Another excellent article by Jane Brody of the New York Times on the importance of talking and communicating with your baby, including looking him or her straight in the eye. Prior generations didn’t have distractions like iPhones and Blackberries and parents talked to their kids. Now, we have to avoid the temptation to text, and talk instead.

Ms. Jacoby’s general advice to parents: “Reward your little one’s communicative attempts with your heightened attention to his/her conversation. Be prepared to put down your cellphone and look them squarely in the eye as they share their thoughts with you.”

Communication begins as soon as a baby is born. The way you touch, hold, look at and talk to babies help them learn your language, and the different ways babies cry help you learn their language — “I’m wet,” “I’m hungry,” “I’m tired,” “I hurt,” “I’m overwhelmed” and so forth.

“Talk to your baby whenever you have the chance,” the American Medical Association advises parents. “Even though he doesn’t understand what you’re saying, your calm, reassuring voice is what he needs to feel safe. Always respond to your newborn’s cries — he cannot be spoiled with too much attention.”

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association urges parents to reinforce communication efforts by looking at the baby and imitating vocalizations, laughter and facial expressions.

“Talk while you are doing things,” the association suggests. “Talk about where you are going, what you will do once you get there, and who and what you’ll see.”

You might say things like, “Now we’re going to put on your socks,” “We’re going in the car to see Grandma,” or, “When we get to the playground, I’ll push you on the swing.”

[From Personal Health - Parents Need to Tune In and Engage a Young Child With Talk - NYTimes.com]

A recent study in the Journal of Applied Development and Psychology says that in families with two working parents, dads have a greater impact on children’s language development than moms.   The key thing is to keep talking and engaging your kids at all ages, avoiding all the other electronic stimuli that doesn’t teach kids, or adults, how to really interact.

The start of a new school year also brings the start of cold and flu season, exacerbated by slimy fingers touching everything in sight. If your child is sick, how do you know when it’s time to rearrange your schedule and keep him or her home from school. Every situation is different, but you can start by asking these five questions

1. Groggy and listless? If your usually happy camper doesn’t seem like himself and it’s hard to get smile, let alone a giggle, this is a good indicator that this isn’t a normal day.

2. Lack of appetite or thirst? If your child really wants to eat or drink nothing at all after a full night’s sleep, this isn’t normal and it’s his body’s way of keeping food out.

3. Diarrhea of vomiting? While you might soldier on with a case of diarrhea, it isn’t normal for little kids and is a sign of something more serious. Ditto, vomiting.

4. Any symptoms of a contagious disease like strep, flu, pink eye, chicken pox, or the like? No matter what your other responsibilities for the day, you do not want to be responsible for infecting the rest of the class.

5. Fever over 100.4? This is a good indicator something more serious is going on.

All of these signs suggest that at the very least your child would be more comfortable hanging out with you for the day rather than struggling through a day of school. You should also consider a call to the doctor if get more serious.

In terms of trusting the school to watch over your sick child for the day, a final gut check might be whether you’d want another kid as sick as yours looks spending time with your child all day at school.

What’s good for the head may be bad for the sperm, says a new study in Fertility and Sterility. Half of the users of Paxil, out of 35 men tested, showed DNA damage to their sperm. DNA damage in turn would result in decreased fertility.The study author, Dr. Peter Schlegel, M.D., thinks that all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have this effect since they work in similar ways. Hope-to-be dads should discuss their use of these drugs and the possibility of temporarily stopping their use while trying to get pregnant with their partner.

What are your favorite kids’ books that still haven’t been made into a movie. Comments section is open below!

The release of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are brings to mind two thoughts: “Holy crap, this is totally going to suck” or “This is going to be the greatest kid’s adaptation ever!” Time (and box office results) will tell which side of the spectrum it will fall on, but for the time being, here is a list of some of the best and worst children’s book adaptations. Let us know what movies are on YOUR “best” and “worst” lists!

