If you've got children, you've probably spent some time at a playground. But do you know about all the benefits of those colorful stairs, slides, and swings?

Often, getting out of the house and to the park may be a bit of a challenge for you. But, here are 7 great reasons why that effort is totally worth it:

1. Free play

One reason playgrounds are great is because they provide plenty of opportunities for free play, which is different from organized sports and games or even recess. Free play and pretend play are important because they allow children to explore and play according to how they feel and to discover what they like.

2. Brain development

Play is an important part of a child's brain development. It's one of the reasons why children are born with the desire and ability to play.

Playgrounds are designed for many different kinds of play, so they help to build up a child's brain as he or she imagines and figures things out.

3. Vitamin D

Being at a playground is also beneficial to encourage children to spend time outdoors where they can get plenty of fresh air and vitamin D, which has all sorts of health benefits, including helping children build strong bones.

4. Social skills

Playgrounds are usually full of children playing, so taking your own children provides wonderful opportunities for them to spend time with other children.

This teaches them not only how to make friends, but to learn social rules and to interact with children of different ages, who have special needs, or are different from them in other ways.

It also helps children develop their language ability when they talk with their peers.

5. Mood improvement

Playing outside is a great stress reliever for both you and your children. Sometimes a change in scenery by visiting the playground is often just what a cranky toddler or child needs to be happy again.

Taking your children to the playground can be a lifesaver on a crazy day.

6. Exposure to animals

Parks aren't only a great place for children; they are also great for animals. Many people bring their pets to the park and you can also find wild animals like bugs, squirrels, birds, or lizards.

The playground can be a great place to expose your child to some animals and to teach rules about staying safe around animals.

7. Motor skills

Of course playgrounds are a great place for running, climbing, sliding, swinging, tinkering, and all sorts of activities that teach motor skills. They help toddlers to learn basic motor skills, and for preschoolers or older children to fine-tune those skills.

Different types of equipment also build different skills, so it's good if your playground provides variety.

Another great thing about using motor skills is that moving around provides necessary exercise to help children build muscles and reduce obesity.

So the next time you're wondering if it's worth the effort to take your kids to the park, remember that it's not only entertainment you're providing, but so much more!

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I remember hearing when my son was born that babies aren't supposed to have any screen time before they are 2. That seemed impossible since there are screens everywhere, but I decided I was going to limit his screen time as much as possible.

But then reality hit. And despite my efforts, my now-18-month-old begs to watch videos and has already figured out how to open my iPad, find the Netflix app and put a show on for himself. He'd watch shows all day if I let him. And he's not alone. Surveys found that 2 out of 3 babies and 4 out of 5 toddlers watch TV, movies or online videos and that 90 percent of 2-year-olds have some proficiency in using a mobile device.

So what really is the big deal? Why is there so much concern about children and screen time? What would actually happen if you let your baby or toddler sit in front of a screen all day? Here are some major concerns.

Language development

Children who spend significant amounts of time in front of a screen have a smaller vocabulary and learn to talk later than children who have little or no screen time. Small children need someone to talk with face-to-face and plenty of time to experiment with their own voices in order to learn to speak. Sitting in front of a screen doesn't provide these opportunities.

Weight management

Children who spend significant amounts of time watching TV are more likely to be overweight than children who don't. Consuming various forms of media can prevent children from the physical activity they need. And while there is no link between media consumption and decreased activity in babies and toddlers, the habits those small children develop now may continue as they grow older.

Brain growth

Babies and toddlers need interaction with other people for healthy brain growth. If you've ever watched children in front of a screen, there is often a blank zombie-like expression on their faces. Even if there are people on the screen, the kids aren't learning how to interact and to respond like they would face-to-face with a live person. These interactions help with developing social, emotional and cognitive skills. When the TV or another screen is on, parents and children interact less, denying opportunities to develop these vital skills.

Attention span

Watching too much television has also been linked to shorter attention spans. One study even found the more screen time a child had between ages 1 and 3, the harder time he or she had focusing at age 7.

Sleep patterns

Screen time can also be detrimental for your child's sleep. Watching TV can interrupt a child's sleep schedule, and the light emitted from a device can delay the release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. It's also possible for even young children to have nightmares from something they watched.

