Note: Family Matters was discontinued at the end of 2007.
The Family Matters newsletters from ISU Extension offer parenting tips, nutrition advice, and other ideas from ISU Extension Families Field Specialists. In this issue: The ABCs of Love, Online Home Buyer Education, High-Risk Loans: Tax Refund Anticipation in November, Talking Turkey, Easy Ways to Downsize Portions, Lighten Up Iowa, Iowa's Food Deserts
Current Issue: November/December 2007
Previous Issues
September/October 2007
- Reading Readiness Starts Early
- Make Coupons Work for You
- Protect Your Home
- Save on Legal Fees
- 100 Calorie Snacks
- Tailgating
- Healthy Brown Bag Lunches
- Breakfast Breaks the Fast
July/August 2007
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Cooking and playing with kids
- Avoiding money order scams
- Raising kids with love and limits
May/June 2007
- Are You Getting Ahead?
- Retirement Readiness
- Myths of Hand Washing
- Does USDA Organic Seal on Food Packages Mean More Nutritional Food?
- Energy Drinks: Gain or Lose?
- Geriatric Assessment Tool Valuable for Well-being of Elderly
- Negotiating the Step-parent Role
- Power Struggles Take Two
March/April 2007
- Live 100% Fad Free
- Measure Your Health Risk
- Fill Easter Baskets with Activity
- Using Your Credit Cards More?
- Cancelling Credit Cards?
- Credit Score Update
- Lifelong Patterns of Relating Influence Decision-Making
- Is it Grief, Physical Illness or Depression?
- Talk to Your Teen about Driving
January/February 2007
- Approaches to Raising Children
- Team Up to Lighten Up
- What are Trans Fats?
- Specifics about E.coli 0157:H7
- Hand Washing Makes a Difference
- New Year is Time to Start Something New - Financially
November/December 2006
- November-December Financial Traditions
- Making Food Ahead
- Steps to a Healthier You
- Slow Cooker Dressing
- Help Children Deal with Stress
- Say "Yes" to Family Mealtime
September/October 2006
- Eat to Compete
- An Apple a Day...
- Breakfast - Why and How
- Marriage Burn Out or Burn On?
- Start Positive Communication with Your Child's Teacher
- How Much Should You Save?
- PowerPay(R) Debt Analysis
July/August 2006
- Video Games: Parents Beware!
- Repair or Replace?
- Sales Tax Holiday
- Summertime C
- Rasberry Smoothie
- High Potassium Foods
- Outdoor Summer Grilling
May/June 2006
- Conquer Family Over-scheduling
- Teens Benefit from Parents' "follow through"
- Finding Extra Money
- Safe Food Preservation
- 100 Calorie packs
- Do Salads Help You Lose Weight?
March/April 2006
- March is National Nutrition Month
- Crackers
- Counting Calories?
- Wine is Good - Grape Juice even Better
- Consumer Lessons from Natural Disasters
- Child Act Fast...So do Poisons!
- Family First
- Create Peace: Stop Yelling
January/February 2006
- Join Lighten Up Iowa
- Finding Calories on Food Product Labels
- What Should I Order?
- Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund
- Let the Kids Paint
- Caregivers Must Take Care of Themselves
November/December 2005
- MyPyramid for Kids
- Food Safety for Power Outages
- Gaining Muscle
- Tis the Season to Give
- What is Your Child Learning this Holiday?
- Holiday Tips for Caregivers
- Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
- Holiday Spending Motto
September/October 2005
- Television: Who has the "Controls"?
- Credit Card Minimum Payments: Good News and Bad News
- Guard Your Home Equity
- What's for Lunch?
- Personalized Food Pyramid
- Apples, Apples, Apples!
