RSSParenting
HOME > LIFESTYLES > PARENTING
Game On: Are Video Games Harmful
Harvard Health Letter
Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables
Lilian Presti
We've all heard of the kid who won't eat anything except chicken fingers and hot dogs -- and maybe you recognize this child well because he or she is yours. Although most children aren't this extreme, many are still not eating as much healthy foods as their parents would like
Taking the Kids To San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences
Eileen Ogintz
We're at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which in the year since it has re-opened has emerged as the city's top cultural tourist attraction, drawing more visitors than Alcatraz
Sometimes Good Enough is Just Right
Ana Veciana-Suarez
I've often joked that children are the most stressful factor in a marriage, especially for those of us who juggle work and family. Rushed, conflicted and usually overwhelmed, mothers who toil outside the home feel there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with parenting obligations, job duties and household chores. Life turns into a never-ending to-do list, a blaring alarm that's can't be quieted
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.
Do You Still Give Hugs to Your Teen?
Do you think I should have told her about the cameras stores use to keep shoplifters at bay? lol
So, fess up! Do you have to sneak in a hug or two with your teen or do they let you hug them any old time? And how important do you think hugs are?
Share on the your stories, advice and opinions in the comments area. Do You Still Give Hugs to Your Teen? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 06:54:35.
And does your teen still let you hug them? I went to hug my 13 year old today in the grocery store because she was sad about losing a basketball game and she looked like she needed it. She backed away and looked up and down the aisle, making sure no one was there before she let me hug her.
The Teenagers of the Mayflower
The Teenagers of the Mayflower originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 10:00:39.
You can easily get your teen involved in history by digging up facts that he/she would be interested in. Since the US Thanksgiving holiday is coming up, I'll use it as an example. Below I have listed some facts about some of the teenagers who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower. Arm yourself with them and have a good old fashioned conversation at dinner tonight.
Screening Quiz: Is your teen depressed?
It's important that parents not only think about it, but talk to our teens about it too. Talking to teens can make them feel less hopeless and help them understand or work through whatever problems they face. It will put you on your teen's side - which is right where you want to stay.
Related Resources:
Screening Quiz: Is your teen depressed? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 08:57:47.
When your teen seems moody or sad, do you think its depression or it's just a phase? Believe it or not, depression is more common than we realize. According to a national study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, 61 percent of 8th to 10th graders reported feeling sad and hopeless, 36 percent reported nothing to look forward to, and 34 percent expressed serious thoughts of committing suicide. Scary to think about!
Mom Asks: Opinions on Alternative Schools?
He does deal with ADD; trouble staying on task, staying organized, and being overwhelmed with workload. However, he goes to a wonderful school, and they are willing to work with him, he's just given up. When I say that, I mean, he is consciously skipping, and just won't do his work. He can do it, he is just not willing to put the time in. I fear he is manipulating to get what he wants, when he is doing fine where he is, if he would just stay put, and put forth a little effort. If he were really trying, and not skipping, and still struggling, I would have a different opinion.
I guess my position is, do I let him try alternative school to see if it might be a better fit for him, or do I continue to struggle with him on homework, staying in school, and failing? I want his education to be positive for him, but on the other hand, I want him to learn sometimes we need to push through something difficult to become stronger.
Denise's thoughts: It sounds to me like maybe getting him something to dream about that is bigger and better than alternative school might work. He sounds like he is not having a good experience school when he is there and he searching for something better and showing you by skipping school. Maybe you can help him find something he is good at and promote him doing it, instead of changing his school for discipline reasons? For example, does he like mechanics or would he like to try to work on cars? If so, enroll him in night fix-it classes or find a garage that needs a helper. Once teens are engaged in something they enjoy and that can help build their confidence, school and other responsibilities become easier.
Asking our community: What are your thoughts? Please share your advice and opinions in the comments area.
Mom Asks: Opinions on Alternative Schools? originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 06:40:39.
A mom on the forum asks: My 15 year old son has decided that if he skips enough school and fails enough classes, he will GET to go to an alternative school. He has several "friends" that attend, and I think he thinks it is the easy way out ("it's a shorter day and they don't care if you skip!", his words). I think ALC's provide an excellent opportunity for students that really need them, don't misunderstand. I just get the feeling my son is just being lazy, and wants more time to "play".
Too Much Food in Teens' Diet Is What Is Causing Obesity
"But the survey also found that teens' overall rate of daily exercise had not changed much since 1991, when the study sample was first asked to report their participation in gym classes in school and their level of physical activity at home. The percentage of teens attending daily gym class has stayed relatively steady since 1991; on average, the yearly change in the proportion of students participating was less than 1%. The percentage of ninth- through 12th-graders getting adequate levels of moderate physical activity -- exercise such as slow bicycling, fast walking or pushing a lawn mower, which did not make participants break a sweat -- also changed very little, from 26.7% in 1999 to 26.5% in 2005"
I was just thinking about this recently. My middle daughter is playing basketball. On the days that she practices, she comes home and eats a good meal with a smile. On the days that she doesn't, she picks at her food and snacks the rest of the night on junk food. I came to the conclusion that organized sports and activities really are the best way to get teens exercising and eating right.
