Waldorf education looks like...

Experiential learning.

Our back-to-school shopping list for my toddler's Waldorf school included "full rain gear".  Each child is required to have their raincoat, rain pants, and rain boots because the class goes outside to experience all sorts of weather.  Rainy days are the best!



You'e got to visit TGR Exotics Wildlife Park!

What an amazing find for those in the Houston area!  TGR Exotics Wildlife Park is just north of Houston in Spring and showcases an incredible array of exotic animals.  This is a great alternative to the larger Houston Zoo, especially if you have young children.  We recently attended a playdate out on their property during their pumpkin patch season.  They have a fenced-in play space for kids to look at bunny rabbits, do arts and crafts activities, dig in troughs filled with dried corn, paint pumpkins, and pet the resident tabby cat.  (Out of all the exotic species living at the park my daughter loved that tom cat more than anything else!)  The owner even brought out one of the young joey kangaroos for the kids to pet.  That was a first for us! 

Above is a photo of one of the young camels that the kids were able to touch through the fence.  He was pretty friendly and the kids got to feel his coat, scratch his nose, and even learn about how they chew cud (smelling his burps was a highlight for our giggly group).  On our hayride we saw miniature horses, a loud turkey, goats, kangaroos, coatis, bearkats, and another one of my daughter's favorites-- the lovable capybara!  That's the largest rodent in the world...think giant hamster.

The owner was incredibly hospitable and fantastic with the children.  This was such a unique learning experience for us that we will be back many more times in the future.  The facility is well-maintained, the animals are loved, and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable.  I highly recommend this for your visit to Houston or for those living in the area.  What a find! Here's their website for more info:
http://www.tgrexotics.com/

Wow! Breastfeeding, baby-wearing, co-sleeping, and even an involved father!

What a gem of a children's book I just found today!  We were at a local kids consignment store choosing books when I noticed one authored by Dr. Sears.  It was What Baby Needs by William & Martha Sears with Christie Watts Kelly.  I love Dr. Sears!  His Baby Book was the most helpful manual during my daughter's first two years of life.  My personal copy attests to that with its torn pages, pages that have been cried on, breast milk spilled on, baby food smeared on, and a cover with coffee rings and cat tooth marks...all the signs of a good read. So, I was delighted to find a children's book by the amazing Sears family.  The story is about a mom and a dad with two children who have their third newborn baby.  It depicts ways the older siblings can get involved in caring for the baby and explains how life changes when a new baby arrives. 

What makes it stand out amongst the "new baby in the family" children's books is that it portrays Attachment Parenting as normal and healthy.  For instance, the mother is shown discreetly breastfeeding, modest skin-to-skin contact is mentioned and its importance to the newborn, the baby sleeps in mom and dad's room in a co-sleeper, both mom and dad wear the baby in a sling while they multi-task, and dad is shown feeding the baby a bottle-- but it is mentioned that it's breast milk in the bottle, not formula. 

Interestingly, I picked up on the fact that baby never comes home from the hospital.  Hmmmm.  In some of my daughter's other books about new babies in the family the baby always has to "come home from the hospital".  This is very out of place in our family since she was born at home and I only plan on having home births.  Ideally in our society we would have a system in place where home births would be the norm and medically-necessary hospital births would be the exception to that norm.  Therefore, in this book, the first picture of the family is in bed.  It looks like this could have been a home birth or a birth in a birthing center.  Knowing the Sears' views, this looks quite intentional. 

Below is a picture taken from the book that I just love!  Notice Dad wearing a sling and taking the baby out while mom gets some time with her other child.  On the other page, mom is wearing baby-- and, thus, freeing her hands-- while they shop for healthy foods! Do you see how happy those kids are about celery?!!  I'm sure that was drawn intentionally, too.

It's nice to see such an involved father in this book.  Too often the dads get pushed to the side when babies are little so I love how this shows all the neat things dads can do. I must say, this illustrated father really steps up to the plate and serves as a true hero for his family.  It's practical, too, with it's tips for parents and the way it connects with older siblings.  I highly recommend this for your own family or for an expecting mom who already has kids.  So inspirational when seen in the form of a children's book.