- ISU Extension Needs Your Help
July/August 2005
- Lower Cancer Risks
- Join in SHARE Iowa
- Take Your Burgers' Temperature
- Food Preservation/Canning Web sites
- Financial Tips for Travelers
- Watch Your Mail - New Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Information Coming
- Reclaim Family Time
- Create Special Couple Time
- Help Older Iowans Age in Place
May/June 2005
- The New Food Guide Pyramid
- Dealing with Rising Gasoline Costs
- Kid's Summer Money School
- Avoid the Great Escape when Traveling with Children
- Helping Children Apologize in a Meaningful Way
- Summer Bubble Fun
March/April 2005
- Coaching Kids Towards Emotional Intelligence
- America Saves
- Plan for Family Summer Fun
- When Working Teens Save
- Iowa Concern Web site
- New Dietary Guidelines
- Serve Eggs Safely at Easter
January/February 2005
- Making Memories
- Dealing with Disappointment
- Strive for Five in 2005
- Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
- Which Soaps to Use
- Antiviral Tissues
- Time for a New Furnace
- Earned Income Tax Credit
November/December 2004
- Surviving the Holiday Roller Coaster
- The Big Thaw
- How Many Apples
- Ten Ways to Survive Post Holiday Financial Stress
September/October 2004
- Kids and Allowances
- Easing Bedtime Battles
- Pack a Safe Wholesome Lunch
- How to Parent a College Student
- Caring for a Late Summers Bounty
- The Peel Deal
July/August 2004
- What's So Great About Family Dinner
- It's All in the Scrubbing
- Burger Facts
- Quick Fit
- Sun Screen - What to Buy
- Medicare Prescription Cards - Review of Key Points
- Pre-college Insurance Check-up
- Retirement Savings - Are You Over Confident
May/June 2004
- Child Care Lasts a Lifetime - Make Sure it is Quality Care
- Managing Feelings
- Make Quick Foods Healthy
- Time-saving Tips for Quick Meals
- Eat Your Colors Every Day
- Medicare Changes
March/April 2004
- Thinking of Buying a Home
- Protect Yourself in Rental Agreements
- Why all the Concern about Brain Development
- Plan Ahead for Successful Travel with Children
- Making the Most of Your Relationship
- March is National Nutrition Month
- Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day
- Web sites for Current Nutritional Information
January/February 2004
- Life Stories - Connect with Future Generations
- Quick Refund - A High Cost and High Risk Loan
- Web Search Results
- Points to Ponder before buying Supplements
- Keep Kids Active
November/December 2003
- Let's Talk Turkey
- Helpings & Servings - What is the Difference
- Comparison Shopping Pays Off
- Important Holiday Paperwork
- Family Traditions - Holiday Help or Hindrance
- Water Needs Vary with Size
September/October 2003
- Six Steps to Reducing Marketing Contacts
- September is National Food Safety Month
- Tips for the College Student
- Tips for Parenting in Step Families
- Temper Tantrums - What is a Parent to Do
- Key Skills Open the Door to Marital Success
July/August 2003
- Summer Stress: Diffuse Your Anger when the Kids Overload Your Circuit
- Involve Children In Community Service
- Probiotics - "Good" Bacteria
- Have the New Blood Pressure Guidelines Raised Your Blood Pressure?
- Mosquito Repellents
- Vacation Time: Credit Card Blocking
- Financial Fraud: Test Your Knowledge
May/June 2003
- Prepare Now for Sudden Emergencies
- Make Menu Planning for Spring Events Easier
- Surgeon General Says Physical Inactivity is Hazardous to Your Health
- New Project Can Help You Save
- When Working Teens Save...
- Families: Plan for Summer Fun
- Iowa Concern Launches New Web Site
- Learn, Have Fun, and make Happy Memories During Family Vacations
- How to Pick Walking Shoes
- Help Keep Kids Safe on Home Playground Equipment
March/April 2003
- Helping Children Say "I'm Sorry"
- Activities for Infants
- Remodeling? Think Long-term!
- When Not to Use a Debit Card
- New Federal Health Privacy Regulation
- March is National Nutrition Month
- New Pyramid to debut in 2005
- Healthy Eating on the Run
January/February 2003
- What's Your Wealth?
- Keep Your Cool
- 2003 New Year's Resolution
- Holiday Bills?
- Save Today for Future Gift Giving
- Stretching a Dollar
- Family Mealtime
- Keep Children Buckled Up
- What's Taking the Place of Physical Activity?
- Family First in 2003
November/December 2002
- Holiday Credit
- Co-signing a Loan
- Learning to Read
- Establishing New Relationships: Step-Grandparents
- Fostering a Positive Body Image in Girls
- Lighten Up Iowa
- Useful Website: http://www.students.gov
- Turkey Basics: The Big Thaw
September/October 2002
- Sizing Up Group Participation
- Financial Security in Later Life
- Finding Dollars to Invest
- 2001 Credit Card Usage Analysis
- Healthy Teen Training in October
- A Serving of Food
- Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Walking
- East Smart When Eating Out
July/August 2002
- Water: The Forgotten Nutrient
- New Farm Bill
- Is Celery Nutritious Calorie Burner?
- Supplements to Burn Fat
- Organizing Documents: A Key to Family Communication
- Farmer's Markets - Everyone Wins!
- Consolidating Student Loans
- Summer Financial Skill-Building
- Financial Website for Kids: http://www.themint.org
- Avoid the "Great Escape" when Traveling with Children
- Play is a Child's Work
Deb; Meridith
9/2/2008