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Teenagers

BOOKS
Good books for teenagers -- Sara's now favourite reads
It's already nearly two years ago that I asked Sara to share her favourite books, and many of you have asked to share her current favourites. She is nearly 15 years old now, and still absolutely loves to get lost in a great story! She reads loads, so there's a lot of material to choose ...
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THURSDAY THOUGHTS
Do you talk about being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender with your kids?
Earlier this week, a successful beauty blogger here in the Netherlands, Nikkie de Jager (@nikkietutorials), publicly announced that she is transgender. A very brave thing to do -- I watched her coming out video on YouTube and was incredibly impressed by her story and the way she chose to share it. I recommend you to ...
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EDUCATION
The climate strike (plus: 8 ways to make a conscious change at home)
If you are reading this post on Friday, 27th of September 2019, you will be looking at a black&white website. For one day we're ditching all colour, in solidarity with everyone who is striving for an urgent climate change -- today, this week, and always! A small change, perhaps, but I find it quite disturbing ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
Encouraging children to read! Here are ten tips.
Both my oldest children are avid readers. Especially Sara is the kind of person who reads everything she can get her hands on: novels, series, educational books, newspapers, magazines, the back of cereal boxes -- you name it. So recognisable: I was exactly the same as a child. (I always thought it had to do ...
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THURSDAY THOUGHTS
Would you let your children get lost at night and let them find their own way back home?
Recently, an interesting article appeared in the New York Times, and so many of my friends and followers reached out to me about it. Is it true? Do you really do it? The topic of the article is about a particular 'game' we play in the Netherlands which is called 'dropping'. In a nutshell, children ...
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THURSDAY THOUGHTS
Ear piercings for children -- yay, or nay?
Yesterday, Sara and I headed over to a tiny jeweller here in the centre of Amsterdam to get another ear piercing. She already had three -- when she was 12, she had one hole in one ear and two holes in the other one pierced. In the meantime, the single hole closed up after she ...
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TEENAGERS
At what age do you give your children a mobile phone?
We live in an interesting age. Technology is developing with the speed of light and a life without mobile devices has simply become unthinkable. I find this such a strange phenomenon, especially given the fact that it's not even that long ago since we didn't even have wireless communication! (I think my dad, because his ...
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PARENTING
When teens get upset -- how best to respond
  My mom sent this New York Times article to me last week, and I found it both comforting and incredibly helpful. Reading it, I had one of these 'aha!' moments of parenting clarity. I realised that whenever Easton has come to me upset lately, I have this urge to immediately try to say something or get ...
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PARENTING TIPS
Teenagers -- let them vent!
When my girls were small, their problems seemed smaller. A cuddle and a kiss solved most problems. But as they grow bigger, so does the complexity of their problems. I cannot just rush in like Batman anymore and make everything okay.  One new development I have noticed as my kids getting older is the need ...
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TEENAGERS
Great books for teenagers -- Sara's favourite reads
Sara (now 13) is a big reader. She seriously devours books! It's such a pleasure to see her being absorbed by captivating stories, strange worlds and exciting adventures. Especially since I was exactly like her as a teenager. I've asked her to share a list of books she would recommend to readers of around her ...
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TEENAGERS
Clones / Not Clones
For me it has been a real learning curve to realise that my children are, in fact, not just clones of me! I think I genuinely thought that they would be, when they were newborns. Turns out that they are in fact 2 very distinctly different people. Who knew? I am finding this especially interesting ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
Dealing with teenage negativity. Tips please!
Easton will turn 13 next month, and in perfect timing, he is beginning to act like a teenager. Suddenly, it seems that I can't do anything right, and he feels compelled to complain about everything: The specific t-shirt he wants to wear isn't clean. We're not leaving on time; we'll definitely be late. The music in ...
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PARENTING
Reading to older children-- fun and beneficial
My kids love reading. Pim and Sara really devour books, and Ava has also recently gotten the hang of it. They are entirely captivated by their books! (Poor Casper, it can be frustrating to be the only one unable to read!) I suppose it can be a natural transition to stop reading to children when ...
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THURSDAY THOUGHTS
Teenagers and resisting fast fashion
One of my pet peeves is fast fashion -- buying heaps of cheap clothes on impulse only to discard them after a few wears. But, as my girls get older, I'm finding it more and more challenging to avoid the fast fashion pitfalls. Up 'til now, dressing my children was pretty simple. They are easygoing ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
When teenagers challenge -- a tip for how to respond
I have a dear friend who is a mentor and life coach in all senses of the word, offering advice to everyone at all stages of life -- from how to develop healthy sleep habits with your baby to dealing with the death of a loved one.  She's also a mother of four, including two ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
A 'first period' box, to prepare for the first menstruation
Slowly but steadily I'm getting the news of Sara's friends getting their first period. Between the age of 11 and 13 it will most likely take place. (Of course some girls are younger, and some are older.) Sara is not there yet, but it might not be that long now! Do you remember getting your ...
