Teens are getting high using a common over-the-counter drug that can cause hallucinations and even death-and most are getting it from their own family's medicine cabinet.  Read more...

The first day of school is something between a shark tank and a speed dating session, and how kids make and maintain friendships is a huge part of their social and academic success.  Read more...

Holmes Elementary School in Oak Park is taking steps like replacing Styrofoam serving containers at lunch with reusable items and planting a school vegetable garden.  Read more...

Visit any toy store and you’ll find a dizzying array of technology toys that claim to teach kids the skills they’ll need to excel in school. But we have to ask: Do they work?  Read more...

We asked readers what they learned when their kids started school. Our favorite: the subtle difference in taste between glue and paste.  Read more...

The beginning of a new school year is a great time to evaluate your morning routine. Try these simple tips to reduce stress and help your family make it out the door.  Read more...

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Back-to-school shopping can take a chunk out of your hard-earned dollars - but only if you let it. With a little planning and savvy shopping, it can be realistic for your family.  Read more...

Peanut butter snacks, almond cookies, milk at lunch time: Classrooms can be dangerous for kids with food allergies. Here are 5 tips from the woman behind the"Nut-Free Mom" blog.  Read more...

Crystal Lake mom Carolyn Starks wants to help your kids love reading and writing. But if her new publishing company’s books just give them a laugh, that’s good, too.  Read more...

"Slow reading," promoted by an english professor at the University of New Hampshire, suggests that students get more enjoyment out of and have greater success with reading when they slow down.  Read more...

TreeRing is a digital publishing company that uses technology to create yearbooks for schools that parents can customize.  Read more...

One moment she’s the cuddly kid you’ve always known, the next she is a surly face you barely recognize at the dinner table. No matter how prepared we think we are, the changes that occur in middle school still catch us a bit off balance.  Read more...

Scoliosis, often diagnosed in adolescents age 10-18, occurs when the spine abnormally curves from side to side. Schools don't have to check your child anymore - so you should.  Read more...

For schools that cater specifically to children on the autism spectrum, one mantra remains constant: Try everything.  Read more...

Got a time bomb ticking in the other room, where a simple no from you - or persistent pestering from little sister - is all it takes to make your kid explode?  Read more...

Would you drive after four drinks? That's how distracted you are while talking on a cell phone, and two area moms want you to hang up and drive.  Read more...

No baby bottles in the crib. No pacifiers for school-age kids. No sweets before bed. These staples of advice are dispensed to parents across the country, but sometimes aren't even heeded by the pediatricians who give them.  Read more...

Freezing spring days, rainy summer days, windy fall days ... and let’s not even talk about winter. Thankfully, there are loads of indoor playgrounds in Chciago for those times when a day at the park just won’t cut it.  Read more...

Amy Bizzarri went for a hike at Starved Rock in Utica with her 9-month-old baby. Read her tips from the trail and learn how to plan your own trip.  Read more...

As I reach into the freezer for Monday pizza night, the date circled on the calendar taunts me. I’m feeling a mix of trepidation and anticipation about the new school year.  Read more...

Even if they can’t quite admit it, tweens still love reading out loud, laughing over the funny parts, a sob catching in your voice over the sad ones.  Read more...

When my son said, “Hey Dad, I'm joining the soccer team,” my first thought was, “I pity the fool who volunteers to coach 10 more of you.” Then he added, “I told Mr. Mascorro that you want to be the coach.” Enter the fool.  Read more...

An award-winning author at 7? One Chicago girl picked up some hardware for "Sabu & Me," her book about the family dog.  Read more...

Looking for more than just cake and presents? Consider having your child's next party at your local animal shelter.  Read more...

From the time their boys were age 3, 5 and 7, Michelle Holleman and her husband Tom have vacationed at free lodgings abroad. They pay in an international currency: the use of their Highland Park house in exchange.  Read more...

Digging out those wallet-sized photos of your kids is so old school. Now you can show off the kids by simply whipping out your iPhone.  Read more...

The alarm over food allergies has changed day care and schools enormously, yet the number of children with food allergies may not be as large as we think.  Read more...

Anxiety isn't necessarily something children outgrow, but many can learn to manage it. Some children discover strategies for doing this on their own, while others may benefit from a little coaching.  Read more...

Your poolside spent poolside with the kiddos are numbered this time of year, but your skin can maintain that healthy summer glow with three fabulous products from LUSH, Benefit and Dr. Denese.  Read more...

It can be tempting to pull the curtain down and keep your kids off the web altogether, but it's a bad idea. Here's why.  Read more...

Many have tried to put classic verse to compose music, but none has done it with the style, sensitivity and emotion found on two re-releases from producer Ted Jacobs.  Read more...

Remember theater in Chicago before kids? You know, when you went to shows and didn’t cringe at swear words and sexual innuendos? Then you'll love "Billy Elliot, The Musical."  Read more...

Unlike my memories of Adler in the early 1980s, today’s Adler is a bright, fun-filled museum where we’ve spent many happy hours exploring various interactive exhibits. This year, Adler introduced two new reasons all ages can enjoy the visit.  Read more...

An exhibit exploring the mythical basis for the Percy Jackson series makes its world premiere at the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago's Greektown.  Read more...

This month is the chance to see a sight hard to even imagine on the shores of Lake Michigan: 20 majestic tall ships from around the world parading toward Navy Pier.  Read more...

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Albany Whipple Park, previously an abandoned lot on the northwest side, is being redeveloped into an insect-themed play space that will feature a huge spider and spider web climbing structure.  Read more...

Well-timed physical comedy, bright costumes and fun melodies engage young children, while the snarky lyrics and subtext will keep adults laughing.  Read more...

Turn a day that can be downright scary and stressful for some kids into a day of happiness and excitement for the academic year to come by creating a special family back-to-school tradition.  Read more...

At Downers Grove South High School, all athletes undergo concussion testing, which sets a baseline in the case of a head injury down the line.  Read more...

Strange symptoms? There's an app for that, courtesy of a new iPhone launch from the nation's leading group of pediatricians.  Read more...