On Fridays, we list the links we love and point to the hot topics at our favorite sites.

College may seem so way off in the future, you can’t even begin to think about saving for it. But, maybe it’s time to sock away some higher education funds, says ParentDish.

Yep, kids are expensive, and Divine Caroline dishes out the dirt on the true cost of having a baby.

Need some family adventure? Lil Sugar offers a few tips for camping with kids.

Need a daddy diaper bag? Babies.com makes a few suggestions.

Time to slash the sugar, Mom and Dad! Do it for your kiddos!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Photo: mikebaird, Flickr

Somehow, it seems, summer is flying right by. And I’m afraid that, before we know it, we’ll be trekking back to school to meet the teachers and starting another whole school year once again — which will, somehow, fly right by, too.

So, it seems about time to ask: How’s your summer shaping up? I’ll go first: Ours is going quite well. Piano lessons, swimming, beaching, boating, movie-going, and more fills our days. There are also late nights, and late mornings, and a really relaxed feel to our days off. It’s not all fun and games, though. You might agree. There’s bickering and fighting and begging and, yes, the dreaded “what can I do now?” boredom! It’s really quite frustrating at times, and if you want the whole scoop, you can read all about my summer stresses right here. Then, please, weigh in on summer at your house!

]]> http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/26/hows-your-summer-shaping-up-monday-mention/feed/ 0 http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/23/hating-hubby-loving-boredom-friday-finds/ http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/23/hating-hubby-loving-boredom-friday-finds/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:40 +0000 Jacki Donaldson http://planetkidonline.com/?p=3767

Photo: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

On Fridays, we list the links we love and point to the hot topics at our favorite sites.

Do you hate your hubby now that baby has arrived? Hey, it happens.

More helpful answers to all things babies — at Babies.com!

The best summer gift you can give your kids is boredom. Are you delivering?

You may be cutting corners when it comes to finances, but be sure you don’t skimp on these four things!

You might also be trying to cut down on the pounds. Here, some tips for banishing the post-baby bulge.

I just picked up a handy DIY Child ID Kit at Walgreens today. Sponsored by Triaminic, this small folding booklet allows you to record your child’s pertinent information — name, DOB, sex, race, blood type, height, weight, eye color, hair color and identifying marks. Add a photo, and all 10 fingerprints (just need to buy a red fingerprint ink pad), and store in a safe and easily-accessible place. Bonus: Your Kit comes with two coupons, which can save you $3.00.

]]> http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/19/child-id-kit-monday-mention/feed/ 0 http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/16/summer-bugs-real-foods-friday-finds/ http://planetkidonline.com/2010/07/16/summer-bugs-real-foods-friday-finds/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000 Jacki Donaldson http://planetkidonline.com/?p=3750

Photo: James Jordan, Flickr

On Fridays, we list the links we love and point to the hot topics at our favorite sites.

Summer bugs make me buggy! Imagine my joy after learning there’s a soap that might keep the insects at bay.

When should you start the babe on real foods? Lil Sugar offers 10 tips for starting on solids.

Need a baby gift but hate the usuals? Try these Babies.com gift picks that are quite unique.

What’s with all the little kids staying up so late? MomLogic weighs in.

The topic keeps coming us: Family dinners make for happier kids. Must be because it’s true!

Photo: www.amazon.com

We’ve got a summer game we are l-o-v-i-n-g, and we thought you might want to try it out, too. It’s called Cadoo, and it’s just right for four people who like a little charades, drawing, sculpting with clay, reading encoded messages, and more. Cadoo is both fun and educational (gotta answer questions, like: Name something that grows on a rhino and makes a noise in a car), and we bet your kids will want to play over and over again. Hey, you might, too.

Photo: Jim Sneddon, Flickr

On Fridays, we list the links we love and point to the hot topics at our favorite sites.

It can be a bear to install car seats — come on, you know it! ParentDish reports that one car seat might actually be a cinch!

Kids and pressure. How much is too much?

We’re dealing with safe surfing in our household, and ChatterKid is talking Internet safety, too.

Are you an authoritative parent? If so, your teens might make wise drinking decisions. Authoritarian and permissive? Maybe not so much!