Refreshing summer mocktails for kids >>

Summer skin safety for the whole family >>

More summer fun for the entire family

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Top 10 water toys for pups
Family pool toys that make a splash

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Join your favorite characters Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the Giraffe and Alex the Lion as they continue their adventure back to their home in New York by way of Europe in this third installment of the Madagascar movies.

In their latest attempt to get home, the crew — along with King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins — join a traveling circus and meet lots of new characters. Kids of all ages — and parents, too — will laugh their way through this flick.

Release date: June 8

Rated: PG

Length: approx. 93 minutes
Web: madagascarmovie.com

Check out SheKnows’ movie review of Madagascar 3 >>

Brave

This Disney Pixar flick redefines traditional princess movies. This movie follows fiery young Merida, daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor, who enters into the contest set for her own hand in marriage — and wins, angering her mother and the lords of the Scottish Highlands. Merida runs away, is granted an ill-fated wish and must become truly brave as she fights to undo the curse before she alters her life and the lives of her family members forever.

There are a few scenes that younger children might find a little frightening, and a bit of "rude" humor.

Release date: June 22

Rated: PG

Length: approx. 95 minutes
Web: disney.go.com/brave

Read more about Brave >>

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

In the latest installment of the Ice Age series, Manny the Mammoth, Diego the Sabertooth and Sid the Sloth set sail on a journey to try to find their way back home. Meanwhile, they face adventure Ice Age-style as they discover the world via iceberg.

Expect lots of fun new characters, lots of laughs for kids and parents and the same heartfelt message you’ve come to expect from this series.

Release date: July 13

Rated: PG

Length: approx. 94 minutes
Web: iceagemovie.com

Check out more family movies for 2012 >>

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

The third movie from the successful fiction series geared for tweens, Dog Days follows main character Greg Heffley as he prepares for summer — with a plot to pretend he’s scored a summer job at a fancy country club. His plan goes awry, of course, and the “wimpy kid” experiences a slew of embarrassing mishaps over the course of the flick.

Release date: August 3

Rated: PG

Length: TBD
Web: diaryofawimpykidmovie.com

More cool summer fun ideas

Endless summer fun
Money-saving strategies: Summer fun on the cheap
Summer weekends: Water fun

Pinterest finds

Win a gold medal in crafting

The Summer Olympic Games are right around the corner. If you have younger children, it can be tough to get their interest piqued in watching the games on television for more than a few minutes at a time. Planning ahead to make these fun and easy crafts -- while the family is together and watching -- will create memorable family time and bring everyone together.

A quick search on Pinterest serves up these fabulous Summer Olympics-themed craft ideas and activities.

Paper plate rings

Making an interpretation of the official logo for the Summer Olympic Games couldn't be simpler with this creative use of crayons, paper plates and scissors from Quality-Kids-Crafts. This one is great for preschool-aged kids, and all of that coloring will keep them busy for quite a while.

Origami rings

This craft is another interpretation of the official logo for the games — from Activity Village — but this is more suitable for older kids, or perhaps a crafty adult. Fold origami paper to create the rings, and use a glue stick to hold the ends together. This would make a cute Olympic Games-themed party decoration if you made several of these and hooked them together.

Cupcakes

When it's time for a snack break, these adorable cupcakes from Oopsey Daisy are sure to hit the spot. Use colorful candies to recreate the logo on the frosting. The Oopsey Daisy blog serves up additional ideas for an entire Olympic Games-themed party.

Tissue paper torch

This torch, from the Preschool Crafts for Kids blog, is crafted from white construction paper and red, yellow and orange tissue paper. Pro tip: Wrap the handle in gold foil to make the torch more closely resemble the 2012 London torch. This is a project that is suitable for the entire family.

Patriotic bracelet

This simple craft, from No Time for Flash Cards, uses plastic letter beads and pipe cleaners to create fun bracelets bearing the names of the countries you are rooting for. You could also use your favorite athlete's name. Making these bracelets also turns into a fun letter-learning activity for the younger kids.

More on making this year's Summer Olympic Games memorable

Eating like a gold-metal athlete
Olympics star Kerri Walsh talks healthy living
Fun ways to watch the summer games with your daughter

We know it’s inevitable that arguments are going to come up between a married couple.

Avoid arguing in front of your kids

It can be about the family pet, a bill that wasn't paid, a dentist’s appointment for your child that was missed — it’s always the small things, right? But even the small things can add up to a big argument.

Obviously, it’s not good to argue in front of your children. However, in the heat of the moment it’s sometimes hard to control ourselves. This is where communication with your spouse is needed before the argument begins. Make a plan about what should happen when a tense moment arises between the two of you in front of your kids. Even if you argue and then make up with each other when the children are present, they may think it can happen again. They might even think you’ll get a divorce, so be aware of that prior to any disagreement. Below are six ways to avoid arguing in front of your children.

Battle ground

Save your kids from the arguing and choose a spot beforehand for where you and your spouse can have it out privately. My spot was the car in the driveway. You can voice your opinion loudly in there.

Don't feed the fire

If one of you can’t help yourself and you begin arguing in front of the children, the other should not yell back and add fuel to the fire. While one person is doing the talking the other can do the ignoring until you both are alone. This takes self control and it isn’t easy, but remember that it’s for the sake of the kids.

