Crayons aren’t so easy to carry around, right? They break easily, can spill out of a bag and mark up your things, and worst of all, they have a tendency to melt all over your purse if you leave them closed up in car during the hot summer months. A thin tin box with a handy snap tight closure is the perfect container for carrying crayons for those ‘whenever’ times in life.

This simple solution makes it easy to have some crayons in your diaper bag or purse, ready at a moment’s notice for use in waiting rooms, or wherever you find yourself stuck with a hard to entertain toddler, all while preventing breakage or ruining your purse. (more…)

I often joke that a year ago we could have been considered the “Mc Talty” family for all the times we would frequent McDonald’s. My then two year old was so familiar with the place that he felt compelled to point it out whenever we passed one in our travels. We’ve made a complete turn around since then, thanks in large part to our oldest son’s diagnosis of a chronic tic disorder and our subsequent discovery that he is allergic to wheat and corn and highly sensitive to gluten– three foods we since eliminated and made all the difference for him in his recovery.

This recipe is unique. What makes it special? It is not so much about the ingredients as it is about the preparation. You see, this Little Chef Salad is literally a salad made by my little chef, age 3, a former chicken nugget man turned foodie, a fella not diagnosed, but gluten free through association, and loving it. (more…)

Our boys received a wonderful gift this year for the holidays- a beautiful hardcover copy of Zoolidays, Written by Bruce Glassman and illustrated by up and coming artist Rolandas Kiaulevicius, and if that wasn’t enough they also got tickets to a wonderful show about that book and more called GIRO.

This book is a wonderful read, and the show is a fabulous must see for any emergent reader and budding artist. My boys absolutely loved the book from cover to cover, and the show really delighted their imaginations in a way that the book alone couldn’t do. (more…)

You don’t need to rely on a future preschool teacher or the television set to teach your child literacy. Proactive parents can do quite a bit for their children at a very young age to set the stage for early reading and lifelong success at school. A child who feels successful has confidence, and as we all know, one who struggles with failure will often times develop poor coping skills and very low self-esteem. Don’t wait until your child is formally enrolled to start thinking about literacy. Start now. There are 10 very simple things parents can do with their toddlers that will ensure future success at school. (more…)

On the heels of Jenny McCarthy’s new book, Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, and several different national television appearances with celebrities such as Oprah and Larry King, ABC’s Good Morning America gives us a closer look at the Gluten-free/ Casein-free diet and its potential benefits, not just for children suffering from Autism, but for any child suffering from developmental delays. Watch the interview on October 15, 2007: Can a New Diet Help Autistic Kids?

If you are considering a gluten and casein free diet for your child, visit our forum for more information and recipe ideas.

Dr. Jim Stevenson and his team of researchers from the University of Southampton, U.K., just published the results of their study in the September issue of the Lancet: “Food additives and hyperactive behavior in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community.” Stevenson and his team tested 297 children in a double-blind-placebo-control study. Each child was given a drink and then their parents and teachers subsequently rated their behaviors. (more…)

Families looking for creative ways to raise their children naturally in an artificial and chemically laden world may find some terrific resources at the Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo. The expo runs Friday through Sunday on the first weekend in October (5-7) at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo will feature renowned experts and interesting exhibits. Natural product vendors and service providers will host demonstrations on the exhibit floor. Visitors will also get the chance to watch live cooking shows performed by famous celebrity chefs. (more…)

No one likes to wait in line. It is right up there with getting a root canal or having blood drawn. Long lines and international flights have got to be the two most irritating places to find yourself trapped when you are in the company of bored and irritable children 5 and under. Nothing causes a parent sweaty palms more than idol minds, fidgety fingers, and restless legs forced to stay put and keep quiet for a half-hour or more.

Here is a quick and simple list of things you can do to keep the whining at a minimum while you’re waiting: (more…)

This article is the first in a series of articles about ADHD.

It is back to school time across America, and for a small percentage of the population this time of year is always met with trepidation. If you have a child that hates the thought of going back to school (more…)

I recently took my 4 year-old son on a play date with a boy he has known at least two years. When we arrived, however, we were surprised to find an older neighbor boy there too. Something in my gut made me uneasy, but I didn’t mention it to my friend. Just after we were in the door I caught the other two boys playing “gang-up” style shoot-em-up with squirt guns. My son had none. I had to stop them and talk with them about playing nice.

We stayed a couple hours, ate lunch together, and I watched the boys as they moved freely in and out of the house. At the close of our visit I reminded my son to thank our hosts and tell them he had a good time. He said no, very candidly, and I was admittedly embarrassed in front of our company.

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