Preschoolers
Candy corn tops Halloween treat list
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Holidays
Is there any greater childhood pleasure than sorting through an enormous bucket of candy on a cool October evening? Rummaging past the Bit-O-Honey, pennies and black licorice bits, you come across the Holy Grail of all Halloween treats -- a full-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.All candies are not, after all, created equal. As with all things in life, there is a hierarchy of Halloween sweets. Perpetual favorites are full-sized chocolate bars of all kinds, but Almond Joy and peanut butter cups come out on top. Snickers bars are a crowd-pleaser, as are Dum Dum Pops and Charms Blow Pops.
The Kit Kat wafer bar has its place, as do sour candies of the Nerds variety. Gummy candies of any kind always find their way into small tummies, and you won't find any Nestle Crunch or Mr. Goodbar hanging out in the candy bowl. You also won't go wrong handing out Milky Way bars or Baby Ruth.
Chocolate is, of course, king, but no one will turn their nose up at the right hard candy. Jolly Ranchers continue to be popular with the ghouls and goblins, as are Life Savers.
The all-time favorite Halloween candy? Why, candy corn, of course. Who can resist that chewy, sweet, high-fructose corn syrup treat?
My first stop on the Halloween trail was the dentist's house -- he always gave out full-size Hershey's chocolate bars. What did you eat first, and what went stale in a bowl on top of the refrigerator?
Booster seats - Some brands not as safe as others
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Health & safety
When I bought both of my daughter's car seats, I did so with the idea in mind that eventually, they would use them as boosters. Silly me. Both came with good safety ratings, sure, but earlier this month, both appeared on the "not recommended" list of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's review of booster seats. The group recently tested 41belt-positioning booster seats. Thirteen (my two included) did a poor job of improving fit at the lap and shoulder, increasing the chance of injury in a car accident. The IIHS shows parents how a belt should fit here, and also gives an example of a poorly fitting belt. The idea is that the lap belt should fit flat against the top of the thighs, not across the soft abdomen.
The IIHS is calling for the 13 seats that didn't past the test to be redesigned. The good news is that the best booster seats are not the most expensive. In fact, my mom just bought a Graco Turbobooster (the backless model is a recommended seat) for about $19 for her own car. If you, like me, are in the market for a new booster seat, visit the IIHS's website to see their best bets and good bets, as well as those seats that are not recommended.
Boy, 3, may face life with Bart Simpson tattoo
Preschoolers, In the news, Weird but true
A British boy on holiday in Spain suffered a reaction to a supposedly temporary tattoo of TV character Bart Simpson, and now the three-year-old may be facing a lifelong relationship with the sitcom scamp -- doctors said the red, raised outline of the tattoo may cause a permanent scar.Vinnie England, of Southmead, Bristol, got the tattoo at a street stall in Benidorm, Spain. The two-inch image was supposedly done in henna, a typically temporary, reddish-brown ink that fades within 10 days. Vinnie's tattoo was black, causing speculation that the ink used may have contained the chemical paraphenylenediamine or PPD, most often found in hair dye.
Vinnie's mum, Hayley Shipway, 24, noticed a red ring forming around Bart's outline and took him to see the doctor. The reaction was treated with a steroid cream, but the next day it appeared to be worse. Shipway said the reaction resembled a series of pin pricks, and was red and sore.
The reaction is so severe that Shipway was warned that it may scar.
Shipway expressed her guilt over the incident, saying that she often allowed her son to have stick-on tattoos, and that she never expected he'd have a reaction to the one he got in Spain.
I have a tattoo, but I was over 21 when I decided to mark my body for the rest of my life. This poor kid didn't have a choice. But hey, if he ever decides to join the Navy, he'll be ahead of the game.
Food allergies don't have to ruin Halloween
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Holidays, Health & safety, Eating & nutrition, Medical conditions
Would you hand your preschooler a bag full of live ammunition?Now you know how parents of kids with food allergies feel about Halloween. The treats so many children look forward to with glee can be deadly for those who suffer from reactions to peanuts, tree nuts and dairy. But who wants to tell their child that trick or treating is forbidden?
