Insider tips on what to read, play watch
Summer boredom should be settling in fast by now, but it can be tough to keep up with what's appropriate for kids to read, play or watch. Luckily we can get some tips from people who have already slogged through these things.
For reading, check out the Summer Reading List from the state's reading initiative called Just Read, Florida! And check out this interview by reporter Jeff Solocheck with Barbara Elzie, deputy director of the program. There's lots of resources for parents and for kids of all ages.
For movies, Yahoo Kids now has a blog called Connected Parents that includes reviews of movies that are designed to alert parents to content, from violence to language to adult themes, that parents might not be aware of based on the movie trailers. For example I know more than a few parents who wished that Toy Story's Woody wasn't constantly calling Buzz an idiot, a word many parents try to keep out of their toddler's lexicon. Common Sense Media is also a great site to bookmark for reviews of books, DVDs and books with an eye toward questionable content. Our Steve Persall's weekly Family Movie Guide is a great way to get a quick view of what's in theaters, but a more in depth review is needed when those movies come home and are viewed multiple times.
For video games, I find myself on the site What They Play almost weekly for insight into game content. My 10-year-old is even using it to so he knows not to bother asking me if he can rent Assassin's Creed from Hollywood Video because I don't think killing people is funny or a sport.
-- Sharon Kennedy Wynne
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Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.