U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Babies and Toddlers

The U.S Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has issued new dietary guidelines for Americans, specific to a person’s age. Part of the report advises parents what to feed their babies and toddlers. The Committee found that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of overweight or obesity, type 1 diabetes, and asthma, as compared to never being breastfed. The study found evidence that suggests that a longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of type 1 diabetes and asthma, but it was unclear what the optimal duration of breastfeeding is. The report also mentions complementary foods and beverages (CFB). These … Continue reading

Three Common Breastfeeding Myths Explained

Part of getting yourself ready for the day when you welcome your new baby into the world involves thinking about how you plan to feed your baby. As is the case with many of the decisions that you will make regarding your baby, the best way to prepare yourself is with information. The more you know about infant feeding and nutrition in advance, the better prepared you will be to navigate the ins and outs of feeding your baby once he or she is born. One helpful type of information to have at the ready if you plan to breastfeed … Continue reading

Quick Ways to Maximize Your 2011 Tax Return

With only four days left in the year, you may think that there is nothing that you can possibly do short of winning the lottery to put more money in your pocket this year. While this may be true (unless you are expecting a paycheck within the next four days), there are a few quick money – saving moves that you can make now which can bring more money your way soon in the form of a bigger tax return. There is still time to make a tax – deductible charitable donation provided that you charge it to your credit … Continue reading

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World

Can you see the hidden Mickey in the ceiling of this Epcot store? The last of my books about Disney World, “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World,” is for the park’s devotees. Its subtitle is, “Over 600 secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom,” and author Susan Veness makes good on that promise. If you’re a fan of Disney World, not just of its rides but of its whole experience, this is the book for you. If you’ve been to the park so many times that now you’re starting to notice all of its … Continue reading

Could Tea Help With ADHD?

There are a variety of treatments that can help ease the symptoms of ADHD. Often, this involves the use of a medication. To be effective, those medications must be taken on a regular basis. Some parents have concerns about giving their child so many drugs. A study shows that tea can help adults who have ADHD. Would tea be a good thing for kids to consume? A study done on adults who had ADHD finds that drinking tea can be easier solution than medication for the treatment of ADHD. Many of the ADHD drugs contain stimulants. Tea has caffeine in … Continue reading

Summer Camps for Homeschoolers

The school year is almost done, and summer is coming! Families who homeschool might choose to spread their school year throughout the year, or they might choose to take the summer off. However, kids never stop learning, and summer is a wonderful time to take advantage of learning opportunities that appear annually without fail. We call them summer camps, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are day camps, overnight camps, thematic camps, academic camps, or run around in the woods sorts of camps. There are camps for everyone, but are there camps that suit homeschoolers? What should … Continue reading

One in Four Adults Uses Government Run Health Insurance

The Affordable Care Act was signed a little over a year ago. Since then, there has been a lot of news that relates to some aspect of, or opinion about, the Affordable Care Act. One of the topics of discussion that keeps coming up involves concerns about how much of a role the federal government will play in how health insurance will affect the lives of Americans in the near future. A poll from Gallup shows that one in four Americans already is getting their health insurance from the federal government. Gallup is a name that you may recognize. They … Continue reading

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

While some of us are still shivering in the cold, being blown about by frosty winds, or sighing glumly at the piles of snow in our yard, spring is in full swing in Orlando. Yup, it’s that time again; Wednesday is the kickoff of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. I have multiple family members that for whom coming to see fanciful hedges trimmed to resemble and adorned with flowers to represent multi-color Disney characters would be enough of a reason to visit Epcot this spring. The living rainbows sure to be on display at Bambi’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden … Continue reading

Waterford Press: A Pocket Naturalist Guide

Waterford Press has a tagline that says, “Putting the World in Your Pocket.” With Waterford Press it is amazing just how much of the world you can fit into your pocket. You can store information about animal tracks, the cosmos, plants, wildlife and more right in your back pocket. These naturalist pocket guides are durable, easy to read, colorful, and fun for children or anyone who appreciates nature. In addition to nature guides, you can have a hands on guide to first aid, wilderness survival, knots, and state flags and facts. I cannot even begin to give you the entire … Continue reading

Genealogy For Homeschoolers

Genealogy is a great topic for adults and children alike. If you are a parent who is homeschooling your children, you may want to include some family history lessons in your curriculum. There are quite a few ways that you can do this, and there are options available for children of all ages. One fun way to explore your family’s heritage is to make a family scrapbook. There are so many fun scrapbooking supplies available, and when you add these to the boxes and boxes of old photos that you have sitting around, you have the makings of something great. … Continue reading