Flipping through TV channels yesterday, I ran across the funny Sarah Jessica Parker – Matthew McConaughey movie “Failure to Launch” in which a thirtysomething slacker suspects his parents of setting him up with his dream girl so he’ll finally vacate their home.

Then I saw, on the Consumer Reports Money Blog, the post, “Should You Bail Out Your 20-, 30, 40-year-old Child?”

Hmm. Some food for thought here.

But why should parents of kids that aren’t even college age be concerned with this?

Because we set the tone for our child’s early-adult years during the childhood years. Do you fully expect your child to become a functioning adult who will make his or her way in the world at a certain age? Are you talking with your child about handling money, taking on increasing responsibility in age-appropriate ways and learning how to navigate the adult world?

When your child makes a mistake, or an error in judgment, do you rush to make it all better? To bail her out?

Let’s acknowledge the fact that, if we parents do our job well, we will be putting ourselves out of a job at some point. That’s the plan. That’s healthy for both you and your child.

Let’s not be the parents who call the university dean because little Meagan doesn’t like her first college roommate. Let’s let our kids find their way, struggle a bit when necessary, and grow from the experience.

When they’re 28, they’ll thank you. And you’ll thank yourself.

Thanks to Donna Tapellini over on the Consumer Reports Electronics Blog for raising a potential red flag for parents with her post today: More Videos for Microsoft’s Kin Phones Raise Concern.

(Full disclosure: I’m the social-media reporter for Consumer Reports. But I’m also a parenting blogger, and the mom of a teenager, and you’d better believe I’d be talking about this and linking to this post in any case.)

Just weeks ago, Microsoft pulled its promotional Kin video, after Consumer Reports questioned whether the ad was promoting sexting. Now they’re back, and I’m disturbed by what I’m seeing in these ads, which are being shown on Facebook and You Tube.

In the ads, Rosa Salazar, a young woman from Brooklyn (she looks to be no older than 20), makes a cross-country trek to meet, in person, some of the people she’s friended on Facebook and other social networks. Of course, many of these “friends” are total strangers.

And don’t even get me started on the stalker-like behavior encouraged by the second ad, below…

Is Microsoft being irresponsible here? Do you plan to talk with your tween and teens about such ads? Watch the videos here. Check out Donna’s post, which also includes some thoughts on this ad campaign from Jen Singer over at Mommasaid.net. Then let us know what you think.

E-cards are so popular these days, we usually don’t even think to worry about opening them. And most are safe. But Consumer Reports warns that scammers sometimes use ecards to do their dirty work:

“Scammers frequently have used bogus e-card messages to spread computer viruses and other malware. Such messages contain holiday-related subject lines but include nasty attachments or hyperlinks. For example, in 2008, the FBI warned that e-card emails were being used to spread the Storm Worm Trojan horse, which allowed outsiders to commander Windows computers.”

Check out Consumer Reports’ tips on safely receiving Mother’s Day E-cards.

(Full disclosure: I’m the social media reporter for Consumer Reports. Follow me on Twitter at @CReporter for great consumer tips and conversation!)

P.S. Yes, I’m shameless. Just had to share a picture of my baby boy, who is now 14 and taller than me!

The Tooth Fairy might need to get a day job to pay for all those teeth, because payouts for baby teeth are on the rise, according to a new report by Desiree Ferenczi  of Consumer Reports. (Full disclosure: I work part-time as the social-media reporter for Consumer Reports. You can find me on Twitter as @CReporter.)

Got a curious toddler?

Consumer Reports’ recent blog post and video about TV tip-over problems really caught my attention. Young children can be crushed from the weight of a falling TV.

But there are things you can do to protect your kids. Check out the post and video, then check out that TV sitting on the dresser in your bedroom…

(Full disclosure: I’m the social-media reporter for Consumer Reports.)

We often think of distracted driving as driving while eating, putting on makeup, talking on a cell phone, etc. Driving with kids in the car can be distracting, too, according to a recent Consumer Reports* blog post, especially if there is crying, whining, or some other issue that warrants attention.

