Kids nowadays are more exposed to the idea of environmental responsibility much earlier than when I was growing up. They are being taught the basics at home and at school, get to practice them in everyday life such as separating paper from plastic, turning off the tap when brushing their teeth, etc. By starting with the smaller things in life, hopefully that will help them to be constantly mindful of the limited resources in the world. But not all these daily activities can show them the immediate effect of their actions. Donating or sharing toys and books is a great way to get them involved in a less wasteful mindset and can help them understand easily how their actions can actually benefit someone else.
Sharing is caring
At a very young age, we started explaining to our children the concept of “sharing” toys with other kids. Apart from getting brand new toys from us and others, through the years, our kids have also been on the lucky receiving end of tonnes of wonderful books and toys from our friends and family with older kids. We periodically sit together with them to go through everything so they can be the ones to decide what they would like to pass on to other children who can be the next to enjoy them. To them, buying a new toy from the shop or receiving a hand-me-down toy from their cousins are just as exciting. They preferred the hand-me-down toys more at times because they used to belong to someone they knew, with that extra emotional link to them. In turn, when they grew a bit older, they are also very generous in passing along their possessions to other children because in their minds this is a normal “life-cycle” of toys and books!
Works of Art
However, sometimes the toys are “so loved” that they are no longer in shape to be given away, but the thought of them ending up in the landfill is just as troubling. Many creative parents give these toys a second life by turning them into craft materials and art pieces! Why not get the kiddies together, grab a glue gun and create something new from their old toys?
Give it a new life
There are many artists and toy lovers who make big efforts to give old toys a new beginning. For example, this BBC video interviewed someone who collects and restores old dolls to give them a “makeover” with lots of patience and then donate them to children. I am sure the new owners of these dolls would feel the love and attention the artist devoted to renewing them.
The other day I came across an article that mentioned the possibility to send old or broken toys back to the manufacturer, and in collaboration with a recycling company they can recycle them and make either new toys or other products out of them. This is such a great initiative, although it must be a costly operation and is only available in some countries. Hopefully, we will see more product companies globally to join in the effort of reducing waste by recycling or coming up with more creative ideas to tackle this problem. In the meantime, we do our best in our smaller reality by teaching our next generation to be as environmentally responsible as possible.
Stay Sparky!
Home for the Summer
While some families are planning their Summer getaway after being cooped up at home for so long during the COVID lockdowns, many of us who live in cities where quarantine regulations are still very strict are not going anywhere any time soon. So it can be a bit stressful to find Summer activities for the kiddies while still trying to observe some form of social distancing.
Home improvement
For my family, since going away for holiday is not an option, we have decided to come up with a simple family DIY project to spruce up our home and to use this opportunity to do some family bonding. Each of our 2 daughters is responsible for designing and creating 1 item to improve our living room, while of course my husband, being an industrial designer, has a more ambitious project for himself in mind! And I will be everyone’s assistant to hand out tools and prepare refreshments! If you are not the handy type, smaller Summer-themed craft projects for the kiddos can be tonnes of fun too.
The Happy Camper
While looking on the internet for ideas for things to do this Summer, I came across this website that teaches you how to set up your own Summer Camp at home for your kids and maybe even their friends. You can assign different themes, durations, and activities by following their “planner”! This is such a brilliant idea that can let your children avoid crowded places, yet still get to do fun activities with a couple of their closest friends. It might be more work for the parents, but maybe you can take turns with other parents to host the camps. This way the kids will be hanging out in a different “camp-site” each week.
Summer Treats
Last but not least, to tie in beautifully the whole Summer themed family time, here are some really beautiful, delicious, and healthy summer desserts you can prepare at home. Better yet, have the kids make some yummy treats for everyone. Nothing beats a homemade fruit ice-lolly to cool down the Summer heat, while taking a break from your DIY project!
Stay Sparky!
When is Father’s Day again?
In a few days, many of us will be celebrating Father’s Day on June 20. Father’s Day around the world have different origins, they could have come from religion, politics, or just out of pure love to thank all hard-working male parents who took great care of us. Having lived in Asia, North America, and Europe in various periods of my life, I always feel very confused by when exactly is Father’s day? It turns out that there are different dates to celebrate Dads around the world. I always called home to wish my dad and grandfathers on the “wrong” day, depending on where in the world I was at that moment! Well, it never hurts to talk to them and tell them you love them multiple times in a year anyways!
