20348697017</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:11:47 -0400</pubDate></item><item><title>Color Your Eggs This Easter - Whisk Style!</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Love coloring Easter eggs but hate being left with multicolored hands? &lt;a href="http://www.longislandmomx2.com/2011/04/coloring-easter-eggs-whisk-style.html"&gt;Long Island Mom x 2&lt;/a&gt; found a great solution: using a whisk!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm4to34vah1qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;#8220;No messy hands, no splashing, no cracked eggs from dropping them into the dye&amp;#8230;.The eggs fit so secure in the whisk, and it is so easy for even the littlest ones to participate!&amp;#8221;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span&gt;Click here to &lt;a href="http://www.longislandmomx2.com/2011/04/coloring-easter-eggs-whisk-style.html"&gt;view the original post&lt;/a&gt; from &lt;a href="http://www.longislandmomx2.com/2011/04/coloring-easter-eggs-whisk-style.html"&gt;Long Island Mom x 2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Do you have any tried-and-true methods of dying your Easter eggs? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20348364253</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20348364253</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:00:05 -0400</pubDate><category>Easter</category><category>Crafty Corner</category><category>Long Island Mom X 2</category><category>Parenting</category></item><item><title>No More Chore War! </title><description>&lt;p&gt; &lt;img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/1hzgus.jpg"/&gt;&lt;span&gt;The chore chart: such a well-intentioned grid. Hanging on the fridge, it tries to keep your kids informed of what chores they must do, it really does. But sometimes your daughter misses Table Setting Tuesday to eat dinner at a friend’s house. Sometimes your son has WAY too much homework to fold laundry. And so the chore chart sits unheeded, like a calendar stuck on last month. A few days pass, then a week, and soon the chart is forgotten. If you’ve made chore charts nobody seems to pay attention to, it’s time for a new approach. Check out these tips to get your kids to do their chores – complaint free!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Start your kids on chores from a very early age. It’s not unreasonable for a 2-year-old to be able to pick up their toys and put dirty clothes in a hamper. And young kids, unlike some older ones, actually like to help out. Harness this eagerness by assigning tasks whenever you can, but be sure to keep your expectations low. The idea with young kids is to get them to enjoy doing chores, not necessarily to complete chores efficiently. Even if you have to completely redo your 4-year-old’s laundry folding attempt, if you let them do it from an early age, they’ll be more likely to think it’s fun and keep doing it once they can do it properly. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Whatever you do, don’t step in and take over completely. You wouldn’t take over your child’s homework assignment if they were doing it wrong, would you?  Chores can be an opportunity to teach your child a necessary, if not exactly thrilling, life skill, so you should try to instruct rather than correct. Teaching kids how to do chores is just like teaching anything else: it takes patience, but eventually you’ll be rewarded – in this case, rewarded with not having to do a chore yourself anymore!   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Chores are not fun, so how do you inspire kids to do them? The most reasonable and pleasant approach is to let kids choose which chores they want to do from a set list. Start by tallying a huge list of chores – aim for 30 or 40 – and narrow down to find the ones your kids are most capable of doing. Then, write the chores up on note cards. Be specific with the way you write them: “empty desk trash, pick up clothes, and sweep under bed” is a much more actionable item than “clean room.” When you give kids a choice between specific tasks, they’ll have a lot less reason to complain.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Even if they have a choice, chores can be a lonely business: sometimes a trip to rake leaves in the backyard can feel like an exile. So, whenever possible, try to establish times to do chores as a family. This can be an opportunity to show young kids how to do certain chores, but it’s also a chance to demonstrate how much effort everyone – yourself included – must put in to keep things tidy. And everyone can have a lot more fun doing chores together. Pick certain songs to put on, or play a word-game that you can shout above vacuum noise. Chore time will be over in no time!   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/j5h8io.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Sources: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/why-children-need-more-chores/?ref=parenting"&gt;&lt;a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/why-children-need-more-chores/?ref=parenting"&gt;http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/why-children-need-more-chores/?ref=parenting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_chores-and-your-child-what-to-expect-and-when_3658995.bc"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_chores-and-your-child-what-to-expect-and-when_3658995.bc"&gt;http://www.babycenter.com/0_chores-and-your-child-what-to-expect-and-when_3658995.bc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://organizedhome.com/family-ties/kids-chores-chilling-chore-wars?page=2"&gt;&lt;a href="http://organizedhome.com/family-ties/kids-chores-chilling-chore-wars?page=2"&gt;http://organizedhome.com/family-ties/kids-chores-chilling-chore-wars?page=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20181488096</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/20181488096</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:36:48 -0400</pubDate><category>parenting</category><category>parenting tips</category><category>chores</category><category>kids</category><category>kids  parenting tips</category><category>behavior</category></item><item><title>do you ship internationally</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yes, we do. During checkout, you will have the ability to choose your country and shipping charges will be displayed.