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A vegan diet endangers children’s health! Veganism is widespread and a popular diet these days. For adults, this is largely harmless to health if the menu offers enough variety. However, more and more parents are now serving their children exclusively vegan foods. Pediatricians criticize this since a completely animal-free diet endangers the health of the children and can even lead to death.

Vegan Diet: Harmful to Children

More and more parents are feeding their children animal-free foods. However, a vegan diet is a deliberate threat to the well-being of the child, as the director of the Regensburg University Hospital for Pediatric Medicine, Prof. Michael Melter, explains to the “Bild am Sonntag”. By not eating animal-based foods, there would be a nutrient deficiency, which would lead to delayed growth, According to Prof. Michael Melter, the worst consequence for the children is death.

In addition to physical damage, the intense control that vegan diets require often leads to eating disorders. The pediatrician Dr. Barbara Mühlfeld speaks from experience and emphasizes: “There is a clear connection between veganism in children and anorexia”.

Some parents celebrate veganism like religion and do everything they can to keep their children healthy, but don’t realize the drastic consequences, explains Dr. Josef Kahl, Federal Press Spokesman of the Professional Association of Pediatricians. It is difficult to explain to “missionary” parents the negative consequences of vegan nutrition for their children.

That’s what nutritional science says

According to the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), children should not be fed a vegan diet as this increases the risk of severe neurological disorders and developmental delays for the child.

The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) also advises against vegan nutrition in sensitive phases of life, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childhood: Due to growth, children have high demands on nutrient density with low nutrient stores at the same time. The result is an increased risk of undersupply or nutrient deficiency.

Particularly critical nutrients are protein, iron, calcium, iodine, zinc, vitamins B2, B12, and D, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The development and health of the children can be seriously damaged if the offspring are only fed vegan.

A nutrient deficiency can lead to blood formation disorders (iron and vitamin B12 deficiency), growth retardation (energy-protein malnutrition), and sometimes irreversible neurological disorders such as mental retardation (vitamin B12 and iodine deficiency). An insufficient supply of the mother with the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also have a negative impact on the development of the infant’s brain and retina.

A children’s birthday party is an absolute highlight for every child, especially if it’s their own birthday. A theme party is just the thing so that the children’s birthday party is not only remembered by the birthday child, but also by the guests.

A children’s birthday party requires a lot of preparation. It’s not just a question of where and how to celebrate. The parents are also concerned with the questions of who and how many guests should be invited, what there should be for snacking and drinking, and which presents will give the birthday child a lot of joy.

Theme parties: an absolute hit with children

Adult-themed parties are a trend that never seems to end. And these theme parties have long been a highlight of every child’s birthday party. While a colorful birthday cake with Minnie Mouse or Superman enchanted the little ones until a few years ago, there are more and more unusual ideas today. So if you want to inspire your child, throwing a theme party for the little ones can be just the thing. Above all, the design with a specific theme creates excitement among the little guests. We will help you with ideas and tips for organization.

Organization of a theme party for the children’s birthday party

You don’t just have to plan the invitations and care for the little ones. The decoration is just as important for celebrating a theme party. After all, balloons, pennant chains, streamers, and birthday candles are part of every birthday – no matter how old you get. In the following article, we will introduce you to different ideas and mottos that can be great fun at a children’s birthday party.

How about an early Halloween party for the kids, for example? Since there are many topics and opportunities for children, it can quickly be overwhelmed and difficult to make the right choice for the day of honor of the offspring. Nevertheless, you should think calmly and, above all, keep calm. Basically, you should first consider the following things:

1) What is the child’s favorite activity?

  • Does he/she have a favorite hero?
  • Are certain fairy tales popular?
  • Which is your favorite color?
  • Is there favorite music?
  • What’s your favorite game?
  • Which is your favorite book?

