From wardrobe to haircuts, help your kids look their best this season with these easy tips and tricks
By Elizabeth Regalia, Parenting.com

Make the most of your kids’ wardrobe this spring and keep them looking hip. Here are some handy tips and tricks from A.K. LaMonica, Director of Apparel at The Children’s Place in Seacaucus, NJ:

Back to Basics
Everyday basics can fit into any style your kid is after. Layering tees can be worn in so many different ways: casual with jeans, dressy with a skirt or layered over a long-sleeved shirt. Not only are basics versatile, they tend to cost less!

Mix and Match
Combine everyday basics with a few key fashion pieces to keep your tyke hip without breaking the bank. Pick three or four trendy items that are unique, then pair them with basics to stretch out the style through the whole season.

Keep it Simple
Mixing and matching is easier when you buy colors that complement each other. Let your kid pick a few favorite colors, then shop for basics and bold prints to match. When the clothes in your kid’s closet are cohesive, mixing and matching is foolproof.

Bargain Shop
Look for deals: The Children’s Place offers two-for-one specials so you can get two items for half the price. Tees and basic denim are often the best two-for-one deals, so add style anchors without worrying about the cost.

Top off your kid’s spring style with a new do for your little mop top. Cut the cost by cutting at home with tips from Cozy Friedman, founder of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City :

Get Control
While you might usually head to the tub with your kid for a quick trim, you may have less control on the slippery surface. Opt to sit them in a chair in front of a video to keep them still. If you’re in a carpeted room, be sure to lay down an old sheet to limit the mess.

Do the Prep Work
Have all your tools next to you and the DVD in the player before you sit him down. Your kid’s patience is limited! Also, wet the hair before he gets too comfortable: cutting it wet will make the cut more precise. Remember hair will shrink when it dries, so leave it a half-inch longer then you want it.

Pro Pointers
The most common mistake Moms make is cutting bangs too far back. Cut from eyebrow to eyebrow; no farther back than that! Always start in the front, and for longer styles, tilt their chin down and part hair in the center to make sure all sides and layers will be even.

Start Styling
Stick to low-maintenance styles for less upkeep: shorter styles and bangs for girls need frequent trims. One length styles are the easiest to accessorize with clips or headbands and can disguise hair that needs a trim!

Last night I decided I wanted to make crawfish pie for dinner. I went to the section in the grocery where the frozen pies are usually kept. To my surprise, they were out of pies so I decided to try and make my own. What I made turned out to be incredible, very easy and was probably less expensive than a pre-made pie.

This is what I used:

1 medium pack of chopped creole veggies (onions, bell peppers, etc.)

1 12 oz. pack of frozen crawfish tails

1/3 stick of butter

1 can cream of mushroom soup

¼ cup flour

refrigerated pie crust

Tony Chacheries to taste

I started by sauteeing the veggies in the butter (adding Tony’s) . Once those were cooked down I added the crawfish (and some more Tony’s) which I had defrosted by leaving it in the sink under running water. After the crawfish tails were cooked (they curl up), I added the can of cream of mushroom soup and cooked that down for a few minutes. To make sure that the pie wouldn’t be runny, I added flour to thicken the filling.

To finish off the pie, I followed the directions on the box of the pie crust. I unrolled the first pie crust and used it for the bottom of the pie, then I added the filling that I had just made. Finally, I added the second crust to the top of the pie and used my knife to add slits so that the pie wouldn’t puff up . Lastly, I put aluminum foil on the edge of the crust to keep it from burning and baked the pie at 425 until it was golden brown.

