CookiesKids.com Blog

Can you provide a size chart or anything for the shoes? I'm confused by the big kid's size.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:33:01 -0500

Hello,

Try this http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Content/FitAssist.aspx

Beat the Winter Blues!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:49:16 -0500

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.

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).

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.

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 snow sculptures 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 winter gear!

When the blizzard’s roaring outside, it’s helpful to have a list of low-key indoor activities prepared. Board games? 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.

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 Seasonal Affective Disorder, and you might consult your pediatrician. But for everyday winter blues, a little understanding and a lot of active fun go a long way.

Sources:

http://mommytoomag.com/2011/01/31/snow-day-alternatives-%E2%80%93-10-tips-to-beat-the-winter-blues/

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/seasonal_affective_disorder_sad_help_kids_beat_winter_blues

http://www.wahm.com/articles/7-fun-kids-activities-to-beat-the-winter-break-blues.html

Elect to Be Thoughtful

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:19:37 -0500

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.

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.

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 they’re 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 (Kidstalkpolitics.com is a good resource for young kids who want to hear what their peers have to say on these issues).

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).

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.

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.

Sources:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/voting_banner.html#

http://www.ehow.com/how_4526086_talk-kids-politics.html

Get Your Kids To Read More Often

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:38:00 -0500

by Jimmey Jackson Jr.

These days, it seems like one of the more prevalent concerns among parents and educators is that children just aren’t reading anymore. Then again, in an age of pulse-quickening video games, endless cable channels, attention-sucking mobile phone apps, and unlimited internet access, the idea of picking up a book can seem downright quaint. Thankfully, due to a handful of popular authors and their captivating characters, reading hasn’t totally fallen out of favor. However, getting kids to read books that don’t feature boy wizards and sparkling vampires may still prove to be a difficult task. Luckily, we’ve got some ideas on how to encourage your kids to read more, and more variedly.

With a little effort you can help your kids find the right books to match their interests. Do they like dinosaurs? Fairies and magic? Mythological Greek gods settling their conflicts with a not-so-friendly game of football? There are books out there that tackle these subjects and many more obscure ones. You can find recommendations at sites like The Young Adult Library Services Association, Oprah’s Kids’ Reading List, and Drop Everything and Read. These are great sources for narrowing down the vast field of children’s and young adult books to find one your kid will love.

If they need a little push, offer kids rewards and incentives 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’ll find that your children will want to polish off another chapter instead of blowing up aliens on their PlayStation.

The recent explosion of tablets and e-readers makes having access to books easier than ever before. These devices can hold hundreds, even thousands, of e-books, meaning your children can have a virtual library at their fingertips anytime. And you needn’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, Project Gutenberg offers the web’s largest single collection of free e-books.

It may take time and encouragement to instill a love of reading in your child, but once you do it’s as if you’ve pulled back a curtain and showed them a new dimension to their young lives. Books are ultimately transporting; they let you slip through time, travel to the far reaches of the galaxy, and even live another person’s life. Once your children discover the extraordinary power of books, they’ll almost never want to put them down.

Sources

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

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:48:46 -0500

Hello,

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!

Why don't you list your store hours?? What time do you open??

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:49:09 -0500

Hello

We are open 365 days a year from 9:30AM-7:30 PM M-SA. On Sundays, our hours are 10:30AM-6:30PM.

New Traditions for the Holidays

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:26:50 -0500

by Ben DeVries

Whether religious or secular, your family’s traditions are what make you unique – and they’re what your kids will remember most. 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 consider some new traditions. Don’t be afraid to break with the old – traditions you create yourself can be even stronger than traditional…traditions.

First, try getting rid of traditions 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 take your children’s opinions into consideration; 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 fun, inexpensive activities that involve the whole family. They can be as simple as a family board game – if it’s fun enough, the family will want to do it next year, too. Here are a few more ideas:

Ride around together on a neighborhood tour of lights and decorations – 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?

If your family is not particularly religious, but looking for a way to celebrate the holiday season, the winter solstice – December 22, the longest night of the year – is an opportunity for festivities. Cultures around the globe observe the solstice in different ways, but many celebrations involve giving thanks for light. Why not celebrate with a family game of flashlight tag?

