Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 20
March 5, 2018
Let’s play
Research shows the average preschooler laughs about 300 times each day; adults laugh 12-17 times daily.
Those sad statistics, alone, offer an excuse to build play into our day.
Although fidgets never caught on as executive desk toys, we can thank our kids for giving us excuses to play. Any parent who asks their child, “Can I play, too?” will be welcomed with a smile.
March 2, 2018
Dual-enrollment?
Dual-enrollment is an increasingly popular option for high school students. Some students never even leave the high school building!
This option allows high school students to take classes at a local college and earn college credit.
If AP (advanced placement) courses aren’t available in a specific topic at the high school, signing up for a college class is a good option.
With all the virtual and online classes available, checking all the options, including dual-enrollment, may save time and money.
February 28, 2018
“Anything for Baby”
Have you seen the “refreshed” Gerber baby smiling from store shelves?
The cherubic smiling infant has a new look. And product options are broader, including acai and kale.
Gerber marketers are obviously targeting new parents who are Millennial and Gen Z. Packaging prominently displays the “Non-GMO” ingredients and links learning with nutritious products.
It’s never to early to make healthy choices.
February 26, 2018
Rustic camping?
As sign up for summer activities gets into high gear, parents increasingly look for sites that offer classic camp activities.
Programs that offer archery, water sports and crafts can be pricey, even when campers bunk in rustic cabins, wear uniforms and make their own beds.
Stripped-down living for kids raised in affluence might be a shock to the system, but most parents still want children to learn basic life skills of accepting responsibility and being independent.
That never goes out of style.
February 23, 2018
Screen alternative
Podcasts are trending.
Not just any podcasts: audio designed and directed to kids.
Podcasting opens the door to nonstop programming on demand, and that’s not only true in the adult world. Parents view podcasts as a guilt-free alternative to having children binge-watch YouTube.
February 21, 2018
Tiny trend
Tiny houses might have trouble complying with building codes, but tiny produce has settled in children’s brown bags.
From the baby Hass avocados at Trader Joe’s to the “kid friendly” labeled pears at Aldi, child-sized portions have moved beyond little carrots. Perfect for school lunch boxes, moms have embraced the fruit options while kids ask for campfire “small s’mores” as after school snacks (even in winter.)
February 19, 2018
Confiscate or celebrate?
One of the hottest topics among parents this school year: cell phones at school.
But the debate isn’t about phones for teens. The current battlefield is middle and elementary schools.
Some schools ban smartphones. Others allow middle graders to use them during lunch, especially in schools where phones have been incorporated into class instruction.
But whether smartphones are used as a teaching tool or banned as a curse, the debate continues. Stay tuned.
February 16, 2018
Wait until 8th
The question, “When should I give my child a smartphone?” has been a burning issue among parents who question why a ten-year old needs a phone. After all, 10.3 is the average age of phone ownership.
But a parent-driven movement, which started last year in Texas, has gained momentum.
When parents get together, they find it’s not true that “everyone has one”…especially if they’ve signed the pledge to wait until their child is in eighth grade before having a cell phone.
Check the site: http://www.waituntil8th.org
February 14, 2018
Toy-friendly films
Marketers can barely hold back their anticipation of the International Toy Fair held each year at this time in New York City.
The reason: an entertainment rich release schedule of kid friendly (ie. toy friendly) films.
This means parents will have another year of kid begging for licensed toys. Hint: prepare for a deluge of superheroes.
February 12, 2018
High-end vending
I always stop at one vending machine when walking through the airport terminal in St. Louis. Even during winter, I love to watch the creamy frozen confection twirl into cups at the Ted Drewes frozen custard stall.
The Ted Drewes vending machine, in the Southwest Airlines terminal, is my favorite example of the high-end grab-and-go products that are trending.
Luxury has become convenient.
After all, you can now purchase champagne, fresh oysters and even chia pudding cups from vending machines.
Zucchini noodles anyone? Check out the nearest machine.
