Here's Liz Atwood with this week's Tween Tuesday:

When I was a kid, I could hardly pass a tree without considering whether it would be a good climbing tree or not. But do kids still climb trees?

My older son used to like to climb trees, although we don’t have any in our yard with branches low enough to reach. Sometimes he would climb a neighbor’s pine tree and get covered with the sticky sap. But I can’t recall seeing my tween ever climbing a tree. He is happy to play video games and figure out all kinds of strategies for the characters to climb, leap, crawl and fly. And a few times he has climbed on those climbing walls at fairs and carnivals. But a tree? I don’t think he has.

I started to wonder if this lack of interest in tree climbing was common condition among tweens and so I turned to the Internet. And, of course, I soon found sites for tree climbing associations and even a tree-climbing how-to.

What surprised me about these sites, however, was how tree climbing is no longer a spur-of-the-moment thing; it has become a sport with its own equipment, including rope, harnesses and helmets.

Now I am sure this will upset some folks, but when it comes to tree climbing, I’m a purist. I believe tree climbing is an art that doesn’t need to be corrupted by all sorts of equipment. I recognize that many kids have fallen out of trees and been hurt. But I think one reason kids don’t want to play outside anymore is that it has become such a hassle. By the time they put on the pads and helmets, gathering up equipment or locate a “safe” place to play, they lose interest. It’s so much easier to turn on the TV or play video games.

So with summer around the corner, I’m going to try to loosen up a bit. Yes, I want my son to still put on a helmet when he rides his bike, but if he wants to go exploring in the woods, I’m not going to remind him to stay out of the poison ivy or watch for snakes. If he wants to play basketball in the court, I’m not going to tell him to watch out for cars. And if he wants to climb a tree, I’m not going to require him to get a rope and wear a helmet.

After all, fun should still be fun.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Teens
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

At what age can you expect your toddler to dress himself?

Remember Dressy Bessy and Dapper Dan, those dolls from the seventies that taught us all how to get dressed? We really need one of those at our house. Edwin can remove his clothes no problem. But I am still getting him dressed in the morning, and I'm starting to think this is something he can and should be doing for himself. He can put pants on (though he prefers not to), but zippers and snaps really trip him up. And shirts? Forget it. His head gets stuck in the sleeve and then it's a one-way ticket to tantrum town. When I ask him to put his pants on (or brush his hair, or put on his shoes) he usually says, "No, I just want YOU to do it." And of course, since I am wrapped around his chubby little toddler finger, I do.

When we're running late in the morning, it's so much easier for me to just get Edwin dressed myself. This is a trap I think many parents fall into. It's quicker and easier to do things for your toddler than to wait while they struggle with their pants and shoes. Patience is just not something we have tons of when we're running late. But when the new baby gets here in a few months, I'm going to want Edwin to do more things for himself. I see a lot of Velcro and elastic-waist pants in his future.   

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Liz Atwood in this week's Tween Tuesday:

This week, my tween son informed me that he no longer is having friends over for “play dates.” Instead, when friends come over, they are “hanging out.” It’s just another reminder that the 10-year-old isn’t a little kid any more.

I slipped a few times, but I’m trying to adjust to the new lingo.

That exchange got me to thinking about those other ways our kids remind us that they are growing up. Here are some other ways that come to mind:

1. The kids want privacy in the bathroom and no longer need help in the bath or shower.
2. The homework math isn’t as easy as it used to be and you may have to turn to the textbook or Internet to get the answers.
3. The kids have learned all the cuss words, plus some you didn’t know.
4. Suddenly appearances matter and even the boys care about looking cool.
5. They want to play M-rated video games, but will still tune in to SpongeBob Squarepants.

How do you know your tween is growing up?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Teens
        

Maryland officials are considering banning the sale of pads that line the crib amid safety concerns.

My colleague Andrea K. Walker reports that a task force made such a recommendation last week.

Maryland could become the first state in the nation to ban the sale of bumper pads that line the inside of cribs after a state panel recommended Friday that health officials declare them a hazard because they can suffocate or strangle babies.

The recommendations made by the four-member task force of mostly pediatricians will now go to Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, who will decide whether to write them into regulation.

The recommendations would not prevent parents from using the crib bumpers — which have been attributed to at least two dozen infant deaths nationwide — or buying them in other states.

