Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his "5 cents" worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad's perspective.

When my wife Katy and I got married, building a life that was safe and healthy to raise a family was of the utmost important to us.  Living green has been a lifelong practice that really flourished as our family grew.  Our number one priority has been to raise a happy family and create a healthy environment for us, as well as, our surrounding community of Manhattan Beach, CA. We are often asked, “What can I do to live a green...

Every child has to learn how to be a good sport, and in turn, a good loser. Whether your child is playing a team sport like soccer or a board game at home there will come a time when they don’t win. And how they handle that loss will be extremely important. With seven children of my own ranging in age from 1 year to 27 years old, I’ve learned my fair share about sportsmanship over the years. Here are my tips for raising a child who is a team...

Between smart phones and computers people aren't required to interact face-to-face all the time anymore. And in my opinion, you need the face-to-face interactions to develop empathy for others and to, in turn, build and develop proper manners and etiquette. We should be working with our children to instill these values, encouraging them to spend less time on their computers, smart phones and gaming devices and to spend more time engaging with...

When your child comes to you questioning if Santa is real and asking you, the parent, to confirm – one way or the other – I suggest taking a step back and a deep breath before responding. Begin by asking your child why they’re asking this question in the first place. Did they hear something from another child at school? Or did they determine on their own that “Santa’s job” is seemingly impossible? If they’ve thought about it...

My mom and dad are the force of reconciliation in our family.  I am not saying we squabble, or fight as siblings even after 50 years of life, but my parents keep us together with celebration, tradition and the importance of family. Today they are in their 80's, and love to have "the family" over to their house for holidays, dinner, and conversation.  Because of this they have instilled an inherent quality in not only my brother and sister, but...

The holidays are a great time to get kids involved with family activities, such as, gift shopping, decorating and helping with a meal. It builds excitement and allows them to be a part of something bigger than just their presents.  As a father to 7, I’ve learned how to incorporate the kids in our holiday festivities over the years. Here are a few ideas to share with your family: Let them make some of the decisions. If you have decorations...

The holidays will soon be here, and parents everywhere are wondering how they can teach their kids how to express thankfulness on the holiday and beyond. Rather than just going around the table and saying a quick list of things they are grateful for, moms and dads want creative and unique "I'm Thankful For..." ideas that will get the kiddos in the spirit of giving thanks. Here are a few creative ways to teach kids to express thankfulness during...

As a father of seven, I’ve had my fair share of holiday shopping with kids.  It’s never an easy thing, but during the holidays it’s a lot more difficult.  This time of year, you need to be extra careful and pay extra close attention.  The stores are busy and you’re likely trying to manage extra baggage such as coats and shopping bags plus the kids. Here are a few tips for staying safe when holiday shopping with kids and...

Peer pressure can start at a young age and often begins simply and seemingly harmless, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Parents need to work with their young children to teach them ways in which they can resist peer pressure. With seven kids of my own, I’ve dealt with my fair share of it and I’ve also discovered several great ways to handle it. Be Yourself: Children often succumb to peer pressure because they’re afraid to say no...

As a seasoned traveler and dad to 7, I know how stressful it can be to fly with toddlers. Don’t get caught up in the stress this year, follow these tried and true tips for ensuring easy travel with your toddlers this winter and beyond. Planning Ahead for Toddlers: Buy some books about flying in a plane so that your child will understand the whole concept. You might also buy a toy plane that you can talk about with your toddler. Discuss...

Unfortunately, bullying does exist and it’s something parents need to look out for. There are many signs you can look for that will help you determine whether or not your child is being bullied, and there are lots of ways you, the parent, can help a bullied child, too. Three signs your child might be being bullied: Changes in behavior – It’s important to watch your child’s general mood, behavior and emotional state. One sign to...

Problem solving is a skill we all utilize day to day within our lives, but how did we learn it? It’s not the easiest thing to teach; however, there are many ways in which we, as parents, can help our children become excellent problem solvers. With seven kids of my own I’ve learned that there are lots of ways to help teach problem solving to children. Here are my top four tips: 1. Let Them Try It: One was to help teach kids to solve...