Photo by Babycakes_254

The following is a guest post by Ideal Bite's Mama Bite contributor Jennifer Orr. 

In my ongoing endeavor to reduce, recycle, and reuse, one of my habits lends itself nicely to this philosophy: reading. I average one book a week, and my 6-year-old, who has caught the book bug something bad, tears through them even faster.

Instead of heading to the book superstore, we get our fix at the local library. This is the one place my daughter doesn't have to hear my retail refrain, "No, we don't need that," so she gleefully grabs as many books as she can carry. I also love the convenience of requesting books through email—the lovely librarian finds and holds them for me. I won't get that rock-star treatment at the mega-book-plex.

For the authors I collect, I now buy their books used, which adds a whole new dimension to enjoying a book. I get a kick out of reading margin notes and trying to decipher why a particular passage was underlined. I also swap favorites with my book club friends. The result of all this? I haven't bought a new book in more than a year—for myself or my kiddos. I've saved a ton of money, paper, and resources, and I've yet to miss out on one good read.

Where do you get books for your kids?

Reportedly, some children from a Philadelphia-area daycare center, which had contracted to use a private swim club once a week, were treated to racist comments, and then the club canceled their swimming privileges.

What? Are you kidding me?

Senator Arlen Specter's letter to the swim club president said, "I think that you would agree that there is no place for racism in America today." Wow, how true and how eloquently put. But not quite the language I would have used in my letter.

Some kids from the the Creative Steps Day Care center overhead members of the Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania asking why African-American children were swimming there.

A few days later the club returned the daycare center's check without any explanation.

When CNN attempted to talk to the Club President John Duesler, he had no comment and asked CNN to leave the club. However, Duesler told two Philadelphia television stations that the children had changed "the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club.

Yikes!

Some club members, however, argued it was an issue of overcrowding and a shortage of lifeguards that caused the complaints, not the race of the children. "As general members, we were not told that [the kids] were coming," said member Jim Flynn. "If we knew, we could decide to not come when the pool was crowded or come anyway. We could have had an option."

Hmmm, that's not what your club president said...

What an awful story. What do you think when you hear stories like this in 2009?

Photo by momof3teenagers

Moms know that their teen age boys have the ability to talk. They have concrete proof. They hear them on their cell phones talking to girlfriends for hours. The get in trouble for talking in class. And they sure yell loud enough when they're on the sports field.

But actually talking to mom and dad, sharing their day, bearing their emotions at home? Nah, nothing, fine, whatever. Some moms are lucky to get that much out of their teenagers.

"I got excited a few months ago because my son initiated a conversation about toothpaste!" says MomIWant. "We had a real conversation (with words) for about five minutes. It was really exciting and the highlight of my month (not joking about this). I usually get "huh" "yup," "nah," or "okay/fine" -- end of parent vocabulary."

Another mom in the Connecting With Your Teenager group says her son doesn't even use a modern-day language anymore. He grunts like a caveman. "I have actually come to understand what each grunt means!" she says.

Getting your teen to talk to you is definitely a common problem with no clear answer. Some moms say you just have to give them space. Their hormones are raging -- even they have no idea what they are feeling enough to describe it to you or anyone.

One popular suggestion is spending the day with your son alone. Invite him to a game, shopping, the movies, or join a volunteer project together. Away from the pressures of daily life, the words might come. Or not. This is what we get for complaining during the toddler years.

How do you get your teen to talk with you? Does finding excused to spend alone time together help?

The case before the Court involved a teenage boy in Oregon who struggled in school, but when school officials evaluated him, they concluded he wasn’t eligible for special services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (the special-ed law that entitles all students to a “free, appropriate public education").

The boy's parents took him to a private psychologist who diagnosed him with ADHD, depression, a math learning disorder, and marijuana abuse. They then enrolled him in a private school (without consulting the boy's school, which subsequently decided the boy didn't qualify for special services).

The parents sued the school district for the $65,000 they spent on private tuition—and won.

The court said that public schools have an affirmative obligation to "identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities" and that it would be wrong to reward a school district for refusing to find a child eligible for special services.

