Family topics in the news
Read news articles of concern to parents.
June 17, 2009
First lady invited kids to a healthy harvest
First lady Michelle Obama opened up a new front in the administration's health care campaign Tuesday - the kids.
June 15, 2009
Fighting food allergies
Ever since she was an infant, Reagan Roberts could not tolerate being anywhere near cow's milk. A mere sip would leave her vomiting and gasping for breath. If she were even touched by someone with milk on their hands, she would break out in hives and a bright red rash.
June 15, 2009
Child refugees' hope and fear show through their art
The first thing Nabizhan Zavutatze remembers about his life in Krasnodar, in southern Russia, is the watermelon fields in which he was forced to load carts bound for market - heavy labor for a 4-year-old boy.
June 17, 2009
Md. schools top magazine's list
Maryland public high schools offer the highest percentage of college-level courses in the nation, according to Newsweek magazine's June 15 analysis in its annual "America's Top High Schools" issue.
June 10, 2009
Md. researchers joining major study on causes of autism
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the Kennedy Krieger Institute are joining in what is being called one of the largest studies to examine early causes of autism.
June 10, 2009
Ruxton school in Owings Mills closing
Ruxton Country School in Owings Mills will be closing its doors at the end of this week because of financial problems and will relinquish its property to Jemicy School, which purchased it in March.
June 8, 2009
Recession reducing use of in vitro fertilization
The turn of the century saw a huge burst of babies, worldwide, conceived with assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization. But in the United States, infertility treatments appear to be down because of the recession. A study published recently in the journal Human Reproduction found that assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, increased 25 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2002. But a recent story in the New York Post reported that a number of infertility clinics in the United States are experiencing a decline in patients. ART procedures were expected to fall this decade as the last of the baby boomers exit their reproductive years, according to the Center for Human Reproduction, a New York City clinic. The loss of jobs, and health insurance, has further reduced patients seeking IVF.
June 8, 2009
Pregnant Anne Arundel Co. woman slain in Oregon
An Anne Arundel County woman who had recently moved out west to have her first baby was found dead Friday in the Oregon home of a woman she might have met through Craigslist, police said. The baby also died.
June 4, 2009
Mourners share memories at funeral for 14-year-old Crofton boy killed in assault
Christopher David Jones had a penchant for making silly faces in photographs: His head cocked to the side, his green eyes turned inward, his mouth gaping. In other photos, he struck a sly smile, the typical antics of a 14-year-old boy.
June 4, 2009
'Nanny attack' in Bolton Hill has an unexpected ending
The 8-month-old baby girl had fallen asleep in her stroller, and her nanny, Siwei Yao, decided to push her back to her Bolton Street home. It was shortly before 2 p.m., a sunny afternoon on Monday on tree-shaded Bolton Street, in front of a church, and Yao paid no attention as two men in T-shirts walked by.
June 4, 2009
Best of the Beach: A weekly series about good living by the shore
Fun with the family
The robotic pirate mannequin mocks museum visitors from behind thick glass, which is good because he looks like a dummy you wouldn't want to mess with.
June 2, 2009
Study finds antidepressant doesn't help autistic children
An antidepressant commonly prescribed to help autistic children control their repetitive behaviors is actually no better than a placebo, according to a report published today.
June 1, 2009
High blood pressure often missed in kids
Va'Sean Duvall is a skinny 17-year-old who stays busy with an after-school job, choir rehearsals and school drama productions. On the surface, he doesn't fit the mold of someone - older, obese and inactive - who would be at risk for high blood pressure.
May 28, 2009
Watching marriage implode on 'Jon & Kate'
A small Maryland-based cable channel and a large Pennsylvania family have improbably teamed up to supplant Hollywood starlets such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton as the new epicenter of our celebrity-obsessed pop culture.
May 28, 2009
More Maryland students eligible for diplomas
A decade after the state began putting in place a more rigorous standard for getting a high school diploma, only 2 percent or less of the senior class will not be walking across the stage because they failed to pass the requirement, which is in its first year.
May 26, 2009
Pertussis risk higher for unvaccinated children, study says
When an unvaccinated child in Dr. Daniel Levy's practice came down with whooping cough this year, the Owings Mills pediatrician made a decision: He would no longer see patients whose parents refused to have them immunized against that disease or others, such as measles and meningitis.
