Why Take Responsibility When You Can Sue?
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I'm wondering now whether I got it wrong all these years. Instead of recognizing my mistakes, instead of slapping myself on the side of the head, instead of wallowing in the humiliation I deserved, maybe I should've found a lawyer and sued

Why Non-Parents Are Happier Than Parents
Bonnie Erbe

In a recent New York Magazine article, a mother traces her own expectations as a parent and how reality clashed with those expectations. She cites mountains of data and studies showing that, as far as she can tell, American parents are more stressed and less happy than non-parents. The article says what I've always experienced, but never yet confirmed: non-parents are happier than parents

Be a Green Teen
Girl World Daily

Being a BFF to the environment isn't always about rallying for big global changes. You can tweak simple things in your day-to-day drill to help save the environment. Get with the green routine!

Enjoy Breakfast as a Family
Madonna Behen

No matter how busy your weekday mornings, the whole family can still eat well. All it takes are a few key planning decisions and some smart food choices. Below, our experts' strategies for turning the rushed (or nonexistent!) morning meal into a healthy, enjoyable group activity

Planning Family Summer Vacations on a Budget
Julie Smart

Preparing well in advance of all your family summer events spares you the money and the stress usually associated with traveling (and ironically, vacations in general). Here are my favorite tips for saving money on family vacations

Summer Fun With Kids on a Budget
Debra Muccio

It can be difficult, not to mention expensive, trying to entertain the kids now that school is out for the summer. By taking advantage of some local summer programs, family fun can happen -- even on a budget

Sharing a Room With a Sibling
Girl World Daily

Sure, sharing a room isn't the ideal situation. But it happens. Here are some tips for carving out some personal space in a shared room, setting sibling boundaries, compromising on the decor and more

Have a Safe Trip
Kristin Bailey Murphy

Most parents think it will never happen to them, yet thousands of car accidents occur each year. According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Agency, 8,000 American children die in auto-related accidents each year -- 20 every single day. So how can you help protect your children? Follow these hard and fast car safety rules

Summer Activities for Kids
Julie Smart

The kids all jump for joy that school is out now. But as a parent, grandparent or caregiver, you might be wondering, 'What am I going to do with the kids during summer vacation?' Here are some fun ideas to keep them entertained the whole summer

Have a Healthy Vacation
Cynthia Ramnarace

You've packed the bags. You've dog-eared and highlighted the travel guides. With everyone excited for the family vacation, someone getting sick is the last thing you want. Here's how to keep the family healthy while you're away -- plus what to do if sickness does strike.

6 Ways to Keep Family From Derailing Your Career
Kimberly Palmer

Here's some bad news for working mothers hoping to take a short break from the workforce to care for their children: The recession has made it even harder to do so. Not only are the penalties greater, but women increasingly earn such an essential portion of household income that their families can't afford to go without it, even temporarily

Dressing Your Children on a Budget
Renae Chiovaro

Paying full price for children's clothes is a strain on any budget. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your kids dressed nicely while staying in your budget.

Top 5 Ways to Never Waste Food Again
Peg Rosen

Even in this economy, the average American family of four wastes about 15 percent of the food they buy, losing about $600 a year. Many of us don't even realize how much we squander. When people learn how much of their groceries ends up in the bin, they're usually shocked. Ready to call a halt to all this waste? Make a list before you shop, stick to it and follow these quick tips at home

Stretch Your Family Meals
Renae Chiovaro

Cooking at home is the most economical way to feed your family. Here's how to make the most of your time and money

Get Your Kitchen Cleaner Quicker
Nancy Kalish

Most of us are cooking more to save money. Unfortunately, that means that the kitchen can get dirtier than ever faster than ever. But you can easily bring it back to its former sparkle with a little prep. And once you do, your regular cleaning routine will be a snap. Here's how

Kid-Friendly Musicals

Taking the Kids to a Broadway Musical
Eileen Ogintz

I can see why the first lady Michelle Obama brought her girls and her mom to see a Broadway Musical. It's terrific when you can be entertained and teach the kids an important lesson about history at the same time. The performances are first rate as are the sets, costumes and, of course, the music

Sunscreen Facts You Need to Know
Stephanie Tweito Jacob

You know sunscreen is a must whenever you're outside, but sunburn has probably still caught you by surprise at some point. By slathering on sunscreen, you may have thought you were playing it safe, but there's actually more to it than that. Check out these commonly held sunscreen myths, then the facts that will keep your fun in the sun safe.

Hosting a Successful Yard Sale
Renae Chiovaro

Hosting a yard sale or garage sale is a quick and easy way to decrease household clutter and get a little extra income. When planning, consider location, time, pricing and advertising. Here are a few easy tips to make your yard sale or garage sale successful

Internet Safety Tips for Teens
Girl World Daily

Sure, you love to surf the Internet. But are you playing it safe? Unfortunately, a lot of creeps are crawling around on the Web, and some use sneaky tactics to exploit unsuspecting kids. Here are some Internet safety tips every teen and parent should know.