What do you think? Should public schools be obligated to pay private tuition for special ed students they haven't assisted? Have you tried to get special services for your child in public school? Were you happy with the results?

Moms are always looking for fun, inexpensive ways to entertain their kids during the summer...

Participating AMC Theatres are offering $1 movies every Wednesday morning as part of its AMC Summer Movie Camp.

The movies are popular G- and PG-rated films from 2008—including Horton Hears a Who. Keep reading for complete schedule...

July 15: Horton Hears a Who

July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles

July 29: Nim's Island

August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

All admission proceeds from AMC Summer Movie Camp will benefit Variety--The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

Check the official Web site to find a participating theater near you.

Photo from Mazzali

Came across these beautiful rooms for teenagers, alá the sustainable and eco-friendly Italian furniture company Mazzali, and I lived with these pretty bedrooms IN MY MIND for a little while.

Photo from Mazzali

Photo from Mazzali

I know, in a few short years, when I have teenagers, their room(s) will *not* look like this. Maybe they'll have one of these nice color palettes and a love of minimalist wall art though? Okay...okay...doubtful...

But for now, these rooms are pretty, and I like to look.

Does your teenager's room look like one of these (hee hee)?

Have you seen the video of the spoiled teen who has a meltdown after his parents give him a beat-up truck for his birthday?

(If this video is, in fact, real), I was completely shocked and disturbed watching this 16-year-old attack his birthday present with a baseball bat while yelling "You guys are gonna make me look like frickin' poor kid in front of all my friends."

Yikes!

Many moms in the Advice for Moms group had a similar reaction to the spoiled teen. But some commenters said that they weren't surprised—that ungrateful behavior is typical of many teens these days who think they are entitled to nice cars, cell phones, televisions, laptops, etc., not to mention the best food, clothing, shelter, etc.

Do you agree? What things—if any—does your teen think they are entitled to get?

Photo by 920Wendy

According to the 2009 Sunscreen Guide from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the sunscreen we've been spraying our kids with this summer gets a score of 6, meaning it ranks as a "moderate" sun and health hazard.

Yikes!

Does your child's sunscreen work?

The EWG says "3 of 5 brand-name sunscreens either don’t protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals — or both." That's why they've put together this sunscreen guide, rating over 1,500 sunscreens.

The EWG site also says, "Five percent of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and provide poor protection from UVA, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation."

Argh, the two daily face moisturizers with SPF that I use don't make the non-hazardous cut either.

I try to take findings like these with a grain of salt, of course, rather than FREAK OUT, which motherhood tends to make me prone to do. Some protection, especially from sunburns, is still better than no protection. It's just good to educate yourself going forward as best you can.

How does your sunscreen rate?

Thanks, Five Flowers (CafeMom fiveflowers), for the link.

Photo From Amazon.com

If you had to make a list of the best children's books of all time, what would be on it?

A columnist in New York recently offered a list of what he thinks are the best kids' books ever. Sure, it's a good place to start, but I think he's missing a bunch:

1. Charlotte's Web
2. The Hardy Boys series
3. Wind in the Willows
4. The Freddy the Pig series
5. The Alex Rider series
6. The Harry Potter series
7. Gentle Ben
8. Anne of Green Gables
9. The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
10. Little Lord Fauntleroy
11. On to Oregon
12. The Prince and the Pauper
13. Lad, a Dog

Where's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle? And how can you have a list of the best children's books without Ramona the Pest?

What do you think he's missing? What would be on your list of best kids' books?

Photo by Cafe Sheri

If the idea this summer is to avoid your kids' summer brain drain and at least try to keep up the reading practice wherever possible, then you probably have to make a reading plan. Otherwise, all the summer fun will pile up around you and the reading simply won't happen.

Trust me. We're in need of a plan. Like now.

Here are some tips for making a summer reading plan and some summer reading lists for kids.

If you're not one of the lucky parents with kids who love and choose to read on their own, then you might need to make a reading plan. Keep it loose so they don't dig in their heels. But also, make a regular place for reading in your summer schedule.

