Strollerderby : kids

Excerpt: Free-Range Kids

editors — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Today on Babble.com.

"Excerpt: Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry."

by Lenore Skenazy.

What to do when judgmental moms attack.

Read it here.

Parenting Without Fear

editors — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Today on Babble:

"Parenting Without Fear"

by Lenore Skenazy.

Our kids are safer than ever. So why are we still afraid?

Read it here.

Finish Line - Creepy Cakes, Sesame Street, And Much More

Brett Singer — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:56:00 GMT

It was a short week for some, but on Strollerderby we were wicked busy, as they say in Beantown.

Here's a bit of what went on here the past few days:

Shannon called this one the "Post Most Likely to Send You Running for the Tissues This Week." Check out Paper Girl Delivers Food and Shelter to Haitian Family and see if you agree.
On a much lighter note is Jeanne's handy travel guide for the Big Bird lover in your life: Three Ways To Get to Sesame Street This Summer.
Sunny's post Creepiest Baby Shower Cake Ever is self-explanatory. But it still has to be seen to be believed. (Warning: it will take you a long time to UN-see this thing.)
Madeline wins the "title of the week" award with her post Sonogram Cufflinks for Father's Day ... or a Pro-Life March.
Speaking of breast milk (how's that for a transition?), Cole told us about a guy who actually said, "If I have a lactating daughter, why not take advantage of her?" He has cancer and is using the mommy milk as treatment. But I do question his choice of phrasing. Decide for yourself at WATCH: Man Drinks Daughter's Breast Milk to Cure Cancer.
As for me, I was astounded at the number of people who watched the season premiere of that reality show about the people who have all those kids. Share my amazement at Jon & Kate Plus 8 Premiere Snags 9.8 Million Viewers.
Finally, a plug for Babble Talk Radio, which this week featured myself and Famecrawler's Karl Erikson. You can listen to the whole show right here, and we'll be back live again next Friday.

Best of FameCrawler - Week of May 29th

Whit Honea — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Mike Tyson's 4-Year-Old Daughter Dies

Madonna Dishes on A-Rod and Kate Hudson

Confirmed - Gisele is Pregnant With Tom Brady's Baby!

Nicole Richie, Dad Lionel & Daughter Harlow (PHOTOS)

Sneak Peek! Jon & Kate Plus 8 Season Premiere

Kelly Rutherford, Lies and Videotape

Amy Mickelson's Breast Cancer Battle

Michelle Williams and Daughter Matilda Support Their Local Coffee House

Angelina Jolie: Madonna Adopts For Fame

Jon & Kate - Who Are The Kids Happier With? (Photos)

Slumdog Kids Finally Get A Home!

Brian Grazer's Prenup Still Makes Wife Rich

American Apparel Leggings - Crass or Cute?

Brett Singer — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:40:00 GMT

When you think "kids", you think "fashion." And when you think "fashion", you think "Lamé".

That's Lamé, as in "lah-may", not lame, as in dopey. (Or, if you're a little nerdy, the LAME MP3 encoder.)

Anyway, I personally don't think of fashion when I think of kids, and I hardly ever think of lamé, gold or any other color. American Apparel however, the fashion company with the creepy ads, apparently thinks "toddlers + lamé leggings = GREAT idea.

A reader tipped us off to these "shiny leggings" which are available for adults, and also your kids!

The adult version is described as "A flash from the past, these sexy leggings are easily dressed up for a night on the town." The kiddie version? "Our shiny Lamé leggings, now available for little ones."

So... what does this mean? That the "sexy leggings" you love are now available for your daughter?

The kiddie leggings are "Not intended for sleepwear." Both adult and child sizes are "Form-fitting." Good to know.

In general, I find American Apparel's ads wicked creepy. The models look awfully young and, as The Onion so brilliantly parodied, often look drugged. (I'm not saying they are drugged. But that seems to be the look that the company is going for.) So the idea of the same people making children's clothing gives me the heebie-jeebies.

BUT! What do you think? Are the kiddie lamé leggings cute? Or creepy?

