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Meet Erin England, CEO of Diaper Concierge
There’s not exactly a glamorous story behind Erin England’s enterprising pursuit. Far from it: A “code brown” in a public restroom and an ill-fitting diaper led to the Dallas mom’s aha-moment. With Diaper Concierge, the finance attorney is now helping other parents in a pickle....
The Power of Unstructured Playtime
Paige Herrmann is a first-time mom to a 2-year-old who lives in a suburb south of Dallas. She’s new to this whole mom gig, but she does know one thing: When her little boy gets unstructured playtime, he’s a happier, more independent kid. That’s huge for her, since he doesn’t have any siblings to entertain him and she works full-time. Herrmann notices her son gets grumpy and overstimulated when he doesn’t have that playtime.
What Causes Developmental Tics in Kids?
It started on a hot summer day—or at least that’s when I first noticed. Tired from a morning of playing outside in the sun, my 6-year-old son sunk into the couch, freeze pop in hand, mindlessly watching cartoons. As his eyes followed the show on the screen, they suddenly opened wide, darted to the right then rolled down. He blinked, still watching the TV, totally unphased.
Sound Advice: How Do I Wean My Toddler?
DFWChild reader Danielle of Dallas County, wrote to us: “I need advice on weaning my breastfeeding toddler. We’re down to three times a day—morning, before nap, and before bed. Breastfeeding past infancy is very isolating. It’s the most challenging and rewarding part of motherhood—and weaning feels so hard.”
Cat Cafés in Dallas-Fort Worth
One new cat café, or cat lounge, that recently opened in Dallas is a boon for local cat lovers, so we went on the prowl for more such destinations around the area. These businesses allow guests to interact with adoptable cats and kittens in a calm, clean and spacious environment outside of partner shelters—and enjoy a drink or snack for yourself too.
4 Volunteer Opportunities For Kids in Dallas-Fort Worth
Supporting mothers and their children is at the heart of everything we do here at DFWChild. And especially now, leading up to the “season of giving,” we take a closer look at four respected organizations to see how they’re supporting families and other vulnerable populations within our community—and how they’re encouraging the next generation of volunteers by inviting all ages to join the cause.
The Family Fun List
Heritage Haunt, Friday, October 13, 2023, 6–8pm. This free family-friendly evening of crafts and music at Allen Heritage Village features popular, haunting songs of the season performed on this not-so-frightful Friday the 13th. 2. Allen Philharmonic: “Shakespeare Reimagined”. 214/538-5128. “Shakespeare Reimagined” Concerts for Young Audiences on October 15....
What is Russian Math?
The teacher writes a complex problem on the whiteboard and then asks her students, a group of seventh-graders, to take positions at the front of the class and try their hand at the problem. As her pupils walk to the whiteboard, she smiles, knowing exactly what is about to happen. Moments later, each of her students has surmised a solution—and each solution is slightly different. “One of you is correct,” the teacher says. “Let’s figure out who it is.” Marina Popel’s school branch may be in Plano, but her teaching style is not American. This approach, called “access learning,” is a cornerstone of so-called Russian math, a style that more and more American parents are turning to in order to enhance their kids’ math skills.
Why Your B Student Will Be OK
Brynn Sandlin is the community coordinator for the Healthy Kids Running Series in Frisco. There are no uniforms. No team practices. No stress. “There isn’t anything like it,” says Sandlin, whose two sons, ages 6 and 3 ½, participate. The emphasis of the program is on finishing your race, not winning it—the points system favors consistency rather than the occasional first-place finish. Not every kid will win a trophy at the end of the series, but regardless, everyone will have a good time.
Mrs. McVeigh’s Manners: Healthy Grooming Habits
Elise McVeigh writes a monthly manners advice column for DFWChild. If you have any etiquette questions, email them to mrsmcveighsmanners@gmail.com and she might answer them in her next column. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Dear Mrs. McVeigh,. I have three children: two boys and a girl. They range in...
All the Ways to Save at the State Fair of Texas
You know the saying: Everything’s bigger in Texas. And when it comes to the State Fair of Texas, that’s certainly true. The legendary 24-day fair embodies Texas heritage, and attracting over 2 million visitors a year, it’s one of the biggest in America. But a visit to...
How to Choose Emergency Caregivers for Your Child
Adriane S. Grace is an estate planning and guardianship attorney in Frisco, Texas. As a mother of two young children and a legal advocate in court for minor children, she understands firsthand these difficult choices parents face. For guidance and legal counsel on these important decisions, please contact her office at 972/379-8167 or info@gracelawoffice.com.
A Guide to Texas Zoofari Park
Want to plan an epic animal adventure with your kids? Head to Texas Zoofari Park in Kaufman County. This safari park, opened in March 2023, is not currently certified by any national or international organizations, though it is currently working toward accreditation with the Zoological Association of America, which also accredits the Fort Worth Zoo and Frank Buck Zoo, among others.
Safe Boating Practices for Families
When those hot temperatures hit, nothing beats a day out on the water—boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking or even paddleboarding at your go-to lake. But before you head out with the kids in tow, it’s important consider the risks—there were 34 reported fatalities and 201 reported accidents related to boating in Texas for 2022, according to the National Safe Boating Council’s Safe Boating Campaign. And given those stats, here are lake safety tips parents should keep in mind when boating with kids.
Drowning Prevention: Signs to Watch
In the U.S., fatal drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1–4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also the second leading cause of unintentional injury death, behind motor vehicle crashes, for children ages 5–14. In fact, as of this August, 56 children have drowned in Texas in 2023—including in pools, the ocean, lakes and bathtubs—and that number continues to rise.
The Benefits of Strengths-Based Therapies
Sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder—there’s somewhat of a problem with each of these terms. They all derive from a disability point of view. “It’s really processing differences, and we all process differently,” says Danielle Howerton, an occupational therapist at Synaptic Pediatric Therapies, which provides speech and occupational therapy to children and young adults at nine locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.
Answers to 5 Common Breastfeeding Questions
We make no bones about it: breastfeeding can be tough—from those first days after birth to the final weaning stages, whenever that may come. For the moms who choose to breastfeed in the short or long-term, there’s absolutely no shame in seeking out a professional lactation consultant or a support group for education and assistance in real time. For answers to some of the top common questions we were wondering ourselves, we turn to Shivani Patel, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who helps women navigate breastfeeding in her practice at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Secondary Drowning: What Parents Need to Know
Have you heard alarming stories about dry drowning? Or perhaps you’ve heard of secondary drowning or delayed drowning? While what you may have heard or read about these two “types” of drowning is concerning and scary, the truth is the terms are misnomers. In fact, there are no medically-accepted conditions known as dry drowning or secondary drowning, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Child Modeling: Why Try Again if Not Initially Selected?
Here’s a scenario: You and your kid are both on board with pursuing child modeling and you’ve submitted their application directly to a modeling agency, but so far haven’t been picked up for representation. So, what gives? Is that the end of the story? As it turns out, timing has a lot to do with it.
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A local, award-winning free monthly parenting magazine that addresses the concerns and needs of families, with a special focus on children from prenatal through adolescence. The magazine offers a well-informed, local and relevant perspective on issues affecting families and serves as both a strong voice in the community and a staunch advocate for children. At FortWorthChild, we inform, educate, entertain, inspire and provide a provocative forum among parents, the community and professionals who work with children.
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