Baby Loves Disco, a roving dance party for tots and their parents, has really become a Baltimore thing. After the first two events in February and March at Rams Head Live downtown sold out quickly, the group added an April 20 event, and now that's sold out. Tickets are still available (at least, when I looked just now) for two more dates: May 14 and June 10.

Early on in the life of this blog, I posted my review of the Feb. 9 Baby Loves Disco in Baltimore, which might interest you if you're thinking about going. I was less than impressed, as was my 4-year-old son. Obviously, a lot of people out there disagree with me, because they're buying tickets at $12 apiece (kids who can't walk yet get in free).

I'd really love to hear what you think about Baby Loves Disco, especially if you've been. Please post your thoughts below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

One number you didn't see in my post on Disneyland math the other day was how many costumed characters we saw in the park (outside of the parade, which is full of them). That's because, for some reason, there weren't many around. Either we were at the wrong places at the wrong times, or they were hiding from the crowds.

So we opted the next morning for a character breakfast, which is a nice, though pricey, way for your children to get up close and personal with favorite Disney friends. Characters stroll through the dining room and come to each table for autographs and photo ops, so you skip the long lines to greet them in the park. For young children, this might be the main attraction.

You'll need reservations ahead of time; the concierge at our hotel got us into the Chip n' Dale Critter Breakfast at the Grand Californian. During about an hour there the kids got to meet six characters: Chip and Dale the chipmunks, a raccoon, two bears and Pluto, whom we unfortunately called Goofy at first.

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say this happens all the time. Poor Pluto.

Thank goodness he showed up, because the other creatures weren't quite as familiar to my kids. (It might help, if you're planning ahead, to ask about which characters will appear.) But they loved the attention from them just the same. And all of us liked the breakfast buffet, which -- just so you're prepared -- came to $91 including tip for the four of us.

Have you been to character meals at Disneyland or Disney World? Tell us which ones you'd recommend, and whether there are any you'd avoid.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There's an interesting story on the Los Angeles Times web site today about parents wrestling with the circumcision decision. It's interesting to read the statistics behind the debate: In 1965, the story says, 85 percent of boys born in the U.S. were circumcised. In 2005, slightly more than half were.  

How did you make this decision for your son/s? And if you're expecting a boy, is this a topic of debate in your house as birth approaches?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Last week's post on a coming dip in the college population prompted Robert to ask for a consult on how to save for college. It seemed to me a particularly good topic in light of our economic woes.

I asked Christopher Brown, president of Ivy League Financial Advisors in Rockville, to give us five tips for saving for college right now. Here are his thoughts:

--Have a conversation with your spouse. If you haven't already, parents need to have a heart-to-heart about what kind of education they're saving for. "What rate do you want to save at – public or private? How many years do they want to save for?" Brown says, noting that many students do not finish college in four years. "There's no right or wrong answer; it all depends on the situation."

--Pick a target number. Though it may be scary, you need to know the ballpark figure you're shooting for, once you've established what kind of education you're funding. Calculators can be found at savingforcollege.com and collegeboard.com.

(Photo of Christopher Brown courtesy of Christopher Brown)

(Click below for more of Brown's tips...)

--Pick a savings vehicle. Brown thinks 529 savings plans are still a great option because of the tax advantages they offer; if you're worried about the economy or have a child close to college age, choose a more conservative allocation.

--Make a plan for regular savings, and stick to it. Automatic monthly deposits, for example, will help even out stock market bumps. "Try not to obsess about what's going on in the market on a daily basis," Brown says. "If children are under 10, that market volatility is going to work itself out."

--Don't skimp on saving for your own retirement. "We always tell clients that while we understand that they want to be good parents, that kids will always find a way to go to school, but nobody's ever going to lend them money to retire," Brown says.

I'd love to hear how you are going about saving for college -- or from parents who've already survived the experience. Please post your comments below. 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Tomorrow is opening day at Camden Yards, so it seems fitting to point you to a great baseball site for kids and adults to enjoy. The Web site of the National Baseball Hall of Fame fills the bill. You can watch video biographies of Hall of Famers and relive great baseball moments, from Ted Williams' game-winning homer in the 1941 All Star Game to Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,131st consecutive game (and his induction into the Hall of Fame last year). 

By the way, you can find The Sun's coverage of Ripken's road to the Hall of Fame here.

What are your favorite baseball web sites?

(1995 Sun photo of Cal Ripken after he broke Lou Gehrig's streak of consecutive games, by Karl Merton Ferron.)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: On the Web
        

For the second year, Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is running a contest to find Baltimore's top neighborhood moms.

Recognized neighborhood associations have until April 14 to nominate women who have done exemplary work for the community. The winners will be honored at a luncheon this spring.

You can print the nomination form for moms here.

The thing I found most interesting was that you don't actually have to be a mom to win this contest. You just have to have been a great caretaker to a neighborhood -- its parent, if you will. Sort of the flip side of the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Maybe it takes one inspiring person to raise a village....

Whom would you nominate as Baltimore's best neighborhood mom?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

We long planned to visit Disneyland on this California trip, but did we actually plan the visit, as all the guidebooks say you're supposed to?

Well, we planned to plan....but we ran out of time. (I'm blaming it on my devotion to getting you blog readers more posts.)

So without the benefit of strategizing, advance ride selection, etc., here's some of the math on our day in Anaheim:

Cost of four tickets (purchased at a slight discount through a relative's employer): $232

Hours at the park: 9

Rides completed: 6 for daughter, 7 for son

Approximate total hours of waiting (for rides, staking out a parade spot, etc.): 4.5

Wait for the Nemo submarine ride every time we checked: 90 minutes. (We passed.)

Souvenirs: $34

Lunch, dinner and snacks for 4: $90

(Click below to read more ...)

Money saved by buying "autograph books" (ie., regular notebooks with cool covers) at Walgreens instead of official Disney autograph books inside the park: $10

Cost of a "veggie box" at Mickey's Toon Town: $4 (hey, give Disney credit for offering them).

And some non-math facts:

Favorite ride: Alice in Wonderland for 6-year-old girl; Autobia for 4-year-old boy. Dumbo the flying elephant (below) a close second for both.

Best way to see the whole park: the train, which helped us get our only glimpses of New Orleans Square and Frontierland.

Family observation: Tomorrowland is looking a little yesterday.

I know most of you probably go to Disney World in Orlando, as I did when I was a child. I'd love to know your tips for getting the most out of Disney. Please share them in a post below.

(Photos by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Things to Do, Travel
        

The Food Allergy & Anaphalaxis Network is having a conference tomorrow in Baltimore called "Food Allergies: Living and Learning." The conference is open to the public (see prices below), and will include information on helping a child manage food allergies and reactions and on how and when to use epinephrine. There's a special lunch session for teens to discuss handling allergies while dating, traveling and dining out, with a concurrent (but separate) session for parents of teens.

The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, 300 S. Charles St. Online registration is closed, but you can call the FAAN office at 800-929-4040 to register, or do so the morning of the conference.

The registration costs are: Member: $85; Guest: $75; Teen: $65; Nonmember/walk-in: $105; Nonmember Guest: $95; Nonmember Teen: $75.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food and Recipes, Health, Things to Do
        

The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts tomorrow (March 29) and runs through April 13. You can find information on events here. The National Park Service Web site has maps, bloom forecasts and parking information, and you can even use its live "bloom cam" to see footage of the tidal basin before you go.

And you might want to check out our photo gallery of cherry blossoms.

I'm embarrassed to admit that in the 14 years I've lived in Baltimore, I've never made it down to see the cherry blossoms. I, and I'm sure others, would love to know your strategies for taking the family (including your secret parking spaces, of course).

 (AP Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Things to Do
        

My family just got back from a spring break trip to Los Angeles to visit my in-laws. We'd been looking forward to it for months, and not just because we rarely get to see our California relatives. This time, I promised my daughter a visit to American Girl Place.

You probably already know that American Girl dolls are an expensive obsession for girls from, say, 5 up to 12 years old. There are historical characters with inspiring stories, dolls that look "just like me," matching girl-and-doll clothes, dolls for the dolls, and on and on.

They're mostly purchased online, but there are three stores, in New York, Chicago and now at The Grove in L.A., where you can experience full American Girl overload. Since my daughter's birthday is almost here, I told her we could go there and pick out her big present. After months of deliberation, she settled on Samantha, a well-to-do orphan from 1904 that we were told is American Girl's most popular doll.

I was prepared to pay for Samantha -- $90 including paperback book. But I was bracing myself for all the American Girl Place extras. ...

(Photos by me)

For instance, you can have a magazine-cover portrait taken with your doll, eat with your doll in the cafe (lunch goes for about $22 each); 

watch an American Girl theater production; and have your doll's hair done in a "salon" (see below).

