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Contests and Giveaways
WIN IT! Goodies from KEC

Check out details of the giveaways here. To enter answer the following question:

Which place did the game Lu-Lu originate from? (Hint: Check out www.slideshare.net)

Send all answers to contest@mummyknowsbest.com with KEC in the subject line and your kids age so we know which toy to send you. Good luck!

Contest ends midnight Saturday, 6 Feb.
Ask the mums

Ask us about anything you’d like to know and we’ll feature your question - with the answer - on the site. All previous reader Q&As can be found here. Send your queries to info@mummyknowsbest.com.

Who we are

Welcome to Mummy Knows Best. We are real moms in Indian cities chatting about our favourite kiddie related stuff, because, after all, who knows better than us what’s best for our kids? We review products, services and activites we have tried out or used, or have first-hand knowledge of for kids of all ages- from babies and toddlers to teens. Drop in everyday and join our talk by leaving comments with your experiences and suggestions. We’d love to hear what you think!

Want us to review your product?

If you feel your product/ service/space is unusual, fun and something moms all over India will like, get in touch with us at info@mummyknowsbest.com and we’ll review it. Don’t forget to send us some info and pics so we can see what you’re offering!

Fri, February 5
2:23PM

Massage your pregnancy blues away

Chennai: Tender Loving Care

When you’ve come to the point where the ‘romance’ of your pregnancy is waning and you’re pretty sure your husband has started to refer to you as That Fat Bully in his head, you know that the need of the day is a ‘Time Out for Two’

Aura, the spa at the Park Hotel, offers couples a chance to unwind, reconnect and just spend quality time together in the most luxurious and indulgent way possible – a couple’s massage!

Picture this – a stunning suite in hues of vibrant reds, gold and fuchsia, complete with a plush divan peppered by sequined cushions against a backdrop of gorgeous drapes, an extravagant whirlpool and a serene, cozy alcove fitted with two massage tables, where you and your better half will be pampered to the maximum.

The spa therapists are specially trained to perform prenatal massages and those gentle strokes, that massage delicious smelling oil into your skin and all your aches and pains away, are simply blissful to say the least.

This heady experience is further enhanced when you and your main squeeze relax together in a warm floral bath, while sipping on mugs of soothing herbal tea. It’s like a mini second honeymoon that you’ll never forget! 

The Time out for Two package is priced at Rs 7200 and takes 2 and a half hours to complete. Aura is open 7 days a week from 8am to 9:30 pm. For appointments call Anuradha at 044 - 42676000/ 76300. e-mail: spa.che@theparkhotels.com

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AuthorArchana | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Tue, February 2
1:03PM

Ask the Mums: Reader Query

Looking for interesting goody bag items

Hello,

My wife and I are planning for my kids birthday and we came across your great website. We are looking for your expertise to help us find good gifts to be filled in the goody bags for children, both boys and girls in the age range of 1 - 15. Budget upper limit per goody bags is Rs 400. We already have the chocolates and the bags, looking for another 3 gift items.

Rajesh & Deepa

Hi Rajesh & Deepa,

First off, thanks for giving us a chance to  talk about one of our favourite topics - goody bags or return gifts! We’re always on the hunt for meaningful and useful gifts that don’t break the minute they come back from the party and are things the kids would want to actually use and play with long after. Your budget lends itself to some really nice gifts and you can even do 1 or 2 big items rather than 3 or 4 smaller - don’t try to go for quantity over quality.

Okay here goes, the links go to some of our older posts which give you more details.

1-4 year olds

Option 1
- Sing Along CD, details here, Rs.99 at Crosswords

-  Karadi Tales Rhymes or Audiobook Rs.125

- Tulika Books, details here, Rs.50 - Rs.200 at Strand or major bookstores

- Jump Start Baby computer CDs (about Rs.200) at Crosswords

- Hand puppets, beautifully made animals, maharajas and ranis etc. Rs.150-Rs.200 at Windchimes, #24, Hutchins Road, Cooke Town, Bangalore. Ph:080 2546 0697

Option 2

If you’d like to go for just 1 item, slightly higher priced then consider 

- Fisher Price Doodle Pro fpr 398/- details here OR Pooh or Disney princess Dart board for Rs.399 at the  Hypercity, Vashi sale. 

Throw in a bottle of bubbles with any of the above options (about Rs.50 at any toy shop) and you have an entertaining and enriching goody bag.