Let me say that my daughter hasn't put this down.  She keeps looking at the illustrations and loves all of the adventures the newborn baby has with his family.  I breastfed her for 22.5 months so she knows that babies drink milk from their moms and she recognized the sling immediately.  She herself has been carried over two years in a Dr. Sears sling from his store.  We are thinking about conceiving Baby #2 in the spring or summer and I feel much more confident about her ability to be a big sister after seeing her connect with the ideas and pictures in this book.  This is the family I want to be!

Since reviewing this book, I've purchased Baby On The Way by Dr. Sears, the book before this one that details the mom's pregnancy and birth.  I've also added some more Attachment Parenting children's books to my wish list.  Check these out:
A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying Around The World by Emery Bernhard
Carry Me (Babies Everywhere) by Star Bright Books
Mama's Milk by Michael Elsohn Ross
We Have a Baby by Catheryn Falwell
Welcome With Love by Jennie Overend
We Like To Nurse illustrated by Chia Martin
We Like To Nurse Too illustrated by Mary Young

How to make easy felted balls

Felted balls are a common natural toy made of wool roving.  They're soft, beautiful and retain all of the benefits of wool.  I made my own version of these balls yesterday for our afternoon art project.  Something so simple but lovely to hold.  We call these "treasure balls". 

Supplies:
100% wool roving yarn (or any wool yarn but I like "roving" because it felts better)
Jingle bells (I prefer a medium to large size)
Pantyhose
Detergent and/or dish soap
Vinegar

Procedure:
1. Wind the wool roving yarn firmly around the jingle bell until you have a ball in the size and shape you like.  Repeat this for as many balls as you wish to make.
2.  Take a pantyhose leg and stuff one ball inside and tie it off with a piece of yarn to hold it's shape in the washing machine.  Repeat this for as many balls as you're making.  Each ball needs to be tied off individually so that it looks like a strand of pearls, not a bean pod.  The end result might look like a caterpillar.
3.  Wash in the washing machine with detergent for a few hot/cold cycles.
4.  If this isn't enough to felt it, what I did was soak and rub the balls in one bowl of hot water with dish soap and then alternate with a bowl of ice cold water.  I found it easier to put the 2 bowls in the kitchen sink since you'll have splashes. Alternate washing and aggitating the balls a few times.
5.  Rinse in white vinegar and then rinse it one last time in water.
6.  Remove the balls from the pantyhose (or you can remove them immediately after they come out of the washing machine) and let them dry.  The pantyhose will be stuck to the balls but just peel it off or cut as much of the pantyhose off with scissors.  It might be a little fuzzy, but it'll come off.
NOTE:  Feel free to mix pieces of yarn together to create different color combinations.  Or, try making an orange felt ball to be a pretend orange, or a red one for an apple, or a bunch of little purple ones to create a bunch of grapes.  They can be a model solar system, snowmen, beads for jewelry, or garlands for decorating. With the jingle bell inside they make perfect cat toys or the larger sized balls can be used for baby toys. I get a lot of inspiration from Etsy or just Google images of it.

Applying "Mindful Parenting" with simple verses.

Overwhelmed is how I've been feeling lately due to obligations, dealing with illness, dealing with difficult people, dealing with homeschooling my toddler part-time and always being "on" and 100% at my best, dealing, dealing...there's always a challenge in our path as mothers.  As humans beings.  Such is life. Therefore, I've been forced to use all these wonderful "tools" in my "emotional toolbox".  I wanted to share a simple tactic that has helped me get through these past weeks.

Many of you are familiar with the concept of mindful parenting.  Being mindful, living with intention, and doing everything I do with purpose are major goals in life for me. It's nothing I've mastered, but it is certainly a practice.  Here is a link to their website and one I've found to be inspirational in my own life.  It really speaks to me and what I'm trying to accomplish in my mothering: http://www.themindfulparent.org/

On their website you'll notice their mission statement.  Repeat it to yourself.  Being "better grounded in the present moment" is the part that resonates with my soul the most.  I need lots of help being in the moment and savoring each precious day. 