Fortunately, Leah's grandmother and I got off pretty easily, even though our little girl was completely captivated when she first got into the store. She listened solemnly as a salesperson told her any of the outfits will fit any of the dolls (good tip I hadn't known about.) Most importantly, this salesperson informed her, "This is American Girl Place, and you get to choose."

Great.

But Leah seemed to embrace the concept of choice, and to understand she couldn't have everything. She picked out a few of Samantha's outfits for relatives to give her for her birthday, and passed on the matching girl clothes. She also decided against the hair salon and the portrait ("we can always take a picture, mom"). I was so impressed with her restraint that I bought an extra surprise or two on the sly.

We skipped the cafe -- I wasn't sure she'd eat anything on the menu -- and opted for a cheap lunch, complete with people-watching, at the Farmers Market next door. The trolley that runs from the market to The Grove is a nice, free treat for kids.

Do you have a daughter who's in love with American Girl? How do you balance her interest and your bank account?

And if you've been to any of the American Girl Place stores and have observations or strategies to share, post below.

Tomorrow, read about our trip to Disneyland.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Travel
        

I was interested to read this story in the Wall Street Journal the other day about the Girl Scouts hiring a new marketing officer to update its image -- and compete with the trend of "non-joining" among adolescent girls. Among the changes to come: the green-skirt uniform for fourth-graders and up will be gone, replaced by a white shirt and khaki skirt or pants with the achievement-badge sash.

I was glad to hear the Brownie uniform for younger girls will stay the same. I still remember how excited I was when I opened my first one. But I have to confess that once I became a Girl Scout, I didn't stay for long. And these days there's even more competition for a girl's time.

Has your daughter joined the Girl Scouts? Why, or why not?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Teens
        

We were on the verge the other night of getting takeout, and we were talking Chinese. Then we thought about the electric bill, the oil bill, the price at the pump, the prices at the grocery store...all going up.

Why not make Chinese at home for a little less money?

Of course, it wouldn't be as authentic. But it would probably be healthier, and it would be a chance to introduce some different foods to our more, um, discriminating eaters.

We figured the egg in the fried rice would be a familiar sight for our kids, who both like scrambled eggs. And they'd get fresh vegetables without a lot of hidden fat and sodium....

(Click the link below to get the recipes)

 (Photo by me)

This didn't go over very well with the kids, though they were intrigued by the baby corn. The adults liked how quick this was to make, and how fresh it tasted. It's easy to substitute fresh vegetables you have on hand. You can use a skillet if you don't have a wok; just remember to cook your vegetables quickly, at high heat, so they don't get soggy.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Vegetables

Serves 4

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast (about ¾ pound), diced

Salt and pepper to taste

5 stalks bok choy (about 1 head), chopped

½ cup snow peas

½ cup baby corn, each piece cut in half

½ cup asparagus spears, each piece cut in thirds

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1/8 teaspoon chili oil (optional)

Add oil to wok and heat over high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper; add chicken to wok and cook through, about 5 minutes; set aside and keep warm. Add vegetables to the wok and stir-fry with a wooden spoon until crisp tender. Stir the chicken into vegetables. Combine hoisin and chili oil, if using, and stir into the mixture until incorporated. Remove from heat and serve.

Per serving: 115 calories, 11 grams protein, 3 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 14 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 18 milligrams cholesterol, 222 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Mary Mullen.

Easy Fried Rice

Serves 4 as a side dish

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 ½ cups cooked long-grain brown rice

½ cup peas (thawed if frozen)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Spray a wok with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the egg and scramble with a wooden spoon; set egg aside. Add vegetable oil to the wok and turn the heat to high. Add rice, scrambled egg and peas. Add soy sauce and agitate the mixture with the spoon, breaking the egg into bite-sized bits. Serve.

Per serving: 126 calories, 5 grams protein, 3 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 20 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 291 milligrams sodium, 53 milligrams cholesterol. Analysis by registered dietitian Mary Mullen.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Staying local with the kids during spring break? Here are some activities you might want to check out this week:

Tuesday (March 25):

Artist or Visionary: Innovative Women Artists - Hear stories and create your own art using their artistic styles at 4 p.m. at the Waverly branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Ages 6-12, 410-396-6053.

Butterflies: Habits and Habitats - A slide show and T-shirt craft event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Hereford branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Ages: younger than 6 with adult. 410-887-1919.

For more events Wednesday through Friday, click the link below ...

Wednesday (March 26):

Science Spectacular: Families can watch a demonstration of science experiments at 2 p.m. at the Essex branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 1110 Eastern Blvd., Essex. Children younger than 6 must be accompanied by an adult. 410-887-0295.

Children’s Story Time: Stories featuring "silly farm animals" will be read at 11 a.m. at Borders, 170 W. Ridgely Road, Timonium. 410-453-0727.

Thursday (March 27)

Anime Club: Includes movie, snacks and a chance to win free anime or manga 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library. Ages 13-17. 410-313-7700.

Friday (March 29):

Making Bluebird Boxes: Learn about the Eastern Bluebird and make your own bird house noon-2 p.m. at the Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Road, Baltimore. Pre-registration required. 410-396-0808.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Today's Guest Dad is.....me. OK, before you feel cheated and enraged, know that I did try two fathers for this Tuesday, but for various reasons -- including the fact that I'm actually on vacation, like many of you -- their posts couldn't be arranged in time. (Remember, I'd love to have Guest Dad volunteers; see my call for them here.)

While I'm not a father, I do live with one and know many more, so I feel qualified to step into their shoes for just a minute. Today, I'd like to talk about Daddy dating.

A few years ago when I was the Sun's family issues reporter, I wrote a fun piece on "mommy dating," which is shorthand for the weird dance moms do to try to make friends with other moms, particularly when their children seem to be getting friendly. The story went into the problems that can arise when the kids click but the moms just don't, and how you get out of a not-so-great mom-to-mom relationship.

So, how do dads make friends with other dads around their children? I've noticed that men seem to feel pretty uncomfortable in this area, and consequently they may feel like they're sort of along for the ride when they get together with another family for the first time.

I know stay-at-home dads naturally have to navigate this terrain on the playground, so maybe they could tell us how they do it. Working dads, do you feel that it's mom's job to form friendships with other families? Would you feel weird about calling another dad (whose child is friends with your child through school) to get together with the kids? Why or why not?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Some parents cook and bake all the time. Some do it when they have time. And some avoid it at all costs.

But every family needs a great brownie recipe.

It's the bake sale standby, the rainy day pick-me-up, the just-because quick project. Brownies are low-maintenance and high-satisfaction.

As a treat for your support of this blog, I thought I'd share the recipe for my latest favorite version. This one comes from The 150 Best American Recipes, a cookbook that has never failed me. These brownies are fudgy and chewy, and best of all, they're as satisfying for adults as they are for kids ... (read on for the recipe)

(Photo by me)

This recipe makes 16 good-sized brownies, but you might find yourself cutting them into more bite-sized portions. They're rich enough that just a little bit does the trick.

Perfect Brownies

Makes 16 brownies

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs

¾ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts or peanuts, toasted (optional)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and set a rack in the lower-middle level. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Fit an 8-by-16-inch sheet of aluminum foil into the pan and up and over two sides, so you can use the foil overhang as handles to pull the cooked brownie out of the pan. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. Set aside.

Melt the chocolates and the butter in a medium bowl over a pan of simmering water (or in a double boiler). Remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each one before adding the next. Continue to whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and glossy. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until just incorporated. Stir in the nuts, if using.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with wet crumbs, 35 to 45 minutes. (Make sure you don’t overcook these; if the toothpick comes out clean, the brownies are overcooked.)

Cool the brownies in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Use the foil handles to pull the one big brownie out of the pan and turn it out on the rack upside down to cool completely, at least 3 hours. (OK, we broke this rule. Pretty much anybody with a hungry child will, and the brownies were still extremely delicious. They’ll seem underdone, but yummily so.)

Cut into squares and serve.

--From “The 150 Best American Recipes,” by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens

Per brownie: 209 calories, 3 grams protein, 12 grams fat, 7 grams saturated fat, 24 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 59 milligrams cholesterol, 99 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Food and Recipes
        

Because it's spring break, and the day after Easter, the Monday Consult is taking a hiatus today. Every now and then, we parents need to take a day away from all the advice out there to trust our own judgment.

Instead of advice, I have a treat for you and yours to bake this spring break week. Look for it later on this morning.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

So the Easter candy's gone already; you didn't make travel plans for spring break; and you're looking for activities to do with the kids this week. Well, if you can't go some place like New York City, I can bring it to you with this week's Web site.

MeetMeAtTheCorner.org offers "virtual field trips for kids." Kids appear in videos that explore places and people famous and hidden in New York City, from a tour of the Empire State Building to an interview with a subway troubador. There are also links to help you plan an actual visit to the Big Apple. 