5-10 year olds

- Dora or Ben10 Projector watches (Rs.150-200) at Sona, Hill Road, Bandra
- Games like Uno Junior (Rs.59), Uno Regular (Rs.99), Jenga Junior from Funskool (Rs.149)

- Tulika books (look for titles for slightly older kids)

- Scrap book with stickers, coloured pages and space for photographs (Rs. 200) at Sona

- Craft kits from Rs.150 upwards - clay moulding, mosaics, activity cases, stencil books, warli art, shell work, beads…Hobby ideas  and Dhoop in Khar have a great range

A bottle of bubbles or a wooden top along with any of the above and you’ll have grateful parents thanking you for providing their kids with hours of occupation! 

10-15 year olds

This crowd is a little hard to please especially since you’re going for gender neutral gifts. Stick with just 1 big item gift so you give them something really nice.

- Board games - (Classics like Monopoly Rs.398, or traditional ones from Kreeda avaialable at Dhoop in Mumbai or Landmark in Bangalore)
- Funskool Rubic cube (Rs. 249), Cup and Ball from KEC (Rs.250)

- Scrap book

- A gift certificate from Reliance Time Out so they can choose their own CDs, books or games.

All board games and more are also available at shops like Sona, Hill Road, Bandra opposite St. Peters church. There are a few other toy shops on this strip who coordinate entire parties from gifts, and may provide good discounts on bulk purchases. PartyHunterz in Bandra on Ambedkar road is also a good place for exciting options, but a little expensive. Partymania (next to Tom’s Cafe, Frazer Town) in Bangalore also caters to various theme party needs. A lot of fun wooden puzzles handcrafted in Chennapatna are available in front of Cauvery Handicrafts on MG Road, Bangalore and make great goody bag stuffers.

Happy Shopping!

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Fri, January 29
9:39PM

WIN IT! 4 Beautiful Toys from KEC

Enter for a chance to win one of these goodies from KEC (read review here)

Ghoomiyo

Pull string spinning top thats a traditional favourite and fascinates kids and adults alike. Age: 6+

Pacheta

The traditional Indian 5 stones game that is hugely popular in rural India and promises tons of merriment. With some serious dexterity to boot! Age: 5+

Tangram

A set of 7 pieces called tans which fit together in a square.  Creating new shapes with this puzzle re-energises the flow between the left and right brains and boosts creativity. Age: 8+

String Games

A set of four figures from diverse cultures that promises a beginner hours of pleasure, fostering patience and perseverance. Play at home or take along on long journeys. Age: 6+

To enter answer the following question:

Which place did the game Lu-Lu originate from? (Hint: Check out www.slideshare.net)

Send all answers to contest@mummyknowsbest.com with KEC in the subject line and your kids age so we know which toy to send you. Good luck!

Contest ends midnight Saturday, 6 Feb.

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AuthorNisha | CommentPost a Comment | | |
7:35PM

World games and toys from KEC

A revival of games our grandparents used to play

Until now I have only located the indigenous, colourful tops and toys at handicraft fairs that head into town sporadically. Recently, I happened to chance on a fantastic new brand named Kids Edutainment Centre or KEC that has our favourite top christened Ghoomiyo, all well presented and packaged ready to make a great gift option.

KEC has introduced a series of world games that are traditional to Cuba, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Spain and Bangladesh, among others. The packaging comes with information about the region, the history of the toy and other trivia.

The eye-catching, bright, appealing patterns and colours make the toys ideal baccha attention catchers. The names of the games are tongue twisters though but our three year old has a blast renaming games like Latoo and Mow-Mow. It is great that the toys are non-toxic as they are created with safe and eco-friendly materials. Also we know some amount of the money is going to the artisans who work to create these wooden treasures. General feel good all around.    

Although the toys are labelled for age, starting from 3+, most of them have universal appeal. Their Lagori is a refined, colourful version of Seven Stones that was so popular way back when. But hey, our babies can be reintroduced to the good old games, diverse cultures and world trivia through this unique range of toys.

Now if only I can get my favourite KEC Cup and Ball game away from the husband, I might get in a little practise at it. Am headed back to the store for an armful of birthday presents.             

KEC Games are available at Landmark Bookstore, Infiniti Mall, New Link Road, Andheri (W) (2639-6010); Tribal Route, 18 & 29 Aram Nagar 2, JP Road, Versova, Andheri (W) (99670-58847) and Dhoop, 101 Khar Sheetal Apartments, Dr Ambedkar Road, Union Park, Khar (W), Mumbai 52. Telephone: 2649 8646/47.
Rs 100 upwards.

