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Power of Positive Thinking Is Psychology's Latest Focus
Lindsay Lyon
Positive psychology itself is a relatively nascent field. Formally founded a decade ago by the University of Pennsylvania's Martin Seligman, its emphasis on what goes right with people was a sea-change from psychology's traditional preoccupation with what goes wrong -- from depression and anxiety to mental illness of all flavors. ...
Parenting - Spanking Causes More Harm as Children Get Older
Nancy Shute
Spanking is a huge hot-button issue for parents. Many psychologists say that spanking or any other physical discipline harms children and their relationship with their parents. But quite a few parents disagree, and some experts do, too.
Seasonal Cold or Swine Flu? Moms Face Tough Calls
Deborah Kotz
I sent my 11-year-old son to school today with a stuffy nose and mild cough, as I've done countless times in the past. Now, though, I'm wondering whether I should have kept him home. How do I know it's really a garden-variety cold and not the swine flu?
Trick-or-Treat? Conquer Sugar by Offering Kids Sweeter Alternatives
Lilian Presti
In an age when close to one in five kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese, should we be rethinking our manner of celebrating Halloween, or simply carry on with what we've been doing? The answer appears to lie somewhere in the middle, according to childhood obesity experts ...
Bridging the Generation Gap Has Gone Too Far
Ana Veciana-Suarez
A Pew Research Center study earlier this summer found that while two-thirds of Americans 16 and older saw an age divide, respondents didn't believe it caused a lot of problems in their families or society. The generational squabble, the report states, "is a much more subdued affair than the one that raged in the 1960s."
Parenting - All Kids Need is Love And Attention
Lilian Presti
Many of us parents believe purchasing educational toys or providing them with the latest technology will help them to be smarter, more creative or at the very least help them to get a head start. But there are rumblings that these assumptions of what helps children learn and develop may well have been based more on effective marketing than on any real proof.
Newborn Screening Can Identify a Variety of Treatable Conditions
Dietrich Matern, M.D., and
The blood taken from your baby after she's born will be examined to find out if she has any of a variety of treatable conditions. This procedure, called newborn screening, is very important because these conditions can be most effectively treated when they are identified early, before symptoms appear.
What Parents Do not Know About How Their Kids Use Facebook & MySpace
Nancy Shute
Parents of teenagers know how important texting and social networking sites like MySpace, Bebo, and
What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots
Nancy Shute
The questions I asked at my daughter's well-child doctor visit this week were not happy ones: They were all about what to do if the swine flu pandemic gets much worse this fall and she becomes sick. I left the pediatrician's office just as worried.
Taking the Kids to Alaska and Meeting Some Bears
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids
Welcome to 'bear camp,' an outpost of the Kenai Peninsula fishing lodge Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations, where families come to hike, fish, raft and, of course, check out the bears.
Taking the Kids and Myself to a Spa
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids
Of course, my mom never took me to a spa -- I don't think she's ever been to one herself -- but I've taken my daughters to spas from the Caribbean to Colorado, from Arizona to Austria from the time they were young teens, and like others their age, they are perfectly at home getting facials and massages. It turns out they've got plenty of company
Taking the Kids To Mexico Where You'll Find Adventure, Culture, Beaches and Great Deals
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids
We're just an hour or so from Cancun, a few miles from Playa del Carmen, five miles off the highway along a bumpy road in Rio Secreto, a unique cave just opened to the public last year, after the owner of the land, Don Cleo, inadvertently discovered it while chasing one of his animals
Why and How to Put Together a Family Medical History
Katherine Hobson
Most of us are aware of our family medical history on some level -- we're pretty familiar with our parents' recent ailments, for example, and probably could tell you what our grandparents died from. But if pressed to be more specific, we might not have all the details -- and those can be important. The information a detailed family medical history offers might change your own medical care or provide a needed incentive to make better lifestyle choices.
Teens Who Think They'll Die Young Take More Risks
Teenagers tend to wildly overestimate the odds of dying young, and teenagers who think they'll be dead before age 35 are far more likely to abuse drugs, attempt suicide, get arrested, or contract HIV. Scientists have known for quite a while that teenagers tend to think that an early death is much more likely than the infinitesimally small risk it really is.
7 Ways Your Siblings May Have Shaped You
By Lindsay Lyon
Ah, siblings: both a blessing and a curse. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have at least one brother or sister; in fact, kids today are more likely to grow up with a sibling than a father, experts say. What's more, the sibling relationship is the longest relationship that most people will have in their lives.
Mom Just Wants a Little Facebook Time
By Ana Veciana-Suarez
I have ruined Facebook for my children. Or so they say. See, any time parents sign up for something -- MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, texting -- the level of it-ness sinks like a deep sea diver in leaded boots. So as payback my kids have refused my numerous attempts to friend them
Latest Arrival Has the Family All A-Twitter
By Ana Veciana-Suarez
I can only think of the wonders my littlest darling will see, and seven hours in the waiting room offered a pretty good preview. The world, or at least the immediate family and circle of friends, was alerted to her impending arrival by dawn. From the hospital bed, in between contractions, the mother-to-be texted her four brothers, her cousins and friends.
High School Party Season: Dangerous Time for Kids
By Ana Veciana-Suarez
Alcohol -- beer usually, but straight shots, too -- is our high schoolers' drug of choice. Chugging until you stagger is especially commonplace as the academic year winds down and the freedom of summer beckons.
This is scary, and frustrating, and a painful reminder of parental impotency. Even if your child doesn't drink, he / she may be unlucky enough -- heck, foolish enough -- to be in the same car, the same room, the same road as someone else's drunk kid.
College Graduates Get Lesson in Hard Economic Times
By Ana Veciana-Suarez
A college diploma guaranteed a comfortable foothold in the American Dream. But this year's graduates find themselves in the worst economy their generation has known, and what should be a time of celebration has morphed into a bout of full-blown anxiety
5 Nutrition Facts About Milk & Healthy Kids
By Kerry Hannon
Here are five things you should know about your kids and milk.
Brain-building Strategies for Parents
Mental and physical exercises, as well as brain-enhancing nutrition, can aid parents in nurturing their children�s natural abilities. Parents should keep some important things in mind when choosing activities and foods to help build children�s brainpower.
Moms: Bond With Baby while Keeping Healthy in the Great Outdoors
Fresh air, open space and a natural atmosphere provide an ideal setting for moms to bond with their babies and also to stay active. After all, who knows how to multi-task better than moms?
Parents: Make Time for Healthy Choices
Between soccer practice, piano lessons and homework, more and more parents are discovering that it can be hard to balance a healthy life with a busy one. Health care professionals, however, are discovering that nutrition- and activity-based habits, when developed early, can make a positive long-term impact.
Parenting: Turning the Page on Tradition?
Reading to your children more often can improve reading skills, math abilities and more.
Parenting: Relate to Your Child With These Easy Tips
If you're part of the working world and also have children, there's a good chance you aren't satisfied with the time that you get to spend with them. Your heart may be in the right place, but hectic schedules can leave little time to stop what you're doing in order to talk to your kids and truly connect with them.
Parenting: Keeping Kids Safe in a Web-Savvy World
In today's age of technology, keeping children safe on the Internet is a must. If you came across an instant message conversation your child was having on your computer and discovered the acronym "PAW," would you know what to make of it?
Parenting: Stay Connected With Your Children. Show Them You Care in Three Easy Ways
When good communication is diminished, parents struggle to find ways to play a more significant role in their children's lives. The good news is that help isn't far away. Here are three ways to "stay connected" with your kids before they grow up too fast.
Parenting: Technology Helps Families Make Time for Togetherness
With the help of technology, families can take control of their hectic schedules and free up more time for togetherness.
Parenting: Tips to Build Reading Success
Children have limitless imaginations. They may dream of time travel and seeing prehistoric creatures up close. Perhaps they want to become mysterious sorcerers who cast binding spells. Parents can easily accommodate these whimsical wishes by encouraging their children to read.
Parenting: Make a Connection With Your Teen
Talking with teenagers about their health isn't always a parent's or a teen's favorite conversation. But parents have more influence on their teen's health than they think, according to researchers with the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) network.
Joan Lunden Encourages Families to Cook up Some Conversation at Dinner Time
A nationwide survey conducted confirms the family dinner is alive and well - in fact, 80 percent of families surveyed reported eating dinner together at least five times each week. However, for three out of four American families, the focus is likely to be on the television rather than on talking to each other.
Daughter "Out" and Now Mean to Us
I think she may feel that we aren't supportive enough or proud of her for coming out. So we asked to her to let us know What she does want from us, but she never can seem to answer that question.
Daughter "Out" and Now Mean to Us originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 08:40:00.
From a mom on our forum: My college aged daughter has recently begun to "out" herself as lesbian to certain family members and a few friends. We have known about & willingly & lovingly accepted her as lesbian for many, many months now. Recently she outed herself to some friends and their children (age 7, 10 & 12). When I asked why she outed herself to their children, she got upset with me. I only asked because she is so worried about the wrong people finding out and i was afraid these kids might share her secret. She hasn't even told her two brothers yet (one much younger and one about her same age). She was only home from college for a few days, but she withdrew herself from me & my husband any chance she could. She refused to give me a hug good-by when she went back to the dorms. In our phone conversations, I almost always end by saying "i love you" and she won't respond with the same. We have told her many times that we love her & support her and only want her to be happy. But now, she has begun to withhold her love from us. When my husband tried to ask her about this, she either completely ignores us as if we aren't even there or she makes up some excuse but still will not say "I love you too".
75% of Teens Today Are Unfit to Serve in the Military. Really?
In a study being released Thursday in Washington, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and a group of retired military officers led by former Army Gen. Wesley Clark will sound the alarm bells and call young Americans' relative lack of overall fitness for military duty a national security threat. The group, Mission: Readiness, will release a report that draws on Pentagon data showing that 75 percent of the nation's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for service for a variety of reasons.
According to the Pentagon, the ineligible population breaks down this way:
75% of Teens Today Are Unfit to Serve in the Military. Really? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 07:44:56.
I'm not sure I am buying the new statistics making its rounds in the news and on the military blogs. It's says that 75% of today's youth are unfit to serve their country. While I do feel our country has a rude awaking pertaining to the health and welfare of our youth, I don't believe that 75% of all of our youth are unable to serve. Maybe 75% of the people who sign up to serve are unfit? Here is a quote from NavyTimes.com:
Asking our community: Maybe I'm not seeing what is right there in front of me, but this number seems off. What do you think? Please share your thoughts, advice and opinions in the comments area.
Thrifty Thursday: Hand-Me-Downs for Teens Are Trendy
More: Thrifty Tips for Families | Five First-rate Opportunities to Talk Money Sense with Your Teen Follow the About.com Parenting & Family's Thrifty Thursday:
Thrifty Thursday: Hand-Me-Downs for Teens Are Trendy originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 05:00:19.
Hand-me-downs are the to-do thing among frugal teens these days. Does your teen have an older sister or cousin? See what they no longer want in their closet or drawers. My college student went through her closet while packing to go to the dorms and her young teen sister was right there 'helping' her clean out some hoodies, t-shirts and more. Not everything fit her right now, but they will as she grows.
Fun Family Service Project: Send Holiday Cards to the Troops
Fun Family Service Project: Send Holiday Cards to the Troops originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 07:03:51.
