"I'm totally gonna Tweet about this blog."

Whether you're sporting your first baby bump or expecting your third little bundle of joy, chances are there is a parenting blog out there that you'll love. Moms, dads, and caregivers can trade tips, tricks, day-in-the-life adventures, and even shopping bargains through social media platforms like blogs. Here are a few of our favorite parenting blogs:

Pregnant Chicken: Laugh-out-loud funny observations and straightforward information for new parents.

Cool Mom Picks: Real Simple named this shopping blog as one of their top three. The bloggers curate list of great gifts, craft ideas, and products for both baby and mom- so you don't have to. 

OhDeeDoh: From the creators of Apartment Therapy comes this interior design blog that has tips on everything from home improvement projects, to setting up a nursery, to converting a child's bedroom into a cool teen space. 

Babble: More of a parenting website than a blog per se, Babble is a fount of information on everything from taming tantrums to having "The Talk." They also feature some great personal mom/dad blogs.

Autism Spot: An empowering and positive blog with information for parents of children with autism or other sensory integration disorders. Contains news about scientific studies and trials, activities for sensory and social development, and support forums.  

Geek Dad: Several dads (and sometimes moms, too!) contribute to this fun, tech-savvy Wired blog for parents. From books, to video games, to Lego competitions, there is no shortage of great, geeky ideas.

Our Family Eats: Looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious dinner idea? Pop over to this practical foodie blog for busy chefs. 

Radical Parenting: Believe it or not, this insightful and informative blog is not written by parents- but by a group of teen writers. Started by Vanessa Van Petten at age 16, the site is now home to over 120 teen contributors. For an inside look at the brain of a teenager, this is an invaluable resource for moms and dads.  

Did you know we have some amazing parent bloggers right here in Darien? Check out these local mom bloggers and come meet them in person at the Tech Moms panel event next Wednesday, February 15 at 9:30am. 

Lisa Boncheck Adams (LisaBAdams.com): Writings on breast cancer, grief & loss, life, and family.

Nicole Lyons (All About Darien): A "good-to-know" guide for and about everything Darien.

Jacquie (Afterwordsblog.com): Funny, poignant tales of a transplanted Brooklynite (now Darienite) living with her husband and two kids ("The Boy" and "The Girl") in suburbia. 

Jennifer St. Jean (Itty Bitty Bag): Owner and creator of the Itty Bitty Bag company, this Darien mom is a craft and sewing goddess- she can even give detailed instructions how to hem a pleated jumper! 

Have a favorite parenting blog that we missed? Share it in the comments section below!

photo courtesy of Flickr user miguelphotobooth.

photo courtesy of Flickr user Eddie~S

From pushes on the playground to mean instant messaging, bullying is an issue that almost all children face at some time or another.  With a recent surge in media attention and a new focus on cyber-bullying, parents may wonder where and how to find the best information and ways of talking to their own kids about bullies. 

What if my child is the victim of bullying?

A recent article in Parenting magazine offered the following 3 Step process for parents:

Step One: Find out what's going on.  Get the facts and reassure your child that you will both work together on a solution.

Step Two: Help your child figure out how to respond.  Some responses include:

•  Stand tall and act brave
•  Ignore the bully
•  Stick with friends
•  Tell an Adult

Step Three:  Take action yourself.  Set up a meeting with the teacher, parent, or caregiver. 

What if my child's friend is the bully?

One of the hardest things for a child to learn is how to stand up for what's right, even in the face of possible scrutiny or embarassment. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services has a kid-friendly website called Stop Bullying Now that features info, games, quizzes, and webisodes all designed to address the issues of bullying , offer meaningful discussion starters, and help promote positive ways of combatting this childhood problem.  Check out this video featuring the character Melanie and her struggle with a friend who is a known bully.

What if my child is the bully?

It can sometimes be hard to tell if childhood squabbles are simply "kids being kids" or if there is a more serious problem.  

Stop Bullying Now offers the following advice to parents:

• Make it clear to your child that you take bullying seriously and that you will not tolerate this behavior.
• Develop clear and consistent rules within your family for your children's behavior. Praise and reinforce your children for following rules and use non-physical, non hostile consequences for rule violations.
• Spend more time with your child and carefully supervise and monitor his or her activities. Find out who your child's friends are and how and where they spend free time.
• Build on your child's talents by encouraging him or her to get involved in prosocial activities (such as clubs, music lessons, nonviolent sports).
• Share your concerns with your child's teacher, counselor, or principal. Work together to send clear messages to your child that his or her bullying must stop.
• If you or your child needs additional help, talk with a school counselor or mental health professional.

