My son still thinks it’s bizarre that I only had access to seven television channels when I was his age. Actually, we had nine channels if you count the two static-prone Spanish-language channels on UHF. Today my son has access to that many movie channels, not to mention the assortment of children’s channels like Cartoon Network, Nick and Disney.

For us, the debate over TV use in my home began before my son was born. I think every parent has at some point made a rule to limit or even eliminate television from their child’s life. There are certainly plenty of studies and reports cautioning on the extent to which television usage can negatively impact children. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for instance, has “an informative web page”:http://www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm. Another thorough look at the subject is featured on the University of Michigan “child issues web site”:http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htm.

In truth, I’ve never been that severely opposed to television usage. I could certainly do with more outdoor time with my son, but I find that some of the channels my son is now drawn to are beneficial to him. He enjoys Discovery and the History Channel, for example. And a dose of cartoons doesn’t necessarily bother me. I do like to ensure that he gets ample reading time, as he does enjoy books, and that he gets his fix of outdoor time, be it with me or his mom, at camp or at school.

But I also feel that cartoons and age-appropriate children’s shows help provide a foundation for my son to socialize with other kids. Just like all his friends read the Harry Potter series, most watch the same shows and movies, and they have that in common. The question just becomes how much is enough, and how much is too much of that TV thing?

One month ago, on the first anniversary of Parents’ Place, we put up a poll asking you, our blog community, to vote for which features you like best. If you haven’t had a chance to vote, please scroll down to see the poll on the right side of this page. What’s been the best part of the past year has been the contributions from other moms and dads — we’ve had more than 1,300 comments!

I was on RNN-TV today talking about the trend of irreverent T-shirts for moms. You can watch the segment by clicking here. Here’s a link to my post on the topic, which contains lots of links to sites that sell the T’s.

Before I became a mom, most of my book shopping  was done online. I would read a book review, make a note of the title and add it to my Amazon.com basket when I had a moment. Or, even better, when I lived just two blocks from the library in Larchmont, I ordered books using the Westchester County Library System’s excellent online tools. My strategies are changing now that I have Pumpkin to shop for, too.

I’m finding that it’s fun to browse in the children’s section and figure out which books are Pumpkin’s favorites by how long she lingers with each title. And because so much of the enjoyment of children’s books is in the illustrations, it’s helpful to see them (and in the case of tactile books, feel them) to judge.

So far, we’ve mostly patronized the Borders in Mount Kisco because it’s convenient, but I thrilled to learn about a new bookstore designed with kids in mind that just opened this past spring. My colleague, Barbara Livingston Nackman, writes a new Larchmont shop called The Voracious Reader, in her Book by Book blog. The store’s owner, Francine Lucidon, told Barbara that she wants the store to be a nurturing hub that will inspire a new generation of readers. We will definitely be checking it out! (Plus, it’s a great excuse to visit Larchmont, which I still miss after moving away four years ago. I’ll also use the trip as a chance to eat at Stanz Cafe on Chatsworth, which makes the most amazing sandwich with chicken salad, raisins and apples on sourdough baguette.)

What about you other moms and dads? Any favorite strategies for finding books for your kids?

What blows me away about my son’s generation is how quickly they were immersed in computers. Don’t get me wrong, I spend the bulk of my day in front of a keyboard or online. Comes with the job. But my generation was so late in coming to it. I’ve often told the story of my first computer class in college, which takes us back all the way to 1981. I can’t recall what I learned, but I do remember the professor telling the class that one day every home would have a computer. We all laughed.

Yet, here we are. I’m 0-1 on computer predictions. The only question now is how many computers you have in your home. My son has his own laptop, and a computer at both his mom’s place and my place. At 9, he has more passwords to remember than I did at 29. I found one analysis from the National Science Foundation that reported that 21 percent of children 2 or younger have used a computer; 58 percent of children 3 and 4; and 77 percent of 5 and 6 year olds. And those are 2005 statistics.

