Twice a week, Evelyn House in Stoughton becomes much more than a shelter for the kids who live there: It becomes a classroom where they can get help with their homework, advice on issues that come up during the week, and, most importantly, one-on-one attention. This ongoing support for kids who might otherwise slip through the cracks is the mission of School on Wheels of Massachusetts. The organization provides children and families experiencing homelessness with tutoring, educational resources, parent workshops, school supplies and something less tangible – confidence.

Learn about organizations that are helping the area's most vulnerable children. Feature includes Big Sister, Smiling Kids, Home for Little Wonderers and Generation Cures.

P&K is keeping it local this holiday season. With so many wonderful, unique toy shops here in greater Boston, we wanted to open up the doors and show you some outstanding products that line their shelves. Rookie and veteran parents share their comments on why your kids would LOVE to play with these toys!

Trying to get into the holiday mood? Feeling overwhelmed by family obligations, to do lists, shopping, cooking and more? Here are some simple ways to rekindle your holiday spirit so you and your family can enjoy a restful and joyous holiday season.

Just because you have kids doesn’t mean that you can’t ever go out for New Year’s Eve. Here are family-friendly events to bring in the new year together:

Parents may be heading to the polls on Nov. 4, but students at Fuller Middle School in Framingham have already cast their votes during a mock election complete with voting booths, registration and balloons. See photos from the day, months in the making.
 

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices are increasing at the fastest rate since 1990. And, according to Rutgers Food Policy Institute, food prices increased 4.5 percent from March 2007 to March 2008, the largest one-year jump in nearly 20 years. Butter prices are up 31 percent, cheddar cheese prices are up 65 percent and nonfat dry milk prices are up 117 percent from a year ago. Rising energy cost surely have most of us worried but when we’re faced with an extra $20, $40, $60 per week at the grocery store, we feel the pinch on a more personal level.
 

The new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in a child is a life-altering experience that creates many new stresses for the family. High on the list is how to deal with school. Arranging proper care in the school environment is a critical step. - JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

Get in style for the holidays with P&K Fashion for the Holidays feature. We've got you covered from head to toe!
 

Perhaps due to increased awareness about domestic violence, the reported numbers regarding victims of violence are rising, says Mardi Chadwick, Esq., Director of Community Services at Casa Myrna Vazquez, a Boston-area domestic violence agency. It used to be that one out of every four people reported to have been affected by domestic violence, Chadwick says; now, that number is one out of three. In fact, those numbers concerned Governor Deval Patrick enough to issue a public health advisory this June, urging for a statewide strategy to prevent domestic violence homicide.

 Finding the right fit between a parent’s expectations and an independent school’s culture and mission, is crucial when it comes to ensuring your child’s academic and social growth. And finding the right fit starts with asking the right questions.

With election season upon us, parents have the perfect opportunity to teach their children about our national government. From reading books to volunteering, here are some ways to raise a future voter! Also be sure to click on the video at the top of our homepage for tips from P&K Editor Heather Kempskie.

They were some of the first faces to appear on the cover of Parents and Kids magazine and now they’re all grown up. Meet the P&K cover kids!

Journey back in time from 1998 to today as P&K relives some highlights of parenting in the last decade. It's our way of celebrating our 10th anniversary.
 

Time to get spooked out! We've given you the spookiest, scariest, little-known details about Massachusetts' frightful past. From a tidal wave of molasses to the world's largest brain bank, you'll have fun sharing these tidbits with others!

Grandparents serve many roles in the lives of their grandchildren – role models, playmates, caretakers and more.  All of us at P&K (along with these cuties!) wish you a Happy Grandparent’s Day.

 

For some grandparents, a special relationship with their grandkids turns into full-time care and guardianship—yet for grandparents on the other end of the spectrum, it can be a challenge to even see their grandkids. Whether you’re seeking visitation and access to your grandchildren or serving as their legal guardian, there are several legal issues involved.

Kids will pack their lunches and books this month to go back to school. Many moms will follow, trading in the jeans and sandals of stay-at-homes for business attire. September seems to be the month of choice for mothers to return to the structured world of work, or at least the time to start looking for work.Statistics show that nearly 70 percent of women with children under age 18 work outside of the home, and almost half of the 10 million women with very young children (under age 3) also hold jobs.

Many parents have felt some frustration about the lack of say in their child’s education at one point, and make a choice to send their children to independent schools. In fact, enrollment at independent schools grew 11.9 percent between 1996 and 2006, according to National Association of Independent Schools.
Find out more about private school options in your area.

If you take a peek into some of our state’s most innovative classrooms this fall, don’t expect to see kids with their heads buried in a textbook counting down to recess.   Instead, you’ll find students enthusiastically engaged in excavating skeletons, sending podcasts to India, practicing yoga, competing for medals in their school’s recycling Olympics, and planting school gardens.Massachusetts is not only home to some of the best schools in the country, but also boasts outstanding teachers – teachers breaking new ground and finding exciting ways to help kids learn.