Letter from the Editor
Don't Buy Christmas this Year--Experience It
By Gretchen Cook
Christmas is best celebrated as an experience. Not something you buy at the mall. That’s the main reason we are producing our Christmas Fest for the third year in a row. This free event, held at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on December 11th, 12th and 13th, is created just for you and your children (or grandchildren) in response to the marketing madness that surrounds Christmas. (more)


Family Matters
The Gift of Giving: Instilling Generosity in Your Children
By Carrie Bevell Partridge
Sometimes it feels like it's getting harder and harder to inspire the gift of giving in children. After all, our society has a tendency to be more "me-oriented" than anything else. What's in it for ME? What did you bring ME? What about ME? It's all about ME!!! So what's a parent to do? (more)


It Figures
All About Christmas
By Cynthia Washam
Fun facts and figures about Christmas. (more)


What's Cooking
Goodness to Bake & Give
By Julie Paul
According to the American Research Group, families last year spent an average of $859 for gifts last holiday season. During these rocky economic times, presents don’t have to cost a fortune. Homemade gifts, prepared by you and your family, are a welcome treat and easy on the bank account. (more)


Parents & Kids 3rd Annual Christmas Fest
By Jennifer Wigginton
Remember all the things that made the Christmas season so special when you were a child…twinkling white lights, hot apple cider, live Nativity scenes, letters to Santa? Picture all that, plus more, and you’ll have a good idea of what’s in store for you and your family at the 3rd annual Christmas Fest, sponsored by Parents & Kids Magazine, along with Metro Christian Living and a host of other sponsors. (more)


Well Worth the Drive
New Orleans' "Celebration in the Oaks"
If your family loves Christmas lights, an afternoon trip to New Orleans might be in order. Your destination? An evening at City Park, easily accessible from I-10, and its millions of Christmas lights, holiday decorations, children’s rides, musical performances, Mr. Bingle and even Santa himself. If you’ve never seen this event, be prepared to be dazzled. This annual magical holiday festival is in its 24th season and organizers have ensured that each year it gets better and better. (more)


HO! HO! HO! Santa Sightings Kick Off The Season
Everyone knows it’s Christmas when Santa begins to make his holiday appearances. For area children, there are going to be several opportunities to visit with him. (more)


The ABCs of RSV
Protecting Preemies and Other Babies from This Common Virus
By Dr. Phyllis Dennery
Parents gearing up for fall and winter need to know that sometimes seasonal sniffles mean more than just a cold. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms in adults and children. But for some babies, especially those born premature or susceptible to other risk factors, RSV can be very serious. (more)


Choosing the right doctor for your child
Seven questions to ask
By Victor H. Chou, M.D.
You come home from work at 4 o’clock to find your three year old has severe ear pain. You call the doctor’s office but they can’t see you right away. The next available appointment is tomorrow at 2 o’clock. You make the appointment anyway even though you will need to take time off work. For the rest of the night, you try to ease the pain with Tylenol and Motrin. (more)


Parent-Doctor Communication
A Check List for Clarity
By Dr. Marla Law Abrolat
Perhaps no one cares as much about your child’s health as you do. And as your child’s primary spokesperson, you have an important role to fill. Here are some tips from Kaiser Permanente. (more)


Medical Money Matters
Keep your family healthy while saving hundreds
By Victor H. Chou, M.D.
With gas and food prices through the roof, families everywhere are looking to save wherever and whenever they can. Did you know that the average family spends double what they should on their out-of-pocket medical costs? In this article, I’ll describe nine tips to help your family save on medical costs, yet still receive the same high quality care that you deserve. (more)


Pop Culture Idols
Watch who your child watches
By Amanda Wells
Every day new reports seem to surface about young starlets in Hollywood getting pregnant, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or going into rehab. These occurrences, paired with the fact that television, music, advertisements and the Internet promote such behavior among today’s youth have many parents rushing to shield the eyes and ears of their kids. And rightfully so, according to a slew of experts. (more)


The Sweet Success of Sweetwater Jade
A Mississippi Story
By Randy Lynn
Sitting together on a park bench behind Madison’s Chapel of the Cross, the girls of Sweetwater Jade look more like three typical teenage friends than the rising stars of Mississippi’s country music scene. That impression gets stronger the more you talk to them. They’re humble. They’re not driven to be famous. They’re not rushing into anything. They just seem so, well, normal. (more)


Sweetwater Moms
The Moms Behind the Music
By Sissy Lynn
Sweetwater Jade owes much of their success to three loyal, down-to-earth moms who’ve been with their girls every step of the way. They’re not the stereotypical stage moms you might expect. They’re more like soccer moms, nurturing their daughters’ talents, taking them on the road, and cheering from the sidelines. (more)


A Report from Dr. Toy Safety
Malcolm Denniss's tips for ensuring your child's safety
The most important aspect of buying gifts for children (whether for holidays or birthdays) is to make sure the toy or game is age-appropriate for the child. Nearly every toy or game will list the appropriate age on the box. The guidelines were developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Toy Industry Association and take into account the typical ability of children to handle certain toys. (more)


Parents & Kids Magazine Calendar
December 2008
Family-friendly events and activities for December 2008. (more)