So what do you do if your child under 2 has spent time in front of a screen? First, relax. It's not the end of the world.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently announced it will be revising its guidelines about screen time. They have acknowledged that the guideline for no screen time for children under 2 and only 1-2 hours for older children may be outdated and unrealistic. Reports say the new guidelines will recommend quality over quantity. They will also encourage co-viewing with young children since the biggest dangers come when a baby or toddler is simply plopped down alone in front of a video.

Another thing to consider is that the old recommendations were made before tablets and smartphones existed, so they were based mostly on television viewing. There's not as much research about the effects of newer devices; but, once again, quality content and moderation are key. The good news about mobile devices is they can be more interactive than just staring at a screen. And if the only thing your child is doing with them is video chatting with family, then you don't need to be worried at all since there is plenty of face-to-face interaction going on.

So what can you do? You can set limits like allowing only a certain amount of time per day or week with screens. You can create media-free zones in your home. Also, ensure the media consumed is quality content. Co-view with your children and help them interact by asking questions, pointing things out and discussing what they saw when it's over. And when it comes to mobile devices, look for age-appropriate apps that are also educational.

Bottom line? It may be okay for your baby or toddler to have some screen time, but don't overdo it, and make sure there is plenty of time for more interactive activities.

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When you're a new parent, people constantly want to talk to you to give you their two cents about parenthood. Some of this conversation may be useful, but the rest of it is not. And however well-meaning the comments may be, some of them are just plain getting on our nerves. Unsolicited advice is almost always unneeded and unhelpful because it sounds like repeated platitudes that don't come with any actual help. Here are 10 (of the many) things we new parents hear all the time but wish people would stop telling us.

"Enjoy every moment."

Not every moment is enjoyable for a new parent (or any parent for that matter). We understand you're trying to tell us we should be happy and enjoy these moments with a baby because they won't last. But we're exhausted, and all we really want is to complain and take a nap. All you're doing is making us feel guilty we aren't enjoying every second of it.

"You'll never sleep again!"

Not only is this not true but it's also an incredibly unhelpful thing to say to a new parent. Do you mean we're going to be getting up every couple hours for the rest of our lives? Then we might as well just throw in the towel now.

"When are you going to have another one?"

Every new parent gets asked this a few times. Although some new parents may be thinking about when they are going to have another child, most of us are too overwhelmed with the child or children we have at the moment to even be thinking about more. And besides, how many children a couple has or when a couple is going to have them is nobody's business anyway.

"Are you breastfeeding?"

This issue is a hot topic around new moms and is often the first question people ask when they see moms out with babies. What we new mothers can't figure out is why it's anyone's concern. Everyone's circumstance is different, and each mom will do what works best for her baby and her family. Even if you are trying "to make conversation," the only reason you would be asking this question is if you want to respond with how you think we should be feeding our baby. So just don't.

"Are you going back to work?"

This can be a pretty touchy subject. Some moms who would like to stay home with their new baby can't, some moms have no desire to be a stay-at-home mom and some may be planning on staying home. But we are all fearing your judgment no matter what we answer. We've already weighed all the pros and cons before the baby was even born, and if we want more advice or to hear experiences on this topic, we'll ask.

"Is she sleeping through the night?"

New parents start getting this question when the baby is only a few weeks old. This question is more appropriate for parents of a much older child. We know you mean well, but after we've heard this question so many times, you're only going to get a snarky answer in return. ("Oh, I don't know...like a newborn!")

"He must be hungry/cold/tired."

Apparently if your baby is crying, it's an invitation for family, friends or even random strangers to tell you exactly what he needs. Parents are usually pretty aware of what their child needs, so the need here is for everyone else to stop talking and let us parents take care of our baby's needs.

"The laundry can wait."

This advice along with its sister tip, "The dishes can wait," are meant to remind us we should be enjoying our new baby instead of cleaning. And while it's true these responsibilities don't have to be done right that instant, they have to be done eventually. So unless you're offering to come do them, telling us this is absolutely useless (unless you're suggesting we stop eating and start our own nudist colony).

"It doesn't get any easier."

Well, if it's not going to get any easier, maybe we should give up now. How is this information helpful? Having a baby is stinking hard and if this is the best it's going to be, we're going to hate our lives. The truth is that some things get easier and some things get harder, so why do people keep telling new parents it will never get any better?

"Just wait until..."

In addition to telling us it doesn't get better, it seems to be the favorite pastime of more experienced parents to tell new parents about what atrocities are in their futures. "You think a newborn is hard? Just wait until he's a screaming toddler," or, "Just wait until she does...." This phrase is then followed by some sort of horror story about another child. And although we listen and sometimes laugh, we're inwardly hoping our newborn gives us time to eat something today.

