Austin Family Magazine - Smart Parenting

Do Boot Camp Alternatives for Teens Work Better for Mental Health and Behavior?

Many parents look for help when their teen faces behavior problems or mental health struggles. Boot camps have been a common choice for years, but questions remain about whether they truly address the deeper issues teens face. More families now consider other options...

Vote for Readers’ Poll Favorites Now!

Now is the time to vote for your Favorite school, camp, indoor playspace, museum, place to learn to swim, and more. Over 50 categories. Vote in one or all. Click here

Baby Giraffes Delight Hill Country Visitors

Spring in the Texas Hill Country brings an extra dose of wonder this year with the arrival of two baby giraffes at Longneck Manor. The Fredericksburg wildlife destination recently welcomed a female calf, born Feb. 9 to 5-year-old Tana, and a male calf, born...

Grow Your Green Space With Free Trees in Austin

(Photo courtesy of City of Austin) Looking to grow your green space this spring? Austin families have several easy, affordable ways to add trees and support a healthier environment. Through NeighborWoods, a partnership between the City of Austin and TreeFolks,...

Austin Parks Foundation and Austin Ed Fund Launch Free Zilker Eagle Field Trips for AISD Students

Austin Parks Foundation and Austin Ed Fund have partnered to bring a new field trip program to Zilker Park, centered around rides on Austin’s iconic Zilker Eagle mini train. The program provides AISD students with a free, fun, and educational experience connecting...

Austin Students Represented Texas at InauguralGovernor’s Cup Robotics Showcase

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott invited St. Michael’s Prep FIRST Tech Challenge Team 12928, the Lightsaders, to represent Texas at the inaugural United States Governor’s Cup FIRST Tech Challenge Showcase in Washington, D.C., held in February. In a formal letter to...

It’s My Park Day Supports 170 Austin Parks and Counting

Austin families can roll up their sleeves for the spring edition of It’s My Park Day on Saturday, March 7. Hosted by the Austin Parks Foundation, the biannual event has united neighbors for more than two decades to care for trails, greenbelts, and neighborhood...

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Featured

Why Our Buebonnets Are So Special

Mar 31, 2026 | 0 Comments

When our family moved to Texas in late August 2015, the landscape did not exactly win us over. The grass was faded from the summer heat, the trees looked tired, and the air felt heavy enough to wear. If it were possible to water plants with perspiration, we would have...

The Ultimate Guide to Austin Summer Camps

Feb 26, 2026 | 0 Comments

Summer in Austin has a rhythm all its own. Long, sunny days. Afternoons that stretch until the fireflies emerge. And for many families, the looming question that arrives weeks before the last day of school: What are my kids doing this summer? You are in luck....

Valentine Chemistry

Jan 28, 2026 | 0 Comments

Everyone knows Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February, but did you know February is also American Heart Month? With hearts everywhere you look, what better time for an annual reminder to pay attention to your heart health? Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month...