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Only the Best for Your Kids – Naturally Safe Wooden Toys

7/29/2020

 
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​Your kids deserve toys that grabs their attention, spark the imagination, and keep them occupied. When you start to look at wooden toys for toddlers, you may get a bit of sticker shock. Wait just a minute! Why should you pay more for a single toy than you could for a whole pile of plastic, mass-produced ones?
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​Think back to the last time your son or daughter had a lot of toy options to play with. Did they use all of them the same? Or did they reach for their favorites again and again? There's something about a few special toys that really gets their attention and keeps them occupied so you can claim some mommy time for yourself.
 
Think about it for a minute. You want your little ones to have fun, but you also want to make smart buying decisions that focus on-quality favorites instead of piles of stuff that spreads out all over your house. Wooden toys for toddlers are the answer.
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Best of all, all-natural wood toys are safer and more environmentally friendly than plastic. Toddlers and preschool aged children do not need garish plastic toys that beep, blink, and break way too soon. What they do need is long-lasting, healthy toys that spark the imagination and deliver plenty of fun while they learn.
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​No More Plastic – Choose Wooden Toys for Toddlers
 
So, you may be able to buy five cheap plastic toys for the same price as one quality wooden one. While it may seem like more is better, plastic checks all the boxes on the no-no list when it comes to playthings.
 
Did you know that a lot of plastic used to make toys contains chemicals like BPA, PVC, and phthalates that the FDA says our potential health hazards? These are the last things you want your babies chewing on and touching all day long. The risk goes up even more if you buy from countries with looser quality controls.
 
Nothing is more important than your kids health, right? What about their future?
 
Plastic is a leading polluter that is destroying natural ecosystems all around the world. If you opt for wooden toys instead, you are doing something great for your kids today and tomorrow. Help them learn how to make the world the best place possible with smart buying decisions.
 
Natural is best when it comes to babies. You buy organic cotton outfits and wash with hypoallergenic soaps. Why would you turn around and put potentially damaging plastic in their little hands? Wooden toys for toddlers offer sturdy, colorful, and long-lasting toys that are healthy and tons of fun.
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​Not All Wooden Toys Are Safe
 
Unfortunately, you still have to be careful about where you buy the wooden toys. Can you believe that some unscrupulous companies lie about natural toys and end up making unsafe ones instead? Just imagine how awful it would be if your adorable son or daughter got a big splinter or scrape. It would be even worse if their favorite plaything, which they put in their mouth like most little kids do, was covered with toxic paint, stain, or sealants.
 
Invest in quality. Buy from trusted sources that stand behind their products. When you choose the highest quality wooden toys for toddlers, even the most well-loved favorites can last for generations.
 
As a local mom, I understand the importance of choosing the best products for our little ones. As a small business owner, I made it my mission to provide the highest quality, natural wooden toys to other parents who want the best for theirs.

​At Poppy Baby Co., we use old-time inspiration to create modern toys that young kids love. Visit the shop and enjoy a 15% discount on your next purchase of naturally fun wooden toys with the promo code “WESTCHESTERMOM.”


​More Articles You May Enjoy

Fall Classes At Sprout Wellness!

8/8/2016

 
​Nestled between Chappaqua and Mt. Pleasant towns, Sprout Wellness is a new family centered yoga studio located at 25 Broadway, Pleasantville. The studio's philosophy is to create a community learning space that enriches individuals and families by providing support and education. The goal is to become a resource for the community, in hopes of building a village of support for all.

Kids Classes
Pre-registration Open Now!

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Yoga for Teens (12 - 16 years old)
Tuesdays 3:30 - 4:20pm
This class is for teens interested in learning about yoga and movement. In this class, teens will learn yoga poses, breathing techniques, and personal awareness. Class dates: 9/6, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25. *Teens attend this class on their own without parents. 
8 Week Series - $120
*Pre-registration required
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Family Yoga (7 - 11 years old)
Tuesdays 4:30 - 5:15pm
Family Yoga is designed to educate both children and parents in yoga poses and movement in a healthy and fun environment. This class is for families with children 7 to 11 years old, children must attend class with a parent or guardian. 
8 Week Series
  • Parent & Child - $160
  • Parent & 2 Children - $220
Single Drop-in- $25/pair/class
Additional Child-$5
Drop-in- $4
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Baby Art & Movement (4 - 18 months)
Thursday 10:30 - 11:15am
This class is designed to help creativity grow. We will explore sensory play, develop fine motor skills, sing songs and make a take home art project. *We will be working with paints, parents please dress yourselves and kiddos in appropriate clothing.
Single Drop in - $15/class
5 Class Pack - $65
10 Class Pack - $120
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Yoga for Kiddos (walkers - 4 years old)
Thursdays 4 - 4:45pm
Fridays 11 - 11:45am
Saturdays 1 - 1:45pm
Yoga, dance, music, and loads of fun. Help build personal awareness and self-confidence. *Parent and child participation encouraged!
Single Drop in - $15/class
5 Class Pack - $65
10 Class Pack - $120