Asking our community: Why do you think schools offer physical activity opportunities only for kids who have the talent to entertain with sports games and not just as activities for all teens to promote good health? Do you think the tide will change anytime soon? Please share your thoughts in the comments area.
More: Quiz: Are you raising a healthy teen?
Too Much Food in Teens' Diet Is What Is Causing Obesity originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 07:15:23.
Time has reported on a new study out that blames obesity in teens more on food consumption then exercise, although it does concede that it is a combination of the two factors. Most writers just talked about how food is the culprit according to the study. That is not what it says at all. Here are some of the facts as stated in the Time.com article about the change of physical activity:
Thrifty Thursday: Check Out Clearance Racks with Your Teens
Does your teen check out the clearance items in their favorite stores? Do you? Please share your stories, opinions and advice in our comments area.
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: Check Out Clearance Racks with Your Teens originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 05:00:52.
My aunt said something about her twin 18-year-old daughters recently that I found to be true of my own daughter - and I never noticed. She said, "When my girls enter a store at the mall, they make a bee line right for the clearance rack first." So does my oldest and she always manages to find the best deals there for clothes that she can wear that day. It seems the clearance racks aren't just for the past season's stuff anymore.
Teenagers Are Changing the World
Related Resources: Teenagers Are Changing the World originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 09:22:32.
Revisiting guest author Susan Heim's article today. She formerly was the Senior Editor for the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and is an author. She has written about a wonderful experience her son has had and what you and your teen can learn from it. Talk about it and find local volunteer opportunities with your teen. Set a goal to become involved and use the volunteering as some one-on-one time with your teenager - you know how hard it is to get some of that - or do it as a family activity.
Fall Activities for Teens - Week Twelve
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 twelve's fall activities for teens now. Fall Activities for Teens - Week Twelve originally appeared on About.com Parenting of Adolescents on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 08:10:28.
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.
About Parenting of Adolescents
Parenting of Adolescents
Glee, the M-Word, and More of Your Comments
Here's a list of posts that have received one or more comments this week:
Top comment-getting post is the one about how "Mongoloid" isn't as archaic as it oughta be, and my personal pick for comment of the week is this one, left by commenter Chris G in response to a post on hoarding: "My son's hoarding isn't quite as severe as others, but he can't get rid of anything willingly-I always do it when he's not around and I save much more stuff than I would like. I often put stuff in a holding area in the basement or attic, then if he's forgotten about it I pitch it, but he sometimes remembers years later. My standard answer: "I'm sure it will turn up sooner or later." And here's a funny story: he is now obsessed with real estate magazines. They are all over the house and my in-laws were babysitting and got nervous because they thought we were planning to move!"
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
Glee, the M-Word, and More of Your Comments originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 15:00:36.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Let Your Child Help Decorate for Thanksgiving
More Parenting Tips: Tips of the Day | Holiday Survival Kit | Parenting Book Reviews Image by Terri Mauro Let Your Child Help Decorate for Thanksgiving originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:03:12.
Whether it's a piece of art brought home from school or something you work up at your kitchen table, Thanksgiving decorations are a great way to include your child in the excitement and festivity of the day. You can make these preparations ahead of time, before the stress meter gets turned up by guests and food and noise. I've got some ideas on making decorating a turkey-day tradition with your child. What do you do to make the day special?
Weekday Reflection: Headlines
Read: "We want to build devices that provide not just communication, but the foundation for a change in perceptions. So if a person in a wheelchair with a device has a headline over their head that says 'This is a difficult life,' my vision is that the headline becomes: 'This is an interesting life. This is someone who has insight and fun. This is someone worth knowing.'" -- Richard Ellenson, from an interview with Louise Kinross on the blog Bloom Reflect: What headline do people see over my child's head? Over mine? What can I do today to change those headlines? 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: Headlines originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 09:00:19.
Site of the Day: Caregiver Stamp Petition
What It Is: A petition asking the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee to recognize "all family caregivers in America by honoring us with a United States Postage Stamp. Family caregiver responsibilities span endless hours and reach across all boundaries of ages, demographic and economic groups with almost everyone at some time in their lives either being a caregiver or needing a caregiver. Currently there are more than 50 million family caregivers in the United States. Services provided by family caregivers represent over 80% of all long term care services with a market value conservatively valued at more than $375 billion." Who's Behind It: "The National Family Caregivers Association and the Caregiver Community Action Network, its dedicated network of state volunteers, are proud to sponsor this U.S. Postage Stamp Campaign in honor of all the family caregivers in America. NFCA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering family caregivers to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones, and to remove barriers to their health and wellbeing by educating, supporting, empowering and speaking up for America's family caregivers." Why It's Worth Checking Out: November is National Family Caregiver Month, a good time to ask for a little recognition and respect. Where to Start: Fill out the online petition, and send the link around. + Page of the Day: Special-Needs Parenting News + Site of the Day: Caregiver Stamp Petition originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 06:00:57.