The Good

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

Book adaptations don’t come much better than this. The acting is wonderful, the effects are stunning and the script flows almost as nicely as the novel itself. While the performances from the children playing the Pevensies are great, I honestly can’t picture any two people more perfect to play the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and Aslan (Liam Neeson).

2. Charlotte’s Web(1973)

While the 2006 live-action(ish) version is stellar on its own, one can’t help but love the original. Classrooms across the world got a taste of Wilbur and Charlotte’s world and have gone back for seconds ever since. If you’re looking for the ultimate story of life to show to a young kid, Charlotte’s Web is your best bet.

3. The Jungle Book(1967)

How many of you got “Bear Necessities” stuck in your head when you saw this? Admit it — you did! Baloo and Mowgli are among Disney’s icons, and rightfully so: The songs are catchy and the animation is so perfect, it’s as if the story was picked from your brain and put on the big screen. Not many films can say that.

4. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

The 1971 original is a classic. Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, the demented chocolate-factory owner, is one of his best performances to date. Despite being a children’s book adaptation, the “scary tunnel” scene was ranked No. 74 on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments list.

5. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

What happens when you cross the wonderful children’s book author Roald Dahl with the visionary animator Henry Selick? You get this fantastic film. The best part about watching this is that it not only entertains children viewers but also the adults as well. It is truly picture perfect.

Honorable Mentions:

The Iron Giant (1999) – If you don’t bawl like a damn baby every single time, you’re heartless.

The Princess Bride (1987) – It seems wrong not to include this on the list. It’s a total classic.

The Bad

1. The Cat in the Hat(2003)

While I want to blame Mike Myers for this crap, I can’t (at least not entirely). While the book was pretty wacky, the film was not. The characters you knew and loved from the book just weren’t interpreted well for film — not to mention the distinct lack of color in all of the characters except the Cat.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Not even Ron Howard could keep this movie from the massive suck. The original animated 1966 film was done so well that there was really no reason for a remake. The “tweaks” in the new version were extra-unnecessary, and Jim Carrey was even more over-the-top than usual.

3. Ella Enchanted (2004)

Cary Elwes was in one great kids book adaptation (The Princess Bride) but he couldn’t save this one. Unfortunately, a clever children’s book is turned into a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy a la Disney. If you want to see Anne Hathaway in a pretty dress, stick to The Princess Diaries.

4. Curious George (2006)

I’m not sure there was a kid who didn’t read these books. Unfortunately for the movie, it seems more like a movie about the Man with the Yellow Hat (voiced by Will Ferrell) than Curious George himself. Half the fun of this series was seeing what shenanigans George got into. Who cares about a man bitching about his bright yellow suit?

5. Eragon (2006)

You’d figure that a book written by a kid would make for an ideal adaptation. Sadly, that wasn’t the case here. The cast gives horrendous performances — which is sad considering Jeremy Irons is in it — and the film’s plot couldn’t be further from the book’s. There’s a reason why they canned the rest of this film series.

Honorable Mentions:

Jumanji (1995) – Even Robin Williams couldn’t save this movie, and that says something.

The Secret Garden (1987) – What’s the point of adapting a book if you’re going to destroy the plot?

By Tessa Petrocco, Hollywood.com Staff. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION.

What are your favorite kids’ books that still haven’t been made into a movie. Comments section is open!

Looks like a phishing scam. Best thing you can do is help out friends if you get one of these Twitter direct messages and let them know their password is very likely compromised

You have a new direct message:

The New York Times Home section is doing a story on bad behavior at family

gatherings. They are particularly interested in hearing from divorced dads. If
you have a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. E mail
jwadler@nytimes.com. November 1 is the deadline.

Thank you for your help.

In a previous post I wrote about Disney’s upcoming animated movie featuring its first black princess, The Princess and The Frog. As the father of biracial children, I am excited about the movie and about the interracial relationship it depicts.  Since I brought it up, I didn’t want to drop the ball so, here is a little follow-up.

I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I can’t make any judgments but I do want to pass on some interesting tidbits. You read all kinds of things on the internet and often, can’t tell rumor from truth but here are some things that I have culled that have sufficient verisimilitude along with some facts and useful resources from Disney itself.