Family Sunday Supper or Any Other Time
Sarah Mahoney

Mealtime traditions -- whether it's Sunday supper, Saturday morning bagels or Tuesday night pizza -- are more than just good food and fun times. However, It isn't easy to pull off a family dinner every night of the week, which is why designating one day for a special meal is so important. Here's how to keep everyone at the table and happy to be there

Small Changes to Get out of Debt and Save Money
Julie Smart

Who doesn't want to save money these days? Below are some ideas that can help make a difference in your life, from lowering your electricity bill to slashing your grocery expenses

Marriage Hopes on a Tightrope
Clarence Page

Motherhood no longer appears to be what it used to be. Compared to 20 years ago, today's mothers of newborns are older, more educated, less often white, more often Hispanic -- and less often married. A record 41 percent of American births in 2008 were born to single mothers. Is marriage over? Not quite.

To Market The Farmers Market
Peg Rosen

It's the perfect time to pack up the kids and head to where farmers busily haul out their harvest. It's a place where flaming red tomatoes tumble from crates, peppery basil perfumes the air and homemade jams and jellies beckon. Forget the two-hour trek to the country farm stand; we're talking about your local farmers market. To make the most of your trip, try these suggestions

Keep Your House Spring-clean
Gail Belsky

Spring ushers in a houseful of dirt as kids and pets track everything from mud to grass cuttings throughout the house. But with some strategic planning, you can keep the mess at bay. Organization is key, according to Donna Smallin, author of A to Z Storage Solutions and The One-Minute Cleaner. Smallin shares her tips on keeping the house free from mess

Creative Ways to Combine Work & Family
Kimberly Palmer

Sharon Reed Abboud, author of All Moms Work: Short-Term Career Strategies for Long-Range Success, writes about 'the new mommy track,' or the trend towards mothers finding creative ways of combining work and family after their children are born. Abboud says telecommuting, freelancing, and owning your own business are all ways to make it possible

Giving Mom Best Mother's Day Present She's Ever Had
Eileen Ogintz

We moms all know the dirty little secret of family vacations. I'm talking about how moms whisper on the beach, around the pool and on line at theme parks that family vacations are really no vacations at all for them, especially when young kids are part of the equation. Enjoy seeing the trip through the kids eyes and then plan a Mom-only trip as a reward for all of your hard work

Show Mom You Love Her!
Girl World Daily

Sure, you and your mother might not always look at things from the same angle. Put your differences aside for a while and do a few simple things to let Mom know she's an awesome parent!

Water Explorers
Patricia Berry

Few images evoke the feeling of getting away from it all as does a canoe, kayak or raft gliding with the current. But you don't have to sign on to an expensive, multi-day, wild river run to experience the wonders of water travel firsthand. With a little research, you can plan a safe and fun expedition that won't sink your finances in the process

Make Cleaning Fun and Get the Kids to Help Too
Julie Smart

Here are my top four tips on getting -- and keeping -- your house super-clean without much effort.

Home Cleanup Shortcuts
Ella Brooks

It's the parent trap: so much to do, so little time. It takes a supermom to get everything done, from caring for the kids and conquering clutter to keeping the kitchen clean and putting dinner on the table. Cleaning and de-cluttering experts offer their simple, inexpensive strategies to help you multitask and take shortcuts on tedious chores

The Great Neighborhood Cook-off
Gail Belsky

It's time for the annual block party, and you know what that means: burgers and dogs, brownies and ice pops, coolers of beer and juice boxes. Every family kicks in money and donates a dish, and everyone helps with the setup and cleanup. But instead of collaboration, maybe your block is ready for some friendly competition this year -- in the form of a neighborhood cook-off

What Parents Say About Family Vacations
Eileen Ogintz

You need a vacation now more than ever, and you shouldn't feel the least bit guilty. In fact, you've got lots of company, according to a new family-travel poll for which I partnered with Travelocity.com

To Stop Kids from Killing Kids
Clarence Page

What might the highly publicized suicide of a Massachusetts girl tormented by cyber-bullying have in common with the videotaped fatal beating of a teenaged boy in Chicago? Other students apparently knew that trouble was brewing, but no one managed to step in and stop it.

Youth Kicks Today: Beating Each Other Senseless for Internet Notoriety
Mitch Albom

They are all over the Internet, short video clips with titles out of a boxing poster. Raul vs. Pedro. Red vs. Robert. Twinkie vs. Saylor. But these are not professional fighters. These are kids. High school kids, middle-school kids. They punch each other, pound each other, slap, yank, pull, tackle, rip, scratch and kick each other. And all the time, someone is filming.

