Controlling the Chaos!

Being an in-home childcare provider the potential for chaos is everywhere!  So, I try to plan out our day the best as possible to lessen the chances of a day going awry.  But, let’s be honest…with 5 lil’ ones, sometimes it gets crazy! 

Before opening my doors, I found some great labels for cups that I used with my two oldest girls at Babies R Us.  The girls were my only two using cups that needed labels at the time.  One was given the pink ladybug label and the other, the purple butterfly.  Worked perfectly!  Then, the littles got to a point where they too were using cups….cup overload! 

So, I looked up the company’s name who made the labels I loved and WOW, there was a whole line of products that worked perfectly for us!

The company is Vive Vita, owned by Robyn…mother of nine!  “Vive Vita is a Mompreneur company that provides practical solutions for problems today’s families encounter everyday.” (quote from vivevita.com) Practical?? Sign me up!  Love the idea of a mom creating items for families.  Who else knows what a family full of children needs better than a mom? 

Well, I fell in love with the Unique-4-Me Product Line.  In this line of products there are 6 different colors/icons.  Products include the cup labels, Pacifier Labels, My Spot Mats and toothbrush labels.

Bandette Cup Labels:

What I love about these labels is that they are easy to put on, easy to clean and cute!  I love things that are both cute and functional.  No more wondering whose cup is whose.  Also, I do not have to find 6 different colors of cups, so everyone can have their own color.  Just use a cup we already have and add the band!  I place their cups and lunch plates at the table and they know where they are to sit based on where their cup is, perfect!

These labels would be great for a large family (such as Robyn’s), playgroup, church nursery or daycare.  You can even add their name to the label and boil it to make it permanent! These cup labels have held up great in the dishwasher.  They leave no marks or residue on the cup, nor have they faded with the many washes they have been through!

Toothbrush Labels:

Unique idea!  We actually are starting to brush teeth after lunch.  So, these toothbrush labels will work perfectly for us!  My of my little guys is the orange lion, so his toothbrush will have the orange lion band on it.  Toothbrushes are definitely something you don’t want to get mixed up! The Toothbrush bands were a little harder to get on than the cup labels, but I certainly don’t want them falling off.  Plus, I will only be taking them off and putting them back on when a new toothbrush is needed.

My Spot:

As a former teacher I LOVE this idea! Wish I could have had 20 different versions of this product when teaching first grade!  The same cute little icons are used on these mats to help children visually identify where they should be sitting.  I also love that they reinforce sitting still and staying in one place .  These have worked magically during circle time.  No need to fight, no need to crowd other’s space.  Just sit on your own special mat!  They are made out of a material that has stood up well to even my youngest little ones.  I also like that they are slip proof and stay put where they placed.

 

Pacifier Keepster:

Well, with no little paci lovers at my home I came up with a much needed solution to a problem using the Pacifier Keepster.  I was not liking the idea of using paper towels after drying hands (wasteful), but couldn’t find many different colors of towels, so each child could have their own towel.  Enter the Pacifier Keepster.  Not what Robyn had envisioned I am sure, but it is EXACTLY what I needed!

I hung those Paci Keepsters up on the towel bar and clipped the towels to them.  Now, my ‘C’, the pink ladybug knows exactly which towel to use.  No waste, no mess of towels on the floor (the towels are actually baby washcloths from Target, perfect size for little hands) and I wash weekly or sooner if needed.  Works PERFECTLY!

I LOVE this line of products.  It sure has made my life as an in-home provider a lot easier.  One item I would suggest to add to this line would be laminated paper cut-outs using the icons, and a spot for the name.  I could use these on cubbies, on the floor (as a place to line up), on folders or pencil boxes.  The possibilities are endless!  I also love that my younger children would be seeing their name along side their icon, reinforcing name recognition.

Love these products as much as I do??  Check them out at the Vive Vita Website or the Vive Vita Facebook Page.

disclosure: these products were given to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.