On Parenting - News and events for the Washington parent.

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Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/30/2011

International Walk To School Day: Making it work everyday

By Janice D'Arcy

The annual event is intended to encourage families to commute to school by foot.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Fitness, Walking to school

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 09/29/2011

Obama’s back-to-school address (video)

By On Parenting

President Barack Obama delivered a back-to-school speech at D.C.’s Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Sept. 28.

By On Parenting | 02:16 PM ET, 09/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: education

Posted at 01:51 PM ET, 09/29/2011

In D.C., HPV vaccine not received by enough girls

By On Parenting

Less than a quarter of the girls that lawmakers were aiming to protect with the HPV vaccine are actually being protected.

By On Parenting | 01:51 PM ET, 09/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: HPV, vaccines

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 09/29/2011

Favoritism: How a parent can manage it

By Janice D'Arcy

Parent coach Meghan Leahy says undiagnosed temperament issues can cause a parent not to mesh with one child, but enjoy the personality of another.

By Janice D'Arcy | 12:00 PM ET, 09/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: favoring children, managing favoritism

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/29/2011

Listeria outbreak: Is fear during pregnancy preparation for parenthood?

By Janice D’Arcy

Maybe fear is a way to prepare parents for what’s ahead. Prepare us for not just the concept of living with fear, but also for the need to learn to cope with it.

By Janice D’Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Food recalls, listeria, cantaloupe recall

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 09/28/2011

Principal resigns after suspending ‘Banana man’

By Mari-Jane Williams

Stafford County schools accepted the resignation of Colonial Forge Principal Karen Spillman on Tuesday night, days after Spillman suspended sophomore Bryan Thompson for running onto the field during halftime of a Sept. 16 football game wearing a banana suit.

By Mari-Jane Williams | 01:56 PM ET, 09/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: autism spectrum disorders, banana man

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 09/28/2011

The listeria outbreak: What pregnant women need to know

By Janice D’Arcy

Pregnant women are up to 20 times more susceptible than other adults. If the infection is passed to a fetus, it can have life-threatening consequences.

By Janice D’Arcy | 12:35 PM ET, 09/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Food recalls, listeria, cantaloupe recall

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 09/28/2011

Michelle Obama challenges kids to break jumping jacks world record

By On Parenting

Michelle Obama and National Geographic Kids magazine are challenging kids to break the world record for doing the most jumping jacks in 24 hours.

By On Parenting | 11:40 AM ET, 09/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Let's Move, kid fitness

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/28/2011

Sperm donors think ‘father,’ egg donors don’t think ‘mother’

By Janice D’Arcy

Rene Almeling, author of “Sex Cells,” discusses why sperm donors feel a stronger connection to their children, and the changing definition of the word “family.”

By Janice D’Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sperm donor, egg donor

Posted at 04:52 PM ET, 09/27/2011

Finding the right time to divorce

By On Parenting

A mother asks Family Almanac columnist Marguerite Kelly how long to stay in an unhappy marriage.

By On Parenting | 04:52 PM ET, 09/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Family Almanac, divorce

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 09/27/2011

Moms who accept they can’t do it all less likely to be depressed

By On Parenting

Women who recognize that something has to give when it comes to juggling a job and family tend to have fewer depressive symptoms, experts say.

By On Parenting | 02:55 PM ET, 09/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: work-life balance, depression, supermoms

Posted at 12:12 PM ET, 09/27/2011

Maryland plans to ban crib bumpers

By Janice D’Arcy

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene proposed that the ban on crib bumpers take effect in January 2013.

By Janice D’Arcy | 12:12 PM ET, 09/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: crib bumpers, infant and toddler safety

Posted at 11:23 AM ET, 09/27/2011

Dressing autism in a banana suit does no one any favors

By Mari-Jane Williams

The coverage of “Banana Man” unnecessarily evoked autism for a stunt that any class clown could have pulled.

By Mari-Jane Williams | 11:23 AM ET, 09/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: autism spectrum disorders, banana man

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/27/2011

Maryland officials to decide on crib bumper ban today

By Janice D'Arcy

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will announce the decision at 11 a.m. today.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: crib bumpers, infant and toddler safety

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 09/26/2011

One reason why word of mouth is a top news source

By Janice D’Arcy

Millenials are not the only group relying on word of mouth to get news. Parents of young children are also less likely to watch television news or read a newspaper.

By Janice D’Arcy | 12:35 PM ET, 09/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: media, how parents get news

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011

New AAP car seat recommendation and the ‘expert’ advice parents ignore

By Janice D'Arcy

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children remain rear-facing in cars until age 2. But how many parents will follow this advice?

