Should They Watch the Super Bowl Halftime?
You want to watch the big game on Sunday with your children, but fear being ambushed by a Super Bowl peep show at halftime a la Janet Jackson? This year, performers include singers Madonna and Nicki Minaj. Neither is known for their child-friendly acts.

So if a family-oriented Super Bowl party is on your calendar, be aware that if your kids view something they shouldn’t, it’s best to talk about it. “It always makes sense for parents to talk to their children about what they feel is appropriate or inappropriate,” says Joan Kuchner, Ph.D., director of Child and Family Studies at State University at Stony Brook.

See if your child is even aware of what happened. “Kids might not necessarily notice the incident until their parents draw their attention to it,” Dr. Kuchner says. How a four-year-old interprets what he sees on TV is a lot different than how a 12-year-old does and parents should present the discussion accordingly.

Snow Day Fun
Since the groundhog saw his shadow, sometime in the next six weeks your child may have a snow day. Instead of spending the day on the couch, plan ahead to turn a snow day into an opportunity to do something together.
            · Stir up some chow. Scour the pantry and create a hot lunch or a tasty treat. If pasta and chicken broth are on hand, turn them into soup. Or whip up chocolate chip cookies. Getting everyone involved is the main ingredient.
            · Plan for spring break. Stave off the winter blues and start planning a warm weather vacation together. Or take a virtual trip via www.virtourist.com.
            · Break out the board games. Put away all electronics in favor of gathering around a game.

Calling All Cancer Kicking Moms
Moms Who Kick, Inc., a Long Island-based charity that promotes prevention and healing through exercise and healthy living, is searching for an inspirational batch of “Model Moms” for their 2013 fundraising calendar. All winners will be pampered in their very own professional photo shoot, complete with calendar inclusion and the unique opportunity to strut their stuff at the Gala Fashion Show later this year. All proceeds with benefit the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s continued efforts at providing breast and ovarian cancer research. Entries are being accepted now through Feb. 29. For complete details and official rules, or to enter the Model Mom Contest, visit www.MomsWhoKick.com. —Leslie Fazin