GoodyBlog

Friday Night Movies

2009-11-20T08:35:42-05:00

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Vampires, werewolves, and aliens, oh my! It's getting a little freaky at the box office this weekend. Your kids might beg to see the uber-hyped--and unintentionally funny--Twilight: New Moon (rated PG 13). Some moms might even consider it--you know who you are (I'm Team Jacob, BTW). But the animated alien adventure, Planet 51 (rated PG), is probably the safer supernatural bet for families with younger kids.

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Barney: We Love Our Family

Ben 10: Alien Force, Vol. 5

Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Box One

Pahappahooey Island: Do It Afraid!

The Smurfs: World of Wonders

The Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 5

Wild Child

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Picks of the Week:

(Serious Drama Pick)

My Sister's Keeper

(Seriously Cool Pick)

Star Trek

Make Your Kid A Moviestar

2009-11-19T19:10:33-05:00

If your kid's a die-hard Dora fan, she'll go crazy for a personalized “Dora, Diego and Me” DVD. After digitally inserting your child's image and name, she'll be able to see herself co-starring alongside her favorite characters, tagging along on a jungle adventure, flying across zip lines through the rain forest and jumping waves on water skis. But your kid's 15 minutes of fame (well, actually 25 minutes) doesn't end there. She'll also hear Dora call her by name (which is not something to be taken lightly with the 5-and-under crowd. Consider it equivalent to Johnny Depp uttering your moniker.) Just keep your fingers crossed that all the fame doesn't go to your little explorer's head! Who knows what she'll start demanding...

Spankin' New Headlines

2009-11-19T15:53:59-05:00

Slow down: The response to the rise of the helicopter parent. Time

Your pediatrician’s necktie: Could it be making your child sick? Wall Street Journal

It’s time to stop smoking! The decline in the smoking rate among Americans has stalled and there was even a hint of an increase last year, according to the CDC. New York Times

Cafeteria scare! Agriculture chief promises to tell school districts when the government suspects food supplies are contaminated. USA Today

Four percent of U.S. kids now have food allergies, according to a new study. Los Angeles Times

Original photo via

Cute Kid Thursday!

2009-11-19T10:35:31-05:00

My Name Is: Piper
I’m: 3 months old
I hail from: Twinsburg, Ohio
I can usually be found: Bouncing on my mom or dad
Beloved Toy: My taggie rattle
Favorite Book: "Sheep in a Jeep" by Nancy E. Shaw
Pastime: Drinkin' milk
Pet Peeve: Runnin' out of milk
Catch Phrase: "Neh! Owh! Eh!"

Hey, got a cute kid? Please email us a pic and bio and your little Mr. or Ms. Adorable could be featured on Cute Kid Thursday!

Time for Turkey!

2009-11-18T15:03:49-05:00

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is around the corner—literally, it's next week. I have a particular fondness for autumn crafts, when kids can run into the backyard to gather their supplies (sticks, pinecones, bark, etc.).

Check out the November issue of Parents where we made a centerpiece from sticks, napkin rings from acorns, and trivets from wood rounds. We also featured this precious turkey place card (let's call him Max), made from corks, feathers, and other simple craft supplies (including feet fashioned out of bobby pins!).

After you figure out your most important task (the menu planning) then begin to gather your craft supplies so that you and your little Pilgrims can decorate a memorable Thanksgiving table!

November is Prematurity Awareness Month

2009-11-17T14:45:07-05:00

The United States gets a "D" for it's high premature birthrate of 12.7 percent, according to the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to baby and pregnancy health. The March of Dimes compared each state's birthrate to the Healthy People 2010 preterm birth goal, which is 7.6 percent of all live births. Vermont had the lowest rate of premature births—9.2 percent—and was the only state to earn a "B." (No state got an "A.") But the good news is that 27 states reduced their preterm birthrate since last year, and the March of Dimes attributes the improvement to the fact more moms are quitting smoking while pregnant (smoking is a risk factor for premature birth) and that fewer moms are scheduling elective deliveries early, before the 39th week. In fact, more than 70 percent of preterm births are considered late preterm, which means that the baby is delivered from 34 to 36 weeks of gestation. Even late preterm babies can have complications like breathing problems.

Go to Marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies to see how your state fared and to learn about how to have a healthy pregnancy. Click here for a video of March of Dimes president Jennifer L. Howse, M.D., discussing the results.

Make Your Bandage Beautiful

2009-11-16T15:57:04-05:00

It's no secret that kids love wearing band-aids, whether or not that's an actual reason to. So imagine how much they'll love dressing up their bandages. Boo Boo Bling was created to make your band-aid a little less blah. Basically, it's a way to bedazzle bumps and bruises. The acrylic rhinestone decorations cover boring band-aids so that your kid's boo boo can match her mood or her outfit. And Boo Boo Bling could also be perfect for mom in a pinch when she doesn't want to be caught sporting a Sponge Bob bandage with her LBD on date night.

Valentines in November

2009-11-16T10:55:13-05:00

While it's true that the Thanksgiving turkey has yet to be carved, Save the Children is calling on all of your pre-K through 12th graders to put their thinking caps on for Valentines Day. From now through December 1, children can create their own unique Valentines Day cards and enter to win the grand prize—a $500 savings bond, as well as the opportunity to meet spokeswoman and Save the Children Artist Ambassador Julianna Moore and to join her during press appearances to promote the cards in January.

Select Valentines Day cards will be posted online in mid-December, and kids can vote for their favorites in each of the five age-specific categories. The five winning designs, one for each age group, will be printed on cards available in January and offered as part of a gift with a donation to benefit Save the Children's anti-poverty programs in the United States. For full contest rules and more details on how to apply, click here.

Good Deed Friday: Toys for Tots Time

2009-11-13T12:15:59-05:00

I know, I know. Everyone thinks it's despicable how a bunch of played out holiday music floods the supermarket aisles the moment those last few Halloween edition dark chocolate MilkyWays are whisked off the shelves. I however, am a Christmas enthusiast.

I think there's plenty of room for clearance vampire fangs and overpriced twinkle lights—especially if buying both helps me earn a free Thanksgiving turkey with $100 worth of qualifying purchases.

I won't get in to my particular obsession with Mariah Carey's Christmas album or the ceremonial viewing of a VHS of taped TV specials my mom made back in the day (California Raisins' Christmas Special, anyone?). The point is that I love the pine tree-scented magic of the holidays, artificial or not. It all contributes to the same outcome, a general atmosphere of charity.

Not that we shouldn't be charitable year-round, but who doesn't feel extra warm and fuzzy with the influx of coat and food drives in your neighborhood, or the chance to choose a toy for the local Toys for Tots drive? And what about sending out holiday greeting cards?

This year you can do a little extra by getting special, cute holiday cards from Vistaprint and they'll donate 50% of the price to the Marine Toys for Tots foundation, which collects and distributes new toys to kids in need.

This is just one of many do-good opportunities that are bound to pop up in the next couple of months. Even if you dread the holidays, and Christmas in particular, be on the lookout for great ways to give back, and leave us a comment about your discoveries, so we can spread the spirit.

Photo via.

Growth Chart Design Grows Up

2009-11-13T11:46:54-05:00

Okay, I swear I'm not obsessed with growth charts. I just couldn't help falling in with love with this Basic Shapes Growth Chart by Australian designers Paul Fuog and Dan Honey. The cheerful colors and basic shapes are sure to appeal to little eyes, while adults will appreciate its combination of bold graphics and clean lines.

Found via.