I've started using the verses suggested from The Mindful Parent.  Waldorf education makes very good use of verses and I've started making up little rhymes with almost every activity we do at home.  They serve as a way to transition from one activity to the next, to bring the child's attention to the task at hand, and makes it seem like it's a task worth doing.  For example, at school we complete the chore of folding laundry whilst singing "butterfly so high, butterfly so high, friends forever, folding together".  Or, when making the bed it's "make the bed, make the bed, every body make the bed".  Likewise, if I'm having a morning with dread and stress creeping in I purposefully say This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.  That simple memory verse brings my focus to the weight and wonder of living through another cycle of a day on earth.  It reminds me that God wants me to be alive on this very day in this very place.  It's not something to be taken lightly.  It's an abundant gift. 

The idea behind the use of verses is that it forces the parent's attention back to the child, focuses their response to the child, and helps parents enjoy those moments of "stillness and deep joy".  Meditations and verses help parents return to that "place of stillness".  Too often we simply go through the moments without enjoying this rich world around us, without enjoying this connection with our children.  When I am connected with my daughter and in a place of mindfulness, I am in such a state of peace.  I love being a mother in these moments.  And, when things get out of hand, I can handle them with much more calm and stay in control of the situation. 

Check out their website and try them out in your own life.

A special gift from A Toy Garden

I just received a package I ordered from A Toy Garden, one of my favorite natural toy stores.  This was a gift for my 2-year-old and it arrived so quickly that I'm having to hide it a few more days until it's time to open it.  This was the fuschia pink Sweetie Pie Doll and the set of 4 Summer Play Silks, all lovely in color and of heirloom quality.  The doll is the perfect 13" size for her right now, slightly weighted with millet and surpisingly sturdy.  The silks are thicker than others on the market and are the most versatile "toy" a child can own.  She loves building with them, they're blankets for her stuffed animals, it's for dress-up, it's for scenery, or just snuggling with the natural silk fabric. 

This gift was purchased because I am in the process of transitioning out of our old plastic, battery-operated toys to more natural, open-ended ones.  For instance, the toy "wish-list" for my daughter includes: Waldorf dolls (handmade of wool with minimal features), wooden Ostheimer/Kinderkram animals and people, thick play silks, wooden puzzles, handmade musical instruments, Stockmar modeling beeswax, Stockmar block crayons, little face-less gnomes, silk and felted crowns for dress-up, a handmade train set, some needle-felted figures, a set of wooden eggs and more wooden pretend food. 

I've donated, sold, and thrown away a lot of my daughter's old toys as I have slowly and thoughtfully replaced them with high quality ones that encourage open-ended play.  (Let me reiterate that we've done this gradually throughout the past year and I don't advise anyone to switch toys on a child overnight. Start by replacing the toys they don't use anymore. And, yes, some of her old toys we have decided to keep.  For instance, she loves her pink plastic kitchen with the blender that makes sounds.  We've also got this giant plastic riding horse that says, "Giddy up, partner! Let's set up camp for the night! Oh, no!  It's a stampede!" So we are in no way Waldorf purists!  It's all about the small changes here and there.)  Many of these were gifts so we've kindly asked loved ones to avoid anything with batteries and popular cartoon characters.

Speaking of the cartoon character issue, I had a conversation with a like-mided mom last week and made the comment that we were a "Dora-free family".  She knew exactly what I meant.  We want our kids to use their own brain power to develop the characters in their play and to write their own scripts.  We want our kids to be surrounded by more wholesome and innocent figures than Barbie dolls.  We don't want advertising campaigns influencing what our children consume or their values.  I'd seriously prefer my family give her a sock filled with rice, a basket of acorns, a hand-made item, or an experience such as a trip to the museum...anything but SpongeBob.  To explore this topic more, please click on this link to read the Chicago Tribune article, "Cartoon pals stay home:  Looking to combat classroom distractions and marketing overload, some schools are banning media characters":
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-04/features/sc-fam-0104-character-free-class-20110104_1_private-schools-waldorf-schools-american-montessori-society

And let's not forget that the best part of any new package is the box it came in!  My daughter loves turning these boxes into cat houses, she decorates them with crayons, it's a boat, it's a car, it's a table for a tea party...you really see those little minds constructing and creating. 