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KIDS
Teen Breathe - a new magazine for teenagers
One of my favourite things to do on a plane or train is to pick up a magazine at the newsagents. I sit down and take my time looking at pictures, reading articles and seeing what is up and what's new. I get anything from fashion, interior design to current affairs. The great thing in ...
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EDUCATION
The Anne Frank house, a visit with Sara
Anne Frank is a name that is familiar to most if not all. Her world-famous diary is translated to more than 60 languages worldwide, and the story of her family hiding in Amsterdam during WWII is universally known. We can all envision the photos of Anne's sweet face, showing a girl on the verge of adolescence. ...
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TEENAGERS
Organic skincare for teenagers -- a lovely new range from Green People!
With my biggest kids now being 10 and 12, I've been on the look-out for a nice range of pure, organic skincare for teenagers. There's a lot of lovely organic skincare around for adult skin these days, but I've been unsuccessful in my search for a nice range for Sara and Pim. Until now! Green ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
A tip for parents of teenagers: don't be afraid to say 'no'
A while ago my cousin and I were talking to the wife of another cousin of mine, who has two children, a boy aged 20 and a girl aged 18. We both have girls who are 12 years old, who are slowly but steadily entering a whole new phase of children's development: that of puberty ...
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BOOKS
'Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls' -- an inspiring book for girls (and boys!)
I was chatting to a friend over the weekend and she told me she recently read an interesting article about raising girls. The article pointed out that when a young girl is showing signs of being pioneering or dominant or even simply independent, she is called 'bossy', whereas when a boy acts in the same ...
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THURSDAY THOUGHTS
'Read the Room' -- advice for kids
I have recently realised that a lot of my parenting philosophies can be synthesised down into a few short phrases or even words. The phrases have changed with the years (I don't seem to be screaming a simple "Stop!" that often anymore). Some phrases, I am sure, have been used since the dawn of time. ...
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TUESDAY TIPS
Some sweet gift ideas for a girl who just got her first period
A little while ago, a reader asked us for some gifting inspiration for the daughter of a friend, who just got her period for the first time. I thought this was such a very sweet and special idea! It's also quite relevant for me, as Sara just turned 12, and it won't be long for her... I ...
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Emile et RoseClassic British-designed outfits for baby
Nousha PhotographyA family portrait studio creating black and white photography to treasure
Dotti shopGraceful and playful dresses, made from natural materials in NYC
A.T LondonStylish scarves that double up as muslins or swaddles. Functional, washable, and COOL!

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Get ready for festivities with a diy bunny mask! (Can you tell who these boy bunnies are?) You’ll need: •heavy card stock paper •pink craft paper •cotton wool (or ‘cotton balls’ if you’re in America) •elasticated string (or even normal string / ribbon will probably do) for the back •cute paper, cut into strips, for the whiskers @courtneyadamo #babyccinokids #babyccinocrafts
15 hours ago
We love this beautiful brioche-like braided Easter Bread, known in Italian as Pane Di Pasqua. See our recipe in the link. But also, tell us what yummy things you plan to make this Easter. @laraoflondon #babyccinokids #babyccinoeats
1 day ago
🧻 Toilet paper Easter craft idea. Make stamps from recycled cardboard tubes. It’s super simple and great for Easter bunnies and eggs! We used one paper towel roll to make two bunnies and two egg stamps … which can make millions of cards. Materials needed: Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or kitchen paper rolls Scissors Hot glue gun (or use white school glue, but this eliminates the need to wait) Paint, we mixed our own pastels with tempra / finger paint Googly eyes, optional Paper Steps: Cut the cardboard tubes into smaller pieces. Bend the cardboard slightly to make ears, then hot glue the ears onto the face. The eggs stamps are simple, just slightly bend them to make them less round and more oval in shape. Mix the paint on a plate or flat tray to your desired shade. Hop the bunny stamp over and over onto the paint, it covers the surface nicely that way! (see photo) Stamp the paper card, or envelope, and then fill in any missing outlined bunny sections if there are any. Add funny faces, googly eyes, silly bowties, or anything you desire to personalise your bunnies! We wrote have a VERY HOPPY EASTER. @laraoflondon #babyccinokids #babyccinocrafts #eastercraftsforkids #toiletpapercraft
1 day ago
Edible Easter egg nests do double-duty as decorations and desserts. See our link and recreate this scrumptious treat. #babyccinokids #babyccinoeats
