(Distributed 07/11/08) When parents read aloud to their children, everyone wins, according to LSU AgCenter family development professor Dr. Rebecca White.

(Distributed 07/11/08) The first and most important teachers children have are their parents. It is especially important for parents to read to their baby from birth, according to LSU AgCenter family development professor Dr. Rebecca White.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Is your child ready for preschool? In Louisiana a child must turn 4 years old by September 30 to be eligible for preschool services. Preschool in Louisiana is not mandatory; it’s an option.

(Distributed 07/11/08) The emotional days of watching your young child board the big yellow school bus for the first day of school may be long gone, but now you’re watching your young adult embark on an even bigger adventure – going to college.

(Distributed 07/11/08) A bad attitude about school can hinder a child’s future. Parents and caregivers can either help or undermine the importance of doing well, according to LSU AgCenter family life professor Dr. Karen Overstreet.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Snacks should be an important part of a child’s daily food intake. Because children are growing and active, they may need to eat more than three times a day, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 07/11/08) High heat and humidity during preseason football practice pose a significant danger for heat illnesses and heat stroke. Athletes need adequate fluids for their best performance, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Whether you're going back to school as a student or a teacher, be extra careful in packing your take-along lunch if it sits a long time between the time you make it and eat it.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Although most parents tell their children that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many kids don't listen. Surveys show that as many as 48 percent of girls and 32 percent of boys do not eat breakfast every day.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Most children have not learned enough to be financially independent and successful by the time they enter college. Yet, many teenagers are offered credit cards before they even graduate from high school.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Before the age of school uniforms, my daughter’s middle school girlfriends were wearing a designer brand of jeans. Not wanting to be different, my daughter wanted five pairs of those jeans so she could wear a different pair to school each day.

(Distributed 07/11/08) With the start of school comes the reality of homework. To start the year off right, help students make the most of their study time with a productive study spaces, advises LSU AgCenter 4-H youth development expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 07/11/08) While older children are preparing to start school in the fall, younger children are eager to learn new things, too. Shopping for back-to-school items is a good time to start teaching your preschooler about spending and saving money, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye.

(Distributed 07/11/08) The start of school is not the end of the hurricane season. Another three months remain for the season to end on November 30.

(Distributed 07/11/08) Many of you already may have talked to your soon-to-be college freshmen about the importance of avoiding drugs, but have you talked to them about the importance of avoiding debt?

(Distributed 07/11/08) More than 224,000 young people in Louisiana and 7 million across the country have found a home in 4-H. The new school year offers the opportunity to join the most popular youth group in the nation, according to the LSU AgCenter’s Dr. Mark Tassin, director of the Louisiana 4-H Youth Development Program.

(Distributed 07/11/08) If your son or daughter will be a junior or senior in high school this fall, you’ll likely start talking about college. You also may be thinking how expensive college is, since cost is a concern for most families, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye.

(Distributed 07/13/07) As you prep your college-bound kids for all the perils in life, don’t forget money management, advises LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 07/13/07) Where does the time go? With mixed emotions, you and your child will be preparing for the start of the next school year. But you don’t want one of those emotions to be one of panic.

(Distributed 07/13/07) With the start of the school year, parents often have high expectations and positive thoughts for the coming school year. Getting off to a great start requires three simple, but important, ingredients, according to LSU AgCenter 4-H youth development professor Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 07/13/07) Don't let your child's after-school snack attack catch you off guard. Keep plenty of healthy food choices from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid on hand to satisfy ravenous appetites.

(Distributed 07/13/07) It happens to almost every parent – your child brings home a report card that is less than satisfactory in your eyes. How do you handle it? Do you blow a gasket? Or ignore it, hoping it will go away?

(Distributed 07/13/07) Before your preteen goes back to school this year, remember that many changes take place during the preteen and teen years. It will be important that you be particularly perceptive at this time even though this is the time your child wants to be more independent, according to LSU AgCenter family and child development expert Dr. Diane Sasser.

(Distributed 07/13/07) Whether your child is starting kindergarten, first grade, middle school or high school, the transition to a new setting can be stressful. To make a smooth transition, it’s important to take a few steps to making the transition a positive one, according to 4-H youth development expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 07/13/07) Expressing your individuality and exercising comfort are the most important considerations for deciding what to wear as a college student.

(Distributed 07/13/07)Sometimes financing a college education is often a partnership involving the student, family, school and a lending agency. LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker encourages college students to find out each partner’s responsibilities.

(Distributed 07/13/07) The rush to school and work each day means some things have to be sacrificed – and often that includes breakfast. Surveys show that as many as 48 percent of girls and 32 percent of boys do not eat breakfast every day.

(Distributed 07/13/07) Parents want to see their children succeed in school. Believe it or not, school success often depends on what happens outside of school, according to LSU AgCenter family and child development professor Dr. Diane Sasser.