Back to School
Whether their summer was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints that they were bored and had nothing to do, kids often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.
Battling the…
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All About Sleep
Sleep — or lack of it — is probably the most-discussed aspect of baby care. New parents discover its vital importance those first few weeks and months. The quality and…
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Sleep and Preschoolers
Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 12 hours during each 24-hour period, but there's no need to be rigid about which 10 to 12 hours these are. The most important thing…
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Sleep and Preschoolers
Sleep helps kids grow strong and healthy. Preschoolers typically sleep about 10 to 12 hours during each 24-hour period, but there's no reason to be rigid about which 10 to…
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Bonding With Grandparents
If you've ever turned to your parents or your partner's parents for help and support with child-rearing, you know how wonderful grandparents can be. Although physical distance and parenting differences can come…
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New Crafts from Old Stuff
Not every Sproutlet goes to school in September. For the little ones who stay at home, or for the half day preschoolers who want something to do in their off…
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Music and Your School-age Child
Try new music with your kids. Don’t feel limited to The Wiggles. They’re great, we all know it, but wouldn’t it be fun to mix some grown up music into…
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Mealtime Makeover: Peanut Butter & Jelly
By using whole-wheat bread and 100% fruit spread (with no added sugar), you can pack more fiber into this sandwich. And if the bread is fortified, you also give your…
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Mealtime Makeover: Mac and Cheese
Make this dish healthier by using low-fat milk and evaporated skim milk, whole-wheat elbow macaroni, and reduced-fat cheeses.
Prep time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
This Recipe
Traditional Recipe
2…
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Mealtime Makeover: Grilled Cheese
By using whole-grain bread and reduced-fat cheese and by doing away with the frying, you'll make this favorite sandwich nutritious. Goes great with a glass of skim milk and some…
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Mealtime Makeover: Whole-Wheat Pizza
By using whole-wheat crust, part-skim cheese, turkey pepperoni, and mixed vegetables, this pizza offers kids more of the nutrients they need, with less fat and fewer calories.
Prep time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
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Mealtime Makeover: Chicken Fingers
By using boneless, skinless chicken with high-fiber cereal and an egg substitute, you can make a tasty, crunchy healthier version of this favorite kids' meal. And you can make it…
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When Bandages Make Boo-Boos All Better
Question: An inevitable part of any adventure at my house is a fall, a scratch, a bump, or a gash—and a child’s cry for bandaids. I have to be honest,…
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The Best Way to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bicycle
Sprout for Parents reached out to David Mozer, who heads up the International Bicycling Fund and is a great resource for teaching kids to ride a bike. Here's how he recommends teaching our…
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Fighting Summer Stains
My kids spend their summer days getting really dirty and I spend my summer nights trying to fight the stains in my laundry room. With little success, I’m afraid. How…
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Sun Safety
We all need some sun exposure; it's our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn't take much time in the…
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Let’s Grow DVD Series: Safety First
Help your Sproutlet learn important safety lessons with Sean and Chica from Sprout!
The fun of learning continues in the Let’s Grow DVD Series: Safety First hosted by Sean and Chica…
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A Dream Father's Day
Momma D Jane, one of Sprout's Band of Bloggers is back this month discussing a very pertinent question:
“What do you consider the perfect Father’s Day Gift?”
…
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Toilet Teaching Your Child
"Mommy, I did it! I went in the potty!"
Are these the words you long to hear from your child? But how do you know when your child is ready, and…
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Goodbye, Diana
Once upon a time, I was the mother of a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 2 year old. We had long days with nothing to do…
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Scrapbooking 101
We’ve talked before at Sprout for Parents about gathering your memories and photos together to begin Scrapbooking in a post called How to get Started Preserving Those Growing Memories. But…
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What Are You Doing for Mother’s Day?