1 day ago
Chirp chirp! These fingerprint cards are super easy and quick to make so if you are in need of a last-minute Easter card read on. ⭐️ You will need: Yellow water colour paint (water and a paintbrush to mix) Plain white card folded in half Black felt tip pen Orange felt tip pen (We found water colours worked great but any yellow paint will do). ⭐️ Mix up some yellow water colour paint, dip a finger into the paint and then place firmly onto the front of a folded piece of card. Repeat and cover the whole card with yellow fingerprints leaving some gaps for the feet and beaks. ⭐️ Once the paint has dried add some little black legs and feet, a dot for the eye and an orange beak. The beaks look great all pointing in different directions. ⭐️ What we love about these cute cards are their randomness. It’s such a simple idea that children of any age can get involved. Anything goes here, long legs/ short legs, big beaks/little beaks!! We guarantee they’ll look great in any style and they will definitely bring a smile to a loved ones face. #babyccinokids #babyccinocrafts #eastercards @soloskates
2 days ago
Hoppy paper doll bunnies from @laraoflondon were super easy. Just accordion fold a long strip of white paper and cut out! Then add ears, eyes, and a few accessories of course! #babyccinocrafts #babyccinokids #paperdolls #easterbunny
3 days ago
Decorations that don’t waste too many precious cooking ingredients... yes please! We love this simple salt dough recipe!🧂 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 1/2 cup water 1. Preheat the oven to 120 °C and line baking tray with baking paper. 2. Mix flour and salt in the bowl then gradually add water, stirring until combined. 3. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface, roll out until about 7mm thick and transfer to baking tray. 4. Then all you need is an egg-shaped cookie cutter, which is easy to find at this time of the year. Cut them out and make a hole in each about a centimeter from the top edge. Bake on 120C for about three hours turning them once after about 2 hours. 5. Now paint both sides with one color or each in different and wait to dry completely. 6. After about an hour you can draw your favorite designs on the eggs (again, one or both sides). 7. Leave for about 12 hours or overnight to dry and finish them with glossy varnish. (Clear nail polish works nicely.) 8. Now just string the twine or a fishing line through holes and you’re done! 9. Place on branches or hang around the home. 10. Enjoy! 🥚🧂 More Easter ideas in our bio! #babyccinokids #babyccinocrafts #eastercraftsforkids #saltdoughornaments
3 days ago
Paper, glue, scissors... make your own sweet bunny ears to create more fun for your Easter at home. It’s a 5 minute craft and 100% recycled scraps friendly! See @laraoflondon ‘s idea in the bio and customise the colours for your little ! #babyccinokids #babyccinocrafts
4 days ago
Hello Easter! We have over ninety crafts, recipes & blog posts (yes, that’s 90!) for this season we adore. So click on the bio link and get inspired. And stay tuned as we share all week — natural egg dyeing, making edible egg nests, cakes, salads, cards, decor, and more! #babyccinokids #babyccinoeats #babyccinocrafts #easter
5 days ago
Schedules? Routines? We have pointers from week three of being indoors. More on today’s blog. @estherbabyccino #babyccinokids
6 days ago
Here’s a video of our latest ShopUp in East London (shot and edited by our lovely and talented friend Nadine Brandt). It encapsulates the ShopUp atmosphere really, really well, and it makes us so excited for the next one!
1 year ago
Our beautiful new book, '9 months: A month by month guide to pregnancy' for the family to share, is AVAILABLE NOW! You can order it here: UK: http://amzn.to/2n6eCT7 / US: http://amzn.to/2nVWOZo / AUS: http://bit.ly/2nDYggy
2 years ago
Check out our new book! 9 months: A month by month guide to pregnancy for the family to share. PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE: UK: http://amzn.to/2n6eCT7 / US: http://amzn.to/2nVWOZo / AUS: http://bit.ly/2nDYggy
3 years ago
Check out the cool vibes of our Shop Up event in London in December!
3 years ago
Our 2nd live shopping event in Brooklyn was amazing! Great shopping, delicious treats, tons of kids activities and a super cool family photo booth!
3 years ago
Esther shows us her recipe for delicious mint syrup.
3 years ago
Our live shopping event in London at Chelsea Old Town Hall in 2015 was a big success and so much fun.
3 years ago
Here we show you how to harvest rhubarb from the garden, and make it into a delicious compote. If you make oatmeal at the same time, you have made a delicious and nutritious breakfast that your family will love! (Ours do!)
3 years ago
This gym bag is such a fun and easy project, also for beginners this is a nice sewing project. Esther, Emilie and the kids had so much fun going to the market choosing all the supplies. The fabrics from Little Cube are the cutest!
3 years ago
Our first live shopping event in Brooklyn was a great success. We loved seeing the best boutiques under one roof, combined with great food and fun activities...and some dancing! Hope to see everyone this year again on September 18th & 19th at 501 Union, 501 Union Street in Brooklyn.
4 years ago