Starting to write out your Christmas cards this month? Need to get your family or youth group in the spirit of giving? Try this service project with your family. The American Red Cross has an effort currently to get one million holiday cards to the troops. Our family will be participating as we love to make cards and it helps teach my teens the value of saying thank you. More information on the American Red Cross Press Release after the jump. Be sure to start right away as the cards need to be postmarked by the 07 th of December.
Fall Activities for Teens - Week Eleven
These fall activities for teens can be done individually, with friends or with the whole family. Each week has four different types of teen fall activities: Make This (Recipe), Craft This, Learn How and Get Out and Go! Each activity idea is fun for your teen. Check out week eleven's fall activities for teens now. Fall Activities for Teens - Week Eleven originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 08:10:03.
Son Just Coasting Through, Any Advice?
Denise's thoughts: I would begin picking one problem out and working on it. His friends, his girlfriend, etc. are things you cannot control. Start by talking to him about school and the importance of looking towards his future. Find out why he feels he is failing and see if you can get together on a strategy for better attendance and grades. Tell him you are treating him like the soon-to-be-adult he is and that you feel he needs some guidance through this tough time he is facing, but the one thing you will not do is ignore it and let him fail at the start of his adult life.
Asking our community: What advice would you offer this mom? Please share your thoughts, advice and personal stories in our comments area.
Related Resources:
Son Just Coasting Through, Any Advice? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 09:50:39.
A mom on the forum asks: My son is almost 17 years old and he thinks he is grown. He doesn't do anything around the house and he is failing in school. I do not like his friends, but what can I do about that? He has a girlfriend and I like her but everything else in his life is leading him down the wrong path. Everything from the way he dresses to the music he listens to, drives me crazy. I think he just goes to school to see his girlfriend and his friends. He has missed so many days, he will probably fail this year. I call his cell and finally about 25 minutes later he will call with some excuse. I do not know what to do, any help. I love my son so much, my husband says he is just being an teenager, his age and not to worry, but I can't help it.
Your Advice Wanted: Help with Teen Lying Habit
Denise's thoughts: When you know your teen is lying to you , it is important to deal with the lying immediately. Too often, lying goes with another bad mistake in behavior and we discipline for the other behavior instead of the lying. Then lying starts to be a habit, which is something we want to avoid.
First, talk to your teen about why he/she is lying. Discuss how it makes you feel when you lose trust in him/her because of the lying. Then give a consequence. For an example, see this blog post on teen lying.
Let us know how it is going.
From our parenting community: Has your teen lied to you? What have you done to solve this problem? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments area or on the forum.
Your Advice Wanted: Help with Teen Lying Habit originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 08:35:39.
A worried mom wonders: My daughter is 13 yrs old.. She is a very outgoing, loving child. But constantly lies about everything. Simple things to very important matters. She is a child from a divorce parents. I divorced her father when she was 5. So, she is used to being passed back and forth and dealing with her parents arguments/discussions that pertain to her. Sometimes I think that she wants to lie about things to keep from her parents fighting about her. How can I stop this from getting worse?
Teen Arrested for Sending Nude Pictures on Myspace
It doesn't seem to unreasonable to me, what do you think?
The original story: The AP is reporting that a 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been arrested for child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com. These charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted, which is ridiculous in my humble opinion.
The audacity of these charges is echoed by the mother of the girl whose name is on the sex registration law, Meagan's law. Maureen Kanka said in this online article, "This shouldn't fall under Megan's Law in any way, shape or form. The teen should have counseling and intervention because the only person she exploited was herself. Megan's Law is for sex offenders. These kids aren't sex offenders."
It's time the laws started moving at the same internet speed that our teens are moving - the same speed they expect parents to figure out and move. Our courts don't stand behind COPPA, but we can charge a 14-year-old girl with child pornography distribution when she sends a picture of herself to her boyfriend via an internet social website. Unreasonable, ludicrous, absurd - just can't seem to find the right word to cover it.
Thoughts? Share them in the comments area.
Related Resources:
Teen Arrested for Sending Nude Pictures on Myspace originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 08:36:00.
Update: The charges will hopefully be dropped against the teen girl if she follows through with the consequences. According to this article, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office says the girl must undergo at least six months of counseling and probation and must stay out of trouble. If she does, all charges will be dropped.
New Red Cross Requirements for Teen Blood Donors
It's nice to see an organization looking out for its young donors instead of its own self interests. My daughter just made the requirements one year and she was so happy she was able to participate. As we know, it feels good to help out and make a difference. Has your teen ever donated blood? Did they enjoy the experience? Please share your stories and thoughts in the comments area.
More: Quiz: Are you raising a healthy teen? | 4 Steps to a Healthier Family Lifestyle
New Red Cross Requirements for Teen Blood Donors originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 07:32:01.
According to a news article on their site, the American Red Cross has rolled out new height and weight requirements for all blood donors 18 years of age and younger to help ensure their safety. As young blood donors are more likely to have a reaction - dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting - after giving blood. The new requirements are: Boys who are shorter than 5' and girls who are shorter than 5'6" must weigh more than 110 pounds, depending on their height.
Fall Activities for Teens - Week Ten
These fall activities for teens can be done individually, with friends or with the whole family. Each week has four different types of teen fall activities: Make This (Recipe), Craft This, Learn How and Get Out and Go! Each activity idea is fun for your teen. Check out week ten's fall activities for teens now. Fall Activities for Teens - Week Ten originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 08:10:09.
About Parenting of Adolescents
Parenting of Adolescents
Indoor Activities, American Art, and More Fun Things to Do
A Saturday "Site of the Day" special: Most days, a single Site of the Day is plenty to keep you occupied. But on Saturday morning, with kids underfoot and a weekend's worth of amusement needed, something more intensive is called for. So be sure to stop by here every week for your super-sized listing of Five Fun Things to Do Today -- including a family activity, a site for the kids, a shopping site, a site offering humor or inspiration about parenting children with special needs, and a site that's just silly or fun. Today's list:
Indoor Activities, American Art, and More Fun Things to Do originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 09:48:19.
This Week in Comments: Correct Casting, Current Reading
What's on your mind today? Speak out in the comments below, or add your opinion to the posts above. Read more: Special Needs News | Site of the Day | Parenting Special Needs Forum
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images This Week in Comments: Correct Casting, Current Reading originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 23:38:51.
Here's a list of posts that have received one or more comments this week:
Weekday Reflection: The Final Blow
Reflect: How much hope was I given when my child was diagnosed? Have things turned out worse or better than doctors predicted? What do I wish the doctor had said to me at the time? Respond in the comments with your own thoughts on this quote and how it applies to your life with your child. Every weekday, take a moment to read, reflect, and respond to a passage from a book, blog, or article. ... More Reflections Also new today: Site of the Day | Today's News and Views | Tip of the Day Cover image courtesy of Perigee Weekday Reflection: The Final Blow originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 17:15:10.
Read: "For the parents of a child with a behavior, social, and/or learning disorder, the diagnosis can be devastating. Typically, parents are told that there is no known cause for their child's problem -- that, most likely, it is genetic, which makes them feel even worse. But the final blow comes with the prognosis: There is no cure." -- Dr. Robert Melillo, from Disconnected Kids, this week's featured book.
Reader Suggests Giving Special-Ed Teachers a Break
More Parenting Tips: Tips of the Day | Behavior ABCs | Parenting Book Reviews Image by Terri Mauro Reader Suggests Giving Special-Ed Teachers a Break originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 15:54:19.
I asked for ideas of what parents would like special-education teachers to know, and one reader submitted a plea for parents to sympathize with those educators instead. Wrote bus.driver: "Parents fail to realize no one would become a special needs teacher unless they truly cared about these children. I believe special needs teachers are the most verbally abused professionals, other than prison guards! Parents need to know most teachers' hands are tied by their corporations policies or instructions. The teacher is the liaison between the two parties and is abused by each side." I've certainly had sympathy for many or most of my kids' special-education teachers, and agree that they're often put in a position where they have to implement policies they neither created nor support. On the other hand, there have been a fair number of news reports lately showing that teachers can dish abuse out as well as take it. What's your experience been with special-ed teachers? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Site of the Day: One Place for Special Needs
What It Is: "An information network and social community that allows parents and disability groups to share resources and make connections with special needs families in their own neighborhood. And a place where those who actively work with those who have disabilities can let us learn about their products, programs and services." Who's In Charge: Dawn Villarreal, the mother of two children with special needs. According to the site, "When she learned of her children's disabilities she found it difficult to find answers. 'In many cases, physicians give parents the devastating news that their child has a lifelong disability and then send them on their way ... At a time when parents need the most support, they find they are on their own.' Villarreal made it her mission to help families find the resources and services they need. 'Parents don't have a year to read up on a disability and leisurely figure out what will have the best impact on their child's development.'" Why It's Worth Checking Out: It's a great place to find resources from around the Web or around the corner. Couldn't we all use more of that? Where to Start: The site's gathering of H1N1 resources related to special needs is pretty timely. + Page of the Day: Diagnosis Index + Site of the Day: One Place for Special Needs originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 11:52:43.
What's In a Name?
I've always felt that getting a diagnosis is important, that putting the right name on something is helpful. Some worry that labels limit a kid, but at least with my two, I've felt that knowing what you're up against and understanding what that means -- and helping others to understand, too -- is a useful, worthwhile thing. So it's frustrating to note how slippery names for some diagnoses are getting these days. I've felt annoyed as Sensory Integration Disorder became Dysfunction of Sensory Integration became Sensory Processing Disorder and any number of other variations, mostly in an attempt to make it eligible for inclusion in the DSM-V, the manual of psychiatric disorders. Maybe there'll be some extra room if Asperger Syndrome and PDD-NOS do indeed lose their diagnostic status; there's talk of folding them into autism spectrum disorder, a spectrum I'd have thought could do to be tightened, not made more all-encompassing. And then there's the book I'm reading this week, Disconnected Kids, which proposes a whole new diagnosis -- Functional Disconnection Syndrome -- that encompasses not only those autism spectrum disorders but ADHD, ODD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, and other neurological disorders. That's a big umbrella. Do you find the shifting of diagnostic names and categories to be a good thing -- a necessary fine-tuning of understanding -- or a bother that makes you have to research and explain a whole new set of labels? Share your thoughts in the comments. Also new today: Site of the Day | Today's News and Views | Tip of the Day What's In a Name? originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 00:45:06.
Weekday Reflection: Not Like Other Students
Read: "Okay, let's make this perfectly clear. If I could just TALK my asperger son out of his obsessive behavior, I would be touring the world, making millions of dollars talking other kids out of their syndrome. What don't educated people realize about this? He is NOT like the other students in their class." -- bizymomof3, from the post "Teachers should be educated in how to handle Asperger students" on the blog Autisable. Reflect: Do my child's teachers have the training they need to deal with my child? Do they understand what needs to be done at school and what can and can't be done at home? What can I do to help educate them? Respond in the comments with your own thoughts on this quote and how it applies to your life with your child. Every weekday, take a moment to read, reflect, and respond to a passage from a book, blog, or article. ... More Reflections Also new today: Site of the Day | Today's News and Views | Tip of the Day Weekday Reflection: Not Like Other Students originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 16:00:03.
Share Your Ideas for Great Teacher Gifts
More Parenting Tips: Tips of the Day | Behavior ABCs | Parenting Book Reviews Image by Terri Mauro Share Your Ideas for Great Teacher Gifts originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 14:58:47.