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19953028523</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19953028523</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:09:27 -0400</pubDate></item><item><title>Teaching Kids Punctuality </title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/mhaurb.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;You’ve been tapping your foot all morning. “We’re going to be late!” you announce, but your daughter keeps primping her hair, your son starts another round of foosball with his little brother, and none of them have brushed their teeth yet. If this sounds like your household in the morning, it’s time to talk to your kids about punctuality. As kids get older, there will be more and more situations where they’ll need to show up at a certain place at a certain time. These tips will make sure they show up on time. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;First, make sure you’re on time yourself. If you’re ever late, don’t make excuses. Explain that your lateness was inexcusable, that it showed selfishness and a lack of respect. This kind of profuse apology might seem like overkill, but trust us: your kids will remember every time you were ever late – in vivid detail – if you start nagging them about punctuality. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Nagging is no good. Try buying them a watch instead. Both analog and digital watches have their benefits: digital is easier to read; analog is easier to get a sense of how time passes. The sooner kids can tell time, the sooner you can hold them accountable for being on time.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;The next step is to schedule one event at a very specific time every day: dinner, for example. If kids know they absolutely must show up for dinner at 6:00 PM – or no dessert – they’ll learn pretty quickly how to keep track of their time. Try not to call out “Almost dinner time!” at 5:55 either; let kids figure it out independently.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;For older kids, more drastic measures may be necessary. If they’re persistently late, and their excuses are getting more and more implausible, it might be a deeper issue. Be sure to talk seriously with your kid about how their lateness makes &lt;em&gt;you&lt;/em&gt; feel, and also try to discern whether it’s symptomatic of a deeper lack of respect. Without being confrontational, ask them exactly what they were doing that prevented them from being on time. If they answer honestly, they’ll realize that the things they were doing were probably not worth being late – and disrespecting you – over. If they can admit this, they’ll be less likely to be late again. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Like most things you teach your kids, positive reinforcement is also a good trick to get results. Try adding up the minutes when kids are early, and doling out treats based on these amounts. Or, let’s say your kids want to go to a really hyped-up concert. Show them how you have to be early to get the best tickets: take them with you when you stand on line, and be sure to bring snacks and entertainment for the long wait. When concert time rolls around, and you’re all living it up in the front row, your kids will realize that sometimes punctuality…rocks!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-do-i-speed-up-my-dawdler_70971.bc"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-do-i-speed-up-my-dawdler_70971.bc"&gt;http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-do-i-speed-up-my-dawdler_70971.bc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.forefrontfamilies.org/content/view/179/9/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.forefrontfamilies.org/content/view/179/9/"&gt;http://www.forefrontfamilies.org/content/view/179/9/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Kids-Become-More-Punctual"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Kids-Become-More-Punctual"&gt;http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Kids-Become-More-Punctual&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19345607450</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19345607450</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:31:07 -0400</pubDate><category>parenting</category><category>parenting tips</category><category>punctuality</category><category>punctuality tips</category></item><item><title>Teaching Good Siblinghood</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0s09a06291qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;The bond between siblings is one of the most common yet least understood types of relationships. For some, a sister or brother can be a lifelong source of comfort, reassurance, and love. But for just as many others it can be a constant stream of resentment, anger, and rivalry. Differences in temperaments, personalities, interests, and ages can all fuel unrest between siblings, but teaching them how to work through their problems is an excellent way to prepare them for life’s more difficult moments.