Pink eye is a common term used for conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the thin, clear covering (conjunctiva) over the white part of our eyes. When the blood vessels of this part of our eye become inflamed and engorged the eye tends to look pink. These blood vessels are easily irritated by our environment, allergens, viruses and bacteria, thus the various types of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually characterized by itching, tearing, redness and usually involves both eyes. Avoiding the allergen and using anti-allergy drops normally helps to minimize the symptoms. This type of conjunctivitis is not contagious. Bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly associated with redness, swelling, thick mucus discharge and a matting of the lashes, more particularly after sleeping. Often times this is treated with an antibiotic eye drop or ointment prescribed by your eye doctor. Viral conjunctivitis commonly involves redness, swelling and a watery discharge from the eye. It is the most contagious and can be passed from one eye to the other including others in the household. There are treatments for viral conjunctivitis, although often times the virus must run its course. Determining which type of conjunctivitis you are dealing with helps to determine the best treatment plan.
When you have conjunctivitis, it is very important to keep your hands away from your eyes and wash your hands frequently. The bacterial and viral types are spread through the tears; therefore, anything that touches the eyes (a pillowcase, makeup brushes, clothing) should be carefully washed and sterilized to not re-infect the eye and to prevent spreading of the infection to the other eye or other people. Typically the condition is contagious until there is no more discharge, tearing or redness. Contact lenses should not be worn during these times. Your contact lenses and case used prior to the infection should be discarded. Keeping these infections contained is usually a bit more challenging for children. That’s why early treatment is best. Keeping runny noses wiped and those tissues tossed is key, as the same types of bugs that cause upper respiratory infections also cause conjunctivitis. Frequent hand washing is also extremely important as is avoiding contact with anyone who has pink eye.
Conjunctivitis does not usually cause pain or a change in vision. See your eye doctor right away if you are noticing these symptoms.

from www.allrecipes.com

You can’t please all of the people all of the time, although you could come close when you let the people please themselves. Want to test this theory on the kids? Set them up with pizza dough and all kinds of toppings, and stand aside while they create self-serve solutions.

What You’ll Need:

* Pizza crust
* Pizza sauce
* Bite-size and shredded toppings
* Round or rectangular pans (optional)
* Pizza stone (optional)

One For All

* Divide pizza dough into single-size portions or take a whole pizza crust and designate a section for each kid.
* An efficient way to make a lot of individual pizzas: pat most of the dough into a large rectangle and make a grid pattern with strips of remaining dough. Let kids fill the grids with the toppings of their choice. When the pizza is baked, use a pizza wheel or large knife to cut along the grid lines.
* Explore other pizza shapes. How about hearts, flowers, bears, fish or even kid-shaped pizzas?
* Make individual pizza pockets–or calzones–by spreading half a round of raw pizza dough with sauce and toppings, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold the other half over and seal the edges by pressing the dough together with a fork. Brush with olive oil and bake.
* For a quick and easy pizza night, start with pre-baked pizza crust or make your pizza dough ahead of time.

Top Tips for Perfect Pizzas

* Bake pizza on a pizza stone. This distributes the heat evenly for a sensational crust. No pizza stone? Use unglazed terra cotta tiles from a garden store.
* Preheat your oven. If you’re using a pizza stone, start with a cold stone in the cold oven to prevent cracking the stone.
* Brush the pizza crust with olive oil before you add the toppings.
* A layer of cheese over the top keeps the other ingredients from scorching.
* If you use a peel (a wide, flat, long-handled wooden paddle) to transfer pizza to and from the oven, sprinkle it with cornmeal first to keep the dough from sticking. No peel? Use a flat cookie sheet instead and protect your hands with oven mitts.
* Watch out for topping overload: if the kids lay it on too thickly, the pizza crust will be soggy.

“Caleb was two when we first noticed his loud snoring,” said Scott, Caleb’s father. “We were alarmed but didn’t really start to worry until we began hearing him gasp for air between the snores. That made my wife and me very uneasy.

Nine year old Matthew was significantly overweight. “We tried to exercise with him everyday, but just walking to the park made him so tired that he could hardly stand let alone play once he got there,” said Claire, Matthew’s mother. “He struggled just putting on his shoes on in the morning.” Matthew told his doctor that he felt like he could never get enough sleep. “He snores
louder than my grandfather,” Claire added.

Both Caleb and Matthew were given sleep studies, and they were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A surgeon removed Caleb’s tonsils, and Matthew was given a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device with a child-sized mask. After his surgery, Caleb stopped snoring. Now the only noise from his room is the occasional laughter in his sleep. These days, Matthew leaps out of bed in the morning and has lost 25 pounds. “He’s the child I always knew he could be,” said Claire.