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:40 PM ET, 09/22/2011

Events for children with special needs and their families

By Mari-Jane Williams

DC Autism Parents will host a free barbecue Sunday. Learn more about this event and other local activities for children with special needs.

By Mari-Jane Williams | 04:40 PM ET, 09/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:34 PM ET, 09/22/2011

U.S. House votes to reauthorize federal autism funding; bill awaits Senate action

By Mari-Jane Williams

Autism funding will remain at its current levels for the next three years if the Senate approves a bill that passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

By Mari-Jane Williams | 04:34 PM ET, 09/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: events, autism events

Posted at 12:25 PM ET, 09/22/2011

What not to say to a single parent

By On Parenting

Momspeak columnist Tracy Grant lists her pet peeves from life as a single mom.

By On Parenting | 12:25 PM ET, 09/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 09/22/2011

The National Book Festival and Medusa: Reasons to celebrate reading aloud

By Janice D'Arcy

This weekend’s National Book Festival and the recent publication of “The Treasury of Greek Mythology” gives parents and kids opportunities to enjoy reading out loud.

By Janice D'Arcy | 11:30 AM ET, 09/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/22/2011

Highlights survey reveals kids’ ‘Mad Men’ like ideas of gender roles

By Janice D'Arcy

Children thought boys were best at playing sports while girls were best at fashion and makeup.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:17 PM ET, 09/21/2011

Combating cyber bullying and technology’s downside

By Janice D’Arcy

Today and tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Education will host a two-day summit on bullying that focuses on online harassment.

By Janice D’Arcy | 01:17 PM ET, 09/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011

Watching ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ despite the call of family life

By On Parenting

Columnist Petula Dvorak and eight other moms watched the movie on Kate Reddy (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and discussed how they juggle their careers and their families.

By On Parenting | 11:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011

Highlights magazine survey shows kids in tune with parents’ financial worries

By Janice D’Arcy

Among the questions asked to reader’s of the children’s magazine was what they thought their parents were most concerned about. The vast majority answered: my safety and money.

By Janice D’Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Highlights magazine, concerns of parents

Posted at 01:13 PM ET, 09/20/2011

Redhead sperm donors not wanted at world’s largest sperm bank

By Janice D’Arcy

According to The Telegraph, by way of Gawker, the world’s largest sperm donor bank has revealed that it has begun turning down red-headed sperm donors.

By Janice D’Arcy | 01:13 PM ET, 09/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 09/20/2011

Bulgur soup for the whole family

By On Parenting

All We Can Eat blogger Domenica Marchetti shares a recipe for bulgur soup that her entire family enjoys, even though her son and husband are not soup lovers.

By On Parenting | 11:27 AM ET, 09/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:16 AM ET, 09/20/2011

Family Almanac: Is a 3-year-old happy at school or bullied?

By On Parenting

A parent asks Marguerite Kelly for advice when her 3-year-old’s teacher says the girl seems happy at school, but the child says she’s bullied.

By On Parenting | 11:16 AM ET, 09/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/20/2011

Katherine Paterson discusses the longevity of paper books and the best of young adult fiction

By Janice D’Arcy

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature discusses the best of young adult literature and how to foster a love of reading in kids.

By Janice D’Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:51 PM ET, 09/19/2011

‘Modern Family’ vs. ‘The Cosby Show’

By Janice D'Arcy

After “Modern Family” wins five Emmys, a University of Maryland professor questions whether parody is the best way to approach family relationships on television.

By Janice D'Arcy | 12:51 PM ET, 09/19/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:18 AM ET, 09/16/2011

Ask Amy: Caring for aging parents who failed at parenting

By On Parenting

A 50-year-old man who was sexually abused as a teen questions if he should care for his elderly parents.

By On Parenting | 11:18 AM ET, 09/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/16/2011

‘Shave for the Brave’ moms go bald for cancer

By Janice D'Arcy

Forty-six moms of children who are struggling with or died of cancer will publicly allow their heads to be shaved on Sept. 21 at Union Station.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 09/15/2011

HPV, sex education and a debate that’s not going away

By Janice D'Arcy

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn.) comments decrying school children receive a vaccine to prevent HPV and D.C.’s intention to test kids on sex education has put the topic of children and sex in the spotlight.

