Tag Archives: Activities

6 Ways To Keep Your Child Safe During Outdoor Winter Activities

If you live where Old Man Winter reins, then you know those months can be long and cold. Many people dream of a white Christmas , but after weeks of frigid temperatures, snow, wind and ice, it gets old fast.

Coffee ,Winter

No one wants to be trapped in the house with cabin fever, especially if you have kids. If the winter blues have you down, get out and enjoy some winter activities with your kids. Skating, skiing, sledding, snowboarding and more will let you all burn off energy and make the winter months fun, instead of a drag.

Although spending active time outside in the winter can be fun for your children, it’s important to take precautions. Here are six ways you can help keep your child safe while participating in fun, outdoor winter activities.

Winter Activities

  1. Safety First

Always discuss safety with your children before allowing them to participate in any outdoor winter activities, such as ice-skating, sledding, snowboarding, and skiing.

If your children are old enough to walk to the activity area, talk to them about being extra careful to stay out of the traffic flow and look both ways before crossing streets.

Winter Activities

According to a Noll personal injury lawyer: “ The motorist has a duty to operate their vehicle safely in regard to other motorists and pedestrians on the roadway.” Unfortunately, according to the CDC, nine people per day are killed in the U.S. due to the negligence of a distracted driver.

If your child is planning on snowboarding or sledding, make sure they’re going to an area that’s not too steep. It’s also imperative that trees and large rocks are at a minimum, because they can be a hazards for a children speeding down the slopes.

Winter Activities

If your child is ice-skating somewhere other than an ice rink, make sure the ice is thick enough to support a skater. When in doubt, don’t let your child go out on the ice.

  1. Enroll in Lessons

You may need to consider lessons depending on what type of activities your child wants to participate in. For example, if your child wants to ski, some lessons would be in order. Knowing how to properly do an activity can help prevent injuries.

  1. Dress in Layers

Dressing in layers is a helpful strategy for keeping your child warm as they enjoy the great outdoors. Did you know, there’s a right way and a wrong way to layer clothing? First of all, you might want to dress a very young child with one more layer of clothing than you would wear, because younger bodies don’t regulate temperature as well as adult bodies.

Start with a snug base layer of wool or a synthetic fabric like polyester. This base layer needs to wick moisture away so, cotton is not a good choice because it absorbs perspiration.

A middle layer is next, which will serve to insulate. Opt for wool, fleece or down. The garment should fit snug to the body, but not be restraining in any way. Finally, there’s the outer layer that will protect your child from the elements, such as snow, rain and wind. A waterproof jacket that’s breathable is perfect for physical activity. The jacket needs to be large enough to fit over the layers and allow plenty of movement.

4.Wear Protective Gear

In addition to layers of proper clothing, quality protective gear is vital for outdoor winter activities. Injuries, such as concussions and eye issues, can occur during winter activities. Make sure everyone has protective helmets for skiing, snowboarding and sledding, as well as goggles. Knee and elbow pads may also be helpful.

  1. Make Sure Gear Fits

While you may be tempted to let your younger child wear protective gear handed down from your older child or relative, be cautious. Children should only wear gear that’s in good condition and fits properly. Improperly fitting equipment can lead to a loss of control during outdoor activities and possible injuries. Also, if the equipment or accessories are too big, they could slip off your child, leaving them unprotected.

  1. Keep Them Hydrated

In the heat of the summer, it’s easy to tell when you child needs to drink more water during activities, because they’re usually hot and sweaty. In the winter,  kids don’t feel as thirsty and are less likely to drink enough water.

Even though they may not sweat as they do in the summer, they may still be sweating. In colder temperatures, sweat can evaporate quickly. Kids’ bodies can lose fluids in other ways too, such as, through respiration. When the temperatures are cold enough for them to see their breath, their bodies are losing water vapor.

Encourage your children to take a water bottle and drink from it regularly during winter activities

Winter Activities

This is a collaborative guest post, the ideas and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.


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Filed under Family Fun, Outdoor Fun, recreation

5 Family-Fun Valentine’s Day Activities

When you have a tribe of kids like I do, it can be hard to just get away with my husband. I know it is important, but sometimes, it is just not possible. We tend to embrace the time we do get alone together, no matter when it occurs. I guess, it is good that I am a, “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of girl. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I would highlight some things you can do as a family to celebrate your own house full of love.

Bake Something Sweet

Set aside to bake some sweet treats. It does not have to be a complicated recipe. It should be something everyone can take part in. It can be as simple as opening up a box of cake mix and making some cupcakes. Let the kids take turns adding the ingredients and then pour the batter into some festive Valentine’s Day cupcake liners.

