Family Time

1991, the Wiggles released their first album and the monochromatic Aussie quartet became that decade's megastars of children's music. Almost two decades later, they're still at it, having just put out their, oh, let's say 300th CD, Hot Poppin' Popcorn. But children's music has changed a whole lot in the past 20 years -- assuming that success back then will lead to success today is like assuming Alta Vista is still a go-to search engine. Let's see how the new Wiggles album sounds and compare it to some other new releases (a couple of which are fantastic).


The Wiggles: Hot Poppin' Popcorn
If you're anything like me, you find calliope-style organ tooting to be one of the most grating sounds capable of being presented in tune form. And there's a lot of it on this circus-themed album. The organ overload may not be typical of all Wiggles music. Still, it actually manages to make Hot Poppin' Popcorn sound even more traditional than the Wiggles usually do. Among those old-school songs, though, there are a couple of (non-organ) gems, like "Murray's Guitar Saved the World," which is a great, way more modern tune. But the Wiggles are more than just musicians -- they're characters; they don't just record CDs--they put together production number-studded shows. And when you play the disc for a three-year-old (which I did), you see that kid dance with a big smile on his face. So while the Wiggles may not excite today's hip music-savvy parents, they still know how to reach kids. More power to 'em.
Where are they in relation to everyone else: Let's put the Wiggles squarely in the middle of the modern kids' music spectrum, with bands to the left being more traditional (think "Wheels on the Bus") and bands to the right being more hip and contemporary.

Here is a look at what's new this week in family entertainment as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media. Click on the links to read the reviews in full.

In Theaters Now: She's Out of My League
A movie about valuing a person for what's on the inside, "She's Out of My League" spends most of its time doing just the opposite. As a nerdy guy with a dead-end job tries to win the heart of a gorgeous girl, everyone learns a valuable lesson about honesty and being true to oneself. Vulgar humor and sexual situations make it inappropriate for kids. Rated R, Iffy for Kids 15-17


DVD: Bandslam
A more realistic take on the high school musical, "Bandslam" deals with mature themes including bullying, absent and ill parents and the quest for acceptance. The story follows three very different kids as they forge unlikely friendships on the way to a high school music competition. With mild language and very little flirting, it's an appropriate pick for tweens as well as teens. Rated PG, OK for Kids 10+

TV: Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty
"Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty" is a VH1 reality series that explores the beauty secrets of women around the world. Simpson, her best friend and her hair stylist travel the globe to get an up-close look at how different cultures define what is attractive. The information is interesting but ultimately works to perpetuate the idea that beauty is only skin deep. Rated TV-PG, OK for Kids 12+

You want to be very careful when you go on an airplane trip with children.

Remember the famous case of the McCallister family in 1990? In the rush of the family leaving for Paris, a young Macaulay Culkin was forgotten and left "Home Alone." We all had to endure three sequels before that nightmare was finally over.

The Web site travelingwithkids.com has a checklist for the bazillion things you need to remember before you go flying with little ones. A whole three months ahead of time, the site recommends you do everything from visit the travel agent with your child to check with the airlines on their car seat and sky cot policies.

Then, a month before you take off, the site suggests you find a container and create an in-flight first aid kit. Of course, the kit can't contain much more than Band-Aids. Airport security won't allow you to take any of the usual contents of a first aid kit on board, such as tubes of lotion or tiny scissors.

Can a two-year-old choose an NCAA bracket better than a seasoned sports reporter?

NBC Chicago sports reporter Paula Faris decided to challenge her daughter Caroline to a bracket throwndown.



Here's a sample of their intense selection strategy discussion:

Paula: "Georgetown or Iowa, honey?"

Caroline: "Daddy!"

In the Robert Morris-Villanova match-up, Paula picked Villanova, the two seed, and Caroline went with the underdog. Mom was right, but it looks like neither of them predicted that Ohio University would upset Georgetown.

Related: Grown-up Reporter Dunks on Little Lad and Makes Him Cry

LilSugar: We would all say that we wash our hands after using the restroom, but in this survey, 52 percent responded that it's impossible to wash your hands after every diaper change.

AlphaMom: Much like diaper bags have gone from clunky to chic, now there's a camera bag that looks like a haute handbag.

RedPillParents: Michelle Obama speaks to the Grocery Manufacturers of America about use of unhealthy ingredients and marketing practices. She encourages them to speed up the introduction of more healthful products in the race again food-triggered disease.

HybridMom: How do you detox your body? We already know that we should avoid junk food and chemicals, but did you know that you should drink warm water in the morning? Here are 6 tips you can do at home.

CafeMom: When your spouse works long hours or travels for days at a time it can feel like its all up to you. If your home is like this, it can help to have a new and interesting perspective in this new column: Welcome to the Life of a Sometimes Single Mom.

MomLogic: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is in theaters this Friday, but there's been a long history of wimpy kids in movies. Check out some favorites.

Related: Will a Namesake Bring Back Bad Memories?

The lure of a cute little puppy. It is a weakness that many animal lovers have succumbed to. And now it's being used as bait for a variation of the time-tested advance-payment scam.

Animal lovers beware: the Oregon Attorney General's office is warning about this scam after it surfaced in that state. The ASPCA has a page dedicated to educating people about avoiding this kind of scam.

Here's how it works. The scammer places an ad for a puppy (or a purebred dog) that needs a home. The ad says the dog is free to whomever can give it a good home. Then comes the catch. Once the contact is made, the person who supposedly has the dog requests that money be wired to cover the transportation costs of safely getting the puppy to its new home.