If you are not from Mumbai but like what you see on www.slideshare.com, just call Manisha Gadekar 26113252 / 9820488736 and order your  product which will be couriered to you at a nominal courier fee.    

KEC range will also be at the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai from the February 6th -14th.

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Wed, January 27
9:27PM

Butterflies that glow in the dark and a chalk board wall. 

Asian Paints digs into dreams and presents super ideas for kids’ room décor.

 Asian Paints is a brand that spells quality and we were wowed even further on visiting their signature store on Hill Road in Bandra which is a sprawling 7,500 square feet of sheer delight.

You can use their computers to mix and match colours on existing images of interiors; the consultants take you on a tour of the store with a kit explaining details at each stop on lighting, texture options and gizmos and models to assist with the presentation and you are also invited to the kids section which is a treat – experiment on the painted chalk wall or go into the black box to see the fairies and submarines light up, experience colour and feel the urge to repaint your home.

That’s what happened with us. Luckily the better half let sense prevail and has suggested we do one wall in the nursery with a glow in the dark theme or a chalk scribble paint wall. We are headed there to choose a theme soon – it is going to be a really tough task. Wish me luck. Do head to this amazing store or go online and see what’s on offer.

Asian Paints signature store is on Hill Road opposite the Bandra Police Station. Visit the Asian Paints website for more details and store locations. 

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Mon, January 25
5:21PM

Magic Medicine 

 

Pregnancy has a lot of perks –glowing skin, luscious hair, the only time you can be fat and cute at the same time and of course a cuddly, delicious-smelling baby to look forward to at the end of it all!

But as life would have it, every up has a down and pregnancy is no different. The list of aches and pains that plague your body are endless and worst of all, the hormonal changes play havoc with your digestive system making you as bloated and ‘wind-filled’ as a hot air balloon!

Heart burn and gas are my biggest pregnancy woes and I’ve woken up several times over the past few months with a tummy ache so bad I’ve been convinced that death is at my doorstep. And to make matters worse, that’s exactly when the mini Beckham in my stomach decides to give me an extra hard kick.

This is when my magic home remedy comes to the rescue. It’s the simplest mix of a couple of pieces of crushed ginger and a pinch of asafoetida added to a glass of hot water – takes just a few minutes to make and the relief is tremendous.

So the next time you find yourself rolling in pain, give this remedy a try and let it work its magic.



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AuthorArchana | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Sun, January 24
11:00AM

Ram – In Comic-book Delight

Chandamama’s Ramayana

The legend of Prince Ram is a favourite with children. A brave, handsome prince goes off to the forest from where his beautiful wife is kidnapped by an evil demon king. How said prince goes to resue her and defeats the villainous king of Lanka aided by his worshipful brother and an army of monkeys is truly the stuff legends are made of! Heroic princes, abducted princess, gallant animals, wicked demons and an epic battle where good triumphs over evil…what’s not to love?

Chandamama’s Ramayana – The Epic Journey is a must-buy for kids. Based on Valmiki’s ancient text, it tells the epic story of the Princes Ram and Lakshman and Ram’s beloved wife Sita, in a glorious, first-time ever, comic format. The rich illustration and simple to read and understand text, bring the adventures and stories alive as well as make the whole epic visually appealing.

Rama’s heroics and exploits are beautifully and effortlessly told in a manner that children above the age of five will understand. The pictures serve to fire up their already fertile imagination and help to keep them engaged in the storyline.

The 432 page book is priced at Rs. 449/- and it is an absolute treat for the kids.

Available at most bookstores or order online at Chandamama.com.

 

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AuthorBaisali | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Fri, January 22
12:00PM

Bangalore: Dance Little Lady, Dance.

Creative Dance and Movement for Children

We are a culture that lives and breathes cinema, so when we see our kids gyrating like Shahid and Kareena to ‘Mauja hi Mauja’, it shouldn’t surprise us, as I myself love to emulate an item number from Bollywood or even better, a Tapanguchi song. But it would be a pity if dance meant only this. When it comes to dance in the pure form, there is so much that our children stand to gain when taught by experienced and insightful teachers.