Bearing the Burden of Decision-Making
I got to thinking about this today after seeing an article in the U.K. Telegraph accusing parents of "abdicating their responsibility" by letting children in on the decision-making process. Usually I'm on the too-lenient side in tsk-tsk articles like this one, but in this case I'm a believer that sometimes adults just need to tell kids what to do. Case in point: My daughter has been in the high-school marching band for four years, periodically against her will. I've decided that she needs to be there because it offers a ton of organized time with other kids, and when your biggest problem is trying to learn social speech, long periods of time with your peers is what you need. Sometimes she begs to quit, and other times she cries because the season is almost over and she's going to miss it so much. There is a degree to which even teenagers don't know what they want. And so I'm always amazed when parents say, "Oh, my child went to one day of band camp and didn't like it, so I said he could quit." That's not an option I've offered. Read more... Bearing the Burden of Decision-Making originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 18:28:40.
How much of their own decision-making should children get to do? That's a tough question for parents, isn't it, especially parents of children whose special needs may make good decisions particularly hard to come by. On the one hand, structure and firm limits are important; on the other, a little flexibility and careful decision-offering can sometimes head off a meltdown. On the one hand, we do our research and know our stuff and are certain of the direction our children need to go, whether they like it or not; on the other, we do hope that they might be able to walk independently at some point, and will they have a clue what to do?
Teach Your Child to Paraphrase, Not Plagiarize
More Parenting Tips: Tips of the Day | Behavior ABCs | Parenting Book Reviews Image by Terri Mauro Teach Your Child to Paraphrase, Not Plagiarize originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 12:00:29.
Goodness knows, paraphrasing is hard even for adults -- professional writers have been caught copying. It's hard for even good students, who may see promising academic careers crash over cheating. But it's hardest of all for students with learning disabilities, who may not understand the original material enough to put it in their own words, and be eager for any way to get the misery of writing over with. That's why your child is going to need your help to learn how to turn someone else's ideas into his or her own. Next time there's research and writing to be done, try this paraphrasing how-to for getting a genuine response.
Weekday Reflection: Inclusion, Exclusion
Read: "The thing I find most tragic is that we as a society have been unable to find effective inclusionary environments. We haven't found an appropriate teaching model for children of different abilities, so students with special needs are often excluded from a general curriculum and put in a separate environment. Yet in every high school, one kid is going to go to Harvard and one is going to community college. Their experience is not so different from that of people who are typical or have special needs and yet we don't make that distinction." -- Richard Ellenson, from an interview with Louise Kinross on the blog Bloom Reflect: Is my child included or excluded? Are there distinctions made among other groups at the school that include or exclude some students? Is my child included in any of these? 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: Inclusion, Exclusion originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 09:00:06.
Site of the Day: Hands and Voices
What It Is: "Hands & Voices is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them." Who's Behind It: "We are a parent-driven, parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods. Our diverse membership includes those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing impaired and their families who communicate orally, with signs, cue, and/or combined methods. We exist to help our children reach their highest potential." Why It's Worth Checking Out: On the site, you can find information on various communication options for kids with hearing impairment, as well as services and chapters in your area. Where to Start: Communication Considerations A-Z + Page of the Day: News Stories on Hearing and Deafness + Site of the Day: Hands and Voices originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 06:00:40.
Wordless Wednesday: Pie Picture Recipe
More Wordless Wednesday Wordless Wednesday: Pie Picture Recipe originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 15:00:50.
Looking to do some Thanksgiving baking with your child? Try a picture recipe for pie.
(Recipe and illustrations copyright © 2005 Karin Melberg Schwier & Erin Schwier Stewart)
Wordless Wednesday on About.com
Teach Your Child to Use an Outline
More Parenting Tips: Tips of the Day | Behavior ABCs | Parenting Book Reviews Image by Terri Mauro Teach Your Child to Use an Outline originally appeared on About.com Parenting Special Needs on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:00:41.
Organizing thoughts into a coherent piece of writing can be a daunting task for children with learning disabilities. The best way to pin those ideas down and put them into a form that others can follow is to use an outline. The tried-and-true I-II-III A-B-C outline works whether your child has to churn out a paragraph, a page or a paper. Read my instructions on how to use it for a strong single paragraph, a five-paragraph essay and a research paper.
About Parenting Special Needs
Parenting Special Needs
Thrifty Thursdays: Will You Buy Your Spouse a Christmas Gift?
This holiday season, many parents are reporting that they will spend less on each other so that they can buy gifts for their children. Slightly more than half (50.3 percent) of parents surveyed said they plan to cut back on gifts to each other, according to a new survey by America's Research Group, a consumer research and marketing firm. Things were very different before the economic downturn tightened everyone's purse strings: In 2007, only 6 percent of spouses said they'd cut back on gifts for each other. But as with any cloud, how you deal with the setback determines the shine of your silver lining. If you're spending less on your spouse this year, you can look at your limited holiday budget as a challenge to buy only small but thoughtful gifts that will be appreciated. For instance, if your spouse loves to collect ornaments, you can buy her one to add to her collection. Or if he loves to watch football with buddies, you can arrange for a guys' afternoon football party at your house and surprise him with an invitation. For other cheap but great holiday gift ideas, check out Working Moms Guide Katherine Lewis' ideas for Nice but Cheap Gifts. More Thrifty Thursdays Blogs:
Thrifty Thursdays: Will You Buy Your Spouse a Christmas Gift? originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 05:00:28.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
High Levels of Lead Found in Toys
Toys sold by big companies like Mattel and Disney have been found to have high levels of lead, according to a new report by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a research and advocacy group that works to protect consumers from toxic chemicals. CEH tested 250 products sold at major retailers such as Sears and Wal-Mart and found that 7 items contained lead levels that exceed federal safety standards. The products found to have high levels of lead are:
The most disconcerting part of this new report is that it comes after a new law passed by Congress last year that sets strict limits on lead and chemicals in products for children ages 12 and under. That law was prompted by a series of major product recalls of toys tainted with lead. Which makes a parent think, "When will kids' products finally be free of lead and other toxic chemicals?"
