Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with kids

Happy Feet slippers around Austin?

sentient — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:21:42 -0800

Where can I buy Happy Feet slippers in or near Austin, TX? Alternatively, where can I buy other fun/novelty slippers for kids in or near Austin? Hoping to luck out on this one. Is anyone aware of where Happy Feet slippers are for sale in Texas, ideally within an hour by car of Austin, TX?

The slippers look like cartoonish oversized sneakers, and I've seen them in other states in mall kiosks.

The website doesn't list locations, although an article [pdf] about the company says that there are 190 locations in forty states.

I tried the 800 number and got voicemail (large volume of holiday calls, etc.), and I emailed them to ask. No response so far. The website's "Live Chat" feature is offline as of this post.

Has anyone seen them? Any tips? I'd like to get them today!

As a backup, what places in Austin definitely sell fun/novelty slippers in big kid sizes? (Animals, paws/claws, giant-and-fluffy, look like other stuff, that kind of thing.) Thanks!

Is there decent music gear for kids?

ejoey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:04:51 -0800

I've got a ~1 year old baby that seems to really like music, especially hip hop and electronic type beats, and I'm wondering if there exists any cool and relatively "babyproof" music gear? It seems like most baby music toys default to awful lite-reggae and kids standards which quickly drive me insane. I'm hoping for something like functions like a simplified version of this with palatable built in sound effects or even maybe the ability to load your own sounds. My own searching has turned up nothing so far beyond iPhone apps. Is this a pipe dream?

Mp3 recorder for kids

FidelDonson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:11:27 -0800

My daughter would love a toy like the Fischer Price tape recorder from my childhood. A simple sturdy mp3 recorder with a microphone that can be operated by a small child. Does that perfect gift exist? My google skills turn op nothing.

How to tell children about death book suggestions for a single dad

spec80 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:15:12 -0800

A friend's father passed away suddenly and he is having difficulty formulating a way to tell his daughter. What books would you recommend? I have no experience with the death of a parent or being a parent. I don't know how to help other than lending a sympathetic ear.

Friend was pretty close with his dad and is using work to distract himself. He is a single dad and his two daughters live with their mom. He is concerned about how to tell his eldest daughter (ten years old) and help her cope/mourn because she knew and had a close relationship with her grandfather. She is aware of the concept of death and knows people that have died, but Friend says she's never had a relationship with those people. (Her mother lives in an area of NYC where violence is still prevalent.)

I searched previous questions and I am thinking of printing out this thread and maybe getting this book? Googling gives an overwhelming result and I was hoping someone could personally suggest a book. I cannot give a website, only printouts of a website because they don't have an internet/computer at home. Daughter might have access to one at school, but I am presuming.

yeah, yeah, I'm falling for advertising

dlugoczaj — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:56:36 -0800

Snuggie vs. Snuggie for Kids for an 11-year-old? OK, I'm embarrassed about this, but I'm going ahead and hopping on the Snuggie bandwagon for all my immediate family members for Xmas. I'm all set to purchase adult-size Snuggies for my husband and tall 16yo stepson and a Snuggie for Kids for my small 9yo stepdaughter.

It's my 11yo stepdaughter that I'm not sure about. She's somewhere between 4'10" and 5 feet, and I don't want to buy a kid one if it's going to turn out to be too short, but neither do I want to buy an adult one if it's going to be too long and draggy. (Yes, they're mostly for cuddling on the sofa but I fully expect that there'll be snuggied people traipsing around the house at intervals, and I don't want her to trip.)

Anyhoo, I've never actually seen one of the wretched things out of the box so I'm honestly not sure what kind of length I'm dealing with. I'd love input from anyone who has them, particularly short folks who have the adult size.