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;One of the simplest ways to prevent rivalry between children is to treat them as individuals. As tempting as it is to want children to be equals, parents sometimes do them a disservice by not nurturing their own unique skills and abilities. If Jack throws a mean curveball but John can barely swing a bat, don’t encourage them both to try out for the Little League team. Instead, praise them for their own special talents. This will boost their self-esteem and help them understand that being different isn’t such a bad thing.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Even if you do encourage siblings to do their own thing, disagreements between them are bound to arise, and the way you intervene in these situations can deeply affect a sibling relationship. Take tattling, for instance. Any sibling rivalry is bound to manifest itself in one child tattling on the other, because, ultimately, they’re both seeking your approval, and sometimes the easiest way to get that approval is to throw a brother or sister under the proverbial bus. When faced with a tattling child, it’s often best to ignore them. This will make it clear that not only is tattling &lt;em&gt;not&lt;/em&gt; the way to gain your good graces, but it’s also not an effective way for Sibling A to punish Sibling B.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;But tattling goes through an important change when a child tells you not what their sibling &lt;em&gt;did&lt;/em&gt; (which is probably exaggerated anyway) but how that action made them &lt;em&gt;feel&lt;/em&gt;. In such a case, be respectful of a child’s feelings; listen, and show them their emotions are valid. Then, encourage your child to tell their sibling about their feelings. If a child can respectfully confront their sibling about something they did, it’s a big step in the development of their conflict-resolution skills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Sibling relationships are often the first time children experience how to work out a conflict independently of you. So don’t just encourage good behavior between siblings; encourage siblings to resolve their conflicts together. The sooner they can do this, the better prepared they’ll be to navigate the unpredictable personalities and tough situations they’ll encounter in school, work, and beyond.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0s08aSb8p1qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Sources:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.childperspective.com/sibling-rivalry/7-tips-to-minimize-sibling-rivalry/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.childperspective.com/sibling-rivalry/7-tips-to-minimize-sibling-rivalry/"&gt;http://www.childperspective.com/sibling-rivalry/7-tips-to-minimize-sibling-rivalry/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/sibling_rivalry.shtml"&gt;&lt;a href="http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/sibling_rivalry.shtml"&gt;http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/sibling_rivalry.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_managing-sibling-rivalry-between-a-preschooler-and-an-older_65481.bc"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_managing-sibling-rivalry-between-a-preschooler-and-an-older_65481.bc"&gt;http://www.babycenter.com/0_managing-sibling-rivalry-between-a-preschooler-and-an-older_65481.bc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19179633574</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/19179633574</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:35:00 -0400</pubDate><category>kids  parenting tips</category><category>talking to kids parenting siblings conflicts sibling rivalry</category></item><item><title>Become Your Child's Confidant </title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/e6v9nd.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;“So, how was school today?” If this dinnertime conversation starter is often greeted by a shrug, it’s probably time to try a different question. Getting kids to open up about their lives can be difficult when they reach grade-school, and nearly impossible as high school approaches. But don’t despair. Take some of these tips to regain your child’s confidence and build a sturdier bridge into their lives. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Deep down, your children want to share their everyday tribulations and feelings with you. Often, the trick is asking the right questions of them. Make sure your questions require real, complex answers, not just “yes” or “no.” Avoid general questions; ask specific ones. Who won capture the flag at recess? Was it anyone’s birthday today? What was for lunch in the cafeteria? Did you see any sports cars on the bus ride? The more specific the question, the more it shows you’re interested in the details of their life. And even if they can’t recall seeing any sports cars on the bus ride, it might remind them about that driver that got angry at another driver and made the gesture that they didn’t really understand. As you can see, asking about unimportant details can often lead to more important stuff.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Once you get your child talking, listen. Good listening requires patience, and when kids open up to you, it requires a particular kind of patience. As your child talks, you’ll probably feel a surge of really great advice build up in you. Wait. Save that advice till later. Keep asking questions until your child unspools the entire situation. If you do this, you’ll ultimately gain a wider perspective than you would have if you jumped in at the beginning; your advice will be better informed and more potent. Most importantly, holding all advice until your child has finished talking proves to them that you’re a good listener. They’ll be a lot more likely to tell you things in the future. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Once you’ve gained your child’s trust as a listener, don’t betray their confidence by telling their secrets. If, for whatever reason, you feel a secret must be told, it’s crucial to ask your kid before you go telling someone else. Even if the secret doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, it may be to your kid, so ask. An even trickier situation: tweens and teens may tell you about bad choices their friends are engaging in, but think twice about picking up the phone to call that friend’s parents. Unless the friend’s behavior is truly dangerous, keep it to yourself.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’re the person your child trusts most in the world. But it takes daily determination to prove that you deserve that trust. The only effective way of doing this is to make time to connect with your child, every day. Establish a specific place, a routine, or even a special ritual – anything to get them talking. Work to gain your child’s confidence. It’s worth it.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/idre69.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/why-i-dont-rat-out-my-sons-friends/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/why-i-dont-rat-out-my-sons-friends/"&gt;http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/why-i-dont-rat-out-my-sons-friends/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/communication/foolproof-strategies-talk"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/communication/foolproof-strategies-talk"&gt;http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/communication/foolproof-strategies-talk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/family/parenting-tips-gaining-your-childs-trust-37845"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/family/parenting-tips-gaining-your-childs-trust-37845"&gt;http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/family/parenting-tips-gaining-your-childs-trust-37845&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/18206477415</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/18206477415</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:32:55 -0500</pubDate><category>kids</category><category>parenting</category><category>parenting tips</category><category>talking to kids</category></item><item><title>No More Whining! </title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/30ihoc1.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;First it’s a mosquito in your ear…then it’s that obnoxious squeal of air escaping a pinched balloon…and by the time the sound reaches its crescendo, it’s a few decibels away from shattering your glasses. The dreaded whine. Children whine to get your attention and, sadly, it works. But if your child is beginning to believe that whining is the only way to get what they want, it’s time to teach them otherwise.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;There are a few measures any parent can take to prevent whining before it begins. When you can’t respond immediately to a child’s request, try to be as pleasant and respectful as possible when asking them to wait. Give an accurate time estimate for when you’ll be with them: “2 minutes” rather than a vague “later.” Also, try to consider factors that may have caused your child to clamor for attention more often. Have you been busier than usual? Taking care of a new baby? In these cases, whining may be a child’s plea to reconnect. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If you think it’s time to bring your child’s whining to their attention, there are some dos and don’ts to remember. The first time you tell them, it might be best to wait until they’re &lt;em&gt;not&lt;/em&gt; whining. If you bring the issue up when your child is in a good mood, they’ll be more likely to take heed. Then, the next time they whine, ask them to listen to what they sound like. It may be necessary to cultivate a passable impression of their whine – “This is what you sound like to me…” – but be careful about mocking: the only thing worse than a whiner is a whiner with hurt feelings.    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If a whining problem persists, get consistent about how you respond. It’s important to resist caving in to your child’s whined demands; if you do, it lets them know that it works. But telling your child that they’re whining again and again can become tiresome and somewhat antagonistic. For a different approach, tell your child you don’t understand them when they whine. Suggest that maybe it’s a problem of enunciation, and let them know that you’ll only respond to requests you can hear clearly. Also, it might be worth pointing out to your child that most of their idols and heroes, like Batman, iCarly, and Dora, aren’t big whiners…though Justin Bieber’s songs have been known to get a little whiney. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Once you draw a line between whining and not-whining, it’s very important to reward non-whiny requests with your full attention. And when you notice your child has made an effort to decrease their whining, tell them that you’re proud of how maturely they’re acting. Indeed, a child who has moved past whining is beginning to recognize the difference between wants and needs, and so a whining phase, while annoying, is a key step in learning this lesson. It’s a long and whine-ding road, but the destination is worthwhile.   