From the category archives:

Toddler

Tattoos For Your Tot

January 28, 2010

If your children love puppets, they’ll definitely get a kick out of these temporary hand tattoos from UncommonGoods.com. They’re called “Hands Gone Wild!” and ideal for kids ages 3 and up. You can choose from different animals which include: bird, shark, zebra, giraffe, cow, alligator, tiger, and bumblebee. With a little water, these non-toxic tattoos [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Family Dinners

January 28, 2010

No time to spend with family? Feel like you never bond with your kids? Here’s a solution: Have more family dinners. “Too busy” is not a reason, it’s an excuse. We all have to eat in order to stay alive. Unless you and your family are superheroes with the ability to not have to ever [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Choose 3 Things

January 28, 2010

Ever watch the show, Ready Steady Cook? If your answer is no, the purpose of the show was to see if the chefs were able to cook with 3 random ingredients. A mix and match kind of thing. Now think about how much money is wasted on toys that end up in the back of [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Children Hear Voices

January 28, 2010

If your kids tell you they’re hearing voices, most likely there is nothing to worry about. According to a study that looked at 3,870 Groningen (The Netherlands) kids ages 7-9 years, only 1 in 10 of those kids said they hear voices. Hearing voices that aren’t really there may be a sign of schizophrenia and [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Kids and Snacks

January 27, 2010

You take your kids to the movie theater, and in addition to buying the movie tickets, what else do your kids want? Popcorn and soda…and maybe some candy. You try to resist giving in, but then they start tugging at your sleeves, pouting, stomping, screaming and crying. In the end your kids get their snacks. [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Raising Kids to Be Independent

January 27, 2010

Imagine your child 20 years from now still depending on you for financial help, calling you, asking for rides and complaining about how their pancakes didn’t have a smiley face made out of strawberries and bacon. Oh yeah, and they refuse to move out. Some may like the idea of a child still needing their [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Potty Training

January 27, 2010

There is no definitive answer as to when you should start potty training your children. Each child is different and has different needs. Your first child may be ready at 2 but your second child may not be ready until 3 years old. A recent study published in the  Journal of Pediatric Urology suggests that [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Dry Air

January 27, 2010

January can be a busy month for you and your kids. Winter break has ended, you’re sending them back to school, you’re writing “Thank You” notes for the holiday gifts you and your family received, and everyone in your family is trying to keep up with their New Year’s resolutions. With the many tasks that [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Don’t Eat Cereals That Change the Color of Milk

January 27, 2010

I’m guilty of this… I sometimes eat cereals that change the color of my milk. Like Trix and Fruit Loops. If you let your kids eat those kinds of cereals, too, consider this: There’s a reason why the the cereal is making the color of your milk change. Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules: An [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

The Good Thing About Sharing a Room

January 26, 2010

What’s the one good thing about sharing a room? In The Parenting Post, a blog on Parenting.com, a blogger finds that one good thing about sharing a room is when she can put both her kids in their cribs with some toys. That’s when she finally has some time for herself. I think sharing a [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Graco Stroller Recall

January 26, 2010

What are the purpose of the canopies on baby strollers? To shield your baby’s head from direct sunlight, to keep your baby cool, to make it easier for your baby to take naps. To lead to fingertip amputations. Yep, that last one is true. One and half million Graco strollers have been recalled after reports [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Blood Pressure

January 25, 2010

Checking blood pressure is often associated with grown-ups, but it’s time to get in the habit of checking your child’s blood pressure. According to Dr. Sue Hubbard, “the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children, beginning at the age of three years, should routinely have their blood pressure checked.” Three years old! Can you [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Boost Your Kids’ School Success

January 22, 2010

We’re not all born rich. Many of us have to work to get to where we are now. But even if we are getting by, doesn’t it seem like having extra money to spare is rare? You may not have the money to hire private tutors to boost your kids’ school performances, but when it [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Concussions Not Taken Seriously

January 21, 2010

Concussions, as MayoClinic.com defines them, “temporarily interfere with the way your brain works. They can affect memory, judgment, reflects, speech, balance and coordination.” The most important term in that definition is “brain.” Concussions affect the brain, the part of your body with neurons that don’t grow back once they’ve been destroyed. So why aren’t people [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Make it a plan this year to take your kids camping!

