Kids' Stuff

Take a Left at the Principal's Office

Posted on June 24, 2013
Take a Left at the Principal's Office

I finally took the opportunity to volunteer in my daughter’s first grade class. It just happened to be the last day of school. Is it horrible to admit that I had deliberately not used my vacation or comp days to serve in Lexi’s classroom? If it is, then at least I have another 11 years to remedy the situation. My husband is a regular volunteer in the class, and I was excited about having my turn…until he came home from volunteering and told me that the teacher planned on working me hard during my allotted time.

What do Monsters University and The Four Seasons Hotel have in Common? A Bit of “Class” and Whimsy

Posted on June 23, 2013
What do Monsters University and The Four Seasons Hotel have in Common? A Bit of “Class” and Whimsy

One of the most beloved Disney Pixar Movies, Monsters Inc., follows up after more than 10 years, with monsters Mike Wazowski and James (Sully) Sullivan, in the pre-quel “Monsters University”. I recently attended the Monsters University press junket at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, where Goodman and Crystal got to talk about

The Cap and Gown Dilemma

Posted on June 14, 2013
The Cap and Gown Dilemma

For some, the dilemma is what to wear underneath their cap and gown. For others, the dilemma is making sure their cap doesn’t fall or ensuring the tassel stays in the correct side. And for a few, the dilemma is focusing on not falling as they walk across the stage.

Searching for a wholesome children's book

Posted on June 11, 2013

Curious George and the Berenstain Bears are definitely SFW, but they're not often discussed at the water cooler in the office (or more accurately in our case, the coffee maker.) But when you work with lots of moms and you work for Kars for Kids, an educational youth charity, children's books come up frequently in conversation. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Gordon Korman, Madeline... they're all up for discussion.

Should Parents of Bullies Be Ticketed?

Posted on June 04, 2013
Should Parents of Bullies Be Ticketed?

“I think parents should be held accountable for their child’s actions…”

This is a partial quote by Julie Hertzog, the Director of the National Bullying Prevention Center, in response to one community’s decision to pass an ordinance that allows police to ticket parents of chronic bullies. The emphasis in the ordinance is on the response of the parents once they are notified in writing that their child has bullied another, whether face-to-face or by way of cyber bullying.

Feeding your child healthy foods, and what to do when you struggle with this

Posted on June 03, 2013
Feeding your child healthy foods, and what to do when you struggle with this

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Lexi Weighs in on the Dress Code

Posted on May 31, 2013
Lexi Weighs in on the Dress Code

Have you all guessed by now that my six-year-old daughter weighs in on most issues, and that she is the not so “ghost-like” writer of many of these entries?

Yesterday over breakfast, she asked why I get so “fancy” just to go to work. I looked down and saw a blouse, slacks and about a 1 ½ inch heel on my shoes and declared that there was nothing fancy about me. I was wearing business casual. That meant nothing to her.

“Why don’t you wear something comfortable to work like I do at school?”

Well, we have a dress code policy at work, and I dress this way because…

Enter Melissa Productions June Children's Book GIveaway!

Posted on May 31, 2013
Enter Melissa Productions June Children's Book GIveaway!

Kids love adventures, especially ones with gooey slimy creatures!

Ditch the Cash: Gift Ideas for Your High School Grad

Posted on May 24, 2013
related tags: Kids' Stuff

Nearly $5 billion was spent on graduation gifts in 2012, according to a survey conducted by TIME. The survey found that about $100 is spent on each gift. Regardless of how much you can or believe you should spend, it's difficult to decide what the perfect gift is going to be, so here are some ideas:

Tablets

All Your Life's a Stage: Facing Down Your Fears

Posted on May 20, 2013
All Your Life's a Stage:  Facing Down Your Fears

When I tell people I was a painfully shy kid, they look at me like I am joking.  I am a frequent speaker, mostly internally at my job these days.  I learned to present confidently even when I don’t feel it.  I forced myself each time I felt the piercing angst to walk into and through the feeling.  I didn’t want it to hold me back so I took it on as a personal challenge to defeat it.