The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common risk factors for ear infections in children:

• Being around cigarette smoking.
• Having had ear infections before, frequent colds, or having a family history of ear infections.
• Going to a day-care center.
• Being born premature or at low birth weight.
• Going to bed with a bottle or using a pacifier.
• Being male.
• Having allergies that cause congestion.

Secondhand smoke increases children’s risk of developing asthma, ear infections and cavities and increases infants’ risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Here are some healthy habits and guidelines for parents and caregivers to follow when caring for young children prone to ear infections;

• Breastfeeding appears to lower an infant’s risk of ear infections.
• Children under age two should not lie flat when they bottle-feed.
• No one should be allowed to smoke around children. Secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk for ear infections. In fact, even smoke from wood stoves can irritate breathing and increase the risk of an ear infection.
• Children in day care centers tend to have more colds and a higher risk of ear infection. Although it would be best to keep an ill child at home, this may not be possible. Parents should work with day care center staff to ensure proper hand washing, tissue use and cleanliness.
• Regularly practice proper hygiene in the home to reduce spread of germs that lead to infection; regularly wash and disinfect all surface areas, toys and play things and common play areas, teach children to always wash their hands after sneezing or coughing into them.

Sited & Related Links;
HealthDay | Ear Infections
HealthDay | Almost half of kids still exposed to secondhand smoke
NY State Health | Ear Infections [*PDF]
American Academy of Family Physicians | Ear Infections in children; What you should know

I have spent almost five years, along-side my wife in the trenches, as they like to say, taking care of the kids. Here are five simple Dad Hacks for parents of infants, babies and young children that may help some parents make their day that a little easier.

1. Changing Diapers – give them a toy (to distract them and keep there hands busy) and lift their legs from under their knees to reduce strain on their knees and ankles, opposed to the ankle grab.

2. Baby Fashion Faux Pas – never get a shirt with your kids name on it, you are giving pedophiles (and general Bad Guys) way too much information about your kid.

3. Is Baby Tired? – ever find yourself trying to figure out whether or not you kid is hungry, tired or needs to be changed? If I need to figure out if my baby is tired I hold them and stand in front of a mirror with them facing the mirror, if they turn away from their own gaze- it is nap time! Try it.

4. I.C.E. – In Case of Emergency (I.C.E.), put an entry in your every cell phone on your Family Plan (Mom, Dad + Kids) with an emergency number in case of an accident so the Paramedic, Firefighter or Police can reach your family as quick as possible in case something dreadful happens to you or a loved one. They will look for it in your address book.

Also, studies say men’s wallets with baby pictures in them have a 88% better chance of being returned, so if you don’t have any pictures in there maybe you should.

5. Bag of Tricks – I have found it to be priceless to grab a small action figure, matchbox car before leaving the hose with the kids when going out to run errands with them. In case you find yourself standing in line at the post office and the kid needs a distraction, I have something in my pocket.

The key is to keep them item as a surprise and hang onto it until they are at the end of their ‘rope’. If it is a well chosen toy, it may keep them entertained long enough to get to the front of the line. I also keep sheets of paper in my glove compartment for the same reason. In case of a parking lot emergency, I can whip out a couple sheets of paper and fashion a triangle football or paper airplane to entertain them while Mom runs in-n-out of a store while I wait in the car with the kids.

PayJR.Com has an allowance system that is based on paying your kid’s allowance vis a vis a refillable Gift Card, specifically a Target Gift Card, branded as a PayJR. Visa Buxx Card. Parents can use this system to their benefit because it is complete with custom a Chore Chart and email notifications for both kid and parent.

Personally, I think this would work best if employed with a built in matching system. That is, what ever they earn on their Buxx Card will be matched in their savings account, this way they are learn about healthy money management.

The CPSC has teamed up with the Justice Department to enforce the legal sale and distribution of fireworks. Last month, a federal judge sentenced Jon Cea and Vincent Cea to 24 months and 36 months in federal prison, after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in explosive materials, involving the illegal sale of more than 1,000 pounds of explosives. The defendants and their customers were not licensed, yet they purchased and sold professional display fireworks.

While the federal and state government remain committed to stopping the manufacture and sale of illegal fireworks, the CPSC has issued a press release encouraging consumers who decide to purchase legal fireworks to:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Of course, the safest way to celebrate the festivities is by going to your local fireworks display. If you live in Los Angeles county follow the link below to find out where and when they are showing.

Sited Articles:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release [video]

Helpful Links:
Fireworks Shows in LA County [schedule]
Safe July 4th

So if you want your kid to get a jump on next year’s testing or needs to play catch-up, check out his tests, he covers all the bases. At the end of each section he offers summer reading for that grade level, as well as other helpful sites with quizzes and tips.

He  frequently adds new activities, so check back often. Please check the keyboarding section- it’s new!

Henry Anker’s Tests

This current recall affects 96,000 cribs from Taiwan-based Jardine crib maker that were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys “R” Us, and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide, and at babiesrus.com, from September 2005 through April 2009.

Prior to this recall, Jardine had a similar recall in 2008 affecting 320,000 for similar defects to over a dozen models of cribs and an expansion of this initial recall in 2009 to include an additional three models. Everyone of these recalls has been a byproduct of injuries. It is safe to say, if you have a Jardine brand crib made after 2002, it would be prudent to check them for any type of structural deficiencies, especially the slats.

