http://onmilwaukee.com/rss/rss_family.xml Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Kids and Family en-us Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:00:08 CST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://onmilwaukee.com/images/layout/omc_rssfeed_logo.gif http://onmilwaukee.com 204 67 The season of giving is officially here and Milwaukee is a hotbed of holiday happenings. Take the little people to the zoo (it's free!), the European holiday village at the Public Museum, breakfast with Santa or any of these other festive events. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/roundup120609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/roundup120609.html?21021 Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:01:00 CST I'm wondering if there are any neighborhoods left in Milwaukee where parents feel comfortable letting their elementary-school-aged kids walk to and from school? I really hope there are. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidswalkingblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidswalkingblog.html?21027 Thu, 3 Dec 2009 06:07:00 CST Happy Thanksgiving, Milwaukee parents. Here are a bunch of family-focused events that might tickle your fancy, including the lighting of a whale, skateboarding elves and a lovable, high-voiced Muppet. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/roundup112709.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/roundup112709.html?20972 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 CST Although I had never pictured myself at a "Sesame Street Live" performance, I'm now a veteran of two, and soon three, shows. That makes me one of more than 50 million people who have witnessed these great characters on stage. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sesamestreetlive123.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sesamestreetlive123.html?20938 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:17:00 CST Businessweek.com named its "Best Places to Raise Your Kids" in Wisconsin (and the other 49 states) today. See which three Wisconsin communities are on the list. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/bizweekkids.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/bizweekkids.html?20973 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:00:00 CST Through his experience with Pebbles of Peace Outweighing Boulders of Violence, Steve Jagler has been fortunate enough to meet some impressive young people. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/jaglerpebblesofpeace112509.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/jaglerpebblesofpeace112509.html?20951 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:03:00 CST Over the years, I have enjoyed teaching my kids to say pop culture quips from my childhood / young adulthood that are completely irrelevant in their world. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/quotesblogs.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/quotesblogs.html?20940 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:49:00 CST In September, I took a long trip with my youngster and brought along some things to keep us amused during the long flights and airport downtime. If only I'd known about PicPocket Books, which were just launching at that time. The Milwaukee company is already the largest publisher of children's picture book applications for the iPhone or iPod Touch. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/picpocketbooks.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/picpocketbooks.html?20870 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:17:00 CST How can it be that some toys are long forgotten by adulthood and others are celebrated for a lifetime? A new Tinkertoy exhibit just opened at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum that features regular and giant replicas of the colorful, classic construction toys. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/tinkeytoys.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/tinkeytoys.html?20914 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:01:00 CST Providing kids the chance to enjoy other cultures is fun, educational and important. The easiest way to celebrate another culture is to sample its food, music or performance. Here is a list of places to take kids for multicultural fun in Milwaukee. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/multiculturalkids.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/multiculturalkids.html?20848 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:04:00 CST Like many homes, ours chimes with the sound of countless readings of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" -- by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond -- and its related books. It's not a text-heavy book, so I wondered how First Stage Milwaukee would make an entire show out of it. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/ifyougiveamouseacookie.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/ifyougiveamouseacookie.html?20854 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:18:00 CST But for everything that's changed since I was a kid, I was happy to see my memories of the Zoo are still alive and well. Sadly, the train has stopped running for the season but in the warm summer months, kids can still tour the small track and wave to visitors on the path. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/zootrip.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/zootrip.html?20849 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:22:00 CST OnMilwaukee.com consulted dog experts Stacy LaPoint, owner of Companion Natural Pet Food, and Jill Albers, a Wisconsin Humane Society volunteer, to get tips for picking the dog that's right for you and your family. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/pickperfectpooch.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/pickperfectpooch.html?20777 Mon, 9 Nov 2009 15:02:00 CST Recently, I dated myself without even realizing it. My son told me he wanted to make magic wands, and among other supplies, I suggested that we buy some "pipe cleaners." http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/pipeblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/pipeblog.html?20767 Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:07:00 CST Pork Chop Kids are, basically, long, snug socks -- a "thigh high" for kids and babies -- worn in place of tights or even pants. At first, some parents might have a difficult time wrapping their mind around Meaghan Resenhoeft's new product, but once they do, they're usually instant fans. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/porkchopkids.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/porkchopkids.html?20675 Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:30:00 CST The adoptive mom lets go of a lot, but she receives an abundance in return, too. Here are some reasons why adoption rocks. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/adoptionblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/adoptionblog.html?20716 Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:27:00 CST I spend hours a week grilling my kid on spelling words, and even though I'm a writer, I'm questioning if it's really necessary to spend this much time on it. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/spellingblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/spellingblog.html?20642 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:02:00 CST The trick-or-treat experience varies from kid to kid. For some, going door to door for candy is a dream come true, but for other little people, the all-in-good-fun spookiness is very scary. Regardless of how your little ghosties interpret the particulars of All Hallow's Eve, it's important that everyone is safe. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/halloweensafety.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/halloweensafety.html?20619 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:02:00 CST Milwaukee's trick-or-treat is from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Do you stick around and hand out candy or do you make a point to leave during this time? And if you do hand out candy, will you give the sugary goods to kids not wearing costumes? http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/soundoff102509.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/soundoff102509.html?20604 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:59:00 CST I owe a partial apology to the City of Milwaukee after ripping its Swine Flu vaccine clinic mobilization earlier this week. Though I stand by my assertion that the City's communications regarding the H1N1 vaccine clinics have been confusing, contradictory and incomplete, as I found out today, the execution actually went more smoothly than I expected. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/h1n1vaccine.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/h1n1vaccine.html?20629 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:04:00 CST I hoped it wouldn't go down this way, but I feared it would. After hearing about an initial vaccine clinic all week, this morning, we received a fax (yes, a fax) from the City of Milwaukee Health Department will all sorts of new and confusing information. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/swinefluconfusion.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/swinefluconfusion.html?20606 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:43:00 CST Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday, celebrated Nov. 1 and 2, and it's a time to honor the deceased. For the past few years, I created a Day of the Dead altar with my kids as a way to remember my four grandparents, none of whom my kids ever got to meet. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/dayofthedeadaltar.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/dayofthedeadaltar.html?20556 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:29:00 CST Mark your calendars: Trainfest returns to the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This year's event promises even more kid-friendly entertainment. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/trainfest09.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/trainfest09.html?20550 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:03:00 CST Set amid fields of soy beans, stands of corn and cornfields already cut, Jim's is a charming little farm -- complete with a babbling brook. We spent just under $15 for two hours or so of fun with two adults and two kids. We took home two big pumpkins, an acorn squash to make with supper, three ears of Indian corn and a tiny pumpkin, too. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/jimspumpkinfarm.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/jimspumpkinfarm.html?20552 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:52:00 CST It's true: there is beauty is a broken teacup, just like the term "wabi-sabi" suggests. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/wabisabi.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/wabisabi.html?20476 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:44:00 CST Tim Knuth plays all of the instruments himself on his new CD for kids, but he invented "Robot Tim" as a way to explain to kids how one person can make multiple sounds on a recording. Human Tim and Robot Tim play together at Beat Kitchen in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 1, and will play numerous gigs in Chicago and Milwaukee in the coming year. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/humantimrobottim.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/humantimrobottim.html?20444 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:03:00 CST Prior to this fall, I considered myself pretty fortunate in the tantrum department. Neither of my sons were big fit-throwers at 2 or 3 when such behavior is common. But around the ripe age of 5, my son started to fuss in such an explosive way that I questioned everything from his diet to the history of my family's mental health. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/motherfest1108.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/motherfest1108.html?17204 Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:05:00 CST If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video of a dancing baby is worth a million You Tube views and just as many belly laughs. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/babybeyonce.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/babybeyonce.html?20308 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:14:00 CST Earlier this month, The Cream City Foundation, an LGBT organization based in Milwaukee, launched a billboard campaign in southeastern Wisconsin featuring local gay families. OnMilwaukee.com interviewed a few of the teens featured in the billboards. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/teensfromgayfamilies.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/teensfromgayfamilies.html?20289 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:30:00 CST Mayfair's Build-A-Bear Workshop isn't cheap -- it can cost up to $50 for your kid to "make" a stuffed animal and adorn it with adorable accessories. Luckily, however, the experience delivers more than a lesson in consumerism. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/buildabear.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/buildabear.html?20286 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:29:00 CST Yesterday, I created an e-mail account for my 7-year-old son. It was another Major Mom Moment, and one that affected me deeply. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/firstemailblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/firstemailblog.html?20251 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:35:00 CST In some cultures, it's common for infants to have their ears pierced, but other families have a strict age as to when ear piercing is acceptable. If you are considering ear piercing for your child, here is a list of places in Milwaukee that will do it, and a couple of things to consider before you go. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidspiercingguide.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidspiercingguide.html?20201 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:28:00 CST Recently, my son, who is 7, asked me how he could make money other than from the tooth fairy. I don't blame him. The fairy's occasional $2 doesn't do much for a boy who dreams of massive Lego sets and a bike with gears. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/allowanceblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/allowanceblog.html?20230 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:16:00 CST Recently, a person I know told me that she and her husband have a sex schedule, meaning they "do it" three nights a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Romantic? No. Practical? Maybe. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sexscheduleblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sexscheduleblog.html?20217 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:50:00 CST Monday, Sept. 21 is National Myositis Day and Milwaukee's Kris Lane Barger is doing her part to raise awareness about this rare, painful disease. Barger, the mother of two children, was diagnosed with myositis in 2006 and struggles with muscle weakness and fatigue almost every day of her life. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/myositisday.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/myositisday.html?20148 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:31:00 CST Warning: potentially annoying "cute things my kids said lately" blog. You might want to stop reading right now ... http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/mouthofbabesblog.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/mouthofbabesblog.html?20154 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:30:00 CST So, let me get this straight: everyone should get flu shots and children are especially susceptible. But some doctors around here don't have the shots and places like Walgreen's won't give the shots to children. Ask the city and you can pretty much cue the crickets. This doesn't say much for our preparedness. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/flushot.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/flushot.html?20139 Wed, 9 Sep 2009 11:58:00 CST Nobody said we could plant sunflowers around the toxic brown space, but no one said couldn't either. So, last May, six Riverwest families, all of whom were responding to an e-mail, showed up with shovels, ready to guerrilla garden. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sunflowerproject.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/sunflowerproject.html?20124 Mon, 7 Sep 2009 16:04:00 CST Do your kids need their "hairs" cut? Before you reach for a bowl and a pair of Fiskars, consider a professional haircut at a salon designed specifically for shorties. Here's an annotated list of children's hair salons. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidcuts.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/kidcuts.html?6185 Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:28:00 CST For some parents, it's difficult to weigh out the pros and cons of vaccinating kids against swine flu.On the one hand, kids are at greater risk of dying from the swine flu, so the vaccination seems like a good idea. On the other hand, the vaccination could contain toxins that are particularly harmful to children. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/soundoff090609.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/soundoff090609.html?20102 Sun, 6 Sep 2009 07:10:00 CST For anyone who regularly cooks with bulk food items -- or those wanting to experiment -- Whole Foods Market, 2305 N. Prospect Ave., announced an interesting recipe contest for Milwaukee families and individuals. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/wfrecipecontest.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/wfrecipecontest.html?20058 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:07:00 CST The Brewers lost today, but the most interesting aspect of the game for me was seeing how much my boys have matured since the last game they attended. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/brewergameblog2.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/brewergameblog2.html?20055 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:25:00 CST In 2008, Metro Milwaukee welcomed two bouncy house franchises: Monkey Joe's, 2040 W. Bluemound Rd., in Waukesha, and Pump It Up, 195 N. Janacek Rd., in Brookfield. In your opinion, which facility is better? http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/monkeyjoespumpitup.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/monkeyjoespumpitup.html?19989 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:22:00 CST I got a text from my husband while I was in Boston this week that simply read, "Ginger died." http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/hamsterblog2.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/hamsterblog2.html?19994 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:18:00 CST Last Halloween, The Edelweiss introduced a new concept: a family-friendly cruise with a "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme. Because the cruise was a success, it's now offered regularly throughout the summer and fall. The next cruise is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/piratecruise.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/piratecruise.html?19914 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:33:00 CST Monday was the first day that same-sex Wisconsin couples could apply for a "declaration of domestic partnership," and although only about 20 couples registered, West Milwaukee's Denise Cawley and Anne Hefter were happy to spend part of their day at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/domesticpartners.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/domesticpartners.html?19832 Wed, 5 Aug 2009 16:31:00 CST Whether your kid is more bouncy or craft-oriented, there's a Brew City birthday party that can accommodate his / her wishes -- and hopefully your budget. Remember: the best part of the away-from-home birthday party is that you don't have to clean up after the festivities. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/partyguide09.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/partyguide09.html?6098 Mon, 3 Aug 2009 15:01:00 CST For the third year in a row, the Milwaukee Breast Feeding Coalition hosts "Walk to Protect, Promote and Support Breast Feeding" to illuminate the oldest form of nutrition. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, and the the theme for 2009 is "Breast Feeding: A Vital Emergency Response. Are you Ready?" http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/breastfeedwalk09.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/breastfeedwalk09.html?19766 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:36:00 CST Although divorce groups and singles' groups exist, there aren't many -- or any -- groups that support people in very-long-term relationships. So my friend and I started one. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/longhaulforum.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/longhaulforum.html?19769 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:56:00 CST On certain days, "Mmm, Mmm good" is the perfect tagline for parenting, but during more grueling times slogans like "It's Miller Time" are more descriptive of the experience. http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/motherfest32.html http://onmilwaukee.com/family/articles/motherfest32.html?7398 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:22:00 CST