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/rsg500.jpg"/&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_whining-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-about-it_66550.bc"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_whining-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-about-it_66550.bc"&gt;http://www.babycenter.com/0_whining-why-it-happens-and-what-to-do-about-it_66550.bc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/why-kids-whine-and-how-to-stop-them"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/why-kids-whine-and-how-to-stop-them"&gt;http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/why-kids-whine-and-how-to-stop-them&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ivillage.com/6-ways-stop-whining-0/6-a-144862?p=1"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ivillage.com/6-ways-stop-whining-0/6-a-144862?p=1"&gt;http://www.ivillage.com/6-ways-stop-whining-0/6-a-144862?p=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/17170709809</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/17170709809</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:46:46 -0500</pubDate><category>whining</category><category>parenting tips</category></item><item><title>Can you provide a size chart or anything for the shoes? I'm confused by the big kid's size.</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Try this &lt;a href="http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Content/FitAssist.aspx"&gt;http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Content/FitAssist.aspx&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/16768648574</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/16768648574</guid><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:33:01 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title>Beat the Winter Blues! </title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/mwqkjm.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;The sun will come out tomorrow…or will it? The short, grey days of winter can seriously dampen moods. As you and your family spend more time indoors, it can seem like boredom and irritability are more prevalent than fun and togetherness. Some people are more affected than others by winter weather, but studies show that children are more prone than adults to the sort of tearfulness and despondence that seems to creep up around mid January. All of us could use a little boost to get back on the sunny side, so take some of these tips to ensure your kids (and you) overcome the winter blues.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Exercise and outdoor exposure are essential to maintaining a good mood in winter. True, it’s probably cold outside, but the more time you and your kids spend in direct sunlight, the better you’re likely to feel. Even more important is physical activity. Just a little bit of exercise per day can raise your serotonin level, which helps ward off depression like a big bite of chocolate (in fact, chocolate boosts serotonin too, though you might not want to tell your kids). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If it’s too cold to play outside, devise a plan for physical activities inside. Young kids will love having a dance party every night, and older kids may enjoy trips to a skating rink or indoor swimming pool. If your children are into fall and spring sports, try to get them interested in winter sports, because any scheduled physical activity is a great remedy to winter blues.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If your area happens to be snowbound, there are lots of fun activities for kids to enjoy. Skiing, sledding, and pond hockey are all time-tested standbys. If you have a lot of snow on your hands, the construction of forts, igloos, and snow sculptures can provide an excellent diversion for the whole family (check out these &lt;a href="http://weburbanist.com/2009/12/08/snow-sculptures/"&gt;snow sculptures&lt;/a&gt; for inspiration). On the other hand, avoid snowball fights – what begins as friendly can turn downright warlike. And whatever your outdoor plans may be, make sure your child is well-equipped for the weather, because a cold kid can turn mighty fussy. Check out our selection of &lt;a href="http://www.cookieskids.com/Search.aspx?l=&amp;amp;k=snowsuit&amp;amp;ViewAll=true"&gt;winter gear&lt;/a&gt;!   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;When the blizzard’s roaring outside, it’s helpful to have a list of low-key indoor activities prepared. &lt;a href="http://www.cookieskids.com/Search.aspx?l=&amp;amp;k=board%20games&amp;amp;ViewAll=true"&gt;Board games&lt;/a&gt;? Should be a big checkmark next to that one. Calming music and reading are also good ideas. If your reading voice is getting kind of scratchy, try getting a recording of a favorite story, dimming the lights for mood, and inviting your family to relax and imagine.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Most importantly, be aware that people are a little more likely to lose their cool during the winter months. Kids may be more prone to tantrums and mood swings, so do your best to be supportive. If your little one grows abnormally depressed, it could be a sign of &lt;a href="http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues"&gt;Seasonal Affective Disorder&lt;/a&gt;, and you might consult your pediatrician. But for everyday winter blues, a little understanding and a lot of active fun go a long way.    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/6z9deu.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://mommytoomag.com/2011/01/31/snow-day-alternatives-%E2%80%93-10-tips-to-beat-the-winter-blues/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://mommytoomag.com/2011/01/31/snow-day-alternatives-%E2%80%93-10-tips-to-beat-the-winter-blues/"&gt;http://mommytoomag.com/2011/01/31/snow-day-alternatives-%E2%80%93-10-tips-to-beat-the-winter-blues/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues"&gt;http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.wahm.com/articles/7-fun-kids-activities-to-beat-the-winter-break-blues.