Image: American Apparel

Baby Toupee Creator Speaks

Teacher in Affair with 6th-Grader to Host 'Hot for Teacher' Night

Australian Kiddie Show Star Appears In Laddie Mag

Classic Mother Songs For Mother's Day

Japanese Potty Training Video

Young Lady GaGa Copycats Flood YouTube

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:44:00 GMT

I’m not one to get too bent out of shape if I hear kids singing along with Lady GaGa or Beyonce. Throughout elementary school, I listened to songs with risqué lyrics (I remember performing a dance to “Like a Virgin” to my shell-shocked parents in fourth grade), and I didn’t end up pole dancing for a living. But neither did I videotape myself singing the song as seductively as possible, and then post it to the World Wide Web, which is what a bunch of young wannabe Lady GaGas have apparently been up to.

And it’s hard to imagine any (healthy) adult who wouldn’t feel disturbed watching a young girl sassily pout her lips and suggestively twirl her hair as she sings lyrics like, “I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got,” and, “I’m bluffin’ with my muffin.”

It’s inevitable that kids are going to hear songs with sexually explicit lyrics from time to time, and most likely, learn to sing along with the catchiest of them. Listening to an inappropriate song or two is not going to screw up any child for life who has involved parents. But for children who get most of their sex ed. from pop culture, copying Lady GaGa is a frightening prospect indeed—and would parents who are involved allow their children to post videos like these to YouTube?

The boy, you may be interested to know, goes by the stage name JesseJigalow.

Photo: urlesque.com

Baby Fashion Convention: Disturbing and Hilarious

Toys 'R' Us Can't Be Serious. But They Are.

Judge Pardons Father Who Hired Prostitute for Son

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Premiere Snags 9.8 Million Viewers

Brett Singer — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

So you know this Kate Gosselin we've been hearing so much about? Mother, reality show star, husband may or may not be cheating on her? Lots of backlash against her?

After all the sturm und drang that the Gosselins have generated in recent weeks, you might think that would hurt their ratings. But you would be wrong.

The season premiere of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was watched by 9.8 million people. That's not only the largest audience for a cable show on Monday. It was the largest audience for ANY show that evening.

People, negativity sells. Big time.

Yes, it was Memorial Day. But "Jon & Kate" isn't even on a network. It's on cable. Which means that not everyone -- most people, but not everyone -- can see the show. To me, this was an astonishing feat.

I have a confession to make. I don't watch "Jon & Kate Plus 8." I don't watch any reality shows regularly, which isn't a judgment on those of you that do. It's just not my thing. (If they could make a reality show with superheroes in it, that I might watch.) But all of the tabloid news has been oddly fascinating to me. I read the People Magazine article. Someone left a copy of US Weekly in my house and I read the "Jon & Kate" article. (Well, I started it. But I'll finish it.) And I have to admit that I might just check out a few minutes of the show.

Did you watch the "JK8" premiere? Did the recent scandals surrounding the couple make you more interested in the show?

Source: Hartford Courant

Morning News - California Supreme Court Upholds Prop 8

Kate Gosselin - Mom or Monster?

Gosselins are Good for a Gander (big roundup of stories on Famecrawler)

Mom Arrested for Having 555 Pound Son

Morning News - Mike Tyson's Daughter Injured

6 Reasons Why it Sucks to Be a Kid Today

Cole Gamble — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Rebecca Kelly feels very sorry for today's youth. We had it better. According to her, "back in the good old days, being a kid was awesome, but now today's youth is choking on yuppified bulls*** like organic nonsense, parental controls, and more."

1) Food is No Fun

When we were kids we had lunches packed with Fruit By the Foot, Teddy Grahams, and Squeeze Its. Now kids get organic crap like fruit leathers, vegetable-flavored “chips” that have the texture of packing cellophane, and sugar-free, 100% juice. What ever happened to “3% juice” juice that you could squeeze out of a cartoon face? Sure, some kids nowadays still have gloriously unhealthy lunches, but yuppie parents regard these children as contagious chunksters who could pass the “fat” virus onto their precious kids via direct, sticky-handed contact.

