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/Do You Pull Your Child Out of School for Family Vacations?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/do-you-pull-your-child-out-of-school-for-family-vacations/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/do-you-pull-your-child-out-of-school-for-family-vacations/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/do-you-pull-your-child-out-of-school-for-family-vacations/#commentsFiled under: ,

family vacation

Credit: Getty Images

Do you pull your child out of school for family vacations?

The Kansas City Star reports on a recent Travel Industry of America poll that found 16 million parents "let children miss school to gain travel experience." We're not talking about a lot of time -- according to the poll, "43 percent (of children) missed only one day and 29 percent missed only two days."

Eleven percent skipped school for skiing trips and other family vacations for more than a week.

Family vacations are great. But school is important. Do you let your child skip school for vacations?

Join the discussion on Facebook!

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]]>chatterboxfamily vacationfamily vacationsFamilyVacationFamilyVacationsschoolvacationvacationsBrett SingerMon, 21 Mar 2011 08:00:00 ESTYour Favorite Animals Coming to a Stage Near You: Madagascar Live!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/15/madagascar-live/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/15/madagascar-live/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/15/madagascar-live/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You're favorite zoo animals, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo, are coming to a city near you! Find out when the gang is in your neighborhood and go see Dreamworks' 'Madagascar Live!'

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]]>madagascar liveMadagascarLiveMary Kate BaumannTue, 15 Feb 2011 15:58:00 ESTValentine's Day Ideas: Date Night Plans for Parentshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/11/valentines-day-ideas/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/11/valentines-day-ideas/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/11/valentines-day-ideas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Valentine's Day ideas

Rekindle the romance with a date night in your living room. Credit: Getty Images

Another February 14th is rolling around and you've done the candle-lit dinner routine about a thousand times. You can't just jet off to Rome while the kids are in bed upstairs, but there are a few things you can do to spice up your Valentine's Day.

1. Make a carpet picnic: If you're still burried in two feet of snow like most of the country, an outdoor picnic is out of the question. So, move it inside!
  • Spread out on a blanket and surround it with lots of candles.
  • Make a heart-shaped pizza or choose another heart-shaped treat.
  • Select a recipe from a cookbook that you have never tried. Shop for the ingredients and prepare together.
  • Don't forget the wine!
2. Play truth or dare: Challenge your spouse to a game of truth or dare. Use this online truth or dare tool to find exciting ideas ranging from G to X rated!

3. Lock lips: Try to set your own kissing record and see if you can beat it next year. The longest recorded kiss was 33 hours, set by two men! If you get tired, feed each other some chocolates.

4. Get romantic: Make a playlist of all the loves songs that remind you of each other and listen to it while relaxing in front of a fire. Go through this list together and see how many you know. Or, take turns reading the best Valentine's Day poems to each other.

If you planned ahead, register to have a star named after your partner and try to locate it together. Cliche? Maybe. Romantic anyway? Definitely.

5. Taste test: Gather samples from this list of aphrodisiac foods. Take turns blindfolding each other, feeding each other, and guessing what you're being fed. If the kids wake up and walk in on you, just tell them you were playing hide-and-go-seek!

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]]>date nightdate night for new parentsevergreenloveromanceJessica SamakowFri, 11 Feb 2011 10:00:00 ESTBoo at the Zoohttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/boo-at-the-zoo/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/boo-at-the-zoo/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/boo-at-the-zoo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


New York City's famous Bronx Zoo holds "Boo at the Zoo" with Halloween spirited activities such as the "Haunted Safari Adventure," a heart-pounding "Lost Hayride," a costume parade and pumpkin carving. Nowhere near the Big Apple? Take a look at these pictures to see some of the scary, ghoulish, bloody scenes from "Boo at the Zoo."

