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?
Live in the NYC area? Wish your kids were more active? Don't want to spend a fortune on sports classes? The New York Junior Tennis League has an answer for you. They're currently giving FREE tennis lessons for kids ages 6-18, where trained coaches provide instruction, practice and play for all levels. And parents don't have to worry about going out and buying gear that's doomed to spend a lifetime in the garage once lessons are over- loaner tennis racquets and balls are available. If you can't make the spring sessions, then check out their summer classes.
What free athletic programs does your family take advantage of?
If your kid is playing soccer, lacrosse or any other spring sport that requires a mouth guard, make sure to keep that baby clean, since mouth guards can become breeding grounds for bacteria that can harm the gums, according to a recent study. That means no tossing it into an equipment bag—your little athlete should scrub it with a toothbrush, then rinse it off and store it in a case.
P.S. For great info about getting the most out of team sports, check out this piece in the latest issue of Parents.
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Some parents who've had it with all the baby gear decided to make a profit. Los Angeles Times
A new study finds that (in most ways) things are better for American children than they were a decade ago. Washington Post
Peanut allergies and bullying can be a dangerous combination. ABC News
Should an NYC 4th grader be allowed to take the subway alone? A debate over parenting styles. Newsweek
Biking sends kids to the hospital more than any other sport, according to a new study. Chicago Tribune
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Last week I blogged about my 9-year-old son's success in predicting the winners of the men's college basketball tournament, courtesy of a free contest at a local restaurant. He was perfect in predicting the Final Four teams (out of a starting field of 65 ) and was in strong contention to take home the grand prize of a flat-screen TV. I worried that winning might turn him onto gambling, since he seemed convinced it was his smart picks (rather than random luck) that had put him near the top. Well, the smaller they come . . . . It turns out that I didn't need to give him a big lecture. His picks for the last three games didn't pan out, and he fell from 5th place to 70th in the final standings (still not bad, out of 286 contestants). I mentioned that it was really about having fun—and that if his money had been at stake, he would have been a sad boy. And I left it at that. Matthew took his defeat in stride and recited a phrase which, as a Mets/Jets/Knicks fan, I've become all too familiar: Wait till next year.
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I write this entry with a mix of pride and (a wee bit of) shame. My 9-year-old son, Matthew, is a sports fanatic. He's the kind of kid who can detail how the Mets scored all 13 of their runs last night and, when playing in his league, "corrects" officials' calls (something I, as his baseball coach, am working to correct). In other words, he's a typical guy. And like a typical guy, he loves March Madness (aka the NCAA college basketball tournament). So this year, I decided to let him enter the pool at a local southern barbecue restaurant, Brother Jimmy's. I justified it on the grounds that since it was free, it wasn't really gambling. It was more like guessing how many jelly beans are in the candy jar. And anyway, how much could a kid know.
A lot. With three games left in the tournament, Matthew is tied for 5th place (out of 286 entrants), which would qualify him for prizes ranging from a $50 gift certificate to a "swampwater," a communal libation sold at the restaurant. I'm not too worried about introducing him to alcohol (I'm pretty sure they won't serve him one without a driver's license). And I admit it would be kind of cool to see the faces on the patrons if this little boy walks out carrying a 27-inch flat-screen TV, the grand prize. But I am a bit concerned about introducing him to the world of betting. Matthew is a bright boy and has watched enough sporting events to know that there's no such thing as a sure thing. Yet this pool has him lauding it over dear old dad (who is currently 16 places behind him in the standings) and convinced him that knowledge and skill have put him where his is. To an extent, he's right. Still, a 9-year-old can't understand the downside—and the pull—of gambling, and how it can (and does) ruin people's lives. So in a way I feel like losing would be a better lesson for him. I'll check back next Tuesday to let you know whether he finished "in the money." In the meantime, what do you think: Should I have let him jump into the pool?
No child support? No hunting! A new program in Illinois encourages dads to pay up. Chicago Tribune
Why being pregnant makes you want to renovate. New York Times
A new study looks at the long-term health consequences of premature birth. Yahoo! News
Pregnancy discrimination complaints are on the rise. Wall Street Journal
Scary trend: Parents sign their kids up for human “cockfighting.” New York Daily News
How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Advocate
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Why you should take the TV out of your kids’ bedrooms. New York Times
Men do more housework than ever before—and that may lead to more sex. Yahoo! News
Gym class may help girls do better in academic subjects. USA Today
Keeping the chaos under control when you have multiples. Washington Post
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You might not know it from watching Roger Federer make magical shots from all around the court, but tennis is a very hard game to learn. That is especially true for little kids, who don't have the eye-hand coordination or the physical skill set required to hit a fuzzy yellow ball on a fullsize court. That's why so many 5-year-olds get bored a few minutes into their first lesson and decide it's not the sport for them. And it has at least something to do with the dearth of top American professional players today (Where have you gone, Andre, Pete, and, for that matter, Jimbo, Johnny Mac, Chrissie and Martina?).
But now the USTA is doing something to make the game easier—and more fun—for kids under 10 just starting the game. QuickStart Tennis is designed to help kids 5 and up start playing the game immediately—even if they've never picked up a racquet before. How? By downsizing the court dimensions, matching up kids with the right-sized frames (the 19 inch ones for the littlest kids in the program are adorable), using softer balls that don't bounce as high (so they're easier to hit), and lowering the net height. The point is to help kids develop skills, have a good time, and be successful so they'll want to keep playing. Once a child advances to a level where he can play points, the scoring has been simplified too.
More than 1000 tennis clubs around the country will adopt the QuickStart concept into their junior teaching programs this year. Does it work? Time will tell whether the USTA achieves its goal of developing more elite players. But having attended a demo at the National Tennis Center (site of the U.S. Open), I can see a clear benefit. The younger kids who participated (mostly between 4 and 7) really seemed to have a good time, and they were able to rally back and forth in a way that wouldn't be possible on an adult-size court. The jury is still out for somewhat older kids and those who have already begun playing the game, like my son, Matthew, who's 9. He found QuickStart made the game a bit too easy. He preferred taking some swings afterward in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and in answering questions after his imaginary U.S. Open victory afterward. But maybe thanks to QuickStart, some 5-year-old's tennis fantasy will really come true someday.
Helmets aren't only for bicycling! Just a heads up that this winter, your child should wear a helmet while skiing and sledding. Yes, even sledding—you're not some kind of safety nut if you insist on it (I saw a few kids take some scary tumbles at the sledding hill last weekend). Repeat after me: Helmets are cool. Helmets save lives.
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