2) Clothing Has Gotten Ridiculous

Young girls have belly-baring shirts, kid-sized halter tops, and rhinestones on everything, while young boys look like mini douche bags with their youth-sized rugby shirts and cargo shorts. Pre-teens are just as bad: girls are pairing leggings with everything and boys are popping every collar they can get their hands on. What happened to Osh Kosh overalls and cute crap like duckies and froggies on little kids' shirts? Why the hell would you want your 7-year-old to go to school wearing a t-shirt that says “spoiled brat” and hot pants that have the word “princess” emblazoned on the butt?

3) Parents are Too Paranoid

In the good ol' days, we could go exploring in the woods behind our house, climb the tallest tree in our yard, and sled down the stairs in our house using a blanket or a laundry basket. Our parents didn't care as long as we came for dinner when they shouted. Now everything in the house is childproof, kids are on leashes so they don't stroll more than two feet away from their parents, and parents go insane if their kid gets a single scratch or bump. Cuts and bruises gave us character, and they taught us valuable lessons that we were able to learn for ourselves (e.g., stoves are hot, roofs are high, table corners are pointy).

Now that I come to think of it, I don't know why I didn't perish as a kid in a roof-jumping off accident or from obsesity triggered juvinle diabetes. Man, we do parent our kids like wussies these days.

To read more of Rebecca's article, go here.

More Good Stuff:

8 "PG" Movies Way Too Scary for Kids

Disturbing Baby-Swinging PSA

Dumb Kiddy Product Makeovers

9 Steps to Keep Your Kid from Ruining a Wedding

Eating Your Baby's Placenta

10 Great Books For (Traumatizing) Children

Finish Line - Blame Daycare

Brett Singer — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Holiday weekend -- whoo-hoo! But before you start grilling, here's a sampling of what happened here on the 'Derby this week.

Guess what? Not can we blame bad behavior on the mother, we can also blame it on day care! Madeline told us all about it in They Say: Moms, It's Still Your Fault. Well, Yours and Daycare.
Jeanne gave us a head-scratcher with Class Rings for Your Pre-Schooler? Heck, we don't even do trophies for my fantasy football league. And that's, like, important.
Shannon told us about a phenomenon that I wouldn't have predicted -- Economy Down, Adoptions Up.
Sunny told us 5 Ways Jon and Kate Are Not Like Us. I'd like to add a sixth -- we're not INSANE.
Amy told us that The Voice of Mickey Mouse is Silenced. Wayne Allwine died at age 62; he was only the third person to ever provide a voice for the world's most famous rodent.
And Shannon and I discussed adoption, gay marriage, and why legalizing gay marriage won't help same-sex couples with some of their adoption issues in this week's Babble Talk Radio.

Happy Memorial Day!

Best of FameCrawler - Week of May 22nd

Whit Honea — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Gosselins are Good for a Gander

Katie Holmes Sets a Bad Example For Suri

Mormon Marie Osmond Supports Her Gay Daughter!

Stars Come Out For American Idol Finale: Brad Garrett and Kids Max and Hope

Barbara Walters To Interview John Edwards' Mistress Rielle Hunter!?

Bristol Palin and Son Tripp Cover People

Angelina Catches Brad and Jen Aniston Together!

Kate Gosselin Blogs Her Troubles Away

Matt Damon: Bourne to Be a Dad

Pregnant Lauren London & Lil Wayne Will Raise Baby Together!!!

Kelly Clarkson Looks Like She's Pregnant!

Caption This, Julia Roberts (or Don't)

8 "PG" Movies Way Too Scary for Kids

Cole Gamble — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

As you may know, I'm a big fan of traumatizing kids movies. So when I came upon Brian Hanson's article, The 8 PG-Rated Movies That Should Not Have Been Rated PG, I knew I'd need to post a bit of it. Here's a smackering of freaky-ass movies that somehow got the same rating as Shrek.