2) Design your own invitations or buy them

It’s especially nice when the guests find out that a theme party awaits them when they receive the invitation. An invitation in the respective look of the motto, such as a “Mia and Me” motif, makes the upcoming children’s birthday party even more fun. You can often buy such an invitation online. Or make the invitation yourself with your children. You can see some ideas in the video below. You can also find many other handicraft instructions on the Internet.

2) Make decorations yourself

In addition to the self-made Easter decorations and the Christmas decorations to make yourself, you can also make the decorations for the theme party yourself. “Mia and Me”, “Disney Princess” and “Frozen” are particularly popular with girls as theme parties and as decorations. One thing, in particular, is very popular with the boys: Star Wars. Here, too, there are no limits to your decoration ideas and your attention to detail due to the variety of products. With muffin lightsabers for decorating, muffin toppers, and cake decorations, you can decorate the treats wonderfully and let your creativity run free.

3) A party set makes the children’s birthday party easier

Whether cups, party bags, party plates, serviettes, or even a whole party set – the possibilities of designing the living room and the birthday table and birthday cake true to the motto are numerous and unusual. A complete party set is very practical and uncomplicated. Since the party set offers everything you need for the children’s birthday party and the decoration, you won’t forget anything important during the hectic preparation phase. As a result, you can focus on other things. How about preparing creative muffins for the little ones? You can easily find great party sets on the internet.

4) Unusual birthday cake for the children’s birthday party

The birthday cake is of course an integral part of every birthday party. Therefore, decorative elements such as a cake candle are an absolute must. With a cake topper in the look of the motto, you can easily decorate an easily prepared chocolate cake or grandma’s covered apple pie. And that makes it an absolute eye-catcher. You can also make the cake even more colorful and unusual with decorative rings and paper pins.

5) Ideas and mottos for girls’ children’s birthday party

Many girls like the classic theme parties, like a princess party. But girls might also feel like having a pirate party. So there are no limits to your ideas and you should pay special attention to your child’s wishes. We have collected the following popular mottos for girls:

Barbie party

Especially at a young age, dolls and especially Barbie play an important role in almost every girl’s life. Of course, one or the other Barbie doll can also be found in the children’s room. A children’s birthday party that takes place under the motto “Barbie” is very popular. The little ones can dress up together as the popular doll and also do some make-up. The hair is pinned up or a crown is put on. The advantage is that the dolls have different hairstyles and therefore there are different ways to finish them. If boys are also invited to the party, they can come as a male counterpart to the barbie, like Ken.

Pippi Longstocking Party

A slightly different birthday party is the one that takes place under the motto Pippi Longstocking. Because here are rather bold and strong girls in the foreground. The hair is mostly red and sticks out from the head in the form of two braids. Since the “real” Pippi Longstocking has a monkey and a horse, these can also be included in the party planning. Consequently, you can distribute stuffed animals in the room. An inflatable horse provides a lot of fun and skilfully rounds off the Pippi Longstocking motto. It is also a nice idea to have the birthday take place at a riding stable.

Washing children’s hair can become an ordeal if they don’t want to. There can be many different reasons why a child does not want to bathe or wash their hair. That’s why we’ve collected useful tips on how to wash your hair without stress.

Clever hair washing without shouting and tears

Washing hair is often a problem for young children, as they often don’t like having water and shampoo running down their faces. It is also possible that they completely refuse to take a bath. The reason for the refusal of bathing and hair washing is the children’s sensitive sense of balance.

By closing their eyes and nose, they quickly panic and lose their sense of direction. The shampoo can also trigger burning eyes. So overall not a great experience. But there are ways to make the matter appealing to your child:

1) Bathing and washing hair together

Get in the bath with your child and wash your hair first, allowing the child to rinse your hair. Hold a washcloth over your eyes as you rinse. Then it’s the turn of the fur of a bathing animal. Finally, it is your child’s turn and they can protect their eyes with the washcloth alone. Also, read helpful tips on bathing babies.

