In Brief

By Alain L. Sanders

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE... Though 9 out of 10 parents claim to know how to be safe with foods for young children, a new survey by the Institute of Pediatric Nutrition reveals that many do not. One of 5 parents believes it's O.K. to feed a young child raw carrots or celery, despite the risk of choking on these foods. One in 3 parents does not consistently wash kitchen counters before preparing baby bottles, despite the risk of bacterial contamination. The Institute of Pediatric Nutrition offers food-safety information by phone at 800-721-5BABY.

YOU'VE GOT E-MAIL For seniors in elder-care facilities, learning to e-mail family and friends can be a potent revitalizing experience, the Gerontological Society was recently told. Among the hits of an innovative Web course (LINKAGES.NET): a man who says it opened "a window to life"; a woman apprised of the birth of three great-grandchildren; a senior who got e-mailed back: "You are the coolest grandma in California."

JOB VS. FAMILY What's the latest measure of success? Not material possessions or a prestigious job. A Yankelovich poll for MasterCard indicates it's a good family life. Eight of 10 people say they admire someone who puts family before work; nearly half say they've changed jobs to have more family time; and 1 in 5 say they've taken a pay cut to work less. But what we say about priorities doesn't always match what we do: a recent government study shows working hours have risen, while time with kids has fallen.

--By Alain L. Sanders