The holidays are coming quick, and with them the need to come up with ideas for giving goodies to teachers, therapists, aides, bus drivers, and other important people in your child's life. Over the years, I've done cookies and pumpkin bread, candy and knickknacks. One year I had my key-loving boy give all his school helpers keychains, and I think most of them got the connection. Have you come up with a unique way to thank school personnel, something that's pleasing to the recipient while also reflecting your child's special gifts? Share your inspiration with those of us still looking around for a clue.
Site of the Day: NCWD for Youth
What It Is: "The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve all youth, including youth with disabilities and other vulnerable youth. The NCWD/Youth, created in 2001, is composed of partners with expertise in education, youth development, disability, employment, workforce development and family issues." Who's In Charge: "Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the NCWD/Youth is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, D.C. NCWD/Youth offers a range of technical assistance services to state and local workforce investment boards, youth councils and other workforce development system youth programs." Why It's Worth Checking Out: From the site, you can download materials to help your child through the transition process, and read about programs all over the U.S. that are being created to increase the opportunities for young people with special needs. Where to Start: Guideposts for Success + Page of the Day: Book Review: Planning for the Future + Site of the Day: NCWD for Youth originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 11:12:24.
Wordless Wednesday: What I'll Be Reading in November
More Wordless Wednesday Wordless Wednesday: What I'll Be Reading in November originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 17:50:17.
Wordless Wednesday on About.com
About Parenting Special Needs
Parenting Special Needs
Notes Left Behind - A Heartbreaking Book That Inspires
If you ever find yourself having a bad day or feeling stressed as I did today, think about stories like this: The family of a little girl named Elena Desserich, who died of brain cancer at the age of 6, discovered after her death that she'd hidden hundreds of little notes for her family to find after she'd gone. She'd tucked them into backpacks, drawers, and between books. In a new book called Notes Left Behind, Elena's parents, Brooke and Keith, share the journal entries they'd written during their daughter's battle with cancer as well as what Elena wrote in her notes to her family. Why do unbearable things like this happen in our world? Why do little children get sick and suffer? We can only make our feeble attempts at guessing the answers. But we can be certain that beauty exists when we think about children like Elena and the love that she and her family felt for each other. And when we think about stories like Elena's, it certainly puts something as trivial as a bad day into perspective. I'm going to go and hug my child now and be grateful for the fact that I get to tuck him into bed tonight and kiss him, which I think I may do a hundred times. Thank you Brooke and Keith, for sharing your story and the spirit of your lovely daughter with the world. Notes Left Behind - A Heartbreaking Book That Inspires originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 19:58:43.
Kids TV Viewing is at an 8-Year-High
Kids ages 6 to 11 are watching as much as 28 hours of TV a week, says a new report from The Nielsen Company. Younger kids, ages 2 to 5, are spending even more time in front of the TV screen -- as much as 32 hours a week -- presumably because their TV viewing is not interrupted by having to go to school. TV isn't the only screen taking up kids' screen time today. The study found that children 6 to 11 are spending an average of 2 hours and 23 minutes playing video games. The first thing that occurred to me when I read this report is, where are school-age kids finding all these hours for screen time? Now that my son is in third grade, he is spending more time than ever on homework. He barely has time for playdates and he only does one after-school activity, and yet we find ourselves scrambling every night to get homework done, have dinner, and get ready for bed on time. If we were making time for 28 hours of TV a week -- that's a whopping 4 hours a day -- we'd have to cut something out, like, say, sleep or family time. I think TV and even videogames can have their place in kids' lives (even the shows and games that aren't "educational"), but if your kids are watching anything near 28 hours of TV a week, that probably means you're not having enough time with your kids, and your kids aren't spending enough time reading or playing with friends. How does your family's TV viewing habits measure up against the Nielsen findings? Kids TV Viewing is at an 8-Year-High originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:27:19.
Thrifty Thursdays: Decorate With Neighbors!
We are very lucky to have a neighbor who is a creative mom. Visit Rebecca's house and you'll see a treasure trove of kid art supplies. With just a few fuzzy pom poms and pipe cleaners and googly eyes, she has come up with a fun and creative way to decorate the "spider webs" our kids spread all over the front gate of our building. Not only is decorating with another family a great chance for kids to create together and have fun, it can be a money-saving way to create lots of great holiday decorations. Sure, you can go out and buy scary-looking spiders, but they can't hold a candle to the ones kids can come up with by using their own imaginations. And by sharing arts and craft supplies, families can save money and can have a chance to spend time getting to know each other -- something we as a too-busy society should do more with neighbors these days. You can even split a pizza or two for dinner after all that hard work decorating! More Thrifty Thursdays Blogs:
Thrifty Thursdays: Decorate With Neighbors! originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 05:00:54.
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Warning: Lead Found in Face Paints
If you're planning to use face paint on your kids this Halloween, use caution. A new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics titled "Pretty Scary: Could Halloween Face Paint Cause Lifelong Problems?" has found that commonly-used face paints contain lead as well as skin allergens such as nickel and chromium. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of health and environmental organizations including the Environmental Working Group and the Breast Cancer Fund, had an independent laboratory test 10 face paint products commonly sold on the Internet or in craft or Halloween stores. All 10 were found to contain lead. And 6 out of 10 face paint products contained skin allergens in amounts that were far above the recommended levels. In some cases, the products were labeled hypoallergenic when they contained allergens. None of the metals found in the lab tests were on the labels. To play it safe this Halloween, consider avoiding face paint products or think about making your own natural face paint. If you do use store-bought face paint, make sure you keep it away from your child's eyes, mouth and hands to avoid any contaminants from going directly into your child's body. Warning: Lead Found in Face Paints originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 00:28:31.
Dont Overuse Hand Sanitizer
I've noticed that oversized displays of hand sanitizers are everywhere -- at the supermarket checkout line, the pharmacy, even the office supplies store. Clearly, we've got germs -- and in particular swine flu -- on our minds as we head into what has been a much-talked about flu season. But before you place hand sanitizers all over your house, be aware that hand sanitizers and young children don't always mix. Studies have shown that hand sanitizers, which can contain as much as 60 to 70 percent alcohol, can pose a risk to children. For one thing, kids tend to touch their faces and put their hands in their mouths more often than adults, which means anything on their hands is much more likely to end up in their bodies. Younger toddler-age siblings can be particularly at risk because they may find the sometimes fruity or flowery-scented hand sanitizers too enticing to resist tasting. And last but not least, alcohol is extremely flammable. So while you may be tempted to slather your kids' hands with hand sanitizer to keep them safe from the flu, keep in mind that proper hand washing with soap and water is still the best way to prevent illnesses. Only use hand sanitizers in situations when your family does not have access to soap and water. And follow the product label directions and supervise your kids when they use hand sanitizers. Related Articles:
Dont Overuse Hand Sanitizer originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 23:56:12.
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Balancing Halloween Fun with Halloween Safety
Halloween means lots of fun, but it's also important for parents to remember some important tips for Halloween safety. Halloween fun and activities can raise the risk for injuries and accidents. On Halloween, the risk of home fires, burn-related injuries and falls goes up significantly. As you celebrate Halloween this week and next, check out the great tips for Halloween safety from the experts at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the independent product safety organization. And see what suggestions the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Safety Council have about keeping kids safe on Halloween. Balancing Halloween Fun with Halloween Safety originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 02:11:21.
A Website That Lets You Ask Docs About Flu Symptoms
Think you or your child may have the flu? Wondering when and whether you should see a doctor but don't want to risk a trip to a hospital or doctor's waiting room where you could risk exposure to people who may have swine flu or other illnesses? A new interactive website, AMAfluhelp.org, by the American Medical Association is taking a revolutionary approach to fighting the flu: It lets patients communicate with doctors online. While other websites like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CDC.gov and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-run Flu.gov offer the public information about seasonal and swine flu, this site lets patients ask doctors questions about their flu-like symptoms -- all free of charge. A Website That Lets You Ask Docs About Flu Symptoms originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 21:55:06.
Swine Flu: Are You Going to Vaccinate Your Kids Against Swine Flu?
The parents at my son's school recently received an email stating that we should start thinking about whether or not we want our kids to receive the swine flu vaccine once it becomes available, which they hope will be in the next few weeks. Many parents I talked to are still undecided. Others are adamant that they don't want their kids to get the vaccine, and still others are anxiously waiting for the vaccine to become available. If you are a parent who is still undecided or has questions and concerns about the new H1N1 flu vaccine, you are not alone. A recent Associated Press survey found that more than one third of parents said they probably won't let their kids get the swine flu vaccine. While it's important to keep things in perspective and not panic -- officials say that so far, the H1N1 virus doesn't seem to be more dangerous than other strains of influenza -- the fact is that children seem particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. Swine flu has killed as many as 86 children this flu season, 43 of them in September and October alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To put those numbers in perspective, the CDC says that in previous winters, only 40 or 50 children died each year during the entire flu season. Another sobering stat: As many as one-third of kids who died from swine flu had no underlying medical conditions. As with the seasonal flu, swine flu symptoms can sometimes progress so quickly that it can be too late by the time you get your child to a doctor. So if you are a parent who's still confused, read about the questions parents have about the swine flu vaccine and get the facts. And while there's no need to panic, do take the potential danger of swine flu seriously. Related Articles:
Swine Flu: Are You Going to Vaccinate Your Kids Against Swine Flu? originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 07:00:32.
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Thrifty Thursdays: Start Saving for Holiday Gifts Now
My son is already thinking about what he wants for Christmas (and we haven't even cleared Halloween yet!). His plan-ahead approach has inspired me to start thinking about how I'm going to afford the holidays this year. One thing I've been doing is consolidating gifts with my friends and family for birthdays and other occasions (instead of each of us getting small gifts, we pool together resources and get something that none of us could afford on our own). So if my parents and I pool together our money, we may just be able to afford that Star Wars Lego set my son's has been eyeing.
Another tactic I'm going to try is to start socking away at least $1 to $5 a day (this can be from change at a store or the money you find when you clean the sofa or the car). Even if you put as little as $1 into a designated holiday piggy bank, you'll have a nice amount saved up to spend on holiday gifts.
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Thrifty Thursdays: Start Saving for Holiday Gifts Now originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 05:00:16.
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Cleaning After a Cold
Recently, my brother and his wife brought their adorable new baby to visit. I nearly canceled the planned visit a few days before they were due to arrive because -- wouldn't you know it -- I felt a cold coming on. Miraculously, my nose-blowing and sore throat faded in just two days, right before my brother and sister-in-law's visit. Just to be extra-cautious, though, we wiped down everything before their arrival. We went way beyond the usual scrubbing of the kitchen and bathroom surfaces. We wiped down every single door handle, drawer pulls, and even light switches -- anything that could've possibly still harbored my germs (even though I'm a super stickler about hand washing, especially after blowing my nose). My brother and his family didn't get sick after the visit. I'm not sure how much the extra cleaning and precautions had to do with it, but I'm glad my 8-year-old got a refresher course on how germs can spread (not a bad thing in today's season of swine flu). Related Articles:
Cleaning After a Cold originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 05:24:44.
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Forum Friday: Traveling with Twins
A guest writes: "I have 5 month old twin boys and would like to visit family out of town. I would love advice from someone who has flown with twins. This would be a trip I'm making solo so I need to figure if it's manageable before attempting it. Does anyone know how airlines handle seating and such in this situation?" Forum Friday: Traveling with Twins originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 08:35:24.
With the holidays around the corner, many families with multiples are considering travel. While it's not easy, it can be done, especially with some careful planning and preparation. Please stop by the message forum and share your advice about traveling with twins. How do you negotiate airports and airplanes? Any tips or tricks that make travel easier?