Gremlins (1984)

It's been widely acknowledged that both Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Steven Spielberg's one-two 1984 punch of darkly comic blockbusters, directly led to the creation of the PG-13 rating. Gremlins is chock-full of wanton puppet terror and gore, with the titular hellions getting stabbed, beheaded, and exploded in wonderful blurts of green and brown. Of course, despite creating the PG-13 rating, neither Gremlins nor Temple of Doom were ever submitted for re-rating, so the PG rating still stands to this day for both movies. So Gremlins, with its graphic tale of Phoebe Cates' character's father decaying and rotting in a Santa suit after getting stuck inside the chimney on Christmas, gets the PG pass.

Wizards (1977)

Yay, a cartoon set off in a magical land! Sounds like Shrek again. Hold up, this baby's directed by Ralph Bashki, the guy who made edgy, X-rated cartoons like Fritz the Cat and Heavy Traffic (and the controversial Saturday morning update of Mighty Mouse). Wizards is a certifiable, goddamn mess, full of lame rotoscoped animation and tasteless invocation of Nazi imagery, but even for a PG-rated movie in 1977 it feels a little grotesque. There's a seemingly endless battle scene chock full of crudely-animated orcs and elves disemboweling each other, lots of cartoon characters saying naughty words, and a buxom nymph whose nipples seem incapable of being properly contained by her sheer clothing.

Watership Down (1978)

I touched on this in my own traumatizing kids movies article, but not enough can be said abut the movie in which cute fluffy bunnies rip the bloody hell out of each other.

It's pretty much a cartoon bunny horror film, as a small, ragtag group of rabbits are slowly done in by a variety of nasty enemies—owls, hunger, disease, bloodthirsty hounds, and even each other. There's another animated version that exists that would've saved me from the week's worth of nightmares and tears, but unfortunately it arrived nine years too late.

You can check out the rest of Brian's piece here.

More Good Stuff:

6 Reasons Why it Sucks to Be a Kid Today

Disturbing Baby-Swinging PSA

Dumb Kiddy Product Makeovers

9 Steps to Keep Your Kid from Ruining a Wedding

Eating Your Baby's Placenta

10 Great Books For (Traumatizing) Children

3 Most Common Mistakes: Sunburns

editors — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Today on Babble.com.

3 Most Common Mistakes: Sunburns.

With expert: Dr. Belilovsky, Medical Director of Belilovsky Pediatrics.

How to keep your kids from turning into lobsters this summer.

Read it here.

Finish Line - Shark Attack!

Brett Singer — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Working as a parenting blogger, I never thought I would get to write the words "shark attack." For this privilege, I must thank Shannon for her post Dad Saves Son in Shark Attack. That dad makes me feel wimpy. I hope I'd be able to do the same thing in that situation. I'd certainly try. Now excuse me for a moment while I hum the theme from "Jaws."

Okay. I'm back.

Also on the 'Derby this week:

Madeline and I went live on BlogTalkRadio and talked about rude children. These kids today, no manners...
Madeline also made us laugh with Federal Agent* Seizes Oat-Based Contraband, which unfortunately was kind of true.
Jeanne spoke the unspoken truth about stained hand-me-downs with Don't Give Me Your Tired, Your Stained.
Hannah told us that even British parents can get all up in people's grill when the spirit moves them, in Parents Enraged by Emergency Contraception Commercial.
For Babble's Music and Video Week, Gwynne Watkins interviewed Stephen Merritt about his new musical version of Coraline, in 5 Minute Time-Out: Indie rock's curmudgeon has written a children's musical - but don't tell him that.
Amy gave us the latest Children's Choice Book Award Winners. It was Children’s Book Week, after all.
Oh, and Saturday Night Live did something funny. See the videos at my post, SNL Mother's Day Skits.

Remember -- if you haven't seen "Star Trek", we recommend that you do so. Well, I do. Trust me. It's good. Great, even.

Live long... and prosper.

Top Cause of Death for Pregnant Women is Murder

When Mommy Becomes Mom

If This Guy's Going Broke, is There Hope for the Rest of Us?

10 Year Old Burned By Tanning Bed

Best of FameCrawler - Week of May 15th

Whit Honea — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Tom Cruise Pressuring Katie For Another Baby?

