Daily Post

Surpise! Facebooking while studying leads to lower grades

Researchers in the UK published findings that showed students who study and do homework while having Facebook on in the background have 20 percent lower grades than students who don't Facebook while studying. Are any of us parents really surprised? 20 years ago, when I was a teenager, my mom told me to turn off the TV and radio while doing homework. Is Facebook any different? It's still a distraction. The study isn't a reason to ban kids from Facebook. It's more of just a wake up call to parents, that maybe these kids who've lived in a world of constantly texting while making their lunch or checking out MySpace while watching TV really aren't as good at multi-tasking as they'd lead us to believe. It may appear that they're doing two things at once, but they're really only concentrating on one thing at a time, they're just jumping back and forth between things at a dizzying pace.

When it comes to multi-tasking, there's no one better at it than a mom. Who else is able to take a child to the bathroom while participating in a conference call with her boss and keep the scrambled eggs from burning on the stove all at the same time? The difference is, there's a few years experience added to the mix, and an increased level of maturity and sense of responsibility when it comes to being a parent. We can't expect teens who barely remember to take their books to school each day to multitask like pros. The constant Facebooking and texting and doing two things at once may help foster multitasking skills later on, but for the teen years (and even into college) the ability just isn't there yet.

So follow your instincts, parents! When it's study time, it's okay to set some ground rules about what's on and what's not. And as a parent of a teen who's attached to his phone like it's an extension of his body, I'm going to take this a step further and say it's okay to set some rules about when the phone (or computer) can be on and when it needs to be turned off. Maybe what we need to be fostering in our kids isn't an ability to multitask, but instead the ability to concentrate and pay attention to the important things in life, one at a time.

Perception is Everything: Are Girls Smarter than Boys?

An interesting study came out the other day. Researchers found out that as early as the age of 4, girls think they are smarter than boys. I have a daughter, and that bit of information doesn't surprise me. But the study went even further, and found that by age 8, boys agree with the girls and also think girls are smarter. If you've ever heard the saying "perception is everything," and you happen to be the parent of a boy, then this study is worrisome. For years we've worried that girls need a push to excel in school, at least in science and math, because the stereotypes have us thinking that boys are just inherently better at these subjects. But really they're not, girls perform equally well, they're just under-represented in the fields as adults once they choose their careers.

But what if boys think girls are smarter? It's already hard for boys to buckle down and study when they'd rather be outside playing soccer or at home playing Playstation. And sure, girls would probably rather be elsewhere some of the time too, but if any of you are parents of girls you know, they often play school, of their own free will. They actually enjoy some of the things that school is about.

If boys think girls are smarter, then they might turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy -- maybe not studying as hard, focusing more on sports than grades, and not even aspiring to college. There is still a gender gap when it comes to college enrollment, and with the way our economy is changing, this is becoming more of a worry.

It's hard to come to very many concrete conclusions based on this story. Some kids are smarter than others, and it really has nothing to do with gender. But one thing is sure, I'll definitely be on the lookout for those stereotypes and try not to foster them, as I continue to parent both a girl and a boy!

Breastfeeding in Public: The controversy hits home

It's happened close to us, but now the story hits home. Yesterday morning a young mother was asked to leave a Greensboro coffee shop if she was going to breastfeed her baby. The owner said she was afraid it made other customers uncomfortable and she couldn't afford to lose business right now. It turned out she lost quite a bit of business that morning. The woman she talked to happened to be a moderator on Triadmommies, a forum for moms in the Triad and a partner of Piedmont Parent magazine. She was there to meet up with other moms from the network for their regular Mocha Mondays date. Now, thanks to the way news of this affront has traveled, next Monday's meeting looks like it will become a nurse-in. You can find out more by visiting Triadmommies.com, where you can read about this controversy, and find out first-hand details of what happened in the Business Review Forum. You can also see a lot of comments and photos that have already been posted on the Cup of Serenity Facebook page.

It's hard to believe that this is still such a controversial issue, when it's clear that a woman's right to breastfeed her baby are protected by the laws of North Carolina. As new moms we're all taught breast is best, and we all want to do what's best for our kids. But for some of us, breastfeeding doesn't come very easy. So when we're already struggling to feed our kids and keep them happy, having to deal with public scrutiny doesn't make the situation easier.

For help and support in getting through the breastfeeding months, you can find great support at one of the local La Leche Leagues. And in the meantime, show your support of Becky!

Update:

On Cup of Serenity's Facebook Page:
Cup of Serenity would like to apologize to TraidMommies, and to all breastfeeding mothers for the incident in our store yesterday. We are in full support of the planned nurse-in and will also support a "Breastfeeding Friday," and breastfeeding at anytime. We hope to turn our mistake into a way to help mothers everywhe...re raise awareness. We will do whatever it takes to make everyone feel comfortable in our store.

The nurse-in planned for Monday will now be a kick-off of a Mommy Mornings every Monday. It seems this incident has brought our community together in a good way.

Enjoy Your Long Weekend: Explore the Triad and NC

If you had plans of one last beach trip, Hurricane Earl has done away with those. But the weather this weekend promises to be beautiful! So take advantage of this long holiday weekend and get out with your family and enjoy it. Maybe a backyard campout is in order. Pick up a couple of flashlights and some trail mix and head out for a night under the stars, inspired by our Father Life columnist. Or if you're a little more adventurous, take those tents to one of our state's beautiful campgrounds. We also have lists of bike trails and parks on our Outdoors Triad page, and plenty of ideas for fun places to go on our Day Trip Directory and our Calendar of Events.

Whatever you do, have some fun with your family. Getting back into the daily grind of school after the summer break has taken its toll on everyone. It might seem silly to have a day off this soon in the school year, but we all need a little rejuvenation to catch our breath and start it all over again on Tuesday!

What are you reading? Book recommendations for parents.

What are you reading? It's a question we regularly ask kids, but what about the parents? Now that school's back in, I've seen Facebook posts of friends saying they're excited to have time to read again, and book lists for parents whose kids have gone back to school. It's almost as big as the summer reading lists preparing people for vacations! So if you haven't found a book yet, we've got a few resources to help. After all, reading yourself is one of the best ways to encourage kids to read. And we all know how important reading is for kids, helping them increase their vocabulary and expand their imagination.

Always a good source, the most recent New York Times Bestseller list is full of good choices and familiar names, from Stephen King and Barbara Kingslover to the very popular series by Stieg Larsson, whose "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" will be made into a movie soon.

For a wide variety of reads, from classic to quirky and cutting edge, check out this blog, Caroline Bookbinder. She's a great critic and a voracious reader.

And there's always the Oprah Bookclub! She's got a list of must reads, sometimes maybe a little heavier than what you're looking for when trying to escape from everyday life, but there's such a big variety here you're sure to find something.

But what if, even with the start of school, you still hardly find time to read, between loads of laundry, homework and shuttling kids to soccer and piano? One of my favorite things to do recently has been to revisit some of my childhood favorites and read them with my children. There's nothing more heartwarming than experiencing the ups and downs of "Charlotte's Web" together. And if you haven't read the Little House on the Prairie series since you were a kid, it's worth reading them again. It's a whole new world when read through an adult perspective!

And remember, there's always magazines! This month's issue of Piedmont Parent is packed full of great articles, and even better, it's free!

Start the day off with a good breakfast -- easy tips!

School's back in, and those lazy summer days that started off with blueberry pancakes or French Toast and strawberries are long gone. (Even if that was just a dream, it's more of a dream in the summer!) Now we're lucky if there's time during the morning rush to throw a pop-tart or Nutrigrain bar at our kids in the backseat on the way to school. This year, change that rushed routine and make breakfast an important part of the day. It's something we hear all the time during EOG season, but it's also an important back to school message. Kids are more alert and learn better when they've had a good, nutritious breakfast. And starting the day off with a little fuel is good for adults too!

The "Got Milk" campaign has gotten behind the breakfast push, adding a "Milk the Moment" blog by the Meal Makeover Moms with tips on how to make sure kids have a good start to the day, one that includes a serving of milk or dairy. That's a pretty easy one, especially if your kids like cereal. Throw in a banana and a slice of toast or a whole wheat bagel and you've got it covered. If cereal's not portable enough for you there are plenty of other ways to get a good breakfast fast. Try a breakfast smoothie, made with yogurt and fruit. Or slather some peanut butter on whole wheat toast and stock up on milk in individual containers. Even if your kids refuse to drink anything but chocolate milk don't worry, it's still loaded with calcium and Vitamin D.

For more easy breakfast ideas, check out our Back to School Central. Scroll down to the food section and you'll find links to breakfast recipes as well as after-school snacks and lunch box help!

No Seatbelts on School Buses -- Oh My!

Yesterday my daughter rode the bus for the first time ever. There were a lot of things I was worried about with her starting kindergarten, but this wasn't one of them. We know her bus driver, he's really nice, and the little ones are so taken care of. Plus, she's only on it about 10 minutes! But Sunday night, my husband sat her down and had a talk about school bus safety. Smart, and something I hadn't thought of. And when he mentioned there wouldn't be seatbelts, she started to cry! That was something I didn't expect, and made me realize something. No seatbelts on school buses wasn't a big deal to me, growing up in a time when booster seats were non-existent and the "Buckle Up" campaigns were just beginning. But how do we explain to our car-seated and booster-seated kids that they're still safe on the bus?

Actually, kids are statistically safer riding in a school bus than in their parents' car. Partly because they go slow, and they're big and yellow, so less likely to get hit. But also a lot of study and work has gone into designing the seats, which are big and padded and made to "compartmentalize" the kids in case of an accident.

Of course, there are plenty of advocates fighting to get seatbelts on buses. The National Coalition for School Bus Safety states that research and crash testing on side impact and rollovers shows seatbelts would reduce injury.

As with any debate, there are plenty of pros and cons. Seatbelts might help reduce injury in the few accidents that occur each year. But they would also reduce seating capacity, it would be expensive to retrofit buses, and more kids are injured around school buses (walking to and from) than actually riding them.

Do you think buses should have seatbelts? Is that a reason you keep your kids off the bus? If you have no choice, and your kids are bus riders like mine, it feels good to know that those big brown seats are designed with safety in mind. There are plenty of things to worry about, but I'm crossing this one off my list and we convinced our daughter not to worry as well. But it is a good time to do a refresher course on bus safety, especially about walking to and from the bus! Click here for bus safety tips.

