ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Planning for Summer Child Carehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/13/planning-for-summer-child-care/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/13/planning-for-summer-child-care/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/13/planning-for-summer-child-care/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Summer Child Care

Summer will be here before you know it, and our little ones are counting down the days until school lets out. When that happens, families will have to fill anywhere from eight to 10 hours a day of child care. Summer isn't only a difficult time to plan and arrange child care, it's also the most expensive part of the year.

The average family can spend up $7,000 per child during the summer months. That's half of their annual child care budget! I asked our Care.com members if they planned on cutting back for the summer. In this economy, it wasn't surprising to see that 75 percent planned to find money-saving alternatives this year.

In the past, Ron (my husband) and I always put our boys into summer camps. But, this year, with the economic downturn, we've chatted about some other creative ways to cut costs while still making sure our 9-year-old son, Adam, enjoys his summer.

For example, Adam would love to go to a baseball camp, but that quickly gets pricey. Our local town camp is a great alternative since it's more economical and many of his school friends would be there, too. Of course, with the local camp, we'd have to figure out after-camp babysitting ... planning just never ends, does it?

If you're thinking about your child care plans for the summer, I've put together some ideas to keep the season fun for your little ones, while staying friendly to your family's budget.

Enlist Backup Babysitters
We ran another poll within the last few weeks asking Care.com members what kind of child care they'll need for the summer. The biggest response? A babysitter.

Before you hire a sitter, make sure you check the market rate. With college students looking for work, babysitting rates may be lower than other times of year. This handy salary calculator can keep you up-to-date on the local babysitting rates.

In the summertime, schedules can get crazy between work and the kids' activities, so prepare a backup list of caregivers. Sitters get sick (or take vacation), so you'll need extra help.

If you can, try using friends or relatives. Maybe they won't be your primary babysitters, but just using them as alternates can save money. You'll just have to help them out in return.

Share Sitters
Share the cost and split a summer sitter with a neighbor or two! This works great, especially if you're like my family and only have one child who needs a sitter. With the economy the way it is, most regular babysitters are used to these cost-saving arrangements, but you still want to be sure not to overload them with too many children. Try not to have them watch more than three kids under age 6, four kids under age 12, or more than five of any age.

Co-operation is key!
Care exchanges or swaps are great for setting up playdates and saving some money. They help parents connect with other families looking to share sitter services (for kids and pets). They're also an easy way to meet a family like yours and trade off babysitting shifts. However you set up an exchange, remember this--one day a week of free child care equals a 20 percent savings over the whole summer.

Summer Camp Savings
Many families are concerned about summer camp's cost. There are low-cost alternatives, though. Day camps can be great money-saving alternatives to overnight camps. And church or community camps often attract a wide range of local children, are usually pretty affordable and have a ton of activities for kids of all ages.

School's Out, Education Isn't
It's summer break for teachers, too, you know. Many of them spend their summers as a tutor to pay the bills. Instead of camp, why not hire one for a day each week to teach hobbies and skills? Make it fun for your kids so they don't think it's a chore -- pick a subject they're already interested in and create playdates by inviting friends. They'll enjoy themselves and their brains won't go to mush (which makes moms like me happy).

This article was originally published on PBS Parents by Sheila Marcelo. Sheila has always been passionate about business and family. After frequent struggles to find quality care providers not only for her two boys, but also following her father's quadruple bypass surgery in 2001, Sheila recognized the lack of resources available to help families address their constantly changing care needs. Thus, the idea for Care.com was born.

More From PBSParents.org:

Child Development Tracker

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]]>Babysitterbabysittingchild careSummer Child CaresummertimePBSParents.orgFri, 13 May 2011 11:00:00 ESTIs Your Child's School Asking For Too Much Of Your Time?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/is-your-childs-school-asking-for-too-much-of-your-time/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/is-your-childs-school-asking-for-too-much-of-your-time/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/03/is-your-childs-school-asking-for-too-much-of-your-time/#commentsFiled under: ,

playing mom photo

Are you giving so much of your time that you don't have any left for yourself? Credit: Getty Images

Many moms are being asked to do too much at their child's school, causing a lot of parents to just say no.

In this tough economy, there is an increasing volume of volunteer requests to chair the PTA, run the book fair, even teach art classes, according to an article in the New York Times. One couple got a divorce because the wife was never at home -- she spent all of her time at school.

How about you? Is your child's school asking for too much of your time?

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]]>Hot Topichot topicsHotTopicHotTopicsPTAschoolschoolsvolunteervolunteeringBrett SingerFri, 03 Dec 2010 09:28:00 ESTParentDish's 20 Top Educational Toys for Tweenshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-tweens/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-tweens/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-tweens/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (Courtesy of LEGO(R))

LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0. Credit: Courtesy of LEGO(R)

Tweens are great fun. Even when they're yelling at you and explaining in exhausting detail how you are ruining their lives, you love them and want the best for them. You also want them to get into a good college so that they can get a good job and move out of your house. To help that process along, here are ParentDish's 20 Top Educational Toys for Tweens:

1. Snap Circuits SC-300 (Elenco, $43, at Amazon.com): Snap Circuits gets your tween started down the road to discovering the joys of how electronics work. This kit includes plans to make a working doorbell, radio and hundreds of other great projects.

2. Nintendo DSi (Nintendo, $149.99, at Amazon.com): Think video games do nothing but melt your child's mind? Well, some do. But the Nintendo DSi also can be a terrific creative outlet. With two cameras, a microphone and built-in photo- and sound-editing software, your tween actually can learn something while drawing moustaches on pictures of family members. And once you buy them a DSi, you can pick up ...

3. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! (Nintendo, $19.49, at Amazon.com): Again, we know that some video games rot your brain. This one, however, does not. Brain Age 2 is Nintendo's follow-up to the huge-selling Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!

4. ThinkFun Gordians Knot (ThinkFun, $10.01, at Amazon.com): Video games are fun, but sometimes it's good to turn off the electronics and hunker down with something that doesn't require batteries. This is a puzzle with only six pieces, but that doesn't make it easy to solve.