There have been cases where babies have gotten their faces stuck on bumpers, causing them to suffocate. Others have been found dead with the bumpers' stings wrapped around their necks.

But bumper manufacturers say otherwise, arguing that they pose no danger if they're installed correctly.

Federal regulators are also looking into the issue after the Chicago Tribune inquired about the safety of crib bumpers.

Most, if not all, materials related to baby registries and articles on "must-have" nursery room items include crib bumpers.

Do you use a crib bumper or have you used one for your child? Take the poll here:

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Child Safety
        

Do you know May is National Foster Care Month?.

Please welcome guest blogger Kyla Liggett-Creel, who has been a foster mom for four years. Kyla works at University of Maryland, Baltimore's Center for Infant Studies and School of Social Work.

Take it away Kyla.

My husband and I became foster parents by accident. Several years ago, we were intent on adding another child to our family – we have a son – and thought that we would want to adopt a child. As we were doing our research and after we contacted the social workers at the Baltimore County Department of Social Services to see if we would qualify to adopt a child from them, we became intrigued by the option of becoming foster parents.

Being a foster parent isn’t for everybody. Foster parents are just like regular parents, but you don’t have full custody of the child. This may seem disquieting to some, but it was intriguing to us because we realized we could have a positive impact on many more children.

Over the course of 4 years, we have fostered 8 children. They have varied in age and personalities. As a matter of fact, one of our first children was a baby who had a stroke in utero and was born drug addicted. We spent a significant amount of time in the early months taking her to physicians and therapists, but it has all been worth it. After 15 months, she was reunified with her biological family and while she still needs special attention, she has turned into a beautiful young girl.

Under normal circumstances, we would never have a chance to touch lives in the way we have. There are many children – both young and old – who need some one to care for them, even on a temporary basis. My husband and I have been deeply moved by becoming foster parents and we hope others who read this would consider becoming foster parents, too.

For more information, please check out this page.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Parenting in general
        

I eat McDonald's chicken nuggets and fries here and there.

Here's the thing: I'm okay with Jake having fast food once in awhile. Everything in moderation, I say.

When I was growing up, my parents took me and my sister to a fast-food restaurant once a week. As children of Korean immigrants, having American food, or for that matter, fast food, every week was a treat.

That being said, I will hold off buying a Happy Meal or any type of fast food for Jake as long as I can or until Jake asks for one -- and I will at times say yes.

My colleague Andrea Walker at Picture of Health writes that health advocates from around the country have launched a campaign to stop Ronald McDonald from making kids fat.

The group of 550 people have taken out full-page ads challenging McDonald's to stop marketing junk food to kids. They've also written a letter to the corporation. Check out here who signed on in Maryland.

We have had plenty of discussions on this blog about how much responsibility corporations should have when it comes to kid's eating habits.

Many parents believe that they are responsible for establishing healthy eating habits, but they also feel that marketers should curtail excessive advertising toward children.

In a perfect world, kids listen to their parents, and parents are the main influencer of their kids' lives. But we all know that marketing and advertisements can be very effective.

What do you think?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Food and Recipes, Health, Parenting in general
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Like most toddlers, Edwin is fascinated by the potty, what goes in the potty, and which body parts are involved. We have taught him that "potty talk" is for the bathroom and not the dinner table, the playground, or Grandma's house. For the most part, he has been pretty good about that. (Of course, a play date with the five-year-old next door often reminds him that is hilarious to talk about such things, and he usually comes home with a renewed enthusiasm for such language.) Since he knows it is a no-no, he will occasionally throw around some potty terminology when he's trying to get attention (for example, when I'm on the phone... with my mother-in-law.)

The other night made me wonder if I've been too strict in my interpretation of what constitutes potty talk. He was not happy about going to bed (uh, he never is) and was protesting by calling out a string of toddler profanity. I heard him chanting from his bed, "Poop... pee pee... butt..." But he saved the most heinous term for last, finally shouting with a triumphant flourish, "UNDERWEAR!"

I know he'll be learning much, much worse language when he gets older. For now, if "underwear" is the worst he can do, I think we're doing pretty well.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Jacob and Sophia were the top boy and girl names for Maryland newborns last year.

The Social Security Administration released the state's most popular names Monday.

Nationally, Jacob tops the list for boys, while Isabella was the most popular girl's name last year. (Those are two main characters in the popular Twilight series.)

