Recent Articles
The skinny on weight training and steroid use
If your child has shown athletic promise, it doesn't take much to realize that sports are not all fun and games. As the sports industry has exploded in recent years, many pressures from the professional world -- including performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids -- have trickled down to, a
Read More »A dad's take on Libby Lu and other 'girl' pressures
As the father of a precocious and engaged 5-year-old, I was tagged with the recent parenting responsibility to accompany my daughter to a birthday party at Libby Lu, self-described as a "special secret club for super fabulous girls where they can get makeover parties, play games, get advice, and
Read More »Prenatal and newborn screening tests
If you're pregnant, you've probably already experienced some prenatal screening tests. Many of them, like the urine tests, are recommended for everyone. Others screening tests, such as amniocentesis, are far more specialized. Your health care provider will tell you which prenatal tests he or she
Read More »Playground accessibility: Equal fun for equal play
The towering play structure without grab bars to help a child hoist herself up or a transfer point where she could leave her wheelchair. The unbroken railing encircling play equipment, hindering access. The sandy surface under a swing set, treacherous to a crutch tip. These represent the bad
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Creating a family spirit of giving
The kids are making their wish lists and checking them twice -- to the tune of hints, cajoling or outright whining. Whether they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, for many children, the holidays can easily be all about the loot. Meanwhile, their parents may find themselves wondering if they'r
Read More »Should computers be in preschools?
Most parents and educators would agree that computers are a necessary part of education these days. But the integration of computers into the preschool classroom is a continuing source of debate. "Computers are everywhere. These kids need to get experience and exposure," says Jane Turnbull, owner
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Wisdom Commons: a sprout from Seeds of Compassion
As parents, we want our children to be happy. We want them to achieve great things. But we also want them to be good people. We want to be as proud of their kindness, generosity and integrity as we are of their achievements. How do we help them get there? Moral development Research shows us
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Is compassion catching on? Tracing the impact of a historic event
Fifteen-hundred children jump to their feet, clapping wildly and screaming with joyous abandon. The floor shakes; the walls of KeyArena seem to expand with electric energy. At the heart of this whirlwind, his image projected on the jumbotron overhead, stands an elderly monk in maroon robes. He is be
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