 Sixteen years ago this month, we in New York's Capital Region and the rest of the world watched in horror as terrorists attacked the United States. Unfortunately, terrorist attacks continue around the world today, and our children are exposed to those images, even as much as we try to shield them.
At some point, we all need to talk to our children about terrorism – even from our safe homes in Troy or Albany or Clifton Park. Here are some tips on how to discuss the topic of terrorism, or other uncomfortable topics in the news, with your children, inspired by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
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 OK, so Mother Nature isn’t exactly cooperating on the first day of fall.
Instead of cooler temperatures and a brisk breeze, the forecast calls for summer-like temperatures for the next week. Still, every week in this space we’re going to bring you Friday Fun -- tips of great things to do with your kids. Let’s get started!  As parents, we always want to expose our children to experiences that will benefit them in both the short and long term.
We take them to the libraries or places like the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady or the Via Aquarium in Rotterdam or the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar to learn and see new things. But how about the experience of youth sports? The fields of the Capital Region, from Bethlehem to Ballston Spa, are filled with youngsters playing football, soccer, field hockey and fall baseball these days. Is that right for your child? The perils of youth sports are in the news these days with all the talk of concussions in football. Still, youth sports can be a huge positive for both boys and girls as they grow up. Some of the benefits:  Dog. Man’s best friend.
But a dog, or a cat, or any number of pets can be the best friend of a little boy or a little girl, too. Your child might be clamoring for a pet. And the idea is growing on you, as you envision all the fun your family can have watching a pup prance around your backyard or at one of many fabulous dog parks in the Albany area, such as the Normanskill Farm Dog Park or the Town of Bethlehem Dog Park. But how do you know if your family -- and you -- are ready for the responsibility of a pet? Here are some questions to ponder, and research, before you take the plunge into pet parenthood, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association:
 That annual rite of every school year is just around the corner for elementary school students: school picture day.
School pictures are wonderful mementoes of childhood and make great holiday gifts for grandparents. So why do the words “school picture day” cause moms so much stress? Because we want the perfect picture. In reality, the perfect picture is the one that perfectly captures our kids at that stage of life. A cowlick that just won’t lay down? Adorable. Missing front teeth? Even more adorable! Follow these tips, gleaned from the pros, to get your little one as ready as possible for those annual pictures. Then, let the photographers who work in the schools throughout Troy, Albany, Guilderland, Clifton Park -- and the whole Capital Region -- do what they do best.  Our TSL Adventures family, like the rest of the nation, has watched in sadness as families in Texas and Florida struggle in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Irma. Our thoughts continue to be with them. And while the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area doesn’t face the same threat of hurricanes as the Gulf Coast or the same threat of earthquakes as the Pacific Coast, we aren’t immune to emergency situations. Remember the ice storm of December 2008, which left 300,000 utility customers in the Capital Region without power? Because of incidents like that one, every household should have an emergency kit. And what better time to assemble it than now, when the sun is still shining, before the temperatures drop and without the distractions of the holidays that are just around the corner. Take a few hours to put together your kit. You have many of the necessities in your home already. Get the kids to help! Here’s what the Department of Homeland Security suggests you include in your kit. Remember to place your items in airtight plastic bags -- those vacuum-sealed large travel bags work great -- and store them in containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag that are easy for you to carry. The basics
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