Heck, I can’t even get over my parents using computers. If you told me 10 years ago that my dad would be computer savvy, I would’ve laughed yet again, as i did in that classroom in 1981. Yet, here we are. I’m 0-2.

Anyway, what got me thinking about all this is that my Internet access went down Thursday, and I haven’t been able to log in from home since. The repair guy came twice (to be fair, the second visit was because he left his tools behind the first time) to no avail. I even spent 20 minutes on the phone with my girlfriend’s ex, since he’s a computer programmer. Still, no fix.

So I started to wonder how my computer-savvy son is going to cope without Internet access when he gets back from vacation with his mom. He likes doing research online, playing games and checking out videos on YouTube.

Then it dawned on me: He’ll take it in stride. He’s got the neighbor’s kids and the playground to go play. He’s got books, games, sketch pads and, God forbid, X-Box in a pinch. Computers are just one part of his world, and a familiar part that will always be there again. I’m the one that’s going to miss the Internet: No checking email or the blogs; no online news from around the world; no YouTube (heck, I can waste a way an hour there myself). So even after years online, I think it’s still more of a novelty to me than it is to my son.

I mean, who would’ve thought in 1981 that I’d be missing my home computer. I guess I’m 0-3.

We’re on vacation now, but I’ve been thinking about the values that we pass on to our kids. Values covers a lot of ground and what I’ve been thinking about lately is environmental values. 

I hope my kids are learning from some of the things we do in our house. Starting at the end of last year we’ve replaced all of our standard incandescent lights with those mini-spiral fluorescent bulbs, all of them: the bulbs in lamps and ceiling fixtures, spot lights and outdoor floodlights. We picked the soft-white bulbs because the color and tone of the light is hard to distinguish from standard light bulbs – especially if you have shades or glass fixtures over them. 

We also compost. We have a big old-style cookie jar where we toss all fruit and veggie scraps. With all the fresh fruit and vegetables during the summer we’re filling it almost every day. I’m the only one in my house, however, who empties the container into our compost bin.

Ever since we bought our first mini-van in 2000 I felt guilty about driving that gas guzzler every day to work. Still I needed a car big enough to haul the family, plus friends, relatives and luggage, tents, etc. Late last year we sold our old mini-van for a new mini-mini van. These are relatively new on the market in the US, although they are popular in Europe where gas prices have long been much higher. The new car gets about 26 mpg (combined driving), has six seats and a very small trunk, compare with 20 mpg, seven seats and reasonable storage. Using Consumer Reports guidance I was able to bargain down a 2007 Mazda 5 to $18,000 – about $3,000 to $,6000 less than other mini-vans.

The true test was a weekend trip with my parents and the four in my family, as well as our luggage. A roof rack and luggage container which cost a combined $700 provided the storage we needed. And with its stream-lined shape, the roof rack didn’t seem to hurt highway mileage much. And we use mass transit when we head into Manhattan. 

I’m hoping that this stuff will become part of the kids’ values, if not now,  as they reach adulthood. All we can do is plant the seed, cultivate, and hope it grows.

Discovering your child is abusing alcohol or drugs has got to be one of the most frightening parenting experiences of all. It’s also one most of us are probably unprepared to face. To help parents figure out how to distinguish between normal teenage experiments and addiction — and to learn the best way to intervene when your child is at risk — I turned to an expert in helping young people recover their health and their lives.

Today’s Questions & Parents feature, or Q&P for short, is with Adrienne Marcus, executive director of the Lexington Center for Recovery. The Lexington Center treats people — including teens and adolescents — with alcoholism and other drug dependencies. In Westchester, the Lexington Center has programs in Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, Yonkers, White Plains and Peekskill. Adrienne, a resident of Mount Kisco, is also the mom of Rachel, 20, and Emily, 13.

Q: In your experience, how surprised are parents when they learn that their child needs help with substance abuse? Why didn’t they know?

P: Most parents are in denial. They don’t want to know, or even admit, that their child has a substance-abuse problem. Although they may notice behavioral changes — like their child not coming home at night, school grades slipping or not meeting responsibilities — they don’t know to what to attribute that. But when parents are told by a professional that their child has a problem — when there’s a label put on it — they feel a sense of relief, because now they have something specific to address and help with.

