Learn to Say No to Over-Spending on Your Kids
And Teach Them to Value the Dollar
by Vicki Salemi
In this age of designer toddler clothes and cell phones for second graders, here’s how two parents keep their spending in check, and keep the kids’ tastes down to earth.
Don’t succumb to peer pressure.  For David Mott, father [...]

Continue Reading

6 Ways to Avoid Toddler Food Fights
Take the drama out of mealtime

By Dawn Papandrea
Karen Wright of Mankato, MN buys ketchup in bulk. Without it, her three-year-old son Grant refuses to eat anything — not graham crackers, cheese, or even yogurt. “At least it has lycopene and vitamin C,” she reasons. Plus, she’s hoping [...]

Continue Reading

The Brady Bunch and Beyond
Step families today
By Michelle Bruns
There is no such thing as too much love. And, nowadays, stepfamilies, or “blended families” are more common than even the beloved Brady Bunch was in 1969. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau’s report, Living Arrangements of Children: 2004, 11 percent of children (5.7 [...]

Continue Reading

A Parent’s Crash Course in College Planning
5 tips to keep in mind as you approach (dread) college exploration time
by Gina LaGuardia
How the day got here is beyond you. All of a sudden, that little girl in pigtails who used to cling to your leg is spending more time surfing college Web sites than downloading [...]

Continue Reading

Famous Parents
Lessons in disguise?
by Jarrod Thalheimer
How is it even possible that Kevin Federline comes off as being the better parent to his children than Britney? How about notorious hooker-hound Charlie Sheen? He’s downright “Father Knows Best” stacked up against little Miss-Pimpin’-Out-the-Kids-for-My-New-Reality-Show Denise Richards. Are such children destined to live lives of rampant overexposure and [...]

Continue Reading

8 Toys You Hope Your Kids Don’t Ask For

From danger to controversy, consider this your un-wish list.
by Vicki Salemi

Let’s face it: when your kid wants you to buy a toy gun or violent video game you cringe, get a knot in your stomach, pray they’ll get over it, or all of the above. [...]

Continue Reading

Read about eight fun ways to celebrate the end of the school year, and the start of summer break.
8 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year
Kick off the summer break with a bang!
By Mary Fetzer
School is hard work. Kids get up early every morning to catch the bus or walk to school. [...]

Continue Reading