"Does it feel real yet?"

We don't sleep, our house is a mess and we're exhausted. Does it look like it feels real? And all this time we thought we were living in a dream!

All of this isn't to say you can't talk to new parents. But if you say these worn out phrases, know we will roll our eyes at you (either physically or mentally). New parents are, after all, human beings who enjoy a wide variety of non-baby-related topics as well. Try talking about something else the next time you interact with new parents. It will be a breath of fresh air for them.

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There's no such thing as a stress-free life. Stress is your body's natural response in certain situations. So it's important to learn how to deal with stress when it does happen; but it's also important to stop stress from happening in the first place. Because even if you can't remove all stress, there's no reason to add unnecessary stress. The following are ways you can reduce the amount of stress in your life.

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier to avoid being rushed as you get ready.

2. Prepare the things you'll need the next day the night before.

3. Do what you consider unpleasant tasks first so they're out of the way.

4. Don't procrastinate what you can do now for later.

5. Always plan to be 10 minutes early.

6. Get enough sleep.

7. Exercise regularly.

8. Eat healthy.

9. Prepare yourself for situations you find stressful by visualizing them beforehand.

10. Write things down instead of thinking you'll remember them.

11. Make extra copies of your keys and hide them or give them to someone you trust.

12. Have something prepared to keep you busy for situations when you may have to wait.

13. If something doesn't work right, get it fixed instead of letting it bug you.

14. Say no when people ask you to do things you really don't have time for.

15. Make friends with people who aren't worriers.

16. Avoid people who are difficult as much as possible.

17. If you are required to sit for long periods of time, get up and stretch regularly.

18. Make sure your workspace and home are organized so you don't lose things.

19. Do something that you really like to do every day.

20. Choose a job and recreational activities that match up with your interests.

21. Regularly do nice things for other people.

22. Don't over-schedule or make appointments back-to-back.

23. Stop negative self-talk.

24. Avoid multitasking.

25. Follow through with commitments you have made.

26. Eliminate unnecessary commitments.

27. Allow some time every day for quiet reflection.

28. Learn how to delegate effectively.

29. Take breaks, especially for meals.

30. Believe the best of other people and be forgiving.

31. Be optimistic.

32. Don't try to control everything.

33. Join a religious community.

34. Treat yourself to regular massages.

35. Get a pet and spend time with it.

36. Write in a journal regularly as an outlet for stress.

37. Learn how to slow down and enjoy things in life.

38. Have an attitude of gratitude.

39. Go on a vacation once in a while.

40. Pray daily.

41. Read scripture passages regularly.

42. Take time to be social and spend time with friends.

43. Forgive yourself for mistakes.

44. Play with children.

45. Ask for help more often.

46. Read good books.

47. Listen to good music.

48. Participate in recreational and community activities.

49. Spend time on self-improvement.

50. Stop wasting time on things that aren't productive or relaxing.

51. And most importantly, identify specific stressors in your life and make a plan to eliminate them as much as possible.

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5 ways to deal with a crying baby

Here are some great tips for those of you in the early stages of parenting or who have recently added a new baby to your family. If your baby is crying, check these five things to help calm your child.

5 Tips To Deal With Your Crying Baby - Parenting Infographic / via Parentous

Keeping track of baby habits

How much should your baby sleep? How much does she need to eat? What milestones should he be hitting? This handy list will get you through the first 12 months without having to constantly do an Internet search every time your baby gets a month older.

The science of raising happy kids

Here we have an infographic that gives statistics on what makes children happy and what you can do and have your children do in order to help them grow up happy.

How to raise a happy, successful, cooperative child while disciplining less in 5 simple steps.

If your child's behavior doesn't seem to be changing, even with disciplining, then maybe you need to try a new approach. This infographic can help in identifying your child's nature and disciplining according to that nature, which could save you a lot of frustration.

6 ways to raise a self-reliant child

Parenting becomes easier (in some ways) as your children get older and can do things for themselves. Here's some tips on how to teach your children to be self-reliant so they don't continue relying on you for things they could do themselves.

9 work-life balance tips for busy parents

All parents are busy; it just comes with the territory. This helpful infographic gives 9 ideas for how busy parents can balance their work with their family life and find more time to do everything. And while it's aimed at working parents, many of these tips could save stay-at-home parents time as well.