Sprout has big plans for May 9, 2010 also known as Mother’s Day! We’re inviting Sproutlets and their moms to tune in together for a special Hooray for Mother’s Day…
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911 Information for Families
April is 911 Education Month, so we’ve asked Angel Arocho from Comcast.net’s Emergency Services Program to share some guidelines with us that will help us teach our Sproutlets about safety.…
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Getting to Know Dennisha
By now, you’ve noticed that there’s a new face at The Sunny Side Up Show. Dennisha has joined the cast as a co-host and we’re so happy to have her…
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dirtgirlworld Giveaway
When a guest comes to visit you at home, they often bring a present. We at SFP would like to do the same thing honor of dirtgirl coming into your…
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"We Keep the Earth Healthy"
Our children work hard at being good listeners, playing nicely with friends, and sharing their toys. (Most of the time!) Translating the desire to be good into responsible Earthlings is…
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Sharing Our Toys
When you think about recycling, many of us think about traditional items such as soda cans, paper, cardboard boxes, but what about toys? I asked Jill who writes the blog…
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Getting Crafty With Recyclables
Some of the best quality time I’ve spent with my boys is when we were creating crafts from items we found around the house. Keeping with our Earth Day celebration,…
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Who is dirtgirl?
dirtgirl says: Getting dirty is a really fun part of growing up.
dirtgirl says: Little things DO make a big difference!
Who is this dirtgirl, you may ask? She’s the newest character…
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What is Autism?
Question: April is Autism Awareness Month, and while I've heard the word used a lot, I don't know exactly what it means. Can you tell us a general definition of…
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Taming Mealtime Tantrums
I’ve seen plenty of mood swings at mealtime, so I asked Jeanne Muchnick, who’s just written a book called Dinner for Busy Moms, to tell us some of her strategies…
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Are We Parents The Problem?
My husband, Kevin, and I recently went away for a long weekend. My wonderful in-laws graciously babysat—even after I prepped them with a detailed list of every tantrum they were…
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St. Patrick's Day Fun
I don’t know much about St. Patty’s Day beyond shamrock shakes, but I do know that come March, four leaf clovers seem to be everwhere! So I asked Jocelyn of…
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When A Celebrity Comes to Visit
In December, Elmo came to visit Sprout. I thought it might be interesting to find out what the staff thinks when a superstar comes to visit, so I talked to…
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Upsetting the Kids When I Discipline Them
I’ve noticed that the more sternly I speak to my kids, the more distraught they get. If they’ve done something serious, like running into the street without looking, and I…
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Holiday Traditions That You Might Not Know About
Many families celebrate Christmas every December, but not everyone waits for Santa Claus. This month we thought we’d take a look at how people of different traditions celebrate important holidays…
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One Mom's Visit to Sesame Street
Recently, our friends at Sesame Street invited two bloggers from Sprout's Band of Bloggers to visit their set. Debra from A Frugal Friend was one of the lucky guests. I…
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Fall Back and Sleep Well!
Question: November 1 is when we set the clocks back 1 hour to end daylight saving time. How can parents make this time change easier on their young children? And…
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Thanks for Thanksgiving!
Every year, we have the tradition at SproutforParents of taking time to be thankful. We're thankful that you share your time with us online, and for all the parent ideas…
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Chica Costumes You Can Make at Home
We at Sprout believe what one parent can do, another can, too. That's why we asked two mom's--who just happen to be very crafty--how they'd turn their Sproutlets into Chica…
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Star Costumes You Can Make at Home
Do you have visions of your Sproutlet lighting up the Halloween night as your very own Star? We asked Benita Black and Lisa Ruth, two crafty moms, how they’d transform…
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Juice Box Costume You Can Make at Home
Lisa Ruth whipped this costume up and it looks good enough to take a sip out of! Your Sproutlet will get a kick out of The Wiggly Waffle Show's favorite…
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How Many Treats to Buy for Halloween?
I never know exactly how much candy I need for Halloween. I'm either left with piles of leftovers (that I generally munch on until we bring in more treats at…
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What to Eat Before You Trick or Treat
The night we go trick or treating is CRAZY. No matter how much I plan, my family always ends up scrambling at the last minute to eat dinner before we…
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Go-To Breakfast Ideas
We've talk about what to feed our kids here all the time, but even with all those ideas, my morning routine still consists of walking downstairs and try to figure out…
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Home-Made Halloween Costume Ideas
Have you seen the Sprouterrific Halloween Costume Contest? You enter a photo of your child in their homemade costume creation and your family could win a Sprouterrific gift basket filled…
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Helping Hands
Hey Parents--Sprout needs your help! We want to know how your kids make life better for the people around them.…
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Bug Adventures in Your Own Backyard
My kids love bugs! They could watch ants scavenging crumbs forever, and are amazed by dragon flies and lady bugs. I wonder if there's a way to cultivate their interest…
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Behind the Scenes of The Wiggly Waffle Show!
