Long Island Parent Talk

Three new video shows have debuted at the newly renovated Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, and Parent Talk was of course eager to see what the kids think of the flicks projected onto the domed ceiling. We attended an afternoon of viewings to get reaction from the people who matter most to us.

Here’s what some kids said about each new, half-hour-long show:

ABOUT “ONE WORLD, ONE SKY”:...

On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe will participate in Earth Day. In celebration, CelebrityBabyScoop.com found eco-friendly celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Mario Lopez and Tori Spelling who inspire others to protect Mother Nature and minimize their carbon footprint.

Tori Spelling Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott are proud parents of four kids: sons Liam, 6, and Finn,...

Don't forget to set your DVR: Disney Jr. will premiere a new animated preschool series at 5 p.m. Monday called "Henry Hugglemonster."

The series follows the adventures of five-year-old Henry Hugglemonster, the middle child in a happy, close-knit monster family. Recommended for kids ages 2-7, Henry shares everyday life lessons about family and other relationships such as learning...

My son, Harrison, made the mistake the other day of taking a pamphlet titled “25 Reasons to Try Vegetarian” from a young man on a Manhattan street corner. Then he made a worse mistake reading the nonprofit Mercy for Animals literature. I say worse because he loves — I mean, loved meat.

It was a momentary decision. By the afternoon, he was biting into a hamburger at the Whitney Museum of American...

Timothy Smith, parenting coach and author of “The Danger of Raising Nice Kids,” will be on Long Island to talk about the five qualities of a healthy family and the benefits of wellness at work and at home.

The “Nice Kids” book, Smith says, “challenges the common phenomena of parents overemphasizing the externals as definitions of success (athletics, activities, appearances and academics) vs....

Work-family life seems busier than ever. Everyone I know has a story about taking over the jobs of three people or answering work emails around the clock. One organization that tracks Americans’ working hours, the Economic Policy Institute, says that the majority of workers increased their work hours substantially between 1979 and 2007. It’s reasonable to think that the trend toward longer work...

Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend? From "Alice in Wonderland" to a children's carnival, spring crafts and more, there's much to do on Long Island. Here are my top five picks for fun, family-friendly activities this weekend:

1. Fan Fest at Bethpage Ballpark (3 Court House Dr., Central Islip). Catch the Long Island Ducks' only spring training game at home against...

Need a chuckle? Some of the anecdotes in “When Parents Worry: The Real Calls Doctors Receive … from Moles That Seem to Move to Funny Smelling Poo” (AdamsMedia, $12.95) can be downright humorous.

Unless, of course, they hit too close to home and you find yourself recognizing your own neurotic parenting worries among some of the questions parents have asked of Dr. Henry Anderson, a former...

In my ongoing quest to find tasty, kid-friendly food appropriate for the whole family, this week I chose a flavorful chicken dish, perfect for a family Sunday dinner. I found the recipe in “From a Southern Oven: The Savories, The Sweets,“ by Jean Anderson (Wiley; $32.50).

Oven-Barbecued Chicken (makes 6 servings)

Ingredients - 4 pounds meaty chicken parts (breasts, drumsticks, thighs,...

There comes a point when most kids ask for a pet. And while all kids love animals, it's good for them to learn responsibility before actually going to the pet store or animal shelter.

So before you run to the store, try these fun, free iPhone and Android apps that teach children about the ins and outs of owning a pet.

Puppy Dog Sitter (TabTale) First kids can pick a puppy. Then they...