A while ago now I read an article, found here at Pop Sugar's LilSugar site, about Vespas for children. I didn't react to it right away because I wasn't sure I had an opinion on the subject. Still not sure that I do!

A Vespa, for those of you unfamiliar, is like a motorized bike. They run on gas and come with helmets and are in the same vein as motorcycles, only not as fast. They also tend to come in pastel colors and aren't ridden around on by Hell's Angels clad in black leather (most of the time). Vespas are great for city driving where they can get through narrow, crowded streets and the like. They are not designed for the highway.

Now the Vespa folks have come out with a mini-version for kids. At $450, the mini-Vespa ain't cheap. Sure, it's less expensive than a regular, adult-sized Vespa, but I don't think you could pull buying one for your kids and then riding it yourself. The minis really are smaller, designed for kids ages three to seven (not the kid in you).

Would you buy one of these for your child? Are they no harm, no foul and all in fun or are they unsafe and do they promote the possibility of them riding around on motorcycles when they're older (black leather optional)?

Hysterical pic of God creating a Vespa by giopuo.

When he was younger, my nephew managed to shove a pea so far up his nostril that he ended up spending several hours in the emergency room while the doctors and nurses tried to get it out. Eventually, they did. Not long after, however, he did it again. Luckily, this time, his mom was able to get it out and avoid another trip to the ER.

Apparently, my nephew isn't the only one to have tried this stunt. MomLogic has a list of the top ten things kids stick up their noses, along with the dangers and what to do about them. French fries are not one I would have expected to see on the list, but Crayons -- the same shape and size -- certainly are. Scarily, Kleenex is on the list, since young children may not quite get it that the tissue is supposed to stay on the outside.

Of course, the classic pea is there, along with its cousin the bean. Interestingly, jelly beans are not on the list -- I know my sister once came to the revelation that jelly beans would fit perfectly in her dog's nostrils; luckily she never actually tested her theory. The important thing here, I guess, is that you always have to keep a close eye on your kids -- and their noses.

Lesley Porcelli over at Gourmet isn't a mom yet, but she's well on her way and pondering what kind of eater her kid will be. Like a lot of non-parents, she readily admits that she has strong opinions about successful parenting, particularly when it comes to feeding the child. And when it comes to picky eaters, Porcelli is pretty sure that parents are to blame.

Her theory goes something like this: If the whole family sits down to eat together and nobody makes a big deal out of what is on the plate, the kid will happily chow down without complaint. If a parent assumes the kid wouldn't touch a lasagna with a ten foot pole and therefore doesn't bother to offer it, chances are good that the kid will subsist on nuggets and fries until maturity.

I think Porcelli has it only partly right. Kids aren't blank slates waiting to be molded into actual people. Even as they try their first bites of solid food, they are individuals with their own likes and dislikes. From her first bite of pureed chicken as a baby, my Ellie disliked meat. She gobbled up the fruits and veggies, but spat out anything that tasted of animal. I don't know if her aversion was about texture or taste, but to this day she would sooner eat a plate of green beans than a bite of chicken. For Ellie, it isn't about not wanting to try new foods (she loves crab cakes and calamari), she just doesn't like meat.

That said, I do think parents can - and should - influence what foods their child will consume. The old "just take one bite" routine works well for us and is the reason we can all enjoy a plate of calamari together. But in the end, I don't worry too much about my picky eater. After all, I lived off bologna and mustard sandwiches as a kid and I survived just fine.

The hype has been building for months, ever since word first got out last fall about Pixar's new film WALL-E. It's the story of WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter -- Earth-Class), a determined robot who falls for a sleek new robot named EVE who shows up one fateful day. WALLL-E ends up chasing her across the galaxy and saving the world in the process.

As a fan of quality animation and a total Pixar groupie, I have been looking forward to seeing this film for quite a while. With all the trailers, adverts, and WALL-E's face plastered all over the streetcars here, my kids have been eagerly awaiting its release as well. They squeal with joy whenever they see him, and my older son has been reminding me that the movie was coming out June 27 practically non-stop.

