Youngsters are oddly flexible. When changing their diaper, it doesn't faze them that their feet are positioned easily by their ears. Encourage that ability to reach between their tiny legs with spider–like agility by giving them their own yoga mat.

Pint size yogis will enjoy the child sized Pottery Barn Kids (on sale for $20) elephant and hippo shaped mats. The large creatures will add a little flair and a lot of smiles to the standard downward dog and tree poses.

My bus route provides some sort of entertainment value on most days. This morning, I was at the center of the drama.

Every morning at my local bus stop, this one crazy lady comes rushing up to the curb and pushes everyone else out of her way so she can scurry on board first and do her makeup sitting down. The first person in line, I was sure I would be able to rest my laurels for the short ride to work. As the bus pulled up, the wacky woman came flying down the block and threw herself in front of the bus making it come to a stop. Irritated by her actions, the bus then moved up leaving her a few steps behind. Not to deter her, she came roaring back and pushed me aside. My bump may not be at the full nine month capacity but it's obvious that I am expecting. To see what happened, read more

Britain's National Children's Bureau recently issued a 366–page guide to play leaders and nursery teachers with guidelines to help them identify and expel racism in their learning environments. Clearly some behavior can be identified as hateful or xenophobic but this report spells out incidents that are more common to the everyday child yet less obvious to those surrounding them.

Some are taking the guidelines quite literally and claiming that if a child says, "yuck" to a certain cuisine, it can be construed as racist. Giving the NCB the benefit of doubt, I'm going to assume that one particular line is being blown out of context. The UK's Daily Telegraph reports:

The guidance by the NCB is designed to draw attention to potentially-racist attitudes in youngsters from a young age. . . The guide goes on to warn that children might also "react negatively to a culinary tradition other than their own by saying 'yuk'".

If a child finds a certain culture and its cuisine disdainful, then it makes sense that caretakers would try to intervene and educate that child about the positive offerings of that culture. If, however, a child says, "yuck" to a plate of curry chicken, I wouldn't immediately assume the NCB would call the tot racist. If the youngster genuinely hates the taste of curry, "yuck" may be appropriate. If, however, the child simply says "yuck" because the dish is associated with Indian food, there probably is a lesson to be taught and learned.
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Every child seems to go through a phase where he or she is afraid of the dark and restless before bedtime. There is often little a parent can do aside from creating a comfortable, cozy and calming bed space and reassuring lil ones there is no real "Boogie" man.

Of course, shining a little light on the subject always helps. I adore the Star Egg nightlight ($140), because it's pleasing to adult and child sensibilities. The Egg projects light through tiny openings on its ceramic surface, creating a soft light pattern on the ceiling. Nothing calls on sleep like counting stars.