Parenting in the digital age

Do you have a cell phone? If you answered yes (like the majority of modern parents would), here is some helpful information for making sure your phone makes you a better parent and not a distracted one.

Parenting in the social age

Another modern issue for parents is dealing with what your children are doing online. Social media may be completely confusing to you as a parent, but that's not going to stop your children from participating. Here's an infographic that can help you get started on what to know and how to help protect your children.

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Before my son was born, I worked an 8 to 5 job where I spent my days sitting and staring at a computer and attending meetings. I liked my job, but I found that a desk job was not the best thing for my body. I was often stiff, and I had to occasionally wear a brace on my wrist because of pain. I also had to work hard not to gain a lot of weight. However, becoming a mother and quitting my job has alleviated many of the problems I had.

A desk job usually requires sitting for long periods of time, often staring at a computer, which can be way different than parenting. Some of those differences definitely make parenting better for your body. So whether you sit at a desk all day, you're a stay-at-home parent, a working parent, or anything else, here's some things you should know about why parenting can be healthier than a desk job.

You don't spend much time sitting down.

Small children require attention about every two seconds during the day, so you'll get up more frequently as a parent. Since research shows that sitting for long periods of time is bad for your body in multiple ways, children can save you a lot of body problems by making you get up all the time.

You get extra exercise

In addition to getting up more, you'll also move more throughout the day. Whether you're chasing the kids around the house, pushing them in a stroller or cleaning up their messes, you can get a lot of extra exercise in addition to your regular exercise routine.

You wear more comfortable clothing

There are no dress shoes required for parenting, and restrictive clothing is optional. You can wear whatever you want because your kids don't care. More comfort equals less strain on your body.

You play more

Play is good for adults as well as children. It helps your brain when you get creative and imaginative and can boost your mood as well. Also, you spend more time outside You don't get a lot of fresh air when you spend all day cooped up in an office. With kids, you have the opportunity to go outside with them so they can run around. This gives you fresh air and vitamin D, both of which are important for your health.

You have motivation to eat better

Instead of grabbing lunch during the short break you have from your desk job, you can make your meals. And because you want your children to eat healthy, you end up eating healthier too. But remember not to eat all your kids' leftovers as this may be one contributing factor to the fact that moms eat more calories per day than their non-mom counterparts.

Your self-esteem gets a boost

You'll never get a bad performance review from your infant. Children are much more forgiving than your boss, and they often worship the ground you walk on (at least until they become teenagers). They are great self-esteem boosters, which is good for your overall mood and health.

You laugh more

You've heard that laughter is the best medicine. And unless your job involves a lot of comedy, you'll spend a lot more time laughing with your kids (and even more time laughing at the funny things they say and do) than you would sitting at a desk.

You have less stress (in some ways)

Although parenting can be stressful sometimes, there's no boss breathing down your neck, no deadlines, and no loaded inbox of papers and e-mails. Even for parents who do work, there is a benefit. One study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that men with healthy family relationships were less likely to have stress-related health problems.

You have encouragement to get regular checkups.

As a parent, you spend a significant amount of time taking your children to the doctor's office for regular checkups and when they get sick. This should be a good reminder to you that you need to be getting your own checkups.

Your immune system is strengthened.

Having children makes you less likely to get sick when exposed to a virus, according to research done at Carnegie Mellon University. In multiple studies where adults were exposed to a cold virus, the parents were half as likely to catch the cold than the non-parents. The researchers speculated that this may be because being a parent brings reduces stress levels and increases happiness, which can boost the immune system.

Your brain stays young.

Being a parent means you're constantly having to learn new things as your child develops. This helps keep your brain young and healthy because it is constantly developing. And while you can obviously learn new things at work, the rate is not usually as high unless you're constantly changing jobs.

There's nothing wrong with having a desk job, of course, but it's nice to know that there are some perks to being a parent as well.

The post 11 ways parenting is better for your body than a desk job appeared first on FamilyToday.

I recently had an experience at the park that taught me a valuable mommy lesson. It's made me think a lot about how I react to, respond to and treat other moms (and their children).

I was pushing my 1-year-old in a swing next to another mom, who was doing the same. We were talking a bit and enjoying our time when suddenly a young girl on the play structure nearby starting crying. She was up high and didn't think she could get down by herself. Despite her calls to her mother, no one seemed to be coming to her rescue.

"Look at that," the mom next to me said. "That little girl needs help, and her mom is nowhere to be seen. How could she leave her kid on the playground like that? What if she falls?"