Make a simple buttercream frosting, or if you are so inclined, open up a can of ready-made frosting. I know it might get messy, but let the kinds help you frost the cupcakes. I like to pipe my frosting on, so it can be fun to let kids try that. Have some fun showing them the different tip patterns and let them take a guess as to what kind of design it will create.

To top your cupcakes, use candy conversation hearts, red, pink or purple sugar crystals, sprinkles, cinnamon candies or a milk chocolate heart placed in the center.

If you would rather make a cake, use heart shaped cake pans to make it fun. If you love baking like I do, you can find all kinds of festive cupcake liners, baking pans and decorative accents online or in your favorite store.

Make homemade cards for each other

Sit down at the kitchen or craft table with an assortment of cardstock, construction paper, markers, decorative paper punches, ribbons, stickers, crayons, paper lace doilies, glue sticks and scissors and craft homemade cards for each other. Have your child write a poem and print it out. Then glue the poem to the inside of the card.  There are so many great ideas on sites like Pinterest for inspiration.

Make a Fun Family Video or Photo Slideshow

Take all those great moments you have captured as photos or videos, and put them together to create a special slideshow or video. Editing software like Photoshop Premiere Elements 2018, makes it easy to make instant movies. You just put in the media, make some design choices and enjoy the results in minutes. You will love the way it turns out, and people will think you spent hours editing. If you don’t have that software, there are many other programs that will work. You probably already have something on your computer to do it. When finished, you can share it on social media, as well as, cast to your TV for everyone to enjoy together.

Make A Coupon Book

Cut out some dollar bill size strips of construction paper and then staple 10 together to form a coupon book. Give everyone a book and let the make coupons for things they would do for someone. Kids could offer to clean the bathroom, take out the trash, walk the dog etc. When everyone is finished, put the books in a bag or box and let each person pull out a random coupon book. If they pick their own, have them put it back and try again.

Have A Special Valentine’s Day Family Meal

Sit down together, and plan the menu for a special Valentine’s Day Breakfast or Dinner. Some breakfast ideas are heart-shaped waffles or pancakes. Dinner can be simple or elaborate. A heart-shaped cookie cutter can be used to create sandwiches in the shapes of hearts.

When you have decided on a meal and menu, assign everyone a part and work together to create a meal with love you can all share. Make your table super festive with Valentine’s Day linens and fun paper roses that the kids will have a blast making.

I hope these ideas gave you some inspiration on you can celebrate the love of your family this Valentine’s Day. Let me know some of your best family ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day.


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Filed under Baking, Family Fun, Valentine's Day

Enroll Your Child in a Fun, Project-Based Summer Camp For Less!

Are you thinking about summer? I know I am, I cannot wait for winter to be over! What do your kids do on summer vacation? If you are like me and like to keep your kids involved in fun, active and educational activities, you will be excited to learn about Digital Media Academy’s summer camp.

Digital Media Academy’s fun, project-based approach to summer camp sparks curiosity, builds confidence and fosters team work as students seek creative solutions to real-world problems through technology.

At the end of each course, students go home with a completed project in addition to their new skills and experience in technology and personal development. DMA’s immersive courses bring like-minded students together to inspire one another, and explore their passion through creating.


You can save $75 with the exclusive code for Mommy Ramblings’ readers below. Hurry because the STEM Summer Camps are filling up fast!

Don’t miss your chance to find your child’s passion for coding, 3D modeling, robotics, filmmaking, game design, and more at DMA! Find a camp today and save BIG with code SPRINGUSFG17. Offer expires March 31, 2017. Click HERE to take advantage of this limited time offer.

Learn the Skills of Tomorrow, Today!

Get ready to learn from the best instructors. Digital Media Academy’s project-based camps put students in control as they complete hands-on projects designed to ensure growth and understanding. Students use the best hardware and software on the market today!

Students Love Summer at DMA

At Digital Media Academy, student satisfaction is their number one priority. They make it their mission to provide a memorable and rewarding summer camp experience for all students.

Thanks to their amazing instructors, technology partners, and dedicated staff, 92% of their students give them a 4.5/5 or above in overall student satisfaction.


Safety Matters

At DMA, your child’s safety is the top priority, which is why all staff pass complete Federal background checks in addition to First-Aid and CPR training so you feel confident in your child’s experience.

Everyone Deserves Summer Camp

Digital Media Academy is dedicated to making world-class digital media education accessible to everyone. Their needs-based financial assistance program makes camp possible for those who may not otherwise be able to attend. Apply today! Click HERE to learn more.


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New Sugar-Free Children’s Advil, Dye-Free, Berry Flavor!!! #ChildrensAdvilSugarFree

Smiley 360

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We are lucky, I can count the times my two youngest have had a fever on one hand.  Last week though, our five-year old started saying he was feeling cold when it was very warm.  A check with the thermometer quickly revealed the reason, his fever was almost 104!!!  Thank goodness we had new sugar-free children’s Advil on hand.  The new berry flavor is dye-free and reduces fever fast-faster than children’s Tylenol.  Children’s Advil lasts longer than children’s Tylenol too, up to 8 hours with just one dose!