Custody Battles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

A few months ago I never would have expected to say something like this, but in some ways it looks like Tiger Woods is once again a good role model. At least, in part Tiger, and a lot his ex-wife Elin. After being through the wringer in a very nasty, very public divorce, the two have created a co-parenting plan, and both have hopes of doing what's best for the children. It's easy to find ways to criticize this, saying it's always easy on paper and of course, it's even easier when you have the money he has. But at least they're trying.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a tragedy this weekend in Arizona has left 5 dead, one more injured and two young children without their parents, and the suspect in the killings (who shot himself) was taking his kids from his ex-wife, who he was embroiled in a custody fight with. The actions were horrendous, but they're also an example of just how emotional child custody cases can be.

We all love our children more than anything in the world, and will do whatever it takes to keep them with us and keep them safe. But sometimes, marriages just don't work out, and it's better for so many reasons for parents to divorce rather than staying in a marriage that doesn't work and doesn't make them happy. If that has to happen, fine. But the important thing is to try to act like an adult. Deal with your problems however you have to, but leave them behind when it comes to the kids. Parent together as much as reasonably possible. That doesn't mean you have to have the same rules in each house, or even the same traditions. It means communicate with each other. Keep each other informed on events and happenings, anything that might be going on in the child's life. And realize that even though you'd like to spend every waking moment with your child, so does your ex, and you're both equally parents.

It can be one of the hardest things you'll ever do, but in the end it's the right thing. Luckily there are plenty of resouces available to help parents who are struggling with co-parenting.

To get started, sign up for co-parenting classes with Greensboro's Family Life Council. They're set up for people who are recently separated, but the information will be helpful no matter how long you've been divorced.

You can also check out his book on how to make a shared parenting plan at Co-parenting.com.

And of course, there are plenty of books out there with advice from all sides of the issue. Here are a couple to check out:

Co-parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict after a Difficult Divorce.

Mom's House, Dad's House: Making Two Homes Work for Your Child.

Get your dancing shoes on!

If you haven't heard of Big Bang Boom, you must be living in a vacuum. This local rock band has become a hit with the preschool crowd and their parents. And now they have a brand new CD out, and we're giving away copies this month visitors of our website! Not only do we love the band and their music, it's great that there's some options for kids out there that aren't all sing-songy nursery rhymes. It's important for kids to be exposed to music, and a wide variety is even better. If you like the style of Big Bang Boom, there are other bands out there creating great kids' music. Check out Good Rockin' Daddies for some old fashioned rock and roll. And for other ideas, NPR's lists of the best kids music of the year (2007 and 2008) provide a lot of fun choices.

And of course, getting to experience music live is even better! Stay tuned to our site for news of Big Bang Boom's upcoming concerts. And this weekend, check out Musical Chairs in Burlington and some great big band music at Lindley Park for the last of the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park series.

What's for Lunch?

What did you child eat for lunch yesterday? If they ate at school, like my daughter wanted to on the first day, chances are it was chicken nuggets, tacos or pizza. A list of choices that she loves, but make me cringe. I'm not knocking the school lunch program, there are so many great things about it, maybe most importantly that it provides an easy, nutritious, relatively cheap meal, and for too many kids, it's their best meal of the day.

But we all know improvements can be made. Luckily, people are working on that. In Guilford County, kids are lucky to be the recipients of the Farm to School program, which brings fresh fruits and vegetables to the table. And thanks to Michelle Obama's Let's Move Program, there's money being spent to bring chefs into schools. They bring their own expertise to help design menus that are fun and healthy, and sometimes introduce kids to the finer side of food!

Of course, if you're a little worried about what sort of choices your child is making in the lunch line, you can always pack a lunch. And we all know that can be challenging as well, finding an alternative to the typical PB&J. For some great ideas, check out our article filled with fun ideas from Triad Moms. You can also visit our Back to School Central for links to sites with other ideas and links to Guilford and Forsyth school lunch menus.

Happy First Day of School!

The lunches have been packed, the crayons or pencils and notebooks have been stuffed into backpacks, the new shoes were laced up and the kids sent off on the bus or waved at from your car window. And now it's time for the school-time routine: getting home from school or daycare, working on homework, figuring out what to make for dinner, trying to cram in baths and a book at bedtime and some nights shuttling everyone to soccer practice or piano lessons.

It's a busy time, but don't let the stress of the schedule put a damper on the excitement of the first day of school. It's a time when even those school-weary high schoolers are ready to hit the books and get back to learning. So how can you keep that excitement going year-round?

* Set a bedtime and stick to it. Getting a good night's sleep is one of the best ways to be ready for school. Even high school kids need plenty of sleep to perform well.

* Get organized. Have a special place in the house where backpacks, folders and everything goes. You can go through all the important papers right when you get home, and that way nothing's piling up on you.

* Communicate. With your kids, with their teachers and even with the principal. For tips on getting off to a good start with the teacher check out "Building the Parent/Teacher Relationship."

* Make learning a family activity. I remember myself how hard it can be to study for a test or practice the piano when other members of the family are laughing at the latest sitcom. Set aside a quiet time for the house where everyone (even parents) takes time to read or pursue an interest. Who knows, maybe you'll finally get around to practicing the piano again!

And if you're starting off with a kindergartener or hoping for a new after-school routine because last year's didn't work well, start it today! Habits are made fast and easy, so whatever you do this week will probably set the standard for the rest of the year.

Good luck! It's going to be a great school year.

Does texting make it harder than ever to talk to teens?

A few weekends ago we sat down as a family to watch a movie, one my 15-year-old stepson had been talking about wanting to see for months. And there he sat, iTouch in hand, texting while the previews were starting. Instead of fuming about how he can't participate 100% in a family activity, we told him to turn it off and put it away. And he did, with very little eye rolling. But that was just for 2 hours of the movie, as soon as the credits started rolling, the phone was back in his hands. New research from the Partnership for a Drug Free America validates what many of us parents already know: our teenagers are spending way more time sucked into media of some sort. Kids ages 8-18 spend an average of 53 hours a week consuming entertainment media. They'll move from watching TV when they get up to playing PlayStation for a few hours to hopping on the family computer to watch YouTube or check out their facebook page. And the cell phones and apps make it even easier to access social media and text friends while on the go.

The numbers are staggering, a total of more hours than some of us spend at work. But it's deceptive, because a lot of the texting and facebooking goes on while they're doing other things. And this practice is growing by leaps and bounds. 66% of teens own cell phones, a 30% increase over the past 5 years. Which leads to the worry of parents, 27% of whom think texting makes it harder to communicate with their teens.

There are two things to take away from this research. First, even older kids still need to be monitored with their media time. If you took great pains to make sure your toddlers didn't exceed the AAP's recommended 2 hours of screen time, there's no reason to let that diligence disappear just because your kids are older. And monitoring entertainment for this age group doesn't just mean telling them to turn off the TV. It might mean getting onto Facebook yourself and becoming their friend, to see what's going on in their lives and finding out who their friends are.

The other important thing the Partnership states is a takeaway from this research is that instead of getting frustrated about not being able to communicate with teens, use their own media to start the communication. Just like you become their friend on Facebook (if they let you!) you can start conversations with texting. Who knows, it might lead to them putting down the phone and actually talking! For help with text "conversation starters" and even a beginner's guide to texting, check out the Time to Text handbook, part of the Partnership's Time to Talk program to open up communication between adults and teens. And check out this site for even more abbreviations.

The School-time Bedtime

For a few kids in the Triad school started back today. But luckily for many kids in the area school doesn't start until Wednesday. That gives all of us, both parents and kids, a couple more days to do one of the hardest things of the new school year--getting ready for the bedtime routine of school nights. Even if you basically keep the same schedule and routine all year long, it's easy to slip into a more relaxed mode during the summer, letting the kids stay up and catching lightening bugs, reading a couple more stories or even watching some special shows on TV. So now it's time to stop all that and actually go to bed on time, a harsh reality for all of us.

There are some ways to make it easier, and a while back we asked Triad parents for their recommendations. Many of you like to ease into the new bedtime routine with books and storytelling. Others recommend starting a week or two before school starts going to bed earlier. No matter how you ease into it, one of the most important things to remember is to create a simple routine and stick to it. For more information on creating a bedtime routine and easing into the school year, check out "Getting Kids to Bed for School."

Celebrating the end of summer and beginning of school!

For many of our kids, this weekend marks the end of summer. And there are plenty of ways to party till you drop, no matter what your age! Start the weekend off with an energetic concert by Big Bang Boom at Festival Park. Sponsored by WFMY's Tools for Schools, it's a great way to have some fun and help others at the same time. Bring school supplies to drop off, and make sure to visit the WMAG booth, where Piedmont Parent will be handing out goodie bags to the first 100 visitors! If you can't make the concert but would like to help kids get a good start to the school year, find other ways to donate supplies at our Back to School Central.

There are plenty of other back-to-school party opportunities, including the Back to School Hoop Blast and the Theatre Art Gallery's Back to School Kick Off Party. For more ways to have fun with the family this weekend, check out our calendar of events, find fun things to do in your backyard and in the community on our Summer Fun page and get tips and ideas on new places to go camping and hiking on our Triad Outdoors page.

High School Sports Start this Week

For parents of many high school kids, the first day of school will be anticlimatic. If your child is involved in band, cheerleading or one of many fall sports, you've already been to a lot of activities at the school, from practices and scrimmages to that annual meeting about rules and regulations. The official schedule starts this week, a week before school starts. It all has me thinking, why the rush? Does it seem weird that football and soccer games and tennis matches will have been played before the kids even start back to school? Is it just further proof that as a society, we put more priority on sports and athletics than on academics?

I'm sure there's a good reason why it starts early, I just haven't been involved enough to know. Quite possibly it has something to do with getting in all the games and playoffs before the winter break. And after traveling to watch the first soccer match up for my stepson's high school last night, I decided starting sports before school has its advantages. His team got to play hard and concentrate on soccer without having to worry about getting home to finish up homework and waking up early for school the next day.