Dirk Nowitzki's Fiance Arrested?

Comedian Wanda Sykes & Wife Alex Welcome Twins!

Jada Pinkett Smith a Lesbian?

Julie Bowen Welcomes Twin Boys

Mary Stuart Masterson Has Reason to Smile!

Manny Ramirez Busted!

Chyler Leigh Welcomes Daughter Anniston

Sean Penn Still Dating Natalie Portman, Robin is Pissed!

Kate Gosselin's Heartbreak: Jon & I May Separate

Look, Look, It's Another Octomom Story

Jon Gosselin Shelled Out Big Bucks To Buy Mistress Presents

Children's Television Workaround

editors — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:45:00 GMT

Today on Babble:

by Dan Oko.

Our kid's TV-free, as long as online video doesn't count.

Read it here.

Boy With Toy Gun Shot By Deputy

Brett Singer — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:00:00 GMT

You hear about things like this happening from time to time but you always hope it will stop. But it doesn't.

A boy was "playing cops and robbers" in Palmdale, California when he was shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. He is now in the hospital in stable condition.

The police were responding to complaints from neighbors that someone was "riding a bicycle and brandishing a handgun." Deputies arrived on the scene, told the kid to drop the gun, and he pointed it at them instead. According to the report, the boy is 15, which seems a little old for that sort of behavior.

This quote, from sheriff's spokesman Deputy Ed Hernandez, is disturbing: "The deputies, fearing for their lives, shot him once. Later on, they determined it was a juvenile playing cops and robbers." I'm not blaming the police, especially since if the boy was really 15, he should know better. But the idea that a kid can have a gun that looks enough like a real one (the photo above is of a toy gun you can buy at Amazon.com) for a trained police officer to fear for their life...

Source: LA Times

Image: Amazon

10 Year Old Author Alec Greven Is Back

Women Switched at Birth Find Out 56 Years Later

Japanese Potty Training Video

The Orphan Trade and International Adoption

Parents Need To Eat, Too -- Right?

10 Year Old Burned By Tanning Bed

When Toddlers Attack The Neighbors

Finish Line - Whine Flu and Rude Kids

Brett Singer — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:35:00 GMT

Whew! What a week.

Well, it wasn't any more of a "week" than it was last week. Unless you happen to be a fan of the New York Yankees. In that case, whew. What a week. You know things are bad when Yankee fans get out their Kabbalah bracelets and put all their faith in A-Rod. (Note: we are not suggesting that you purchase a Kabbalah bracelet. Unless you want to. Up to you.)

Jeanne wins the Belly Laugh of the Week Award with It's Not Swine Flu - Your Kid Has Whine Flu.
Madeline plays Miss Manners, but a funny Miss Manners, with They Say: Today's Kids are Rude, Here's Why.
Hannah told us about the return of the Republican Robo Daughter, with Bristol Palin Campaigning for Abstinence Only. Oh, and she's getting paid like Carrie Prejean. Memo to those with causes: if you have pay someone to talk to the media about it, there's a chance that you don't have as much support as you think you do.
Sunny told us that if you named your baby Emily, you're just being trendy, whether you knew it or not, with Move Over Emily – There’s a New Most Popular Baby Name. Unless you named your son Emily. Then you are marching to the beat of a different drummer.
Keri made life easy for her family by telling them about what she wants to eat in bed this Sunday, with Kitchenista: The Mother's Day Breakfast I Really Want.
I got all hopped about pre-teen tanning with 10 Year Old Burned By Tanning Bed.
And finally, Mike wins the Public Service For The Clueless Award, with his post The Mother's Day Minefield: Presents from Hell. "Chia mother's head." Heh heh.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Swine Flu - Maybe We Won't Close School

Poll - Portia and Ellen Most Trusted Moms

Did This Woman Commit Suicide Because She Couldn't Breastfeed?

Best of FameCrawler - Week of May 8th

Whit Honea — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Julia Roberts Shows Her Bikini Bod & Tattoo In Honor Of Her Kids (PHOTOS)

Jon & Kate - Jon Is Cheating -It's Been Confirmed - Photos

Elizabeth Edwards Has "No Idea" If John's The Baby Daddy

Jon Gosselin Tells EW Exclusively "I Did NOT Cheat!"

