Guest Post: Preparing Kids for a Trip to the Dentist

The time invested in preparing your kids for a trip to the dentist will be well worth the sanity you save! Here are a few simple tips to help you get your kids ready for a visit to the dentist.

Take Your Dentist’s Advice

Personally, I have a terrible fear of everything related to the dental profession. When I got my first job with health benefits, I knew that regular dental check-ups would be one of the ways I could continue to keep my teeth, so I’ve gone twice a year since then.

My dentist happens to be awesome and we’ve worked on my dental fears over the years. When it was time to bring my oldest child to the dentist, he gave me great advice which was the equivalent of “never let them see you sweat.” Only for me, it was “never let them know how afraid you are of the dentist.” My kids can learn the truth several years down the road, when they already have a positive association with the dentist!

Be a Good Example

Kids watch everything we do, and everything we don’t do. If you want your kids to go regularly and cooperatively to the dentist, it will greatly help your case if you go yourself every six months. It’s also vital to have a good attitude not only about going, but about the different activities like getting x-rays and your teeth cleaned. Show your kids the “loot” you get from the dentist – they’ll be excited about a new toothbrush, the toothpaste and the floss they’ll get as a result of their visit!

Explain What Will Happen

Since this will be a new experience for your child, it’s best to have as many conversations as you can. Some of the elements to cover include:
• the dentist chair that tilts back
• the bright light and the sunglasses
• the fact that your child’s mouth needs to be opened for the dentist
• the special toothbrush the dental hygienist will use, as well as the water sprayer and suctioner

Before you take your child to the dentist, ask if the first visit can be an introduction to all of these elements if they don’t already provide this kind of service.
Use Books and Videos

Head to your local library and check out picture books about kids going to the dentist. While you’re there, search for any DVDs that also address this issue in a positive way.
Read the books and watch the DVDs several times in the two weeks before your child’s first dentist visit. This will help your child internalize important information, and young children love repetition.

Special Treat

Usually dentists have their own rewards to reinforce good memories of the visit. My kids love the toothbrushes and toothpaste they get to choose, as well as the pencils and balloons. If your dentist doesn’t offer these treats, make a suggestion and see if he/she would be open to it. You can also take your child to a local store for an inexpensive toy or balloon after this first visit to reinforce your child’s good choices at the dentist.
When it comes to taking small children places, I’ve found that preparation is the key to happiness for all involved, including a first visit to the dentist!

Kelly Wilson is a mom and freelance writer who visits her awesome Dentist in Silverton, Oregon every six months to maintain a fabulous smile.

Free Mommy Contact Cards

It seems like every time I am out somewhere with my kids we run into friends of theirs from school and the same thing always happens. The kids get to talking and want to plan to get together. The moms and I try to exchange information. “Do you have an email account?” “Do you text?” “Are you on Twitter?” There are so many ways to get in touch with each other and most of them are more efficient than the phone numbers listed in the student directories.

Because of this, I am loving the new Mommy Contact Cards from Kodak. You can include whatever information you most want friends to use to contact you. I would include my email, my cell phone, my Twitter, my Facebook, and maybe even my blog site. It’s like a business card only more personal. And you can get 50 free Mommy Contact Cards right now (although you do need to pay shipping and handling). Get them in a variety of colors and add your kids’ pictures to them so the parents will be able to put a name with a face.

No coupon code is necessary, but this special will surely end soon. Click here to visit Kodak and get more information.

American Eagle Launches 77kids

I’ve always been a fan of American Eagle clothes for myself but have not found much there for my kids. That completely changed when I was introduced to 77kids by American Eagle. 77kids is American Eagle’s brand for kids only. Right now the sizes range from toddler through 12, but I have heard that those will be expanded on each end in the coming months. The merchandise is currently available online only, but 77kids will be opening stores soon in select cities.