Do you have good sites to recommend for virtual travel? Please pass them along in the comments section below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

This article on Insidehighered.com brings some good news for the parents of children ages 10 through 16. After years of demographics that allowed top colleges to be highly selective (and made students trying to get into them very anxious), the number of students applying to colleges is expected to take a dip starting next year and ending around 2014.

The report on which the article is based, by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, projects "stable production" of students in Maryland -- between a loss of 5 percent and an increase of 5 percent.

Unfortunately for parents like me, whose kids are a little bit younger, the national pool of applicants is expected to climb back to peak levels by the 2017-2018 academic year. How does this news affect your thinking about -- and saving for -- college for your kids?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Teens
        

Robert wanted me to do a post asking for parents' pet peeves -- but this is not just shorthand for generic complaints. One of Robert's pet peeves is about pets, and the people who see pets as equal to children:

I love animals too, but when you ask me about my kids and I mention a horrifying ER trip or something of that nature, then go on to hear: “I know, its just like when I had to take my dog/cat in for…” Or when you have to leave your kids for a business trip and co-workers sulk about how they had to leave their bird with a friend...

I have to say that before my husband and I had children, our (now sadly departed) sweet dog Rex was pretty much our baby. I distinctly remember that we would sit on the couch and remark over how cute he was when he cocked his head to listen to us. (We also had time to sit on the couch then.)

When the babies came home, he quickly slid to third place on the totem pole. But he was always good-natured about it.

What do you think about people like the ones Robert describes? I wonder what the readers of my colleague John Woestendiek's blog Mutts would have to say about this...

(Photo of Rex courtesy of Bill Rivera)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Students from many local schools will embark on spring break at the end of this week. But the poor state of the economy means many won't be traveling, according to this story from the Associated Press. A recent survey of 600 adults found that nearly half of U.S. families with children said they will scale back spring break plans; a majority of those people said they'll just stay home.

Is your family taking a trip? If so, is this a major vacation or a scaled-back one? Staying home? What went into your decision?

If you're hanging around here, the Maryland Science Center is sponsoring a week of "spring break week explorations" in the third-floor Kids Room. Watch this space for other activities and events. And if you have creative plans you'd like to share with other families who are sticking close to home, please comment below.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Our latest short list of things to do has lots of Easter fun, as well as a Purim event and some art activities. For more Easter doings, visit our holiday roundup.

If we've missed something important you'd like people to know about, please tell us in a comment below. Events can be sent to Jennifer Choi, who compiles this list.

Today (March 20):

Plant a Miniature Garden: Bring your own clean, clear 2-liter plastic soda bottle to the Hamilton branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 5910 Harford Road. 3:30-5 p.m. Ages 6- 12. Free. 410-396-6088.

Wee Workers Toddler Program: Planting Seeds program includes songs, crafts, stories and gallery tours. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. 2:30- 3:30 p.m. Ages 2- 5 years. $5 adults. Children free. Reservations required. 410-727-4808, ext.113.

Drop-by ArtCarts and Map Projects: Art activities for the whole family. The Walters Art Gallery, 600 N. Charles St. Free. 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. 410-547-9000.

For more events Friday and through the weekend, click the link below....

Friday (March 21):

Children’s Purim Celebration: The event includes a costume parade and a mini-carnival. Children are encouraged to dress in costume. Temple Emanuel Learning Center, 909 Berrymans Lane, Reisterstown. 11 a.m. - noon, Ages 2-5 with adult. Free. 410-517-2837.

"Nature's Music": Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, hosts nature stories and crafts 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Ages 2-4 with adult. $5-$10 per child. Reservations required. 410-557-9570, ext. 26.

Drop-by ArtCarts and Map Projects: Art activities for the whole family. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore. 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. 410-547-9000.

Saturday (March 22):

"Easter EGGstravaganza": Face painting, moon bounce, prizes, live music and 15,000 plastic Easter eggs 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Freedom Park, 935 Raincliffe Road, Sykesville. Free. 443-286-6968.

"Breakfast with Bunny": This annual event includes a family breakfast on the Mansion House Porch of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Druid Hill Park, free pictures, animal encounters, conservation talks, crafts and games. 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Reservations required. $25-$40. $10 for children 2 and younger. 410-366-5466.

"Mary Sue Bunny BonanZOO Egg Hunt": From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. children can hunt for Easter eggs and win prizes at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Druid Hill Park. Free with admission. 410-366-5466.

Easter Egg Hunt: Contests, 4H Rabbit presentation, games and a visit by the Easter bunny. Egg Hunts for ages 3-10 years old. Cromwell Valley Park, Sherwood Farm, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road. 10 a.m.- noon. Free. 410-887-2503.

Community Easter Egg Hunt - Activities include storytime, crafts, and face painting. Harvester Baptist Church, 9605 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City. 10:00 a.m.- noon. Free. Ages 2-12. 410-997-4992.

Easter Egg Hunt: Crafts and egg hunt 10 a.m. at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 4701 N. Charles St. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For children 10 years and younger. $5 per child. 410-532-3184.

Baysox Free Family FunFest: This event, in its ninth year, ushers in the Bowie ball club’s coming season with inflatable games; rides; carnival activities; a visit by Louie, the team’s mascot; and free samples of ballpark food. Children also get unlimited access to the Kids Park’s various entertainment, including a moon bounce and carousel. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (rain or shine) at Prince George’s Park, 4101 N.E. Crain Highway, Bowie. Free. 301-805-6000.¶

Sunday (March 23): ¶

"Breakfast with Bunny": See Saturday's listing. 

"Mary Sue Bunny BonanZOO Egg Hunt": See Saturday's listing

Free Family Sundays: Colorful Cloth: Matisse's Textiles: Hands-on art workshops, gallery tours, and more. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. 2 p.m. Free. 443-573-1700.

Family Easter Day Skate and Bowl Party: Easter egg hunt and visit by Easter bunny. Shake and Bake Bowling Center, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. Noon-8 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children. Skate rental and bowling additional. 410-669-9100.

(Sun file photo by Chiaki Kawajiri, 2007)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

I've often been curious about what it's like to be a mom and a pediatrician. On one hand, it would seem you could breeze through life knowing how to handle all the health crises that put the rest of us in a panic.

On the other hand, maybe you know too much. Not to mention how exhausted you must be from taking calls from the rest of us day and night.

Anyway, I thought readers of this blog might be interested to know that two Washington-area pediatricians who graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have launched mommydocs.com to answer parents' questions. You can listen to the doctors' podcasts and read their blog about common medical problems.

If you're a mom-pediatrician reader, I'd love to hear from you how you juggle parenthood and taking care of other people's children -- and whether you ever treat your children yourself.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health
        

My husband had a theory about why our last couple of Dinner Together recipes weren't very successful with the kids (although we liked them). "These aren't foods they recognize," he said. (I thought last week's pizzas were a pretty familiar concept, but he said the portobello "crust" took things too far.)

So I promptly put him in charge of finding this week's recipe. And I learned that when you have dinner together, sometimes it's the parents who have to try a not-so-favorite thing to take one for the team.

John chose a homemade vegetable macaroni and cheese from familyfun.com. I'm not a huge fan of macaroni and cheese, but it's definitely a familiar food to my young ones. Only it's usually a little more orange in color, and not from the carrots you see here....

(Photo by me) 

The good thing about this recipe is that it's designed to use up leftover vegetables you might already have prepared in your fridge. We omitted the broccoli that was in the original recipe to save prep time, and reduced the Tabasco to just a few drops for tender young tummies.

This wasn't the fastest recipe this column has seen, but it did come together in about an hour. It was cheesy and colorful, and I liked it enough to take leftovers for lunch another day.

And the kids? Not thrilled, even when I presented the dish in a heart-shaped plate to make it more fun. But they're very slowly getting used to the new rules of the dinner road, and that's what counts.

Vegetable Mac and Cheese

Serves 4

 2 cups dried tubular pasta, such as elbow macaroni

 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices 

 10 ounces frozen or fresh broccoli, stems sliced, florets separated (optional)

 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed 

 1 cup low-fat plain cottage cheese 

 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (country style) 

 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste (I used just three drops) 

 Salt and pepper to taste 

 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely shredded

 4 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, coarsely shredded 

 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese 

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray or margarine.   Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 4 minutes. Stir in the carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the broccoli, if using, and cook for 2 minutes more. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, and return the pasta and vegetables to the saucepan. Stir in the peas.

    In a food processor, combine the cottage cheese with the reserved liquid from the cooked pasta. Add the mustard, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Stir into the pasta and vegetables. Mix in the cheddar and mozzarella and pour into the baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan.

    Bake uncovered until the top is golden brown (about 20 to 25 minutes), then let it set for 10 minutes to firm up.

