I'm starting to panic.

It just figures that the only Alice in Wonderland costume that comes up in a Baltimore shoplocal search is a sassy "adult" version, complete with garters, for $39.99.

Something's wrong here. Actually, several things. Not only can you not find a simple child's costume meant for a child, but the kind you find is $40. In this economy, I just don't think that flies.

I'm not the only one having this problem. Reader Robert wrote to ask for a Tip Sheet on costumes because his 2-year-old wants to be a ghost, and they can't find a costume. For a ghost!

Robert also wants tips on making the costume. I think a lot of us could use that help; I've told you before, I have a craftiness deficit. But I know a lot of you readers have craftiness in spades.

So please post your tips so we can help each other, both for making costumes, finding inexpensive costumes, and helping kids think about affordable costumes. (Here are some ideas from an earlier post to get you started.)

(Photo by Sun photographer Amy Davis)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

It turns out that post-partum depression doesn't affect just mothers. According to a psychotherapist quoted in this CNN piece yesterday, 1,000 new fathers become depressed in the U.S. each day. An earlier story from U.S. News and World Report quotes another psychologist who says that 10 percent of fathers develop postpartum depression, but are less likely to recognize the signs than the 14 percent of mothers who do.

While mothers' depression is typically caused by the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy and birth, the sudden changes in lifestyle can trigger depression in the fathers, the U.S. News story says. Sleep deprivation is one of the primary contributors.

There are ways to try to head off male post-partum depression before it starts. Here's a list of ideas and resources.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The American Academy of Pediatrics is doubling its recommendation on the amount of vitamin D kids should get each day, noting new research that suggests it may help prevent serious diseases. Most kids would have to take supplements to get the 400 units the organization now advises.

The best source of Vitamin D is sunlight, as this story about the change in recommendation points out, but we've all been slathering sunscreen on our kids to avoid skin cancer (which we still need to avoid). And kids who are breast-fed (which many pediatricians recommend for the first year of life) probably get less vitamin D than formula-fed babies, though they reap other benefits.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A reader wrote to say that her third-grade daughter is already saying that girls just aren't good at math. "Where in the heck did she get that??," the reader e-mailed me. "Are there any resources for parents who want their girls to not fall into that trap?"

I sent the question to Penny Rheingans, associate professor of computer science and interim director of the Center for Women and Information Technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She wrote that this is largely a problem of perception, and that girls actually perform as well as boys at math at least through high school.

"Unfortunately, the perception alone can be damaging, convincing girls that they're not supposed to succeed at math," she wrote. "Those who belong to groups not typically expected to succeed in a setting . . . are more vulnerable internalizing the inevitable rough spots in a challenging subject. A minor difficulty in a math class can leave a girl convinced that she's the problem and just not suited for math. A boy in a similar situation would be more likely to conclude that the teacher or the test or some other external factor was the problem, since it couldn't possibly be him."

Here are a few tips Rheingans offered to help:

Continue reading "The Monday Consult: Girls and math" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

A reader named Cathryn Lee is putting together a reunion to be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 for mothers who have been part of the mom-baby groups at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where Dee Dee Franke has such a following.

Here are some of the details:

 "Hey ladies/babies/toddlers/husbands from GBMC and/or the Tuesday/Friday groups.... Let's get together & see each other. The Charcoal Deli ("my beef shack") will be cooking up pit beef, turkey and hot dogs and serving fruit salad and pasta salad (trying to stay away from anything with major allergy problems) & non-alcoholic beverages. This will also be an opportunity to honor Dee Dee, our baby whisperer. We (as in all of us) will be presenting her with a yearbook (details below).

"The cost will be $25.00 per couple (or $12.50 if you're flying solo), which can be paid the day of the party. This event is not restricted to 2007/2008 mom's group attendees, so if you know anyone from the old school, please pass this along. Hoping this will be a great way for all to catch up.