Sited Articles:
CPSC Press Release | Jardine Announces Second Recall Expansion of Cribs…
CPSC Press Release | Jardine Cribs Sold by Babies”R”Us Recalled Due to…
CPSC Press Release | Jardine Expands Recall of Cribs Sold by…

Other recent crib recalls:
Simplicity play yard recalled
Additional recalls for Simplicity and Infantino baby products

Looking for a simple craft project for the kids? Here’s a good one. These kits come complete with stickers, stamps, paint pots and brushes. Use this as an opportunity to talk about all the different ways people earn money, the positive impact of saving money. Financial advisers and academics alike all say to start young when discussing the importance of having a healthy relationship with money. Any opportunity to get them thinking about the value of money, saving and saving their pennies – is a good thing.

Crayola Oink! Oink! Piggy Bank- Paint your Own Piggy Bank Kit
Melissa & Doug DIY Craft Piggy Bank
Melissa & Doug Decorate Your Own Piggy Bank 2-Pack

Related Articles;
University of Minnesota | Teaching children money habits for life
Institute of Consumer Financial Education | Children & Money
CNN Money | Money 101
Yahoo Finance | How to teach your children the value of money

For those fortunate enough not to be privy to advancements in the food stamps program, the paper coupons were replaced with plastic EBT shopping cards in 2004. They look like bank cards and can be used on the same swippers at the checkout.

My wife called them to ask them whether they accepted EBT (food stamp) cards and the Customer Service Rep explained to her that the company was not in the position to re-program all the machines to accept the (EBT) cards. I realize we are living in tough times and companies need to watch their bottom dollar and some could argue that your food stamp dollars could go much further at other stores, but there is no logical reason for a major Grocer not to accept food stamps. It is not only compassionate, but it’s good for their bottom line.

Previous reports show that Eric N. Gioia, a city councilman from Queens has given Costco a run for their money back in November with a full-on campaign to push the Fortune-500 company to accept food stamps. In a recent report out of Pittsburgh, co-founder Jim Sinegal stated they generally don’t have customers with food stamps. With more and more upper and middle class families finding themselves cutting back or out-of-work, it is a question of time before that theory is debunked and their membership starts waning.

In February of this year, Sam’s Club changed its policy and started accepting EBT cards. The question remains, whether this company that touts a socially aware reputation will bend its own rules and help out their members before they loose them.

1. Increase in investment income amount. The amount of taxable investment income these children can have without it being subject to tax at the parent’s rate has increased to $1,800 for 2008.

2. Adoption Benefits increased. For 2008, the maximum adoption credit has increased to $11,650. Also, the maximum exclusion from income for benefits under your employer’s adoption assistance program has increased to $11,650. These amounts are phased out if your modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is between $174,730 and $214,730. You cannot claim the credit or exclusion if your modified AGI is $214,730 or more.

3. Earned Income for additional children decreased. For 2008, the minimum earned income amount used to figure the additional child tax credit has decreased to $8,500.

4. You may be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit. This credit is similar to last year’s economic stimulus payment, except that your 2008 tax information is used to figure this credit. The max. credit is $600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly) plus $300 for each qualifying child.

You can take this credit only if:

1. You did not get an economic stimulus payment, or
2. Your economic stimulus payment was under$600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly in ’07), plus $300 for each qualifying child you had for 2008.

Regardless of whether you are an individual or an entire family in need, you need to find out the facts, the facts about what resources and services are available to you. If an individual or family is currently earning less than 130% of the Federal poverty level [FPL] and their current household assets are below $2,000 you may be eligible for California Food Stamps Benefits and possibly additional benefits under the CALworks program.

Food stamp households, except those containing an aged or disabled member or where all members receive cash assistance, are subject to gross and net income determination tests. Gross Income – all non-excludable income from any source including all earned income and all unearned income. The maximum gross allowed is 130% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) or 165% of the FPL if the household has an elderly or disabled person who qualifies to be a separate household. If the household passes the gross income test, then the net income test is computed. Net income is computed by deducting the following, if applicable, from gross income. The resultant amount cannot exceed 100% of the FPL.” ~ California Department of Social Services, Eligibility and Issuance for Food Stamp Benefits

I don’t care what your place is in society, many people eligible for benefits may not step forward, whether it be embarrassment, pride, fear, whatever. Remember, this is a service sponsored by our government with taxpayer money, your money. It is there to help people when they need it.

For those of us with little or no resources currently, it is essential to know your options. If your wife, friend or loved one is pregnant or has just given birth, or has a child under the age of 5 in the State of California, they and their children are eligible for WIC Program [Women, Infants & Children] benefits. In California, the WIC Program supplies predetermined vouchers monthly for each eligible member of the family. Vouchers provide healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding health care and other community services.

Additionally, there is a WIC Farmers Market Nutritional Program that offers vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables from participating vendors at local Farmers markets. My understanding is this portion of the WIC program is supplemental and available on a first come, first serve basis.

Sited & Related Links:
California State Department of Social Services | Food Stamps Program
CALworks Program
California Women, Children & Infants [WIC] Program
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition,al Program
meta-DAD | WIC Benefits for unemployed families