With summertime, comes summer gear. And that includes all the super- fun beach and pool paraphernalia.
Check out this adorable Mermaid Swim Fin—it holds both feet in one flipper, and of course it's pink (or purple, whichever you prefer). The fin has a velcro strap that fits shoe sizes 1-7, so moms, I'm sorry to say that it probably won't fit you.
Ariel, is that you?
If you haven't yet discovered Kids Craft Weekly, then it's time. Amber Carvan, Australian mom of 2, offers up really accessible, adorable, and kid-friendly craft ideas. You can sign up for her themed newsletters that will give you fantastic ideas for rainy day crafts, birthday party crafts, and educational crafts.
The most recent edition is about flowers—you can get complete instructions for these precious blooms and step by step photo-illustrations on her site. Kids Craft Weekly is the perfect remedy for the "I'm bored" weekend mantra!
We're looking for the cutest kid in America to put on the cover of Parents! This is huge: Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell everyone! We want to find the most adorable kids out there and we know you've got 'em.
Just click here to upload a photo of your child before June 24 and your kid could be chosen as one of five finalists to be flown to New York City with a guardian and professionally photographed. The most gorgeous kid of all will be on our November 2008 cover!
When should you have babies? The widening gap between culture and biology. NPR
Some schools are implementing single-sex classes to help boys catch up. Boston Globe
Is your child addicted to video games? U.S. News & World Report
An Arkansas woman, Michelle Duggar, is pregnant with her 18th child! (She wrote an article for us back when she had only 14…) Yahoo! News
Facebook is making changes to protect its younger users. New York Times
Original photo via
This Week's Big-Screen Goody:
La, la, la...Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer, go! I wasn't a huge fan of the show growing up, but I still remember the theme song to this day because it was one of the few cartoons my older bully brother would let me watch. Truth be told, he was more into it than I ever was. Boys and their cars–I still don't get it. Now he has an 11-year-old son he can use as his excuse to see the new live-action version of Speed Racer (rated PG) out today. Personally, I still feel the theme song was the best part of the show. Come to think of it–lots of cartoons from the '80s and early '90s had really rocking openers. Special shout-out goes to ThunderCats. What was your favorite?
This Week's DVD Goody:
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City
Avatar the Last Airbender: Book 3 Fire, Vol. 3
The Secret of the Sword
Speed Racer the Next Generation: The Beginning
Thomas & Friends: Mud Glorious Mud
Veggie Tales: Lessons from the Sock Drawer
TMI! Documentary of the Week
The Business of Being Born
The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
I'm Not There
This Week's Big-Screen Goody:
Summer blockbuster season officially kicks off today, and you know what that means: Lots and lots of grown men running around in costumes and using their superpowers to save the planet and stuff. First up is Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man (rated PG-13). Are you going to take your husband kids to see it?
This Week's DVD Goody:
One of last year's most controversial movies is now out on DVD. The Golden Compass (also rated PG-13) is based on a children's fantasy book, and it's considered to be anti-Christian by some, while other believe it's all about free will and thinking. We want to know your take on this whole brouhaha:
Kourtney's Cult Classic Pick:
The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Your kids may breathe easier if you live on a tree-lined street, according to new research. BBC News
More U.S. mothers are at least trying to breastfeed, says a CDC survey. New York Times
Why your child may be dyslexic in English, but not in Chinese. Wall Street Journal
Immunization rates for American children are lower than experts thought. ABC News
You probably really are tougher on your firstborn, a new study finds. Newsweek
Original photo via
An article in the Los Angeles Times last week exposed a scary situation involving a fraudulent nanny agency. Gelila Puck, wife of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, found a nanny for their kids through an agency an acquaintance had recommended. She hired the woman, who traveled with the family, and then when double-checking one of her recent reference, Puck realized that it was fake. The woman pretending to be the nanny's former employer of five years was a friend of the head of the agency and had never even met her. This story shows the importance of always checking all references when hiring a nanny or a sitter–even if you find her through an agency you think is reputable. Have you ever been burned by someone taking care of your kids?
Parents food stylist Karen Tack just released a "faaabulous" how-to book called Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make. GoodyBloggers GoodyVloggers Taryn, Amanda K., and I crashed the recent launch party with a camera to check out the book, chat with her about the art of dessert, and learn how to make some of the cutest cupcakes ever–well, everyone's except mine...thanks again, guys.
