-
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Few things conjure up autumn’s enticing colors and scents like the season’s favorite fruit, the apple. Head outside to one of Kansas City’s fall gems—a local orchard or cider mill—and take home fresh-picked apples for bushels of homemade family fun.
Full story
Wendy Connelly
Family Fun
Autumn
Fall Ideas
Apples in Kansas City
Fall Fun
-
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Long distance relationships of any variety can be challenging, even when the relationships are between grandparents and grandkids. Luckily, staying in touch doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, with a little cooperation from grandparents, it can be lots of fun. Check out these ideas (from simple to tech savvy) that will help your kids and their grandparents create and nurture a lasting relationship, even when miles separate.
Full story
Julie Steed
Family Fun
Grandparents
TopPicks
Grandparents' Day
Grandparents Day
-
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
You won’t catch them wearing dresses or the color pink. Nor will you see them playing with dolls, holding pom-poms or splashing makeup on their cheeks. Instead, you’ll find these girls hanging with the guys, jumping on skateboards, playing sports, shopping in the boys’ clothing sections and retaliating against all things girly. So what are parents to do when their daughter is a … tomboy? First of all, relax--and welcome her with open arms.
Full story
Gina Klein
Parenting
Raising Girls
Tomboy
-
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Adults can have a huge impact on a child’s view of service. I grew up around people who freely gave their time to serve others, and it has undoubtedly affected my thoughts and attitudes about volunteering. Some of the ways I was introduced into the world of service may help illustrate how the youngest of children can get involved in meaningful ways and carry their experiences into adulthood.
Full story
Whitney Standlea
Parenting
Volunteering
-
8/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
After potty training, one of the hardest things to teach your children can be to think of others before themselves. Yet it is also one of the most important things parents can teach children. As they grow up, they need to learn to serve others.
Full story
Jennifer Higgins
Parenting
-
8/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
A mother shares her story of adoption. Two young boys left hardships in Ethiopia to become members of a loving family in Kansas City.
Full story
Teri Boldizar
Parenting
-
8/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
If you’ve been tiptoeing past your child’s bedroom door, afraid to peek inside, you’re ignoring one of the crucial steps in the back-to-school dance: getting your kids organized. You can certainly benefit from these timely tips from Kansas City’s top pros.
Full story
Claire M. Caterer
Parenting
Clean Bedrooms
Organization
-
7/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
A father's story of family fishing.
Full story
Bill Bartlett
Family Fun
-
6/15/2010 12:00:00 AM
As life changes go, the birth of your first child is right up there with the most stressful financial times in a parent’s life. Excitement, worry and confusion make it difficult to focus your attention and know what to do first. I’ve watched many parents come through this transition successfully because they’ve set goals and taken the necessary steps to reach them. I’ve also seen people falter along the way in a manner that can hinder their financial future forever. Consider the following information to help ensure you are well-equipped for this new financial phase of life.
Full story
John P. Chladek
Family Budget
Budget
-
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Full story
Jamie Lynn Heller
Parenting
Poem
Poetry
Parenting Poem
-
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Summer! School is out, schedules are free and the living is easy. Or is it? With a little prep work and a plan in place, you can schedule your summer the way it should be—worry free.
Full story
Julie Steed
Family Fun
Summer Fun
Summer Fun in Kansas City
TopPicks
-
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
“Be still, or no story,” I told the boys. Their freshly scrubbed faces looked up at me in anticipation as they settled down under their covers. I’ve loved stories since my father told bedtime stories to my brother and me when we were preschoolers and I thought back to one of my favorites.
Full story
Bill Bartlett
Parenting
-
6/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
If you’re sighing in frustration while your child is laughing hysterically, it’s possible potty talk is to blame. Read on to find out how to help put an end to this common behavior.
Full story
Elizabeth Welter
Parenting
Potty Talk
Discipline
-
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Placing siblings in a shared bedroom is a big deal. Space within the house is freed for other purposes, but now your kids are expected to share a room that is often seen as a place of refuge.
Full story
Julie Steed
Parenting
Siblings
Sharing a Bedroom
-
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Downtime seems to have become a forgotten art in today’s busy, activity- and technology-driven world. Not only are children overscheduled with activities, but everywhere they go, technology follows.
Full story
Gina Klein
Parenting
Quiet Time
TopPicks
-
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
While a report card’s prime positioning on the front of the refrigerator is always exciting for your child, something in return for those good grades is always better! And when that reward is something that doesn’t cost Mom and Dad anything… well that is even better!
Full story
Tracie Fobes
Family Budget
Free in Kansas City
Good Grades
Freebies
Good Grade Freebies
TopPicks
Free in KC
Bargains
-
4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
According to the U.S. Department of Education, involvement in extracurricular activities does improve a child’s quality of life. But as we all know, too much of anything can be harmful, and many children today are being pushed into schedules that are busier than their parents’ full-time jobs. Where exactly is this push coming from?
Full story
Gina Klein
Parenting
-
4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
If you want to raise children who are hard workers, patient, generous and even eat their vegetables, then it might be time to plant a garden.
Full story
Elizabeth Welter
Family Fun
Gardening
-
4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Ever wonder why TV is called the boob tube and not the Education Machine or the Idea Generator? Parents must take the lead in their child's television viewing habits. But how?
Full story
Claire M. Caterer
Parenting
-
4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Becoming a responsible adult is not something that happens overnight. It takes time to build the character qualities that are essential to being a conscientious, dependable adult. Beginning to teach those qualities at a young age is crucial.
We’ve all had children point the blame on someone else, rather than face the consequences that come with decisions. Megan DiLonardo, preschool teacher at Blue Jay Junction at Liberty High School, notices this behavior as young children start preschool. She utilizes a program called Positive Behavior Support to help emphasize responsibility to young children.
Full story
Jennifer Higgins
Parenting