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]]>boo at the zooBooAtTheZoohalloweenDamon DahlenFri, 29 Oct 2010 14:15:00 ESTHistoric Hudson Valley Halloweenhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/historic-hudson-valley-halloween/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/historic-hudson-valley-halloween/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/historic-hudson-valley-halloween/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This Halloween season, the Historic Hudson Valley in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., spookifies their attractions for Halloween lovers both young and old. A new haunted house, "Horseman's Hollow," joins a dramatic performance of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to bring classic Halloween tales and scares to life. Also, "The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze" will display over 4,000 hand-carved pumpkins lit throughout the wooded walkways, orchards, and gardens of historic Van Cortlandt Manor. Take a look through the pictures to get a glimpse of this massive pumpkin extravaganza.

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]]>halloweenlegend of sleepy hollowLegendOfSleepyHollowDamon DahlenFri, 29 Oct 2010 12:39:00 ESTToday's Riddle Me Thishttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/18/todays-riddle-me-this/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/18/todays-riddle-me-this/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/18/todays-riddle-me-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


A man took a walk outside for an hour under heavy rain on an open road without an umbrella or anything covering his head. Yet his hair didn't get wet. How could this be?

Click on this link for the answer.

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]]>Tom HendersonMon, 18 Oct 2010 06:00:00 ESTTake the Bite Out of Your Kid's Fear of Petshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/take-the-bite-out-of-your-kids-fear-of-pets/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/take-the-bite-out-of-your-kids-fear-of-pets/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/take-the-bite-out-of-your-kids-fear-of-pets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

child st. bernard dog picture

Help your kids overcome their fear of furry, four-legged creatures. Credit: Corbis

Here's another issue to give parents -- oh, we're saying it -- "paws": Lots of little ones are afraid of Fido.

However, since experts claim it's good for kids to be around dogs and other pets, it pays to help your children overcome their fears of the four-legged set.

"Your children's pets are much more than pals -- they can also teach them some valuable lessons about life," Cesar Millan, who has been called the Dr. Phil of pets, says on his website. Milan, who hosts National Geographic's popular TV series, "Dog Whisperer," says he believes it's good for all kids to grow up around dogs.

So, what's a parent to do if a child loses it at the sight of Lassie?

Heidi Ganahl, founder, president and CEO of Camp Bow Wow, one of the largest pet care franchises in North America, offers a five-step program to get kids physically and psychologically acclimated to animals.

"Let's face it: Animals can be scary to some children," Ganahl says in a release. "They make loud noises, jump and lick your face, which, to a child, can be traumatizing."

What's more, children need to be taught how to behave around dogs. Pulling tails and grabbing food or toys out of the dog's mouth are no-nos, she says. Here are her tips for helping kids face their animal fears:

1. Don't force contact. Forcing your child to pet an animal or insisting that a pet is harmless may only increase your child's fear. It's important to keep your child calm around the dog or cat. If they are forced to make contact it may only frighten your child (or the animal) even more.

2. Create story times. Read your child stories about happy pets and owners. Depending on your child's age, this can greatly impact how your child feels about dogs and cats.

3. Practice petting. Try showing your child how to properly act around pets with a stuffed animal. Show him or her how to gently pet and safely play with their furry friend. This makes for a lovable practice buddy that your child can feel more comfortable around.

4. Arrange play dates. Once your child stops fearing pets at a distance, it may be time to try introducing him or her to a friend or relative's dog or cat in doses.

5. Adopt a pet. Take your child to a pet adoption site, and try letting your child pick out a new pet. The excitement of having a pet of his or her choice may be the incentive needed to lose the fear.

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]]>children and petsChildrenAndPetsfamily petsFamilyPetspet fearsPetFearspetsMary Beth SammonsFri, 15 Oct 2010 12:14:00 ESTAre Some Halloween Costumes Too Scary?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/are-some-halloween-costumes-too-scary/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/are-some-halloween-costumes-too-scary/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/are-some-halloween-costumes-too-scary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

halloween costume picture

Leave the fake axes to the adults. Credit: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images




When my mother took me to see "Burnt Offerings" at the vulnerable age of 8 and "The Shining" at 12, instead of leaving the theater traumatized, I developed a healthy, even ravenous, taste for terror. And in accordance with my love for horror films, Halloween is my favorite holiday. Now that my kids are nearing that age range, I'd love to pass my passion onto them.