But it also got me thinking about student athletes and the struggle each season of maintaining the grades and study habits during a rigorous sports season. You may be asking, is it all worth it? To some extent, yes. Colleges do like to see kids that can maintain their grade point average while also staying active in extracurricular activities. But I think the important thing to remember is that balance is key. Know your child, know their own limitations and help them create a schedule that not only will help them in the future with college admissions but also will help them have a safe, happy and as stress-free high school experience as possible.

Library to get Internet Filters

It's been a pretty heated debate, but it looks like the Greensboro library will be getting a filter for their Internet, at least for the computers designated for use by kids under 17. While some people argued that the filters might keep them from getting to information that they need, many parents will be glad to know it won't be too easy for kids to find porn while supposedly doing homework.

It's just one small step in trying to protect our kids online. Something else I think might help is the creation of the new .xxx suffix for porn sites. There's a lot of debate around this one too, but in my opinion it seems like it will help prevent innocent typos that end up feeding to porn sites. Have you ever mistakenly typed in booble.com instead of google.com? Turns out it's a porn search engine!

It's nice to know the library is taking steps to help protect kids, and that some other new introductions might help as well. But safety begins at home. It's important as parents that we monitor what our kids do on the computer and help them know how to be safe when surfing the web or hanging out on social media sites. Things that seem common sense to us, like only "friending" people who you actually know in real life and not sharing passwords, are things that need to be taught to kids. Find out more about what to teach kids at the FBI's Internet Safety Guide.

You can also get your own Internet filter. There's a free one that looks pretty good, a downloadable Parental Control Bar. Then there's plenty of software available to purchase, some that seems to monitor almost everything, like the PC Tattletale. Find out about more choices at Top Ten Reviews.

Working Women Changing Stereotypes

I work from home. Which means that during the summer, when school is out, I work with a precarious schedule of different babysitters with different vacation schedules and sports commitments, and my work hours end up being various, to say the least. But I take comfort in the fact that the number of people working from home is growing, and that makes employers and our clients a lot more forgiving of the crazy schedules.

It's not just the work from home force that's changing things in the business world. An article today from MSNBC.com talks about how working women are redefining success in the workplace, finding satisfaction in different ways than previously expected in the traditional workforce. From job sharing to flexible hours, more parents are finding ways to get fulfillment in a career and still spend time with their families.

It's something that's very important to having a healthy lifestyle, and Piedmont Parent and its parent company, Carolina Parenting, Inc., recognize that each year through our Family Friendly 50 honorees. These are the top companies through the state of North Carolina that provide ways for employees to strengthen their own work/family balance. We're getting ready to announce the 2010 list in a few weeks when our September issue his the stands, and we'll honor them at our first annual Moms @ Work luncheon to be held at the Sheraton in Greensboro. It's going to be a great event, and there are still tickets available! Make plans to attend to take part in this networking opportunity to meet up with other women who are working full time, working flexible hours, job sharing, working from home or finding another creative way to meld career and family in a satisfactory way.

Keeping our Athletes Safe

The official start of football season is just a couple of weeks away. But this weekend you can get a sneak peek at the upcoming stars of the fall at the NewBridge Bank Jamboree. The cheerleaders already competed Thursday, and Friday it's the football players' turns.

The hazy mornings of August, the super-loud crickets and the sweet smell of fresh-mown grass signals the start of school and fall sports for many of us. But along with the excitement, we need to keep in mind the safety tips to protect our kids. Last week's accident where a kid from Dudley's football team broke his neck is a harsh reminder of the dangers that can be associated with sports. Luckily, doctors are saying he won't suffer permanent paralysis.

One of the most common dangers facing our athletes is the heat. It's important to keep kids hydrated, whether they're teens or preschoolers. If you're not sure they're getting enough water, check out these guidelines.

Also make sure they're stretching and warming up, and have the proper equipment for their sport. We can't be right there beside them every second of the day, but we can make sure they're prepared for whatever comes their way.

Gambling for Grades: New web business extends the age-old paying for grades debate

There's a new way college kids can find incentive to make good grades this year at some schools in North Carolina, including Duke, Wake Forest, NC State and UNC. It's a website called Ultrinsic, which allows students to gamble on what grades they'll make, for a course, a semester or a year. Is this illegal gambling? Or a great new way to help motivate kids to succeed? The questions abound, but it seems like kids who've tried it like it. For generations, parents have struggled to find ways to encourage kids to study and make good grades, and paying them for As is one way to do it. But does it really work? The guys at Ultrinsic are betting on it! And some non-profits that have funded financial rewards for academic success in some school systems also think it works. But there are also plenty of arguments against it, including research that shows it might not be effective because praise and internal factors work just as well, and that it's not always fair even within families.

What do you think? Do give your kids monetary rewards at report card time? Do you think placing wagers on grades in college is appropriate motivation? Chime in, we'd love to hear your comments!

Want calmer kids? Try meditation.

It almost seems too good to be true -- a 2 year old sitting still and quiet. But Deepak Chopra claims it can be done, and that with time it will help your kids learn to be calmer in everyday life. There are even studies that show meditation can help improve focus in kids with ADHD. These sultry hot days of August might just be the perfect time to try. What could be more relaxing than sitting in a cool, dark room with quiet for a few minutes during the hottest part of the day? Sort of like a little siesta. You don't have to go all out into transcendental meditation to see results with your kids. Start with the relatively simple exercises from Susan Kramer on her site.

You might be asking if this really works. And how do you get them to sit still in the first place? I can attest to the fact that it works, at least on a minimal level. I had a teacher in the first grade who did relaxation techniques with our class. We would all lie down on the floor, with the lights off (still daylight, of course!) and concentrate on one body part at a time, tensing it and then releasing. Years later, when I started having trouble falling asleep at night, I used this as a way to relax. So it did come in handy!

Try it with your kids, you might be surprised at the results.

Teach Your Kids Basic Snake Safety

Did you know that North Carolina is the leading state for snake bites? 19 in 100,000 people get bit, as opposed to the national average of 4. It's no wonder, with the amazing number of snakes that live in our area. Maybe it's time for a family visit to the Natural Science Center of Greensboro. This is a good place to start to see a few snakes that live in our state and get familiar with the proper way to handle (or not handle) these reptiles. You can also use this guide to familiarize yourself with the snakes of our state.

The thing to remember about snakes is that you're not in the clear just because you live in a city or a subdivision. They're lurking just as often in neighborhood yards as they are in the woods and meadows. Help keep you and your family safe by clearing your yard of possible snake habitats, like wood piles or scrap metal laying around. Remember snakes are most active in the spring and fall. Don't walk around in your yard barefoot, and when walking through the woods step on logs and big branches instead of over them. Check out Bayou Bob for more information on how to avoid snakes. And if you happen to get bit, don't panic, and use these tips.

Learning More about Kids' Personalities

What is your child's personality like? Chances are, you already know. Even as early as infancy, we are in tune to whether our kids are fussy or laid back, and as they grow we learn more about their personality. In today's news, there's research that shows that a child's personality as young as first grade is a pretty clear indicator of what their adult personality will be.

There's a part of me that's wary about this. It's true, in kindergarten and first grade there are clearly introverts and extroverts, and different personality traits shine through. But I'm surprised it's such a strong indicator, because I know things can change. And how much are our kids' personalities shaped by our own desires and pressures on them? It's a lot to think about.

If you've never taken a personality test, it's an interesting exercise. One I recommend is the Myers Briggs, the MBTI. Here's a site that explains the types and gives some places where you can take the test for free. This one isn't recommended for children though. To do a test of your kids, check out this site, recommended for kids ages 7-12.

I will say this. Even though it seems too confining to state that a kid's personality at first grade is such a strong indicator of their adult personality, in practice I can confirm this research. I wasn't quite as young, but I did take the MBTI at age 12 and again before I went to college, and it only changed by one letter. I guess some things really don't change!

Get those shopping shoes on!

This weekend is the tax free weekend! It's the perfect time to get all your kids school supplies together, and fill their closets with jeans and khakis (if their school is using SMOD). It starts Friday and goes until midnight Sunday night. You get a tax break on clothes, sports equipment and computers. Click here for a full list of items included. It's also a great time to pick up some extra supplies to donate, either to the teacher warehouse or to the many organizations collecting school supplies for kids. Check out our Back to School Central for a list of places to donate. Have fun shopping!

Ice Cream Sticker Shock: Ways Around It!

It's one of the ultimate summer treats -- ice cream. But have you taken the whole family out for a cone this summer? It can quickly cost as much as an entire meal, by the time you add in waffle cones and toppings. While we might not have to suffer with a small cone that costs $5, like in New York and LA, we do have our own versions of high-end ice cream. I know I've walked out of Cold Stone Creamery wondering how we spent so much money, and Ben & Jerry's isn't much better. I'm all for splurging once in a while, and treating the family to whatever they want at Cold Stone is a lot cheaper than a day at Carowinds, but there are also plenty of ways to enjoy ice cream this summer without breaking the bank. Before you head out for ice cream, check for some coupons. Baskin Robbins is running BOGO on soft cones right now, and here are some coupon codes for Cold Stone Creamery.

Today you can get root beer floats and sno-cones at the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem, where they're celebrating Thirsty Thursday (free with admission).

And you can always start making your own at home! It's only about $30 for an ice cream freezer, and there are so many great recipes to choose from you'll be making ice cream every night from now until school starts. Here are a few to get you started:

IceCreamRecipes.com

Alton Brown's Serious Vanilla Ice Cream

My Home Cooking

Help Feed the Kids

No one in America should go hungry. Especially our children. Childhood hunger is bad enough, thinking about the little kids who have to skip meals because there's nothing to eat in their house, going to bed hungry or suffering through a school day with a grumbling stomach. But today a report is out that shows going hungry as a child can have long-term effects, both phsical and psychological.

At the beginning of summer there was a lot of press about donating food to help kids who depend on the free lunch program, while school is out. The need is still there, and there are plenty of ways you can help. You can donate food or time to the Forsyth Kids Cafes through the Second Harvest Food Bank, which also has plenty of other ways to donate. You can also donate food through Greensboro Urban Ministries, which helps parents stock pantries when times are tough.

There are also food pantries through area churches, such as the Helping Hands ministry at Grace Church in High Point, and a whole host of churches that participate in Angel Food Ministries.

It's easy to go along thinking childhood is full of juice boxes, peanut butter and jelly and goldfish, but for some kids even those simple foods are out of reach. Thanks to all the helping people in our area, there are lots of efforts to help ensure no child goes to bed hungry.