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Get answers to frequently asked questions about traveling with twins.
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Twins of the Week: Julius and Julian
Meet this week's twins! Brothers Julius and Julian seem to be best buds, at least for the moment. The boys were three years old in this picture. Twins of the Week: Julius and Julian originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 01:32:48.
Photo reprinted with permission of JuliusJulian.
Share your thoughts, opinions and advice in the comments section.
More Worldless Wednesday Posts on About.com.
Three-Year-Old Twins Photo Gallery
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What Will You Do With All that Halloween Candy?
One fun thing about having twins or multiples at Halloween ... double the candy! But while collecting the treats is fun, dealing with the sugary aftermath can be tricky. It's just too tempting -- especially for kids -- to eat the sweet stuff at a stomach-churning pace. Parents have to give some thought to how they'll manage the candy madness, and perhaps even plan some alternatives in advance. What Will You Do With All that Halloween Candy? originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 09:50:49.
So, how do you handle the Halloween candy? Leave a comment and share your strategies.
In the meantime, submit your photos from Halloween 2009. Were your twins a gruesome twosome? Or a darling duo? Did they wear the same costumes, sport a coordinated theme, or take a completely unique approach? Please follow the guidelines on the submission form when sending your pictures, being sure to include all the required information and the release statement. I look forward to receiving them and including them in the Halloween Photo Gallery. Don't forget to share your candy control strategies! Leave a comment and vote in the poll.
Forum Friday: Twin Sleds
Forum Friday: Twin Sleds originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 01:43:54.
kerriinidaho is looking for a twin sled so that she can get outside and enjoy the winter weather with her 14-month-old twin sons. She writes: "I'm looking to purchase an infant sled for twins. My guys are 14-mos old and we'd love to get outside for some winter activity. I'm not looking for a tobaggon, because I'd like to pull them for distances without them falling off or konking heads. I've been looking online without success - I find makers but no distributors - and nothing on ebay. Anyone find one recently that could be bought and shipped?"
Stop by the message forum to find out what she discovered. It would make a great holiday gift for twins!
Too Old to Trick or Treat
Too Old to Trick or Treat originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 12:28:36.
In my city, Halloween trick-or-treating is limited to kids twelve and younger. Really, it's a city code. I checked it out after my twins protested when I denied their Halloween plans to trick or treat with friends. Sec. 23-3. Prohibited trick or treat activities.: If any person over the age of twelve (12) years shall engage in the activity commonly known as "trick or treat" or any other activity of similar character or nature under any name whatsoever, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Whether I agree with that age limit or not, it is the law in our city, so we're going to abide by it. Everyone, eventually, has to give up trick or treating. It can be a bittersweet moment, another sign of kids growing up. So, what do you do when your twins or multiples are too old to trick or treat?
One of the benefits of being a multiple is that you're not alone. Misery loves company. Encourage them to make plans with their also-too-old peers. Plan a Halloween party as a fun alternative. Or, find ways for them to enjoy the other side of trick or treating. Maybe they'd enjoy being the one to distribute candy. They can accompany younger siblings, neighbors or friends on their trick or treat rounds. Or, put ambitious multiples to work designing and decorating a spooky scene to greet neighborhood trick or treaters. Rent an age-appropriate scary movie. About.com's Guide to Tweens provides this list of Family Friendly Halloween Movies.
All good things do come to an end, including the fun of Halloween trick or treating. But it can still be a enjoyable holiday for older twins and multiples. With a little bit of planning -- and an extra stash of candy set aside for them -- the transition will be less "tricky."
Twins of the Week: Phenelope and Precious
Phenelope and Precious are pretty in pink. Love the personalized stroller! The girls were one year old when this picture was taken Twins of the Week: Phenelope and Precious originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 11:38:49.
Photo reprinted with permission of Princess.
Share your thoughts, opinions and advice in the comments section.
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More pictures of identical twin girls: Identical Twin Girls Photo Gallery
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What do you drive?
Multiples=minivan, right? Once you have twins or more, you've got to trade in that sporty sedan for a mom-mobile. Well, not exactly. There are lots of auto options for families with multiples. As long as your vehicle can accommodate car seats, you can make it work. When my twins were babies, we did just fine with a four-door Toyota Camry. I held out until they were four, then finally relented and parked a Nissan Quest in my driveway. I loved the family-friendly features of my minivan, but I also didn't hesitate to trade it in for a small SUV once our carseat days were over. With tweens and teens, the most important feature is a third back seat, ensuring that there's plenty of room for extra friends and all their gear. My Acura MDX has plenty of room for them, and luxury features that make my life easier, a GPS system and rear-view camera. What do you drive? originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:12:34.
Take the poll to show your car character and then leave a comment to explain your choice.
Are Girl Twins Stronger Than Boy Twins?
I once interviewed a neonatologist at a local children's hospital about his work caring for twins in the NICU. He mentioned that girl twins are often ready to be discharged before their twin brothers, and that overall, female babies seemed to fare better than males. His unscientific observation seems to coincide with a recent study that concluded that outcomes for twin pregnancy are enhanced when at least one of the babies is a girl. The study reviewed more than 2,500 twin pregnancies, including boy-girl, girl-girl, and boy-boy twin sets. It found that complications such as preterm delivery, respiratory problems, and lower birth weights were more common in pregnancies with boys. Girl twinsets fared the best, followed by boy-girl twins. All boy twins had higher rates of preterm birth, more respiratory and neurological issues, and lower-than-average birth weights. Are Girl Twins Stronger Than Boy Twins? originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 14:48:56.
What do you think? Is this study an indication of female superiority? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
Read more: Twin Girls Do Better Than Twin Boys
Twins of the Week: Eli and Savannah
Meet this week's twins! Eli and Savannah are all set to celebrate Halloween as a Princess and a Frog Prince. Twins of the Week: Eli and Savannah originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 14:16:31.
Photo reprinted with permission of Milli.
Share your thoughts, opinions and advice in the comments section.
More Worldless Wednesday Posts on About.com.
Halloween Photo Gallery
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Parent's Poll: Halloween Costumes
Halloween is around the corner, and everyone's coming up with costume ideas! For my twins' first Halloween, they shared the same costume, but they've worn different outfits ever since. Sometimes, they have worn costumes that are variations on a theme, such as the year they were three years old and wore blue and yellow versions of Disney's Princess Jasmine's belly-baring outfit. Usually, however, they choose completely different costumes. Parents' Poll: How will your mutliples dress for Halloween?
View Results | Share your costume ideas.
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Halloween Photo Gallery.
Halloween Costumes for Twins or Multiples
Top Ten Halloween Costumes for Twins
Parent's Poll: Halloween Costumes originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 01:23:15.
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Post-Halloween Dental Care For Toddlers
Right now is one of those times when dental care is at the forefront of your mind, but good oral hygiene is important every day. Baby teeth are more than just a temporary set of teeth and it's important to take care of them from today until tooth fairy time.
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Trick-or-Treating and Halloween parties are over and now you've probably got an industrial-sized supply of candy. With all that candy around, it's difficult to explain to a toddler why she can only have one or two pieces a day. All your effort will be well worth it, however, when her teeth are healthy and she still has room for nutritious food. Dentistry Guide Shawn Watson has some ways to set limits on your child's candy consumption so you can manage all that sugary goodness to your toddler's delight and still keep her teeth free of decay. For instance, you might be thinking that letting your her have a piece or two a day between meals is the way to go, but Watson advises against this and for good reason:
Mark and Allegra / Flickr"Schedule candy time once a day, preferably with snacks or meals, not in between. It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth."
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Post-Halloween Dental Care For Toddlers originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:52:52.
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How to Carve a Pumpkin
This year, though, I'm going to do it. There's a church within walking distance that has a pumpkin patch set up, so my son and I are going to head down there today and get us a nice one and carve it up. I've watched this instructional video (where I learned that carved pumpkins may only last a day to a week thus explaining my neighborhood's lack-o'-lanterns) and picked out a simple pumpkin pattern (I'm going for happy rather than spooky) so I'm ready to go.
If you're thinking about carving a pumpkin with your toddler this year, make sure you do it safely. Pumpkin carving tools are sharp and pumpkin flesh isn't the most yielding stuff even for the sharpest of knives. Make sure you keep your toddler at a distance as you carve and put sharp objects out of reach when not in use. If you can, have another adult around to supervise your toddler as you work. Remember that roasted pumpkin seeds are a great treat for adults, but can be a choking hazard for toddlers. And of course, when you light the candle inside, make sure your put away any matches or lighters.
An alternative to carving a pumpkin is to cut out the eyes, nose or other markings on your pattern or template, tape it to the pumpkin and let your toddler color the pumpkin with a black magic marker (like a stencil). You can also keep your toddler occupied and safe as you carve nearby by putting him in his high chair with a miniature pumpkin and some markers or crayons or set him up at his own table with some pumpkins and paint. You could even paint your pumpkin first and wait to carve it just before Halloween.
More Fun with Pumpkins
Just walking around the neighborhood lately has revealed a sad lack of Jack-o'-Lanterns. This struck me as a bit odd since it's so close to Halloween, but then I had to consider that I haven't carved any pumpkins myself in recent years. I found a book from ages ago that came with patterns and pumpkin-carving tools -- dusty and unopened -- in my closet just last week. Oops. It's just another activity I didn't get around to in the hustle and bustle that has become Halloween these days.
Carved Pumpkins
alicia rae / Flickr
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How to Carve a Pumpkin originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 17:54:10.
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Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
I think there may still be a little time -- depending on the shipping option you choose -- if you're looking to purchase a Halloween costume for your toddler online. If you're like me and can't make up your mind or like to procrastinate, Sherri has a ton of ideas for last-minute costumes and most of them use stuff you probably have around the house. (No purchase necessary - sweet words for this frugal mama!) Many of these would work for a toddler or an adult, so no matter whose costume is undecided, she's got you covered.
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Last-Minute Halloween Costumes originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 19:00:30.
My Halloween costume this year came about rather accidentally. I went camping last weekend and had these flying goggles that I brought to avoid smoke in my eyes. I figured I would be doing a fair amount of cooking over the campfire. The other mom I was camping with (who did way more cooking than me and ended up with the goggles on her head instead) laughed and said I looked like the Red Baron and thus, my costume was born. How easy is that? Goggles, red scarf, leather jacket, khakis, boots. So easy you could even turn your toddler into the Red Baron if you were pressed for time.
Daylight Saving Time is Not Over Yet
That means now is a good time to start transitioning your child into a new bedtime. A toddler with a bedtime of 7:30 p.m. is going to feel like he's hitting the hay at 8:30 p.m. after the change takes place. If you start tonight, you can start putting your child to bed ten minutes later each night and by the time you get to the time change, you're all caught up. Some parents play it by ear, though, rather than make any changes. My son didn't mind the later bedtime as much as he did the earlier waking with the time change in the Spring, for example, but your child's temperament and sleep preferences will determine how well he adjusts. If you have a grumpy guy or gal on your hands if bedtime is ever late, then I suggest giving the transition a try.
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Daylight Saving Time is Not Over Yet originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 14:04:18.
Some users of Windows who haven't installed the DST patch and others with clocks programmed to end Daylight Saving Time on the last Sunday of October got a little surprise this morning. But it's not quite time to disrupt your child's sleep schedule just yet. Next Sunday (Nov. 1) is when Standard Time begins and you'll need to move your clocks back an hour.