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Nationally, Maci — name of a prominently featured mother in "Teen Mom" — and Kellan, the name of the actor who portrays Emmett Cullen in the "Twilight" series — has the biggest jumps in popularity nationwide. Neither made the Top 100 in Maryland.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Best of lists
        

Liz Atwood discusses preparing kids for their first overnight trips in this week's Tween Tuesday:

Parents and kids soon will be getting ready for summer camp, but a recent experience has me wondering all over again the best way to prepare kids for their first sleep-away experience.

My 10-year-old just returned from his first scout camp out without me. When he was a Cub Scout, I always went along on the camping trips, but last weekend, he and his older brother went off on a campout and I stayed behind. I wasn’t too worried. My son has been with this scout den for four years, and, after all, older brother was there to look after him.

It turns out my confidence was a bit misguided. My son ended up getting homesick and having nightmares. Older brother was sound asleep in a different tent and knew nothing of it. Kudos to the leaders who calmed him down and helped him through the night, but now I wonder what to do about another trip that’s coming up in a couple weeks. I haven’t mentioned it to him yet, thinking I’ll let the memories of this recent trip fade a bit.

But I wonder if it’s best to get right back into an overnight trip or to wait a few more months before trying again.

Any suggestions?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Teens
        

Would you send your 3-year-old to a tutoring center?

More parents are doing moving in this direction, reports The New York Times, which takes an in-depth look at this trend.

As competition in education has spread down, the tutoring industry has followed.

Research suggests that there is little benefit from this kind of tutoring; that young children learn just as much about math, if not more, fitting mixing bowls together on the kitchen floor. But programs like Kumon are gaining from, and generating, parents’ anxiety about what kind of preparation their children will need — and whether parents themselves have what it takes to provide it. For those whose idea of enrichment is introducing “Buenas Noches, Luna” into their toddlers’ bedtime reading ritual, this is yet another reminder that no matter how much you do, there is always some other program that — who knows? — just might mean a difference.

But now, it's becoming more mainstream across the country. Interestingly enough, Asian countries such as South Korea -- where almost all students also attend so-called "cram schools" after normal school hours -- are trying to crack down on excessive tutoring so that kids can be more like kids.

There's also the issue of costs: The Times says parents pay $200 to $300 a month for their toddlers to spend up to an hour twice a week being tutored at a Junior Kumon center. Not every family can afford such a price, though I also know parents are willing to sacrifice personal needs so that they can help their children (as my parents and others have done).

This article reminds me of a discussion that I had with my sister, whose oldest son tested into gifted and talented. And he's only in first grade! Apparently, there is G&T for kindergarten students as well. She's debating whether to put my nephew into the gifted and talented program.

Are we putting too much emphasis on accomplishments so early on in a child's life? I'd love to hear from parents who have toddlers in tutoring sessions and those who do not.

Do you have mixed feelings about this as I do?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Monday reads, School's In
        

Do your children have nicknames for their grandparents?

The New York Times reports that grandparents don't want to called Grandma or Grandpa because they sound old.

Resistant to being called anything that makes them sound old, baby-boomer grandparents have taken to accepting toddlers’ neologisms and ethnic variations or, better yet, naming themselves.

There's even a website and a book to find the perfect new name to call Gram.

Grandparents seeking help finding just the right appellation can choose from trendy, playful, international or traditional options at Grandparents.com. They can also turn to “The New Grandparents Name Book, a Lighthearted Guide to Picking the Perfect Grandparent Name” (ArtStone Press). Written by the mother and daughter team Lin Wellford, 59, and Skye Pifer, 35, it offers 700 unstodgy options, like G-mom, Doodad, Popsi, Bubba and “Sonoma and Napa for a more sophisticated set.”

Share some nicknames and their origins here.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Parenting in general
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:  

Lately Edwin has become very inquisitive. He constantly peppers us with questions, and they have gone from pretty simple (What’s that?) to pretty challenging (see below)!

“Mommy, what do otters eat?”
This one really took me off guard. What the heck do otters eat? I have no idea. I think I said that they eat things in the forest, like bugs and plants and… otter food.

”What are birds made out of?”
There is just something morbid about describing the insides of a bird, so I think I just said, “feathers”.