Making this toy conversion gives some parents pause due to the higher cost compared with items found at the local chain or big box store.  (It certainly gives me pause, which is a good thing!  It forces me to think about what and how much I purchase.  It forces me to be a conscientious consumer and mother.) The cost reflects the high quality materials used such as woods, silks, wools, linens, cottons, metals, beeswax, organic herbs, and they cost more to manufacture.  You won't be pulling any "made in China" stickers off these toys.  Most are made in the USA or are Fair Trade items made in developing countries.  A Toy Garden offers lots of unique fair trade toys that make your dollars stretch even further into the lives of others.  Even with the higher cost, I've come to see that these toys are worth it in the long run.  They are an investment.  You won't be throwing away broken parts the day after Christmas and they're so open-ended that their multiple uses last more years.  A toy a toddler can play with can also be used in a different way by an older sibling.

It is far better to have fewer toys that will recieve much more use.  Try visiting these stores for some beautiful children's items:
http://www.atoygarden.com/
http://www.palumba.com/
http://www.novanatural.com/
http://www.rosiehippo.com/
http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/

Celebrating Autumn Without Halloween

October can mean more to your family besides binging on teeth-rotting candy, stressing out over the perfect costume, and over-indulging in all the negative imagry of gore.  I choose not to celebrate Halloween and I have noticed a growing number of families in the suburban Houston area who have opted for alternatives.  For instance, I've noticed several church marquees advertising fall festivals in lieu of trick-or-treating.  KSBJ always has an updated list of harvest festivals that are family-friendly, too.  So, as I was Googling for other options, I found Elizabeth Ackerman's article from the Montrose Alternative Education Examiner on "Ten Alternative Ways to Celebrate Halloween".  http://www.examiner.com/alternative-education-in-denver/ten-alternative-ways-to-celebrate-halloween  Maybe this article can spark new traditions in your family.

Let me add that my daughter's Waldorf school does not host a Halloween party like the area public schools.  Autumn brings two festivals to their school:  Michaelmas and Martinmas.  Both are observed through story-telling, songs, arts & crafts, and a healthy community potluck.  Both of these events have stories with deeper moral values and symbolism:
http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/2008/09/michaelmas-festival.html
http://maymomvt.blogspot.com/2007/11/making-lanterns-for-martinmas.html

Our paper mache lanterns made by layering tissue paper and watered-down glue over balloons.

Being an evolving Waldorf family, what we have done is incorporate some of these autumn themes into our circle time with songs about spiders (ie, The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Miss Muffet), learn about the lives of spiders, and read story books with spiders in them.  Instead of carving jack-o-lanterns, we are learning about pumpkins and squash as foods.  These have really caught her eye in the store since they're so different from her familiar bananas, apples and baby carrots.  Learning about seasonal produce is a focus for us so that her diet remains varied.  She can expand her tastes to include healthy foods that most kids are not eating.  (Aren't french fries the number one vegetable most kids eat?!) My toddler can touch and feel the unique texture of acorn squash, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash at the grocery store.  She can then help me cut it up, remove the seeds, cook it, and help prepare a special autumn meal made from autumn produce.  One of the special recipes we are trying to perfect is real pumpkin soup that is served inside a hollowed-out pumpkin.  I think this is an impressive way to present soup and gives it a better purpose than carving it for mere decoration.  I found this recipe if you'd like to try it tonight for your dinner:
http://www.food.com/recipe/martha-stewarts-pumpkin-soup-in-a-pumpkin-13557

Every fall I love to cook roasted acorn squash.  I cut the squash in half, add butter, chopped walnuts or pecans, some brown sugar, dried cranberries, and roast it in the oven.  The red cranberries give it additional color and the beautiful shape of the squash is a stand-out on the dining room table. This also makes a nice brunch dish. 

My favorite butternut squash dish is a good bisque!  I'm still looking for one that my toddler will eat but that has enough extra flavor to interest adults.  Otherwise, it makes a nice puree that combines well with peaches or pears or mangos for tasty and healthy baby food.

Don't forget about the beautiful and antioxidant-rich pomegranates that are common in the fall.  We just bought a few today and she had a wonderful "moment of discovery" as we cut into it and and saw it reveal dozens of little ruby pearl seeds.  She helped me meticulously remove the seeds and we sprinkled them on top of our salad.  Speaking of salads, try combining your fresh pomegranate seeds with kale or spinach and add sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, carrots...the possibilities are endless. Pomegranate chicken is another favorite dish of mine.