2) Provide sufficient distraction when washing children’s hair

If you want to massage your child’s hair with shampoo, first distract your child with a water toy. You should also use other small games in the bathtub that include rinsing off your hair. In this way, you take away your child’s fear of washing their hair.

3) Put on diving goggles when washing your hair

Rinsing your hair as a diver, with diving goggles on your eyes and a snorkel in your mouth: that’s fun! As a result, you avoid the critical situation in which your child gets water running down their face and panicking. You should also protect your children from dangers in everyday life

4) Wash hair like at the hairdresser

Likewise, it may be more comfortable for your child if you wash their hair like at the hairdresser. So put your child on a chair in front of the sink or the kitchen sink. Then let him tilt his head back. As a result, the water only comes to the back of the head and does not run into the eyes. Also, note tips for gently caring for your hair in winter.

Buying children’s shoes can be a real challenge. How do you find the right shoe with sufficient quality? We have compiled the most important information about buying shoes for children and provide an overview of the best providers.

Consequences of wrong footwear

Buying the right children’s shoes is important. Because baby and children’s feet are very flexible. The joints, muscles, and bones of a child’s foot are also not yet solid. Consequently, shoes that are too small or narrow can cause permanent damage to the foot. Studies on children’s feet and children’s shoes have shown that over 60 percent of children between the ages of three and six wear shoes that are too small. And these can lead to curvatures and other consequential damage to the foot and joint area. According to this, foot deformities caused by the wrong shoes are not uncommon in childhood. But by making a conscientious choice when purchasing, you can definitely avoid these consequences.

In contrast to adults, who complain of pain in the front foot or toe area when wearing a shoe that is too small, children can hardly localize such unpleasant pain due to the soft and flexible nature of the child’s foot. If the children’s shoes are too small, the big toes of the child’s foot are no longer in a straight position, but inevitably bend to the side.

At what age does a child need their first shoe?

You should start thinking about buying children’s shoes at the latest when you make your first tentative attempts to walk around the age of ten months. The right footwear serves as protection against cold, dirt, moisture, and hard surfaces outdoors. However, your child does not need shoes in the apartment. In order to protect children’s feet from cold floors in winter, a child’s slipper is completely sufficient.

What should parents consider when buying the right children’s shoes?

Parents can do a lot wrong when buying children’s shoes. It is therefore worth taking the following things to heart and seeking support when choosing a suitable children’s shoe. Consequently, we have summarized the most important tips for children’s shoes:

  • Buy children’s shoes in the selected specialist shop.
  • Consult trained sales personnel.
  • Have your foot professionally measured.
  • For children’s shoes, look for a WMS seal (wide, medium, narrow).
  • Children’s shoes should provide stable support and be durable.
  • Quality children’s shoes are mainly made of natural leather.
  • Buy a spare pair to change into so the shoes can air out and dry.
  • Regularly buy new children’s shoes.
  • Check the size every three to four months as children’s feet grow quickly.

Use cardboard template for buying children’s shoes

Since many shoes do not match the specified size and actual inner length, you can make a cardboard template of the child’s foot. To do this, place your child on a piece of cardboard and outline the edge of the foot with a pen. Add about eleven to twelve millimeters measured from the longest toe. Then cut out the footprint. Then you can insert this useful template into the selected model and thus check the optimal fit. Also, note tips for healthy feet despite foot deformities and how to widen narrow shoes.

What characteristics should a good children’s shoe have?

A good children’s shoe has a flat, flexible, and elastic sole. Thus, the foot is not hindered when rolling. Shoes with a footbed are not suitable for children so as not to impede the natural development of the foot. In order to ensure a stable hold for the ankle, children’s shoes should be equipped with a raised heel cap. Because this protects against painful sprains and keeps the ankle in a natural, fixed position. In addition, the outer and inner materials should be supple and breathable so that the foot does not overheat even on warmer days. Tying shoelaces is still largely impossible for very young children who wear shoes. Therefore, Velcro fasteners offer a simple and quick way to put on and take off. Also, note how you can remove odor from smelly shoes.

