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Photo:  Andres Rueda, Flickr

My kids have been asking when they can have cell phones. They are 6 and 9 years old, and wow, this topic is so off my radar, I can’t even begin to consider arming them with something so extravagant. I don’t think I had a cell phone until I was married — do they really need one any earlier?

Then there are credit cards. They haven’t asked about these yet, but there’s some chit-chat out there about when it’s appropriate for kids to pack some plastic. Take a look, consider all the angles and tell us what you think.

Photo: The Lightworks, Flickr

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

U.S. babies are getting smaller, says Lil Sugar, and pregnancies are getting shorter, too. Hmmm.

I loved my Barbie dolls back in the day. ParentDish reports that fashion designers are loving Barbie, too.

MomLogic is talking about whether or not Tiger Woods is a role model. What do you think?

Need some slow cooker meals you can simmer all day while you’re running all over town? Parents.com has what you need, and let me just say: Mmmmm.

Everything you ever wanted to know about kid nutrition and fitness — right here.

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Photo: Raúl A., Flickr

So, sleep is important. You need it, your kids need it, your babies need it. Yet none of us gets enough of it. The funny thing is, we tend to obsess over how much our infants get, and then once the wee ones make it to preschool age, we drop the ball, letting them stay up later and later. And watch out on weekends, when late-nighters are no-brainers.

Turns out even minimal amounts of sleep deprivation — like one hour per night — can leave our childrens’ brains a little less developed than they should be. Too little sleep can make our sixth graders think like fourth-graders, and our tweens’ moods can become even more exaggerated after losing some shut-eye. Yikes!

It’s all very interesting, this sleep stuff, and that’s why author Po Bronson writes about “the lost hour” in his book NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children. You should grab your self a copy, or borrow one from your library. That’s what I did, and I’m making my way through the book right now. Good stuff. I promise.

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

How do you get your teen to clean his room? ParentDish has the scoop.

Some parents go way overboard on loot bags at kids’ birthday parties, and some parents don’t give out a thing. Lil Sugar wants to know if you’re a fan of party favors.

Money, money, money. We’re all a little worried about it, right? Which means we really should be teaching our kids how to manage, budget and save, says Divine Caroline

What’s better for obese teens — diet and exercise or surgery? That’s fit weighs in.

What do you tell your kids when they ask how the baby gets in the tummy? One MomLogic writer shares how she talked sex with her young daughter.

Photo: Michael (mx5tx), Flickr

It’s a big thing to leave your kids with someone when you’ve got to head out solo — maybe you need to work or attend class, perhaps a pedicure is in order or how about that well-deserved night out? You want to break free, but you also want to know your kiddos are in good hands. Well, help is here — Parents.com offers 15 things you need to know when seeking a sitter. A few teasers:

• Don’t rush things, and listen to your gut. “Don’t hire someone you think is mediocre because you’re running out of time,” says Parents.com.
• Set up a practice run so you can watch the person interact with your child.
• Just because the sitter acts friendly to your child does not mean he/she is the best match. Says Parents.com on this one: “No one can develop an instantaneous bond to a child.”
• Make sure your babysitters know CPR.

Want the remaining 11 tips? Here they are.

Photo: msgen.com

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

Need to add a little spark to your family game night? Lil Sugar talks the new, modern-looking Monopoly — you might want to give it a try.

ParentDish talks games, too, and names the top 10 you should be playing.

Are you sensing a game theme here? Chatterbox talks about kids who get a little bossy while game playing.

New topic: Facebook. Is it making you crazy about babies? Divine Caroline discusses.

ModernMom says this is a must-have: The money-savvy piggy bank.

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