Letter from the Editor
Going Green in 2008
By Gretchen Cook
Peer pressure can be an amazing force. Parents normally try to encourage their children to thoughtfully evaluate peer pressure and make considered choices of their own. But in some instances, peer pressure can be helpful. I have found this out myself recently, as Parents & Kids began planning a series of web-only columns. (more)


Dear Teacher
By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Question: This is my son’s first year in school. I definitely want him to enjoy it, but more than that I want him to do well. What should I be doing? –Want to be on the Right Track (more)


Family Matters
Punctuation Marks
By Denise Pamudji
Recently we have been spending a lot of time visiting my family in Louisiana. This has been wonderful for Sofia; it has given her the opportunity to experience things she never has before. Some of them have been as simple as horses and big farm dogs that she can pet and feed. Other experiences were things I never thought about until I noticed them happening. (more)


It Figures
New Year Numbers and Romance Reality
By Cynthia Washam
Factoids about winter, romance, Valentine's Day, and more. (more)


Parent Points
Find the perfect camp, fight childhood obesity, "safe" levels of lead and developmental problems, and more. (more)


What's Cooking
By Julie Paul
Try this simple experiment: mention the phrase, “I want you to eat a healthy snack,” to your child. Now count to five. If your child hasn’t groaned or rolled his eyes, you are in the minority. (more)


The Benefits of Camp Life
Memories, Friends and Connections that Will Last a Lifetime
By Marc Honigfeld
What is the secret to creating an environment from which your child will come home with the connections and memories that last a lifetime? Since the early 1900s, summer camps have offered something that we cannot provide our kids at home: a stress-free environment where kids can be kids. Campers learn and grow as people with the help of bunkmates who get to know them in ways deeper than anyone else in life (even their own parents). (more)


America Celebrates Black History Month
Each February Black History Month celebrates the African-American experience and the many contributions African-Americans have made to American culture, society, academia, and the arts. Below are a few titles, available from Random House, which will assist children in understanding African-American history. (more)


The Book Corner
Newbery Award Winners
By Katie Shelt
Perhaps the most prestigious award in children’s literature is the Newbery Medal. Each year, the medal is given to honor the most notable children’s book published during the year before. The award is named after John Newbery, an eighteenth-century English bookseller who is largely credited with inventing literature for children. Since 1922, 87 books have been awarded this high honor. (more)


Don't Wait or It Might Be Too Late
By Marc Honigfeld
I often ask parents, “What are your kids doing next summer?” The answer often is, “Next summer? I don’t even know what they are doing next week!” (more)


Featured Events
Parent Academies, Dixie National Rodeo, New Stage's "Lilly", and Camp & Education Connection. (more)


Be a (Re)Model Parent
Keeping Children Safe During Home Renovations
By Alyson McNutt English
My children make our home hazardous for adults. It’s true. From small LEGO™ parts becoming embedded in my feet to discovering shape-sorting blocks only after I’ve twisted my ankle (and we won’t even begin to discuss the diaper pail), my little ones are not exactly safe-home certified. (more)


Rock Around the Clock
By Martha Miller
Convinced that I didn’t have a good voice, I hadn’t sung in over 20 years: not a church hymn, not an office-party “Happy Birthday,” not even a ditty in the shower. Not until about two years ago, anyway. That’s when the most receptive, appreciative audience of one – a baby boy wrapped in a blanket – came home from the hospital with me. (more)


Relationships and Adventure
Perspectives on the Camp Experience
By Katie Shelt
Summer camp is a wonderful experience for many children.  It offers them a chance to “spread their wings,” away from their accustomed home atmosphere, and it provides the benefit of adventure and new relationships. Children who attend camp often return home with an enormous boost of confidence–if they can handle life in the woods, while making friends with people they’ve just met, why shouldn’t they be able to take on whatever challenges the world offers? (more)


Parents & Kids Magazine Calendar
January-February 2008
Find out about events, exhibits, and ongoing activities near you. (more)