So much of childhood has become sedentary with the advent of video games, the internet and other forms of portable entertainment systems. You may argue to what extent but the fact remains - there are a lot of options for our kids not to go out and play. And why should they? There are so many immersive video games that are through-backs of “cops and robber” and other games of yesteryear that prompted kids to run around all afternoon.

One viable option is paintball. It is an update on an old theme. It allows those kids to play through there aggression and work as a team, to role-play and use there wits and imagination while working up a good old fashioned sweat. The nature of it allows kids to play spyder paintball in a group with more tactical missions or just all out run and gun style, either way they will get a good workout. This of course assumes certain thing regarding equipment and safety.

Like most activities, paintball requires proper safety equipment (much like skiing, football and other sports). If kids don’t wear the proper safety equipment or they wear it improperly they of course can be hurt. Assuming they are suited up properly, it can be a good time had by all, maybe even dad too.

   

For those moms who are pregnant and are chomping at the bit to know whether you’re having a boy or a girl, here’s a fun ancient Chinese Birth Calendar that determines the sex of the baby based on maternal age and the month of conception.

Supposedly, this chart can be used to predict the sex of your unborn child. It has been said to be 99% accurate. As the story goes, the chart was buried in a tomb near Beijing for 700 years and now can be viewed at the Institute of Science in Beijing. There’s a whole lot of Indiana Jones mojo in that story, regardless it is a fun predictor - just don’t expect to rush out and paint the nursery pink or blue based on the results!

(Via WebWomb.Com)

   

Munchin is one of those brands where you may not realize it but you probably have a few Munchkin items in your cupboard and you don’t even know it. They make everything you can think of from bath toys and training toilet seats to sippy cups and travel accessories.

But it seems this particular product, Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket 2-in-1 Design, has been found to be prone to overheating, several of which ignited, causing damage to countertops. No injuries have been recorded but please be sure to flip over the warmer and check the lot number.

The lot number is an alpha-numeric code on the bottom of the unti (i.e. TP-1487) Only warmers bearing lot number “TP-1487” are included in this recall.

For additional information, contact customer service toll-free at (866) 619-8673 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at Munchkin.Com

Sited Links:
CPSC Munchkin Product Recall Press Release
Munchkin Deluxe Bottle & Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket [Product Page]

   

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Last two digit of your Social Security Number: Payments will be transmitted no later than:
00 through 20 - May 2nd, 2008
21 through 75 - May 9th, 2008
76 through 99 - May 16th, 2008

Paper checks will also go out based on Social Security number. For Social Security numbers ending in 00 through 09, the paper checks will be mailed starting May 9 and will continue through May 16. A similar process will be repeated in the following weeks.

PAPER CHECK
Last two digit of your Social Security Number: Payments will be mailed no later than:
00 through 09 - May 16th, 2008
10 through 18 - May 23rd, 2008
19 through 25 - May 30th, 2008
26 through 38 - June 6th, 2008
39 through 51 - June 13th, 2008
52 through 63 - June 20th, 2008
64 through 75 - June 27th, 2008
76 through 87 - July 4th, 2008
88 through 99 - July 11th, 2008

Please follow the link below for more information regarding the conditions and terms of the Federally approved Stimulus Package. Call their toll free number (1-800-829-1040) for questions not answered on their website.

Sited Links;
IRS | Stimulus Payment Schedule for Tax Returns Processed by 04/15

   

Whether it is because they have an innate sense that the food that nourishes their bodies comes from somewhere other than the supermarket or that they see farms on a regular basis, children enjoy acting out the farming life with their playthings.

(Via NovaNatural.Com)

   

When you book a flight to New York City and you are planning to have the kids in tow, consider how you are going to get the family and the whole “kit” (all that luggage and so forth) from the airport to your final destination whether it is family in Brooklyn or a hotel in Mid-town. Locals know to call ahead for a car service so they’ll be there waiting for you.

Sure you can hail a cab but the car services are a better solution when traveling with the kids. A lot of the area car services have a number of different kinds of vehicles in their fleet, so if you are used to a mini-van or require a passenger van, you can request one up front.

Yes, you may spend an extra buck or two, but my feeling is it will be well worth it. The key thing when traveling with the kids is to call ahead for the reservation so there is a smooth transition from leaving the plane, to gathering your luggage right to the car - at least that’s the goal. There are many car services to choose from whether you need one from Newark, JFK or LGA car service; dare I say hundreds to choose from. One company that springs to mind is Dial 7 they have a decent website with pictures of their fleet, rates and reservation page.

   

When talking about parenting I think it is important to point out that the idea of the conventional nuclear family is pretty blurry in this day and age, so for the sake of argument I would like to expand it’s classic definition of father to include either biological father, step-father, uncle, grandfather or any close and/or active male family member that provides constant and compassionate care to the child. This child is less likely to have behavioral or psychological problems and is more likely to thrive academically according to a review that looked at 24 papers published between 1987 and 2007, covering 22,300 individual sets of data from 16 studies.

…we found various studies that showed that children who had positively involved father figures were less likely to smoke and get into trouble with the police, achieved better levels of education and developed good friendships with children of both sexes.” ~ Dr Anna Sarkadi, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at Uppsala University, Sweden

The overriding message being sent by these studies is that positive fathering has a profound impact on society as a whole. Things like state sponsored paternal leaves and other influential legislation will only help promote active fathering in society which in turn has the potential of helping us all in producing more well-adjusted children and reducing major problems like crime and antisocial behavior. Not to say this is a golden bullet by any means, but with our national prisons bursting at the seams it may be prudent for us to consider all options. Interestingly enough, there are also studies that have concluded active fathering is a big influence on a child’s risk of becoming obese and less likely to smoke.

Another interesting point is that the studies determined it is not possible to tell whether this positive outcome is because the father figure is more involved or whether the mother is able to be a better parent if she has more support at home. The flip-side to this study is there is no conclusive framework or road map to follow or what type of engagement the father figure needs to provide to produce positive effects.

Sited Links:
Science Daily | Children Who Have An Active Father…
Science Daily | Fathers Have Great Impact On Their Children’s Lives…

   

Teething Bling^® was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. Made from the same material as many teething toys, Teething Bling^® looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew.

Smart Mom Jewelry is non-toxic, phthalate, BPA and PVC free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp. CE marking approved. Considering Mother’s Day is a few short weeks away, this may be a smart gift for the new Mom in you life.

(Via TinyBoutique.Com)

   

Now here’s a feeding set that truly deserves its name! Suitable for kids of all ages, the Table Fun series is made of a durable, dishwasher-safe melamine, decorated with illustrator Eleanor Grosch’s playful designs.

(Via Gnr8.Com)

   

My Beautiful Mommy is a new self-published kids book about plastic surgery. It was written by Michael Salzhauer, a plastic surgeon in Bal Harbour, Florida. Mr. Salzhauer says he cooked the idea up to help parents explain cosmetic procedures to their children.

“My Beautiful Mommy” is aimed at kids ages four to seven and features a plastic surgeon named Dr. Michael (a musclebound superhero type) and a girl whose mother gets a tummy tuck, a nose job and breast implants. Before her surgery the mom explains that she is getting a smaller tummy: “You see, as I got older, my body stretched and I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore. Dr. Michael is going to help fix that and make me feel better.” Mom comes home looking like a slightly bruised Barbie doll with demure bandages on her nose and around her waist. ~Newsweek Article