What you need: Photo: Allie Meagher Cardboard tubes Construction paper Paint, paintbrush, or paint markers Markers Scissors Glue Stapler What you do: Photos: Allie Meagher Look through books and magazines for pictures of birds to get inspiration. Draw a bird beak and wings on construction paper. Color or paint as…

“What should I read next?” It’s a question heard by many parents and teachers and one that challenges readers of all ages. If you’re trying to raise a reader or helping your child fall in love with books and language, here are some titles that can be a springboard into…

Photos: Brittany Mullins Honey Mustard Chicken 1 ¾ to 2 lbs boneless skinless 
chicken thighs 1 lb Brussels sprouts, 
trimmed and halved 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into 1-inch chunks 2 tablespoons olive oil 
or avocado oil ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder…

Have you heard the joke about sleeping? Some people are so good at it, they can do it with their eyes closed. If sleep comes harder to you or your child, understanding changes in sleep as children age can help everyone get a restful night’s sleep. Infants From birth to…

Recently, my college-age son had to contact the IRS to get answers to a complex question. He was intimidated by the process, and we both were concerned that he might not fully understand the questions he would be asked or the information he needed to provide. In a moment of…

Many parents are familiar with the host of emotions that come with watching a child graduate high school. Excitement, hope, and fear are palpable in anticipation of their child becoming a young adult. “We were excited for the next chapter of our son’s life after graduating from high school,” said…

I blinked and summer vanished, and just like that, another autumn is upon us. The RFM calendar is packed with fun things to do this fall (beginning on page 70, with even more events on our website), including free fun at our wonderful area libraries, activities galore at RVA’s fabulous…

Have you heard of lost dog syndrome? If your dog is lost and you find him a few days later, he may not recognize you. It’s more common than you’d think. You’ve probably seen videos of returning soldiers reuniting with their dogs. They may have been deployed two years ago,…

Q. My partner and I have very different experiences of discipline from our childhoods. What do you think about the time-out for younger kids? A. Before responding to your specific discipline question, I think it would be helpful to explore what discipline is and our goals for disciplining our children.…

Dr. Ashley Uvanni, OB/GYN at Virginia Physicians for Women, addresses common misconceptions with facts about the symptoms, causes and prevalence of miscarriage to help women feel less alone and more hopeful. If you are reading this, the odds are that you or someone you love has experienced the unfortunate heartbreak of…

In many ways, HBCU pride is ingrained in Dr. Makola Abdullah’s DNA. The fourteenth president of Virginia State University (VSU) – the historically Black university in Petersburg – the Chicago native earned his undergraduate degree from Howard University in civil engineering. Abdullah went on to get his doctorate and master’s degrees…

Elementary school teacher and mom of two Kisha Christian gets excited about taking her students to The Valentine each school year. It’s a field trip she books well in advance. “I think kids have an opportunity to relate to The Valentine because of what they learn in school,” says Christian,…

How is it that you stay at home, but your four-year-old doesn’t speak Hindi?” This remark from a random well-meaning Aunty – in Indian culture, “aunty” refers to any older woman – still haunts me. After the initial indignation wore off, I contemplated why this was the case. Why was…

Prior to transitioning into the field of financial planning, I spent fourteen years in higher education – the first seven in admissions and enrollment. Countless conversations with families focused on affording the costs of college. I remember many of those moments – the faces, and the emotions. Some of the…

Curious kids love to explore the world around them, and the observations they make help them grow and learn. 
By the age of three, children are learning shapes, colors, and patterns. They also begin to notice differences in the way people around them look, talk, and move. Whether a child…

Having come of age during the Title IX era, I was a proud participant in the early movement that helped transform every field, court, and sandlot into blank slates on which young girls could write all their stories of sports glory. Or at least try. Softball, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and…

A fundamental joy of my life as a parent is maximizing any opportunity to make my kids’ eyes roll. There’s nothing as satisfying as watching your teenage child try to seem unaffected by your steak pun1, but then seeing the slightest hint of a smile pop through, despite their best…

Historical fiction can be hard-hitting, but The Women is worth it. I had decided not to read Kristin Hannah’s latest novel, The Women, in spite of all the buzz, because a good friend and avid reader told me it made her mad – and who wants to be mad on…