https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:52:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/handling-activities-for-multiple-kids#post-2926816 Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:53:35 +0000 LadyDi 2926816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're entering a new phase in our life where multiple kids are in an activity in the evenings. DS1 (6.5) is playing baseball and DS2 (4) is playing tee ball for the first time and DH is coaching. So, we're going to have evenings where we're running off in different directions and I am dragging DS3 (2.5) along for the ride.</p> <p>How do you handle evenings like this? Any tips or tricks for dinner? Do you eat on the run? Any quick meal suggestions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-school-age-kid-play-video-games#post-2924143 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 19:02:18 +0000 julie31 2924143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone!</p> <p>My son just turned 7. He's never been interested in video games and he has no interest in trying. He has not really been around peers that are into video games so far (covid helped).<br /> Well yesterday he started a week long camp. He's probably the youngest in his cohort, with kids between 7-8.5 yo. Today he told me he got excluded at the playground because all the boys were playing a game based on a video game they all play. He was quite upset.<br /> I don't really want to push him to have more screen time, but I don't want him to feel excluded either. He's never had an issue making friends, he's quite social. I'd be fine with teaching him a few games. Then again, he says he has zero interest in even trying it out, even after today.<br /> I'm not sure how prevalent games are at this age. Are your kids playing games? Have you ever encountered a similar situation? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-you-believe-its-almost-been-a-year-since-the-last-blog-post#post-2924066 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 21:32:45 +0000 poppygirl15 2924066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't believe it's almost been a year since the last blog post and the boards went rogue, becoming the only active element of this website. At least I no longer check to see if there's a new blog post. :silly: I did that for a loooong time. I just wanted to say that it's nice that some of us are still around. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-with-my-velcro-baby#post-2923485 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 15:18:02 +0000 MoonMoon 2923485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel kind of dumb even having to ask this but...is there any secret to getting my baby to play or just be ok by himself for 5-10 minutes?</p> <p>He's almost 6 months. He can't sit independently yet. We carry him /wear him /wheel him around the house or outside in his stroller a lot. He will not accept being put down! I want him to have a few minutes of unstructured time here and there. And to be honest, I just want to eat, go to the bathroom, etc sometimes. I'll be going back to work next month and he won't be starting daycare until the fall (availability issues). My husband will be with him (and our older kid) during the day because he's not teaching over the summer, and I would feel better for both of them if LO is able to be content by himself for little bits here and there. </p> <p>We have playmats, bouncy chair, or just a crib or blanket - he doesn't like any of these by himself. We bought a supported seat but returned it because he didn't like it at all. Dangling toys don't interest him much.</p> <p>Teach me your ways! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sports-this-spring-and-summer#post-2922730 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 14:27:06 +0000 catgirl 2922730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Will you be signing your kids up for sports or similar activities this Spring or Summer? </p> <p>We haven't had DD in any activities since last spring. She has been in school (hybrid schedule) since September and we have had outdoor play dates with her school friends (always with masks). We "bubbled" with my mom and step dad at the end of last Summer which has made us very careful with our interactions. </p> <p>But now we are really struggling with this decision. I think DD would love T-ball and possibly some other sports - these things would be outside and seem like a very small risk. But also she really needs more swim lessons - but those are inside and seem like a much bigger risk. And then the risk seems to grow for any activities if we do more than one. So I'm just curious how you are approaching sports and activities?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loom-potholders#post-2922196 Sat, 23 Jan 2021 21:31:14 +0000 meadow 2922196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At what age are kids ready to make loom pot holders? </p> <p>I'm seeing kits that say 6+ curious if anyone had kids that could make them earlier..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/science-kitssubscription-boxes-for-4-6-year-olds#post-2919584 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 08:32:51 +0000 erinbaderin 2919584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 4, and he's constantly asking to do science experiments. We have a subscription to Koala Kits, and that's the high point of his month, but it's not enough. We've done the basics - baking soda and vinegar, milk/food colouring/dish soap, etc, but does anybody have any recommendations for subscription boxes, experiement kits, books, etc. that are geared for younger kids? Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-entertain-your-kids-during-winter#post-2919450 Thu, 08 Oct 2020 11:18:34 +0000 foodiebee 2919450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 15mo DS adores being outdoors and spends most of his days playing in the water and exploring our backyard. I'm starting to wonder what we'll do once it gets cold. What do you do with your outdoor-loving kiddos when the weather changes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918655 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:12:57 +0000 BUNBUN 2918655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a spin-off of the Holidays and Coronavirus post, I thought I'd start one to share some ideas to make birthdays and holidays special in spite of Covid-19 precautions. MIL is immunocompromised and we have a new baby, so our "bubble" is just our household right now.</p> <p>Looking forward to reading your ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917979 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:16:52 +0000 bhbee 2917979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone else in this situation? What are you doing?</p> <p>My 8 year old has taken ballet since she was 3. I wouldn’t say she’s super serious - she didn’t want to do her studio’s Nutcracker for example - but she likes it and sees it as her thing. However I’m just not comfortable doing inside activities, even in masks. Texas is still high and the state of that seems really uncertain for the fall but not likely to be great. </p> <p>We can do zoom at her current studio but it’s expensive (no discount) and it’s so much less useful than being in person for such a technique focused type of dance. I hate to take her out though as I’m afraid she won’t go back. Which isn’t really the worst thing, but it was a nice activity to have. </p> <p>I’m wondering if anyone has had good luck with non-local online classes or another option? We like outschool which would be cheaper. We live in a small house with 5 people home all the time so there’s limited privacy for it. I’ve also wondered if other types of dance may be easier than ballet to do online (like tap or hip hop or something). </p> <p>Thanks for any ideas or thoughts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/art-project-storage-ideas#post-2917878 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 07:42:55 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2917878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 7 year old has gotten into crafting the last month or so and I'm trying to figure out how to corral all the projects she's making. Primarily these tend to be crafty construction projects - ie, she made a cat play yard out of popsicle sticks, paper, pom pomps, etc, about 2 feet on each side. It sat on the floor when she played with it for a day or two and then got forgotten. Most things tend to be 3D, not just paper drawings and stuff like that. Of course she refuses to disassemble and throw anything away so I've been putting things into a large box I got at Michaels but that's filling up quick. We don't have much storage space so I'm running out of ideas. Any tips or suggestions for recycling? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/indoor-play-centers-during-covid#post-2917723 Mon, 27 Jul 2020 15:48:03 +0000 LadyDi 2917723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Looking for some help here. No judgement regardless of how you respond, but would you take your kids to an indoor play center during the pandemic? If so, what parameters would you like to see in place. </p> <p>I am asking because I am on the board of a small, non-profit indoor play center that is open from Labor Day - Memorial Day. We have a meeting next week to discuss whether or now we'll be reopening, so I wanted to get some perspective from other moms. I am sure if we open we'll have parameters in place, such as making sure only a certain number of people are there, mask wearing above age 2, sanitizer, etc. But a lot of things about a play center are challenging during these times. It's meant for kids to play together, not apart, there's a lot of sharing of toys, etc. Also, we cater to the under 5 crowd, so a lot of kids wouldn't be wearing masks. </p> <p>I am so torn about this. As a board member I want to say I will try to take my kids. But I don't know. I do know that I will be so sad if we fold because of this. Our business model is to offer very low cost play so ALL families and caregivers have a space to bring their children in the winter, regardless of income. We're run out of the basement of a church (but are not a part of the church) that doesn't ask us to pay rent but we do have to pay the utilities. We have a small amount of money in savings but not a lot and we were not granted a PPP loan. </p> <p>Anyway, everyone here is always so thoughtful so I wanted to check with the hive and see what you're thoughts were on something like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-could-your-child-use-scissors#post-2917186 Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:42:55 +0000 oldschooolmama 2917186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was way off the mark thinking my newly turned two year old could use the toddler kind :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-activities-for-kid-who-likes-to-roughhouse#post-2916708 Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:37:18 +0000 HappyBaker 2916708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5.5 year old's favorite thing in the world is to roughhouse and wrestle with us. It's almost like an innate need for pressure / deep physical contact, that sounds weird but hopefully you know what I mean ha. He isn't into sports at all, though obviously hasn't tried them all yet - but any other suggestions for organized activities for a kid like this? We'd love for him to have one thing he does outside the house (once COVID is not a concern of course) as his older sister has tons of activities and he really wants to do something but doesn't know what IT is.