Ask kids and parents which school subjects they struggle with the most, and the answer is likely to be math and science. When kids have trouble understanding Aquatic Ecosystems or are stuck on a homework question about Division Equations, where do they turn? Now they can get help finding the answers with Scholastic StudyJams!™ at www.scholastic.com/studyjams, an online learning experience for kids in grades 3-6 that takes the most challenging math and science topics and explains them through animated videos, Karaoke songs, interactive tutorials, quizzes and more. Developed in conjunction with a nationwide panel of teachers, this subscription-based learning service lets kids sing about “Solids, Liquids & Gases,” play a “Mean & Median” basketball game and create their own downloadable song, all while mastering those tough math and science concepts they need to know in order to excel in school. For a limited time, try StudyJams! FREE for 14 days and then give StudyJams! to your kids for only $5.95 a month or $59 a year! (StudyJams! is normally $9.95 a month or $99 for the year). Use promo code SJCHALLENGE when ordering.

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Vermont has become the 4th state in the nation to make school breakfast free for all low-income students. As part of the state budget that passed on May 3rd, the legislature extended free breakfast to the 7,500 students eligible for reduced price meals. Schools report that these students often go without breakfast because they do not have the 70 cents to pay for both breakfast and lunch. The expanded free breakfast program will go into effect with the beginning of the school year in September. A family of 4 that qualifies for reduced price meals makes between $26,845 and $38,203. Read more »

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Wee Generation, a collaborative effort that includes Vermont’s Seventh Generation and Healthy Child Healthy World, has just introduced the Eco Diaper Bag, a PVC-free diaper bag created from fabric made from recycled beverage bottles. It’s filled with $100 worth of eco-friendly Seventh Generation baby product vouchers, a copy of the book Naturally Clean, The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe and Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning, a Wee Generation baby T and healthy household tips from Healthy Child Healthy World (a $300 value). Yes, it’s expensive ($200), but don’t eek yet. Not only do you get the $300 value, but all profits directly benefit Healthy Child Healthy World n its mission to educate parents, support protective policies, and engage communities to make responsible decisions, simple everyday choices, and well-informed lifestyle improvements to create healthy environments where children and families can flourish. To buy the bag, which comes in 3 different patterns all suitable for men and women, click here.

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If you’re like most busy parents these days, you worry about what to feed the kids. First, you want to make sure it’s healthy. Maybe to you that means nutritious; maybe it means organic. Secondly, of course, you want the kids to actually like it! If you’re looking for some fresh ideas, there’s a new interactive online resource called Zeer. Set up in communities with similar food interests, the parent community is all about feeding kids “right”. Current topics include creative lunch suggestions for no-peanut zones and questions about kids who only eat one food. Sound familiar? Click here to join the parent community to find out how others handle these situations, post questions, and to help out with your own ideas.

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We’ve all had them… those parenting moments that make us cringe! Here’s your chance to share them anonymously! (So no one will think you’re a bad parent!)

Just post a comment!

Here’s a sticky situation from Angela:

I can honestly say that I had made it through the first 3 decades of my life without having what one would call, “A most embarrassing moment.”  However, one crisp, fall morning that all changed…

I had taken two of my boys (then ages 3 ½ and 1 ½) to a local store for a few necessary supplies.  Among those supplies were pads (the feminine hygiene kind).  This particular day, I walked away feeling quite smug as I had been able to pick-up ten boxes at the mere sale price of 88 cents per box.  My confidence was a little shaken when I placed them into the back of my cart (where my oldest son was located) and he proceeded to heave them right back out and tell me, “I don’t want those in here with me.”  I calmly picked them up and placed them back into the cart, gave my eldest off-spring “the look” and merrily proceeded to shop. Read more »

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The 6th annual Make-a-Wish Walk for Wishes is a two day walk being held September 13-14. The walk is about 10 miles each day from Burlington to Colchester and back. This is a major fund raiser for Vermont’s Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions, to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The Foundation, through a personal interview with the child, makes sure that it grants each child his or her special wish. In every case, the entire immediate family is included as part of the wish to help create special family memories. The purpose is to emphasize the joy of the wish fulfilled; not the illness. Neither the child nor the family is ever asked to pay for any portion of a fulfilled wish. Walkers must raise a minimum of $1,000, but donations of any size are always welcome at www.makeawishvermont.org. To find out more about the Walk for Wishes, click here.

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Silver Dolphin books is expanding its line of 3-D books. New titles include The Field Guide to Safari Animals and Explore Within a Medieval Castle. Safari ($15.95) gives detailed descriptions of exotic African animals and includes small puzzles of 8 animals and a removable diorama. Castle ($21.95) allows the reader to tour a castle with a detailed, scale model from the iron gates to the towers. Chock full of detail and information, this is a great hands-on read for anyone with an interest in the olden days. Both titles are recommended for ages 8 & up. For more information on these books, visit the publisher.

