Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Use your head; watch over your athletes

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 13, 2006

Ever been on the soccer field and worried that the header your defender-daughter just took may have jiggled her brains? If your child receives a significant blow to the head, consider immediate medical attention if some of the following symptoms appear, according to the Children's National Medical Center in Washington and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

- A dazed or stunned demeanor.

- A vacant stare.

- Irritability.

- Headache.

- Nausea.

- Dizziness.

- Fuzzy or blurry vision.

- Sensitivity to light or noise.

Hot for Stars on Ice?

Send yourself an electronic reminder or put a Post-it on your kid's forehead: Tickets go on sale for Stars on Ice at 10 a.m. Nov. 20.

We would have told you about it then, but wouldn't you rather get good seats than the last seats? Details:

- Stars on Ice, 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa. Call Ticketmaster at (727) 898-2100 or (813) 287-8844.

Lick that holiday picture

Pondering holiday family photo ideas? Flaunt that tropical lifestyle by shooting yours at the beach or by the pool. And instead of the traditional "insert photo here" greeting cards, give yourself a 39-cent makeover - on a stamp. The U.S. Postal Service (www.usps.com) now accepts stamps bearing personalized photographs, if they are created through licensed vendors: www. pictureitpostage.com; photo.stamps.com; www.zazzle.com/stamps. Best to have one tight image, say of the new baby's face, than a group shot, unless you are mailing a magnifying glass.

New 'Dora' goes global

That 7-year-old explorer Dora stars in a new one-hour prime time special, Dora's World Adventures, which premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday on Nickelodeon. The Latina heroine and her nemesis, foxy Swiper, go on a global journey to save Friendship Day. Trouble ensues when Swiper mistakenly swipes friendship bracelets from France, Tanzania, Russia and China. Good way to explore some other cultures as they try to get those bracelets back. Our kids can play along on the nickjr.com site, which lets them play the role of Dora or Swiper, earning bracelets and passport stamps. If you haven't yet checked out the NickJr. site, it's highly engaging online but also lets parents print out activities to go. Now where the heck is Boots? Developing his own show?

Night of the living party slumberers

Thinking about hosting your first sleepover party for the kids? We might suggest you think again. Nonetheless, here are some tips to avoid a sleepless night:

If your child is the host:

- Before the party, be clear with your child about house rules. After sleepover buddies arrive, review with the group. That way, you won't find Melissa making 'smores with a hair dryer, saying, "Skyler said I could!"

- Plan and agree on activities and games; check out some inexpensive fun stuff at the craft store, such as beaded jewelry or "stained glass" painting. If you've got Hot Wheels, invite the kids to bring their own favorite cars to race.

- If the happy get-together turns grumpy, whip out a DVD. Over the Hedge and Cars are new releases.

- Make sure in advance that none of the guests have food allergies or are allergic to your pet. Sending Annie home at 1 a.m. is unpleasant all around.

If your child is a guest:

- Remind your youngster to follow the house rules.

- Send Jordan with something from home to sleep with, such as a stuffed animal or blanket - even as old as 9 or 10. (Parents nodding here.)

- Send medications, including for allergies or asthma inhalers, with instructions for parents.

This little piggy invests

Fashioned as a children's teaching toy, this four-chambered plastic bank is a study in exactly which troughs need our attention. "Save," "Spend," "Donate" and "Invest" line the side of each section of the belly, reminding the user of the value of all four. $16 at www.toysrus.com.

360 pages they'll be sure to read

Makes a good birthday gift or report card reward: Time for Kids: Almanac 2007 (ages 8-12, $12.99). There are wacky facts, photos, world maps, puzzles, a Harry Potter timeline and homework help for students whose parents have long since forgotten about prime factorizations.

. COMING NEXT WEEK: Books for kids 9 to 12 who want to make their own clothes. Maybe they could make ours too.

[Last modified November 12, 2006, 20:28:19]