If you grew up reading Dr. Seuss you cannot forget his writing even if you want to. Try to block out Seuss and you’ll soon realize that it is impossible. The harder I try, the more stupid rhymes my mind creates. Try it, and you may I say, try it but it won’t go away. Seuss poems are etched into my cortex. His work is so thoroughly embedded into my gray matter that I can recite many of the books from memory. This talent is not appreciated by my son. He insists that I hold the book. Seuss books are part of his bedtime ritual. It’s also one of the reasons he has becoming such a centered and cool little kid. Screw modern philosophers. Seuss will point your kids in the right direction. Read the rest of this entry »
Kids from the smallest babies up until the day you evict them from the house go through stages. In the early years, these stages can be very quick and can changeaspects of (or even their entire) personality. For example: when you get your kid on solid foods, you may notice that at first, they enjoy just about everything you put in front of them.They are trying new things and defining their little personal tastes for foods. As the weeks go on, some of the things they previously would eat may be spat-back-atcha or in the case of older kids, just sit on their plates.The amount of food they eat may also change based on whether or not they are having a growth spurt. Their little bodies will tell them how much they need. Don’t force it on them, just make sure you get them a square meal.
Remember when the Brady kids were just about to get their big break and all of a suddenly Peter’s voice cracked and made him sound like a dying goat? Remember how Greg was there to save the day with a witty song that turned Peter’s newfound weakness into a blockbuster smash that drove the producers wild? This is nothing like that. Let’s take a minute to think about Marcia. Mmmmm…. Marcia…. Ok so what were we talking about? Oh yeah. Changes!
No bawida baw here! Music is important at Castle Fooskull. If you’re like foodad, you find yourself battling with a vast armada of kid’s music. In our house, we are bombarded by Disney princess music bombs, Sesame Street mortars, and Wiggles “friendly” fire. Not that they are bad, but at the end of the day still very juvenile and repetitive.
I ask “Where is the music that speaks to the kids, but doesn’t grate on the mind of a noodad after the 4 millionth listen?” Enter the new King of Kids Music, Justin Roberts. Roberts’s clever and hilarious lyrics and James-Taylor-like soothing and easy to understand voice and nifty guitar licks are like bandages for my musical wounds. His songs are about topics that kids can relate to like riding in the car, waiting for the bus, being bullied, funny animals and blaming your siblings. When I am listening and paying attention to the lyrics, I can see myself involved in the hilarious situations for example: in One Little Cookie he sings about stealing cookies before dinner “One Eye watching the kitchen door, one hand reaching for the cookie jar”. Basically he hears the voice of his mother in his head telling him that he should not be eating cookies before dinner “Mama always said no treats before. Mama always said no sweets before, yeah but one little cookie wouldn’t spoil my dinner now would it?”. He goes on to eat about 10 cookies and then his mother calls him for dinner “And when I heard her, I did a double take and grabbed a cookie, just for old time’s sake!”. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether for moral or religious reasons, vegetarianism is here to stay. And even for the once die hard carnivores, watching Super Size Me or reading Fast Food Nation might just move you over to the veggie side. Finally, with the popularity rising with healthier food stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, it is easier and easier to be a healthy vegetarian.
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a die hard meat eater to the bone (pun intended). My theory is that if we weren't supposed to eat meat, God wouldn't have given man the intelligence to make a spear and the ability to throw it. But regardless of your own personal decisions, vegetarianism can be a way of life, not just a preference.
You may listen to gangsta rap or may even wear a wallet chain. But let's face it, your pansy suburban ass knows nothing about having street cred. So when your kid gets to the age when they need to know how to represent, what are you going to do? Dig deep into your own experiences and tell them about the time you stole bowling shoes? Yeah, that'll teach'um. No, you need to rely on something you know best to deliver strong messages about behavior and respect. You need to use the Force.
Luckily for you I have compiled a short list of how Luke Skywalker can teach your kids how to be well-behaved, be sort of a badass, and have respect for their family. Read the rest of this entry »
This Christmas, my wife and I bought my 4 year old daughter her first real camera, The Kid Tough Digital Camera from Fisher Price . After a week of solid play, all 3 of us could not be happier.
The Kid Tough Camera makes it easier for kids to take digital pictures. It sports everything your kid will want in a digital photography experience: instant gratification via a color screen, gender stereotypical colors with its masculine blue or feminine pink exterior, and simple 4-button interface.
The screen is a low resolution screen but it shows your kid enough quality for them to recognize they just captured a moment. By using large icons on the screen your kid can easily pick up the directions even if they can't read yet. Read the rest of this entry »
The ball in Times Square has dropped, the Christmas tree has been taken to the curb, and the icicle lights have been taken off the gutters. Life should be getting back to normal at home. But there is one more thing you need to snap back into line: your kid's eating habits.
It can be very convenient as you are neck deep in holiday cheer, to go a little lax on the kid's eating habits. We've all done it: you're nursing your second cup of nog and the last thing you want to do is fight with your toddler over a couple of carrots before they can eat a cookie. And if you are like me, you should probably lay off the gingerbread too. I find myself going soft every christmas both literally and in regards to discipline. Now that it is "oh-seven" something has to be done. And done quickly. Read the rest of this entry »
If you grew up reading Dr. Seuss you cannot forget his writing even if you want to. Try to block out Seuss and you’ll soon realize that it is impossible. The harder I try, the more stupid rhymes my mind creates. Try it, and you may I say, try it but it won’t go away. Seuss poems are etched into my cortex. His work is so thoroughly embedded into my gray matter that I can recite many of the books from memory. This talent is not appreciated by my son. He insists that I hold the book. Seuss books are part of his bedtime ritual. It’s also one of the reasons he has becoming such a centered and cool little kid. Screw modern philosophers. Seuss will point your kids in the right direction.
Kids from the smallest babies up until the day you evict them from the house go through stages. In the early years, these stages can be very quick and can changeaspects of (or even their entire) personality. For example: when you get your kid on solid foods, you may notice that at first, they enjoy just about everything you put in front of them.They are trying new things and defining their little personal tastes for foods. As the weeks go on, some of the things they previously would eat may be spat-back-atcha or in the case of older kids, just sit on their plates.The amount of food they eat may also change based on whether or not they are having a growth spurt. Their little bodies will tell them how much they need. Don’t force it on them, just make sure you get them a square meal.
No bawida baw here! Music is important at Castle Fooskull. If you’re like foodad, you find yourself battling with a vast armada of kid’s music. In our house, we are bombarded by Disney princess music bombs, Sesame Street mortars, and Wiggles “friendly” fire. Not that they are bad, but at the end of the day still very juvenile and repetitive.
Whether for moral or religious reasons, vegetarianism is here to stay. And even for the once die hard carnivores, watching 
You may listen to gangsta rap or may even wear a wallet chain. But let's face it, your pansy suburban ass knows nothing about having street cred. So when your kid gets to the age when they need to know how to represent, what are you going to do? Dig deep into your own experiences and tell them about the time you stole bowling shoes? Yeah, that'll teach'um. No, you need to rely on something you know best to deliver strong messages about behavior and respect. You need to use the Force.
This Christmas, my wife and I bought my 4 year old daughter her first real camera, 
The ball in Times Square has dropped, the Christmas tree has been taken to the curb, and the icicle lights have been taken off the gutters. Life should be getting back to normal at home. But there is one more thing you need to snap back into line: your kid's eating habits.