• Set reading times. Set a regular time, an hour or two, maybe 2-3 times a week, when TV and video games must be turned off and toys set aside. Adults too!
• All reading counts. Let your kids pick their pleasure. If they want to read about Spiderman, just be glad they want to read something. If they want to read magazines or the newspaper, woohoo! All reading is good reading.
• Go to the library. At the library, my son loves looking at all the different kinds of books almost as much as he loves making the choice about which ones he wants to take home. Again, try to step back and let them make the choices. They'll be much more likely to actually read the ones they pick out.
• Reward them with books. Make a deal that you'll buy them one book for every 5 or 10 library books they read. Or if buying books is out of the question, reward them with more library time or let them special order new books at the library.

Need some ideas for Big Kid reading?

Here are some Kids' Summer Reading lists to get your kids started:

• Most Popular Young Adult Books from Goodreads: Here's what's popular right now in fiction for adolescents, roughly ages 12 to 18.
• The Best Kids' Books Ever from NYT Op Ed: Includes goodies like Charlotte's Web, the Hardy Boys, and Anne of Green Gables.
• Summer Reading Roundup 2009 from Chronogram Magazine: A great list that includes picture books, as well as reading for middle graders and young adults.
• Summer Reading List for Kids - Time to "Go Green!" from University of Maryland: An old favorite like The Giving Tree, as well as green books for kids like The Green Teen and Earth Book for Kids.
• Green reads for teens and tweens and Green Reads for Kids from Mother Nature Network: More good eco reads for kids.
• 10 Great Authors in Children's Literature from Simple Mom: Think classic books for beginning readers, like those by authors Arnold Lobel (Frog and Toad books) and Beatrix Potter (The Tale of Peter Rabbit).

Photo by Singlemom316

Some of my my fondest memories as a kid were during summer camps. Here are some links I love that will help prepare you and your kid for summer camp:

10 lessons learned at summer camp. — Lil Sugar

This firefighting camp helps kids lose weight while boosting their self-esteem. — Parent Dish

Summer camp or free range kids, that is the question. — Momversation

These labels are a far cry than when I was using Sharpies to label my camp belongings. — Cool Mom Picks

There seems to be camps for every kind of camper nowadays. — Lil Sugar

Make sure you have this checklist when packing for camp. — Cookie

3 most common mistakes parents make when sending their kids off to camp. — Babble 

Tag Reading System

Kids will enjoy learning with Leap Frog's Tag Reading System.

Recommended for ages 4-8, the Tag Reading System introduces the kids to reading, spelling, word building, and more, but in a fun way!

And one lucky mom will actually get to win this, as well as a Up With Adventure Junior Tag book to begin building your child's Tag library.

Photo by Singlemom316

CafeMoms are always asking for ways to get their kids to talk to them, so we're helping out with a weekly dinner conversation-starter.

This week's topic:

Summer To-Do Lists

Summer days can sometimes seem looooong and dull—especially school-aged kids and tweens who aren't involved in organized daily activities but are too young for a summer job.

Head off summer boredom by suggesting activities and events your kids can do by themselves. If you plan ahead and get your kids excited about a "Summer To-Do List" before the tedium sets in, you may never here "I'm bored!" again.

Here are some suggestions from CafeMoms for summer activities that kids can do on their own:

• Caitzrawks suggested checking the local library for summer reading groups and movie series.
• Kustomkrochet's idea is to get kids involved in crafts or hobbies—clay, yarn and knitting needles or crochet hook, cross stitching, a bug catcher, an aquarium with fish, etc.
• Momjs said her 8-year-old entertains herself by playing dress-up and having a fashion show.
• Writeon encourages her son to make plans with friends from school or from the neighborhood.
• Lesli shared that her imaginative 10-year-old daughter is writing a play.
• Cafe Sheri suggests really creative ways kids can avoid summer brain drain including creating an at-home cooking class or turning your backyard into a science lab.

What activities are on your kids' "Summer To-Do List?"

The following is a guest post from our sponsor, Listerine.

