Parents and educators are always trying to spark student participation whether it's in the classroom, in the local community, or throughout the world.  When middle-school students at Allison Academy in North Miami Beach were asked what they could do to improve their country, they focused on what they understood – bullying, violence and racism.

Those problems are all rooted in the same issues, says Rachel Albert, author of "Quest to Telos," (www.QuestToTelos.com), a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible.  "They stem from a lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility," she says.

"Children who choose to put those values into practice are actively working toward peace. But they can only put into practice what they've learned; instilling those values may seem simple, but many parents miss the mark and actually model the opposite."  Throwing money at social problems like racism or violence doesn't resolve them, Albert says.  But children can.

"The energy from kids' excitement can make a real difference and we need their energy focused right here at home," says the mother of four. "They see problems; it's up to us to give them the tools to address them."  The following tips can help parents teach their children personal integrity and social responsibility, giving them the keys to world peace.

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The Digest Diet utilizes groundbreaking science and collective wisdom to help you lose weight quickly and safely.  Reader’s Digest editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello expertly analyzes and condenses decades of research to select the best information to explain how eating, exercise and environment can be both FAT INCREASERS and FAT RELEASERS.

In the book, Liz provides two slimming shake recipes that are great for breakfast or even a pick me up for the afternoon.  The shakes are packed with FAT RELEASERS and are minimally sweet to keep you from getting hungry too soon.  Go ahead, pick your favorite shake and stick with it for simplicity, or if you’re feeling adventurous, plan a different flavor combo for every day.  Keep reading to learn more and sample two of these delicious recipes!

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Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7th through May 11th!

An apple for teacher is a time-honored tradition, but this year, why not take teacher's favorite fruit and create something special (and delicious!) during Teacher Appreciation Week with Tree Top's Apple-Dapple Cake.

This moist, not-too-sweet cake is a perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack, which will help tide teachers over through the craze of the school day. As an added bonus, it's fun and easy for kids to make, with supervision, of course.

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According to the World Health Organization, roughly one in six couples will struggle with infertility and about 70 percent of them will turn to fertility drugs or in vitro-fertilization. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Many couples struggling to achieve pregnancy can conceive naturally by following some simple guidelines before resorting to expensive and potentially hazardous fertility medications," said Dr. Amos Grunebaum, a double board certified OB/GYN based in New York City. "Infertility can increase stress among couples and, unfortunately, often times leads them to prematurely opt for fertility drugs or IVF. In many cases, fertility can be improved and pregnancy can be achieved naturally by following some simple steps."

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What's the best time for children to learn the love of reading?  Better World Books agrees with me -- the sooner the better.  That's why I wanted to spread the word about Children's Book Week, the national celebration of reading for youth that is celebrated from May 7th through May 13th.

The observance (administered by Every Child A Reader and sponsored by the Children’s Book Council) honors the life-changing potential of a book, especially during a young person's formative years.

Here are a few ways to celebrate for Children's Book Week (and all year long!):

• Buy a book from BetterWorldBooks.com.  With every book purchased, they donate a book to someone who needs it.  The vast majority of donations goes to Books for Africa and Feed the Children.
• Pick out one of your favorite books from childhood and introduce it to your kid at bedtime.
• Spend some time at your local library.  Even a few minutes here and there in our busy schedule will help instill a lifelong love of books.
• Pen your own children's book to read to your kids.  Have them also write their own to read to you, too!
• Pick out 5 books, either from your own collection or from a book store, to donate to literacy campaigns throughout the world.  (Better World Books is a great example of one such outlet)

Better World Books is also reducing the price on a huge selection of used children's books.  Shop their Children's Book Week sale selection and get 3 used books for $9, and any additional used books for $3 each.

Children's Book Week kicks off Monday, and ends on May 13th.  So let's get reading!

Spring is officially here, which means it's time to give your home a good "spring cleaning!"  Dr. Sears, pediatrician and co-host of the Emmy Award-winning syndicated daytime talk show THE DOCTORS shares some valuable tips on how to spruce up, clean up and have fun getting the house in order.  You may be shocked to learn about the following germ-infested areas in your house.  Make sure to really clean and disinfect the following areas well:

• Kitchen floor around the sink – When washing dishes, contaminated water can splash around and get on the floor, accumulating more bacteria than inside the kitchen trashcan!  Make sure to wipe down the floor and toss kitchen mats in the washing machine once a week.
• Cutting board – Your ordinary cutting board can be host to more than 200 times the bacteria than a toilet seat.  Choose non-porous boards (plastic, not wood), and make sure to wash them thoroughly with soap and hot water.
• Shelves and drawers in the fridge – These small spaces can be petri dishes for food contaminants like E. coli, salmonella and listeria.  Make sure to wash them thoroughly, especially the areas where meat and cheese are stored.
• Computer keyboard – This everyday tool is host to five times more dirt than the toilet seat!  Wipe it down with antibacterial spray – same with the computer mouse, TV remote and light switches around the house.
• Bathroom faucet handles – This germ trap carries more bacteria than the keyboard, mouse, remote and light switches combined.  Make sure to clean it a few times a week, especially with children and/or house guests around.
• Toilet paper roll dispenser – Not surprisingly, since the dispenser is used before hands are clean, it can get contaminated quickly and has 100 times more bacteria than the toilet.