Swine flu is spreading rapidly. It is important to know facts about swine flue to prevent the illness.

People CANNOT catch swine flu from eating pork. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. Swine he flu is contagious it can be spread from human to human. It is spread as follow:

•    Coughing
•    Sneezing
•    Touching infected objects

Swine flu is very similar to regular flu:

•    Cough
•    Muscle aches
•    Fever
•    Sore throat
•    Headache
•    Chills
•    Fatigue

Additional symptoms may include diarrhea and vomiting.

Unfortunately there is no easy way to distinguish the swine flu from a regular flu. If you are concern about your health you should visit the doctor.

It is important to stay in good health:

•    Wash your hands often
•    Avoid close contact with sick people
•    Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
•    Drink fluids
•    Stay active
•    Eat nutritious food

CDC recommends the use of Oseltamivir or Zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
•    Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®) is approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people one year of age and older.
•    Zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) is approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5 years and older.

Kids now days, starting in elementary are hard to impress. Starting with a few years back this generation has been exposed to lavish birthday parties, endless celebrations and an all out putting on of the dog in the name of one year older. This can make coming up with ideas a little tough because by the time the child has celebrated their 7th or 8th birthday party they have seen all the most common. No mom wants to disappoint the birthday boy or girl, so here are a few unique ideas that work for elementary school age children!

Wanna face some fear, stare worms in the eyes and eat slop? Well, that is not surprising, but elementary age kids sure do. The more real the better, dirty is great and it will likely be the talk of the school halls for months. Since fear factor is a huge success on television, how about setting up some “safe & clean fun” challenges for the group? It may be eating dog food (mashed up Vienna sausage), challenge city (obstacle course in the backyard) or some other slimy (food product) that you can think of! Really popular parties and there are a ton of ideas on the net to help you out.
Scavenger hunt birthday parties are not unique, but they can be made that way. There are so many things that can be changed with the hunt, which can really make a difference. For the older kids it may be a longer area, harder clues or a bigger prize at the end. They can be held at the mall, parks, museums, city wide or anywhere. Granted the idea is not unique, but being creative for the clues, developing traps or fooling them makes it a lot of fun!
What about a birthday party modeled after the all too awesome Amazing Race? The guests can work in teams or separately, but they travel around the park or neighborhood asking questions, looking for clues and participating in competitions. It could be jump rope, skipping, water balloons or whatever else you can think of.
Costume parties can be very popular for kids at elementary age. They are still young enough to fantasize about characters and most like to dress up, so give them the opportunity. They can either bring their own costume or can make one after arriving at the party. Having them make a costume could be part of the birthday celebration, but costs might be a factor. Again creativity sets the precedence here.
If your birthday boy or girl is the inquisitive type a game show theme birthday party may just be what thrills them. Picking one of the popular shows, such as Millionaire, Deal or No Deal or Family Feud might be a great way to get them engaged for that special day. Most of these games can be purchased and the only thing that mom would need to worry with is the matching decorations. This party is easy, but hugely successful.
See, there are still many ideas that will make that big birthday party the talk of the school house. It is not as much the money that is spent as the creativity and time that is placed into the planning process, believe me though, they will be most gracious for all that hard work.

The world is becoming more and more computer and electronic centered.  Kindergartners now take computer classes at school, and a large percentage of homes have some kind of electronic gaming system, or allow their children to play games on the computer.  There’s no getting out of the fact that electronics are a part of our kids’ lives, not just for school and work, but also for entertainment.

It’s this entertainment aspect that worries us, especially when it comes to violence in video games.  We hear over and over that there’s a link between violence in video games and violent behavior in children.  Fortunately, that view is becoming more balanced by studies that show that this isn’t always the case.

MIT professor Henry Jenkins discusses eight pieces of conventional wisdom about violence in video games which just are not true, or are not true in the ways people usually understand them.  His article, “Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked,” discusses some of the studies that have been done, and the truth about how video games affect our kids.

The myths about video games that Jenkins discusses are:

1.    The availability of video games has led to an epidemic of youth violence.
2.    Scientific evidence links violent game play with youth aggression.
3.    Children are the primary market for video games.
4.    Almost no girls play computer games.
5.    Because games are used to train soldiers to kill, they have the same impact on the kids who play them.
6.    Video games are not a meaningful form of expression.
7.    Video game play is socially isolating.
8.    Video game play is desensitizing.

