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Huge recall of Fisher-Price toys
Fisher-Price, the giant toy manufacturer, is voluntarily recalling some 10.1 million potentially dangerous toys and high chairs. There have been no deaths, but associated injuries include choking and cuts requiring stitches have been reported.
The company's trikes have a protruding key causing 10 injuries. The high chairs have seven reports of children hurt on pegs on the chairs' rear legs, and the cars and ramp ways and infant toys have faulty parts that pose a choking hazard.
The U.S Consumer Products Safety Commission is urging parents to place the trikes out of children's reach and contact Fisher-Price here for a free replacement key.
Among the products being recalled are: ... Read more
Should parents lobby for longer school day or year?
With the news today that academically troubled Gibbs high school will extend its school day by 35 minutes, I'm wondering if parents will start taking up this cause. There's already a Facebook campaign in Hillsborough County called Parents Against Half Days that argues the recent trend of shortening school days to give teachers planning time is coming out of the kids' academic time. In Pinellas County, parents tried but failed to stop a schedule that excuses students an hour early every Wednesday to give teachers planning time. ... Read more
Free and cheap things to do with the kids this week
Could that be cooler weather on the way? What a great change that would be. Maybe it's just the right weekend to head outside. Try out these events with your family this weekend.
Dunedin will be alive with the sound of music Friday when they have a free showing of a Sing-along Sound of Music at Pioneer Park. The park, at Main Street and Douglas Avenue, will be Von Trapp-tastic with the city encouraging costumes as things get going at 7 p.m., with an 8 p.m. showing of the 1965 musical. And if you still feel like singing, head to the Beauty and the Beast sing along at select bay area theaters. This will cost you $10 but isn't it worth it to sing the show stopper Be Our Guest? ... Read more
Momma on the move
It was not an easy decision, nor was it anticipated exactly, but we are moving.
While I am very excited at this new opportunity, as a mother, I am keenly aware that despite all of the wonderful reasons for this move, it is my maintaining my family’s health and well-being during a difficult transition that matters most.
We haven’t loaded up the moving van quite yet, but we have done everything possible to make this move a smooth one so far.
~ Before anything was signed, we had a family meeting to discuss it. While the little ones didn’t add much to the discussion (“I want stairs!”) the older ones did have an opportunity to voice their concerns, wishes and ask questions. It was important to us that they knew this affected the entire family, so it was a family decision. ... Read more
Are we raising the Dumbest Generation?
Writer Beth Harpaz asks: Are we raising a generation of nincompoops? The tough love from a mom of two tweenage boys is appalled by a visiting 12 year old who looks dumbly at an ice cube tray and it makes her ponder:
Second-graders who can't tie shoes or zip jackets. Four-year-olds in Pull-Ups diapers. Five-year-olds in strollers. Teens and preteens befuddled by can openers and ice-cube trays. College kids who've never done laundry, taken a bus alone or addressed an envelope.
Are we raising a generation of nincompoops? And do we have only ourselves to blame? Or are some of these things simply the result of kids growing up with push-button technology in an era when mechanical devices are gradually being replaced by electronics? ... Read more
What age should a girl wear makeup?
I have several friends wrestling with the issue of makeup. And it always seems like their daughters are the opposite of the mothers. If mom is a girly-girl who can't wait to hit the makeup counter, the daughter is a tomboy. If mom still doesn't wear makeup to this day, her fifth grader wants to vogue it up.
Then there's the issue of when to start. One mom I know is adamant that her 11 year old won't have a drop of makeup until she's 13. Others say 16, and some say this is just not a battle worth fighting. I think I may have found a compromise position. ... Read more
Take a walk on the mild side at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
My family and I had a blast at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party last Saturday night during a special media event. At some media parties, officials want to "guide" you around. But at this one, we were allowed to roam around on our own and use the park like regular guests. We spent about four hours there, and came away with these pointers for you if you decide to trick or treat at the Magic Kingdom: ... Read more
UPDATE: Katy Perry going to 'Sesame Street' after all
UPDATE: Elmo is such a gracious host that he's invited Katy Perry back to Sesame Street for another play date Seems like a smart move, since she's brought the venerable kids' show more publicity than it's gotten in years. Maybe while she's picking out a less revealing outfit, she can also sign up for some acting lessons.
* * * ... Read more
Bug parts in Similac prompt recall
Can we all say a collective EWWWWW. Similac has issued a recall because formula has been found to be tainted with bug parts. A plant in Michigan was found to have beetles and their eggs in baby formula.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that while the formula containing these beetles poses no immediate health risk, there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat," parent company Abbott Laboratories Inc. said in a statement.
To see if your formula is included in the recall, you can look up your lot number on their website.
--Sharon Kennedy Wynne
Follow us on Twitter @WhoaMomma
Free and cheap things to do with your family this weekend
We're nearing the end of this week and that's a good thing. We are looking forward to some good family time. Here are a few ways to keep the kids busy and you entertained.
One thing that you can do this weekend is participate in Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. For three hours on Saturday (though wouldn't it be better if they went dark all day?), Nickelodeon will not air any shows in the hopes that kids will get off the couch and get moving. If your kids are big SpongeBob SquarePants fans, take them to Westshore Mall in Tampa to meet the square one himself at School Spirit With SpongeBob. He will be at the mall on Saturday at 10 a.m. It's not exactly outside but at least it's out of the house. Call (813) 286-0790 for details.
On Friday, Brandon's Regency 20 theaters is having a grand opening celebration for its new IMAX screen. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. Friday at the theaters, 2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon. There will be AMC/IMAX prizes, Dipsy and Doodle Face Painting for children, balloon animal artists, photos with two live owls and hands-on music-related activities for children. Hometown hero Zach Bonner and Lisa Rodriguez, Brandon's honoray mayor, will be on hand for the fun.
... Read more
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About the bloggers
Raising children isn't easy. Whoa, Momma! is here to help you with parenting tips and discussion of all parenting issues. We think there's no such thing as TMI, so our blogging moms aren't shy about the hot topics and won't back away from a good debate. Bottle or breastfeed? Public, private or homeschool? And sex -- it's all open for comment. Don't sit on the sidelines -- pull up a bouncy seat and join the chat.
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THE AUTHORS
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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