On the same page

If your husband keeps arguing after you have discussed not to do it in front of the children, assure him that if he doesn’t follow what you both discussed and agreed on then there will be no make-up sex. That should help him get on the same page quickly!

More about communication

5 Ways to ease post-baby conflicts with your partner
What to say when: You've just had a fight
Fighting in front of the kids

In your book, Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids, you cover the differences between boys' and girls' brains; what differences do you think parents need to be especially aware of?

Dr. David Walsh: Language is one of the clearest brain differences between the sexes. Girls arrive with a brain built for language. During infancy the left hemisphere — the brain’s language center for most people — develops before the right for little girls whereas the order is reversed for boys. Even more convincing, females have at least twenty percent more neurons than males in the brain’s Broca area where we produce language, and they have as much as eighteen percent more volume in the Wernicke’s area where we interpret language. That’s why besides talking earlier than boys, girls have larger preschool vocabularies and use more complex sentence structures. Once in school, girls are one to one-and-a-half years ahead of boys in reading and writing. Boys are twice as likely to have a language or reading problem. Girls do better on tests of verbal memory, spelling, and verbal fluency.

There’s no difference in intelligence between boys and girls. There are some gender differences that show up in several cognitive domains. Just as there’s evidence that girls’ brains give them a verbal advantage, likewise there’s data showing that boys’ brains favor spatial skills that make it easier for them to visualize three-dimensional objects from different angles.

The differences between girls’ and boys’ brain chemistry — hormones and neurotransmitters — help us understand the differences in their emotional brains. Girls’ brains make them more socially aware while boys’ brains make them more action-oriented.

Fast girls

What stages are the differences most significant between boys' and girls' brains?

Dr. Walsh: The differences become more significant when children enter school and again at puberty. Girls mature faster than boys. They talk earlier, potty train a half year sooner and reach puberty two years ahead of their brothers. The same pattern holds true for their brains. Girls leave boys in the dust in the race to brain developmental milestones. This puts a lot of boys at a disadvantage in school. I think it’s important to recalibrate some of our expectations and rethink some of our teaching methods based on brain differences between boys and girls.

Puberty brings major changes for both genders, but there are male-female differences driven by their respective growth hormones. Testosterone laden boys become surly while their sisters have to deal with the dramatic mood swings triggered by the ebb and flow of estrogen and progesterone.

Don’t limit your kids

Should brain differences affect how we parent?

Dr. Walsh: It’s good for parents to be aware of the differences so they can support their children’s natural strengths while helping them avoid some gender specific weaknesses. For example, while parents should foster all children’s language skills, it makes sense to pay special attention to their sons. It will also be helpful to encourage their sons to name emotions and help them interpret social cues. Similarly parents should encourage their daughters to find solutions when they are sad.

Parents should be aware of the differences without letting brain-based expectations limit how they see each child. It’s important, for example, not to communicate brain-based biases with statements like, “Girls just aren’t that good at science.” Parents should encourage their sons and daughters to get involved in a wide range of activities.

Read more on kids’ brains

Your teenage son's brain... explained!
Helping kids exercise their memory muscle
How to sharpen your kids’ minds before school

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Nia Vardalos about her latest film, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars™.

Nia Vardalos on acting, balance and being mom

Vardalos stars in An American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars™, a heartwarming story of a young girl whose dream to compete as a world-class gymnast is threatened when she begins to struggle in school.

Nia's thoughtful answers to my questions are testament to her sincerity, wit and charm:

Can you tell me a bit about filming An American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars™?

This is my first mom role and it was really just a beautiful experience for me because I really liked the girl Jade Pettyjohn, who plays McKenna — we had such a really easy time with each other. She’s not an uptight kid in any way and it was just a nice experience. I don’t think I really looked at kids before I became a mom. But after looking at Jade and having such a good time with her, I looked immediately at her mom who was on set all the time and just thought you did a good job because this is a cool kid.

How motherhood influences work

Has having a child influenced the roles and projects you’ve taking on?

Well, the first thing is I’m saying no to things that are not life-changing parts… that’s a given. When we first adopted our daughter, we went into the American Girl® store and asked her to choose a doll that looked like her. We were trying to do things that would help her form her identity in any way. One of the first things we decided was that we would not let her see us act and we would just form this reality... It’s all so confusing that we thought no. But then that really carried over for us and it’s been working for us so we just don’t let her see us act.

Will you let your daughter watch this film?

Yes… we’re getting the DVD and we’re going to make it a special occasion. I have the necklace that McKenna wears in the movie. The prop master gave me the alternate. So we’re going to make it an event. We’re going to go to Walmart. We’re going to get the DVD and then I actually have a McKenna doll for her and I’m going to give her the doll and the necklace and we’re going to watch the movie.

Being a working mom

Do you have any personal experience with the theme in the movie about the importance of keeping a healthy balance?

It’s a fine line with a mom. You have to find a way to be selfless and selfish. Because we have to give everything to them. The most important thing is giving our time to our children. But what I loved about this script is this mom has a job and I absolutely love that. It was extremely real.

