Long Island Parent Talk

Some of my friends’ children crumpled when superstorm Sandy blew through town. Others seemed oblivious.

My son got angry — angry at Mother Nature, angry at the government, angry at politicians and angry at the Long Island Power Authority.

“Curses, Hurricane Sandy,” Harrison said under his breath at critical moments throughout our eight-day blackout in Huntington.

We didn’t know...

Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph," an animated tale following one man's adventure through video games to prove he's a hero, topped box offices on its opening weekend.

Now, you can continue the fun at home with two new "Wreck-It Ralph" apps.

The "Wreck-It Ralph" Storybook Deluxe ($6.99) app allows you to follow your favorite characters from the movie as they journey...

Most parents will agree, bedtime routines are essential.

When my daughter, Maggie, was an infant we would have a nightly routine which I called the four B's: bath, books, bottle, bed. While babies thrive on routine, so did we. It was nice after working all day to know we had our special bedtime "ritual." 

As she got a little older, our bedtime routine a bit and of course...

Santa Claus is ready to set up shop for the holiday season at Smith Haven Mall, and kids and parents are invited to welcome him on Saturday during “Santa Saturday.”

The mall will host a free 8:30 a.m. breakfast and seasonal craft activity during which kids will make reindeer food and create a holiday ornament to take home. Then they will be led in an activity from the preschool TV channel...

Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend? From a classic Disney performances and nature walks to circus acts, color exploration and more, there's much to do on Long Island. Here are my top five picks for fun, family friendly activities this weekend:

1. Disney on Ice: Rockin' Ever After at Nassau Coliseum (1255 Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale). Enjoy a family-friendly performance with...

The 2012 Hess Toy Truck, an East Coast holiday tradition for 48 years, can be purchased at participating Hess and Hess Express retail stores.

This year's truck is a Hess Helicopter and Rescue SUV which features three authentic sounds: ignition, takeoff and fly-by, real working lights, push-button activated cargo bay door release and retractable landing gear.

For the first time, the...

When he's not trying goat intestines and maggot cheese, Andrew Zimmern, host of Travel Channel's “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” is preparing family-friendly meals for his son, Noah.

Zimmern's new book, “Andrew Zimmern's Field Guide to Exceptionally Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Foods: An Intrepid Eater's Digest (Feiwell & Friends; $19.99) addresses picky eaters and also hopes to encourage...

Parents take note: Britax Child Safety Inc. is recalling about 60,000 car seats due to a choking hazard.

The recall covers Boulevard 70-G3, Advocate 70-G3 and Pavilion 70-G3 models, made from June 11 to Aug. 31, sold in the United States and Canada.

The reason, according the AP: U.S. regulators say the seats were made with softer chest pad material that can be bitten off and chewed by...

Is your kid the chicken-nuggets-mac-and-cheese-every-night type?

Well, if Andrew Zimmern, the James Beard Award-winning host of the Travel Channel's “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” and author of a new book “Andrew Zimmern's Field Guide to Exceptionally Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Foods: An Intrepid Eater's Digest" (Feiwell & Friends; $19.99) can eat roaches, brains and fermented...

Which president got stuck in a White House bathtub?

This is the kind of question likely to get kids interested in presidential life this election season --  how that POTUS got out of the tub he was lodged in is probably more interesting to them than which of the current candidates has the economic plan that will get America back on its feet.

Kids can learn the answer to the bathtub...