Or, if you want to show some generosity as a family, give a present to someone 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, make the gift meaningful. 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, look no further than CookiesKids.com!

Sources:

What is the maximum waist size for the magnetic me elastic belts?

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:48:07 -0500

Hello

This information is now listed as a bullet point on the item detail page.

How do I locate an order placed on Dec 12. 2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:47:28 -0500

Hello

You can click order status on the header of cookieskids.com or toucan call customer service at 877 9426654.

I'm buying quite a few items in 100% cotton for my grandson. How much shrinkage should i allow in tshirts, pjs,etc.?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:46:40 -0500

Hello,

For 100% cotton items, we usually recommend buying one size up.

When do you change for season updating?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:46:22 -0500

Hello,

We are currently in Winter. Spring starts rolling in during Mid-January.

’TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:09:00 -0500

by Jimmey Jackson Jr.

It’s the holiday season, a time when most people are in the giving spirit. Your children certainly feel the generosity, but it’s likely they’re on the receiving, rather than the giving, end. Isn’t it time they experienced the joy of giving, too?

Because there’s so much giving going on, the holiday season is the perfect time to teach kids virtues such as charity, generosity, and selflessness. As usual, the first step is setting a positive example yourself. Experts, like parenting specialist and psychotherapist Alyson Schafer, believe that parents who make charity a priority will have children who grow up with a similar attitude. Children will be even more likely to adopt a charitable attitude if you involve them in the process of giving, and allow them to choose charitable acts that mean something to them. Looking for some ideas?

Deliver some of your child’s used toys and clothes to a charitable organization like the Salvation Army or Goodwill – and make sure to take your child along on the trip. Explain to your child that while these items may be outmoded to them, they could be extremely valuable to those less fortunate.

Another idea is to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and even pet shelters. The holidays can be a lonely time for those who may not have family and friends that can visit. Spending time with the elderly and infirm, and even bringing gifts and treats along, will provide a much needed boost of holiday cheer.

If you feel you can afford it, providing a complete holiday dinner for a needy family can be a very meaningful act. Ask your children to help you come up with a shopping list, then seek a religious or community outreach organization to deliver the meal to a family in need. Non-profit organizations such as Feeding America and Ample Harvest aid hunger relief efforts through nationwide networks of food banks.

Finally, don’t forget to count the things for which you and your kids are thankful. Place emphasis on things other than material items, like family and friends. Not only will this activity give your child a sense of humility, it will reaffirm the generosity you’ve been teaching them, and inspire them to continue their charitable endeavors. In the words of author and motivational speaker Pervis Taylor III, “Giving is not a season or a moment, it is a lifestyle.”

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/05/thanksgiving-charity_n_995989.html

http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/thanksgiving/54723.html

http://news.holidash.com/2010/11/04/volunteer-thanksgiving-with-kids/

http://pervistaylor.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/giving-by-design/

Crafty Corner: Balloon Popping Advent Calendar

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:01:05 -0500

This fun and interactive Balloon Popping Advent Calendar craft is by the amazing My Kids Make:

I wanted to come up with a fun Advent Calendar that the kids would LOVE, and one that would be something our whole family could be involved in.

This activity is great because:

Kids actually get to POP the balloons
Each balloon includes a fun family “to do” for the day

Click through for step-by-step instructions on how to make your family’s very own balloon advent calendar from My Kids Make!

Does your family have any fun advent calendar crafts they use to count down to the holidays? Let us know in the comments below!

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This winter, CookiesKids.com is stocking up on a great selection of styles for our Boys and Girls Fashion Departments, as well as expanding our huge Toy Department:

Click here to start shopping now!

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Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:57:11 -0500

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Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:54:28 -0500

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Tips for Tiny Travelers

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:17:04 -0500

Whether it’s a much-anticipated beach vacation or a somewhat less-anticipated trip to Great Aunt Thelma’s house, the holidays are a time when travel is more or less inevitable. If you’ve taken trips with the little ones before, it should come as no surprise that travel is fraught with pitfalls, many of the tantrum-inducing variety. So if you want to make your next trip with the kids fuss-free, here are some tips to help.