Family Room Clutter Busters
Elizabeth Hurchalla

Your family room or living room is the one place your whole clan comes together to hang out. And, as such, it's probably the default dumping ground for everyone's stuff. If your family is like most families, that means clutter and disorganization. But you can transform this room from the messiest area in your home to the organized, relaxing family haven you desire. Here's how

7 Steps to a Toxin-free Home
Elizabeth Hurchalla

Because children's bodies are still developing, they're especially susceptible to toxins, which could be lurking in your house. Fortunately, you can take these seven easy steps to reduce the risks that lie under your own roof. Here's how

Secrets to Money-saving Meals
Gail Belsky

If you're like most people these days, you're watching what you spend and cutting back on unnecessary expenses, like dinners out. Still, the more you eat at home, the higher your supermarket bills are -- and they can skyrocket depending on what you cook. So how do you reduce food costs without spoiling your appetite? Here are four easy, tasty ways to save money while still eating what you love

Growing a Family Garden
Your Family Today

Gardening may be good for the soul, but it's also a fun and healthy way to bond with your kids. Helping plan and plant a garden gives kids a sense of accomplishment. It also motivates them to eat their veggies. But the best part of family gardening is that you all get to play in the dirt together! Here's how to get started

Circus Games for a Backyard Big Top
Elizabeth Wells - Your Family Today

If you can't make it to the real big top this summer, you and your family still can enjoy three-ring -- and five-star -- fun in your own backyard or family room. No one has to settle for simply being an audience member either. This home-produced circus gets everyone into the act with easy-to-set-up, easy-to-play games.

Ready, Set, Scavenge!
Telly Scotchmeyer - Your Family Today

What game involves speed, daring, teamwork and eagle-eye vision? It's an old classic: the scavenger hunt! Technology has created new versions of the game, including the worldwide treasure hunt geocaching. But for low-cost, kid-friendly fun, nothing compares to the original. Here's a guide to setting up your own family scavenger hunt

How to Create a Crafty Home
Your Family Today

Instead of waiting until a rainy day or the playdate that's run out of steam, stock up ahead of time and keep an art box full of cool materials for making masterpieces. Here is a list of the new essential art and crafts supplies

Stress-free Birthday Bashes
Elizabeth Hurchalla - Your Family Today

Magicians are expensive. So are clowns, moon bounces, and 25 goody bags stuffed with candy and toys. Is it really worth it? Pulling off a stellar birthday party doesn't have to feel like hosting a celebrity wedding -- or a three-ring circus. Just follow these simple stress-busting pointers and put the party back in party planning!

Brush With the Stars: Family Night out That's Free!
Elizabeth Wells - Your Family Today

When it comes to family entertainment, there's no bigger bargain than gazing at the stars. Lying back in the grass, looking up at the heavens -- it's a memory your kids will hold onto forever. And it takes very little planning on your part. Here's how to get started

Photos Take Me Back and Forward
Ana Veciana-Suarez

A couple of years ago, perhaps longer, my youngest sister handed off two plastic containers of old photos she had recovered from our late sister's house. The photographs, she informed me, were in no apparent order, but they were ones I might want to keep.

6 Ways to Save: Family Vacations
Peg Rosen - Ideas That Spark

You may have to forgo your big vacation plans this year, but a tighter budget doesn't have to doom your summer getaway altogether. You just have to be more creative, more flexible and willing to spend a little extra time finding deals. And without a doubt, great deals are out there. These out-of-the-box ideas may just make that postponed summer vacation downright doable

How to Organize and Store Vital Family Documents
Catherine Ryan - Life & Beauty Weekly

With so many responsibilities demanding your attention, it's no surprise when some stuff is just put off for a rainy day. But there's one family project that's more important than you think: securing your family's vital documents. The good news is that it's easier to accomplish than you think. It takes 10 simple steps to organize and store your important personal documents. Here's how

Giving Kids a Creative Edge
Aviva Patz - Ideas That Spark

Creative and artistic experiences help kids express their feelings and come up with new ideas and ways to solve problems. Studies show that involvement in the arts boosts test scores and promotes academic achievement. You can get your child’s creative juices flowing at home with basic art supplies and the right attitude. Bring out the creative genius in your children with these simple tips.

New Twists on Family Game Night
Sarah Mahoney - Ideas That Spark

The more creative the game, the more thoughtful, clever, funny and outrageous your kids can be. They'll go nuts for contests that require you to show a different side too -- especially if it's a ridiculous one! These five non-board games will help bring out the unexpected best in your family.

4 Ways to Make Dinnertime Work
Elizabeth Hurchalla - Your Family Today

When you arrive home after a long workday, your mind is on your family ... plus the stack of bills to pay, the pile of laundry to do and the list of phone calls to return. But dinner? It's tough to imagine how you're going to make this meal happen at all, let alone make it healthy, tasty and maybe even fun. But believe it or not, you can. Here's how

Sibling Warfare? Stay Neutral
Lisa Lombardi - Your Family Today

When your kids practically come to blows over which one got more cream cheese on their bagel, you know you’ve got a serious case of sibling rivalry. It’s likely you also know that there’s no avoiding it. But while you may not be able to keep the peace between your kids, there are things you can do to squash the squabbling.

