What Toddlers Eat Around The World

I saw this fun article today, and thought I would pass it on. It is called "What Toddlers Eat Around the World" and it looks at toddler trends in Japan, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, India, Israel, Brazil, Turkey, and Korea...

"American tots may scarf down Cheerios and chicken nuggets, but in most other countries, kids eat what their parents do. See what parents are serving up toddlers in booster seats across the globe."

Click here to read the article.

Enjoy!

Read More!

What Does Your Kid Do For Fun?

What does your child do for fun? Does she get outside and play soccer, ride her bike, or run around with her friends. Studies abound about the positive health benefits of exercise for both adults and kids, so what can you do?

Summer is coming and in my hometown parents are asking each other what sports their kids will be involved in. I don't have an answer for that yet...the parks and rec catalogue hasn't come out yet, and I am not so sure that we need any structured programs to keep us busy and active this summer.

Remember the days when kick the can and tag were favorites? They still can be!
Check out this article for more ideas and have a great time today with your kids. Grab some chalk, head to the sidewalk for a game of hopscotch, or grab a ball and start kicking it around. Turn off the TV and put up the video games and get moving!

To your and your kids!

Read More!

Turn Off Your Television

The weather is finally nice, and the flowers are starting to bloom. We had over 6" of snow last Monday and now the weather is actually looking spring-like. Sun and everything. What does that mean for my daughter and me..?

It means...no more television. I am guilty of using the TV to pass the time, but when the nice weather hits, I can't justify the cost. I am going to use the $40 a month I pay for cable (basic cable too, what a rip-off!) and put it towards a new bike for my daughter. She is a great little mountain biker and I know that without the distractions of the TV she will be more inclined to get dressed, find her helmet and start bugging me to go outside. Sounds good to me.

Biking not your thing? Weather still too icky to get outside? This article has a ton of activities for you to try out in your home. They are all fun and guaranteed to be more stimulating than your television set.

Enjoy your day!

Read More!

The Me Generation

This morning on The Today Show, they will be talking about the "Me Generation." I already know what they are going to say...

We are raising our kids to think they are special, basically entitled. I believe we are raising our children to believe that they are entitled to the good life without working for it. Parents protect their children from failure, but they also protect them from well earned success. Failure is an opportunity for a child to learn and grow, so why do we, as parents, rush in at every opportunity to save our children from these opportunities?

There are several myths out there concerning children. Our children are not fragile, and we do not need to save them. We can help them grow through their failures, and learn through the difficulties that are inherent in this life.

Self esteem is getting confused with esteem. To esteem means to value worth, but not just in your self. It means to see value in others...parents, teachers, friends, and that little old lady down the street. When the emphasis is on self, we are robbing them of confidence, worth and happiness.

Caretaking Parents, Entitled Kids expands on this.

Help your kids deal with their failures, don't prevent those failures from happening.

Read More!

What Is Your Single Biggest Question...

...about parenting? I like to write about parenting, but what I write is tied to my own experience in parenting my daughter, and may not be relevant to you and your kids. I would like to write about issues that are important to you...

...but I can't write about them if I don't know what they are, so what do you say? Will you leave comments here and let me know what you are struggling with, or what has worked for you?

Having a blog is fun, but having a one-sided blog is boring! I am looking forward to hearing from you and learning about ways to approach those tough parenting issues in a new way.

Post here and let us all know what is on your mind, what you struggle with and how you handle it.

Have a great day parents!

Read More!

What Would You Do?

I am looking for your responses on these two scenarios. There are no wrong answers.

1. You are shopping in Target and as you near the toy section you hear a loud smack, a child crying and with your next step you see a mother pulling her son up off the ground. He is in tears and you can see he has been spanked. What do you do?

2. You are at a wildlife sanctuary and you are quietly watching a great horned owl with your daughter. You hear some piercing screams in the direction of the eagle exhibit and you wonder what kind of bird makes that noise. After a few minutes you realize that it is not a bird making those noises, and you walk towards the sound to find a family near the golden eagle. The daughter, about 7 years old, is screaming at the bird, who is trying to get as far away as possible but can't because he is in a cage, and you see that the parents are there. In fact, the father is taking photos of the terrorized bird.

What would you do?

Read More!

Single Parents - What is your career?

Single moms and dads, I want to hear from you. What do you do for a living and how do manage your schedule with your child's schedule? This article on the best careers for single parents has me thinking...

I have looked into many of these top ten careers myself, but there was always something that kept me from pursuing the ones that attracted me the most...mainly, my child's school schedule. Now, with summer coming, I wonder how other single parents in similar situations manage.

How do YOU do it? Post your thoughts here!

Read More!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

We are going to have a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt this year. I can't think of a better way to get everyone together and have some fun...

I am a little wary of using real eggs, and have talked to the neighbors about this. Everyone is in agreement that using plastic eggs filled with small goodies would be better. I think the kids like them better anyway. Who wouldn't want to have candy and little toys over some smelly old egg? We have kids of all ages on our block, so we are going to color code the hunt so that the little ones will have a fair chance at getting some goodies too.

I am always up for neighborhood get togethers and with the weather finally improving and the days getting longer, this will be an especially fun way catch up with everyone on the block.

Read More!

Do You Have A Gifted Child?

According to a new article at The Toddler Tamer "Gifted children have been defined as those 'who by nature of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance.' The term "outstanding abilities" refers to general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, leadership ability, ability in the visual or performing arts, creative thinking, or athletic ability..."

