aPARENTly Speaking

RECALL: 641,000 Pacifiers

jburrell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:48:29 +0000

Got a pacifier? Might want to check that thing. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety folks just recalled 641,000 “Bobby Chupete” Pacifiers. Seems these $1 binkies have a mouth guard that’s so small, it poses a choking hazard for babies and tots. If you’ve got one, take it away from your child and contact the company for a refund or replacement.

FAB Five for the Weekend

jburrell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:11 +0000

Eco-Choo Choo: San Francisco’s mini-Golden Gate Express Garden Railway was such a holiday hit last year, it’s back for an encore. Starting tomorrow, tiny trains, cable cars and streetcars will wind their way through the miniature cityscape built inside the Conservatory of Flowers. Look for the Ferry Building Marketplace, constructed from corks, forks and cheese graters, and a Transamerica Pyramid featuring computer bits. It’s a celebration of recycling creativity, with cool new visual and aural effects too. Tuesday through Sunday, Nov. 19-April 18; $2-$7.

Ride the Trains: Watching tiny choo-choos is fun. Riding them is even better. Board the steam trains at Tilden Park’s Redwood Valley Railway and go for a jaunt through the Berkeley hills. Open weekends; $2.

Puppet Fun: The Snow Queen, the North Wind and a flying reindeer star in the puppet production of “The Snow Queen” at Children’s Fairyland this weekend at 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m.; $7, includes all rides and attractions.

Blast Off: Head off to Berkeley and prep for a trip to Mars at the Lawrence Hall of Science’s new exhibit, “Facing Mars: Would You Survive the Journey?” Open daily; $6-$12.

Hip Hop: Some 22 hip hop dance companies from around the world are congregating at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre this weekend for the 11th annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest. Nov. 20-22; $35.

KIDS Cookbook Giveaway

jburrell — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:43:31 +0000

We’re heading into prime baking season, and there’s no better way to spend time with kids – and get some help at the same time – than to introduce them to the joys of whisking, scooping and baking. So this week we’re giving away this cool cookbook, “Baking Kids Love,” written by baking instructor Cindy Mushet, her daughter Bella and the Sur La Table folks. It’s ideal for the 8 to 12-year-old crowd, but really, there’s no age that won’t love popovers, gooey pizza or cupcakes. And it can be yours! Click “comments” and tell us, what’s your favorite baking-with-kids project? We’ll draw a winner’s name next Monday.

Congrats, by the way, to Robertville, who won last week’s “Thomas the Tank Engine” DVD giveaway!

PARENT TALKS: Teens, Traditions & Texting

jburrell — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:37:41 +0000

“Passing on Traditions and Values”
Nov. 22 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss Native American traditions and family rituals.

“The Teen Brain in the Digital Age”
Nov. 29 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and Beth Samuelson of Student Organizational Services discuss teens, the media and how to help your teens improve their learning skills.

“Don’t Lose Your Child to Video Games, the Internet and Texting”
Dec. 3 from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Seven Hills School, Walnut Creek
Lecture and Q&A by Richard Freed, a Bay Area psychologist who specializes in children’s media issues, including internet addiction. This is the second of three parent education workshops at Seven Hills. Admission is $15 per person (educators are free). Register at Educators are admitted free of charge. Click here to register.

Something to add to the list? E-mail us the details or click “comments” and add it right here.

TEENAGERS Act Now Poster…

jburrell — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:12:05 +0000

The poster says it all…

FAB Five for the Weekend

jburrell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:36:08 +0000

Five ways to have fun with the fam…

Charlie Brown: Danville’s new Village Theatre Art Gallery is celebrating its grand opening with a “Peanuts at the Bat” exhibit of Charles M. Schulz’s comic strips, liv music, hot dogs, popcorn and a guest appearance by Snoopy. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 233 Front St., Danville.

Up, Up and Away: The Hayward Public Library goes cinematic this weekend with a family movie matinee featuring “Up.” The captivating Pixar flick about a 78-year-old dreamer, a pudgy scout, a few thousand balloons and the adventure of a lifetime, starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at the library’s Weekes Branch, 27300 Patrick Ave.; 510-293-5366.

Stargazing: Join astronomer and artist William K. Hartmann for the inside scoop on the Hearst Art Gallery’s “Out of this World” exhibit from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17, followed by a stargazing session and Leonid meteor shower watch at 8:30 p.m. Hearst Art Gallery, St. Mary’s College, Moraga. Free, but subject to weather condition cancellation. Call 925-631-4379 or check www.hearstartgallery.org before you go.

Sea Voyage: Half the fun of an Angel Island excursion is the journey. Now Captain Maggie of the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry is offering family deals — $5 per person instead of the usual $11.50-$13.50 — now through March 2010. Show up at the dock at 21 Main Street, Tiburon, and tell the ticket seller Captain Maggie sent you. Details at www.angelislandferry.com or phone 415-435-2131.

Sharks & Turkeys: Bring a non-perishable food item to San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay for its Thanksgiving canned food drive and your family will get 50 percent off admission to the aquarium. Now through Nov. 22 at Pier 39, San Francisco.

“Thomas & Friends” DVD Giveaway

jburrell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:32:15 +0000

The holidays are fast approaching and with them, thoughts of snow, parties and all the frivolity of yuletide. So this week we’re giving away a “Thomas & Friends Holiday Express” DVD. It’s a collection of holiday stories about Thomas the Tank Engine and his buddies, Henry, Emily and Percy. Big fun. And it could be yours. Click “comments” and tell us, what’s on your kid’s wish list this holiday season?

(P.S. Congrats to Tara, who won last week’s Dora giveaway!)

RECALL: Strollers That Amputated Babies’ Fingertips

jburrell — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:03:10 +0000

Oh ouch. U.S. Consumer Product Safety people and Maclaren Strollers just recalled a million strollers after discovering that flaws in the hinge mechanism were amputating babies’ fingertips. Maclaren received 15 reports of children getting their fingers caught in the hinges when the stroller was being closed or opened – 12 of those kids had their fingertips cut off. The recall includes all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers ($100-$360) purchased between 1999 and 2009. For details on the models involved and how to get a free repair kit, visit the CPSC recall page.

PARENT TALKS: Troubled Teens, Family Traditions & More

jburrell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:29:00 +0000

“Chaos to Connection: Parenting Teens Workshop”
Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center, 1611 Oak St., San Francisco
Parenting workshop for families with problem teens, including teens with substance abuse issues, led by Andrea Dindinger, MFT, therapeutic team leader for Vive’s Chaos to Connection. Workshop is $69, rsvp to adindinger@vivenow.com.

“How Being Homeless Affects Children”
Nov. 15 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss homelessness, poverty and children.

“CPR and First Aid Training”
Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bananas, Oakland
This 15-hour course in English, offered in 2 sessions, includes CPR, First Aid and Preventive Health. Pre-registration and payment is required – call 510-658-7353.

“Passing on Traditions and Values”
Nov. 22 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss Native American traditions and family rituals.

Something to add to the list? E-mail us the details or click “comments” and add it right here.

BABY Einstein Recall, Part Deux

jburrell — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:18:38 +0000

OK, we all know that Disney recalled its Baby Einstein videos a couple of weeks ago because – surprise! – the videos do not turn your baby into Einstein. Following a class action lawsuit, the Baby Einstein company agreed to refund $15.99 for up to four DVDs, purchased between June 2004 and September of this year, per family.

Here’s the question we’re asking, though. Is there anyone on the planet who actually thought these DVDs would turn their little dimple-cheeked darlings into geniuses?