Never fear -- with a few common-sense precautions, kids with food allergies can enjoy the holiday without risking their health.
First and foremost, remember that your normal food-allergy rules still apply: read the label of every piece of candy your child collects before they eat it, make sure he or she carries their medication with them while trick-or-treating, and check that he adult in charge knows how to administer the medication if the need arises. Also, give your child a small packet of hand wipes, so they can clean their hands if they accidentally come in contact with an allergen.
These simple rules don't mean your child can't have fun. Rather than trying to read the fine print on candy labels with your flashlight, bring a small bag of "safe" candy from home, so your little trickster can snack along the way. You can also invent new Halloween traditions, such as a "Halloween fairy" who brings safe treats or non-food presents.
Afraid your little one will get into the stash you plan to hand out? Don't give out candy -- try stickers or pencils. Or skip the door-to-door candy collecting altogether, and attend a local event that doesn't focus on food. Local zoos or farms often host Halloween parties loaded with activities.
And remember, your child can always say "no, thank you."
Last but not least -- don't panic. Taking care to follow your normal food-safety rules will help everyone enjoy a fun holiday.
What do your kids wear when they get dressed up?
Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Money & work, Life & style, Kid decor & style, Resources, Shopping & recalls
I remember being a kid and struggling with my mother every Sunday about what I was going to wear to church. Church was a reason to get dressed up, but all my nicer clothes were uncomfortable and I didn't like the thought of being trapped in them every week for even a few hours. While I liked the concept of the frilly dresses and whatnot, the shoes and tights were uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to get home to get all that off of me, to the point where I am not so sure I was paying much attention!
Holidays are one thing--kids get stuffed into nice dresses, tights and miniature suits for a few hours at a time, tops. Once they hit their own homes, half that stuff usually comes off and they are free to run around in more comfortable attire. Depending on where you live, the clothes can get more or less formal. IN New York City, for example, our kids are nothing if not fashion plates. No one seems to bat an eyelash at spending $100 on an outfit her kid is going to wear exactly one time for one special occasion. The good news is the mom usually knows at least one other family to pass the garments on to, so the item does get Miltie-wear.
In other parts of the country jeans are seen as acceptable. Throw a nice sweater on top of it and some decent shoes (which for a child can be unbelievably pricey) and the kids are good to go. They're probably more comfortable, too. Not sure if jeans are considered acceptable, at say, church, but they do fly at brunches and holiday gatherings in general.' Given the current economy, I wonder if kids' clothes will continue to become less formal as folks turn towards wardrobes they've already amassed.
What do your kids wear when the go out? My kid? Well, he wears whatever I mine from the gloriously wonderful clothes my friends lend me from when their sons were that age. We have a little network of lending going so the clothes we do buy get maximum wear.
All-time worst Halloween treats
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Holidays, Weird but true
There's nothing quite like it -- dressing up as your favorite character, heading out (at night! in the dark!) to ask strangers for candy and getting ... wait for it ... a brand-new toothbrush.Yes, friends, it's that time again.
Halloween is just around the corner and children (not to mention some adults) are counting the days until it's time to bring home a giant bag o' cavities. But not every treat in your huge plastic pumpkin is pleasing to the palate. Some of the all-time worst Halloween treats include apples, boxed raisins and old, loose hard candy.
Oh, yeah, and pennies.
Who does that? Pennies!
But the list doesn't end there. How about some yummy baked goods from the crazy lady down the street with all the cats? Or the classic unwrapped popcorn ball. You know, the stuff your parents started throwing away back in the '80s when some crazy dude supposedly put pins and needles in the goodies he gave out.
Remember when it was cool to hand out McDonald's coupons? Not so much anymore. Coupons of any kind made one list of Top 10 Worst Halloween Treats, along with dried fruit and mints.
My personal least favorite Halloween treat? That really hard bubble gum. You know of what I speak - the kind that breaks your jaw because it was manufactured in 1976 and sat on the shelf at your local Big Box store ever since.