By now, I'm sure you know that Sprout's Wiggly Waffle Show started its first season here at Sprout. August 24. We're featuring something very special in honor of the big launch--a peek behind…
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What is the Right Pet for Your Family?
We’re thinking about getting a pet at my house. Because I’m allergic to cats, afraid of birds, and uncomfortable around small rodents, the animal of choice for us is a…
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2009 Father's Day Photo Gallery
Did you see the terrific sweepstakes at SproutOnline called Dancing with the Dads? You take a picture of your children and their dad, do some easy work on the computer,…
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Mother's Day Memories from 2009
Mother’s Day has come and gone. But the memories can live forever---right here on Sprout for Parents! Share the best part of Mother’s Day 2009 with us. Did you wake…
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How Do You Calm Your Children's Fears?
Question: Most of the preschoolers I know have at least one pronounced fear — and I'm not talking about being scared of the dark. I know a four year old…
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Swine Flu Cases Cause Worldwide Concern
Cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Spain, and New Zealand have sparked international headlines about the possibility of a pandemic — the worldwide spread of a potentially deadly illness. But the reality…
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Welcoming A New Sibling
Nothing changes a preshooler’s life like the introduction of a new sibling. When Clara came home from the hospital, Peter was 3 ½ and he did not like sharing me…
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Stranger Danger
Question: As a mother with young kids, I often find friendly strangers approaching us to smile and say “hi” when we’re out and about. I try to encourage my son…
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A Mighty Challenge for Us Grocery Shoppers!
Reduce trips to the grocery store, and clutter in your pantry while saving money! How? Don’t buy any groceries for one week. Starting right now. And start reaching to the…
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Composting for Beginners
I was just about to chop some strawberry tops to oblivion in my garbage disposal the other day, when I thought that I really should start composting. I tried to…
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Diapers: Disposable or Cloth?
Question: I always considered using cloth diapers as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposables, but could never bring myself to make the leap. I heard that they can give kids…
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Sprout on AT&T U-verse
Loyal Sprout viewers -- we wanted to let those of you watching Sprout on AT&T know that AT&T has moved Sprout on Demand to another level of service.…
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Help with Chores from Our Friend Chica!
My kids love checklists. We use them to keep track of good behavior and earn rewards, but we’ve only had a boring old calendar before. Now the folks at Sprout…
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What's an On-line Mommy Group?
Sometimes we moms are too busy to go outside and make friends at the playground, but community is never farther away than our computer. You can reach out at any…
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A Very Barney Valentine’s Day Give-Away
Barney is coming for a Valentine’s Day visit with Sean and Chica at Sprout’s Super-Dee-Duper Valentine Party on February 13 and 14! In honor of his visit, we have a…
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Save Money at the Grocery Store
Prices are rising in the grocery store and it can be a real challenge to feed our families healthy food without spending a fortune. I reached out to an expert…
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Recycle Your Way to Free Art Supplies
I wasn’t even thinking about Doing More with Less when I went to my new friend Benita’s house for the first time. But after my kids spent a few minutes…
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How I Hosted A Toy Swap
A great way to get more for your money is to not spend any! Do I speak for all of us when I say my house is full of toys…
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Should I Buy Organic?
Question:
I read all that I can about feeding my family organic foods, and I try to buy organic milk and produce but it’s so expensive these days. Strawberries, for…
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Cheap Babysitting Alternatives
I know we all love our children, but sometimes I feel like I love them a little more after we've had a break from each other! We all need a…
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If You Give A Kid A Box...
...they'll turn it into something magical. Like a "house" for their stuffed animals to live in--or fly over! …
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Sticking to Your New Year's Resolutions
Problem Solvin' Mom Steph Dunkle had a few great ideas when it comes to Resolutions. No surprise, there, I suppose. After all, what's a resolution but a problem you'd like…
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The Year of Living Patiently
Question: I resolve to be more patient with my family…but how do I do it? As my kids get a little older — no more babies in my house, although…
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A Very Sesame Holiday Season
No matter what holiday your family celebrates, the people at Sesame Street have great ideas to make these special occasions even more memorable for our children and us.
…
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Did You See Sprout on the Today Show?
