Arsenic Found in Popular Juice Brands | Yahoo! Health

What are our kids drinking....

Arsenic Found in Popular Juice Brands Yahoo! Health

Last Minute Halloween Costumes!

We all know how crazy this time of year becomes as we head into the official holiday season and Halloween to start it off. Check out last minute Halloween costume ideas for your little ones!
http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-kids-costumes/last-minute-costumes/

Ahoy Mateys!!

Stepping Stones Museum is putting on a "Pirate Adventure" this weekend Saturday October 29th!! A fun event to go to as we continue to celebrate Halloween!

http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/Education/FamilyPrograms/MonsterMashPirates

Check out their website for more info!

Ways to help your worried kid

Recently my son whose almost 6 and just entered kindergarten, became fearful to go to sleep because he thought he was going to die... It broke my heart to think that a thought like that would enter his mind. Not knowing where this was coming from I immediately looked up child anxiety and luckily found an informative article reassuring me that these fears were common and some helpful ways to ease his anxiety. If you've experienced any of this you might find it helpful too.

http://childparenting.about.com/od/healthsafety/a/how_to_handle_anxiety_in_children.htm

Have a bookworm in the house?

The Norwalk Public Library and The Hour Newspaper are inviting 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to become Nutmeg Readers to read and discuss books that have been nominated for the 2012 Nutmeg Award.

If you are interested in becoming a Nutmeg Reader, visit the Teen Room of the library at 6 p.m. on October 5th for an introduction to the free program. They’ll have pizza and receive copies of our first book: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.

For more information about the book club, call Lisa Story, the teen librarian, at (203) 899-2780, ext. 15136. Or visit The Norwalk Public Library website http://www.norwalklib.org/ and click on teen events.

Celebrating Fire Prevention Week

Come out and help celebrate “Fire Prevention” week with the Norwalk Fire Department.

When: Saturday, October 1st
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Norwalk Fire headquarters
121 Connecticut Ave
Norwalk, CT

It’s a great event for the whole family to learn about fire prevention and safety.
• Learn about the different fire trucks and meet the Norwalk fire fighters
• Get information on how to get ready and staying safe in an emergency
• Hands on activities and demonstrations
• Free refreshments, helmets, coloring books and lots more

Any questions, please call 203.854.0238

Should I stay or should I go....

After the baby is born and the time is ticking on the maternity leave, some moms contemplate going back to work. It’s a hard decision and many factors come into play.
The article below sheds some light on things to think about when making that decision.

http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/maternity_leave/article/work-after-baby-what-should-you-do

Whatever your decision, feel confident that you are making the right choice for you and your baby.

Mommylogues!

This weekend as I was sitting in traffic on I-95, what a surprise, a huge billboard ad caught my eye. It was a group of ladies holding babies or young children and in huge letters it read: MOMMYLOGUES – being intrigued when I got home that day I of course googled it and found probably one of the greatest sites.

Stamford Hospital has launched an online community for women, who are expecting, those who just had a baby or ones that have added to their growing families. This amazing website follows the lives of six local moms who have given birth or about to at Stamford Hospital, through their everyday experiences related to motherhood. From fears, joys, concerns, services in the area, this site is so informative.
And one of the best aspects of this site, Stamford Hospital’s obstetricians, pediatricians, maternal-child nurses and lactation consultants also post informative information on all the things you can think of relating to pregnancy and thereafter. After going on so many pregnancy/ baby websites you can now be interactive and get answers from real experts.

For more information and to follow "The Mommylogues," visit www.mommyloguesCT.com. For more information about Stamford Hospital, visit www.stamfordhospital.org.

The Pains of Planes.....

Trains, planes and automobiles… no matter how you plan on traveling this summer keeping kids entertained for the ride can be a bit of a challenge. Being on a plane however takes a bit more thought for many reasons – the close proximity of the other travelers, the duration of the flight and the rules now make it difficult to allow your tot(s) to walk up and down the aisles. Therefore, your child becomes a football between you and your husband with the passing back and forth, a floor magnet because they refuse to sit buckled or even worse they decide to use you as a step stool to annoy the person behind you. Not to mention the anxiety created when they start to fight with their siblings in flight.
You’re experience becomes even more horrifying when the childless passengers begin to give you the "look" or they request to be moved to another seat. They have the call button for extra refreshments but can’t they invent a button that says “can you kindly land the plane now; my kids are out of control”. Thank goodness for technology, for blessing us with devices where you can download their favorite movies. Still having to sit buckled for any amount of time is bound to drive anyone crazy especially the kids.
After a tiny search, I was able to find endless ideas of how to entertain them. The next time I travel with the kids, I’d be willing to give anything a shot. Thanks to parenting.com the thought isn't so unbearable.
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/50-ways-entertain-kids-plane
Happy Traveling!!

