NEW YORK -- It's still technically summer, but for some it's not too soon to think about what the kiddies will want for the holidays. Toys R Us has come out with its annual "hot toy" list that includes tablets for kids, fashion dolls in the ..

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Crazy busy, right? Every parent I know is crazy busy right now, saddled with a to-do list that seems to grow faster than a kid. The only way to keep up is too juggle faster. Or not. What if the only way to keep up was too slow down? “Take small st..

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  Motherhood begins as a tempestuously physical experience but quickly becomes a political one. Once a woman’s pregnancy goes public, the storm moves outside. Don’t pile on the pounds! Your child will be obese. Don’t eat t..

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Let's say you learned to drive in America and spent the formative years of your driving experience on American roads. If someone dropped you in the heart of London behind the wheel of a car, odds of a collision are high. You would need to relearn ha..

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Last week, during the women's gymnastics qualifying competition of the 30th Olympiad in London, my wife and I watched with a combination of horror and incredulity as the parents of U.S. Olympian Aly Raisman went through a series of grotesque, seemingl..

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I’ve spent a good bit of time away from my kids this summer. My 9-year-old went on a month-long trip to Alaska with his grandparents, while my 7-year-old had her first taste of sleepaway camp in a four-night introductory session. I wasn’..

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Child development experts around the world are alarmed at the reduction in free play allowed children at home, school, and in the community.   Simultaneously, schools are pressured to provide more physical exercise within the school d..

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Parents who want to allow their children to shop online have a dilemma: how to enable the purchases? “If you’re a kid and you have $20 in your pocket, you can go to a store and buy something, but there’s no way to buy anything online ..

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Many parents don't have the opportunity to choose where they want to raise their children—job location and finances usually dictate where we set roots. But if you were given the choice of anywhere in the United States to settle down, where woul..

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Those who believe their parenting skills are worthy of an audience have many chances to be seen in the near future. Apparently reality show producers also think the whole world needs to weigh in on different ways to raise children, based on the samp..

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America is the land of the free—and that applies to many of the country's star attractions as well. Make the most of your summer by visiting these famous spots around the United States; you won't have to pay a penny to do it. The Freedom Trail..

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Families are paying a pretty penny to keep their children busy this summer. The average American family expects to dole out an average of $601 per child this summer, according to data released Wednesday by American Express, bas..

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Many American children wet the bed each night, making it challenging for parents to keep up with clean pajamas and linens - not to mention embarrassing for your child as they get older. Experts say it's mostly a matter of physical development and mat..

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The votes are in and the nominations vetted. Today, ForbesWoman releases the third annual list of the Top 100 Websites For Women, featuring some of our favorite destinations, daily inspirations and trusted resources. The 2012 list spotlights a new gene..

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Technology is here to stay. No question there. Children born today must become technologically literate in order to thrive in their world as they grow. No question there. Advanced technologies make parts of raising children easier. No question there ..

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Nothing can sink a friendship like differences over parenting. Sometimes the areas of disagreement are stark and dramatic, leading to blowups and out-and-out breaks. Most of the time they’re subtle and unstated, a matter of dark looks and long..

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Figures released by the National Trust earlier this month paint a picture of a generation of children disengaged with nature and outdoor play, largely ignorant of the joy of unbridled exploration. According to the charity, fewer than one in ten chil..

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I walk around my house naked. My partner often does, too. Not gratuitously, just often. We don’t bother covering up when walking from bathroom to bedroom. We leave the door open when we get dressed. So far, my 8- and 12-year-old sons remain un..

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My kids love Angry Birds.  I'm sure your kids do as well.  You may even be an addict.  However it's time to put the digital devices down and head outside. Yesterday I was cleaning out our basement and had several empty cardboard boxe..

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It's an inspiring story of love, heroism, and sacrifice. It's also a violent story in which children fight to the death. And therein lies the dilemma. As anticipation for the midnight Thursday release of "The Hunger Games" builds, parents ..

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How to Be the Captain of the Ship Through Calm and Stormy Seas A frightened Captain makes a frightened crew. —Lister Sinclair If you’re a passenger on a cruise ship, it’s kind of cool if the Captain joins you for dinner. But his t..

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Dear Susan, I have battles every morning with my strong-willed eight-year-old twins. I have to deal with one argument after another, fighting to get them dressed and fed with teeth brushed so we can get out the door on time. When we finally leave ..

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I knew it was playdate suicide immediately after offering a cookie to a new friend’s organic-only, no-TV son. I was trying to bribe the boys to clean up, but by the look on her face I felt as though I was pushing drugs. “You let him eat ..

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On questions of how to live, the French never disappoint: They're all for liberté, so long as it's stylishly tasteful. How to eat, how to dress, how to love—we all know, because they've told us, that the French have a distinct, and bett..

