Most Popular Articles in Category: Children



Safe YouTube for Kids? We Found Good Apps

January 14, 2012 by Caryn Talty Comments2 Comments »

YouTube for kids safety can be hazardous, few will argue that

Video searching can be a dangerous expedition under the watchful eyes of your child if you don’t have proper safeguards in place on YouTube. If you are using the YouTube App or accessing it from a browser on your home computer you know exactly what I’m talking about. And since the death of free user based online aggregating with TOTLOL in 2009, there is little option for parents seeking their kids’ safety except a paid service or app. I once searched a topic as innocent as “Piano Songs” and stumbled upon a disturbing video image of a crying child holding a gun to his head. It appeared conspicuously along the YouTube gallery side bar and was packaged within an innocent 7 minute long video that played classical music. Nice. …continue reading »

Low Carb, It’s the New Gluten free Diet for Celiac in our Family

January 7, 2012 by Caryn Talty Comments6 Comments »

Laura Dolson's Low Carb Pyramid

We have Switched our Family to a Low Carb Gluten Free Diet

Don’t know what a low carb gluten free diet is? Well, it’s a gluten free diet that also limits processed gluten free products too. Things made from potato starch, rice flour, refined and organic cane sugars, agave syrup, and most prepackaged gluten free products (noodles, breads, pie crusts, cookies, crackers, and chips) are all considered high in carbs. We are going to limit or avoid them completely this year.  You are probably thinking, so who on earth would think it’s good to put their skinny little kids on a low carb diet? …continue reading »

Set Internet Parental Controls on Your Child’s iPad or Kindle Fire

December 26, 2011 by Caryn Talty Comments2 Comments »

Learn how to Customize Network Internet Parental Controls on Just Your Child’s iPad or Kindle Fire for Free with OpenDNS

OpenDNS.comIf you are looking to set internet parental controls on your child’s electronic devices, you are not alone. Many parents choose to configure parental controls on their child’s electronic devices within the device settings or through a downloadable app. But did you know that you can also customize their experience on their devices more globally through your home wired and WiFi network? Since your child now has constant access to the internet you may be shopping for more strict internet parental controls for them. You may also want another security layer added to their device …continue reading »

Youtube Read-aloud Books are a Free Alternative to eBooks for Kids

December 20, 2011 by Asta Svedkauskaite Comments1 Comment »

Watch Youtube Read-aloud Books for Kids and Save Money on iPad Apps, Nook and Kindle eBooks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka-tznfolzE

Llama Llam Mad at Mama read aloud by Anna Dewdney

Do you have an iPhone, iPad, Nook, or Kindle? Buying eBooks can get expensive. Next time your children want to read, try sampling free Youtube read-aloud books for kids instead.

We know that starting from a very early age, every parent should teach their children to treasure literacy. eBooks are not like cartoons, fast moving images and loud music telling a story with 2 dimensional characters. eBooks are slow paced; they let children think and imagine, fill in the blanks. Youtube read-aloud audio books are an especially convenient option for busy families that are constantly going places. Got a basketball game to be at and you have to bring your 5 year old, too? Try tuning into a video or audio read-aloud story when he starts to get restless. …continue reading »

Will Zoodles Android app Solve Kindle Fire Parental Controls Issue?

December 2, 2011 by Caryn Talty Comments7 Comments »

View of Kid-Safe Mode on the Kindle Fire

This week I downloaded the Zoodles children’s browser to my Kindle Fire in hopes that it would solve the lack of parental controls issue for Amazon Prime members.

Zoodles is cross platform downloadable browser application for kids with a customizable parental controls feature. It also comes with a pricey premium. The company website claims it works on all kinds of devices: android mobile phones, the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, as well as on your favorite PC or Mac. Users can manage their account on unlimited devices, too. This makes it handy for large families and for those that to travel to grandma’s quite a bit. Their team scours the internet for appropriate online educational games and videos for kids between 3-8 years old. It creates a customized browser experience for each child in your house based on their age and abilities. In addition, premium parents can choose what kinds of games they would like to see more of, and what games they would like to block …continue reading »

New Kindle Fire Lacks Parental Control Features

November 17, 2011 by Caryn Talty Comments14 Comments »
The Kindle Fire may not be for kids yet.

The Kindle Fire lacks parental safeguard options.

The long awaited release of the Kindle Fire has finally arrived. I anxiously opened up the packaging to play with my new tablet toy priced less than half of what it would cost for an iPad.

We are an Apple family with a history of PC use. We have our iPhones and our MacBook, and we are completely satisfied with them. But this year for Christmas there isn’t money in the budget for an iPad for each kid, and let’s face it, no one wants to share their one and only Christmas gift. So after reading up on the device, and because we are already members of Amazon’s Prime service anyway, we decided to try out the Kindle Fire and take advantage of their free Cloud service.

I could write a review on the technical specs but I am hardly qualified. I imagine that are plenty of parents, however, who are considering getting a Kindle Fire in lieu of an iPad, Nook Color, or even a hand held gaming device like a Nintendo D.S. …continue reading »

Celiac Book is Great for Kids who are on a Gluten Free Diet

November 14, 2011 by Theresa Roman CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

Are you looking for a kid’s celiac book that would be a great teaching tool about the celiac diagnosis?

Cilie Yack is Under AttackThis holiday consider getting a funny children’s celiac book that teaches about being a good friend, a good sport on the football field, and a lot about celiac disease, too.

The main character in this celiac book for kids, appropriately named Cilie Yack, learns about common celiac disease symptoms and gluten free eating.  Cilie Yack is Under Attack is a fun, fast-paced celiac book just for kids. It packs a lot of  juvenile humor in its 16 small chapters. The novel is about a boy who lives on a farm and loves sports, particularly football. But it is also about learning to be on a special gluten free diet. If you have a reluctant reader, he or she will be delighted with the 60 cartoon-like illustrations. There is also plenty of silly humor in this fast-paced celiac book to make the most reluctant child reader turn the page. Cilie Yack’s story is the perfect addition to your teacher’s set of classroom books, too.

Taking place in rural Ireland, this story is a labor of love for all kids who are food allergic, and would make a great addition to any library collection of food allergy and celiac books. …continue reading »

Breastfeeding Guidelines for the New Mom

October 11, 2011 by Caryn Talty CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

Learn how to avoid common breastfeeding mistakes

Breastfeeding - Lactation

photo taken by Carin Araujo

Hospitals often do a great job of helping the new mom establish breastfeeding in the first two days after she gives birth to her infant. But what happens during the next few weeks when mom and newborn are at home? This is when the mother has limited mobility and high anxiety about her new role as care giver and sole provider of milk. The postpartum mom is tired, sore, hormonal, and sleep deprived. Often times she is given help by loving family members with little or no experience in establishing a healthy breastfeeding relationship.

Unfortunately, this lack of proper guidelines can sabotage a newbie nursing mother with the best of intentions. And here lies the problem for most first time moms. By the time your milk arrives, you are at home, on your own, …continue reading »