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.wahm.com/articles/7-fun-kids-activities-to-beat-the-winter-break-blues.html"&gt;http://www.wahm.com/articles/7-fun-kids-activities-to-beat-the-winter-break-blues.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/16466647301</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/16466647301</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:49:16 -0500</pubDate><category>parenting</category><category>fun activities</category><category>winter fun</category><category>family fun</category><category>seasonal affective disorder</category></item><item><title>Elect to Be Thoughtful </title><description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img height="136" src="http://i43.tinypic.com/razwgj.jpg" width="226"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;These days, it seems like all roads lead to the campaign trail. The 2012 presidential election is going to be a big one, and people are going to be talking about it all year long. In a democracy such as ours, ongoing political discussion is essential, and even children should participate. But the election cycle can also bring out some less than exemplary behavior from those involved: scandal mongering, mudslinging, and even name calling unfortunately seem like par for the course. As your children become aware of the political process, try these tips to keep kids well-informed and keep discussion fruitful and positive.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If you vote, consider taking your child along to the polls. The value, history, and mechanics of voting are things they’ll presumably learn in school, but it’s always best to see the process in action, especially for young kids. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If you keep up on politics yourself, you’ll have lots to share with your kids this election cycle. But unless you’re dead-set on molding your child’s political views, it might be best to leave your own views or party affiliation out of the discussion, at least at first. Ask your child which issues &lt;em&gt;they’re&lt;/em&gt; interested in – the economy? health care? social issues? – then explain how various candidates feel about these things. Often, kids will want to pick a candidate right away, but ask them to wait about a month, and give them news coverage that’s related to their interests, from fairly unbiased sources if possible (&lt;a href="http://www.kidstalkpolitics.com/"&gt;Kidstalkpolitics.com&lt;/a&gt; is a good resource for young kids who want to hear what their peers have to say on these issues). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;When it comes time to ask kids who they would vote for, ask them why. If their choice is different than the candidate you plan to vote for, tell your child why you disagree with them, but never disparage their choice. Instead, debate with them in a respectful, age-appropriate way. If you want your child to develop a well-rounded, well-informed political viewpoint, it’s your duty to encourage a positive form of debate (which may be drastically different than the sort of debating politicians so often demonstrate). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Depending on their school and grade-level, kids may be exposed to debate teams and current events curriculum, but it’s a good idea to watch some of the TV election coverage with your kids, and point out the differences between constructive debate and meaningless finger-pointing. The next time a roundtable of pundits is debating on TV, keep score with your kids: tally “Good Points” vs. “Rude Interruptions” and hold your own post-debate wrap up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;It can be illuminating for kids to learn how much of TV election coverage is negative, focused on “horse race” poll numbers, or just plain slanderous. Through all this, try and keep your children focused on the issues they care about. If they can look beyond the negativity and still hold true to their own values, then they’ve taken a very important step as a citizen. When it’s time for them to vote for real, they’ll be ready.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/sfci02.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/voting_banner.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/voting_banner.html#"&gt;http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/voting_banner.html#&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4526086_talk-kids-politics.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4526086_talk-kids-politics.html"&gt;http://www.ehow.com/how_4526086_talk-kids-politics.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15673646219</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15673646219</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:19:37 -0500</pubDate><category>election</category><category>parenting</category><category>politics</category></item><item><title>Get Your Kids To Read More Often</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;by Jimmey Jackson Jr.