Family

UA partners with Barberton High School to give kids another chance to earn dual credits with Early College program

Five years of preparation have been realized at Barberton High School, which started its first year as an Early College High School this year in partnership with the University of Akron.

Family

Game update: 'Mobius Final Fantasy' gets Lightning in new 'Final Fantasy XIII' collaboration

"Mobius Final Fantasy" is about to get an extra dose of JRPG goodness: developer Square Enix has announced a new collaboration between the mobile title and "Final Fantasy XIII" that will see the latter game's protagonist Lightning making a special in-game appearance as an all-new Ultimate Hero. The collaboration coincides with the one-year anniversary of "Mobius Final Fantasy," and players can check out a trailer for the new collaboration, here http://bit.ly/2xV3P2U.

Family

Parents @ Play: Get outa here!

Okay, so the days are getting a little shorter, but that doesn't mean the end of entertaining, outdoor play. With these great new toys, you and your kids can have open-air fun 'til the sun goes down – and long after.

Family

App review: Leela Kids, terrific, free repertoire of kid-friendly podcasts

Parents need to know that Leela Kids – Best Audio Content for 3-15 Yr. Olds, is a podcast-aggregating app for kids. This free app organizes kid-centric science podcasts, such as Wow in the World (by NPR), brains on!, and StarTalk Radio; music podcasts, including Ear Snacks and Classics for Kids; children's stories, such as Stories Podcast; relaxation audio stories; and more. Apps are organized by categories and age groups (3-5, 5-8, 8-12, and 12-15). Kids and parents can rate and share any podcast episode. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the types of information collected and shared.

Family

Ex-etiquette: Abusive ex unnerves her

Q: I am dating a new guy after 10 years of being with an abusive ex. By abusive, I mean he broke my jaw when I refused to make him dinner. He's very angry I've moved on (he cheated), so when I see him out and about, I cling to my boyfriend for dear life. Yesterday we were at the mall and there was my ex in the parking lot. He sees us together, I move in close for protection, and he speeds off. I don't know how to handle this. His expression scared me. Should I call him? What's good ex-etiquette?

Family

To be needed and not to be needed, that is the question for mothers of young adults

Every now and then, my 20-something children clearly need me.

Family

Living with Children: As a kid, I was 'no big deal'

I am a member of the last generation of American children who were no big deal. No one made a big deal over me, ever. Not my mother, my father, or anyone else. For my parents, raising me properly was a big deal, but I was not. It may come as a shock and surprise to some readers, but the process and the person are two different things.

Family

Lori Borgman: Not known for quick goodbyes

The husband's side of the family has never been known for quick goodbyes.

Family

Ask Mr. Dad: When to wean

Dear Mr. Dad: My baby is 4 months old and my wife has been breastfeeding her since day one. She thinks it's about time for the baby to start eating real food. What are the best foods to feed her and how do we start?

Family

Chris Erskine: Our own Rose Bowl meat-and-greet

We held a tailgate the other day, in the shapeless hours of early autumn – a garden party in the shadow of our beloved Rose Bowl, over here on the scrappy side of town.

Family

Ana Veciana-Suarez: In the aftermath of a hurricane, some relationships hit a rough patch

Hurricanes are not good for marriages. Actually, storms that knock out power, trees, roofs and other things we take for granted are not good for any relationship. Neither are long car trips, close quarters, downed trees, seeping water and Miami's infernal heat.

Family

Balancing Act: Hillary Clinton in new book 'What Happened' shoulders blame, takes aim

The belief that Hillary Rodham Clinton should not have written "What Happened," her account of the 2016 presidential election, is so patently absurd that I'm loath to even address it.

Family

Social Security: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

We know the importance of "familia" in Hispanic culture, and we're proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) by helping build a secure future for you, your family, and your future family.

Family

After Harvey, Houston's Mattress Mack shows he has the city's softest heart

Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale tears open a sack of mixed candy and spills the little chocolate bars, lollipops and other treats onto a table at the front of his sprawling furniture store.

Family

Moms Gear: Portable USB ultrasonic oil diffuser freshens air anywhere

Parents know how important scent can be; it can freshen a room or create a calming environment. Take that fresh scent on the go with NOW Solutions' Portable USB Ultrasonic Oil Diffuser. It conveniently plugs into the USB port of a laptop or even into an automobile USB port to provide a refreshing scent in any space.

Family

4 common misperceptions about adopting–and why they shouldn't stop you

When Christine DeLoach decided to adopt, a few questions crossed her mind. Would an adoption agency be concerned that she was a single mother? What about the limited space in her small New York City apartment? Would her age matter?

Family

The art of being creative

Helping kids tap into their imagination may just be the most important learning goal you can implement this year.

Family

5 valuable life skills and experiences that tech might be eroding (and what to do about it)

You started with the best intentions. Your kid needed a laptop for homework. Your tween needed a phone to text you after school. You wanted a Fitbit to lose a few extra pounds. But now, you look around and devices are plugged into every nook and cranny in your home. Everyone's staring, tapping, tracking. While you're grateful for things like Google Maps and Netflix that make your life easier and more fun, something feels off.

Family

Game review: 'Destiny 2,' violent first-person online shooter promotes social play

Parents need to know that "Destiny 2" is a sci-fi first-person online shooter in which players engage in nearly nonstop combat that sees them killing countless aggressive aliens using a variety of futuristic guns and explosives. Battles are frenetic and intense, but there's no gore and the violence is directed at aliens (except in competitive multiplayer modes, where humans fight humans). Defeated enemies sometimes emit black blood before disappearing while humans bleed a small amount of red blood when injured. The player's customizable character is clearly on the side of good, fighting a grave menace to save the solar system, but it's also obvious that he or she takes pleasure from combat and shows no remorse over killing hundreds or even thousands of sentient aliens. Play is designed to promote positive social and cooperative experiences, with players able to join up with friends or strangers in most modes. Parents should also note that players can purchase certain items within the game using real-world currency.

Family

Balancing Act: Bad news, math-averse parents: It rubs off on your kids

With a new school year officially underway, experts in numeracy (like literacy, but with numbers) have an important message for math-averse parents: Your anxiety is contagious.

Videos

Famous quadruplets turn 16

Jul 08, 2016

Sisters Anna, Emily, Grace and Mary Claire Mathias are similar in that they’re all sassy, giggly and sharp, which is in contrast to how they initially gained notoriety. The Lexington girls make up a set of identical quadruplets, one of only about 70 sets in the world and even rarer in the fact that they were conceived naturally. The rising high school juniors turned 16 in February and have the wonders and woes of their late teen years to look forward to, from driving to figuring out career pathways and college.

Matt Walsh mwalsh@thestate.com