5. Air Hogs R/C Havoc Heli (SpinMaster, $54.99, at Amazon.com): Yes, your tween can use the Air Hogs R/C Havoc Heli to conduct bombing runs on siblings playing in the front yard. But while they do that, they are learning about aerodynamics and problem solving. Really. They are.

6. Cadaco Spectacular Magic Show (Cadaco, $18.11, at Amazon.com): Puppet shows are fine, but everyone knows the real money is in magic. Well, OK, maybe not money. But it is fun to learn how magicians do all those tricks. And hey, some magicians figure out a way to make a living doing it -- look at Criss Angel.

7. Carrom 510.01 Balance Board (Carrom, $45.99, at Amazon.com): Balance is an extremely important physical ability that not everyone has. Even if your tween is a future Olympian, he could probably benefit from an occasional workout on this board.

8. In Other Words Magnetic Poetry (Magnetic Poetry, $15.29, at Amazon.com): Tweens want to grow up, but maybe they're not quite ready to give up all of their little kid pleasures. Let them have some time in front of the fridge with a set of poetry magnets.

9. Stratego (Milton Bradley, $16.96, at Amazon.com): The classic board game is kind of a cross between chess and Dungeons and Dragons. Although it looks simple at first, winning actually requires a tremendous amount of planning. Or, to use a better word -- strategy.

10. Coby SNAPP Cam3000 (Coby, $32, at Amazon.com): Got a tween who loves movies? Why not let her make some of her own? The Coby SNAPP Cam3000 is easy to use and inexpensive enough that you won't be quite as upset if she eventually breaks it.

11. Celestron 21041 60mm PowerSeeker Telescope (Celestron, $48.37, at Amazon.com): Get your tweens gazing at stars that they won't find on TMZ. The PowerSeeker is a starter telescope; see if they like this one before you shell out the big bucks for a better model.

12. Carnivorous Terrarium with Live Plants (Hirt's Gardens, $29.99, at Amazon.com): Taking care of plants teaches responsibility as well as botany. This terrarium includes three carnivorous -- as in meat-eating -- plants. Feed me, Seymour!

13. Uncle Milton Star Theater Pro (Uncle Milton, $107.95, at Amazon.com): The planetarium is great, but you can't go there every day. With the Uncle Milton Star Theater Pro, your tweens can learn about astronomy whenever they want to, right in the comfort of your home.

14. Mastermind (Pressman Toys, $13.87, at Amazon.com): One player makes a code. The other player has 10 tries to figure it out. If he can't, the game explodes in a ball of flame. OK, there are no flames. But this challenging board game classic is sure to light a fire in your child's brain.

15. WowWee FlyTech Bladestar Flying Helicopter (WowWee, $22.79, at Amazon.com): Just putting the FlyTech Bladestar together will teach tweens a few things. Once the thing is in the air, they'll need to maneuver it around the couch, birds, family members -- all valuable things to learn, if you think about it.

16. Jenga (Milton Bradley, $29.60, at Amazon.com): Think of Jenga like this -- the stacking blocks your child loved as a toddler, but a thousand times harder. Build the tower, then slowly remove one piece at a time, trying not to cause the whole thing to topple over.

17. LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (LEGO, $279.00, at Amazon.com): Here's the progression: Duplo, LEGO, LEGO Mindstorms, world domination. Maybe a college degree before that last one. Mindstorms is like LEGO to the billionth power. This toy will make you want to be a kid again.

18. Ucreate Games & Artimation (Mattel, $14.98, at Amazon.com): Wahh! I'm bored! I've played all my video games 100 times! So why not make your own? The Ucreate Games & Artimation actually lets your child do just that.

19. Erector Motorized Racing Car & More (Erector, $59.98, at Amazon.com): The plastic Erector set you had in grade school? Pshaw. It's time to enter the big leagues. With 643 pieces. METAL pieces. Bring it on.

20. My First Lab Ultimate Microscope (C&A Scientific, $84.46, at Amazon.com): Don't let the name fool you. This is a real microscope that kids can use to look at all sort of things up close. Includes a light powered by a rechargeable battery.

(Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication; Internet retailers change their prices frequently.)

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]]>educational-gameseducational-toysevergreentoystween-toysvideo-gamesBrett SingerFri, 26 Nov 2010 08:04:00 ESTParentDish's 20 Top Educational Toys for Gradeschoolershttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-gradeschoolers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-gradeschoolers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-gradeschoolers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Technosource Printies Pets Design Studio (TechnoSource)

Technosource Printies Pets Design Studio. Credit: TechnoSource

The kids grow up so fast, don't they? Seems like only yesterday they were in diapers, and now here they are, starting second grade. Time to clean out the play room to make space for some new and more educational toys. To help you out, here are ParentDish's Top 20 Educational Toys for Gradeschoolers:

1. Monopoly (Hasbro, $14.26, at Amazon.com): Talk about a classic. Monopoly has been around forever. And why not? It's good, clean family fun. In terms of educational value, you've got math, real estate, keeping your cool when you land on Marvin Gardens with two hotels -- all excellent skills to get your gradeschooler ready for the harsh realities of life.

2. Allowance Game (Remedia Publications, $21.99, at Amazon.com): Think of the Allowance Game as a less complicated version of Monopoly. Kids learn about money and how to make and lose it, without the hassle of doing so with actual cash.

3. Risk (Parker Brothers, $23.84, at Amazon.com): Conquer the world in board game form. An excellent educational game for your little Napoleon. If you want to go retro, pick up Winning Moves Games Risk 1959, released in honor of the 50th anniversary of the classic game.

4. GeoSafari Talking Globe Jr. (Educational Insights, $65.99, at Amazon.com): It's a little pricey, but it is a globe that talks. If that doesn't keep your child occupied, we don't know what will. As a bonus, the kids can have fun scaring the family cat. That activity isn't educational, but it is fun.

5. Uno (Mattel, $6.20, at Amazon.com): Uno seems too easy for kids this age, until they knuckle down and start to play it. The basics are indeed very basic, but winning still requires the use of that underworked muscle, the brain.