Disney Offering Refunds on Baby Einstein DVDs
If you're a parent who purchased a Baby Einstein DVD anytime from mid-2004 to last month, then you could get a refund from Disney. This move comes after a class-action lawsuit was threatened against Disney for making unproven claims about the educational merit of the DVDs.
I'm totally fine with Disney offering these refunds and I think that every parent who wants to should participate without even a glimmer of guilt. And though some groups feel that government entities should be involved in recalling the DVDs or there's cause for a class-action lawsuit, I think that's taking it a bit far. I was happy to see the overblown labels and claims removed from the DVDs, though, and am glad the company made those changes in marketing on their own even if it may have been to avoid a larger investigation and possible federal enforcement (see Federal Trade Commission letter .pdf to the company in 2007).
Still, we're adults and we're capable of making decisions about what our kids see on television. I can't imagine there are many parents who are honestly disappointed that their baby or toddler isn't some sort of genius after watching these DVDs. If there are, then the issues there are probably much bigger than anything a class action lawsuit can solve, I'm afraid. The best way to increase your baby or toddler's intelligence isn't through anything they will see on a screen. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children don't even watch television for a minute until they are 2 years old (though I think that's a bit on the extreme side, too.) If you really want to make your child smarter, however, there are a lot of other things that you can do:
But don't, whatever you do, sit him down in front of the TV in hopes of boosting his brain power and if you do allow television in your home, make sure you're also doing lots of other things to make sure your child is stimulated.
Right now only folks located in North America are eligible for these refunds or exchanges, but there are efforts to get the program going in other countries like Britain where the DVDs were sold as well. If you are interested in obtaining an exchange, coupon or refund of your Baby Einstein DVD, fill out the form located on the Baby Einstein Web site. You can do this up to four times per household. And once you've got the DVDs out of the house, sit down with your little one, relax, and read a good book.
Disney Offering Refunds on Baby Einstein DVDs originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 14:48:23.
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Is it Time to Move Your Toddler to a Booster Seat?
Heather Corley, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, has answers about when you should move your toddler from a full car seat into a booster and what type of booster seat you should consider. Her recommendation:
The other day I was at the park and saw a mom strapping her little girl into a booster seat. Yay, Mom, for using a booster seat, right? Actually, no. This little girl was a tiny little thing who was probably barely 2 years old and definitely not over 40 pounds. According to the car seat laws in my state, that means she should still be riding in a car seat.
"I suggest that parents keep their children in a harnessed car seat to at least 40 pounds and 4 years, but preferably longer. Today there are many car seats available that harness to 65 or even 80 pounds. Most children can fit into one of these bigger car seats well past age 4."
Your child needs to be able to sit properly for the booster to offer complete protection and for most toddlers, that's just not going to happen. It may seem easier for you to wrangle your child into the booster, but it's also easier for your child to move around, sit sideways and slouch there. Even when my son was technically ready for the booster seat, it was a struggle to get him to stop trying to sit sideways. The sides and harness prevented him from doing this in his car seat. So it can be worth it to wait before you make the switch.
Sometimes, too, you have to go above and beyond the law and do what's safest for your child. When it comes to booster seats, sometimes the laws haven't caught up with what studies and data tell us. When you finally make the move and you're thinking about when to move your child out of the booster seat, keep in mind that recent research shows that your child is safest in a booster up to the age of 8.
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Is it Time to Move Your Toddler to a Booster Seat? originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 00:55:30.
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Kids and Computers: What's Appropriate?
That may be how it's taking shape if you have a computer in your home, too. Christy Matte, About.com's new Family Computing Guide, says:
I've always been a bit of a computer geek. Me and computers go way back, so there really weren't any guidelines back then about when to introduce my son to the computer. Computers have just always been present in his life. It wasn't like I ever had to sit down with him one day and say, "Ta da, here it is." In fact, he was always trying to snag the mouse off my desk and I had to pry it out of his little hands saying, "Give me back the mouse." So, he knew what a computer mouse was before he knew a mouse was also a furry little rodent!"Between the ages of 1 and 2, your child will start to understand the basics of cause and effect, as well as the need to be gentle with the keyboard. There are games that require simply touching a key on the keyboard for something magical to happen. If your child is interested and you are ready to take the plunge, this is a good time to start to introduce the basics of the keyboard and the mouse."
Check out Christy's Virtual Growth Chart for more advice about kids and computers...
Kids and Computers: What's Appropriate? originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 00:40:16.
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Some Pharmacies May Not Offer Flu Shot to Toddlers
And Erin Kelly was disappointed after being turned away at a CVS:
Some of you have commented on a previous post (Delays in Flu Shots) that pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS will not give the seasonal flu shot to your toddlers. Ohio Mom expressed her frustration with Walgreens:
"I would pay them anything if they would give it to my son, but they can't. My pediatrician, who is a member of a huge medical network, can't get the flu shot in. But every pharmacy in town has it, and WON'T give it to my toddler, who has asthma, because of age restrictions. Everyone in the family has received the shot, except the person who needs it the most."
"We went as a family to the CVS minute clinic to get our seasonal flu shots -- the doctors office is OUT of them till late October -- and I was told that they could not vaccinate my 25-month-old daughter. CVS has a policy that they will not give the shot to anyone under the age of 9!"
It's a good idea to call ahead first to make sure the pharmacy will actually administer the shot to your toddler. Different states have different regulations about who can give the shot and who they can give it to. Some states are even changing their laws in order to get as many people vaccinated this season as possible. Oklahoma, for instance, has a law in place requiring a prescription from your doctor before you can be vaccinated at a pharmacy, but starting Nov. 1, the law changes and a prescription won't be necessary.
If you aren't having luck with your chain pharmacy, an independent pharmacy might be a better bet since they are often privately owned and are not bound by the same types of policies and procedures the corporate stores have to follow. Even for chains, however, the policy can vary by state and independently-owned clinics that operate within those pharmacies can have their own policies as well. Take Care Clinics that are located inside some Walgreens stores (but not run by Walgreens) indicate that they offer the seasonal flu shot to children 2 and older, for example.
In any case, check out your doctor's supply first, and always make a call to any pharmacy before you head out the door or you might be disappointed.
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Some Pharmacies May Not Offer Flu Shot to Toddlers originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 14:57:06.
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Moving from the Crib to the Big Bed
I don't agree with everything that happens on Supernanny for sure, but I do agree with how she instructs parents to handle the bedtime struggle for children who are toddlers and older. It does work if you stick with it and it's so important for your toddler to get the sleep that he needs while parents get some time to wind down, have time together as a couple or just relax. Before you make the move from the crib to the big bed, one thing I recommend above all others is that you have a working bedtime routine in place before you make the switch. I also have some more tips that will help make the crib-to-bed transition a little easier for you and your toddler.
If you are feeling a little guilt at your child's difficulties during the transition or find that your child seems genuinely insecure or unwilling to separate at bed time, you might try something that worked with my son. I gave him a special card (we called it a "moon card" because it had a nighttime scene pictured on it) and reassured him that I was always close by. I told him that he needed to stay in bed unless he needed to go to the bathroom. Then I told him he could bring the card to me one time in the night for a snuggle for any reason, whether it was because he was scared or just missing me. I was surprised how quickly this worked and what security the card gave him. Initially he used the card every night, but in a very short time, he would just fall asleep holding it. That was the beginning of peaceful nights for this Mom and while it was hard to find my way through at first, it was well worth it for both of us in the end. Share Your Story:
You know, I know that Supernanny is a bit of a train wreck sometimes and as with any reality show, creative editing probably makes every situation seem worse than it actually is. But sometimes when I see the bedtime struggles, I think that probably little editing was needed. Five times, 10 times, 20 times, 40 times a parent will drag the child back to bed. I know the frustration those parents are feeling. This was my son when it was time to sleep in his own bed. You just keep thinking, when is it going to work? When is he going to get the point and learn that he needs to stay here and sleep? It's for his own good!
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Moving from the Crib to the Big Bed originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 17:59:10.
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Delays in Flu Shots
Contact your doctor and find out if they've got any of the vaccine still available or check with other sources like your county health clinic, urgent care clinics like CareNow or your neighborhood pharmacy. Our family doctor recently ran out, but luckily there's a Walgreen's just around the corner that still has some available.
As for the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, those are arriving in doctor's offices now and, again, toddlers are in the high risk group and it's recommended they get the vaccination. Most cases of the flu that are going around currently are H1N1 cases rather than seasonal flu so it's a good idea to get this vaccine sooner than later if you can.
More:
Toddlers are in the high risk group and should be getting the seasonal flu shot, but it may be a while before you can get one. Pediatrics Guide Dr. Iannelli says:
"Unfortunately, we are already seeing delays for seasonal flu vaccines in many doctor's offices and clinics. Two major vaccine manufacturers have stated that they will not be shipping any more seasonal flu vaccine to doctors until November. This will likely mean that many kids will not be able to get a seasonal flu vaccine yet."
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Delays in Flu Shots originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 16:57:36.
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Bring Kids into the Kitchen
Bring Kids into the Kitchen originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 08:00:01.
As the weather turns colder, its time to turn up the heat in the kitchen. Why not bring the kids with you?
Baking with children, whether theyre barely old enough to stir cookie dough or busy making cupcakes with only your supervision, is a surefire way to get them involved with family traditions. As you mix, measure, and stir, you can share memories of your own childhood and build treasure troves of good times for your kids to store away themselves.
The kitchen is also a natural learning environment. Not only will you be teaching your kids a valuable skill, but you can also transform basic baking actions, like recipe reading, into educational activities. Cooking is a life skill theyll need in the future; starting early will make them safe and comfortable in the kitchen as they grow older and begin to take care of themselves. As Beverly Hernandez, About.coms Guide to Homeschooling, tells us, you can also use baking to teach kids mathematics principles. When you need to select a certain sized dish for baking a cake, teach your children about diameter and circumference. If youre packing up treats for a holiday delivering, let them figure out how big the container needs to be. As you go through the baking process, you can also teach your kids about the science of baking. Let About.coms Guide to Busy Cooks help you along with the hows and whys of baking.
Plus: Read the Top 10 Reasons to Get Kids Cooking from Stephanie Gallagher, Guide to Cooking for Kids.
Carve a Better Pumpkin
Carve a Better Pumpkin originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 11:25:33.
In the weeks before Halloween, its often the pumpkins that garner attention instead of the costumes. Before the kids pull out the newspaper, spoons, and knives, take a few minutes to brush up on the process of crafting a perfectly affordable and delightfully spooktacular jack-o-lantern.
Watch a video that shows you how to carve a pumpkin from beginning to end. Then, instead of investing in a costly pumpkin-carving kit, check out the free patterns provided by About.coms Guide to Crafts. Choose one or let your kids imaginations run wild as they design their own. You can even throw a pumpkin decorating party!
Too Sick for School?
Too Sick for School? originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 08:00:31.
Schools are germ breeding grounds, so its only a matter of time before sniffles and sore throats are passed from one grubby hand to the next. Its time for the age-old question: should you send your tot packing with tissues and a pat on the head, or is he too sick for school?
To get ready for cold and flu season, learn when you should take your child to the doctor, build a flu season tool kit, and find a flu shot with the help of About.coms Cold and Flu Guide.
Have A Healthy After School Snack
Have A Healthy After School Snack originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 08:00:53.
