A royal phenomenon
Despite the negative connotations associated with being a princess—an attitude of entitlement, an emphasis on physical beauty, a dependence on finding a happy ending in the form of Prince Charming—Yearwood isn’t concerned.

'It's a child taken from all of us'

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is convinced that the epidemic of child murders in the Chicago area since last school year is a reflection of larger socioeconomic problems.

Never give up
When you ask Chicago mom Janet Nieves about her oldest son, Radames, the first thing she’ll mention is his intelligence.

Techno-tykes
Our family members are amazed when they see my 2-year-old son at the computer. He can sign on, play games and insert and play educational CDs.

Devilishly delicious and nutritious
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It’s hard to believe that Halloween is right around the corner, ushering in a string of holidays that are filled with lots of fun and lots of food—especially the sweet stuff.

Create your own scary stories this Halloween
Ghost stories are a Halloween classic for a reason. Create your own as a family, and you'll be surprised how quickly the kids start snuggling closer.

Halloween sugar highs (and lows)
By the time they’re in grade school, most kids have heard the terrifying urban legends of the poisonous candy and the old lady who gives out razor blade apples.

Sesame Place a winner
If your family has been bitten by the Elmo bug, Sesame Place, near Philadelphia in Langhorne, Pa., is the place to go.

Breaking the cycle

Denna was behind bars and fighting addiction when her pregnancy test came back positive.

'I've got to do it for her'
Sometimes Denna forgets she’s not 11. But reality quickly reminds her there’s a little girl depending on her being a grownup.

‘I can’t believe I did this’
Cradling her baby to her chest, after 61 days behind bars, Shonnetta remembers how the tiny girl shook, a lingering effect of being born addicted to heroin.

‘God gave me the best momma’
Alcohol became a treat at 13. Marijuana dogged her high school years.

Batteries not required
With new high-tech gadgets and video games coming out all the time, it can be hard to get kids away from the screen and out doing something active.

Are your kids ready for scary movies this Halloween?
It’s nearly Halloween, the scariest time of the year, and the movies range from silly to terrifying.

When couples collide
Let’s be honest: There’s no such thing as a perfect romantic relationship. Throw kids into the mix, a professional career or two, lack of sleep and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Can-do kids

Encountering a homeless man with the sign before a performance of "Wicked" last February, Ryan couldn’t stop wondering about the man, whether he had kids and what would happen if people didn’t help him.

How could they?
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I headed into the elevator prepared to meet three drug users.

Letters
Start reading at birth
War at home
Not all spots are the same
Leave no parent behind
9 million kids lack insurance

Charting Calvin
Heather and I had to learn a new language when we took our 6-month-old Calvin out of daycare. We had to discuss Calvin without seeing or talking to each other.

It's due tomorrow
‘I forgot to finish my Wright Brothers plane," my son remembers as I tuck him into bed.

Out and about
Talking family
Someone you should know
It can happen to anyone: An update

Make a list and check it twice
The holiday season is upon us and already we can feel the rush.

The worries about lead exposure
If you are like most of the people I know, the recent recall of more than 70 Fisher Price toys by mega-manufacturer Mattel has left you with emotions ranging from worried and scared for your child, to disappointed and angry with the quality control in the factories that produced the poisoned items.

Let kids explore their own interests
Your kids are back to school and new extracurricular activities, but by now the shine may have worn off more than just their new Buster Browns. A reader faced with the same quandary wonders what to do after her daughter begged for guitar lessons:

FAB mama
Dedicated to a survivor
PeaceLoveMom
Can’t live without …
Talk back
Making Strides for the cure
Wrap yourself in courage

Growing up in a caffeine culture
Is the coffee shop, where kids meet their friends, the 21st century version of our grandparent’s malt shop? Perhaps.

Chill prevention
But, Mom …"

Shall we dance?
From free tango lessons in Central Park to fox trot lessons as part of gym class in local schools, ballroom dancing’s popularity has exploded in recent years.

Yellow, orange and white goodness
Most of us see it as a filler candy, the leftovers in every Halloween goody bag. Compared to the chocolatey, nutty or gooey treats that abound this time of year, candy corn is an old standby.

Making a difference
It’s been a tough haul since Steven Summerall’s parent went to jail, but the teen found help thanks to a program that matches caring adults with children of the incarcerated. William Glover had signed on as a mentor through the Chicago Youth Centers and was matched with Steven, who is now 15.

Planning your escape
The Home Safety Council recommends the following guidelines for developing and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Just a phone call away
Rory Dominick tried going to parent support groups after her son Cameron was born 14 months ago. But because Cameron was born prematurely and with multiple health issues, she often found she had little in common with the other moms.

Fossil hunting fun in Chicagoland
Looking around Chicago, with its skyscrapers and traffic, it’s hard to believe the entire area was once blissfully tropical, with coral reefs covered by a shallow sea, its waters teeming with life.

Lead recalls continue
Recent recalls for lead include:

Protect those peepers
Keeping a close eye on your children’s eyes may help prevent serious eye problems.

Treating and managing teen acne
Dealing with acne can be emotionally painful for both you and your teen, but you can help your child manage breakouts and feel better.

Not-so-scary ideas for school parties
Halloween celebration crafts and games gone bad—nothing could be scarier to a room mom who has put so much effort into making the party fun. So, we asked teachers all over the Chicago area for their favorite Halloween party ideas.

A teacher to know
Adelina E. Flores, a Head Start teacher at the Albany Park Community Center, is a 2007 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Award winner.

Focus on fall fun
Fall sure is a fun time of the year. Whether it’s pumpkin harvesting, apple picking or planning for Halloween, these books will get everyone in the spirit of the season.

A bumper crop of music
Can there ever be too much music for children?

Mysteries, nightmares, witches and ghosts
Gilda is a psychic investigator who hunts ghosts. Ghost hunting became her way of coping when her dad died.

Open your kids' eyes to the world
If you don’t like all the media bombarding your kids you can just turn off the TV or watch everything with them. But for today’s busy families, these are often unrealistic strategies, says Nicole Dreiske, director of children’s programs for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and co-founder of Facets Multi-Media.

Bulletproof backpacks?
As a moment of silence ended at a safety summit this summer, Rich Arredondo dropped a bombshell on the group of local educators, social workers, a Chicago police officer, an alderman’s aide and representatives of Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy, CAPS.