6. Yahtzee (Hasbro, $9.99, at Amazon.com): There's no secret why Yahtzee is educational -- it teaches children what a full house is! Just kidding. Actually, it's all about math. There's even some strategy involved -- do I take the three of a kind now, or wait for a better roll of the dice?

7. Rubik's TouchCube (Techno Source, $49.99, at Amazon.com): An updated version of the puzzle toy that took the world by storm back in the '80s. Unlike big hair and a lot of the bands from that decade, Rubik's has survived, and even thrived, throughout the years. This version has touch-sensitive colored squares, eliminating the need for all that twisting and turning.

8. GeoSafari Talking Microscope (Educational Insights, $31.32, at Amazon.com): You can talk to your microscope, just imagine it ... Well, OK, maybe you can't talk to it, but it can talk to you! This is a great starter microscope for your little Sid the Science Kid. Package includes starter slides so they can dive right in and start learning.

9. Mi Jam Drummer (Blue Box, $44.95, at Amazon.com): You know that joke all of your childless friends think is so funny? The one where they say, "Why not get Jimmy a drum set?" The Mi Jam Drummer is a way to let Buddy Rich Jr. bang on the drum all day in complete silence. Drums are a musical instrument, and therefore this is an educational toy.

10. Digital Coin Counting Money Jar (EB, $18.29, at Amazon.com): Start giving your change to your kids and let them keep track of how much they collect. A great way to learn about saving money.

11. No Stress Chess (Winning Moves, $12.61, at Amazon.com): Chess is a game that takes a lifetime to learn. Get your little kings and queens started young with this version.

12. Technosource Printies Pets Design Studio (Techno Source, $10.29, at Amazon.com): Kids bored with their stuffed animals? Tell them to make some new ones. Watch them look at you like you have lost your parental mind. Then smile as you hand them this nifty new product that lets kids design a stuffed toy on a computer, and then print out that design onto "special patent-pending Printies[TM] fabric sheets." Translation: you can design and make a huggable toy at home. Ain't technology grand?

13. Spinmaster Aquadoodle Wall Mat (SpinMaster, $39.99, at Amazon.com): Drawing is a very creative activity, even when it's on your wall. Hang one of these and avoid the punishments, the tears and the new paint job.

14. Bushnell Powerview 12x25 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular (Bushnell, $19.04, at Amazon.com): These binoculars are compact, which means smaller. That means they fit nicely into smaller hands -- like the ones your kids have. Use them for bird-watching, nature-gazing or spying on the neighbors. Wait -- ignore that last one.

15. Brain Games 2 (Radica, $12.97, at Amazon.com): Radica claims this handheld device will help "train your brain," a muscle that gets far too little attention. Don't expect it to turn your child's Cs into As, but it certainly can't hurt.

16. Smart Lab You Explore It Human Body (Smart Lab, $20.66, at Amazon.com): This entry in the Smart Lab series combines an anatomy book with an actual model of the human body for kids to check out while they read, making this a true hands-on learning experience.

17. Air Burst Rocket System (William Mark Corporation, $22.99, at Amazon.com): You know what kids don't do enough of these days? Blow stuff up. Granted, we know more about what's safe and what isn't than we did in years past. This system allows kids to have the fun of shooting a rocket without dealing with dangerous substances. And it's still educational, because after all -- it's still a rocket.

18. Originial TEDCO Gyroscope Twin Pak (Tedco, $10.29, at Amazon.com): How do those things spin like that? And how is that one spinning on top of the other one? Kids will have fun figuring it all out.

19. Erector Build & Play -- Construction Bucket, 150 Pieces (Erector, $22.92, at Amazon.com): Legos are great, but sometimes it's good to change things up. Erector sets are a classic building toy, and this bucket is a good place to start. The pieces are made of durable plastic rather than metal, so kids are less likely to cut themselves while they build.

20. Aliens Among Us Jigsaw Puzzle (Great American Puzzle Factory, $6.98, at Amazon.com): Puzzles are fun and great for developing the brain and fine motor skills. It doesn't have to be this particular puzzle, but Aliens Among Us does look amusing. And at 100 pieces, it should give little hands and heads a good solid workout.

(Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication; Internet retailers change their prices frequently.)

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]]>educational toysevergreenGradeSchoolerlearningtoysBrett SingerFri, 26 Nov 2010 08:02:00 ESTParentDish's 20 Top Educational Toys for Preschoolershttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-preschoolers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-preschoolers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/26/parentdishs-20-top-educational-toys-for-preschoolers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Help your child learn with these toys. Credit: Getty Images

The kids are starting to outgrow the stacking blocks and are even getting tired of Candy Land (thank goodness). What to do? Here are ParentDish's 20 Top Educational Toys for Preschoolers:

1. Classic Etch A Sketch (Ohio Art Co., $12.67, at Amazon.com): Although it can be a little tricky at first, your child will soon learn to love drawing with two little knobs. Even better is the fact that they can just give it a shake and start all over again.

2. K'NEX Frontier Farm Lincoln Logs (K'Nex, $35.94, at Amazon.com): This old favorite has been around longer than we have -- your grandparents probably had a set. Among the many iterations currently available is this version, which comes with 51 wooden logs and a variety of cool accessories to make building time fun.

3. LEGO Ultimate Building Set -- 405 Pieces (LEGO, $24.54, at Amazon.com): When it's time to move on from Duplo, this is a perfect next step. The 405 pieces of assorted LEGO goodness equals hours, days, even months of plastic block pleasure.

4. Leap Frog Leapster2 Learning Game System (LeapFrog, $39.97, at Amazon.com): Yeah, we know. You hate video games. They rot your brain. Well, not these games. Leapster games actually teach kids math and spelling while they pretend to jump around and punch out bad guys. Just like in real life, right?

5. Learning Resources Ten-Row Abacus (Learning Resources, $16.99, at Amazon.com): From the hi-tech Leapster2, we move on to the low-tech Abacus. This toy is actually considered by many to be the first computer, although you probably won't be able to convince your preschooler of that.

