Parents are riddled with tips on how to feed their kids. At the base of these suggestions is the specter of the obesity epidemic. It can be easy to believe that a diet of anything other than organically grown, trans-fat-free, gluten-extracted vegetables served with lactose-stripped, vitamin-enhanced-soy-whey will lead to 30-year-old offspring that bankrupt the healthcare system, while being too fat to leave our basements. So, when my 2 year-old screamed “McDonalds!” upon spying the golden arches during a recent car trip, I was understandably panicked.

What do you do when toys or DVDs don't entertain your baby, toddler or preschooler? You asked. We answered.

Let’s face it. We’re not all super parents. You know, the ones who can make a smiley face mask with a page from an old magazine and a piece of hair? Well, maybe they're not exactly like that, but there always seems to be that special parent who can entertain a child for hours without breaking a sweat (or their partner’s neck at the end of the day). I am not one of those parents. After playing with my son, Cole, for half an hour, I start to wonder, "What now?" 

My grandson Max woke up this morning and the first words out of his mouth were, “Are we going to Grandpa and Nana’s house today?” It’s those moments that reinforce why Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday: It’s the one time of the year that my husband and I get to have all of our children and grandchildren together.

Kids of all ages love to get their hands dirty. Why not turn that into a fun and rewarding opportunity to teach them about science and the environment, responsibility and patience?

An old fashioned, All-American Block Party featuring food and drinks, music, a Kids Zone and tributes to emergency workers will be held noon-5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Buckwalter Place, near the intersection of Buckwalter Parkway and Bluffton Parkway,

The Bluffton Block Party has a simple mission: to celebrate American pride and spirit. Everyone is invited to thank our military men and women as well as police, firefighters, EMS and others who protect our liberty and to celebrate the freedom and privileges their sacrifices guarantee.

In the world of childcare, there are many challenges we face as children progress happily through their different phases in development. The most challenging of these is the biting phase! Biting is something that cannot be tolerated and causes harm to others – which is why parents and caregivers need to draw the line. It’s a common problem for our little ones due to teething and a general expression of frustration, anger or excitement when they are not yet able to communicate. But it’s a problem that we do not tolerate at Kids College and should not be tolerated in any childcare environment – in a center, in your home or otherwise.

Some say our society has collectively become too paranoid. Gone are the days when we send our kids out to play in the neighborhood, not knowing their exact whereabouts but relying on the comforting knowledge that they’ll return safely to us when the street lights came on.

Bicycling is a great way for children and their parents to get exercise, but it's important to follow a few safety rules. Both children and adults should wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet and ride a bike that is the right size, has functioning brakes, and fully inflated tires, according to National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. The
NHTSA also recommends that children younger than 10 years old ride on
the side walk.
Parents riding with their children in the street should follow the rules of the road and use bright colored clothing or gear to make yourself more visible to drivers.

The boxes are unpacked and the paint is dry, which means The Storybook Shoppe is set to open its doors on Wednesday.

Parents can never get too much advice, right? Here is Lowcountry Child's top picks for the best parenting books — from newborn to toddlers.