Home life

When those searing summer days have us all stuck inside, it’s tempting to let the kids go screen-wild because, well, it’s just easier. Resist! This summer, I challenge you to challenge yourselves and your kids: Limit screen time to the American Association of Pediatrics’ recommended maximum of two hours per day — for optimal physical, mental and emotional health.

Technically, public school is for everyone — in the sense that it’s free, open to all and provided by the state. But what if it’s not for your child — in the sense that he or she craves a nontraditional type of gray-matter stimulation? In such cases, parents can find navigating the alternatives a daunting and frustrating task.

Families reflect on the special places where they come together to work, play and share their livesThe family that gardens togetherTiffany, John, Madison and Molly WhisenantTiffany: The backyard sold us on the house. Before we moved in, we came here several times and sat on the back porch swing.

Let these recipes draw the whole family into the kitchen — not just to eat, but to help prepareBlueberry Lemon Pie Pops in Whole Wheat CrustsKids love any food on a stick! Inside these palate-pleasing pie pops, sweet blueberries serve as a perfect contrast to tart, lip-puckering lemons. Make them as a fun dessert for your next outdoor picnic or barbecue.