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Happy feet for little ones

By MIMI ANDELMAN
Published March 5, 2007

Fisher-Price and Adidas have put their feet together for a new line of footwear for infants. Designed to make first steps comfortable and entertaining with soft, flexible leather, the shoes come adorned with a round rattle feature and mirror accents. The shoes also come with two toys called "Roll-a-Rounds." Suggested retail price is $25. Available at shopadidas.com.

Get your head out of the game

Got a youngster whose academic performance doesn't seem to square with his or her smarts? There are numerous possible reasons, but one psychologist may have his finger on the game controller, so to speak. "Nearly every time I hear of a boy who is performing well below his ability level, I also hear that he is spending disproportionate time playing video and/or online games," says child psychologist John Rosemond. Rosemond thinks parents may not notice the subtle declines in creativity and motivation. Disconnect your child from the video games or set playing time to how well he or she is doing in school. At the end of every semester, review your plan. Rosemond encourages parents to relate video games to driving a car, which is only around the corner. It's a privilege, not a right. Good luck.

Black history in the nation's capital

Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune and Langston Hughes were all leaders in the fight for freedom and residents of our nation's capital. Such dynamic figures populate a terrific book, Washington, D.C., 1861-1962, that is part of the Black America Series. The book (Arcadia Publishing, $19.95, 125 pages, ages 11 and up) tells the story of the black struggle as it occurred in Washington. Though the themes and writing are mature, the book gives more space to tremendous archival photographs that will help kids really connect with history. There are pictures of famous fighters for justice, including Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, but just as interesting are the photographs of ordinary folks.

Here's to your baby's health

Birth defects affect about 120,000 (1 in 33) newborns in the United States each year; they are the leading cause of infant mortality and contribute substantially to illness and long-term disability. Many birth defects are preventable. Some suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (for more information about having a healthy baby, go to www.cdc.gov and search "healthy pregnancy"):

- Join a support group for moms-to-be, or join a class on parenting or childbirth.

- Genetic testing should be done appropriately to know your family history. Genetic counselors can discuss the information you might need in making decisions to have a family.

- Check cold remedies to avoid alcohol or other ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you may consider taking while pregnant.

[Last modified March 4, 2007, 20:18:45]