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxcegfKNKR1qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;These days, it seems like one of the more prevalent concerns among parents and educators is that &lt;strong&gt;children just aren&amp;#8217;t reading anymore&lt;/strong&gt;. Then again, in an age of pulse-quickening &lt;strong&gt;video games&lt;/strong&gt;, endless &lt;strong&gt;cable channels&lt;/strong&gt;, attention-sucking &lt;strong&gt;mobile phone apps&lt;/strong&gt;, and unlimited &lt;strong&gt;internet access&lt;/strong&gt;, the idea of picking up a book can seem downright quaint. Thankfully, due to a handful of popular authors and their captivating characters, &lt;strong&gt;reading hasn’t totally fallen out of favor&lt;/strong&gt;. However, getting kids to read books that don&amp;#8217;t feature &lt;strong&gt;boy wizards and sparkling vampires&lt;/strong&gt; may still prove to be a difficult task. Luckily, &lt;strong&gt;we&amp;#8217;ve got some ideas on how to encourage your kids to read more&lt;/strong&gt;, and more variedly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;With a little effort you can help your kids find the right books to match their interests. Do they like dinosaurs? Fairies and magic? &lt;strong&gt;Mythological Greek gods settling their conflicts with a not-so-friendly game of football?&lt;/strong&gt; There are books out there that tackle these subjects and many more obscure ones. You can find recommendations at sites like &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/"&gt;The Young Adult Library Services Association&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.oprah.com/packages/kid-reading-list.html"&gt;Oprah&amp;#8217;s Kids&amp;#8217; Reading List&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://dropeverythingandread.com/"&gt;Drop Everything and Read&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. These are great sources for narrowing down the vast field of children&amp;#8217;s and young adult books &lt;strong&gt;to find one your kid will love&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxcegyRMl01qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;If they need a little push, offer kids &lt;strong&gt;rewards and incentives&lt;/strong&gt; for reading. Maybe let them stay up past their bedtime if the time is spent reading. Or perhaps exchange a minute of television or video game time for every minute of reading. Perhaps you&amp;#8217;ll find that &lt;strong&gt;your children will want to polish off another chapter&lt;/strong&gt; instead of blowing up aliens on their PlayStation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;The recent explosion of &lt;strong&gt;tablets and e-readers&lt;/strong&gt; makes having access to books &lt;strong&gt;easier than ever before&lt;/strong&gt;. These devices can hold hundreds, even thousands, of e-books, meaning your children can have a &lt;strong&gt;virtual library at their fingertips&lt;/strong&gt; anytime. And you needn&amp;#8217;t worry about spending a fortune to fill your child’s e-reader to capacity. Countless websites are devoted to the electronic distribution of literature; for example, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/"&gt;Project Gutenberg&lt;/a&gt; offers the web&amp;#8217;s largest single collection of free e-books&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;It may take time and encouragement to instill a love of reading in your child, but once you do it&amp;#8217;s as if you&amp;#8217;ve pulled back a curtain and showed them a new dimension to their young lives. &lt;strong&gt;Books are ultimately transporting&lt;/strong&gt;; they let you &lt;strong&gt;slip through time&lt;/strong&gt;, travel to &lt;strong&gt;the far reaches of the galaxy&lt;/strong&gt;, and even &lt;strong&gt;live another person&amp;#8217;s life&lt;/strong&gt;. Once your children discover the extraordinary power of books, &lt;strong&gt;they&amp;#8217;ll almost never want to put them down&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;u&gt;Sources&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://buginabook.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/8-tips-to-get-kids-reading/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://buginabook.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/8-tips-to-get-kids-reading/"&gt;http://buginabook.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/8-tips-to-get-kids-reading/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html"&gt;http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/"&gt;http://www.ala.org/yalsa/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.oprah.com/packages/kid-reading-list.html"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.oprah.com/packages/kid-reading-list.html"&gt;http://www.oprah.com/packages/kid-reading-list.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://dropeverythingandread.com/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://dropeverythingandread.com/"&gt;http://dropeverythingandread.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/"&gt;http://www.gutenberg.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15358276027</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15358276027</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:38:00 -0500</pubDate><category>Cookieskids.com</category><category>Cookie's the Kid's Department Store</category><category>A Taste of Cookie's</category><category>Books</category><category>Reading</category><category>Oprah</category><category>Project Gutenberg</category><category>J.K. Rowling</category><category>Stephenie Meyer</category></item><item><title>When will the contest winner for the $1000 gift card for subscribing to the newsletter be announced? It said the drawing date would be on 12/31/11</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The contest ended on 12/31. The drawing will take place next week. The winner will be announced on Facebook, Twitter and right here on our blog. Thanks very much!&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15257399868</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/15257399868</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:48:46 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title>Why don't you list your store hours??  What time do you open??</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We are open 365 days a year from 9:30AM-7:30 PM M-SA. On Sundays, our hours are 10:30AM-6:30PM.