Your Family

By Daniel S. Levy Sunday, June 20, 1999
    • PLAY SAFE Two out of five playground injuries result from inadequate parental supervision. To make these areas less dangerous for little ones, the National Program for Playground Safety in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is offering guidelines for redoing sites from the '60s and '70s that have concrete aprons and hidden passages. In their place it recommends colorful ramps and stairs with clear sight lines for parents.

    WHAT ELSE ISN'T TAKEN? Having trouble finding the perfect wedding gift? You can now do one-click shopping at , the largest online registry site. Super-retailers, such as Gump's, as well as smaller specialty shops share lists, and the happy couple can post personal Web pages. Also, insurers like Fireman's Fund offer coverage for families that fear a wedding-day disaster. But not for a change of heart.

    THE LAST TABOO Of all the topics we fear talking about, death is near the top of the list. Half of Americans say they want their family and friends to carry out their final wishes, yet 75% of them have never taken the time to articulate what those desires may be, according to a new study by the National Hospice Foundation. Surprisingly, parents find it easier to talk to their children about such issues as sex than to talk with their own parents about dying with dignity.