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Buying and selling ADHD drugs: What to tell kids

Nearly 23 percent of children and teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who use stimulant medications are approached to buy, sell or trade ADHD drugs, according...

Guns in the home? ASK to keep kids safe

Guns were never a part of my life when I was growing up. Much later, I was surprised to learn that my dad kept...

E-cigarette ads targeting teens?

It’s a Don Draper move that the creative team on Mad Men would relish: Advertising is on the rise for e-cigarettes placed during shows...

Helping young golfers get started

Written by Sharon Enck You could have heard a pin drop—and that’s not a typical observation during a youth sporting event. Then again, golf is...

THEN and NOW: Fathers reflect on grief

EDITOR’S NOTE: When Mary Ann Bashaw wrote her award-winning 2011 series about losing a child (“Finding Purpose in Grief”), she interviewed several fathers—including Jacob...

That kid who gets hurt on the trampoline—yours?

Oh, the bouncy fun kids can have on a trampoline! It keeps them busy and provides exercise---and you can even put one in your...

New summer shoes

At some time in our lives, we’ve all been called upon to step up—and into—someone else’s shoes. This summer, I’ll be sporting a new pair...

THEN and NOW: Raising Arizona Kids is a community of collaborators

Karen Davis Barr Publisher and Editor Beginnings: We started working in my son David’s bedroom in the fall of 1989. We had a cheap desk, a...

Shatter drug myths with science this week

True or False? ADHD drugs make you smarter. They are simply “vitamins” for your brain. “Natural” drugs like cannabis are safer than the synthetic kinds. You can’t...

Dinosaur puppets help kids imagine prehistoric life

Several Valley children, including 10-year-old Kate Shoemaker of Mesa, took to the stage at Mesa Arts Center Thursday night as part of a dress...

Bringing Broadway to Arizona stages

Plenty of Broadway fans spent New Year's Eve celebrating with their favorite musicals -- from a touring production of "Mamma Mia" at ASU Gammage...

“Saving Mr. Banks” is a moving father/daughter tale

No red. No sparkle. No dancing penguins. No Dick Van Dyke. Author P.L. Travers had a long list of demands during the two decades...

Once upon a velveteen rabbit

Margery Williams' classic tale of a rabbit who wanted only to be real was first published in London during 1922, long before the invention...

Valley archery programs for kids

Written by Sharon Enck From famous archers of yore William Tell and Robin Hood to the more modern Katniss Everdeen of the “Hunger Games” trilogy,...

Lots of “real life” events!

Summer got off to a busy start for staff multimedia journalist Vicki Louk Balint. On May 18, she watched her daughter Cory became “Dr. Cory”...

Music therapy: melting away stress for preemies and their parents

Trying to soothe a tiny newborn? People have been singing and humming to babies for centuries. So it’s no surprise that new study findings published...

PARTY ARTICLES

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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