I couldn't believe it when I heard that three kids in my daughter's fifth grade class already had braces. Braces? Fifth grade? Although I knew braces would do wonders for her overbite, I was worried that they'd wreak havoc on her dental care. Frankly she wasn't a stellar brusher in the past, but now how was she possibly going to get to all the food and germs that love to hang out in braces and keep her mouth clean?

Then it occurred to me, she was going to need to do more than just brush well. So I got Listerine® Smart Rinse^TM, an anticavity fluoride rinse. It does more than prevent cavities, it acts like a magnet, attracting food particles and germs so when she spits after rinsing they're in the sink instead of in her mouth. I know, awesome!

And, believe it or not she actually thinks using it is kinda fun. Here's why-after she brushes her teeth she rinses with Smart Rinse^TM. Then, when she spits, she can see all the stuff she missed. And because she can see the gunk that's left in the sink (which granted is a little gross to me, but for some inexplicable reason she thinks is really cool) she knows that her mouth is clean.

It doesn't hurt that it also kills the germs that cause bad breath, because let's face it, when yogurt, fruit and everything else she eats make itself at home in braces it can't be a good thing.

I had to wear braces when I was a kid, although they were the super conspicuous "metal mouth" kind. Now, not only are kids getting braces younger, but they have all sorts of cool color choices and stuff. It's like it's they're the newest accessory. I know when she gets her braces off she's going to have a perfect smile. And, if Smart Rinse^TM helps her avoid cavities while they're getting that way, it's going to do wonders for mine too.

Snag a $1.00 off coupon for either LISTERINE® SMART RINSE^TM or LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUE® over at Listerinekids.com.

Sleep apnea

Now, a new study suggests that children who are both overweight and wet the bed at night may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Experts recommend that pediatricians should check for sleep apnea in overweight children who wet the bed—"especially when they display other symptoms of OSA or fail to respond to standard bed-wetting treatment programs."

Sleep apnea in children should not be taken lightly. It can lead to daytime attentional and behavioral problems, and, in some extreme instances, even death. If you think your child has sleep apnea, consult your pediatrician immediately.

CafeMoms of children with sleep apnea said their pediatricians recommended the following to diagnose and treat the disorder:

• Sleep studies to determine if it is, in fact, sleep apnea or something else (like acid reflux or allergies).
• Apnea monitors that sound an alarm if the child stops breathing.
• Surgery to remove enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

Have you ever had to deal with sleep apnea in your children?

Photo from TableTopics

Isn't it weird — the whole bunch of us former teenagers finding it virtually impossible to talk to teens? Yet it's a very real problem for many parents of teens.

Why not try TableTopics for Teens?

Put an end to silent family dinners and urge your teens to open up beyond, "yup," "mmhmm," and "fine."

Each TableTopics cube comes with 135 conversation starters, including ice breaker questions like:

• What's the best birthday party you can imagine?
• Could you get straight A's next year if you were offered one million dollars?
• For which store would you like to win unlimited free shopping?
• What personal trait has gotten you in the most trouble?
• What car would you love to own?
• What would you most like to protest?

Maybe your family can't stop talking when you're all together. Lucky for you! But this box of questions can still be fun for car rides, parties, and bigger family gatherings too.

And, of course, it's perfect for the family that's conversationally challenged.

There's also a Family Edition of TableTopics.

And remember, when it comes to talking to teens, practice makes perfect (or the best that you can be anyway...)!

What tips do you have for getting teens to open up and talk?

I am trying to rinse the twins' conditioner out of my hair (why did I forget to buy any for myself and why, oh why did I choose organic carrot conditioner?), when my eye is caught by a photo on the bathroom shelf. It is the twins, all of eighteen months old, round eyed with awe.

I know they are staring at their "big boy" cousin at his 8th birthday party, as he gleefully pulls out a Happy Meal® toy.  The twins are literally drooling -- they want that toy, really badly.

I fiercely wish that I could rewind time, and spend say, half an hour with those two chubby, edible morsels of humanity. I would really enjoy them jumping up and down, shouting: "Uppy Downy Mommy" as they insisted on being picked up simultaneously. Just for half an hour, then I'd happily return to my two, occasionally eye-rolling, increasingly independent fourth graders.