Whatever you do with your autumn produce, it is far better than participating in the mass consumerism that is promoted this time of year.  Isn't spending more time in the produce section better than visiting the black-and-orange-mega-size-candy aisle?  If you have the option, why not take your children to a local pumpkin patch instead of that typical school or friend sugarfest/costume party?  Take a hay ride, craft your own scarecrow, knit a blanket, pay attention to the local wildlife as they prepare for winter, or donate winter coats to a shelter.  For instance, something simple and beautiful I did this morning was to take my daughter outside in the early hours to look at the bright moon and stars still shining before dawn.  These dark mornings are so neat for kids to observe and are a signal to them that summer has gone and a new, colder season is approaching. 

With this Halloween bombardment, I'm reminded about my desire to create more wholesomeness in my soul and in my family.  I love how Waldorf education brings this out in me.  Needless to say, the way Halloween is celebrated just makes me feel yucky...tainted...anything but healthy and vibrant and thriving.  It doesn't move me forward in life.  So, we will be turning off our porch lights on the 31st, enjoying each other's company, and not eating candy corn-- but a nice, hot bowl of homemade soup.  What are you doing with your pumpkin?

Crayon Rocks for your back-to-school supplies!

Coloring will never be the same again!  I just discovered the joy of the crayon rock, a soy and beeswax crayon shaped like a rock.  Why is it shaped like a rock?  Well, not only does it look fun, it was designed by a special needs teacher to improve the tripod grip in youngsters. 

Here is a photo of my daughter coloring with her's in her Waldorf play stand.  They look so special packaged in a lovely velvet pouch...like magic beans or little treasures.  The texture is superb and similar to a pastel.  They are a delight to hold in the hand and I noticed they soften the skin, too.  They don't roll off the table, there aren't wrappers to peel off, and they can't be broken in half.  They're reasonably priced at about $7.50 for a pouch of 16 colors.  I haven't seen them in local stores, but one can easily order them through Amazon or most natural toy stores.  I bought mine from The Wooden Wagon (http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/).  Additional information can be found on the manufacturer's website at http://www.crayonrocks.net/.  Don't start school without these rocks!

10th Annual Houston B.I.R.T.H. Fair!

Mark your calendars for this year's 10th annual Houston B.I.R.T.H. Fair!  This free event will take place Saturday, October 1, 2011, at the United Way Center.  It's a jam-packed fair for all things related to pregnancy, birth, babies, children, and family.  It's name stands for "Bringing Information and Resources To Houston". You'll see midwives, obstetricians, nurses, doulas, chiropractors, child-birth educators, lacation consultants, and all kinds of cool people involved in the ever-growing Houston natural birth community.  This is far from the average information most women receive about birth in this country.  This fair will provide families with new information and the resources they need to make their childbearing years some of the most joyous. Speakers, discussion forums, children's activities, and lots of shopping will fill the day.  Don't miss it! 

This is also the first year I will be volunteering for the Fair, a true labor of love for me.  No other event in Houston brings all of my favorite mommy things together like this one.  And, don't assume it's just for mothers.  Bring the husbands and granparents, too. 

Find out how to use cloth diapers, where to buy them, and check out all the cute styles that are available on the market.  It's far from the typical fold-and-pin-and-cover days.  Save money, save the earth, and save your child from diaper rash. 

Check out different baby carriers and slings.  Not all baby carriers work for every body type and size.  If one baby carrier was uncomfortable or hurt your back, come out and try a different style.  I used my Moby Wrap the entire first year of my daughter's life, but now use the Dr. Sears-recommended Baby Balboa ring sling.  I plan to shop for a mei tei carrier and see what other ring slings are available.  Houston boasts several area Baby Wearing clubs where caregivers can learn how to safely and comfortably carry their baby. 