Teens, Internet and Depression

It's summer. And for a lot of kids, that's meant hours and hours on the Internet or XBox and Playstation. Games have changed dramatically since we were kids, my stepson plays online with his friends, and a lot of the time he's also on the phone with them talking about what they're doing. It's social, in a way. But a new study has come out linking excessive Internet use with depression in teens. It's been studied before, and shown that people who are depressed tend to be pathological in their Internet use. But is the reverse true, can Internet use lead to depression? The findings still aren't conclusive, but what it did was raise a red flag for parents, and show there's another reason to be more diligent about monitoring your teen on the computer, and maybe even video games.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends just 2 hours of TV (or screen time) for kids per day. Psychologist Shirah Vollmer shares in his blog that he gets the question a lot of how much time kids should spend on video games. And the problem is the answer isn't clear cut. It depends on the game and the kid. Monitor what they're playing, and he says to observe their mood when they get off the game.

I can see his point. My husband and I disagreed about limiting my stepson's time on the PS3 this past week. I thought he was spending way too many hours on it, but mostly because I myself don't play video games, and wish that he was doing things like reading or just hanging out at our creek. But he isn't violent, moody or living a solitary life. He can spend a couple of hours on the game and come off just as happy and fun-loving as before, albeit a little bleary eyed. So husband won out, and since it's summer, we didn't set limits. And I'm not worried that the hours will lead to depression, but believe me, I'll be watching!

If you aren't quite sure what exactly your kids are playing, check out the What They Play website, it's a great family guide to games.

Is it cool to be smart?

Yesterday one of my favorite school events was held: Cool to be Smart. Thanks to Rice Toyota and a lot of other businesses, more than 400 kids from Guilford County Schools gathered for a chance to win a brand new car, iPods, iPads and other cool prizes. And all you had to do to get into this special event was pass at least 5 AP or IB exams during your high school career. Early College student Elizabeth Dzugan was the lucky winner of the new car, and she took so many AP and college-level classes that she'll be starting Guilford College this fall as a junior.

I love it! It makes me excited that maybe the climate of high school has changed since I was a student, when I hid my grades from others and cringed every time they announced the honor roll. Sure, making As and getting accolades was great for helping me get into college. But as far as making friends and getting invited to parties, the grades were a big stumbling block. The question I have to ask myself is, are things really different? Somehow I don't think so. Maybe a little bit, that there are groups of kids who work hard and study, and if they're also pretty good at sports and wear the right clothes, then they're looked up to by the rest of the student body. But it just seems like there's something inherent in kids that makes them make fun of the kids that make straight As, maybe a tinge of jealousy, who knows.

One thing I do know, support from parents is key to helping kids buck the peer pressure and want to sign up for those challenging courses. Sometimes it might even take saying no to some movies and parties in order to stay in and study. But it definitely pays off in the long haul. Taking AP classes prepares kids for college, helps colleges see that they're willing to take challening classes and much more. So as parents, we need to support all the programs like Cool to be Smart. It's the least we can do for our kids.

Good news from Forsyth County Schools

End of grade test scores have been studied, and results are looking good for Forsyth County Schools. The system showed improvement in every subject in every grade level, and narrowed the gap between white and minority students, a great accomplishment that deserves some accolades, and much congratulations for all the hard-working students and teachers.

It might seem hard to think about end of grade tests on a great summer weekend like this. But the news seemed important to spread, especially after the recent reporting of AYP scores, where Forsyth only got a 53% passing rate, which was good, but maybe seemed low. A lot of factors made a difference on that AYP score, and also it's important to keep in mind they're an all or nothing score.

I admit, I'm not a huge fan of EOGs. I hate the fact that teachers teach to the test, and worry about how stressed out our kids get about these tests. But it's still nice to see the scores rising, and I can only hope that means that in some way, hopefully, our teachers are helping prepare all of our kids to be successful in their futures. In the meantime, I have a little hope that what goes on at schools isn't all just reading and math preparation for the EOG after reading the "Multiculturalism in our Schools" article from the August issue of Piedmont Parent. It's an interesting look at how teachers help prepare our kids for life in a global society through technology and multicultural education.

So pat yourself on the back for all the help you gave with homework, congratulate your kids and maybe write a note to their teacher. Then head out to the pool or go biking with the kids, there aren't that many more weekends left before school starts back!

Are your kids eating gluten-free?

If it seems to you that the gluten-free diets are becoming more common, you're not alone. Something I had never heard of 10 years ago has become a way of life for many Americans, and even restaurants are getting on board with providing gluten-free offerings. And if you haven't had a chance yet to sample some of the fabulous baked good from Winston-Salem's newest bakery, Meepcakes, you're missing out. These gluten-free treats are wonderful, and give parents whose kids are on gluten-free diets an easy way to add some desserts to their meal plans. This month we're giving away a dozen of the Meepcakes cookies to two lucky website visitors.

So why the craze over gluten-free? It looks like it's stemming from many different sources. First, people with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, have to be on a gluten-free diet, and 1 in 133 Americans are diagnosed with this disease. But the gluten-free diet has hit the presses lately for a couple of other things that have gotten parents attention.

There have been studies that show kids diagnosed with ADHD respond well to a gluten-free diet. It might be that symptoms of ADHD are showing up due to undiagnosed celiac disease. Also, with some help from Jenny McCarthy, awareness has grown that a gluten-free diet may also help kids with autism. There are studies being done currently on this connection, and the Autism Web website has good information explaining how the gluten proteins may affect a child's behavior.

Of course, it's very important to talk with your doctor before starting any new diet. But even if you're not on a gluten-free diet, you can still stop by the Krankies Farmers Market in Winston-Salem on Tuesdays and try out some of the choices available from Meepcakes. There good, no matter what type of diet you're on.

How can we do more for our kids?

The Annie E. Casey Foundation just released it's Kids Count report, an annual, in-depth examination on the state of our children across the nation. North Carolina ranked 37th in this report, a little too low for my liking. The good thing is our state hasn't lost ground on the indicators, which include a variety of things such as end of grade test scores, infant mortality and low birthweight babies and how many kids live below poverty level.

It's a very interesting report, and one that we can use as a call for action. At first, you might feel helpless on how to help get so many kids out of the depths of poverty. We can't make jobs for their parents and give everyone money. But there are little things we can do to help. If you have the time to volunteer, become a Big Brother or Big Sister. This is a great way to make a difference in the life of a child, encourage them to stay in school, teach them the importance of good nutrition and just be a strong role model. Find out more in Greensboro or Winston-Salem.

You can also help kids get enough to eat by donating food or time to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, which has some great summer programs for kids who are out of school and away from the free lunch program.

And help kids start the school year confident and prepared by donating school supplies. We've got a list of different ways to donate at our Back to School Central.

Keep Respect for ATVs

There are a lot of different things kids ride in the summer: bikes, scooters, skateboards, jetskis, ATVs, maybe even small motorcycles. All of them are fun, but there are rules and regulations that need to be followed. Last week, a 2 year old was injured after being hit by an ATV. As if that's not bad enough, the ATV was driven by a 5 year old. His mom is now facing charges for letting a child under the appropriate age ride an ATV.

It may seem harmless enough to let a kid who's been driving little motorized jeeps and riding bikes all his life drive a small ATV. But small children just don't have the reasoning skills and quick reflexes it needs to react in emergency situations. That's one reason why North Carolina has set guidelines for ATV use, to help prevent injury and death. No one under 8 is allowed to drive an ATV, and up until age 16 there are restrictions on size.

The same goes for jet skis, which kids can't drive until they're 14 and have taken a boat safety course.

There are even helmet laws for bikes, as a precaution to help keep our kids safe.

It's okay to have fun, and ride your favorite form of fun that gets the wind blowing through your hair. But remember at all times to keep safety a priority. If it means having to get a 2-seater four wheeler and let your seven year old ride as a passenger, then that's what it takes. You might have to put up with a lot of cunning arguments on the part of the child who "really wants to drive," but you can sleep soundly every night knowing that not only have you helped keep your kids healthy and safe, you've also taught them an important lesson on following safety precautions that will last them a lifetime.

New Options in Maternity Fashion

Forever21, a store I'm not familiar with because its locations are west of the Mississippi, has made news this weekend by launching a new line of maternity clothes, Love21. Are they in the news because the clothes are so great? No, it's because there are people saying this store is catering to teen shoppers, making their maternity line full of controversy. I'm sure the company doesn't really mind, one way or the other their new line is getting publicity. And I'm not a retail expert, but I looked at the clothes online and personally, I think they look okay. They're not really that different than what you'll find in Target or Old Navy's maternity lines.

When you're pregnant, you're body is expanding in ways you never thought it could, and no matter how many times people compliment you on your "glow," you often can't help feeling like a beached whale. So having a wardrobe that makes you feel pretty is important. And making it affordable is a plus! When I was pregnant, and I'll admit I wasn't even in my early 20s, I fell in love with the stylish dresses and beautiful clothes of lines like A Pea in the Pod and The Gap, but couldn't afford to pay $100 for a dress on a regular basis, let alone for one I'd only be wearing a few months. I gladly shopped at Target, and bought stuff from Old Navy online. And I never once thought that I might be purchasing clothes from lines that encourage teen pregnancy because they were "stylish." Teens shop at Target and Old Navy. But woment in their 20s and even 30s do too.

Maybe rather than catering to teen shoppers, Love21 is just one more effort in making maternity clothes that aren't that much different than the clothes we wear everyday. And they're affordable!

Heat Days

We're looking at another hot weekend, and the 5-day forecast shows no end in sight to the 90-degree weather. Just this week on Triadmommies, there was talk about how it's too hot for kids to play outside. And I even commented the other day that it's almost like winter, where we're hibernating inside but this time to take advantage of air conditioning, rather than avoiding the cold.

The good thing is we're not stuck inside from snow, we can still be out and enjoy the beautiful summer weekend, as long as you're safe about how you do it. The best way to stay cool in the heat? Go to the pool. Or if you can't get there, uncoil that hose and enjoy some wet fun in the backyard. Here are fun water play games to get the whole family wet.

If you can't stay cool with the water, it's still okay to be outside, just take precautions. Dress those little ones in light-colored, lightweight clothing. Make sure kids drink plenty of fluids, even if they think they're not thirsty. Kids produce more heat and sweat less than adults, so they're more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Check out WebMD for more tips on helping keep kids safe when active in this hot weather.