6. Smart e-Bear (Kids Preferred, $51, at Amazon.com): He's cute! He connects to your computer to download music and games! No, it's not your teenage son. It's Smart e-Bear! Imagine if you had an iPod that was really cuddly and played educational games. Just plug him into your Mac or PC via the included USB cable to pick up some nifty software that will keep your child educationally entertained for hours -- years, actually, since you can upgrade the software as your child gets older.

7. Magic School Bus Going Green Experiment Kit (The Young Scientist Club, $14.25, at Amazon.com): This fun science kit is based on the wonderful "Magic School Bus" books and videos. Recommended for ages 5 and up, the kit offers a variety of fun learning activities. One of ParentDish's Top Preschool Toys of 2009.

8. Crayola Crayon Town Large Mat Zoo Set (Wild Planet, $17.14, at Amazon.com): Crayon Town playsets take everything kids love about coloring and make it 3-D. Your preschoolers can not only color a picture, they can make that picture into a free-standing building. Another one of ParentDish's Top Preschool Toys of 2009.

9. Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers (Scholastic, $6.99, at Amazon.com): You might scoff at these seemingly simple books when you first see them. That's until you notice your children reading these books by themselves. Imagine your preschooler starting kindergarten with the ability to read. Ha! Take that, other parents! OK, time to switch to decaf.

10. Moon In My Room (Uncle Milton, $19.59, at Amazon.com): This educational toy shows children the different phases of the moon, either naturally or on demand via a kid-friendly remote control. It also makes a great night light.

11. Learning Resources 12-Inch Inflatable Globe (Learning Resources, $6.42, at Amazon.com): A globe is great for learning about geography, but your preschooler may not be ready for the real thing. This version is basically just a ball, but it's a ball with the world printed on it. Watch them run around and get tired and imagine that they are learning where Guam is while doing it.

12. Blokus Classics Game (Mattel, $22.84, at Amazon.com): Blokus is a cool strategy game that you can play with your child. It's a board game where you won't get bored (get it?).

13. Big Deck Children's Playing Cards (Fundex, $8.27, at Amazon.com): Sometimes it's good to get back to the basics. Playing cards are great because of the huge variety of games you can play with them, including the ever-popular 52 Pick-Up. Use these larger-than-normal cards for a few hands of War, Go Fish or even Blackjack -- but don't play for money, OK?

14. Jumbo Lowercase Magnetic Letters (Battat, $19.95, at Amazon.com): More stuff to stick on the fridge. This set contains only the big letters -- no worrying about lowercase.

15. Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set (Little Tykes, $30.57, at Amazon.com): Your preschoolers will want to Be Like Mike -- well, Kobe, maybe -- as they hit layups and dunk the ball on Gramps. Bonus: It's adjustable, so it grows with your child.

16. Wonderworld Eco-Friendly Work Bench N' Box (Wonderworld, $29.99, at Amazon.com): Mommy and Daddy's tools are fun, but aren't exactly safe for little kids. Let your preschooler pound away to her heart's content with this set. Comes complete with toy hammer, screwdriver, wrench and all the "hardware" she'll need for a solid developmental playtime.

17. Dalmatian Vet Kit (Battat, $21.50, at Amazon.com): Let's play doctor! No, not that kind of doctor. Animal doctor! And not on your real dog -- this kit includes a toy puppy that kids can tweeze, bandage and tong as much as their little hearts desire.

18. Learning Resources Jumbo Dinosaurs (Learning Resources, $21.11, at Amazon.com): It's never too early to learn that dinosaurs are awesome. This set features a variety of dinos, all large enough to avoid being swallowed by your own little T-Rex.

19. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden 27-Piece Lacing Beads in a Box (Melissa & Doug, $11.99, at Amazon.com): Some skills are trickier than they seem, and lacing is definitely one of them. This box includes 27 ginormous wooden beads and two extra-long laces.

20. Highlights Hidden Pictures 2010 (Highlights for Children, $6.95, at Amazon.com): Here's the latest and greatest edition in the Highlights for Children "Hidden Pictures" series. According to Amazon, "Teachers have found that working on them can enhance a child's attention to detail, reinforce good work habits, increase word knowledge and aid in developing self-confidence." Parents have found that kids really, really like finding hidden pictures.

(Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication; Internet retailers change their prices frequently.)

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]]>educational toysevergreenpreschool-toyspreschoolerstoysBrett SingerFri, 26 Nov 2010 08:01:00 ESTFewer Latino Children in Preschool, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/17/fewer-latino-children-in-preschool-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/17/fewer-latino-children-in-preschool-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/17/fewer-latino-children-in-preschool-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

latino child preschool picture

Without preschool, the education gap between Latinos and their peers starts earlier. Credit: Getty Images


Attendance in preschools for Latino tots lags far behind the national average, with Latino parents half as likely to enroll their kids in preschool as their white and African-American peers, a new study reported in Chicago Breaking News shows.

In Illinois, just over one in three Latino children attend preschool, a disparity that threatens to leave them behind their peers even before the start of kindergarten, the study's author, Bruce Fuller, director of the Institute of Human Development at the University of California-Berkeley, says.

About 35 percent of Latino 4-year-olds attended some type of preschool, while 66 percent of white children and 54 percent of African American children enrolled, the findings show.

"If we put all our school reform eggs in the K-to-12 basket, it's going to be too late," Fuller tells Breaking News. He presented his is findings Nov. 16 at DePaul University during a conference sponsored by the New Journalism on Latino Children project.

The study shows that the educational disparities between Latino children and their peers are now starting at an earlier age, Fuller tells Breaking News.

Fuller and researchers tracked 380 Illinois children born in 2001 for nearly a decade, as part of a national study that included more than 10,000 children across the country. They monitored everything from the children's social and cognitive development to how often they read with their parents at home. As early as age 2, Latino children started to lag in their early literacy skills, such as recognizing words or turning to the title page of a children's book, according to the news report.

Fuller says the gap equates to about six months of kindergarten instruction.

Black community and faith-based groups have been pushing preschool since the beginning of Head Start programs some 40 years ago, while Illinois Latino communities have been slower to organize around the issue, Fuller tells the Chicago Sun-Times.

Also, for first-generation Latinos, "the tradition is not to send your child to a preschool. It's to rely on grandparents or an aunt who lives around the corner," he tells the newspaper.