Did you know that there are plenty of midwives practicing in the Houston area?  Giving birth does not always necessitate hiring an OBGYN.  Healthy patients might want to check out their options by meeting some of the most impressive women in health care today.  Some work in a hospital birth setting, others in birth centers, and some perform home births.  Come discover what a difference a midwife makes at your birth.  Personally, I fired my OBGYN and switched to a certified nurse midwife during my 28th week of pregnancy after it became clear that the local hospital was not capable of giving me the birth I wanted.  But, that's another post entirely. 

Come out to shop all the spectacular vendors with quality products aimed at enhancing your parenting years.  The variety at the B.I.R.T.H. Fair is usually more health-conscious than one would find in the typical big-chain baby stores.  Find that unique baby shower gift, birthday present, or "push" present.  If you have kids, this is the shopping day for you. 

What on earth is a doula?!  In a nutshell, a doula is a trained and certified birth attendant that one hires to help during the labor process and birth.  Some might have a medical background but they are primarily there to help the mother and father through their birth and ensure that they get the birth that they wanted.  I hired a doula for my birth with my daughter and it was the best decision I ever made.  They typically cost around $300 to $600 (mine was $500) and she was the biggest help during my physically challenging home birth.  If you're having a hospital birth, I think they are even a greater asset as an advocate in a hospital setting where laboring mothers often have to fight for their rights.  Come out and and see why women love them!

I guarantee you will leave with the most positive outlook on birth than you've ever had.  Prepare to be uplifted and inspired.  Find out more at http://www.houbirth.org/

The Great Oak School sharing some Waldorf fun at the BIRTH Fair kids area

Good, clean felted soap!

Felted soap is another craft I learned how to make at my daughter's Waldorf school.  I never knew such a thing existed until another mother told me you can buy a bars of the stuff at Anthropologie...for a lot more.   It's basically a bar of soap in a decorative wool cover.  You take your favorite bar of soap, wrap it in wool roving, and aggitate the heck out of it until it mats down.  The end result is a gorgeous soap that comes with its own washcloth. They make great gifts and it is a fun activity to do with children.  I recently taught some other moms how to make felted soap at a playdate I hosted.  Check out our pretty soap below. 

FELTED SOAP

You will need:
-Bar of soap (one that lathers well, rounded shape works best)
-Wool Roving in different colors (sold at craft stores by the yarn section or order online for better quality)
-Bucket or container filled with hot water
-Rubber gloves (if the water is too hot for your hands)
-Ziploc sandwich bags

How to make:
1.  Cut the bar of soap in half if it's too big.  Smaller halves work better in smaller hands. 
2.  Wrap the bar of soap with pieces of wool in any color combination you like.  Wrap it in several layers, alternating directions. 
3.  After the soap is wrapped and you can no longer see the soap bar, submerge it in a tub of hot water and start rubbing the soap to make it sudsy.   Keep scrubbing the soap for a while.
4.  Transfer the bar of soap into the Ziploc bag, seal it, and continue rubbing the bar.  Rubbing it inside the plastic bag helps keep your house cleaner if you're making this craft indoors. 
5.  After several minutes of aggitating the bar of soap, remove it and let it dry. 

Make your own toys!

I made my first hand-made Waldorf doll last fall at my daughter's school.  The moms sewed together little doll bodies and stuffed them with wool. It's much harder than it looks.  Waldorf dolls are purposely unfinished so that children can use their own creativity in how they play with them.  The doll's emotions and what it represents is more open-ended than, say, a Barbie. 

 I am not a crafty person by any means, but this was a project that inspired other activities in our home.  For one, I actually started sewing on buttons and repairing little tears in seams.  Nothing huge, but hubby was impressed.   From this, I started making little dolls out of socks.  My toddler enjoys carrying around heavy socks stuffed with rice.  I plan to add more detail to the dolls as I have time.  It's a great idea for summer activities.  For the kitty below, I stuffed one of my husband's ankle socks with lentils, covered it with the other sock, and sewed the ears down.  The fish is one of her newborn mittens and the yarn is a leftover scrap.  The heel portion makes a good "face" for the doll. 

Flying with a toddler-- what I've learned.

As the summer vacation season approaches, our family will be getting ready for overseas travel with a two-year-old.  This will be her third transatlantic flight and, hopefully, the easiest one so far.  It will also mark a major milestone in her young life-- the first time she will have her very own seat.  Contrary to the online advice I read about purchasing your baby their own ticket,  I found that she did well as a lap child.  In fact, I wonder if she'll even sit in her own seat at all during the flight.  She certainly prefers sitting in our laps or standing in the aisles. 

