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Too Fat For 15 Strikes a Chord with St. Louis Audience

The power of reality TV came home to me in April, when I attended a special taping of the Style Network docu-series Too Fat for 15: Fighting Back. The stars of the townhall-style session included Ruby Gettinger, making an up-and-down journey from nearly 500 pounds when her Style show began in 2008 to 360 pounds now, and several of the inspiring teens who have been featured on Too Fat for 15.

They converged in the West County YMCA in Chesterfield (along with celebrity moderator Allison Sweeney from The Biggest Loser and a panel of doctors, chefs, trainers, nutritionists and even a Rams football player) to talk about the childhood obesity epidemic. Dozens of overweight and obese children feeling the epidemic first hand were in the audience, and their emotional testimonies and heartfelt questions brought tears to my eyes many times over the course of the afternoon.

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The Hottest Accessory at This Kids Fashion Show? Self Confidence.

Often the one thing holding our daughters back from achieving their dreams is poor self-esteem.

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Head Lice Love Summer Vacation as Much as Your Kids Do

Your kids aren’t the only ones celebrating the end of the school year. Head lice love summer, according to removal expert Libby Lutz. There’s heat, there’s humidity and, best of all, there’s a lack of school personnel disturbing their peaceful procreation.

Lutz, who founded Lice Busters St. Louis, said the back-to-school season is her busiest time, but lice are common in the summer too. Because it takes four to six weeks for lice to cause itching and thus give away their hideout, school vacation is a great incubation period for an infestation.

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What's New Under the Big Top at Circus Flora

My daughter and I were lucky enough to attend the first night of the 25th season of Circus Flora. This year’s show, Vagabond Adventures, is full of death defying tightrope walkers, high-flying acrobats, talented animals and everyone’s favorite clown, Nino. Unlike many large-scale circuses you may have seen, every seat under this big top is a great seat. In fact, the venue is so intimate you may feel the wind through your hair as the trapeze act The Flying Pages whiz past your head.

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What Do You Really Need for a New Baby?

I have three children and I must admit when I was pregnant with my first we picked out Pottery Barn bedding, a high-priced swing, crib, bassinet and more! I had no clue what a baby actually needed so anything in the baby section went on the registry. Well, three children later I realized that I made some mistakes. When baby #3 arrived all I really wanted was a few gift cards and diapers.

So what do you really need?

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Give Your Brain a Work Out at Body Worlds & the Brain at the Saint Louis Science Center

In 2007, St. Louis was introduced to Gunther von Hagens’ incredible Body Worlds 3 exhibition at the Saint Louis Science Center. Visitors were amazed, shocked and intrigued at the display of preserved transparent body slices, bones, organs and hundreds of bodies in various poses and positions. The show has since moved on, but von Hagens’ is back with a new installation of twisting, jumping and leaping bodies.

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Five Great Summer Family Hikes in St. Louis

In honor of Summer Fun Week at St. Louis Kids Magazine's SmartParenting blog, I am going to overcome my fear of snakes and disgust of mosquitoes (I obviously need to stop watching Animal Planet) and start hiking with my family. Maybe I’ll ease into nature with a "Gentle Hike" at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.

Each second Saturday of June, July and August, a naturalist will take hikers on a flat, paved and short walk to a different part of the Conservation. June’s adventure will travel to the prairie demonstration area in front of the Visitor Center.

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Kicking off a Healthy St. Louis Summer

The weather seems to be having a tough time making up its mind just what season it should be, but we SmartParenting bloggers have no doubts: Next weekend is the start of summer!

This week we’re focusing most of our attention on ideas for summer – things to do, recipes to cook, books to read, and (my topic for today) ways to stay healthy.

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Seven Reasons to Plan a Kid-Free Getaway

This past week, Mr. P and I spent a few glorious, gin-soaked days in Savannah, Georgia.

We truly loved Savannah. I loved the way the jasmine and honeysuckle smelled when we walked through the city’s 22 park-like squares. The way the locals stopped us on the street to offer us help and suggestions when we were lost, their accents like, as Andy on The Office says, “molasses just sort of spillin’ out of their mouths.”

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Holiday Magic at The Magic House

Celebrate the magic of the holidays the entire month of December at the Holiday Magic experience at The Magic House! Holiday Magic features festive decorations throughout the museum, Winter Wonderscape, a Snowball Showdown, Story Time with Mrs. Claus & Santa, a special Toddler Time experience and more.

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Weirdly Wonderful Holidays at City Museum

Step into a winter wonderland of joy and delight as City Museum transforms into a festive paradise from November 28 through January 4. From twinkling lights that illuminate the night to heartwarming encounters with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their merry helpers, there’s something for everyone!

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Popular Stories

10 Family-Friendly New Year's Eve Celebrations in St. Louis

Who says you have to stay up late to ring in the new year? Kids can make some noise and welcome 2026 at these daytime and early evening celebrations designed just for families with young partygoers. 

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The St. Louis Children’s Choirs Give Every Singer the Chance to Shine on Stage

Something beautiful happens every time a child performs their favorite song. Even if they stumble over a lyric or tumble off key, the joy they find in exploring their musical journey can be felt by those lucky enough to listen. When hundreds of these young voices come together on one stage, that’s when something truly magical happens.

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The Missouri History Museum Winter Getaway: Four Days of Free Fun and Learning for Your Family

This year’s annual Winter Getaway event is packed with free kid-friendly activities, performances, arts and crafts, and workshops that tie in with the Museum’s current collections and celebrate our city’s rich culture and holiday heritage.

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Winter Break Camps Offer School Break Fun for Your Kids

Winter Break Camps offer your kids a fun way to spend their break from school. They'll participate in engaging activities that will make their school break memorable. We rounded up some fantastic options for Winter Break Camps for kids of all ages. 

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Miriam Celebrates Neurodiversity, Supports Unique Learners

At Miriam School, students with complex learning differences are supported and celebrated as they grow academically, socially and emotionally. Miriam provides a tailored educational experience for learners in grades K-12 who have not found success in traditional classroom settings. Students’ challenges may stem from specific learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia or dysgraphia), ADHD, level 1 autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or speech and language disorders.

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