A few days ago, Sandy Wax, the President of PBS Kids Sprout, appeared on the Today Show to talk about The Great Sprout Tuck-In. We here at Sprout will collect new…
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Dealing With Earwax
Cotton swabs are standard equipment in many family bathrooms. They're handy implements for a variety of grooming needs, but often are used to remove earwax — a common but potentially…
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New Food Guide Pyramid for Preschoolers
If you're parenting a 2- to 5-year-old, chances are you're all too familiar with the picky palates of preschoolers. Whether your tot is just occasionally persnickety or every meal is…
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Old Toys, New Home--Unhappy Henry!
Question: The holidays are coming and I'm expecting an influx of presents from family and friends and Santa. To prepare for that, I've started sorting through our old toys and…
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Holiday Card Out-takes
I don’t think there’s anything funnier than the pursuit of a joyful picture—and the misery that brings! That’s why each year, I find an afternoon sometime in early December to…
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Nearly Crustless Pumpkin Pie
This month, I asked Steph Dunkle, the Problem Solvin' Mom, to write something for us about Thanksgiving. Without any more prompting than that, she came up with the answer to…
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What to Do with Your Holiday Leftovers
I don’t know about you, but every Thanksgiving, I look at the leftover turkey and fixin’s and I know there’s more to do than reheat and reserve the exact same…
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What's Your Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe?
My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes. I don't care about anything else, really and truly, as long as I have my white, fluffy, pillow of potatoes smothered in…
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The Grateful Turkey
As I am not "crafty" at all, I am thankful that I can ask Shannon Hutton , of Seasonal Kids Activities for some ideas! Here's what she's doing for Thanksgiving!--Diana
Shannon: …
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Thanks for (Not) Sharing!
Question: At my house, we share just about everything, but each of my three kids has a few special toys that are either brand new or especially beloved — or…
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Plastic: The Next Worry
Question: Nutrition to me means making sure that what goes into my children's bodies is healthy and nourishing, and lately, I'm worried about the nutritious value of plastic! There's been…
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Barbarian Family Meals!
Question: When we eat together, the kids seem to turn into little heathens! I don't think there's one moment where they're all sitting properly with napkins in their laps, elbows…
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Cool Mom Picks: Envirosax Kid's Eco-Bags
I don't usually put a lot of thought into what my kids will use to collect their trick-or-treat goodies, but the Cool Moms have. Here's what they found!--Diana…
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Halloween Handprint Spiders
I love making Halloween crafts with my kids--but ghosts are about as inventive as I get. So I asked Shannon Hutton at Seasonal Kids Activities to inspire me. She came…
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My M&Ms!
I’m a big fan of M&Ms, but I never would have thought to add them to my list of party favor ideas. I’m glad that the Cool Moms did!--Diana
…
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Healthy, Easy-to-Pack Snacks
Question: Now that my family is settling into the rhythm of school and activities, I don’t have the kids around all day asking for snacks when they’re hungry which means no…
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What Do You Give Out for Halloween?
The only good thing about being a grown-up and not getting to trick or treat on Halloween is that I get to BUY all the candy we give out. Sure,…
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Goodbye, Kevin
UPDATE: Thank you all for the active participation in this post. I have been monitoring your many comments about Kevin, and wanted to let you know that Sprout has been…
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An Apple Picking Birthday Party
Themes are a great way to organize a party and make it special. Here's how Shannon Hutton, at Seasonal Kids Activities planned a party for her daughter that sounds creative, fun…
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Cool Mom Picks: Just Add Cake
I've just celebrated one child's birthday and am about to start planning a second this month, so I'm excited to see some great ideas from the Cool Mom Picks! --Diana…
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Planning a Great Birthday Party!
I’m sure I’ve written this elsewhere on the site, but if you don’t know by now, this is a busy time of year for me, birthdaywise. Two of my three…
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Do Grandparents Always Know Best?
Question: My parents love my kids, but my dad is convinced that the way to their hearts is through too many treats. He gives them candy, and lots of it,…
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Cool Mom Picks: Birthday Memories
Peter and Henry both have birthdays coming up, and I hold on to their cards for a few weeks before tossing them in the garbage with a guilty sigh. But…
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"You Must Be This Tall to Ride This Ride"
Since we’re talking about growing
this month, I’ve been thinking about the most important growth chart I remember
from my own childhood. It was the very public “You Must Be…
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Cool Mom Picks: Growth Chart
How could a month devoted to talking about growing not feature a growth chart? It couldn't! Here's what the moms at Cool Mom Picks found to share.--Diana…
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Home Is the First Classroom
When I think about school for my kids, I imagine them getting on the bus, eating in the lunchroom, and learning at a blackboard from a nice, enthusiastic teacher. But…
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Cool Mom Picks: Kaboost
When I’m online I always mean to seach for products, gadgets and gizmos that can make life a little easier for my family. Unfortunately, that takes a lot of time…
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Road Trips Made Easy (or at least easier!)
