Jerry Mitchell is a born tinkerer. Read more...

Moms need timeouts, too. While past generations of stay-at-home mothers found respite in informal neighborhood coffee klatches, modern moms sometimes need to look beyond their own cul-de-sacs for support.

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ATLANTA – On Halloween night, children can flutter their wings, fly on brooms and fight evil forces. Read more...

Looking for a way for your child to make some extra college tuition money? Get into the kitchen. The seventh annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest is open to children ages 6 to 12. The sandwich must have 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and you must submit a photo of the sandwich. Entries are being accepted through Nov. 14 at www.Jif.com. You can find all the official rules on the site. Five finalists will win a trip to New York City for the live judging. The grand prize is a $25,000 scholarship fund. Runners-up receive $2,500 scholarships.Read more...

Tacoma Mall will be turned into a walking course as part of a national effort to fight childhood obesity. Read more...

Publishers know children love Halloween, so every fall they come out with a slew of fun and spooky books to read in October. Read more...

CHICAGO – Warning: Young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets – or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter – because of risks for disease, according to the nation’s leading pediatricians’ group in a report about dangers from exotic animals.

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Autumn comes alive with brilliant colors as the leaves on the trees change from green to fiery reds, oranges and yellows. Read more...

We’re in the midst of one of the most charged presidential elections in decades, and the children are watching. Read more...

If you’ve got strong political convictions, dating across party lines, especially this time of year, can be tough. Read more...

A popular method of therapy isn't covered by most insurance plans, putting families in a financial bind. A proposed state law would mandate coverage, but the insurance industry says the therapy is educational, not medical.Read more...

Dylan Sessions points to a shelf of toys beyond his reach. He knows which one he wants. Speech therapist Julie Cross knows what Dylan wants, too. But rather than give him the toy immediately, she coaxes Dylan into using words to ask for it. Read more...

He wanted to live in the country. She liked the city. Read more...

ATLANTA – They muse about watering the plants or wearing a snug sweater to the office. They constantly update their “status,” so much so that you half expect to start reading about trips to the bathroom. Read more...

If you’ve ever wished a book could come to life, you’re in luck this fall. Award-winning children’s author-illustrator Gerald McDermott’s “Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest” and “Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest” will pull off that feat in Tacoma – more or less. Read more...