I admire the way you and your husband have shielded your daughter from the public eye. Can you speak to your decision to do so. Is that challenging?

We always felt that way. We are very particular about feeling that movies and theater are magic and special, so we don’t want to show her behind the curtain. We just want her to enjoy movies... just to keep it magic, because wasn’t that a great way to grow up? My husband Ian [Gomez] and I didn’t grow up in LA, so we just want to give her a childhood, a real childhood.

Filming close to home

You filmed the movie in Winnipeg. What did it mean to you to share your childhood home with her?

One of the greatest things about growing up in Winnipeg is that the sun stays up until about 10 or 11 p.m. in the summer. We’re really strict with bedtime because she needs the discipline in her life, but we slowly pushed the hours forward so that by the time we got to Winnipeg, she was staying up later. We were on a kids’ movie, so we were done by seven every night, so I could go over to my parents’ house for dinner. My daughter running through the backyard was just an idyllic sound of the summers that I had of just running around chasing fireflies, completely safe in a Winnepeg backyard.

See an exclusive clip from An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars™

More on celebrity parents

Celebrity parenting styles
New mom Charlize Theron has Jackson fever
Alanis Morissette is "baffled" by parenting

Swoop Bags

Invented by a mom of LEGO-loving boys, Swoop Bags are the answer to your feet's prayers. The heavy-duty canvas bags serve as both a playmat and a toy organizer — your kids can happily spread out their tiny toys on their Swoop Bag and when they're done playing, just cinch up the sides with the drawstrings and all of those little pieces get swooped up inside! We love Swoop Bags because they are made so well and with design features that are tried and true — at 44-inches in diameter, they're the perfect size for play , the edges of the Swoop Bags curl up a bit to keep the toys contained and best of all, they come in fun colors and look great, so you won't mind having it out in your living room. Other great uses for your Swoop Bag? Take it outside for LEGO sessions in the sunshine this summer, pack it up for trips to the grandparents' house or use it as an emergency changing mat or picnic blanket when the grass is wet at the park!

It's never too early for them to learn! Teach your preschooler to pick up >>

Toydozer

We're pretty sure that if you tell your kids that they need to use something called a Toydozer to pick up their toys, it's going to put a smile on their face and get them moving! Much more than a glorified dustpan, the Toydozer has been very carefully designed to make picking up small pieces as easy as possible. Naturally, the Toydozer was designed by another smart mom who was looking for a way to make toy pickup easy for herself and engaging for her child — the design started as a cardboard box that she cut the end off of and developed into the innovative product that it is today. You'll love the Toydozer because the design is simple and thoughtful — there is a hole on the back for a handle that lets you scoop up pieces with ease and the dozer part of the set — the side you use to corral the toys in, is sturdy for cleaning up heavier toys like blocks and toy cars.

DIY ideas

You can even look around your house to find a way to make tiny toy pick-up easier for your kids. Use a dustpan for a big mess of little pieces and even give them a little dust brush to make it go quicker. Or the next time they have friends over to play, lay a fitted sheet down on the floor underneath the toys — king-sized, if you have it — to contain the mess. If these are successful at your home, considering picking up a dedicated dustpan or fitted sheet for your kiddos to keep their toys in so that every pick-up session is an easy one! This cute, kid-sized version dustpan from Melissa and Doug is a good option.

More on toy organization

How to keep toys and playrooms organized
10 Quick tips for organizing the playroom
Real Moms Guide: Organizing kids toys

Learning a second language as a child opens a door to another culture and a bigger world beyond the one they see each day. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics, proficiency in languages other than English is critical in our global society. Want to start your younger child on a second language program, or help your middle or high school student get a better grasp of the second language they study in school? Check out these language learning programs we found that will give your child an edge.

Muzzy

Have younger children and want to start them on a second language? With animated stories, vocabulary and musical DVDs Muzzy immerses your child in the language in a natural immersion method — modeled after the way we all learned our first language. You will be amazed at how quickly your younger child finds herself speaking common words in a new language.

The cute graphics and animated characters bring fun to learning a second language for the younger crowd. What a great way to get a head start! They offer nine languages and your Muzzy purchase includes three months of free online access to supplement the teaching materials.

Rosetta Stone

With an astounding selection of 25 languages, Rosetta Stone offers language instruction for almost everyone. More than 20,000 K-12 schools and districts around the world have incorporated Rosetta Stone into their curriculum to meet the growing demand for second language skills.

You can learn at your own pace, and start learning a new language the very first time you use it. It comes with a good quality headset and microphone, and uses a voice recognition feature which is great for testing out your new words and phrases. Rosetta Stone would be good for ages 5 and up, but is especially good for middle and high school students to get a jump on language acquisition during the summer months. The visual aids enhance the language learning and retention.

Pimsleur Approach

The Pimsleur program uses an all-audio format with no video content at all. They claim that they have scientifically sequenced their information for easier retention. Pimsleur offers 16 languages and is available in MP3 format for people who are always on the go.

Each lesson is only 30 minutes, not a large time commitment for teens or young adults. Dr. Paul Pimsleur, the founder of this program, was a language educator for over 20 years and noticed that children have an amazing ability to learn a new language. He devoted his life to developing a program for adults and older teens to learn a new language as easily as a child would. This program focuses on 2,500 distinct words in the new language that comprise the majority of your communication needs.