--Adapted from familyfun.com

Per serving: 529 calories, 33 grams protein, 21 grams fat, 13 grams saturated fat, 52 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fiber, 69 milligrams cholesterol, 767 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Don't forget that tomorrow is the annual day for elephants with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to chow down on a vegetarian buffet at Lexington Market. Lunch (theirs, anyway) starts at noon, and you can watch them free. They'll be at the South Parking Lot, 400 W. Lexington St. There's information here.

This is a Sun file photo of the 2006 event. Our photographer reported that lunch consisted of 1100 oranges, 1000 red and yellow apples, 500 heads of lettuce, 700 bananas, 500 carrots and a watermelon for each of the ten animals.

(Sun file photo, 2006, by John Makely)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I finally got a chance to catch a repeat episode of Snoop Dogg's "Father Hood" reality show on E! yesterday. In case you haven't tuned in yet, the show follows the rapper's attempt to balance his job as an entertainer with life with his wife and three children.

The show opens with Dogg singing (more or less): "This ain't the Huxtables/But we're living comfortable/And I don't make my kids eat their vegetables."

He can't keep them from scratching his Porsche, either, while he's off in New York at the VH-1 Hip-Hop awards in the episode I saw from last season. As soon as his father leaves, his 10-year-old son -- supposedly being watched by older "honorary son" Anthony -- rifles through the rapper's closet and struts around wearing something that makes him look like a Red Velvet Rabbit. The 10-year-old and his 13-year-old brother persuade Anthony to take them out for a ride in the Porsche. (Snoop Dogg's younger daughter is off with her parents in New York.)

Dogg doesn't break much of a sweat when he learns the Porsche has been towed (though he doesn't see the scratch). We don't see him speaking very sternly to anybody.

Have you been watching this show? What does it say to you about fatherhood and celebrity?

(Photo of Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante Broadus, by Jason DeCrow/Associated Press)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday, Screen Time, Television
        

Today's Guest Dad is Joe Burris, a features reporter for The Sun and the father of two daughters. He wonders whether there's a double standard for dads when it comes to embracing their children. Here's his post:

"I am a very affectionate father. In our family, "huggies" aren't disposable diapers, they're big hugs with my 11-year-old daughter Nyaniso and 2-year-old daughter Onalenna. Often those embraces are the high points of my day - warm, simple pleasures that for me reaffirm how wonderful and precious the gift of life is.

"Oddly enough, I've come across people who have a problem with it. In fact, I've been told by several adults - mostly women - that my hugs are really a subtle attempt to turn Nyaniso and Onalenna into spoiled, "daddy's little girls." There have been several occasions where my wife Mpho and I have embraced our daughters in public; folks say nothing about my wife, but give me an earful.

"The most striking example of this came in the hospital when Onalenna was born. A nurse one day pulled my mother in-law aside and cautioned her to do something about my holding and hugging my then newborn daughter, saying, "It doesn't make sense for a man to hold a child that much." She then went away in a huff when my mother in-law replied, "You can never show a child too much love."

"That is true, isn't it? Are there times when nurturing is gender specific? I don't think so; in fact, I believe that, if anything, those who have complained probably weren't hugged enough."

Have any of you fathers had the same experience as Joe? Please tell us how you handled it.

(Photo of Joe Burris and his daughters courtesy of Joe Burris)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

The Chicago Tribune reports that by tricking the body with medication, herbs, or pumping, adoptive mothers can breastfeed a child without giving birth. The newspaper included stories of mothers who made it work.

This Web site is dedicated to supporting the practice. Here's an older story about adoptive breastfeeding from the Web site of Mothering magazine.

Have any of you readers who've adopted tried to breastfeed? Were you successful? I'm interested in the pros and cons.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Adoption, Babies and Toddlers, Expecting
        

It's the time of year for those questions to surface again. Just when you thought you made it through Christmas...

My daughter loves leprechauns. Sometimes she likes to play leprechaun (and scatter the clothes from the laundry basket mischievously around the house. Too bad I didn't think to tell her that was CLEAN laundry....).

Anyway, recently she put this question to me. My practice, as with queries about the validity of Santa Claus, has been to answer questions with questions.

"Do you believe they're real?" I asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Then it sounds like they're real to you," I said, and we went on to something else.

I know other parents feel very differently about this, and I have no idea if I'm going about it the right way. How do you handle it when your child asks if leprechauns/the Tooth Fairy/the Easter Bunny/Santa Claus really exist?

(Photo by AFP/Getty Images) 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Christine threw out an interesting question last week that I thought would be perfect for this week's Monday Consult. She said her 8-year-old son was glued to last Sunday's astronomy Web site:

I have a hard time deciding how much computer time is ok, especially when he is on educational sites - it seems counterintuitive to ask him to stop learning about astronomy, but he could stay online for hours. Any thoughts?

I asked Michael Brody, a child psychiatrist in private practice in Potomac, to give us his thoughts. Brody teaches a course on children and the media at the University of Maryland and chairs a committee on the subject for the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

I was a little surprised to hear Brody say that he wouldn't have different rules if a site is educational. "Screen time," he says, "is screen time, whether it's watching TV or looking at educational sites on the computer. ... An hour to 2 hours a day is plenty."

 Click the link below to read more of what he had to say...

(Photo of Michael Brody courtesy of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)

Brody says that parents these days are very caught up in the notion of education. "Education is very important to parents, and particularly seductive in this day and age," he said. "However, other experiences are very important for children too…like friends, talking to family members, reading, playing with pets, going outside and sports and so forth."

"Kids need to learn to use their other senses. Even when you read a book, you’re feeling the pages...If you want your kids truly to succeed, they have to learn to socialize." That, he says, means getting outside to play with other kids and getting away from the screen to develop imaginative games and projects.

Parents should set daily limits on screen time, and help enforce those limits by keeping computers in a public part of the house -- not in a child's bedroom, Brody says. That also helps parents monitor Internet use and keep kids safe.

What are your thoughts on screen time, and how do you handle it in your house? 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Screen Time, The Monday Consult
        

Web-surfing Sunday is taking a break this week so that I can bring you some old-media ways to learn about Ireland with your children.

My all-time favorite movie about Ireland -- and pretty much my favorite children's movie in general -- is The Secret of Roan Inish, a 1995 John Sayles film. The lead character is a strong-willed, whip-smart girl named Fiona, who's all about reuniting her family with a lost baby brother. (Warning: the scene when baby brother is "lost," while not violent, may be upsetting to some children, and even generate a tear in soft-hearted parents. But it's worth it in the end.)

The soundtrack is also wonderful, and never fails to get my daughter dancing.

The Parents' Choice Foundation, a national resource in Timonium that reviews a range of children's toys and media, has compiled a short list of classic Irish books appropriate for children.

I'd like to know about your family's favorite books and movies for learning about Ireland and celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Please tell us about them below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Associated Press reports that because of concerns about a chemical used to make plastic baby bottles, glass bottles are making a comeback. But there are concerns about those, too -- they're breakable, for one thing, and more expensive.

Have you used glass baby bottles? Let us know the pros and cons, and if you have any local sources for them, please share in a comment below.

(Associated Press photo of Dr. Brown's Natural Flow glass bottles)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Speaking of Easter, before you know it we'll be hard-boiling those eggs.

Want to dye Easter eggs without the chemicals this year? This page on recipetips.com shows you how to do it with natural ingredients such as turmeric, cabbage and beets.

By the way -- in case you like your eggs to be right on trend -- the folks who make PAAS dye kits have released their Easter 2008 Color Forecast. They report in a press release that "teal, reminiscent of sky and water, is poised to take on last year's favorite, purple, as 2008's most fashionable Easter egg color."

If you've got a good strategy for getting your eggs the perfect teal color, please share it with us in the comments section below.

(Photo courtesy of recipetips.com)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Things to Do
        

KQ Mom asked the other day about where to find a program to sign her 5-year-old up for spring soccer or lacrosse, and I've been meaning to answer her question.

It appears that the most efficient way to explore kids' sports in your area is to go through local recreation councils. This Baltimore County site has links to a number of local councils with various activities, and a phone number to call if you don't see yours listed. In Howard County, you can download a schedule of spring and summer activities (including youth sports) here. Anne Arundel County has links to its councils here, and you can download a Baltimore city program guide here (look for it along the right rail of the site). Links to Harford County's councils are here, and Carroll County's are here.

I'm sure there may be some groups not covered in these guides or through these links. If you're part of one that is still signing up spring players, please post information in the comments section below.

(Photo of helmets courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Sports
        

Now that the celeb mother of four has shown off another baby bump, her growing brood with Brad Pitt is the subject of more discussion, such as this one on The O'Reilly Factor the other night. A psychotherapist came on the show and said that some women having so many children close together are "trying to fill a void."

Funny, I didn't read anything in the transcript (which veers off halfway through into the Eliot Spitzer case) about whether Pitt has any voids to fill.

What do you think?