Preparing mac for a 4-year old - all ideas wanted!

dabitch — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:41:46 -0800

Making mac kid friendly - Easy stuff [for someone only aged 4] on G4 mac laptop. How do I keep her internet childsafe in the best way (or should I leave it out?)? Do you know good/fun programs or games I should invest in? What did you do? I'm gifting my older Mac laptop to my daughter for Xmas. I want her to be able to handle it herself, and with the kids keyboard and the sturdy small usb mouse I found, I have the physical covered. I think? Now for the software! I want her to be able to upload her images to the web (she has a homepage). Should I simply use flickr (since iPhoto now comes with that neat upload button)? What games and programs are there for a 4-year old that I should get? How do I make the internet kid-safe, or should I leave the internet and images upload for later in life? At her pre-school she often uses their sturdy old computer which only has approved simple teaching games on it, and has proven with it that she has respect for computers and is very good at turning all periphials (it has speakers and such) on and off in the right order. I think she's ready for her own at home - I just don't know what to fill it with. All ideas welcome!

what can a toddler play with in the snow?

raztaj — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:32:10 -0800

Toys for the snow, besides sleds and snowball makers? Do you have any suggestions for toys that a kid could use to play in the snow, besides sleds or snowball scoops?

I'm trying to think of something to get my 3-year old nephew, now that he lives in a cold and snowy climate with his parents. They all get cabin fever in the winter, and he's a little too young to enjoy making snowmen and forts, but there's much fun to be had with the crazy white stuff that falls from the sky when it's cold out.

Are there any seasonal outdoor toys (for the yard) that would be fun for a preschool aged kid?

Uncle Scrooge presents

Secret Life of Gravy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:19:23 -0800

What to gift an 11 year old boy with too much stuff? My husband's nephew has divorced parents and doting grandparents, so every Xmas he makes out in the gift department. This year (as usual) we were given a list from his mother but the only things on the list are video games. We gave him 2 games last year. Undoubtedly he will get several games from others this year.

So we are left with a dilemma. Naturally we would like to give him a gift he would really be excited about and use, however my husband would like to give him something that will stand out and be memorable, possibly even give him something that won't be too exciting at Christmas, but will prove enduring. So my question is twofold: Should we just give him what he wants? If not, what are some ideas for something around $50.00? Bear in mind that my husband gave him one of his old guitars for nephew's birthday and is fixing up a used bike to give him just to have around.

Our child would surely bring honor to the Sparklejam name!

amanda — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:04:47 -0800

So, the Mr. and I have different last names. I did not take his name upon marriage. Now we are discussing very hypothetical children and I'm looking for some good hive mind rumination on the proper course of action. When we got married, the Mr. wanted me to take his name. I demurred for both personal and political reasons. Ultimately, because he is such a good guy, he didn't press the issue and we have gone about our happily married lives with two last names. This has rarely caused me any problems and none of our relatives seem to have gotten too twisted up about it.

However, once children (hypothetical! there are none in the works!) come along -- what's best to do? We have long joked about coming up with a new last name along the lines of Hollywood or Sparklejam but we seem too far gone in our established names to come up with a new name and there's nothing that appeals to us.

A hyphenate of our name was rejected at marriage because our two names together make up 6 syllables and 18 letters (19 if you count the space in between). They do not roll together.

He wants our (hypothetical) children to have his last name. That makes me feel left out. I suggested the first one takes his and the (very hypothetical) second takes mine. Or, to borrow from an Icelandic naming tradition, the girls take mine and the boys take his. But, that last one doesn't really appeal for a couple reasons. What if I only had boys? I'd still get left out.

So, questions -- what do you think about kids with different last names from each other or from a parent? What do you think about four names for a kid Firstname Middlename Mylastname Hislastname? I'm essentially still getting left out there in the long run but maybe I'm okay with that option.

I suppose this is a modern phenomena -- what have you seen out there that works? Is there an equitable way to balance this?

Yet another "Help me remember the name of this show from my childhood" question.

word_virus — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:25:51 -0800

Yet another "Help me remember the name of this show from my childhood" question. Three kids in robes trapped in a cave system? More inside. Help me recall the title of a children's TV show I vaguely-remember watching at least twenty years ago. Three kids enter a cave system, step through a magical, disappearing cave wall which solidifies behind them and become trapped. They spend every episode exploring the caves and trying to find their way home. They may or may not have worn robes.