Little Pim

Little Pim is an award-winning foreign language learning series for the youngest children, from birth to age 6. They use animation and real kids to teach everyday phrases and simple words in 10 different languages. By using videos, apps, music, books and flash cards this program attempts to immerse small children in the new language, and makes it fun and easy at the same time.

The concept behind this system is that teaching a child a second language under the age of 5 gives them an edge in their writing, analytical and vocabulary skills. Little Pim was created by Julia Pimsleur Levine — award-winning filmmaker and mom. Pimsleur Levine worked with a team of filmmakers, animators, childhood development experts, linguists and an advising neuroscientist to create this language learning system for the very young.

Summer is a perfect time to start your child on learning a second language. With these great choices, there is bound to be a program for every family.

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How to create a positive learning environment at home
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Peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, soy… the list goes on, and for those unfortunate enough to have a food allergy, these foods can show up in what seems to be a totally unrelated item. If your child has been diagnosed with a severe food allergy, and now you have an EpiPen in hand, you may be stressed on how to keep her safe in a world that seems to be contaminated with the food she’s allergic to. Here are a few tips to help her stay safe and help you ease the worry.

Become an ingredient list reader

Once you’ve dealt with allergy testing, find out as much as you can about the particular allergen. The top eight allergens are required to be labeled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This will make it very easy for you to pick up an item and scan the ingredient list. Manufacturers will label their foods in a number of ways, however. Some will simply bold or highlight the allergen in the list itself, and others will list them separately. They may also use unique verbiage, such as, “Manufactured on the same/shared equipment as…” or “May contain…” Ask your doctor if your child needs to avoid foods that “may contain” her allergen. Often, the answer is yes.

Keep reading

If your child is allergic to food that is not in the “Top Eight,” it will be more challenging. You will have to read every single ingredient to look for the presence of the allergen.

Keep checking

Don’t assume that once you determine a food is safe, it will always be safe. Recipes can be changed, formulas can be altered and new ingredients can be added. You will have to get into the habit of checking every single time.

A food allergy diagnosis can be scary and stressful, but as you learn to read labels and keep prepared with your emergency medication, you will find yourself taking charge of your child’s allergy and teaching him how to keep safe.

More on food allergies

Entertaining kids with food allergies
Food allergies in children
In a pickle: What to do about food allergies

Jessica Alba makes a colorful statement in a blue maxi dress paired with a bright green cardigan while out with her family, including her husband Cash, 3-year-old Honor and 9-month-old Haven, who is being pushed in the black Orbit Baby Stroller Travel System .

“Orbit is my favorite,” Alba told Fit Pregnancy. “You can use it as a car seat and a stroller so you never have to take the baby out. Then when the baby gets bigger you can put a toddler seat in. It's also eco-friendly."

This luxury stroller rotates 360 degrees and has also been the ride of the pampered tots of Tori Spelling, Nicole Richie and Melissa Joan Hart.

Next up: Charlize Theron’s budget-friendly baby gear of choice

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Charlize Theron was spotted out with her 6-month-old son Jackson holding him in a Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat with a cute star blanket draped over it. This car seat, which includes a 5-point harness and adjustable base, is reasonably priced at $190.

The car seat is compatible with Maxi-Cosi and Quinny strollers, which makes it a great option if your baby falls asleep in the car. You can simply remove the car seat from the base and snap it right into the stroller without waking your baby.

Besides her favorite car seat, Theron recently shared her favorite book. “A lot of people have sent me these children's books, and there's this amazing book, a bestseller called Go the F**k to Sleep,” Theron told MTV News. "This book was good for me because it made me realize that I don't need to judge myself right now."

Next up: Selma Blair coordinates her accessories with her stroller!

Photo: People

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This baby loves blue! Actress Selma Blair was recently spotted out pushing her son Arthur Saint in a Quinny Moodd Stroller in the Blue Reliance color  — which happened to be the same color as her blue Barton Perreira sunglasses.

This compact stroller features an adjustable handle bar, swiveling front wheel, front safety bar and unfolds easily with the push of a button. This stroller can also be used with Charlize Theron’s car seat, the Maxi-Cosi.

Next up: Gwen Stefani’s stroller is double the fun!

Photo: Star magazine

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Gwen Stefani doesn’t have her two sons, Kingston and Zuma, in a stroller much anymore, but back in 2009 she was spotted pushing her cute sons through the airport in the Chicco Trevi Twin side-by-side double stroller . These side-by-side strollers are nice if your children like to play and interact while you are pushing them, however Chicco no longer carries this type of stroller! You can still find this stroller on eBay, however Chicco has switched over to the Chicco Cortina Together Double Stroller . The front/back stroller has its advantages in that it is not as wide and is easier to navigate through crowds and doorways, when compared to the side-by-side options.

The No Doubt singer and L.A.M.B. designer has actually designed a customized Bugaboo Cameleon stroller that was auctioned off for World AIDS Day a few years ago.

Next up: Rachel Zoe’s stroller you will go bananas over!

