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Foster care: Overall population drops, states have mixed results

Foster care populations dropped for the sixth straight year, reports the Department of Health and Human Services, due to state policies shifting toward shortening foster care stays, expediting adoptions, and increasing prevention support.
My son and guns: Living in a gun culture, he must understand them

A reporter interviewing a dad handling a gun in front of a 3-year-old has mixed emotions – even before the Aurora shooting. But he concludes that in America's gun culture, the best gun control for a family is to teach kids to appreciate their power and how to handle them safely.
Olympic women's gymnastics: Gabby Douglas and parenting gold

Gabby Douglas and the US Olympic women's gymnastics successes make a mom ponder going for parenting gold – and the extreme sport it is to raise an Olympian.
Family vacation: How to deal with relatives trying to sway teens

Family vacation often includes spending time with relatives, and they may be trying to win your teen's affection with over-the-top gifts. Deal with the issue by talking to the relative – and your teenager.
Pregnant Olympian: Malaysian shooter shrugs off criticism

Olympian Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, a Malyasian shooter 8 months pregnant, shrugs off criticism that she may be harming her baby. Studies show that exercising during pregnancy helps mothers and babies.
Floating through summer: Embrace boredom, imagine epic adventures

In the midst of summer, a little boredom can be a vessel for a good drift, following a line of thoughts and just seeing what adventures appear. It helps to have a raft — real or imagined.
Teenage dating: Program advises teens on how to break up safely

Start Strong, a nationwide program, aims to teach teens how to prevent dating violence. At a 'Break-Up Summit' in Boston, local public health officials talked with teens about healthy relationships.
Albie, the 'world's sweetest dog,' makes dad feel needed again

Albie, the Zheutlins' new dog, makes dad feel needed as he misses the days when his sons were elated when he came home and needed to be tucked into bed. He hasn't started reading Albie bedtime stories ... yet.
Olympics 2012: Six ways to celebrate the summer Games at home

Olympics 2012: The Olympics provide parents a chance to teach their kids about different countries, sportsmanship, and motivation. Get in the spirit of the summer Games with six alternative ways to celebrate at home.
Kristen Stewart: Unwholesome mix of tween idol and adult romance?

Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders have publicly apologized for their infidelities, breaking the hearts of Tweens who idealized the romance between 'Twilight' stars Stewart and Robert Pattinson.
90 child drownings since Memorial Day: waterproof your kids

The lure of the pool in the heat of summer can be irresistible – and a reminder of the need to waterpoof your kids. So far this summer, according to the latest federal statistics, there have been 90 child drownings.
Forced to think about families of Holmes, Paterno, and Sandusky

An Internet avalanche of wrath uncovers a sexual predator and enlightens a blogger about remembering the "other" victims – the families of Holmes, Paterno, and Sandusky.
Play time: Kids have less time, more imagination for make believe

New play time study shows kids are more imaginative and comfortable with make believe than they were 20 years ago, despite shrinkig play time during and after school.
Boy flies without ticket from UK to Rome. Why wasn't he detected?

An 11-year-old boy flies without a ticket or passport from Manchester to Rome, managing to elude airport security and airline employees. Fellow passengers finally alerted the crew to the unsuspected runaway.
Katherine Jackson: Lawyer says protecting kids is main concern (+video)

Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson's mother, is caught in the middle of a family dispute over the guardianship of the deceased pop star's three children. A lawyer says the main concern is protecting the kids from bullying and greed.
Boy boards plane to Rome without ticket, passport

An 11-year-old boy boarded a plane in Manchester headed to Rome without a ticket or passport. Airport authorities are investigating how he managed to get through security undetected.
Colorado shooting: Wife of wounded victim gives birth to baby boy

Katie Medley, whose husband Caleb was critically wounded in last Friday's movie theater shooting, gave birth to the couple's first child on Tuesday. Friends set up a website to raise money and support for the Medley family.
Parenting advice: Author Vicki Hoefle says to stop micromanaging

Vicki Hoefle, creator of the 'Parenting on Track' program, discusses the parenting strategies in her new book, 'Duct Tape Parenting.' The key takeaway: Stop trying to micromanage your kids and focus on building real relationships.
Condom use increases among teenagers, say researchers

Although condom use is increasing among teenagers, advocates say there is still more to be done to prevent the spread of HIV amongst people younger than 30. Researchers say the teen years are a key time for safe-sex education.
Living abroad: Lifetime friends reconnect, reminisce in Beijing

Growing up together — classes, soccer, and prom — lifetime friends Joanna and Emily reconnect while living abroad in Beijing, a place they have both come to call home.