This ring a bell for anyone?

Please help me make Christmas memories for my boys

FunkyHelix — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:04:55 -0800

Children and Christmas in NYC - where are all the good windows? Where should we eat dinner? And what else should we check out? Next Friday I'll be taking my 6 and 11 year old boys into NYC via train for some Christmas site-seeing. It's something my mom did and it was always a bright holiday memory. So I really want to pass it along to my two.

We're going to swing by the big tree in the morning and possibly try the ice skating. From there we want to check out the fancy Christmas windows. Which ones would you suggest visiting as being awesome/interesting/etc?

We're going to street cart it for lunch and then look for somewhere interesting for dinner. We need somewhere moderately priced, not overly kitschy, touristy, or crowded and with a patient waitstaff (6 yo is ADHD and autistic.) Not looking for something like MacDonalds. It's a sin to be in a place as awesome as NYC and then eat at a franchise fast food place. Any suggestions?

We're going to try walking past the tree light up for night time on the way back to the train station. Anywhere to get hot chocolate and decent coffee that isn't a Starbucks that you'd suggest?

Finally? Besides the tree and the windows, I'd love any other suggestion for things to check out that are kid-friendly.

Thanks ahead of time!

Kids these days.

canadia — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:26:01 -0800

What are some fun classroom activities for middle school students (ages 12-14)? My program director has given me the job of coming up with some activities for our entire middle school class, but I'm drawing a blank as to what these kids might be into. For our elementary students, we're having a speech contest and a spelling bee. But I work at a very small school, and I have several 14 year-old boys who think they're too cool to participate in any classroom activities we've done thus far. To make matters worse, I teach a foreign language, so the activities can't be too complicated or else the students won't be able to play. I had several disasters during our school's Halloween party because some of the games I'd chosen needed a higher level of language comprehension than my students had.

Are there any fool-proof classroom games or activities that both teenage boys and girls are interested in?

Music/musicians or music & kids related charities?

You Should See the Other Guy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:19:23 -0800

This season I would like to raise funds for a music/musicians or music and kids related charity. I'm aware of Sweet Relief, Music Box Children's Charity, and Rock for Kids. What are some others that you would recommend? In addition, there was a music/kids related post on the blue I can't find... an older guy who makes instruments for free--hundreds over the years... anyone recall? Thanks!

Cleaning marker pen off LCD screen

WhackyparseThis — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:33:28 -0800

Has anyone had success in removing permanent marker from an LCD monitor? My 2 year old got hold of a purple Vivid marker, and drew on the computer screen. I usually wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth, but it's not working on the dried marker.

RDRR. Get it?

bondcliff — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:14:36 -0800

What are some cool math and number facts that would blow the mind of a seven year old? Yesterday at the dinner table my son says "Hey dad, did you know 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321?"*

He thought this was awesome. I've previously told him the trick about multiplying by 9 (2x9 = 18, 1+8=9, 3x9=27, 2+7=9 and so on up the times table) and a couple of other fun facts.

I'd like to present him with some other neat numerical properties and math facts. He'd need to be able to grasp the concept, so something like the non-palindromic properties of 196 might be a bit beyond him. He's in (the equivalent of) 2nd grade at a Montessori school and math is his favorite subject. He's currently doing 2-digit division and he's pretty much mastered multiplication. I'm not afraid to go a bit beyond what he's learning but I don't want to go too far beyond it.

What can you tell him about other interesting numbers and how to get to those numbers?

Calculator tricks might be fun as well. I'm sure if I teach him the S8008 trick he'll be the King of the Playground. Also tricks that require props such as playing cards, Legos, or anything else are welcome, as long as they demonstrate the type of thing I'm looking for.

I'll take book suggestions as well. Christmas is coming...

*interestingly, the first Google hit for 12345678987654321 is a MeFi thread.

Thought-provoking magazines for kids?

