Budget — hard: Get them to draw up a weekly budget, listing all their known income and projected payments. The difference is how much they need to earn, or how much they can spend on partying.

Get insurance: The average student takes thousands of dollars worth of possessions to college. If the goods are not fully covered by your home insurance or the college’s own policy, they’ll need to arrange their own.

Wise up on travel: Walking and biking are free. But if they’re taking a car to college they will end up as an unpaid taxi driver. Get them to ask friends to contribute towards gas.

Be a discount pro: Many stores offer student discounts but don’t advertise about them — so ask.

Pick up a recipe: Cook your children a meal and you feed them for a day; teach them how to cook and you’ll be feeding them for life — and saving them money at college.

Check paystubs: Even part-time workers should receive at least the minimum wage. Students also need to check how much tax the employer has deducted — especially if they have more than one job.

Consider an allowance: If you don’t trust them, or they don’t trust themselves, students could hand their per-term loan/grant payment to Mom and Dad, to be doled out as a weekly or monthly allowance.

Stay on track: Learning to manage finances is part of the college experience. And as 18-year-olds are officially adults, parents are not legally responsible for their debts unless they have specifically guaranteed them.

http://nutrition.about.com/od/schoollunches/qt/lunchbox.htm

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/top-5-mistakes-we-make-teaching-kids-about-money-517400/

About 1,200 drop-side cribs sold in Canada between 2001 and 2004 are being recalled after reports of three infant suffocation deaths south of the border.

Health Canada announced Wednesday that the recall involves model numbers 592081, 592681 and 597431 for drop-side cribs made by Generation 2 Worldwide in the United States and China.

The recalled cribs carry the name “Generation 2 Worldwide” or “ChildESIGNS” and were sold by major retailers nationwide, including The Bay and Sears Canada.

Health Canada says the cribs’ plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop-side to detach. The mattress support can also detach from the crib frame, creating a space toddlers can roll into and become entrapped.

Neither Health Canada nor the cribs distributor, Elfe Juvenile Products of Toronto and Montreal, has received reports of injuries or incidents related to the use of these products, the agency says.

Health Canada is warning consumers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs.

A new character is being introduced today on “Sesame Street.”

Her name is Carrie Underworm.

She has a red fabric worm’s body and blonde wavy hair.

She sings just like Carrie Underwood.

She sounds like Underwood because that’s who recorded the song, “The Worm Anthem,” for the show.

After premiering today, this episode of “Sesame Street” will air again later today and also March 17th, April 8th and 26th on P-B-S.

Check out a sneak peek here: Carrie Underworm

Ah I see the resemblance.

You can check on the North-East tri-board buses here.

If buses are cancelled there will be a yellow box on that page that lists the cancellations.

The recent drama over whether or not Zhu Zhu Pets are toxic has raised some questions about the chemical in question: Antimony.

Antimony is a chemical used in electronics and fireproofing. It’s found in paints, rubber, ceramics, enamels, drugs to treat parasites, and various alloys. Antimony is found in the earth’s crust.

The largest mine is in China. Very little is mined in the U.S..

The claim made on Mr. Snuggles, one of the Zhu Zhu Pets is that in tests, his fur contained 93 parts per million and his nose contained 106 parts per million. The allowable amount is 60 parts per million. The company that manufactures Zhu Zhu Pets is combating the results by showing internal test, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating. This news comes as over 6 million Zhu Zhu Pets have been purchased for children this holiday season.

Antimony cannot be destroyed in the environment, it can only change form or become attached to other particles, especially those that contain iron, manganese, or aluminum.

Many foods that we eat and drink contain antimony. The average person drinks about 5 millionth of a gram every day. Antimony used for fire protection is so attached to the material that it does not expose humans to antimony.

Antimony is toxic. Health hazards include:
1. eye irritation
2. lung irritation
3. breathing problems
4. skin irritation
5. heart problems
6. stomach pain
7. diarrhea
8. vomiting
9. stomach ulcers
10. joint and muscle pain
11. anemia

It is not known if antimony causes cancer, birth defects, reproductive problems, or other anomalies in humans. It has not been classified as a carcinogen by the Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or the Environmental Protection Agency.

In studies on rats, it has caused death, hair loss, and organ damage. It causes heart and fertility problems, weight loss, and diarrhea in dogs. Antimony caused eye irritation in rabbits, and death when it got on their skin.

Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) have set federal regulations for antimony in lakes, streams, industry to protect people and workers from antimony poisoning.

If you would like more information on Antimony, or any other toxic substance, contact your state health or environmental quality department.

Mark Burnett, who produces “Survivor,” “The Apprentice” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?,” hopes to again prove his genius with reality T-V.

He’s sold Fox a show called “Our Little Genius.”

This new game show gives real child geniuses, ages 6 to 12, a chance to test their knowledge and win what’s described as “life-changing money” for their families.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid.

But, maybe their brains can handle it.

An air date and host haven’t been announced.

Sears’ top toys of the year

Top 5 big toys
Convertible wagon/sleigh
Power Wheels Ford/Mustang (Red)
Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang
Power Wheels Ford F-150 Pick Up
VTech Jungle Gym Bouncing Colours Turtle

Top 5 Toys under 100 bucks
Whoopsie Doo
Bakugan 7 in 1
Zero Gravity Laser
Rocky the Robot
Liv Dolls

The Berenstain Bears are headed to the big screen in a live-action version of the beloved book series.

Walden Media, behind such children’s films as the “Chronicles of Narnia” series and “Charlotte’s Web,” says it’s acquiring the film rights.

It’s teaming up with Toronto-based Nelvana Ltd., which produced the animated “Berenstain Bears” television series, and Montreal filmmaker Shawn Levy, who directed and produced the “Night At the Museum” films.

Walden says the movie version will feature live action mixed with computer-generated characters.