November P&K Picks

P&K shares its best picks. This month includes reviews of "Bored Games," "50 Ways to Tame a Toddler," "My Plate Mate," and "My Heritage Book"

Bored Games

Simple fun from your pocket or purse anywhere, anytime

By Lee Silber and Mike Metz

The holiday travel season has arrived and in between the family gatherings and festivities, there will undoubtedly be some “Are we there yet(s)?” “Why is it taking so long(s)?” Here’s a book with quick and easy ways to keep the kids distracted and entertained. Whether you play “Name that Tune” using your iPod, “Name that Movie” by quoting a famous line, or you get crafty with a napkin, there are fun games for the car, waiting for dinner to be served or just passing time until the holidays finally arrive.

It’s In The Bag

Put several items on the table or pass them around – keys, a wallet, phone, watch, then put them in a bag (or hat, box) and see who can remember exactly what they saw.

Bombs Away

Hide an egg timer and kids can follow the ticking sound to find it wherever you have hidden it – they have to find it before it detonates.

($9.95, Capital Book News, www.capital-books.com)

50 Ways to Tame a Toddler

This little book wants to show harried parents how to charm and disarm their diminutive adversary…the British way (think Marry Poppins and Supernanny Jo Frost). If your toddler is staging potty-training protests, creating playgroup pandemonium, eating worms, etc. you may find some ways to strengthen your resolve here.

Early Bird

Who needs an alarm clock when there’s a toddler in the house? Some ways to get some shut eye:

• Install blackout curtains in his room

• Ensure he has books and quiet toys to keep him occupied

• Gradually shift his bedtime forward 10 to 15 minutes each night so he adjusts to waking up later

($6.99, hamlyn, www.octopusbooksusa.com)

My Plate-Mate

No more spills, Mom!

Winner of the MBA 2009 Mom’s Best and a 2008 Outstanding Product Award from iParentingMedia, My Plate-Mate is an innovative, curved spill guard that attaches to the rim of any 8”-9 ½” round plate that helps children scoop food onto their utensil with ease. Interchangeable for use with plates at home, restaurants or when out visiting friends and family, the unique ring prevents food from falling off the plate as a child eats and helps children become more adept at using forks and spoons while feeding. For parents, there is less of a mess to clean up from the table and floor after meals, and ultimately, less wasted food. My Plate-Mate was founded by two mompreneurs, Michele Wong and Paige Akabane, and uses FDA-approved plastic, free from phthalates, bisphenol-a, lead, polycarbonates and PVC. My Plate-Mate is dishwasher-safe, conveniently portable, and helps even the messiest eater become more independent with self-feeding. The company also carries a separate line of larger guards for children with special needs. More information can be found at www.myplate-mate.com.

My Heritage Book

By Deanna Bufo Novak

A very cool personalized book makes sharing your families’ heritage fun and easy. Ordered online, you can include a note to your child in the front and then select countries of origin. Learn fun tidbits (didn’t realize that Halloween originated in Ireland or Italians refer to sauce as gravy), complete with beautiful illustrations. My Heritage Book includes a family tree and contains up to four countries in one book. By making a child’s cultural explorations personal, their historical journey will become much more interesting and fun!

($39.95, www.myheritagebook.com)