After-school activities....Those three little words can strike fear into any parent's heart. Extra-curricular activities are needed for resumes, college applications, to keep young ones occupied; they define many a child's life during pre-college years. Parents often rush to involve their children in as many activities as possible as early as…

Two national studies have recently confirmed that specific kinds of educational experiences provided for children by both parents and teachers, from preschool through high school, can make a significant difference in their reading ability as young adults. Both studies analyzed data gathered from 3,959 high school students in 24 school districts…