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14577410350</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14577410350</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:49:09 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title>New Traditions for the Holidays</title><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;by Ben DeVries &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwb48yVWx11qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Whether religious or secular, your family’s traditions are what make you unique – &lt;strong&gt;and they’re what your kids will remember most&lt;/strong&gt;. But if you tried to sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with the kids last year, and they lost interest around “three French hens,” it might be time to &lt;strong&gt;consider some new traditions&lt;/strong&gt;. Don’t be afraid to break with the old – traditions you create yourself can be even stronger than traditional…traditions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;First, try &lt;strong&gt;getting rid of traditions&lt;/strong&gt; that either aren’t fun or don’t make sense for your family. Write up a list of current holiday activities and ask all family members which activities should stay and which get the ax. Don’t forget to &lt;strong&gt;take your children’s opinions into consideration&lt;/strong&gt;; they’ll be home on school vacation, and likely to overindulge on TV and cookies if they don’t have lots of fun activities to divert them. So give them diversions galore. The best are &lt;strong&gt;fun, inexpensive activities that involve the whole family&lt;/strong&gt;. They can be as simple as a &lt;a href="http://www.cookieskids.com/Search.aspx?l=00260056037800000000&amp;amp;k=&amp;amp;ViewAll=true" target="_blank"&gt;family board game&lt;/a&gt; – if it’s fun enough, the family will want to do it next year, too. Here are a few more ideas:  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwb49z6N1I1qb7zpq.jpg"/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Ride around together on a &lt;strong&gt;neighborhood tour of lights and decorations&lt;/strong&gt; – go by bike if the weather’s mild, by car if not. If your family likes to judge, make up some signs, 1-10 or A-F, to evaluate your neighbors’ festive displays. Will the Joneses beat the Smiths this year? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;If your family is not particularly religious, but looking for a way to celebrate the holiday season, the winter solstice – &lt;strong&gt;December 22, the longest night of the year&lt;/strong&gt; – is an opportunity for festivities. Cultures around the globe observe the solstice in &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice" target="_blank"&gt;different ways&lt;/a&gt;, but many celebrations involve giving thanks for light. Why not celebrate with a family game of flashlight tag? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span&gt;Or, if you want to show some generosity as a family, &lt;strong&gt;give a present to someone&lt;/strong&gt; who won’t be expecting one. Who should it be? The mail carrier? Arnie down at the town dump? That old woman with the cats? Whoever it is, &lt;strong&gt;make the gift meaningful&lt;/strong&gt;. The same goes for your holiday traditions: only your family can decide what traditions are meaningful to them. And if you’re looking for meaningful gifts for the kids in your life,&lt;strong&gt; look no further than CookiesKids.com&lt;/strong&gt;!       &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Sources:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thetranquilparent.com/detail/how-about-some-new-holiday-traditions"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thetranquilparent.com/detail/how-about-some-new-holiday-traditions"&gt;http://www.thetranquilparent.com/detail/how-about-some-new-holiday-traditions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/parenting_tips_for_the_holidays?page=2"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/parenting_tips_for_the_holidays?page=2"&gt;http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/parenting_tips_for_the_holidays?page=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.parentmap.com/article/holiday-traditions"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.parentmap.com/article/holiday-traditions"&gt;http://www.parentmap.com/article/holiday-traditions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice"&gt;&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14313731966</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14313731966</guid><pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:26:50 -0500</pubDate><category>A Taste of Cookie's</category><category>Cookieskids.com</category><category>Cookie's the Kids Department Store</category><category>holiday</category><category>Holiday fun</category></item><item><title>What is the maximum waist size for the magnetic me elastic belts?</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;This information is now listed as a bullet point on the item detail page.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14269636163</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14269636163</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:48:07 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title>How do I locate an order placed on Dec 12. 2011</title><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;You can click order status on the header of cookieskids.com or toucan call customer service at 877 9426654.&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14269615901</link><guid>http://blog.cookieskids.com/post/14269615901</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:47:28 -0500</pubDate></item></channel></rss>

