In Brief: Jan. 24, 2000

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DEADBEAT CLAMPDOWN This month some Virginia parents are receiving pink or blue booties, courtesy of the state. The boots, though, are the kind that clamp onto a tire and will be used to immobilize the cars of egregiously deadbeat dads or moms. A window sticker accompanies each boot: "This vehicle has been seized by the sheriff for unpaid child support." The pioneering state shame-on-you plan is an expansion of a Fairfax County program that has netted $347,000 from 70 parents in two years.

KEEPING IN TOUCH Even with growing numbers of families divided by divorce and living far from their relatives, most grandparents still manage to see their grandchildren regularly, according to a new AARP survey. One of nine grandparents is a caregiver for a grandchild. Of the rest, who do not live with their grandkids, 69% see a grandchild at least once a month--and 44% see one at least once a week. Half the seniors say they often act as a companion or friend to the grandkids. And grandparents also like to spend a yearly median of $489 on them.

BON APPETIT Now that you've elicited that New Year's resolution from your kids to eat healthier, how can you help them keep the promise? By letting them do some of the cooking, say experts. If you didn't give one for the holidays, children's cookbooks still abound in stores. Popular titles include Kids' First Cookbook (from the American Cancer Society), Cooking with Kids for Dummies, Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes and Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes. Mix in some adult supervision, and have fun.

--By Alain L. Sanders