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July 25, 2012

2012 Olympic Fun Pack: Cool Facts and Activities for Kids

by The Chatterbox

On your mark. Get set. Learn! Get ready for a marathon of Olympic-themed summer learning as the world awaits the start of the games in London on Friday.   I’m pretty nerdy about the Olympics, and I’m guessing some of you are, too. Here are some fun facts about the 2012 Olympics to share with your kids (courtesy of our friends at Infoplease.com): London is the first city to host the Games three times in modern Olympic history

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July 18, 2012

Scouts' Dishonor: Boy Scouts Keep Ban on Gay Members and Leaders

by The Chatterbox

Is there a merit badge for being mean? If so, the Boy Scouts of America leadership deserves it.

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July 16, 2012

Got a Picky Eater? Consider Moving to France

by The Chatterbox

Have you got a picky eater on your hands? If you're willing to travel, a quick jaunt to France might help your little one's finnicky ways. OK, mayyy-be that's not the easiest solution. But your child can probably learn a thing or two from a French child's way of eating. Just ask Karen Le Billion, author of French Kids Eat Everything.

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July 13, 2012

New Study Shows Dogs and Cats Boost Babies' Health

by The Chatterbox

Woof! A new study to be published in the journal Pediatrics next month shows that living in a home with a dog or cat can reduce the risk of sniffles, colds, and possibly allergy development in infants' first year of life.

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July 11, 2012

Study Shows: Our Stuff Is Stressing Us Out

by The Chatterbox

We’re getting ready to put our house on the market, trying to follow all of the golden rules of selling a home: de-clutter, de-personalize … did I mention de-clutter? … and overall simplify the entire place. With two small children who require nothing short of an entire Target store’s worth of toys and gear (Not to mention clothes. Oh man, the clothes!) preparing for showings is a Herculean task.

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July 3, 2012

Spanking Could Lead to Mental Illness Later in Life

by The Chatterbox

A new study published by the online journal Pediatrics has found that individuals who were spanked, hit, or slapped as a child have a higher risk of mental illness as an adult, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse dependence, and several personality disorders. The study included a sample of civilian, non-institutionalized adults aged 20 or over. They were asked about current medical conditions and past incidence of physical punishments.

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June 29, 2012

Sad Story About a Young Girl's Death Brings Summer Safety to the Forefront

by The Chatterbox

Ashton Jojo, an 11-year-old girl from New York, died Wednesday while visiting a Florida resort with her family. The medical examiner says her cause of death was electrocution. Ashton was mini golfing with her family, and had waded into a pond on the course to retrieve her ball. Another guest heard her scream and attempted to help, but was injured while doing so. Ashton was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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June 26, 2012

Beyond the Tongue Ring... What Is Willow Smith Doing on Instagram?

by The Chatterbox

It was the (fake?) tongue ring seen 'round the world. Yesterday, news of 11-year-old Willow Smith getting a tongue ring blew up on the Web. The "wild child" daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith had posted a pic of herself and a friend with fresh "piercings" (hers on her tongue and her friend's on her chin/lower lip) on Instagram...

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June 21, 2012

New Study Shows "Moderate" Drinking OK During Pregnancy

by The Chatterbox

Ask any pregnant woman about the cardinal rule of pregnancy and her answer will likely be "no alcohol." For good reason too- alcohol during pregnancy can cause a host of problems, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol syndrome. A new study out of Denmark, however, is now saying that moderate drinking has no effect on young children and is actually ok.

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