Long Island Parent Talk

Moms who want to go a little old school will enjoy Mom's Pocket Posh, the latest installment in the Pocket Posh series of activity books that fit neatly inside almost any purse at a fit and trim 4 by 6 inches with its fashionable covers and convenient elastic band closures.

The "100 Puzzles & Games to Play With Your Kids" books (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $7.99), for two age...

A growing trend among a crop of health-minded parents is to buy organic when possible: organic apples, cage-free eggs and hormone-free chicken, to name a few. We pore over labels and weed out products with ingredients we can’t pronounce lest we feed our kids foods laced with chemicals.

So a recent study by Stanford University scientists — whose research comparing organic and conventional foods...

Who might be the next Tim Burton growing up right here on Long Island? That’s the question the Huntington Arts Council is posing as it seeks entries for its inaugural “Nightmare on Main Street” student art exhibition.

The juried show will be open to the public from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5 at the council's Main Street Petite Gallery, 213 Main St., in Huntington village.

"We wanted to give...

Boy or girl? That’s the big question when you’re expecting. For me and my husband Jim, the answer came in a creative way: a gender reveal party.

Here’s how it went: When the sonogram tech asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby, due in December, we had her write the gender down and seal it in an envelope. I took it (no peeking) to a baker who said she would craft a cake with either...

Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend? From fall festivals and fairs to author signings, apples, animals, hayrides and more, there's much to do on Long Island. Here are my top five picks for fun, family friendly activities this weekend:

1. Kids Apple Fun Workshop, Benner's Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Rd., Setauket. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, children will learn all about apples...

If there are museums you haven't ventured to on Long Island, Saturday is the day to do it.

For one day only, in honor of Museum Day Live hosted by Smithsonian Magazine, 13 museums in Nassau and Suffolk counties are offering free general admission for one person, plus a guest this Saturday.

Tickets must be ordered on smithsonianmag.com/museumday and it's one ticket per household, for...

In my ongoing quest to find tasty, kid-friendly meals for you that are healthy and appropriate for the whole family, this week I chose a healthy twist on traditional macaroni and cheese, perfect for a Sunday night dinner. I found the recipe in "Mac & Cheese: 80 Classic & Creative Versions of the Ultimate Comfort Food," by Ellen Brown (Running Press; $20). The recipe was adapted...

Girls ages 8 to 10 who are shorter than 4-feet-4, Sunday could be a big day for you.

You can audition for the role of Matilda in “Matilda the Musical,” which is coming to Broadway in the spring. Check-in is 10 a.m. and auditions begin at 11 a.m. Sunday on the 12th floor at Pearl Studios, 519 Eighth Ave., between 35th and 36th streets in Manhattan.

You should be a strong singer and confident...

Recently, Jessica Simpson was criticized for revealing a picture of her infant daughter, Max, in a yellow bikini during the premiere of Katie Couric's talk show, "Katie."

And just last week, Elizabeth Hurley was under fire for her skimpy kids' beach line, with critics claiming it sexualizes young girls.

All of this publicity about baby and kids' beach wear got me thinking:...

Actress Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," is encouraging you to pledge a single act of kindness.

The "Do the KIND Thing" initiative supports the Joyful Heart Foundation -- a nonprofit organization founded by Hargitay to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

Here's how to pledge:

From...