More than three years of nomadic uncertainty, many of the children of Hurricane Katrina are behind in school, acting out and suffering from extraordinarily high rates of illness and mental health problems. Their parents, many still anxious or depressed themselves, are struggling to keep the lights on and the refrigerator stocked.

For some boys who are expelled from their schools are now awaiting their turn for a G.E.D. program, to retrieve what may have been lost. For others, recovery may lie in other neighborhood schools near the New Orleans duplex where families may have found their home. The government on its part is trying to nudge the poorest, least-educated and sickest evacuees toward self-sufficiency — or at least toward agencies other than FEMA. 

Every change in season holds great opportunities for creative experiences as and outdoor explorations that all families should make use of. Here are a few fun things that parents can do with their children with the arrival of fall as the weather gets chillier and the leaves begin to turn.

Take out an evening to build a small fire in the backyard or at the park. Involve your children to collect some kindling, dry sticks or twigs and then have fun with the kids over roasting marshmallows or burgers.

Take a nature walk in the neighbourhood with your children. Even as you appreciate the rusts and gold of the autumn leaves, don’t forget to take pictures of homelier fall symbols like a cornstalk and pumpkin display. Also take a paper bag on your outing so that you can collect fall items like colored leaves, acorns, pine cones and wildflowers.

Have fun in the kitchen by rustling up some signature fall treats like marshmallow popcorn balls, apple cobbler or cinnamon-apple cider. Allow for some degree of kitchen mess so that your kids can experiment and use their own creativity.

Finally pick up a pumpkin. Take your kids to a pumpkin farm where they can choose their own pumpkins. Some farms also have offer hayrides and other fun activities. After coming back home, involve your children in roasting pumpkin seeds and carving a pumpkin.

School is that time of life when your concerns are mainly limited to homework, friends and fun. Sometimes, however you may end up rubbing a classmate the wrong way who then makes it a mission of his/her life to make yours miserable. If such a thing has happened to you, here is how you can deal with a classmate who is determined to be your enemy.

Talk about the conflict with your friends. They might be able to give an insight on why your enemy behaves the way he/she does. Above all, take your parents into confidence on what is going on. Not only will you need their support to help you see through this, but they may even have some advice that might help.

Write down what started the animosity between you and your enemy. Think of all the reasons why that person may harbour such hard feelings and examine if any of own words or actions may have unknowingly triggered off the enmity.

If your enemy at school continues to make you miserable, select a right time and talk things over. Be calm yet assertive and let him/her know that fights are not worth anything. Offer solutions which can make things civil between the two of you.

Finally if your enemy continues to harass you, get away from him/her and go on with your life as best as you can. Let the person know you are still open to talks but will not allow your life to be hijacked by meanness. However if things come down to physical danger, be sure to inform your teacher or some other figure of authority at school.

A lengthy car ride can try even the most angelic of tempers but if accompanied by a screaming colicky baby, the journey can soon turn into a nerve-wracking experience. Here is how to keep your baby entertained on a long car journey.

Try to have someone sit next your baby’s car seat through the ride. This could be a sibling, you if someone else is driving or anyone willing to keep the infant entertained for the length of the journey. The basic idea is to provide the baby with some company so that she does not scream from sheer boredom.

However if you are travelling alone, fix a mirror on the back window. This will help you to maintain eye contact with your baby and reassure her that she is not alone. Also bring toys that can be attached to the car seat so that you don’t have to bend and pick up toys while driving. Something like a kicking mat is great fun and very convenient to carry. Remember to keep a steady supply of new inexpensive toys which can be produced at regular intervals instead of one complicated toy which might bore her sooner than you expected.

Finally pull over frequently for feeding or changing diapers as nothing makes a baby crankier than an empty stomach or a dirty diaper. Babies are keener on exploring new sights than we think and they love the steady motion of a car. Thus if you can keep a few tips handy, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy a long car ride with your baby.

Halloween is that time of the year when you can give shape to the wildest and scariest fantasies hidden in the depths of your heart. Here are the few ideas to hold the wackiest Halloween celebrations ever which will have something for every one.

Let the kids have an unforgettable Halloween with their own party loaded with lots of fun things like treasure hunts, cake walks as well as a Halloween bingo.

The adults on the other hand can celebrate with a masquerade ball which will give family members, friends and neighbors a perfect excuse to arrive in outrageous costumes. Or if you wish to keep things casual, gather for a pot luck party where the kids can play games and watch movies in a separate room while the adults settle for scarier DVDs. Don’t forget however to keep plenty of tasty snacks at easy reach.

Another interesting way of spending Halloween would be to join in community celebrations which can range from double features of scary movies to tours of homes that are reported to be haunted. Finally don’t forget to carve up the pumpkin and set it up on the porch. Carving pumpkins is not only a good way to get creative with your children but also a fun way to spook neighborhood kids when they arrive for trick-or-treats

Starting kindergarten is a major milestone in the life of a child. Suddenly he or she is no longer a toddler, protected by parents but an individual taking the first step out into the world on his own. Here are a few guidelines that will help you and your child to cope with the first day at kindergarten.

Begin a few days ahead by discussing what going to school would be like. Praise your child by saying what a big boy or girl, he or she has become. Talk cheerfully about meeting other kids, playing and learning new things.

If possible, visit the school beforehand to familiarize yourself and your child with the new place and faces. Meet the teachers, other kids and their parents so that your child is not left to cope with the unfamiliar, the very first day on her own.

Let your child be an active participant in the preparation process by choosing his or her own school supplies. This will lend an air of excitement and anticipation of happier things to come.

On the first day of school, make sure your child gets tangible support from you. Give her a big hug, lots of kisses and reassure your child that when she comes back, you will be right here at home, waiting for her.

Finally don’t forget to take a photo of your little scholar on the first day of school. This will not only make him or her feel proud and look ahead with confidence but many years later will remind you both of the momentous occasion in your lives.