Raise a Smart Spender
Sarah Mahoney - Your Family Today

Most kids love the holidays -- and all the giving and getting that goes with them. So why not tap into that enthusiasm for a quick lesson in money management? If you want to teach kids that buying decisions should involve time to think, holiday shopping is the perfect moment. Here are six lessons you can start teaching right now

Money for Something?
Peg Rosen - Ideas That Spark

Certainly, kids shouldn’t be paid every time they put a dish in the dishwasher. But there are chores, tasks and jobs that require extra effort and time. And in this culture, money is the best thing we have to acknowledge our kids’ contribution when they take them on according to Peter L. Sheras. Here, some primo projects for teens and preteens

Sick-day Strategies for Keeping Kids Entertained
Ella Brooks - Sniffle Solutions

'Mommy, I don't feel good.' Sound familiar? It’s the call of an ill child who’s stuck in bed. It breaks your heart, but there are plenty of things you can do. Experts say the best course of action includes activities that are low-key and keep a child busy without wearing her out. Here are 11 comforting and clever ways to help kids have fun while they recover.

Sync With Your Spouse on Discipline Style
Lisa Lombardi - Your Family Today

Is your wife a strict disciplinarian, while you prefer to let things slide? Is your husband a yeller, while you are an 'inside voice' kind of mom? When you have different parenting styles, it can often feel like you're at odds with your spouse. Here are strategies from Harvey Karp, M.D. for navigating this common parenting conundrum.

What Kind of Parent Are You?
Peg Rosen - Your Family Today

For decades, pop psych has embraced the premise that there are three basic parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and last but not least, authoritative. The authoritative approach -- a combination of no-nonsense limit-setting with understanding and concern -- which experts say is ideal. Not sure where you fit in? Check out these scenarios

Chaos Reigns When College Kids Come Home
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I believe in miracles, in sobering transformations and life-changing experiences. But maybe I've been reading too much fiction. Consider my latest encounter with reality: I sent my 18-year-old off to college. Now he has returned, for the holidays, a 19-year-old with 'college dorm' experience. Which is to say he has acquired some interesting habits

How to Throw a Green Kids' Birthday Party
Lilian Presti

These days, aren't we all trying to be a bit more green? We're trying to recycle more, create less waste, eat natural foods, and walk and cycle more. So why not take it one step further and throw your child a green birthday party?

Make a Toast to Their Love, Then Zipper Your Mouth
Ana Veciana-Suarez

A marriage is more than the union of two people. It's often the forging of disparate family cultures and traditions. Making it work for the extended family on both sides demands finesse, adaptability and patience.

Beaches Resort - Turks and Caicos

Taking the Kids - Rare Caribbean Resort That Works for the Littlest Vacationers Parents and Grandparents
Eileen Ogintz

Welcome to Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos -- the family resort of the Sandals brand -- where kids, tweens and teens rule. Plus it's a great resort for parents and grandparents as well.

Crucial information from family health history might well save your life
Katherine Hobson

Most people are aware of their immediate family recent medical history on some level. But if pressed to be more specific, they might not be able to give all the details -- and those can be important. So pick a relaxed time and start quizzing your relatives. Some tips ...

Taking the Kids To San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences
Eileen Ogintz

We're at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which in the year since it has re-opened has emerged as the city's top cultural tourist attraction, drawing more visitors than Alcatraz

Sometimes Good Enough is Just Right
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I've often joked that children are the most stressful factor in a marriage, especially for those of us who juggle work and family. Rushed, conflicted and usually overwhelmed, mothers who toil outside the home feel there aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with parenting obligations, job duties and household chores. Life turns into a never-ending to-do list, a blaring alarm that's can't be quieted

Game On: Are Video Games Harmful
Harvard Health Letter

Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables
Lilian Presti

We've all heard of the kid who won't eat anything except chicken fingers and hot dogs -- and maybe you recognize this child well because he or she is yours. Although most children aren't this extreme, many are still not eating as much healthy foods as their parents would like

America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up
Luke Mullins

Low crime, strong schools, green spaces, and fun activities are key ingredients for a happy childhood. So we dug into our database of 2,000 different places all across the country and pinpointed the locales that met these criteria. We then examined these communities more closely to determine which places offered the best combination ...

What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots
Nancy Shute

The questions I asked at my daughter's well-child doctor visit this week were not happy ones: They were all about what to do if the swine flu pandemic gets much worse this fall and she becomes sick. I left the pediatrician's office just as worried.

Why and How to Put Together a Family Medical History
Katherine Hobson

Most of us are aware of our family medical history on some level -- we're pretty familiar with our parents' recent ailments, for example, and probably could tell you what our grandparents died from. But if pressed to be more specific, we might not have all the details -- and those can be important. The information a detailed family medical history offers might change your own medical care or provide a needed incentive to make better lifestyle choices.

7 Ways Your Siblings May Have Shaped You
By Lindsay Lyon

Ah, siblings: both a blessing and a curse. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have at least one brother or sister; in fact, kids today are more likely to grow up with a sibling than a father, experts say. What's more, the sibling relationship is the longest relationship that most people will have in their lives.

Trick-or-Treat? Conquer Sugar by Offering Kids Sweeter Alternatives
Lilian Presti

In an age when close to one in five kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese, should we be rethinking our manner of celebrating Halloween, or simply carry on with what we've been doing? The answer appears to lie somewhere in the middle, according to childhood obesity experts ...