At-home preparation can make or break your trip. Intelligent packing is key. When you help pack your kids’ suitcases, try and choose outfits that could pull double- or triple-duty. Explain that it’s OK to wear the same pants a few days in a row when you’re on the road – truckers do it all the time! Besides clothes, you know better than anyone what items your little one needs to have around to feel comfortable, but one thing you should always remember is a kit of essential medicines. If your daughter gets a sore throat in Peru, it’s unlikely the local farmacia will have her preferred flavor of cough syrup (and last time we checked there’s little in the way of conventional medicine up on Machu Picchu).

Another thing to bring is toys, preferably new ones your kids haven’t played with before. For a delightful surprise, bring out a bag of new toys during the first few minutes of any car or plane ride. Voila! Several hours of distracting fun. Packs of cards and travel-sized boardgames are great too, because they can involve everyone. Car rides have their own set of multi-player games: I-spy, the license plate game, every family has their staples. These kinds of games can be great, for a while, but don’t be offended if your kid wants to tune out for a while and listen to their headphones. Maybe they’ve just counted enough blue cars for one day.

If a family plane ride is in your future, providing lasting distractions will be particularly important – books are a great idea. To kids who have never been on an airplane before, explain what they can expect in grueling detail. Make sure to talk them through airport security, as that can potentially be a scary situation for young children. Also, it’s best to lay down your own personal rules for plane etiquette: rules like no sound on gaming devices and no blanket forts in the aisles are perennial favorites. Lastly, remember that airlines have severely cut down on the services they provide, so if you’re expecting to be able to board before everyone else or get an extra bottle of warm milk on the plane, it’s best to check your airline’s policy first.

Travel can put you and your family in close quarters with lots of coughing strangers and bad smells and general stressed-out-ness. But becoming a Holiday Travel Casualty – one of those desperate dads stroller-sprinting to make a gate check-in, for instance – is avoidable. All it takes is a little planning and a LOT of understanding. Understanding your family’s travel needs, before and during the trip, isn’t hard: just look, listen, and care. It’s the best way to keep “getting there” from getting ugly.

Sources:

Hello. Tell me when will be sent order 527160?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:33:51 -0500

Hello,

Your order will be shipped within 24 hours.

And They Call It Puppy Love ...

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:33:05 -0500

Surely you recall your first bout with love. The butterflies in your stomach when passing your crush in school hallways. The way you tried to act cool whenever they stepped in the room. How you’d written your betrothed’s name all over your Trapper Keeper. One day your child will experience the same wonderful, horrible feelings you once did. The signs will be easy enough to recognize: one day they’ll see a romantic scene in a movie and instead of saying “Eww, that’s gross,” they’ll say, “Aww, that’s cute!”

In general, these feelings emerge around the time kids enter kindergarten or first grade because, as they spend more time in school and in activities outside the family, they’ll begin to feel affection for their classmates. Crushes are perfectly healthy, even at an early age; in fact, they’re a major part of your child’s emotional and social development. But as with all love, there always remains the risk of heartbreak and emotional pain, experiences that are hard for anyone to deal with, let alone children. Here are a few tips on what you can do upon discovering your little one has an objet d’amour.

Please, no teasing, especially in front of family. Yes, you may view your child’s first crush as something that’s cheek-pinchingly cute, but bear in mind that the more you might tease, the more shame and uncertainty your child is likely to feel. It might even make them deny their feelings or be more guarded about them next time. So respect the real and intense feelings your child may be experiencing. Validate their feelings by making positive statements. Be inquisitive but not intrusive. Ask your child what they like about their crush and if they think their feelings are being reciprocated. Listen to what they have to say and show genuine interest. It may be appropriate to share stories of your first crush. It’s also important to encourage staying friends with a crush even “if” (after) the romance fades. After all, it’s likely your child will be classmates and friends with the ex-crush for years to come.

Crushes are a child’s first forays into the world of relationships. It’s a world fraught with complications and issues of vulnerability, desire, embarrassment, rejection, sadness, disappointment, and power. Besides being a good listener, perhaps the most important thing you can do about your child’s first crush is to set a good example through your own relationships. Your kids watch your every move – how you interact with family, friends, everyone. By setting good examples and being your child’s confidant, you’re helping prepare them for the emotional wonders and heartaches that growing up will inevitably bring.