I'm Following You, Nicole Richie

Pregnant Heidi Klum Naked on Ellen - Video

Mary Stuart Masterson Has Reason to Smile!

'Idol' Winner David Cook Announces his Brother's Passing at 5K Race (VIDEO)

Matthew Fox Prepares to get UnLost with Family

Jenny McCarthy To Get Her Own Talk Show?

Ed Burns and Christy Turlington Are Not Selfish

Kate Gosselin To Address Rumors About Jon?

Children's Place Giveaway!

editors — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:21:00 GMT

Shopping for new summer gear? The Children’s Place is offering Babble readers TWO chances to get free summer clothes. First, they're having a contest for one of five super-cute summer ensembles. For details on that, go here. Secondly, you can enter here to win a $200 Children’s Place gift certificate. The economy being what it is and those clothes being as adorable as they are, you can't afford NOT to throw your name in the hat...

Three-Year-Old Survived Alone in Forest for Days

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Joshua Childer’s father is certainly justified in calling his son one “tough little bugger.” The three-year-old was recently reunited with his parents after he wandered off and got lost in the woods for two days.

On Monday morning, while Joshua’s dad was on the phone and his mom was sleeping, the tot headed out into the Mark Twain Forest surrounding the Childers’ Missouri home. As soon as they realized he was missing, his parents alerted authorities, who began a widespread search of the rugged forest that is home to coyotes, snakes, and bears.

Two days later, as authorities were beginning to lose hope that Joshua was still alive, a construction worker came across the little boy lying in a ditch. He called out, “Hey, bud! You ready to go home?” Joshua nodded and smiled.

Joshua is currently recovering from the ordeal in the hospital, where is being treated for dehydration and happily chowing down on hotdogs and milk. It will be so interesting for his parents to see how he describes, if at all, his two days alone in the wilderness. Seeing as how he has come out of the experience physically unscathed, we can reasonably hope that the joy of his return home will be the strongest part of the memory he holds.

Photo: Sky

UPDATE: Family Dog Saves Toddler's Life

TV-Free

editors — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Today on Babble:

"TV-Free"

by Kate Haas

One mother asks, "Why does not having a television make me so unpopular?"

Read it here.

The 10 Best Famous Road Trips in the U.S.

editors — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Last summer was all about the 'staycation'. This year, ditch the kiddie pool for the open road. Sure, the classic road trip usually includes a bunch of 20- somethings on a Kerouacian romp- But, hey, why wait until then for your kids to know the grandeur and diversity of this great nation? National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything: Families will take you far beyond Route 66.

1. Covered Bridges, Vermont

See five covered bridges on one drive through Vermont's Bennington County: Silk Bridge, Paper Mill, Village Bridge, Henry Bridge, and West Arlington Brigde. Autumn is the best time to go, but it's also lovely in late spring.

2. Lighthouse Tour, Maine

There are 65 lighthouses still standing in Maine. Today, about ten light stations include museums; others are bird sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, or a nature preserve; and a few house research facilities. Drive from Frazer Point Picnic Area and Winter Harbor light to Prospect harbor and Prospect Harbor Light, Maine, in one day.

3. Skyline Drive, Virginia

The 105-mile parkway along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains starts in Fort Royal, Virginia, and winds above the Shenandoah River valley, where early American Indians lived and where Daniel Boone and settlers passed through on their way to the western frontier. The mountains here are smooth and low, and famed for the blue mist created by foliage.

4. A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Florida

Allow two hours to drive this byway, which lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway on a narrow barrier island. Along with breathtaking views, you'll see the Gulf Coast, flora and fauna, resorts, and art deco architecture.

5. Michigan's Peninsulas

See the iconic dunes, shoreline, waterfalls, pines, and famed cherry orchards. The road stretches from Sleeping Bear Dunes to Petoskey to St.Ignace to Sault Ste.Marie to Munsing.

