Bedtime Magic – 5 Science-Based Tricks to Make Bedtime a Breeze
Is bedtime a bad word at your house? Do your kids fight sleep like trained ninjas? Does the tuck-in process leave you tuckered out? If bedtime is a battle, night after night, sleep cues may be your ticket to success. Just what is a sleep cue? Called “sleep onset...
Fall in Love with Austin’s Charms
by Sherida Mock Farms Local farms are celebrating the cooler days with pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and other fall festivities. They’re worth the trip for a great time and some heart-warming family photos. Barton Hill Farms Weekends through Nov. 8 1115 FM 969...
Sharing His Success – The Face of Paul Mitchell Has a Lot to Say
Born in California, John Paul DeJoria sold newspapers as a youth. After a stint in the Navy, he bounced from job to job, including pumping gas and selling encyclopedias. But while working as a hair care sales manager, he met hairstylist Paul Mitchell and...
Not Alone: Serving the Emotional Side for NICU Parents
by Sherida Mock In the summer of 2000, Kelli Kelley was 24 weeks pregnant when she went into labor driving home from work. That unexpected premature birth of her son launched Kelley on a journey that led her to found Hand to Hold, a nonprofit that provides support for...
Music Lessons: 5 Mistakes Not to Make
“In my 20 years of teaching guitar, I have often been asked what to look for in a music teacher. Selecting an excellent music teacher for your child can be one of the most daunting tasks there is for a parent. And though finding a great teacher can be tough, I find...
A New Mom’s Guide to Nursing in Public
You survived childbirth and learned the art of a successful latch, but if you have decided to breastfeed your baby, there is one final frontier you will need to conquer: the art of nursing in public. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive...
5 Tips for Better Back to School Photos
Tired of back-to-school photos that don’t quite capture the moment? Maybe the kids are squinting into the sun. Or their clothing disappears into the background. We asked some local photographers to share tips on how to take your photos from ho-hum to awesome. Stage...
The Homework Report – Are Kids Getting Too Much Homework, and What Are Some Schools Doing About It?
Julie S. was always happy to see her sons after school, but up until a few months ago she used to also feel some dread. That’s when the homework battles began. Her oldest—a freshman at a public high school in a suburb west of Austin—would immediately shut himself up...
Q&A with TEA Commissioner Michael Williams
Closing the Gap As more than five million students return to public and charter schools this month, we talked with Michael Williams, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, to discuss the agency’s work and what we can expect this school year. Q: What is the role...
Build a Bond Baby’s First Relationship Launches Important Emotional Development
A trip to the park. A sweet lullaby. Counting goldfish. These familiar, everyday activities might seem like just pleasant time-fillers, but did you know that they are essential to the healthy development of your young child? The various daily activities that parents...
Striking a Chord: Guitar Program Reaches Students in Austin and Beyond
by Sherida Mock Nineteen years ago, Matt Hinsley was new to Austin and looking to build a community by and for classical guitarists. He had no idea that nearly two decades later, he would sit at the helm of an organization known throughout the classical guitar world...
Awesome Austin’s Cool Caves–Take the Family and Out-of-Towners to the Coolest Places in Central Texas
Need to beat the Central Texas heat? Try going underground, to the glorious subterranean world just beneath our feet. Caverns have everything you’re looking for in a summer activity. Educational for the kids? Check. Engaging for the grownups? Check. A constant 68 to...











