Cynical Parent

I read somewhere recently that non-furry pets were becoming more popular again with kids, so I started doing some research around which types of pets are recommended (mostly reptiles).  For this post, I’ve decided to focus on the best snakes for kids to keep as pets, because snakes are often a pretty polarizing reptile. 

Some are poisonous and life-threatening; others are harmless and perfectly fine for a pet.  (There are actually over 2,500 different species of snakes, which I had no idea about!) 

If you’re considering a snake for a pet, there are a few important things you need to know.  Keep reading, and we’ll cover all of that including which are the best snakes for kids.

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Peace and quiet…something all parents can appreciate.

When you have a preschool-aged child running around, however, those moments are few and far between. Some kids are non-stop until bedtime.

While it’s tempting to sit them down to watch TV or a movie – and don’t get me wrong, that’s a good idea sometimes – it’s nice to find something a little more engaging for them to do.

So, as we usually do, we searched the depths of the internet and found over 20 great, and more importantly, quiet activities for preschoolers.

Check out the full list below!

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We’ve written about Nugget alternatives before, but now we’re going to take a look at a new Nugget alternative contender: The Figgy.  In a comparison of the Figgy vs. Nugget, which play couch should you buy?

If you haven’t heard of the Figgy, it’s new to the rapidly growing play couch scene.  Play couches to a certain extent have been around forever, but when much of the world experienced a “stay at home” order in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, play couches (and the Nugget in particular) exploded in popularity.  Kids are playing at home more, and the Nugget ended up being a great solution for parents.

But with the popularity of the Nugget, the demand far exceeded supply and parents everywhere were left fighting for Nuggets.  Whenever they would restock, they would sell out within seconds.  They’ve since increased production capacity and have begun selling more on backorder, but the increased demand has opened the door to new options such as the Figgy.

Let’s compare the two and see what’s right for you.

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Here in the Midwest, there are several months of the year when it is cold and there is plenty of the white stuff.

Snow is a four letter word most of us have a love/hate relationship with.  It’s pretty and fun to play in, but it can also be a hassle (driving can be a major pain in the ass). And sometimes, when old man winter is feeling especially generous, it means you’re stuck in your house for a while.

Fortunately, this makes me an “expert” on finding fun snow day activities (since I’ve been snowed in more than a few times myself!).

So, if you are dreading that first good snowfall and the inevitable school “snow” days, fear not! Here are 10 insanely fun snow day activities for you and the kids this winter!

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Whether you’ve been able to grab an actual Nugget or one of the Nugget alternatives, you’re probably wondering what the best Nugget couch accessories are.  You know, the things that can really take Nugget play to the next level.

Aside from buying more pillows, Nugget (the company) themselves don’t actually sell any accessories.  And let’s be honest: if they did, they would probably be sold out right now given how hot this play couch is.  

We did some digging around though – looking through Pinterest, Instagram, etc. to see what other people are using to maximize playtime with the Nugget, and compiled it all in a nice little list.  

Let’s get to it!

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Fall is in the air, and there’s nothing like a cool weather that gets me excited about cooking.  Slow cooker meals, soups, stews, you name it – it’s all good for fall.

With all the junk that comes along with this time of year (Halloween candy, baked goods for the holidays, etc.) it’s good to figure out some meals that are not only healthy but that the whole family, especially the kids, will enjoy.

So, we took a deep dive into all the healthy fall recipes for kids and came up with a good list to share with you.

Let’s go!

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I don’t know if you noticed, but the Nugget (that little play couch for kids) has been super popular lately, especially during these times where we find ourselves at home more often.

It’s perpetually sold out.  And when they do come back in stock, they sell out within a couple minutes. Or you have to sit and wait to win a lottery.  It’s crazy.

So, you might find yourself wondering, “what else is out there? There must be something else like it, right?” 

You’re in luck.

While there’s nothing exactly the same as the the Nugget, there are several good alternatives and knockoffs that are easier to get your hands on and will still provide tons of fun for your little ones.

Let’s dive in and check out the best Nugget alternative (we have a few options).

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Sleep is precious.  And if your baby isn’t getting it, neither are you.

It’s one of the reasons some people are willing to shell out nearly $1,500 for a bassinet (the Snoo) that supposedly helps your baby sleep better.

I’ve tried the Snoo – we rented it for a month when our 3 month old would only nap in our arms.  It’s impressive in the way that it works, and it’s a stylish looking piece of furniture.  

But ultimately, we returned it for 2 reasons:

1) It was too damn expensive.  Not that we couldn’t afford it, but it didn’t seem worth the money.

2) It didn’t seem to do much for us over other similar (less expensive) options.

With all of that said, I know some parents rave about the Snoo, so I’m not going to say it doesn’t work or that it’s not worth the money.  Lots of parents praise its effectiveness and I know it has helped infants sleep better.

What if we told you there are some good Snoo alternatives that won’t break the bank? 

Granted, you aren’t going to find anything exactly like the Snoo for less money, but there are bassinets out there that work just as well.  

We did the research. Let’s check ’em out.

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With many of us stuck either homeschooling our kids or putting them in an at-home, remote/virtual learning environment, the home learning space has never been more important.

Today we’re going to tackle kids homeschool desk ideas; after all, this is where the learning happens.  (If you’re looking for an overall room setup, check out the post we did on homeschool room design ideas.)

This post is going to be about everything from ideas about the actual desk to use, to the types of things you can get for your desk to keep it better organized.

Remote learning may never be quite as good as live and face-to-face with a teacher, but we’re doing the best we can!

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Planning for a baby’s nursery is one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for a newborn.  There are literally unlimited options! 

Today, we’re going to focus on baby farm animal nursery ideas.  You know, like cows, pigs, chickens, etc.

Although we are going to show you some great examples of nurseries, we’re going to focus on the actual stuff you can buy (like signs and pictures).  

As with any nursery theme or design ideas, don’t feel like you have to copy exactly what you see on the internet.  Look at different pieces and take what you like (and ignore the things you don’t like).  I promise, whatever you come up with is going to look cute.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these farm animal nursery ideas!

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