“Where’s your grandma?”
This was a tough one, as she is no longer living. I’m really not ready to explain death to my two-year old, so I simply said she’s not here with us anymore. Thankfully, he was quickly distracted by a shiny object.

“Where is Mother’s Day?”
Edwin has trouble with the concept of holidays, days of the week, and states of being. He thinks everything is a place where you can go. The other day I told him we were dining “al fresco” and he asked where the restaurant al fresco was.

“Does baby brother have shoes on? Does baby brother have a blanket in there (points to my tummy)?”
Edwin seems concerned that the baby in my tummy is comfortable and properly entertained. The other day he asked if he had a book in there!

“Is Elmo wearin’ underwear right now?”
This was a stumper, because Elmo dolls are not clothed. But he likes to watch the Elmo’s Potty Time DVD, and I’ve told him that Elmo is a big boy who uses the potty and wears underwear. (Am I going to have to fashion a pair of underwear for his Elmo doll?) 

If you want to share some funny questions your toddlers have asked, please do so in the comments!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Jake was born with hair, I mean his head was completely covered with straight, black hair.

As he got older, his hair turned curly around the edges and we let it grow. Almost 17 months later, I was itching to give my baby his first haircut. It was so adorable but getting unruly.

We decided on a short do.

As soon as the hair stylist start snipping, I felt a tinge of regret. And when it was all done, I was sad.

When I saw a friend's comment on Jake's after-haircut photo, it hit me. She said it perfectly: "Awww, it is amazing how much bigger they look when they get a haircut. It's super cute, but sorta sad, too. Why can't they stay babies forever?"

My baby isn't a baby anymore.

When did it hit you that your baby wasn't a baby anymore?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers
        

Liz Atwood talks about setting an example for her kids when she drives in this week's Tween Tuesday:  

Maryland has banned talking on cell phones and texting while driving. Speed cameras are going up in many counties. But how safe is your driving? 
         
A new  national survey commissioned by Ford Motor Co. finds that teens and tweens say their parents are riskier drivers than they claim.  While nearly all parents say they are safe drivers and good role models for their kids, the survey found 82 percent of teens report seeing their parents be careless behind the wheel.
        
I can’t recall my tween ever telling me to slow down. He usually says I’m driving too slow and can’t understand why I don’t pass a car even if there is a yellow line on my side. But my soon-to-be 15 year old has taken note, at times telling me to watch the road if I seem distracted.

The Ford survey found that three quarters of tweens say they will rely heavily on their parents' advice when they start to drive. I think it’s true. I remember very little about what my driver’s ed teacher told me, but I well remember my father fussing at me when I rolled through a stop sign on a rural road near our home when I still had my learner’s permit. To this day, I always hear my father’s voice if I don’t stop completely at a stop sign.

It won’t be long before I’ll be the one in the passenger’s seat teaching a teen to drive. But in some real ways, I’m already teaching my children by the example I set.

·    

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Teens
        

Technology and social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and the like are making it easier for families and friends to keep in touch.

That couldn't be truer as grandparents connecting with their grandkids, a trend that the Wall Street Journal explores:

Certainly, it's nothing new that kids are plugging in and staying connected. But what is new is that it may be a grandparent on the other end of that virtual tin can—and that technology is bridging the vast age and distance gap that has long divided the generations.

Here's what one expert told the WSJ on how the new connection between the techno-savvy grandparents and their grandkids are changing relationships:

"When the baby boomers went to college and moved away, we lost an entire generation of connection between grandparents and grandchildren. They saw each other once or twice a year, and there was a real disconnect," says Andrew Carle, professor and director of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

"Now with technology, we are regenerating those bonds. People say technology is so impersonal, but we are watching it being used to reconnect one of the most personal and important relationships of the species."

My mother-in-law is already an active Facebook user, who constantly posts photos of Jake via her iPhone whenever she visits. So I can imagine she and Jake staying connected daily with whatever is the latest technology when he gets older.

Are you finding that your kids are connecting with their grandparents through Facebook and other social media? Is there a downside to this type of connection? Or have relationships gotten stronger?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Monday reads
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Yesterday, I found myself making a Sesame Street finger puppet (Bert, specifically) talk, convincing Edwin to take more bites of his lunch. It wasn't the first time I have used ridiculous tactics to get my toddler to do something. Edwin rarely takes direction from me (I know, he acts like a two-year old!) But he will happily follow orders given by his teddy bear, his Mickey Mouse, or his stuffed zebra. It got me thinking about all the silly games we play to get Edwin to do things. Here are just a few:

To get him to eat salad, we have him pretend he is a giraffe eating leaves off a tree. In fact, we call lettuce "giraffe leaves" so often that I sometimes call it that in front of other people, when Edwin isn't even there. (Embarrassing at restaurants.)

