December 2009

  • 10 Parenting Resolutions for 2010

    By sarajean on 12/30/09 11:27am
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    10. Stop Yelling

    It doesn’t do you any good—or them any good. Yes, it’s almost an automatic response to stress; but think of the stress you’ll be busting by slowing down, counting to ten, taking a breath, and then moving on with the day. Plus, you’ll be teaching your children some prime stress relief techniques.

    9. Read More

    Experts recommend reading to your children for 20 minutes a day, but how many of us actually do that? And if you already do, there’s no time limit rule that says you have to stop at 20 minutes either; if you’re having fun, keep reading! Be sure to read on your own so your children see you reading as an example—and so you can enjoy “grown up” books, too.

    8. Cook More

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  • December is Safe Toys Month

    By sarajean on 12/29/09 12:38am
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    Honestly, I think we may have gone a little toy safety crazy in our country. It’s one thing to use common sense—cover electrical outlets, don’t let infants play with marbles, that sort of thing. It’s quite another to recall all blinds ever because they pose a risk we’ve known about since, oh, the invention of blinds. I fully expect butter knives and Gillette razors to be recalled due to safety hazards soon, at this rate.

    That said, I think we need to approach toy safety in a different manner than we’ve been doing. We think about toy safety as whether an object can physically harm a child, right? What about the entire emotional and social contexts of a toy?

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  • Christmas Nightmares and Their Cures

    By sarajean on 12/23/09 5:42pm
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    Visions of screaming toddlers prancing in your head in place of sugar plums? Here are a few nightmares of Christmas you may be having this year—and a quick fix for each.

    The Last-Minute Holiday Party at School

    You’ve got your shopping done, your budget barely met, and suddenly it’s announced that your child’s class is having a party. Don’t panic; there are plenty of things you can do. If a gift exchange is required, simply re-gift a gently used toy or book that your child hasn’t found much interest in—or toss a few unused art supplies you have laying around into a cute cup. For treats, bake something quick and easy; if your school doesn’t allow homemade treats, buy a quick bag of Santa chocolates for a buck or two.

    The Last Minute Work Party

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  • Snowbound Essentials

    By sarajean on 12/23/09 2:05am
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    It’s that time of the year again—when your carpets get soggy and cold, little boot prints litter the kitchen floor, and chilled red noses are as commonplace as the everyday shirt stain. Yes, it’s time for snow days!

    Whether you love or hate them, it’s good to be prepared for when Jack Frost decided to keep your kiddos—and you—snowbound for the day—or the week! Here’s a list of things you might want to keep on hand for your next snow day.

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  • Writing Letters to Santa

    By sarajean on 12/15/09 8:08pm
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    Think it’s too late to write Santa? Think again! We’re in the technological age, friends; we can send Santa letters faster than you can say ho, ho, ho. If you and your child haven’t sent Santa his letter yet, don’t despair. Fortunately, you have several options right at your fingertips.

    Write back yourself. I did this for the first few years since my little girl was too young to know better. It also allowed me to customize the letter and decorate it myself. You can be as creative as you want, make it very personal, and even add borders, glitter, whatever you’d like.

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  • Deenie

    By akgoemans on 12/15/09 1:59am
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    DeenieDeenie
    Deenie by Judy Blume is just like all her other books; insightful and realistic. And, as is typical of her works, she is able to reach out to younger readers where the kids feel like she does understand their pain. In this way, the topics she covered were ones that kids often wonder about. Deenie stays true to her style of writing; in this case, she talks about an overbearing mother and how her daughters are affected by her expectations. 


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  • Let It Snow (Even When It Won't)

    By sarajean on 12/14/09 12:11am
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    Dreaming of a White Christmas? Me too. Every year, in fact; it seems that, though I’m in the Midwest, it never snows on Christmas Day in our area anymore, leaving the childhood memories I have of running out to sled and make snow angels pretty hard to repeat with my own child.

    Pretty hard, sure—but not impossible. If you’re longing for some snow this season and Jack Frost hasn’t paid a visit just yet, here are a few ideas to help provide some snowy goodness for your family.

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  • CBS Goes Too Far With Inappropriate Frosty Videos and Has Parents Outraged

    By Niki Fears on 12/4/09 1:11pm
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    CBS's Frosty the Inappropriate SnowmanCBS's Frosty the Inappropriate SnowmanA current ad campaign for the two well known and beloved children's Christmas classics, Frosty The Snowman and Frosty Returns that is being pushed by the CBS network has many parents and other groups outraged for its voiced over content, and rightly so.

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