Our Smart Baby

Our partner site, A Mom's Review, is having a fun contest where you could win the NEW Johnson's bedtime toddler wash & easy grip soap set. Three lucky winners will be chosen. The deadline to enter this contest is March 9th, 11pm EST so hurry and enter!

Enter the contest here

Labels: Johnsons contest, toddler

As I was putting together some parenting toddler resources, I thought about structured play and activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Sometimes I don't think I provide enough structure for my boys. I let them run and play with whatever they want until they are tired. I don't set out a schedule of activities for them to do on any given day. I basically just let them do what they want. I do, however, offer up suggestions or activities when they seem to be lost on what to do...or bored.

Do you think toddlers and pre-k kids need structured activities?

Should they be exposed to more creative,make-believe , and imaginative play with less boundaries?

Overall, what's your take? Is more or less structure better or does it simply depend on the family?

Labels: creative play, make believe play, preschool, structured activities, toddler

Our son was recently diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis caused by food allergies. He underwent allergy testing well as an endoscopy with biopsy.

The results revealed he is allergic to the following foods:

Chicken
Peanuts
Lamb
Corn (corn/corn syrup/starch is in many many foods)
Dairy
Eggs
Fish
Soy
Cabbage
Coconut
Peas
Wheat

I'd like to hear from other parents whose children have food allergies that are similar and how you are dealing with recipes, meal preparation, outings, and parties.

Labels: chicken allergy, corn allergy, dairy allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergies, toddler, wheat allergy