January 21, 2010

If you ask those who frequently camp, they’ll tell you it’s a great activity because it’s fun to do with the family, it’s memorable, and it gives everyone a chance to enjoy each other’s company. I’d add that it takes away some of your worries back at home–the only thing you need to worry about [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

PTSD

January 21, 2010

Did you know that over 3 million children are currently diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? With the earthquake that occurred in Haiti, that number will surely increase. In a nutshell, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that people develop AFTER having experienced a traumatic event, such as accidents, natural disasters, or domestic abuse. It’s [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids

January 20, 2010

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a holiday for two people in love to share. You can share it with your kids, too. More importantly, you can teach your kids that February 14th is a day for all kinds of love. Make your kids’ Valentine’s Day this year a memorable one, not because of the candy and [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Today’s Girls Have Become Boys

January 20, 2010

Have today’s girls become more like boys? A blog on Cafe Mom claims: yes, today’s girls have become boys. I say absolutely not! What does it mean to be boy-like anyway? The writer claims that if you swear, get drunk, punch or hit, don’t have manners, then you are a boy. According to her, girls [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Children’s Books Your Child Should Never Read

January 20, 2010

So you’re tucking your children in and getting them ready for a bedtime story. Which story do you choose? There’s Cinderella, Oh, The Places You’ll Go, Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte’s Web,  I Wish Daddy Didn’t Drink So Much… Wait, what was that last one? I Wish Daddy Didn’t Drink So Much? There’s something [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Zip Loc Travel Bag Toy

January 19, 2010

Are you preparing for a long car ride with your kids? Have you run out of ideas on how to keep your young ones entertained throughout the trip? It can be extremely frustrating if your kids are in the backseat, screaming and kicking because they’re bored out of their minds. Here’s a pretty neat and [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Blame Barbie

January 19, 2010

Kids these days are growing up faster and faster. By growing up I mean doing things like dressing trendier, wearing make-up, and getting boyfriends, all at earlier ages. Does this come as a surprise to you? A blogger on Single Mom Survives tells a story of something that her daughter did in front of her [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Students Today Deal With More Stress

January 18, 2010

According to a study led by Jean Twenge, a psychology professor of San Diego State University, students today are dealing with more anxiety and other mental health issues than youth during the Great Depression era. As a parent, you read this and think, what can I do to help my kids? For starters, open those [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Attention Walmart Shoppers: Today we have a special in children’s jewelry

January 18, 2010

Walmart and other retailers around the country have taken the initiative to pull jewelry and toys from their shelves after The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) launched an investigation with findings that many toys and jewelry had high levels of cadmium, a toxic metal known to cause cancer. Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, a professor of chemistry [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

How To Say I Love You To Your Kids on Valentine’s Day

January 15, 2010

February 14th. Some kids love that day, and others hate it with a strong passion… (I know this year I’ll hate it.) But wait a minute, Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be a holiday for boyfriends and girlfriends. It could be for you and your children, too. Use this day to show your kids [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Timeouts

January 15, 2010

My parents never put me in timeouts, so I’m not able to tell you how timeouts feel, but I would imagine that kids hate sitting alone, in a corner, facing the wall, thinking about how angry they are at you. I would also imagine that it’s tough to see your kids upset, that as a [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

The Skinny on Sugar

January 14, 2010

You can’t avoid sugar. Sugar is everywhere. Even foods that say sugar-free sometimes mean that there is no ADDED sugar, but natural sugar is still there. Our bodies need sugar; it’s a form of energy. Your kids need energy to perform in school and keep up with their extracurricular activities. I know that for me, [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Make Reading a Habit

January 14, 2010

According to Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national, not-for-profit organization that promotes reading and literacy in young children, only 48% of American children are read to daily. If the saying is true–that children are the future–that number should be much higher. There are many benefits to reading. Especially for younger kids, whose brains are [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Daycare Center Alternatives

January 14, 2010

Finding the right daycare center for your children isn’t always easy. It may take you several months before you find one that is suitable for both you and your children. There are many factors that you have to consider when choosing a daycare. For example:

