If the electronic age hasn’t arrived I don’t now when it ever will.  Don’t misunderstand me. As a working mom, I can’t live without my Blackberry, Laptop and cell phone. But when it comes to electronics and kids, how much is too much?

Most or them are plugged in an average of 6.5 hours a day, save for school and athletic events.  That is a staggering amount in my opinion and I think a lot of parents share my concern. We should re-introduce these kids to board games. If your holiday gift list doesn’t include one, now is the time to take a look at some exciting new ones and some familiar classics.

Puerto Rico By Rio Grande Games is a German Board game that is slightly complex, but once teens get in to it they’ll be obsessed with it. (In a good way!)   The object of the game is to gain as many points as you can by shipping goods to the Old World while acting as colonial governors on the island of Puerto Rico during the age of Caribbean Ascendancy by constructing buildings. This is like a really grand version of Monopoly by parker Brothers, which is my second choice for those “hard to buy for” teens.

“Game Night” is a great way to re-connect with your kids and establish some lasting traditions. Why not give it a try? 

With fall arriving in just a few short weeks, I thought I would share with you some of the top Halloween costumes for kids. (From Pricegrabber, of course.)

Baby Nemo Clown Fish: How cute is this? It’s perfect for a chilly October night, as it acts like a bunting and fastens snugly in the back to keep your baby cozy and warm.

Peter Pan: I like costumes that are different and original and let’s face it, kids won’t let you pick out their costumes forever! (For babies’ eighteen to twenty four months)

We like Pirates in my house, and this is about as classic as you can get.  What’s great about this costume is that it really is gender neutral.

Baby Ice Cream Cone: So yummy you’ll want to take a lick. They’ll probably get extra treats for wearing this winner. (Back closure makes diaper changing a snap.)

Princess White Velvet Native American Princess: Pre-teen girls will appreciate this costume, especially if they are into the American Girl dolls or books.

Cherokee Warrior: This impressive costume will complement Princess White Velvet beautifully. (That is, if your daughter will let her brother trick or treat with her!)

Ben Franklin Historical Halloween: For the intellectual child that wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a pirate costume.  This unique costume could win your kid a prize!

Chewbacca: Star Wars is still popular after all these years and again, it’s gender friendly.

Cowgirl: For the tomboy (girl), there’s nothing like the wild, Wild West!

Finally, a Princess:  Every little girl who dreams of being one. (I might be one myself this year!)

Art class is a favorite of most kids, especially little girls.  (Boys tend to like recess) At I recent kindergarten graduation I attended, twelve out of sixteen girls said they wanted to be an artist when they grew up.

Well what’s not to like about expressing your creativity?  In my son’s school, they do a lot of crafty things, and the kids enjoy it tremendously. So, as I was looking for a gift to buy for a for a little girl’s eighth birthday party, I kept this theory in mind.

I thought this Friendship Bracelets By Alex would make a great present and a fun activity to do at the party.  This is an Oppenheimer Award Winner Toy and is a new way to make some fashionable accessories for the “diva “ in them.

This kit comes with ten wheels, ten colors of floss, finishing beads and easy instructions so Mom or Dad can get them started.  Once the initial pattern is in place, kids can simply turn the wheel and watch their creations take place. This would make a great party favor too, if you were the one hosting the party.

As an add-on gift you might want to include a refill pack (Alex Toys Friendship Wheel Singles) for the birthday girl so she can enjoy making additional bracelets for herself or as gifts for others. (You know you’ll be wearing one, Mom!)

While shopping for some back-to school clothes for my son the other day (On Pricegrabber of course, who has time to go to the mall?) I figured I would pick up a few things for my sixteen-year-old nephew.  “What’s his style?” I inquired of his mother?  “Goodwill” she replied.   Uh, okay and that means exactly what?  Get him some T-shirts, she suggested.   Well, I gave it my best shot and here’s what I came up with. I hope he likes them!

Quicksilver Eat Your Veggies Organic (of course) T-Shirt: Made of organic (Not 100%) recycled materials, this comfy cotton shirt will add some style to his wardrobe.

Live The Life You Love 100% Organic Cotton Tee: This natural and green company makes fabulous clothing for men, women and even pets!

And for my own crunchy kid, Quicksilver Boys Past time Organic Cotton Layered Tee: He wants to be like his cousin!

Why do I love organic cotton so much? It’s not so much for the body as much as it is because it is environmentally friendly. Farmers are able to manufacture organic cotton without the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals.  They instead use a natural and safe system of composting and the introduction of many other innovative techniques that are good for the environment, wildlife and our water.

Of course it feels good too and if your child has sensitive skin, nothing feels better against it than organics. Prices have come done in recent years due to the demand of these types of natural products making them very affordable and worth every penny!

If you have a child who is a bed wetter, chronic or occasionally it can be frustrating for everyone. While this is a normal part of growing up, it can cause a real sense of shame and embarrassment for a child.

An otherwise outgoing kid may become anxious when it is time to go to bed and it can be a real blow to their self esteem. It’s important to help them through this stage (And have them checked out medically of course if you feel this it is necessary). While there are many different options in the marketplace (alarms, homeopathic medicines, etc…) I like to start out with the basics.

Number one is really self-explanatory: No late night glasses of O.J. (I’m talking to you, Dads!) Another way is simply to offer your child some discreet protection in case they have an accident at night.  Huggies Goodnights Sleep Shorts will give them the confidence they need. These waterproof shorts look like boxers and are available for boys and girls (Each offering protection where they need it most.)

These can be worn under their jammies and will keep them dry at night so they can wake up to a good morning.  This is a product older children with this challenge will appreciate and one they can quietly manage until they outgrow it.

And they will.