As a parent it’s so hard to see our little ones not feeling good and something that can keep them comfortable longer is better.  My little guy liked the berry flavor so getting him to take it was not an issue.  In a few days he was back to normal and I’m so glad we had something to take his high fever down and make him feel as good as possible while he was under the weather.  He got better just in time for Halloween, thanks Children’s Advil!!!

Halloween-Mommy Ramblings

Visit and like Children’s Advil on Facebook you can find activities for your child when they start to feel better HERE, Get a Coupon for $1 Off Children’s Advil when you click HERE! 

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As a Smiley 360 Blogger I was compensated for this post wit product samples, as always my words and views are 100% my own.

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Schoola Helps Schools In Need When You Buy or Donate Kid’s Clothes!!! #clothes4schools

schoola logo

Are you back to school shopping for your children?  Maybe going through clothing they have outgrown, wondering what to do with it all?  If you are, you may be interested to know how Schoola can help you and your child’s school.  Schoola is an online shop dedicated to recycling brand-name children’s clothing, with 40% of the proceeds going to schools in need.  The innovative new program – which saves parents money and gives back at the same time – has been heralded by Fox News, the LA Times, Forbes and Parenting Magazine.

Mommy Ramblings was selected to participate in a special campaign called “20 Days of Schoola” Adopt-a-School.  Mommy Ramblings was given of choice of 3 deserving schools and it was hard to choose, but we selected a small school in the Bronx called KIPP Academy.  KIPP Academy has a goal to raise $25,000 to fund a music program. KIPP Academy works hard to support kids who need all the help they can get. Ninety-five percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch. More than one in seven receives special education services. Music helps KIPP Academy reach and engage every child who enters its doors. The slogan on the Music Room wall sets the stage—All of Us Will Learn Music.  No matter what backgrounds they come from or what challenges they face, they learn lessons together that will serve them the rest of their lives.For more about Kipp Academy and how Schoola helps schools in need watch the video below.

I was blessed growing up to be able to go to a school that had the funding to offer all kinds of great in school and after school programs for students.  Sadly many schools today cannot offer as much to students and so students are denied the opportunity to participate in art, music and sports programs that can stimulate and nurture natural or learned talent.

My older children were also able to participate in programs like I was and their school years were enriched with music lessons, great art programs, sports programs, extra curricular programs and more.  My younger children who are just entering school are also able to do the same, but many schools have been impacted by lack of funding and have had to cut programs like music, art and sports.

You Can Help

You can shop on Schoola for back-to-school clothing, even clothing new with tags and for every transaction that is processed by going through this link, Schoola will donate $1 to KIPP Academy.  That’s not all, everyone that requests a donation bag through the same link will help too because Schoola will donate $1 for every requested bag to Kipp Academy. Perhaps the best part is, if you send in a donation bag of clothing, you can fill out the name of a school you support and for every $5 in sales, Schoola will donate $2 to the school you selected!!! That’s a real win-win for Kipp Academy and the school of your choice!!!   You can follow Schoola on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on all the latest happenings.

This post is brought to you by Schoola, the best place to buy discounted kids clothes all while give back to schools in need.Click here to learn more about Schoola.Click here to see what people are saying.

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Boogie Board LCD eWriter Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Boogie Board 8.5 The original Boogie Board LCD eWriter  started a revolution. This 8.5″ ultra light (4oz.) and thin (1/8″) eWriter is addictive and one is not enough. This handy eWriter lets you write down lists, notes, messages and with one touch erase it all.  Save trees, go green and have fun.  This eWriter from Improv Electronics comes with magnetic strips and stylus holder so you can put it on your fridge which is perfect for keeping a list of what you need.  One just isn’t enough. Get one for on the go, in the office and multiple places around the house. Almost anywhere you’d keep memo pads, sticky notes or scrap paper. Boogie Board Group We just love this eWriter, it is super handy, my kids love to draw on it and I love that we can keep it on our fridge now with the magnet kit and stylus holder.  Mommy Ramblings loves the Boogie Board LCD eWriter so much we are adding it to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!!  

#boogie_board

Boogie Board

Boogie Board  #boogie_board

Boogie Board #boogie_board

Boogie Board  #boogie_board

Improv Electronics is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win their own Boogie Board 8.5″ LCD eWriter!!!  Thank you Improve Electronics for the review eWriter and for sponsoring this resourceful and fun giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents. Boogie Board 8.5″ LCD eWriter Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules: Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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