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Filed under: Fun & activitiesHere is your weekly roundup of fun stuff to do this weekend, as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media. Click on the links to read the reviews in full.At the Movies"Angels and Demons" is the long and rather complicated follow-up to author Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." Directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, the film is a long-winded conspiracy thriller featuring lots of gruesome violence as well as some mild swearing and smoking. Rated PG-13, OK for Kids 14+On DVDGood clean Disney fun, "Hatching Pete" is a playful lesson about self-confidence and finding one's way. The story follows a shy boy who comes out of his shell only when he's hidden inside his school's mascot chicken suit. Can he find the courage to be himself when the suit comes off? Refreshingly free of violence, consumerism and bad language, the film is chock-full of positive and empowering messages for teens. DVD also includes the Disney movie "Dadnapped. Not Rated, OK for Kids 7+TVAn edgy comedy featuring several big Broadway names, "Glee" follows the travails of a high school music teacher and his talented but awkward singers. There are some mature themes and high-schoolish name-calling, but the mood is upbeat and the music is fun. Rated TV-PG, OK for Kids 14+BooksIn Tony Abbott's "Firegirl," the story is less about Jessica, a girl who has been severely disfigured in a fire, and more about Tom, the boy whose life she changes forever. A poignant story about a regular kid learning that doing right and being good can sometimes be a struggle, "Firegirl" is a deep and thoughtful coming-of-age story. OK for Kids 9+Music"Paranoid" is the first release from the Jonas Brothers upcoming album, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times." A little bit edgier than some of their previous offerings, here the boys sing about feeling nervous about what is going on behind their backs - a theme most teens can relate to. The lyrics may stray a little from the tried and true angsty love song, but the music still has that that familiar pop sound. OK for Kids 8+Games"The Oregon Trail" has been bringing history alive since 1985 when it was first released on floppy disk. In this latest version for the iPhone/iPod Touch, the game is polished and easy to play and includes some fun mini-games. Hours of learning fun await in this classic game of survival. OK for Ages 9+ Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 16:00:00 EST
Have you ever wondered what your kids really think your job is like? Recently, we brought some of our children to the office to give them a sneak peak at what mommy and daddy are up to all day. Granted, it wasn't a totally run-of-the-mill day: AOL set up a game room and even had the "Naked Brothers Band" perform. But these kids still gave us some interesting insight into what they think about work. Click on the gallery below to see what they said -- and then ask your kids what they think you do all day, and share with us in the comments. What Kids Really Think About Work "I think work is more fun than school. I've told mom I would rather go to work a bunch of times, but then she says she'd rather go to school," 7-year-old Sadie says with a laugh. So what makes work so fun? "I had three donuts!" Getting to drink hot chocolate was a big hit with the kids, too. (Funny, when we are here those are the very things we are trying to avoid eating!) Jolie Novak, AOL The kids were treated to a performance by the "Naked Brothers Band." When we asked 12-year-old Laura if she thought her dad's job was this fun everyday, she replied with an enthusiastic "Yes!" Kristen Winter, AOL 11-year-old Gretta was super excited to get an autograph from band members, but was a little more realistic about whether every day at the office was this fun. "Well...not exactly," she said. Kristen Winter, AOL After hanging out in our game room a bunch of the boys here declared they would be video game reviewers when they grew up. It's real job...seriously. Keith Morrison, AOL 9-year-old Cameron shared that she wasn't too surprised today because her daddy tells her all about his job. Though she's not always thrilled with his hours. "He gets home really late sometimes," she said. But Cameron smiled ear to ear when she told us, "We talk a lot in the morning." Keith Morrison, AOL 10-year-old Brian came in with his mom. What did he was his biggest surprise of the day? "I thought her office would be bigger." Keith Morrison, AOL soKe.flace('parentdish-kids_at... '584', '600'); var uid = new Date().getTime(); var flashProxy = new FlashProxy(uid, [url] var flashvars = {}; try { flashvars.lcId = uid; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.targetAds = 