All results / Stories / Marilyn Campbell
‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’
Starting conversations about gun safety can help prevent play date tragedies.
Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent.

Making the Grade
Local school officials offer strategies for strengthening study habits.
When Jackie Jackson’s son brought home his report card recently, the Centreville mother of three was shocked. "His grades had fallen to an unacceptable level," said Jackson
Your Discards, Their Treasure
Handheld devices keep older people in contact with healthcare providers, family and friends.
On a recent summer morning, a group of college students gathered to sort and sanitize handheld devices ranging from smartphones to tablets.
Journey, Interrupted
Mental Health Month raises awareness about conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Donna couldn’t smile. Overwhelmed by the activities of her daily life, she couldn’t concentrate or experience happiness.
Raising Awareness about Mental Health Issues
Mental Health Month raises awareness about conditions such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Donna couldn’t smile. Overwhelmed by the activities of her daily life, she couldn’t concentrate or experience happiness.

Tips for Memorable Family Vacations
As summer gets underway, vacation-bound families are packing their bags and heading out of town. Vacations often fly by — months of planning and anticipating can be over in the blink of an eye. With a little advanced planning and forethought, however, even a quick weekend trip or a visit to relatives can become meaningful and memorable.

Keeping the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving
Focusing on gratitude on a day reserved for feasting.
"Pilgrims," said James, 5, as his mother helped him fasten his helmet for a hockey lesson at the Cabin John Ice Rink near Potomac. "Turkey and pie," said his 6-year-old classmate Aiden. Both boys were responding to a question about the meaning of Thanksgiving.
Wellbeing: A Schedule Can Anchor Your Day
How creating a daily routine can ease anxiety during times of uncertainty
Her days were overwhelmingly stressful.

From Colonial History to Future Entrepreneurs
Campers can explore diverse interests in specialty summer camps.
This summer dozens of elementary school-aged children will travel back in time to the Colonial Era where, among other things, they’ll learn to spin cotton into cloth for garments.

Wellbeing: Diffusing Holiday Drama
Sanity-saving strategies to get us through the not-so-silent holiday nights.
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Helping Children Improve Their Writing
Practical suggestions for boosting skills
When Stacie Dougherty read an essay that her seventh grade son wrote for a Language Arts writing assignment, she became concerned.
Healthy Cooking with Children
Local foodies say cooking with children can establish a lifetime of healthy habits.
From creating dough for freshly baked bread to squeezing lemons for a neighborhood lemonade stand, Michael Roll enjoys spending time in the kitchen with his children transforming ordinary food into nutritious culinary creations, particularly during the summer. He says that when parents cook healthy meals with their children they model behavior that can last a lifetime.

Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.
Planning for Summer Camp
Local camp fairs help families navigate the maze of summer camp offerings.
In an effort to confront religious intolerance, a group of local middle school students will attend a camp aimed at bringing together children from different religions and giving them the chance to come together, make new friendships, visit houses of worship, learn about other traditions and practice dialogue to confront Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.
McLean Author Launches New Book
Rebecca Shambaugh shows how organizations can harness the collective strengths of both men and women to create stronger businesses.
Try functioning without half of your brain. You might not be able to remember anything. You might not be able to drive. You might not be able to walk or talk. Now imagine a business that operates using only half its brainpower. It’s destined to fail.
Seniors Join Protests for Racial Injustice
Remembering the past to inform the future.
Long before there was a Black Lives Matter movement and smart phones that captured police brutality on video, and long before throngs of people filled streets around the world to protest racial injustice, there were smaller crowds of pioneers fighting to tear down barriers imposed by Jim Crow laws.
Taking Care of One’s Teeth
American Dental Association says many Americans don’t know basic oral care.
Here’s a pop quiz: How often should a person replace their toothbrush? "Once a year," said Terrie Andrews of McLean.
Off to the Movies
Mason professor has unconventional method of teaching complex concepts.
An Arlington resident and George Mason University professor has an unconventional way of helping her students master complex concepts and evaluating their proficiency: She requires them to watch movies.
Removing a Barrier to Pomp and Circumstance
Gowns for Grads program at George Mason provides regalia for needy graduates.
When Muntaha Choudhary walks across the stage during George Mason University’s graduation ceremony this May she will celebrate not only her bachelor’s degree, which has been eight years in the making, but also the fact that she is the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Swimming Lessons: Choosing a School and Instructor
There are several things that parents can do if their child is truly afraid of the water.
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