The costume search is perhaps the most exciting part of Halloween for my family and each year, we take delight in choosing costumes together. As the seasons have come and gone, my kids have dressed as The Cat in the Hat, Power Rangers, Mad-Eye Moody, Sam I Am and various witches and Star Wars characters.

But, these days, a trip through the Halloween costume section of any drugstore, mall, or website reveals something absolutely sinister. Even as a self-proclaimed terror junkie, I am appalled by some of the violent costume options that are hanging on the shelves for kids.

Co-mingling with colorful cowboys, benevolent ghosts and family-friendly TV characters are kid-sized costumes for sadistic murderers, knife-wielding rapists, and deformed homicidal lunatics. Most costumes are for children under 12, but in many cases, they shockingly also come in sizes 4-6.

To name a few: Michael Myers from "Halloween 1 and 2", Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Pinhead from the "Hellraiser" series, Jason from "Friday the 13th," and Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street" all come in kids' sizes. Just slapping an R rating on these films is like putting a surgeon general's warning on a hand grenade. Kids are likely to be drawn to these costumes and ignore the rating no matter how hard we as parents pull them in another direction.

The inappropriateness doesn't stop at the characters themselves. The costumes are accessorized with life-like bloody machetes, blood-stained knives, axes, chainsaws, severed limbs with bloody or bony ends, and other torture and murder toys.

Now, I am all for parents taking responsibility for teaching their kids good values, but when companies go out of their way to market patently inappropriate products to kids, it makes it that much harder for parents to instill and enforce these values.

And it's naive to think a kid would wear a movie-themed Halloween costume yet not be curious about the movie itself. Try to explain to your kid the difference between Leatherface and Bob the Builder. If kids in school are raving about how "cool" this Leatherface costume is, trying to convince your kid that what it represents is not-so-cool will send all kinds of mixed messages.

The real world is already saturated with violence; our kids don't need to be hosed down with it via Halloween costumes.

I admit that if my kids do develop cravings for creepy movies like I did, it may be my fault. But until then, there's plenty for them to sink their tiny teeth into, like R.L. Stine, Harry Potter and bowl after bowl of candy corn.

Joel Schwartzberg is a nationally-published essayist and author of "The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad"

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]]>halloweenhalloween costumesHalloweenCostumesJoel SchwartzbergTue, 12 Oct 2010 16:00:00 ESTHaunted Amusement Parks, Attractions Aim to Scarehttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/07/haunted-amusement-parks/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/07/haunted-amusement-parks/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/07/haunted-amusement-parks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Knott's Berry Farm haunted amusement park picture

Knott's Berry Farm shows their Halloween event in Buena Park, Calif. Credit: Knott's Berry Farm, AP

NEW YORK (AP) - If you're too old for trick-or-treating but still love getting spooked on Halloween, it's time to trade in the superhero costume for a ticket to a haunted house or theme park.

But attractions like Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and Atlanta's Netherworld Haunted House are not for the faint of heart. You'll be trapped in creepy mazes, disoriented by strobe lights and fog, and confronted by crazed monsters. Experiences like these are not recommended for kids under 13, but even some grown-ups may not be able to handle them. If watching a Stephen King movie keeps you up all night, or you're prone to panic attacks in small spaces, better stick to apple-picking or the child-friendly "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" at Walt Disney World.

On the other hand, if you love the tingle of terror that comes with a really creepy horror movie, this is your kind of fun.

David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, noted that a number of parks have added new elements to their Halloween events this year: "They're figuring out new ways to scare the daylights out of you."