Latino parents also may fear sending their children to strangers who do not speak their language, Reyna Hernandez of the Latino Policy Forum, tells the Sun-Times.

"Parents might also worry about questions on legal status," Hernandez says. "That subject is off-limits to preschools but may come up in applications for accompanying child care."

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]]>educationlatinolatino educationLatinoEducationpreschoolMary Beth SammonsWed, 17 Nov 2010 12:14:00 EST'Your Baby Can Read' ... Really?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/02/your-baby-can-read-really/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/02/your-baby-can-read-really/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/11/02/your-baby-can-read-really/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Many parents want to have all-star children who mark their territory at the head of the class. But if they're spending lots of money to get them there, they might as well just throw their cash away, "Today" reports.

Ads for Your Baby Can Read, a program that consists of flash cards, DVDs and pop-up books that supposedly help your child learn to read before she enters kindergarten, feature babies as young as 3 months reading words and phrases such as "Touch your ears" from flash cards. However, the seemingly brilliant tots might not really be reading at all.

Ginger Torres, mother of Chloe, 3, bought the Your Baby Can Read kit.

"The reason I wanted to buy it is to give her a head start before school," she tells Today. "(But) what you're getting is not really what they say."

According to experts, Torres is right. Dr. Nonie Lesaux, a child development expert at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, tells NBC the babies shown on TV aren't really reading.

"They memorize what's on those cue cards ... It's not reading," she says.

Dr. Maryanne Wolf, director of Cognitive Neuroscience at Tufts University, agrees.

"It's an extraordinary manipulation of facts," she tells Today.

Today spoke with 10 experts nationwide who all had the same opinions regarding the program: Children that young can be made to memorize and recognize words, but the minds of younger children are not developed enough to read and learn at the level that the television advertisements claim they can.

Dr. Robert Titzer, the creator of Your Baby Can Read, says the program starts with memorization but leads to reading.

"We have a book full of studies that support the use of our program," he tells NBC.

Titzer agreed provide the research to Today, but instead sent his own customer satisfaction surveys and general studies about child learning.

Experts say the best way to teach your children reading skills is the traditional (and free) method: Read, talk and play with them. If they're having fun, they're learning, Today reports.

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]]>children readingChildrenReadinglearning to readLearningToReadreadingtoday showTodayShowyour baby can readYourBabyCanReadMary Kate BaumannTue, 02 Nov 2010 14:30:00 ESTTransitioning to College: Parents Can Help Ease the Processhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/21/transitioning-to-college-parents-can-help-ease-the-process/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/21/transitioning-to-college-parents-can-help-ease-the-process/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/21/transitioning-to-college-parents-can-help-ease-the-process/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

transition year

Parents are often uncomfortable speaking with their college-age children about depression. Credit: Getty Images

As many parents can attest, senior year of high school is a cauldron of emotions. Excitement and fear coexist during this busy transition from interdependence to independence, especially for those planning on attending college.

But some kids are better equipped to handle these juxtaposing emotions than others, which is why the Jed Foundation, an organization that works to prevent suicide in college-age students, partnered with the American Psychiatric Association to launch Transition Year. The goal of Transition Year is to educate parents on the disturbing realities of college-age mental health and provide tools to help them focus on their child's emotional health before, during and after the college transition.

According to the latest statistics from the National Mental Health Association and the Jed Foundation, suicide is the second leading cause of death among this age group. Yet, a recent study from the foundation shows that not only are parents of college-age students uncomfortable talking with their children about mental health than any other health topic -- including alcohol, drugs and sex -- they are even less comfortable discussing suicidal thoughts.

So, if students are stressed or depressed and parents are uncomfortable confronting the issue, where do you begin? Get to the root of the problem, says Courtney Knowles, executive director of the Jed Foundation.

And that problem, he tells ParentDish, is a lack of awareness among parents about how important it is to rank a child's emotional health as highly as their academic and social considerations throughout the college selection process.

"If you look at the data from students that asks them what interferes with their ability to do well at school, almost all of the top reasons are related to emotional health," Knowles tells ParentDish. "It's clear that issues like stress and anxiety and depression can severely impact a student's ability to acclimate and meet the academic demands of school."

Parents are advised to look out for the warning signs of severe depression and suicidal behavior, including insomnia, mood swings and drinking too much, all of which could easily be any student's reaction to the normal pressures of college. Parents need to be able to discern when those symptoms might indicate something more serious than typical college angst, Knowles says.

And, he admits, it's a very fine line.

"I think the real defining point is to what degree is the emotional state, whether it be anxiety or stress or depression, interfering with their inability to get stuff done, to get out, go see friends," Knowles says. "I really think that's the easiest way to tell the difference."

But this is not an easy task, as college mental health professionals say they are seeing more and more students with an inability to cope with the regular stresses of college life, says Morton Silverman, M.D., senior adviser to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and senior medical advisor to the Jed Foundation.

"Because of (students') reliance on electronic communication and helicopter parenting, they have had little experience with situations where they would practice and learn how to deal with conflict or adversity, and the negotiations that go along with that," Silverman tells ParentDish in an email. "Helicopter parenting can also impact problem-solving skills in that they have relied on parents to help make decisions and solve problems."

Knowles agrees.

"Everyone seems surprised when there's a meltdown and an inability to get things done," he says.

According to a report in The New York Times, college officials are saying many freshmen don't know how to negotiate problems and are texting in lieu of talking when trying to resolve normal roommate conflicts.

"Over the past five years, roommate conflicts have intensified," Norbert Kunkel, director of housing and residence education at the University of Florida, tells the newspaper. "The students don't have the person-to-person discussions and they don't know how to handle them."

A college official at the University of California, Los Angeles, tells The Times students don't engage in mediation so much as avoidance. And avoidance often leads to escalation.

If parents equip their children with coping mechanisms and stress management skills, Knowles says, they'll ensure a much better college experience for their offspring.

"You can have two different students with the same genetic predisposition for depression who handle things entirely different and one can find themselves hospitalized and the other can find themselves able to manage," he says. "So the choices you make and how you cope with things is huge."