May 22, 2009
Ask Amy: A piercing question about kid's piercings
Dear Amy: I just found out my oldest daughter, age 15, got a second piercing in her ear after I told her that I would not allow it for her birthday in January.
10:17 AM EDT, May 21, 2009
Smithsonian-set 'Night at the Museum' sequel couldn't be more lively
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian takes a great idea -- what if the inhabitants of a museum came to life at night? -- and milks it for every drop of fun it's worth.
10:30 AM EDT, May 20, 2009
The jellies are back at the National Aquarium
They're majestic, mesmerizing, even a little otherworldly. They take on a variety of forms, from bells to toadstools to cauliflower. They're multiplying at what some would consider an alarming rate, and serve as barometers of the health of the world's oceans.
May 6, 2009
Make Pregnancy Possible
Face it, for most 20-somethings, getting pregnant isn't top priority. Not getting pregnant is more like it. But the truth is, it's never too early to protect your fertility for the future. Otherwise, when you are ready to start a family, getting pregnant might not be as easy as you envisioned.
May 19, 2009
T. Rowe Price opens exhibit at Walt Disney World
Baltimore money manager T. Rowe Price Group's new financial education and interactive exhibit opens Tuesday at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
May 19, 2009
In Baltimore, expulsions are forever
Everard Grant knows his 16-year-old stepson made a huge mistake when he lit a poster on fire at his Baltimore high school. But he doesn't think he deserves to be shut out of the city's public schools forever.
May 18, 2009
Arts appear to play role in brain development
For years, school systems across the nation dropped the arts to concentrate on getting struggling students to pass tests in reading and math. Yet now, a growing body of brain research suggests that teaching the arts may be good for students across all disciplines.
May 4, 2009
Strike a Better Work Life Balance
It's an ongoing struggle in the workplace: Striking a healthy work-life balance. Whether you're prone to perfectionism or you're feeling pressured by a thinner staff and fear layoffs, here are a seven tips to keep in mind.
May 10, 2009
Volunteers rebuild razed Waverly playground
When Jim Holman retired last year as a newspaper editor in Oregon and settled with his new wife in Hunt Valley, he never thought he'd launch a second career as an aerospace engineer.
May 10, 2009
Savage adventure park pumps up kids
"Let's hear it for Murphy!" was the first cry to well up from a 2-acre sliver of low-lying property bordered by parkland and a parking lot in Savage.
May 1, 2009
96,000 more Jardine baby cribs recalled due to strangling risk
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for the third time has recalled cribs made by Jardine Enterprises because of slats that break -- this time adding 96,000 cribs to the tally of those that could trap or strangle a baby.
May 4, 2009
Attention-deficit kids on medicine test higher
Children on medicine for attention-deficit disorder scored higher on academic tests than their unmedicated peers in the first large, long-term study suggesting this kind of benefit from the widely used drugs.
May 1, 2009
Students face weapons charges
Two Fallston High School seniors were arrested and charged with possession of a concealed deadly weapon when Harford County sheriff's deputies found each with a fixed-blade knife at the school Monday, authorities said. Nathan Gee and Victor Gee of Fallston, twin brothers who are 18, were released on their own recognizance Monday afternoon. Police said administrators called the county sheriff at 9:30 a.m. with a report that Nathan Gee had been seen with a weapon. A deputy pulling the student from class found a 7-inch fixed-blade knife on him, along with two smaller knives, police said. A similar 7-inch knife was found in Victor Gee's locker, said Sgt. David Betz. The Gees described themselves as knife collectors who brought the weapons to school for protection, Betz said. Police turned up "no credible threat" to the brothers. Betz said rumors the brothers possessed bomb-making instructions at the time of arrest were false, as were reports that either had made threats to the school. Spokeswoman Teri Kranefeld said the school system's policy in weapons-possession cases is an automatic 10-day suspension.
April 23, 2009
Kids Get Health Benefit From Yoga
When Alayna Kurek panicked one day about forgotten homework, the 9-year-old stunned her school counselor by using a yoga breathing technique to calm down.
April 27, 2009
Students and gum
Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance.
April 30, 2009
The wizard behind 'Harry Potter' films
On paper, everything about this summer is big. It's filled with mammoth sequels such as Transformers 2 and Angels & Demons, mega-series reboots such as Terminator Salvation and StarTrek, and superstar (and super-director) vehicles such as the piquantly misspelled Inglourious Basterds( Quentin Tarantino guiding Brad Pitt).