I have to explain that I come from a deprived childhood. As an ex-pat South African, McDonald's® arrived on our shores when I was in my 20s. My husband and I hopped into our car, drove 30 miles and stood in line for 2 hours to experience the thrill of a Big Mac®, something we'd only ever seen in glamorous American movies and TV shows.

I've watched my children grow up with Happy Meal toys as a part of their childhood, and I've loved seeing them create new memories. Like the time Robin got the Barbie toy she'd been longing for, and was so excited she could not speak (very unusual for my daughter). I'll never forget her in her sunflower yellow dress, giggling helplessly with joy. We are picnicking near a river and in my mind's eye her brother is, as always, smeared from head to toe in ketchup.

It's true that in life, it's the little, simple, silly things that really make a difference. The things that make us smile. And I look forward one day to taking my grandchildren and watching them, misty-eyed, as they eagerly grab their very first Happy Meal toy.

 Happy 30^th Birthday, Happy Meal.

Photo by djw1971

Judging by the conversation in Tween Titans, most CafeMoms do not let their tweens go to  movie theaters by themselves or with groups of friends. They think it's way too young to be sitting alone in the dark with possible creeps waiting to pounce.

Many of these tween moms sit a few rows back in the theater to give their kids space, but still keep a watchful eye.

"I work for a 911 center, and I can assure you that I'd never, ever let my pre-teen daughter go to a movie theater without an adult," says herringbones. "There are too many hinky people who just love to go to the movies and lurk in the dark. Even matinees."

Of course, Lenore Skenazy and others in the Free Range Kid movement would roll their eyes at this. They've probably been letting their 10, 11 and 12 year olds go to the movies for years!

BigMama1283 is of this opinion, too. She's trusted her 12 year olds go it alone.

"My husband and I will either see another movie with similar start and stop times, or we go to the mall across the street," BigMama1283 says. "My kids have cell phones. If you educate your children on how to handle themselves in these situations, more than likely they will do just fine."

She adds: "I'm amazined that parents will not let children this age watch a movie without them, but will take them to a movie with content too strong for the age. Go figure."

See this poll at CafeMom.

What's the bigger issue here? Letting tweens go to theaters unsupervised or allowing them to watch borderline PG-13 or even R rated movies?

Photo by superpowers1279

Many CafeMoms think that opposite sex toddlers sharing a bedroom is no big deal, but the room is split on whether opposite sex teen siblings should share quarters. Some states even have laws that prohibit it.

But here's a new kid sleeping question that popped up in Advice for Moms -- same sex siblings sleeping in the same bed.

jen_wikstrom's 5 and 6 year old sons share a room, and they always end up sleeping in the same bed, even though they each have their own. They are not foster children (there are laws governing those types of sleeping arrangements). She wants to know if it's okay to move the bed out of the room and let the boys sleep on the one bed, since they always end up there anyway.

mamivon2's feeling on the matter is, "As long as the boys feel comfortable, why not? My kids, a boy AND girl, used to sleep in one bed all the time. I guess they just needed it. Keep the other bed, though, because you never know. Three months from now it might be a whole different ball game."

If your two same sex siblings wanted to sleep together in the same bed, would you allow it? Would you permit your different sex siblings to do this? Up till what age?

MYTWOKIDS131 posted in the Advice for Moms Group about her 7-year-old daughter who "has an attitude...rolling her eyes, stomping when mad, back-talking, ignoring,  being mean to her little sister, etc." She's wondering if this is her daughter's true personality or if it's just a stage.

Moms were quick to empathize with her, saying that they saw this type of behavior with their tweens and that it is usually just a stage:

• AutymsMommy: My daughter is almost 8... she went through this stage at the beginning of 7. We didn't punish her for it, though. But we were able to show her HOW to be kind and respectful, and that we just do not respond, at all, to a disrespectful nature. We haven't had a problem with her attitude in months.