You can easily decorate the muffins with a locomotive made of smarties and waffles. The most important thing about a children’s birthday party is surprises! In this paragraph, you will find a recipe for both creative and delicious chocolate muffins.

Not only are treats for children’s birthday parties a great gift, but they also indicate the motto of your party at the children’s birthday party. These gifts make an impression on every birthday table! The children can also decorate muffins themselves at the children’s birthday party. They are also a nice give-away at the end of a party.

Ingredients chocolate muffins for children’s birthday party

You will already have most of the ingredients at home. If you don’t have a muffin tin, borrow one or buy one using the link below, for example. The reusable silicone muffin molds are also nice. You can also use paper cups, which you can buy in almost every supermarket. For the chocolate muffins as motto cakes we need the following ingredients for 12 pieces:

  • 125g softened butter
  • 150 grams of sugar
  • 1 packet of vanilla sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 200 g dark chocolate
  • 200 grams of flour
  • 4 tablespoons baking cocoa
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 175 ml milk
  • 12 paper muffin cups
  • 1 12-hole muffin tin

Preparation of the muffins with the locomotive

Funny decorated muffins or cakes for children’s birthdays are always an eye-catcher. If the decoration also fits the motto of the birthday party, then the surprise is a success. What’s nicer than fancy, fun muffins with Smarties? Muffins to decorate yourself. With these step-by-step instructions, even children can make sweet cakes if they get a little help from mum and dad.

  1. First mix the butter with the vanilla sugar.
  2. Then stir in the eggs.
  3. Now roughly chop the chocolate.
  4. Then preheat the oven to 180 degrees (convection 160 degrees).
  5. Also mix flour with cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder and mix well.
  6. Then fold in a third of the chocolate.
  7. Line the wells of the muffin tin with paper cases.
  8. Divide the batter into the molds.
  9. Then distribute the remaining chocolate chips on the muffins.
  10. Finally, bake the cakes in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes.

Ingredients for decorating with smarties

You can build many different decorations on your cupcakes. How about making scary figures on the muffins for pranks and Halloween? Or bring something very special to a summer party or a barbecue party in summer? Small cakes for dessert with edible flowers as decoration. For the train fans, you need the following ingredients to build 12 locomotives on top of the muffins:

  • 12 chocolate rolls (you can find them on the cookie shelf).
  • 6 chocolate biscuit sticks (e.g. Mikado).
  • 48 chocolate lentils or Smarties.
  • 1 tube of edible food-grade glue.
  • 12 square waffle cookies or dominoes.
  • possibly colored fondant or chocolate icing as a base for the locomotive.

Make your own edible glue

You don’t necessarily have to go buy the edible glue. If you make it the night before, you can also use homemade glue to attach your decorations to the muffins the next day. You need 50 ml of boiled water and a quarter of a teaspoon of CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), as well as an empty jar that can be closed well. If you don’t have a CMC at hand, you can also make the glue with 50 g sugar and 25 ml water. The following video explains how to cook the sugar glue.

Preparation of the creative surprise

Children aged five and over can decorate the muffins with the locomotive with a little help. Children from the age of eight can do it all on their own. Especially on children’s birthday parties, such a baking campaign is a nice activity that the children will remember for a long time. A photo captures the little bakers for eternity. In order for the locomotives to succeed, it is best to proceed as follows:

  1. First brush the cooled muffins with the chocolate icing.
  2. Cut out 12 circles from fondant and glue them to the muffins with a dab of edible glue.
  3. The locomotive can also be glued directly to the muffins.
  4. To do this, stick the biscuit roll on and let it dry.
  5. Then glue the square wafer biscuit to one end of the biscuit roll.
  6. Glue the four wheels made of chocolate beans to the sides.
  7. Glue the chimney from the biscuit sticks with chocolate.
  8. Finally, let everything dry well.