I looked at this other mom and at the little girl. Then I looked around to see where the girl's mother was. She was over in an adjacent field with two other children.

I had a choice to make at that point. I could join in with the mom next to me in bashing this other mom, or I could do something about the situation. "Do you think I should go help her?" I asked. Then the answer seemed obvious to me. "I'm going to go help her," I said.

So I left my son in the swing, walked 20 feet away and helped the little girl down. Then I went back to my son. The girl's mother came back a minute later with her other kids in tow, none the wiser.

Now I'm not sharing this story because I want to make myself look good — what I did was really not that big of a deal. And I'd like to think that if I hadn't been there, the other mom would have come to the same conclusion and gone to help the little girl, or the girl's mother would have come back before anything bad happened.

I am sharing this story because it was a learning experience for me. I think, as moms, we are often quick to judge the actions of another mom, and sometimes that judgment causes us to lose our common sense. A child was in need, Mom wasn't around, and instead of helping the child, we could have stood there bad-mouthing her mom for leaving her alone on the playground.

The mom who's daughter needed help obviously had her hands full with a couple other kids. She knows her children well and knows her daughter is perfectly capable of playing on the playground by herself. And even though the girl couldn't get down, she wasn't in any real danger. Even if she had fallen, she wasn't that high up. Plus, there were other moms around who would most likely be willing to help.

The mom next to me who made the judgy comment is a first-time mom with one child. Based on our conversation and my observation of her at the park, she is pretty protective of her child. She didn't understand why any mom would leave her toddler on a playground by herself even for a minute. Her comment was based on her knowledge and relationship with her own child because she knew nothing about the other woman.

Neither of the other moms probably remember this experience, but it's something that's come back to my mind a few times since it happened. It was a bit of a defining moment for me as a mom. Do I join in on the mommy bashing, or do I make the situation better instead? In this case, I chose the latter. My plan is to continue doing so, though I know I make mistakes, too.

We're all on the same team. What we want is the happiness and welfare of the children around us. Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt. And when a child is in need, pitch in, even if you're tempted to be judgmental.

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Although it may seem like some people have life easier, it is inevitable that all of us will go through rough times. These may be brief or long-lasting trials that come in a variety of forms. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, illness, dreams unfulfilled, divorce, wayward children, financial difficulties, or any other problem, trials are not easy. But allowing yourself to be grateful, even in these circumstances, can help make life better.

It's not simply about being grateful for things you can check off a list. It's about being a grateful person and having a positive outlook. It's hard to count your blessings when everything seems to be going wrong, but if you have an attitude of gratitude, then you can praise God for His goodness no matter what is going on in your life. Here are three ways that being grateful can help in times of trial.

1. Gratitude increases your faith and helps you find peace

Being grateful in hard times doesn't make them go away or mean that you're happy to be going through them, but having a spirit of gratitude helps you to have perspective. It means you have the faith to look ahead and know there is a reason why you are going through them. This helps you have the peace the Lord promised when he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

2. Gratitude helps you feel God's love when you need it the most.

You have trials to help you learn and grow, so even though it's hard you can be grateful that He is giving you the experiences you need. It is an evidence of God's love and trust in you that He allows you these opportunities to grow. God is always there waiting for you to come to Him with your troubles and problems. When you recognize His hand in all things by having a grateful spirit, He can reach back to you and pour out His love and blessings, especially in those times when you need it the most.

Paul taught us to "glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:3-5).

3. Gratitude leads you to Jesus Christ

It is only through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that you can be healed from all hurts. He wants you to come unto Him and learn of Him (see Matthew 11:28-29). He wants you to rely on Him, and the sooner you learn this and are grateful for these opportunities He's given you to draw unto Him, the sooner you can find His healing power.

The Apostle Paul learned this after he asked the Lord to remove an infirmity and was told, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response to this was one of gratitude: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Paul definitely had his share of trials, but his disposition to be grateful and to rely on Jesus even when things were going wrong turned him into a great man.

There is a reason why some people always seem to be happy no matter what. It's not because they don't go through rough times, but because they have learned to make the best of everything. You can do the same by being grateful no matter what life throws at you.

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When I was expecting a baby, I got all sorts of advice from people. This advice ranged from helpful to useless and covered a plethora of topics. One frequent theme I experienced though was people telling me about all the things I was going to lose when I became a mom: sleep, friends, freedom, my identity, intimacy, sanity, and the list goes on.