'parentdish-kids_at_work'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.omniture_tracker = '0'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.adrefresh_wrapper = '1'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.appswfURL = soKe.fv('http://xml.channel.ao... } catch (Exc) { }; if (typeof(screen_name) != 'undefined') try { flashvars.userName = screen_name; } catch (Exc) { }; var params = {}; try { params.wmode = 'opaque'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.menu = 'false'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.bgcolor = '#ffffff'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.quality = 'best'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.allowScriptAccess = 'always'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.allowFullScreen = 'true'; } catch (Exc) { }; var attributes = {}; try { attributes.id = 'outlet'; } catch (Exc) { }; top.exd_space.refresher.ads2Re... Array( 'parentdish-kids_at_work', new Array('93248889','300','250','... )); top.exd_space.refresher.iFrm2R... Array( 'parentdish-kids_at_work', new Array('Placement_ID', '1425688'), new Array('Domain_ID', '1396767') )); top.exd_space.refresher.mmx('p... [url] ''); swfobject.embedSWF('http://cdn... 'parentdish-kids_at_work-swf', '584', '600', '9.0.115', [url] flashvars, params, attributes); top.exd_space.refresher.launch... 'parentdish-kids_at_work',{ dynamicSlide:[''], size:['456t'], photoNumber:['0'], title:['Our Kids Come to Work'], numimages:['6'], [url] imageurl:['aol-bring-kids-work... credit:['Getty'], source:[''], caption:['"I think work is more fun than school. I've told mom I would rather go to work a bunch of times, but then she says she'd rather go to school," 7-year-old Sadie says with a laugh. So what makes work so fun? "I had three donuts!" Getting to drink hot chocolate was a big hit with the kids, too. (Funny, when we are here those are the very things we are trying to avoid eating!)'], dims:['http://o.aolcdn.com/dim... showDisclaimerText:[''], disclaimerText:[''], CSS_Title:['#f53d87'], CSS_Caption:['#5b544c'], CSS_Disclaimer:['#5b544c'], CSS_Container:['#ffffff'], CSS_Border:['#ffffff'], CSS_PhotoWell:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_photoHolder:['#ffffff'], CSS_Buttons:['#f53d87'], CSS_BtnOver:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_Scroll:['#ffffff'], topMargin:['78,0,252,269,408,2... } ); Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 15:00:00 EST
Filed under: Playground bureau Does your playdate wear out their welcome? Don't hide -- use some simple strategies to set your boundaries. Photo courtesy of sxc.hu. What's a busy mom to do when that two-hour play date turns into a seven-hour marathon? You've tried all the normal social cues: yawning, putting your kid down for a nap, rattling the pots and pans as you get ready to make dinner. And still, she just won't leave.Do you chew your own leg off, as Massachusetts mother Christina Refford suggested? Or how about sneaking upstairs to call your father-in-law and begging him to come over, because "he's a total party-killer," like one Canadian mom did. Do you draw the shades when the neighborhood playdate pariah comes knocking on your door, like Heather, a mom of two from Cleveland, Ohio? Heather was a young mom living in California when she encountered the playdate from hell. She met another mother who lived in her San Diego apartment complex, and agreed to get their kids together one afternoon for playtime and lunch. After the kids ate, Heather suggested that her guest leave for nap time, but her plan was foiled when both girls fell asleep."I told her that I really should get some stuff done around the house while Alexis slept," Heather recalls. "So she started helping me pick up. I just shrugged thinking that maybe Linda didn't want to wake her daughter, so I chatted, or rather listened, as Linda kept sharing more and more. I learned that her estranged husband was in prison!"Continue reading When Your Playdate Won't Leave Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 14:00:00 EST
Filed under: Image of the Day Daily Cutie This toddler is too cute for words. (His socks too!) Thanks to jyhuangl for this beautiful shot. jyhuangl This lovely portrait makes us think of brisk fall days. Thanks to kellie.hatcher for letting us share this beautiful photo. kellie.hatcher This curly-haired angel looks perfectly content with his treat. Thanks to Diary of an Air Force Wife for this lovely shot. Nothing comes between this cutie and her sunbathing time! Thanks to jes adri for this absolutely darling photo! These young cowboys look like they've got a story or two. Thanks to sprkels for this great photo. A future horticulturalist in the works. Thanks to Fanny Brown Rice for this darling portrait. Fanny Brown Rice on flickr Peekaboo...we see some beautiful