High Levels of Lead Found in Toys originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 01:29:15.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
What Do You Think about Chocolate Milk in Schools?
What do you think about the new ad campaign promoting chocolate milk in schools? The campaign, which is sponsored by The National Dairy Council, stresses the nutritional value of lowfat chocolate milk and asserts that kids drink less milk when chocolate milk is taken away. Meanwhile, those who oppose chocolate milk in schools say that flavored milk adds extra calories -- and therefore extra pounds -- contributing to the growing problem of childhood obesity. They say kids will drink plain milk when flavored is not available. Is the answer balance? Some schools are experimenting with offering flavored milk only on certain days of the week. And in our family, I know that my son, for one, will rarely drink plain milk. To boost his calcium intake, I give him yogurt and cheese and calcium-fortified orange juice. And I also occasionally give him vanilla or chocolate-flavored milk. He doesn't eat much sugar otherwise, so I figure the occasional serving of flavored milk is worth any extra calories. What Do You Think about Chocolate Milk in Schools? originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 09:52:44.
Saving Money on Thanksgiving Travel
Is your family planning to travel to see family this Thanksgiving? If so, you may want to check out these tips on getting cheaper Thanksgiving travel flights from Teresa Plowright, guide to family vacations. Being flexible with travel dates can mean significant savings for families. If you're planning to drive, try these tips on saving gas. You can use these fuel-efficiency tips to save gas on your Thanksgiving trip and beyond. Making these gas-saving tips a part of your daily routine will not only save you money but also help you do your part to save the environment. Saving Money on Thanksgiving Travel originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 08:57:21.
Thrifty Thursdays: Shop Early for Savings on Holiday Gifts
Unless your family has been holed up in a cave for the past several months, you probably already know that Zhu Zhu Pets are predicted to be one of the must-have toys of the season. And if you have a child who's been asking for the fuzzy little critters and their myriad of accessories for the holidays, you probably already know that many stores are already out of stock of these popular toys. One reason retailers are out of Zhu Zhu Pets and other predicted-to-be-popular items is that most have not placed big orders this year. Burned by last year's dismal sales, many stores simply have not taken any chances. But aside from the issue of availability, there's another reason to shop early. Industry analysts are also predicting that those unheard-of major discounts we saw last year are highly unlikely, again because retailers won't be facing overstock of inventory. So the message seems to be: Don't wait until the last minute to shop, hoping for a discount. If you see an item on sale right now that seems to be a good price, grab it. More Thrifty Thursdays Blogs:
Thrifty Thursdays: Shop Early for Savings on Holiday Gifts originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 05:00:45.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Family Photo Calendars A Great Do-Ahead Holiday Gift
A friend of mine reminded me yesterday that we are seven weeks away from Christmas. Yikes. My friend is the kind of woman who has already ordered Christmas gifts (yup, she's one of those super-organized people whom the rest of us can only feebly attempt to emulate before we realize it's like trying to become a concert pianist -- you either have it or you don't). So while I'm not gonna turn into Rebecca, I am at least determined not to be that crazed lady running through the mall on Christmas Eve again this year, making a mad dash from store to store, frantically searching for gifts. That's why I'm taking a page from another friend's family and getting an early start on Christmas this year. I recently visited my friend John's mom, who had a terrific calendar of family photos displayed at her house. It turns out that last year, one of her other sons, Peter, had compiled family photos and used the iPhoto application on his Mac to create a calendar for members of his family for Christmas. It was flat-out one of the most beautiful calendars I'd ever seen -- a testament not only to Peter's artistic eye but also to the ease of use of the iPhoto program. If you don't have a Mac, you can use a site like Rocket Life, which lets you create t-shirts, photo books, and even mugs as well as calendars from your PC. And if you have a good quality printer and the time, you can make your own calendar, cards, photobooks, and more with Hewlett-Packard's free Creative Studios for Home site. I'm thinking of some more do-ahead holiday gifts for friends and family. In the meantime, I'm gonna spend a few minutes this week and gather up some photos to unleash my inner artist and create a great calendar for my family to use all next year. Other Gift Ideas from About.com's Parenting & Family Channel Guides:
Family Photo Calendars A Great Do-Ahead Holiday Gift originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 12:22:53.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Bans on School Bake Sales -- Really???
Recently, New York City banned bake sales in schools. Sixteen states, including California, have imposed similar limitations on foods high in calories, fat and sugar in schools. I can understand the sentiment and the motivation -- however misguided -- behind the new rules. Childhood obesity is a major concern, and we should be doing all we can to curb sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks in schools. But does anyone really think banning bake sales will somehow counter sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits that are increasing kids-- and adults' -- waistlines? Just as banning baked goods from school grounds is no magic bullet for our nation's obesity problem, fighting obesity has to take a multi-pronged, reasonable approach. Parents and schools can work together to teach kids how to eat right and make sure they get enough physical activity. Once they have the real tools make healthy choices, a cookie or a muffin here and there will be a once-in-a-while treat, hardly worthy of a ban much less a second thought. Bans on School Bake Sales -- Really??? originally appeared on About.com Parenting School Age Children on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 12:11:24.