Q: What symptoms of substance abuse should parents be on the lookout for?

P: When a child’s behavior changes drastically, that’s usually a sign that the child is abusing substances. Substance abuse is very evident if you know what to look for: Severe mood swings, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, lying, diminished interest in hobbies or friends, avoiding family and overreaction to criticism are just a few signs of a problem.

Q: How can you decipher the difference between teenage experiments and addiction?

P: There is a very clear difference between experimentation and addiction. Experimentation does not prompt severe behavioral changes like addiction does. If you notice those signs, and if you have to ask yourself if your child has a problem, he probably does.

Q: What’s the best way to intervene if you think your child is abusing drugs or alcohol? Where should you do it? What should you say?

P: There’s a very simple answer to this question: Ask yourself what you would do if your child had a debilitating physical disease. You’d do everything in your power to help, right? Addiction is also a disease, so you should seek out as much help and support as you can. Ask your clergy person, a school guidance counselor or your child’s physician to provide support, too. They are all professionals who can help you develop a plan for intervening. Both parents must be on the same page about their child’s problem so that they can address their child from a united front. Parents also need to look at their own behavior and addictions, because they’re models for their children. In talking to their kids, parents should address the issue in the same manner in which they would discuss anything else. They should use the same kind of language they normally use to communicate. The conversation should be kept open and comfortable so that the child does not feel as if he is under attack — rather, he should feel loved and nurtured, because an intervention is not an inherently comfortable situation.

Q: Can parents help children themselves, or should they look for a rehabilitation program? And, how do you choose a program?

P: I can’t reiterate enough that an addiction should be addressed like a physical disease — with all the help possible. Unfortunately, though, the first step should be to check your insurance policy to see what it will cover. I am also a firm believer that recovery comes with a loving circle of support, which is part of Lexington Center for Recovery’s mission statement. It is so important for parents and families to be involved. Therefore, I don’t believe that sending a child away to “take care of the situation” themselves is a healthy option. Outpatient programs, such as those we offer, begin with evaluations. The evaluation will determine what the core issues are, what the addict needs to work on and how the recovery counselors are going to help. If you don’t like the results of the evaluation, or if you don’t like a particular approach to that program’s recovery process, seek out the help of another program. In Westchester County, there are many options. You can begin your search at the Department of Community Mental Health.

Q: How can you develop a trusting relationship with your child in the context of substance abuse?

P: A trusting relationship has to be developed over time, but when confronting a child about his substance abuse, do it in a loving, caring manner. To prevent your child from feeling attacked in the case of a confrontation or discussion, make sure you express concern. Children don’t want to be patronized, so tell them that you expect them to get help and make suggestions on how they can. That will empower them, enable them to feel more comfortable knowing that they have parental support, and work to overcome their addiction.

Q: When did you start teaching your own children about avoiding drugs? What did you say and how did the language of that message change as they grew up?

P: My philosophy is to be honest about everything with my children, including the nature of my work. I started educating them at a young age about alcohol and substance abuse. My daughters practically grew up at Lexington Center for Recovery. They were always here, interacting with our clients and our counselors. They were exposed to the dangers of substance use and saw firsthand the damage it causes. Of course, they learned about it in school, as well, so the message was coming from a variety of different sources. That’s an important factor in educating children: Repetition. If they receive information from a variety of trusted sources, they are more likely to heed advice.

Q: What’s the one thing you wish parents would do to help their kids avoid ending up in a program like yours?

P: Parents really need to look at their own behavior. One of the hardest things for parents to understand is that their behavior is mimicked by their children. It might be one of the hardest things they’ll ever do, but if a parent has a drink at dinner every night with their child, they need to strongly consider how their child is going to view alcohol consumption. At the end of the day, it’s about behavior modeling.

Thank you very much to Adrienne for sharing her knowledge by doing a Q&P. If you would like to be featured, or you know any parents who have expertise to share, please comment here on the blog or send me an e-mail at jalterio@lohud.com.

