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Carol Brooks Ball

Carol Brooks Ball
Carol Brooks Ball lives with her husband, son, and daughter outside Boston.The family also includes two adored golden retrievers, Brooksie and Hazel, and one crazy cat named Marty. Brooks Ball is an award-winning journalist and editor, having received two prestigious Investigative Reporting Awards and several General Excellence Awards from the New England Newspaper and Press Association during her lengthy career in news journalism.


SchoolFamilycom and Meal Makeover Moms Present Healthier Mealtime Choices—And a Special Offer

Sep 18, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Recipe Share
“Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?” Deciding what to make for dinner is a challenge in many households with young children, especially on busy weeknights. With school the next day, kids need a nutritious evening m... Read more
Paying Kids for Grades: Bribery or Good Investment?

Sep 12, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Grades
“Hey kids: I’ll give you $50 for that A!” Have you ever paid your kids for getting good grades? It’s a controversial practice to some who argue that it’s akin to bribing kids for studying hard an... Read more
How To Discuss the Tragedy in Colorado With Your Children

Jul 21, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Social and Emotional Development, Grief, Anxiety
Dear SchoolFamily.com readers, With news of the shooting tragedy in Colorado, our hearts are heavy and our condolences and thoughts go out to all affected by this dreadful event. One of the toughest things parents can face is... Read more
Does Your Smartphone Double As a Baby Toy?

Jul 02, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Smartphone Apps, Preschool
File this under “What will they think of next?” We all know that smartphones are hugely popular. (Some of us have them and wouldn’t be without them, Yours Truly included.) And we generally know that apps for... Read more
Mother Arrested For Cheering Graduating Daughter, But There's More To the Story

Jun 06, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in High School
A mother who says all she did was cheer for her daughter as the young woman graduated from high school last Saturday was arrested during the commencement ceremony and charged with disorderly conduct. Sounds like the mother&rs... Read more
Facebook: Okay For 13-Year-Olds and Younger?

Jun 05, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Social Media
Word leaked this week that Facebook may be lifting its policy banning kids 13 and younger from opening an account, adding to the social media titan’s already registered 900 million monthly users. The accounts for kids ... Read more
Teacher's "Catastrophe Award" to 3rd Grader Stuns, Angers Mother

Jun 01, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Teachers, Elementary School, 3rd Grade
If the teacher who recently presented an 8-year-old student with a special “Catastrophe Award,” which was delivered to the child in front of the child's entire 3rd grade class, thinks this was funny, I think the t... Read more
First Lady's 'American Grown' Book Promotes Family, School Gardens

May 30, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Recipe Share, Nutrition, Gardening
Do your kids dislike most vegetables and some fruits? If so, have you ever considered helping your children grow their own produce by seeding, watering, weeding, and then harvesting their own garden?  First Lady Michelle... Read more
Should Your Child's School Have the Right to See Her Facebook Page?

May 22, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Social Media, Middle School
Pam Broviak of Illinois made headlines recently when she blogged about how officials at her daughter’s school forced the middle-schooler to show them comments on her Facebook page last fall, allegedly because another st... Read more
Bullied Gay Teen Defends Himself At School Using Stun Gun Mom Gave Him

May 09, 2012 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in SchoolFamily.com, Parenting, High School, Bullying
Parents, what do you think about this story? A young Indianapolis teenager, who is openly gay and has been repeatedly bullied at school, was given a stun gun by his mother to protect himself.   And when the young man, Da... Read more