Teaching Friendship

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:25:00 -0400

How long have you known your best friend? A few years? A decade? Or since you both could barely walk? As your own kids make friends, it’s important to teach them what goes into a healthy friendship. Once they know how to be a good friend, they’ll have the blocks to build lifelong friendships.

There are lots of things that make a friendship work: caring, dependability, and trustworthiness are just a few. But most of these qualities fall under the banner of empathy. Empathy is the cornerstone of any effective friendship – without it, there can only be selfishness. But young children need help developing their sense of empathy if they’re going to have healthy friendships in the future. Kids learn empathy from parents and siblings, so while your child is at the toddler stage it’s a good idea to talk frequently about feelings. If your child does something that disregards someone else’s feelings, try saying something like, “How do you think it made your brother feel when you pushed him in the sandbox?” The more your child thinks about others’ feelings, the likelier they are to develop a finely honed sense of empathy.

Another way to help your child develop empathy is to exaggerate your expressions. It may sound strange to behave this way, but young children are always watching for clues on how to react, so if you’re blank-faced when they come to you with a great tragedy – say, a skinned knee – your child won’t know what to think.

Once your child has developed a sense of empathy, they’re well-prepared for friendship. But to understand the emotions of someone else is not necessarily to befriend them. It takes an attitude of acceptance and generosity to truly be a friend.

Ever notice how good friends are forgiving? This is a behavior you can teach your child too. It begins at home: if you demand things of your child and criticize their mistakes, your child will be demanding and critical of their peers. Teach your child to accept their own mistakes, and work with them to find solutions for next time, and they’ll learn behavior that will serve them well in future friendships.

Generosity is something you’ve already taught your kids, because you’ve probably been more generous with them than with anyone else. But it’s wise to explain to kids that sharing doesn’t always refer to snacks and toys; generous friends share their feelings too.

Sources:

http://www.goodcharacter.com/YCC/BeingFriends.html

http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-form-positive-friendships/

http://www.christineaadams.com/learning_to_be_a_good_friend__a_guidebook_for_kids_54932.htm

Cyberbullying

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:31:54 -0400

Ah, technology. Children and teens are using it more than ever. And thanks to mobile broadband and high speed internet access, they’re able to engage with the social playground known as cyberspace. But what if that playground isn’t as safe you thought?

Just as real-life playgrounds have bullies, the online world has cyberbullying, defined by the Cyberbullying Research Center as the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” It can happen on social media sites and message boards, in chats and instant messages, and through email. The National Crime Prevention Council states that almost half of all American kids have been bullied online, and almost a quarter have experienced it more than once. The effect this abuse has on its victims can be devastating, resulting in low self-esteem, poor academic performance, and depression. This is similar to what occurs with real-life bullying except cyberbullying allows no respite. The school day will eventually end at some point; the internet is available 24 hours a day.

Often, children won’t tell their parents they are being harassed online. So what can you do to prevent your kids from getting caught up in cyberbullying? Be aware of the sites your child visits. Tell them not to forward any mean emails or messages, and to report any bullying to a trusted adult. If your child is being bullied online, discourage them from responding to the bully. Explain that getting revenge against a cyberbully – or anyone – can only lead to more anger and pain without resolution. If cyberbullying incidents start to add up, encourage your child to keep track of them. This will prove helpful should teachers or other authority figures need to be involved. Finally, assure your child it is not their fault they’ve been targeted by bullies.

Children’s rights advocate Marian Wright Edelman once said, “Being considerate of others will take you and your children further in life than any college degree.” It’s vital to instill compassion and tolerance in children, and to teach them that their actions, whether online or off, do indeed have consequences. By speaking openly about cyberbullying, you can lessen its impact and help keep your child safe in cyberspace.

Sources:

http://100gf.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/as-people-hunt-for-amber-coles-facebook-isnt-it-time-to-talk-about-cyber-bullying/

http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying

http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying/

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Cyber_Bullying_Statistics%20