It’s no secret that Pokémon Go is the most popular game since Candy Crush, Farmville or Angry Birds. Seems like everywhere you go someone is playing it. Here in New York City, it’s not as if the sidewalks weren’t crowded enough to begin with, people are already on their phones not paying attention to […]
The Common Sense Guide to Pokémon Go, Kids and Safety Read More »
Travel with baby can be pretty daunting. We’ve all been there. Remember the crying child in the seat behind you, the stressed-out parents, and the eye rolls. Now it’s your turn and you are the nervous parents about to travel with an infant. But fear not. There are gadgets galore to help you travel with
5 Things You Need to Travel with Baby Read More »
Glitter. Glue. Paint. These are just some of the supplies you might have in your arts and crafts arsenal at home. And what better time to break them out and get creative than during National Craft Month? That’s right! The whole month of March is dedicated to an international celebration of creativity. No matter what
National Craft Month: Promoting Creative Play Read More »
Are you having trouble keeping tabs on the app content your kids are downloading? The ESRB has an app to help you. ESRB, the non-profit organization that rates video games, now offers a rating system for apps and digital games. It covers games and apps that share personal information, shares locations with others as well
ESRB Ratings Search App Read More »
International Picnic Day is Tuesday, June 18. While celebrating any holiday on a Tuesday is not possible for most families, set aside some time this weekend for a family picnic. Incorporate it into your family’s Father’s Day plan this Sunday or set aside time on Friday night or Saturday for an impromptu picnic. • Don’t
International Picnic Day Read More »
If you are like most parents you check—and trust—the video game ratings issued by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). We include those ratings on all of our video game reviews! Now the industry wants to help families make even more informed gaming decisions. The video game industry announced a new national public education campaign
Video Game Industry Helps Parents with Gaming Choices Read More »
Yeah, I know. A kid probably thinks there’s no such thing as “too many toys.” Parents, though, well that’s another matter. We often hear about moms who bemoan the fact that their kids have so much stuff that they can’t play with it all—and they end up tripping over the toys, or some version of that.
I’m just back from the Toys & Games Fair in Hong Kong, the “official” start of the toy year and an exciting time in our business where new products are on display and we get a first look at things that may (emphasis on “may”) take off later in the year.
OMG!!! Traditional Toys Are Disappearing!! Read More »
We recently moved, and I was quite nervous to go through the process with an autistic child. Routine, structure, repetition are all things he craves. Change is something he avoids so change is something I try to avoid. I can’t think of a bigger change for a 4 year old than moving! A lot of
Moving Tips With Special Needs Kids Read More »
When my boys were little, I had one on one time with them all day long. I chose to be a “stay at home” mom and our days were packed with play and parks, and classes, and snacks and naps and more play. It was non-stop crazy and super tiring, but the best of days
Visiting Santa in a busy mall with waits of an hour and music blasting, only to have the kids climb up on the same lap hundreds, if not thousands, kids have already sat on that week can be stressful. Now, consider taking a child with special needs into that situation, and the stress that naturally
Visiting Santa with a Special Needs Kid Read More »
On the heels of Thanksgiving, a time when we underscore the importance of gratitude and giving thanks, it was my kids who reminded me to be extra grateful this year. Our little family had quite the extraordinary year: the birth of the baby in January, my husband’s anaphylaxis episode in February, the baby suffering a
Teaching Kids Gratitude and Charity in the Face of Adversity Read More »
Tis the season for big ol’ family gatherings. From Thanksgiving through New Years Day many of our houses will be brimming with relatives ages 8 to 80. And if you happen to be hosting any of these events, then it’s your job to make sure everyone has a grand old time and that all of
Time to Play With the Relatives! Read More »
With the cooler weather in the south, many children and parents are getting a nice relief from the blazing sun. It creates a perfect time for families to get outdoors, get active, and play together! On a nice day, one of our favorite things to do is to go fishing. It allows us to spend
Fishing for Something Fun to Do? Read More »
If you’re planning to head to the stores the Friday after Thanksgiving in search of hot deals, you might want to rethink your strategy. Black Friday may be a thing of the past. In 2011, a large number of retailers opened up their stores Thursday evening for Thanksgiving deals, especially in the toy aisles. I
Goodbye Black Friday, Hello Black Thursday Read More »
I know it seems like school just started and you’re starting to think about that perfect Halloween pumpkin. The toy biz, though, is already in full holiday mode. If you’ve been in a store recently, you’ll see expanded space for toys, new items everywhere and the buzz starting to build for what’s going to be
Here Come the Hot Toys! Read More »
The end of summer is upon us but the temperatures are still warm. Water toys are a great way to get some sensory play in while still having fun and cooling down. The next three toys are great for a variety of therapeutic needs. Water toys are always my son’s favorites, and the following toys
Special Needs Water Fun Read More »
Going to school is a big transition for any child. Throw in special needs concerns, and you potentially have a whole new set of struggles. My son is 4 this year, and as of now, he will be going to 2 different preschools. One on Tuesday and Thursday with therapists and special ed teachers and
Time to Play Special Needs Back to School Read More »
Here in New York, we’re into our fourth heat wave of the summer, and nothing could seem more distant than going back to school. Not so for retailers and shoppers, however. The back-to-school sales period is getting earlier every year, but that’s because schools are opening earlier than previously. Some states begin the school year
Say It’s Not So! Back to School Already!? Read More »
My good friend Lenore Skenazy over at Free Range Kids tipped me off to a story in the New York Times about an alarming new product—food pouches for kids. The basic idea seems to be that when the young ‘uns are hungry, you just strap on the feedbag. Or in this case, hand them an expensive pouch with some processed foodstuff that lets the little tikes suck out a meal, rather than eating. The inventor says this helps busy parents keep their kids fed without the fuss of having to prepare a meal. He also confuses Lenore’s concept of being “free range”—learning to be responsible for one’s life without a parent hovering over every second—with being so over-schedued that there’s never time to eat.
The End of Civilization—No Really, I Mean it This Time Read More »
At this writing, we are about halfway through the annual Screen Free Week, the brainchild of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC), an advocacy group that tries to reduce the impact of advertising on kids.
A Screen-Free Week. Why You May Want to Try It Read More »
When you have a special needs child, sometimes getting out of the house and into the crowds and hustle and bustle of the city can be difficult. Whether you need wheelchair access or a quieter atmosphere, simple excursions like heading to the zoo for a couple hours can become an all day activity. Here are
Special Needs Kids: Tips for Daytrips Read More »
Call me old fashioned. Toilet training is a rite of passage. It is something children need to master before entering school. Toilet training can generally start around 22 months to 30 months, and typically boys are trained by 38 months and girls at a slight more precocious 36. Effective toilet training requires muscle control, awareness of body activity and the motor skills to get on the toilet. In talks with pediatricians, it’s evident that this can evolve naturally, as children grow up and are increasingly uncomfortable with a soiled diaper. That’s when parental guidance comes in, educating the child about the body, supporting his or her growing awareness and being gently reassuring in the inevitable accidents that happen along the way.
Game Of Thrones—Toddler Edition Read More »
I grew up in a much less technology-powered time, as virtually any adult did today. We had no iPods or internet, and other than game shows and the occasional horror movie there was nothing on TV for kids in the afternoons—and even those weren’t primarily directed at kids. It simply wasn’t possible to live in
Broadening Horizons Read More »
