©iStockPhoto.com - Ahmad Hamoudah

Back to school activity/preparation was somewhat bittersweet for me this year as my five-year-old (a.k.a my baby), trotted off to kindergarten.  I simply dreaded it.  In fact, I think I cried when the back-to-school Staples commercials began airing in August.  Nonetheless, we encourage our children to achieve these milestones, so, I suppose we can’t complain when they actually do it.  Like most parents, I was plagued with the standard questions such as; will he like it or not?  Will he make friends?  How will he cope in such a big environment?  However, since my child suffers from food allergies, the questions were even more complicated.  Who gets the Epi-Pen? Is there a food policy? How can I keep my child safe?

Food allergies are very daunting, especially when you have no daily control over your child’s environment.  This is where a plan is integral to your child’s safety and your piece of mind.  Since school has already started, you may have done many of these already…but just to be safe, review this list and make sure you have covered all your bases. (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - gmnicholas

It’s a school night and you are cleaning out your child’s lunchbox so it’s ready to go in the morning, only to realize that almost none of it was eaten. Some days it may feel pointless packing your child a lunch at all. The problem is that lunchtime is also playtime at school. Lunch needs to be a non-fussy affair so kids can get on with the business of playing with friends. Really, they don’t eat; they graze. Therefore, the lunches that get eaten are both appealing and easy to eat. Think “quick, healthy eats”, and offer a variety each day, and you will see a difference. Your success rate will be even higher if you go shopping with your child and have them help in the selection process. They will be emotionally invested in the choices they make, and the lunchbox will come back emptier (if not completely empty).

Finger food is king in the lunchbox world. Begin with a hearty main dish, such as a wrap. The outside wrapper can be a tortilla or flavored wrap, or try an Asian Fusion version, using a rice wrapper to hold the ingredients together. Fill with your favorite protein option, such as tofu strips, shrimp or chicken strips, topped with thinly-sliced cucumber, carrots, chopped lettuce and sprouts. Another easy option is a burrito filled with beans and cheese and topped with extras, such as avocado. (continue reading…)

An occupational therapist at Packard Children’s Hospital shows parents what we need to consider when choosing a backpack that won’t cause back aches or injury.

ⓒ iStockPhoto - blueclue

It’s every parent’s nightmare: a ten-hour long plane ride with young children, or a glorious plane/train/automobile combo that’s guaranteed to leave everyone exhausted. No, it’s probably not going to be your best or easiest day, but here are five ways you can make your trip less troublesome than you’d expect:

Lower your Expectations

As a parent, you’re used to trying to get your kids to behave their best, whine less, and not pick their noses in public. When you’re traveling a distance though, you need to remind yourself that everyone’s out of their element, likely tired, and not at their best. Especially you, since you’ve probably been packing and planning for days and agonizing over making sure you’ve remembered everything you need.

Make it easy on yourself and just remember that as long as your plane doesn’t crash, you’re golden. It doesn’t matter if the kids are overtired or have too much soda on the plane. Eventually, you’ll get home and the wine will be free. (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - Colonel

Children are not dragons. But a good number of parenting models treat them as if they were. Okay. So there are some similarities. Like being loud and unpredictable, tendencies toward mass destruction and general chaos, supernatural abilities like shape-shifting and breathing fire, and acting as the genesis and origin of many wondrous legends.

Regardless, the popular new movie sensation, “How to Train Your Dragon,” makes a valid point that applies to both children and dragons: They are nothing more than another one of Earth’s living and breathing creations: complex and mythical, often misunderstood, but deep inside looking for the same thing all creatures seek—love.

So how do we train them?

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Photo Credit: Dave Gentry/ US Fish and Wildlife Service

Zoos have lots to offer parents and young nature lovers: animals for every taste, stroller-friendly pavement, plentiful (if overpriced) refreshments and convenient access to bathrooms. In July, Wildlife Wednesday looks at other venues to nurture a respectful appreciation of wildlife in kids, starting with parks.

Children’s internal definition of a park often requires some form of playground equipment. National and state parks may be light on the jungle gyms, but they still have plenty to interest young minds. By their very nature, national and state parks are situated around something unusual or significant, either natural or historical, which allows an ready-made point to get kids interested before the trip to the park.

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