City Grips cover sticky, grimy stroller handles

‘Daniel Tiger' to be previewed at museum

You can get a sneak peek on Saturday of “Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood,” the new animated series from PBS Kids and The Fred Rogers Co.

There will be a free preview from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for paid visitors to the Children' Museum of Pittsburgh. Kids can make character masks from the show, receive giveaways and get their picture taken in the Neighborhood Trolley. WQED members will get $3 off general admission of $13, and $12 for ages 2 to 13 and senior citizens.

Details: 412-322-5058 or www.pittsburghkids.org.

Monitor posture through pictures

Constantly carrying backpacks, as children do when they go back and forth to school, can create a “backpack hunch.” Monitor your child's posture with “posture pictures,” rather than nag them to straighten their backs, says Dr. Steven Weiniger, an expert on posture and anti-aging.

He recommends having your kids stand in front of a wall or a door, facing you. Tell them to stand normally, look straight ahead, take a deep breath, and say, “Show me your best posture.”

Take a front, back and side picture for different views. Print the pictures and show them to your child. Use a pen to draw a line from the middle of the child's head in the front and back pictures to the middle of the space between their feet.

For the side pictures, draw a line from the ear to the ankle. The lines, if the posture is correct, should be vertical, Weiniger says.

The pictures will help kids see the benefits and attractiveness of good posture, and give you a comparison for next year's picture, he says.

Encourage engaging in outdoor activities

Children often spend more time texting and playing video games than they do moving and playing outside. Toy experts at YoYo.com offer the following suggestions for getting your kids into outdoor physical activities.

• Teach your kids some grownup outdoor activities you do, or challenge them with a game of ring toss or soccer-kickball.

• Use your imagination and create a game, like being secret spies.

• At the end of the outdoor play, reward your child with a rinse-off in the sprinkler and healthy snacks.

Parents can help ease college transition

As college move-in days approach, children and parents must prepare emotionally. When a child leaves the nest and separates from the secure base of home and family, it often triggers anxiety for the parent and child.

Dr. Hal Shorey, a practicing psychologist and an assistant professor for the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University in Chester, has developed a list of tips for parents.

Adapt to modern communication modes: If your child uses Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc., sign up for your own account to make it easy to stay connected.

Get busy: Self-distraction does not mean you are ignoring the problem; rather, it demonstrates that you are taking the steps to remain mentally healthy for the family.

Be available: If your child calls in distress, take the time to calm them down and don't rush them off the phone too quickly.

Be a supporter, but not a problem-solver: Keeping children from exploring life on their own will limit future success. If they're homesick and need comforting, then step in and help; otherwise, when a problem arises, encourage your child to utilize campus services.

If you are a crutch for your child, they won't be able to normalize away from home.

— Staff and wire reports

Send parenting news to Coping With Kids in care of Rebecca Killian, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, D.L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212, or e-mail rkillian@tribweb.com.

says the college transition is a personal experience for every child and parent, as the level of anxiety typically depends on the relationship style that has been developed over the years.

To help ease into the stages of separation and reduce the level of stress among students and parents as they are thrust into new societal norms, Shorey