Our Favorite Parenting Stories Of The Week

In a city with an endless amount of extracurricular options it’s easy to fill every moment of your children’s day, but what about down-time? The knowledge and social skills children gain from enrichment activities are invaluable, but they also need time to decompress and just hang-out. (The New York Times)

Don’t let pregnancy put a damper on your Halloween celebration. Check out these creative couples’ costumes for expectant mothers and dads-to-be! (The Huffington Post)

Think chickenpox is a harmless rite of passage? One mom thinks otherwise and speaks out in favor of vaccinating little ones against this often-underestimated ailment. (Mommyish)

NYC style and business maven (oh, and daughter-of-the-Donald) Ivanka Trump and her husband welcomed a healthy baby boy this week. Congrats to the happy family. (Elizabeth Street)

Research shows that kids are not receptive to tutors on television. The screen is not the issue, but rather, the unreliability of the speaker. Children need connectedness to learn. They know when someone is speaking to them or when they’re hearing pre-recorded material. (Baby Center)

Planning a baby shower? Get inspired by Jennifer Love Hewitt’s gender-neutral shower, which was planned by celebrity party planner Mindy Weiss. At the Hotel Bel-Air this past weekend in Los Angeles, Hewitt’s guests got to create their own fragrance and enjoy baby themed cupcakes! (Parents)

Kids in Virginia are rebelling against healthier food. A school district’s transition from serving 27-ingredient “meat” burgers to serving all beef burgers was not well received by its students. (The Washington Post)

Many parents strive to teach their children empathy, but these 8-year-old boys are coming out ahead of the curve. This band of North Dakota kids headed to the salon to have their hair dyed hot pink in support of breast cancer awareness. (CBS)

Pumpkin carving is a fun fall activity, but when kids are involved, it’s typically not a safe one! These playful no-carve pumpkins are a great knife-free alternative for little ones. (Mommyish)

Worried about incurring the wrath of safety-conscious parents, the US Postal Service puts a stop to the “Just Move” campaign’s stamp designs. Why? Depictions of seemingly dangerous activities and helmet-free headstands. What do you think? (Motherload)