Capture the moments
Somehow, I always find it more difficult to find gift ideas for Father’s Day than Mother’s Day! I used to make little handcrafts for my dad for this special day, and he would keep all of them in his desk drawer and on his desk when the drawer ran out of space through the years. When I was nine or ten I made him a glazed ceramic paper weight from pottery class and he kept it on his desk all these years. It is now standing next to a proud collection of crafts and memorabilia created by my daughters and nephews and his desk is getting a bit too small to put anything else! Maybe the best gift is something that can bring back great family moments, that is collectible, and can remind Dad the achievement he has made as a father and grandfather. Start a scrapbook of Dad and add new pages to it every year, there are great ideas on how to start one here.
photo by: @disasterswithdad / @ellijunior
Make new memories together
Another great way to create memory together is by spending quality time with dad and experience something new together for the first time (great opportunity to take photos for next year’s scrapbook page too!) If there is not enough time to organize anything elaborate, small gestures go a long way too. Simple activities like taking a walk along Dad’s favorite hiking trail with him can be a great bonding moment. Ask the kids to drop their electronic devices and join grandpa at the barbeque to learn how to cook up a mean steak would mean so much to him.
No matter when and how we celebrate Father’s Day around the world, the aim is always to express our appreciation to all the father-figures in our lives that contributed in no small way who we have become today.
Happy Father’s Day to all Sparky Dads!
Going on vacation no matter what!
Can’t believe Summer is just around the corner and it’s the second year we have to face the challenge of planning summer family vacation during a Pandemic. I think we all deserve a good Summer break, especially this year, after battling with all the problems, sadness, and social isolation COVID-19 has thrown our way. Looking at the bright side, many countries now have a big part of their population fully or partially vaccinated, and hopefully the situation can only get better from here. There is so much more talk of vacationing away from home this year compared to last Summer and more holiday destinations seem to be re-opening for business again by the day.
We mean it when we say, “Have a safe trip!”
Whether you and your family are fully vaccinated or not, or the social distancing rules are slowly relaxing more, precautions still need to be taken when planning your travels, after all the Pandemic is still a very present threat globally. These guidelines issued by the Mayo Clinic are super helpful for travelling this Summer, with different suggestions on what to expect, to bring along, and how to stay safe depending on the mode of transportation.
Take it easy.
Like it or not, international, or even national travels have changed forever since the Pandemic started. New protocols at airports, hotels, and restaurants are in place and we need to get accustomed to them. In 2019, who would have ever imagined that “face coverings” would become a necessary accessory to go with our resort clothes and flip-flops when walking around a hotel??? We need to be extra patient and take on a more flexible attitude during our vacation because flight schedules might change due to local infection situation of your holiday destination, or social distancing rules could vary from one day to the next.
Be creative
Instead of flocking to the already crowded and fully booked resorts, maybe we can consider other “safer” and more “socially distanced” vacation ideas! Especially if your family have young children who are not vaccinated, thesesuggestions could be good alternatives for a relaxing and enjoyable family holiday. If you have not already done so in the past year, a pampering staycation in a nice hotel near your home can also ease away some of the stress and tension accumulated in the last 12 months and spend some quality time with your loved ones.
Stay Sparky!
The Unapologetic Bookworm
Reading became one of my favorite pastimes since I was young, and it still is! I have fond memories of curling up in the armchair on stormy days reading adventure stories and imagining the protagonists of the book dodging bullets outside my window in the rain! That’s why I tried to encourage my kids to read for enjoyment at a very young age and it would become one of the gifts I can give them for life – the joy of reading!
Building confidence is key
Every child has a different approach when it comes to reading and different preferences on how they like to read. Some children do not like to read because it is a challenge for them due to various reasons, so we first need to understand what the cause could be and then encourage them to overcome it, be it boredom, concentration challenge, or simply lack of interest. Once they have developed some good reading skills they will be more confident to venture out and read more.