When your kids get home from school, it may be second nature for them to drop their backpacks and hit the pantry. Its easy to let them grab a box or a bag, but mindless munching on pre-packaged foods can take a major toll on their health. To satiate their mid-afternoon cravings, keep healthier options on hand, like grapes, already washed and ready to grab, in the fridge. Try cutting up strawberries and serving them with Reddi-wip to indulge a sweet tooth or slicing an apple and dishing up some caramel or peanut butter. Carrot sticks with ranch dressing provide crunchy satisfaction.
When in doubt, look for pantry-friendly substitutes, like trail mix (homemade to cut the salt). Instead of chocolate chip cookies, try Teddy Grahams. Swap greasy potato chips for tortilla chips and a mild salsa.
And always be sure to set out the proper portion sizes for your kids instead of letting them help themselves. Childhood obesity caused by overeating is a very real (and growing) threat.
Problems Saying Goodbye?
Problems Saying Goodbye? originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 08:00:00.
Its not uncommon for elementary school children to experience separation anxiety on the first day (or first few days) of school. New teachers, new settings, and new classmates can all come together to make your child uncomfortable when it comes to say goodbye. If your student expresses anxiety or sheds tears at your eminent departure from her side, About.coms Parenting Channel Guides are here to help:
One Last Hurrah
Labor Day is right around the corner, and if your kids arent in school by then, its only a matter of days. Before they board the bus and get down to the nitty gritty of tests and homework, why not celebrate the last few days of freedom with a party? About.coms Guide to Entertainment Donna Pilato has some great ideas for the perfect kick-off-the-school-year-right bash, complete with decorations (apples hanging from the ceiling), activities (back-to-school time capsule), and munchies (school bus-shaped sandwiches). One Last Hurrah originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 12:13:44.
Summer First Aid 101
Whos the first one your children run to with scraped knees and assorted bumps and bruises? Who does the camp director call when little Susie isnt feeling well? Youve got ityou. Summer is the prime season for you as a stay-at-home parent (and first one on the list of emergency contacts) to need these handy tricks and quick fixes for all of yours kids minor complaints. Need to get your sunburned beach babies out of the heat for an afternoon (indoor voices included!)? Try these creative (and free/nearly free!) child activity ideas that will keep your kids learning and playing indoors for a few hours. Learn how to help your woodland wanderers resist the impulse to scratch at poison ivy rashes or mosquito bites. If youre worried about sending your active kids outside as the temperature escalates, Catherine Holecko, About.coms Guide to Family Fitness, has a great blog post on preventing heat stroke in kids and adults alike. And, for the inevitable skinned knee or elbow that results from your child running across a slick pool deck or hurtling from one end of the mulched playground to the other, brush up on your wound-dressing knowhow with a little help from Rod Brouhard, About.coms Guide to First Aid. Summer First Aid 101 originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 08:00:23.
Stay-at-Home Entrepreneur?
Stay-at-Home Entrepreneur? originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 10:26:48.
Though the recession continues to plow onward, many entrepreneurial moms are getting a start on business ventures from the comfortand flexibilityof their own homes.
Stay-at-home mom Julie Trade rakes in a six-figure salary while her two sons, ages 2 and 5, are asleep, CNNmoney.com reports. Trade works 40 hours a week, mostly between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., plus evenings and weekends. During the day, however, she is a stay-at-home mom, much as she was before her husband was laid off in 2007. After a year of watching her husband struggle to find work, Trade, 40, struck out on her own out of a spare bedroom, intending to make a little extra cash with her marketing know-how. With clients like British Telecom and Argent Software, Trade estimates that she is now making twice what she made when she was working full-time before she became a mom.
While companies like the Atlanta-based Mom Corps are seeing a boom in the number of former stay-at-home moms seeking flexible options to return to work, others (like entrepreneurial effort-backer Tim Draper) say that recessions are the best times to start small businesses.
If your familys finances need a little boost to make ends meet, or your ready to get back to (or redefine) your career without leaving home, becoming a work-at-home mom might be the right choice for you. About.coms Guide for Work-At-Home Moms, Laureen Miles Brunelli, has a great list of possible careers for WAHMs to get your juices flowing.
Watch out for WAH scams and learn how to get started as a work-at-home mom.
Go Camping This Summer
Go Camping This Summer originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 19:53:08.
A family camping trip can be an affordable and fun alternative to the more traditional family vacation this summer. Cooking while camping out can be a bit of a challenge though, so here are some easy recipes that my kids really enjoy when we go camping. They especially enjoy Homemade Ice Cream in a Coffee Can, a tasty dessert that the kids love to make and eat.
Tips for Camping With Your Family
Save On Air Conditioning Costs
Save On Air Conditioning Costs originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 20:39:25.
For people who live in warm climates, the cost to run the air conditioning will be one of the largest expenses during the summer months. You can save some money, though, with these tips to help keep your air conditioner costs down.
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Highlights for Single Parents: 17th Edition
This week's highlights include a discussion of whether dating single parents should let their significant others have a say in child discipline, a popular myth about single parents dispelled, and more. On the Blogs: When Do I Let My Boyfriend Discipline My Kid? - Rachel wonders whether her daughter is learning to play her and her boyfriend just a bit. Is Divorcing a Military Member More Complicated - Cathy explains some of the differences between civilian and military divorce. In the News: Most Teen Parents Not Raised in Poverty, by Single Parents - The myth about a connection between teen pregnancies and single parent households gets dispelled. State Hopes to Update Child Support Guidelines - Maryland is considering the first major update to their child support guidelines since 1988. Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com. Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Highlights for Single Parents: 17th Edition originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 10:33:16.
Thrifty Thursday: Save With Toy Store Price Matching
Want to spend less on kids' toys this holiday season? Grab a cup of coffee, and spend some time reading your newspaper's most recent toy ads. Several stores, including Wal-Mart and Target, are offering price matching this season, which means they'll match any price printed in a competitor's ad circular. This kind of bargain hunting may require more of a time investment up front, while you're comparing ads and planning your shopping strategy. However, spending less time running from store to store, and knowing that you're getting the best price, is well worth it. Just don't let your kids find your stash of marked-up toy ads! Online Price Matching Policies: Wal-Mart | Target Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Thrifty Thursday: Save With Toy Store Price Matching originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 05:00:57.
Plan a Fun Fall Outing With Your Kids This Weekend
I think October was just about the most action-packed month we've ever had. Between soccer, football, my daughter's broken arm, both kids having a flu-like-virus, and various other activities and obligations, it seemed like there wasn't a single date on the calendar that wasn't filled with something to do (or devoted to recuperating). So when I turned the calendar over this week to November, I was thrilled to see nothing written down for this weekend! It's so exciting to be free to choose something fun, or even to deliberately choose to do nothing at all. What about you? If you have a couple of hours to spare this weekend, see if you can plan a fun, seasonal activity with your kids, like going hiking or baking your favorite pumpkin treat. For ideas, read 30 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids This Fall. Related: Ten Weeks of Fun Fall Activities. Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Plan a Fun Fall Outing With Your Kids This Weekend originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 20:42:36.
10 Backup Providers for Single Parents
In recent days, if I didn't look outside, and relied only on the list of school closings scrolling across my TV screen, I might think it was a snow day! That's how many schools in our area have been closing due to outbreaks of H1N1 and flu-like-illnesses. Fortunately, my children's school has not closed, but my daughter told me that eight kids were absent from her class today. Whether flu symptoms are keeping kids in your area home or not, make sure that you're well-prepared with backup child care options. If you co-parent, try to create a schedule that would allow the responsibility for sick days and school closing to fall equally on both of you. For more options, read 10 Backup Providers for Single Parents. H1N1 Resources: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page 10 Backup Providers for Single Parents originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:03:22.
Highlights for Single Parents: 16th Edition
This week's highlights include concerns about adult sleepovers, a refund from Disney that you might be eligible for, and more. On the Blogs: A Single Dad Wonders About Grown-Up Sleepovers - What's your opinion? Should he discuss the issue with his daughters first? How to Cope With a Stepfamily - Sue Atkins of Positive Parents = Confident Kids shares seven tips for creating a healthy stepfamily. Disney Offering Refund on Baby Einstein DVDs and Videos - Get a refund for any Baby Einstein product purchased within the last five years. In the News: Dentists Propose "Cash for Candy" - Sell back some of your family's excess Halloween candy to a local dentist, and use the money to do something fun together. Single Father Turned Away From Homeless Shelters - Dads with sole custody who've fallen on hard times may have a more difficult time getting help. FCCS Focuses Efforts On Partners Of Single Parents - Franklin County Children Services, located in Ohio, has started a new program aimed at single parents, called "Choose Your Partner Carefully." Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Highlights for Single Parents: 16th Edition originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 05:00:11.
Manage Your Kids' Halloween Candy With These Printable Candy Exchange Coupons
This year, my children's school put an end to the practice of collecting $5 from each student to cover the cost of holiday parties. Instead, my son's teacher asked all of us to send in a bag of Halloween candy for today's festivities. Um... Twenty-eight bags of candy? That's quite a lot! In fact, I might have a more difficult time than ever sorting through the "loot" and trying to manage my kids' sugar intake. Fortunately, they've gotten used to a trick that I've been using for years. I print out these "Halloween Candy Exchange Coupons" and have my kids trade some of their candy for things like a trip to the bookstore, the dollar store, and their favorite smoothies. It's a win-win way to manage their Halloween candy and limit how much junk food is left hanging around the house. Related: Top Halloween Candy Tips for Healthy Teeth | Leftover Halloween Candy Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Manage Your Kids' Halloween Candy With These Printable Candy Exchange Coupons originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 09:32:35.
Thrifty Thursday: Save Money By Combining Holiday Gifts
Are you looking for creative ways to save money this holiday season? Consider buying combination gifts for the families on your list. For example, choose a DVD, buy a gift certificate to a local movie theater, or select a game or activity they can all enjoy collectively. (The gift of time together is more valuable than a sweater, anyway, right?) For a list of ideal parent-child gifts, read 7 Affordable Parent-Child Gifts. Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Thrifty Thursday: Save Money By Combining Holiday Gifts originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 05:00:30.
Reach Out to the People Around You
Have you ever noticed that when you're feeling down, it helps to help someone else? I really believe that's true--not just in the sense of recognizing that others are having just as hard a time, if not more, raising teenagers, or coping with a sleepless infant--but because when you share what you've learned along the way, you're affirming that what you've gone through has been worth something. It's shaped you into the person you are today: wiser, more at peace, and more willing to be true to yourself. So whether you're ready to "give back" to another mom or dad in need, or you're in need of support yourself, stop by the Single Parents' Forum and introduce yourself. Or, chime in on one of the following "Readers Respond" features. Your wisdom might just be exactly what someone else needed to hear today. Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Reach Out to the People Around You originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 21:06:11.
Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas
Are your kids still undecided when it comes to choosing a Halloween costume? Don't fret. There are plenty of great Halloween costumes you can pull together at the last minute, and with minimal effort. Sherri, over at Family Crafts at About.com, has put together a terrific resource called Fast and Simple Costumes. Right on the first page, she lists all of the supplies you'll need for each costume, so you can easily scroll down until you find something you can make without running back to the store. More Halloween Costume Resources: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 10:38:40.
Highlights for Single Parents: 15th Edition
This week's highlights include a discussion of the label "single parent," concerns about child care, and more. On the Blogs: How Working Moms Supervise Tweens After School - Katherine asks whether tweens are old enough to supervise themselves after school. Single Parent vs. Only Parent - Ashlee shares her frustration with the term "single parent." What's your opinion? Halloween the Healthy Way - On SingleDad.com, Chef Andre shares tips for putting a healthy spin on this year's Halloween celebration. In the News: As Aid Shrinks, More 'Stuck' for Day Care - More and more parents are the losing child care subsidies that allow them to work in the first place. Child Support Collections at Risk in Iowa - A DHS spokesman says most recipients won't be affected by the budget cuts. Really? If You're Late to Pick Up Your Child at School, Expect More Than Embarrassment - One Portland-are school is charging late parents $5 for every ten minutes. Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com. Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Highlights for Single Parents: 15th Edition originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 07:51:36.