When it comes to vacations, my children have taught me an important lesson—it’s not just the destination that matters, it’s the journey there that really counts. Who hasn’t emerged from…
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Car Seat Safety
As many of us take to the highway for summer vacations, I thought it might be helpful to review car seat safety tips. Could you give us some guidelines for…
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Safety Tips for the Beach and Pool
When we go on vacation, it's all about the water! Either in a pool or at the beach, swimming is one of the rare activities that all of my kids…
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What's So "Powerful" About Play?
I keep hearing that free play is really good for my kids, but I don't know why! Can you explain just what is so "powerful" about playing? --Diana…
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Temper Tantrums
Your toddler's second temper tantrum of the day shows no signs of stopping, and supersonic, ear-shattering, teeth-jarring screams pierce the air. You'd run away and join the circus if only…
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Camp Mom!
Last month, Dyani from KidsU had great ideas for games we can play outside with our kids, and that got me thinking that there must be lots of other cool…
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What About Dad?
They did it for us. Now it’s our turn to return the favor. This is the time to start planning for Father’s Day—and I need help!…
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Everyday Moments for Learning
Summer is a time to relax and have fun--but for our children, the learning never stops. Dr. Jeanette Betancourt of Sesame Street, has lots of ideas for ways we can…
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Move Your Body
Sesame Street has been talking to our children about moving around since I was a kid! So we thought we'd ask Rosemarie Truglio, Vice President of Education and Research at…
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Mother's Day 2008 Recap
Now that Mother's Day has come and gone, let's recap! What were your favorite moments? Best gifts? Sweetest cards? From all the messages posted below, I can see that lots…
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Gardening with Kids
Q: My kids are really interested in growing things, but I've got a black thumb. I'm terrible at keeping plants alive in the house, let alone outside, so I found…
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The Dreaded Tantrum
My 3-year-old, Henry, and my 5-year-old, Clara, are occasionally inclined to throw a good, old-fashioned, kicking and screaming tantrum, when the right events stir them up. For Clara, it's a…
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Spring Cleaning Suggestions--From You!
When I was growing up, spring cleaning meant digging in and scrubbing down every inch of the house. I remember my mother wrapping an old pillow case around a broom…
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I've Cleaned My Kids' Closets--Now What?
For me, spring cleaning starts by digging through the stuff we’ve accumulated and weeding out what my kids don’t wear or play with anymore. Figuring out what to do with…
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Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is a very common infection that can cause a baby's skin to become sore, red, scaly, and tender. In most cases, the rash occurs because the skin is…
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Halloween Candy Hints
For health-conscious parents, Halloween can be tricky. Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? There isn't just one right answer. Instead, use your best…
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Hunger and Your Preschooler
Your preschooler eats lunch, then 20 minutes later claims to be hungry. Is it OK to offer a little something? Maybe yes, maybe no. Here's why:
Around the preschool years, many…
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Should Your Preschooler Play Sports?
There's nothing cuter than a bunch of preschoolers playing T-ball or soccer, but is it the best way for them to be active? Probably not.
Team sports offer a chance for…
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What Should Preschoolers Drink?
