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LAST WEEK'S STORY in our Being Young in Rural Alaska reporting series addressed the need for more childcare in some rural Alaska hubs and towns. In other rural Alaska villages, jobs are scarce and unemployment is high, so there may not be much demand for full-time childcare. But there is still a need for early education programs, to make sure children are ready for school when the time comes.

Rural Cap operates Head Start programs in many Alaska communities: some are half-day or full-day programs, and some are home visit programs. During home visits, Head Start staff watch how kids are developing and reaching milestones, play games with them, and answer questions for parents. In those communities, Head Start also hosts “group socials” to get all the families together.

Jessica Cochran attended a group social in Saint Mary’s and spoke with program manager Bay Johnson and some of the parents there.

THIS WEEK'S KTD is all about standardized tests - how often is your child assessed in school and what do those tests mean? Well, if your student is an anxious test taker, those assessments may not measure what they really know.

Our own Dr. KTD, Anchorage pediatrician Michelle Laufer, has some tips for helping students through test anxiety.

Pediatrician, Michelle Laufer, M.D. practices in Anchorage and is the author of Anchorage With Kids: Family Fun in the Snow or Sun.

Check out previous Dr. KTDs on Nightmares, Bed Bugs, Taking Medication and what to ask your pediatrician about Kids and Mental Health.    

SCHEDULING SEX IS something that many busy couples will do in order to keep the intimacy going amid the hectic pace of living an everyday life, working, raising kids.

But, says guest Chris Reynolds, for those with performance anxiety, knowing that the "appointment" is coming up is not necessarily something to look forward to...

Cases of severe postpartum depression are just one of the reasons for Infant Safe Haven laws. Alaska’s Safe Haven law was passed in 2008, one of the last enacted in the country. Under the law, parents can leave infants up to 21 days old at a safe location like a fire station or hospital without fear of being prosecuted. When they leave the infant, they may be asked if they are giving up their child willingly, and terminating parental rights. And they may be asked for identifying information but they’re not required to provide it.

According to the state Department of Health and Social Services, no infants in Alaska have been dropped off under the Safe Haven law. That doesn’t surprise former state representative Gabrielle LeDoux (Kodiak) who sponsored the legislation...

Listen to the full story below...

Originally featured on the Competition & Youth Sports show.

Kids who compete in sports require a lot of support as any soccer mom or basketball dad knows - rides to and from practice, nutritious meals and the financial considerations of uniforms and travel. Coaches, too, provide a lot of support in the form of training and encouragement to their athletes.

Hear more about the importance of parents and coaches in the below, web extra clips (both after the jump):

1. Coaches.mp3 - So, how DO coaches get hired by schools and what makes a good coach? Gary Matthews of the ASAA explains... (2:36)

2. SportParents.mp3 - Matthews and Michael Josephson discuss the important support that parents provide to their athlete-kids... (6:46)

Attorney, Steve Pradell, our guest on Tuesday's Family Law 101 show, had a lot of practical and helpful advice didn't you think?

Well, we have even more to share! In the FOUR audio clips (all can be found after the jump) learn about:

1. Alaska law and child support, and how it affects PFDs. (1:43)

2. More than half of the cases that come through Alaska's court systems are family law cases - learn more about the judges and the uniquely Alaskan cases seen in our court system. (5:52)

3. What can be done, legally, when one parent is absent from the life of a child? And adopting the child of your significant other. (5:08)

4. What are some of the emerging issues in Alaska family law? - Grandparents as parents, parental consent, etc... (1:47)

Every year the Anchorage School District puts on an alternative fair. During this event all the (you guessed it!) alternative programs are featured - from optional schools to charter schools to language immersion. Linda Carlson, Director of Elementary Education for the ASD explains what parents can expect to learn.

Here are two additional clips from this week's show on School Choice. Missy DeRivera, a teacher with the Chugach Homeschool Program, explains how their curriculum's "Standards Based System" works, and how technology is being incorporated into homeschooling.

Both clips are after the jump (to listen click "Read more...")

We knew that Tuesday's guest, Dr. Susan Newman, would be able to aptly answer all sorts of questions about love and family relationships because she has - literally - written the book. (Actually, 15 of them...)

In the below clip she talks about some of the topics her titles have covered, and why she wrote the books in the first place.

Listener Caryn wrote in with a question for our guest, Dr. Susan Newman on the Love and Family Relationships show:

I am interested in whether your guest on the Love and Relationships show might be able to speak to the topic of long distance Grandparenting. How can you stay close and really have a relationship with your grandchildren, if there are thousands of miles that separate you? I think there are many people in Alaska with this situation.

Thanks, Caryn! Dr. Newman's response is below...