<br /> DS says he really wants to learn to wrestle for real (not WWE, like actual wrestling) but I can't find any groups around here for elementary aged kids.</p> <p>If you had a kid who loved / needed to roughhouse all the time, what activities did they enjoy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/busy-toddler-summer-camp#post-2916561 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:31:49 +0000 LadyDi 2916561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First, if you have a toddler or preschooler and don't follow Busy Toddler on Instagram then you should. Second, I just wanted to share this free resource from her site for an at home "summer camp"</p> <p><a href="https://busytoddler.com/2020/06/summer-camp-at-home-with-busy-toddler/" rel="nofollow">https://busytoddler.com/2020/06/summer-camp-at-home-with-busy-toddler/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/subscription-boxes-and-siblings#post-2915979 Thu, 28 May 2020 12:08:12 +0000 Corduroy 2915979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have experience sharing Kiwi Crate or Little Passports between siblings? I see that Little Passports has a 10% sibling discount but that's still steep and I don't want two sets of everything around my house. How problematic is sharing?</p> <p>My kids are going into 2nd grade and Kindergarten. I ordered two different Kiwi Crates summer camp in a box but I'm hoping they can double up on both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-kids-learn-to-type#post-2910241 Sat, 15 Feb 2020 14:24:26 +0000 hitchhiker 2910241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do kids learn to type these days? My first grader was admiring my typing the other day, and I told her I learned by playing computer games. (I don't know if Mavis Beacon was technically I game, but I loved it!) Now she is asking for typing games. Is that still a thing? Have your kids learned to type in school? At what age does that start? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unappreciative-five-year-old#post-2910232 Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:28:48 +0000 charleysmom 2910232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD turned 5 last June. It seems like since then whatever activity I plan for her, she is unsatisfied with and wants to do something else. Example: She had been begging for a play date with one of her friends so I arranged one. The morning of, I told her a friend was coming over to our house and then she proceeded to tell me that she didn’t want this particular girl to come over and wanted to go over to a different friends house instead. It’s like that with everything. If I take her to the aquarium, she’s unhappy and wants to go to the kids museum. If I take her to one park, she tells me she’d rather play at a different park. This morning she was begging to get out of the house so I found that the library was having story time and a dance party. I told her about it and she started asking why we can’t do x,y, and z instead. It’s really beginning to frustrate me and not even want to do anything. We’re on a budget so we can’t always do the things that she wants but I still try to find something else and honestly, it hurts my feelings that she never seems happy. My husband and I have spoken to her about being thankful, how some boys and girls don’t get to do anything but she doesn’t seem to understand. Is this just an age thing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5yo-and-sportsactivities#post-2909012 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 17:14:28 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2909012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 is 5yo. We signed him up last summer for soccer and it was a disaster: he hated it and didn’t want to participate. After much discussion we allowed him to stop going and asked him what he would rather do. He asked to do dance class which we happily signed him up for with a friends daughter. He would go in and do the class then the parents invited to watch what they learned at the end. Every time he would stand and stare at us as and not do the dance when we watched. When we peeked in, he would be participating fine. We thought, ok weird but whatever.</p> <p>Fast forward to today: first skating lesson which he was keen on. I’ve take him to public skating a few times since last year and he’s doing well but I wanted someone to teach him better than I could. Same thing: he sat on the ice and stared at me, not listening. I had to move to the other end out of sight so he couldn’t see me. He did a couple things but the instructor said after he was very reluctant and not having it whatsoever. I can’t get anything out of him as to why he behaves this way.