Long Island Parent Talk

There's so much noise around school testing this year that one would think "high-stakes" and "standardized" were New York's newest cuss words.

The noise has been so distracting that it took me quite a while to understand what's really been going on in classrooms. I had thought that the Common Core was a new curriculum fad, one of the many waves to roll through over the...

I went to my first college fair recently at the Long Island Hilton in Melville. My son –  who will be going to college in the fall of 2014 – stayed home to study because it was a weeknight and he had an AP Physics exam the next day.

So I waded through the tables and tables of colleges – more than 200 of them in this trade-show-style event -- myself. The organizers of the "Spring...

It's the 10th anniversary of the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach this weekend, and there's a special addition to the lineup kids won't want to miss.

Dusty, star of "Disney's Planes," which is due in theaters on Aug. 9, will make an appearance at the Bethpage Air Show. "Disney's Planes" is a 3-D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with...

Looking for things to do with the kids besides heading to the beach, a parade or a barbecue? From carnivals and crafts to performances, Memorial Day celebrations and more, there's so much to do on Long Island. Here are 10 fun, family-friendly activities for Memorial Day weekend:

1. Brookhaven Fair at Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill (55 Bicycle Path, Farmingville) Families can enjoy...

Take a break this weekend from barbecues and fly a kite with your family to benefit lung cancer research.

The 7th annual "Kites for a Cure" will take place on Saturday in Southampton to raise money for Uniting Against Lung Cancer, an organization founded in 2001 in memory of Joan Scarangello, a Southampton resident and nonsmoker who lost her battle with lung cancer.

The family...

In my ongoing quest to find tasty, kid-friendly food appropriate for the whole family, this week I chose a quick and easy strawberry dessert. I found the recipe in "Old-School Comfort Food," by Alex Guarnaschelli (Clarkson Potter; $30).

Quickie Strawberry Tartlets (Makes 30 to 35 tartlets)

Ingredients - 1 lemon - 1/4 cup granulated sugar - 1 pound small to medium strawberries,...

A recent survey found that more half of American women were considered the primary breadwinners in the family. So CelebrityBabyScoop.com looked at 10 celebrity moms who cash in at higher levels than their partners.

Jessica Alba Mom of daughters Honor, 4, and Haven, 1, Jessica Alba has an estimated net worth of $20 million. While her husband Cash Warren is a Yale...

Whether your kids are 5, 10 or 15, it's never too early or too late to start saving for their future. There are many small changes you can make now that will yield big results for your children's college funds.

I reached out to Jean Chatzky, bestselling author, finance expert and television commentator who is teaching a series of interactive, monthly, college-style online personal finance...

As a mom of a 2-year-old daughter with another on the way, I'm always on the lookout for what's new in the parenting world, whether it's products, clothing, tips or tricks. When I came across a list of trends on BabyCenter.com I was a bit surprised by the things parents are buzzing about this year. Take a look:

1. Breast milk jewelry: Forget lockets with your baby's picture in it or a simple...

Manhasset students have acquired a green thumb. Recently, children in grades K-12 broke ground at Munsey Park School, Shelter Rock School and the Secondary School for a special garden project and outdoor classroom called Planet Manhasset.

The idea of organic gardening at the schools came from the Manhasset School District's SCA (their version of a PTA), and the school board in hopes that the...