How about you? Plastic bugs? Pencils? Play Doh (yes, I got that once). What's the worst treat you ever got?
Halloween at school - A do or a don't?
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Holidays, Education
Today we changed the calendar in our classroom. A brand new month with all its possibilities. October, with it's red maple leaves, fat pumpkins and decidedly chilly weather. But while I look forward to October because it is the pinnacle of my favorite season, when the hills turn vermilion and yellow, and the first twinge of wood smoke is in the air, the children love it for a different reason entirely. Halloween.
For children, at least all children who attend mainstream public schools, Halloween is at the zenith of all things adored: fantasy, candy, mystery, and the possibility of being afraid but not too afraid. Already they've been talking about their costumes for weeks, and with the turning of the calendar, we've aquired a new classroom routine: counting down the days.
Today 29, tomorrow 28. And they're pestering me, "Can we have a Halloween party, PULEEEZE?"
As a teacher in a public school I've always sort of dragged my feet on this one. I've let the kids share their excitement, and swap stories about what they're planning to wear for the big night, but I've kind of tried to stay away from having a full blown party in our classroom... because, well, isn't it somehow blurring the separation of church and state?
Almost every year I've had at least one child whose family doesn't celebrate Halloween. And granted, in its current form, decidedly one of the least denominational holidays hyped by the media. Yet it is still a holiday with religious origins, and parents who don't celebrate the holiday have every right to expect that it won't be foisted on their kid at school-right?
Or maybe kids should just be allowed to be kids at school-regardless of what their parents believe? Perhaps they should be allowed to soak up their classmate's excitement and engage in a full-blown Halloween party with sticky popcorn balls and freaky costumes even if their parents don't let them dress up or engage in such activities at home. Forget the Day Of the Dead for a second. The only thing kids care about is the candy anyway. Right?
What do you think? Should kids be allowed to celebrate Halloween in school-or should schools skip such festivities all together?
DailyDish: Start small in the kitchen
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Mealtime
When it comes to KP duty, it's never to early to start getting kids comfortable in the kitchen!
Shy kids need help to cope
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Development
Call it what you will - bashful, timid, reserved - shyness can be very difficult for kids to manage on their own. Luckily, there are ways you can help your child relax and navigate what is for them the often terrifying waters of social interaction.A recent article in the Detroit Free Press laid out a series of common-sense steps parents can take to ease their little ones' fears.
The first step is recognizing that your child is, indeed, shy. Don't downplay what he or she is feeling, because their anxiety is very, very real. Acknowledge that yes, she may be bashful, but that doesn't mean she'll spend her life as a hermit. With preparation, she can learn to function well in social situations.
Begin by exposing your kids to peer interactions at a very early age. Toddler playgroups are a great way to help kids gain confidence in group situations, and as a bonus, it's nice to have other adults to talk to, as well. You can also help ease your child's path by placing him or her in situations with a good adult-to-child ratio. By doing so, you ensure there are enough adults to prevent bad behavior and promote positive interactions.
Also, take time to prepare your child before entering a social situation to eliminate anticipatory anxiety, and arrange for playdates at your home, so he or she is in a familiar environment.
I was a chronically shy kid who dreaded making new friends and broke into a sweat just thinking about group social situations. After years of practice, I learned that meeting new people can actually be fun. It hurts to watch your kids suffer, but don't despair - just because she's a shrinking violet right now doesn't mean she can't blossom into a social butterfly later in life.
Are you outgoing or chronically shy? Is your child the same or the opposite, and how do you handle it?
Daily Dish - Process not product
Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Fun & activities, Mealtime
Birthday gifts for girls under $20
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Toys & games, Birthdays
Kindergarten apparently is the time when kids start including classmates in their birthday parties, because my daughter has been invited to an impressive string of them this month -- all boys. Though I have two nephews, I'm close enough to them to know what their interests are and what kinds of toys they already have. But otherwise, when it comes to the world of toys for boys, I'm a little lost. I'm all about no-gift birthday parties, not because I'm cheap, but because my kids have too much stuff as it is. But not everyone feels the same way, and several times this month we've found ourselves wandering Target not sure if five-year-old boys like Transformers or Spiderman or Ben10 the best. And what, exactly, are Bionicles?