Photo: WENN

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You can’t expect celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe to push her son Skyler in anything but the most fashionable stroller! The fashion mogul’s posh buggy is the Bugaboo Cameleon stroller base with the limited edition Missoni Canopy .

In case you are balking at the price, the set does come with a matching luxe knit blanket… in Missoni’s signature print, of course.

What else is on Zoe’s must-have baby list? “First and foremost, you need the perfect carrier to tote around your little one, and there is no option that I praise more highly than Baby Bjorn’s Organic Carrier,” she told People.

Love celebrity moms? Check out the cutest celebrity baby bumps and LOL celebrity mom tweets here >>

Photo: WENN

The landmark five-year study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University followed hundreds of men from bachelors to fathers and determined that when a man becomes a dad, his testosterone level drops. And the more involvement Dad has, the lower it dips.

So why does it happen?

According to Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., a family physician and co-author of The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, "It’s likely that testosterone levels fall in men to foster nurturing behaviors and to put a damper on mating behaviors. Since these can interfere with the responsibilities of fatherhood, it’s advantageous — and it makes perfect sense — for the male body to produce less testosterone after the birth of a child so that men will be more willing and able to take care of their newborn offspring and be less interested in mating, at least temporarily."

Daddy brain: Does fatherhood change Dad's brain too? >>

McCallister shares her own story of her husband turning into, as she calls him, a "big pile of mush" after she got pregnant. “Early in our relationship, I got kicked in the leg by one of my horses, I fell to the ground, writhing in pain and agony. I remember my now husband standing over me asking impatiently, 'Where is the point of maximum tenderness?' I almost decided right then and there that our relationship just wasn’t going to work out!"

“But after I got pregnant, I tripped and fell on the steps in front of our house. It was nothing compared to being kicked by a horse. Still, he got down on his hands and knees to check on me. He had this panicky look on his face and he kept saying, 'Are you OK? Are you hurt?' That’s when I knew that my husband’s ER-hardened heart had melted."

"Being a pediatrician, my husband has always loved kids, but after our sons were born he became such a softy. He cried at their first shots, and more recently he wept at the straight-A report card my oldest brought home at the end of the year! He is the one they yell for when they have to vomit, and then they sleep with me in between!" says Heather Lubell, MD, a pediatrician at Yardley Pediatrics of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Elizabeth, a mother of two from California says her husband was always in control of his emotions until she became pregnant. "I'd never even seen him cry until our first ultrasound and then the tears just flowed and he bawled like the baby we were soon to have."

"In general, it’s safe to say that a new dad’s testosterone level will bounce back by the time his child is around 2 years old, and at that time, it will be more like the testosterone level of his childless counterpart," says McCallister.

McCallister makes this suggestion, "Give lots of positive reinforcement and praise. If you like seeing the softer side of your man, let him know! Be specific with your feedback, by saying things like, “I love it when you sing to the baby. See how it relaxes her?” or “Thank you for making me a cup of tea; it makes me feel special and loved.”

Read more about hormones

Causes of hormonal imbalance in women
Fact or fiction? The mommy brain
Symptoms of postpartum depression

Family safety comes first

The 4th of July holiday is the perfect time for friends and family to get together and enjoy good food, fun games, interesting conversation and, of course, the fireworks. Even though celebrating America is a ton of fun, it can also be dangerous.

Stay safe and celebrate

Follow these 4th of July safety tips to keep yourself and your family safe this holiday.

Leave fireworks to the pros

Though it's tempting to set off fireworks and play with sparklers in your own backyard, don't do it. Severe burns, blindness and even death can be caused by the misuse of fireworks at 4th of July celebrations. Tom Harned, property risk field manager with Liberty Mutual Insurance and volunteer firefighter, urges people to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

"When it comes to fireworks, you are literally playing with fire — and in many states, you may even be breaking the law," says Harned. "The best choice is to pack a picnic basket and catch some of the amazing fireworks displays hosted by professionals in your community. Or, enjoy professional fireworks from the comfort of your own home, such as this year’s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which will air on CBS on July 4 at 10 p.m. If you do choose to enjoy consumer fireworks, make sure they are legal in your area. Dress smart — no bare skin or loose clothing if you are near fireworks. Always use fireworks away from buildings, overhead branches or trees, dry grass, or combustible fuels. Keep a water hose or fire extinguisher in reach and know how to use it."

You should never point fireworks at another person or attempt to re-light fireworks. Use only state-approved, legal fireworks. Harned also warns to keep kids and pets away from fireworks at all times, as well as away from grills, candles, matches and lighters too.

4th of July grilling safety

Everybody loves a good barbecue on 4th of July, but grilling can be dangerous if you aren't careful.

• Never grill indoors, in the garage, or under awnings, carports or any other surface that might catch fire.
• Always keep your grill away from siding, railings, trees and anything else flammable. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using the grill at least 10 feet away from your home or any building.
• Skip the lighter fluid and instead use an electric or chimney lighter to light newspaper to start the charcoal.
• Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from grease or insects, and use a pipe cleaner to clear it.
• Check gas grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
• Follow the manufacturers’ instructions to check for gas leaks. If you detect a leak or smell gas, don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed by a qualified professional.

