family life

7-Year-Old Drives Mini Ferrari

Scarlett Gurr is hardly old enough to get a driver's license, but nevertheless, the 7-year-old drives a mini Ferrari.

Scarlett Gurr is hardly old enough to get a driver's license, but nevertheless, the 7-year-old drives a mini Ferrari. In fact, "she has an entire garage filled with her own fancy cars and is the youngest member of the British Women Racing Drivers Club," the Huffington Post reports.

Scarlett's vast car collection is one of the perks of being parented by the owner of a car tuning and restoration company in London. Her dad Stuart has been building replicas of real cars for Scarlett and her 3-year-old sister, Maddie, for several years, and dreams of participating in the Little Big Mans race in France next year.

Stuart and Scarlett's favorite car is a red Ferarri, which took more than 600 hours to build and cost around $3,025. Fortunately, Stuart doesn't have to worry too much about Scarlett hurting herself or wrecking his investment — he admits that the vehicles she "drives" are "more show than go."

Food and Fun

12 Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Recipes For Summer

Figuring out what to bring to a potluck with kids can be difficult.
Best Family Potluck Recipes

Figuring out what to bring to a potluck with kids can be difficult. Not only are kids notoriously picky eaters, but potluck food needs to be able to sit out for several hours and still manage to taste good. So we asked the best potluck experts we know — moms — what their favorite go-to potluck dish is, and rounded up 12 of our favorites. From healthy slaw and tasty pastas to mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies, you'll definitely want to keep these easy potluck recipes on hand.

Source: Shutterstock
Ikea

7 Ways to Put the Ikea Expedit to Work in Your Kids' Rooms

When it comes to creating a versatile, affordable storage space in kids' nurseries or bedrooms, Ikea's Expedit shelving system is the best solution on the market for many parents.

When it comes to creating a versatile, affordable storage space in kids' nurseries or bedrooms, Ikea's Expedit shelving system is the best solution on the market for many parents. Ranging from $40-200 per shelving unit, the line also comes with a wide array of inserts, drawers, and even desks and work stations to customize it for your space.

Here, check out seven stylish ways that we've seen the Expedit utilized in real rooms!

family life

Tween Wears Thrift Store Clothes as Punishment

A Utah mom gave her daughter a taste of her own medicine, forcing her to wear unflattering thrift shop clothes as a punishment for bullying another student about her appearance, the Huffington Post reports.

A Utah mom gave her daughter a taste of her own medicine, forcing her to wear unflattering thrift shop clothes as a punishment for bullying another student about her appearance, the Huffington Post reports.

According to Salt Lake City's KSTU, the 10-year-old girl named Kaylee had been teasing another fourth grader about the way she dressed so much that the other girl no longer wanted to attend school. When questioned about the bullying, Kaylee showed little remorse. So, mom Ally decided to show Kaylee how it feels to be teased about her clothes.

"If she chooses to be a bully after this, then at some point in her life, she's going to be on the other side and she'll know what it really feels like," Ally said.

What do you think? Is making your teen wear ugly clothes a good way to stop her from bullying someone else about their appearance?

Pregnancy

8 Surprising Things That Can Swell During Pregnancy

We've all heard of swollen feet during pregnancy, and while it's a not-so-surprising side effect considering they're supporting all that extra weight, the Fred Flintstone-foot look many women sport during pregnancy can often be shocking.

We've all heard of swollen feet during pregnancy, and while it's a not-so-surprising side effect considering they're supporting all that extra weight, the Fred Flintstone-foot look many women sport during pregnancy can often be shocking. Case in point: Kim Kardashian's swollen, but still-rocking-stilletto feet have recently become internet fodder because they just look so crazy uncomfortable (seriously, Kim, put away the four-inch heels . . . for now, at least). But your feet are not the only body parts that can retain fluid while you're expecting. We've all seen a pregnant woman who looked so fluid-filled you kind of wanted to stick a pin in her to see if she'd pop (or maybe you were one of those women?), but water retention can hit less obvious places as well.

It's a condition that doesn't discriminate — both Kim and Jessica Simpson showed off swollen lips during their first pregnancies. Jessica worried it might have been the first stage of "pregnancy face," a side effect that Bethenny Frankel dealt with by massage and putting bags of frozen veggies on her face. "I’m a swollen beast. My face exploded . . . I look like a chipmunk,” she tweeted while expecting daughter Bryn. Keep reading for 8 less talked-about body parts that can make for an often uncomfortable, and sometimes unsightly, pregnancy and postpartum experience.

Spring

7 Supercreative Lemonade Stand Alternatives

The weather's warming and that means one thing — no, not blooming flowers, but kids' lemonade stands.
Juice Stand

The weather's warming and that means one thing — no, not blooming flowers, but kids' lemonade stands. They're happening everywhere across the country, and while we love a really good one, we can't help but think of all the other cool things kids can sell. Check out some creative ideas that don't require a single lemon squeeze. We have a feeling they'll be a hit because, really, who can turn down a budding entrepreneur?