blue eyes! Thanks to karstenkneese for a glimpse at this cutie. karstenkneese on flickr Those perfect curls and chocolate brown eyes make us swoon. Thanks to defCon five for this lovely portrait. defCon five on flickr That gaze tells us one thing - nap time is imminent. Thanks to By The Moonlight Creations for such an adorable shot. By the Moonlight Creations on flickr What a perfectly stylish little angel! Thanks to Carri and Brian for this beautiful portrait of their little one. Carri and Brian on flickr soKe.flace('parentdish-parentd... '584', '577'); var uid = new Date().getTime(); var flashProxy = new FlashProxy(uid, [url] var flashvars = {}; try { flashvars.lcId = uid; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.targetAds = 'parentdish-parentdish_lookboo... } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.omniture_tracker = '0'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.adrefresh_wrapper = '1'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { flashvars.appswfURL = soKe.fv('http://xml.channel.ao... } catch (Exc) { }; if (typeof(screen_name) != 'undefined') try { flashvars.userName = screen_name; } catch (Exc) { }; var params = {}; try { params.wmode = 'opaque'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.menu = 'false'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.bgcolor = '#ffffff'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.quality = 'best'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.allowScriptAccess = 'always'; } catch (Exc) { }; try { params.allowFullScreen = 'true'; } catch (Exc) { }; var attributes = {}; try { attributes.id = 'outlet'; } catch (Exc) { }; top.exd_space.refresher.ads2Re... Array( 'parentdish-parentdish_lookboo... new Array('93248889','300','250','... )); top.exd_space.refresher.iFrm2R... Array( 'parentdish-parentdish_lookboo... new Array('Placement_ID', '1370711'), new Array('Domain_ID', '1079767') )); top.exd_space.refresher.mmx('p... [url] ''); swfobject.embedSWF('http://cdn... 'parentdish-parentdish_lookboo... '584', '577', '9.0.115', [url] flashvars, params, attributes); top.exd_space.refresher.launch... 'parentdish-parentdish_lookboo... dynamicSlide:[''], size:['456t'], photoNumber:['0'], title:['Daily Cutie'], numimages:['49'], [url] imageurl:['51509.jpg'], credit:['jyhuangl/Flickr'], source:[''], caption:['This toddler is too cute for words. (His socks too!) Thanks to jyhuangl for this beautiful shot.'], dims:['http://o.aolcdn.com/dim... showDisclaimerText:[''], disclaimerText:[''], CSS_Title:['#f53d87'], CSS_Caption:['#5b544c'], CSS_Disclaimer:['#5b544c'], CSS_Container:['#ffffff'], CSS_Border:['#ffffff'], CSS_PhotoWell:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_photoHolder:['#ffffff'], CSS_Buttons:['#f53d87'], CSS_BtnOver:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_Scroll:['#ffffff'], topMargin:['109,0,190,269,408,... } ); If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. We'll highlight an image every day. Remember: We're on the lookout for shots with interesting backgrounds, cool angles, or original composition. Be sure to read the intro on our main Flickr page for more information and limit your uploading to 5 photos per day. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 EST
Filed under: Behaving badlyKate Gosselin's brother Kevin Kreider say that his sister's marriage to husband Jon Gosselin is "over" and that their relationship is now governed by a "secret contract" in order to preserve the high ratings of their popular TLC reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus Eight." Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus 8 Rumors are swirling about Jon and Kate Gosselin's marriage. Is it over? Or is this just the stuff of reality TV? It's hard to know what's true, but it's even harder to look away. David Livingston, Getty Images Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you had one more child? How about two more? How about SIX more?Four years ago, Jon and Kate Gosselin went from being parents of two to parents of eight, and their lives have never been the same. Getty Images Today we all have a window into that life on TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8. And of course, part of peeking into someone else's life is hypothesizing how we might do things differently or better, because it's always easy to imagine what you would do in someone else's shoes.What is harder to imagine is what it would really be like to walk in those other shoes -- what's it like to wake up every morning and be Kate Gosselin? ParentDish had a chance to ask her just that recently. TLC.Discovery.com In a normal week, the Gosselins have a television crew in their house about half the time, which is a lot, if you think about it. And while they will occasionally opt out of filming specific moments with