0 comments Read the full article →

Why You Should Teach Your Kids To Talk To Strangers

January 13, 2010

You may actually be doing your children harm if you forbid them to talk to strangers. (No, I’m not crazy! Hear me out…) For instance, if your child got separated from you in a public setting, would he or she feel comfortable going up to a stranger and letting them know they needed help? Would [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

The 3 C’s Your Kids Need You To Teach Them

January 13, 2010

One of the most rewarding things about being a parent is being able to teach your kids what they can’t learn in school. Your kids’ teachers will take care of the reading, writing and arithmetic; you can take care of nurturing the 3Cs: creativity, curiosity & courtesy. Be a smart parent by NOT focusing just [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Breakfast Trick To Help Your 5-Year-Old Be A Better Math Student

January 13, 2010

When it comes to teaching kindergartners, traditional methods of teaching don’t really work. So that’s why you need to think outside of the box. Here’s an idea: teach your young children the basics of mathematics by letting them play with their food. Start with breakfast. Deemed as the most important meal of the day, breakfast [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Inexpensive Ways To Help Your Toddler Avoid Developmental Problems

January 12, 2010

Marilyn McGrath, President of the Board of California Association for the Education of Young Children, states that “[I]f a child has needs that haven’t been identified by the time they are 3 years of age, you’ve missed an opportunity…The earlier you identify a child’s needs, the better the child will be prepared to enter school.” [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Are Your Kids Too Young For Facebook or Myspace?

January 11, 2010

My friend has a nephew who knows how to turn on the computer, open the web browser, and sign into YouTube.com all by himself. The little boy is 4 years old. Now YouTube isn’t exactly a social networking site, but that’s still unhealthy behavior for a preschooler who should be playing with blocks, not the [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Ideas for Indoor Winter Activities for Both You and Your Children

January 11, 2010

When it’s snowing and too cold to take your children outside, being inside the home can be a bit boring. You’ll go crazy just trying to keep your children from going crazy of boredom. If you’ve run out of ideas to do with your kids, check out the FedEx Out Of Office blog. This site [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

How to Nurture Generosity in Your Kids

January 11, 2010

If you get a phone call from your child’s teacher with a message that your kids have difficulty sharing with other kids, that they’re not being polite, or that they’re not being generous, it’s time to do something about it. Unfortunately, you can’t expect that by simply telling your kids to be generous, they’ll do [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Get Through The Winter With Your Kids With Some Apple Heads

January 11, 2010

I live in Southern California – there isn’t really much of a winter here. But it may be snowing where you are. Snowing and cold – so cold that going outside isn’t really an option for you and your children. Well, here’s a fun and creative indoor activity to do with your kids: Make an [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Creative Rewards To Use With Behavior Charts

January 8, 2010

FreeBehaviorcharts.com provides, well, FREE behavior charts that can help your children improve their behavior. This can make your home a better environment for everyone in the family. But don’t expect life-changing results just by simply having your children complete these behavior charts, because there’s more to it than that. Behavior charts may provide your children [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Are You Raising Your Kids To Be Materialistic Snobs?

January 7, 2010

You’re worried that your kids’ concerns revolve around their cell phones, their gadgets, their clothes. You’re worried that they’ve become materialistic. You’re worried that you’ve done something wrong in your parenting. First, give yourself some comfort, because you didn’t necessarily do anything wrong. Christine Carter, Ph.D., will tell you that there are 2 main reasons [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Help Your Kids Stop Biting Their Nails With This Bugs Bunny Trick

January 6, 2010

They do it when they’re nervous, sometimes when they’re feeling anxious or insecure. They do it for comfort, and soon they do it because it’s a habit they can’t break. But to you, it’s just a bad, maybe even gross, habit and you want it to stop. But there are some things about nail biting [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Does Your Baby Need A Nap? Or An App?

January 6, 2010

So apparently some parents are replacing the trusted pacifier with cell phones… As in they’re using their cell phones, instead of traditional coloring pages and crayons, to keep their kids occupied. Parents are turning to cell phone apps to help them take care of their kids. Their kids get antsy, so they pull out their [...]

0 comments Read the full article →