Guilt Free Dessert

Finally a guilt-free treat we all have been waiting for! Swizzles Frozen Yogurt, its delicious and nutritious - packed with all the healthy stuff we need and so fun to eat! Check out their website for locations and nutritional information.

www.swizzlesyogurt.com

Summer Safety Tips

Simple precautions we all can take to ensure the safety of our children over the summer is so important. From playing in the water, being in the sun or just simply being outside in the heat can cause injury if you are not prepared. Check out the link below for summer safety tips recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And have a Happy Safe Summer!!

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm

Its Showtime!!!

One of my favorite memories as a child, was getting dressed up and heading into the city to go see a show. Hearing the quiet chatter as people gathered to their seats, waiting for the curtain to rise as the lights went dim was so thrilling I almost couldn’t stand the excitement.
Now every chance possible my husband and I try to create that thrill for our children. It’s a day filled with train, show and lots of goodies here, there and in between. However, we all know that the cost of a show and making a day of it is not always so friendly on the wallet. Not to mention if you have little ones, the day is long and sometimes all the fun is hard for them to handle. That is why we were more than happy to have found the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT. The Children’s company has great performances for kids and adults alike. A skip away, short shows, a personable feel is a half day filled of pure entertainment.
The preparation starts well in advance, from picking a show, getting the tickets and on the day of preparing the “Food” tote packed with lots of treats all to enjoy at our table while we watch the show. And the fun doesn't end there...after the show you can get autographs and pictures with the cast as they stand in the lobby.
To see my children’s faces shine when the stage lights up is truly amazing and a great memory for us to share. It really is fantastic!

For more info check out their website: http://www.dtcab.com/
If you are not local, check out cabaret theatres in your area.

Playgroup Etiquette

There is such a thing as Playgroup etiquette. Below are some tips I've gathered from experience and from friends:

1. Use a calendar to keep track of hosting. If it’s your week to host, send out a reminder email and for those attending - RSVP

2. If your child is not feeling well, skip the playgroup until the following week or when he/she is feeling better.

3. If your child is misbehaving, don’t ignore the bad behavior. Give the proper warnings and leave the playgroup if it continues. If your child is having a tantrum take them in another room or home!

4. Don’t discipline other people’s kids. If someone’s child did something bring it to the parent’s attention.

5. Keep in mind that playgroup is for both children and their parents/caregiver. Don’t use the playgroup as a babysitting service as your attendance is essential. You are also responsible for your child even when you are at someone’s home.

6. If you host always provide some kind of food. Kids get hungry and playgroups tend to incorporate fun food and drink. For those attending, bring a snack and drink if your child has an allergy or if you do not want them to eat what is being offered.

7. Make guests feel that they can be at home. If there are rooms that you do not want entered, close the door or block off those rooms with a gate or chairs. Make sure cabinets are child proofed if you do not want them opened.

8. Have the toys out and ready.

9. Don’t throw away dirty diapers in the trash unless you ask.

10. Help clean up after playgroup. Encourage your child to help too!

Playgroup playtime!

Playgroups are a great way to reconnect with the world after having a baby. There are so many benefits to joining a playgroup, for babies and tots it aids in social development. For moms and dads alike you have a chance to talk, share ideas and experiences with other parents. It also gives both parent and child something to look forward to each week. If you are not part of a playgroup here are a few basic steps in forming and finding one:

* Determine what kind of group you will have. Will it be only infants, or just toddlers or preschoolers?
* Consider the number of participants. Most playgroups range from five to 10 parents.
* Decide what you want to do with your group. Will it be playtime for the children, will it offer structured activities or will it be a series of field trips?
* Choose a day and time most convenient to you and group members (once you know who they will be).
* Where will you meet? If you choose to have it at each others homes, have a calendar showing the rotation. And to add variation, if the weather is nice, suggest a park or beach or for tots maybe even a museum!
* Find the people in your group. Perhaps you have group of friends with kids the same age or maybe you have met some parents at the hospital when you had your baby. You may even try joining a newcomers group in your area which more than likely will have playgroup coordinators.

Good luck and happy playing!