To read more about this scam and other challenges consumers face, visit the Consumer Ally page on our sister site WalletPop.com.

Related: Puppy Saves Toddler's Life

For those times when your restaurant of choice doesn't happen to be one with coloring-book placemats, rely on 9SpotMonk's cool bring-your-own version to keep the kids occupied. With well-designed illustrations of sushi and space travel, among others, there's no need to feel embarrassed whipping them out at the hip new local eatery. Your fellow diners will thank you.

Available for $14 (for a set of 24 placemats and three crayons) at 9spotmonk.com.

What you need: Construction paper, aluminum foil and/or chocolate coins.

How to play: Cut circles out of construction paper and decorate to look like coins -- you will need around five coins per player. Then, select two or three coins to be gold or silver. If you go with silver, just wrap these in aluminum foil to look shiny. You can also use chocolate coins for gold coins. Select an area or room in which to hide the coins for your game. Depending on age, it can be easy or difficult; however, you want to make your gold or silver coins the hardest to find.

The rules: Tell the players the story of Leprechaun Willy who was visiting this morning and shared a tale of woe. He was out the other day with his Pot of Gold when he was distracted by a rainbow. Leprechaun Willy wanted to see the rainbow, so he put his Pot of Gold down to get a better look. While Willy was away, some squirrels came upon his Pot of Gold and thought the coins in his pot were nuts, so they took the coins and hid them. When Willy returned, he was shocked to see someone took all his gold and silver coins. Willy has been searching for his coins all day, but has yet to find them. Ask the kids if they would like to help Willy find his coins, tell them that you remember seeing Willy in the room where you hid the coins, and that Willy mentioned he lost a lot of them -- a few were even gold (or silver). Willy is willing to give a prize to whoever finds the most coins.

How to win: The player who finds the gold or silver coins is the winner.

Related: How to Play: Leprechaun, Leprechaun, Where Is Your Shamrock?

What you need: Music, a room with four corners, a hat or box and two copies of four St. Patrick's Day-themed images, such as an Irish flag, a leprechaun, a gold coin and a four leaf clover.

How to play: Place one St. Patrick's Day image in each of the four corners of the room. Then, let the players know that when the music plays, they can move around. However, once the music stops, they need to proceed to one of the four corners. Once the players have selected a corner, the music operator pulls out an image from a hat and those players standing in that corner are eliminated from the game. Then, start the music back up, mingle and repeat the process.

The rules: The St. Patrick's Day image you pulled from the hat is returned before the music starts again, so this game can have as many rounds as necessary.

How to win: The last player remaining is the winner.

Related: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

What you need: A group of children and a cut-out paper shamrock.

How to play: The children sit in a circle, and one child is chosen to be the leprechaun who sits in the middle with his or her eyes closed. One of the children in the circle gets the shamrock and hides it behind his or her back. The children in the circle say, "Leprechaun, Leprechaun, where is your shamrock? Somebody has it in his pocket! Guess who? Maybe you? Maybe a monkey from the zoo? Come on, Leprechaun, find your shamrock!" The leprechaun opens his or her eyes and gets three guesses to discover who has the shamrock. Whoever has the shamrock becomes the next leprechaun.

The rules: An adult should hand out the shamrock to be sure everyone gets a turn.

How to win: Correctly guess who has the shamrock.
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St. Patrick's Day, traditionally celebrated on the religious feast day of St. Patrick, isn't just about green beer and parties. It is an Irish holiday that has been observed in that country for more than 1,000 years.

What is St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day typically falls during the Christian season of Lent, according to History.com, and on this day Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate the Irish saint's feast day and the anniversary of his death, which occurred in the fifth century. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and legend tells that he banished all the snakes from that country. Lenten traditions prohibiting the consumption of meat were lifted on this day and people would drink, dance and eat a traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

When is St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, the anniversary of the Irish saint's death. It is also his feast day on the Christian religious calendar.

Baking with the kids is a time-honored tradition, but the new kits from Zebra Mix take things a step further, putting junior chefs at the center of the process, and even letting them run the show. Each set -- choose cupcakes, brownies, or various cookies--comes with all the dry ingredients, easy visual instructions, and activities that will enhance their understanding of kitchen magic.

Available from $6 at zebramix.com.

Schools nationwide are overhauling recess programs and hiring coaches to supervise playtime in an effort to address issues with bullying, behavior problems and childhood obesity, The New York Times reports.

Playworks, a California-based nonprofit organization that was awarded an $18 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has placed coaches in 170 schools in low-income areas of nine cities, including Boston, Washington and Los Angeles, The Times reports. Schools pay Playworks $23,500 a year to run a recess program.

In January, Brandi Parker was hired by Playworks to be a recess coach at Broadway Elementary School in Newark, N.J. Since then, disciplinary referrals at recess have dropped by three-quarters, and injuries have been reduced.

"Before, I was seeing nosebleeds, busted lips, and students being a danger to themselves and others," Broadway principal Alejandro Echevarria tells The Times. "Now, Coach Brandi does miracles with 20 cones and three handballs."

LilSugar: There are six prime-time series that are too good to miss. Check out why these shows and their maternal characters are a must-see! Six Television Shows With Incredible Mom Characters.

CafeMom: Looking for some ideas for St. Patrick's Day crafts and treats for your toddler? How about treating your little leprechaun to a tasty emerald pot of gold?

Hybrid Mom: Staying organized can be a challenge. Here are some interesting organizational tips from 15 different Moms. Perhaps it's as simple as going paper-free or a new app for your phone: 15 Secrets Mom's Use to get Organized.