To get him to hurry up and get out of the car and into daycare, we pretend we are climbing a mountain (which is a very small hill outside the entrance.) If I'm really running late, a bear might be chasing us!

Bedtime always goes smoother when we pretend he is a baby tiger, climbing into his baby tiger den (his bed). For some reason, baby tiger is much more cooperative than my actual son. He gets right into bed and purrs!

To get him to put his toys away, we pretend that he's driving the garbage truck (the toy box) and tossing all the garbage (toys) in there..

I suppose you could argue that Edwin should do what I ask him to without all these shenanigans. But his imagination has really started to take off recently, and I've found that I can use that to my advantage. Besides, pretending I'm a mommy tiger tucking in my sweet baby tiger is much more fun than nagging a whiny two-year old to stay in bed!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

That's according to an annual index complied by Save the Children, an international nonprofit group.

The United States came in 31st when taking into account maternal and child indicators and other information.

Norway ranked at the top spot, while Afghanistan came in last, according to this Associated Press story on the 12th Annual Mothers Index.

The best place in the world to be a mom is Norway, where maternal and child mortality rates are low, women's life expectancy and years in school are high, and the average maternity leave is about one year, a new study measuring the well-being of mothers and babies shows.

The survey noted that the United States came in at 31 mainly because its maternal mortality rate of 1 in 2,100 is among the highest of any industrialized nation.

Also on the top of the list are Australia and Iceland.

In Afghanistan, mothers have the world's lowest life expectancy at 45 years old. And one in every 11 women die in childbirth.

In contrast, a typical Norwegian woman lives to be 83, according to the AP. One in 175 mothers will lose a child before his or her 5th birthday in Norway.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Best of lists
        

Liz Atwood discusses whether she did the right think by hosting a co-ed sleepover at her house in this week's Tween Tuesday:

I can’t believe I did this. I hosted a co-ed sleepover.

OK, before you send the hate mail telling me I’m a bad mom, let me tell you how it happened. My tween turned 10 this past weekend and he wanted to invite a few friends over for pizza and cake. Sounded good to me. After years of coming up with party themes—pirates, Star Wars, frogs and Spiderman—it was a relief not to buy coordinated decorations and plan the entertainment.

The guests were two boys and a girl from his class. And while I didn’t plan games, I did buy a few balloons, napkins and party favors. I pulled out an old plastic tablecloth featuring Elmo and some cups from a SpongeBob party. It was quite a mishmash, but no one cared. The kids ran around outside playing soldier and capture the flag. They later played video games and watched a little TV.

The plan was for the boys to sleep over and the girl to go home around 9. But when her mother came to pick her up, she begged to spend the night. Actually, all the kids begged. And so we relinquished. I know, I know. We failed to enforce the rules and set boundaries. But you never caved in to your kid?

She slept upstairs in my son’s bedroom. The boys slept downstairs in the family room in sleeping bags. Everyone went to bed at 11 and the kids were great. They actually slept, and the next morning, they got up, ate breakfast and played more video games before the parents came to pick them up.

Maybe I have set a dangerous precedent, but this little girl seemed perfectly happy being “one of the boys” and it felt unfair to send her home while the boys stayed.

But I’m wondering if I did the right thing.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Teens
        

My husband and I watched in fascination as many young people gathered in front of the White House late last night after news of Osama bin Laden's death reached them via phone, Twitter and other social media.

I was in my early 20s when 9-11 happened. It was a defining moment in my young adulthood.

For many of the 20-somethings that I saw last night on TV, it was a defining moment of their childhood. They were in middle school or younger when the terrorist attacks happened.

As our toddler slept, I thought about the ordeal of parents of the 9-11 generation who had to explain what happened to their young ones.

Today, parents will be telling their children about the death of Osama bin Laden and his connection to the terrorist attacks almost 10 years ago.

How are you approaching the news with your kids? Are they asking questions about bin Laden?
How much are you revealing or holding back?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Parenting in general