9:21 AM EDT, April 29, 2009
Daycare provider's husband charged with child sex abuse
The husband of a Frederick day care provider has been charged with sexually abusing a 4-year-old enrolled in the home-based center, Maryland State Police said.
April 28, 2009
Last day of school shifts for Baltimore County students
Summer, or at least summer vacation, will come four days earlier than originally scheduled for public school students in Baltimore County, officials said Monday The change was made because not all of the snow days built into the calendar were used. At the same time, the Harford County school system added two days of classes because the calendar there does not assume days will be lost to weather. Here are the dates that school will be out across the area.
April 28, 2009
Eileen Ambrose: Md. college savings plan is downgraded
For the past couple of years, Maryland's college savings plan has been ranked among the five best in the country in Morningstar's annual study of 81 plans.
April 27, 2009
Camping stretches vacation dollars
Nita Settina oversees vast tracts of public land, from Deep Creek Lake out west to Assateague on the Atlantic Ocean. n But this year, with families pinching pennies, the Maryland State Parks superintendent thinks that no matter how many destinations she has, "If the weather cooperates ... we're going to be swamped."
April 24, 2009
'Earth' is a wondrous, poignant documentary
Polar bear cubs seeing daylight for the first time. Mother elephants plodding through the desert. Humpback whales leaping out of the ocean. Exhausted geese, struggling to fly over the top of Mount Everest.
April 24, 2009
Hanah Cho: Children learn that 'it's fun to help people'
With a hairnet on his head and too-big plastic gloves slipping off his small hands, 9-year-old Michael Woods began making a sub sandwich by placing a slice of cheese on the bread.
April 24, 2009
Neighbors sue over Towson school plan
Four Towson families filed suit Thursday in Baltimore County Circuit Court against the Board of Education, contending that it failed to comply with laws and policies in deciding to build a new elementary school - and calling for a stop to the project.
April 23, 2009
Plan B shift OK'd
The Food and Drug Administration, announcing Wednesday that it would allow 17-year-olds to buy the emergency contraceptive pill Plan B without a prescription, signaled a major shift in the agency's approach to a long-simmering family planning issue.
April 22, 2009
Elmo launches Smithsonian planetarium show
Elmo the "Elmonaut" donned a space suit Tuesday as the Muppet star of a planetarium show that will take children on an imaginary ride into space. And Big Bird even gets a chance to fly, joining cuddly Elmo and a Chinese Muppet named Hu Hu Zhu on the voyage.
April 20, 2009
Sleeping with baby not best idea
Allowing babies to sleep with their parents is a bad idea, say the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which note that the arrangement poses a risk of suffocation and strangulation.
12:47 PM EDT, April 17, 2009
Heidi Klum expecting fourth child
Speculation abounded about Heidi Klum's pregnancy -- and the supermodel's husband Seal couldn't keep it secret for long.
April 16, 2009
Baltimore educator charged in drug case
The head of a city high school's special-education department was arrested Wednesday at school administration headquarters on East North Avenue on a warrant charging her with felony conspiracy to violate narcotics laws, authorities said.
6:48 AM EDT, April 16, 2009
Woman charged with kidnapping kindergartener
Rockville police have charged a woman with kidnapping a kindergartener at an elementary school.
April 14, 2009
Four measles cases diagnosed in Maryland
Health officials said Monday that they are trying to contain Maryland's first measles outbreak since 2001, after a fourth case was diagnosed in Montgomery County.
April 14, 2009
Web sites let anyone put their photobook together
Ever wanted to be a published photographer, to see those pictures that everyone tells you are so great put into a book that can then be given an honored place in your home library?
April 13, 2009
Study: swimming lessons for very young children can reduce risk of drowning
Christopher Ward is only 3 years old, but already he is a swimmer, making his way the entire length of the pool at the Ellicott City Y and then, after a little break, back again.
April 13, 2009
City park hosts tiny trains
The beats start slow, then swell with speed, clickety-clacks giving way to chucka-chuckas and shoo-shoo-shoos. A whistle, a squeal, a whoo-whoo. Low rumbles and trembling tracks - a percussion symphony led by a conductor in a pin-striped cap.
April 1, 2009
10 easy-grow veggies
Michelle Obama just became the hero of parent-gardeners across America by spading up a corner of the White House South Lawn and planting lettuce, chard and kale.
April 13, 2009
Groups give computers to Howard students
T.J. and Tevin Graise are fast becoming computer whizzes.