their kids, the Gosselins have no editorial control over the show -- what you see is what you get, packaged by a team of folks at Discovery and TLC. But, Kate says, this is reality TV, and it accurately reflects life at the Gosselin house; nothing is pre-planned or made up. "We don't have time to memorize scripts," she jokes.I believe that."We set out to show the truth," Kate says, "I couldn't watch it if it weren't true." What you see, in every televised moment, is precisely what is happening -- no stage directions or do-overs. This is life at the Gosselin house. Getty Images Kate Gosselin has gotten quite a bit of flak, both from the media and from viewers, for the way she treats her husband; the two are often shown bickering during the show. Kate says the criticisms don't bother her; she doesn't Google herself or make a practice of reading about herself on or off line. "Everyone has an opinion," she says, "and I'm only paying attention to my own." But she does admit that the way the show is edited affects how people see her family and her marriage. "If Jon and I have three spats over a two day period, they're going to edit it to make it look like those happened in the 22 minute period." The show is just a small slice of her family's life, after all. TLC.Discovery.com Kate is clearly focused not on what goes on outside her family but on her children. Her goal, she says, is to treat each child like an only child -- a hard thing to do when you're the mom of eight. "I hold myself to a very high standard," she says. At the same time, though, she's not trying to be perfect, or even to appear perfect to viewers of the show. She's just living her life.And yes, she's living it with television cameras in her house, but it's still her real life. Kate says that while the experience of being on television has changed her life, it hasn't changed who she is. She says the same about having eight children -- "It's hard to live through what we have lived through and not change. We are the same -- it's how people treat us" that is different. Getty Images One of the hardest things about her family, Kate says, is the noise; there are days when the older girls, Cara and Mady, come home from school and their reports about what they have done are drowned out by the noise of the sextuplets. More than anything, she says, she longs for peace and quiet -- otherwise, she would not change a thing about her life. Getty Images Kate finds the humor in her life -- recently, she partnered with P&G to help promote some of their brands, including Bounty paper towels, which she refers to as "my weapon of choice." She also laughs about the end of nap time at the Gosselin house; the sextuplets are four now and no one, Kate says, naps any more. But it's a rare night that the family gets through dinner without someone dozing off at the table. Recently, Jon said, "I think we can kiss goodbye ever having a family dinner again." A good night, Kate said, is when the kids push their plates out of the way before they fall asleep.You have to laugh about that, and Kate Gosselin does. Getty Images The Gosselins have a strong faith in God; they are often seen on the show wearing t-shirts with scripture on them and attending church. But despite the fact that the show doesn't highlight their faith, the Gosselins see it as an opportunity to share what they believe. Their website, The Gosselin 10, includes prayers and devotionals, and Jon and Kate travel around speaking to various churches and groups about their life and faith. The show, Kate says, has given them this opportunity to share what they believe. Amazon.com And for the Gosselins, being on television is about opportunity, not fame. The show has opened a variety of doors for them; Kate and Jon both work from home, which makes their life as parnents of eight more manageable. But it's not easy by any means -- there are days, Kate says, when she and Jon work until midnight.Kate has three pieces of advice for other parents. "Every morning, before my feet hit the floor," she says, "I pray for strength, just enough to get through that day." She reminds parents that a sense of humor can get you through nearly everything -- laugh, she says, don't cry. And finally, the most important lesson of all: "Always remember that bedtime comes, every single day." sixgosselins.com soKe.flace('parentdish-parentd... 