Kid to Kid: Gently Used Items Help Raise Kids

Shauna Sloan from Kid to Kid is here today to tell us about some ways you can raise a smarter, better prepared child without spending a fortune.

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Smart kids can be made with good parenting skills. And smart parents will start even before baby is born to learn about how they can give their child every advantage.

Before Baby is Born

A good place to start is by reading parenting books – even before your baby is born. In the maternity section at all Kid to Kid stores, you’ll find parenting books including popular titles like “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and more. These books cost about $15 new, but at Kid to Kid, you’ll probably only spend $2 to $5 for a pre-read version. These books contain a wealth of information that will help you get your child off on the right foot.

Infant Development

We hear a lot about enhancing infant development. What kinds of toys and activities are best for babies?

Newborns benefit from visual and gentle auditory stimulation. This vibrating infant seat (or portable swing) not only provides a comfortable place to rest, it comes with fun toys and a variety of music to match baby’s mood. This particular model shown on Studio 5 is in top condition, and smart parents can save about $30 by buying at K2K.

Babies are stimulated by contrasting colors and textures in toys they can grasp and chew on. While a rattles like this Manhattan toy are somewhat expensive new, you can pick up toys like this at K2K for about $2.00 so you can have a whole variety to hold baby’s interest.

As baby gets a little older, look for toys that develop gross motor skills. This Fisher Price Jumperoo is a great example. Baby can bounce, spin, and play with the toys on the tray. And the great thing about shopping for baby at Kid to Kid is that you can find things like this at about half the price of a new one.

Smart Preschoolers

What kinds of toys are best for developing smart PreSchoolers?

This is a time to develop their imaginations as they participate in creative play. Role play toys like this kitchen set or broom are perfect for both boys and girls. Dress them in a cute apron and then let them imitate the things they see Mommy doing. Or for slightly older kids, try a classic EZ Bake oven.

Preschoolers learn by creating. This great Little Tikes easel will provide hours of creative fun. They can color on the erasable white board, practice writing letters on the chalk board, or paint a beautiful picture. And smart parents know they don’t need to pay a fortune.

One of the best activities for preschoolers is imagination play. Kid to Kid carries a large variety of value priced new dress ups including princess costumes, adventure capes and hats – Read books about these people and what they do. Dress-up items include princess costumes, cowboy and pirate costumes, and capes. On Saturday morning, our stores are unveiling all the costumes we’ve collected all year. They’re perfect for Halloween, or just for fun dress-ups at any time and you’ll find that our prices can’t be beat. Be sure to come early for the best selection!

If you have costumes that your kids have outgrown, now is a great time to earn some money selling to Kid to Kid). Check out our store websites www.kidtokid.com for details at each store location. And while you’re there, be sure to sign up for our email club so you can be notified of events and receive discount coupons via email.

Another terrific learning activity is puzzles. Kids will advance from giant knob puzzles to peg puzzles and then to floor puzzles as they get older and smarter. Kid to Kid carries used puzzles and new puzzles from Melissa and Doug for every age group.

School Age Kids

What kinds of things can we use to give our school age kids an advantage?

Reading is a great activity for kids of all ages. Help your kids develop a love of books by reading aloud daily. When they’re ready to start learning letters and sounds, try some interactive electronic toys like this Alphabet from VTech or a Leap Pad. These are great because they give immediate response. Kid to Kid almost always has these types of gently used toys available starting at less than $5.00.

Another exciting program is the Kid to Kid Book Club. It’s a great way to build a library of your own at home. Visit one of the 11 Utah Kid to Kid stores this month and ask for a Free Book Club card. With this card, you can pick out a free book every month.

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Visit Kid to Kid locations in Bountiful, West Valley City, South Jordan, Lindon, South Ogden, Provo, Layton and Sandy. For more inforamtion go to www.kidtokid.com