So, does the movie live up to the hype? Is it as good as we have come to expect from Pixar, the studio that brought us such modern classics as Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and one of the best children's movies ever, Cars? Well, since June 27 just happened to be my daughter's birthday, I took my son Jared (six years old) and daughter Sara (turned four that day) to find out.

Teaching your child to call 9-1-1 in an emergency is an important part of house safety rules. For Jessica Eaves, 24, however, it was crucial that her child know how to contact help on her own. Jessica has a medical condition called vasovogal syncope, which can cause her to faint.

Since her daughter Madelyn is only three, Jessica made up a song to teach her how to call for help on Jessica's Blackberry phone -- "9-1-1 green." That song made all the difference in the world last week when Jessica fainted and Madelyn was able to use the phone to call for an ambulance.

Madelyn called for help last year as well, when Jessica had taught her the song "green, green, green." By pushing the green button on the phone, Madelyn called the last number dialed and that adult called for help.

Chances are, your kids have feet and those feet are, more often than not, enclosed in shoes when they go to the playground or park. The question is, what exactly are they wearing? Soon, they may be wearing Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo on their feet, thanks to a new line of shoes coming from New Balance. The deal is a first for both New Balance and Sesame Street. The shoes will sell for more than forty dollars a pair.

I'm not a big fan of shoes on kids, but if they're going to wear them, I'd like them to be good shoes -- light and flexible and easy to put on. That's why I've been a fan of Tsukihoshi shoes for a long time. Now, however, companies like New Balance and Reebok are vying for a share of the toddler shoe market. But are these shoes worth it when the kids will outgrow them in a matter of months?

It's a tough call, of course. Do you spend the money for good shoes over and over again, or buy less expensive ones knowing that they'll only be worn a short while? And now, part of that decision is given to the kids who will undoubtedly be clamoring to see their furry friends on their feet.

Depending on who you talk to, Summer officially started yesterday evening. In short order, the street fairs and other summer festivals are set to make their debuts, if they haven't already. Amidst all the fun, thrills and excitement, the lights and sounds--and smells--of the fairs, there's another main reason people of all ages travel to such things: The food. It's deep-fried, a lot of it, it's greasy, and it sure is tasty. It also presents some precariousness for a parent of a child with a serious food allergy. After all, who knows what exactly is in that stuff? Most of the time, we'd rather enjoy it and not know.

Dr. Amal H. Assa'ad, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology warns parents to inspect every molecule of food their children may come in contact with, and recommends children with severe allergies such as peanuts and tree nuts carry an Epi-pen with then at all times. I would add to that, from personal experience (I have one of these life-threatening allergies) that you SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR YOUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY ID BRACELET. As my CPR instructor noted, if my throat is closed up and I can't speak, and I'm not wearing my bracelet, no one is going to know I have a nut allergy and to give me the Epi-pen shot.

I hate to say this too, but parents should consider packing and bringing snacks they know are safe to any event, whether it be a potluck or a street fair. Sure, the food is tempting, but most of the people selling it didn't make it, don't know what's in it--oils, for example, are known to be terrible allergens but most servers don't know if what they're serving was made with peanut oil or soy oil--and don't understand how severe the consequences can be when the provide misinformation. Bringing your own food is sure to be healthier, too. Dr. Assa'ad also recommends that parents who suspect a child may have any sort of allergy get it checked out immediately. Honestly, as a kid, I never did. I just had the reaction and we thought, ok, we'll avoid that FOREVER. It's not a great way to navigate through the endless purveyors of things that smell delicious, but could be deadly.

My 5-year-old son Avery is a master of the bait-and-switch.

This is what I mean: if we're working on his words, and I say, "Cracker," he'll say, "Dadah," and I'll say, "Try again, cr...cr...cr...cracker" in my loud, clear, speech-therapy voice, and he'll say, "Yummy!" or he'll sign eat (and laugh) or even, he'll reach in and kiss me.

When we're reading, I'll ask him to think about the letters we see, about the phonics and the text, and he'll point to the pictures instead, and smile his sweet little smile, and tell me (in all earnestness) about the tiny gold bug sitting in the corner of the picture, or about the little lost mitten, and how mittens are for when its cold. "Brrr..." he'll say, and pretend to shiver. "Cold!"