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Whether you're the babysitter, the grandparent, the aunt or uncle or the parent, getting kids to clean up can be a challenge. Whether you need help with your chores or want them to take responsibility for a few on their own, here are some tricks we..

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  Parenting is not an easy job and everyone seems to have a different idea of how it needs to be done. For many moms and dads, it becomes almost impossible to have friendships with other parents because the way they parent is so different than t..

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Take a load off, Mom and Dad: pressuring yourself to be perfect parents isn't always helpful Everyone wants to be a good parent, to give their children the best education, the best upbringing and all the support they need to grow and mature into produ..

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New Year’s Eve and kids can go hand in hand with a few adjustments and some flexibility. The evolution of my New Year’s Eve would make for a very funny comic strip and one that most parents could appreciate. From a kid wanting to make it to..

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Much of what makes the holiday season so special is the traditions that people hold dear. While many families have traditions that stretch back decades, there is plenty of opportunity to breathe new life into Christmas, Hanukkah or any holiday your f..

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Anonymous donors have been going into big box stores — Kmart in particular — and paying off layaway accounts. NPR and The Associated Press picked up the story five days ago, and in it a reporter described a young father stepping up t..

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Watching children enjoy the magic of Christmas is fun, but the little ones sure ask a lot of questions. “How can Santa Claus fly in a sleigh?” “How does he get in our house if we don’t have a chimney?” “How can he s..

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Our list of the best kid games of 2011 includes games for kids ranging in age from 4 to 12, spanning all video game platforms. For the first time, we have a preschool game on Kinect (Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster). Educational games that are equ..

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Hello and welcome to the Best Toys Guide. We are here for one reason and one reason only, to help you find the best toys 2011 for kids at the lowest prices. We make it easy for you to shop by listing the hot toys for Christmas in various categories...

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As a parent, one thing you expect will be a part of your life for the next decade or two, are toys, lots and lots of toys.  But what isn’t always as apparent is what toys to buy for your child. Which ones are just all hype, and which on..

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I don’t know about you but Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year. With the Nor’easter, Halloween and both kids' birthdays, I am halfway into the month and just starting to think about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is such a great time ..

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Remember that proverbial parent-child talk about the birds and the bees? The prevailing thinking among child-development experts is that this "talk" should actually be a dialogue that starts as soon as the child can speak and continues unt..

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Social media has become an extension of the school hallway for the vast majority of American students, with all the flirting, drama, occasional cruelty and flashes of maturity, according to a survey released today by Pew Research Center’s Inte..

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What’s the most important 18 minutes of the day for families? “I hate mealtimes with my kids,” confessed one mom at a parenting workshop. “I prefer some time at dinner with my husband rather than being a disciplinarian with ..

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Here are some frightening (but fun) facts about this wildly fun holiday we call Halloween: When Christianity came to England, November 1 was designated as All Saints Day (given to those saints who didn’t have a special day of their own).  ..

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Families who spend more time together while their children are young tend to have a stronger family bond for decades, experts say. But it takes a lot of effort to plan and then live the "slow family" lifestyle, which suggests that kids don..

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Of all jobs out there, Parenting is one that presents the most challenges. Difficult challenges to say the least. The Investment My experiences with my own children and other children whose parents put energy and time trying to be the best parents pos..

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"Less is best" is a favorite mantra of all those organizing experts on cable TV. Considering the towering pile of stuff and information monopolizing kids' attention today, it may be a good mantra for parents to adopt to some degree as we..

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Children shouted with wild joy as they played on jungle gyms and slid down slides yesterday. Parents looked on, some safeguarding stuffed toys. Many have mixed emotions and find 9/11 difficult to explain to their young children, they said. A few have..

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I grew up in an odd era, in which when you wanted someone to play with, you walked down the block (or biked if it was a couple blocks) over to a friend’s house and knocked on their door to ask some scary adult person if Johnny could come out a..

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Years ago, pre-kid, I remember reading a pretty amusing article in the Post about some of the crazy things docents at the Air & Space Museum overhear parents telling their kids when asked a question to which they don’t actually know the an..

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Topping the latest list is German Chancellor Angela Merkel. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton moves into the No. 2 spot, followed by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at No. 3. Women on the list come from politics, business, media, ente..

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Every mom has a secret. “I cry myself to sleep sometimes because I am Overwhelmed and I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about it.” “I honest to goodness do not like my son most of the time and knowing that KILLS me.” &ldq..

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The back-to-school season is upon us and that means it’s time for parents to start cleaning out closets and making room for this year’s new clothing and supplies. It’s also an opportunity to donate gently used goods to charity. And..

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I bet you never thought that when you had kids you wouldn’t be able to take them out in public. That day has come, parents, and I have mixed feelings about this new trend. When my kids were younger, it was extremely difficult to listen to any b..

