Following are some of the acronyms, subject tags (abbreviations that appear in brackets in some subject headers) and Usenet terms you may see in misc.kids.moderated. SUBJECT TAGS misc.kids.moderated currently uses a few subject tags to helps readers navigate the...

Following are some of the acronyms, subject tags (abbreviations that appear in brackets in some subject headers) and Usenet terms you may see in misc.kids.moderated. SUBJECT TAGS misc.kids.moderated currently uses a few subject tags to helps readers navigate the...

I was amazed to learn this month that my kids (10.5 and almost 8) have not learned the words to 'Erie Canal'. I thought that was required learning for elementary schoolers everywhere, but it seems I was mistaken. :) Scott DD 10.5 and DS 7.9

Just had our parent teacher conference for our 6th grade son. The story is pretty much the same as every year--bright kid but he can't sit still in class. Of course each year teachers are less tolerant of his fidgeting, twirling the eraser, pencil tapping, etc. But, like each year, the teachers...

I was wondering how people manage family calendars. I can put things on my husband's home calendar with my work calendar, but his home and work calendars are separate. The girls maintain paper calendars to track their own lessons and homework. Lately, what seems to be working for us is to have an...

Yet another chapter in the saga of the "typical" 8 YO boy and his PC mom. He wants to be Freddie. No, he has of course never seen that or any other similar movie, but he thinks Freddie is "cool". In general, I have learned to avoid fussing over his interest in violent and scary imagery, as he has...

We're having Ryan's 10th brithday in 2 weeks. He wants to have a party at home. That's all we have figured out so far. We desperately need some ideas. We've already scanned some of the large birthday party idea websites to no avail. We've done some great Harry Potter and science parties in the...

Hi out there...my name is Maria. I have 2 kids ages 4 and 3. With in the last few months I have lost my job and am only working part time 2 evenings a week and one weekend day when DH can be home with the kids. I've worked full-time outside of the home since the children were born. We never...

My youngest is about to turn 3. To say he is not interested in potty training would be an understatement. He will not sit on the potty without a diaper on. He seems scared, though he is not afraid to sit on it in a diaper and PJs (which he does every night after brushing his teeth while I give...

I am having some trouble with my wife. We have two boys, one is 2 months old and the other is 19 months. I work and my wife stays at home. Lately my older son has been whinning and crying. He does this with her, but not as much with me. It's driving my wife nuts and now she wants to sent him...

When is the age where you, as a parent, should start to give in and let the child make her own media choices, TV in particular, whether or not you agree with them (within reason)? I'm not suggesting letting The Kid watch "Debbie Does Dallas," but we got into a major row this weekend over "Pokemon:...

Hi, I am a bit confused of late and wondered if anyone can advise? I am just about to have my first child, I am incredibly excited and looking forward to raising her, seeing this as a more important `job' to me, than `going out to earn a living'. Having worked in a variety of jobs/careers for the...

Perhaps a bit OT, but we just bought our 1-year-old new shoes, and my wife insisted on white (over my objections that they'd get much dirtier than black). They're already(!) getting dirty. Is there a good way of really cleaning white shoes (beyond removing the removable particles)? Tia, Michael...

My 9 YO has been invited to go about 12 hours away for an entire week with the family of a friend of his. This friend is a good friend, but not someone he spends a ton of time with. Two overnight get-togethers have gone well. My son is very sociable but also gets cranky and needs alone time on a...

Hi folks, I'm thinking of Hypatia (after Hypatia of Alexandria) for my daughter's first name, and Artemis (after the Greek Goddess of the Hunt) for a second name. My parents are horrified, and think she'll be teased. I thought if she doesn't like Hypatia, she can use "Patty" for short. For...

Banty wrote: Yes we'll get a Travel card for the week (thanks!). Is it worthwhile getting the passport photos taken - these are really needed? (The ones for our passports were used up, I think.) You need a picture for the ID card you get with the Travelcard -- It'll save you some time if...

The schools here this year have a *very* short break. DD and DS were in school all day on Friday the 23rd (!!) and they return on Wednesday the 3rd. I think this is just the right size (we don't travel for the holidays). Next year they go back to 2+ full weeks. I'm just curious what others have...

Hi, are there any tips to wash DD’s (about 3yo) hair without her screaming throughout the whole process? In standing position, I have her head facing downward and hands covering face. Are there any better methods? Thanks in advance! Jean

My 5th grade daughter just started private middle school (5th through 8th), and the teacher is assigning what she calls a "weekly." It comes out every Thursday and the work on it needs to be done by the following Thursday. There's probably up to an hour of work a day, if it were evenly spread out...

My daughter will be 12 in December and is in 6th grade, which in her school is the second year of middle school. I let her trick-or-treat last year but feel like this year she has crossed into the "too old" zone. She's accused me of trying to take away her childhood (!), so I thought I'd raise the...

I recently picked up the book "Kids are Worth I: Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline" based on a recommendation (quite possibly from this newsgroups, but I actually don't remember where). I have read/skimmed a lot of it, and I like the philosophy, but I can't quite figure out how to...