Report Cards are In: How well did your kid's school do?

It's time for AYP results. Those numbers that we all look at to see whether our child's school measures up, and whether we should or not, we use it to compare to other schools and judge our own district's schools. At first glance, the numbers seem sort of dismal for Guilford and Forsyth County. In Guilford, 60% passed, down from 69% last year. In Forsyth, 53% passed, also lower than last year's 67%. (Click here for all counties and individual school scores.)

I admint, I was proud the school my daughter will go to passed.. But does that mean my stepson's high school, which didn't, is a bad school? Not necessarily. It helps to understand what AYP is. First of all, in North Carolina, it's an all or nothing grade. A school passes if they meet every goal, but if they miss just one, they don't pass. The goals are based on reading and math scores from target groups, which have to meet set goals. Learn more about the standards on the state's school site.

Percentage of pass rates for counties are also affected by factors such as how many new schools were started in the past year, and Forsyth County's rates are down in part because of a bump last year from a newly instated re-testing procedure.

The AYP results always tend to bring up more debate about the No Child Left Behind policy, whether it's good for our schools and whether it's working. For an interesting look at the complications that arise with NCLB, check out this analysis by two professors, written in 2001, right after the bill was passed by Congress but before the policies were implemented. It is an eye-opening study, that makes you wonder how the whole program was put into practice in the first place.

The all-or-nothing AYP rankings are just one reason Obama's administration is pushing for education reform. And there's no denying our system needs some help.

So when it comes to choosing a good school for your child, what can you do? Definitely look at the results. But also go by, talk to the principal and some teachers, and take an active role in your child's education. A little one-on-one attention will go a long way to helping your child get the most out of his school career.

Parents Guide to the Triad!

Are you looking for a preschool for your kids this fall? Are you getting summertime cabin fever and looking for something to do? Are you new to the area and looking for information on pediatricians and daycares in the area? We've got it all in the Ultimate Family Resource Guide! The very name says it all. Everything you need to help your family have fun and find good resources in our communities is in one place, and the entire book is published right here on our website. Explore it to see what we have to offer, and bookmark it to use later.

EMF: Experience Music

There's only a week and a half left in this year's Eastern Music Festival -- find something to go to before it's gone! The first year that I lived in Greensboro, I stumbled upon EMF somewhat by accident. I lived in an apartment near Guilford College, and I was overwhelmed at all the concerts going on in such a short time, and the affordability was a huge plus. It's one of the best ways to spend a summer night, in a cool auditorium with beautiful music wafting through the air. And the great thing is, there's plenty of different activities, from formal concerts to things structured just for kids. In fact, on Tuesday mornings you can take your kids to an open rehearsal, for free! And this weekend is the big kid's concert, which this year is a production of Peter and the Wolf. The Greensboro Ballet will perform, and Neill McNeill is the narrator. It's pretty affordable, with family packs only $25.

Whether or not your kids are taking music lessons, it's so important to expose them to music. It helps inspire creativity, teaches appreciation for the fine arts and even helps them learn the etiquette of attending live events.

The great thing is it doesn't have to be limited to the six weeks of EMF. Both the Winston-Salem and Greensboro Orchestras have great programs for kids, from concerts performed just for elementary and middle school students, to special programs before regular-season concerts.

Classical music not your thing? Take your kids to see the local kid's rock band, Big Bang Boom. They perform live across the Triad all year long, and bring a lot of excitement to their concerts.

There are plenty of ways to expose your kids to music, from listening to the radio in the car to taking advantages of the many different opportunities in our area. Get out there and have some fun!

How will I pay for college?

It's a question parents of kids have been accepted to their dreamed-of university and are getting ready to head off to school this fall ask themselves, but it's also a question current college students are having to ask after a new set of tuition hikes. I remember when I went to college, years ago, and the financial counselor assured me that if you get into a college or university, they'll help make sure you can afford to go, somehow. But from what parents around me are saying, and after reading the dire outlook in the news reports, I have a hard time believing this is still true.

We all want the best for our child. But when it comes to getting a college education, it might be that we're at the point just going to college is an achievement, and we need to worry less about whether the kids are going to Harvard or UNC-A. I happen to believe that in a lot of ways, you get out of your school experience what you put into it. Sure, going to a more prestigious school as its advantages. But you can also find ways to make other options work. As parents, our role is to be supportive of our kids and try to show them the different options available. And sometimes we need a little help with that role! Luckily there are a lot of resources out there. If you're currently looking at how to afford college for your kids, check out our links below. But also make an appointment with your child's college financial counselor. They've got experience that they're willing to share, and can sometimes work small miracles.

College Foundation of NC

College Board: How to pay for college

Sallie Mae: loans defined

FAFSA

Take Your Kids to the Theater: Why Live is Good

The weekend's here, and it's time to get out and do something with the family. Movies are great, and cool in the summer (we've got links to reviews of new ones on our home page), but there's also plenty of choices for live theater this weekend. Take your kids to a live production and you'll not only have fun, they'll learn something and encourage their creativity in many ways. Actor John Tartaglia has four good reasons to take kids out (see below). Take advantage of the local talent by choosing from Cinderella, the ballet, at the High Point Theatre, Willy Wonka, a project of the Community Theatre of Greensboro and Guilford County Schools, and Oklahoma at the Weaver Academy. If the rain holds off, you can even experience an outdoor drama at Snow Camp. It will do you all some good, and you'll support the community's actors at the same time!

Here are John's reasons for taking kids to live theater:

A good show is an active experience
When you think of going to a show, you may believe it is a passive experience. However good family theater excites its audience and gets them involved -- whether it be helping a character find its way, clapping hands, laughing out loud, dancing in your seat, or singing along.

It is a great bonding experience
Live theater is the most engaging, interactive form of entertainment. As a family in the audience, you talk about it, you laugh out loud together, cry together, you are in amazement together. It is the most bonding experience when you are with a kid. When you take children to a movie, you are not asked to engage. When you watch television, you are not asked to engage… but a live show engages everyone.

Kids need to experience the power of live entertainment
In an age of HDTV, video games, the Internet, and 3D movies, too much time is spent in front of screens and kids miss out on real person-to-person entertainment. Live stage events cannot be substituted with screen time.

It is magical
Even the most cynical child can be swept up in the magical and fantastical, which is contagious for the kid in all of us. As adults, we are trained to judge everything and be skeptical. But kids do not judge -- they can purely buy into the world on stage and get swept away.

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Emmy and Tony nominated television and Broadway star John Tartaglia was the youngest puppeteer to ever work on Sesame Street at age 16. He is best known to adults for his starring role in Avenue Q and to kids for creating, producing and starring in Disney’s hit children’s musical television show Johnny and the Sprites. He also starred recently on Broadway in Shrek The Musical, and in Beauty and The Beast. His latest creation is John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean, the off-Broadway show for which he is the creator, writer, producer of the show, along with voicing five of its main characters. The show is an underwater theatrical experience like no other. The innovative glow-in-the-dark musical features extraordinary puppets, memorable original songs, and a heartwarming journey of discovery by three loveable fish named Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel. More at www.imaginoceanthemusical.com.

Silly Bandz Trading Today!

In case you've been living in some sort of time warp for the past couple months and have missed out on some new trends, here's some breaking news for you: Silly Bandz are hot. Yes, a package of what is basically glorified, colored rubber bands, which sells for around $5, are what every kid wants, and thinks they need. The craze started earlier this spring and only seems to be growing. If you want to really make your kids happy, take them to AC Moore today from 3-5 p.m., where they're having a Silly Bandz trading event, one of many going on across the country.

I count myself lucky, my kids are still preschool age and so far I haven't been asked to make this purchase. But I still have opinions on the things! Basically they seem harmless, and while maybe a little expensive for what you're getting, it's not too much money in the big scheme of things, for all the fun kids have with them. It reminds me of the little friendship pins we made in the 80s, safety pins with beads that we traded with each other. The trading was the fun part.

Some schools already started outlawing the bands before school let out in June, and summer camps and pools have had to ban the bracelets, for reasons ranging from the fact that they're clogging filters and disintegrating in the chlorine to just the fact that kids are distracted by the things and paying more attention to them than to their teachers.

It will be interesting to see what happens as school starts this year. But in the meantime, it's summer, kids don't have to sit in a desk and listen to their teacher, they might as well have some fun trading these shaped bracelets!

Make Sure Your Car Seat's Safe

Recent research shows that 7 in 10 car seats are installed incorrectly. This is pretty scary news, considering the fact that in many accidents, car seats are the thing that saves a kid's life. It's common sense to know the safest place for the car seat is in the back seat. But I admit that even I have trouble getting those straps tight. And when you move a car seat from one car to another, how likely is it that you get it installed just right every time? If you're second guessing the installation of your seat, have it checked. Here's a list of fire stations that perform car seat safety checks. And next week, Babies R Us is having a Buckle Up and Boogie event at their locations.

It's also important to have the correct seat for your child's weight and age. To learn more about the regulations and when kids are able to move up to booster seats, check out our article on car seat safety. You can even compare brands and find ratings on car seats at Consumer Reports.

Putting a car seat into your car isn't something to be taken lightly. Take the time to do it right, and you'll all have peace of mind.

Do Kids Make you Happy?

Yesterday I read an article about how having kids doesn't make people happy, and in fact, scientific research has found that in some measurable ways, people without kids are happier than parents. It's not breaking news, and probably won't affect people's decisions whether or not to have kids, but the whole thing got me thinking. Why do we become parents? Is it because we expect our kids to make us happy? After much pondering on the subject, I had a realization. It's similar to when you're single, looking for someone to share your life with, and someone says you can't be happy with another person unless you're happy with yourself. With kids, the same principle applies. We can't look to our kids to provide our own personal happiness. In fact, having kids creates a lot of stress. Married couples have less time alone together, some of the spontaneity disappears from the marriage, and our lives become wrapped up with fixing meals for little ones and transporting kids back and forth to school and sports.

I think the issue here is that people are confusing love with happiness. Yes, being in love, or having love in your life, does make you happy. But it's so much more than that. Our kids make us laugh, but they also make us worry, cry and yell. But through it all, we love them more than anything in the world, and they love us back. That strong bond, the special love between a parent and a child, is something people without kids aren't able to share. And that brings so much meaning to our lives in ways that can't be measured by surveys on happiness.