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Teens and Spring Break A Sometimes Lethal Combination
Mitch Albom

Matt James fell off a balcony. He died. He was 17, four years under the legal drinking age. Police say he was drunk. This would be a tragic story if it were an isolated story. It's more tragic because it is not.

Teen Violence: Senseless Rage Sparks Inexplicable Tragedy
Ana Veciana-Suarez

Why are teens so angry? That question invariably pops into my head when I read about teen-on-teen violence. Sadly, such incidents seem to have become more common, and the question has taken on a new urgency as I struggle to make sense of the senseless

How to Raise a Foodie
Your Family Today

The trick to getting children to try new foods that are also healthy for them is to create situations where they can discover that pleasure on their own. Here, three ways to lead your child to the table without making him eat

Food Allergy Update
Your Family Today

Food allergies are a very common concern among parents -- and with good reason. Even though the rise in allergies is very real, parents often blame food for mild symptoms that are actually caused by something else. To avoid a misdiagnosis by Dr. Mom (or Dr. Dad), here are common symptoms of exposure to nonfood allergens, plus a quick guide to the three methods of testing for true food allergies

How to Rush-proof Your Morning Routine
Madonna Behen

What are mornings like at your house? If you're like most moms, it's probably the busiest part of your day. The beginning of the day tends to be chaotic and stressful for a bunch of reasons. With some key planning and organizational strategies, it is possible to turn the morning mayhem into a peaceful and manageable routine. Here's how busy moms can make it happen

How to Green Your Baby's Nursery
Cara Smusiak

When parents think about safety in the nursery, they tend to think about falls from changing tables, baby getting sandwiched between the rails and mattress, or an infant getting caught up in cords. But the materials used in a nursery can carry a lot of chemicals that are harmful to a child's health. Here's what to look out for and avoid

Household Chores - Get Job Done Right
Diana McKeon Charkalis

Encouraging your children to pitch in around the house helps them as much as it helps you. Kids expected to do their fair share tend to develop a sense of accomplishment and pride. They also learn how to handle responsibility. The key is to start early -- and to be patient. Ready to get started? Follow these five pointers for putting your kids to work

Put the Brakes on Watching TV
Darcy Lockman

It's no secret that most kids watch too much television. For years, psychologists and pediatricians have sounded alarms that excessive television time contributes to an array of modern childhood problems -- from obesity to a failure to develop new interests. The good news is: If you start early, you can raise kids with a balanced and appropriate TV diet. Here's how

How to Bring out Your Kids Best Behavior
Kristin Bailey Murphy

If you're the parent of a perfect child -- one that never whines, argues, lies or misbehaves -- this article isn't for you. But if your child is guilty of any (or all) of the above, don't despair. He's just doing what most kids do. So how do you go about changing his negative behavior? Use positive reinforcement. Here, some tools you can use to bring out the best in your child

Can You Afford to Be a Stay-at-home Mom?
Your Family Today

Leaving the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom might seem risky these days. But it can be a good decision, particularly if your spouse has a secure job. If you're deciding whether you can afford to be a stay-at-home mom, consider these factors: finances, your partner's support and your own emotional well-being. Here's how to weigh the risks and rewards

Teenagers Testing My Patience
Ana Veciana-Suarez

Parenting, my husband tells anyone who will listen, is the last stand of the amateur. This rings particularly true when children pass through the fun house known as adolescence. No matter how patient or strict or understanding parents try to be, the teenage years test our mettle and our sanity. We're suddenly stupid beyond our years, an embarrassment to the family

Moms: Stop Kids Fears Before They Start
Elizabeth Hurchalla - Sniffle Solutions

Sometimes a small concern can quickly escalate into feelings of real fear. If this sounds familiar, there are steps you can take to avoid making yourself sick with worry -- for your sake and your child's. Check out these strategies for managing fears that come with being the No. 1 caretaker for your child's health.

Journal Writing New Kind of Prose Just for Parents
Jessica Blau - Your Family Today

Setting aside time to sit down and write may seem like an impossible luxury. But carving out just 15 minutes every few days to jot down thoughts in your journal writing, frustrations and dreams offers unexpected rewards. All you need is paper and a pen (although you might prefer a computer or a bound blank book) and a sliver of time. Write on!

