meta-dad

Is your child more prone to ear infections?

Ear infections are pretty common in children, but what causes them? I had lot of ear infections as a kid, bad ones. Now, it pains me (of course) to see my kids experience the same pain and discomfort. I have found there are a variety of factors that can lead to ear infections for toddlers and children, some preventable.

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 More »

DIY Dad – Paint Your Own Piggy Bank

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 More »

World’s smartest child prodigy

Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants on 1898 in New York City, the young William James Sidis could read the New York Times by 18 months, reportedly taught himself eight languages (Latin, Greek, French, Russian, German, Hebrew, Turkish, and Armenian) by age eight, and invented More »

Costco says ‘no go’ to food stamps

Walmart accepts food stamps. Sam’s Club recently changed it’s policy and now accepts EBT cards. The Farmer’s Market also accepts food stamps. Heck, in the state of California select restaurants and even Flea Markets accept them. So why doesn’t the hugely popular Kirkland-based bulk purveyor? It is by no means mandatory and they are a member-only store, they claim that the majority of their business comes from small businesses and upper-income individuals and families. It is arguable that most recipients of food stamps are destitute and/or homeless and are far from a position of covering the basic $50 annual membership fee. But as many families are quickly finding out, it is a short road to the soup line in the current economy. More »

And now for your moment of Zen…

Via Walter Martin & Paloma Muñoz

5 things parents should check before filing federal taxes

With everybody rushing to sign, seal and deliver their returns, you will want to take a moment to review recent federal tax changes and perhaps save a few bucks in the process.

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 More »