Blogs & Tips

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has a website devoted to promoting emergency readiness.  The site includes a section for older kids, that includes tips on how to talk about plans for the family, lists

Click the link, sit back for 3 or 4 minutes, and see a gorgeous video of every state in America showing off its best side. This is a beautiful way to "travel" the country from home, and to show the kids

Lean Cuisine is selling beautiful insulated lunch totes for $10, and $5 goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can buy them online at http://www.leancuisine.com/Komen2007/Index.aspx.  Plus, it encourages

Especially during holiday shopping season, be ready and protect yourself from consumer fraud, identity theft and online scams. Such activities occur when a company or person specifically fools customers into buying

When I first had my twins, I used to have the hardest time burping them, it was next to impossible. They were very collicky, and would fuss around until I would cave and give them back their bottle. Then after

Pay homage to your favorite writer, and dress up your walls at the same time. Inspire creativity around your home by decorating it with Wall Words press-on letters and phrases. As of late, more and more homeowners

Group B strep is a bacteria that can come and go naturally in your body, but which can be detrimental to your baby if you are not treated. An antiobiotic can be given to a woman while she is in labor but not before

Girls and Boys Town has some nice advice for putting your child in time out. It's served as a nice reminder to me. Here's the quick and dirty (there's an expanded version on their web site): Choose

allow your child to help you decorate his or her room.  it's their space so it let it be their way.  paint the walls with washable paint or cover them with plain, thick white paper and let them have

it's always a good idea to let your child have a pet of some kind.  even a goldfish teaches your child responsibility and how to care for something.  when you decide to take this step do some research. 

Ditch your paper towels for microfiber cloths. The cloths are handy for cleaning glass windows and other surfaces. You can use them to wipe down wood tables and they are also a wonder for drying steel pots and bowls

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released two new reports with recommendations for identifying and managing Autism. The reports are published in the November issue of Pediatrics; they were released Monday

As the holidays approach and we begin snapping away at all those cute little kiddies....don't forget to back up your data. I have learned from experience! I have read several stats and articles stating

Does your lipstick have lead in it?  Does your cleanser have chemicals that are known to cause reproductive issues?  Look up all and any of your cosmetics to ensure their safety rating.  My make-up

I've seen tons of articles out there on the children's cold medicine "ban," but this Q&A from the Washington Post answers tons of questions - some I had not even thought to ask!  Check

When we were trying to get our child to give up the pacifier, we would just give it to her at nighttime.  She was about 18 months, I believe, and was able to understand the idea that the pacifier stayed in

When my child, or other children I have worked with start having a tantrum or start displaying an unwanted behavior that they are unwilling to stop after being asked, I do the following:  I look at the child

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but lots of parents are so busy and stressed out, even simple things get overlooked. Every November 1st we tape a piece of paper up somewhere in the kitchen, and every day each family

Family tree projects are popular grade-school activities, but they can be difficult for kids from adoptive or foster families, as traditional family trees don’t accurately portray these types of families

Good news for all parents! The American Academy of Pediatrics will be releasing two new reports calling for the early screening of autism (for all children) as well as what symptoms to look for in your child

Express Your Gratitude with a Toast Raise your glass this Thanksgiving while reciting one of the gratitude quotes cataloged at Bartleby.com. Or start a yearly tradition and share a passage from The Thanksgiving

This website from the MA DOER has some great winter heating tips that will save you money. Tips include: Oil Heat Contract Tips Oil Heat Maintenance & Energy Conservation Tips Tips for Insulating your

My girls love to recycle! So this article on 10 easy ways to help the environment has been great! Check out the very easy list to follow - if we all do our part we can make a difference!

KidsHealth in the Classroom is geared for teachers but parents will find amazing resources on here, too.   This site devoted to kids of all ages and their health - a great site!

I found this article to be very helpful for some friends of mine.  This Q&A in regards to helping cope with the stress of divorced families and the holidays is valuable information for anyone. 