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During July and August the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), in collaboration with various Vermont Farmers’ Markets, is sponsoring youth days at regularly scheduled markets throughout Vermont. On designated farmers’ market days, children and youth will be selling homemade or homegrown items such as jewelry, baked goods, homegrown vegetables, flowers, and homemade foods.
To sign up or receive more information, please call the NOFA-VT office qt 802-434-4122. For a list of currently scheduled Youth Markets and local contacts, click here Read more »

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Believe it or not, you can have a bake sale, benefit kids, and win prizes. Even kids can have a bake sale, benefit kids and win prizes! Duncan Hines(R) is sponsoring the Cupcakes for a Cause campaign to benefit CancerCare for Kids(R). The Bake Sale Contest is open to people who host their own bake sales, donate proceeds to CancerCare for Kids and then submit their contest entry for a chance to win prizes. Log on to www.duncanhines.com for complete details.

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by Dianne Lamb, University of Vermont Extension nutrition specialist

The signs are up! The long awaited strawberry crop is here! Strawberries are a sure sign that summer is here! Native, locally grown strawberries, those juicy red jewels that dangle from a short compact plant are so much fun to pick. The hollow sounding snap fills the air as the strawberries fill the empty basket. Whether it’s the first handful of berries eaten as they are picked, or the plump one on the top of the berry basket shouting, “Eat Me!” or the ritual strawberry shortcake or strawberry rhubarb pie, there is something magical about the taste of native strawberries. For a list of local berry-picking farms, check out the Kids VT Resource Guide!

As a child, I remember walking up the lane to catch the school bus. Instead of walking on the dirt road, my siblings and I would scour the grass on either side of the driveway to see if the wild strawberries were ripe so that when we came home in the afternoon we could return to pluck the tiny berries to eat. We always had a game to see who could find the “biggest” berry! One year I remember we made a concerted effort to see if we could pick enough wild strawberries to make shortcake! My mother had a lot of patience to pick over the berries we had picked to hull them and remove grass and other debris. As I recall, she mixed the wild strawberries with the cultivated ones to make the shortcake and used some wild ones to garnish the top!
Read more »

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Tired of the same old recipes for all those potlock dinners? Check out Potluck Survival Guide: The Care & Feeding of the Athletic Supporter by Cherie Kimmons for great family food ideas. It’s a well-written book that appeals to all palates - and there are recipes for the most intimidated to the most experienced cooks. In addition to the recipes that are perfect for tailgates, scout events, church dinners, school celebrations and team functions, Kimmons also includes tips for feeding younger children and nutritional considerations for student athletes. The book retails online and is available through most major web booksellers as well as the publisher at www.FiveStarPublications.com.

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Imagine a statewide, outside scavenger hunt! Well, now you can do more than imagine it . . . you can actually participate in it! The Vermont State Parks Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation have created a great new program to entice kids and their families outside this summer. Participants just have to download a score sheet from www.vtstateparks.com, venture around the state, and do a variety of fun outdoor activities for which you receive points. Once you accumulate a certain number of points, you get a free pass to state park day use areas for this year and next. It’s simple, inexpensive and fun. Stop sitting around and get out and have fun in Vermont’s State Parks!

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Draw a world map, a family tree, or locate the North Star. Trace the steps Native Americans took to settle and cultivate the land and study the real roots of the Thanksgiving holiday. Learn all of this and more with Celebrate the USA: Hands-On Activities for Kids by Lynn Kuntz, with illustrations by Mark A. Hicks. This hands-on, fact-filled activity book celebrates all things American brimming with art project, crafts, recipes, games and more. Over 50 kid-friendly projects are included to help kids discover their patriotic pride, such as making an all-American beach towel banner, a compass and Fourth of July poppers. It’s America’s birthday and lots of attention is being focused on our democratic political process. Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty and the American flag will take on a whole new meaning when children are finished devouring the projects in this book.

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QuickZip is a two-piece sheet set that fits snugly around any crib mattress. Just place the mattress in the zipper base, lay the flat mattress pad on the mattress and zip on the top. The zipper is covered, so it never touches your baby and poses no danger. No more mattress wrestling or constant tying and untying of bumper ribbons. The 200-thread count, 100% cotton sheets won’t shrink when washed. Order an extra zip-top sheet to make changing baby’s crib a snap! Visit www.cloudsandstars.com for ordering and more information.

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KidSafe Collaborative is the official charity of the Vermont Lake Monsters for the 2008 baseball season. That means, you can watch the Lake Monsters and help KidSafe Collaborative improve our community’s response to child abuse and neglect. Present this coupon and at the ticket window of Centennial Field when you purchase you tickets to any home Lake Monsters game this season, and 20% of the ticket price will benefit KidSafe! (Feel free to copy and distribute this coupon.) For more information about KidSafe Collaborative, log on to www.kidsafevt.org. And to get the Lake Monsters schedule, visit www.vermontlakemonsters.com/tickets/schedule/.

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