Mandt said this year's Halloween offerings include a number of behind-the-scenes tours, including, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, "All-Access Insider," ''Eerie Insider" and "Monster Stomp Revamped Insider" tours for the park's Howl-O-Scream, http://www.howloscream.com. The tours include cast introductions, front-of-the-line access to a haunted house and a chance to have your makeup done like one of the performers.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, which was a real prison until 1971 and today is a National Historic Landmark, hosts an annual Halloween event called Terror Behind the Walls. The attraction also offers an after-dark VIP tour, where you get an hourlong flashlight-guided tour of cellblocks, including Al Capone's cell, isolation cells, and Death Row; http://www.terrorbehindthewalls.com.

Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park in Buena Park, Calif., boasts one of the oldest Halloween theme park events in the country, dating to 1973. when "it was a few decorations and a few employees putting on some masks," said spokeswoman Jennifer Blazey. The event, now called Knott's Berry Farm Haunt, has grown dramatically. This year it features 13 mazes (including "Terror of London" with foggy streets and Jack the Ripper), three "scare zones," 1,000 monster-actors, and seven live shows ranging from improv comedy to a hypnotist. While Knott's does not release attendance figures, Blazey said the month that the Haunt runs makes more money for the company than any other time of year.

And while Knott's does have a weekend daytime event for ages 3 to 11, with a costume party and trick-or-treating, the after-7 p.m. Haunt is for ages 13 and up; http://haunt.knotts.com/ for dates and tickets.

Universal Orlando in Florida began its Halloween attraction as "a tiny little experimental event with one haunted house over one weekend" in 1991, according to Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment. This year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the country are expected for the park's 20th annual Halloween Horror Nights, with eight haunted houses, six scare zones and 1,000 "scareactors" in the park. The content is newly created each year for the Horror Nights, with original story lines and characters. This year's characters include an evil master named Fear who drives all the other monsters' diabolical deeds. Details about the back stories in the park attractions can be found on Universal's website; fans can then see them come to life in the park.

Timon said the costumes, stories and sets are so rich, realistic and detailed that they are "film-quality. We could literally make our own new movies from these characters. The lighting, the special effects, the visuals - we do everything we can to suspend your disbelief and take away your illusion of control."

One of Universal's haunted houses this year is called Legendary Truth, an estate home with a history of murders that have resulted in paranormal activity. Timon said the house has an unusual set-up in which visitors trigger the special effects themselves. "People are used to us scaring them," he said. "When they are the ones triggering the effects by how they are interacting with the haunted house, that's even scarier. It's a cool trick when they eventually realize, 'I'm the one causing this.'"

A note to Harry Potter fans: Universal Orlando consists of two parks. Halloween Horror Nights takes place at Universal Studios Florida, not at its sister park, Islands of Adventure, where The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located.

Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in Los Angeles has its own Halloween Horror Nights, which are mostly themed on horror films like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Friday the 13th." For a new maze this year unrelated to the movies, Universal created an original graphic novella, "Vampyre: Castle of the Undead," which can be seen online. The park also created a new scare zone haunted by La Llorona, based on a Latin American legend of a crying woman who drowned her children in anger over her philandering husband.

Details and tickets for Universal parks on either coasts can be found at http://www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., is also counting two decades of Halloween events with the 20th season of "Fright Fest." The park's new "Saw Live" haunted house is themed on the "Saw" movie series, with props, characters and scenes from the films. For younger children, the park has spook-free zones. Details at http://bit.ly/cVcqyq.

Netherworld Haunted House in Atlanta - http://www.fearworld.com - ranks No. 1 on a list of top scariest attractions compiled by Larry Kirchner, editor of Hauntworld Magazine, an online industry publication. Netherworld promises that visitors will find themselves fleeing flying gargoyles, escaping from a house where the floors crack open and furniture comes to life, and trying to avoid capture by a mad scientist known as the Mangler, whose victims meet their fate in a drowning tank, flesh compactor and acid room.

"When you go through a haunted house on the level of Netherworld, you're totally immersed in an environment as detailed as a movie," Kirchner said.

But he added that there's a major difference between watching a movie and visiting a haunted house. "When you see a horror movie, you're sitting in a theater seat 100 feet away from a screen and nothing is going to shake your seat or fall in your face. In a haunted house, you're living in the horror movie," Kirchner said.

