All Family
Cell phone babysitting: NY teens pay valets for cell phone daycareCell phones and other devices, such as iPods and iPads, are banned in all New York City public schools, creating a market for mobile nannying.
Romney, Big Bird and Obama: Presidential debates and public mediaRomney and Big Bird from the PBS show 'Sesame Street' will be enemies if Romney wins the presidential elections in November. Setting off a social media firestorm, Romney informed the American public that funding for public media would be cut if elected.
The presidential debate makes the election more interesting for one householdObama and Romney interrupting each other and a threat to PBS kept three young viewers glued to the screen.
Babies? Not in this economy. US birth rates plummet for fourth yearBirthrates have been declining for the past four years, according to a government report on Wednesday. It's a new phenomenon for a country with rising populations rates since the 1990s.
Jennifer Livingston: Commenting on anchor’s weight is not bullyingJennifer Livingston, a TV news anchor, got a viewer e-mail calling her obese, and questioning her body image. She called it bullying. It's not. It's simply rude, and an example of 'bully-creep' and the fight over the label rather than the content.
Kara Alongi: Missing teen an example of Twitter use or abuse?Kara Alongi Tweeted about a home intruder before she disappeared, sparked a massive campaign to find her, and got police involved sooner than they would have been. Now there are questions about whether she abused Twitter.
CDC: Teen drinking and driving dropped by half in two decadesTeen drinking and driving rates in the United States are half of what they were 20 years ago, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
'Half the Sky:' Series on exploited women looks to empower'Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide' is airing as part of public TV's 'Independent Lens' series. The documentary is based on New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's 2009 bestseller.
Drew Barrymore: New mama welcomes baby girl 'Olive'Born to Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman on Sept. 26, Olive Barrymore Kopelman is the latest celebrity tot this year.
Background TV exposure may harm children's developmentBackground TV – the kind young children don’t watch but experience because the television is on – is linked to problems with play, parent-child relationships, and cognitive performance. A new study in the journal “Pediatrics” suggests that kids are exposed to 4 hours of background television a day.
Rescue dog: How an adoptee pup graduated to family fixtureRescue dog Albie has been living with the Zheutlin family for three months, becoming an irreplaceable presence in their home, and fully ensconced in their hearts.
Sukkot holiday: A mom finds comfort, and inspiration, from sukkot ghostsSukkot is a Jewish holiday spanning seven days, a holiday for ghosts that ends with Yizkor service that memorializes the dead. For this mom, the ghosts of Sukkot bring comfort – and some parenting inspiration.
School lunches: Thumbs up for Baton Rouge chef's menuFeeding kids in Baton Rouge can be cheap and educational, preaches chef Lauren Guy. Fusing Louisiana flavor with nutritional verve, Career Academy's lunch menu is a welcome example of newly reformed meals getting positive student marks.
Cover StoryRent or own? The new sharing economy values access over ownershipTo rent or own, that is the question posed by the burgeoning sharing economy. For a growing population engaged in this high-tech, low-cost 'collaborative economy,' access to cars, clothes, cuisine – or even a cat – is better than ownership.
Obama, human trafficking and teachable moments on a difficult topicPresident Obama's landmark speech on human trafficking – a major, but misunderstood human rights issue – is a teachable moment for parents to talk about sexual exploitation to kids who need to understand the issue.
Parenting on 3-year-old time: Smell the roses, watch the antsOn 3-year-old time, harried deadlines and time-sensitive mail fall to the delight of an ant, a rock, a flower.
Reese Witherspoon welcomes baby boy "Tennessee James"Reese Witherspoon, the Academy Award-winning actress, gave birth to her third child and named him "Tennessee James."
Warm tortillas: There’s no competing with rural Mexican mothersAn American mother and disciple of “Super Baby Food” realizes – with one whiff of these warm tortillas – that she can’t compete with rural Mexican mothers when it comes to homemade food.
Palace won't complain over naked Prince Harry photos as it has for KateThe naked photos of Prince Harry in Las Vegas won't be taken to the British press watchdog commission because it would be a distraction to his deployment in Afghanistan. The decision contrasts with the lawsuit filed in France over publication of photos of Kate, topless.
China adoption diary: School lunch, sisterly guidance, and hamburgersMadeleine begins the first week of school with one new backpack and a competitively delicious packed lunch. Ignoring parental and sisterly directive, she boldly opts out for a school lunch – leaving Mom scratching her head.
