Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'child'

Hollywood Nanny's 'Child Dumping' Scheme Unravels

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

The nanny allegedly dropped kids off at an unlicensed daycare center, rather than care for them herself. "I needed a break," she says. The parents of an autistic boy are trying to come to terms with what this means for their son's development.

Social Responsibility And The Web: A Drama Unfolds

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST

If a mother makes a reference to smothering her child on Twitter, do you write it off as a joke or try to intervene? What are the demands of social responsibility — and the boundaries of trust and friendship — in a world of social media?

Child's Autism Helps Author Write Mnemonic Book

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:33:00 EST

British journalist Christopher Stevens talks about his new book, Thirty Days Has September: Cool Way to Remember Stuff. Stevens says the book is aimed primarily at children and was based on his experience teaching his autistic son.

A Mother's Memoir Of A Child She Never Knew

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:54:00 EST

Fiction writer Elizabeth McCracken thought she would never write a memoir; too often, she says, memoirs center on "the worst thing that ever happened to" an author. But when her first child died in utero just days before he was due to be born, McCracken realized she needed to write about it.

Study: Tolerance Can Lower Gay Kids' Suicide Risk

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:02:00 EST

Gay young adults have one of the highest rates of suicide attempts, and kids who are rejected by their parents have the most problems. New research says when a parent is neutral about a son or daughter being gay, or even only mildly critical, that goes a long way in reducing a child's risk.

Coping With An Autistic Brother: A Teenager's Take

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Each year, about one child in every 150 is diagnosed with autism. Eleven-year-old Andrew Skillings has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. Andrew's older sister, Marissa, talks about how she copes with her brother's meltdowns — and how she protects him from the other kids.

'Mrs. Astor Regrets': Fairytale Turned Nightmare

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:18:00 EST

Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach tells the story of the Astors of New York, a storied philanthropist family. Shortly after the death of Brooke Astor in 2007, her only child, Anthony Marshall, was indicted on charges of looting her estate. Author Meryl Gordon talks to Scott Simon about the book.

A Foster Mother's Difficult Choice

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

During the holidays, family relations can be strained. But what happens when a troubled child grows into a troubled man? Sometimes, a foster mother finds, love is simply not enough.

Finding A Child A Home For The Holidays

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:14:00 EST

Sister Mary DeSalles Collins worked for more than 50 years at New York Foundling, one of the oldest adoption agencies in New York City. She found homes for hundreds of children. But one case stands out.

Singer And Actress Eartha Kitt Dies

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST

Singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died of colon cancer. She was 81. Kitt, who was ostracized as a child in South Carolina because of her mixed-race heritage, got her start in show business as a dancer and vocalist, and earned early international notice as a featured singer in a Paris nightclub.

Russian Attitudes Colder Toward Foreign Adoptions

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:36:00 EST

Although Russia remains a leading source for foreign adoptions, authorities are no longer so willing to send their children out of the country. In the provincial town of Chelyabinsk, officials were desperate a decade ago to find homes for abandoned children. One child welfare official there says foreign adoption is no longer the answer.

Silje Nes: 'Ames Room'

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Silje Nes is a Norwegian musician who mixes the delicate sounds of the acoustic guitar with the bright, charming ambiance of electronica. Her soft, thin voice blends nicely with the whimsical instrumentation. Her new record, Ames Room, has a child-like brilliance that could pass as an upbeat, dreamy collection of lullabies.

John Patrick Shanley On Dogma And 'Doubt'

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

The writer and director is no stranger to doubt. Shanley — whose Pulitzer-winning play has been adapted for the screen — went to Catholic school as a child and says he knew the priests didn't play by the rules.

Traffic Accidents Top Cause Of Fatal Child Injuries

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Nearly a million children worldwide die every year as a result of unintentional injuries, and the biggest killer is traffic accidents, according to a report from the World Health Organization. But experts say such injuries can be predicted and prevented.

Grandma Robinson Makes White House Transition

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

The Obamas will soon undergo a historic transition in January as the nation's First Family of color enters the White House. Also making the transition will be Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother. President-elect Obama has attributed the success of his campaign, in part, to Robinson's support, especially as a child care provider. A roundtable of grandmothers share advice for Robinson and discuss the special role of grandparents.

Elizabeth Willis: 'Overture' & 'In Your Eyes'

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:42:00 EST

As a child, musician Elizabeth Willis was formally trained in piano and violin, and often imagined she'd grow up to be a classical musician. But at some point along the way she decided to walk away from classical music and start writing grand and beautiful pop. The 11 songs on her self-titled debut bridge the gap between her two passions by pairing her distinctive vocals and pop stylings with cinematic string and piano arrangements. The result is refreshing and often gorgeous.

Nilaja Sun Plays With 'No Child' Policy

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Nilaja Sun's play No Child received critical acclaim in the theater world. The show went from a one-woman show to a full cast of actors who portray teachers and children struggling to meet the standards of No Child Left Behind.

Wilder: Dream Is Alive For All Americans

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:50:00 EST

Barack Obama didn't base his candidacy on race. Still, his victory has been deeply moving to many African Americans. Among them is Douglas Wilder, he was Virginia's first black governor and now the mayor of Richmond. Wilder says Obama's election means that you can say to any child in American "you can be anything you want to be."

Candidates Differ On Relief For Working Families

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EDT

With workers losing jobs or scrambling to retain them, pressures intensify at home, too. What do the presidential nominees propose to ease Americans' work-family tensions? Sizable differences separate the two on issues such as family leave, sick time and child care.

Matthew Perryman Jones On Mountain Stage

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:51:00 EDT

Jones freely admits that he's a child of seminal '80s rock bands like R.E.M., Pixies, U2 and Echo and the Bunnymen. His latest CD, Swallow the Sea, is a tip of the hat to the vast sound and art-rock lyricism of those bands. But this Mountain Stage performance presents a stripped-down version of Jones' music.

'Changeling': Against The Odds, A Mother's Fight

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:29:00 EDT

Clint Eastwood's film recounts the based-on-a-true-story tale of a Los Angeles woman's struggle to find her missing son — after police return the wrong child to her. David Edelstein has a review.

'Boy's Life' Depicts Transgendered Child's Struggle

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:34:00 EDT

In the November issue of The Atlantic Monthly, Hanna Rosin writes about a young boy who, from an early age, challenged his sexual identity. She discusses the complicated realities parents must face when children feel trapped in the wrong bodies.

Easily Accessible Info Blurs The Line Of Expertise

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:04:00 EDT

The Internet has made it possible for everyday people to have endless information at their fingertips. From celebrities weighing in on child vaccinations to science fiction authors disputing climate change studies, what happens to science when the line between expert and non-expert becomes fuzzy?

Sanda Weigl Brings Gypsy Music To The U.S.

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:44:00 EDT

Romanian singer Sanda Weigl learned traditional songs from the gypsies living around her home when she was a child. Today, she sings these songs across the U.S. as part of a Romanian cultural outreach campaign, but the singer's life remains larger than the Gypsy lore reflected in her songs.

McCain, Obama, And Leaving No Child Behind

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

One thing both candidates agree on is that the education system — particularly "No Child Left Behind" — is broken. The question is: How would they fix it?