(Photo by Gabriel Bouys, AFP/Getty Images)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers
        

The confluence of St. Patrick's Day next Monday and Easter the week after makes this a rich weekend for family activities. Here are some highlights. For a more complete list, don't forget to check the activities calendar on the right rail of the blog (click on "Activities" for March 13.)

Remember, we love events (and pictures to go with them). Please e-mail details to Jennifer Choi, who compiles this list, and/or add them in the comments below.

Click on the link below to read about events Friday and this weekend....
  
(Sun file photo of St. Patrick's Day decorations by Lloyd Fox)

“Magic Pots and Recycled Bottles”: Kathleen Jacobs & Puppets present this story about a cleaning lady who recycles puppets and folktales 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Slayton House Theatre, 10400 Cross Fox Lane. 410-730-3987 or $5-$6.

St. Patrick's Day Public Skating Session: Dominic Mimi DiPietro Family Skating Center, 200 S. Linwood Ave., celebrates with green ice, shamrock-shaped cookies, green punch, a pot of “gold” candy, face painters, arts & crafts tables, a “magic” bunny rabbit, a balloon-artist and Irish music. Event runs 7 p.m.-9 p.m. $4 admission. $2 skate rental. 410-396-9392.

This weekend:
   
“Breakfast with Bunny”: This annual event, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, includes a family breakfast on the Mansion House Porch at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, free pictures, animal encounters, conservation talks, crafts and games. Runs 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Reservations required. $25-$40. $10 for children 2 and younger. 410-366-5466. 
   
“Stevens Puppets”: A puppet show for the whole family (under age 6 with adult). 11 a.m. Saturday at Towson Library, 320 York Road, Towson. Free. 410-887-6166.

Going Green: Port Discovery Children's Museum in Baltimore, 35 Market Place, celebrates St. Patrick's Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while educating children on the importance of being "green." The program includes eco-friendly craft activities, presentations and programs. A NASA representative, Bubbles the Clown and the Elite Angels Cheerleaders will also attend. Admission $11.75. Children under 2 free. 410-727-8120.

“Mary Sue Bunny BonanZOO Egg Hunt”: Children can hunt for Easter eggs and win prizes from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Druid Hill Park. Free with admission. 410-366-5466.
   
Drop-in Space Art: The Walters Art Museum has drop in "space" art activities from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays for the rest of March. (Great for kids who enjoyed last Sunday's astronomy sites.) Free. 

St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Washington monument in Mount Vernon. You'll find details and the parade route here.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Don't miss our story today about the new monthly "Boot Camp for Dads" program at Anne Arundel Medical Center. It's a different way of catering specifically to new fathers. You can find out more by visiting the hospital's web site or calling 443-481-4000. The workshop costs $50.

Has anybody out there attended this program? I'm sure other parents would like to hear about whether you found it helpful. And if a program like this was closer to your home, would you be interested?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

If your kids are fans of the local group Milkshake, they might have fun taking part in this little contest to celebrate the 40th birthday of Mini-Club Med, a sort of Club Med for kids.

The resort had the Baltimore band write three songs about its newest family destination, Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, to mark the Mini Club Med milestone. (I was surprised to hear something like that had been around since 1968.)  You can go here to listen to the songs and vote for your favorite through March 28. The winning song can be downloaded April 7.

(Photo of Milkshake courtesy of the band)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The kids like pizza. They like hamburgers (at least the taste, if not how they're made). Portobello mushrooms taste a bit like hamburgers, are high in niacin and potassium, and can stand in for pizza crust. Portobello pizzas will make us all happy, right?

Well, maybe they'll make your family happy.

Even though we tucked the spinach for their pizzas under a bigger mound of cheese than you see in this picture, the children were less than enthused. And they didn't touch the broccoli or the sweet potato.

 I was sorry that they missed out on the easy homemade pizza sauce...

that we found and adapted from recipezaar.com. My husband put it together in about 20 minutes, and it tasted much better than the bottled sauces I've tried. But if you're in even more of a hurry, a bottled sauce would be just fine, too.

Leah says she might be more willing to eat a portobello burger. Stay tuned.

Portobello Pizzas

Makes 5 small pizzas

Sauce:

One 5 ½ ounce can tomato paste

1 cup water

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon dried basil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Portobellos:

5 large portobello mushroom caps, gills scraped out with a spoon

½ cup baby spinach leaves

¾ cup low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine ingredients for the sauce in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

When sauce is finished, spread on each of the portobello caps. Top with spinach, then cheese. Bake for 5-6 minutes, until the cheese has melted.

Note: The sauce recipe doubles easily, so you can make a larger batch to keep on hand for another night.

Per serving: 107 calories, 8 grams protein, 4 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 12 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 9 milligrams cholesterol, 3 milligrams fiber. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

I'm looking for some engaging local guest dads to post on future Father's Day Tuesdays. If you have a topic for discussion or very short tale to tell that would be of interest to a wide audience of parents, please send me an email with a sample post. You'll need to include your full name and the town where you live, and your phone number (just for my use, so I can get in touch with you.)

 The final, public post will need to include your full name and town as well, just so you know. If you have a picture that includes your kids to include with the post, that's a bonus; please e-mail it, too.

 Here are some of the kinds of dads I think might be interesting to hear from:

 --A divorced dad who can tell us how he navigates primary or joint custody;

--A single dad raising a girl (or more), or a married dad who can write about what it's like to be the only male in a houseful of girls and women;

 --A brand-new dad who can talk about how he bonds with a baby who just wants to nurse.

I'm sure you can think of many other things you'd like to see a guest dad address. If you just want to suggest a topic for guest dad, please post it in a comment below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Since it's Father's Day Tuesday, I thought we might discuss a recent paper on men's contributions to household duties by sociologists at the University of California-Riverside and Ben Gurion University. The research found that men’s contributions to household chores have doubled since the 1960s, to more than 30 percent of the total from about 15 percent.

The average woman with children who is employed full or part time is doing two fewer hours of housework per week than in 1965. Yet she's doubled the amount of time she spends with the children, and fathers tripled their contributions to child care.

 "Men and women may not be fully equal yet, but the rules of the game have been profoundly and irreversibly changed," the paper says.

How does this play out in your house?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

If your child is a fan of Clifford the Big Red Dog, and doesn't have to go to school too early tomorrow, you might want to head over to the Arbutus branch of the Baltimore County Public Library tonight. There's a pajama story time at 7 p.m. for children ages 2-6, starring the lovable red mutt.

Children are encouraged to wear pajamas (hey, why not grownups?). You'll find more information here or by calling 410-887-1451. The library is at 1581 Sulphur Spring Road, Arbutus.

(Sun file photo of Clifford the Big Red Dog character)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

For this week's Father's Day Tuesday, I wanted to get back to a question Robert asked early on: 

The one thing I'd like to discuss is how other working Dads work to develop a close bond with their children when Mom is the one they see all day. My two year old and I have a great relationship but sometimes I need to work twice as hard for his affection, I wonder if other Dads face this issue.

This week's Guest Dad is my friend Howard Libit, The Sun's assistant managing editor for breaking news, whose son is also (almost) 2. As you can imagine, the length of Howard's work day depends on something out of his control -- the news. Here's his post:

"This question is something I struggle with all the time. My wife picks up our almost 2-year-old son from day care each day around 4:45 or 5, and she spends each weeknight evening with him -- including dinner and bathtime. I almost never get home from work before his bedtime, which is 8 p.m.

"So I try to set up my own rituals with my son. Mornings are our time -- whenever he wakes up, I get him out of bed and change him. We play together for a little while, and then eat breakfast together. (He especially likes eating from "daddy's cereal.") I get him dressed for day care, and then I drop him off. My wife is usually around in the morning, but I'm the one who is more focused on him. It's only about 90 minutes together each day -- as opposed to the three hours my wife gets each night -- but it's our way of bonding.

"The other big piece is weekends. Grocery shopping has become the ritual for my son and me -- our piece of together-time, either Saturday or Sunday mornings. My wife gets a little alone-time in the house, and we get to pick out red apples and visit the "cheese man" -- the deli counter guy who usually slips my son a piece of cheese. Even on weekends, we usually keep up the rituals. I still handle the mornings, letting my wife sleep in a bit. And I try not to disrupt her ritual of bathtime with our son.

"So every morning, I get a reminder that I'm still the subject of my son's affection. Whenever he wakes up and wants attention, he always calls for Daddy. Of course, when it's 2 a.m., I'm not always sure I want quite that much affection."

If you're a dad who often works late or travels, how do you stay connected with your children? How does the dynamic change when there's more than one child? Please let us know by commenting below (don't forget to hit the blue Comments button to get the posting form.)