Load up the Imagination Wagon
In my personal experience, I found it more difficult to entice my daughters to read a lot when they were really young, before the age of 6 or 7. Maybe it was because I have never been a very good storyteller and didn’t read a lot of stories to them. Or maybe I simply chose the wrong books that did not interest them! Only recently did I realized there are some really beautifully illustrated wordless picture books that are full of wonderful illustrations and colours that I am sure children would love. What a great way to get their imagination running and to make up stories of their own! Maybe story time could be having THEM to tell ME the stories before bed, not the other way round! Well, my “aha!” moment came 10 years too late!
Read in your own style
But once my kids have built up a slightly larger vocabulary and have gained more confidence in reading, that’s when the fun started. We would have our reading sessions on the weekends, curled up in our cozy reading nook, and each of us lost in the wonderful story we chose. I never cease to be amazed by the variety of books the kids read, they constantly switch from fictions to non-fictions, from classics to contemporary. Our little one likes to read several books at once, a few pages here and a few chapters there. At first I thought she was having trouble concentrating, but I realized later that she would actually finish reading ALL of them! This turns out to be her reading style.
Let’s be practical
In our family, we are such avid and fast readers that we can go through so many books in a short time, and we just don’t have the space at home to keep all the books. Also, it happens that we would like to read the same book at the same time, like when the newest title of a book series we are all following just came out. For this reason, I have resolved to using e-readers so we can share our “library” without piling up the house with books or wait our turns for a particularly sought-after story! Of course there are pros and cons on the use of e-readers, but I find them super practical.
Dive right in!
Get started with a wide variety of books on different topics and let the kids explore which ones are their favorites! There are some great lists of books for various ages and reading skills on the internet complete with reviews. Enjoy spending time with the kids discussing their favorite stories, what a wonderful way to bond with them through the joy of reading.
Stay Sparky!
A day to remember…
Mother’s Day is just a few days away and it is a good moment to pause the hectic lives we are living and take the time to give thanks and appreciation to our mothers, and the mother figures in our lives who are just as important. Now that I am also a mom, I realized how much love and sacrifices came my way and I am doing my best to pay it forward to my kids in turn.
How to celebrate?
So what would be an ideal Mother’s Day celebration? For me, it would be great to gather several generations of mothers at a table, sharing great food and memorable stories with the entire family. Yeah, dream on, right? I can settle for a video call with everyone, we can still exchange great memories and maybe a few Mother’s Day jokes, just not the food!
Best bonding time
Home life has been so busy for everyone because of the pandemic that there seems to be so many more chores to do around the house. Laundry seems to pile up faster and so do the dishes in the sink now that we are eating at home all the time at all hours, so many lose items to put away, toys to repair, and the list goes on. So take Mother’s Day as your day-off and just kickback and enjoy the company of your family. Spend some bonding time with your kids, and let them pamper you and show you how much they love you by making you breakfast in bed (and IGNORE the mess they have made in the kitchen, you can do it!)
Where’s the popcorn?
One of our family’s favourite chill-out time is to snuggle up and watch a movie that we choose together by popular vote. Since it’s Mother’s Day, I will choose the movie and the kiddies will have to make the popcorn (oh boy, more mess in the kitchen!) There are many benefits of watching TV together with the kids because we tend to watch something different than what they would normally watch by themselves. Our little one always objects to EVERY program we propose, but since she’s the minority she needs to watch what we choose, and she always ended up loving it! This really opens their minds to different TV genres and themes (no matter how much they object in the beginning), at the same time we can provide any explanation they might find helpful while we watch.
Bombol wishes all mommies a wonderful and Sparky Mother’s Day!
The never-ending story
We have all been there: when you think most of the chores around the house have been done and the baby has been fed, cleaned, and entertained, we can finally sit down and drink the long-cooled coffee that has been sitting on the kitchen counter since morning. But NOOOO, the little one still wants to be entertained some more!
Screen time doesn’t count!
Their little play area has been nicely set up with toys and entertainment materials easily reachable, but somehow our precious toddlers still would like us to be there to play with them. This is most endearing but can become unmanageable in the long run when we end up spending hours on end entertaining them. It is so important therefore to encourage independent play starting from a young age. Mind you, this doesn’t mean giving them an electronic device and leave them there staring at the screen for the next hour.