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.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
About Parenting School Age Children
Parenting School Age Children
Forum Friday: Staying Sane At Home with Twins
aprilelizabeth writes: "I am hoping to get some good advice on how to stay sane while staying at home with my 2 and 1/2 year olds! I have boy/girl twins and some days feel as though I am losing my mind. Is that normal? ...though my family tries to be helpful, I don't know anyone personally who has had twins and have come to the conclusion that it is a unique experience that only someone who has been there can understand. I am a stay at home mom so I am also looking forward to speaking (or rather typing) with an actual adult!" Forum Friday: Staying Sane At Home with Twins originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 01:49:37.
The isolation of being a stay-at-home mom can be overwhelming. Women who are accustomed to interacting with other adults in the workplace, find themselves in the company of babies or toddlers every day, and yearning for social connections. Mothers of twins or multiples may feel even more secluded. Not only are they meeting the demands of more children, but their feelings and circumstances don't match the experiences of moms of singletons.
Thank goodness for the Internet! It gives mothers easy, round-the-clock access to fellow moms of multiples. Just like aprilelizabeth, they can reach out to other moms for advice, support and companionship, and instantly connect with women around the globe. Stop by the message forum and join in the conversation. Find fellowship and friendship with other parents; share your wisdom and experience with others who are seeking advice. It just may save your sanity!
Thankful for Twins
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, one of my favorite times of the year. There is something very fortifying about taking time to gather with family and friends and count our blessings. It makes you appreciate how very blessed you are. Here's my list: 10 Reasons I'm Thankful for Twins. Please add your own reason! Thankful for Twins originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 01:31:15.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, take a moment to tell me why you are thankful to have twins or multiples. Granted, there are some moments of the day when you don't feel so thankful, for example when they are fighting, making a mess or crying incessantly. But in the big picture, most parents of multiples agree that they wouldn't trade it for the world.
Twins of the Week: Charley and Saige
Two in a tree! Twin sisters, Charley and Saige, were eleven years old when this picture was taken. The fraternal twins first appeared on this site when they were four years old. They sure have grown up! Twins of the Week: Charley and Saige originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 01:02:27.
Photo reprinted with permission of Cheryl Munitich.
Share your thoughts, opinions and advice in the comments section.
More Worldless Wednesday Posts on About.com.
School-Aged Twins Photo Gallery
Index of All Photo Galleries
Prematurity Awareness Day
November 17th is National Prematurity Awareness Day, part of the March of Dime's Prematurity Awareness Month. Twins and multiples are among the highest risk group for premature birth. Each year, nearly half a million babies are born prematurely, often with devastating lifelong consequences. The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign has two goals: (1) to raise public awareness of the problems of prematurity and (2) to decrease the rate of preterm birth in the U.S. The are accomplishing these goals by funding research, educating women about risk-reduction strategies, providing information and support to families, advocating for health care, and helping medical care providers address risk factors. You can also help the March of Dimes in this endeavor. Visit their website to learn more about prematurity and find out what you can do to promote this cause. Create a virtual wrist band in honor or in memory of children you love. Band together with others to collect donations to fuel the fight. Raise your voice by posting on Facebook, Twitter or a blog. More Resources: Elsewhere on the Web: Prematurity Awareness Day originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 01:54:59.
Image courtesy March of Dimes
Preterm Labor in Twin Pregnancy
Caring for Preterm Twins or Multiples
Consequences of Prematurity
When Will My Twins Be Born?
Also on About.com:
Cheryl Morrissette, About's Guide to Preemies
Avoiding Preterm Labor from About's Guide to Pregnancy
Premature Babies Photo Gallery from About's Guide to Pediatrics
March of Dimes Fight Prematurity Awareness Month
Preemie Twins at TwinPregnancyandBeyond.com
Long-Term Effects of Prematurity from the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Club
Parent's Poll: Right or Left?
Right or left? No, I'm not asking about your political leanings. I'm talking about hand preference. Are your twins right handed or left handed? My twins are one of each. I never gave it much thought as my husband is left handed while I am right handed, so I just assumed that our twin daughters took after us. However, I was surprised to learn that handedness is not necessarily a genetic trait. Many monozygotic (identical) twins -- such as my own -- who share the same genetic markers actually have different handedness preferences. More: Parent's Poll: Right or Left? originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 01:38:52.
What about your twins? Take this week's Parent's Poll and "hand" in your vote!
Forum Friday: Mercurial Twins
Forum Friday: Mercurial Twins originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 01:46:02.
Paulina writes: "My (2 year old) twins are changing a lot. They do not want to eat their regular meal, they want to choose their own clothes and make a lot of mess for every little thing my husband and I try to do with them... THEY WANT ALL, THE WANT NOTHING!!!! Sometimes they are two angels and when you turn around they can be.... UF!!!!" Paulina writes from Chile, where multiple births are rare. She's looking for support and sympathy from other parents who can relate to the fickle nature of a two-year-old twosome.