Coping skills can include exercises such as deep breathing, yoga and meditation.

"A college student should know how to identify a problem and reach out for help," Knowles says. "Whether that problem be 'I'm not managing my finances well and need to reach out to the financial aid office,' or that problem be 'I'm falling behind academically and I need to reach out to my academic adviser or the tutoring system.' "

Knowles compares depression and other mental health issues to an illness such as diabetes.

"You're not just 'sick or well,' it's the decisions you make and how you deal with things that can really impact the way and what degree that illness interferes with your life," he says.

If there's one message Knowles wants parents to take away from the Transition Year site, it's this: "I want parents to realize that college is just as much an emotional transition as it is an educational experience. And to think about that. To plan for that. To keep it in mind throughout the process; when you're selecting a college, when you're planning the transition, and then when you're communicating and acclimating."

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]]>AolOriginalcollege prepCollegePrepdepressionemotional quotientEmotionalQuotientjed foundationJedFoundationteen depressionteen suicideTeenDepressionTeenSuicideJulie Z. RosenbergThu, 21 Oct 2010 10:00:00 ESTHow to Childproof Your Windowshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/08/how-to-childproof/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/08/how-to-childproof/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/08/how-to-childproof/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Do you have a minute (OK, a minute and eight seconds?) Good. Now watch this video on window safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and then walk around your house and do what you need to do to childproof your windows. Got it? Great. Glad we had this talk.

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]]>childproofingthe editors at ParentDishFri, 08 Oct 2010 12:42:00 ESTWarning: Stop Using Infant Sleep Positioners Immediately or Risk Suffocation Deathshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parents are warned to stop using infant sleep positioners immediately. Credit: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer alert today to warn parents to stop using infant sleep positioners, citing reports of 12 infants -- ages 1 month to 4 months -- who suffocated to death after being placed in the devices.

Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to a stomach position; some of the infants suffocated on the device itself, while others succumbed after being trapped between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet, according to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

In addition to the reported deaths, the CPSC has also received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their back or sides in sleep positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the devices.

"The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC," Tenenbaum said. "We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep."

The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters (see above).

Both types of sleep positioners typically claim to help keep infants on their backs, thereby reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There is, however, no evidence to support this claim, according to Dr. Rachel Moon, Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Task Force.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend any of the products that claim to protect against SIDS," Moon says, "Because, to our knowledge, none of these do actually protect against SIDS; there is no scientific evidence supporting these claims."

In addition, the FDA has never cleared an infant sleep positioner to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS. Over the years, the FDA has approved 18 sleep positioner devices -- all of which had made claims of helping to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and/or preventing plagiocephaly -- also known as "flat head syndrome."

At this point, however, it has become clear that the risks of using infant sleep positioners outweigh the benefits, says Moon, so consumers are warned to immediately stop using the devices.

The FDA, which has jurisdiction over consumer products making medical claims, has contacted the manufacturers of the 18 approved infant sleep positioners and asked them to stop making these devices; the agency will also be contacting retailers to ask them to stop selling the devices, according to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner.

Sharfstein advised that today's public health message is seen as the quickest way to get the warning out the consumers, so that they immediately stop buying the fatality-causing products. However, in the future, the FDA may issue for products that have not voluntarily been removed from the market; the agency will also be investigating reports of other, unapproved sleep positioning devices, as well as any other devices out there that claim to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS.

The CPSC, FDA and AAP warn parents to:
  • Stop using sleep positioners. Using a positioner to hold an infant on his or her back or side for sleep is dangerous and unnecessary.
  • Never put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under a baby or in a crib.
  • Always place an infant on his or her back at night and during nap time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the AAP recommends placing infants to sleep on their backs and not their sides.
Visit the CPSC's website for information about the agency's Safe Sleep initiative, which advises parents on how to help their kids sleep safely.

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]]>aapalertcpscfdarecallsidsSudden Infant Death SyndromeSuddenInfantDeathSyndromeHoney BerkWed, 29 Sep 2010 15:46:00 ESTHow to Volunteer at Your Child's Schoolhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/ways-to-volunteer-at-your-childs-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/ways-to-volunteer-at-your-childs-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/ways-to-volunteer-at-your-childs-school/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Volunteer at kid's school

Some schools require parents to volunteer. Credit: Chris Hondros, Newsmakers / Getty Images

Parents offering their services in the classroom may not be a new idea, but things have changed since your mom joined the PTA.

Volunteering is now a requirement at some schools, but don't fret: There are painless and fun ways to volunteer, even if you missed signing up early during the back-to-school orientation.

Open the lines of communications. Call, e-mail or write a note to your child's teacher or an administrator to find out how you can best volunteer. While you might explain some of your talents at this time, you should definitely ask if your school has a volunteering requirement.

Attend the school's PTA meetings. If you still aren't sure where to share your time, going to these meetings shows your school support and lets you network with other parents while learning about the school's needs.

Take stock of your skills and what you might be able to offer the school. Can you help out in the computer lab or accompany classes on field trips? Can you design posters or newsletters? Are you a successful fundraiser ready to spearhead a drive for much-needed cash?

Continue reading How to Volunteer at Your Child's School

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]]>evergreenparentsschoolschoolsvolunteervolunteeringvolunteersElizabeth HumphreyMon, 20 Sep 2010 15:00:00 ESTCircumcision: Is It Right for Your Baby Boy?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/31/circumcision-is-it-right-for-your-baby-boy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/31/circumcision-is-it-right-for-your-baby-boy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/31/circumcision-is-it-right-for-your-baby-boy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

baby boy

The decision to circumcise is up to parents. Credit: Nicole Hill, Getty Images


The debate over circumcision heated up when the Centers for Disease Control announced it may recommend circumcising all baby boys, but experts say the decision still rests with parents.

First of all, just what is circumcision? Dr. Rodolfo Sarmiento, a pediatrician on staff at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill., told ParentDish it's an elective procedure done to boys after birth, usually 24 hours after they are delivered. The prepuce, or overlying skin at the tip of the penis, is removed.

