Friday, August 19, 2011
Here's your chance to warn other parents about the WORST. TOYS. EVER.
- OPINION
- LB
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Friday, August 19, 2011
We visited the Ben Franklin store in Webster Groves, which has a really extensive candy aisle full of unique goodies. I noticed a box of bubble gum cigarettes, named "Round Up," complete with a sketch of a white guy cowboy and a horse on it - just like the Marlboro Man! Oh, well, he died of lung cancer. I remember as a kid going to the dime store and getting bubble gum cigarettes (my dad smoked - it killed him, too). In a moment of temporary, nostalgic insanity, I surreptitiously bought a box. At home, I hid it from little hands. What exactly was I supposed to do - give them to the kids? I cannot stop marveling at the absurdity of candy cigarettes, and began to wonder what sort of evil entity markets this crap to children? Some toys are …
38.5904
-90.338802
15 S Old Orchard Ave, Saint Louis, MO
Ben Franklin Store
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
And what can you, as a parent, do about it?
- OPINION
- LB
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
What is it that makes an adult suspicious of a child? Is it the way a young person presents themselves - their choices of clothes, makeup, hair, or tattoos? Or maybe it's the way the kid communicates; do they make eye contact, smile, say hello, use respectful language, or none of those things? Sometimes even the stickiest of sweet friends leads a parent to wonder at the unnatural obsequiousness. What are they hiding? How do you know when one of your child's friends is bad news? Perhaps even more difficult to handle: what can you do about the situation? Should you express your dislike to your child, or will that inevitably cause anger and rebellion? How can parents foster healthy friendships for their child, without being (or being …
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Kids want money; do you dole out the cash to your little entrepreneurs?
- OPINION
- LB
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Some families feel that children pitching in with the housework is just part of being a family, whereas others see chores as an opportunity to teach children about work, pay and saving money. Likewise, sometimes kids get paid for good grades, while other families expect the good grades without money attached. Do you give your children a weekly allowance? If so, for what types of activities do you pay your kids? How do they use the money - are there any guidelines of things they can or cannot buy with their allowance? Which paid chores are appropriate for which ages, and what fees are reasonable? If you don't "do" monetary allowances, what are your thoughts against the practice, and do you have other rewards in place instead of cash?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Please share your ideas for keeping our kids engaged intellectually over the summer months.
- OPINION
- LB
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
It's summertime! It's time to stay up late through long summer evenings, eat lots of Ted Drewes frozen custard, and play in the pool. It's time to relax. Not to rain on that sunny parade, but it has been shown that typical American kids regress in math and reading skills over the summer, when they lose memories of newly acquired material. This sets their skills back an average of two to three months each year. That translates to greater than 25 percent of academic achievement lost during the summer every year. However, there are several fun ways to engage kids academically throughout the summer. The local public libraries have reading programs, including scheduled events and activities, as well as prizes for kids who log their summer …
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Empathy begins with accepting differences.
- OPINION
- LB
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Childhood can be brutal. If a child is different, eclectic, an oddball or simply marches to the beat of her own drummer, that child can be the target of ridicule, bullying and even differential treatment from adults. The same wariness of differences comes into play if children do not grow up around anyone with disabilities. A child that has never experienced a disability might stare, point or say unintentionally rude things in public in the presence of people who are obviously different or unique. What can parents discuss with their children at home to foster acceptance and social manners regarding this issue? If your child does say something insensitive in public that embarrasses you, what can you say to diffuse such a delicate situation?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
What is your biggest fear that you've developed since having kids?
- OPINION
- LB
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Once upon a time, we were all carefree and invincible. Young adults almost invariably feel the world is their oyster and live by the mantra, "No fear." And then you have a child. Now there is a lot more at stake regarding your choices, life and health. Some little one needs you to stick around, stay safe and healthy, and be there to take care of them. You now need to be a little bit smarter and more careful, and think about someone else's future every time you make a decision. This is a weighty responsibility. I lost my dad when I was young. Almost daily, I wish I could hear his voice and know his opinions regarding the big issues of life. I have a (perhaps irrational) fear that some twist of fate might take me away from my children, and …
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Who do you call when you need help?
- OPINION
- LB
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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Ahhh, weekday mornings at home. When the alarm goes off, it helps to have a routine in place to get everyone fed, dressed, brushed and out the door on time. Some days when one, or two, or three kids are feeling tired, or just grumpy, and are not sticking to The Plan, I feel like a drill sergeant. "Wake up, up, up sleepy heads! Eat your breakfasts! Put on your shoes! Brush your teeth! Get your backpacks! Don't forget your lunches! Get in the car!" And then, a complication arises: a fever, a visibly wicked rash or something worse. What do you do? What about that 8 a.m. meeting, or that project deadline? The morning timeline may screech to a halt as Plan B kicks in. What is your Plan B for when your child is home for a sick day and cannot …
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Some kids today seem to be permanently entranced with their iPhones, much like parents everywhere.
- OPINION
- LB
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
As children grow up and gain independence, owning a cell phone has become routine for youngsters. With caller ID, texting, games, mobile internet and GPS tracking, today's cell phones are handy for much more than just locating a ride home or contacting 911. At what age is it appropriate for a child to carry a cell phone, and what type of service does your child have (voice, text, apps, or other)? Do you monitor your child's activity, and how do you make sure they don't lose the darn phone, or use it for inappropriate behavior? Does recent news of potentially of altered brain activity induced by cell-phone usage bother you, or do the benefits outweigh any potential risks?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
What should you do if your child does not agree with your wishes, but instead chases different dreams?
- OPINION
- LB
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Beginning with pregnancy, parenthood is filled with expectations. Bonding with that little bundle of joy is so innate that parents inevitably conjure hopes and dreams—an image of the future—even before the baby is born. Watching a child grow, while loving and teaching it along the way, we parents understandably develop strong, albeit unspoken, visions for what that child will become as an adult. What are your expectations for your child after high school? What are your child's plans for after high school? If not college, what alternatives are acceptable to you: trade school or vocational training? What if your child hates school and does not want to pursue further education - has he/she identified good employment opportunities? Where can …
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Where does a messy room figure into the golden rule of parenting: "Pick and choose your battles."
- OPINION
- LB
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
My entire life is spent cleaning up after little people. I would like to organize all the toys and reunite every piece of that puzzle, doctor's bag or Lego kit with its original set. Maybe then, for just a few days, I would not find these random trinkets piercing my feet as I stumble to the coffee maker in the morning, jammed into my shoes as I try to hurry out the door, hidden in the sofa, stuck in the drain or floating in the toilet. However, in reality, I often just throw all the little pieces in one big basket and let the kids use the Legos for checkers and the checkers as building blocks and the building blocks become bath toys, and the rubber bath toy animals end up lined up in the doll house, which is now officially a zoo, by the …
mormit
12:40 am on Saturday, August 20, 2011
Candy cigarettes. I remember those like the nasty candy soda bottles that were a tube of wax you ripped the top off of to get the syrupy goo. I don't smoke and can't drink sugary soda. Gag! Kids can't get enough of that garbage but it gives me no fond memories. The Round Up bubblegum sticks will probably turn the kids off to smoking better than any anti-smoking ad campaign ever could. Let that … more ›