Comfort zone
Kids might not have to face job layoffs, a shrinking checkbook, over-demanding bosses, ailing health or other adult-sized problems, but the negative circumstances they encounter can be just as upsetting.

Recalled toys
For many children, toys are the wellspring of imagination—a tool for healthy development. But within the past several months, nearly 11 million children’s toys have been deemed dangerous and associated with causing death.

Playing to learn
Young explorers’ dreams might just come true at The Field Museum’s new Crown Family PlayLab.

The war at home
A world away, as war rages in Iraq, the rampant violence steals the nation’s attention. Yet here at home children are fighting their own battle: To live.

'It's any parent’s worst nightmare'
Rita Sallie sprinted to her little girl at the neighborhood playground. Through her sobs, Sallie heard her daughter struggle to breathe as police created a barricade around the bloody crime scene.

'We have no political courage'
Shot in the head. Stabbed in the neck. Shot in the back. Beaten to death. Shot in the chest.

The pain never ends
After Peter Cruz finished up the special breakfast his mom fixed him, he kissed both her cheeks, her forehead, her nose and her chin and headed off the few blocks to school.

What's been done to help trigger change?
A city-wide "Gun-Turn-In" event in July recovered more than 6,700 guns from residents, no questions asked, no charges filed.

Surviving the bullets
The two small boys were simply waiting for daddy to get home from work when they were shot.

Time with baby not always guaranteed
Every time Ann talks about her second pregnancy and maternity leave she relives a nightmare.

Go to bed now!
Few issues cause more anxiety for parents than sleep. From birth, we obsess about when our kids sleep, how long they sleep and if they are getting enough sleep.

Quelling sibling rivalry
Don’t you dare call Vicki Panaccione’s brother a geek.

Separation anxiety
Don’t worry if your kids cry the first few days of school. It’s totally normal and we’re used to it, the teacher at kindergarten orientation reassured parents.

Getting Latinos back to healthy traditions
Like most parents, Charo Almaraz of Chicago wants to make sure she’s keeping her 4-year-old daughter healthy, including making sure she’s eating what she should.

Making every kid count
Parents in the U.S. are losing economic ground and their kids are suffering for it, according to the 2007 Kids Count Data Book compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Kid-friendly sports venues
The first time I took kids to major college football and basketball games, they could hardly contain their enthusiasm.

Can-do kids
Alex Alexiades is an award-winning chef who spends a lot of time in the kitchen but can still sprinkle pop culture references into his conversation.

No parent should know this pain
Violence killed too many kids last school year, leaving families, friends and strangers filled with anger, fear, pain and sorrow for innocence lost.

Letters
Illinois needs more midwives
Age-appropriate sex education
Back to school spells woe for working parents
Unfortunate reference
Solutions to the violence

Word magic - stretching the comfort zone
Coming to parenthood I knew that I’d be stretching myself in ways well beyond the leftover physical changes of pregnancy and childbirth.

Big dreams for Britt
The chubby, naked baby on our Christmas card is the cutest thing you’ll ever see, and I’m not just saying this because I’m the chubby, naked baby’s father.

Someone you should know
Sept. 9 is Grandparents Day. One grandmother, Virginia Paulick of Clarendon Hills, is just one who believes in the importance of grandparents in their grandchildren’s lives.

Be aware of choking hazards
Years ago I treated a 2-year-old boy who came to the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing.

FAB mama
One of the most important items in any woman’s life is her baby bag. But what makes a good baby bag?

When your child's ID is stolen: Part two
A few years ago our daughters, Allison and Amanda, then ages 12 and 13, began receiving credit offers in the mail.

Is your child’s diet (D)eficient?
Ask any school-age child or his parents about vitamin D and you’ll get the standard reaction.

Talking about substance abuse
We’ve heard a lot in recent months about underage drinking and the consequences to parents who allow it to occur in their homes.

Mark the spot
September means back to school—and time to hit the books.

Supporting our troops
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Juan Salas knows the joy of receiving correspondence. "A letter was like a piece of gold. Something you will keep for the rest of your life," he says.

Sharpen your knowledge
Behold the simple pencil. Chances are your kids have this back-to-school staple on their school supply list.

An impartial voice
When a child enters the foster system, he is surrounded by lawyers, case workers, foster parents, extended family members and judges.

Always be prepared
Emergencies happen without warning and offer little if any time for clear thinking and swift reactions.

Wheat vs. white
Everyone knows that whole grain bread is better for you than white bread. But kids usually don’t care what’s healthier—they want what tastes better.

Word up
Spelling bees have grown in popularity recently, but what about a contest where you have to know the definition of the word, too?

The Autumn Moon Festival
Under the bright, round moon—a symbol of family unity—families come together for a bountiful meal, then gaze at the moon and eat moon cakes, round pastries imprinted with the Chinese symbol for longevity or harmony.

Build it to win it
Calling all builders and future engineers—K’NEX is looking for 10 dedicated builders to serve on the 2008 K’NEXpert Panel. Use your imagination and K’NEX pieces to build your most unique model.

Give kids a sporting chance
Every season we hear stories of student athletes dying on courts and fields. With fall sports already in high gear and the winter seasons on the horizon, it’s important to know as much as possible to protect your athlete.

Kid-friendly MRI calls area home
The look on kids’ faces when he told their upset parents they’d most likely need to be sedated for an MRI wasn’t lost on Dr. Michael Fox.

Whose homework is it anyway?
Many parents help their children with homework and school projects. They are supposed to right? But some parents don’t just help—they do it, leaving teachers not knowing if they should give the A to the child or the parent.

A teacher you should know
Khadijat Enessy, a toddler educator at the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, is the 2007 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Award winner.

Books full of things to do on fall weekends
Labor Day unofficially ushers out summer. This is one of the holidays we celebrate that contributes to our history knowledge.

cELLAbrating Ella
It is hard to believe that Ella Jenkins, the "First Lady of Children’s Music" and longtime Chicago resident, is celebrating 50 years of making music for young children. But it’s true.

Enjoy these fun reads
Eleda and Adele are mirror twins, daughters of innkeepers living in medieval times. Eleda cannot tell a lie and Adele is burdened with the secrets of others.