Put those kids to work

You certainly can't tell by looking, but our kids love to help clean the house. Unfortunately, this is one thing I'm sure they didn't learn by example. If I enjoyed it even half as much as they do, we could probably do something crazy like invite people over for dinner once in awhile. Maybe someday they'll be able to do it all by themselves, but until then, here are some helpful techniques.

Choosing age-appropriate chores, ParentMap, January 2007

KNOW Magazine -- Spot the spots

Scientists at ECOCEAN are using pattern-recognition software developed for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope program to recognize individual whale sharks, which are covered with small, white spots on a dark background similar to a starry night sky. I wrote a short news piece about it for the May/June 2007 issue of KNOW--The Science Magazine for Curious Kids.

Kids Making a Difference

This was a fun assignment -- find out what local elementary schools and teachers are doing to teach philanthropy and community to their students. There were some great ideas, and the enthusiam behind the projects was truly inspirational!

"Little kids can make a big difference," ParentMap, December 2006

Newborn screening tests

This short article, about newborn screening tests, was the second half of BabyMap's Decision Digest column for the Fall/Winter 2006 issue.

"Prenatal and newborn screening tests," BabyMap, Fall/Winter 2006

Prenatal testing decisions

This short article, about the pros and cons of various prenatal tests, was the first half of BabyMap's Decision Digest column for the Fall/Winter 2006 issue.

"Prenatal and newborn screening tests," BabyMap, Fall/Winter 2006

KNOW Magazine -- The Scoop on Poop

Despite the not-so-glamorous subject matter, my short news piece for kids about San Francisco's dog poop recycling looks great! You can check it out on page 5 of the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of KNOW--The Science Magazine for Curious Kids (published in Canada, for ages 6-9).

In over their heads?

Here's another somewhat controversial topic: should babies and young children take swimming lessons? The AAP says they're not ready, but many parents (including myself) believe there are big benefits to starting early.

"Should your baby swim?, ParentMap, July 2006

Hot topic - bed sharing

I enjoy doing these Decision Digest columns for BabyMap because I get to explore both sides of a controversial topic and then try to present an unbiased summary of all the pros and cons. So many of the questions we encounter as parents don't have a "right" answer. We gather all the (often conflicting) information we can, and then we have to just make the decision that feels like the best fit for us. I hope this article will help parents feel good about their choice and their reasons for making it, whatever they decide.

"Should you share a bed with your baby?", BabyMap, Spring/Summer 2006

Organized chaos

Writing this article inspired me to buy all kinds of bins, and some of them even have stuff in them now! Unfortunately, I've got a long way to go before our chaos gets organized.

"Help your preschooler control toy chaos", ParentMap, March 2006

Integrated preschools, for kids with and without disabilities

This was one of those topics that I definitely had an opinion on before I even started. Fortunately, that always makes me even more careful to research thoroughly. It's always fun to do an article where the research and interviews force me to completely change my previously uninformed opinions. This one will stand out in my mind for a long time, and I'm thankful I had the opportunity to write it.

"Integrated preschools provide benefits, lessons for all", EveryChild Special Supplement, Spring/Summer 2006