100.5 The River » For Parents

We're Having Twins and we Love it! (video)

Andy Rent — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:01 +0000

This is the cutest video.

These young sisters hear the news that their mom is pregnant again, this time with twins. Their reactions are adorable.

FDA Says Pregnant Women Who Use Migraine Medicine Could Have Children With Lower IQ Scores

Matt Milhouse — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:36:53 +0000

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned of the risk of taking certain migraine medicines while pregnant. The medicines can lead to children with lower IQ scores. Previous studies and warnings had addressed the exposure of these drugs in young children. The warnings regarding pregnant women are new. Women who are pregnant or [...]

Tulip Time 2013 – Highlights For Kids

Matt Milhouse — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:59:28 +0000

Tulip Time 2013 is May 4 – 11. There are so many family activities at Tulip Time, it’s hard to choose where to start. Check our Tulip Time 2013 list of highlights for kids and maximize your family’s time at Tulip Time. Nearly every event at Tulip Time is designed for family fun, so it’s [...]

City High, Jenison, And Spring Lake Lead West Michigan In U.S. News' High School Rankings

Matt Milhouse — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:49:27 +0000

Educational rankings are never perfect. In fact, they are often controversial. Still, they remain a useful tool. A number of West Michigan schools have done well in the U.S. News rankings which were just released today. U.S. News looked at over 21,000 public high schools to create these rankings. When creating the rankings, U.S. News [...]

How to Talk to Kids in Wake of Boston Marathon Tragedy

Stephanie McMaster — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:10 +0000

As a parent, the hardest part of coping with any tragedy—be it a national or personal one—is finding the words to explain the unexplainable to your children, society’s most innocent members. Following the Boston Marathon bombing, children across the country were greeted home with somber faces and hugs that ran a little longer and tighter [...]

Do You Trust Movie Ratings When Choosing A Family Film? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:31:11 +0000

All of the rainy days we’ve gotten lately have made for some good movie watching weather. It’s fun to enjoy a movie with the whole family, but choosing an appropriate movie can be a challenge. Do you trust movie ratings when choosing a family film? The idea behind our movie rating system is a good [...]

Salvation Army's "Army of Readers" is April 19

Andy Rent — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:20 +0000

Reading is so fundamental. Who hasn't heard that phrase before. But, it's true. Without the ability to read, and there are more people who can't than you can imagine, the world is so closed off.

Starting early is key. We want our children to have a love of reading so that the world literally opens up for them, and, reading to them is a monumental help.

Who Takes Your Family Photos? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:04:44 +0000

Nice cameras and photos have become much easier for the average consumer to obtain in recent years. It’s changing the way families record their memories and it’s effecting the bottom line at large photo studios. Who takes your family photos? 95+ percent of my family’s photos are taken on an iPhone. The quality is good. [...]

Zero-Tolerance School Policies – How Would You Apply Them? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:00:56 +0000

Zero-tolerance school policies draw a lot of attention, especially when school officials are forced to make a decision between following the “zero-tolerance” policy and simply applying common sense. We’ve gathered some examples of controversial zero-tolerance policy decisions and want to know what you would have done. There is no shortage of controversial zero-tolerance policy decisions. [...]

Should Minors Be Allowed To Use Tanning Salons? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:00:44 +0000

Many students and families prepared for warm and sunny spring break trips by making a few trips to a tanning salon. A proposed law would make it illegal for minors to use a tanning salon in Michigan. Should minors be allowed to use tanning salons? Michigan law currently allows minors to use tanning salons with [...]

Girl, 13, Suspended for Bringing Butter Knife to Cut Fruit at Lunch

Drew Weisholtz — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:49:29 +0000

A butter knife is causing some major controversy in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Yes, a butter knife. Morgan LaPlaume, a 13-year-old student at Wamsutta Middle School, has been suspended for bringing in a butter knife to help her cut fruit that she can’t eat whole because of her braces. Morgan was eating the fruit recently when the [...]

New Hampshire Bans Dodgeball Because Of Bullying Concerns

Joe Student — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:23:03 +0000

We hope you enjoyed your childhood, because it’s slowly being legislated into dust. Earlier this week, a New Hampshire school district banned dodgeball out of concern that the game leads to bullying. The Windham (N.H.) School Board voted 4-1 to drop dodgeball and nine other “human target” activities because it believes they encourage violence and [...]

At What Age Did Your Kids Start Beating You At Video Games? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:13 +0000

Playing games with your kids is a lot of fun. And it’s nice to let them win once in a while. But sometimes they start to win on their own a little younger than expected. At what age did your kids start beating you at video games? I do not claim to be a video [...]

10-Year-Old Girl Foils Abduction Attempt by Asking Stranger for Code Word

Chris Chaberski — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:04:01 +0000

On Monday in a town outside Toronto, 10-year-old girl foiled an attempted abduction by requesting a code word she had worked out with her parents.

At What Age Is It OK For Kids To Play Outside Unsupervised? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:52 +0000

As warmer temperatures and spring near, kids will be heading outside more often. Some will be supervised. Some won’t be. At what age is it OK to let kids roam the neighborhood unsupervised? Lots of variables to consider. Some neighborhoods are never safe for unsupervised play. Some kids are more mature than others, regardless of [...]

Funny Tweets By Parents The Week Of March 4

Stephanie McMaster — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:35:20 +0000

The popularity of social networking has given parents all new ways to embarrass their offspring, and often in hilarious fashion. Our favorite funny tweets by parents this week perfectly captured the frustration (and humiliation) that comes along with parenting. Check out 10 of our favorite things said on Twitter by parents this week: Danny Zuker [...]

How Many Snow Days Should Schools Be Required To Make Up? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:00:12 +0000

After a slow start, we’ve seen our share of snow this winter. West Michigan students have seen their share of snow days too. How many snow days should schools be required to make up? For most West Michigan school districts, it’s been a while since they have had to make up days due to the [...]

Which Is More Emotional: First Day Of Kindergarten Or High School Graduation? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:00:25 +0000

Kindergarten registration for next year’s students has begun across West Michigan. High school seniors are dreaming about graduation. These are major educational milestones for students and unforgettable occasions for parents. Have you experienced both, as a parent? Which was more emotional for you? My second oldest child will be entering kindergarten this fall. The teen [...]

Little boy Makes Unbelievable Trick Basketball Shots (video)

Andy Rent — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:29:45 +0000

This little boy is absolutely unbelievable. Really, he makes all sorts of trick shots. You have to see this. How old do you think he is, 18 to 24 months, maybe? Come on, Pistons, sign him up NOW! You need the help.

Do You Let Your Kids Play With The Toys At The Doctor's Office? [Poll]

Matt Milhouse — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:00:37 +0000

It's STILL flu season.

If your kids have a routine visit to the doctor's office coming up, there is reason to be cautious. The waiting room can be full of germs.

Do you let your kids play with the toys at the doctor's office?