Letter from the Editor
Fun Things to Fill Your Summer
By Gretchen Cook
Can’t think of how in the world you are going to fill the next two and a half months? We’ve come up with some suggestions. This list is by no means exhaustive, and we’d love to hear your ideas for inexpensive family fun. (more)


Dear Teacher
By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Preparing children for success in school in the fall, dealing with a child having trouble in school who previously had no such troubles, storing school records, and teaching children to spell their names. (more)


Family Matters
Kids in the Kitchen: Fun Over Efficiency
By Denise Pamudji
Recently I did something with my daughter Sofia I’ve long wished to: I cooked with her. My mother did not teach me to cook. She made dinner for a family of eight nearly every day—cooking was work to be done as efficiently as possible. I taught myself to cook after moving into my first apartment. I bought five dollar cookbooks from Barnes & Noble and peeled labels off every product in my kitchen that said “look underneath for fabulous recipes.” These days I can turn the entire kitchen into a disaster area of dirty dishes and spilled flour in an hour. (more)


It Figures
Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Independence Day
By Cynthia Washam
When is National Fried Chicken Day?  How many hot dogs do Americans consume on the Fourth of July?  Find out these fun facts and more in this issue's It Figures. (more)


Parent Points
For the Joy of Singing, 5 Safe Sun Tips for Parents, Fun 4th Festivities, Those elusive 30 minutes, Trade Your Website for a Campsite: Great American Backyard Campout June 28, and HPV vaccine—What’s A Parent To Do? (more)


11 Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Reading this Summer
By Lynn Dean
Just because school is out for the summer doesn't mean our children's noses shouldn't be nestled between the pages of a good book. But if you have a more active child, one who is hard to pin down, you may be searching for other ways to keep him reading this summer. Remember, reading is more than the act of opening a book. Almost every aspect of our lives involves reading. Recognize these as learning opportunities too. (more)


Parents & Kids 2008 Family Favorite Winners
Congratulations to our 2008 Family Favorite Winners. (more)


Ten Ways to Squeeze More Family Time into Your Busy Summer Schedule
By Lynn Dean
If summer is supposed to be the time when we wind down and enjoy the weather, why does it seem to be so busy? And if our kids don’t have science projects, written reports and math homework, how come we see them only when they wiz through the house for a refrigerator break? Here are some ways we can prevent the “over scheduled” madness and create more time together. (more)


Hip and Happy Fondren Birthday
Ideas for a Great Party in a Fun Neighborhood
By Katie Shelt
If you’re looking for a creative and easy location for your child’s next birthday party, look no farther than Fondren. Jackson's hip, artsy sector offers a wealth of interesting stores, restaurants, and fun activities for kids of all ages. It’s guaranteed to make your kids feel “cool.” (more)


Magical Summer Reading
For Fans of Harry Potter (And Everyone Else)
By Katie Shelt
Alas, there is no new Harry Potter title coming out this summer. Still, for the avid fantasy reader, there are plenty of books to entertain. The following titles (most have sequels) will be sure to interest the reader who loved the mysterious world of Harry Potter. (more)


Party Listings
Various businesses that cater to all your party needs
If you're looking for a place to host a birthday party or provide entertainment for one, this is the article for you. (more)


Party Points
The "do"s and "don't"s of parties
Find a plethora of party-related tips in this article--how to throw a successful party, party etiquette, responding to party invitations, and much more. (more)


Party Poopers
When Things Don’t Go According to Plan
By Katie Shelt
Children’s birthday parties are fun, and can be a great experience. However, when you put lots of little people together in a high energy environment, catastrophes can happen. With a little planning and a sense of humor, party crises don’t have to be party poopers. (more)


Pets Can’t Do Homework
But They Can Enrich Your Child’s Life
By Kendra Oakley
Pets have been a part of families almost since the beginning of time, but many people have never thought about the real benefits, beyond companionship, that children can gain from them. When faced with stress and uncertainty in their lives, children can turn to their pets for unconditional emotional support, which can help improve self-esteem and relieve stress. Valuable life lessons can also be learned through caring for pets. Unfortunately for us, pets can’t do homework, but they can lend a sympathetic ear to complaints about it! (more)


Preventing Summer “Brain Drain”
By Kim Grant
Ahh! Summer. A time to relax and enjoy those lazy days filled with trips to the park, family vacations and backyard BBQs, right? Not so fast! Summer vacation can entail more than just a change from the usual routine. For your children, it can mean a serious loss of learning that will send them back to school lagging behind in crucial knowledge. (more)


Parents & Kids Magazine Calendar
June-July 2008
Calendar of events for June through July 2008. (more)