LGP Parenting Thread

[meow]

My wife has at least one iPad in each of her day care rooms. You can end a ton of squabbling between 3 year olds with an iPad.

[Hockeynut!]

So teddy bears and rattles are OK but a video that has the same effect is not? Interesting.

Where did I say it wasn't okay? I'm simply surprised at how smart phones have supplanted "traditional" baby toys.

[newarenanow]

So teddy bears and rattles are OK but a video that has the same effect is not? Interesting.

our iPad has been a very good thing for my 2 year-old. we look at pictures, watch Frozen, "paint", watch Frozen, watch youtubes of kids shows, watch Frozen...except for 1 of those activities, it's been really beneficial and we enjoy using it together

I don't know if you have ABC Mouse, but that is pretty good. My kids love it and I see them taking away a lot with it on top of what we/daycare teach them as well.

[44windmill]

So teddy bears and rattles are OK but a video that has the same effect is not? Interesting.

I read somewhere that 2D images can be a hindrance to children vs actual 3D (4D?) toys. I'll have to dig up the article. It probably stops having a negative effect at a certain age. We're just erring on the side of caution.

Edited with link: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ ... Age-2.aspx

[shafnutz05]

So teddy bears and rattles are OK but a video that has the same effect is not? Interesting.

our iPad has been a very good thing for my 2 year-old. we look at pictures, watch Frozen, "paint", watch Frozen, watch youtubes of kids shows, watch Frozen...except for 1 of those activities, it's been really beneficial and we enjoy using it together

hahah, we are just wrapping up a six month stretch where the one surefire way to get her to sit still and calm down was to play the Let It Go music video. Would buy us the 10-15 minutes needed for a nebulizer treatment.

[PensFanInDC]

The youtube app has earned us extra sleep on weekend mornings. He's content to watch train videos for a little while in bed with us while we continue to rest.

[shafnutz05]

For any of yinz that send your kid(s) to daycare, any insight on the tax credit for that? The last thing I read was up to 35% of qualifying expenses, but wasn't sure what the details are in terms of how much that lowers based on AGI. Thank ya.

[Kraftster]

I recall there being a maximum that is abhorrently low. I think it is tied to income.

[shafnutz05]

I recall there being a maximum that is abhorrently low. I think it is tied to income.

Crap. I was afraid of that.

[PensFanInDC]

We aren't even claiming it this year. We pay $60 a week so it's not a huge expense anyway. I think its something like $350 a year but I could be way off.

[shafnutz05]

We aren't even claiming it this year. We pay $60 a week so it's not a huge expense anyway. I think its something like $350 a year but I could be way off.

From my understanding it's 35% of qualifying expenses, down to 20% above a certain income level, which I am assuming is the category we'd fall into. 20% of qualifying expenses would be a big chunk of change for us, I'll let my tax guy work some numbers.

And lol at $60/week.

[PensFanInDC]

Yeah we lucked out. A very close friend of the family offered to watch him for $20 a day. Can't beat that.

[Kraftster]

I just glanced at publication 503 and using that and my recollection I believe your credit is between 20% ($43,000+ AGI) and 35% (0-$15,000) of your expenses but only up to $3,000 per kid.

Edit: I typed that and then didn't click submit. To your post, shaf, it's only up to the limit I mentioned. So, it's $600-$1050 credit per kid.

A $600 credit is something, but it's not much when you consider how much full-time daycare costs.

[shafnutz05]

I'll definitely take that then. Every bit helps. And we are definitely going to hit the max (vomit)

[newarenanow]

I'll definitely take that then. Every bit helps. And we are definitely going to hit the max (vomit)

In the same boat. It sucks.

[shmenguin]

I'll be paying about $16,000 a year from now on, none of which I get a tax break on.

[Kraftster]

Yeah, we'll be $27k in 2015. Hopefully that's the only year where we're hit that hard. It will be unless we keep my oldest in the kindergarten program at our daycare.

[count2infinity]

is anyone still surprised/disgusted that nan has spawn? no? just me?

[shafnutz05]

Yeah we lucked out. A very close friend of the family offered to watch him for $20 a day. Can't beat that.

And why are you guys moving again? Haha

[PensFanInDC]

Haha yeah. That's gonna hurt losing. Hopefully our new situation lets one of us work part time so childcare cost would still be low.

[shafnutz05]

Our 15 month old daughter has loved just about every food we've given her. She will bypass all other foods to get to the broccoli, asparagus, etc. So my new pastime is experimenting different foods and seeing what she will like. So far, my record is nearly 100%. So far...

-Dill pickles - yes
-Truffle aioli (wtf) - yes
-Marinated olives - yes
-Black olives - a hesitant but affirmed yes
-Tuna - yes
-Cucumber - yes

I know this is around the age where they become fussy eaters, but she will eat anything. She's relatively normal size-wise (she's very tall percentage wise, not quite as high weight-wise) which amazes me because she is like a toddler vacuum cleaner.

[Pavel Bure]

First real sickness of the kiddo. Doc said maybe flu, really weird to feel this worried about a person. He's already doing better though.

[shafnutz05]

First real sickness of the kiddo. Doc said maybe flu, really weird to feel this worried about a person. He's already doing better though.

How old is yours?? I can't keep track of all of our kids' ages anymore I want to say roughly 9 months?

[Pavel Bure]

10.5 months.

On a side note wife and I agreed weeks was silly and after he's one well he's one, not 14 months etc.

[shafnutz05]

10.5 months.

On a side note wife and I agreed weeks was silly and after he's one well he's one, not 14 months etc.

Same