What do you think? Does having kids make you happy? And why is that? It's fun to think about, isn't it?

Food Fight! Help Fight Hunger in Our Area

There's something special going on this week, a food fight between Winston-Salem and Greensboro. And no, travelers on I-40 aren't in danger of tomatoes and macaroni hitting their cars. It's a food drive and a little friendly competition. Take the family out to the ballfield, tonight at the Winston-Salem Dash and Wednesday at the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and bring plenty of canned goods to be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. There's a friendly competition going on between the two cities. But the real winners are the people who need help filling their pantries and feeding their kids. So even though we need the rain, let's hope the showers predicted today don't dampen the Food Fight festivities.

If you can't make it tonight, there are other ways to donate food, just check out the Second Harvest Food Bank website. And make plans to take your family to the ball park some other time this summer. It's loads of fun for everyone. Find out more about the KidsZone at the Dash in our own article, but whether you go to the Dash or the Grasshoppers, there's fireworks on Fridays, plenty of fun entertainment between innings, and best of all, the fun of enjoying that all-American summer past-time, baseball.

Celebrate Our Area's Heritage

Saturday is African-American Heritage Day at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum. This free event will have plenty of entertainment for everyone – musicians, dancers, arts and crafts and even kids activities such as making drums. It’s a fun chance to explore a nice historic site close to home. And there’s no reason why we only celebrate the rich African-American heritage of our area during Black History Month! Make a weekend of it and visit the International Civil Rights museum as well. It’s interesting to see how kids today, who have no experience with segregation, react to the different exhibits and take it all in.

Helicoptering: A Warning for Parents

When was the last time you actually read a book for your book club? Went out to dinner with the guys? Watched a rated-R movie with your husband? As parents, we rarely find time for ourselves, let alone our friends and spouses. But research into the helicopter parenting trend shows another casualty of spending all your energy controlling your child’s life. Not only are the kids more dependent and neurotic than other kids their age, the parents are exhausted and find no time for the adult relationships that are important in a healthy life.

In our highly competitive world of parenting, we rush around taking kids to soccer practice and piano lessons and help them with their homework. Some parents even micromanage their kids time with friends or make sure they read all the same books as their kids, to discuss it with them afterwards. If you’re doing all this on top of working a full time job, something has to give, and usually it’s time with your spouse and your friends. One of my favorite parenting experts, John Rosemond, has been telling parents for years to put the marriage first. It’s good for you, and good for your kids. And if you are leaning towards helicopter parenting tactics, it’s an important message to hear.

Next time your kids want to watch a movie on ABC Family, turn it on, let them watch it alone, and feel comfortable that the content is appropriate. Then go into the other room and crack open that book you bought at Barnes and Noble last Christmas. You’ll thank yourself later, and so will your kids.

Kids Eat Free!

Who wants to heat up the kitchen to make dinner in this heat, and then be stuck inside washing dishes while the lightning bugs are flitting around outside? Grilling is great, but sometimes you just want to eat out. Worried it costs too much with the whole family? Check out our recently updated Kids Eat Free directory for some restaurants around town that have deals for families.

Eating out is not only expensive, sometimes it can be hard to make sure kids are getting the right foods if they’re tempted by French fries and chicken nuggets at every turn. Luckily there are plenty of places in our directory that offer healthy options. A meal at a restaurant is a good time to show kids how to make smart choices, picking steamed broccoli or maybe applesauce to go with those chicken tenders, instead of French fries. For some help with getting the better choices, check out Eat This, Not That, a fun site from Mens Health.

Other great tips, from KidsHealth.org, include ordering water or milk, to stay away from the empty calories of soda, ask for sauces and dressings on the side so you can use them sparingly and choose the broiled or grilled option over fried.

What are some of your favorite places to go with the kids? I don’t know how healthy it is, but I like Cracker Barrel when we’re on road trips. The veggie plate for kids seems like a good choice over chicken nuggets and fries. If you have a favorite restaurant with some great family deals that’s not included in our list, email us at webeditor@piedmontparent.com

Avoid the Brain Drain!

We’re well into summer now. Beach trips have been taken, the Fourth has been celebrated and many of us have even broken out the camping gear. But how much are your kids reading with all this activity? Have they been practicing their math and long division? Probably not. It’s not that much fun to do “work” over summer vacation. That’s how the term “brain drain” was coined, because research shows that kids return to school in the fall a little bit behind, academically, than they were when school was out.

Luckily, we’ve got some great ideas for you to battle the brain drain. Of course, the libraries have some great reading programs. You can find links to them on our Summer Fun page, as well as some other activities. Reading is good, but math and science are necessary too. Find some creative ideas to sneak in learning in our online exclusive, “Brain-Stretching Fun.” We’ve even got some brain-building toys, recommended by Dr. Toy.

And of course, probably the most important of all is to be a good role model yourself. Read a book with your kids this summer. Take some trips to historic sites and read the monuments. Or even just incorporate them in the daily routine of the household, cooking and gardening provide some great learning experiences!

Happy Fourth of July!

Are you planning to travel this weekend? If so, you're not alone! AAA of the Carolinas predicts a 12% increase in people on the road over last July 4th weekend. So be careful while on the road. And to help pass the time, check out our brand new Travel Resource, where you'll find lots of ways to keep the kids entertained, car snack ideas, gas saving tips and more.

If you're foregoing the road trip, it's a great weekend to stay home. There's so much to do it's hard to figure out just where to go, and with the 4th falling on a Sunday, there's something going on all weekend long. Find fireworks and activities on our Fourth of July page. There's a Splash before the Blast in Kernersville, a historic Independence Day celebration at Old Salem, and of course Fun Fourth in Greensboro, just to name a few.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Can Co-Parenting Work?

There have been some messy divorces in the celebrity news lately, most recently Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, and our own local story of John Edwards and Elizabeth's marriage deteriorating publicly. The interesting connection between these two stories is that both couples claim to plan to continue to co-parent through their divorce. The Edwards have plans for a family trip to Japan.

Can this work? As part of a blended family, my gut reaction is to say no. Co-parenting, or setting aside whatever differences the adults have had to put the needs of the kids first, is what should happen in every family. It can be done, but it's hard, and rarely happens. In an ideal world, co-parenting means open communication between the two parents, respecting each others opinion and trying to keep life as stable as possible for the kids involved. But does that mean putting your own life on hold, sacrificing new relationships in order to continue to go to events and vacations with your ex? I think that's taking things a little too far.

As many of you who read Lisa's blog, the Single Mom's Soliloquy, know, parenting with your ex-spouse after a divorce has many challenges. Dealing with different values, rules and expectations in each household is hard for the kids, and leads to much questioning and self-doubt on the part of the parents. And then there are the situations where parents start using the kids as pawns, trying to win over the love of the kids and hurting the children's relationship with the other parent.

Divorce is not a game. It's not a big competition between the two adults involved to see who "wins." Truly, if you ask me, no one wins. If Bullock and James and the Edwards bring the benefits of co-parenting to light, that's great. But with everything in life, maybe we shouldn't look to celebrities as models of how to live our own lives. Instead, find a family in your own community, a divorced couple who comes to baseball games or dance recitals, maybe even with their new spouses, and talks amicably, shares time with the kids easily and rises above the bitter pettiness of divorce, and ask them how they've done it. Real life support is always a better example to live by than the highly publicized glimpses of sometimes unrealistic celebrity life that we're exposed to.

The Fun of July

Our July issue is hitting the stands this week, and if you haven't picked up your copy yet make sure you go out and get one. It's our annual pregnancy issue, full of great information on what you need to know if you're expecting. But there's much more, including the 2010 parenting resource award winners and a review of the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. A new issue also means new things on the website. Be sure to enter this month's contest an win your kid a Webkinz Jr., take our poll below about what type of mom you'd like to be, and read our great online exlusives on battling the summer brain drain and the pros and cons of crocs.

Take some time to explore the site today, and come back on a regular basis to stay up to date on the latest parenting news, take advantage of our online calendar and directories and read the latest from our bloggers.

Are you a Twilight Mom?

The newest movie in the Twilight saga, Eclipse, opens tomorrow. Like the Harry Potter series, there will be swarms of teenagers (mostly girls) lining up to see this movie. But there will also be plenty of adult women in line as well. The premiere of this movie might just rival Sex and the City 2, with viewing parties already being organized.

Are you a Twilight mom? Do you proudly admit you've read all the books and can't wait for the movies? Or do you read in secret and wait until it comes out on DVD? Either way, the guilty pleasure is a fun one. It's a return to true romance, taking that age-old wish to fall in love with a handsome prince charming to a new level, with vampires and werewolves that attract the post-princess age group. Because let's face it, girls eventually get to an age where wearing the princess dress to the grocery store isn't cool. And as adults, we know that real life includes not just a happy marriage to a wonderful husband, but also mopping floors, paying bills and juggling driving kids to different activities. If you get a date night with your own prince charming once a month you're lucky! But the Twilight series allows an escape from all that. For teenagers, it's an exciting romance, but one where sex takes a backseat to adventure and true love. For adults, it's an escape into a world of romance where a man with 100 years worth of life experience still has the rock-hard body of a teenager.

So if you're a Twilight mom, come out this week and be proud of it. You can join up with others on the Twilight Moms forum, and connect with your teenage daughter in ways that might otherwise be impossible. And if you haven't gotten into the fun yet, go check out the books. What better way to encourage your kids to read this summer than to read yourself? You might just find you get sucked into a great summer read, and find a new way to start communicating with your teenager.

Staying Safe at the Beach

Last Friday, a 13 year old girl was bitten by a shark while swimming at Topsail Island. And during our family's beach trip, my 15-year-old stepson pulled a four year old out of the water who had gotten caught up in some rolling waves and couldn't stand up. This time of year, a lot of us are heading to the beach. We're lucky to live in an area so close to the coast, where you can go for even just a day or a weekend. But don't let the beauty of the rolling waves lull you into a false sense of security. As these two incidents show, it's important to keep a close eye on small children at all times, and help educate older kids on safety tips for swimming in the ocean. It's different than a lake or the pool.

