Toronto: To sext or not to sext? For the reported one out of every six kids who have received a "friend's" naked picture online and been asked to return the favour, there is pressure to participate. No longer categorized as a trend, sexting is an epidemic - an epidemic that now has a smart answer. The newly launched Send This Instead app gives a novel and witty way to say "No!" to the request for an intimate image.

Washington: Parents, turn off the television when your children are with you. And when you do let them watch, make sure the programs stimulate their interest in learning.

California: San Diego School of Medicine-led study suggests that parents of obese children often do not recognize the potentially serious health consequences of childhood weight gain or the importance of daily physical activity in helping their child reach a healthy weight.

Gainnesville: Many parents presume their children will shun whole grains because they think they don’t like them, a University of Florida researcher says, but a new UF study may start to debunk that idea.

Arlington Heights: It’s tough being the parent of a child with food allergies. Constant vigilance is needed for everything your child eats, when a single food item containing a hidden ingredient can be fatal.

Washington: A new Tulane University School of Medicine study finds that the more fractured families are by domestic violence or trauma, the more likely that children will bear the scars down to their DNA.