Stop by the message forum and share your advice and comments. How did you survive the tempestuous trials of toddler twins?
Celebrity Mom of Multiples
What's it like to be a celebrity actress, author and artists -- and a mom of twin boys? Jane Seymour tells you all about it in this exclusive interview with About.com.
Jane tells you how she managed with baby twins on the set of her television show, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, how she handles squabbles between her tween twin sons, and how she encourages them to be individuals. Plus she shares her advice on parenting twins in this age of technology. More: Celebrity Mom of Multiples originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 01:16:22.
Mark Mainz / Getty Images
Who is Jane Seymour?
Exclusive Interview
Q & A with Jane
Book Review of Two at a Time
More Celebrity Moms of Multiples
Twins of the Week: Tyler and Annie
Meet this week's twins! Tyler and Annie were two years old when this moment was captured. Twins of the Week: Tyler and Annie originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 01:31:20.
Photo reprinted with permission of Kim Daniell.
Share your thoughts, opinions and advice in the comments section.
More Worldless Wednesday Posts on About.com.
Kissing Twins Photo Gallery
Index of All Photo Galleries
Maclaren Strollers Recalled: Is Your Twins' Stroller Dangerous?
Maclaren USA has issued a recall of its umbrella stroller products, and that includes double umbrella strollers used by families with twins. The recall covers more than one million Maclaren umbrella stroller products sold in the U.S. since 1999. Double stroller models include the Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. There have been fifteen reported incidents of children receiving finger injuries from the strollers, resulting in twelve cases of amputated fingertips. The hinge mechanism can be hazardous to little fingers when the product is being folded or unfolded. Maclaren Strollers Recalled: Is Your Twins' Stroller Dangerous? originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 14:22:16.
Photo courtesy of PriceGrabber.com.
Contact Maclaren to receive a free repair kit with a hinge cover. Call the Maclaren Recall Hotline at (877) 688-2326 or visit the website at www.maclaren.us/recall.
Parent's Poll: Naming Twins & Mulitples
Every parents wants to choose the right name for their child. When you're having multiples, the pressure is on to pick not one, but two or three perfect names! It can be tricky, as you want them to work individually, but also recognize that the names will be scrutinized in combination. How did you choose names for your twins or mulitples? Vote it in this week's Parent's Poll or leave a comment to share your thoughts. More Resources: Parent's Poll: Naming Twins & Mulitples originally appeared on About.com Twins & Multiples on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 11:05:58.
What Did You Name Your Twins?
Tips for Selecting Names for Twins
Most Popular Names for Twins
About Twins & Multiples
Twins & Multiples
Holiday Shopping Deals and Free Shipping for Online Shoppers
I also love the Black Friday coverage on the Productopia Blog (an About.com service, by the way) because while long lists are great, I can be a bit lazy when it comes to comparing and working out the numbers. It starts to get a bit painful like trying on bathing suits and then I implode from information overload. They're doing the bean counting for me on some of the items I'm thinking about this year. No toys, yet, but how about that KitchenAid Mixer for mom this year? (Totally justifiable because it can be used to make lots of healthy snacks for the kids, don't you know?)
All in all, though, none of the Black Friday deals are sounding so good that I want to get up at 5:00 a.m. and brave the crowds. The crowds were bad enough just today. I know there are a lot of folks who head out to the stores and get all their gift buying done in a day. I'm just not one of them. I prefer to do my holiday shopping from the comfort of my living room with a side of pecan pie. If you're doing the same, be sure to check out Single Parents Guide Jennifer Wolf's list of stores that are offering free shipping this year. Relax and save a buck at the same time. I guess I'm just more of a Cyber Monday kind of gal.
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Holiday Shopping Deals and Free Shipping for Online Shoppers originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 21:59:22.
Today as I left Costco, I was handed a booklet of coupons letting me know about all the sales going on over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I didn't really need this information, though, since I've been keeping up with all the rumors (and truths) online. I love going to Fat Wallet to see their long lists of Black Friday deals. It's easy to find out whether something I'm thinking about buying is going to be on sale that day (and it saved me from some mishaps today). 
mysza / Flickr
Fingertip Amputations Prompt Recall of Maclaren Strollers
If you don't have this stroller now but it's on your list and you're looking to save a buck by getting one used, be aware of what you're getting. Baby Products Guide Heather Corley says:
No matter how ridiculous you think the recent Baby Einstein DVD return program is, and unlike the debate over whether or not to continue using the recalled Little Tikes Workshop nails, what we've got here is a much more serious situation. I'm talking about over a million strollers that are affected with reported injuries. Yes, 12 actual fingertips were sliced off after getting caught in the hinge mechanism during opening or closing, so please don't ignore this recall. Stop using your stroller and get the repair kit from Maclaren if you have one of these sold in the last 10 years:
Maclaren Quest
Photo © CPSC
"Maclaren strollers have typically been popular for resale since they hold up well over time. Would-be used stroller buyers will want to make sure that used Maclaren strollers have had the repair kit for the hinge recall installed."
She's also got more tips on buying used strollers and ways to keep your toddler safe in the stroller even when there are no design or manufacturing defects to worry about.