(Try Huggies  Pull Ups Night-time With Extra Absorbancy for little kids just starting to train.)

With all the warnings about the various Flu viruses’ heading our way, it’s time to get serious about ways we can help our children stay illness-free this year. 

The Centers For Disease Control emphasizes that the best way to achieve this is simply through hand washing.  It is an effective way to keep colds and Flu from infecting your kids and you! The best way to do this is to pack waterless hand sanitizer in their lunchbox and instruct them to use it before eating their lunch or whenever needed.

Now you might think I am going to go organic here, but the facts are that unless a hand sanitizer is at least fifty percent alcohol it won’t work effectively.  That’s why I would suggest picking up the number one selling brand in America. Purell Instant Hand-Wrapped Wipes are individually wrapped towellettes that will do the job nicely.  Drop a few into their lunchbox or book bag and pack a few for a friend. (If you’ve ever been in the cafeteria at lunchtime like I have, you’ll know why!)

The interesting and really great thing about hand sanitizer’s is that kids never seem to turn it down if it’s offered to them. (Even teens, and for them I recommend the handy two oz. bottle of Purell Portable-Size Hand Sanitizer Liquid with a backpack clip. Little kids will use this up in one day!)

This is one habit you’ll want your kids to pick up so that they can have a healthy and happy school year.  

Every kid I know wants a metal detector. This was a “hot” item to buy a few years ago within my circle of friends and the novelty has not worn off yet in my household. Discovery Channel makes a good one that they will use for years and it’s so full of upgrades, you’ll want to use it too.

What a great way for kids to entertain themselves, get a little fresh air and a science lesson to boot!   The Discovery Exclusive Metal Detector boasts a telescoping design that allows it to adjust to different height levels, so even little kids can use it.

This model is highly sensitive and will distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the LED light indicators will determine the different types of metal found. Bury the pirates “doubloon” included in this kit and watch their excitement as the detector starts to “beep” indicating they have found some buried treasure.  They can then use the shovel and sifter (comes with) to uncover their finds.

This is the kind of toy that is fun to take with you on these last days of summer. There are plenty of riches to find at the beach, park or even the local playground.  If your kids find something of real value though encourage them to put an ad in their local paper to help find the owner.  Include some Walkie Talkies for all-important communication and you have a toy that never gets old. (Discovery Toys FRS Walkie Talkie Watch Set)

Nothing beats a hoodie when it comes to dressing your kids.  Be it a boy or a girl, they seem to have a real sense of what is “cool” from an early age

While in New York City with my family this fall, I marveled at my teenage nephew who casually wore a hoodie as his outerwear.  “Aren’t you cold, I asked?”  He seemed confused for a minute and then replied,  “But I have a hoodie on!” (My sister has given up.)

Get ready Moms  because that’s all they will want to wear, so invest in a few of these wardrobe staples.   The Hatly Kids Lab Pullover Hoodie is a cute way to start . This pullover style hoodie sports elastic cuffs at the wrist and hem and a sporty kangaroo pocket.  The all-over Labrador print adorns the inside hood and of course what I like best, no ties at the neck. (They’re not necessary anyway.)

This is a perfect back-to-school item that will appeal to a lot of kids.  It is a unisex design, so feel free to pass it down to a brother or sister.  Made of 100 percent cotton, it will wash well and feel soft and cozy for years to come.

Hatly Kids also makes zip-up hoodies for kids that prefer that style, with the same fun appliques to spruce up their wardrobe.

I hate to think about getting ready for school, but it is right around the corner.  As usual, I am a little bit behind in this unhappy (happy?) task, but it will all come together (I hope!)

One thing I need to do is get my son’s bedroom organized so he has a clutter-free area to do his schoolwork.  This is very important, as I don’t want him to be distracted by any “shifty” Legos laying around, begging him to stop and play. If this sounds familiar, invest in some cute storage bins.

This Prep School Blue 3-Piece Storage Bin By Trend Lab will do the job. Use the large bin for storing bigger toys or even dirty clothes.  The medium for all of the tiny toy pieces he or she will have scattered around, and the small for whatever is left.  The colorful fabric inserts are removable so they can easily be washed if he (she) chooses to store, say a paint set in them!  Let your kids decide and get involved in keeping their important stuff neat and organized.

Granted, you can use clear plastic storage bins, or old Tupperware, but this looks so much better. There is even a clear plastic label area so they can easily identify what’s in each bin. Little girls may be more interested in this room improvement project than boys (Trend Lab Hula Baby 3-Piece Storage Bin Set) and getting them to actually put the “stuff” in them will depend on your child’s interest, but why not give it the “Old College Try?”  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but they are perfect for college students too!)

Oh, how I love a Poncho.  It makes me think of crisp fall days and my own childhood. I personally own a few and they are the perfect thing to accessorize a boring pair of jeans and a solid t-shirt.

There are many reasons besides fashion to love a poncho.  For one thing, they keep little hands free (especially important when picking up leaves.) Another thing I like about them, is most of them are “hoodless” which means you don’t have to cut the strings off of them so they don’t get caught on anything at the playground.

These Baby Girls DKPinecone  Striped Ponchos by The Childrens Place are the perfect fall outerwear for the truly fashion conscious little girl. Brightly striped cotton/viscose blend and pullover style accented with tiny embroidered flowers will keep her warm and cozy on her busy days. This is an easy alternative to a bulky jacket, especially when buckling her into her car seat.

If she gets too warm, just slip it off and it stores easily like a comfy sweater. This garment comes minus any buttons or grommets, so there is no chance of her putting any foreign objects in to her mouth and choking.

This simple little cover-up has “mad” style, and comes in two vibrant color palates to choose from.