About those college visits

It's almost become a tradition. Parents and students visit a series of prospective colleges to try to determine which would be the right choice, the proper fit. Such visits often can mean an investment of time and money. So how do you put the time to the best use? Some of the critical questions parents or students should ask is whether courses are taught mostly by grad students or professors, what the campus crime rate is, what's campus life like on weekends, what the typical class size might be, what's the placement rate after graduation, and who are among the most noted alumni?
There are dozens of other critical questions prospective enrollees should pose on a campus visit. What suggested questions would you have for kids and parents scoping out a school?

Teen curfews?

Are teen curfews useful? Should a 13-year-old, for example, be allowed to stay out until midnight on the weekend? On a school night? Some parents say curfews don't really matter because a teen can run into problems anytime during a given 24-hour period. What do you think? What purpose do curfews serve? And if they have some value, what do you think are reasonable and age-appropriate? At what age shouldn't a teen be subject to a curfew? What should be the consequences for breaking a curfew?

Best books for toddlers?

Whether you're a new parent, old parent, grandparent or a kid, what's your opinion of the best books for toddlers? One of our favorites is "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish," by Dr. Seuss. It's sing-songy and silly and the drawings are way cool! What book(s) would you recommend? A list of books recommended by the State of Michigan can be found here.

Tube views

Television has been called both a vast wasteland and a magical medium. The trick is to be able to separate the valuable programs from the valueless. What do you think are some of the best programs on TV for kids? We're interested in hearing about programs not only for toddlers and elementary school children, but young teens. Tell us your picks and tell us why you let your kids watch them.

Allowances: Good idea or bad?

Allowances have been around for eons, but the practice has changed through the years. Do you think allowances are a good idea or a bad one? Why or why not? If you give an allowance, what's an age-appropriate amount? And at what age should you start giving an allowance? When should you stop? Should an allowance always be tied to chores or not at all?