What should my son's first computer be? [more inside]
posted by emjaybee on Nov 7, 2009 - 13 answers

How can I talk to children? [more inside]
posted by meadowlark lime on Nov 6, 2009 - 12 answers

YAWTBF (Yet Another "What's That Book?" Filter): I'm trying to find a book that I loved as a child (early '80s). The book was written from the perspective of a garter snake as he slithered around a little chunk of wilderness bordered by a road. [more inside]
posted by 256 on Nov 2, 2009 - 2 answers

Help us quiet our suddenly screechy-at-bedtime 19mo daughter! Difficulty: shares room with brother. [more inside]
posted by larsks on Oct 29, 2009 - 6 answers

It's a lovely Fall day. Where's a good place to take some young 'uns train watching in Philadelphia? The priority is on lots of trains, up close. I don't mind paying to get on a platform. Proximity to West Philly a bonus. Thank you!
posted by carter on Oct 25, 2009 - 6 answers

Next Thursday, I'm going to be forced to throw a Halloween party for about 15-20 second graders. Most, but not all, will be boys. We have a small house, and I have no freaking idea of what to do besides pump them full of sugar and hope that they don't break anything. I'd like to have some alternate plans. [more inside]
posted by bibliowench on Oct 23, 2009 - 19 answers

I'm trying to remember the name of a book I read as a kid in the early '80s. I believe it was published in the mid-to-late '70s. It was about some children watching telephone wires and thinking they could actually see the conversations as they were transmitted from home to home. It culminated with the kids trying to race their own conversation between two homes. I think it's called something like "The Spaghetti Telephone Race" but google offers zero in the way of help with that. Does anyone know what book I'm talking about?
posted by mprove on Oct 21, 2009 - 1 answer

Is there such a thing as an inexpensive, everyday unpadded bra for preteen girls? If so, who sells it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 20, 2009 - 23 answers

I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire on Oct 17, 2009 - 4 answers

Alternative medicines for a young kid - am I making too much of it? [more inside]
posted by H. Roark on Oct 12, 2009 - 36 answers

How worried should I be that the broken heart of a 13 year old boy will result in violence – or, should I say, more violence? [more inside]
posted by kbar1 on Oct 10, 2009 - 37 answers

My 4th grader is in her first year of a program for gifted children. It is a competitive program, at a school outside our district, and acceptance was based on advanced language, reading, writing, and "liberal arts" ability. I thought my daughter's gifts -- all of which match the description above -- would be nurtured here. But I have been dismayed to realize that all her teacher cares about is that her desk is messy and her handwriting isn't neat enough. My child has sensory issues that do in fact make it harder for her to keep her things organized. But how can I talk to the teacher about focusing more on her gifts -- which is supposed to be the mission of this program? (Sorry, this is long.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 10, 2009 - 38 answers

Please recommend good winter clothing for 1-year-olds, especially super warm coats. We're talking months and months of ice and snow here. [more inside]
posted by puritycontrol on Oct 8, 2009 - 19 answers

My daughter just had my grand daughter. The entire process was amazing and I haven't fallen in love this hard in nearly 20 years. (when my daughter was born) She has decided for the health and benefits of the baby to nurse. I nursed and I remember how hard it is the first 2 weeks. A great deal has changed and I was wondering if anyone had any practical advice on how to get through the rough beginning of nursing an infant with a barracuda grip. Are there any products, herbal remedies etc...
posted by gypseefire on Oct 7, 2009 - 24 answers

Musical instruments for kids. [more inside]
posted by cameronfromedinburgh on Oct 7, 2009 - 22 answers

Where can I buy children's ear muffs (for sound protection, not warmth) in Toronto? [more inside]
posted by modernnomad on Oct 6, 2009 - 5 answers

What are some iPhone apps to amuse kids ages 4 - 8? I have the star wars "light saber" app and a mini piano app, and those have been big hits, but they are getting old now.
posted by bonsai forest on Oct 5, 2009 - 24 answers

My friend's nine year old daughter is interested in cooking, and I've decided to give her some informal lessons. But I have no idea where to start! [more inside]
posted by elsietheeel on Oct 3, 2009 - 25 answers

I am researching the topic of marketing to childrens and tweens and looking for related of books / e-books ,papers,journals, websites/databases. Any recommendation ?
posted by elpapacito on Oct 3, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me say, nicely, "Please don't touch my child". [more inside]
posted by lottie on Oct 1, 2009 - 54 answers

I want to give money to relative's children so that they can use it when they're older. How best to do this? [more inside]
posted by rmd1023 on Oct 1, 2009 - 10 answers

How do you stop feeling bad about situations that don't affect you directly and which you are powerless to alter? This involves other peoples' young children. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 1, 2009 - 22 answers

Is leaving a 10 year-old and 8 year-old home alone child endangerment? If so, what is the penalty in Illinois? [more inside]
posted by qsysopr on Sep 30, 2009 - 52 answers