The best drinks for preschoolers — and for kids of all ages — are milk and water. Whenever possible, discourage your child from drinking soda and other sugary, calorie-dense drinks…
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Motivating Kids to Be Active
If you've ever watched young children on a playground, you know that most are naturally physically active and love to move around. But what you might not realize is that…
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Motivating Preschoolers to Be Active
Preschoolers can be an unstoppable force — running, spinning, leaping, and climbing at every opportunity. Their desire to move, move, move makes this a great time to cultivate fitness habits…
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Motivating School-Age Kids to Be Active
Sixty minutes. Ideally, that's how much physical activity kids should get each day of the week. But as kids get older, with increasing demands on their time, getting a full…
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Medications: Using Them Safely
Giving kids medicine safely can be a complicated task. It may be frightening to give a young child certain medications knowing that too much or too little can cause serious…
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Talking to Your Child's Preschool Teacher
Enrolling your little one in preschool can be a time filled with many questions: How well will my child adjust to preschool? Will my child make friends? Will the teacher…
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Medical Care and Your 2- to 3-year-old
Regular well-child examinations by your child's doctor are essential to keep your child healthy and up-to-date with immunizations against many dangerous childhood diseases. A checkup also gives your child's doctor…
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Fitness and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old
Kids this age are learning to master basic movements like walking, running, kicking, and throwing. They're naturally active, so be sure to provide lots of opportunities for your child to practice…
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Medical Care and Your 4- to 5-Year-Old
Regular well-child examinations are essential to keeping kids healthy and up-to-date on immunizations against many dangerous childhood diseases.
A checkup also is an opportunity for your doctor to talk to you about…
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Fitness and Your 4- to 5-Year-Old
By the time they're 4 and 5 years old, kids have mastered basic movement skills like running and jumping, and have plenty of energy to put them to good use.
Now…
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Old Wives' Tales
Old wives' tales are perhaps as old as language itself. They're part of our oral tradition, originating long before pen and ink, books and movies, and certainly before the Internet.…
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Choosing Safe Toys
Millions of toys are out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the stores each year. Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child's…
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Finding a Doctor for Your Child
Awaiting the birth of a baby is an exciting time, and a busy one. Along with considering baby names and buying a crib, choosing the right health care provider should be…
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Medical Care and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
The toddler months continue to bring the medical challenges of colds, cuts, bruises, and other minor emergencies.
But you'll also find yourself dealing with an emerging personality and increasing conflicts. The new…
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Choosing and Instructing a Babysitter
Entrusting someone to care for your kids can be difficult. Finding a qualified babysitter requires time and effort, but your reward is assurance that your child is in capable hands.…
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Disciplining Your Child
How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward the VCR? What should you do when your preschooler throws a fit? How can you get a teenager to respect your authority?
Whatever…
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Getting Involved at Your Child's School
Whether your child is just starting kindergarten, entering the final year of high school, or is somewhere in between, there are many good reasons and opportunities for you to volunteer…
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Gun Safety
Guns are in more than one third of all U.S. households, so they're a very real danger to children, whether you own one or not. That's why it's important to talk to…
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Helping Your Child Through a Divorce
Divorce is stressful for parents and kids alike. Although reactions will depend on a child's age, temperament, and the circumstances surrounding the split, many kids feel sad, frustrated, angry, and anxious…
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How TV Affects Your Child
Most kids plug into the world of television long before they enter school. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):
two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch a screen an average of…
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Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling
The arrival of a new baby can bring many changes to a family. Parents spend a lot of energy on preparations, and after the baby arrives, much of the family's attention…
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Sibling Rivalry
"Dad, she's in my room getting into my things again!"
"Mom, he won't stop annoying me!"
"Me first! Me first! Me first!"
Sound familiar? If you have more than one child, the answer…
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Preparing Your Child for a Move
Sooner or later, many families face the prospect of moving. Disruptive as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids, who may not be…
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Tips for Divorcing Parents
No guide can guarantee a way to steer kids unscathed through a divorce. Every situation — and every family — is different. But some commonsense guidelines might make the adjustment a bit…
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Talking to the Pharmacist
If your child is sick, you'll probably think of countless questions to ask your child's doctor. But how many times have you made a list of questions and concerns to…
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Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports
Team sports can boost kids' self-esteem, coordination, and general fitness, and help them learn how to work with other kids and adults.
But some kids aren't natural athletes and they may…
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Allowance Basics
An allowance can be a great way to teach kids money management skills. With an allowance, your child can learn how to make decisions, deal with limited resources, and understand…
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Introducing Toddlers to Music
Music seems a natural accompaniment in a toddler’s life. Young children might sing to their stuffed animals, tap their feet to the rhythm of nursery rhymes, and enjoy the sound…
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Introducing Preschoolers to Music
Here's a pop quiz. What do the following have in common?
The Wiggles
Raffi
Laurie Berkner
Ralph Covert
They Might Be Giants
If you guessed a special place in the hearts and CD players of millions…
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Snacks
“Don’t eat that, you’ll spoil your appetite.” If only you had a dollar for every time you heard that familiar refrain growing up.