Read more about safe grilling >>

4th of July driving safety

The 4th of July holiday is full of barbecues, picnics, family fun and fireworks. Unfortunately, the number of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths rises significantly on Independence Day too. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, from 2006 through 2010, 4th of July was the deadliest day on roads across the U.S. with more than 700 people killed across the nation on those five holidays. Stay safe on 4th of July with these driving safety tips.

• Drink responsibly - If you are going to even have one drink on 4th of July, be sure to have a designated driver. Even if you think you are sober, your judgment and senses can be impaired after just one cocktail. If you can't find a designated driver, call a taxi. When you are driving, stay alert and keep an eye out for impaired drivers. Don't follow too closely and stay focused on the road and other vehicles, rather than chatting with friends and family in your car.
• Put down your cell phone - If you aren't sure of the directions or don't know where you are going on 4th of July, check your GPS before you leave the house. If you get lost, have a passenger in the vehicle make a call for directions or pull over to place the call, if you are alone. Distracted drivers fiddling with phone calls, text messages and navigation systems often are the cause of accidents.
• Stay home - No one says you have to go out on 4th of July. You can stay home and play host to a neighborhood block party where all your guests are within walking distance. Make it a potluck. Grill up your favorite meats and ask your neighbors to pitch in with all the sides, desserts and beverages.

Check out these 4th of July recipes for kids >>

No matter what you do with your family on 4th of July, have fun with your kids and be sure to stay safe!

More about 4th of July

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Teaching your kids about Independence Day
4th of July activities for families

Walk along the beach

"Children do what they see. They imitate what they are exposed to. If you want children to move more, then parents should move more," advises Frank Pucher, award-winning personal fitness trainer and owner of Fitness 121 Personal Training in New Jersey. "Parents who move more and lead active lifestyles have children who move and lead active lifestyles." So, instead of just lounging on the beach, try to sneak in a little family fitness while taking in the sunshine. Whether you walk, run or simply chase your kiddos around on the sand, your body works a little harder when trying to keep stable on the sand's soft surface, helping you and your brood burn off those vacation pounds long before you head home.

Still not keen about fitness when family vacations are best spent relaxing? These five ways to sneak in family exercise on vacation do not have to be incorporated into your everyday itinerary. "You don't necessarily have to break a sweat in order to burn calories," shares Abbie Davies, My First Yoga, LLC. "When on a family vacation, there is usually less relaxing and more doing, as parents want to pack in as much fun for their kids which usually means you're exercising more than you think during your vacation." So, try strapping on a pedometer; you may be surprised to see how many calories you and your family are already burning!

Pick up more tips for family vacations

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Don’t think it couldn’t happen to you

The fact is, it could. And it’s happening more and more often to perfectly responsible parents all across the country. Since 1998, 533 children have died from heat stroke as a result of being left behind in a car. Every year on average about 37 children 4 years old and younger fall victim to this epidemic. That’s too many to lose over a tragic — and totally preventable — mistake.

Read up on these 5 common parenting mistakes >>

This year alone, six children have fallen victim to being left behind in the car. There have been some recent standout cases -- on June 11, a 3-year-old in Philadelphia, Mississippi was accidentally left in the car. Days later, on June 18, a 9-month-old in Louisville, Kentucky and on June 25 an 11-month-old in Lafayette, Louisiana were both tragically left in their car seats when their fathers forgot to drop them off at daycare. In each of these cases, the temperature outside was below 100 degrees.

Check out more summer dangers for kids >>

Don’t let it happen again

Andrea Lester founded the non-profit organization Forget Me Not USA after she’d heard about one too many children dying as a result of being left behind in their caregivers’ cars. She decided she couldn’t idly stand by and let this happen again — without doing her part to help stop this tragic epidemic in its tracks.

In an effort to help bring the number of children left behind in cars to zero, Forget Me Not USA has started a petition for the government to require all car manufacturers to install a Child Sensor Alert Device in all newly built vehicles. Visit the site to sign the online petition.

Don’t forget

If you find parenthood has made you a bit forgetful, there is a product currently available to help you avoid accidentally leaving your child behind in your car. Baby Alert International’s ChildMinder Smart Clip System features sensory buckles for Baby’s car seat and a key fob for parents’ keychain. Every time the child is buckled into his seat, the system is automatically activated and it is deactivated every time the buckles are detached. When the system is activated, it alerts parents with an alarm six seconds after they move more than 15 feet from the child in his car seat. Smart, huh?

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Whether you are expecting a July baby, have friends or family members in the military or are just feeling the love for our great country, let us help you be inspired with our pick of patriotic baby names.

Presidential names

What could be more patriotic than the Presidents of the United States, who helped shape and create our great nation? There are a great mix of old-fashioned names, unique names and preppy names in this list of presidential baby names.

Fourth of July inspired baby names

We love the festive and fun July 4th holiday — and you may be surprised at all the names that can be inspired from Independence Day. One unique baby name choice that could be given to a boy or girl is the name July, or you can also consider the alternative options Jule or Jude.

