1. Mind games can keep boredom away as well as physical activity. Even small children can follow an adjusted version of “I Spy.” Just be sure that the clues are age appropriate and not too tricky. Look for easy to spot shapes, bright colors, or unique characteristics (animals, common objects such as pencils, etc.). Remember to let them give you the clues, too, to really work their brains. Finding an object is different than coming up with a clue for an object.

2. Once your child is a little older, around 4 years or so, theme games can be played. A favorite (still) of my kids is the animal game. “I Spy”-like clues can be given, but your child must rely on their memory and knowledge of animals instead of looking for pictures or representations of them. These types of games are great for long car rides, and you can make them more challenging, as your children get older. Go in order through the alphabet…”I have a long nose and tongue” = Aardvark (or anteater, both will work in this case); “I’m totally white and live in the cold” = Beluga whale. Get it?

3. READ, READ, READ. Reading to your child, no matter how young, increases their vocabulary, imagination, and overall cognitive abilities. Hearing language creates synapses – the connection of brain cells. Most of us parents think that reading at bedtime is sufficient. And while bedtime stories create a wonderful bonding time between parent and child, so can reading a story with your child snuggled on your lap in a waiting room. Granted, you can’t be expected to tote a small library around with you at all times. But if you know your day will include a little waiting time, why not pop your child’s favorite book in the day bag. Or maybe a story you haven’t yet read to them? Or take advantage of digital children’s books that can be downloaded to your cell phone or iPod? These digital books can do double duty, as oftentimes they are books that are enhanced with narration (sometimes even music and sound effects are added), so your little one can hear the book as they see the words on your phone or iPod screen.
So the next time you find yourself exasperated trying to tame the savage beast that is a toddler with nothing to do, try a few of these tips. Not all of them will work at all times or in every situation. But hopefully if nothing else, it will spark your creativity to engage your child and use your waiting time as teaching time. For there is no better teacher for a child than his or her own parent. Good luck!!!

Wendy Toone is a child expert having owned and operated a leading franchise children’s fitness center and now producing
MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM, as well as being a mom to her two children. To experience the world of digital children’s picture books, visit www.mobistories.com

To download a free copy of Mommy’s High Heel Shoes for your PC or Mac, visit mobistories.com and enter the promo code: MHHS0710. The offer expires 8/22. Mommy’s High Heel Shoes is also available for download as an app via the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad in the iTunes store where you can check out more great story apps from MobiStories: To order a hard cover copy of Kristie Finnan’s book, Mommy’s High Heeled shoes, visit her at KristieFinnan.com.
*This advertorial post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writers Network.

Here’s a review of a movie  you may want to add to your movie queue if you haven’t already:

The Blindside

Round Trip coach airfare, inclusive food and beverage, 50 minute couples massage, and a dolphin excursion.

Founded on the expectation that every employee is a valued member of a community, Nick’s has not only created a community of dedicated employees but it has also created a family of customers who come back to the restaurant time and again. And these customers don’t just come back for the food. They come back for the family atmosphere.

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In Someone’s Daughter; She’s Adopted, But Don’t Tell, Aurette Bowes tells the story of her late discovery adoption, search and reunion. She’s a journalist by trade, her skills make this book compelling and concise.

The book begins with Mrs. Bowes learning that she is suffering from depression. She is self aware enough to realize that a nagging suspicion that she might be adopted could be at the root of it. By recognizing the connection between adoption and depression she sets out on an intriguing journey of self discovery .

Adoptees, late discovery or not, will recognize the authors feelings as she struggles with what it means to be adopted. The author’s pains to justify her experiences through her faith are particularly interesting and profound. Her take on the stories of Ester, Jesus, Moses and Joshua, those often used justifications for adoption make the book well worth reading.

Someone’s Daughter tells the story and explores the feelings of adoption, reunion, and forgiveness in a very personal way. While the author explains her motivation for her actions, one never feels that the book is meant to be prescriptive, she simply tells her story.

I read Someone’s Daughter in one sitting, sometimes nodding my head in agreement, sometimes surprised that the author had given an old adoptee like me something to think about. All in all, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a glimpse into the journey and thinking of an adoptee.

Someone’s Daughter; She’s adopted, but don’t tell is available at Amazon.com.

Melanie Recoy blogs at According To Addie, when she gets around to it.

I don’t know about you but I do about three loads of laundry a day (and it never gets folded). My washer and dryer are almost 10 years old…give or take a day or two because we got them as a wedding present (which means, of course, that our ten year wedding anniversary is this year!). But, it also means that with three loads of laundry a day my husband has had to fix our washer and dryer several times now.

The NEW Frigidaire kitchen and laundry collections feature high-performing, easy-to-use appliances with style and design elements that don’t just look great, but help the appliances perform better and give you better results.  All products – with their functional design and uncomplicated technology – have been built to deliver one primary thing: more time for mom. To learn more, visit www.frigidaire.com.

The book  Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning by Jackie Silberg is a simple, no-nonsense book with useful information. It outlines developmental milestones for babies 0-12 months of age, and then goes on to outline some extremely simple games (very few props required) appropriate to each age group. The games are divided by age group, and in the description of each game it lists the developmental milestone the game supports. It turns out, my son’s favorite game of rolling plastic cups all over the house is great for his physical development.

Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning is a concise collection of how to support a baby’s physical, intellectual and social-emotional development. Most parenting books are much thicker, this one comes in at just over 120 pages. It would make a good gift for first-time parents of newborns or young infants, or even for important people in a baby’s life who haven’t been around a baby lately. Foster parents who may have the occasional infant placement may find it handy to have on hand. It’s small enough to fit in a purse or diaper bag, which makes it an easy cheat sheet when you are stuck waiting somewhere with a restless baby.

It’s nice to have a developmental checklist in the book, with specific activities that support some of the most important ones. I wouldn’t say that there is anything ground-breaking or new in this book, but it makes a good reference guide to see if your baby is on track and it has plenty of ideas on how to spend one-on-one time with your baby!

There does come a time in most people’s lives that God enters and plays a more profound role.

I received the movie, Sarah’s Choice, for review because it deals with abortion, adoption, and being pregnant. In the movie, Sarah and Matt find themselves expecting an unplanned child and are not sure if they would like to keep it. The movie follows the decision making process that Sarah goes through and the tribulation that Matt goes through to accept the pregnancy.

In the movie Sarah’s Choice, a woman appears just after Sarah visits the clinic and gives her a Christmas card. She tells Sarah she will have three visions about her decision. That night she dreams of giving birth and meeting her child. Her second vision is full of love and joy. Her third vision, however, is of life without a child and this scares her.

Because of my religious background I was not fond of the heavy religious tone. However, the film DOES effectively go through the process of making the choice and weighing the options. Sarah had a difficult decision and her co-workers suggest that she has the right to choose so that she can continue her career. The Dickens-esk film would take teens through a decision making process…I just wish the religion was taken out, as so MANY more teens could benefit.