Our Favorite Valentine’s Day Books

Here at Frecklebox, we are already getting excited for Valentine’s Day. And not just because we are counting on loads of chocolate being delivered to the office; but because we love to read, and there are oodles of awesome children’s Valentine books out there.

We thought we’d share a few of our staff’s favorite books to read to their kids for Valentine’s Day. Please feel free to add your favorites to our list!

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown:  Charles Schulz
The Ballad of Valentine:  Alison Jackson
The Valentine Bears:  Eve Bunting
Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink:  Diane deGroat
Love, Ruby Valentine:  Laurie Friedman
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You:  Jane Yolen
Monster Boy’s Valentine:  Carl Emerson

Ok, ok, we can’t resist. Our favorite personalized book would have to be The Valentine Magic Box by Julia Dweck — check it out 🙂

Here’s to a month of love…

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

Freckleheads, we need your help.

 

Hi everyone. We have a problem, and we think you can help.

A lot of customers of Frecklebox look at the canvas wall art designs on our site, yet we don’t sell many. We would love your opinion on what we currently offer.

If you have one minute, will you please answer the following questions? Complete and total honesty is appreciated!

 

1. Have you visited our wall art page? Y or N

2. Do you know that these are canvas gallery wraps? Y or N

3. Have you purchased one? Y or N

4. What do you think we should do?
     a. Add new designs
     b. Reduce our prices
     c. Offer larger sizes
     d. Offer smaller sizes
     e. Just take it down, it’s not really a fit with your other products.

THANK YOU — THANK YOU — THANK YOU in advance for your help!
The Frecklebox Team 

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

Technology in the Classroom

As a dad, I struggle with how much screen time (computer, video games, TV, etc.) to allow for my kids. I have been known to hide the remote, the xBox cable and even to change the password on the computer. Of course, there are times these strategies have backfired, as I have forgotten the password or where I hid the cable and remote. Although it gives my kids the right to make fun of me for being old and forgetful,  it does keep us engaged!

I also wonder about technology in the classroom. Eductation.com just released a great article about regarding this topic and I thought many parents out there would enjoy reading their take: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/effective-technology-teaching-child/?cid=80.

Now, I’m off to hide the remote again. Perhaps I should tell my cyber readers where I put it so someone can remind me in two weeks…

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

Helpful Resources for Autistic Children

My mother-in-law, Glenda Fuge, is a brillilant occupational therapist who wrote the book Pathways to Play! Combining Sensory Integration and Integrated Play Groups. She specializes in helping children with autism and through her, I have learned just how many families this affects.

(Of course, she is still slightly irritating just because she is my mother-in-law — but she does know of amazing resources!)

I just recently came across a site which may also help some of you who are dealing with this in your family: http://lindahodgdonblog.com/ Please feel free to share this family and friends.

I hope this information is helpful!

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

Get Your Kids to Listen–The First Time!

Let’s face it, if your day is filled with back talk, tantrums, not listening, whining, sibling rivalry, bedtime battles…it’s just not a good day. But imagine your life when misbehaviors are few and far between and when they do occur, you know exactly what to do…and it works! Wouldn’t that make your life better?

Frecklebox is excited to host our second FREE webinar with Positive Parenting Solutions. We received such amazing feedback from the first webinar with Amy McCready, we wanted to offer this again to our friends and customers. Please join us Thursday, September 29th at 2pm & 9pm EST.

Who Should Attend: Frustrated parents of kids ages 2-16 (Note: Please encourage your spouse or other caregivers to attend. Parenting is a lot easier when everyone is on the same page!)

What You’ll Learn: Amy McCready, Founder of Positive Parenting Solutions will present a strategy-packed, interactive, LIVE online webinar designed to teach you…

• why kids really misbehave – it’s probably not what you think!
• how your personality may actually fuel misbehavior
• the 5 R’s of Fair & Effective Consequences so kids listen the first time you ask
• training resources to reduce your parenting stress & stop nagging, reminding & yelling

Register Today!

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

What do we tell the children?