April 9, 2009
New dolphin show at National Aquarium in Baltimore
Its stars may be as frolicsome and endearing as ever, but designers of the new dolphin show at the National Aquarium in Baltimore say the idea is to do more than simply show the aquatic charmers at play.
April 3, 2009
A sneak peek at area amusement parks
With the chills of winter slipping away, the thrills of spring (and summer) are just beginning. That includes the openings of theme parks across the Mid-Atlantic region beginning in early May. Several parks have new rides, new shows and new attractions for all ages. Here's a look at some nearby amusement parks.
April 5, 2009
Frugal alternatives stand in for far-flung vacations
With the continuing economic meltdown, vacation plans for many families are hanging in the balance. Spring break looks bleak, and summer may be a bummer.
April 2, 2009
Flu appears to be ebbing in Maryland
The 2008-2009 influenza season is not quite over, but Maryland health officials say it appears to have peaked and the number of new cases is on the wane.
February 26, 2009
Flu kills Howard teen
A Howard County teenager died of the flu this week, the latest of nine pediatric flu deaths nationally this year, county health officials said yesterday. "This tragic death is highly unusual," the county health officer, Dr. Peter L. Beilenson, said in a news release. Federal patient privacy laws prohibit the county from releasing the victim's identity or any details of the case, Health Department spokeswoman Lisa de Hernandez said. The teenager became ill with "flu symptoms that got progressively worse," she said, and died sometime since Sunday in a hospital that she declined to identify. Officials at Johns Hopkins Children's Center confirmed that Zachary D. Weiland, 15, of Mount Airy died there Sunday, but they would give no further information, including his illness.
February 25, 2009
Outbreak of flu-like illness closes school
Immaculate Conception School in Towson will be closed for the rest of this week because dozens of students and some staff have been out with flu-like symptoms, an official with the Archdiocese of Baltimore said yesterday. The elementary school will be cleaned during that time "to make it as germ-free as possible," said Sean Caine, director of communications for the archdiocese.
February 20, 2009
Baltimore health officials declare influenza alert
With the number of positive influenza tests rising sharply in the city, Baltimore health officials declared a flu alert yesterday. "We're really seeing sustained transmission of flu in Baltimore. Now is the time to protect yourself," said the city's health commissioner, Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein. Sentinel hospitals reported that 12 percent of flu tests last week came back positive, more than twice the rate for the previous week. There have been no deaths, but the Johns Hopkins Children's Center is treating a teenager who is critically ill with flu. "This is not just the sniffles. It can be very serious," Sharfstein said. Residents are urged to get flu shots, to wash their hands frequently, cough into a tissue or sleeve and stay home if they're sick. For more: www.baltimorehealth.org/flu
February 17, 2009
Flu outbreak in Maryland is on upswing
"Tired, beleaguered and battered" is how Dr. David del Rosario described himself yesterday as he hustled to care for the rising tide of patients streaming into his Patient First clinic in Glen Burnie with symptoms of the flu.
February 9, 2009
Susan Reimer: A hard week for Michael Phelps – and for Mom
Last week was a tough one for Michael Phelps. I am betting it was equally tough for his mom.
February 9, 2009
Second of three parts
Pushing hard, with no excuses
Top administrators in the Baltimore City school system were used to staff meetings with fluid agendas that left time for all to speak.
February 8, 2009
First of three parts
Alonso comes 'as is'
He'd been controlling his temper all day, plotting how to say what was on his mind. His chance came at 6:45 that evening.
February 5, 2009
Intense scrutiny has Phelps weighing whether he will swim in 2012 Games
In his first interview since a photo surfaced showing him smoking from a marijuana pipe, Michael Phelps said yesterdaythat the intense public scrutiny has him contemplating whether he will swim in the 2012 Olympics.
February 3, 2009
Spend less on food with a little more preparation
Don't be tempted by restaurant meals or take-out at dinner time. With a little strategy, you can spend less money cooking for yourself.
February 2, 2009
Michael Phelps: Behavior 'inappropriate'
Michael Phelps, the Rodgers Forge native who has won more gold medals than anyone in Olympic history, acknowledged yesterday that he had engaged in "regrettable" behavior and shown "bad judgment" after a photo of him smoking what appears to be marijuana from a glass bong was published in a British tabloid over the weekend.