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
Fingertip Amputations Prompt Recall of Maclaren Strollers originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 15:18:26.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lover's Month in November
So what's not to love? Well, for one thing, if you've got a history of allergies in the family, you should wait before introducing peanut butter to your child. You've also got to be careful with little ones even when allergies aren't a factor, because it can be a choking hazard.
All in all though, peanut butter is an easy way pack the most nutrition into your child's diet. To help you and your child celebrate, I've pulled together some of my favorite peanut butter recipes in a month-long "I Love Peanut Butter" newsletter. If you hate to cook but still want snacks that pack the peanut butter punch, try two of my son's favorites: Clif Zbar Peanut Butter Snack Bar (compare prices) and Late July Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. Both are organic, healthy and tasty to boot. I've also got some peanut butter trivia you can quiz yourself on, so start celebrating with your wee one today. Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lover's Month in November originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 23:31:17.
That's right. November is the time to celebrate that ooey-gooey, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth treat -- peanut butter. There are a lot of reasons to love peanut butter. It's a great source of protein. It's a natural part of a vegetarian or vegan diet. It's got no cholesterol. It's very low in trans fat and the natural/organic types have no transfat at all. It's also packed with magnesium, folate and niacin. 
Yum! Peanut Butter
Jason Tromm / Flickr
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.
Learn More or Share Your Ideas:
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."
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
Post-Halloween Dental Care For Toddlers originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:52:52.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
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
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
How to Carve a Pumpkin originally appeared on About.com Babies & Toddlers on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 17:54:10.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
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.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
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.
Follow me on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
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.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
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.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
About Babies & Toddlers
Babies & Toddlers
Celebrate Family and Community this Thanksgiving
Celebrate Family and Community this Thanksgiving originally appeared on About.com Stay-at-Home Parents on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 08:00:04.
What do you look forward to the most when Thanksgiving rolls around? The parades? The football? The food? What about the family?
Thanksgiving offers the perfect setting and days of free time to nurture your childs relationship with her family members and her community. As the holidays draw near, take heed of this list of 10 ideas for outings with grandchildren and pass it on to your parents and in-laws. Allowing children to bond one-on-one with their grandparents is essential to forming close familial relationships that theyll treasure later in life. If your parents are traveling, Nancy Parode, Senior Travel Guide, has some holiday travel tips that are great no matter the season.
Keeping your child involved and engaged in the world around her is just as important. Jennifer Wolf, Guide to Single Parents, offers a few suggestions on ways to volunteer with kids that are perfect for this time of year. Not quite what you're looking for? The Guide to Kids Clubs, Heidi Coghlan, has several more ideas for you to consider, like pampering pets at a local shelter, sponsoring a family in need, and decorating your town for the season
with permission, of course!
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
About Stay-at-Home Parents
Stay-at-Home Parents
Thrifty Thursday: Access Wal-Mart's 32-Page Black Friday Ad
I don't ever recall seeing Black Friday ads earlier than Thanksgiving Day before. However, many stores--including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Sears, and JCPenney--have already made their Black Friday ads available online. You can see and print them through the free web site www.BFads.net. Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Thrifty Thursday: Access Wal-Mart's 32-Page Black Friday Ad originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 05:00:43.
When Your Child Complains About Your Ex
"Daddy, Mommy is so unfair! She never lets me use the TV, ever." "Mommy, Daddy is so mean. He yelled at me, and made me go to bed 15 minutes early again." Sound familiar? When your child complains to you about anyone she perceives as being unfair or mean--whether it's her best friend, a teacher, or your ex--it's bound to get your defenses up. More than anything, you just want to stand between your child and that person, in order to show your baby that she's safe and loved. While that's a valiant response, it's also an emotional one. If you really want to help your child, you have to set aside your own emotions for a moment and get to the bottom of what's really going on. Start by asking for the facts. Probe for the truth with questions, like "What happened first?" "What did you do next?" "What were you doing just before this all started?" Try to resist the urge to make value judgments about what the other parent did. You can assure your child that you hear her by saying, "I can see that that upset you." When Your Child Complains About Your Ex originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 15:26:18.
What Do You Do to Make Small Holiday Gatherings Special?
This past weekend, my 6-year-old asked me to get out her favorite Nativity set. It's been amusing to watch her weaving the wooden figures into her regular play, right alongside various Disney princesses and her favorite Littlest Pet Shop animals. And while I was digging around in the boxes of holiday decorations, I came across a bonus: wooden Christmas ornaments we meant to paint two years ago, and never got around to. I'm excited about the find because it gave me an idea: we're going to spend Thanksgiving evening making Christmas ornaments! It's just one little way to make our small holiday celebration feel more "special." What about you? What do you do to make small holiday gatherings special--for you and your kids? Share your thoughts below, or tell our readers about your favorite holiday traditions by participating in the latest "Readers Respond" feature here on the site: What Are Your Favorite Holiday Traditions? Related: 10 Holiday Traditions for Small Families Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page What Do You Do to Make Small Holiday Gatherings Special? originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 17:27:44.
