Baby Sign Language
How many times has your baby been crying at 3am and all you could ask for is for them to tell you what they want? Baby sign language cuts out those frustrating situations with simple signing phrases that can help you understand what your baby needs.

Made enormously popular by the Ben Stiller movie Meet the Fockers, baby sign language is a growing trend among new mothers. Studies show that an increased use of gestures, including signing, can aid in the richness of your child’s linguistic development and speed future processing. To find out more information about baby sign language go to www.babysignlanguage.com.

Naming Your Baby After  Characters in Twilight
The insanely popular Twilight movie series is adored by young teens and new mothers alike! In 2011, the baby names Isabella and Jacob held the #1 spots for most popular baby names in America. Due to the vampire series’ untouchable popularity, Isabella is here to stay for another year in the top spot – after the flms’ female protagonist, Isabella Swan. In the same fashion, Jacob – after the films’ part human part-werewolf love interest, Jacob Black – is the most popular boy’s name in 2011. The runners up for the most trending baby names were: Emma & Ethan.

Organic Baby Food
2011 was the year of organic eating and going green and baby food was no exception. There are now more organic baby food options than ever and demand is on the rise. While organic baby food tastes great and offers certain health benefits, it remains on the high end of the industry’s price range.

The question throughout this baby food boom is: Is organic baby food really better for your little one’s health? Mayo clinic studies show that as long as your baby receives a full and balanced diet of healthy foods – whether organic or not – it will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating for your baby.

By Laura Shin

My daughter was born prematurely, at 34 weeks. At the baby’s NICU bed, the nurse said that she’d trail behind the “normal” kids for a few years. So when she was 9 months old, I picked up a set of Baby Einstein cards. Perhaps if I worked with her, she could learn about the color red and how the dog says “Arf.”

“This is a dog,” I said. “What does the doggie say?” She reached for the card. She knew what it was! That foolish nurse, my daughter’s not so far behind after all. She is Baby Einstein!

And then she put the card in her mouth and fell over.

After that, we tried the educational DVDs, after one friend endearingly compared them to “baby crack,” but I wasn’t quite prepared for the glazed eyes, sweaty palms and open jaw at so early an age. And there’s no DARE program to keep kids off edu-tot flicks.

By Gina Roberts-Grey

Deciding where to educate your child can feel confusing and overwhelming.  Between public, charter, parochial, and private schools, home schooling, and alternative learning environments your child has a diverse number of classroom and curriculum possibilities to nurture his or her academic curiosities.  It is comforting to know you have several educational options that were not available just a few decades ago, however with all of these options comes the arduous task of making a major decision.

While having a variety of options addresses many personalities and learning styles, knowing what is the best educational environment leads many parents and children alike to the brink of frustration. Feeling pressured to make the best educational decision and ensure your child’s exposure to a variety of academic, cultural and social experiences tends to compound the already lofty task of choosing a school.  The fear of making the ‘wrong choice’ or not offering a child the best possible education can be fueled by well intending friends and relatives who happily offer their opinion on where and how your child should be educated.  Wanting your child to have a balanced social and academic life further compounds the situation.

Happy New Year DIY Party Kids Hats
DIY your own party hats this year with this glittery gold craft. Just wrap some gold paper into a cone shape, and add some bling with rhinestones and sequins. Leave a small hole in the top of your cone, and let black and white paper strips pop out of the spout. Finally, attach a ribbon to fit around your kid’s chin, and add a “Happy New Year” sign on the front.

Confetti Pom-Poms
Spread some holiday cheer with these celebratory pom-poms. Cut a circle from left over wrapping paper, and then cut strips towards the center, leaving a 1” circle intact in the middle. Pinch together at the top, and attach to some string, ribbon, or paper strips to hang.

Family Time Capsule
Capture the year’s memories and bottle them up in a time capsule at the end of every year. Insert a family photo in a jar, and fill it with your favorite mementos of the year, & small hand written memories from each family member. Write the date of opening on the top of the jar & await!

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Santa at Mall of America
Nov. 10-Dec. 24. Come visit Santa at the one and only Mall of America!
60 East Broadway, Bloomington
952-883-8800 www.mallofamerica.com

Mall of America’s Holiday Music Festival
Nov. 25-Dec. 23. Mall visitors will be entertained by talented artists and groups throughout various locations in the mall.
60 East Broadway, Bloomington
952-883-8800 www.mallofamerica.com

Making Spirits Bright
Decorated trees, gingerbread creations, live music on weekends, kids’ shopping, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska
www.arboretum.umn.edu

Holiday Flower Show
Dec. 3 is the opening of The Sunken Garden transformation into a magical holiday display of flora and tradition. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
1225 Estabrook Dr, St. Paul
651-487-8201 www.comozooconservatory.org

Stillwater Twinkle Parade and Hometown for the Holidays
Dec. 3. The kickoff of the Holidays with a Santa parade at 4pm and tree-lighting after. Weekend carolers and Santa will entertain shoppers along Main Street thru Dec. 28.
City of Stillwater, Stillwater
651-351-1717 www.discoverstillwater.com