Taft — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:26:40 -0800

Magazines for the inquisitive kid? I distinctly remember having a subscription to Muse Magazine in grade school and how it positively influenced the person I am today. I remembered this magazine when I was looking for gifts for a close friend's family. Her kids are aged around 8-12 and I want to get each of them a subscription to some thought-provoking magazines like Muse.

So my question: What are some publications you fondly remember reading as a kid that have made you into a more curious and intelligent person? Thanks.

CluelessAuntFilter: Help me bond with my 6 year old nephew in Vancouver today

ebellicosa — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:45:22 -0800

CluelessAuntFilter: Help me bond with my 6 year old nephew in Vancouver today! Hi:

I am spending the day with my 6 year old nephew today.

He likes Lego, Star Wars, Lego Star Wars (of course), Wii Lego Star Wars (shocking), and jet fighters.

I'd like to go somewhere and spend a pleasant, memorable day with him. We are in Vancouver BC and have a car.

Bonus points for:
- something his 10 year old sister might also enjoy
- something where he learns something empowering

Also - where is the biggest, baddest Lego store in Vancouver?

Thanks! And a six year old boy thanks you too!

Need hypoallergenic bedding advice

wenestvedt — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:29:49 -0800

Does anyone have good (or bad) experience with hypoallergenic bedding? One of the kids is allergic to dust, and since he spends almost half each day in bed, it seems like a good place to start fixing his environment. So we'd like to find some hypoallergenic bedding: a pillow case and mattress wrap seem to be the way to go.

Does anyone have any good or bad experiences with specific brands or non-specific types (I read something about buckwheat?)? Have you tried it and found it useful, or a waste? Does it make a lot of noise?

He has hardwood floors in his room, we dust weekly, and we're open to other suggestions (e.g., air filters), too. Thanks for any advice: he sounds like Young Darth Vader. :7(

Help me keep the shutterbugs happy!

man down under — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:27:21 -0800

What should I include in a 3 hour photography workshop aimed at 30 12-15 year olds? This is an activity designed to keep kids interested and busy at school for the final week of the year. The kids weren't picked because of their love of photography, but if they signed up for it we can assume they would rather do this than go bowling.

I'm planning to start off with a compostition workshop, looking at some basics and getting kids to think about what their pictures are of.

I then want them to split off in to groups to run around the school (supervised of course) taking pictures with a checklist / scavenger hunt list. The list will include things like "a photo following the rule of thirds", "a photo from a high angle/perspective", as well as some simpler things like "action", "portrait" etc...

We can round things off with a bit of a show and tell, with prizes for the shots of the day etc...

My questions:

What would you ensure was covered in the initial workshop?

What should be included on the checklist / scavenger hunt list?

Is there anything else I should add to this? (It doesn't feel like a three-hour 'shop to me yet)

Is there anything I haven't considered that will make this better?

Thanks for your help!

Opera for kids.

eyeballkid — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:43 -0800

Opera suggestions for children. I have a four-year-old boy who recently heard opera-styled vocals and was immediately mesmerized by it. He was also entranced by YouTube videos I found by just searching for opera.

I know next to nothing about opera and I need suggestions for pieces that would interest a kid. I'd prefer bouncier, lighter pieces and let him save the darker, more dramatic selections for when he's an emo teen.

YouTube examples are welcome, but what I'm really looking for is audio, either single mp3s or full performances.

What to do at Grandma's house

yawper — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:43 -0800

What kind of activities can a 5-year-old do alone to entertain herself? My daughter goes to my mom's 2 days a week, from 9 am to 3 pm. She’s getting really, really bored. My mom is an amazing grandmother and does all the things grammies should do. My daughter loves her to bits. But she’s old school. Just as she never played with me – she expected my brother and I to entertain ourselves/each other – she doesn’t play with my kid. She’s not elderly or inactive, and she talks and jokes with her. But doing crafts or baking brownies is not her thing, and that’s not going to change. And money is tight right now, so paying to put my daughter in daycare is not an option either. Nor do I want to enroll her in classes or organize playdates that would require my mom to drop her off/pick her up/otherwise intrude on her schedule. She is already helping me out a ton (in this and many other ways) so I don’t want to impose on her any further.