If your child is exhibiting symptoms of sleep apnea, talk to your pediatrician.

Undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea may contribute to daytime fatigue and behavioral problems at school. According to a recent study in CHEST, the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, children who snored loudly were twice as likely to have learning problems. Following a night of poor sleep, children are more likely to be hyperactive and have difficulty paying attention. These are also signs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Apnea may also be associated with delayed growth and cardiovascular problems.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Children

During the night, a child with sleep apnea may:

• Snore loudly and on a regular basis
• Have pauses, gasps, and snorts and actually stop
  breathing. The snorts or gasps may waken them and
  disrupt their sleep.
• Be restless or sleep in abnormal positions with their head
  in unusual positions
• Sweat heavily during sleep

During the day, a child with sleep apnea may:

• Have behavioral, school and social problems
• Be difficult to wake up
• Have headaches during the day, but especially in
  the morning
• Be irritable, agitated, aggressive, and cranky
• Be so sleepy during the day that they actually fall asleep
  or daydream

Speak with a nasal voice and breathe regularly through
the mouth

From www.komando.com

11/28/2009

Many parents are looking at high-tech gifts for their children. The iPod touch often tops the list. It’s great for music, videos, apps and games. But could it get your kids into trouble?

The touch lets users access all kinds of media. That includes explicit songs, mature movies and TV shows, and explicit apps. Additionally, kids can surf the Web. And there’s plenty of stuff online you don’t want your kids seeing.

Is the iPod touch is a fun and useful tool. But some parental oversight is necessary. Luckily, that’s not difficult.

The touch has a smattering of parental controls. (They’re also in the iPhone.) They let you block some explicit content. And you can disable a few troublesome features.

On the home screen, tap Settings>>General>>Restrictions. Next, tap Enable Restrictions and enter a four-digit PIN. This will let you lock the settings. Several features can be switched off. These are Explicit iPod Content, Safari, YouTube, iTunes and Installing Apps.

Switching off Safari closes a lot of doors. Online porn will be inaccessible. YouTube must be blocked separately. Theoretically, it does not allow porn on its site. But it turns up occasionally. Regardless, YouTube has some pretty mature content.

Explicit iPod Content restricts anything iTunes tags as Explicit. It can still be loaded on the touch. But it can’t be seen or accessed. Turning off iTunes and Installing Apps means new media is unavailable.

However, your child can still add content via a computer. So, I’d enable iTunes’ parental controls there, too. Not only will this limit access to mature content; it will help control spending. This tip will help you set it all up.

I’d also institute Web filtering on the computer. Again, you can sharply limit access to porn and videos. This tip will get your filter up in no time.

The touch’s parental controls aren’t foolproof. iTunes can return the device to factory settings. It removes restrictions and passcodes you establish. And there’s no way to block this workaround.

The restore option isn’t hard to find. No doubt, many kids at school will know about it. However, it erases all content. So, your child would have to reload everything. That’s not fun. But a child determined to undermine parental controls could do it.

Now, are your kids tech-savvy? Then there’s something else to worry about – jailbreaking. This disables Apple’s restrictions. No doubt, kids at school know about this, too. It lets users install unauthorized software.

One such program is HidePod. It hides porn and other media. HidePod masquerades as a calculator. But a key combination reveals hidden videos, photos and music

You can uncover HidePod. All you’ll need is the touch’s serial number. This tip will walk you through the process. If you find HidePod, it’s time for a serious talk.

Actually, clear rules are probably the best parental control. Let them know you’ll check the touch occasionally. And remind them that you can always take it away if necessary.

Are you using parental controls effectively?

- Parental controls for video game consoles
- Parental controls for an iPhone
- Setting parental controls in Windows Vista

One of the trick questions I ask my patients after they tell me about the new bike that they received for a birthday or Christmas present is “what color is your helmet?”  If your child can answer right away this article is not for you-it is for the parents who start sinking into their chair after I ask the helmet question.

Every year about 700 people in the US die from bicycle crashes-most of them die from brain injuries.