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And of course, part of peeking into someone else's life is hypothesizing how we might do things differently or better, because it's always easy to imagine what you would do in someone else's shoes.'], dims:['http://o.aolcdn.com/dim... showDisclaimerText:[''], disclaimerText:[''], CSS_Title:['#f53d87'], CSS_Caption:['#5b544c'], CSS_Disclaimer:['#5b544c'], CSS_Container:['#ffffff'], CSS_Border:['#ffffff'], CSS_PhotoWell:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_photoHolder:['#ffffff'], CSS_Buttons:['#f53d87'], CSS_BtnOver:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_Scroll:['#ffffff'], topMargin:['96,0,215,269,408,2... } ); Kevin Krieder, 32, tells RadarOnline.com: "Six months ago Kate came to Jon and said, 'Hey, it's over.'" He says that the couple fought so fiercely that the show's production crew had a hard time getting enough footage to patch episodes together. Krieder also reveals that some members of the crew had concerns over how the Gosselin children were treated during filming.Krieder's wife, Jodi, adds that her sister-in-law "exploits" the couple's eight children and that they are suffering because of it. She then goes on to say that the show is nothing but a sham: "The show is not reality, and has not been for a long time. This is a train wreck."Train wreck? How about the Hindenburg? Jon Gosselin's been spotted squiring his alleged mistress, third grade school teacher Deanna Hummell to nightclubs all over Pennsylvania, while Kate fends off accusations that she's canoodling with bodyguard Steve Neild while gallivanting around the country on publicity junkets.Any long-time fan of the Gosselins' reality show could tell you that this was a couple on the verge of serious marital problems. Kate's controlling ways (and angry-porcupine hair-do) are part of what make "Jon & Kate" so entertaining. Watching her give Jon the business is all part of the fun, right? And Jon? He plays the victim well, but recently seemed less passive when his wife berated him for all of TV Land to see.Look, it's easy (and fun!) to judge celebrities from afar, and they set themselves up for it. The price of fame, right? But in this case, as "Aunt Jodi" correctly points out, there are eight little kids for whom none of this is a joke. Their parents' marriage is in a very public death spiral, and their little lives are hostage to whatever happens with mom and dad.Kate told People that she "doesn't know what she can do to stop the insanity" of the tabloid news coverage about her family. Um, hey, here's an idea -- maybe turn off the TV cameras and get to work on repairing your relationship? Kreider agrees, and urges his sister and brother-in-law to give up the trappings of fame and fortune to save their marriage. "Their family is in shambles," he says. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:00 EST
Filed under: Kid decor & style Cookie: Picks of the Week Atsuyo Et Akiko WingsImagine the delight these wonderfully special wings will bring your little fairy princess. She'll flutter around all day bringing happiness to everyone around her. $34, Sweet William. Carolina Herrera CH Children's CollectionWe can't help but swoon over legendary designer Carolina Herrera's latest masterpiece. Her children's collection is part fantasy, a touch Suri Cruise, and absolutely perfect for any summer celebration. Carolina Herrera. Christopher Deane I Heart ToteWe love canvas totes in the summer-- perfect for those weekends when you're running from the farmer's market to the playground, and if they start to look a little dingy, you can just throw them in the wash. Imagine our delight when we came across Brooklyn-based design duo, Christopher Deane's creative take on our favorite accessory. $25, Christopher Deane. Fuji EnviroMax BatteriesNow your gadgets can go green with you! There is nothing inside a Fuji EnviroMAX battery that will harm the environment if it is disposed of through normal waste systems, so you can have the best of both worlds at no added costs. From $6, Amazon.com. Lilly Pulitzer's A Colorful Cause CollectionLilly Pulitzer is celebrating their 50th Jubilee anniversary by unveiling this very special limited-edition collection designed by nine celebrity moms (including our very own 2009 Smart Cookie, Debra Messing) to generate awareness and support for EBMRF (Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation). From $98, Lilly Pulitzer. Flip UltraHDWe've been fans of the Flip from the start but the latest and greatest is the new Flip UltraHD. We're stoked about the bigger screen, rechargeable AA batteries, and two full hours of recording time so you can be sure you'll capture every special moment. $200, TheFlip.com. Soulful Toaster Dunk MugHandmade in England with a white glaze finish, this dual purpose, surprisingly large drinking mug is a must-have for any biscuit and biscotti lover. $21, Soulful Toaster. Sue London Ballet SlippersWe wear our ballet flats everywhere, all the time, rain or shine, and are always looking for the next perfect pair. We have officially found them. Sue London's ballet slippers are impossibly comfortable and pack away in their own little pouch so you can keep a pair at home and a pair in your bag. The only problem we foresee