And, in case you missed them, here are links to earlier Q&P features. There are interviews with more than a dozen moms and dads, including a dog trainer dad, financial planner mom, writer mom, mathematician mom, baker mom and pediatric dentist mom.

Got Milk! Most of us know this as the advertising slogan for the kind of milk that comes from cows, so when I saw the message on a fellow mom’s T-shirt when Pumpkin was in the NICU, I laughed in delight. (And also in some envy since she was producing more than enough milk for both of her twins!) Since then, I’ve seen irreverent “mommy T-shirts” turn into a trend, which I’ve written about for Sunday’s paper.

Not to get too philosophical about fashion, but I think the rise of the mommy cool meme as expressed in the T-shirts says a lot about today’s generation of moms. That view was confirmed when I talked with Kristin Bennett, who is senior director of research and trends at the Intelligence Group. She explained that Gen Y and Gen X moms like myself are making an “extreme commitment” to parenting. These moms are relishing their roles and are happy to tell the world about it by wearing a T-shirt that advertises they are moms. And the T-shirts let them do it in a hip, ironic way that reminds people that they still have a strong sense of self-identity, too.

Kristin’s views were echoed by Liz Gumbinner, co-founder and editor of Cool Mom Picks. Liz, a mom of two who was raised in Larchmont and whose folks live in Cortlandt Manor, explained to me that parenthood isn’t just a phase of life anymore, it’s a culture. “And with any culture comes marketing,” she said.

Here’s where the T-shirts come in. A really nice part of the trend is that I haven’t seen big companies hopping on it — yet. Most of the T-shirt makers I’ve encountered are moms, some looking for a way to run a home-based business so they can be there for the kids. A good place to start your surfing is RoleMommy.com, which is run by Beth Feldman of New Rochelle. Her soft and fitted shirts are bedecked with glitter and rhinestones and feature sayings like “I don’t do cupcakes” and “I need a playdate.”

Another local T-shirt designer is Joy Rose of Hastings, a rocker who plays with the band Housewives on Prozac. She’s created shirts that say “Mom is not my real nameâ€? and “Women do not have an expiration date.” I also had a great time talking with Eileen Schneidman, a Wilton, Conn., stay-at-home mom of three and co-founder of Planet Mom T-shirts. (That’s Eileen at right.) The site has a wide array of embroidered T’s with funny sayings like “Whine? No. Wine? Yes.”

If you are more the crunchy-granola type mom, check out PeaceLoveMom, where you can pick up shirts with feel-good messages like “Happy mom” and “Lucky mom.” If you like a light touch is more your thing, Jestations has maternity shirts that boast “Dropping folic acid” and “Made with fresh eggs.” If you want to get political, Georgie Tees has a “Make babies, not war” T-shirt.

A popular site with celebrities, according to Danielle Friedland, publisher of the Celebrity Baby Blog, is Little Showoffs. Shoppers there include Gwyneth Paltrow (“Yoga mama”), Marcia Cross (“Mommy of Twins”) and Melissa Rivers (“Hottie mommy”). Another hot site with celeb moms is Logan & Blue, which makes custom embroidered shirts. Tori Spelling has a “Body after Liam” T-shirt that she wore on “Entertainment Tonight.” Another celeb favorite is the “Loving my Buddha belly” shirt from Preggers n’ Proud worn by actress Kate Hudson.

You also might like Mothers In Love with Fashion. (You can be forgiven if this brings to mind the racier translation of that acronym.) My favorite there was the “Daytime swinger” T-shirt with the image of a swing set. I also liked the “Supply” and “Demand” set for mom and baby from Milkdudz.

If you have a favorite place to buy “mommy T-shirts,” let us all know. And if you have one that you like, send me a picture of you wearing it and I’ll post it on the blog. Also, what do you think of this trend? And would you wear any of the shirts?