Games for Building Better Family Bonds
Lisa Cohen - Life & Beauty Weekly

Your typical afternoon probably goes like this: Pick up kids from school; shuttle to soccer, music class and dance lessons; head to grocery store; get back home to make dinner. You probably wouldn’t classify this as quality time. But who’s to say that everyday experiences can’t turn into special moments? And what better way to infuse fun than with these kid-friendly games

How to Organize and Store Vital Family Documents
Catherine Ryan - Life & Beauty Weekly

With so many responsibilities demanding your attention, it's no surprise when some stuff is just put off for a rainy day. But there's one family project that's more important than you think: securing your family's vital documents. The good news is that it's easier to accomplish than you think. It takes 10 simple steps to organize and store your important personal documents. Here's how

De-stress Your Mornings
Lisa Bova - Your Family Today

For most moms, mornings are a mad dash to get everyone up, dressed and out the door -- hopefully with some breakfast in them. But the a.m. rush hour doesn’t have to be so hectic. Here, solutions for simpler, saner mornings

Battling Over Bedtimes? Not Anymore
Elizabeth Hurchalla - Your Family Today

When it's time to brush their teeth and go to bed, many kids go into meltdown mode. They refuse to put on pajamas, plead for 'just one more story' and get up at least 10 times after they're put to bed. Sound familiar? Follow these steps for combating bedtime bummers and put more ease into your z's.

How to Throw a Green Kids' Birthday Party
Lilian Presti

These days, aren't we all trying to be a bit more green? We're trying to recycle more, create less waste, eat natural foods, and walk and cycle more. So why not take it one step further and throw your child a green birthday party?

Little Girls Really Don't Need to Walk in Our Shoes
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I'm a fan of sensible shoes -- the low-heeled, wide-toed variety that allows me to walk without limping or tripping. I save those shin-torturing, bunion-producing pumps for special occasions. So I don't understand the latest trend in little-girl fashion: kindergartners in high heels.

Giving Kids a Creative Edge
Aviva Patz - Ideas That Spark

Creative and artistic experiences help kids express their feelings and come up with new ideas and ways to solve problems. Studies show that involvement in the arts boosts test scores and promotes academic achievement. You can get your child’s creative juices flowing at home with basic art supplies and the right attitude. Bring out the creative genius in your children with these simple tips.

New Twists on Family Game Night
Sarah Mahoney - Ideas That Spark

The more creative the game, the more thoughtful, clever, funny and outrageous your kids can be. They'll go nuts for contests that require you to show a different side too -- especially if it's a ridiculous one! These five non-board games will help bring out the unexpected best in your family.

4 Ways to Make Dinnertime Work
Elizabeth Hurchalla - Your Family Today

When you arrive home after a long workday, your mind is on your family ... plus the stack of bills to pay, the pile of laundry to do and the list of phone calls to return. But dinner? It's tough to imagine how you're going to make this meal happen at all, let alone make it healthy, tasty and maybe even fun. But believe it or not, you can. Here's how

Sibling Warfare? Stay Neutral
Lisa Lombardi - Your Family Today

When your kids practically come to blows over which one got more cream cheese on their bagel, you know you’ve got a serious case of sibling rivalry. It’s likely you also know that there’s no avoiding it. But while you may not be able to keep the peace between your kids, there are things you can do to squash the squabbling.

Raise a Smart Spender
Sarah Mahoney - Your Family Today

Most kids love the holidays -- and all the giving and getting that goes with them. So why not tap into that enthusiasm for a quick lesson in money management? If you want to teach kids that buying decisions should involve time to think, holiday shopping is the perfect moment. Here are six lessons you can start teaching right now

Money for Something?
Peg Rosen - Ideas That Spark

Certainly, kids shouldn’t be paid every time they put a dish in the dishwasher. But there are chores, tasks and jobs that require extra effort and time. And in this culture, money is the best thing we have to acknowledge our kids’ contribution when they take them on according to Peter L. Sheras. Here, some primo projects for teens and preteens

Sick-day Strategies for Keeping Kids Entertained
Ella Brooks - Sniffle Solutions

'Mommy, I don't feel good.' Sound familiar? It’s the call of an ill child who’s stuck in bed. It breaks your heart, but there are plenty of things you can do. Experts say the best course of action includes activities that are low-key and keep a child busy without wearing her out. Here are 11 comforting and clever ways to help kids have fun while they recover.

Sync With Your Spouse on Discipline Style
Lisa Lombardi - Your Family Today

Is your wife a strict disciplinarian, while you prefer to let things slide? Is your husband a yeller, while you are an 'inside voice' kind of mom? When you have different parenting styles, it can often feel like you're at odds with your spouse. Here are strategies from Harvey Karp, M.D. for navigating this common parenting conundrum.

What Kind of Parent Are You?
Peg Rosen - Your Family Today

For decades, pop psych has embraced the premise that there are three basic parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and last but not least, authoritative. The authoritative approach -- a combination of no-nonsense limit-setting with understanding and concern -- which experts say is ideal. Not sure where you fit in? Check out these scenarios

Making Baby Food: Easier & Healthier Than You Think
Lilian Presti

Many parents are beginning to make their own baby food in an effort to start their babies off on the right, and healthy, foot. Contrary to popular belief, making your own baby food can be easier than you think.

Chaos Reigns When College Kids Come Home
Ana Veciana-Suarez

I believe in miracles, in sobering transformations and life-changing experiences. But maybe I've been reading too much fiction. Consider my latest encounter with reality: I sent my 18-year-old off to college. Now he has returned, for the holidays, a 19-year-old with 'college dorm' experience. Which is to say he has acquired some interesting habits

It's Good, Clean Fun And It Rocks
Ana Veciana-Suarez

Oh, my, how those girls love their soaps! They sing to the bars, take them on outings and, when it's time to go night-night, tuck them in a necktie gift box I've labeled the soap dorm.

