(Distributed 08/29/08) Adults are urged to assemble a “grab-and-go” box of important papers in case of a hurricane evacuation. How about making a “to-go kit” for your child? Assembling a few treasured items can help your child in times of disaster, according to LSU AgCenter family development professor Dr. Rebecca White.

If you are looking for ways to spend quality time with your family during the holiday season, volunteering together can be beneficial to your family as well as someone in need, says LSU AgCenter family resource management expert Dr. Karen Overstreet. But the holidays aren’t the only time you can take part in such activities, Overstreet points out, saying community groups also need volunteers and donations all year long to perform worthwhile services in your area.

This guide discusses the common physical, mental, social and emotional characteristics for high school youth. Keep in mind that no two children develop according to the same schedule and the transitions are gradual. By accepting youth at their current developmental stage and offering challenging growth opportunities to help them make the transition into the next stage.

Routines are an important part of a baby’s life. Every day parents feed their babies and bathe their babies. But do parents routinely read to their babies? The LSU AgCenter started the Little Bookshelf program to encourage parents to read to their babies daily.

As you and your child join the 4-H program, you’ll want to make the most of the experience. The success of your 4-H club and the kind of experience your child depends greatly upon your parental involvement. 4-H has so much to offer your child through educational programs, contests and special events. Through active participation in 4-H, your child will develop skills that will last a lifetime.

Time is a rare commodity. Most busy families never seem to have enough of it. Here are some suggestions to help you spend time with your children while waiting.

Keeping the family operating smoothly, particularly during these trying times following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, requires a lot of effort. Each of us, though, can contribute to keep the family strong.

Trying times, like these after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, can test family and community resiliency. Having our families and communities around us for support can go a long way in helping recover from disaster, emotionally as well as physically.

Marital separation and divorce can be two of the most difficult events in an adult’s life. Follow these tips to help you cope.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have shown how strong Louisiana families can be. Parents and children faced with strains on time, money and emotions found ways to remain strong, healthy and happy.

Television, movies, video games all increasingly vie for our children's time. But they rarely allow children the luxury of burning some of their pent-up energy. Parents can make a big difference in the amount of physical activity children experience.

We all have days when we feel anxious or “stressed out.” On days like that, it’s good for you to take some time out for yourself. Use these suggestions to de-stress.

Parents can help their children experience school success by fostering social and emotional maturity, language skills, creative thinking skills, good health, problem-solving abilities and a general knowledge of the world.

Want tips on parenting? Contact your parish office of the LSU AgCenter

Two key qualities of strong families are that they spend positive time together and share fun and laughter. What better way to combine these qualities than by playing with your children?

Parents can help children prepare for kindergarten by taking several actions before the first school bell rings.

Think you have fear of the unknown? Some of the most stressful times for children are moving from one classroom to another, according to LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe.

A key to children doing well in school is for parents to be involved in their education. That involvement can take many forms ranging from providing meaningful learning experiences at home to volunteering at school activities.

It happens often when children receive a gift. The youngsters often are happier playing with the box than the present. Although amused at first, the gift-givers may soon suspect that their money was ill-spent.

A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but it could take a little more for the homework to get done, according to the experts. LSU AgCenter associate Cheri Gioe says looking at the rewards and benefits can make homework time more productive.

A combination of qualities and skills is required for children to be ready for school. These qualities and skills include social and emotional maturity, language skills, good health and physical well-being, problem-solving abilities, creative thinking skills and general knowledge about the world.

“You got some bones to get some kicks.” “Backup your grill, you got the dragon.” “Boo, let’s go flossin.” Do these phrases seem like a foreign language? If you answered yes to this question, get the lowdown on teen lingo.

A characteristic of strong families is that they spend time together. While challenging, family members need to purposefully plan on ways to share good times and build strong bonds. Suggestions are provided on quality family activities.

Working families may pay anywhere from 10 percent to 15 percent of their total family income on child care, and experts say the cost frequently is related to the quality of services you and your children receive.

(Distributed 11/06/07) Thanksgiving offers families an opportunity to reflect on their many blessings. Youth, however, often take their blessings for granted. How can parents and educators teach young people an attitude of gratitude?

Tips for eating right and exercising for families.

Hurricane victims will be faced with the question this Thanksgiving, "What are you thankful for?" and some will find this question difficult to answer. The holiday will be a reminder of what’s been lost in floods and devastating winds.

Children's reactions to disaster depend on their age and maturity. Their responses also are affected by how close they are to the event, their level of exposure to it through TV and how they see their parents react.