And eating. He's the best of my 3 boys at pushing food around his plate. He'll sign all done, and when I ask him if he's eaten one bite of everything, he'll crinkle his elfin eyes and say, "Yes!" But when I look at his plate, I can see that his 7 beans are still 7 intact beans; only now, several of them are hiding beneath an uneaten piece of bread.

If all else fails, his go-to move is pitching a little fit. He'll throw himself to the ground, fold in half like a pocket knife (he's very flexible), and with his head in his lap, he'll cry great crocodile tears, "Wah wah wah," only every now and then he'll peek to see if anyone is watching.

Avery is my middle son. He has dark blue eyes. His hair is the color of sunlight. His bangs hang down across his forehead and his hair curls a bit at the back of his neck. His skin is so soft. More than my other children, Avery has held on to his babyhood.

He has tiny feet and small hands. Chubby fingers, still, and his soft hair reminds me of a baby. He's the only one who can still fit in my lap. He climbs up and tucks his head into my neck, resting between my chest and my chin, a perfect fit.

He's really pulling out all the stops.

Hey moms and dads -- give yourself a pat on the back. The NPD group recently found that fruit is now the number one snack food for kids under the age of 6, bumping cookies -- a longtime favorite -- out of their number one slot.

They also found that, in general, parents are making subtle changes to feed their children healthier foods at snack times. Compared to moms who participated in the survey in 1987, today's moms are less likely to serve their kids soft drinks, cookies, cake and fruit juice. Because kids are often grazers, snacks make up a large portion of their daily calories, so what they're eating at snack time is important.

Popular snacks today include yogurt, fruit, granola bars, bottled water, and fruit snacks. Health experts say that while snack food choices are improving, we still clearly have a lot of work to do, because nearly everything on that list is highly processed. Some nutritionists would like to see parents re-think snack foods altogether, and feed more meal-like foods at snack time instead.

For a few healthy snack ideas, check out the gallery below. What's your child's favorite snack time food?

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Actress, Givenchy spokeswoman and all-around pretty lady Liv Tyler recently spilled the beans on what life has been like since becoming a single mom. The Hulk star recently split from Spacehog rocker Royston Langdon and has been going it solo with their four-year-old son, Milo.

Tyler, who has always seemed so down to earth to me, despite being daughter of rock legend Steven Tyler, says she spends her evenings at home in front of the television instead of partying. And, she likes it!

After five years in a high-profile marriage, I can imagine Liv, or anyone, enjoying the quiet life! Tyler says her other favorite activity other than holing up in her New York City pad is eating popcorn and going to the movies. With two new movies out (The Hulk and the previously released The Strangers) I can imagine wanting to spend a little down time at home!

Lately it seems a lot of pressure has been placed on getting presents for each other for pretty much every holiday that comes around in a year. I don't know if it's the economy, the effect of its sluggishness on me, or some sort of pregnancy hormone telling me it's materialistic for consumers to be expected to shell out a lot of cash for Mother's Day and Father's Day--right up there with Christmas!

This year I've been thinking about free gifts that aren't cheap cop outs for Father's Day. What could I get my husband, who is an unbelievably amazing father to our son and, somehow even, to our unborn daughter, that won't break the bank or make him feel like he's getting the shaft--after all, it seems Mother's Day dwarfs Father's Day on most counts (which is unfair).

So what can we do for dear old dad? One thing I've always found fun and sweet is to go through all the old photographs and put together a collection of dad, mom and the kids through the years. I try to turn up long lost friends as well. That's totally free, and as much fun to create as it is for dad to peruse. Another idea? Head to the park for a picnic. Ok, yes, you may wish to go to the grocery to pick up a few of dad's favorite treats, but you were going to eat anyway, right? Take everyone to a nice shady spot, lay everything out and promise to provide clean up duty so dad can just relax and enjoy.

With school-free, summer days looming ahead, many parents will soon be hearing the familiar refrain, "I'm bored!" from the kids. But before you start scrambling around to organize yet another day of amazing kid activities, check out this eye-opening article from Lifehack that reminds us that boredom isn't lethal, it's actually a good thing.

