It could happen around the time of the science fair. Or when something's worth almost half of a class grade. Or when you feel sorry for them. We're talking about parent help on schoolwork. Sometimes students bring in these really elaborate projects, or perfectly poised prose on their presentation. As a teacher, can't help but wonder if little Johnny or Jane got some grown-up help on their projects.  Of course you are not at the student's house when it all comes together. But you have suspicions. Why did the parent feel the need to do so much work? And what does the student really learn from …

Kids these days are exposed to a lot at a very young age. Photos on the cover of magazines in the supermarket checkout line can be racy—and that doesn't even come close to some of the things that go on during the "family hour" of nighttime television. But what is the right time to talk to your children about sex? By third or fourth grade, children are surely getting information (and misinformation) from classmates and friends. So when is it the right time to have "the talk" with your child? Is it different for boys than it is for girls? Do you give them all the information at once, or in a …

We tell our kids, “you can do anything you put your mind to,” but the reality is that many of our children’s dreams of playing sports are ending by the time they leave elementary school. With so many children starting to play organized sports as toddlers, competition for players in middle school and high school has become increasingly difficult. Has your child not made the travel team? The high school squad? Today, high school teams are reserved for the best players in each sport. Making a varsity or JV team is an impossibility for an overwhelming majority of the student body. What about the …

What is a good bed time for kids? Teenagers like to stay up until midnight, while younger children push 9 p.m. or later. Is that enough sleep?  Do you have set routines for your child? How do you help when the change to Daylight Savings Time begins? Share your tips with other moms, dads and caregivers in our community.