Adult & Teen (16+) Series

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Strength & Flexibility 
​Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30pm
This 8 week series is taught by former aerialist, Harper Chang. The first part of this hour long class will be focused on building strength through core exercises and circuit training. The second part of this class will be working on flexibility with partner stretches, correct alignment stretching, and stretching with props. Class dates are: 9/7, 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26. Make up day: 11/5. 
​*8 Week Series - $160 *Pre-registration required. Limited space availability, 8 people max

Fall Class Schedule

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To register for series:
  1. Visit www.sproutwellnessny.com
  2. Click on REGISTER FOR CLASS
  3. Visit ONLINE STORE
  4. Select Workshops & Series or Kids Classes or Family Yoga
  5. Check out

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Find YOUR Summer Body

7/6/2016

 
​​Tips from Meghan Covington, Personal trainer, mom, and owner of Mind Body Fitness NYC
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​Summer is here and the swimsuits are out! Mixed feelings about it?  In a culture that is drilling "bikini body" images into our heads at every opportunity, moms often feel defeated when it comes to their physical self. We are constantly putting our children’s needs before our own.  How can we take care of the kids, clean the home, cook the dinner, maintain a job, AND stay healthy and fit? As a personal trainer, I encourage my mom clients to take a realistic approach. It's not about maintaining your 24-year-old-bikini-wearing body. It's about living in your healthiest, strongest, happiest body RIGHT NOW.
 
Here are a few realistic ways to find YOUR summer body. I promise it’s not too late!
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​Workout with Your Kids
No time to workout? Get your kids in on the action. You will be able to exercise more often, and it will help your children build positive associations with exercise early in life. Win/win!
 
Find ways to build exercises into your daily life. Invest in a jogging stroller (I am in love with my Bob!). Find a mommy/baby yoga or fitness class. Try circuit training on the playground. Don't be afraid to be the parent doing squats and pushups on the side lines! And my favorite... have a dance party in the living room with your kiddos. They love this, and you will be burning tons of calories if you really boogie.
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​Practice Mindful Eating
Do you catch yourself shoveling food into your face over the kitchen counter with the kids screaming in the background? Or do inhale your meal while binge watching your favorite show at the end of the day? Munching with distraction often causes us to overeat.  In these moments we do not allow our mind to process what the body is consuming.
 
Practice mindful eating. Put away electronic devices and wait for a quiet moment (without your kids around if possible). Savor each bite of your food. Notice the taste, the smell, and the texture. Remind yourself that each food is nourishing your body. By doing this we are better able to receive the message when we are satiated. We will also enjoy our eating experience on a deeper level.
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Find an Exercise Buddy
Do you know a friend who may be ready to make some healthy changes with you? Finding a workout buddy can help you stay on track. Set a weekly workout date, share recipes, or sign up for new group classes together.  Not only will you be more likely to exercise, but you will have more fun doing it.
 
Another option is finding an experienced and knowledgeable health coach, nutritionist, or personal trainer (like myself) to guide you. It may not be as cost effective as using a friend, but it will ensure that you see results in a timely, safe, and effective way.

Good luck finding your summer body! I am happy to offer Westchester NY Moms readers 40% off their first 3 in-home personal training sessions. My team does amazing work with moms throughout NYC and Westchester. We are here to help.  We also offer virtual skype sessions at a fraction of the cost. Visit www.mindbodyfitnessnyc.com for more info.
 
Want to chat with me in person? Come to the Hastings Flea next Sunday, July 10th for 10am to 4pm. I will be giving away free sessions, doing fitness consultations, and teaching kids yoga! www.hastingsflea.com
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​About Meghan…
Meghan Covington is owner of Mind Body Fitness NYC, a small business offering in-home personal training and yoga to clients throughout Westchester and NYC. She is certified as a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer and RYT-200 yoga instructor. In addition, Meghan holds special certifications in Women's Special Populations (prenatal, postnatal, menopause, autoimmune diseases, and breast/ovarian cancers) and Movement Skills Development for Children.