Photo: @happynomadsouls
According to this article from Motherly, independent play not only teaches your child to be creative, self-sufficient in problem solving and concentrated in what they are doing. It also benefits the caregiver as having some time for self-care, or finish up some small tasks while keeping an eye on the little one playing. Of course, the extent of independent play needs to be adapted to the child’s age and growth stage, while the length of time dedicated to the play session also varies from child to child. I find the suggestions and tips from Rachel Norman in her blog post really helpful to get the routine going.
Get Creative
A recurring tip that I found on various sources regarding independent play is the rotation of toys. This can help your child to concentrate on a few toys at a time and to stay focused on their tasks. Changing their toys periodically can give them new stimulation and pickup on the toys they might have forgotten about and would find new interest in them. Here are also some good suggestions on activities you can let your child do to get them occupied, in addition to their toys!
photo: @joabari
With the pandemic still affecting so many households and we are spending so much time at home as a family, independent play becomes an important part of everyday life, benefiting both parents and child psychologically and practically.
Stay Sparky!
We are here to answer your questions
You can probably imagine having a portable booster can be a game changer, not only when it comes to travelling with kids, but also when visiting relatives and friends who do not have a highchair to host your munchkin. Additionally, it is a lifesaver for setting up home-schooling for your little one right next to your workstation at home without having to lug around that heavy cumbersomehighchair from the kitchen!
Pop Up has won numerous design awards such as the Reddot award, iF Design award, and Good Design Award, just to name a few. It has also been included in the prestigious Best-of-Baby award of The Bump in 2019 and 2020, and as one of the best travel high chairs for babies on “Ode Magazine” in 2021.
Since the launch of our Pop-Up booster a few years ago, we have received some “popular” questions about the booster and its correct use. So, we thought this blog post could be a good occasion to provide everyone who already has or is interested in the Pop-Up, and who might have the same questions in mind, with more information so you can make the best out of your Pop-Up!
From what age can my baby start to use the Pop-Up booster?
Pop-Up is suitable for babies who can sit up steadily without help and without swaying (around 6-9 months of age depending on the individual development of your baby). The adjustable5-point harness is great for smaller babies to give them extra security when using the Pop-Up. When your little one is older and a bit taller, you can release the two shoulder straps and the 3-point harness instead.
Until what age can my child use the Pop-Up Booster? Is there a weight limit?
The Pop-Up booster is compliant with the EU and US booster safety norms. The toughest one is the US norm where a booster needs to survive 500 poundings with 22.7kg (50 lbs). To be on the safe side, we tested the Pop-Up booster with 20.000 poundings of 75kg (165 lbs) and it passed! So you don’t need to worry about any weight limit as long as your child weighs less than 75kg (165lb)! Children can safely us the Pop-Up until they are tall enough to sit on an adult dining chair without the boost of height (around 4 years old).
How is the Pop-Up secured onto the adult chair? What if my very active child sways forcefully from side to side, will the booster tip over together with the adult chair?
According to many international safety rules, the booster seat needs to be secured onto the adult chair in at least 2 places: around adult chair’s back and around the chair’s seat area. That is why our Pop-Up comes with a big security belt that is long enough to go around the seat back of most dining chair designs and to go around the seat of the adult chair that allows you to fasten it tightly under the chair with a big buckle. To test if the booster is installed correctly on the chair, you should be able to lift the booster together with the adult chair secured tightly to it.
If your toddler is super active and likes to sway from side to side forcefully, the below pre-caution is valid for all kinds of boosters, not just our Pop-Up. Before putting the child in it, please make sure that Pop-Up is installed securely and passes the above “booster-lifting-with-chair” test. It is also especially important to use an adult chair with a sturdy base and legs that take up a bigger surface area.
Never use the booster on high bar chairs, foldable chairs, stools with no backrest, nor benches.
What is the surface material of Pop-Up made of? How can we clean it after use?
Pop-Up’s surface material is a polyester fabric that has a special PU finishing on top that is non-toxic yet gives it the stain-resistant and water-resistant superpower. You only need to sponge clean the booster with a mild detergent and the booster is good as new! Do not immerse the Pop-Up into water and avoid abrasive or alcohol-based detergents.