We have tons of kids puzzles and before we got one of these puzzle storage cases, they were everywhere. Now we have two of these and the kids know just where to put the puzzles back - and fewer lost pieces! Each

Doctors recommend examining your breasts monthly for lumps or signs of breast cancer. It's a good idea to check your breasts a week after your period starts, when they are less likely to be tender and swollen

Parents should play video games with their children from time to time. Not just video games, but also all other types of friendly competitive games and sports. Three great things can happen if the parent uses

Explore the tax deductions you are entitled to at the IRS website. For instance, did you know that you can claim your elderly parent as a dependent? Your parent must have an income below a certain level, as determined

Want to get the best price on your next purchase? Make all your product comparisons at Pricegrabber.com. Many consumers are relying on this website to save them time and money. So, forego shopping around from store

Check yourself on this quick quiz and see if you have proper cell phone ettiquette-remember, you can't criticize others (a fun pasttime) if you're guilty of the same crimes!!

Don't buy a calendar this year. Edhelper.com is a website for teachers with a membership fee, but lots of free stuff for non-members too. Every month for years I've been printing out a calendar for my classroom

 Parenting Magazine has a helpful article: Smart Answers to Kids' Sex Questions. Talking with Kids about Tough Issues: from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now offer practical tips for talking

My little boy had to be the gassiest kid in Texas, so I thought I'd pass on these tips to other moms! If the baby is arching his back and refuses to nurse, try burping him, even if he's only been eating

I just had dinner with a friend and her 10 week old baby.  He was really fussy and has not developed good sleep habits yet, and my friend and I were talking about some of the reasons that might be...that led

The EPA Website is another great resource for families, especially those wanting more information about local air pollution. They have an educational section for kids that allows you to download a Happy Earth Coloring

Working mother is not only a great magazine, their website is a great resource for all moms. I always enjoy reviewing their 100 Best companies list and find their links, articles and tips very practical and relevant

This site compares recent heating oil prices for you.  The prices are a few days old in most cases, but you can get a sense of what places might have the cheapest oil before you call.  The only drawback

Our very own Flowergirl on FZ posted great safety tips for Halloween a little while back and thought I would add this link also!  I'm always visiting the American Academy of Pediatrics website

A friend participates in the Book Swim Beta, this site loans out books like NetFlix loans out movies.  For a monthly fee, you're able to get books in the mail to read and just send them

Check out Kaboose's Halloween safety tips. It never hurts to check out what we think we already know!

Growing Child offers developmentally specific newsletter that are geared towards parents. I loved receiving this newsletter from my child's preschool last year and have since sought it out myself since she no

At this site, you will find more ways to decorate your ordinary candles. I make interesting candlescapes by decorating candles with scrapbooking embellishments, tacks and buttons. To insert a push-pin, brad or

Baby Zone is a resourceful little site that provides tips and tools for both parents and parents-to-be. This site has an abundant amount of information including a fun little Gender Predictor quiz and pregnancy

There is a wealth of adoption information at Adoptive Families. You can access articles on many topics, which range from information on different programs to parenting issues. Some of the topics include attachment

If you're frantically looking for some Halloween themed snacks, crafts for the class party, or even costume ideas, check out Mahalo's Halloween page. Mahalo is "a human-powered search engine that creates

This article from the New York Times is an excellent Q&A in regards to the scary situation going on with drug resistant staph infections. 

Target is the last place I would think to look for party invitations, but I was looking at their selection recently and was really impressed with the variety and quality of the invitations and thank you notes

Here's a great barter community that I came across while surfing the web: www.kizoodle.com. Do you have a lot of kid's clothing, toys, or miscellanous items that are no longer useful to you? Trade them for

Although I can control the quality of the foods I’ll be serving at home, I can’t control what will be doled out by the neighbors.  Here are some tips on how you can make your treats a little less