Behavior Tips

The Sly Way I Cured My Child's Lying Habit

When my second son was 4 he developed an amazing trait .

When my second son was 4 he developed an amazing trait . . . the ability to lie. It was absolute talent. Most of the time I couldn't tell if he was telling me the truth or telling me a lie.

One occasion that stands out was when he had a small toy from a kid's meal. It wasn't a big deal, but for three hours I drilled him on where he got it and he repeatedly told me that he had found it at the playground. We went to bed that night, me exhausted, and I told my husband, "I just don't get it. I really thought he was telling me a lie." I cried because I felt I had persecuted my child.

We let it go and two days later, I learned the truth. My son had told me a lie. He had taken the toy from a little boy in our apartment complex. I was angry. I took action.

Keep reading.

Celebrity Interviews

Jessica Alba Dishes on The Honest Company's Newest Products and the Diaper Design She Insisted on Using

Jessica Alba isn't slowing down one bit as her eco-friendly baby and household cleaning product company, The Honest Company, enters its sophomore year of operation.

Jessica Alba isn't slowing down one bit as her eco-friendly baby and household cleaning product company, The Honest Company, enters its sophomore year of operation. The mom of two — Honor, 4, and Haven, 1 — has spent the past few months introducing new products for the company and promoting her bestselling guide to healthy and chic living, The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You. On the final day of her publicity tour, she headed up to Greenwich, CT, to receive the Champion For Children Award from the Mount Sinai Hospital Children's Environmental Health Center.

It was there that Jessica and the company's cofounder, Christopher Gavigan, spilled the beans to POPSUGAR about the next area they'll enter: the health and wellness arena. At the end of the month, Honest will introduce organic toothpaste and organic vitamins (both prenatal and children's versions), two products that grew out of their own children's needs. Jessica explained, "I was given prescription prenatals from my OB, and not only were they crazy expensive, no matter how many samples he gave me, every one of them made me nauseous." Her new vitamins are free of artificial colors, scents, and flavors (they're flavored with real fruits) and kid-tested (and approved).

Here are some more highlights from the conversation.

Jessica on why she focuses on Honest diapers' design: "I think cute-factor is so important when you're looking at the little booger all day long!"

Jessica on how involved she is with the diapers' designs: "I'm really nitpicky. . . . That's where I was like, 'I'm obsessed with Alexander McQueen, he made skulls beautiful, we have to put skulls on a diaper.' And my partners were like, 'You're crazy; nobody's going to buy that!' And I'm like, 'Are you kidding me? Just try it!' It ended up being like our No. 1 diaper!"

Jessica on her favorite diaper design: "I'm really into the strawberries right now. I always loved Strawberry Shortcake, and [Haven's] a little ginger, so the strawberries look really cute on her."

Keep reading for more of Jessica's thoughts on her business and the power of the Internet.

Kid Shopping

Small Space, Big Design: The Best Little Nurseries on the Web

Whether you're bringing home baby to a house in the suburbs or a studio apartment, chances are, there's a time you've wished for just a little more square footage than what you currently have.

Whether you're bringing home baby to a house in the suburbs or a studio apartment, chances are, there's a time you've wished for just a little more square footage than what you currently have. We're here to tell you that it's not about the space itself, rather how you use it. Some of the most beautifully designed nurseries we've seen are those that take advantage of every square foot — and do so in style.

Toddler

Showering With Your Child: When Should You Stop?

At what age does it become inappropriate to shower or bathe with your child?

At what age does it become inappropriate to shower or bathe with your child? Two, five, seven . . . never?

While many parents say showering with their young child, even of the opposite gender, is perfectly fine up to a certain point in time, there's little consensus on when exactly that moment is. But here are the four common reasons parents give for stopping and their thoughts on how to recognize when that moment arrives.

Keep reading.

Kid Shopping

Brit Brand Mama & Papas Debuts Its Babies' and Kids' Clothes Stateside

You probably know Mamas & Papas for its modern, highly functional strollers and high chairs, but the immensely popular British brand just introduced its babywear and kidswear collection to the US!

You probably know Mamas & Papas for its modern, highly functional strollers and high chairs, but the immensely popular British brand just introduced its babywear and kidswear collection to the US!

The stylish line includes everything parents need to dress their little ones from birth through toddlerhood, including essential one-pieces and rompers and on-trend toddler outfits and separates made for everyday play and for special occasions. Bright colors and patterns, chic details, and soft fabrics are staples in the collection, and pretty much everything is machine-washable. Keep clicking to check out some of our favorite pieces in Mamas & Papas' US clothing debut, and be sure to check out the brand's site for many, many more kid-chic options!