February 2, 2009
Frostbite: what to look for
It's cold outside. And as people shovel snow, scrape car windows or just spend time in the frigid air, some find that their hands and feet become numb or painful. Better get indoors or warm up, because this could mean frostbite or, more likely, frostnip, says Dr. John Wogan, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
January 29, 2009
Keeping health insurance even if you lose your job
So, you got pink-slipped. Don't let your health insurance slip, too.
January 29, 2009
Historic theater confronted with changes
Days after the city offered to save the Senator Theatre by turning it into a nonprofit business, owner Tom Kiefaber said he is working with the mayor's office to finalize the deal "as soon as possible."
January 26, 2009
529 college savings plans gain flexibility
Families with 529 college savings plans have more flexibility this year if they experience second thoughts about their investments.
January 22, 2009
Finding new ways to trim your cell phone expenses
Worried about how much it costs every time you reach out and touch someone ... on your cell phone?
January 15, 2009
The Parkside Fine Food & Spirits in Lauraville a place for family, foodies
The Parkside Fine Food & Spirits occupies the wide first floor of a midblock building in Lauraville. Its ambience suggests a funky antique store that woke up one day to discover it was a restaurant and bar. It's warm and colorful, and there are old furnishings, such as church pews for booth seating. It's yet another amenity for an emerging neighborhood that appears ready and willing to support businesses that respond to its needs and desires. There are so many young families in the northeast corridor, and Parkside means to be a welcoming place for hip parents and children day and night. There's not only a children's menu, but also a separate play and dining area for children and parents. I'd like to imagine that over the years the toddlers will graduate to the grown-up tables, and, eventually, the bar.
January 15, 2009
How to enjoy the inauguration right here in Baltimore
The inaugural balls are so expensive. The swearing-in ceremony requires impossible-to-get tickets. The MARC train to Washington is sold out. Never mind that it's really cold outside.
January 15, 2009
Budget billing can help soften impact of energy cost swings
Opening utility bills during the winter and summer can be alarming. Many consumers are finding that out right now. The fluctuations in payments can throw off any budget, especially if you owe more than expected.
January 15, 2009
BRAC migration to Md. has begun
They are here and, in some cases, fairly easy to spot.
January 14, 2009
Match coupons with sales for bigger savings
Coupons are no longer for the ultra-thrifty. Thanks to the recession, more consumers are using them to save a few bucks - or much more.
January 14, 2009
Despite Gaza violence, Md. students take Birthright trip to Israel
Luanna Azulay's excitement about her first trip to Israel is laced with trepidation. Her family wishes she would have just stayed safe at home in Essex.
January 11, 2009
Outfit the kids for the week
You've heard of planning a weeklong menu of meals, but how about a menu of clothes?
January 12, 2009
Understanding Kawasaki syndrome that afflicted Jett Travolta
After the death of John Travolta's 16-year-old son this month, speculation about possible causes blossomed in the print and broadcast media and blogosphere, including discussions of Kawasaki syndrome. This disease - an inflammatory, autoimmune disorder - typically affects young children and, in some cases, can cause serious heart damage, says Stacy Fisher, a cardiologist at MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Associates.
January 5, 2009
Magic in the water
Tyquelle Washington is a wiry 8-year-old with an infectious smile, boundless energy - but not a single friend. During board games, he interrupts his cousins and won't take turns. At school, he rarely listens to other children's interests, choosing instead to chatter about his own.
December 15, 2008
More families move to lock in tuition rates with 529s
As the stock market swoons and tuition costs soar, more families are deciding to pay for college in advance through their 529 plans.
November 10, 2008
BOOKS
Mrs. P has a story for you, kids
She's like Pippi Longstocking, Mary Poppins and Mrs. Claus all rolled into one -- an amiable woman of mysterious origin who's hoping to do for reading what "Sesame Street" has done for learning.
October 16, 2008
20-year life gap separates city's poorest, wealthy
In West Baltimore's impoverished Hollins Market neighborhood, where the average life expectancy is about 63 years, residents shared beers and cigarettes on their front steps at midday yesterday while pedestrians using canes gingerly avoided two dead rats on the street.
September 17, 2008
'Igor' is an odd concoction
Once there was a land where the primary profession was "mad scientist" or "evil genius." And the chief export was blackmail -- threats of the terror their mad, evil genius scientists would unleash.
August 20, 2008
Md. college aid requests surge
A sluggish economy and uncertain job market are prompting a surge in applications for financial aid at universities and community colleges this year, as families struggle to pay for higher education in the face of layoffs and rising prices.
Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun
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