PONTIAC, Mich. — An Oakland County district court judge set a $250 million bond for a Pontiac mother accused of abandoning her three children to live in squalor by themselves for years, deeming her a flight risk.

Kelli Bryant was arraigned Thursday in Pontiac's 50th District Court on three counts of first-degree child abuse and faces life in ...Read more

'THE MONKEY'

Rated R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references.

What it’s about: Twin brothers reckon with the wrath and wreckage that a cursed toy monkey brings into their lives.

The kid attractor factor: Not much, this is an extremely gory horror film.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Everybody dies...Read more

A Michigan mom was arrested for leaving her three young children to fend for themselves in “absolute squalor” and with little interaction with the outside world over the course of several years.

“Throughout my extensive career in this field, I have never encountered a scenario as dire and prolonged as this one, involving abandonment, ...Read more

Calling the trend of children buying antiaging skin care "ridiculous and a paradox," a state legislator has introduced a bill that would ban the sale of such beauty products to customers under the age of 18.

The recent obsession among so-called Sephora Kids for skin care containing potent chemicals has alarmed parents and dermatologists, who ...Read more

A welfare check led Michigan deputies to a filthy home where three children had been living for several years without outside contact, education or basic hygiene, authorities said.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported Feb. 16 that the children’s mother, 34, who was not identified to protect the identity of her children, had been ...Read more

Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore said Sunday it was “a great shock” that her 2007 children’s book “Freckleface Strawberry” wound up among those banned by the Trump administration while under “compliance review” at schools run by the U.S. Department of Defense.

In a post on Instagram, the stymied star wrote her book “is a ...Read more

'PADDINGTON IN PERU'

Rated PG for action, mild rude humor and some thematic elements.

What it’s about: The third Paddington movie sees the beloved British bear reconnecting with his roots in Peru.

The kid attractor factor: The familiar character and family-friendly adventure.

Good lessons/bad lessons: It doesn't matter where you're from, ...Read more

'HEART EYES'

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and some sexual content.

What it’s about: A rom-com slasher about a killer targeting happy couples on Valentine's Day.

The kid attractor factor: Teens will be drawn to the horror genre and gore.

Good lessons/bad lessons: There's no denying chemistry.

Violence: Extreme bloody ...Read more

The scope of the Los Angeles fires is so vast that they have touched many lives that are far, far from California.

I live in Lanesboro, Minnesota, but my grandson’s wife, Holly Horazdovsky, taught in a school in the Palisades that burned to the ground. She is now teaching in a new space. Their school was evacuated, and many children lost ...Read more

You may have heard that there’s a generation of older adults in grief because their kids decided against having children of their own. More Americans are opting out of a traditional family path, and in doing so, crushing their parents' desperate wishes for grandchildren.

This topic became a front-page article in the New York Times a few ...Read more

'DOG MAN'

Rated PG for some action and rude humor.

What it’s about: A half-man/half-dog cop patrols Ohkay City, fighting evil supervillains

The kid attractor factor: The silly humor and animation, plus familiarity with the book series.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Seeing the good in others might be able to help you see the good in yourself. ...Read more

TikTok went dark in the United States for a little while, but is now back online here thanks to a stay of execution from President Donald Trump. The newly inaugurated president seems to be working toward some sort of a deal to help TikTok comply with federal rules prohibiting foreign agents from owning and controlling social media platforms in ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Watching the big game at the bar? Run out of booze for your barbecue?

You might be tempted to pop into the nearest pub or liquor store with your kids in tow.

Is that actually legal in California?

“Are kids allowed in bars, or is it only in those that serve food?” one Reddit user asked Sacramento residents in 2023.

...Read more

'BRAVE THE DARK'

Rated PG-13 for domestic violence/bloody images, suicide, some strong language, teen drinking, drug material and smoking.

What it’s about: Based on the true story of a troubled teen and the drama teacher who took him in.

The kid attractor factor: While it may have some appeal for teens, this is more of a dark adult drama.

...Read more

Often called the “winter blues,” the period in January after all the holiday festivities are over is hard for a lot of people to get through. For young children, the added confusion of the sharp change in their emotions make for an especially fraught season.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Jody Baumstein, a Strong4Life licensed ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- One morning last May, 16-year-old Abdul Anderson stood slouched against a wall at Cove Secure, a juvenile institution on the grounds of central Pennsylvania’s Torrance State Hospital. He was scheduled to be in class, but was stuck in a dayroom in a state of profound boredom.

The next moment, his head smashed into the wall ...Read more

'ONE OF THEM DAYS'

Rated R for language throughout, sexual material and brief drug use.

What it’s about: Two best friends living in L.A. have a crazy day trying to secure their rent payment.

The kid attractor factor: The comedy will be a draw to teens

Good lessons/bad lessons: Never let your boyfriend pay your rent, have each other's backs...Read more

It was date night for me and my husband, the first since our daughter was born. When we returned to my mom’s house for the baby — hurriedly, being first-time parents — I heard a strange but familiar voice.

It was that of Raffi Cavoukian, known simply as “Raffi,” who rose to fame in the 1970s with such folksy, reassuring numbers as “...Read more

CHICAGO -- South Loop’s FAME Center started in 2018 in what founder Sheila Fortson called “a broom closet” with just a few students and a piano. The nonprofit is now looking to become a major music and arts education landmark in Chicago with the purchase of a 56,000-square-foot historic building.

Matthew Thomas, 14, remembers that when he...Read more