He goes on to show that not only are all of those common ideas false, that in most cases their opposites are true.  In fact, in some cases, violence in video games can be cathartic for kids.  If kids are struggling with feelings of aggression or anger, it can do wonders for them to take those out by beating up an alien, which might them prevent them from beating up another child.

Obviously all parents have to make these decisions for their own kids.  Just because video game violence isn’t as damaging as we thought it might be doesn’t mean that any sort of video game content is appropriate for kids.  Video games have ratings on them or a reason.  Games rated M for “mature content” are not designed for kids at all, but are made for adults, who comprise the larger part of the gaming market.  Adult content in any context is not appropriate for kids.

The key is for parents to pay attention.  If your kids are asking for a certain game, look it up online and see if it’s something you want them to have.  Talk with them about the pros and cons of it.  They can understand and appreciate your thoughts on things, and might have some arguments that you hadn’t thought of.  The most important thing is that you have the facts, and then discuss them together.

Kids now days, starting in elementary are hard to impress. Starting with a few years back this generation has been exposed to lavish birthday parties, endless celebrations and an all out putting on of the dog in the name of one year older. This can make coming up with ideas a little tough because by the time the child has celebrated their 7th or 8th birthday party they have seen all the most common. No mom wants to disappoint the birthday boy or girl, so here are a few unique ideas that work for elementary school age children!
Wanna face some fear, stare worms in the eyes and eat slop? Well, that is not surprising, but elementary age kids sure do. The more real the better, dirty is great and it will likely be the talk of the school halls for months. Since fear factor is a huge success on television, how about setting up some “safe & clean fun” challenges for the group? It may be eating dog food (mashed up Vienna sausage), challenge city (obstacle course in the backyard) or some other slimy (food product) that you can think of! Really popular parties and there are a ton of ideas on the net to help you out.
Scavenger hunt birthday parties are not unique, but they can be made that way. There are so many things that can be changed with the hunt, which can really make a difference. For the older kids it may be a longer area, harder clues or a bigger prize at the end. They can be held at the mall, parks, museums, city wide or anywhere. Granted the idea is not unique, but being creative for the clues, developing traps or fooling them makes it a lot of fun!
What about a birthday party modeled after the all too awesome Amazing Race? The guests can work in teams or separately, but they travel around the park or neighborhood asking questions, looking for clues and participating in competitions. It could be jump rope, skipping, water balloons or whatever else you can think of.
Costume parties can be very popular for kids at elementary age. They are still young enough to fantasize about characters and most like to dress up, so give them the opportunity. They can either bring their own costume or can make one after arriving at the party. Having them make a costume could be part of the birthday celebration, but costs might be a factor. Again creativity sets the precedence here.
If your birthday boy or girl is the inquisitive type a game show theme birthday party may just be what thrills them. Picking one of the popular shows, such as Millionaire, Deal or No Deal or Family Feud might be a great way to get them engaged for that special day. Most of these games can be purchased and the only thing that mom would need to worry with is the matching decorations. This party is easy, but hugely successful.
See, there are still many ideas that will make that big birthday party the talk of the school house. It is not as much the money that is spent as the creativity and time that is placed into the planning process, believe me though, they will be most gracious for all that hard work.

Each and every mother that has prepared for, traveled with or even thought about taking little ones on a road trip understands that it is not an easy task. It is almost like preparing for a natural disaster where there may not be food, water or sanity for days at a time. After all it takes bags, bottles, totes, snack bags, coolers and that is just in the front of the car, not to mention all the diapering and other personal care items required. Really it can be a trying task to prepare for a trip with little kids, but there are some great tips, from mom to mom that can make it a smoother trip. Here are the 10 best tips for traveling with little ones that us moms can ask for.

This first tip goes hand in hand with a couple of the other tips as well. Keep them busy! It doesn’t matter where you’re at, going or doing if kids have something to do they are less likely to complain, get bored or into mischief. They are visual creatures that long to be stimulated with bright colors, sounds and yes, movement! If a DVD player is not possible, then how about a handheld toy version that plays little games or movies? While electronics are important, children can get bored and begin asking for something else to do. Bringing us to another tip: keep snacks, drinks and fruits available at all times. It may even be a good idea to put a cooler or other food holder where it is easily accessible to mom so that the little ones can be handed a snack quick. Sometimes traffic doesn’t wait so keeping snacks and drinks handy can create harmony as well as promote safety!