6. San Juan Skyway, Colorado

Travel the "road to the sky," which offers views of the towering 14,000-foot San Juan Mountains to rolling hillsides speckled with ancient Pueblo Indian ruins. It's a 236-mile route from Durango to Ouray, through Telluride and Mancos, back to Durango.

7. Albuquerque to Taos, New Mexico

Explore the Southwest through its fabled history and figures. Drive the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Taos, then back to Albuquerque to discover the culture of the Pueblo Indians, Georgia O'Keeffe, mountains, canyons, cliffs, cliff paintings, ghost towns, and artist colonies.

8. Goint-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

Lake McDonald is Glacier National Park's largest lake, at ten miles long. Driving along the McDonald Valley provides a history of the glaciers that carved the U-shaped valley. Families can park at the visitor's center at Logan Pass, the top of the Continental Divide. The road leads to the Going-to-the-Sun Mountain, at 9,642 the highest in this area of the park.

9. Pacific Coastal Highways, California

Take in the West Coast in its entierety or in manageable short jaunts.The first section begins in Portland, passing the Willamette River, early pioneer settlements, stunning waterfalls, rugged coastline, weird monoliths, and towering redwoods. The second section from San Francisco to L.A. features the Golden Gate, Big Sur, wine country, Hearst Castle, Spanish missions, Hollywood, mountains, beaches, surfing and harbors.

10. Chain of Craters, Hawaii

Chain of Craters Road, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is a 20-mile journey that showcases a natural landscape shaped by volcanoes. Whether driving or hiking, visitors can see craters, lava flows, tropical rain forests, mountains, and coastal areas.

Amy, Florida: "Out for a drive I always say that my car has better upholstery than most of the furniture in my house. No wonder we all love leisurely sightseeing drives, with time to talk, look out the window, maybe stop for ice cream..."

Reprinted with permission of the National Geographic Society from the book The 10 Best of Everything: Families by Susan Magsamen. Copyright ©2009 National Geographic Society.
Photo: Bernie McCann

Related Links: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S., The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S., The 10 Best Living History Sites

They Say: Bedtime Routines=Sweet Dreams

KeriF — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:02:00 GMT

In our communal household, all the kids begin their bedtime routines around 7:30pm. My kids are asleep by 8pm. My sister's? Closer to 9pm. My bedtime routine is fairly brisk: bath, pjs, brush teeth, pee, pick out clothes for next day, two books, water, snuggle, lights out. I have no idea what my sister's routine actually entails to make it last a full hour longer, but I'm pretty sure it involves several books, a Japanese counting lesson, some very off-key songs, and one very demanding almost-3-year-old girl.

But according to a new study, all of our kids are sleeping just fine, thanks to their consistent bedtime routines.

The study, by Dr. Jodi A. Mindell at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, followed the bedtime routines of 405 mothers--about half with kids 7 to 18 months old, half 18 to 36 months old.

The mothers who followed a strict 30-minute bedtime routine that included a bath, massage, and a snuggle, along with other restful activity, had kids who fell asleep faster, woke less often, and slept more regularly. In addition, the toddlers in that group woke in a much better mood.

In fact, so did the mothers.

Parents have long been told that a consistent nightime routine is the key to getting your baby to fall asleep (and stay asleep) on her own; now there's proof that it works.

What's your bedtime routine? Is it quick and dirty, like mine? Or long and slow, like my sister's?

Source: Journal Sleep

The 10 Best Living History Sites

editors — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Move over Felicity, Samantha, Kit Kitson and the rest of the bunch; American Girl dolls don't hold a candle to the country's finest historical reenactments. With National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything: Families as your guide, your tots can become Minnesota farmhands for a day or climb aboard the Pony Express.

1. Actor's Beechwood Mansion
580 bellevue Ave., Newport, RI 02840, 401-846-3772

Step back in time at the Astors' opulent Beechwood Museum. The Beechwood Theatre Company brings to life the Astor family, their friends and servants. There are daily tours of the early 20th-century mansion given by living history performers.

2. Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325, 717-334-1124

The most epic battle of the Civil War was fought here on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Confederate troops attempted their second invasion of the North at Gettysburg, not far from the state lines of Maryland and West Virginia. Union soldiers pushed back--at a cost of more than 7,000 lives. Five months later, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address here. Reenactments are regularly scheduled.

3. Colonial Williamsburg
101A Visitor Center Dr., Williamsburg, VA 23187, 757-229-1000

Duke of Gloucester Street and the reconstructed governor's mansion are the centerpieces of this re-created historic city depicting the best of British colonial life in the New World. Shop for authentic toys, wear a tricorn hat, and return the greetings of costumed barristers, shopkeepers, and servants.

4. Middleton Place Plantation
4300 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, SC 29414, 800-782-3608

Experience a taste of the Old South, with the benefit of a view from the 21st century. This carefully preserved low-country plantation is now a resort, working farm, and historic garden area-- and a beautiful family destination. Staff members here are characters who introduce you to life on a 19th century southern rice plantation.

5. Castillo de San Marcos
1 Castillo Dr. S, St. Augustine, FL 32084, 904-829-6506

This fort was built in 1972 to protect Spain's footprint on the North American continent. Reenactments and weapons demonstrations are regularly scheduled, and rangers are on hand.

6. Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, IN 46038, 800-966-1836

A renowned living history museum, farm, and learning center where families can explore 19th century life of the American Midwest. It's divided into four main areas: a homestead, a prairie town, a farm, and a Lenape camp. Events are planned every weekend, including storytelling, traditional arts, farm experiences and more.

7. Oliver H. Kelley Farm
15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River, MN 55330, 763-441-6896

Be a Minnesota farmhand for a day. Try churning butter and weaving a straw hat, and see oxen and horses at work in the fields. Dressed as farmers and field hands, staff members show families how a 19th-century farm was run. Seasonal activities and daily chores provide a hands-on view of daily farm life and early American agriculture.

8. Pony Express Re-Ride
1202 Penn St., Saint Joseph, MO 64503, 816-232-8206

This annual event commemorates the founding of the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company, also known as the Pony Express. In June, teams of horses and riders ride the original trail from Missouri, with handoffs along the way in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and then across California to Sacramento. The ride begins at the original Pony Express headquarters, now a Missouri musuem. Families can mail a letter that will be carried along the route.

9. Flint Hills Overland Wagon Train
El Dorado, KS 67042, 316-321-6300

Experience life on the pioneer trail with an overnight covered wagon journey in the Flint Hills, an unspoiled tallgrass prairie that was once a pathway to the American frontier. Traditional entertainment and chuckwagon-style meals are provided, with a campfire and sleeping under the stars at night. You can bring your own horse and ride along.

10. George Ranch
10215 FM 762, Richmond, TX 77469, 281-343-0218

This historic park has been in one family for four generations. It includes a mansion home, working ranch, and seasonal crops that visitors can help to harvest. Schedule your visit for a Saturday and plan on having an authentic 19th-century-style meal at one of five different venues around the park.

Photo: Bates Littlehales

Related Links: The 10 Best Carousels in the U.S., The 10 Best Children's Museums in the U.S.

They Say: Bullying Could Make Kids Psychotic

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:00:00 GMT

A depressing but important study by British researchers has found that kids who are bullied as preteens are twice as likely to exhibit symptoms of psychosis by the time they reach adolescence.

Evaluating 6,400 children annually from ages 7 to 13, researchers found that a whopping 46 percent of preteens are bullied, and that these kids are twice as likely to have delusions, hallucinations, or thought disorders by the time they reach adolescence. The more severe the bullying, the greater the chance of psychosis, regardless of the children's family situations, IQs, and existing mental health problems.

The reasons for the correlation are inconclusive, but researchers believe that the stress of bullying could either trigger existing predilections for schizophrenia or could permanently change the way the brain responds to stress.

These findings make sense considering the increased incidence of mental health problems among people who were abused as kids. Hopefully, this study will drive home the point that chronic bullying is a serious form of abuse, and needs to be addressed by schools as such.

Photo: Virginia Youth Violence Project