Many more of them have brain damage that in a child, can cause learning disabilities, personality changes, or rob the child of the ability to think clearly.  Hospital ER studies show that a helmet can prevent most of these injuries a majority of the time.  So you don’t want your child riding a bike without a helmet even on your block, the sidewalk or a trail.  The fall is always the same distance to the pavement where ever you ride.

To get your child to wear a helmet-establish the helmet have it early when they get their first bike.  If they learn to wear helmets whenever they ride it will become a habit for a lifetime.  Wear one yourself-be a role model for your children.  They learn best by watching you.

Talk to your children about why you want them to protect their heads.  Let them know their bikes are not toys, but their first vehicle.  You love them and value them and their intelligence.

Encourage their friends to wear helmets.  Peer pressure can be used in a positive way if several families in the neighborhood start making helmet use a regular habit and the same time.

Let’s do everything we can to keep our children safe- protect their brains with the safety helmets!

By Elizabeth Melancon, MD

Pediatric Associates

Last week one of my children woke me up in the middle of the night scared of the forest…I kept thinking to myself, what forest could he possibly be talking about? To my surprise, it turns out it was the 100 acre woods in the Winnie the Pooh book that we were reading.

Nighttime fears and nightmares are extremely common in children, especially during the preschool years, but they can definitely occur in older children and adolescents as well. They are part of normal development, as children’s imaginations develop and children begin to understand that there are things that exist that can hurt them. I am not sure how Winnie the Pooh got in to that category, but somehow in my child’s imagination, this “forest” was very scary to him.

There are times that fears and nightmares are the result of a frightening experience, from being scared by a large dog to being in a car accident to watching the news, but other times they seem to come out of the blue. Family conflict and parental anxiety can also play a role. Children also typically have different fears at different developmental stages. Young children are often afraid of monsters and other imaginary creatures, whereas older children are more likely to fear being hurt by more realistic dangers, such as burglars or natural disasters, like hurricanes.

Some children learn that saying they are afraid is an effective stalling tactic or a way to avoid bedtime or a way to creep back to your bed. Some of the best ways to help overcome these fears is to give them alternatives to work with during the night. Like a flashlight that they can use to calm their fears and still remain in their bed. Possibly use a fish tank in the room for light and companionship or having them find comfort in a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. Best result is to try to keep them in their own bed and to start using their ability to comfort themselves so that they learn to work through things. It is best that if needed, you go to their bed instead of them coming in to yours. As many of us know, once your child spends even a short amount of time in your bed, they are very hard to get them back in to their own bed. Another tip is to make their room, their special place, where they feel safe and where they want to spend time. This helps them find comfort in the room and if they do get scared, they know that this is their special spot where nothing can hurt them.

1/16/2010

from www.komando.com

Facebook is one of the most popular sites in the world. In fact, the only site used more is Google. You can bet that your children like it. But are they old enough to be using it?

I got a message from a listener asking just that. His son’s friends all have Facebook accounts. So, he’s started asking for one. But he’s only 11.

I don’t think that’s old enough. You certainly can find kids that age and younger on the site. Some have accounts their parents don’t know about. Some parents believe they can monitor and protect their kids on Facebook. Neither is a good idea.

Facebook agrees. Its Terms of Service clearly state, “You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.” Users are also asked for their birthday when creating an account. The site uses this info to calculate age. Anyone under 13 is turned away.

Of course, kids know how to calculate a birthdate, too. So, they lie. This can have unintended consequences.

Anyone under 18 must sign up with a high school network. Once they hit 19 they are booted from that network. Kids who lie about their ages are removed prematurely.

But the main concerns for parents should be privacy, responsibility and cyberbullying.

Young kids aren’t mature enough to be responsible on Facebook. They can post too much personal information. They can upload inappropriate photos. They don’t understand that anything posted online is there forever.

Cyberbullying is a serious problem online. Every school has a few bullies in the hallways. They can follow their victims home through the Web. Facebook is one of the tools they use. This tip will help your family handle cyberbullying.

Now, Facebook does have privacy controls. Some parents think they can protect their children using these. And then they friend their children. This allows for a modicum of control and oversight. But there are too many holes in this strategy.