Highlights for Single Parents: 18th Edition
This week's highlights include a hopeful story about how one dad reunited with his daughter, child support amnesty programs, and more. On the Blogs: Woman Finds Long Lost Dad By Googling Herself - The story of how one dad used the Internet to reconnect with his daughter after thirty years of not knowing where she was. When a Single Mom Gets Sick: What Type of Sick Person Are You? - Christina shares how single motherhood has changed how she responds to her own bouts with illness. In the News: Limited Amnesty for Child Support Debtors - The Clark County (NV) District Attorney's Office is running a five-day amnesty program for parents who owe back child support. Philadelphia Offers Arrest Reprieve for Parents Behind in Child Support - A similar program is being offered in the Philadelphia area, temporarily granting those behind on child support payments amnesty from being arrested. Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Highlights for Single Parents: 18th Edition originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 11:01:27.
Thrifty Thursday: Take Advantage of Free Shipping This Holiday Season
In addition to price-matching, you can also save money this holiday season by shopping online stores that offer free shipping. In fact, many of the stores that offer free shipping, or flat-rate shipping, have adjusted their shipping policies to be even more beneficial to consumers. For example, Barnes & Noble now offers free shipping to B&N members who spend just $10, Overstock is offering $1 shipping through November 25, 2009, and Yankee Candle has reduced their flat-rate shipping to just $5 for orders under $100. For a list of additional retailers offering free and flat-rate shipping, read Get Free Shipping During the Holiday Season.
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel: Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Thrifty Thursday: Take Advantage of Free Shipping This Holiday Season originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 05:00:51.
Do You Speak Your Child's Love Language?
That can be a little tricky, though, because sometimes you may think you're communicating love--particularly in all the things you do for your kids, day in and day out--but they're looking for love to come in a different form. Gary Chapman, in his book The Five Love Languages, points out that we all feel love in different ways. You may have one child who feels most loved when you spend chunks of one-on-one time with her, and another who feels most loved when you affirm him with words. Chapman also points out that some kids feel most loved through physical touch, such as hugs and wresting; through service, such as making their breakfast every day; or through gifts. The trick is to find out what each child's love language is, and look for ways to weave that into your interactions, so that what you're intending to communicate really does get through. For more on The Five Love Languages, read Communicating in Your Child's Love Language or Parenting With the Five Love Languages. Related: 7 Words to Include in a Letter to Your Child Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page Do You Speak Your Child's Love Language? originally appeared on About.com Single Parents on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 22:06:34.
I've been thinking recently about how we parent our children differently as they grow older. We still love them like crazy, but as time passes, we step back a bit and let them try out their independence. No matter how old they are, though, some things don't change: they still need to be loved, and to know they are loved.
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.
About Single Parents
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
The Globe and Mail - News
Canada’s best source for news continuously updated by The Globe and Mail
Disney's A Christmas Carol Online Fun
A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite holiday stories, although I prefer the 1970 musical version with Albert Finney. It was only a matter of time before Disney would remake this classic film (does the Mickey Mouse version count?), but I would never have guessed at Jim Carey. Anyway, whether you've seen the new movie or not, the website has some cute games. Try 'em out. Read More Disney's A Christmas Carol Online Fun originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 00:33:26.
Save Time with a Holiday Wish List
I spoke with my sister today and she asked if my wish list is up to date. In case it's not obvious, she tends to do her Christmas shopping on the early side. So, I hung my head and admitted that I had not yet updated my ever-evolving wish list. Does your family use online wish lists to help out with shopping for holidays and birthdays? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out my tips for choosing just the right wish list. It will make things easier on family members who just can't figure out what you like, and can cut back on the amount of time spent returning things at the start of the new year. They're especially handy for kids who always seem to get multiples of the hottest games or toys. Save Time with a Holiday Wish List originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 23:32:59.
Holiday Shopping - Save Money by Shopping Online
Shopping online is a great way to find unique gifts while also saving money. I've got some easy tips for saving money while shopping online. And, if you're looking for some gift giving ideas, I highly recommend joining the About.com Parenting & Family Channel Holiday Shopping experience. We've got great ideas for everyone in your family: Holiday Shopping - Save Money by Shopping Online originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 00:28:33.
Happy Birthday, Sesame Street!
Sesame Street is all grown up now. At 40, the show has been through a variety of facelifts, while still holding true to the original intent of creating quality and educational TV programming for kids. In order to maintain their reputation as a groundbreaking show and to keep up with their tech-savvy fans, Sesame Street undertook a $14 million site redesign last year. My first experience with the website was less than stellar, but I'm happy to say that they've worked out a lot of the kinks and garnered a thumbs up. Today you can enjoy clips from Sesame Street shows, as well as games, parent resources and behind-the scene blogs. If you're feeling nostalgic, you can visit Sesame Street online and find clips dating back to the very first season, including the pinball game counting song, "Rubber Ducky," and Kermit singing, "Bein' Green." And just for grownups, you can add the Sesame Street Feel-O-Matic to your Facebook page and express your feelings through the personality of the Muppets. Read More Happy Birthday, Sesame Street! originally appeared on About.com Family Computing on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 19:29:13.
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.
About Family Computing
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
Advertisement
WOLFGANG PUCK RECIPES
World-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck with an extraordinary passion for food now shares that passion in Wolfgang
Puck's Kitchen. Wolfgang Puck makes great cooking easier than you ever imagined. Each feature includes both an expert tip
and an easy recipe - exactly what you need to transform your home cooking from acceptable to delectable.
Wolfgang Puck Recipes Click Here