Joy Berry's Blog

Even if your kids are too old to be scared of anything that Halloween throws at them, reading my new book, Taking the Scary Out of Halloween is still a good idea. Because, no matter how old a child is, Halloween can be one of the most hazardous of all of the holidays.

In Taking the Scary Out of Halloween, I put forth ten Halloween safety guidelines that can help to ensure that October 31 will be a day that ends with fun memories instead of bad ones.

Here are the ten guidelines:

SAFETY GUIDELINE #1 - Avoid wearing Halloween masks or costumes that cover your face and make it difficult for you to see or breathe.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #2 - Avoid wearing Halloween costumes that are too big or too long and might cause you to trip and fall.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #3 - Wear comfortable shoes that will not hurt your feet or cause you to trip and fall while you are trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #4 – Wear some kind of light or reflector while trick-or treating so that people driving cars or bikes can see you and avoid running into you.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #5 - Be sure that an adult is with you at all times while you are trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #6 - Use a flashlight while trick-or-treating to light your way in areas that do not have lighted streets or sidewalks.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #7 - Obey all of the laws for pedestrians while trick-or-treating.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #8 - Eat a nourishing meal before you begin eating any of the Halloween treats that you collect.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #9 - Have an adult examine all of the Halloween treats that you collect to make sure that they are safe for you to eat.

SAFETY GUIDELINE #10 - Avoid making yourself sick by eating too many Halloween treats.

I hope these guidelines can help your child and you have a safe and fun Halloween this year!

Recently I was updating a colleague about the status of my company when he asked, "Why so much emphasis on potty training?"

He's a confirmed bachelor. No kids. So, it's no wonder why he would ask such a question. But anyone who has struggled with dirty diapers for over two years knows exactly why a company that is dedicated to helping parents solve parenting problems would start with potty training.

For example, there's no bigger inconvenience than a dirty diaper away from home, and there's n...

This might be hard to believe, but it really happened. When I lived in Scottsdale Arizona, I was introduced to a man who had invented a battery-operated device that could be attached to a diaper. According to the sheet of instructions written by the inventor, "small electric pulses will vibrate when the diaper gets wet and cause a slight bit of discomfort."

The first thing that came to mind when I read the instructions was the electronic fences that people install around their yards to keep...

Not long ago I sat next to a two-year-old girl on a subway train. She was playing with an I-Phone and I was amazed at her adeptness—especially since I've barely gotten the hang of turning my I-Phone on and off.

When I asked her what she was doing, she showed me a game she was playing.

That catapulted my mind into overdrive. Oh, the incredible possibilities!

So when one of my partners suggested that we put together an I-Phone app, I was more than ready to rock and roll. The end result of our j...

I read about the Arizona child abuse trial involving Raul and Trica Varela and my heart sank—first for the child, and then for the parents. The broken bones and bruises inflicted on the Varela's 4-year-old daughter during a "potty-training war" speaks to the frustration parents often experience when attempting to toilet train their children.

While there is likely a lot more to the Valera situation than two parents trying to potty train a child, and while most parents would never allow their ...

(Especially when spoken in a whiny voice)

I don't like it here!
I'm bored!
There's no one to play with!
Something stinks!
Is there anything to eat?
I accidentally broke something!
The toilet's stopped up!
I'm going to be sick!
How much longer do we have to stay?
Can we go now?

How to Stop Your Child From Saying Things That Can Ruin a Holiday Visit
(Without the Use of a Gag, a Muzzle, or Tape–Smile)

1.  I don't like it here!

No one enjoys being a tag-along instead of an invited guest. Avoid...

(Especially when spoken in a whiny voice)

I already have this.
I had one of these before and it didn't work.
I don't like this.
How much did this cost?
But I wanted (something else).
I want what (someone else) got.
This is for babies.
My present is better than yours.
Can we take this back and get something else?
Is this all I get?

How to Help Your Child Say the Right Thing So He or She Won't Ruin a Gift
(or stop getting them in the future)

Remind your child that a gift is free to him or her...

When one attends as many conventions as I've attended during the last 30 years, they all start to blend together into one huge blur. But such was not the case with the Child's Play Communications' 2nd Annual Bloggers Brunch put together by a group of premier mommy bloggers.

The event began with a panel of six mommy bloggers who shared the basics of what they do and what they don't do. All six women were intelligent and savvy on so many levels—first as businesswomen, but more important, as...

As we were pulling away from the Disneyland Hotel, my older granddaughter uttered something that every parent or grandparent hopes to hear immediately following a family adventure. "Everything was absolutely perfect," she sighed wistfully. "I had so much fun."

Several things prompted her remark.

For starters, Disneyland is a pretty magical place. However, as evidenced by the myriad of crying children throughout the park, it can easily become a nightmare if it is not experienced properly.

I...

An invitation to my nephew's wedding in Southern California presented a perfect opportunity to fulfill my promise to take my granddaughters to Disneyland. Some accumulated coupons and a red-hot, off-season package deal allowed us to stay for full four nights and days at the hotel and theme park.

We were happily ensconced in our methodical efforts to ride all of the rides we had circled on the Disneyland map when we encountered a very unhappy guest in the line for the Alice in Wonderland ride. ...