The article goes on to say...."Most gifted children display a higher rate of concentration and memory capacity. There is no typical gifted child, for particular talents and social environments give rise to varying personality patterns. Achievement patterns also vary. Differences among them will be found, even when they are grouped together. Some are very strong in one subject and weak in others. The gifted mathematician may be an average reader, the gifted artist may be poor in mathematic and the early reader may lack the ability to organize time and materials."

If you would like to read more, please click here.

Read More!

Easter Eggs

So, are you making Easter eggs with your kids this weekend? I am. My daughter saw Martha Stewart this morning on The Today Show, making white chocolate filled eggs. She asked me if we could make those...

I had to laugh. We will be making eggs, but not Martha Stewart style. And that is a Good Thing. We are doing your basic tye-dye eggs and glitter eggs. All you need here is food coloring, vinegar, tongs, paper towels and wax paper. And eggs. For the glitter eggs my daughter and I will be using glue, glitter and a small brush to apply the glue. Maybe some masking tape to put on the eggs where we don't want the glue to be. If I am feeling really crafty, I might cut the masking tape into little shapes.

Simple and fun. That is a good thing.

Read More!

Bloggers Talk About Justin Berry

I am not the only one blogging about Justin Berry. Please check out Writers Right, particularly the post dated April 6, if you would like links to more blogs on this subject.

Read More!

Justin Berry Goes To Washington

I am listening to C-SPAN right now and 19 year old Justin Berry is testifying. What a brave kid. It can't be easy to do what he is doing...telling members of Congress about his internet porn business, one that he started when he was 13 years old...

This is so frightening, so real, and I am afraid, not uncommon. This kid was in deep.

Here is a NY Times article:

Child Sex as Internet Fare, Through Eyes of a Victim

Parents, there are things you can do.
1. Talk to your kids when they are young, do not wait until they are 12 or 13.
2. Keep the Internet out of the bedroom, computers are okay, but internet connections are not.
3. Know what your kids are up to.
4. NO web cams!

The Internet is a wonderful tool, use it wisely.

Read More!

My Kid Didn't Do It

More news of school violence, this time the incident was thwarted by other students before it even started. I don't have any answers, but what baffles me the most are the statments like the one made by the father of one of the boys who said the "charges were a mistake..."

Come on parents, wake up and raise your kids!

Read More!

What is Good Parenting?

"As parents we know that it is not always easy to raise our kids the way we know we should. As long as you are aware that the way you raise them day by day, will influence them for the rest of their lives, literally shaping their attitudes and personalities"...

Read the full article here.

Read More!

Even Parents Make Mistakes

This wonderful article is a good reminder to parents who want to raise responsible kids...

It urges parents to deal with the consequences of their actions and to admit their failings to their kids. This might be different that how you were raised, but try it, it is a good exercise. Part of raising responsible kids is modeling what responsibility is. You can do this by talking to your kids about your poor decisions and by discussing what you could have done differently. Feel free to ask them what they would have done in your situation and how they would have handled it if they were in your position.

Let your kids know that all people make mistakes...even parents, and they will come to realize that the goal in life is not to make the right decision all the time (or to be right all the time) but to take responsibility for those decisions, no matter the cost.

Read More!

Web Cams and Kids Don't Mix

Parents, beware! Your kids know more about technology than you do, but that does not mean that you cannot educate yourself. And educate yourself you must. Kids and web cams do NOT mix. Do not fool yourself, there are sexual predators everywhere, not just on the street asking your kids to help them look for their lost dogs. A web cam is an open invitation for them to come into your house. Do not let this happen...

Who is protecting your kids? Don't believe for a second that online predators are the scum of the earth...they may very well be physicians, teachers or even members of Homeland Security. Check out the video clip entitled "Teen Web Sex Performer Testifies."

This boy said it was easy to fool his parents. He said they had no idea of what he was up to in his own bedroom. Learn from this and do the best you can to stay on top of the technological advances that are designed to enhance your life, advances that can also destroy it.

Read More!

Congratulate Yourself Often

"Single parenting is not for the meek or mild. You have a lot to be proud of."

This is from an article titled, 10 Single Parent Resolutions. I was hunting around for articles on single parenting and came across this one on resolutions. I really liked resolution #10, Congratulate Yourself Often...

So much of my day is devoted to my daughter, my job and our house, that I often lose sight of the good work I am doing as a parent. My daughter is turning out great, she is smart and funny and gets along well with kids and adults alike, but my day is so full of financial and other concerns that I rarely have time to sit back and enjoy the good things that have come my way.

One way I am going to do this is to "Congratulate Myself Often."

Starting now.

Read More!

Portable Electronics

I said I was going to leave the electronics at home this time, but I am so glad that I didn't. The weather was nasty, there wasn't much to look at, and my daughter really enjoyed watching a movie on the way to our destination...

Just goes to show you that you should never say never. It was a treat for her to watch movies in the car and I loved listening to her laugh out loud, even though I had no idea what part she was laughing at. The road trip was easy, the hotsprings were great, and a good time was had by all.

Success!

Read More!

Road Trip!

My daughter and I are taking off for a one day mini vacation. It is spring break and we stayed home this week. I really wanted to do something before school started back up again so we are on our way to some hot springs I heard about. I will check it out and post about our trip when we return...

We are running around this morning packing, and I am here at the computer thinking about ways to keep her busy in the car. I found some travel tips, and I am leaning towards electronic options like the portable DVD player that Santa brought her this year, but haven't mentioned it to my daughter yet. I am thinking we might leave electronics behind for the weekend, which means I won't be bringing my iPod either. I think I can do that...can I do that? Just imagine, two days without a phone, cell phone, iPod, or other modern invasions. Sounds good to me!

We are headed out pretty quick... have a great weekend everyone!

Read More!