Here’s a perfect example of the power of the written word in advertising: Jane Hambleton’s splashy classified ad to sell her son’s car worked so well that now everyone knows she caught him with liquor in his car and sold it as punishment.
parenting
Copywriter Mom Uses Her Advertising Powers To Humiliate Son Via Classifieds
By 1.10.08 — Updated: 3.6.13
How To Talk To Your Teen About Investing
By 1.9.08
In the list of most popular regrets, the “if only my parents had taught me that” one usually ranks pretty high, which is why we’re glad to have found this post titled “How to talk to your teenager about personal finance.”
By 10.29.07
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Keeping up with the Jones may seem hard, but here’s an easy way to be better than 73 % of rich parents: talk to your kids about money. A survey by PNC Wealth Management found that only 27% wealthy parents had discussed family budget with their children.
See All CPSC Toy Recalls On One Page
By 10.25.07
So the CPSC is always recalling all sorts of crap, like the surprising candles which could lead to fire, or the snowboards which could lead to falling, but as a concerned parent, all you care about is the toys. The freakin’ toys. The ones with the lead and the chokey parts. Well, even though their website coder probably doubles as the meatloaf server at lunchtime, they’ve got a catchall page that is your go-to spot for all the toy hazard related recalls. Just memorize the simple URL: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html.
Spy On Your Kids With Hi-Tech Snoopware
By 10.24.07
They’re all less cost-effective than talking to your kids and listening to what’s going on, but we guess that’s too hard to package and sell that.
Do Consumers Actually Participate In Recalls? (No.)
By 10.10.07
Despite all the hand-wringing on our part, we consumers don’t actually participate in recalls at a very high level. This leaves both manufacturers and the CPSC in the dark about whether their warnings are reaching the right people—which is why the House approved a bill this Tuesday that would require manufacturers of certain infant and toddler products to keep registration info on their customers.
Barbie Teaches Credit Cards 101: "You Never Run Out Of Money!"
By 10.8.07
Fashion Fever Shopping Boutique, the correctly named Barbie toy, features a built-in credit card swiper and a life-size credit card for young children to use when buying outfits for their dolls. According to the Amazon website, “Once the balance hits zero, it will reset so you can continue to shop.”
"Parents, Don't Use Crib Bumpers" Says Study
By 9.20.07
From 1985 to 2005, crib bumpers—the soft padded things parents use to protect their little bundles of dna from injury—have caused 27 deaths and 25 injuries in babies 2-years-old or younger, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Two universities are now cautioning that crib bumpers may not be worth the risk.
Healthy Eating Campaigns Stink, Do Nothing To Prevent Childhood Obesity
By 7.6.07
The federal government is spending over $1 billion on nutrition education this year, and it’s probably a waste of money, according to the AP.
“Any person looking at the published literature about these programs would have to conclude that they are generally not working,” said Dr. Tom Baranowski, a pediatrics professor at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine who studies behavioral nutrition.
Sucky Hospital Workers Launch Investigation Against Reader
By 10.24.06
Longtime Consumerist reader and commenter AppTechie went through a real horror show after his 3 year old son fractured his arm.
Adventures In Everyday Consumerism
By 9.5.06
Jennifer’s letter is perfectly ordinary. It’s the tale of one day in the life of a consumer, a mother, trying to run some errands. Her ToDo list reads: Send letter at post office, return grandma gifts at Walmart, shots at Kaiser. Of course, it’s not as easy as that, because nobody knows how to do their jobs anymore and the dang sauce pitchers exploding off the shelves and whatnot.
Tiffany & Co Fined For Hiding Deadly Teething Ring
By 7.26.06
Tiffany & Co, of breakfast fame, has been fined for failing to tell the government about a potentialy hazardous silver teething rattle.
Tiffany Recalls Paloma Rattle, Satan’s Plaything
By 7.17.06
Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth poses a choking hazard, reports the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The News; Unhealthy Alliances
By 7.17.06
• Breeze felt in the windy city. [LAT] “United Airlines to Move Head Office to Chicago From Suburb”
Breast Milk Contains Oodles of Toxins
By 3.21.06
The Environmental Working Group published a report on the toxicity of breast milk. The research found breast milk to contain, “paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, cosmetic additives, gasoline byproducts, rocket fuel, termite poisons, fungicides and flame retardants.”
The Latest in Potty Styles
By 3.14.06
The modern, compact and secure approach to learning how to potty, The Potty Bench opens for toilet training and can be closed to use as a step stool or seat.
Amazon Trades You $30 for $99 of Diapers
By 2.16.06
Until Feb. 28 you can get a $30 Amazon.com gift certificate after making a $99-and-up Amazon.com order of Huggies brand products.
