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Senior pranks: School districts draw line between fun, vandalism

As graduation nears, school districts are dealing with increasing pranks by high school seniors. These senior pranks, mostly harmless and done in good spirit, can escalate to vandalism. Where do school officials draw the line?
Dog with no family lawyers up to resist adoption; town divided

Dog in New Mexico has a bank account, a Facebook page and a lawyer. Blue, a free-roaming Australian cattle dog has lived in front of a general store for two years without incident and without family. He resists adoption. But a recent deadly pit bull attack on a person in a nearby town has turned some against him.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth: Too young to get engaged?

Miley Cyrus, 19, and Liam Hemsworth, 22, announced their engagement today, raising questions about Hollywood's romanticized depiction of (too?) young marriage and its impressions on the average teenager.
Free games: the power of a kid’s imagination vs. gigabytes

Free games needed for your kids this summer? Look no further then their own imaginations, give them unstructured time, and encourage creation. It can make a messy kitchen table, but too much media can create another kind of mess.
Amber Portwood, Teen Mom star, sentenced to prison. Are you sad?

Amber Portwood, Teen Mom star, is sentenced to prison on a felony drug charge. Octomom Nadya Suleman is considering stripping for money. Rather than horrified glee when it comes to public mommy train wrecks, perhaps we should find some sympathy. And yes, even sadness.
Facebook access for under-13 kids is good – if parents involved

Facebook is already used by millions of kids under 13 who lie about their ages to gain access. It makes sense that the social media network design specific guidelines for them, including parental permission.
Father's Day gifts in a divorce: Who buys? Who makes the cards?

Father's Day gifts in a divorce fall to mom. Then one day, the teens say, "We got it, Mom."
Pre-school graduation: Sad symptom of accelerated childhood

Graduation rituals – gowns and mortarboard hats - are too grown up for preschool and kindergarten students. Our accelerated – anxiety provoking – modern childhood needs more simple, age-appropriate activities.
Disney: No more junk food ads for kids; and Mrs. Obama backs it

Disney plans to junk the junk food ads in kids' TV programming. Anti-obesity crusader, first lady Michele Obama, will be at the announcement today to endorse the move.
Facebook lowering age restriction? Will your toddler friend you?

Facebook is reportedly exploring lower age restrictions to allow the under-13 set to get in on the social network. Reality is, many under age are already using it – but do they really need it?
Breastfeeding goals: Over half of new moms miss the mark

Breastfeeding goals are largely unmet in the US where 85 percent of new moms intend to breastfeed for at least three months; more than half of all new moms miss that mark.
High school graduation: Ode to the average student

High school graduation sees loads of 4.0s head across the stage for honors on their way to Harvard. But most wonderful and successful people never went to the stage for an honor. The average student's potential is full of surprises.
Father’s Day gifts: Mom’s dilemma – to surprise or get a list

Father's Day gifts are always a Mom's dilemma: Surprise or solicit a list? What does he really want?
Cover Story Employment solutions: Can a town’s good deeds lower unemployment?

The dollars and cents of good deeds: Communities with high social capital tend to have lower unemployment. Some seeking employment solutions see this altruistic glue as something to study.
Why breastfeeding military moms freak people out

The uproar over photos of two military moms breastfeeding indicates a larger social debate in America about women's freedom and their comfort as mothers in public spaces.
Looking for the 'perfect' nanny: Experience or up-to-date 'expertise?'

A nanny's years of experience raising children wasn't enough for one mother looking for the 'perfect' childminder. Have babies changed so much in the last few years that child-care providers need the most 'up-to-date' expertise?
After graduation: Parents still lose sleep over kids’ homework

Even after the kids' graduation, some parents still wake in the night asking: Honey, did we finish the homework? And just wait what they bring home from the Classroom of Real Life.
Connect with kids' feelings first, then change aggressive behavior

The first step parents should take to correct a child's aggressive reactions during playtime is to connect with their feelings, not punish them. Then you can address their specific inappropriate behavior.
Post graduation: A mom's defense of her boomerang kid in Beijing

The post graduation boomerang kid – part of the generation of adult children who move back home with parents – is a welcome addition to and American family's new life in Beijing.
Three-year-old kicked off Alaska Airlines for being fussy

A three-year-old kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight in Seattle strikes fear and loathing in the hearts of parents of toddlers. This mom asks – is toddler behavior any worse than that snoring guy dozing on your shoulder?