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by Julia Bollman, publisher of STL Parent
The Tricky Transition to the Teen Years

Every little girl loves Disney princess movies – they want to be rescued by a handsome prince and live a perfect princess life in a castle surrounded by singing rodents. It’s enough to make a mom cringe every time she turns on the DVR.

But the 1940’s and 50’s patriarchal plots of Walt Disney’s fairy tales are a far cry from the girl power stories collected by the Brothers Grimm in the early 1800’s. In fact, their “heroine journeys” of Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White were used to guide teenage girls through the tricky transition from childhood to womanhood, and the lessons of these classic stories resonate in today’s modern world.

In fact, in his new book, Sleeping Beauties, Awakened Women: Guiding the Transformation of Adolescent Girls¸ St. Louis developmental and behavioral pediatrician Dr. Tim Jordan noted Cinderella toiled alone for seven years, becoming independent and self-reliant while Rapunzel traveled in the desert taking care of her children by herself.

With the new school year just a few days away, the lessons Dr. Jordan outlines in Sleeping Beauties, Awakening Women can help girls handle the mean girl drama and stress waiting for them in the hallways, find their inner strength, and guide them in finding the support needed to thrive during the most confusing times of their lives.

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St. Louis Kids Magazine is Now STL Parent

We're excited to announce that St. Louis Kids Magazine is now STL Parent. We have a new look and a new name, but we're still dedicated to bringing you the latest information you need to know as you raise kids in St. Louis.

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Get Lost in Egypt Before It’s Too Late

When it comes to entertaining your kids on a rainy day in St. Louis, a trip to the Saint Louis Science Center can’t be beat. Even if you’ve explored this beloved local destination many times before, there’s always a new exhibit to see, or a favorite attraction (in our family, the giant hamster wheel) to enjoy once again. It was with this in mind that my children and I headed there a few weeks ago to check out the Lost Egypt exhibition currently on display.

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4 Resolutions for the Start of the School Year

In my worklife, I’m impeccably organized – in my homelife, not so much. The first week of school, I’m on top of things – the permission slips are signed, the backpack is packed each night, homework is done days before it’s due. By the second week, our dining room table becomes the burial site for school flyers and permission slips. So it’s no surprise MJ comes home once a week, sighing, “You forgot my snack again so I had to eat paste” and with notes from her teacher that remind me again field trip fees are due but subliminally scream, “Nicole – for all that is good and holy, why is it so freakin’ hard to put $5 in your kid’s Hello Kitty backpack?!?”

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How To Save Big On Back-To-School

Whether the impending start of the school year has caught you off guard or you've been preparing for it all summer, the cost of all of those school supplies and new clothes can take anyone by surprise.

So we asked a St. Louis mom who has made it her business to save money – and help others save money – to tell us how she pinches pennies (and a lot more) on all kinds of school supplies for her own 3 kids.

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40 Days and 40 nights (of Summer)

I finally understand why my Mom shot off fireworks the night before the first day of school. I also understand why she talked to herself all of the time.

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Things to Do

Let Them Eat Art
Friday, July 11, 2025

Shop, eat and enjoy live music, hands-on art projects, lots of great food, and entertainment for kids at this casual and fun Maplewood festival that celebrates making and enjoying art.

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Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park
Friday, July 11, 2025
Friday, August 8, 2025
Friday, September 12, 2025

It's the food truck event that started them all! Local food trucks gather for an evening of friends, fun, live music and plenty of great food at Sauce Food Truck Fridays. St. Louis' favorite mobile restaurants will be dishing out fresh fare and local brews in Tower Grove Park.

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Popular Stories

Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

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Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

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7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

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Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

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10 Ways to Improve Your Child's Listening Skills

Focused listening is one of the most important skills your child will ever learn. Children with strong listening skills do better in school, sports, relationships and, eventually, in their careers. But many children lack this important skill and parents are rightly concerned. First, listening is much more than just hearing.

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