Next time, I'll call my nephew and ask him for a little direction. In the meantime, since girls are something I do know a little about, here are several great gifts for girls under $20. If you've got a classmate birthday coming up, something on this list is sure to be a hit.
Kids' bedrooms newest luxury market
Toddlers, Preschoolers, Teens & tweens, Money & work, Life & style, Kid decor & style
According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, kids' rooms are one of the fastest growing luxury markets, bringing in almost $10 million a year for retailers. Fueled by shows like "Trading Spaces" Boys vs. Girls" and the well-publicized lifestyles of celebrity offspring, kids are looking for that show-stopping personal space - and their parents are indulging them.Have you seen the Pottery Barn Kids catalog lately? There isn't one single room in my house that's as nice as the nurseries in that envy-inducing tome. I feel like I need to go work in a soup kitchen after I leaf through one, just to remember that very few people actually live that way.
Smaller businesses are capitalizing on the craze, as well. Apparently, one Michigan firm specializes in nothing but "lavish" kids' rooms, and the clients aren't limited to teens. Even toddlers are getting in on the act, with custom-painted murals and expensive cribs.
What exactly constitutes a "luxurious" touch? According to the article, they range from the minor (vivid paint colors) to the outrageous (leather floors!).
In my day, having a double bed when you were under the age of 18 was considered a luxury. What's next? Diamond-studded toothbrushes? Cashmere diaper covers? Fur-lined onesies?
And you? Are you a luxury lover or is your style more spartan than starlet?
Preschool or prep school?
Preschoolers, Development, Education
Do you and your partner argue about educating your kid?We do.
My husband taught elementary school for nine years, and he saw a lot of kids who couldn't count to 10 or spell their own names in first grade. I know that shaped his views, but we still differ when it comes to just how prepared our three-year-old daughter should be when she enters kindergarten.
My style of teaching is organic – pointing out the letters on a stop sign or counting lemons as we load them into the grocery cart. My husband is much more intense, wanting to sit down and actually teach our wiggly girl to read and write and count to 100.
I tend to believe that kids today are pushed way too hard to be at the first-grade level in preschool. When did you learn to read? I was six years old when I read my first chapter book – and that was considered "advanced" in 1976. And guess what? I turned out to be a professional writer.
Try telling that to my Ivy League-educated spouse. He was an early reader and excelled in music, and his educational career is culminating with his current position as a doctoral fellow. He says it isn't just desire to learn that's important. Parents, he says, have to set high expectations to create high achievers.
Parents are pushing their kids so hard that smart isn't even good enough. Now, if your child isn't "gifted," he or she might as well just give up and plan for a career in panhandling.
When did "average" (or heck, even "smart") become such a dirty word?
There are plenty of things you can do to enhance your child's natural talents -- foster a love for words by reading to them, show them how the world is ordered with numbers. But academic preschools and elementary-school tuition bills that rival those of elite universities? Not for me.
Are they for you?
Daily Dish - Let the games continue
Newborns, Just for moms, Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Just for dads, Fun & activities
Does your child spend enough time playing?
Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Education
On the first day of fall there is frost on the grass in the fields as I drive to work. The maples are turning red. The kids come dashing into the classroom wearing new snug fleeces and sneakers: the first time their toes have been covered since summer.
Every week I am struck by their exuberance; by their unbounded energy and enthusiasm. They come into the classroom like puppies--especially the boys, always the boys. They race one another to the door even though they're supposed to be using walking feet. They laugh, twirl, share stories about their bus rides ("Our bus almost exploded this morning! Really!"), and swap glimpses at secret diaries (a new obsession among the girls.) They come to school eager to play, eager to have fun, eager to learn.
And it's this fact--that they have this unquenchable desire to chase each other around the room or linger in a corner whispering secrets--that always makes a lump swell at the back of my throat; because especially during these weeks in mid September, every single teacher in every single classroom is focused on academic testing. Play isn't even on the schedule.
