Tell Us: How Do You Control Kids' TV Time?

In today’s technology-driven world, moderating the amount of “screen time” our kids are exposed to is a never-ending battle. What do you do to try to keep that “TV Monster” at bay.

Tell Us: How Do You Control Kids' TV Time?

In today’s technology-driven world, moderating the amount of “screen time” our kids are exposed to is a never-ending battle. What do you do to try to keep that “TV Monster” at bay.

Moms Talk

Tell Us: How Do You Control Kids' TV Time?

In today’s technology-driven world, moderating the amount of “screen time” our kids are exposed to is a never-ending battle. What do you do to try to keep that “TV Monster” at bay.

Moms Talk is a Patch forum in which we ask members of Patch communities across the Lehigh Valley to weigh in on an issue that affects parents, children of all ages, and, quite frankly, people in general. You don’t have to be a Mom, or even a parent, to have an opinion on our Moms Talk topic of the week. And, we, in fact, encourage people of all genders, ages and life situations to share their thoughts on our weekly Moms Talk question in the comments section below so that our “discussion” can become as broad and, hopefully, as useful as possible. In this week’s Moms Talk, we’re exploring tips for controlling screen time and taming the TV monster: It’s a topic that comes up in just about every parenting circle. And, as our lives become more …

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WRVinovskis

8:43 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013

We did the same thing, Pat. We had a jar of buttons. It really worked well and empowered them to make their own choices about media time.   more ›

Seven at Seven

Seven Ways to Conserve Water

Use these tips from wateruseitwisely.com to save both water and money.

1. Run your dishwasher or clothes washer only when they are full. You’ll be amazed how much water you can save each month. 2. Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl, then reuse the “dirty” water to water your house plants. 3. Shorten your shower by one or two minutes and you could save up to 150 gallons of water each month. 4. Adjust sprinklers so that only your lawn is watered (not your sidewalk, driveway, or house). 5. Designate a glass or water bottle and refill it each day for your drinking water. This way, you’ll cut down on the number of glasses to wash. 6. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk. 7. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning on the water, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills …

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Seven at Seven

Seven Ways to Save on School Shopping

It's that time of year again, so here are some ways to save a few bucks when shopping for school supplies.

1. Make a list. Sounds simple enough, but if you make a list of exactly what you need (and have your kids do the same), you won’t wander around the store wondering what you should buy and buying things you don't actually need. It’ll make your shopping experience easier, quicker and most importantly less expensive. 2. Compare prices. Be sure to compare the prices of major stores like Walmart, Target, and Big Lots. Each store tends to low ball one or two back-to-school items and if you make the rounds of a few different stores, you'll be getting the biggest bang for your buck. 3. Swap clothing. Get together with other moms and trade out some of those barely worn items that don't fit your kids anymore. It’ll save you money and it’s almost as …

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Jennifer Marangos

9:40 am on Friday, September 2, 2011

Thanks for the tip Annette. I am going to look into that!   more ›

Hurricane Irene

Tips for Storm Preparation

Planning ahead can make all the difference in weathering a big storm.

Hurricane Irene is expected to bring heavy rain and winds gusting up to 60 mph to Emmaus Patch Saturday night into Sunday. More rain dousing our already saturated ground could cause downed trees and power outages. The Red Cross and utility companies advise residents to have a storm kit handy. Your kit should include: You can also visit www.health.state.pa.us and get a copy of Pennsylvania’s Emergency Preparedness Guide. Check back for more information and storm coverage on Patch. Share your storm photos and experiences by e-mailing

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Some Tips to Avoid Being Hooked by a Crook

Scam artists are out there, but you can use these tips from the PA state police to help protect yourself.

He was Caucasian, male, 40-50 years of age with black hair, a “scruffy” look and had a husky build. He drove a white pick-up with no business name on it.  That was the description I gave an officer of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) last week when a man approached me while weeding my flower bed. He wanted to pave my driveway with “left over asphalt from a job just finished.” According to Trooper Kirk Vanim, PSP Troop M, Fogelsville Barracks, transient criminals are a growing plague. These roaming thieves make a living preying on uninformed and unsuspecting residents—particularly (but not always) the elderly. These criminals often say they are driveway sealant contractors (or asphalt sealant contractors). They may say they are home roof…

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What Are Your Best Back-to-School Tips?

Parents: Give us your advice for helping kids off to a great start in the new school year.

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on all Lehigh Valley Patches in which local parents are invited to share opinions and advice on parenting issues. This week’s Moms Talk topic relates to heading back to school: With the kickoff of the 2011-2012 school year about three weeks away, what advice do you have for helping kids to transition from summer fun back into the classroom? Join the conversation. Each week our Moms Council members discuss these and other issues.  Our Moms Council members include:  If you would like to become a part of the Moms Council and/or have ideas for future Moms Talk questions, please email jennifer.marangos@patch.com.

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Rosemary B

3:12 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I would hope that they would be considerate enough to put kids from the same family on the same "track" so they would all be in school and out the same times. Would seem like common sense to me. But anything government runs seems to be lacking in common sense!   more ›

Life in the Slow Lane

6 Practical Parenting Tips

Plus, an answer to the nature vs. nurture debate.

The old saw “success has many parents but failure is an orphan” is never truer than when you’re dealing with actual kids. When your child brings home straight As or helps a little old lady carry her bags, it’s tempting to think “he gets that from my side of the family” or “I taught him that.”   When that same kid throws a tantrum or refuses to clean his room, we think, “Where did THAT behavior come from?” We solve the “nature vs. nurture” question of child raising by assuming if it’s a fault, he was born with it; the virtues come from us.   As the parent of teenagers, I know it’s a bit early to be giving parenting advice – lots can still go wrong. But I mentioned to a friend who has a preschooler that I used to tell my kids if any stranger…

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8 Tips for Safe Cookouts

Check out these tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture before you fire up the grill.

Following proper guidelines will keep your summer cookouts and picnics safe and tasty. SAFE TEMPERATURES

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