I find my brand new Pop-Up really difficult to open by pulling on the red tab, what am I doing wrong?
Like a pair of new shoes, the Pop-Up needs some time to soften up, especially being folded closed in its box for a while by the time it reaches you. We recommend opening the booster for the first few times by “pre-opening” the seat’s backrest by hand first before pulling the red tab. This will be a bit easier until the booster loosens up a bit more and you getting the hang of it. To illustrate this better, we have made a tutorial video to show you exactly how it’s done:
Ask away!
We hope this article helped to answer most of the questions you might have on Pop-Up, or how to use a booster in general. But do drop us a line at shop@bombol.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page if you need any further information.
Stay Sparky!
Let’s Welcome the Bunny
It’s been almost four months since the last holiday season, finally Easter is here and we have another good occasion to bring some joy and celebration to the tedious pandemic life one year on! Let’s welcome the arrival of Spring and the Easter Bunny!
Get inspired
Depending on the country and cultural background, moms around the world always have their own go-to method and materials for decorating Easter Eggs, be it water color, food coloring, or glitter plus glue. It is really amazing how different countries celebrate Easter in such different ways and produce such elaborate artistic interpretations of the Easter Egg. For us busy parents, we don’t need to be too ambitious, just start with some easy but fun decorations and sprinkle them around your home! That will surely get the Easter atmosphere going.
It’s a cultural journey
While showing our kids what are the different ways of celebrating Easter around the world, another great way to raise their awareness is to introduce them to a list of books on Easter traditions in other countries. It is amazing how one festive day can be so different in many places yet there is a central theme that weaves everyone together, no matter where we are. Very often, even families from other religions would take this occasion to get together for a family meal and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Make it Virtual!
Unfortunately for so many of us, this year’s Easter celebration would need to be different, just like so many other festivities in the past year. The new trend is to turn everything “virtual”, including the Easter Egg Hunt!!?? On the internet, there are some cool ideas on how to organize a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt, the effort involved is no small feat but if that can give the little ones some excitement and joy with their buddies, it is all worth it!
Bring on the comfort food
Last but not least, even without a big family Easter Sunday brunch, preparing a special dish or two can put you in a better mood! With Spring at the door, there are so many refreshing ingredients we can use to drive out any lingering Winter chill! So, go and get ready for Easter and celebrate the arrival of a blooming and more positive season, things will only get warmer and better from now!
Happy Easter and Stay Sparky!
Family Moments
One of my fondest childhood memories is the numerous Sunday afternoons spent playing with my toys on the rug in front of my mom’s armchair. She would have her favourite music blasting and relaxing with a book in hand. My dad would be submersed in the week-old pile of newspaper to catch up on the news he missed. Everyone was doing something they like, yet we were spending time together all the same!
The Great Toy Invasion
Having a play corner for your baby is definitely something to consider when space permitting. Nowadays staying home is still very much encouraged, to avoid everyone hiding in his / her own room all day, the living room should be the main part of the home where everyone gathers to spend some quality time as a family. However, one of the biggest challenges is to minimize the clash in style when adult furniture and decoration faces off with multi-coloured toys of the little one, popping up everywhere like little mushrooms!
Photo Credit: @whiteandwander
Marking the territory
From the research I have done, there are a few tips that are recommended by experienced moms and interior professionals alike. Firstly, identify the space for your baby to play / relax in with a cute little rug or low table, no matter how small it seems. It can be a corner in the living room or a wall with low shelves next to your sofa, this can make your baby feel like he has his own space within the family living room.
Get organized
Secondly, little baskets or boxes are perfect storages for toys and the toddler can learn to get organized at an early age too! Include a comfy bouncer in the corner for some quiet reading and story times, that’s a perfect way for both you and baby to relax before going to bed!
Photo Credit: @happynomadsouls
Let’s hangout together
To me, family time doesn’t necessarily mean doing the same activity together, but it can also be the warm & peaceful feeling of just beingtogether in the same space, each doing something relaxing and fun. So, get started on creating a play corner for your little one and enjoy each other’s company while hanging out in the living room!