Parents Influence Kids' Relationship With Food
Lilian Presti

In today's world of fast and convenient food, many people have disordered eating. The evidence of obesity, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and an obsession with dieting is proof we aren't healthy eaters. The problem is many of the people with unhealthy relationships to food are parents, and that makes them role models for their children.

Preparing Kids - And Yourself - For Their Hospital Visit: 11 Tips
Sarah Baldauf

Without thoughtful preparation, your kid's visit to the hospital has the potential to morph into a traumatic experience. Yet some upfront legwork on the part of Mom and Dad can ease a child's anxiety and also set the stage for his or her positive future dealings with the medical world. Here's 11 Helpful Tips ...

Beaches Resort - Turks and Caicos

Taking the Kids - Rare Caribbean Resort That Works for the Littlest Vacationers Parents and Grandparents
Eileen Ogintz

Welcome to Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos -- the family resort of the Sandals brand -- where kids, tweens and teens rule. Plus it's a great resort for parents and grandparents as well.

Oasis of the Seas

Taking the Kids - Aboard the Biggest Cruise Ship Afloat
Eileen Ogintz

As family friendly as imaginable and ocean breezes too, as you cruise from Florida to the Caribbean and back on the world's largest cruise ship afloat -- Royal Caribbean's spanking new Oasis of the Seas

Parenting - Spanking Causes More Harm as Children Get Older
Nancy Shute

Spanking is a huge hot-button issue for parents. Many psychologists say that spanking or any other physical discipline harms children and their relationship with their parents. But quite a few parents disagree, and some experts do, too.

Seasonal Cold or Swine Flu? Moms Face Tough Calls
Deborah Kotz

I sent my 11-year-old son to school today with a stuffy nose and mild cough, as I've done countless times in the past. Now, though, I'm wondering whether I should have kept him home. How do I know it's really a garden-variety cold and not the swine flu?

Trick-or-Treat? Conquer Sugar by Offering Kids Sweeter Alternatives
Lilian Presti

In an age when close to one in five kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese, should we be rethinking our manner of celebrating Halloween, or simply carry on with what we've been doing? The answer appears to lie somewhere in the middle, according to childhood obesity experts ...

Bridging the Generation Gap Has Gone Too Far
Ana Veciana-Suarez

A Pew Research Center study earlier this summer found that while two-thirds of Americans 16 and older saw an age divide, respondents didn't believe it caused a lot of problems in their families or society. The generational squabble, the report states, "is a much more subdued affair than the one that raged in the 1960s."

Parenting - All Kids Need is Love And Attention
Lilian Presti

Many of us parents believe purchasing educational toys or providing them with the latest technology will help them to be smarter, more creative or at the very least help them to get a head start. But there are rumblings that these assumptions of what helps children learn and develop may well have been based more on effective marketing than on any real proof.

Newborn Screening Can Identify a Variety of Treatable Conditions
Dietrich Matern, M.D., and Piero Rinaldo, M.D., Ph.D.

The blood taken from your baby after she's born will be examined to find out if she has any of a variety of treatable conditions. This procedure, called newborn screening, is very important because these conditions can be most effectively treated when they are identified early, before symptoms appear.

What Parents Do not Know About How Their Kids Use Facebook & MySpace
Nancy Shute

Parents of teenagers know how important texting and social networking sites like MySpace, Bebo, and Facebook are to the over-13 set. But if we think we know what our kids say and do on the sites, we're kidding ourselves. My 13- and 14-year-old nephews kindly remind me more often than I'd like of my cluelessness, and a new survey confirms that I'm not the only parent who has no idea.

What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots
Nancy Shute

The questions I asked at my daughter's well-child doctor visit this week were not happy ones: They were all about what to do if the swine flu pandemic gets much worse this fall and she becomes sick. I left the pediatrician's office just as worried.

Taking the Kids to Alaska and Meeting Some Bears
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids

Welcome to 'bear camp,' an outpost of the Kenai Peninsula fishing lodge Great Alaska International Adventure Vacations, where families come to hike, fish, raft and, of course, check out the bears.

Taking the Kids and Myself to a Spa
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids

Of course, my mom never took me to a spa -- I don't think she's ever been to one herself -- but I've taken my daughters to spas from the Caribbean to Colorado, from Arizona to Austria from the time they were young teens, and like others their age, they are perfectly at home getting facials and massages. It turns out they've got plenty of company

Taking the Kids To Mexico Where You'll Find Adventure, Culture, Beaches and Great Deals
Eileen Ogintz - Taking the Kids

We're just an hour or so from Cancun, a few miles from Playa del Carmen, five miles off the highway along a bumpy road in Rio Secreto, a unique cave just opened to the public last year, after the owner of the land, Don Cleo, inadvertently discovered it while chasing one of his animals

Why and How to Put Together a Family Medical History
Katherine Hobson

Most of us are aware of our family medical history on some level -- we're pretty familiar with our parents' recent ailments, for example, and probably could tell you what our grandparents died from. But if pressed to be more specific, we might not have all the details -- and those can be important. The information a detailed family medical history offers might change your own medical care or provide a needed incentive to make better lifestyle choices.