The first thing to do is check the flags flying from the lifeguard's stand. Green means safe to go, yellow means swim with caution and red means it's not safe to swim.

Just like any other swimming experience, be careful where you jump in, you can't see the bottom at the ocean. And don't swim alone, it's always safer with a buddy.

For small kids, don't let them get out beyond waist deep, and teach them to face the waves, so they know what's coming.

For older kids, talk about what rip tides are, and some ways to get to calmer areas, or shore.

For more great tips, check out KidsHealth.org and Beach.Lifetips.com.

Let's Go Camping!

This Saturday is the Great American Backyard Campout! Get out those tents out and get ready for some s’mores in the backyard. Or if you’re more adventurous, take the family to the celebration at Bur-Mil, or hit the road for a more exotic location. We’ve got some great places to choose from in our Camping in North Carolina article and on our Outdoors Triad page.

Camping is a great way to spend some quality time with your family and learn a little about surviving on very little, a good lesson for kids these days. Unplug for a few hours and spend some time just listening to the crickets and watching the lightning bugs. It’s good for the soul.

For more tips on how to have a successful backyard campout, check out our article, “Summer adventures in your own backyard.”

All my kids do is play video games!

Are you going crazy trying to limit your child’s time on the TV and gaming system? It’s so hot that after a few minutes outdoors, they’re begging to come in. But once inside, it seems like they hop from TV to computer to PS3 to TV. It’s not ideal. And not really that good for them. I have nothing against TV, and have to admit it’s on for more than 2 hours a day in my house, but I do try to limit it, knowing that the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends just 2 or less of screen time for kids

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So how do you shut off the screens and keep from going crazy? (and kieep them cool!) Here are a few tips:
* Make sure that your kids know the limits ahead of time. This will help them decide what they want to watch or play. You might even purchase a timer, so they have a better idea of how long they can watch and when their time is up.
* Invest in some new art supplies. Making sure there’s other things to do besides watch TV helps in keeping them occupied. Crayons, water colors and play dough can provide hours of entertainment, with a little encouragement.
* Get them involved in household duties. Of course, no kid wants added chores. But they might enjoy feeling useful if they get to help cook dinner or make lunch once in a while.
* Join a summer reading program. Hanging out at the library is cool in more ways than one, and they'll find lots of good books to read at home.

Summer Reading

How many books have you read this summer? Is that a question your kids are ready to answer when they go back to school? As much as I hate to admit it, often reading a book can feel like homework. But there’s a lot written about the importance of keeping kids reading during the summer months, and the best way to do it is just to make it fun! If you haven’t joined up with one of the local libraries, here are links to Greensboro and Forsyth County’s programs. The activities they host do a lot to encourage summer reading.

Some other ways to jazz up the reading time:

Read to your kids. Or if they’re good enough readers, take turns reading aloud to each other. It’s a fun way to enjoy some great literature together. Go check out one of your childhood favorites, like "Little House on the Prairie," the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Danny Dunn, or even Choose your own Adventure, and have some fun.

Read outside. When it gets too hot to play soccer and you just can’t bear to go down the slide, grab a book and head under the shade of a big tree, with a glass of ice-cold lemonade beside you.

Read something besides books. Pick up the Sunday paper and read the sports section with your kids, or get out the comics. Find a magazine they might like, or even try some comic books. It's a great way to widen their reading experiences.

Single Dads Deserve Accolades

Father's Day was Sunday, but I think dads deserve one more day of attention, and today it's single dads.They might be few and far between, but they’re out there. Dads raising their kids, full-time or part-time, due to divorce or even as widows. And in my opinion, these dads get the short end of the stick when it comes to recognition as parents. There was a great blog written a few weeks ago, on the topic of whether dads are different than moms. Basically he says they are, but not in ways you stereotypically see in movies and TV, where dads live chaotic lives and never really know what to say to the kids when the moms aren’t around. Instead, men bring their own style of parenting to the game of raising kids, and kids living in a household with a single father can have just as fulfilling a life as kids living with a single mom.
Remember “My Three Sons” and “Family Affair”? I often wonder why it is that we have to delve back into decades-old TV to find examples of single dads at home. Maybe the writers who come up with pilots for new TV shows should take a cue from the hard-working single dads out there.

In the meantime, we should all take some time to acknowledge the role single dads play in our society, balancing a career with the responsibilities of caring for kids and all that brings. Last Sunday, I’m sure they got their tie and steak dinner, just like other dads. But we can do more.

If you're a single dad who's already been through divorce, you know what that 365:182 ratio feels like. Read about it from a dad's perspective in this month's online exclusive.

In 2006 a Shared Parenting Act was passed in Australia.
Still hotly debated, the custody dispute brings up many arguments including that fathers fought for this just so they didn’t have to pay child support, but research shows that often dads with shared custody pay just as much child support, and have all the expenses of the kids at their own house. In addition, dads sometimes will have to work fewer hours, which leads to less salary, in order to be available when the kids need him.

Maybe it will come here soon, a mom in the U.S. is fighting for shared custody rights for dads.

Celebrating Stepdads

I can’t claim to know what it’s like to be a stepdad, because I’m a woman. But being a stepmom myself, I am privy to a lot of insider’s knowledge of dealing with ex spouses, helping raise a child that’s not related to you biologically, and juggling schedules and navigating custody agreements.

Father’s Day was yesterday, and for weeks we’ve been bombarded with images of dads and their kids, from Belks and Outback commercials to those sappy sermons we’ll sat through on Sunday. I don’t know about dads, but sometimes I’d like to be recognized by my stepson on Mother’s Day, not as his mom, but as someone who plays an important role in his life. If you’re a stepdad, you know that support and recognition is hard to come by. On this day after Father’s Day, if you know a stepdad, or have one in your family, take some time to show him you appreciate him. The ideas on our Father’s Day page work just as well for stepdads!

There’s also some great sources of encouragement and support online. Check out these:

I am a Stepfather support group.

Being a Stepfather, article from essortment.com

How to be a good Stepfather, from Stepfamily magazine.

A Father's Day Essay by a stepfather.

Happy Father's Day!

This weekend, it's all about dad. And it should be. Fathers are important to our kids lives for so many reasons, and research shows that strong involvment on the part of dads leads to healthier, better-adjusted kids. Dads struggle with how to balance careers and kids just as much as moms, and a growing number of stay-at-home dads shows just how much men are willing to battle stereotypes to do what's best for their families.

This weekend, take some time to show dad just how special he is in the life of your family. We've got great ideas to celebrate on our Father's Day page, including local deals, places to go, movies to watch and great recipes. Make dad feel special, he deserves it!

Get into Golf

Summer sports are fun. But they can also have an "exclusive" air about them. For many kids, access to swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses is hard to come by. But with Greensboro's relatively new First Tee of the Triad program, kids who otherwise might not get a chance to play golf are introduced the the sport in a fun way, with lessons that not only teach how to swing a club but also work on character building and life-enhancing skills. Registration for its summer program is open now. There's a lot of good reasons for kids to learn golf, it's a sport that requires some concentration and strategy, and can be helpful as far as networking in many careers. I know Tiger Woods has received a lot of bad press lately, but one thing he did do was open up the sport of golf to a lot more of the American population.

If you can't make it to one of the First Tee programs, there are other ways to get the family golfing. Check out the US Kids Golf site for some tips and resources, including a list of family-friendly golf courses and deals on equipment.

One of my favorite family-friendly courses in our area is Bur-Mil, where you can hit the driving range, play the par 3 course or even sign up for some lessons.

Stemming the Fear of Thunder

It's been a stormy few days. Every day since Saturday, a pretty big thunderstorm has popped up. Yesterday it was so dark at 2:30 in the afternoon that it felt like night! The wild weather, and trees down, is enough to make anyone a little nervous about storms, but can fuel fears in our little ones, especially if they were already scared of thunder before. None of us want our kids to be scared. So what can we do to help them? KidsHealth.org recommends 3 steps: understand what's happening, know how to stay safe and find your calm.

Understanding what's happening can be fun. Check out Weather Wiz Kids for lots of great information on what makes thunder and lightning as well as some experiments kids can do.

Safety is important as well. We know to have plans for tornadoes and fire, but how often do we take the time to go over thunderstorm safety? It's so tempting, after paying to get everyone into the pool, to want to stay and swim even if you hear a little thunder, especially if it's still sunny overhead. But the first safety rule of thunderstorms is to get away from water, and seek shelter. Also, stay away from corded phones and other electrical equipment. NOAA has even more lightning safety tips, and will be highlighting them in the media next week during lightning safety week.

The last thing to do is find your calm. This is something my dad was always good at. We often stood by the window and watched for lightning, counting to see how long it took for the thunder to come and estimating how far away the lightning was. The important thing I learned from this wasn't the little trick of measuring lightning's distance, it was that my dad wasn't scared of thunder and lightning, and I shouldn't be either. As parents, the best thing we can do for our kids who are fearful of thunderstorms is to be calm ourselves. Then help them find their calm. Let them watch the storm from the couch with the family dog. Or help them escape by turning on some music and having a dance party until the worst of the storm passes. Learning how to help yourself remain calm in a fearful situation is a great life skill, not just for thunderstorms!

It looks like we might have one more day to practice these tips before the forecast shows fewer afternoon storms. Stay safe!

Keeping Kids Cool

The past couple of days we've been experiencing some of that good ol' Southern summer weather, with high heat and humidity that gets the sweat dripping off your forehead just from a walk to the mailbox. But the little ones continue to run around and play like they can't even feel the heat. Remember, they're susceptible to heat cramps and heat exhaustion, more so than adults because of their small size, and they aren't as aware when their bodies have had enough. Be sure to keep them hydrated, before and during any outdoor activities. Water is best, but if your kids are like mine, they're not huge fans of water. Make it fun with personalized water bottles, or flavored waters. Also, dress them in lightweight, light-colored clothes.

One of my favorite ways to stay cool is to grab some popsicles and take a break on the porch steps. Ice cream is also fun, and starting today through July 31, any Snickers product you purchase at Brusters, they'll give a meal to Feeding America. So you can have a fun treat and feel good about it!

It's also important to remember car and sun safety in these hot days. Make sure you get your kids out of the car as soon as you come to a stop. And slather on that sunscreen! Don't forget to reapply every 2 hours. Even if you're wearing waterproof 75 SPF, it doesn't last forever.