By Janice D'Arcy | 02:01 PM ET, 09/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 09/15/2011

Accessories for creating a playful and stylish bedroom for a child

By On Parenting

Make a child’s bedroom more colorful, inviting and fun with bright seating options, light fixtures and more.

By On Parenting | 11:40 AM ET, 09/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/15/2011

Navigating Metro with a stroller

By Janice D'Arcy

Metro elevator and escalator outages are an annoyance for most commuters, but for parents, they can mean the difference between a day trip and a day ruined.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:54 PM ET, 09/14/2011

Children and drowning, dangers are year-round

By Janice D'Arcy

A report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 431 children died due to in-home drowning between 2005 and 2009.

By Janice D'Arcy | 12:54 PM ET, 09/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/14/2011

Dr. Oz and FDA dispute the safety of apple juice

By Janice D'Arcy

Producers at “The Dr. Oz Show” say the level of arsenic in apple juice is too high, but the FDA says parents should not be concerned.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 09/13/2011

Parents may decrease kids’ outdoor activity, study says

By On Parenting

Children playing outside under a parent’s supervision may get less physical activity, a study says.

By On Parenting | 03:05 PM ET, 09/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 09/13/2011

Raising a quirky child to be herself

By On Parenting

Family Almanac columnist Marguerite Kelly advises a parent on how to raise a girl who marches to the beat of her own drum.

By On Parenting | 01:54 PM ET, 09/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:51 AM ET, 09/13/2011

Testosterone nose dives in fathers and hands-on dads, study says

By Janice D'Arcy

Testosterone levels declined by more than double once a man fathered a child, says a new study from The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

By Janice D'Arcy | 11:51 AM ET, 09/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:53 PM ET, 09/12/2011

The favored child: Does every family have one?

By Janice D’Arcy

Jeffrey Kluger’s new book, “The Sibling Effect:What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us,” claims all parents have a favorite child and the kids know who it is.

By Janice D’Arcy | 05:53 PM ET, 09/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 09/12/2011

I don’t know how she does it, but will SJP do it?

By Janice D’Arcy

Readers of the popular book and movie “I Don’t Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother” question the casting of slim-bodied Parker as Reddy, an overworked and frazzled mom.

By Janice D’Arcy | 01:00 PM ET, 09/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 09/12/2011

Can a mom help her adult sons curb their steady weight gain?

By On Parenting

A mom of two adult sons writes to Ask Amy seeking advice on helping her children lead healthier lives.

By On Parenting | 12:20 PM ET, 09/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:42 AM ET, 09/12/2011

Celebrating a birthday, and acknowledging a tragedy, on Sept. 11

By On Parenting

By On Parenting | 10:42 AM ET, 09/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 9/11

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/12/2011

Young kids and TV: What not to watch

By Janice D'Arcy

Research published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that children who watched a realistic cartoon fared just as well in problem solving and self-regulation as kids who did not watch television.

By Janice D'Arcy | 07:00 AM ET, 09/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:09 PM ET, 09/09/2011

Autism Buddies program opens social doors for kids and parents

By Mari-Jane Williams

The program, which pairs recent college graduates with local children for two hours two Sundays a month, runs from October through May. The first session is Oct. 2.

By Mari-Jane Williams | 08:09 PM ET, 09/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 09/08/2011

More D.C. parents choosing to educate children at home

By On Parenting

With public school choice diminishing in some areas of the city, parents are trying a different approach.

By On Parenting | 11:31 AM ET, 09/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:27 PM ET, 09/07/2011

Packing a school lunch that kids will like

By On Parenting

Editor of ChopChop magazine says children should be very involved in assembling a lunch they will eat.

By On Parenting | 02:27 PM ET, 09/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:20 PM ET, 09/07/2011

Raising a family after 9-11

By On Parenting

Post story discusses trauma still endured by families from the terrorist attacks.

By On Parenting | 02:20 PM ET, 09/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:04 PM ET, 09/01/2011

Teaching Sept. 11: A more honest approach

By Janice D'Arcy

Ten years out from the tragic day, some educators have decided to be more forthcoming with kids about exactly what happened.

By Janice D'Arcy | 01:04 PM ET, 09/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:44 PM ET, 09/01/2011

Making a stylish bedroom for teens

By On Parenting

How can you and your teen create a sophisticated space (without killing each other in the process)? Here are some suggestions.

By On Parenting | 12:44 PM ET, 09/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:31 PM ET, 09/01/2011

Designing an eco-friendly nursery

By On Parenting

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly room for a baby, LEED-certified designer Caroline McCandlish has some advice.

On Parenting: September, 2011