Are children ever too young to take swimming lessons? Until recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics indicated that children under the age of 4 were not "developmentally ready" for swimming lessons for the purpose of teaching water safety and preventing drowning. That stance has recently changed, however!

Your school-age child may have the summer off from school, but most likely you don't have the same time off work. That begs the question: Is your child old enough to stay home alone? A lot depends on the age and maturity of your child and how long your child will be left home alone. After all, a quick dash to the convenience store is one thing; having your child stay home alone every day while you work is quite another.

Teen and tween babysitters are all-too willing and able to watch your children this summer, but judging from recent comments babysitting jobs are far and few between. If you're looking for an inexpensive way to provide your children with entertainment or to have some "me time" apart from the kids, you may need to look no further than at an eager--and sometimes even experienced--teenager in your own neighborhood!

Continued downsizing, layoffs, and tight family budgets are creating a power shift when it comes to nanny jobs. While nannies continue to perform a quality and often beloved child care service to families, many of the perks and excesses that were provided along with a nice salary are coming to an end. And struggling working parents say it's about time.