He added that part of what makes haunted houses so compelling is that they are also "unscripted live shows" that change every night depending on how the actors interact with guests, so no two visits will be exactly alike. The complete list of Kirchner's 13 favorite Halloween attractions is at http://www.hauntworld.com.

Another list of Halloween bests comes from Haunted Attraction Magazine, which lists "Must-See Haunted Houses" at http://www.hauntedattraction.com, starting with House of Shock in New Orleans. Others in the Haunted Attraction top 10 are Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Scarehouse in Pittsburgh; Dead Acres in Columbus, Ohio; House of Torment, Austin, Texas; Fear Itself, Mishawaka, Ind.; Dent School House, Cincinnati; Nightmare on 13th, Salt Lake City; Wisconsin Feargrounds, Waukesha, Wis.; and Blood Manor, New York City.

But how do the creators make these experiences so scary? Timon, from Universal, said one of the fundamentals at the Orlando park is disorientation. Strobe lights and ultraviolet lights dilate your eyes; maze-like corridors and darkness make it hard for you to figure out where you're going; mirrors make you think someone is next to you when they're actually some distance away.

"People are terrified of losing control," Timon said. "So we love taking away that control."

Another technique is distracting guests with an elaborate scene, like a gory body on a gurney. "You're focused on it because it's really elaborate, so you're not paying attention to the four people who are sneaking up on you," Timon said.

Just remember at all of these attractions, actors are trained to invade your space without ever touching or harming you, so you're always safe even when you're scared out of your wits.

It's terror "as a form of entertainment," said Timon. "People like the scare, but they know they're in a safe environment."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. This article was written by BETH J. HARPAZ, Associated Press Writer.

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]]>Associated PressThu, 07 Oct 2010 11:30:00 ESTOpinion: 'Imagination Playground' Lives Up to Its Namehttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/opinion-imagination-playground-lives-up-to-its-name/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/opinion-imagination-playground-lives-up-to-its-name/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/opinion-imagination-playground-lives-up-to-its-name/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


"Imagination Playground" at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan officially opened to the public this summer, with a press conference featuring New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- and a $7.5 million price tag.

The South Street Seaport has a long history as the city's maritime commerce center, dating back to the early 1800s. In 1983, through a city redevelopment initiative, the Seaport was opened to the public with dozens of shops and restaurants. Since then, it has grown into a major tourist area with a schedule of events and amenities that attract scores of visitors and locals to the area.

Imagination Playground was clearly built to honor and celebrate the area's rich maritime tradition, using design elements such as ship's masts and a crow's nest, and featuring water and sand as the two core play elements. It spans an entire city block, replacing a parking lot that had been used by one of the city agencies, which helped develop the project.

I heard of the plans for the playground about four years ago, when the concept was first announced by the city. Architect David Rockwell is well-respected and pretty well known in these parts, so the fact that he was turning his talents to design a playground for kids was certainly newsworthy.

Yet, when I read about the playground's opening and its hefty price tag, I have to admit I was outraged, as my thoughts turned to the battle of the budget fought this year by New York parents to ensure their kids still receive free transit cards for travel to and from school.

Continue reading Opinion: 'Imagination Playground' Lives Up to Its Name

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]]>new yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityplayplaygroundHoney BerkWed, 25 Aug 2010 17:00:00 ESTStylists Help Fill the Back-to-School Haircut Gaphttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/stylists-help-fill-the-back-to-school-haircut-gap/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/stylists-help-fill-the-back-to-school-haircut-gap/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/stylists-help-fill-the-back-to-school-haircut-gap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Back to school haircuts

Don't let Dad be the stylist. Credit: Corbis

Today, class, we study Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Maslow tells us all human beings have basic needs: There's air, food, water, sleep and ... spiffy haircuts?!

Maslow may have overlooked that last one, but researchers/stylists at the Hair Cuttery, the largest family-owned chain of hair salons in the country, know a basic human need when they see one.