The procedure does cause the child pain, so doctors will administer a pain reliever such as Tylenol. Some physicians, Sarmiento says, prefer to give a newborn sugar or a local, topical anesthetic to help with pain control.

Not all parents choose to have their children circumcised, which is why the CDC's announcement caused such a stir. Officials are considering promoting the procedure in the U.S., according to The New York Times, because it may help reduce the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.

Continue reading Circumcision: Is It Right for Your Baby Boy?

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]]>baby boysBabyBoyscircumcisedcircumcisionevergreenhealthpenisAmy HatchTue, 31 Aug 2010 16:40:00 ESTFirst Day of School: What the Teacher Needs to Know About Your Childhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/30/first-day-of-school-what-the-teacher-needs-to-know-about-your-c/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/30/first-day-of-school-what-the-teacher-needs-to-know-about-your-c/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/30/first-day-of-school-what-the-teacher-needs-to-know-about-your-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

first day of school

Send your kids off to school knowing you've provided their teachers with info your kids need to succeed. Credit: Getty Images


It's back-to-school time, when everything is shiny and fresh: New clothes, new notebooks, new backpacks, new teachers and, for many, new schools. The scrubbed-clean classrooms and empty desks are filled with promise.

To realize all that potential, though, schools need a little help from parents. For children to have their best chance at success, parents must make sure their kids' teachers and school administrators have all the information they need to give each student the best instruction possible.

"We have a partnership with parents and that partnership is to make sure that their children can be as successful in school as possible," Barbara Chester, president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, tells ParentDish. "We need, as principals and teachers, the most accurate information we can get so we can best work together with the parents for their child's success."

Continue reading First Day of School: What the Teacher Needs to Know About Your Child

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]]>educationfirst day of schoolFirstDayOfSchoolparentingpreparing for schoolPreparingForSchoolprincipalteachersMonique El-FaizyMon, 30 Aug 2010 09:00:00 ESTBeing the Class Mom Takes Time, Sensitivity and Tacthttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/26/being-the-class-mom-takes-time-sensitivity-and-tact/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/26/being-the-class-mom-takes-time-sensitivity-and-tact/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/26/being-the-class-mom-takes-time-sensitivity-and-tact/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

room mother classroom

Are you planning to volunteer at your child's school this year? Credit: Getty Images

Claire Van Arsdale has been room mother for her daughter's class for the past three years, and she says she would do it again in a heartbeat.

"I enjoyed getting to know the teachers a bit better than I would have otherwise," says this Rochester, N.Y., mom of one. "I really enjoyed being part of my daughter's classroom experience."

Now that the calendar is beginning to flip toward fall, it's time to start thinking about back-to-school, and that doesn't just mean getting back into the academic groove or buying school supplies. It also means thinking about how -- and if -- you plan to volunteer at your child's school.

There are plenty of ways to get involved, of course, including fundraising or participating in the PTSA and other formal school-based organizations. But if you're looking for a more intimate experience with your child's classroom, you may want to consider being the class mom.

Continue reading Being the Class Mom Takes Time, Sensitivity and Tact

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]]>back to schoolclassroom volunteerselementary schoolelementary school kidsroom momroom parentsRoomMomsschoolsvolunteering classroomsAmy HatchThu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:00 ESTMedical Mystery Surrounding Highly-Sensitive Kids ... Solved?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/medical-mystery-surrounding-highly-sensitive-kids-solved/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/medical-mystery-surrounding-highly-sensitive-kids-solved/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/medical-mystery-surrounding-highly-sensitive-kids-solved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder book

This book could help in diagnosing your child's sensitivities. Courtesy of Sensory World


You have a gut feeling that something's wrong with your child: He's often cranky, confused, overwhelmed, fatigued. At times you suspect a rare illness -- maybe autism or ADD? But his pediatrician gives him a clean bill of health, and his teacher says those other labels don't quite fit. Neurodevelopment expert Roya Ostovar may have the answer.

Her book, "The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder," introduces the little-known developmental condition. Children with the disorder cannot properly process stimuli received through the senses. Because sensory processing disorder is just now gaining wider recognition outside specialized clinical circles, it can be difficult to diagnose and, therefore, treat. Not only does "The Ultimate Guide" thoroughly explain the condition and offer many real case examples, it lists detailed, situation-specific strategies for children and their families that can produce life-changing results.

Continue reading Medical Mystery Surrounding Highly-Sensitive Kids ... Solved?

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]]>autismAutism Spectrum Disorderbehavioral problemsdevelopmental disordermedical conditionoccupational therapyproperioceptive systempsychiatric disordersRoya Ostovarself-esteemsensory integration therapySPDMaureen ShellyWed, 25 Aug 2010 16:00:00 ESTNigeria Gets Its Own Version of 'Sesame Street'http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/nigeria-gets-its-own-version-of-sesame-street/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/nigeria-gets-its-own-version-of-sesame-street/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/nigeria-gets-its-own-version-of-sesame-street/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sesame Street television show now in Nigeria

Muppets Kami, left, and Zobi, are the two main characters in Nigeria's upcoming "Sesame Square." Credit: Sesame Workshop / AP


There are grouchy green creatures living in the trash cans. Children grow up alongside 7-foot-tall birds, cookie-addicted monsters and ambiguously gay couples (where one partner has a curious fixation on his rubber ducky).

The only cabbie in the entire country is a furry blue creature who won't shut up about yams. If he did, he might notice his cab doesn't even have a motor. His best friend is an HIV-infected orphan who also looks like the carpet of a Motel 6.

It takes all kinds. Especially on "Sesame Street," and if you thought New York was strange, wait until the show sets up shop in Nigeria.

Children throughout the world have grown accustomed to peaceful coexistence with Muppets. Somehow, living next to a Snuffleupagus doesn't seem that strange anymore, as many countries have their own versions of "Sesame Street" with their own unique characters.

Nigeria was not among them. Until now.