My colleague Stacy A. Anderson wrote an interesting story about parents searching consignment shops to find discounts on fashionable duds for their kids. She includes a roundup of local stores and gives examples of some of her finds. I was particularly struck by a pair of Mini Boden trousers for just $12 ($48 retail!). I’m definitely thinking about visiting a couple of the shops this fall before I head to the mall to buy Pumpkin’s cold-weather wardrobe.

We hope to leave early this morning on our vacation trip; well,  early for our family.

In anticipating our departure, I’m reminded of a favorite movie, The Great Santini.  For those who don’t know the film,  it revolves around Bull Meecham, a Marine fighter pilot played by Robert Duvall, and his often-abusive relationship with his family.

Meecham is far from a fatherhood role model, but as our family gets ready for the trip, I wish we could emulate the Meechams’ travel schedule: hit the road before dawn to beat traffic.

We hoped to leave today at 7 a.m. on the first leg of our Niagara Falls- Toronto-Ithaca trip. That’s after dawn, but before the morning commute. We planned to install the roof rack and luggage container on the car early yesterday evening and then load up the car.

A 7 a.m. departure is a major undertaking for a family that couldn’t get away for one trip until 6 p.m., some years back. Things have changed since then. My oldest son, 17, hates to leave late and is an ally in moving the family along. He is a big help with the roof rack/luggage container installation.

Who knows, maybe we might even sing at the top of our lungs as we head down the road. It could help me stay awake.

Have you ever tried to leave before dawn on a vacation trip? What was that like? 

Thursday morning we will set off on a family trip to Niagara Falls, then Toronto and on the way back, Ithaca. The last stop serves two purposes: to explore the Finger Lakes and to visit Binghamton University, known for many years as SUNY Binghamton.

My oldest son, 17, is entering his senior year in high school and it’s time to check out yet another college. Binghamton, the college’s brochure crows, is “the premier public university in the Northeast.”  OK, now how do I convince him to go there and how do we get him in. (Just kidding. I know, I’m supposed to let him decide.) 

Now this brings us to the title of this post. My oldest son cannot be 17. As best I can figure it, he is about 12. And my youngest son, who everyone including the calendar says is 12, can’t be more than seven, OK, maybe eight. I’m not talking about maturity or intelligence; I’m referring to kids-age-in-parents’-brain time, the time scale that moves along at a more reasonable pace. 

As best as I can tell, someone or some group is tampering with time. I suspect they are slipping anywhere from five to 10 seconds out of every minute – at least double that at night, which explains why I’m always tired.

At the risk of sounding a lot like my parents, their friends and my adult relatives when I was growing up - this parent thing is going way too fast.  So how old are your kids, and how old should they be?

You’ve heard about the toys with lead paint, the pet food with melamine, the toothpaste with antifreeze and the snacks with salmonella. Now comes news of clothing with formaldehyde. What do all these products have in common? They were either made in China or included ingredients from China. I am reporting a story on this topic and want to speak to you about whether you are changing your behavior. Contact me at jalterio@lohud.com or call 914-666-6189.

Can you keep a 3-year-old and a 9-year-old interested in the same movies? So far so good……. for now.

See, there’s going to be something of a hurdle here. My son’s movie resume, at 9, includes all of the Mel Brooks and Monty Python movies, both Ace Ventura movies, Caddyshack and a couple of others in that general genre that are, while goofy, slightly above the “kid movie” category. (We rented Stripes, and hope to watch it tonight when it’s just me and him) Anyway, you get the idea.

My girlfriend’s 3-year-old just isn’t going to sit through those. I think most 3-year-olds wouldn’t. And, in most cases, we wouldn’t let him anyway because of content. He also spends significantly less time in front of the TV than a lot of kids his age, which we see as a plus. But when we all want to watch a family movie, the question comes up: What will everyone like?

We have managed to find a few that both boys find interesting. Last night we picked out Dark Crystal, the old Jim Henson children’s adventure which both kids really liked. They also seem to enjoy some of the Pixar computer-animated movies, which are engaging enough for the 9-year-old and visually amusing enough for the 3-year-old.

Still, it’s a matter of time before we start to run out of ideas. When does Toy Story 3 come out?

