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Training Wheels to “Big Boy Bike”

May 13, 2010 By

After browsing around kids bikes on the Internet, the memory of the family bike rides we used to take when I was a child popped into my head. I learned to ride a bike in a church parking lot near my home. It was spacious and I loved being able to ride freely (and my parents loved not having to worry about the dangers of the road). I can’t believe I still remember that… I had to be about five years old.

But that’s one of the reason’s I want to get bikes. Kids remember the simple pleasures from childhood: the bike rides, the game nights or ice cream dates and most of the time they will forget about that old Nintendo they received for their birthday. The memories that stick are the ones that create family bonding.

Now that I’ve reminisced on the good ‘ole days…

It’s time to look for some bikes. I’ve been eyeing this cool looking Skuut balance bike for Colton. Not for the bike rides, because it doesn’t have any pedals, but to practice and get used to a bike without training wheels.

I like the natural look and these types of bikes  help children transition from training wheels to “a big boy bike” more easily. It is made of wood, which means it’s lighter and easier to move for the little ones. They move along by skooting with their feet and that helps them get more used to the balancing they will experience on a pedal bike.

Have you tried transition bikes like this? Do they help?
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Filed Under: Blog, Kid's Products, Recent Articles 3 Comments

Teen Summer Volunteer Programs

April 16, 2010 By

Volunteering has always been a huge part of my life. I remember going to the homeless shelter my aunt worked at to serve dinner to homeless families and tagging along with my Grandpa when we had days off of school to put together boxes of food at the Food Pantry. In high school I participated in Spring Break service trips: one was in my hometown where a group of us kids stayed downtown at a church hall for a week and volunteered at nursing homes, homeless shelters and other organizations that focus on serving others.

I couldn’t imagine a life without volunteering. Especially as a kid it can teach you so much, all while helping others. You get a sense of accomplishment when the task is done- that you are making a dent in the world’s social problems and others may see the example you are setting and follow in your footsteps.

One of my favorite memories of volunteering was when I was fortunate enough to travel with my high school, during spring break my senior year, to Brazil to speak in schools and help out at community shelters. It was an eye-opening and rewarding experience that I will never forget. This year, my sister who is a senior at the same high school I attended, was able to go on the same service trip. I wish I could find the photos I took, but here are a few photos from my sister’s trip.

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If you and your teen are looking into summer volunteer programs, make sure to do your research. Visions Service Adventures has been around for 22 years and has a complete list of references and testimonials.  Their teen summer program locations include Costa Rica, Peru, Nicaragua, Vietnam and others as well as a few in the United States. This would be a perfect opportunity to give your teen the opportunity to do something on their own, give them a wonderful memory and perhaps spark a lifetime full of interest in service to others.

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Potty Training Troubles

March 27, 2010 By

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I have actually been fortunate enough to have an exceptional experience with potty training. I know this is very rare as I’ve heard the trials and tribulations of the dreaded task, but Colton was basically trained in one weekend.

Yes…… one weekend.

So it went like this: when he was almost two and a half we casually had been trying on and off taking him to the bathroom with no expectations of him catching on so soon. We sent him to visit Grandma for the weekend and he came back fully potty trained! Yes, that’s all it took! He still wears a diaper to bed and I can count on one hand how many times he’s had “accidents” but lately we are having a different problem…

He won’t go!

He walks around holding himself complaining, so I thought he might have something like a urinary tract infection (I know, uncommon in boys). I took him to the doctor – no infection. So I have finally come to the conclusion that he is afraid. A few weeks ago when he was sitting on the potty he happened to fall in.

I’ve done that a few times in my life. You sleepily walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night, go to sit down and…. what the?! Your butt suddenly hits something cool. It shocks you for a second as you try to comprehend what happened… because it’s in the middle of the night and you’re still groggy. You then remind yourself to scold all the men of the house the next morning and the next few times you go to the bathroom you make sure that darn seat is down. Now I imagine this might be a little more traumatic for a toddler- they may even think they could be flushed down the toilet, who knows.

All I do know is that Colton holds his poop in until the very last second he can. I’ve tried everything… giving him more fruit, a child’s laxative, sitting him on the potty until he goes, using a potty chair, moving the potty chair to different places in the house so he will be more comfortable, bribing with treats and whatever else I can think of.

Have you had this problem with your children? What’s the solution?!

My father said to Colton, “When you grow up you’ll realize that pooping is one of the many joys in life”.

Filed Under: Blog, Family & Adoption, Recent Articles 2 Comments
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