Continue reading Nigeria Gets Its Own Version of 'Sesame Street'

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]]>muppetsnigeriasesame squaresesame streetSesameSquareSesameStreetTom HendersonTue, 24 Aug 2010 16:37:00 ESTProposed California Law Would Criminalize Truancyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/20/proposed-california-law-would-criminalize-truancy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/20/proposed-california-law-would-criminalize-truancy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/20/proposed-california-law-would-criminalize-truancy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Truant kids drinking alcohol

It's all fun and games until the the truancy officer comes around. Credit: Getty Images

So, your kid skips class a few times a year. Maybe he's late a couple times a month. And, once in a while, he just bails on school altogether. Parents who think that's no big deal might have to reconsider if a proposed bill passes that could end up costing Mom and Dad thousands of dollars -- and even months behind bars.

The bill pending in the California Senate would make truancy a criminal misdemeanor, subjecting parents of "chronically truant" children to fines of up to $2,000 and jail time of as long as one year, reports the Oakland Tribune.

During the last school year, the Oakland, Calif., school district reported more than 5,000 children in kindergarten through eighth grade -- 18 percent of enrollment -- missed at least five full days of school without excused absences, the Tribune reports. And about 2,000 children missed 10 days or more, unexcused.

In Contra Costa County, Calif., 5,600 children in nine elementary school districts -- 22 percent of enrolled students -- had at least three tardies or unexcused absences during the 2008-2009 school session, the newspaper says.

Continue reading Proposed California Law Would Criminalize Truancy

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]]>educationschooltruancyHoney BerkFri, 20 Aug 2010 12:00:00 ESTThe Knife Under the Bed and Other Pregnancy Superstitionshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/the-knife-under-the-bed-and-other-pregnancy-superstitions/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/the-knife-under-the-bed-and-other-pregnancy-superstitions/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/13/the-knife-under-the-bed-and-other-pregnancy-superstitions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do pregnancy superstitions give you pause? Credit: Getty Images


If there's one thing a woman loses while pregnant (besides her waistline), it's any sense of control. Will it be a boy or a girl? Will my baby have 10 fingers and 10 toes? Will labor be easy or difficult? With so many unknowns out there, it's no wonder pregnancy and birth superstitions have proliferated for as long as they have.

Thanks to advancements in science and technology, some of these superstitions are losing their relevance. For example, moms-to-be no longer have to rely on dangling a wedding band over their bellies to determine their baby's sex. Sure, they may have had a 50/50 chance of being right, but ultrasound is much more accurate and DNA is, well, pretty hard to contest.

Did you know that one in 10 newborns are diagnosed with a vascular birthmark, those dark red or purplish marks more commonly known as strawberries, port-wine stains, stork bites or angel kisses? Before we had the science to explain that they are simply a mass of extra blood vessels in the skin, many cultures saw them as something sinister, referring to them as "the mark of the devil," while other societies explained away the unsightly marks by claiming the mother had indulged in red berries while pregnant.

Another medical phenomenon ancient cultures attempted to make sense of is the harelip, a colloquial name for cleft palate or cleft lip, which occur in approximately 1 per 500 to 700 births worldwide, according to Operation Smile. Ugandans believe if a pregnant woman sees an eclipse, her baby will have a harelip. In Mexico, harelips occur if she's out during a full moon and in China, if she eats rabbit.

Continue reading The Knife Under the Bed and Other Pregnancy Superstitions

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]]>birthbirthmarkbirthmarkscleft lipcleft palateCleftLipCleftPalatehareliphemangiomahemangiomaslabormythsMythsAndLegendspregnancystrawberriessuperstitionsuperstitionsvascularJulie Z. RosenbergFri, 13 Aug 2010 11:00:00 ESTIt's in the Bag: 10 Backpacks to Load Up on as Kids Head Back to Schoolhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/it-s-in-the-bag-10-backpacks-to-load-up-on-as-kids-head-back-to/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/it-s-in-the-bag-10-backpacks-to-load-up-on-as-kids-head-back-to/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/it-s-in-the-bag-10-backpacks-to-load-up-on-as-kids-head-back-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Books, laptops, notebooks, gym clothes, folders, binders ... chances are good your child will be loaded down with supplies when she heads back to school. And, parents, when it comes to hauling them, you better believe that no ordinary backpack will do.

Luckily, there are so many options available -- traditional, messenger, wheeled -- that kids from pre-K to college can find the perfect match. But, if all those choices are a little overwhelming, Peter Cobb, senior vice president of ebags.com, has some advice.

"Consider how much your student needs to carry," he tells ParentDish. "If it's just file folders and a few books, look for a school bag that is sized appropriately for the age of your child. If your middle schooler or high schooler is carrying a ton of weight, look for more capacity or a wheeled option. If your college student needs to be constantly connected, I'd look for a laptop bag that suits your student's style. That might be an outdoors brand such as The North Face, or an edgier bag from someone like Ogio."

Take time to let your student pick their pack -- they'll be using it practically every day, after all.

"Backpacks are great ways to carry everything you need from books to athletic gear for practice after school," Cobb says. "Messengers are great for books, a laptop and folders, as well."

To get you started, we found 10 styles for tots to teens that will send your kids packing in style.

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]]>back-to-schoolbackpacksebagsnorth faceNorthFaceLesley KennedyWed, 04 Aug 2010 15:00:00 ESTDoes Obesity Plus Diabetes Equal Learning Disability?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/does-obesity-plus-diabetes-equal-learning-disability/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/does-obesity-plus-diabetes-equal-learning-disability/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/04/does-obesity-plus-diabetes-equal-learning-disability/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Ever feel like everyone's picking on the fat kid?

Childhood obesity is such a national concern, with seemingly everyone -- including first lady Michelle Obama -- talking about it, that overweight kids must be getting tired of all the attention.

And now they're being told being fat could make them learning disabled.

Heaping an extra helping of bad news on their plates, WebMD reports being a chubby teen can lead to Type 2 diabetes which, in turn, can lead to a learning disability.

A study on the link between diabetes and learning was published online in Diabetologia.

Continue reading Does Obesity Plus Diabetes Equal Learning Disability?

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]]>childhood obesityChildhoodObesitydiabetesdiabetes and learningDiabetesAndLearninglearning disabilityLearningDisabilitymichelle obamaMichelleObamaTom HendersonWed, 04 Aug 2010 09:53:00 EST