The Children's Library also offers some great books for both children and parents on the subject of bullying.  These are a few of our favorites: 

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and honor great and influential African Americans throughout history. 

Did you know that Black History Month was first celebrated in 1926? It was originally called "Negro History Week" (a term that we no longer use) and was started by historian Carter G. Woodson. Mr. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African American history and promote the importance of discovering and understanding the history of African Americans here in the United States and around the world.

Here are a few inspiring books to share in celebration of Black History Month:

For young children:

Langston Hughes' melodic poem is paired with stunning photography by Charles R. Smith, Jr. to create a siimple, yet moving tribute to beauty in its particular and universal forms. 

For elementary-aged children:

Did you know that one of the 2011 Caldecott Honor books tells the story of a slave who went on to become an influential artist and poet?  Dave the Potter by Labban Carrick Hill is a beautifully illustrated, powerful true story.   

For older readers:

In this tour-de-force sequel to Chains, Curzon, a 15-year-old escaped slave, joins the Continental Army at Valley Forge.  Will he and his friend Isabel finally be granted true freedom?

More books to celebrate Black History Month.

Looking for in-depth information on famous African Americans? Check our Biography Resource Center or History Resource Center. 

Image via Flickr user Bill Ward's Brickpile

February 14 is coming up soon!  Get ready by creating Valentine's Day-themed crafts with Green Moon and Darien Library. 

Register by age group below.

Waitlist for Thursday, February 9 at 3 p.m. - Ages 3 to 4

Waitlist for Thursday, February 9 at 4:15 p.m. - Ages 5 to 7

Can the last Airbender save the world?

The Children's Library just received its copies of Seasons 1 and 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Avatar was on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008, and features a boy named Aang who is destined to save the world. It was a huge commerical success (at one point it was the most-watched show in Nickelodeon's line-up) and in 2008 it won a Peabody Award.

It's an exciting, fast-paced romp through a world that desperately needs saving. Featuring adventures, betrayals, friendships, and plenty of comic hijinx in addition to great battle scenes, this is an excellent cartoon to bring home to boys and girls ages 7-12.

Come check it out today!

It's showtime, Synergy!

Pssst, parents! Remember your favorite cartoons from the eighties? They're back!

The Children's Library is now the proud owner of such classics as Jem, Strawberry Shortcake, She-Ra, The Get Along Gang, and Thundercats!

So come to the Children's Library today and introduce your children to the cartoons you loved as a child!

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Monday, January 16th is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which celebrates the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was one of the most famous and respected civil rights leaders in the 1960s. He fought against racial discrimination using non-violent methods such as sit-ins, marches, and boycotts. Whether you're working on a school assignment or interested in learning more about Dr. King, check out the links and booklist below.

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Life in Pictures by National Geographic Kids

Video of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech via Teacher Tube

Civil Rights Primary Sources for Students via  Library of Congress

Celebrating MLK Day- Selected New York Times Articles and Front Pages via NYTimes Learning Network

The Martin Luther King National Memorial

For Teachers: Lesson Plans and Activities via Thinkfinity (use the search term "Martin Luther King, Jr.")

And don't forget the amazing online resources available through Darien Library:

Biography Resource Center

History Resource Center

And more!

DoodleCast for Kids is recommended for ages 3 to 5.

January's App of the Month is DoodleCast for Kids. This App allows preschoolers to draw, create videos, and practice their Narrative Skills. DoodleCast was also recently voted the "best App for younger children" at the 2012 KAPi Awards, part of the Consumer Electronics Show. 

The App gives kids a list of images and adjectives, allowing them to draw and record voice-overs. Their descriptions are then made into short videos which can be emailed or uploaded to YouTube. 

Doodling has never been this fun! Grownups are sure to also love the educational elements of this engaging activity. Children can illustrate their knowledge both visually and verbally.

DoodleCast for Kids is designed by Zinc Roe Inc. and can be found online for iPad users. 

Dont have an iPad? Did you know that the Children's Library circulates Early Literacy iPads? Place your hold today!

Get comfortable and explore the role of technology in the lives of children and teens as presented in these eye-opening documentaries.  This program will take place in the Community Room.

Monday, February 6 at 10 a.m.*

Remote Control - The average American child spends over 40 hours per week consuming media, the equivalent of a full-time job.  Remote Control offers a fascinating look at the centrality of media in our lives, revealing far-reaching effects that we are only beginning to understand.  39 minutes.

*An encore screening will be held on Monday, February 27 at 10 a.m.

March

Mondays, March 5 and 19 at 10 a.m.

Growing Up Online - This Frontline documentary looks inside the world of the new cyber-savvy generation of tweets and teens; a generation with a radically different notion of privacy and personal space.  60 minutes.