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Long Island Parent Talk

Get the inside scoop on all things kids and parenting on Long Island.

Latest posts from

Leema Thomas

Leema Thomas is a copy/web editor for Newsday. She lives in Dix Hills with her hubby, Bashu, their teen, aka Stefanie, and preteens, Hannah and Caleb.

Feeding the kids: Sweet potato bread with blueberries

The sweet potato bread with blueberries can be

Photo credit: Handout

In my ongoing quest to find tasty, kid-friendly food appropriate for the whole family, this week I chose a delicious breakfast bread that can also be a light dessert. I found the recipe in "From A Southern Oven The Savories, The Sweets," by Jean Anderson (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; $32.50).

Sweet Potato Bread with Blueberries

Ingredients - 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour -...

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Study: First sips of alcohol start in second grade

According to a new study, 37 percent of

Photo credit: istock

Most second graders believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Many play with Barbie dolls and Legos. And, according to a new study found in the Journal of Adolescent Health, about 37 percent of 8-year-olds have sipped alcohol.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh followed more than 450 children from ages 8 through 18. The kids were asked how old they were when...

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U.S. Kids magazines annual cover contests

The U.S. Kids magazines annual cover contest kicked

Photo credit: Handout

Calling all budding artists, the U.S. Kids magazines ("Turtle," "Humpty Dumpty" and "Jack and Jill") annual cover contest recently kicked off.

The cover contest is open to children ages 3 -12 and this year's theme is "If I Had A Superpower." Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges that includes Jim Davis (cartoonist and creator of "Garfield"),...

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10 family-friendly activities for summer fun

Venetian Shores in Lindenhurst features a sprinkler park

Photo credit: Handout

Kids looking for something to do this summer? Why not make a daily plan to do something fun with family and friends — whether it's in your backyard or at a nearby destination?

According to a new Busch Gardens survey, 49 percent of kids agree and actually ask for more opportunities to engage in more unstructured outdoor play — with or without friends. And more than two-thirds of moms feel that...

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'Single Adoptive Parents' book review

quot;Single Adoptive Parentsquot; by Sherry Fine and Lee

Photo credit: Handout

If you are contemplating adopting as a single parent, or have already, you may want to read a relatively new book, “Single Adoptive Parents: Our Stories,” by Sherry Fine and Lee Varon (Bookstand Publishing; $12).

Authors Fine and Varon, two single adoptive moms who are also both licensed social workers, interviewed dozens of single parents to find out their stories and to help others navigate...

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Vintage French family festival on Governors Island

Fête Paradiso, a festival of French-inspired vintage carousels

Photo credit: Handout

Vintage carousels. French-inspired carnival rides. Parisian street fair sweets and eats. If you're heading into Manhattan with the family this summer, you may want to check out Fete Paradiso fair.

The first festival of vintage French carnival rides and carousels will debut tomorrow on Governors Island. The museum-quality collection of Fete Paradiso includes attractions from the late 19th and...

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The Hamptones at Westhampton Beach

The Hamptones, a new teen a capella group,

Photo credit: Handout

The brand-new teen a cappella group The Hamptones is scheduled to open on Saturday evening for Duke University's all-male a cappella group The Pitchforks at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. It's The Hamptones' first professional performance.

"I'm extremely excited to do it," says Hamptones member Fred Nydegger, 17, of Hampton Bays. Nydegger uses his voice to make the...

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Feeding the kids: Soy-glazed flank steak with blistered green beans

The soy-glazed flank steak with blistered green beans

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens, Jason Donnelly, Andy Lyons, and Kritsada Panichgul

In my ongoing quest to find tasty, kid-friendly food appropriate for the whole family, this week I chose a delicious steak dish that can be barbecued or cooked indoors. I found the recipe in "Fresh," by the editors at Better Homes and Gardens (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; $29.99).

Soy-Glazed Flank Steak with Blistered Green Beans (Makes 4 servings)

Ingredients — 1 pound fresh...

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10 most expensive celebrity baby photos to date

Max Liron Bratman, son of Christina Aguilera and

Photo credit: Handout

As the world waits for the first images of North West — the newborn daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West — the question remains: to tweet or to make a deal?

With rumors swirling that Kim’s momager Kris Jenner will introduce her granddaughter on her new daytime TV show, to reported offers of up to $2 million for a magazine cover debut, we await the first images...

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July is the most dangerous month for teen drivers

July is the most dangerous month for teen

Photo credit: iStock

If you have a teenager at home, you may want to listen up: July is the most dangerous month to drive, according to a new study from Driving-Tests.org.

The learning site for permit test preparation and new driver education compared National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data on traffic fatalities from 2005 through 2011 and found the summer months to be the most dangerous time...

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