Brainstorming on Divorce

Divorce is messy. Necessary, sometimes the best solution for families, but no matter how you look at it, it's not easy to go through, and even more complicated when kids are involved. In many cases, once the two adults involved get everything worked out and find arrangements they can live with, the stress and heartbreak is only beginning for the kids. We don't have a perfect system, as anyone who's been through it knows. That's why I was glad to see that a team of experts, including lawyers, judges, mental health professionals and financial experts, are meeting June 24-25 for a Families Matter symposium identify problems and potential alternatives to current practice. The symposium kicks off a multi-year initiative to improve family law processes. (Click here to read the entire press release.)

As a second wife, I wholeheartedly support this effort. I've seen first hand what I view as inequalities in the legal system, an archaic system that assumes moms should have custody and dads are there for monetary support. It might look good on paper, but kids need both their parents, and a dad who only gets every other weekend ends up with an adult child who he feels like he hardly had a part in raising. We often think that America is on the forefront of almost everything, whether legal, scientific or industrial, but in this case, it seems that Australia might be ahead of the game. In 2006 they passed a shared parenting act which helps get fathers more equal time with their kids. The debate is pretty heated over whether this is working or not, but the latest article, Top 10 Myths on Shared Parenting, shows some of the cracks in the argument against the act.

Hopefully with Australia leading the way, we can learn from that country's efforts and utilize some of the practices in our own custody cases. In the meantime, for some great resources on father's rights, check out The Men's Center.

Congratulations Graduates!

Pre-K graduations, kindergarten graduations, fifth grade graduations ... there are plenty of celebrations, but nothing is as exciting as high school graduations. There's just something about completing the 12th grade and going off into the world as an adult (at least age-wise), whether it's to college, a job, the military, or some other choice. It's a big milestone, and bittersweet for parents. This weekend, we send a big congratulations to all the graduates in the Triad. Most Guilford County seniors graduated last weekend, you can see pictures here. Forsyth County's graduations are scheduled for this weekend.

After the graduation parties and beach trips are over, then what? If your graduate is looking for a job, there's some good news. Even though the economy is pretty dismal, reports say entry-level job creation is increasing. And many recent high school grads will be looking for a summer job to tide them over until college. It's not too late to apply to some programs, check out our College Guide for information.

So enjoy this weekend of celebrating, cook outs, family gatherings and pool parties. After 12+ years of making lunches, worrying about bedtimes, volunteering for PTA, suffering through homework and sitting on uncomfortable bleachers for sports events and chorus concerts, you deserve to celebrate as much as the kids. Things will be back to the normal, hum-drum daily routine soon enough.

School's Out for the Summer!

You have to admit, it's exciting. For most kids in our area, today's the last day of school! That means parties at school, last awards, cleaning out desks, saying good-bye to teachers, and looking forward sleeping late tomorrow morning.

No matter what your schedule is like this summer, we can all look forward to some laid back days enjoying time together as a family. And we've got plenty of ways for you to find things to do, whether you're looking to go camping, escape the heat in at a movie or just enjoy some time at home in your backyard.

Bookmark our Summer Fun page, it's full of fun in the Triad for the summer--Summer reading programs, nature camps, links to local pools, the Eastern Music Festival for Kids and more.

You'll also find a great resource in our Outdoors Page, with links to state and national parks and tips for hiking and camping with kids.

And don't forget our Daytrippin' Directory, with plenty of fun ideas for short excursions.

Consistent Sleep Helps Kids

What time does your child go to bed? They ask it at doctor's visits and pre-K screenings, and we parents ask each other, maybe just to see if other parents get any time to watch an adult show on TV before falling asleep themselves. It's all we talk as parents of newborns. But what about as our kids get older? Once the kids are 3 or 4, sleeping all night long and hopefully not wetting the bed anymore, the sleep thing doesn't fly in our radar as often. But research out today shows it is still important, maybe even more important. Preschoolers with a consistent, early bedtime scored higher on math and literacy tests.

It's interesting to see this news now, right at the beginning of summer, when bedtimes get more laid back. It's hard to put kids to bed at 8:00 when it's still light outside, and you might even wonder why you should fight the battle, when there's no real reason to get up early the next day. And there are so many things going on that make it hard to go to bed early. The epitome of summer, catching lightening bugs, is something you can't even do until dusk. Outdoor movies, even fireworks, can't start until dark. But if you're dreading having to get back into the school-time routine come August, it might be best to let some of those summer things be a once in a while treat, and keep that consistent bedtime as much as possible during the summer. It's good for you and your kids!

So how much sleep do kids need? The research on preschoolers and academic development says at minimum, 11 hours. Here's a list of recommended sleep from KidsHealth.org:

Ages 1-3: 10-13 hours
Preschoolers: 10-12 hours
Ages 6-9: 10 hours
Ages 10-12: 9 hours
Teens: 8-10 hours

And how can we help that happen? Establish a bedtime, and stick to it. For tips on setting up a bedtime routine that will help your kids get to sleep on time, visit KidsHealth.org.

Rice Krisipies Don't Boost Immunity: Does it Matter?

Yesterday news broke that Kellogg's got their hand slapped for claiming that Rice Krispies cereal can boost your child's immunity, thanks to the cereal's added antioxidants. It's not the first time a cereal has been warned. Last year Frosted Miniwheats had to quit claiming that the cereal helps increase kids' attentiveness, and Cheerios was warned by the FDA that if it continued to claim it lowers cholesterol it would be regulated as a drug. But did that stop me from buying Cheerios? No. Because I don't buy them because they'll lower cholesterol. I buy cereal because it's a quick, easy breakfast choice that my kids will eat. I do try to stick to "healthier" cereals. I look at the labels, and don't buy the ones loaded with sugars (yes, I'm one of those parents). But I'm not kidding myself either, I know a bowl of cereal isn't some miracle food that will magically make my kids healthier. I'm just looking to fill their stomachs before school. There's plenty of research that shows kids perform better in school if they've eaten breakfast. Not because of added antioxidants or cholesterol-lowering whole grains, but because their tummies are full.

So yes, Kellogg's shouldn't be making false claims, and leading parents to expect more out of their cereal choices. The FDA is working on regulations, and health claims will have to be backed up by science.

But it doesn't mean cereal is bad. As always, cereal is just a part of a healthy breakfast. The milk you pour on, the juice your kids drink, and maybe that piece of toast they'll scarf down, if you're lucky, help make up a nutritious breakfast. Any breakfast is a good breakfast, in my opinion. But like I said, I do try for less sugar. If you're looking for some healthy cereal choices, check out this list from WebMD.

And to mix it up a little, try something different for breakfast some mornings. No matter how many different boxes of cereal you have, cereal every day can be boring. Here are some good ideas for starters:

Easy Summer Breakfasts

10 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Southern Food's Breakfast Ideas

Can swimming lessons save lives?

City pools aren't even open for their full schedule yet, and we've already had a tragedy. Yesterday, 17 year old Anthony Hayes died after hitting his head on the diving board at Washington Terrace Park in High Point. It's a horrible accident that will send a family into grieving, but at one point I heard something on the news that made my ears perk up: he didn't know how to swim. After a head injury, I'm not sure knowing how to swim would have saved him, but as parents, one thing we can do to help our kids stay safe around the water is help them be prepared. Swimming lessons are not a guarantee that kids won't drown, and it doesn't mean you can be less vigilant watching them at the pool. The number one tip on the AAP's list of pool safety rules is to watch your kids at all times, staying no more than an arm's length away from babies, toddlers and weak swimmers. But lessons do give them a grounding in the basics of water safety and helps them become more comfortable around the water.

While swimming lessons are now recommended even for kids ages 1-4, don't expect them to take a couple of weeks of lessons and be swimming laps at the pool. For young children, they're learning how to hold their breath, and time will be spent kicking and playing games that encourage them to dunk their heads under the water. For most kids, the coordination it takes to stroke, kick and breathe doesn't come until around age 5, then the swimming lessons will become a little more about how to actually practice strokes, but still focusing on having fun. For more on what to expect, check out this article.

Luckily, there are plenty of places to find swimming lessons in our area, surely there are some that will fit your budget and schedule!

Free Swimming lessons from the City of Winston-Salem

Free Stroke Clinics from Greensboro Swim Association

Get Outdoors Triad!

It might be hot this weekend, but there's a great way to escape that heat of the city. In the woods, under the shade of some big oak trees or beside a swiftly flowing streams, you'll find a comforting cool, and maybe even a breeze once in a while.

We're blessed with lots of great opportunities to get out and explore right in our own area. For some fun close to home, head out to Bur-Mil's Trail Days on Saturday, where you'll find clinics on bike safety, geocaching and kayaking. If you're feeling more adventurous, check out our Outdoors Triad page, where you'll find great resources on hiking with kids and good places to go relatively close to home. You might even want to try geocaching with your family this weekend, something that Piedmont Parent's editor, Myra Wright, enjoys doing with her family. You can find out all about this high-tech treasure hunting on the geochaching website.

There's a Party in Our City!

If you're a parent of a preschooler, then you know Yo Gabba Gabba, those colorful creatures that invade our living rooms through the television. Guess what! You can make your kids dreams come true tomorrow, when tickets go on sale for the Yo Gabba Gabba Live! There's a Party in My City performance coming to Greensboro in October. (Tickets available at www.greensborocoliseum.com or www.ticketmaster.com, and $1 from every ticket sale goes to help Habitat for Humanity.) This show is just one of many that come through our area, and they're a great way for young children to experience live theater in a relaxed environment.

While you're waiting for Yo Gabba Gabba, why not take your kids to some outdoor theater this summer? Just 15 miles south of Burlington, in Snow Camp, is an outdoor theater with performances all summer long, including two historical dramas and three fun family productions. Click here for more information. And while on vacation, take advantage of the two well-known North Carolina outdoor dramas, Unto These Hills and The Lost Colony.

There are so many great reasons to take your kids to performances, from exposing them to the whole event of finding your seat and learning about things like intermission to the things they learn about culture, history and art from the performance itself. And outdoor drama is great, because the environment is a little more relaxed than an indoor theater so if your kids need to go potty at an inopportune moment or their whispering skills aren't quite fine-tuned yet, you're less likely to bother the others around you!

So broaden your horizons this summer, and plan on taking in one of these great performances.