"Oregon Ridge has a nice playground and room to roam. We will be outside. Might be a little chilly, so bring a layer. If anyone wants to add a few decorations/desserts/activities/favors or whatever, please let me know (cmcl27@verizon.net). Any help is appreciated. We really want to make this a great day for all of us and for Dee Dee, who is such a treasure.

"Please RSVP by October 18th and please mail your yearbook pages by then too, so I will have some time to put it together. Thanks everyone!!"

If you'd like to respond or get details on the yearbook project...

Continue reading "A reunion for GBMC mother's group moms" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here's our Tip Sheet on farms our readers like to visit. More details can be found in a story this morning by Lindsey Citron:

 --Granny likes Clark's Elioak Farm in Howard County, and so do my kids. The play equipment from Enchanted Forest is a plus, as is the petting farm.

--Kelly is a fan of Baugher's Orchard in Westminster, where you can pick apples on October weekends through the "third weekend in October or so," according to the web site. (It might be best to call ahead if you're set on apples.) There's also play equipment and a free petting zoo.

--We've got a map mashup of farms here. If you're in the city or the northern part of Baltimore County, the closest-in farms look to be Weber's and North Run Farm, which appears to have a huge corn maze. (Those things have always freaked me out, since my kids love to "hide" in them. But maybe that's just me.) 

More tips for a great farm experience?

(Kenneth Lam/Sun photographer)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Halloween candy won't come soon enough for your kids? Today is the start of the 26th annual Lexington Market Chocolate Festival, where you can take part in a chocolate eating contest. The festival runs through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free Fall Baltimore and kids' month are still going on, too, with many activities and some free destinations. And there's more, thanks to help from intern Lindsey Citron:

Thursday, October 9:

Stop Bullies: Learn how to peacefully settle a bullying problem at 7 p.m. at Anne Arundel County Public Library's Linthicum Branch. For children ages 7+. 410-222-6265, www.aacpl.net.

Friday, October 10:

Nature walk: Explore the outdoors with children’s stories and a nature walk, Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, 10-11:30 a.m., Children ages 3-6. 410-367-2217,

Urban Pirates’ Pirate Story Time: Play games and sing songs like a pirate on a real pirate ship at 10 a.m. at Ann Street Pier, Fells Point. Children of all ages. Free story time; cruise prices vary, Register at 410-32-QUEST, www.urbanpirates.us.

(Photo of last year's chocolate festival by Sun photographer Kim Hairston)

Continue reading "Things to do with the family this weekend" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

If your kids are young and you're wondering whether they'll be able to escape the wrath of bullies when they get to school, you'll want to read this piece from Newsweek. It describes new research that suggests, contrary to what you may have thought, that kids who display aggressive tendencies early in life are actually more likely to be bullied later than gentler kids.

It makes sense, says one psychology professor quoted in the story, because it's easy to get a rise out of such kids. Bullies will pounce on that.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Found myself paging again through my mother's little book of dinner favorites for economical meals. This simple meat loaf with a sweet-spicy glaze is one I remember fondly.

It's nice and moist, and makes a great sandwich the next day. Kids had a split verdict... 

(Photo by me)

Continue reading "Red Wine Meat Loaf with Brown Sugar Glaze" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I'm excited to say today marks the return of Guest Dad Will Morton, whose post about being a stay-at-home dad early on in the life of the blog drew lots of response.

Today, he writes about why he lets his kids do pretty much as they please on the playground. Here's his post: 

"Am I a hypocritical parent? Is it because I am: (a) a man, (b) an at-home dad or (c) just plain lazy? Or do I just need to communicate better with my wife?

"The playground in our neighborhood is the place where outgrown toys go to die. The selection usually includes a half-dozen plastic houses, six or eight plastic cars with at least one broken wheel (they go backwards best), and dozens of dump trucks, backhoes and bulldozers. It sounds like paradise, yet it's where my wife and I disagree most: should our playground rules directly suit our own children or should they reflect the parents and kids around us?

Continue reading "Father's Day Tuesday: Playground rules" »

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)