What about the color of the holiday — red, white and blue? Thanks to Beyonce’s baby girl, Blue Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone’s son Bear Blu, this colorful “Blue” name has gotten a lot of publicity. If naming your child Red seems out of the question, consider Rose, Ruby or Redd. You probably don’t want to name your child “White,” however the Spanish translation is Blanco, which is a pretty baby girl name. For boys, the name Galvin is an Irish name that means “white.”

You can also consider naming your daughter Betsy, after Betsy Ross who is known for designing the first flag of the United States. The name Star would also make a great name for your patriotic baby girl, as would the name America.

Fireworks are a huge part of the July 4th holiday — so check out these cool and unique fireworks-inspired baby names:

• Sparkle
• Rocket
• Pyro
• Catherine
• Roman
• Flare
• Shine
• Flower

All-American names

Were those baby names a bit too unique? If so, perhaps you will love All-American baby names. The Social Security Administration just released the list of the top 100 baby boy names and baby girl names.

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Conquer the competition with the new Nerf Dart Tag Speedswarm Blaster . This fully automatic blaster has a motorized rotating barrel that gives you the ability to send rapid-fire in any direction. Pair this must-have summer toy with your Nerf Dart Tag Jerseys and Nerf Vision Gear for the ultimate game of outdoor dart tag this summer.

Details:

• Age: 8 and up
• Includes 10 dart tags
• Includes 6 “AA” batteries

With Heelys , you choose your mode of transportation — shoe or skate, whenever and wherever. The removable wheel built in to each shoe allows your child to cruise in style this summer as the shoe quickly transforms into a pair of stealth skates and opens up a world of fun. The newest Heelys footwear is now lighter and faster with even more style than before.

Details:

• 2-in-1 footwear available in original mode or HX2 mode
• Two-wheel HX2 Heelys allow for more balance and stability and provide children with an easier introduction to skate shoes
• Sizes: Children 13 to Men’s 12

Finding outdoor activities in the city >>

The Style ‘N Ride by Radio Flyer is the first-ever customizable fashion scooter. With 70 different stickers, 10 interchangeable fashion bands and five colors, your child can create multiple custom looks throughout the summer months. With a wider deck, contoured design and adjustable handlebar, your child will not only ride in style but in comfort, too!

Details:

• Age: 5 and up
• Weight capacity: 150 pounds

The popular PlasmaCar by PlaSmart is truly one of the hottest toys of the summer for both kids and parents. The PlasmaCar uses kid-power instead of batteries, gears and pedals to power its way through the summer sidewalks and kid-filled cul de sacs. What parent doesn’t love an outside toy that encourages fun while expending energy? With a simple turn of the wheel, the PlasmaCar is on the move providing kids with pure energy and pure fun!

Details:

• Age: 3 and up
• High quality plastics
• Rugged and durable design
• Simple to operate

How to encourage outdoor play >>

The Flip the Bounce Back Racer drives on both sides for speed-action racing and ease of use with younger children. This remote-controlled car actually knows which side it’s on, verbalizing unique phrases depending on its mode. Enjoy the summer air with this toy and help encourage the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social and emotional development and imagination at the same time.

Details:

• Age: 3 and up
• Requires six “AA” batteries
• Engages active, outdoor summer play

The newest RoseArt Chalk Factory packs come in fun and almost edible flavors — Frosty Favorites, Candy Confections and Perfect Pastries. With four jumbo chalk treats per pack, in a variety of colors, your children will love creating sidewalk masterpieces while visions or summer sweets dance in their heads.

Details:

• Age: 6 and up
• Available at Walmart locations through July 2012
• Enhances outdoor coloring and drawing activities

More outdoor play

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Adele

Rumor has it that Adele will soon be rolling in the diapers! The British singer had fans setting fire to the rain when she announced on her website that she was pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend Simon Konecki. We did not see that coming!

"I'm delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together," she wrote on her website. "I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we're over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time."

Although this news did come as a huge surprise, Adele did hint recently when she told People her goal was to have three sons by the time she was 30. “I really want to be a mum,” she said. “I better start getting on with it!”

Congratulations to Adele and we can’t wait to see her growing baby bump!

Next up: Anna Paquin is expecting twins!

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Anna Paquin

True Blood times two! Anna Paquin, 29, and her husband Stephen Moyer, 42, are expecting twins, a source for Us Weekly reveals.

Their True Blood co-star, Sam Trammell, confirmed the news. “I’m so excited for them,” said Trammell, who also has twin boys. "We sent them a special gift. It's so interesting that True Blood has become, like, the 'twins' show."

Perhaps there is something in the blood-tainted water?

Moyer has two children, 10-year-old Lilac and 12-year-old Billy, from a previous relationship, however Trammell says that raising twins can present its own challenges.

"It's harder, having twins, but it's all we know. So we're trying to impart some decent wisdom," Trammell said. "I told them to hold on tight!"

Next up:  How can Kourtney Kardashian look so good when she is so pregnant?

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Kourtney Kardashian

Even though Kourtney Kardashian could literally give birth at any moment, she still manages to look glowing and gorgeous in a black bump-hugging gown as she and her son, Mason Dash, go to a Calabasas baby boutique. She has quit wearing her usual high heels and has switched to chic sandals and we love how her orange bag gives her a pop of color.