First, the controversy…apparently, information leaked early on about the movie started a firestorm of criticism.  The original title was “The Frog Princess” rather than “The Princess and The Frog.” The princess’ name was going to be Maddy, which sounded too much like a slave name for some and she was depicted as a chambermaid as was her mother. The story takes place in New Orleans, the site of one of the worst natural disasters in recent history that affected, disproportionately, New Orleans’ black population. The creative team behind the movie is Ron Clements and Ron Musker (who have did brilliant work on Aladdin and The Little Mermaid) and the movie was scored by Randy Newman (who is also brilliant).  However, these are all white men. Some of the other characters in the story include practitioners of Voodoo and a singing Alligator. I could probably go on listing things that offended people if I looked hard enough and I am not personally convinced that all of these things are offensive, although I can see how some might take them that way.

Disney quickly responded to the outcry.  I don’t know how much they changed but certainly the name of the movie, the princess and her depiction have been altered. Disney spokesperson Heidi Trotta told A-List Magzine the following,

“While it is a Studio policy that we do not comment on our animated films while they are in the early stages of production due to the nature of our evolving development process, it has come to our attention that there is incorrect information being circulated about Disney’s 2009 motion picture The Princess and the Frog.

The central character is a young girl named Princess Tiana. The story takes place in the charming elegance and grandeur of New Orleans’ fabled French Quarter during the Jazz Age. She is the newest addition to the Studio’s royal family of Disney Princesses. Princess Tiana will be a heroine in the great tradition of Disney’s rich animated fairy tale legacy, and all other characters and aspects of the story will be treated with the greatest respect and sensitivity.

This American fairy tale is several years away from completion and the creative process is ongoing. No other details regarding the film have been released at this point, and unfortunately much of the information that has surfaced, including the casting breakdown . . . is inaccurate. When we do casting calls we frequently use substitute information as we don’t want details out about the movies. Therefore that information you have is incorrect.”

So  it became The Princess and The Frog featuring Princess Tiana. She is a great “heroine” and it takes place in the New Orleans fabled French Quarter. Certainly sounds better.

Enough of the controversy…. Disney responded to criticism and seems to be making every attempt to please all while still staying true to their artistic vision, which is a positive thing.

Further, it is incredibly exciting that this movie is the first in 4 years to return to 2D hand-drawn cel animation. And the stills I have seen are amazing!

It is confirmed that the lead character Tiana will be voiced by Anika Noni Rose, who most of you probably remember from Dreamgirls but I had the privilege of seeing live on Broadway in her Tony Award winning role in Caroline, or Change. She is a superb actress and has a voice beyond compare.

Disney has set the movie in the Jazz Age and has provided, on it’s web site, some excellent educational resources for anyone interested in hearing or learning more about Jazz and it’s history.  On their web site, click on the tab that says “Community.”

The movie opens in limited release in Los Angeles and New York on November 25 and then everywhere December 11.  And, for those lucky enough to be New York or Los Angeles from November 25 through December 13, Disney is offering an The Ultimate Disney Experience which includes a screening of the movie, meeting ALL the princesses, including Tiana, a lesson in drawing from a real Disney animator, a display of original props and costumes, a Bayou adventure featuring rope swinging and tree climbing and Kodak Photo booths that put you in the movie.

The link above is for regular tickets or you can go to Goldstar, through which you may be able to get discount tickets.

I know what some of you may be thinking and no, I do not work for Disney. However, I may be updating you occasionally with any new news as the release of the film approaches. 

Something about The Baby says it’s probably more autobiographical than the author is letting on. The author is English. The main character is English. His girlfriend is French. The girlfriend in the book is French. A you might find that a bit distracting since you’re reading what feels to be of very much true-to-life story about what happens to a typical guy when he hears those classic words, “Honey, I think I’m pregnant.”

