If you go in to any toy store today, the chances are very high that every toy that is stocked complies with all current legal requirements for safety. There are, however, places where toys that do not meet this criteria are sold, and especially if you are purchasing toys from abroad, you need to be careful because laws in different countries will v

When I tell other parents that I have never said "No" to my 13 year old son, they always shudder and wonder what a horribly spoiled child I have. Actually, I have a very respectful, responsible and mature 13 year old who understands the importance of making personal decisions. It all started when he was just about a year old. I would ask him

Every little girl dreams of becoming a princess, and today, there is plenty of inspiration. From the magical world of Walt Disney, to the Pink Princess Barbie, little girls have plenty of role models to choose from when they daydream about becoming a princess. Some of the most popular princesses include the one's mentioned in fairy tales. Ma

Stranger Danger is a phrase is so pervasive in our culture that it has become part of the lexicon. Well-intentioned adults perpetuate this misguided message, and the media often uses it as a slogan. A recent case illustrates how literal children may be when given a specific message. The child in this case may have evaded his rescuers, because he ha

Kids love playing outside in the garden and there is a wide selection of outdoor toys available for kids to play on. You should think carefully before choosing a suitable outdoor toy for your children. How much space do you have in your garden? Some larger toys if not used all the time can take up space particularly if you have a small garden or la

A trip is not a real trip until you discover the joy of sharing and celebrating new and exciting places with your kids. Without worrying too much about the possibilities of taking good care of your kids or babies, while you are on the road, making sure that they are always safe and comfortable, you can plan and enjoy the trip of your dreams if cons

If your child suffers with low spelling grades every week, here is an Instant Learning strategy excerpt from my Learning vs Testing book, proven to raise spelling grades pronto! Answer the following questions: Does your child use an outdated technique like writing their spelling words 10 times each and using them in sentences? Do you stu

When I sit down and think of ways to make connections between two things, I'm flooded with ideas. In fact, I don't even have to think of them. They just come. Maybe it's a sound or something I see that suddenly takes my mind somewhere. It's automatic and has been going on my whole life. I'm sure it has a lot to do with my ADD and it was a pre

When I was younger, I hated going upstairs to study for tests. Actually, it wasn't the upstairs that bothered me, it was the studying for the tests that was the problem. I knew I would be faced with the same problem I had had countless times before: holding onto the information I needed for the test the next day. I needed to improve my memory bu

Our brains love pictures. That's why we remember movies more easily than books. But even with books, as we recall passages, we can see the action pass before our eyes. The process of calling up images is called visualization and it's a wonderful tool for any number of activities. Olympic athletes use it to imagine the perfect race; Businessman u

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is explained in classrooms, to our children and grandchildren, in simplistic terms. Just this past week, I was surprised to listen to local children's views on the subject. They explained discrimination with such acceptance that I just listened in amazement. As children growing up, when Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr

Take control of children by shutting the Xbox, Play Station, television, and music off. If you want to send them to their room, take all the toys away. "Stick to your guns," and don't back down if you are right. Your children will be better for it, and they will grow up as balanced adults because of your courage "to stand up and be counted." Tak

I love kids books, and have since I was a little kid myself. From the Little Engine that Could, up through Five Children and It, and beyond, I adore almost all of the literature that I read growing up. There is a freshness to new readers. Although kids often lack the sophistication that adults posses, they more than make up for it with an enthu

When your kids are growing up, it is often very fun and rewarding to buy furniture and decorations in order to create a comfortable room for them. This is part of the parent's desire to create the best living environment possible for the children. When you start to furnish a room for your child, you'll be faced with all kinds of choices that you ha

Kids love to be creative. Cooking is a great outlet for kids to express their creativity. It can also help provide a wonderful way to build and develop self-esteem. One-on-one Time With our lives so busy, cooking provides a wonderful way to spend quality one-on-one time. The memories that are created while cooking together will last a lifet