(Photo of Howard Libit with his son, Elliot, courtesy of Howard Libit)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Don't forget that tomorrow is Father's Day Tuesday. Our Guest Dad will tell us how he stays connected to his young son while working long hours. I'm sure many of our dad and mom readers can relate to that challenge.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Susan Reimer is writing a piece for our Taste section about the increasing interest in veganism and vegetarianism on the part of teenage girls and young women, spurred in part by books like Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. She'd like to talk to a local parent or two of a vegan or vegetarian girl who's still living at home about how you integrate your daughter's diet with the family's, and about how you approach any health concerns you might have about the way your perhaps-still-growing girl eats.

If you'd be willing to talk to Susan, please email her at susan.reimer@baltsun.com.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food and Recipes, Health
        

You may have missed Amy's great comment over the weekend. She's an expectant mom who would like a blog category for moms to be. She rightly points out that she probably has more time now to read the blog than she will when her baby comes in June. And now's when she could use our help with the following:

I'd love to know of a local place to look for cribs and such so I don't have to resort to a chain. I'd love to know if any Baltimore moms use diaper services (I've had a hard time finding any on the internet) or use gdiapers to try to be a bit more green ...?

 Does anyone have advice for Amy? (She got two good tips under her comment already, but I know there's more intel out there.) Please give us some ideas for her crib purchase, which as we all know is one of the most important and nerve-racking a new mom will ever make. And I'd love to hear about cloth diaper services; I'd like to post more on green parenting later, but if you have any leads now I'm sure readers could use them. Meanwhile, there's now a new Expecting category along the right rail, where you'll find posts of use to families awaiting a new addition. Thanks for the idea!

(Sun file photo, 2006, of Graco Windsor Travel Lite Crib)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Expecting
        

Last week Susan K, a single mom, wrote for help with her 12-year-old. He's very smart, she said, but "lazy" when it comes to school. She's tried both punishment and incentives (like letting him pick their summer vacation destination) to get him to do better, but nothing has worked.

I called Douglas MacIver, a principal research scientist who studies middle schools at the Johns Hopkins University's Center for the Social Organization of Schools, and the father of boys who are in eighth and ninth grade right now. He suggests going in another direction: Harnessing your kid's passion.

"What do they dream about doing when they grow up?," MacIver asks. "For a child who spends a lot of their time watching Animal Planet, let's say, and who whenever they go to library checks out all the animal books they can find, if either the parent or a teacher can when possible make some of those natural connections between what some of their passions are and what they are learning about, it makes a huge difference. Too often, the teachers don't know their kids even well enough to make those natural connections."

The key, MacIver says, is to try to bring the passion to the classroom. If possible, Susan might ask for a meeting with her son's team of teachers to talk about what they have already tried with him, and what they see as his interests. "Explore with the teachers for how many of the assignments is there a choice, an opportunity to do something related to what you're interested in," MacIver says. Then ease up on punishments and inducements, and focus on helping the child get excited about his chosen project for that quarter of the school year.

MacIver also suggests getting some other adults involved -- especially someone who is doing now what Susan's son might dream of doing someday. That person might be able to explain to her son how what he learns in school now is relevant to following his interests later, in a way that Susan can't.

"Once children do reach early adolescence, they will often take some guidance from a mentor that they won't take from a parent," MacIver says. "Sometimes the homework battle or the effort battle will be where the child will be resisting for reasons that have nothing to do with school. It's just an arena to fight some other battle that the parent and the child are fighting." A summer camp that focuses on something her son is interested in might provide opportunities for him to explore those interests while meeting some mentors.

Do you have other ideas for Susan? Please let us know by commenting below.

(Photo of Douglas MacIver, courtesy of Douglas MacIver)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Make sure to tune in first thing tomorrow morning for the latest Monday Consult. I've got some ideas from an expert for Susan K, who asked last week:

How do you motivate a kid to do better in school. I am a single mom to a 12 y.o. boy who is very smart, but much like I was at that age, he is lazy. Punishments (no computer, tv, or video games) and bribes (when we get our few hundred bucks from the gov't this summer, we can go on vacation - you can pick where we go - within reason) aren't working as well as I would have hoped. Nor is the promises of having the most awful summer of his life by making him do chores, not only around our house, but for everyone who lives in our building - ALL SUMMER! How can you motivate them to do well in school/life just because - not for a reward or to escape punishment! Any suggestions?

Remember, you too can get your parenting questions answered by an expert. And you can weigh in with your own ideas for Susan, parent-to-parent. Just let us hear from you in the comments below, or in an email.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

When I got home on a recent evening, I knew I had this Sunday's web site nailed. My 4-year-old was glued to kidsastronomy.com, and insisted on going over the planets with me. Though he can't quite read yet, he pointed out each one correctly by its shape and distance from the sun.

Then he said, "That's Pluto. I'm so sad about him. He died."

Well, not quite, honey. Pluto was just fired from being a planet.

Anyway, this is a great site. You can play games to learn the constellations, watch how the night sky changes and hear songs to help you remember why we need the sun. I'd say it's appropriate for preschoolers and kids in the early elementary grades.

Do you have favorite web sites for kids who are interested in space? Please post below.

(Photo of Jupiter flyby in early 2007 provided by NASA to the Associated Press)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: On the Web
        

Parenting is a game that changes constantly. One minute, you're all about how to get that baby to sleep. The next, you're wondering when she's going to walk. And before you know it, you'll barely remember those obsessions, because now you're worried about whether she's old enough to date.

That, my friends, is why the handy categories are on the right rail of our blog. Because a post that might not have applied to you last month may seem suddenly relevant today, we've preserved them for you under areas of interest. If you want to catch up on past installments of Father's Day Tuesday, Dinner Together or our Monday consultations with parenting experts, they're all there, too. (There's even a category on how to use the blog, in case you're not sure about how to post a comment.)

If those are still too general for what you're looking for, you'll also find a search engine on the right that will let you look for posts by keyword.

Is there a category I haven't covered yet that's of burning interest to you? I'm all ears; let me know by posting a comment below, or in an e-mail.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: How to Use and Comment on This Blog
        

It's been debated for years whether there's a link between childhood vaccines and autism, with many research studies concluding there was no connection, and a small but vocal cadre of parents with autistic children fervently believing otherwise.

Now, the Sun reports today, federal health officials have acknowledged that a series of vaccines given to a now-9-year-old girl when she was living in Ellicott City years ago worsened an underlying condition and led her to be diagnosed with autism. The Centers for Disease Control is telling the public that the girl's case was unique, and that immunization is safe and vital to protect children from diseases. Still, officials are worried this case will make parents reluctant to have their children vaccinated.

How do you react to this news? I'd like to hear from pediatricians, parents, and pediatrician/parents.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Health
        

It may not even be spring yet, but parents know it's always later than you think. Time to figure out what your child is doing this summer, especially if you are planning on sending her to camp.

 If you haven't made a decision yet, or you're looking to explore some new options, you might want to check out the annual Baltimore's Child camp fair from 12-3 p.m. Sunday at the Crowne Plaza, 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium. (For more information, call 410-367-5883.) You can meet camp directors and collect brochures on different programs. If you can't make the fair, there's a virtual version at the magazine's web site, with listings for more than 300 area camps.

I thought it would be helpful if parents could share some reviews here of camps their children have attended in the past. Which programs did your children love, and why? Which didn't quite work for you, and why not? Please tell us by hitting the blue "Comments" link below.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's Out, Things to Do
        

It hadn't occurred to me until recently that the inconveniences of having braces include not being able to eat a lot of things easily.

Hard foods. Sticky foods. Stuff that's difficult to brush away.

If you're dealing with these issues in your house, you might want to check out this link from the American Association of Orthodontists, which offers "braces-friendly recipes" from chefs like Chicago's Gale Gand.

That's her Chocolate-Baked Bananas Over Ice Cream at right. You can watch a video of Gand making the recipe here.

Just how painful, or not, has your experience with braces been? I'm sure parents with up-and-coming brace wearers (I may be included in this group) would love to hear how you've helped your children through it. Please tell us by commenting below.

(Photo courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Yesterday's post about the new multimedia symptom tracker at parenting.com sent me digging into the album for this picture last night. Baby girl was just 9 months, and my parents, bless their hearts, had treated my family, my brother and his wife to a Caribbean cruise.

The first or second night, my folks had offered to babysit while the two younger couples enjoyed a rare evening out sans kids. We had just climbed into the hot tub with our little umbrella drinks when my dad ran up in a panic.

Seal cough.

We raced down and found baby barking up a storm. I'd read about croup, but to hear it, in a baby so many miles from home, was really scary. I did remember the advice I'd read about getting the child some cool night air (just as Christine mentioned in her comment).

Fortunately, my folks had sprung for a balcony. The little girl and I stayed out there all night, and in the morning, my husband snapped this picture.

For me, it captures what parenting is all about. It's an image of an exhausted mother, to be sure, but she's in a beautiful place with a child who, so sick hours before, appears miraculously healed in that way only young kids do. What could be better?

