• Monthly Archive:: October 2015

    On the eve of All Hallow’s Eve means that Thanksgiving can’t be too far behind. One of my favorite pre-Turkey Day memories comes from hunkering down to watch (of course) “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on TV. Before my favorite part when Snoopy and Woodstock sit down to their own feast (natch), the Peanuts gang piles into the family station wagon and heads out to Grandma’s house singing, “Over the River and Through the Woods.” It always made me laugh to hear their voices practically tripping over each other; never mind how out of synch they sounded, their cacophony created its own special harmony…much like family life. That’s the same feeling I got from reading the new picture book by the same name as the popular [&hellip

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    Sesame Street has always been ahead of its time. Since its inception, this beloved children’s television series has represented the diversity of our culture and the very rich tapestry that makes up its own urban neighborhood. Now, with the introduction of its new online program, Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, families can now better understand autism, which reportedly affects one in 68 American children. At the heart of this digital content is Julia, a preschool character who is also autistic. Despite her differences, she is still a little girl who loves to play and have fun with her friends, a reminder that the universal traits of childhood are still timely. Her experience is played out through a host of online extras, [&hellip

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    In our family, Halloween is a pretty big deal. Every year, my husband transforms our front yard into a cemetery complete with ghouls rising up out of the ground, a gnarled handed witch gesturing to her magic cauldron and a skeleton bursting out of his coffin. Because our kids like to get in on the act, we save the inside decorating for my 7-year-old (our 6th grader is busy still trying to figure out her costume). Because our younger daughter considers herself “pretty crafty,” ordinary construction paper bats and pumpkins just won’t do. This year, she’ll be flexing her creative muscles using the Wikki Stix Halloween Fun Kit. If you’re not familiar with Wikki Stix, they are thin, bendable strips (made from yarn and wax) [&hellip

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    Eating with kids can take the joy out of…well, eating. How many times have you sat down to a healthy, home-cooked meal with your kids (you know: the one you planned ahead, bought fresh ingredients and actually got onto the table in record time)…only to have a little one upend his dinner plate and burst into tears? Yeah, we’ve been there, too. But thanks to a revolutionary new mealtime accessory, those trying times may be a thing of the past. The ezpz Happy Mat is an all-in-one placemat and plate that affixes to the table or hard surface, minimizing the potential for accidental knock-overs. Made from BPA-free silicon, this clever product stays put via suctions, keeping your kid’s food contained in one place. With its [&hellip

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    When my older daughter was a baby, we were fortunate to move to a home with a beach at the end of our street. As a new mom, I couldn’t wait to head down to the water with my baby in tow. After precariously loading up our stroller–with beach bag, sand toys and extra-large blanket tucked underneath; folded beach chair balanced on top; and umbrella bag slung over my shoulder–we headed out. Of course, we didn’t get very far without me having to stop every minute to shift my position and re-adjust all of our belongings. Luckily, my daughter remained intact, but I couldn’t say the same for my sanity. Eventually, I learned to master our beach-bound excursions, but had always longed for a stroller [&hellip

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    I made a meaningful discovery doing laundry the other day. While emptying out the contents of a pair of pants, I came upon a handful of unexpected treasure: a piece of sea glass and an acorn. I didn’t need to know whose clothing these came from; judging from these finds, I knew it had to be my 7-year-old. She’s the first one in our family to bring home a red fall leaf, and has been known to stuff her pockets with weeds, wildflowers and pine tree pieces…only for me to find them in paper cups filled with water on her bedroom dresser. Little slices of childhood like these are more precious than gold, but to the parent of a young child, they can be also [&hellip

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