Boredom is often the trigger behind creative ideas and introspection to leads to deeper thoughts. Having time where the mind is free to wander is an luxury that few people, especially children are allowed anymore. From birth, products now come with built in entertainment. Mobiles are now standard for Pack N Plays and baby swings, and vibrating, musical, light-show playing gewgaws are also commonplace. When babies get a little bigger, there are DVD players to keep them occupied during road trips, handheld gaming devices, and television and video games to fill the free time spaces for children at home.

Instead of trying to provide a constant stream of activity, help acclimate your child to periods of boredom. See what sorts of creations and games they can come up with using only rudimentary materials like sticks and leaves and rocks. Declare entire days electronic-device free and see what happens when kids are left to their own devices for a while.

And instead of feeling like a failure when the kids say, "I'm bored!" be proud that you are providing a valuable gift that will help them be healthy and successful adults.

In anticipation of the release of Kung Fu Panda opening, Dreamworks Studio and Hewlett-Packard joined forces with blogging groups in major cities to host Panda Parties. I attended the Panda party hosted by the D.C. Metro Moms and took home all sorts of great ideas on how easy it could be to turn a family movie into a celebration. Since movie tickets (and the gas to get to the theater!) are so pricey, why not get the most bang for your buck?

One of the fun ideas was to practice mastering the tricky art of using chopsticks. The party planners used gummy bears and Froot Loops as beginner foods. The gummy bears were easy to grasp and if that proved too frustrating, the Froot Loops could be speared right in the middle.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to lose your child, to just be walking around out there when suddenly, bam, she's missing? Has it ever actually happened to you? I don't think any of us wants to relive the recent saga of what happened to the McCanns, yet this is the world in which we live. I can't even allow myself to imagine what that horror must feel like. I know now why my mother was so overprotective when I was a kid!

MomLogic feels the same way and has provided us with a list of good ideas to keep in mind. After a recent incident in upstate New York when a little boy went missing--but was then thankfully found--Pattie Fitzgerald of safelyeverafer.com compiled a list of tips we can all use to mind our little ones, whether we're on an out-and-out full-on family vacation or just a quick trip to the store.

Things like having a meeting place in case you get separated is always a good one I remember from my own childhood. I also noted with interest dressing your child in bright colors to make him or her easily identifiable in a crowd as well as the notion of telling a child to find another mom with kids to ask for help should separation occur. Another great and simple idea: make sure your kids know your cell phone number. One would guess at this point many kids actually have phones of their own, which, though annoying at times, could make all the difference.

I noted that the safety precaution my mom had to resort to when I was a kid (because I was a wanderer) is not one there. She had to harness me and clip it to her belt!

Just when I think Angelina Jolie is going to annoy me to death, she whips out some quip or does something fantastic that reminds me how people with money and power can--and do--actually use it for good. Sometimes, too, the beautiful and privileged remind us with their sense of humor that they're just people, too. In this case, their regular parents too. Sure, it's Angelina Jolie talking here, who has more than enough resources for herself, Brad Pitt and their four (soon to be six!) gloriously delicious children. But, I totally cracked up when she said recently that raising four kids was a lot harder than being in an action movie. Touche, Ms. Jolie, touche.

Ange was discussing how her bod, which, and let's be honest here people, is still as hot as a poker in a fire even though she is about to pop those twins out, is not as toned as it used to be. You know, back in the days when she would spend hours training instead of mommying? Well, now she's a mom who's birthed one kid and has two more about to pop out, who's always one the run with at least one of her brood, and who has breastfed. Glorious, all of it. Ange feels training has nothing on the work required for all that other stuff!

And, although I do not know her at all (no, really, I don't), it seems like motherhood suites Angelina, far more than an action movie career ever did. I know how she feels. It's scary to think about what you might be leaving behind in terms of your butt and your career, but for both of us it seems motherhood has been the most spectacular experience out there. And, know what? I got my body back--she did too. And she will again! Know what else? even if she never got her body back, I'm sure Angelina would never trade the priceless experience she has been blessed with.

Pic by World Economic Forum.