Welcome Home

 

Since the beginning of time, family fun, toys, games and dinner around the table have been an important life-shaping experience in the development and growth of a child.  In these busy days it seems like our schedules are many times going in opposite directions and safe family entertainment is hard to come by.  For many families, eating dinner together has become a lost art—but it proves to be a simple, effective way to reduce the risk of youth substance abuse and to raise healthier children. Before family dinners go the way of the dinosaur, Welcome Home makes the effort every week to encourage family mealtime.   The importance of regular family activities to share ideas and find out “what’s happening” is a great way for a parent to be involved, discuss rules, monitor activities and friends, and be a good role model.  Welcome Home will be at the 2009 Toy Fair to discover all the activities appropriate for having fun, learning who we are and for building families.

 

This will help take family-time off the endangered species list and put it back at the topp of our schedule.  Make sure to tune in for the coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

In these days it's tough enough to keep your family together at meal-times and family gatherings.  These are the times when we connect with one another or learn about family history.  But when you're out in public, it's even more important to keep close ranks.  We discovered a new product that will do exactly that - KinderKord.  Invented by Joan Lunden and her husband Jeff, KinderKord is a wrist to wrist connection for you and your child which leaves your hands free while keeping your child physically connected to you. KinderKord is uniquely different providing security and freedom at the same time.  Most parents have their "story of the day" which includes one of their little one wandering off at the mall or other crowded place.  Kinderkor gives you that peace-of-mind when you're out in public that you won't spend searching for your children instead of just enjoying your outting with them.  Here are some of the features:

• Allows 3 full feet of freedom for both you and your child
• Does not tangle-even when used for multiple children
• Is a nearly invisible link between you and your child
• Stores easily in a pocket, purse or diaper bag
• Can be attached to a stroller or belt loop
• A hip and cool unisex band that can be worn by a man or a woman
• Comfortable to wear for hours and hours
• Regardless of the time of year, KinderKord is easy to wear and adjust whether
   it's hot or cold outside
• Also great for grandparents and care-givers to use
• Leaves hands completely free without the stigma of a harness

 

To keep your family connected, check out their website:  www.KinderKord.com

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Traveling Bear
Reading is the key to success and Welcome Home found a new reader that will be great in helping your children develop their reading skills. Winning Kids Incorporated, a member of TIA, proudly announces the Traveling Bear™ series of children's books, audio CD's and video DVD’s.  This wonderful 14 part storybook series is a fun and exciting tool developed to instill positive values, winning attitudes and leadership qualities in children.  Each story book also comes with a read-a-long audio CD and video DVD designed to build strong reading skills and a natural enjoyment of reading in a fun and easy way. 

 

THE STAKES FOR CHILDREN ARE HIGH.  The ability to read fluently and the natural enjoyment of reading will open the doors of learning, opportunity and success for any child. Tomorrow’s options depend on what advantages we provide our children today.

 

 

SandLock Sand Boxes
Fun in the sand has been around for ages but Welcome Home found a product to make it more fun for the whole fasmily.  Introduce yourself to SandLock. SandLock Sandbox believes every child can benefit from sand and water activities. We consider it a foundation for education, teaching art, literacy, match, science, social studies, technology and more. Kids never forget what they learn in a SandLock Sandbox.   The combination of design and materials make our sandboxes attractive, durable and safe. When the time comes to introduce your child to sand play, look no further than a SandLock Sandbox -- America's SandBox Company. They offer a complete line of sandboxes and sandtables to meet your every need.  Here are just a few of the many features: INTERLOCKING: Precision design makes it easy to assemble and disassemble
DURABLE: Commercial grade solid plastic (HDPE) with UV stabilizers
GROUND BARRIER: Plastic panel keeps sand and ground material separate
COVERLOCK™: Heavy-duty vinyl keeps sand clean, dry and free of debris
 
 
 
Rocket USA
Do you remember the toys of yesteryear?  These toys were basic and they were fun and they still are today.  Welcome Home found some of these great toys Rocket USA was co-founded in 1997 by Michael Perry. In the early years, the company focused on bringing back the beauty of tin toys based on toys exported by Japan in the 40's and 50's. Go Into Space!!!!!! The companies first products were miniature reproductions of a group of tin toy robots known to robot collectors as The Gang of Five™. The set included Machine Man®, Target Robot®, Sonic Robot®, Non-Stop Robot®, and Radicon™ Robot. In the early 21st century, Rocket USA was approached to design and develop, under license from Twentieth Century Fox, a line of tin toys based on Matt Groening's new show FUTURAMA™. BENDER™ as been a long running success for the company. While continuing to put a retro spin on the company over the years, additions to the Rocket line included toys and products based on BOZO™ and THE SIMPSONS™.
Rocket USA is celebrating it's 10th anniversary making unusual toys and gifts. Over the years, we have designed our own classic line featuring classics such as Uncle Sam's™ three coin register bank and Shoot-a-Loop®, as well as Michael Perry's most fun invention to date, WHIRL-O ®.
Moving forward, Rocket USA is excited to be working directly with Gus Fink, an artist Michael Perry found on Ebay. Rocket is in the early stages of launching a series of Art Toy lines, including Art Plush, with Gus Fink Studios, LLC. Rocket is also expanding it's Buddha Buddha Life™ line this year with Dakota Designs, LLC, whose lead designer is Joy Michel. And of course, not wanting to shed it's roots, MARS PATROL™ is back with tin toys designed by George Eisner, who one an award way back in 1998 for the Gang of Five™ packaging.
 
 
This Month's Fun Food For Your Family - August 2009
 
Chicken Broccoli Rice

INGREDIENTS:
· 2 cups cooked rice
· frozen broccoli
· 1 can of chicken (like swanson)
· 1 can of cream soup
· Cubed Velvetta cheese
PREPARATION:
Mix all ingredients; bake 20 minutes or so at 350 degrees. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Want to spend even more time with your family and less time on meal preparation? Check out the Morningware Cooking System which was shot on-location in Chicago at the International Housewares Show. Just click on the Welcome Home Chef’s hat below to view the segment.