The Family Room - Courtney Cairns Pastor

Ask before taking kids to holiday parties

2011-12-08T15:16:30+00:00

I didn’t invite children to my wedding.

There was no fairy-like flower girl, scattering rose petals on the aisle. No ring-bearer, dapper in a teeny little bow tie and formal suit.

We lucked out; barely any of our friends or family had young children, so no one…

Super Hero Saturday comes to the Glazer Children’s Museum

2011-11-25T13:30:26+00:00

Cookie is coming!

The Glazer Children’s Museum is celebrating the upcoming Sesame Street Live shows with a superhero extravaganza on Saturday.

Cookie Monster will greet kids at the museum from 10 a.m. til…

Family-friendly IKEA makes Black Friday more bearable

2011-11-23T20:26:03+00:00

My husband has had a series of night shifts recently, and I was starting to run out of ideas for entertainment and dinners for me and the little dude.

And then I thought: IKEA.

When I was single, I killed many an off day wandering through the…

Taking Penn State’s fall personally

2011-11-10T17:14:34+00:00

I stayed up too late last night, watching my school crumble on national television and wondering why I was so upset.

The real pain from the sexual abuse scandal that toppled Penn State leaders this week belongs, of course, to the victims. None of the sadness, disgust…

Honor a heroic kid at St. Joe’s awards

2011-11-07T14:14:15+00:00

It’s amazing what kids can do.

One year, a child pulled an accident victim from a burning car. Another saved a sibling from a dog attack. One went the extra mile in befriending a special-needs student at school. Others have volunteered for charity, donated to the needy…

Honor a heroic kid at St. Joe’s awards

2011-11-07T14:14:11+00:00

It’s amazing what kids can do.

Review week: Children’s books for parents

2011-11-04T15:12:31+00:00

There are children’s books you buy for children, and children’s books you buy for the parents.

You know the children’s classics – “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Goodnight Moon,” “Guess How Much I Love You” come to mind. You snuggle up in a comfy chair with your child and read these…

Review week: What’s new in kids’ music

2011-11-03T13:50:13+00:00

I’m a Glee girl. My husband is an ’80s metalhead. We like a lot in between, too, but we both wanted to avoid raising a Barney baby.

I had no idea how many music choice were out there, though, for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. And some of it is actually…

Review week: Burp cloth luxury

2011-11-02T13:48:58+00:00

For the first nine months of my son’s life, I kept a burp cloth within easy reach. I had them stashed in diaper bags and strategically located in the bedrooms and living room, and I was never without one slung over my shoulder.

Nate had reflux, which…

Review week: Putumayo goes beyond music

2011-11-01T13:41:28+00:00

Even if you’ve never listened to the music, you’re bound to recognize the Putumayo CD line from the colorful, boldly outlined drawings. Now the music label is expanding on its distinctive art work with its World Culture Collection…