I remember hearing the news on this day 10 years ago. I thought about how and whether I would share the news with my kids. My kids were 9, 7, and 3 at the time. It was a struggle deciding what to share. In 2001 my wife and I could still control most of what they were exposed to. We talked to them because we knew they would hear about the tragic events at school. Just 10 short years later it seems like kids get so much more information. Here is a great article and video that might help you if you are trying to figure out what to share with your kids. It is from CommonSenseMedia.org. They have this artcile along with quite a bit of other great information. I hope you like it.

Read the article or see the video.

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

Can you help me with feedback on deal sites?

Hi there. This is Mark the CEO of Frecklebox. We were debating how many more deal sites we should do. We have done a bunch previously and are concerned that we are not attracting new customers. I would love your feedback on whether you use deal sites, what you think of them, and whether you share them with your friends. It is fairly expensive marketing for us but we are willing to do it if it really attracts new customers. Part of me thinks it might make you mad if you paid full prices on our products. Just looking for feedback here. Thanks for any comments. Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

How to Manage Morning Schedules

If you’re struggling juggling your fall schedule and are wondering how on earth you’re going to get through the week (let alone the school year), here’s one easy way to help manage your mornings:

Many parents end up in a nag-fest every morning – reminding and nagging and sometimes yelling – to get their kids to get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and any number of other tasks before the bus arrives.  But not this school year!  A few simple strategies will help parents get kids out the door on time with everyone feeling good about the process.

The most important strategy to tame morning mania is a When-Then Routine.  The When-Then Routine is structured so all the yucky stuff – all of the things you have to remind your kids about every day– happens before the fun stuff – like breakfast or TV time or playtime.

Your When-Then Routine may sound like, “When you’re dressed, your bed is made, your hair is combed, and your backpack and lunch box are by the door, then, breakfast will be served.  But remember, the kitchen closes at 7:15 so we have time to get to the bus!”

We love Positive Parenting Solutions here at Frecklebox, and a big part of why is that Amy McCready offers simple tactics that actually get you the results you want with your kids. If you’d like to read the article in its entirety, here it is.

And if you have any handy tricks for getting out the door on time, we’d love to hear them!

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

How to Talk to Little Girls

As the mom of an almost five-year-old, I love this article. How do you talk to little girls without immediately placing importance on how they look?

Almost every day I feel like my daughter hears, “You look so cute! I love your dress!” or something similar — from strangers, from friends, from ME! I read this article and it really brought home how important it is to talk to little girls about issues that are far more important: how they feel, what they like to do or what they do well.

Check it out:
How to Talk to Little Girls
www.huffingtonpost.com

How do YOU initiate a conversation with a little girl that does not revolve around looks? Let’s hear it.

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook

The Summer Doldrums (Already?!?)

 

Ok, it’s the end of week one (for us) of summer vacation and I am already going crazy.

Unlike many our friends, my kids are not registered in a gazillion day camps, accelerated classes, swim/tennis/golf lessons, cooking demonstrations, etc. Our lack of organized activity means a few things: a) I’m a very lazy person when it comes to arranging our schedule, b) I incorrectly thought we might all enjoy a quiet, relaxing summer together just lounging around the house, and c) I will now have to spend the rest of the summer dreaming up things to do to arrest the never-ending comments of “I’m bored,” “We did that yesterday,” and “That’s lame.”

So, my fellow procrastinators, I found a few helpful links online of activities to do with your kids this summer, and most of them even have some kind educational aspect to them (to make up for not enrolling your childresn in any “use it or lose it” summer sessions.)

Check out Squidoo for picnics, art projects, games and more – from things you did as a kid (and forgot about) to new ideas, here’s a great list of over 100 activities to do: http://www.squidoo.com/kidssummeractivities

Education.com is a great resource for ideas: http://www.education.com/activity/ and when you’ve done all the activities ten times, take the easy road and just print out some worksheets http://www.education.com/worksheets/ and throw on some good tunes.

If you have any fun summer activities that don’t require advance reservations and a lot of planning, please do share!

Become a Frecklebox Fan on Facebook