Art, for kids, is not an abstract. It’s what they do — with finger paints, crayons, Play-Doh and even their mashed potatoes. And what are picture books, but page after page of wonderful illustrations that invite children to revel in the imaginative possibilities of art? As a mom, I want to inspire Pumpkin to delight in the art that she creates as well as the art of others. The first Baby Einstein DVD I bought was “Baby Van Gogh.” When “Starry Night” comes on the TV screen, it makes me happy to think the painting will be part of her visual lexicon — and I’m looking forward to taking her to see the original at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Our first museum trip was to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. While she certainly had a great time running around the vast galleries of 20th-century paintings and sculpture, I don’t know how much she absorbed. Our next step will be the cozier Katonah Museum of Art, which is just a few short miles from my home. The current exhibit, “Children Should Be Seen: The Image of the Child in American Picture-Book Art” is a natural for any child who has cracked open a book.

Today’s Questions & Parents feature, or Q&P for short, is with Neil Watson, executive director of the Katonah Museum of Art. Neil, a resident of Katonah, kindly offers his insight for introducing children to art museums — and gives useful tips on the best ways to make the experience pleasurable for everyone. (A full stomach is a must.) Neil also tells us what it’s been like to be a museum executive and the father of a 6-year-old art lover named Cleo. This picture below shows the pair in 2003 at the Museum of Glass, where Neil was chief curator. They are wearing goggles because they were on the floor with artists while they were blowing glass.

Q: People often think of art galleries and museums as places that are quiet and contemplative — not adjectives you’d use to describe the atmosphere around most kids. Do children belong there?

P: The Katonah Museum welcomes children and families. For each exhibition, our education department creates unique activities and projects for children as a way to engage in the art. These activities provide a way for children to channel their energy appropriately, to learn about looking at and seeing art and to have fun, which we hope translates into wanting to come back!

Q: What should a parent do if a fellow art patron seems unhappy with youthful exuberance?

P: Bringing children to a museum is similar to taking them out to eat at a restaurant or to a movie. If parents prepare their children for what is acceptable behavior in these settings, then half the battle is won. At the Katonah Museum, we have a dedicated learning center where parents and children can enthusiastically engage in coloring, drawing and creating their own art. And we have an outdoor sculpture garden where children can frolic should they get the urge.

Q: Is there an ideal age to start taking children to art galleries and museums? Does it depend on the museum? For example, the Museum of Modern Art versus the Metropolitan Museum versus a smaller venue like the Katonah Museum of Art?

P: Like people, each museum has a personality all its own. I think a museum that is the scale of the Katonah Museum is actually a terrific way to introduce youngsters to art viewing because it is not overwhelming and the exhibitions are designed to engage visitors of all ages.

Q: Is there a time of day that’s best to bring kids? How long should a visit be?

P: I think we all appreciate looking at art when we’re not tired or hungry, when we can focus our attention and engage. For some of us that’s earlier in the day — during the week we open at 10 — or after lunch. In the Learning Center on Saturdays, the museum has a free story time at 10:30. On Saturdays and Sundays at 1, there is a free “See and Do� art activity, so those are also good times for families to visit the museum.

Q: How can parents help their kids connect with the art in a museum?

P: One great thing parents can do is to prepare themselves before a visit is to take a look at a museum’s Web site and familiarize themselves with the exhibition they are going to see. Is it appropriate for children? Does their child have a special interest that the exhibition speaks to? For larger institutions, knowing things like where the bathrooms are or if there is a restaurant can be very helpful. Parents can even print out materials for their children to read or look at on the journey to the museum and allow their child to set the agenda for the visit.

Q: When did you introduce Cleo to art galleries and museums? Which have been her favorites and what has made the experiences special?