Coloring books, travel packets and paintless sets can keep even the most difficult child happy for a long car ride. These books are easy to find and most of the time they can even be purchased from discount stores making them affordable. Remember to stock up because with some of our little ones it doesn’t take long for them to work their way through them. Those books that can be wiped clean are a good idea as well, since they can be used over and over again. Remember, if the mind stays busy, the mouth is out of gear and the hands are occupied.

Playing games, singing songs and even guessing what color car you will pass next also engages the child and helps to keep them busy. There are tons of these little game ideas online, but here are a few:

•    “I spy” is always a favorite
•    Counting cars, fences, posts or signs
•    Practicing counting, alphabet or nursery rhymes

Making frequent stops is not at all convenient, but it really makes the trip easier on the child. Most kids get upset when they are strapped into a car seat and have absolutely no freedom or  choice about being there. Try and remember roadside parks for stretching the legs and bathroom breaks along the way!

Of course going into the trip well prepared always make it easier, but things like including paper towels, trash bags, goodies and little surprises make it even more pleasant. Traveling with little kids can actually be fun, especially when you have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve.

When the economy struggles,  inexpensive gifts for Christmas are in demand! Fortunately, homemade is coming back into style. You can make lots of things that will bring true joy to friends and family simply by creating and giving gifts that have immediate value to the recipient.

Don’t be shy about trying new things!  Break out a new recipe and take it for a test drive. You can make unusual gift basket with non-traditional items. Instead of pumpkin bread and cookies, try a coffee mug with a few powdered gourmet coffee creams. You can dip the bowls of sturdy plastic spoons in white or dark chocolate to use as flavored stirrers.

Other unusual gifts include potpourri sachets to go in drawers or inside pillowcases. Pair them with a couple of candles for a basket of scented delight! You can even add a packet of spices and cinnamon sticks to heat on the stove in a pot of cider to ensure their house will smell like Christmas all month.

Don’t forget the kids. Fun gifts can include such silly stocking stuffers as you can pick up at any dollar store, and don’t forget little ones are as likely to play with the box as anything else. Some kids actually even like clothes as gifts, especially teens, so combine necessity with the holiday spirit and include a gift card to their fave designer store.

Even teens themselves can get in on the act, choosing to make their own gifts. Photos can be made into collages for grandparents, or scrapbooks started as a project to do with younger siblings. Babysitting services are a great gift for Mom and Dad! Younger kids can get busy with the artwork as gifts - the memories made this way are so special.

Gift games are a great way for extended families to share the Christmas joy. If each adult buys one gift appropriate for an adult, plus a gift for each child from another family group, there will be plenty to go around. The kids can have their gift opening time, then the adults can play a form of white elephant sale, taking turns choosing an a gift from the pile or ‘stealing’ a gift from someone else.

Another great idea for the holidays is to pool funds and take a short trip, enjoying the time spent together over instead of an actual gift exchange. This works well for families where the kids are grown, but grandkids aren’t in the picture yet. A outing to a picturesque location and a few days spent as a family unit can create memories that will last a lifetime!

These are only a few ideas of how to manage the best Christmas ever on a shoestring budget, without stress or anxiety getting in the way. Remember, Christmas is about the spirit of giving, not material things. Even if money is short, love doesn’t have to be, and you can think of a number of unique and fun ways to give the best gifts of all!

Last week I was a volunteering as a chaperone for my daughter’s class field trip. It was the trip to the local Space & Science Observatory Center, and honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy it (don’t tell my daughter!). I was thinking that a space exhibitions wouldn’t be very interesting for an adult, and that I was only going because I am helping with a lot of small things in Kristina’s school this year - I was so wrong!

It was amazing! First we saw 3D movie about stars. It was presented in a very comprehensive way so the children could relate and understand. The story was about two kids who built a rocket from an old refrigerator box, and their imaginative journey into the solar system. After the show, the children enjoyed seeing the exhibition with the real space ships and telescopes.

My favorite activities ones that allowed the children to do different learning projects about the space, microbes and space station life. They had a chance to learn about the NASA space station, and why Japan, Canada, Russia and many other countries joined the project. They watched another movie about life aboard the space station and how the cosmonauts exercise and keep their muscles strong.