Look for her group classes at Hastings Yoga and The Little Red. She lives with her husband and 2 daughters in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Introducing a Totally New Fitness Class for Moms and Babies, Baby + Mom Fit in Scarsdale

5/31/2016

 
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Today, May 31st, Baby + Mom Fit opens its doors in Scarsdale. This is great news for moms of babies because your little one will take the class with you (no babysitter needed)! Classes are specifically designed for mommies by local mommy & trainer,  Norma LaVecchia. 

Unlike other fitness classes, your baby is placed in a carrier during class and is part of the regimen. The workout consists of isolated and compound movements, cardio exercise without jumping and no mat work. It's a total body workout using TRX, dumbells, steps and of course your "weighted vest"... your baby.  Classes are one hour and accommodate baby’s unpredictable schedule. Is your sweetheart snoozing? No problem! The studio is stroller friendly. Let your pumpkin sleep! Extra weights are available to make up for it. Of course, whatever your comfortable with and can handle.  

Beyond her AFAA (American Fitness Association of America), Personal Training, Group Instructor, Kickboxing, and Cycling Certifications, Prenatal and Postnatal trainings, Norma is a Mom. She knows how hard it is for Mom to take care of Mom-- especially during the first year of baby’s life. She designed a safe environment that supports and motivates all Moms to invest the time into strengthening their bodies. 

Classes begin on May 31st. Baby + Mom Fit is offering a FREE FIRST CLASS! If you love it they offer a drop-in rate ($25 per class) and multi-class packs ($112.50 for 5, $200 for 10, $380 for 20). 
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm
Location: MYX Fitness 1142 Wilmot Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583, Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center

In addition, on June 12th (12-2pm), Baby + Mom Fit will be celebrating their new studio space with a Grand Opening Party. Promising to be an afternoon of health and fitness, Mom and baby will be showered in giveaways geared to their needs, class demo, mini photo shoot, healthy bites, nutrition, baby products, raffles and more.

To find out more or schedule your FREE CLASS:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 914-525-2741
Website: www.babyandmomfit.com
You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram. ​
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Introducing Sprout Wellness, A New Family Centered Yoga Studio in Pleasantville

4/23/2016

 
Nestled between Chappaqua and Mt Pleasant towns, Sprout Wellness is a new family centered yoga studio located at 25 Broadway, Pleasantville. The studio's philosophy is to create a community learning space that enrich individuals and families by providing support and education. The goal is to become a resource for the community, in hopes of building a village of support for all.
CLASSES FOR ALL AGES
The studio offers classes for all ages and walks of life, including Prenatal Yoga, Baby and Me Yoga, Yoga for Kiddos, and Family Yoga.
The Prenatal Yoga class is designed for the mother-to-be at any stage of her pregnancy, structured to focus on supporting the changing body to help prepare for labor.
  • Baby and Me Yoga focuses on postpartum healing and encourage baby-parent bonding, both parent and baby will participate in the class through yoga and infant movement.
  • Yoga for Kiddos helps build personal awareness and self confidence for kids while learning yoga poses.
  • Family Yoga Classes are separated by age: 5 to 8 years and 9 to 12 years, the classes are designed to be fun, educational, and engaging for parents and children. Parent or caregivers must attend class with kids and are encourage to participate in class. 
  • Adult yoga classes include Open Level and Beginner Classes. The difficulty of the Open Level class varies on the needs of the students and meets each person where they are at on their yoga journey. The Beginner help students build their foundation, the class introduces poses with detail instruction at a moderate pace.
  • Community Yoga by donation is offered every Saturday at 9am to allow everyone a chance to experience yoga regardless of financial means. 
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PLAYTIME
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Sprout offers Playtime for Babies under 2 years as a safe and clean environment for children to explore and grow together by interacting and socializing with other children and parents/caregivers. All children must be accompanied by parent or caregiver. Additionally, the studio offers a free Mom and Baby Meet Up every Wednesday at 11am, hosted by the studio owner and doula, Harper, and occasionally attended by guest speakers. 
GRAND OPENING
Celebrate the Grand Opening of Sprout Wellness this Sunday, April 24th, with free class all day and receive 10% off class packages when signing up in person.

​Please visit the studio website for more information: www.sproutwellnessny.com.
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Visit our Community Calendar to see upcoming events and classes at Sprout Wellness.

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