Teens Who Think They'll Die Young Take More Risks

Teenagers tend to wildly overestimate the odds of dying young, and teenagers who think they'll be dead before age 35 are far more likely to abuse drugs, attempt suicide, get arrested, or contract HIV. Scientists have known for quite a while that teenagers tend to think that an early death is much more likely than the infinitesimally small risk it really is.

7 Ways Your Siblings May Have Shaped You
By Lindsay Lyon

Ah, siblings: both a blessing and a curse. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have at least one brother or sister; in fact, kids today are more likely to grow up with a sibling than a father, experts say. What's more, the sibling relationship is the longest relationship that most people will have in their lives.

Mom Just Wants a Little Facebook Time
By Ana Veciana-Suarez

I have ruined Facebook for my children. Or so they say. See, any time parents sign up for something -- MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, texting -- the level of it-ness sinks like a deep sea diver in leaded boots. So as payback my kids have refused my numerous attempts to friend them

Latest Arrival Has the Family All A-Twitter
By Ana Veciana-Suarez

I can only think of the wonders my littlest darling will see, and seven hours in the waiting room offered a pretty good preview. The world, or at least the immediate family and circle of friends, was alerted to her impending arrival by dawn. From the hospital bed, in between contractions, the mother-to-be texted her four brothers, her cousins and friends.

High School Party Season: Dangerous Time for Kids
By Ana Veciana-Suarez

Alcohol -- beer usually, but straight shots, too -- is our high schoolers' drug of choice. Chugging until you stagger is especially commonplace as the academic year winds down and the freedom of summer beckons.

This is scary, and frustrating, and a painful reminder of parental impotency. Even if your child doesn't drink, he / she may be unlucky enough -- heck, foolish enough -- to be in the same car, the same room, the same road as someone else's drunk kid.

College Graduates Get Lesson in Hard Economic Times
By Ana Veciana-Suarez

A college diploma guaranteed a comfortable foothold in the American Dream. But this year's graduates find themselves in the worst economy their generation has known, and what should be a time of celebration has morphed into a bout of full-blown anxiety

5 Nutrition Facts About Milk & Healthy Kids
By Kerry Hannon

Here are five things you should know about your kids and milk.

Brain-building Strategies for Parents

Mental and physical exercises, as well as brain-enhancing nutrition, can aid parents in nurturing their children�s natural abilities. Parents should keep some important things in mind when choosing activities and foods to help build children�s brainpower.

Moms: Bond With Baby while Keeping Healthy in the Great Outdoors

Fresh air, open space and a natural atmosphere provide an ideal setting for moms to bond with their babies and also to stay active. After all, who knows how to multi-task better than moms?

Parents: Make Time for Healthy Choices

Between soccer practice, piano lessons and homework, more and more parents are discovering that it can be hard to balance a healthy life with a busy one.   Health care professionals, however, are discovering that nutrition- and activity-based habits, when developed early, can make a positive long-term impact.

Parenting: Turning the Page on Tradition?

Reading to your children more often can improve reading skills, math abilities and more.

Parenting: Relate to Your Child With These Easy Tips

If you're part of the working world and also have children, there's a good chance you aren't satisfied with the time that you get to spend with them. Your heart may be in the right place, but hectic schedules can leave little time to stop what you're doing in order to talk to your kids and truly connect with them.

Parenting: Keeping Kids Safe in a Web-Savvy World

In today's age of technology, keeping children safe on the Internet is a must.  If you came across an instant message conversation your child was having on your computer and discovered the acronym "PAW," would you know what to make of it?

Parenting: Stay Connected With Your Children. Show Them You Care in Three Easy Ways

When good communication is diminished, parents struggle to find ways to play a more significant role in their children's lives. The good news is that help isn't far away. Here are three ways to "stay connected" with your kids before they grow up too fast.

Parenting: Technology Helps Families Make Time for Togetherness

With the help of technology, families can take control of their hectic schedules and free up more time for togetherness.

Parenting: Tips to Build Reading Success

Children have limitless imaginations. They may dream of time travel and seeing prehistoric creatures up close. Perhaps they want to become mysterious sorcerers who cast binding spells.   Parents can easily accommodate these whimsical wishes by encouraging their children to read.

Parenting: Make a Connection With Your Teen

Talking with teenagers about their health isn't always a parent's or a teen's favorite conversation. But parents have more influence on their teen's health than they think, according to researchers with the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) network.

Joan Lunden Encourages Families to Cook up Some Conversation at Dinner Time

A nationwide survey conducted confirms the family dinner is alive and well - in fact, 80 percent of families surveyed reported eating dinner together at least five times each week. However, for three out of four American families, the focus is likely to be on the television rather than on talking to each other.