Do you have pictures you love with your kids of times that were hard -- but worth it? Please send them to me in an email and I'll post them here. And do tell us the stories that go with them, either in a comment below or with the pictures.

(Photo courtesy of me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers, Health
        

This weekend brings the dreaded "spring forward" part of Daylight Savings Time. While it's great that spring is almost here, losing an hour is a headache for many parents. The Monday morning after the Sunday when you set the clocks ahead can be downright ugly. The kids are still getting up at 6:30 or 7 for school -- hard enough to begin with -- but now it feels like 5:30 or 6.

What are your strategies for helping kids -- and yourself -- adjust to the new time? By the way, today's Ask The Expert  feature in the Sun is about the time change and insomnia. I was amused to note at the end of the piece that the expert said she lost a lot more sleep with young children than she did as an on-call doc.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

You may have noticed the usual Wednesday list of events post didn't show up yesterday. That's because I wanted to save it for today to highlight the fact that the activities calendar that goes with our LIVE! section -- which comes out on Thursday -- is now available all the time in the rail on the right. You'll not only find current family events there, but ongoing information for family venues, such as museums and the zoo. (When you go there, you need to click the word "activities" in blue to get the list.)

I'll still be doing posts with a short list of goings-on I think would be especially interesting. And we're working on expanding the family events we have. As always, I could use your help with that. If you have an upcoming event that is open to the general public and meant for families, please send the news to jennifer.choi@baltsun.com or post it below. We love pictures we can use to go with events; please attach those to your e-mail.

(Photo of Rick Recht courtesy of The Associated)

Friday:

Cylburn’s Nature Story Hour: Children ages 3-6 can hear stories about insects, flowers, trees, wildlife, and other aspects of nature, 10 a.m. at the Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. If weather permits, a brief nature walk will follow. Free. Call 261-5056 or go to cylburnassocation.org.<

Campfire Hikes: Tell stories around a campfire while dining on s’mores at Gwynns Falls Trail’s Windsor Mill Trailhead, located on the 4300 block of Windsor Mill road. The event begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5. Advance registration requested. Call 410-396-0440.

This weekend:

“Alice In Wonderland”: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Timothy's School, 8400 Greenspring Ave., Stevenson. $12. Call 410-828-1814 or go to pumpkintheatre.com.<

“Peter Pan”: Childrens Playhouse of Maryland Inc. presents this classic at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at CCBC-Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Rosedale. $10. Call 410-780-6369 or go to ccbcmd.edu.

 “Rick Recht”: This musician brings his repertoire of family-friendly rock to the Gordon Center for Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, at 4 p.m. Sunday. $5. Children admitted free. Call 410-369-9303 or go to gordoncenter.com.<

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

The floor's open.

What's your most important question involving your kids right now? Remember, you can use a first name or just a handle, so that teenager who's been caught looking at overly mature sites won't know you're asking in a public forum about how to deal with him.

Kris suggested a fire safety primer, which I think is a great idea for the near future, but since she supplied last week's question I'd like to give others a crack at it. (In the meantime, here's a link to our story the other day on smoke detectors, which has lots of vital information about how to prevent and escape from a fire.)

Let's hear from all of you, including all the wonderful stay-at-home dads who showed up yesterday.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Parenting.com has a great new resource for parents -- an online symptom checker, developed in cooperation with the faculties of Harvard and Dartmouth medical schools, with audio and video of children with common illnesses. You can hear what croup with stridor sounds like and watch how a child with a stiff neck (a sign of meningitis) behaves.

It's painful to watch the videos of these sick children (though they are later seen getting better). But I suspect this will be valuable for many of you, especially when a child suddenly gets sick in the middle of the night. Sometimes all the books in the world just don't really tell you what you're looking for.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers, Health
        

In even more of a hurry than usual for this week's Dinner Together, I turned to a one-pot meal that made good use of the sausage I had just bought. For this streamlined version, I didn't even consult a recipe.

Unfortunately, my dear daughter thought it looked awful (even though I made sure to leave the sausage out of hers).

She didn't even want to try it. I told her that was fine, but she wouldn't get her normal after-dinner treat (usually a cookie or a square of chocolate) unless she took at least a couple of bites. She finally tried it, but gave the dish two thumbs down.

My carnivore son didn't want to try this either. But he did end up liking it, and ate plenty...

The good news is that this recipe couldn't be easier, and it mixes decent at-the-ready canned ingredients with fresh meat and veggies. Hopefully it'll go over better at your house. 

Sausage with Chard, Cannellini and Tomatoes

Serves 4

1 pound sweet Italian sausage

One can cannellini beans, about 15 ounces, drained and rinsed

One 14 ½ ounce can diced tomatoes with their juices

1 head Swiss chard

1-2 teaspoons dried oregano

Coat a Dutch oven with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Remove casings from sausages and crumble into pan; cook until browned. Add beans and tomatoes and stir. Meanwhile, wash chard thoroughly by swishing in several bowls of cold water. Drain and tear into pieces. Add to Dutch oven, stirring into mixture and cooking just until chard is slightly wilted. Stir in oregano to taste and serve.

Per serving: 315 calories, 17 grams protein, 16 grams fat, 6 grams saturated fat, 25 grams carbohydrate, 7 grams fiber, 33 milligrams cholesterol, 713 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Dining blogger extraordinaire Elizabeth Large just posted this query about restaurants where you can feel comfortable taking an infant. I told her our audience would definitely have ideas about it, so feel free to comment there -- and come back here to talk about it some more.

Because we really love food, my husband and I found that not being able to dine out at a lot of our old favorite places was one of the more jarring aspects of becoming parents. Here are a few places we've been comfortable taking the kids:

--For special occasions, Gertrude's at the BMA. Added bonus -- paper table coverings with crayons.

--For breakfast, Golden West in Hampden (you'll see it's already on Elizabeth's radar.) We've also had good luck at Cafe Hon in Hampden and Miss Shirley's in Roland Park, especially now that it's expanded.

--When my daughter was just about 8 months old, we took her to the now-closed Polo Grill for Thanksgiving dinner. We thought we were just too overwhelmed to make the traditional dinner, and it was just the three of us. We had a great time cooing over her, and she was in a sunny mood. But the rest of the restaurant seemed so chaotic, and it just didn't seem right to be out on Thanksgiving. We bought some Cornish game hens and made another Thanksgiving dinner at home the next day.

Where do you feel comfortable taking the kids? And what do you think makes a restaurant infant/kid-friendly, or not?

(Sun photo by David Hobby/2005)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Our story on so-called "helicopter parents" disrupting teachers' work is getting a lot of attention online today. There's a thread about it on our InsideEd blog, but it's a complex issue that, I think, also deserves discussion here.

Putting aside obvious harassment of anyone -- which I think we can all agree is wrong -- what are the right and the wrong ways to deal with your children's teachers? How does it change as the kids progress from preschool to elementary, to middle school and beyond?

Parents, I'd like to hear success stories of great partnerships you've established with your children's teachers, and how you did it. Teachers, we'd love to hear the same from you (I know the flip side of this is that many of you wish some parents were more involved.)

I've been meaning to invite teachers and other caregivers onto the blog for a while, and this seems like the prime time for them to come on down. We could use all the guidance we can get about how best to work together to help our kids be successful and safe in school. Please give us your ideas by hitting the blue Comment link below.

By the way, you might want to pick up the latest Baltimore's Child magazine, which has a story reprinted from TeacherMagazine.org called "Parents Are From Mars, Teachers Are From Venus."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

You may remember that last Tuesday, Robert graciously asked the moms out there how the dads in their lives could do better at parenting. There were a couple of interesting responses -- and, moms, it's never too late to add your own under that post. In fact, you might want to hurry over and do that. Because today....

What's good for the gander is good for the goose. We ask dads to tell us how the mothers in their lives can do better for the family.

I'm a little scared about this -- didn't I say before that I was fair game? -- so I'm going to head off my husband's post with a preemptive strike. Here's how I could improve as a mom:

--I should take more deep breaths, especially during the morning school rush.

--I should watch and learn from his incredible patience.

--I should hold on to my confidence as a mom, and shake off toxic parental guilt.

Dads, please comment below. (Remember you can use a first name, a handle or no name, and that you must click on the word "Comments" in blue to get to the posting form.)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

When Brian asked for tips on how to be a stay-at-home dad for his infant daughter, I turned to Guest Dad Will Morton, who's been the full-time caregiver to his children for four years now.

Here's his post. If you have questions for Will, ask them in a comment below, and he'll check back periodically to answer.  

To the soon-to-be first-time at-home-dad: Bravo! You’re doing a wonderful thing for your family. I’ve been an at-home dad in Baltimore County for four years, now with a 2-year-old girl and an almost-5-year-old boy. There are times when you want to tear your hair out (inconsolable baby while you’re trying not to burn supper) and times when you wouldn’t trade it for anything (feet in kiddie pool at 4:30 on Friday while your old colleagues are still at the office). To help you cope, here are a few quick tips.