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Single Parents
Psst – free child care
Thrifty parents are swapping babysitting or joining sitter co-ops to avoid the $10-an-hour cost of the local teenager's services
I got involved in my daughter's breakup
Now she's not talking to me. Help!
The ultimate Good Wife
In writing about her husband's affair, Elizabeth Edwards is actually dutifully protecting him. That's why we attack her
Father, some want more than a sermon
Popular Cuban-American priest and radio host Rev. Alberto Cutie considers leaving the church to marry the woman for whom he broke 22 years of celibacy
Fancy tweeting U in a place like this
Really, really short pickup lines: Is that 140 characters or RU just happy 2 see me?
Mom, Dad, I feel I never knew you
When adolescence ends, your child can see beyond the mask he's projected onto you. Six tips for making a smooth transition
Are pregnant women smug?
'You think you're so deep now. You give me the creeps now. Now that you're pregnant' - from Pregnant Women are Smug by Garfunkel and Oates
Family factotums
Shovelling snow and shining shoes isn't the half of it. Foreign workers hired as caregivers can find themselves painting the house and giving manicures
My friend's life is a train wreck - and all she does is complain
I really don't need the drama. What should I do?
Why are my friends ditching me?
One of the desperately difficult lessons in life is that some situations, despite your fine efforts, cannot be saved
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Canada’s best source for news continuously updated by The Globe and Mail
Find the Perfect School with InsideCollege.com
When it came time to start applying for colleges, I didn't have the most scientific approach. Mainly I focused on schools that had reached out to me based on my PSAT scores. I didn't have the wealth of information available today on the Internet to help me out. If you (or your kids) are starting to look for schools and are feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices available, you may want to check out InsideCollege.com, a website designed to help you find just the right college for your major, your interests and your personality. Perhaps you're looking for a school with a great women's water polo team. Or one that has an unusual team mascot. Maybe you're shy and would like to find a college for students who have a harder time making connections. You can find lists of colleges that meet these criterion, plus hundreds of other lists, including the basics on admittance, majors and extracurricular activities. And just so you know, if all three of these descriptions apply to you, you'll want to check out Whittier College in Whittier, CA. InsideCollege.com doesn't actually provide a whole lot of information about each school - you can visit the school website for that - but it does give you links to scholarships that match each school to help you get a head-start on financial aid. InsideCollege.com also offers its own $2000 scholarship for users of the site. I had fun looking up one of my previous schools... not surprisingly, it's on the list of "Colleges Where Geek is Chic." Go figure. Read More Find the Perfect School with InsideCollege.com originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 16:52:11.
Practice Turkey Jokes for Thanksgiving
Did you know that the Yahoo! Kids website has jokes? You can search on keywords and learn kid-friendly jokes on just one topic. As Thanksgiving approaches, I thought it would be fun to check out jokes about turkeys. Do you have any kid-friendly turkey jokes to share? Read More Practice Turkey Jokes for Thanksgiving originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 11:25:46.
Make Your Own Animal at Switch Zoo
Switch Zoo is a clever little site that lets you combine body parts from different animals to create your own unique breed. Choose from 142 animals and then change the head, body and/or tail. How about a zebra with the head of a chimpanzee and the tail of a red squirrel? After reading facts about each of the animals you choose, the site allows you to write a story about your new animal and print it out. Switch Zoo also has games and other activities. Parents should note that Switch Zoo displays Google ads prominently on the site, which means you're never quite sure what ads you'll see while visiting. Read More Make Your Own Animal at Switch Zoo originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 22:55:26.
Email for Kids
Although some people claim that email is dead for younger generations, your kids may not agree. They may be looking for an email address to keep in touch with friends or out-of-town family. If so, there are a number of good options that help keep kids safe from unwanted correspondents and spam. Read More Email for Kids originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 16:25:02.
World of Goo Turns One, Gives a Gift to Consumers
If you haven't already played World of Goo, the game developers at 2D Boy have a treat for you. In honor of the game's first birthday, they are offering it at a "pay whatever you think it's worth" sale through Sunday, October 25. If you've read my review, you'll know that I think it's worth every penny of the regular price ($20), so this is the chance to get a great game at a great bargain. Read More World of Goo Turns One, Gives a Gift to Consumers originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 23:43:52.
Comparing Apples and Oranges with Wolfram Alpha
I took some time out yesterday to play around with Wolfram|Alpha, a "computational knowledge engine" from the same people who brought us Mathematica software. A hybrid between a search engine, a graphing calculator and an encyclopedia, Wolfram|Alpha can solve complex equations, decode scientific formulas, compare stocks, provide historical comparisons, blend colors and play musical notes. My experiment with the search features wasn't all that noble. I decided to compare nutritional information for french fries from three major fast food joints ("McDonalds fries vs Burger King fries vs Wendy fries"). Wolfram|Alpha gave me the single size nutritional information for each chain (Wendy's has a larger serving size than the other two) and then gave me charts which compared them based on calories, carbohydrates and other fun nutritional facts. If you're wondering, a single serving of McDonalds fries is the smallest, and also the healthiest choice of the three. I also did a search on my name (very popular when I was born) and the ideal weight for someone my height (due to my love of fries, it's much less than my real weight). Wolfram|Alpha is so different from anything I had ever worked with that it took me some effort to figure out why I'd want to use it. Honestly, I'm still not sure I would. On the other hand, a friend of mine who teaches math at the college level says that he likes to use it in class occasionally. Either way, it was fun to try out and I'll keep it in mind for future uses. Oh, and in case you're wondering, you can compare apples and oranges, too. If you're intrigued by Wolfram|Alpha, you might want to drop in on October 21, 2009 for their first "Homework Day." From Noon CDT until 2am the next day, you'll enjoy interviews, live Q&A's and examples of how to use Wolfram|Alpha in classroom settings from Kindergarten through college. Comparing Apples and Oranges with Wolfram Alpha originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 16:42:20.
Where the Wild Things Are: The Video Game
You no doubt have seen a preview of the new Where the Wild Things Are movie. You probably haven't seen a preview of the corresponding video game that launched today for XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS. The game, which is rated either E or E10+ depending on the platform, invites users to play as Max as he explores the Wild Thing's island. To go along with this release, Warner Brothers has some special promotions. My favorite is a chance to win a wolf costume, a copy of the video game (along with choice of console) and some other cool prizes. The contest ends on November 13 and you can enter daily. You'll need to sign up as a WB Insider which is a free Warner Brothers loyalty program. Read More Where the Wild Things Are: The Video Game originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 23:50:11.
Where the Wild Things Are: The Video Game (on XBox)
Warner Brothers
Countdown to Halloween - Free Halloween Printables
This list includes some of my absolute favorite free Halloween printables, from a paper coffin to "Doctor Skelly's Magic X-Ray Camera" (from The Toymaker). There are also games and coloring sheets. Hook up the printer and start coloring, cutting and pasting your way to a fun Halloween. Read More Countdown to Halloween - Free Halloween Printables originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 22:44:21.
Miniature Paper Coffin
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Countdown to Halloween - Buy Halloween Candy Online
Boo! It's October and it's time to start making your Halloween plans, especially if you'd like to do some of your shopping online. Since kids are really the last people you want to have helping you choose Halloween candy, I've put together a list of fun Halloween candy choices (and some non-candy ideas as well) for busy parents who don't have time to shop. Enjoy! And try to leave some of the candy for the kids... Read More Countdown to Halloween - Buy Halloween Candy Online originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 13:05:05.
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Disney Digital Books - The Next Level of E-Books
Do you remember those books that came with either a tape or a 45 record (depending on how old you are) that read aloud to you and beeped to tell you when to turn the page? I loved those when I was little. They gave me some independence when I was still too young to read myself, and they were fun even as I got older. When I got the chance to preview Disney Digital Books online, that's all I could think of: take those read-along books, add in some Disney magic and brand new technology and you've got something fun and educational. Disney has launched what is, in essence, a web-based e-reader for kids. This growing library of more than 500 Disney titles is available via subscription service. In addition to being able to read books alone or with a parent, kids can listen to some of the collection a la the read along books of my youth, and even creatively manipulate some others by adding pictures and words. At first glance, you may think that this service is most appropriate for the preschool and Kindergarten set who love Playhouse Disney and the classics. In fact, the Disney Digital Books collection has a wide range of titles including more sophisticated chapter books appropriate for the middle school crowd who love the drama of Hannah Montana and the adventure of Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. "It is imperative that we, as a publisher, promote reading in every medium where our readers are and to expand the ways in which we deliver meaningful reading experiences to children," said Jeanne Mosure, Senior Vice President, Group Publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide. "Disney Digital Books furthers our core mission of getting kids to read more as it combines the stories and characters kids love with the most innovative technology and features. Our hope is to provide families with new and exciting reading experiences while reaching those reluctant readers as well." Additional features on the site include a point-based reward system, a customizable virtual room, quizzes and a built-in dictionary. This is not your parents' read-along book collection. (I should add that the site has just launched and there a few kinks they're working out.) Subscription costs are $79.95 for an annual subscription or $8.95 per month. The rate includes a parent account and accounts for up to three children in your household. Gift subscriptions are also available. If you're interested in learning more about Disney Digital Books, I invite you to do the following: Disney Digital Books - The Next Level of E-Books originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 02:06:08.
Up is just one of many newer titles that will be available on Disney Digital Books
Disney Publishing Worldwide
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Family Computing
Buying a Printer Help and Tips
Buying a printer? Whether it is color, black and white, laser, inkjet, or bubblejet, these tips should help in your purchase decisions. One factor you may not have considered when buying a printer is the noise generated by the unit. Printers can be especially noisy when generating a large print job, limiting their potential use in some situations. Heed this warning, else you may find yourself returning to a computer or office supply store in a foul mood. Before you take your printer to the cash register, or before you click the "Buy" button if you are purchasing a printer online, ensure the printer comes with all cables needed to connect to your machine. Read all eleven tips for great ideas and things to consider before you make a purchase on a printer.
Before purchasing a printer, make sure it will fit on your desk, and don't make it so tight that your printer doesn't have a few inches around itself to ventilate (in heavy use, or if you keep your printer on all the time whether you are printing documents or not, your printer can get quite warm). When calculating the printer size requirements, make sure to get dimensions of not just the printer but also all paper trays, paper feeds, and the exit tray.
Garage Remodeling Ideas - extra space, more storage, & cool ideas
Many people find that a garage offers the perfect environment to house their home office, studio space, or workshop. As many garages are attached or near the home, they can often be easily fitted with the same comforts as a home: heating and cooling, phone wiring, even plumbing. However, transforming your garage doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your storage area. Many garages today have become multifunctional, allowing for cars, general storage, and a home office or workshop all in the same space. If you find you will be losing too much storage space in your garage, consider building a small storage shed in your yard to house tools, sporting equipment and seasonal items. A building separate from the house will expand your storage space, allowing you to use the garage in ways that you could not use a shed: electricity or heating, for example. In addition to remodeling your current garage space, you could also consider an addition above the garage. Raising the roof and adding a room for work space above your existing garage can give you additional space, not to mention increase the value of a home, without changing the floor plan.