But if the right foods are offered at…
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After-School Snacks
It's a scene that plays out daily in homes everywhere. Kids come in from school and head straight to the kitchen looking for something to eat. How can you can…
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Snacks for Toddlers
Parents of toddlers often wonder: Is my child getting enough to eat? It’s an understandable concern, but offering healthy snacks can help ensure that the answer is yes.
Some kids at this…
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Snacks for Preschoolers
No one’s busier than the average preschooler. They’re so active and imaginative it’s no wonder they get hungry between meals and need a snack.
Although growth during the preschool years is…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: Getting Started
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: Preparation and Storage
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: How Much and How Often
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: Supplementing
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: Starting Solids and Milk
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Formula Feeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns
The major health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) - agree that…
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Cooking With School-Age Kids
“Why do the bubbles rise like that?” Daniel asks as he watches his mother stir a boiling pot of noodles. As she explains how water turns into steam, he grates…
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Games for Toddlers
Toddlers learn by playing and they learn a lot between ages 1 and 3. At 1, a child may be working on a wobbly walk and just starting to use…
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Safe Exploring for Toddlers
Toddlers — it's hard to imagine a more fitting name for this stage of development. Between the ages of 1 and 3, toddlers are literally scooting away from babyhood in…
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Safe Exploring for Preschoolers
Kids ages 3-5 have tons of energy and are eager to walk, run, dance, and play. It’s a great age for exploration too. Preschoolers learn a lot when given the…
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What Kids Say About: Handling Stress
Compared with what adults face, it might seem like kids don't have that much to stress about. But kids have their own concerns — and sometimes feel stress, just as…
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About Mealtime Makeovers
Meals that have kid appeal can deliver the vitamins and minerals that growing bodies need. Here are some simple tips for trimming the fats from kids' favorite foods and packing…
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Bonding With Your Baby
Bonding is the intense attachment that develops between parents and their baby. It makes parents want to shower their baby with love and affection and to protect and nourish their…
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Bringing Your Baby Home
Whether your baby comes home from the hospital right away, arrives later (perhaps after a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit), or comes through an adoption agency, the homecoming…
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Recovering From Delivery
Your baby's finally here, and you're thrilled — but you're also exhausted, uncomfortable, on an emotional roller coaster, and wondering whether you'll ever fit into your jeans again. Childbirth classes…
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Food Allergies
Shortly after Ben began eating his lunch, his childcare provider noticed he seemed to be trying to scratch an itch in his mouth. After he vomited and began wheezing, the…
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Teaching Your Child Tolerance
America is the great "melting pot," a rich blend of cultural traditions from all over the world. Many American families can trace their histories to immigrant ancestors who traveled great…
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How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor
Your child's doctor can be an incredible resource when you have questions and concerns about your child's health, but finding time for your child's regular checkups and sick visits may…
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Parenting Multiples
Every book on parenting will tell you that life forever changes after the birth of a child. So parents of twins or higher-order multiples (triplets or more) can feel as…
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Your Colicky Baby
Your baby cries every evening for hours at a time, and the crying has worn you down to the point where you feel like joining in. What could be upsetting…
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Communication and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
Language development really takes off during this time, especially as your baby approaches the second birthday.
Kids this age can better able to comprehend what is said to them and express what they…
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Communication and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old
During these months, your baby might say "mama" or "dada" for the first time, and will communicate using body language, like nodding and shaking his or her head. Your baby…
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Communication and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old
Your baby's range of sounds and facial expressions continues to grow, with lots of babbling, squealing, smiling, and laughing — which may mean less time for crying. Your baby is…
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Communication and Your 4- to 5-Year-Old
Communicating with a child is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child.
Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other kids,…
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Communication and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old
Communicating with a child, from infancy onward, is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child. Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and…
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Communication and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old
This is an exciting time for parents — babies this age make real progress toward communicating. They'll recognize Mommy and Daddy, laugh, squeal, and smile spontaneously.
Your baby's personality begins to…
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Your Child's Growth
From the moment parents greet their newborn, they watch the baby's progress eagerly, anticipating every inch of growth and each new developmental milestone along the way. But how can they tell…
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Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
At this age toddlers are moving from the eating habits they had as infants toward a diet more like your own. Your job is to keep broadening your child's palate…
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