Brinda Jacob Janvrin’s Creative Dance and Movement for Children is one such wonderful opportunity for children to use their senses and their bodies to feel and imbibe their surroundings, to express and create freely. Sounds like I am reading from an exotic Indian novel? It is perhaps because Brinda herself evokes that sense of the wonderful and exotic.

A trained dancer, choreographer and dance therapist Brinda describes her creative dance experience as ‘one in which you create and communicate your own movements. Creative dance promotes coordination of thought, feeling and action because it is developed from the inside of the child outwards instead of being imposed from the outside in. The creative dancing process not only helps to develop a clear body image and an acute kinesthetic sense, but it also helps develop musicality, a sense of rhythm, imagination, creativity, the arts of listening and observing, and the skills of communicating and co-operating. ’

Give your children the joy of dance and when they come back so alive and happy, you’ll be glad she has classes for adults too.

Her classes are for children aged from 5 to 14 years. You can learn more about the classes from Brinda Jacob-Janvrin 9845236242, The Studio for Movement Arts and Therapies

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AuthorSwati | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Thu, January 21
4:31PM

Sit Down Dinners for Baby and Me

Chicco Quick Adjust Table Seat



I love sit down dinners complete with fancy napkin rings, crisp linen and the ‘clink clink’ of silver cutlery. It’s never too early to get your little one initiated into the epicurean world !  It may take a while before they master the art of using their cutlery or chopsticks but you will be surprised how much easier feeding becomes once they understand the concept of meal times.  Beats running behind them with a spoonful of mashed carrot and trying “Here comes the aeroplane, say aaaahh”.  

The Chicco  Quick Adjust Table Seat  is a huge facilitator in this department. Now what’s different about this as compared to other baby high chairs is that it gets clamped on to your dining table. So your darling is literally sitting with you the table. It is a soft padded chair designed with a metal framework and there are U shaped clamps which go under your table and clamp onto it. An ingenious design which is easily removed so you can carry it with you on your vacations or  to anywhere… that has tables! The chair is comfortable (how do I know? They love sitting in it!) and can be used at play times also, as the table provides the space to paint, roll chapatis and other messy fun things.

The chair can be used from six months onwards until they reach 15kg which is usually 3-3.5 yrs.  My son has spent many hours playing and eating in this seat and now it has passed on to my niece who is enjoying it.

Give them chopsticks while they are sitting there, you never know…! 

Available at Mothercare  and other select baby stores and priced at Rs.3995.

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AuthorSwati | Comment1 Comment | | |
Wed, January 20
4:25PM

Hours of fun in the 100 Acre Wood

 

 

 

 

 

 


Learn to read with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Euro Books is a company that brings internationally recognized brands like Barbie, Noddy, Disney, Enid Blyton and Tin Tin to many homes across India.

The Disney Winnie the Pooh Learn to Read series with large print has 15 titles and each one is exciting and alluring.

We have 6 of the 15 titles and our two year old has been hooked on to Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Piglet and Rabbit ever since his first of this series ‘Playing Pirates’ was read to him.

They are well written; just the right length (good for night time book rituals), have superbly produced images and each story has a subtle lesson to be learnt. You can choose from titles like A Sense of Fun, A Surprise Garden, A Tiggerific Band – this story has actually got me blowing into an old bottle to hear the ‘toot, toot, like Piglets flute’ or The Big Bug Hunt.
Crosswords has a hard cover with 5 titles of this series in each bound book, but I prefer the little single books which are light to carry while travelling as well.

Let your child have a smattering of Pooh and bounce off to a terrific start to reading and imagining adventures - Disney style!.

Disney Winnie the Pooh Learn to Read available as singles at any smaller book store for Rs. 50/-

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Tue, January 19
11:00PM

Tiles of Fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am always on the look-out for interesting puzzles, art & craft ideas, board games, sit-down activities…well, generally anything that can bring two mini tornadoes to a stop for a while and guarantee me at least half-an-hour to forty-five minutes of peace and quiet (and if the activity is really interesting, then one WHOLE hour!! Yippee!)

I came upon this rather appealing activity for the five-plus age group that involved bright colours, fun themes and lots of glue, which, as we all know, is the equivalent of making a bit of an icky-sticky mess which kids always like.

MOSAICS from Toy Kraft are available in all leading toy stores. Priced at Rs. 149/- a pack, they are worth every rupee. Each pack comes with four templates and differently coloured mosaic chips that have been made from foam. The templates are numbered and each number corresponds to a colour, so that acts as a guide. The themes available are ‘In the Jungle’, ‘At the Farm’ and ‘Under the Sea’.