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You know that mom who only ever talks about her baby? The one who infiltrates your computer screen with endless baby pictures and constant status updates? Sure, the baby sharing was cute — at first. Then cuteness overload just became overloa..

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You probably haven't been worrying much lately about the seating policies of McDain's restaurant in Monroeville, Pa. You probably don't even know that McDain's exists. Or Monroeville, for that matter. But when the casual-dining eatery announced earl..

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The number of children moving in with grandparents has risen in the past two decades, according to a U.S. Census Bureau study.   "We don't know why it's happening, and we don't really know what it means," said Renee Ellis, U.S. Census Bur..

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With many families watching their vacation budget this year, Baby Lifetime knows that choosing the right destination has become more important than ever. Everyone wants a vacation that delivers the most for each hard-earned dollar and yet still provides..

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The Secret of Dads' Success How Fathers' Teasing, Tickling, Wrestling Teach Kids to Whine Less and Be More Independent     Fathers parent in distinct ways that are different from moms, with a measurable long-term impact on child..

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Summer’s here and the livin’ may not be easy — especially if you have children out of school for the summer and running around like crazy. But the TV schedule is just bursting with great ideas for the times you can’t just send..

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Souped-up schedules, helicopter parenting and a lack of social support combine to create a new level of pressure. And then there's the day care issue. Alice Domar is a modern-day mom, so she knows the drill: "When you're at work you feel guilty..

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Classes are done for area schoolchildren, but that doesn't mean the learning should stop. (Wait just a second, you kids are thinking. Learning? But it's summer vacation! We know. Just hear us out.) "Every time we come back (to school) in the fall,..

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There is much discussion surrounding what it costs to raise a child, but a large portion of the expense can be reduced by having a mom stay at home with her kids. This often thankless job doesn't pay in the same way as a traditional occupation, h..

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If you are fortunate enough to have a mother still among us, then I would advise you to show your appreciation to her on Mother’s Day.  I say this to you as a daughter who loves her mother, the woman who taught me that olive-skinned girls ..

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Among the wide variety of parenting styles, which one is the best? Tiger moms? Helicopter moms? Free-range moms? The question can be endlessly debated, but experts say every type of parent has produced happy, confident and capable children. Even the..

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Mothers with young children are slightly chubbier and exercise less than women without kids, according to a new study published Monday in Pediatrics. If you’re surprised, you probably don’t have kids—or you haven’t lo..

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I was at the dog park recently and watched as a middle-aged man played with his young son and their dog. They were throwing around a ball and running back and forth. The dog and the kid returned back to dad, each with the same expression, awaiting th..

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Perhaps you've heard the term "helicopter parenting" as a way to describe the way today's 20-somethings (Gen Y) were hovered over in childhood by their parents. As a life coach to 20-somethings and consultant to corporations with Gen Y empl..

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TripAdvisor today reveals the Top 10 destinations - and hotels - that its reviewer members ranked as the USA's best for family travel. Winners of TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice Family Awards were chosen based on the greatest number of recommend..

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Kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend 11.5 hours a day using technology — whether that’s computers, television, mobile phones, or video games – and usually more than one at a time. That’s a big chunk of their 15 or 16 wa..

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Even though most Americans have grown more comfortable with same-sex or unmarried couples raising children, they still view single mothers as detrimental to society, according to a new poll of attitudes toward the country's soaring number of nontr..

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Your toddler and her friend are fighting over a doll. When the friend pulls it away from her, your daughter punches the girl and grabs it back. Do you: Take the doll away and explain to the girls that they can have it back when they can share and play ..

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At her Harvard commencement speech, "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling offers some powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems "worth more than any qualification I ever earne..

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Many mothers are under so much pressure to appear like perfect parents that they cover up how much television their children watch or what they cook their families, according to a survey. Such "white lies" also extend to how much "qual..

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Can a regimen of no playdates, no TV, no computer games and hours of music practice create happy kids? And what happens when they fight back? A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what t..

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Do your teens text and drive? (For that matter, do YOU?) Watch this PSA and you'll be scared straight. (Warning: Graphic images!)   Don't forget to pass this onto to everyone you know!

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    (CNN) -- The government's air defense system tracks Santa's progress on Christmas Eve. The United States Postal Service even accepts letters to the North Pole. With that kind of evidence..

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Touch-screen computers and other gadgets are increasingly edging out traditional items on children's holiday gift lists. Two-year-old Marcelina Doleglo walked straight up to the Dora the Explorer game playing on an iMac at an Apple Store in Oakbrook, I..

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Being born in the summer could give you a sunny disposition for life. And a winter birthday might cast a permanent shadow over your happiness, scientists believe. Experiments suggest that season of birth dramatically affects the way the speed at which t..

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