What I love most about 77kids is that these are clothes that kids can wear to school or church but also play in and not have to worry about ruining. In fact, they say that you can wash the clothes 77 times and the clothes will look as nice (or better) than when you bought them. I know some of my kids’ favorite clothes that I have washed at least 77 times! Most of them do not look as good after even 5 washes as when I bought them. In fact, I don’t even let them wear some of their outfits before we go on a vacation for fear that they will not look very nice by the time that we get there. If I could wash them even 10 times before we go, the kids would get more use out of them.

Take a look at 77kids by American Eagle and tell me what you think of their line. I’m anxious to get some ordered for my girls since they will be needing new spring clothes soon anyway. I love that I can now get American Eagle quality in kids’ sizes.

Tips and Tricks for Bedtime

I don’t usually jump on blog contests when I see them but this one really spoke to me because I’ve been down the road and back a few times!

“Drama” is not just a word in the dictionary in our house–it’s a lifestyle! With two girls ages 6 and 8, we live drama from the time we get up until the time we go to bed. But there are ways to help with the bedtime issues.

First, we try to stick to the same bedtimes every night. It’s tempting to let the kids stay up too late on the weekends (in hope that they will sleep in the next morning). But it does more harm than good. Stay on the schedule!

Second, use books in an age appropriate way. I know that personally reading helps me wind down before bed, so I figured it would help my kids, too. Both girls spend 15-30 minutes now in their own beds reading a book of their choice before bed. It does wonders!

Third, set expectations. When our older daughter was little and struggling with the “I need a drink, now I need to go potty, I forgot to brush my teeth, etc” we made a chart out of posterboard on the wall. We glued on pictures of all of the things that she needed to do each night. We pointed out each thing on the chart as she did it and that was it for the night. We used pictures of a toilet, a toothbrush, a mom and child hugging…you get my drift.

Fourth, try a “pass.” With our other daughter we gave her a “hall pass” of sorts every night before she went to bed. She could use it ONE time after she was in bed for whatever she needed (last minute hug, one more drink, etc). Once she used the pass, she had to stay in bed. It made her feel like she had some control over the situation.

Fifth, be the adult. We learned the hard way by giving in to our first daughter and she thought she didn’t have to say in her room if she didn’t want to. With the second daughter, we made it clear from the very beginning that we were in charge and staying in bed was non-negotiable. Except for the “last minute” issues, we never had a problem of getting her into her own bed.

I’m sure my tips won’t solve every problem but they might at least solve a couple of your problems or help you come up with some yourself. Thanks to St. Eve Kids for prompting me on this topic! Their www.DramaU.net site is a cute reminder that we all struggle with bedtime issues at one time or another.

Wizards of Waverly Place Merchandise

My daughters have recently started loving Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. In fact, at 6 and 8, it is one of the few shows that they can agree on. I’ve watched it a couple of times and actually find it to be pretty good sometimes. At least enough to hold my attention. Wizards of Waverly Place stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie, and Jake T. Austin.

I started looking around for some Wizards of Waverly Place merchandise for my girls and found a few things that I thought I would pass along:

Wizards of Waverly Place Backpack

”Always Trouble” Wizards of Waverly Place Tee for Tweens

Wizards of Waverly Place Believe in Magic Nightgown for Girls

The first two are from DisneyShopping.com, and the nightgown is from Crazy for Bargains. These are just a few of the items available on each of those sites but are definitely a good place to start!

Added:

Entertainment Earth has some really cute new Wizards of Waverly Place merchandise! Their merchandise includes Alex Russo dolls, wands, spell books, and more. Here’s a magic ball that will be available in September:

Click here to view all of the Wizards of Waverly Place (wowp merchandise) from Entertainment Earth.

Added! BuyCostumes.com now has Wizards of Waverly Place costumes and party supplies. They have some really cute stuff, including Alex dresses, light-up Wands, a trivia game, Wizards of Waverly place party favors, and more. Here’s a link to everything Wizards of Waverly Place at BuyCostumes.com

One last site… Wizards of Waverly Place Stuff is nothing but Wizards of Waverly Place merchandise! Costumes, clothes, party supplies, posters, books, games–pretty much everything Wizards of Waverly Place you can think of.

Next Page »