is having to choose from such a lovely, chic palette of colors. $146.00, Sue London. Cynthia Rowley Baby On Board Bicycle Built for ThreePicture it now: the three of you on a tandem bicycle, cruising along a boardwalk or around your neighborhood, the breeze in your hair, the sound of your little one laughing behind you... We couldn't ask for anything more this mother's day. Well, except maybe this fabulous vintage-inspired version from designer and mother of two, Cynthia Rowley. $1200.00, Cynthia Rowley. Ralph Lauren Anelie DressShe'll feel like a little garden princess in this ultra-feminine dress. It's perfect for spring picnics and birthdays, or any old day in the park. $80, Ralph Lauren. soKe.flace('parentdish-parentd... 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She'll flutter around all day bringing happiness to everyone around her. $34, Sweet William.'], dims:['http://o.aolcdn.com/dim... showDisclaimerText:[''], disclaimerText:[''], CSS_Title:['#f53d87'], CSS_Caption:['#5b544c'], CSS_Disclaimer:['#5b544c'], CSS_Container:['#ffffff'], CSS_Border:['#ffffff'], CSS_PhotoWell:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_photoHolder:['#ffffff'], CSS_Buttons:['#f53d87'], CSS_BtnOver:['#bbe9e6'], CSS_Scroll:[''], topMargin:['19,0,369,269,408,2... } ); Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 10:00:00 EST
Filed under: In the news, Weird but true Is McDonald's teaching kids to swear? Photo courtesy of sxc.hu. Some Alabama parents are upset about a track on the Kidz Bop 6 CD that is being given away with McDonald's Happy Meals. They say the supposedly kid-friendly version of Gavin De Graw's "I Don't Want To Be" includes the F-word. The Boaz, Alabama McDonald's has pulled the potentially offending CD from the Happy Meals after parents complained. One parent told station WAFF-TV: "In the song the word is supposed to be 'looking,' but they're saying the f-word with the -ing on the end." (Friending? Finding? Frying? No, not those...) Sounds pretty innocuous, right? Then parents started listening to the free CDs. Some thought they heard something they didn't expect on the Kidz Bp cover version of Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want To Be." What were they hearing? Well, there are a couple of options. Here's the original lyric from DeGraw's tune (emphasis added): I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do You can watch the video for the song here; the lyric in question occurs about 45 seconds in. What some parents think they hear on the Kidz Bop disc is the following: I'm tired of f**king 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do Dangerous Toys The New Easy Bake OvenNew, and unfortunately not-so-improved, the oven caused 77 burns, 16 of them second or third-degree, and one that resulted in a partial finger amputation. CPSC AquadotsWhen you add water to these little plastic balls, the coating produces effects similar to GHB -- the date rape drug. Pleasant. Thankfully they were recalled. Aquadots Lead paintSpeaking of things you shouldn't put in your mouth, how about any toy from China? Hundreds have been recalled thanks to the high levels of lead in the paint used to coat these toys sensoryedge.com Magnetic toysParticularly magnets that are small enough to swallow. When positive and negative magnets are floating around your digestive tract, they're drawn to one another, which can do some serious, life-threatening damage. amazon.com Snack time Cabbage PatchThis little doll was so hungry, it had a habit of chewing little kids' fingers, hair, and whatever else was unfortunate enough to get stuck in its mouth. It was quickly recalled. strawberrybonkers.com Mini-hammockAccording to the Consumer Product Safety Commission: "the mini-hammock can twist around a child's neck as he/she is getting into or out of the mini-hammock, resulting in strangulation and death." All 3 million were recalled. CPSC Lawn DartsThese have been banned for years in the US, as they had a tendency to wind up stuck in kids, not the ground. gardengames.co.uk Johnny Reb CannonThis bad boy fired plastic cannon balls up to 35 feet. Even a pellet gun would be less dangerous -- at least you can aim a gun. Johnny Reb Cannon Atomic Energy LabGood thing this atomic energy set only came with "very low-level" radioactive sources, because that's not dangerous. Oh wait -- yes, yes it is. americanmemorabilia.com Water Yo-Yo BallsSpeaking of getting strangled to death, these yo-yo balls came under scrutiny after the stringy cord got wrapped around children's necks. They've been banned in Illinois, but have yet to be recalled by the CPSC. sz-wholesale.com soKe.flace('parentdish-parentd... 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Bloggingbaby.com Fri, 15 May 2009 06:00:00 EST
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