The New Britain Herald in Connecticut reports these stylists live by a simple motto: "Every child, no matter what their economic situation is, deserves a back-to-school haircut."

So Hair Cuttery stylists throughout the country have donated more than 500,000 haircuts to returning students in the past 11 years.

Continue reading Stylists Help Fill the Back-to-School Haircut Gap

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]]>back to schoolBackToSchoolhair cutteryhaircutsHairCutterylow income programLowIncomeProgramTom HendersonMon, 02 Aug 2010 14:30:00 ESTBest Children's Hospitals: Top 3http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/01/best-childrens-hospitals-top-3/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/01/best-childrens-hospitals-top-3/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/01/best-childrens-hospitals-top-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Top three childrens hospitals

Check ranking to find the best facility for your child's needs. Credit: Getty Images


When your child is sick, only the very best care is good enough. So, we're highlighting the nation's top children's hospitals and their achievements in research, innovation and, most importantly, patient care. This is the first in the series on best children's hospitals in the United States.

Every year, more than 3 million children are hospitalized in the United States, and one in 10 children has a chronic illness that needs ongoing medical care. For these children and their parents, finding the right medical institution is key.
In recent years, a number of children's hospitals across the country have emerged as leaders in pediatric medicine, drawing patients from distant cities. Many of these pediatric centers have found niches in various specialized fields, ranging from diabetes to traumatic brain injury. As in many other industries, children's hospitals are surveyed and ranked by a handful of organizations that are widely known for providing these insights.

In the process of looking for the top children's hospitals in the country, we identified three leaders who emerged at the top of the list of the major organizations that rank America's best hospitals -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Hospital Boston and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. All have also received myriad other awards for excellence in children's hospitals.

Continue reading Best Children's Hospitals: Top 3

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]]>childrens-hospitalsMary Beth SammonsSun, 01 Aug 2010 23:00:00 ESTBetsey Johnson Unveils 'Eloise' Suite at the Plazahttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/30/betsey-johnson-unveils-eloise-suite-at-the-plaza/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/30/betsey-johnson-unveils-eloise-suite-at-the-plaza/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/30/betsey-johnson-unveils-eloise-suite-at-the-plaza/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Betsey Johnson designed the marvelous new "Eloise" suite. Credit: The Plaza


The new Eloise suite at The Plaza in New York City? Oh, it's rawther fabulous.

Designed by Betsey Johnson, the 18th floor suite features zebra-print carpet, pink-striped walls and a closet full of poufy skirts and other dress-up clothes. Hanging on the walls are original prints by "Eloise" illustrator Hilary Knight, and the pillow shams and chairs feature Johnson prints.

Oh, and in case you have an urgent room service request, there's a phone in the bathroom.

Johnson says she loves hanging out at The Plaza, so she was thrilled to be asked to design the suite.

"I just kind of live Eloise," Johnson tells ParentDish.

The designer says her granddaugthers Layla, 4, and Ella, 2, are Eloise fans, and they can't wait to stay in the new suite. As for Johnson, she says she loved designing the room and wants to do more home design.

Continue reading Betsey Johnson Unveils 'Eloise' Suite at the Plaza

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]]>betsey johnsonBetseyJohnsoneloiseplaza hotelPlazaHotelColleen EganFri, 30 Jul 2010 11:29:00 ESTTips for Planning a Family Summer Vacationhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/16/tips-for-planning-a-family-summer-vacation/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/16/tips-for-planning-a-family-summer-vacation/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/16/tips-for-planning-a-family-summer-vacation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Family Summer Vacation Disneyworld

Oh, Mickey, you're so fine! Credit: Raymond Brown, Flickr


You've kept the kids' summer schedule busy with trips to the pool, the movie theater and play dates all over town. But if you're ready to get out of town for a bit, it's not too late to plan a family vacation.

Here are some ParentDish tips for planning a family vacation that will be fun and maybe even a little bit relaxing.

Where to Go?