The book therefore, reads less like a novel than real life. For future d a with with a him for dads looking for the inside track on what really happens during pregnancy, it’s a good read. There just aren’t enough books out there that deal honestly with all the changes men go through during pregnancy and after childbirth. It’s the life-changing event for all the reasons depicted on TV, but for a lot of reasons no one ever talks about. In the baby you get some ideas about what men really think about women, babies, sex, work, life, and death. Anything that brings little bit more reality to this subject will be good for men and for relationships. The worst thing going into any new adventure, marriage or childbirth included, instead expectation that is either too rosy or too jaded. The Baby may help some men understand that the realities of having a baby are somewhere in between.

GreatDad.com has always posted our policy toward products and gifts featured in our reviews. At one time, the only things that we reviewed were things my wife and I had brought home from the baby store or were given to us by friends and family. Over the years, companies have started sending less products to consider for reviews. While sending us a product doesn’t guarantee that we write a review, we often write reviews of products we try with their own kids. This policy will not change with the new FTC rules. The one partial exception to this policy is the GreatDad.com Recommended seal. In this case, we do charge manufacturers to submit an application for product review, but there again, the fee does not guarantee a good review, or even a reference to the product on our website if the product is not considered good for dads and kids.

For nearly three decades, the Federal Trade Commission’s rules regarding the relationships between advertisers and product reviewers and endorsers were deemed adequate. Then came the age of blogging and social media.

On Monday, the F.T.C. said it would revise rules about endorsements and testimonials in advertising that had been in place since 1980. The new regulations are aimed at the rapidly shifting new-media world and how advertisers are using bloggers and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to pitch their wares.

The F.T.C. said that beginning on Dec. 1, bloggers who review products must disclose any connection with advertisers, including, in most cases, the receipt of free products and whether or not they were paid in any way by advertisers, as occurs frequently. The new rules also take aim at celebrities, who will now need to disclose any ties to companies, should they promote products on a talk show or on Twitter. A second major change, which was not aimed specifically at bloggers or social media, was to eliminate the ability of advertisers to gush about results that differ from what is typical — for instance, from a weight loss supplement.

[From Advertising - F.T.C. to Rule Blogs Must Disclose Gifts or Pay for Reviews - NYTimes.com]

After six days in Vegas (3 days beyond the USDA recommendation), you’d think I would have learned a few things. And, yes I have. Some are mega trends, some are minor trends, but here are five things you couldn’t avoid noticing at this year’s big baby and kids show.

1. The first major observation was the effect of the economy. This is certainly not news, but was felt more subtly than I expected. I was thinking there would be fewer attendees and fewer booths, but it seemed like the same crowd size. However, I noticed more system products that are meant to grow with baby through the toddler stage or meant to work for two children at the same time.

2. A major casualty of the economy was innovation. I judged the JPMA Innovation Awards and, while we thought there were innovative products, none were revolutionary. There were no no new major product introductions that caught the buzz of the crowd. This was not a year for revolutionary product designs that set individual categories on fire with discussion. If anything, this was more a year of intense copying of things that have worked well in the marketplace already.

3. The year of the dad was felt throughout the show. In years past, I’ve had to explain what a dad-oriented parenting site is, but this year, many people knew GreatDad and certainly were hip to dads’ changing role in the home. On booth after booth, I saw smiling dads holding little babies, where previously you saw only moms.

4. New side impact car seat designs were on display by no fewer than three manufacturers, as they try to find ways to cut infant and child deaths in side impact collisions. The Latch system is now ubiquitous giving manufacturers new ways to address how to use the Latches to make them easier and safer to use. From what I saw, Clek is still the only carseat manufacturer to latch the backless booster, which can become a projectile for the driver and passengers from an unoccupied booster seat. I’m surprised this has not been a more widely discussed risk.

5. Finally, cribs with moving parts exist no more. All the cribs I saw had stationary sides after even one too many kids’ heads were stuck in a descending gate. This is a good thing, but will put the strain back on moms’ and dads’ backs.

That’s it. Nothing major or surprising, kind of like this year’s show. I’m happy to be going home so I can play with my own kids, rather than standing around imagining whether products would be successful for other dad’s babies and families.