It was very informative and fun trip! This is a great place for children and parent to go and learn. I hope you can use this parenting tip for your rainy day or clear night weekends. There are so many things to learn in the observatory centers! It might be not only a one time visit - I know we are definitely going to come back during the night to see the stars in the telescope!

There are a few things you can do to make homework time easier for your kids. If they get home and you are all distracted, they may be tempted to chuck backpacks in a corner and scatter to watch TV or play video games. You have to establish a routine to let them know that telling you at five minutes till bedtime “I have homework” is not a good idea!

One of the best pieces of parenting advice I ever heard is “Let them fail once in a while!”  My kids learned the hard way that if they don’t do their homework, I won’t let them stay up late to do it or let them make us late for school in the morning trying to finish. We have a strict rule: You get home, you bring me your backpack, you do any homework right then.

If they are really starving (they go to trampoline class after school, and sometimes the snack I send gets burned off!) I have a special stash of healthy options that won’t spoil dinner. I have to make them sit at the dining room table to eat it or they sneak off to their rooms to crash in front of the tube and never be heard from again!

We do our studying at the kitchen table because I can watch them while I start dinner. My son doesn’t get  homework in first grade except reading, but I make him write all of his spelling words three times each, then read his books aloud. My daughter has homework in each subject, and we have a card on the fridge stating which day each is due back.

Another piece of parenting advice; NEVER do your kids’ homework for them. I look my daughter’s over, and if I see any glaring errors I tell her to take an extra look but I don’t solve the problem for her. She is responsible for listening in class. I will clarify a hypothetical question for her, but I expect her to learn, and she can’t do that if I do her homework for her.

Once the kids finish their homework, they know they can have free time until dinner. Since we have the routine, they are pretty good about getting their work done promptly without complaining, and then running off to play! This good habit is going to stand them in good stead in the future - it builds a great work ethic and helps keep them from becoming procrastinators who always put things off until tomorrow!

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It happened four years ago, two weeks before Halloween…

My daughter was 13 years old. My husband and my daughter are best friends. He drives her to school every morning, making lunch and giving her valuable advices about the boys. But one night …

My husband came home from work and told me that he needed to talk to me about something very important. He had this sad face and looked like he had to make very important decision in his life. I got a little worried and after the dinner when kids were watching TV I asked him what was wrong.

My husband: “Babe… you know I love your daughter very much. I treat her like my own and do a lot for her.”

Me: “Yes, Honey? Tell me what is going on?!

My husband: “Well, you know for the last two weeks, every morning when I am driving Sofia to school she starts requesting something that I cannot really do for her…”

Me: “Yes????!!”

My Husband: “She wants me….. to wear a “Banana” costume for the Halloween, you know, this big yellow banana costume!!! I am a serious person and lot of people know me. I just cannot do it but I do not want to hurt her feelings…”

Me: “Bruce!!! What feelings????”

Me: “Sofia!!! What banana costume???”

Sofia: “Oh, come on! I was just jooookiiiiing. Just wanted to see his reaction!”

Bruce: “Whew!”

I guess Sofia got her holidays mixed up!!!

Parenting advice: always ask your teenager what does she/he really mean.

I know there is a lot of violence in games these days, and it kind of disturbs me. I know, I know, I am the mom that lets her nine year old daughter watch ‘Alien’ movies. Video games are different, though!

I personally think movies are less likely to cause problems with violent behavior. This is because the child does not get drawn into the movie as much as they do with the games. My kids know they are watching a movie, they know it is pretend, and I very seldom see them act violently or copy stuff out of scary or violent movies.

I have pretty smart children! Video games, on the other hand, well, lets just say that I don’t let them play the ones that have role playing. We like the animations, like Crash and PacMan and Turbo racing games, but the role playing ones are very dark and encourage the child to pretend they are in the game.

This is where I think the problem is, and the difference between movies and games. A movie just is there. It is a story, a show being put on. A violent role playing video game really encourages you to BE the violent person IN the game, and I think that can mess with kid’s heads.

Also, you get the feeling that fighting is no big deal, that you can hit someone and keep hitting, and get hit yourself and it won’t really hurt. I don’t think that is healthy. What about you?