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Toddlers to tweens: relearning how to play

Children's play is threatened, say experts who advise that kids – from toddlers to tweens – should be relearning how to play. Roughhousing and fantasy feed development.
Evolution of play: unsupervised bat and ball to today's screens

Kids used to use the bat and ball unsupervised and free; today play is all about screens or organized sport, hovered over by parents.
Evolution of play: unsupervised bat and ball to today's screens

Kids used to use the bat and ball unsupervised and free; today play is all about screens or organized sport, hovered over by parents.
Cover Story
The games kids no longer play

Experts say the more creatively children play, the less lucrative it is for toy makers. They advocate returning to the games kids no longer play.
Cover Story
The games kids no longer play

Experts say the more creatively children play, the less lucrative it is for toy makers. They advocate returning to the games kids no longer play.
Wikipedia blackout: Why even supporters question anti-SOPA move

The Wikipedia blackout is intended to spotlight the value of open access to information on the Internet, but also underlies how fractious the move is, drawing fire from both critics and supporters.
Thirty ideas from people under 30: The Faith Leaders

They are explorers and activists, artists and educators, farmers and faith leaders – even mayors. And they have trenchant suggestions on how to improve the world.
Dog survives Montana avalanche, returns after four days

A Welsh Corgi, named Ole, was lost in a Montana avalanche Saturday. Four days later, the loyal dog arrived back at the motel where his owners had stayed.
Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods' ex-wife, tears down $12 million mansion (+video)

Elin Nordegren had a 17,000-square-foot mansion in Florida leveled after paying $12.3 million to buy it. Elin Nordegren divorced Tiger Woods in 2010.
Casey Anthony resurfaces in her own video diary

Casey Anthony, who was acquitted of killing her daughter, is back in the public eye with a new look and a new video.
New Year’s Eve: five ways to ring in 2012

New Year’s Eve festivities are already under way in some parts of the world. Here’s a sampling of fun ways people can celebrate the dawn of 2012 – in the United States and beyond.
To win the future, heed this ginormous list of amazing (but overused) words

The headline above contains a generous sampling from this year's 'List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.' Read on.
Breastfeeding moms protest at Target stores, but US public is real mark

Lingering discomfort over public breastfeeding is responsible, in part, for curtailing moms' enthusiasm and driving down breastfeeding rates, research shows. Nurse-ins Wednesday at Target stores drew attention to the cause.
Religiously active people more likely to engage in civic life, Pew study finds

The Pew study authors say their findings counter the view that religiously active people are less engaged with the secular world. Increased trust of others and optimism about one's impact on the community are cited as factors.
Social media helps far-flung families connect this holiday season

Without platforms like Facebook, Skype, and Google +, it would be much harder for some far-flung extended families to stay connected this holiday season.
For Jews and Christians, a holiday 'season of rapprochement'

The Hanukkah and Christmas holidays coincide amid a season of Jewish and Christian bridge-building, as evidenced, in part, by a recent surprise bestseller on Amazon.
'The Hobbit' trailer: 5 signs that Peter Jackson is back to his best

'The Hobbit' trailer is a testament to the best qualities of director Peter Jackson's filmmaking, from weaving together various J.R.R. Tolkien tales to the signature look of the film.
'The Hobbit' movie trailer: what it tells us, what it leaves a mystery (VIDEO)

'The Hobbit' movie trailer is out, and it answers some questions while leaving others unclear. Did we just see Dol Guldur? Probably. What will Smaug look like? No idea.
'Layaway angels' and gold coins: Americans find new ways to warm hearts (VIDEO)

'Layaway angels' and the phenomenon of jewelry and coins being dropped into Salvation Army kettles shows Americans may be looking for social connections in their giving this holiday season.
How much do you know about Christmas? A quiz

Christmas is a Christian holiday marking the birth of Christ Jesus. But over the centuries, it has become associated with a global array of seasonal traditions and secular activities ranging from shopping to singing. How well do you know Christmas and these traditions? Take our quiz.