And it's true, I did lose many of those things (especially the sanity part). But there are some other things I've lost that no one really told me about. And honestly, I don't miss them! So instead of focusing on all the negative things I've lost since becoming a mom, here's some positive things.

Selfishness

I never realized how selfish I actually was until I had a baby. There's not a lot of room for selfishness when you're using all your time to take care of another human being. The things I thought I needed but really didn't went right out the window. This new perspective also helps me recognize the needs of other people, especially children.

Body shame

One of the great things I've lost since having a baby is being ashamed of my body. Some moms feel worse about their bodies after having a baby, but I've never felt better about mine. I used to think my body was ugly and useless, but now I know it can grow and take care of another human being. I also no longer worry about modesty in my home because my child is going to see me naked all the time anyway.

Control

I used to have a good plan for most things. I had a schedule and a planner and knew what I was doing. Then I had a baby who doesn't work with schedules and likes to throw in a few surprises every day.

What I really lost was a fear of the unknown or the idea that I had to know everything. The truth is that despite my research and others' advice, I had NO idea what I was doing. Now I take it as it comes and have given up my need to be totally in control.

Perfectionism

Along with control, I also lost my desire to be perfect at everything. I didn't have time to be perfect when I had a baby around. Most days, good enough is the best it's going to get. Besides, nobody gets a perfect score in child rearing. We all make mistakes.

Judgment

Maybe some people become more judgmental when they become moms, but this was not the case for me. I'm much more likely to give people the benefit of the doubt since becoming a mom. Everyone has struggles and you never know what someone's going through or how hard it was for them to even get out of the house that day. Just let it go!

Yes, being a mom is hard, but we don't always have to focus on the negative aspects. So the next time you're giving a new mom advice, try telling her about one of the nice things she'll lose.

The post 5 things no one told me I’d lose when I became a mom appeared first on FamilyToday.

Mom language can be different than normal conversation. The actions of the little people running around your house bring out a whole new set of phrases for you to use every day, often on repeat. I happen to have a toddler in my home, and these are things I say every day that I can't imagine using before I became a mom.

1. Please stop hitting (or biting) me!

Why can't kids keep their hands to themselves? Whether he means it or not, my son is constantly stepping on, hitting, or biting me. I can't believe how many times I have to tell him to stop.

2. Are you poopy?

When you get a whiff of that smell (sometimes many times a day), you have to ask even if the baby can't understand the question. Definitely not something I'd ever asked someone before I became a mom.

3. Mommy's [insert any item you own] is not a toy!

Small children think everything is a toy. Even things like feminine hygiene supplies. They really don't know the difference. And telling them this every day doesn't seem to help them learn either.

4. For the love of all that is holy, please eat!

I say this at least three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My son thinks food is for playing and throwing on the floor. I'm not sure how he doesn't starve.

5. I just cleaned that.

Yep, kids make messes. And they have an innate ability to make that mess in whatever spot was last cleaned.

6. You have to put on pants before you go outside.

Children don't know the meaning of decency, and they see nothing wrong with going outside in a diaper or underwear. When they want out, they want out, no matter what they're wearing.

7. Don't put that in your mouth (or nose)!

Everything must be tasted and everything must be tested to see if it fits in any orifice. I'm not sure why small children have this fascination, but it happens all the time.

8. I don't want your fingers in my mouth.

Little kids love to put things in your mouth for you, especially their fingers. In my case, this also becomes "no, I don't want you to feed me something that has already been in your mouth." It's dirty!

9. Don't climb on me!

If you ever try to lie on the floor in my home be aware that a small child will immediately take it as a hint that you want to be climbed on and over.

10. Your toys don't go on the dinner table.

Maybe kids think their toys need to eat too, bt for some reason the table is the favored spot for toys, especially when you're about to put food there.

11. It's right there. Right in front of you. Yes, there!

I'm convinced that kids have massive blind spots in their vision. Even if whatever they are looking for is right in front of them, they still don't see it.

12. Why is my [insert something you own] in the [insert random place in your home]?

Once they learn how to move around and reach things, nothing will ever be where you left it. Maybe one day I will stop asking this question, but for now I can't help it saying it while shaking my head.

Children definitely make life a little more interesting and bring a whole new life (and vocabulary) to their mommies. And don't be surprised if one of these phrases ends up being the first sentence that comes out of a child's mouth.

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