“Usually it’s either a dropped toy, needing a tissue, drink, or snack, that forces me to reach back and try to assist,” says Consumer Reports automotive writer Liza Barth.

We're all trying to stretch a buck these days, and dollar stores may seem like a good way to do it. But buyer beware when it comes to danger at the dollar store, says Consumer Reports in their latest video.

(Disclosure: In addition to being a freelance journalist, I'm also the social-media reporter for Consumer Reports. Follow me on Twitter at @creporter for CR's latest updates.)

What types of dollar-store products could be hazardous? Cigarette lighters that look like mini toy skateboards. Party whistles that can easily come apart and create choking hazards. And my personal favorite on CR's list: bubble-blowing liquid that comes in a bottle with what looks like a baby-bottle nipple on top. Nice.

Sure, you can save on many items that are perfectly safe. But keep a sharp eye out for items that could harm your family.

As many of you know, I've been working as Consumer Reports' social media reporter since February. I love this work, and it fits so well with my commitment to sharing important consumer news with parents right here on Parent Talk Today.

I usually do my work for the organization as @CReporter on Twitter. But my editors also asked me to write a Consumer Reports blog post, "Eight Ways to Protect Your Kids on Social Networks," which talks about how to keep kids safe on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc.

Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, advises parents, educators, librarians and policy makers on how kids can use the Web safely. Her advice in this post can help keep your kids safe.

For more on information on surfing the Web safely, visit the Consumer Reports Guide to Online Security.

A post on the Consumer Reports Safety Blog, "Inflatable Accidents Are Up, Up and Away," caught my eye yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you. 

(Disclosure: I work part-time as the social-media reporter for Consumer Reports at @CReporter on Twitter. Actually, it's a job that comes in very handy for me as a parenting writer, because I learn about these issues from folks who really know how to test equipment and check on safety issues.)

Recently an 11-year-old boy flew 40 feet into the air, clinging to a poorly anchored inflatable slide that was caught by a gust of wind. Fast-thinking parents punctured the slide and brought it back to earth before the boy was injured.

But, as CR notes: "The newest numbers from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which
were last updated in 2005, are sobering. The CPSC reported four
fatalities in inflatable-related accidents from 2002 to 2005. In 2004,
the most recent year for which we found complete data,
inflatable rides, such as inflatable slides and bouncers, accounted for
an estimated 4,900 injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms,
according to the agency. That was up sharply from 1997, when the CPSC
estimated only 1,300 such injuries — a whopping 277 percent increase
in just eight years (a time in which inflatables grew in popularity)."

My son has been bouncing in inflatable jumpers and sliding down inflatable slides since he was a preschooler. When he was little, I made sure he wasn't getting jumped on by the bigger kids, but I didn't realize the dangers in these structures being caught by a burst of wind or suddenly deflating.

Does this mean we need to stop using inflatable slides and jumpers? I don't think so. But should adults supervise their use and be available to prevent kid pile-ups and to make sure the structure is safe? Absolutely.

Interesting post for parents from Consumer Reports* today: If a kid is routinely
short on sleep, he may be at higher risk of behavior problems related
to ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), according to a new study.

Researchers looked at 280 healthy 7- and 8-year-old kids.
Parents recorded how much sleep their child got for seven days and noted
any factors that might have had an impact on sleep, such as travel or
illness. The kids
wore a device on their wrist called an actigraph, which logs sleep
duration by recording movement.

Parents also filled out questionnaires that described their child's sleep habits and rated their level of ADHD symptoms,
such as being hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive. Each child was
then given a score for each of these symptoms and an overall score for ADHD
symptoms.

Kids who averaged less than 7.7 hours
of sleep per night had higher levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity
than those who slept more. Check out the rest of the post here.

While you're there, spend some time nosing around Consumer Reports' Babies & Kids, Health and Safety blogs. Great stuff there for parents.

*Disclosure: I work for Consumer Reports as their social media reporter on Twitter. Follow me at @CReporter.