So, what’s a bored 5-year-old to do? I need ideas for activities OR toys/products that will stimulate her imagination and keep her entertained for half-hour stretches. Things that she can do almost completely independently (my mom would help her set up, or answer questions for her etc). Here are the things she’s getting maxed out on:

TV or computer time (she’s not a big fan of these to begin with)
Books (she’s just in the beginning stages of learning, so it’s mostly looking at pictures and making up stories)
Colouring/activity books
Jigsaw puzzles
Play-Dough
Playing with dolls (CRAZY about dolls but tires of playing them by herself)
Leap Pad (we have an older version; can anyone recommend the best newer equivalent type of toy?)

I am fully open to old-fashioned suggestions, like paper dolls and basic science experiments. We lean more towards that kind of stuff in my house than gadgets anyway.

Also, my daughter does go to school the other 3 days of the week and gets plenty of social activities on the days she’s not at her grandma’s.

Tell me how to choose a child/family therapist.

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:05:56 -0800

Should I go for the in-plan, cheap co-pay therapist or pony up more cash for the therapist who seems a better fit for my family? Would it be bad to switch therapists shortly into the process? My family needs some help from a therapist. Specifically, my daughter needs some help. She's young (in elementary school), and she was adopted into our family a few years ago. It was a huge trauma for her, and we're all still dealing with the after effects, including huge and frequent tantrums and bedwetting that would be more typical in a child much younger than she is (among other issues). She's still grieving and she's really suffering.

My understanding is that children who were adopted do best when dealing with therapists who understand adoption and how that can hurt a child years after the actual adoption, and so I would like a therapist who has worked with similar issues and similar kids.

I have a pretty good health plan for mental health issues. However, in my area, there are only one or two therapists who are in network, with a reasonable co-pay (around $15), who work with kids and who seem to have knowledge about adoption. I haven't spoken with any of them yet.

There's another practice in my area which specializes in dealing with adoption and dealing with kids who are in foster care or who were adopted. They work with everyone in the adoption triad (ie adoptive parents, kids, birth/first parents). They are out-of-network. My insurance company would cover some of the fees, but we might be looking at $60+ per session.

My inclination is to go right to the therapists who specialize in adoption. But should we give an in-network therapist a try first? Being able to have a low copay would probably mean we could afford much more therapy for much longer.

Will it mess up my daughter if we start with one therapist and switch?

I'd welcome any advice you have on choosing a therapist, especially one who works with kids. Thanks.

Starter bike recommendations for 4.5yr old girl

lapsang — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:24:22 -0800

Recommendations pls for a starter bike for 4.5 yr old girl with princess aspirations.

guitar tuning for kids

memebake — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:38:18 -0800

Can people recommend diagrams and electronic guitar tuner gadgets to help a 12 year old tune a guitar? My nephews have all the kit needed to become an awesome boy band (well, once they learn how to play, anyway) but currently the thing holding them back is that the electric guitar is always out of tune and no-one knows how to tune it. They have an electronic guitar tuner but it is totally crap and just seems to give random advice when you try to tune.

So, can anyone recommend:
1) simple instructions, understandable by kids, on how to tune by ear (e.g. what note is each string supposed to be, where do you hold the strings down to tune each one against the next, etc)
2) a decent electronic guitar tuner that actually works and is simple to use

(because even if you have (1) down, you still need (2) to get at least one of the strings right, to tune the others relative to it)

Printable instructions are preferable to videos, thanks.

Its hard out here for an 8th grade Teacher

allthewhile — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:57:20 -0800

How much money should I try to raise to get 8 kids in a studio, with a producer, to cut some songs? I'm working with 8 inner city students in the city of Chicago. They all have a passion for music, but limited experience with music. They all write, rap, and a few of them can sing like crazy. I just received a kickstarter invitation, and have no idea where I should set my sites. 1. I guess I should call some studios? Does anyone have any suggestions?

2. Any suggestions as to what cost I'm looking at working with someone to create beats, samples, and recording time in the Chicago area, I would appreciate it as well.