  • In case you hadn't heard, kids love this place in Orlando, Fla., called Disney World. It's referred to as the happiest place on Earth, and there's a reason for that. There's so much to do, you won't be able to get to all of it in one trip. But, as great as Disney World is, sometimes you want to do something else. For nine other ideas, check out AOL's list of the Top 10 U.S. Family Vacation Destinations.
  • If everyone has their passports in order and you're willing to venture to a country where, to paraphrase Steve Martin, they have a different word for everything, you could try Paris. You'll find the Eiffel Tower, great food and more museums than you ever knew existed. Or, you could do as the Jolie-Pitts do, and go somewhere really exotic, such as Cambodia.
  • If you want to stay stateside, and maybe save a few bucks, go the road-trip route. Here are some tips to stay sane while your entire brood is in the car with you.
  • If you think you can stand being trapped at sea with your children without throwing them or yourself overboard, consider a cruise. Make sure to factor in such things as what activities they have for kids the same age as yours, and whether they offer child care for when you want to hit the midnight buffet.

Continue reading Tips for Planning a Family Summer Vacation

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]]>disney-worldevergreenfamily vacation spotsfamily vacationsroad-tripsvacationBrett SingerFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 ESTTLC's 'Table for 12' Hayes Family Prepares for a Puppyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



When you have two sets of twins and a set of sextuplets like Betty and Eric Hayes of TLC's "Table for 12," you have a pretty full house. Not full enough, apparently. Check out this clip of the Hayes brood stocking up on supplies to prepare for their new puppy! The new special, "Table for 12: Hayes Get a Puppy," airs tonight at 10 pm on TLC.

Related: Jon Gosselin Gets Huge Dragon Tattoo to Symbolize His 'Rebirth'

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]]>table for 12TableFor12the editors at ParentDishTue, 06 Jul 2010 10:49:00 ESTHow to Play: Jump Rope Water Splashhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/30/jump-rope-water-splash-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/30/jump-rope-water-splash-game/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/30/jump-rope-water-splash-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jump rope without spilling any water. Credit: Corbis


What you need: You need a jump rope, plastic cups, and water.

How to play: Give each child a cup filled with water. Designate two people to swing the jump rope.

The rules: One at a time, players attempt to jump the rope three times while holding their cup of water, trying not to let any water spill.

How to win: The player with the most water left in her cup is the winner.

What else you need to know: You can keep playing this game until only one player has water left in her cup.

Related: More Kids' Games

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]]>jump rope water splashJumpRopeWaterSplashoutdoor gamesOutdoorGameswater gamesWaterGamesSally WorshamWed, 30 Jun 2010 07:00:00 ESTRiding the Rails: Backpack Through Europe With the Kidshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/23/riding-the-rails-backpack-through-europe-with-the-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/23/riding-the-rails-backpack-through-europe-with-the-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/23/riding-the-rails-backpack-through-europe-with-the-kids/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Victoria Station London

Follow some simple guidelines and take the kids across Europe by train this summer. Credit: markhillary, Flickr


You did it after college, when you were sowing your wild oats. Now, you have a family, but that shouldn't stop you from taking your brood with you to ride the rails and explore Europe with a backpack on your shoulders.

That's what Lisa Bentley and her husband, Greg, did five years ago when their daughters, Zoe and Teagan, were 8 and 4 years old. The family traveled by rail and bus all across Europe for a month, and Bentley says backpacking -- rather than staying in pre-booked hotels and flying from place to place -- made it economically feasible to do so.

"Greg and I had always wanted to go to Europe, and backpacking seemed like it would be the easiest, since we wouldn't have to haul a lot of luggage and we'd be free to get up and go if we weren't happy with where we were," the Sahuarita, Ariz. mom of two says.