P: My wife, Jude, who is a writer, and I moved, with Cleo, in 2001 from West Palm Beach, Fla., to the Pacific Northwest, when Cleo was 6 weeks old. I was hired as the chief curator at the brand new, not-yet-opened Museum of Glass, in Tacoma, Wash. Cleo was going to gallery openings in Seattle by the time she was 4 months old. She attended the opening of the Museum of Glass in 2002 and has been going to galleries and museums ever since. Cleo does have a certain allegiance to the Katonah Museum, as she will point out, “Daddy, after all, I am a member.� And she is.

Cleo has always enjoyed the KMA’s Learning Center and the Sculpture Garden. While she has been to many museums, Cleo is partial to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and loves the Egyptian galleries specifically — it’s the mummies that get her, and, of course, the knights and armor galleries. Cleo and I went to the Met this past spring and we took the audio tour, which is self-guided, fun and educational — all in one. Not only did she like the hand-held audio hardware — and Cleo was very adept at plugging in the appropriate audio tour number — she also loved wearing the “ear muffs” (headphones). She was not content to listen to only the family tours that many objects have — she wanted to listen to the regular adult commentaries as well. And she listened to the entire explanation. She also likes the Museum of Modern Art, which, because of the large scale of many contemporary works of art, is fun for kids. The Museum of Natural History is just that, a natural for kids. I would have to say that Cleo truly loves all of the museum stores equally, and she shops!

Q: Have you explored other museums in the Lower Hudson Valley? If so, which are your favorites for kids, and why?

P: I think the Hudson River Museum does an excellent job with kids. The Neuberger Museum of Art is also a great institution, which is part of SUNY Purchase. Across the street from them is the PepsiCo outdoor sculpture park, and that is a great place for kids to run around and see magnificent outdoor sculpture. Although not in lower Westchester, Cleo had a great time at Dia Beacon, which is a 275,000-square-foot museum that was once a printing plant for Nabisco. Dia is a great outing for the entire family, even if you do not know about the art that Dia specializes in, specifically Minimalism from the later 20th century. The space is terrific, and the art is wonderful. It is less than an hour from Katonah. Not far from Dia is the Storm King Art Center, a unique sculpture park, that is primary site-specific, outdoor sculpture, and is just a great deal of fun and awe inspiring for all ages. They have an Andy Goldsworthy stone wall that disappears into a pond that enthralls everyone who sees it.

Q: Can you explain why your new exhibit — “Children Should Be Seen: The Image of the Child in American Picture-Book Art” — is a good one for children? Is there a particular age group that’s best?

P: There are so many ways for children to engage in the “Children Should Be Seen” exhibition. For many, this may be an opportunity to see original art work from some of their favorite story books. For others it may be a chance for them to understand all of the different ways art is made — paintings, collages, drawings, photographs. They may be inspired to write and illustrate their own stories after seeing this exhibition. And for this exhibition, we turned the museum’s Pryor Gallery into a comfy reading room where children can read many of the books that are featured in the exhibition. I think this exhibition appeals to children who are old enough to be read to, and up from there.

Q: How can children benefits from programs at the Katonah Museum of Art’s Learning Center?

P: The Katonah Museum Learning Center is always open for drop-in activities that enhance and expand a visit to the museum. Throughout the year, the museum offers regularly scheduled art classes for children ages 3 to 5, and for children in grades 1 through 5. For more than 20 years, we have hosted a Young Artists exhibition drawn from the work of high school students from Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam counties.

Thank you very much to Neil for sharing his knowledge by doing a Q&P! If you would like to be featured, or you know any parents who have expertise to share, please comment here on the blog or send me an e-mail at jalterio@lohud.com.

And, in case you missed them, here are links to earlier Q&P features. There are interviews with more than a dozen moms and dads, including a dog trainer dad, financial planner mom, writer mom, mathematician mom, baker mom, environmentalist mom, pediatric dentist mom and a couple of parents who are bicycle experts.

Consumer Reports has created a list of “Five things parents can do to avoid lead poisoning” and posted it on its safety blog. The magazine, which is based here in Yonkers, is responding to the worries of parents besieged by news reports about millions of toys recalled because of lead paint. Other kids’ products that might contain lead include jewelry, baby bibs, vinyl lunch boxes and clothing, Consumer Reports notes.