Parents can’t watch at all times. And kids often resent the monitoring. Many create a second account. It can have a fake name only their friends know. They keep it a secret and do whatever they want.

It’s easier to prohibit Facebook use than juggle all of these concerns. That said, you’ll have to give in at some point. In fact, you’ll want to. Facebook is a great social networking tool.

But steer them away until they’re at least 13. They’ll have some time to mature. And you’ll have time to teach them how to be responsible and safe.

More help for concerned parents:

from www.kidstodayonline.com

NEW YORK – Since the first news reports of the Haiti earthquake tragedy, Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. has been working to get donations of brand new underwear, clothes, water, vitamin bars, blankets, diapers and other supplies for distribution in Haiti. The response has been very generous – as of last Friday, more than 65

donor companies have provided or pledged close to $6 million worth of product (see list below). K.I.D.S. continues to work with retailers and manufacturers for donations of desperately needed new products, and for the long-term response that will be required to help the children and families of Haiti.

“For 25 years, K.I.D.S. has been helping children and families recover from disasters with generous support from manufacturers and retailers of children’s products,” said K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman. “We were born out of a response by the children’s industries to humanitarian crises in Africa. More recently we helped the survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Indian Ocean tsunami, so our experience has served us well in Haiti.”

Kids in Distressed Situations has worked in Haiti through various partners since 1995, maintaining a constant presence in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau region, providing apparel, shoes and books to vulnerable children. K.I.D.S.’ main partner on the ground in Haiti for this relief effort is Operation Compassion, which has run a program helping Haiti’s poor for at least the last 10 years and is very well established locally. K.I.D.S. is also working together with Fashion Delivers, which solicits donations from the adult product industries to provide clothing, bedding, underwear and other products to families in Haiti.

Last Thursday, 1,300 women were brought to a warehouse compound for distribution of donated products. They were told ahead of time how much food, water, clothes, etc. they were going to be given and, upon receiving the product, many of the women fell on the ground, crying in gratitude. The women were then escorted by security forces back to the area where they are sleeping in groups. This is typical of the distribution process in all of the areas where K.I.D.S. product is going.

“For agencies that did not already have product distribution programs in Haiti, the confusion and delay seen in the news is accurate. For them, there is a lack of coordination, manpower and warehouse space,” said Weinman. “Due to Operation Compassion’s long presence in Haiti, they are working through an established system that was not damaged by the earthquake. Besides distributing the donated product, they are also feeding people, with 50,000 hot meals given out yesterday around the country.”

Recently donated high-priority items are successfully moving into Haiti. On Jan.19, a FedEx plane carried some of these items from K.I.D.S. donors. Larger shipments are moving through Cap Haiten in the north and the Dominican Republic to the east. The first ship-to point in Haiti for K.I.D.S.’ donated product is a secure 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse outside Port Au Prince that was undamaged by the earthquake and aftershocks. On the ground, Operation Compassion routinely works with 100 schools, dozens of orphanages and dozens of smaller warehouse facilities to distribute products in a timely and manageable manner.

K.I.D.S. takes donations of only new products, using industry contacts to get what the Haitian people will need most in the coming weeks and months as they rebuild. Products that are needed for immediate relief efforts include clothes, socks, underwear and blankets. Companies with new product to donate can call 1-800-266-3314 for assistance or use the online form at: http://www.kidsdonations.org/Make_Donation/product_form.cfm

K.I.D.S. is accepting cash donations to help defray the costs to distribute the donated product today and in the months to come. For every $10 in cash, K.I.D.S. can deliver at least $100 of donated products. Cash donations can be taken online at:

http://www.kidsdonations.org/haiti

K.I.D.S. brings hope and self-esteem to more than 4.5 million children and their families each year by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by manufacturers and retailers. The donations are distributed through a network of nearly 1,000 local community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Our efforts reach children who are challenged by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, low literacy, military family service, major illness, incarcerated family members and disaster survival. More information about donating new products and supporting our work is available online at http://www.KIDSdonations.org .

K.I.D.S. Haiti Product Donors, as of Jan. 22, 2010: