Houston Reads Day 2025 had over 425 volunteers together to read to nearly 17,000 kids across 39 elementary schools. Literacy Now’s Reading Intervention Program helps struggling readers catch up, and Houston Reads Day is a powerful way to bring attention to the issue while giving kids a positive experience with books.

If you have kids, you probably have clutter—clothes they’ve outgrown, toys they no longer play with, and baby gear taking up space. Instead of letting it pile up, why not turn it into cash? The Just Between Friends (JBF) Kids’ Consignment Pop-Up Events are coming to Pearland, Sugar Land, and Humble from Thursday to Saturday, offering parents a chance to buy and sell gently used children’s items.

A former HISD parent turned district advocate is raising alarms over Houston Independent School District's financial practices, particularly under Superintendent Mike Miles.

A Houston mother is speaking out after her daughter was prevented from using the restroom at school, leading to an accident that left her beyond humiliated.

With schools closed due to the extreme winter weather, we’ve got some ideas that will hopefully keep spirits high and entertain the little ones.

Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General said parental stress has become a public health issue. We wanted to get you some more tips on how to beat holiday burnout and get back into the swing of the New Year.

Ashley Ann Dixon, of Cypress, has been charged with abandoning her child after allegedly leaving her 2-year-old home alone for over two hours to visit a wine bar.

Dr. Shana D. Lewis, a licensed professional counselor and wellness coach, wants busy parents to know it’s ok to take a break and focus on yourself for a change. She recently shared some tips to help anyone power through stress on “Houston Life.”

Houston offers a variety of swim programs to address drowning risks, particularly among individuals with autism.

School bus cuts at Cy-Fair ISD are turning the morning and afternoon rush into a major headache for parents. From the mad dash to drop-off, to the scramble at pick-up, you have been sharing your frustrations with KPRC 2.

Parents, does your child’s school currently have functioning A/C? If not, please share the name of the school and the current classroom temperatures you're aware of.

If you want to ensure your voice is heard in Austin, here’s a simple guide to contacting your legislators.

As we go back to school a lot of focus turns to children’s wellbeing and mental health. According to the CDC, anxiety and depression affect almost 10% of kids 3 to 17 years old.

A big concern for many families in the Houston area is how to find affordable healthcare. Back-to-school time is often a busy time for parents looking for affordable care. KPRC 2′s Bill Spencer is looking for ways to help families save money on everything from dental visits to regular check-ups.

Experts say this year, just like everything else, it’s going to cost you more money to buy all that back-to-school gear. KPRC 2′s Bill Spencer is looking for brand new ways you can save money.

Surrogacy Escrow Account Management LLC or SEAM, and owner Dominique Side, has gone dark since mid-June when the company appears to have abruptly shut down and told clients legal actions forced operations to be placed on hold.

A surrogacy scheme is affecting people desperate to be parents across the United States and it’s all tied to Houston-based Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, LLC, or SEAM, which a Harris County lawsuit accuses of stealing more than $10 million.

A Houston-area parent has been detained by Harris County Constable deputies after two young children were left in a hot car.

📣 Fleming Middle School needs your involvement! Strong community support leads to student success, according to research. Drop a comment and let us know how you've been involved in your children's schools this year.🏫🎉 #FlemingMiddleSchool #CommunityEngagement #StudentSuccess #EducationMatters

Struggling to find affordable childcare in Houston? The YMCA is here to help! They're taking action to combat childcare deserts in the area, offering programs for kids of all ages. From early childcare centers to summer camps, they've got you covered. Learn more and get involved: #ChildcareDeserts #CommunitySupport #YMCAHouston

📢 Check out this eye-opening article on the childcare desert crisis in Houston. 🏢👶 It sheds light on the limited availability of quality childcare services in many areas, leaving parents with few options. 😢 Let's work together to address this pressing issue and ensure every child gets the care they deserve! 💪💙 [link] #ChildcareDeserts #Houston #Parenting #CommunityAction

Looking for activities to keep the kids busy indoors? Get them started on a fun DIY project for wintertime. It’s perfect for those chilly days when you can’t go outside and play.

Frontover deaths of children have grown significantly over the past decade as vehicle designs have changed and large trucks and SUVs have grown in popularity, according to one organization.

There’s no such thing as perfect parenting but there are safety measures parents can take after their little ones ingest a hazardous object.

Lindsay Naeder was saddened by the news that 5-year-old Los Jones had drowned in a retention pond Thursday.

Are you tired of your kids spending too much time on social media? A Houston area psychiatrist is handing out some healthy tips and explaining how the use of social media could be beneficial to some kids.

Kindergarten teachers in Taiwan have been accused of drugging their students, raising alarm among parents on the island.

The new program aims to support parents who work or attend school.

Don't be shy about sharing!

When tragedies such as school shootings happen, many parents begin to evaluate their own children’s safety at school, and some parents are now considering home-schooling.

The Texas Education Agency is hosting its first of four community meetings Tuesday night, nearly a week after the state announced it would move forward with a takeover of its largest school district.

You already know what illegal drugs like cocaine, opioids and marijuana look like, but have you seen the sneaky, new devices kids are using to hide drugs from their parents?

Fentanyl is a drug impacting every level of society, according to the special agent-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston office.

Disappointment, frustration, and desperation are all emotions some parents who attended a Barbers Hill ISD school board meeting expressed Monday night after being told they couldn’t speak about bullying.

I soon began to wonder what was the deal with this sport -- and why were people becoming so obsessed with it?

Indoor playgrounds are popular for children, and of course, parents. They are convenient places for kids to have fun, burn some energy, and spend some time with other children.

Mental and physical health support tops the list of Houston Independent School District student and parent needs, according to a new survey from Rice University Kinder Institute’s Houston Education Research Consortium.

Parents are expressing their frustration with Pearland High School for limiting the capacity of this year’s homecoming dance, which they said leaves a large part of the student population feeling excluded.

A report states that the price of raising children has increased significantly, and it is affecting parents’ decisions.

A proposal to revise HISD’s current charter school policy is drawing fire from parents, teachers and school board members.

During Robert “Rich” Richman’s short tenure, he oversaw the investigation of parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children and the mishandling of allegations of sex abuse at a foster care facility.

Humble ISD parents voiced concern about access to certain books in the district’s libraries and took their concerns to public comment in Tuesday’s board meeting.

The topic of classroom literature can’t seem to be bookmarked.

Harris County Precinct Four Constable’s Office in north Harris County is teaming up with six local districts to make sure students are safe this school year.

Parents, as you gear up to send your children back to school, it’s important to make sure they’re up to date with the current list of vaccinations mandated by the state of Texas.

Students getting ready to head back to school for the 2022-2023 school year will have to fill out an application – as families did before the pandemic – to qualify for free, reduced, or paid meals.

Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, explains how parents can channel those feelings into action.

The parents of a transgender teenager in Texas say in a lawsuit that the state is investigating them after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered officials to look into reports of gender-confirming care for kids as abuse.

Tuesday’s date is 2-22-22. While we’re seeing double, we thought, what a perfect day to acknowledge all of those who are twinning.

A Houston-based company has recalled two types of pacifiers after they presented a choking hazard to babies.

Attention, parents: You know what it’s like to ask your child, “How was your day?” For some, the response sometimes can be, “Fine.” Of course, many of you ask, “What did you do?” Their reply may be, “Nothing.”

Houston parents are starting to feel the struggle when it comes to buying their kids’ favorite toys this holiday season, and one report says many counterfeit or recalled toys have already made it to their shopping carts.

A Pre-K student in Montgomery ISD was dropped off at the wrong bus stop and then his mother says he got into a car with a stranger.

Katy Independent School District said they reinstated an award-winning children’s author books more than a week after parents claimed the subject matter promoted “critical race theory.”

Katy Independent School District said they have “temporarily” removed books by an award-winning children’s author from their library shelves after an outcry from parents claiming the subject matter promotes critical race theory.

Parents, siblings, and friends were emotional as they waited at a staging area at West Fuqua and Hiram Clarke to be reunited with students.

“We’ve seen a number of these happen here in Houston, especially in the areas that are thought of as a better school district,” said the vice-president of a consulting group in Houston.

With COVID-19 spreading throughout Conroe ISD so quickly, the district moved to Alert Level 4, which is the second-highest level and one level away from considering shutting down campuses and even the entire district.

Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas, announced Thursday that it will now offer a virtual learning option for students who are too young to be vaccinated or immunocompromised.

Back to school time is among us, and with many schools opting for in-person classes, the bustle is back.

Local non-profit, Justice for Children (JFC), announces the release of a Child Abuse Safety Planning Video, a long-needed primer for protective parents and caregivers on reporting abuse and what to do in the aftermath.

School starts in a few days and COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise. KPRC 2 spoke to parents about students about the possibility of having to wear masks at school.

The first Houston area school districts to welcome students back this fall will not offer virtual learning, blaming the legislature for not providing funding during the special session.

Houston-area parents are looking forward to send their children back to school in-person, and help is coming for those who need a boost.

HOUSTON – A local nonprofit hoped to empower local parents who may be struggling this holiday season. The Forge for Families hosted the Holly Jolly Toy Store to offer a chance for parents to shop for new discounted gifts for their families with the focus of giving parents dignity, honor and respect. Their gym was filled with hundreds of new toys and gift cards from churches and people all over the country. “[The gifts] have all been significantly discounted so what might normally cost them $100 at the store would only cost them $25 tonight,” Thomas said. “I already know when my son sees PJ Masks, he’s going to be super excited,” Warren said with a smile.

HOUSTON – Halloween is not only a holiday for parents to dress up their kids, it’s also a chance for them to dress up their fur babies too! And we know that our pooches may not be thrilled with the idea of getting into costume, but who can resist a good CAT BAT, pup skeleton or Freddy Krueger? If you’re still deciding on what your pet should be for Halloween, just know that you’re among the estimated 29 million people planning to dress up their pets this year. That’s why we’ve put together 5 of the most popular costume choices according to Google searches. Star Wars Ewok1.

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida couple is facing child abuse charges after one of their children set a mattress on fire to escape the “deplorable” conditions of their bedroom. The sheriff’s office initially responded to the home Monday morning after reports of an arson in progress. When deputies arrived, they discovered one of the couple’s children had set fire to their mattress in order to escape their bedroom. “What these individuals did was just evil,” said Sheriff Nocco. “Pictures will never give justice to what this child went through, you don’t see the bugs and you’ll never feel the emotional neglect he felt,” said Sheriff Nocco.

HOUSTON – A tool for new parents is now being used by doctors in the fight against the coronavirus. Baby monitors can be a comfort or added stress to new parents. There’s a variety of baby monitors for parents to choose from, such as a monitor that goes on the baby, often the foot, and connect to the wireless cameras and monitors, which will alert the parents if a baby’s breathing is irregular. The hope is that such baby monitors will help parents monitor their children in their sleep and help eliminate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It’s another tool that’s been tough to come by during the pandemic but they’re starting to come back.

The agency has fast-tracked the onboarding of more than 300 labs to provide testing data as quickly as possible, Anton said. Question: Whats the effect of the backlog and the later data dump from a public health standpoint? However, there are relatively few positive TB tests, and there's no expectation that you report negative tests, only the positive ones. Second factor: the poor analysts at the state, they're getting data feeds from I think 600 different laboratories across the state. So I think we're going to see a surge, I think we'll see a surge of positive cases in the next 10 days to two weeks.

HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District will start the 2020-2021 school year on Sept. 8 with all students learning in a virtual classroom. Parents will have the option to choose online-only classes through the end of January or through the end of the school year. Parents will receive a phone call from the district on Aug. 24 to choose whether they would like either on-campus or virtual learning for their students. Once in-person learning begins, all employees and students will be screened each day before entering any HISD building. When fans are allowed back, they will be encouraged to purchase tickets online and will undergo screenings at the venue.

HOUSTON – HISD is asking for parent feedback as they prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. The survey was first announced last Thursday, which allows parents and teachers a chance to provide feedback on distance learning and possible reopening scenarios once school begins in August. Possible reopening scenarios include face-to-face classes with reduced seating, continuing with distance learning, or hybrid learning. The survey asks questions about each child’s learning experience with distance learning during the school closure in the spring. To learn more about the 2020-2021 school year plan, click here.

I asked Halim and Gaither how children form racist attitudes and what parents can do to keep them from becoming racist. And everyone belongs to some groups -- race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, occupation, college affiliation, religion, neighborhood, even your favorite sports team. What you can deconstruct are those automatic, implicit, instantaneous and often negative associations with racial groups that are different than our own. Gaither: Parents need to have friends of different races and ethnicities. Halim: I think it's also important to remember that other racial groups can have biases as well.

HOUSTON – Parents have been struggling for months to keep their children entertained at home. So Wednesday’s reopening of the Houston Zoo provided a welcome distraction for many families. It was a big turnout on the zoo’s first day back open. KPRC 2 reporter Taisha Walker got an inside look at the zoo. Houston Zoo says it could have reopened weeks ago but chose to wait and make sure all the right safety precautions were in place.