Stories related to: parents

A new study of autistic children may provide insight into the causes of autism and its epidemic rates in developed countries. Researchers have found a link between autism and mental disorders among parents—including schizophrenia, personality disorders and clinical depression. Mothers and fathers diagnosed with schizophrenia are about twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism, the study found. More »

Cameron Diaz's father Emilio died suddenly from pneumonia yesterday, according to TMZ. The bubbly actress found his death "shocking" since her 58-year-old father, who had a bit part in his daughter's hit There's Something About Mary , was reportedly in "terrific health" until he developed a bad case of the flu.  More »

Moms are leading the charge in taking text messaging beyond the teen set. Adolescents and adults in their forties and fifties are the two most active groups sending texts, the Washington Post reports. In the past two years, texting increased 130% among people 45 to 54, while text-saturated teens saw only a 41% bump. More »

The sometimes vexing task of determining a child's father can now be solved by plunking down $29.99 at the local drugstore. A Utah company has expanded sales of its do-it-yourself DNA kit to Rite Aids in 30 states after sales soared in sample markets, MSNBC reports. Identigene of Salt Lake City expects to sell 52,000 of them this year. More »

Raising that little bundle of joy will come with a not-so-cute $204,060 price tag for middle-income families, according to a new government study. Factoring in inflation, the parents of a child born in 2007 can expect to spend $269,040 by the time that baby turns 18. Actual costs vary according to income and location, with the urban West the most expensive region to raise children and rural areas the least expensive. And, of course, the little darlings become more expensive as they get older. More »

Young people have long fled recessionary job markets by moving back home, but the current crisis has a new demographic scurrying there: the middle-aged. "This is not like, 'OK, my son just graduated from college and needs to move back in' type of thing," says one financial planner, who has seen more adult children leaning on parents for everything from rent to groceries. More »

UK teachers complain that classrooms are getting tougher to control because kids throw more tantrums—and parents are to blame, the Daily Telegraph reports. A Cambridge University study says that parents are letting children indulge in video games, junk food, and TV. "Teachers described highly permissive parents who admitted to indulging their children, often for the sake of peace or simply because they had run out of alternative incentives or sanctions," the report said. More »

People whose mom and dad have Alzheimer's run a much higher risk of getting the disease, a new study finds. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle looked at 111 families in which both parents have Alzheimer's, and found that 42% of those aged 70 and up got the disease. Only one in 10 develop it in the general population, Reuters reports. More »

Parents believe sports are their kids' golden ticket to college, but athletic scholarships rarely cover full tuition—and there aren't enough to go around. Football and basketball do pay off, but otherwise the average NCAA scholarship is worth $8,707, at schools that can cost up to $50,000 a year. Plus, the sacrifices demanded of a student athlete aren't always worth the free ride. More »

What to do when their father starts talking about “getting poked" is a question many high school and college kids are asking themselves these days. It's a modern-day dilemma: Do teens allow their folks into their friends network on Facebook and grant them access to blogs, photos, and messages? Parents are increasingly seeking oversight and entrée into their children’s digital world, the Washington Post reports—and many kids aren’t all right with that. More »

Britney Spears has become a semi-regular children's dance instructor at a North Hollywood studio—and her students love her. "Britney is nice," 5-year-old Elissa Bouganim tells People . "I want to dance with Britney all the time because it's so much fun." Elissa gave the on-the-mend pop princess a picture of Tinkerbell to show her gratitude. More »

Over-the-counter cold medicines are dangerous for children under 6 and should not be used, a panel of health advisers reported to the FDA today. Many popular medicines, including Dimetapp, Triaminic, and Pediacare, have never been sufficiently tested on children under 12, the committee concluded. “The data that we have now is they don’t seem to work,” said one FDA expert. More »

Starting 2009, all expecting moms in the UK will receive a lump sum of $240, intended to be spent on a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables to help prevent low-birth-weight complications in newborn children. The "pregnancy grants" are part of Britain's new health secretary's plan to close the gap between rich and poor, the Guardian reports.   More »

As cell phones become ever more an extension of kids' ears and thumbs, AT&T is helping bill-paying parents avoid the sweaty-palmed opening of the monthly bill. For $4.99 a month, Smart Limits lets parents have some say in who and when their children call, and how many texts and downloads they're allowed, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. More »

Actress Bridget Moynahan gave birth to a baby boy last night, and ex-boyfriend Tom Brady was at her side in LA to kick off his parenting career. The New England Patriots quarterback and the movie star split last November, and Moynahan announced she was pregnant early this year, the Boston Herald reports. More »

Don't chide your kids for their picky eating habits—they may be as much your fault as the length of their noses. In a study of identical and fraternal twins, UK researchers found children inherited nearly 80% of their “food neophobia,” hinting that that tongue-out reaction to unfamiliar eats might be in the genes. More »

CBS is defending its upcoming reality show “Kid Nation” against claims of child abuse and neglect, the Times reports. At least one participant’s parent complained to authorities in New Mexico, where CBS filmed 40 youngsters living alone in a ghost town, that her 11-year-old daughter’s face was burned with hot grease while cooking and that the show’s kid stars were unsupervised. More »

As fathers continue to take a more active role in raising their children, the market for baby gear has become less mom-centric, the New York Times reports. And it's not all fishing vests with hidden diaper changing pads. Recent dad-born inventions include computerized baby timers and a nipple adapter that fits on water bottles. More »

Macho-looking men are perceived as poor parenting material and more likely to cheat on their mates, according to recent study on sex and masculinity. "When people look at masculine faces they see dominance, which is a good thing in evolution but less good in a long-term partner," said the lead researcher. More »

Can't find a babysitter? Bringing your kid to work may seem the simplest solution—but first, consider these suggestions from Forbes . Check out employer-provided child care. Many places don't have on-site care, but they may have backup services. Work from home. Your boss and co-workers will thank you. More »