What do you sing to your kids? My six-month-old is thrilled with pretty much any song I sing to him, but "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" gets kinda old after the 500th repetition... [more inside]
posted by zardoz on Sep 29, 2009 - 73 answers

What would be the best place and type of school to give my children a really great and meaningful education. [more inside]
posted by fcain on Sep 29, 2009 - 10 answers

What would it take to set up a scholarship prize fund for a particular school in a developing country? [more inside]
posted by jonesor on Sep 28, 2009 - 5 answers

Can you recommend any feminist princess dolls I can buy for my 6-year-old goddaughter? I don't mind getting her princesses, but they have to be awesome princesses who really are heroes in their own right! Mulan is the best of the Disney princesses, IMO, but I don't really want to give Disney my money. So far all I've thought of are Wonder Woman and She-Ra (not that I can find affordable She-Ra dolls nowadays anyway), but I worry that they won't seem 'princessy' enough for my goddaughter to really appreciate and love them. Lots of pink and fancy clothing is fine, but I want to show her princesses who save the prince (or don't need one, or ditch him for another princess, or whatever) and kick ass on their own. Any suggestions?
posted by mythomane on Sep 27, 2009 - 37 answers

Xbox 360 games suitable for children [more inside]
posted by chris88 on Sep 24, 2009 - 19 answers

What are some cool things to do in New York City with a toddler? She will have her third birthday in a few weeks and loves animals, arts & crafts and other kids. [more inside]
posted by Lame_username on Sep 24, 2009 - 13 answers

How should we start saving for our first daughter? [more inside]
posted by NotSoSimple on Sep 23, 2009 - 8 answers

Help me find the title of this children's book about a boy building a cage/trap for a monster. [more inside]
posted by Kabanos on Sep 16, 2009 - 2 answers

Looking for a poem or story about a desperate mother, her many children and a visit from the angel of death? [more inside]
posted by Arbac on Sep 15, 2009 - 1 answer

Help me find a specific magazine. [more inside]
posted by djstig on Sep 14, 2009 - 6 answers

Do budding geologists like rock hammers? [more inside]
posted by DU on Sep 11, 2009 - 20 answers

You're on an island in the middle of nowhere. You need to locate a used motorbike in a faraway country (Netherlands) where you don't speak the language for a next to nothing price. All you have is the internet. How do you proceed? [more inside]
posted by vizsla on Sep 11, 2009 - 16 answers

Where can I find non-biased information relating to the safety of vaccinations for children? [more inside]
posted by burhan on Sep 9, 2009 - 39 answers

Parenting techniques, insight, and maturity needed before I completely ruin my kid's life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 - 36 answers

I've taken responsibility for a very small children's library and I'd love your ideas for making it awesome. [more inside]
posted by serazin on Sep 3, 2009 - 14 answers

In situations with three or more children, my son appears to come out on the losing end socially when a certain other child is added to the mix. My wife and I are beginning to worry that a pattern is developing that we need to break somehow. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 3, 2009 - 12 answers

Please help me find an age-appropriate way to explain menstruation to my young kids. (This question is obviously not for anyone squicked out by female things.) [more inside]
posted by widdershins on Sep 1, 2009 - 32 answers

Is going to the 'kodomo no shiro' (national children's castle) in Tokyo a worthwhile experience for non-japanese-speaking elementary school-aged children? [more inside]
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey on Sep 1, 2009 - 1 answer

How do I learn to like kids? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 31, 2009 - 28 answers

Travel filter: if you were going to spend 4-6 weeks travelling in Japan with a five year old boy, where would you go and what would you do? [more inside]
posted by Megami on Aug 30, 2009 - 18 answers

At what age does a child realize his or her mortality? [more inside]
posted by Tchad on Aug 27, 2009 - 44 answers

Help me find this ad: American Express ad in a magazine, early 1990s: a classroom, fifth grade maybe, kids at desks in traditional rows. Books open on desks, maybe a teacher at the blackboard. One little girl's open book shows an American Express card instead of what should be inside the book. The implication is she's daydreaming about what she wants to buy.
posted by mareli on Aug 26, 2009 - 3 answers

My parents want to give up the teenager they adopted a few years ago. Can they do this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 26, 2009 - 23 answers

This could be our last child-free year. What should we do/enjoy? [more inside]
posted by Ladybug Parade on Aug 19, 2009 - 40 answers

I've seen this revolving children's night light in 2 TV shows (Undeclared and Sex and the City) and 1 movie (One Fine Day) and I have been trying to find it since. I've searched online and I can't seem to find one anywhere. Can anyone help me find where to purchase these revolving lights/lamps?
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posted by JPowers on Aug 18, 2009 - 6 answers

Should I try to breed out the parts of me I don't like? Or is it ok to make super neurotic kids? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 17, 2009 - 19 answers

What are the trends around the world underlying the most successful (I guess I am talking financially mostly) high schools around the world these days? What are the marketing buzzwords driving the race for students? My old high school is in trouble and I'd like to help if I can. [more inside]
posted by zaebiz on Aug 17, 2009 - 7 answers