  Find support. The good news is you’re not alone. There are other at-home dads out there, you just have to find them. I found a group of five to 10 guys from Cockeysville to Canton who meet weekly, alternating in-home play with outings. Those switch between free places such as playgrounds and libraries and pay locations such as Port Discovery or the Zoo. We talk about everything from sports to spouses, home improvement to how to deal with kid behavior.

 Love your wife. Try to show sympathy toward her as she returns to work. She might feel like the world’s worst mommy abandoning her child. You might want to call her at 5:45 to ask why she hasn’t left work yet when the screaming baby needs to nurse at 6. But it helps you both to remember (1.) your child is getting loving care every day and (2.) you’re saving a bundle on day care.

 Get out of the house every day. Strap on the Snugli and soak up all the big smiles people give a man carrying a baby. When they ask, patronizingly, “Is daddy babysitting today?” just tell them, “Nope, daddy’s on duty every day.” And shut them up with a smile.

 You’ll get your sea legs soon. It might seem impossible to juggle crying baby with fixing supper and cleaning the house. Ignore the books and know you’ll stumble as you figure out what works for you. You’ll figure out that 99 percent of the time, a crying baby is hungry, poopy or tired. Fix those, and you’re all set. You’ll learn that you can nap when the baby naps, and Daddy’s a much happier person. And there are healthy convenience foods. Ninety-second microwaveable rice saves me all the time.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Those of you who read and were concerned about Wendy Kaufman's post the other day about her twins learning to recognize the logos of fast-food chains like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts may be interested in this update on Kris H.'s blog today. When Kris, who is about to send her child to a Baltimore County school, read about Wendy's concern here at Charm City Moms, she called officials about the policy and reported what she found out.

I'm glad to hear about Kris's post because it shows the potential of this blog to unite parents who are concerned about certain issues but might not otherwise meet. The larger our community gets, the more effective it will be at putting people together. So please tell all your friends about Charm City Moms!

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Fathers and mothers, don't forget that tomorrow is Father's Day Tuesday. I'm really glad that a veteran stay-at-home dad has agreed to pass on his short list of tips for a new father (and, of course, all the rest of you.) You won't want to miss it.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Sounds like plenty of local folks turned out at the opening weekend for the Maryland Zoo, waiting for Felix the elephant to give birth to a not-so-little one. Here's our story.

One line in our coverage that leapt out at me: Elephant pregnancy lasts 22 months, as opposed to human pregnancy, which just feels that long.

If you went to the zoo last weekend, I'm curious how it was. The zoo's been going through lots of changes in recent years. Was there anything new (besides soon-to-be-momma Felix) that captivated your kids?

(Photo courtesy of the Maryland Zoo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

An essay in the Chicago Tribune over the weekend caught my eye. It's by a psychologist who claims that "overindulged and overprotected kids are going to be the next psychiatric vogue."

This isn't a new idea, but it has been gaining traction in wider circles in the past few years. Books like last year's No: Why Kids -- of All Ages -- Need to Hear It, by David Walsh, and How Much Is Enough?: Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children -- From Toddlers to Teens, by Jean Illsley Clarke, Connie Dawson, and David Bredehoft, cover similar ground.

Yet when I had my first child almost 7 years ago, I remember being told to avoid saying the word "No" at all costs, and instead to phrase my directions in a positive way. To tell the kids what to do, not what not to do.

I still think in that context avoiding "No" can be good advice, but of course in the heat of the moment (such as when my son had an extended period of wanting to run into the street), I quickly abandoned the policy.

What are you saying "No" about to your kids these days? Do you feel like you're the only one saying it?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Yesterday was the big Dr. Seuss birthday -- and starting today, there's food to go with. This is from a press release from IHOP restaurants: 

"Rainbow-speckled pancakes, Jello-O filled juice and Green Eggs & Ham are making their way onto IHOP’s menu this March to celebrate the opening of the Dr. Seuss film, Horton Hears a Who!" 

Starting today, IHOP will offer "Seuss inspired dishes, including colorful creations like Who-Cakes, Mayor’s Breakfast, Jo-jo’s Kid’s Breakfast and Beezlenut Splash."

I'm not sure if that's one order or two different ones pictured on the right, but it looks like it could feed the whole family.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Food and Recipes, Things to Do
        

This week's answer goes out to Kris H., who wondered:

How do you teach kids to "not talk to strangers" while also teaching them to have good manners (which includes talking to strangers)?

Good question. I've experienced confusion from my kids on that score, and I'm not sure I did a good job answering them.

I think Joan Grayson Cohen, a lawyer and social worker, does a better job here. As senior manager of access services for Jewish Family Services  in Baltimore and Jewish Community Services, she is responsible for oversight of outreach programs serving families and children. She's also written a coloring book for parents to use with children called "Playing It Safe With Your Child: Eli and Ellie Learn About Safety.”

To read her answer, click on the "Continue reading" link below...

"Although the question is phrased as 'how to teach kids not to talk to strangers while also teaching them to have good manners,' I think the question could be how to teach our kids to talk to others safely.' What I mean by this is, arming our children with language and choices about who to talk to and when to talk to others, in order to keep them safe. Our job as parents, in a world that is often unsafe and unpredictable, is to lay a solid foundation early, so that our children will gain the competence to make good decisions about safety as they grow.

"Teaching skills for assessing a situation and negotiating safety rather than setting up absolute rules for safety can begin when our children are very young. If we simply say, 'don’t talk to strangers,' there may be certain people that befriend our children who no longer fit into the 'stranger' category but who could be harmful to our children. In addition, there may be a family member who our child is not familiar with so they believe that person is a 'stranger' and will not be polite to them. It is therefore best to identify for our children the adults in their life who are 'safe.' Explain that it is even okay to be friendly to someone that we don’t know if we are with Mom, Dad or another 'safe' adult, because they are there to protect us. We can help children understand that they must never speak alone with someone they do not know or go with them unless they have been given permission by that “safe” adult who has been identified for them.

"When we talk about stranger danger with our children, it is an excellent time to develop good communication patterns by making it feel comfortable to talk with us or another 'safe' adult, to express any fears or concerns that your child may have. Establishing these open lines of communication early will be beneficial, as your child becomes a teenager. If those effective patterns of communication are established it will be easier to discuss risky behaviors and other safety concerns with our children as they grow. In turn they will have gained the assessment and communication skills they will need to keep themselves safe from strangers and other dangers."

Anyone have questions for Joan about this? Let me know by posting a comment, and I'll try to get her answer. (Or maybe she'll log on and answer herself in a comment.) 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

If you can't get your teenager off the Web, maybe you can at least get her to visit a cool site about books. With a name like Favorite Teenage Angstbooks, this one has a chance to hook your high-schooler.

It's written by a woman in her late 30s, but it has fun graphics and reviews of lots of good books about the teenage experience.

The site owner tells me she's taking a break from posting new content while she pursues some other projects, but there's enough there in the meantime to pique some -- gasp! -- offline interest in a book.

What's your opinion of this site? And what are other favorite sites for teenagers?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Books, On the Web, Teens
        

It occurs to me that there are two main reasons some of you readers haven't left a comment under one of the many fascinating posts on Charm City Moms.

 1) You were just about to, but at that moment your oldest yelled that the toddler "just went down the street to get something." And when you went to investigate, your middle child decided your keyboard would look much better covered in glitter glue, from which it may never recover.

 2) You're not sure how this commenting thing works.

Just in case it's reason #2 ( if it's #1, sadly, I can do nothing but sympathize) here's a guide to commenting cribbed from my colleague and super-successful dining blogger Elizabeth Large. I edited it for my purposes:

--What's the URL, or Web address? You should only care about this if you have a blog of your own you'd like people to know about. If so, fill it in and your name will be linked with your address -- a bonus for your own blog. Otherwise, just leave it blank.

 --Do I have to include my e-mail address? Nope. Just leave it blank if you like. Fill it in if you'd like me to be able to contact you, but rest assured I won't share the address without your permission. It might be handy to include in case another parent wants to contact you privately about an issue you've raised, and you want me to be able to pass on that person's e-mail address without identifying yours.

--Do I have to put in my full name? Not if you don't want to. You can use your full name, your first name, a fancy nom de plume or no name at all. Just comment.

--What's this funny letter I have to put in the box before posting? Is it important? Yes; it helps us weed out spam. And don't forget to hit "Post" once you've filled it in.

 As for the site owner approving the comment before it's posted, as I mentioned before, that's me. I read over a comment to make sure it a) isn't computer-generated spam, b) doesn't contain obscenities, c) doesn't involve personal attacks on other posters. (I'm fair game, but I do prefer you make your criticisms in a constructive way.) I don't edit it for spelling or grammar. Then I post it as quickly as I can.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: How to Use and Comment on This Blog