One for the “while-my-kid-was-watching-American-Idol” department, some kids have been inventing solutions to airport security and safety issues.
Latest Additions
What Has Your Kid Done For The War On Terrorism Lately? Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:16 am
Yet Another GPS Tracker Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:08 am
Engadget brings us yet another GPS kiddie-tracker, the Sazo.
What Does Your Kid Have On Their iPod? Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:41 am
Apple has recently released iTunes 4.9, which provides native support and easy access to podcast content. For those of you who have bought your kid an iPod, you’ve probably already thought about the possibly of your kids downloading explicit music (or have you?). Now, you have podcasts to think about…
Watch TV, Don't Go To College? Wed Jul 6, 2005 9:41 pm
NBC4.tv published a story from the Associated Press under “Irresistible Headlines” that is truly irresistible for parents. Findings have been published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine indicating that children who watch lots of TV and/or have TVs in their bedrooms are less likely to attend college than those who watch less TV. There is no adjustment for the quality of the programming, so kids who watched “Sesame Street” receive the same consideration as those who snuck a peek at “Sex and The City.” PBS of course commented on this, asserting that other studies have supported the positive influence of their programming on child development. I, for one, would agree that most of the shows intended for kids on PBS seem to add value to the children’s knowledge base, beyond what I as a parent can physically expose them to in the same time period. That being said, a good rule of thumb that one can deduce from the NBC article is to avoid the use of television as a babysitter, and monitor how long your kids are watching.
My favorite assertion is from Dina Borzekowski of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr. Thomas Robinson of Stanford University. The NBC article summarizes: “In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest, while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest.” Again, what are they doing with these computers? If I keep my kid from having a TV in their room, but they can instant message (IM) all their friends to make sure they stay in the trouble loop, I guess I have a better chance of raising a child who scores well on tests. But, I may also be paying for one of those summer camps in the woods to get them off drugs because they have learned through the internet where to find all their favorite substances. It is all in the application.
Recall - Or Follow The Instructions? Wed Jul 6, 2005 6:47 pm
I rarely offer commentary on recalls, since most of them are genuine miscalculations, and the companies who recall their products are being forthright in admitting the issue. This, however, falls under the brain density question. The Safety 1st Tubside Bath Seat has specific instructions enclosed to make sure consumers know what types of bathtubs this seat will work with. After a few bumps and bruises due to folks not reading instructions, the Dorel Juvenile Group feels it necessary to reprint the instructions in a recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Don’t get me wrong, I feel very badly for the children who bumped their heads, and as a parent, I know how hard it is to take time to read an instruction manual printed in nine different languages. This is a wake-up call to parents to make sure products are being used in their intended fashion.
Another Food Recall - Sulfites Tue Jul 5, 2005 7:03 pm
New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets is really busy these days. Their inspection process found another batch of undeclared ingredients, this time in Fortune Star White Fungus, sold nationally. People who have sensitivities to sulfites may have serious reactions if they consume this product, however, no illness has been reported to date. Ho’s Trading Inc. is the originating company of the recall, and they can be contacted with any consumer questions.
Food Recall - Nationwide Alert Tue Jul 5, 2005 6:53 pm
Nishin Trading Inc. has recalled Kirin Soft Drink (Tea) due to undeclared milk protein. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets discovered the milk protein in packages during a routine food inspection. No illness has been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Nishin Trading Inc.
Is Your House In Need Of Organization? Mon Jul 4, 2005 8:25 am
We were never the perfect image of organization before we became parents, but since having kids, you can’t use the term “organization” to refer to anything in our house without laughing out loud. It is like Chaos with a U.S. Mail address, enclosed by walls and a roof. ParentCenter has just the article for folks like us, and it starts out with basic organization for parents, and then even goes room-by-room to give pointers. The first section mentions an idea we have been trying to implement, which is getting kids involved. Pretty soon our kids will wonder why they have to put their toys away when the parents’ table is covered with papers, but for now we’ll keep the dream alive.
I remember how sad I was when our kids were too old for the sister site BabyCenter, and I received an e-mail that I was being graduated to ParentCenter. Now I am over it, and I’m glad that someone out there realizes that keeping a household together with kids in it is challenging at best.
Is That Macaroni Salad Okay To Eat? Sun Jul 3, 2005 10:45 pm
For those of us getting ready for a big cookout or dinner out on the town, this is a really helpful article. The Los Angeles Times brings us some helpful reminders of food hygiene for cookouts, including eating food within two hours of preparation and making sure we keep foods at their appropriate temperatures - in other words, hot foods should stay hot and cold foods should stay cold. Also, there is a mention of mayonnaise since it seems to be the culprit of many food-borne illnesses. Stick with commercially prepared mayo since it has enough acid (vinegar) to keep bacteria in check. If you are planning to travel and go out to dinner, this article has a website that will allow you to check out the health inspection record of many restaurants in the United States. If your chosen feeding spot is not listed, then you should ask the manager for the latest inspection report. What to do if no report is available? Read on…
FDA Salmonella Alert-Cold Stone Creamery Sun Jul 3, 2005 1:51 pm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public that products containing “cake batter” ice cream sold at Cold Stone Creamery stores throughout the country may be associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infection in several states. After being informed by FDA of the potential contamination problem, Cold Stone Creamery has agreed to immediately remove all “cake batter” ice cream products from its stores throughout the country. Consumers who may have purchased take home products from Cold Stone Creamery containing “cake batter” ice cream should not eat them, but instead dispose of them immediately.