I've read some more online advice about traveling with toddlers that I wanted to share.  Not to mention, I've seen some really great toddlers on flights and I've sat in front of some really rowdy ones, too.  This is what we've learned:
1.  My baby sling was the most useful tool in flying with a baby/toddler.  I still use it and plan to use it for this trip.  (I use the Dr. Sear's recommended adjustable Baby Balboa Sling.) I feel more secure having her sleep connected to me so that I know she won't fall if we hit turbulence.  This makes it possible for mommy to get some rest, too.  Don't forget the travel neck pillow!
2.  New gifts and small treasures go a long way in entertaining little kids on a flight.  They get the thrill of seeing something new.  I've heard of wrapping them as gifts so that the child can unwrap them. 
3.  Plan some activities for the flight.  Coloring books, sticker books, picture books, small DVD players, finger puppets, play-doh and little dolls are great fun. Set aside some time to sing songs with your child, especially songs with motion or finger plays. 
4.  Visit other children on the plane.  We did this last time and it was delightful!  Several of the other small kids all gathered together and sang little songs, played together and shared toys.  It was like an impromptu play date and made the trip more enjoyable. 
5.  Eat in shifts.  If you are travelling with your spouse or another adult, have them entertain the baby while you eat and then take turns.  This reduces the mess involved with eating in a crowded space with wild toddler hands.  Eat the messiest items on your tray first so they don't have a chance to get all over you.  Save the packaged items on your tray for later snacks. Even the child-size meals are too large for a toddler at one time and chances are they will get hungry as soon as the trays are taken away. 
6.  Drink clear liquids on the flight such as water, club soda, Sprite, etc. that will not stain your clothes. Just say no to the cranberry juice! You WILL get food on yourself.  Yes, the cup on your tray WILL spill. Yes, your toddler will bump your arm as you try to sip that hot coffee. Think about this when packing snacks for the trip, too.  Stay away from snacks that will stain (note: red suckers equal red drool).  Pack one of those Tide stain pens in your bag along with plenty of wipes. 
7.  Take your child for a walk around the plane.  If they are restless, please do not force them to sit down and kick the seat in front of them.  Allow them to walk around and use up some of that energy. (My daughter can usually charm the other passengers into giving her candy as she tries to chat with them. It kills time.)
8.  The same idea should be applied to walking around the airport.  Use up that energy before the flight by letting your kids walk around and wiggle before they have to sit down in a small space.  Some airports even have indoor playgrounds for kids.  For instance, Chicago's O'Hare Airport has a fabulous play area for kiddos that's free of charge.  Take advantage of it! 
9.  Limit sugar and caffeine.  Don't make their restlessness any worse by stuffing them with chocolate and Pepsi.  Water-down their juice and offer snacks without sugar. 
10.  I've heard different advice regarding ear pain from the pressure.  I have suffered from severe "barotrauma" on flights for years.  Have the child drink something, eat something, chew gum, suck on a sucker, and get them to swallow.  Try to have them yawn by having them watch you yawn.  If the child is old enough, show them how to blow through their nose while they shut their mouth (the Vasalva maneauver).  I have tried ear inserts called "Ear Planes" sold at drugstores with mixed results.  They make some in an adult and children's size.  It's worth trying if you anticipate ear pain.  In my experience, I've had to repeatedly try a Vasalva if I couldn't yawn just right to pop my ears.  However, our toddler has never had a problem with ear pain.
11.  Dress in layers.  This goes for mom, dad, baby, and everyone else in your party.  Not only are airplanes usually cold, but if something stains the top layer it is much easier to remove it and still look presentable.  Pack an extra sweater or shawl in the carry-on to throw over a top if needed. 
12. Wear dark patterns that camoflauge spills.  Avoid wearing white at all costs since this will certainly get dirty.  Make your trip easier with wrinkle-free, quick-drying fabrics.

A photo of our daughter sleeping in between us.  On this flight she preferred to lay out on the seats instead of sleep in the sling.