• Mamamia819: Nip it in the butt now, because coming from the mom of 13- and 10-year-old girls, it doesn't get any better as they get older. Let her know what is not acceptable, and under no circumstances should you tolerate it.

• Ann7227: I have all boys. Haven't gotten that kind of attitude. But the girl across the street she is 12 and acts just like that and, no surprise, has zero friends.

Does your tween have a bad attitude or act disrespectfully? How do you handle it?

Photo from D*S

Love this red, white, and blue themed big boy's room — although with a few slightly more feminine accents, it could easily work as a girl's room too. Love that.

This is Ellis's room, son of Julie Murphy, the founder/designer behind Jack and Lulu. The complete tour of her beautiful New York home can be found on Design*Sponge.

They've combined an affordable IKEA reversible bed (converts from high to low by flipping and here, with a second mattress, also works as a bunk bed for sleepovers or siblings) with a mix of unique and adorable accents, which make this room so simple but nice.

(Don't miss Julie's amazing canary wall, which I am coveting to no end; the print grouping idea would be very cute in any kids' room.)

Photo From StuckatProm.com

For years I was pretty proud of myself for using silver duct tape to hold together my car. But these high school prom-goers have found a much more creative purpose for this relentlessly sticky substance: They've used it to make prom dresses and tuxedos as part of the "Stuck at Prom" duct tape scholarship contest.

Here's how it works: Couples compete for a $3,000 scholarship by designing and creating prom dresses and prom tuxedos made completely out of duct tape. You can see all the participants and vote for your favorite entry at the official Stuck at Prom Web site until July 2. Winners will be announced on July 9.

Really, you've got to see the photos. These kids are so creative!

Has your kid ever won a contest?

Photo by lilysmommy8503

This year, Fourth of July finally falls on a Saturday. Hooray!

Most families will enjoy a picnic or barbecued cuisine, ice cold drinks, sunshine (hopefully), maybe some swimming, a little American-flag-waving perhaps, and, come nightfall, a fireworks show of some sort.

What will your family be doing on July 4th? Do you have any unique Independence Day traditions in your family?

Photo by 3lilmonsters411

Summer is not complete without numerous evenings spent at the ballfield. I love baseball, whether it's pro (go Yankees!) or little league, and yes, I'm that person who's screaming embarrassingly loud. Here are some links I love to get you in the baseball spirit:

Tips for your kid's first trip to the ballpark. — Lil Sugar

Richard Gere and his son enjoying an afternoon at the ballpark. — Celeb Baby

Learn the baseball lingo shouted out at your kids' little league games. — Yahoo! Shine

Brooklyn minor league baseball team hosts a Bellies & Baseball: A Salute to Pregnancy night. — Pregnancy Buzz

Are you a baseball fan? Which teams do you root for?

Photo by djw1971

CafeMoms are always asking for ways to get their teens to talk to them, so we're helping out with a weekly dinner conversation-starter.

This week's topic:

Choosing good friends.

It's hard enough to be a teenager, but finding true friendships can be particularly difficult. As one anonymous mom explained:

My 13-year-old daughter is having such a difficult time finding friends that show sincere friendship toward her. She has had two particular friends since preschool, but their friendship has been so unhealthy...these girls have consistently bullied her and recently turned on my daughter by hacking into her Facebook page and writing mean things about her!

Here's some insight moms shared about how to talk to kids and help them to deal with this situation:

Niki_sd said: I would not go back to 13 for anything. I was in my late 20s before I got the message that "People who do not have friend behavior... ARE NOT FRIENDS!" ...It may take years for it to set in. Young years are so social. You often don't see who true friends are until the party is over.

Lesley722: There seems to be little concept of what loyalty is and what a friendship really is among the girls at her school. My daughter is no angel I'm sure but she doesn't accept offers for "hanging" and then accept a "better offer" or claim to be "best friends" one day and barely say "hi" in the hallway the following day.

NannyB. said: We want our closest friends to be people who will challenge us to move upward rather than always be pulling us downward. ...Those relationships which are constantly draining of spiritual energies and never seeming to do anything to replace it are not to be considered as true friendships.

How do you get your teens to talk about friendships and relationships?