The activity requires patience and concentration and it also provides stimulation for good for hand-eye co-ordination. And the best part about this activity is that they get to proudly display their artwork. The pack includes some twine with which you can string the pictures and once they are done…voila! They have created a work art to be proud of!

Rs.149 and available in most toy stores.

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AuthorBaisali | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Mon, January 18
6:00PM

Baby Couture

My sister claims that I buy clothes for my daughter because I hardly fit into anything anymore; that of course is far from the truth, albeit not too far. My daughter will let me dress her for just about 6-8 years (if I am lucky), so right now I can get away with all the frills and bows one needs in a lifetime. So, sad as it may sound, the birthday party ‘frock’ has to be as cutesy as my baby.

I have found the answer to that annual search for the perfect birthday party dress. ‘Jingle Bells’ has been a popular store for birthday party accessories and arrangement, now they do clothes too. Their new store has one of the widest selections of party wear for kids, especially girls and they also do custom outfits. Their forte is western wear with an emphasis on dresses and gowns, though my personal favourites have been a-line cut, shin length, satin dresses with just a hint of embroidery around the neck. The in-house tailors are meticulous about sizes and leave margins for your growing princesses. They stock the prettiest buttons, bows, frills and lace this side of town, so go have a look.

They also stock hair accessories, jewelry and shoes. These outfits can be excellent for weddings and ethnic events since they are way more comfortable than salwars and lehengas and just as pretty.

Customized outfits for kids start at Rs.1600. Open from 10:30 am – 8 pm. GF 10, Mega City Mall, Gurgaon. Ph: 0124 4146414

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AuthorParul | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Sun, January 17
11:06AM

Comfy seats for tiny tushies

 

A potty training assistant.

Our baby started off potty training at 3 months with a method that I did not realise at the time was part of the training. I would lie on my back and seat him on my tummy with my thighs and knees as his backrest. This position would almost always bring about that cute scrunched up face with a concentrating expression, and naturally, a poo.

Then at around 8 months we tried to get him used to a stand alone potty and made a huge ruckus, hi-fiving, clapping and looking like monkeys when the deed was done in the right place. By 13 months this potty was no good as our rambler would jump off and away – messy behind and all.

So to the rescue was his grandmother who presented us with a plastic potty seat with handles that is to be placed over the regular seat and has comfortable cushioned padding and options of different images and colours. This one-size-fits-all seat is super to use on the go as well, as it does not take up much space.

He is now almost trained … and as soon as his tiny tush is not so tiny anymore, he should move on to the regular seat.

 

Plastic, cushioned potty seat with handles. Marketed by different brands such as Getty but sourced from the same manufacture in China.
Available for Rs. 425/- at Design Touch, Hillroad, Bandra.

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Fri, January 15
11:00AM

Printable fun

I adored crafts as a kid so I was devastated when I got a cutesy butterfly report card for my pre-schooler that stated how wonderful my daughter is “But she is reluctant to participate in crafts”. Blaming the hiccup on TV, I decided to get her charged with something ‘new’, something ‘different’.

I searched online for craft ideas and found a treasure trove. Colouring pages, bookmarks and activities which could all be printed on my home office waste. Cheap and eco-friendly, whats not to love?! 

Check out http://www.kidprintables.com/ for a place to start. I bought an empty scrap book from the local stationer, we put together all of her drawings, colouring pages, valentines and mother’s day pin-ons, school crafts and stuck them sorted by month. We also put pictures of school activities and one with the teachers. We printed accents like stars, hearts, medals, certificates and coloured them by hand so everything was original. Another good place for ideas and links is http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/. Our favourite page was ‘The day our baby girl was born’. It was so fascinating to see my three old feel her sense of individuality. Try it out, the kids will get off TV for a while and there is a definite novelty (ok, cheap) factor in doing things from scratch.

Card paper scrapbook Rs.54, local stationary shop.  Try to reuse office/throwaway paper,  try refilling printer cartridges, the junk they add to the environment is phenomenal and the ink is not a friend of the soil!

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AuthorParul | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Wed, January 13
5:08PM

A Handbook for Parents

Parenting Guides: Gifting Wings to Your Acorn

Parenthood is not easy. And if anybody says otherwise, they’re lying. Or drunk. 

