Pet Peeves: Children Sticking Hands in My Dog's Face! My friend passed along this frustrating tale of walking her dog in Brooklyn over the weekend, and I wanted to share her story with you and get your take on the right and wrong . . . and the best solution.
I adore wall decals because they are a fun, but semipermanent decoration option that kids and adults can both love. (Unlike say, crayon murals all over the walls!) Etsy seller Lunule sells these imaginative wall art installations made from hand-cut vinyl for about $25.
She designed her first decal for her daughter's room and later included the patterns in the book Making Stuff For Kids. Apparently, so many people commented on the decals that she expanded the series. And the best part? She accepts special requests!
The only tools you will need for application are a pencil, level to make sure they are straight, and a squeegee.
Kid Friendly iPhone App: Scribble I can't stress enough how fantastic iPhones are when you've got kids that need to be kept busy (aka distracted!). You can pull up either downloaded movies or TV clips from YouTube, and you can even exercise the right sides of their brains with a wonderful app called Scribble!
As a kid, I would have given most anything for a four-day school week. More weekend time to play with friends and avoid homework would have been heavenly, though it would have meant missing out on the social interaction that the schoolhouse often provided. If the economy stays on the current track (sigh), youngsters all over may be cheering for joy.
As gas, energy, and food prices reach record highs, school districts are scrambling to come up with solutions to save money. Quick to the top of the agenda: cutting the school week by one day. As many government offices have already downsized their work weeks to four days, schools are following suit. Administrations are hoping that the snipped school week will decrease spending while improving attendance and performance for students.
To learn what other schools are considering, read more
Gail Martin was about to order lunch with her two daughters at a cafe in South Carolina when one of them started crying. A police chief who happened to be in the restaurant yelled: "You need to take that screaming child outta here now!" The upset four-year-old is autistic, and Gail is now demanding an apology from the police chief, who she says embarrassed her whole family. According to this video, the officer knew the child was autistic when he asked them to leave. Gail is hoping her story will bring more awareness to autism around the country. This report comes just a month after a mother and her autistic two-year-old were escorted off an American Airlines flight in North Carolina.
Traveling with kids is never a picnic, but it gives birth to some of the best family memories. Even if you're not jetsetting around the world like the Jolie-Pitts, you should still plan ahead and take a few packing shortcuts that will make your trip more spectacular.
To see my favorite quick tips, check out this slideshow.
Dealing with lice can be a hair-raising experience, but parents often differ on the method to get rid of them. Some moms and dads swear by the traditional over-the-counter shampoos and solutions. Weary of chemicals, others take a more natural approach with olive oil, mayonnaise, or tea tree oil.
Vanessa Bruno
Aftershock
Rebecca Taylor