Continue reading Riding the Rails: Backpack Through Europe With the Kids

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]]>backpack with kidsbackpackingbackpacking in europebackpacking through europeBackpackingInEuropeBackpackingThroughEuropeBackpackWithKidseurpoe with kidsEurpoeWithKidstravel tips backpackingtravel tips kidstravel with kidsTravelTipsBackpackingTravelTipsKidsTravelWithKidsAmy HatchWed, 23 Jun 2010 09:00:00 ESTNot Your Ordinary Summer: Taking A Family Adventure Vacationhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/22/not-your-ordinary-summer-vacation-adventurous-family-travel-opt/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/22/not-your-ordinary-summer-vacation-adventurous-family-travel-opt/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/22/not-your-ordinary-summer-vacation-adventurous-family-travel-opt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Family Adventure Vacation

Looking for an adventure vacation, but scared to take your kids? Relax. It can be done. Credit: Joshua Berman


Leora Rothschild has been booking safari adventures for families since 1998, but this is the first time she's going to the bush with her own child.

"From age 4 on up is a great time to start taking kids on safari," says Rothschild, founder of Rothschild Safaris, a boutique travel agency located in Denver, and a 20-year safari veteran. "You just have to be really mindful about where you are going to stay, like making sure you stay in a camp that has a swimming pool, or one that will provide downtime so you aren't sitting in a vehicle in the bush all day."

If searching for wild game in the wilds of Africa with your 4-year-old sounds like an ideal summer vacation, you're not alone. Adventure travel for families is a growing trend, and even big names such as Disney and American Express are offering packages that include exotic locales like Asia, Africa and South America, geared specifically for parents traveling with their children.

Continue reading Not Your Ordinary Summer: Taking A Family Adventure Vacation

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]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelchildren vacations experienceChildrenVacationsExperiencekids travelKidsTravelPeru travel kidsPeruTravelKidsSafarisafari with kidsSafariWithKidssummer travalsummer vacationsSummerTravalSummerVacationstravel kidstravel with kidsTravelKidsTravelWithKidsvacations with kidsVacationsWithKidsvolunteer vacationVolunteerVacationvoluntourismAmy HatchTue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:00 ESTHow to Make the Most of Your Next 'Staycation'http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/07/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-next-staycation/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/07/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-next-staycation/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/06/07/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-next-staycation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Staycation go to the zoo

Visit a local zoo on your next "staycation." Credit: Getty Images

Maybe money is tight or you're short on time, or you just want to stay at home during your next vacation. It's still possible to plan a fun and memorable time.

When planning a "staycation," travel experts recommend turning to an unexpected source -- your kids. Children often have great ideas about what might make a fun family outing, says Eileen Ogintz, travel writer and editor of takingthekids.com.

"Let the kids do the heavy lifting with planning," she tells ParentDish. "You'll probably be amazed at what they come up with."

Continue reading How to Make the Most of Your Next 'Staycation'

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]]>evergreenstaycation-ideasstaycationsvacationMelissa Kossler DuttonMon, 07 Jun 2010 16:00:00 ESTHelp Kids Cope With the Stress of Movinghttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/31/help-kids-cope-with-the-stress-of-moving/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/31/help-kids-cope-with-the-stress-of-moving/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/31/help-kids-cope-with-the-stress-of-moving/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Moving stressfull even for kids

Moving day doesn't have to be a bad experience for kids. Credit: Ken Wramton, Getty Images


Moving. The word can send shivers down the spine of even the most organized parent.

But what about your kids? As rough as it is on you, it might be even worse for them. Leaving friends behind, starting over at a new school and all those weird noises the new house makes at night? What to do?

Susan Stiffelman, ParentDish's own Advice Mama, thinks much of the burden falls on the parents.

"A child's ability to cope with the disruption and adjustment that a move requires [is tied to] their parent's stress level," she says. "Ultimately, [parents] are the anchor for a child."

So, what can mom and dad do to lower their own stress levels, and thereby their kids' stress, as well?

Continue reading Help Kids Cope With the Stress of Moving

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]]>adviceevergreenkids and movingKidsAndMovingmovingmoving with babiesmoving with kidsMovingWithBabiesMovingWithKidsBrett SingerMon, 31 May 2010 16:00:00 EST