Pregnancy comes with a manual; so why not parenting? Wait! It does! Raksha Bharadia’s “Roots and Wings – A Handbook for Parents”, written for hapless parents like me. 

The older generation seemed to manage just fine - and we all did turn out alright and have never splurged money on a shrink, but, I would still like something different for raising my boys. This generation of parents are inundated with gizmos, gadgets and gazillions of other technologically advanced mumbo-jumbo and have to flounder our way around the reams of advice coming at us from all directions, no wonder we’re stressed!

But thanks to Raksha’s book, we feel more clued in. It’s easy to read, has lots of relatable incidents from lives of people we know and admire, and is full of practical, easy-to-follow steps.

As the blurb says, “Roots and Wings – A Handbook for Parents addresses parenting conflicts and dilemmas; how to manage the thin line between freedom and structure, space and control, being a mentor and a friend, our expectations of the child verses his native endowments.” Sounds good? It is. I especially loved the chapters ‘Creativity’ and ‘The Confident Child’. At times the book seemed to go on a never-ending loop, but it does get the message across in a friendly tone, never once adopting a preachy attitude.

Do your child a favour and pick it up. At the very least, browse through it the next time you’re at a bookshop…you’ll be glad that you did.

Published by Rupa & Co., and available at leading bookstores for Rs. 295/-. 

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AuthorBaisali | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Mon, January 11
6:37PM

Sing along and sing out loud

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fun songs for babies and toddlers don’t get better than this.

At diapering time, the sure shot way to keep the little wriggler still was to distract him with ring tones off my mobile. Searching for something slightly more wholesome we found a gem at just the right time. This tool worked wonders for us on long car journeys with our baby in his first year.

Linda Adamson has created a set of 4 titles in the ‘Love to Sing’ range – Colour Songs, Animal Songs, Fun Songs and Wheels of the Bus.

These hearty sing along titles come in the form of a book with the CD tucked into the cover page. The 24 page book has the lyrics of each song with exciting images.

The tracks sung by children have entertaining lyrics that create rich mental pictures with each of the songs. You can go on a lion hunt, see a horse in striped pyjamas, jump on a bed with a monkey, travel by bus with a hippopotamus, peel an orange, but you can’t peel a purple, visit the ‘Purple Land of Lalurple’ and find out if ‘Pink Pigs can Fly!’  This singing and reading package makes a great gift of lively, fun music.

Each title is Rs. 99/- Available at Crosswords.

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Sun, January 10
3:14PM

Expert advice: Room ideas for a 10 year old girl

Radhika and Zeenat from Big Red Bus, Mumbai, are available to answer any questions you may have about designing the perfect room for your kids. Send in your queries to info@mummyknowsbest.com.

Dear Radhika and Zeenat,

I have a daughter of 10 and half years, and we are moving to a larger space where she will have her own room. The room is of 15x10 dimension and I am just curious to know what I can do to keep her things in place and also keep the space clutter free so that she can have slumber parties with her friends and cousins. I would love to keep some musical theme for her room as she is an artist.. she learns classical dance, music and synthesizer.

Thanx,
Seeja 

Dear Seeja
First let me congratulate you on the fact that you are taking a keen interest in providing for your angel an enviorment for her to grow and nuture in.

BED
The best way to deal with her space would be to give her a four poster day bed with flowing drapes on it … trundel drawer should be used as a pull out bed for sleepovers. A colour scheme of white bed any pastel drapes on it will look fresh and summery.
Tip: Attach a magazine rack attached to the side of the bed and the head board could have her name carved on it .

ARTISTIC CORNER
Dedicate a section of her room for an art/study table that has enough space for paints and school books …
Tip: You could make a low toddler size table and put up a large shelf on the wall for her books. On another wall make a book like cover out of wood and put a mirror on the front (where she can see her moves ), and a chalk board and white board in the insides where she can write down her thoughts. To visualise this put a book on the wall and open it - you will understand the concept - front cover=mirror , inside pages=white board and chalk board.

PLAYING CORNER AND SEATING

Under any of the windows make a wooden seating area and under that keep pull out baskets for her games.

WARDROBES

Put a corksheet on the shutters so she can put up her painting , certificates etc. Keep one shutter for her room linen.

THEME
Kids like to change the themes of their rooms as they grow,  so use things that can be easily changed when she wants something else. Use musical instruments as knobs of the cupboards and drawers. Music themed linen and curtains will bring the pull the whole room together as well. Paper cutouts of musical instruments for walls are easily avaliable in the market.

Hope the above ideas help you in giving her the best and you and your daughter have fun setting up her new space!

Radhika and Zeenat

Big Red Bus

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AuthorNisha | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Fri, January 8
6:04PM

The Illustrated Mahabharata for kids (and adults)

The Epic of all Epics

 

Okay, this has to be said, I am a total ‘Mahabharata’ addict. I’ve read countless versions of this great epic, I still do and yes, I was glued to the Sunday morning glittery- golden costume-saga brought into our lives from the maison de Chopra. Sigh! Fun times!

Anyway, the point is, I think epic definitely deserves the epithet, ‘the greatest story ever told’ and I’ve already introduced my elder son to some of the great players in the game as well as a few of the simpler stories.

That’s why, when I saw The Puffin Mahabharata by Namita Gokhale, staring at me from the shelves of the book store, I fell upon it with a war-like cry. It starts off with a family tree which makes it easier for us to keep a track of who’s who and came from where, miraculous conceptions et al. In fact, thanks to this tree, I finally learnt the names of Draupadi’s five sons and their corresponding fathers! Yaay!

Written in a fluid and easy-to-read style, Gokhale brings the epic to life with such breathtaking simplicity, that even a parent will enjoy rediscovering this timeless classic that is so rich with ethics, morals, stories within stories and the tales of honour, treachery, betrayal and heroism.

While Gokhale’s literary style is a book-lover’s treat, Suddhasattwa Basu’s evocative illustrations breathe life into this already vibrant classic.

Affordably priced at Rs. 449/-, I urge you to pick this one up without even thinking twice. Simply written, engagingly told and beautifully illustrated, The Puffin Mahabharata is perfect for children above the ages of eight.

Available at most bookstores, or order online at www.flipkart.com.

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AuthorBaisali | Comment2 Comments | | |
5:50PM

Itchy belly no more

An antidote to stretch marks and dry skin.

The baby bump has begun to show, you are post the morning sickness stage and oh the glow is just so fantastic! Then you look south, smile at your still visible toes and catch a glimpse of shiny, wormlike patterns reminiscent of striations on a beach and think – ‘Oh no stretch marks – must check with the gynie about the itchy belly and now these.’

I’ve been there, done that and was told to use any vitamin E based cream or lotion. Popular, highly aromatic creams like Stretchnil were immediately ruled out due to my keen sense of smell. The next stop was custom notified stores that stock brands like Palmers moisturisers and vitamin E oils. These were great for 10 days after which I seemed to have developed a rash which made the itchiness worse.

Finally, the doctor recommended something simple and non aromatic - Aloederm - A wonder cream with aloe juice, vitamin E and sesame oil in a cream base by Fem. This light and fragrance free potion is to be used twice a day for stretch marks.

Aloederm can also be used regularly as a moisturiser, anti inflammatory, wound healer, for psoriasis and as an astringent. 

Aloederm is available at all chemists @ Rs. 96/- for a standard 50gm tube.

 

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AuthorPriya | CommentPost a Comment | | |
Thu, January 7
5:20PM

Delhi: Hand-knitted woollens for babies and kids

The Warmest Woolies

Buying clothes for kids has almost become a hobby now; it’s worrying because this is how much I enjoyed shopping for myself at one time!  I love the couture Indian and international brands are doling out these days, in fact some of the summer stuff looks truly like designer wear - it’s the winters that always leave me stumped.

Though I love the woollies and jackets available out there, I also end up thinking about just how warm or comfy synthetics must be? We come from a generation brought up on hand knitted woollens and they always seemed so much comfier and more tender than the synthetic/wool mix branded garments available. So when our winter bundle was about to arrive, my biggest angst was the lack of genuine hand knitted clothing in the market.

That’s when I found out that my friend Devyani’s mom is an expert at knitting and she spends the whole summer knitting woollens for infants and kids. By October, Devyani has bagfuls of dresses, vests, sweaters, ponchos, mufflers, caps, booties and the most beautiful newborn baby sets I have ever seen. She uses the softest of baby wool, sourced out of Dehradun and follows the latest trends with distinctive styles for boys and girls. My daughter has grown up to the age of 4 on Aunty’s handmade goodies and this year she will pass on a bagful to her younger cousins.

Call Devyani on 9810108648 for more information. She is available in Gurgaon and has everything priced very nominally.

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AuthorParul | CommentPost a Comment | | |
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