Kite Flying Tips
When choosing a spot for kite flying you should take safety into consideration. Steer clear of power lines, roads, airports, buildings and trees. Hills can also cause trouble by making the wind bumpy, which makes flying a kite that much harder. A wide-open space like a park or beach is ideal. Even the center of a baseball field can provide enough space to fly. Kites have a way of getting tangled with other kites, so you shouldn't fly on top of other kites.
Learn many aspects of flying kites from kite selection, to when and where to best fly a kite.
Learn the best way to launch your kite. Hey go fly a kite.
Pumpkin Carving and Pumpkin Carving Patterns for Halloween
Whether it's simply carving a pumpkin to sit on the door step for Halloween night or holding a pumpkin carving party with you're friends and family, this age old tradition is a main event for young and old alike. Pumpkin Carving 101 was first published in September of 1996 as part of the Halloween Online Magazine with the mission of providing quality information and entertainment to everyone interested in this wonderful tradition for celebrating Halloween.
Read all the great tips for decorating for halloween in this tim honored tradition of pumpkin carving and making jack-o-lanterns.
RC Car Tips
Over 10,000,000 page views, 290+ pages of information and 423+ images about rc cars, also called remote control or radio controlled cars. Reviews, photos, comparisons, specs and buying recommendations to help you choose and buy for fun or racing. Articles, videos and tips from enthusiasts. Plus links to local and online hobby shops. Also called nitro rc cars because the hobby fuel used contains nitro methane to increase speed and power. Popular are the 1/10 on-road nitro touring cars. Cen CTR5 (90mph), Nitro 4TEC (70mph), and more.
For truck lovers, a big section on remote controlled rc trucks, such as electric, nitro, monster and mini r/c trucks. Fast growing is the short course rc trucks... great for beginners and experts.
The fastest and most exciting category, gas powered rc cars can go as fast as 50 - 60+ miles per hour. The 1/8 gas cars go 70 - 80 mph in racing competitions. Cen CTR 5.0 is coming out with a 90+mph on road nitro rc car.
For beginners, electric rc cars are the best... easier to control, build, and maintain. New are HPI Sprint 2 Flux, Formula 10, Cup racer, Tamiya M05 and F104. Great reviews have been posted in rc car forums.
Budget Home Decorating
Budget Styles is a magazine style website devoted to helping you with home decorating projects and ideas. Whether you'd like to get ideas and tips on how to decorate various parts of your home inexpensively, or you're looking for do it yourself home decorating projects and ideas, you'll find it all right here!
Area rugs are a fabulous yet inexpensive way to give a room an entirely new look. Rugs have come a long way since the time they were only bought for practical purposes and were only available in boring old styles and staid colors. Rugs today have undergone a complete transformation and are available in a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Enter any rug store and you are sure to be bombarded by round, oval and rectangular rugs in vibrant colors and every size imaginable. Rugs can be hand made or machine made and the materials most popularly used include silk, wool, cotton and bamboo.
Find many tips tips for updating your home or just give a room a breath of fresh air.
Basic Bathroom Remodeling Tips - Tips for Homeowners
Bathrooms are typically among the smallest rooms in the house, yet we use them for many daily routines. Often, several household members want to use the bathroom at about the same time. Everyone wants a fully functional bathroom that is pleasing to the eye and easy to keep clean. That's a lot to ask of a room that is only a bit bigger than a closet. For these reasons, good design has become increasingly important to a successful bathroom remodeling project. Bathroom remodeling is one of the most popular home improvement projects. Whether adding a new bath or remodeling an old one, there are a number of things to keep in mind to make sure you get the most out of the project. Be sure you read this site and grasp the simple guiding suggestions for a successful remodel or updating to your bathroom.
Christmas-Cookies.com - hundreds of Christmas cookie recipes
Recipes, cookie recipe forum, and baking tips! All you need for the most memorable Christmas cookies ever! Over 540 recipes and counting! Browse the collection of scrumptious Christmas cookie recipes both modern and traditional. Need baking and decorating tools? Check out the list of preferred online retailers of baking supplies. Find the best tools and products for baking cookies here too. the best ingredients and more are even suggested as well as baking tips galore. Make some fantastic treats this year with great ideas and suggestions from this site.
Find the most delicious cookie recipes to tantalize your Holiday guests or for sharing at the office party.
TravelSkoot - Peter Greenberg's Fall Travel Tips
TravelSkoot is a website that allows you to plan a single day's adventure, a historical tour, map out your favorite places, or a full week's vacation by simply plotting points on the map! Be it a rigidly scheduled pub-crawl with friends one night, or a historical walking tour, TravelSkoot provides the tools for you to create your personalized activity. You can go to a skoot for a city you've never been to by searching for skoots created by other users. Use those skoots as they are or go ahead and edit a previously created skoot from another user. Have guests coming to town? Create a skoot for them with the best place for coffee in the morning, the way to shops, and a place for a little lunch so they can get around while you're at work. What's more, skoots can be viewed on WAP enabled phones on your mobile browser for easy access when you're on the streets.
Buying Digital Cameras - What To Look For Tips
Digital cameras come in many sizes, shapes, and price ranges. Since you will be living with your decision to purchase a particular make and model for many years, it is a good idea to carefully weigh the various options available before buying a camera. Break the decision down into a checklist of factors to help determine which camera is best for you. Consider image quality, performance, ergonomics, features, and price. Also consider whether you will just be taking family snap shots or something more elaborate.
First decide how much you are willing to pay for a digital camera. You may need to adjust this figure up if you want and need a lot of manual control and features. Decide on camera body size, and features that you may actually use. Then look for a camera in your price range.
Faced with so many choices from point and shoot to full blown pro cameras, this task can be very confusing. Sort out all your needs and read the great tips to set you straight and clear out the confusing jargon of buying a camera.
Guide to Christmas Shopping Tips
You can save this holiday season and still get wonderful gifts as long as you set a Christmas shopping budget well in advance. Making a list of your gift recipients and knowing how much you will spend on each one will help you look out for bargains.
Read the many articles on shopping to save money and learn how to make gift shopping easier. The Holidays are right around the corner and in today's economy who wouldn't like to save money, time and energy from the hustle and bustle.
Resume Writing - 10 Tips to Bullet Proof Your Resume
With employers receiving hundreds of resumes you must make sure that your resume hooks an employer's attention within a 5-second glance. A great way to do this is to use job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the jobs you want. Employers make snap judgments when glancing at your resume. If they see unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want. Adding to this problem is the fact that employers don't have the time to read through each of your job descriptions to determine if you have the skills they need. Read through this site to further refine and enhance your resume to help get that great job you have been trying to catch.
Tire buying tips: what to consider when purchasing tires
Walking into a tire store can be, and often is to say the least confusing for those of us who don't buy tires that often. For the most part, as long as there are four tires on the car, most people are satisfied. Sometimes we can't always based our decision to buy a tire based on the name of the tire if it is a well known brand, or because the price is in a higher bracket than other selections of tires. A little homework will help us make a wiser decision when purchasing a tire. Read all about tires and the many aspects you should consider before buying tires.
But when taking a stronger interest in the type of tires that are mounted on a car, the whole area of "tires" opens up, and we find there's more to this tire buying than just bringing the car in to a tire shop and having four new tires put on.
A tire is an important functional part of any vehicle. Outside of the engine and its various parts, without the tire, no car, no truck, or no bus will get from point A to point B or any other point for that matter.
First off the U.S. Government rates tires according to safety and mileage and by learning what these specifications are will help us decide what is best for our needs. Treadware traction, and heat resistance are some of the factors that should be seriously considered when making a purchase. Tire dealers can and should provide this information to the discerning consumer.
Treadware gives the expected mileage. This is shown by numbers, i.e. 300, 400, 500, etc. The higher the number, the more the expected mileage.
Traction grades provides a basis on how well tires will stop on a wet surface. "A" Grade of course being the better tire, thereby stopping in a shorter distance than Grade "B. We can see here that by purchasing the better grade, if we live in a climate where rain is a factor, we are better off paying a bit more by buying the higher-grade tire.
How To Buy A Used Car & Avoid Scams
When Hurricane Katrina struck Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and Hurricane Rita hit Florida, Louisiana and Texas, it was one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States. Aside from death and destruction, few people know what happened to the hundreds of thousands of cars that were totaled, most of them flooded by Katrina's storm surge and the flooding of New Orleans. Many car dealer lots had hundreds of cars completely submerged under water. After insurance claims, these cars will have their titles branded as totaled or flooded, then they'll be shipped to other states so their titles can be laundered back to normal status, while latent water damage corrodes the electronics. It is more important than ever for you to run an Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Report on every used car you look at, because you can't afford to be stuck with a previously flooded or totaled vehicle.
Low Back Pain: Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention
Many things can cause low back injuries--muscle strain or spasm, sprains of ligaments (which attach bone to bone), joint problems or a "slipped disk." The most common cause is using your back muscles in activities you're not used to, like lifting heavy furniture or doing yard work. A slipped disk (also called a herniated disk) happens when a disk between the bones of the spine bulges and presses on nerves. This is often caused by twisting while lifting. But many people won't know what caused their slipped disk. In most cases, slipped disks and other back pain can be relieved by following a few simple methods. Learn how to sit, lift, and stand to help relive your lower back pains, How long should you wait to before seeking treatmen? find out all these useful tips at this great relieveing site.
Family First
Binge drinking spreads to Italy
Italy takes steps to stop binge drinking, which is growing among Italians thanks to the influx of hard-drinking tourists.
Who does the law favor in Jackson children custody case?
Parental rights count for much, but courts today are giving more credence to claims from a child's primary caregiver.
A few million US grandmas know what's ahead for Katherine Jackson
The mother of the King of Pop joins, at least for now, the ranks of grandparents raising grandchildren.
How the recession is reshaping the American family
The downturn is forcing the man of the house to spend more time at home, altering roles everywhere from the laundry room to the child-care center.
How the recession is reshaping the American family
The downturn is forcing the man of the house to spend more time at home, altering roles everywhere from the laundry room to the child-care center.
People making a difference: Sheema Kermani
In Pakistan, this women's rights activist stages plays that stir controversy – and thought.
'Monitor' cake a hit with several generations
For years, her family has made a chocolate cake recipe clipped from this newspaper.
Chefs in the making
Cooking schools help teens build culinary skills and confidence.
A natural foods junkie at McDonald's
He couldn't imagine anything good about fast-food places – until he took his son to one.
From homeless to actress
A theater class helps marginalized women reclaim their lives.
Barbecue, North Carolina style
Different regional flavors inspire lifelong devotees.
A household balancing act
Domestic roles shift when one spouse loses a job.
Sturdy beans for a leaner budget
Long the staple of frugal Yankees, Boston baked beans enjoy a revival.
The traveling rice cooker
The best meals we had in Italy came from my mother's suitcase.
The lure of the chicken stock
In the grocery store aisle, the cartons call my name as I dream up thick, fragrant soups.
Simple pleasures gain ground
In tough times, people are increasingly turning to activities such as board games and musical evenings with friends.
A tasty reminder of home
The kitchen filled with the scents of a faraway land.
Eat local – even in winter
Many farmers' markets no longer shut down in cold weather.
Food and films for thought
Berlin film festival sparks conversations about sustainability and food production over elegant cuisine.
Cookies worthy of a president
She couldn't help but send the presidential family her award-winning cookies through a friend.
Christian Science Monitor | Living
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