Food and Fun

10 Patriotic Crafts Perfect For Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is almost here, kicking off the Summer and a time to celebrate our servicemen and women.

Memorial Day weekend is almost here, kicking off the Summer and a time to celebrate our servicemen and women. Make your day off from the daily grind special by getting crafty with your kids and creating something patriotic to display in your home. From seriously simple activities to projects that are perfect for older tots, this roundup of red, white, and blue crafts is perfect for showing your love of the great USA.

Art

10 Free or Low-Cost Summer Activities For Kids

Wondering how to keep your kids entertained all Summer?

Wondering how to keep your kids entertained all Summer? Stave off Summer boredom with these 10 fun and affordable activities recommended by Circle of Moms members.

1. Library Programs

Local library Summer programs are recommended by numerous Circle of Moms members. As Rebecca S. advises: "Libraries are always having free events with story times, magic shows, etc." And Evelyne R. shares: "I also love to take my children to the library, most of them have a Summer reading program that offers prizes for books read. My children love this and it is free."

2. Free Bowling

Free bowling for the kiddies all Summer long? Sign us up! Thanks to Kids Bowl Free, children can register for two free games of bowling every day this Summer at participating bowling centers in the US and Canada.

3. Gardening

Gardening is a great Summer activity for children of all ages. "The garden is full of hidden surprises" for preschoolers, says Jeanette B., as they can be entertained by "just looking under rocks (and) feeling the textures of different materials, such as grass, leaves, flowers, stones, [and] fir cones." For older children, Alissa V. recommends encouraging older children to independently make or redesign a small flower bed. No backyard? See if community gardens accept children as volunteers (try the ACGA locator tool). And don't forget a field trip to the local farmers market for inspiration.

4. State Parks

To engage curious kids, says Laurie W., "the best activities involve the outdoors — lakes, ponds, streams, conservation areas and trails — to explore rocks, bugs, birds, and plants." And as Chaya S. suggests, Summer is a great time to explore state parks in your area; many have kid-friendly guided nature walks and science centers.

Keep reading for six more ideas!

Kid Shopping

Itty Wigs Baby Headbands: Ga Ga or Gag?

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, along comes Itty Wigs.

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, along comes Itty Wigs. Touted as the "silly strands novelty girls headband," these little headpieces give your baby girl the locks of her dreams (sort of . . . ). Ranging in price from $8-$11, the "hair-raising" headbands were developed by Missouri-based grandmother, Diana Thatcher. Inspired to create a Lil Rascals-themed video of her then 4-month-old granddaughter, Thatcher rigged up a variety of wigs for the baby girl out of household crafting items (you can see the results here). She had so much fun with the idea that she took it to the next level, designing the Itty Wigs shown here.

Would you buy one of these for your little girl? They're meant to be a novelty item, but is it one that you can get behind? Vote in our poll below, and share your comments on the one-of-a-kind (really, they're patented!) headband.

family life

The Prejudice Kids Have Already Formed by Age 4

Elementary school educators spend a lot of time teaching children to love and accept all kinds of people.

Elementary school educators spend a lot of time teaching children to love and accept all kinds of people. But a recent study suggests that children have "already absorbed an upsetting message: that fat is a negative indicator of a person's character, and that overweight people are undesirable as friends and as people" at an earlier age, The Atlantic reports.

In a study conducted by the University of Leeds, researchers found that kids' prejudice against fat people starts as early as preschool. Approximately 300 schoolchildren ranging from 4 to 6 years old were read a story about two friends who get stuck in a tree. In one version, both children are normal-sized. But in another version, one child is presented as overweight or disabled. When asked what they thought about the characters, the children overwhelmingly decided that the fat kid was less likely to win a race, do well in school, be happy with the way he looks, or get invited to parties, according to the report. Additionally, the children rated the overweight or disabled child more likely to be naughty and have fewer friends.

The "rejection" of the fat character was consistent when the story was portrayed with both male and female characters, the researchers said, indicating that "children pick up on societal cues as to what is socially acceptable and what is not" at a much earlier age than initially assumed.

Kid Shopping

6 Designer Camera Cases to Inspire Moms to Put Down the iPhone

We're all guilty of it; we let our real (often pricey) cameras collect dust while snapping away hundreds of lesser-quality photos of our kids with our phones.

We're all guilty of it; we let our real (often pricey) cameras collect dust while snapping away hundreds of lesser-quality photos of our kids with our phones. But no longer! We found the remedy: chic camera cases from Loeffler Randall, Rebecca Minkoff, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and more, all stylish enough to inspire you to take that camera out on the town, to the park, and to all the other places where your kids do cute, photo-worthy things (that's everywhere, right?). Your children's future photo albums will thank you.