The reality star and her baby daddy, Scott Disick, have been arguing over whether they should get married now that they will have two children together. "The whole reason I had another kid with you is because you agreed to get married," Disick told her on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "You broke the contract — you broke the deal."

"I know that I'm indecisive but I'm not indecisive with you. I'm obviously committed to us,” she told him.

Tell us: Do you think they should get married?

Next up: Snooki’s growing baby bump

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Snooki

Jersey Shore star Snooki dressed her baby bump in a black graphic tee paired with bright pink sneakers as she was filming scenes for her new reality show. The reality star is not one to be shy about her pregnancy quirks, and recently revealed that she hates her pregnancy boobs!

"I actually want a big belly now, so I don't mind having brownies or fries," she said. "The only thing is, I've also gone up a cup size: I'm a D now. I just hate my boobs so much!"

Even though Snooki has curbed her hard partying ways during her pregnancy, it sounds like she may pick it right back up again once baby Guido is born.

"If we’re hungover or if we’ve had two drinks, we’re not going near the kid. We’ll give him to Grandma. God forbid we drop our baby!" she said.

Next up:  Kelsey Grammer and his pregnant wife Kayte Walsh

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Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh

Kayte Walsh dresses her baby bump in a bright orange dress as she supports her husband, Boss star Kelsey Grammer, as he is honored with the Career Achievement Award at the 48th Hugo Television Awards. The 32-year-old Walsh is expecting twins next month.

"I don't panic about kids," Grammer told E! when asked about the twin news. "They're always a blessing. We'll buy a couple of cribs and take it from there."

Grammer, 57, has four children from past relationships, including his ex-wife, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Camille Grammer.

Grammer said they know the sex of the twins — and even have names picked out, but said “that is just for us right now.”

In case he needs help, we have plenty of cool twin baby name ideas!

From Megan Fox to Reese Witherspoon, check out more cute pregnant celebrities here >>

Photos: WENN

Single mother Monica Abington was a busy entrepreneur running a successful lawn-care franchise and raising her four children when the unthinkable happened — she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

One woman's story of courage and strength

When faced with surgery that could leave her paralyzed or unable to speak, she moved forward with courage and grace — and came out on top. Keep reading for Monica’s incredible story, and what we can all learn from her strength.

Monica Abington was already the owner of a successful Weed Man franchise when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2010. She had assembled a tightly-knit staff she considered more like family than employees. Her belief when it comes to her employees is that, “A quality investment produces a quality yield. I’ve invested in all of them on an individual basis, hopefully always more positive than negative. They hear me say quite often that my biggest desire is to be their biggest fan.“

Facing her illness

When Monica was diagnosed with a brain tumor and surgery was her only option, she faced it with the same approach that has helped her be successful in business. “For me personally, I’ve always been somewhat of a risk-taker. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. When all of this [her illness] came about, it was obviously devastating. It was devastating on the level of having the four children and being a single mom.”

She took a positive approach to preparing for her surgery by compiling what she refers to as “Monica manuals” for all aspects of her life — both home and work. Making sure that her children’s lives were as uninterrupted as possible during this complicated time in her life became the most important focus for Monica. Her brain tumor was removed in January 2011, in a difficult surgery that could have left her either paralyzed or unable to speak.

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It looks like we could all learn a bit from Monica’s story of resilience and strength.

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We’ve all heard the news reports about tanning booths enough to know that they aren’t a good idea. Many teens are still addicted to the idea that they should be tan, and tanning salons are full of repeat customers.

Experts say no, but many are still tanning

In many areas now, you must be over 18 years old or have parental permission to do indoor tanning. Should we be letting our teens tan?

Teens and tanning

It’s no wonder that teenagers are obsessed with being tan. Images of the perfectly fit, tan bodies of teen stars surround them on everything from magazine covers to television shows. Whether getting glammed up for prom or simply hitting the local pool with friends, many teens don’t feel like they look good without a visit to the indoor tanning salon. According to the Centers for Disease Control , 33 percent of girls in the 12th grade reported that they used indoor tanning.

Why are so many teens tanning indoors? Tanya Kormeili, M.D., is a board certified dermatologist and clinical professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. In her private practice, she sees many teens who are very focused on tanning. “I think the teens today are under extremely high pressure to ‘look great’. They are bombarded with TV shows that use 30-year-old cosmetically altered actresses to depict teenagers,” she says. “As a teenager you are so worried about how terrible your body is to begin with, and to receive these images of ‘perfection’ from tanned and dolled-up actresses creates further insecurity.”

Is indoor tanning safer?

Unfortunately, there is no safe way to tan, and indoor tanning may be even more dangerous than tanning outdoors. Dr. Debra Jaliman, board certified dermatologist and expert blogger on WebMD, says, “Every single exposure to a tanning bed increases the risk of skin cancer. However, according to several studies, the risk for melanoma is even greater for those under thirty, because their DNA is more susceptible.” When skin tans, it is responding to UV damage by producing greater amounts of pigment. The CDC reports that people who begin tanning younger than age 35 have a 75 percent greater risk of developing melanoma. Using tanning beds also increases the risk of wrinkles and eye damage.

Check out these 5 warning signs of skin cancer >>

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