It is the day after Easter and not a peep in the house. Where are they? You go upstairs to find two small children fast asleep at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Huh? Why, they are usually wide awake causing chaos and havoc at this time of the day when there is no school. This is the day after. The day after Easter. These children are suffering from the sugar high blues. Easter was wonderful. The children awoke to find beautifully decorated Easter baskets all decked out in colorful cellophane wrap put together by yours truly. Yes, they had far … Continue reading →

There’s a reason I am a Recess Mom and not a Cafeteria Mom. My daughter’s small Catholic elementary school relies heavily on parent volunteers, and while I happily oblige administrators’ requests to wrangle kids on the playground and shelve books in the library, I draw the line at serving hot lunch. I helped out in the cafeteria a few times early in the school year, but now, no more. For starters, lunch duty is a two-hour job, which requires set-up, food distribution, and clean-up. Given that I struggle to find enough time in the day to scrape the ketchup off … Continue reading →

With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month I thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss teeth care in children. Many children do not like to brush their teeth. It is a nuisance to them and cuts in to their time that they could use on other more important issues to them, such as playing. Establishing some basic rules early on in life when they are very small will minimize the negative reaction that you may get when you remind them to go and brush their teeth. If teeth brushing is a part of their daily routine from … Continue reading →

My baby days are officially over. I came to that conclusion at Christmas when I was visiting with a dear friend whose 15-month-old daughter was sporting a cool-looking crystal-like necklace. I went on and on about how cute her little girl looked wearing the amber-colored jewelry and how it coordinated so well with the adorable dress she was wearing and blah, blah, blah. My gushing was abruptly cut short by my friend, who explained that her daughter’s bling had little to do with her being a mini fashionista, and everything to do with alleviating teething pain. “Haven’t you ever seen … Continue reading →

Forget about preventing obesity and reducing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, getting your kids to exercise on a regular basis can actually make him smarter. According to a new study, exercise can make a child’s brain bigger. Translation: If you want a smarter kid, use your own brain and encourage him to get moving… and if you are really smart, you will run a few laps with him. This, according to researchers at the University of Illinois. The new study consisted of two parts: The first featured 9 and 10-year-olds, who were divided into two groups, one deemed … Continue reading →

With a 40-fold increase in bipolar diagnosis for children and adolescents over the last decade, I have to ask what percentage of these kids are really bipolar. The experts claim to be more aware than they were in the 1990’s of bipolar disorder in children. Others say there is more pressure to prescribe drugs. Either way, the statistics are troubling. “The label also gives doctors and desperate parents a quick way to try to manage children’s rages and outbursts in an era when long-term psychotherapy and hospital care are less accessible, they say. In addition, drug makers and company-sponsored psychiatrists … Continue reading →

Just in time for Halloween the Food and Drug Administration has some spooky news for parents: Those so-called healthy cereals you’ve been feeding your kids may not be as nutritious as they claim to be. A while back cereal manufacturers, including Kellogg’s and General Mills, started displaying banners on their boxes announcing that their delicious sugared breakfast treats were “Smart Choices” and “Healthy Choices” respectively. For example, General Mills proudly declares that Cocoa Puffs are a “Smart Choice” for kids, despite the fact that the cereal, which turns leftover milk into fudgy syrup, contains 40 percent sugar. How healthy is … Continue reading →