</p> <p>Would you keep trying activities? I’m inclined to drop skating and just take him myself until his confidence builds? It’s so so so annoying and frustrating to take him to these things and have him act like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/busy-boxbag-and-activity-ideas-for-5-year-old#post-2900054 Sat, 19 Oct 2019 13:30:06 +0000 SweetCaroline 2900054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Looking for ideas for activities/supplies to accumulate for when baby comes...to occupy 5 year old DD when feeding, etc.</p> <p>Bigger things we may gift for her birthday and Christmas. Smaller things I'll just pop in a basket for when I'm desperate. Sister is not well occupied by screen time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-youd-be-willing-to-pay-for-sportshobbies#post-2899752 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:52:32 +0000 DesertDreams88 2899752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 3.5. I know he'd LOVEEE gymnastics (we visited once and he was freaking out wanting to try; and, he just has the personality). Four 45-min sessions cost $65, which is like, $20 an hour..... that seems a bit steep to me in terms of the hourly cost. Is that a standard, above, or below average amount? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-kids-always-do-a-sport#post-2899738 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 12:02:26 +0000 Becky 2899738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After school started back my older DD, almost 6 and in first grade, was playing outside after school and having a wonderful time. I spontaneously asked her how she felt about waiting to start gymnastics until after Christmas so we could enjoy playing in the nice weather and all of the activities that come with the holidays, and said she liked the way that sounded. Recently I got information about the winter classes being offered after school and there's Zumba a yoga--for these classes they stay after for an hour, and then you pick them up, unlike gymnastics which is somewhere else, and in the evening. Now I'm wondering about doing that instead of gymnastics (the cost savings would be great too), and waiting until May to do soccer (one weeknight and then every Saturday morning) and then the summer to do a few weeks of swim.</p> <p>Am I depriving her of anything? I feel like all the girls we know have been in gymnastics or dance since they were 3. She does other activities, include 4H (every other week), religious education (every Saturday), and one other activity per week (right now we have a 2 week overlap in Fall Crafts and Spanish, which are right after school so easy peasy). I'd love to wait another year to enroll her in gymnastics (this is the sport she'd like to try) but am a little concerned she'll be really far behind others. But does it matter? She's not likely going to be a professional athlete so it feels a little silly asking, but I know how it is to feel left out in not know how to do what other kids are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/indoor-activists-for-toddler#post-2898727 Mon, 07 Oct 2019 09:15:03 +0000 cyoung 2898727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 2 and a 3 year old. Im trying to have more of a routine and things to do for when they start getting crazy around 4-5 pm. it’s starting to cool off so soon we can go outside again but I was still needing some more indoor activities due to the bugs outside. What are some things We can do inside? (Things not super messy haha) we color and play with play dough but I’m not creative and can’t think of much else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-shoes#post-2895769 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 09:40:00 +0000 Rocker2014 2895769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO, who is nearly 5, is starting dance in a couple of weeks and she needs ballet shoes. There are so many options out there and I'm overwhelmed! Any suggestions for affordable ballet shoe brands that are a reasonable quality - or any to stay away from? This is obviously our first dance experience and LO might hate it so I don't want to make much of an investment. </p> <p>If it helps, she's current just growing into a toddler size 9. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890227 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 14:44:13 +0000 HappyBaker 2890227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids (6 and 4) start swim lessons tomorrow for the first time in their lives. Its Monday through Thursday for half an hour, for two weeks. Its a "small group" lesson, so just them and one other kid with an instructor. My son, the 4 year old is absolutely terrified and starts hysterically crying when we even mention the swim lessons. </p> <p>The expectation is parents don't go in with their kids at this place, so I'm wondering if anyone has tips on how to get him to calm down! We've talked through that "swimming" lessons really means they will teach him to kick his legs / blow bubbles, they aren't just going to put him in the water alone, but that is not helping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helping-a-shy-kid-participate-in-activities#post-2888540 Sat, 22 Jun 2019 10:21:12 +0000 nwm 2888540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my almost 3.5 year old DS is such a super sweet guy, very silly and loving with people that he knows. however, he is exceedingly shy with new people. he went to a 2-3s program for the full school year, and though he had some separation struggles at the start, he did great for the rest of the year. (though, i will say, while he follows instructions pretty well, if there is a voluntary group activity he is often content to just do his own thing with whatever activity was occupying him and ignore everyone else.) recently school switched to camp, which meant going 5x/week instead of 3x, for 4 hours a day instead of 2.5, with mostly new kids and one new teacher, and he did amazingly well with the change.</p> <p>i felt like maybe he had turned a bit of a corner on shyness and so i took a leap and signed him up for a weekend soccer class, which started this morning. it was pretty much a disaster. he sat on the sidelines and absolutely refused to participate, and started crying repeatedly wanting to go home. a few times when we stopped pushing him to participate he seemed to cheer up and laugh at the jokes the coach was making, but he never once had any interest in joining in. even after the class was over the coach tried to get him to do a few little things one on one and he was totally not into it.</p> <p>he is very active and really enjoys activities and other kids once he's comfortable, so i feel like classes like these could be great for him! but i just have no idea how to successfully get him over the hump of how nervous he gets in new situations when it's an informal class like this (vs. school, where they have a whole structure set up to get him comfortable). should we just drop him off and walk away in hopes that the peer pressure in that situation causes him to participate (this one makes me really nervous given how upset he was today, but maybe it's this attitude on my part that is contributing to how shy he is?)? just bag it and try again when he's older? keep going and just let him sit there til he gets bored and decides to participate? we tried a small amount of bribery/rewards today and it was not super effective but i think we could probably do it in a more structured way. i would love to hear any tips or advice anyone has on this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-age-for-polar-express-train-ride#post-2885998 Wed, 29 May 2019 19:32:50 +0000 SweetCaroline 2885998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you taken your kids on a Polar Express near you? I was debating taking DD this fall, she will be almost 5. Wondering if I should wait one more year. If you've been, what ages were your kids and did you feel it was optimal age? Too old? Too young? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nieces-recital-wwyd#post-2884756 Thu, 16 May 2019 10:55:51 +0000 smuckers 2884756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Need some advice on how to proceed. </p> <p>My lovely, delightful niece (7) has been taking a musical theater class, and is having a recital on June 1. My SIL and brother asked me months ago if I'd like to go ("to her play" is how they phrased it), and of course I said yes. My mom generously bought the tickets for us.</p> <p>As we get closer, I've now gotten the details. It was sold to me as a play; really it's a recital. As in, a dance recital (her class takes place at a dance studio). The performance is at 6pm an hour and a half away from my home. According to the recital line-up, she is the 23rd performance of the night and will be on stage for less than 5 minutes.</p> <p>If it were just me going, I'd be totally up for it. Even if it were just DH and I. But we'd also be bringing our 2 year old DD. Whose bedtime is usually 7:30. Because when we said yes we thought the play would be at like, 4. We shouldn't have assumed, but also... niece is 7. We could technically get a sitter, but it would be the very first time she's had a sitter other than our parents, and no one has ever put her to bed other than me or DH. </p> <p>I've already emailed my mom asking her if she'd be upset if DH stayed home with DD. I'm really hoping that she'll understand. </p> <p>Separate, not-sure-if-relevant notes: I'm 6 months pregnant, and recital is on mine and DH's 5 year wedding anniversary. </p> <p>What would you ladies do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diy-bath-bombs-for-kids#post-2883685 Wed, 08 May 2019 10:00:19 +0000 PinkElephant 2883685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone tried a DIY bath bomb project with their kids that worked well (or was a massive fail)? I’d like to do this for a 7th birthday, but don’t have time to test out multiple methods/recipes, so am hoping to learn from others experiential or DIY disasters. TIA! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/activities-how-much-time-commitment#post-2879552 Sat, 06 Apr 2019 00:42:05 +0000 Mama Bird 2879552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So this year we've finally dipped a toe into having the kids do activities outside of school. The six-year-old does chess and karate, and the three-year-old does ballet. They go once a week to each of these. I'm kind of surprised that all of the teachers are trying to get us to do their activity twice a week. Is that normal, or kind of a lot? I mean... unless you know this is a child's great passion, that's kind of a big time commitment considering that a child may have other activities/siblings who also need to be taken somewhere/parents who work far away and are already struggling to get there on time one day a week :bummed: </p>