Month: August 2013

Some school districts quit healthier lunch program

After just one year, some schools around the country are dropping out of the healthier new federal lunch program, complaining that so many students turned up their noses at meals packed with whole grains, fruits and vegetables that the cafeterias were losing money. Federal officials say they don’t have exact numbers but have seen isolated reports of schools cutting ties with the $11 billion National School Lunch Program, which reimburses schools for meals served and gives them access to lower-priced food. Districts that rejected the program say the reimbursement was not enough to offset losses from students who began avoiding the lunch line and bringing food from home or, in some cases, going hungry.

I Won A Trip to See Taylor Swift in Los Angeles: A Mother-daughter Adventure!

So you know those contests that they have on the radio: “Win a trip to see some super artist in some tropical sounding location.” I have to admit, that sometimes I think it is not really possible to actually WIN one of those trips. That, in addition, to the fact that I am probably the most unlucky person there is! I was at a “Live at Five” concert with Alice 105.9 radio station. I had gone because they had an artist performing there that had won American Idol, Lee Dewyze. I thought that in and of itself was pretty cool. Free concert! I’m in! While I was there I put my name on a piece of paper. They were giving away two trips – one to see Bon Jovi in New Jersey and the other to see Taylor Swift in Los Angeles. As I wrote my name down, I said out loud, ...

Douglas County schools pilot color-coded student personality tests

Colors have taken on a new meaning in the Douglas County School District. Children are not just learning about the vibrant green hue that comes from mixing yellow and blue on a color wheel. They are using colors to describe the way they think, behave and learn. The 65,000-student school district is piloting a program at 14 campuses in which sixth-graders answer 84 questions that include how comfortable they are with switching back and forth between tasks, whether they will start a project before they have a plan and if they worry about how their actions affect others. Based on their answers, students get a color-coded profile that outlines their preferred way of thinking by assigning percentages to four categories: social, structural, conceptual and analytical. Summit View Elementary Schoo...

Postcards to Denver from a 10-Year-Old and His Mom

From western New York: “The farm has ten chickens and two bunny rabbits. My chicken’s name is Geraldine. The rabbits are Sam and Matilda. I miss our dog. She would have so much fun here, but we were worried she would eat the chickens.” “I forgot what it feels like to stay in bed long enough to listen to the birds, watch the sun move across the room and let my muscles stretch awake one at a time.” From Snowmass, Colorado: “Mom and Dad made us go on a hike. Why does anybody like hiking? You go up and up and up, and they keep saying it’s beautiful, which… who cares?! Then mom counts her mosquito bites. It would be more fun if we could bring the dog.” From Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado:

Labor Day 2013: 10 ways to celebrate summer’s end in Colorado

Labor Day carries a lot of weight as the unofficial end of summer, considering the crush of festivals, picnics, concerts and parties that get piled onto the three-day weekend. But figuring out which events you should attend doesn’t have to feel like work. Here’s our quick-hit guide to doing Labor Day 10 ways with a minimum of fatigue. 1. Get high at Mount Evans The window of weather that allows motorists to drive 60 miles west to the top of Mount Evans’ 14,264-foot summit is quickly closing, so if you still haven’t experienced the highest paved road in North America, this weekend is your last chance (until next year). On the way, stop at Echo Lake or Summit Lake to hike, fish or marvel at the stunning mountain and alpine tundra ecosystems. $10 per vehicle. 303-567-3...

Quiz: What Kind of School Parent are You?

Your kids are back in school! Take a few moments to consider where you fall in the big spectrum of parents. What kind of school parent are you? 1. There’s a “Join the PTA” banner on a table at school registration. You… a) Use the fire exit to avoid making eye contact. Why can’t they do it all online? b) Pick up a few information sheets and perhaps sign up to help with a class party or two. c) Admire the banner. You made it. Look at those full color brochures. You made them. In fact, you are the one sitting behind the table, which you made. 2. It’s time for the first class party!

Denver Deal: Labor Day is Ski Sale Season!!

If you and your family are planning to ski this winter – now is the time to be thinking about deals and where you will want to ski. Jr. Trade in Program Colorado Ski & Golf (Ski & Sport) locations offer a  uniquely affordable ski rental program was created to insure that children’s equipment is as modestly priced as possible. After the first season’s rental, a complete package for used equipment that includes skis, boots and poles is only $49.99 per year. A mandatory binding check adds $15. Equipment can be exchanged as often as needed during the season to make sure the size and fit remains comfortable—free. The first year kids are registered in Junior Trade In, the cost is $99.99 for used equipment and then each year, a refit into a different set of used equipment is 50 perc...

Denver Deals: Kids’ Nite Out Across America, McDonalds Free Breakfast & Ski Deals

The Taste of Colorado is this weekend. The line-up is full of all kinds of free entertainment (big-name acts), kid’s play area, booths and more. At Civic Center Park through Labor Day Weekend. People really do win those trips from radio stations! Stay tuned for details about my trip to Los Angeles to see Taylor Swift this last weekend. It was so much fun and an amazing trip that my daughter and I will not soon forget! School of Rock School of Rock is proud to introduce Little Wing, a preschool music program. Music is an avenue into a little soul with untapped ideas, images, and movement. The classrooms infused with rock music allows these little artists explore rhythm patterns, tonal processing, basic music syntax, and make emotional connections to music. Sign up for a FREE demo to b...

Why one mother says induced labor isn’t a good idea

A new study recently came out linking autism to labor induction. I will not get into the weeds right now on that particular study, but it got me thinking again about labor induction, a topic that I cover at some length in “Expecting Better.” When I was 39 weeks pregnant, my doctor offered to schedule an induction at my due date. This is common now, although that wasn’t always the case. In 1990, fewer than 10 percent of births followed medical induction of labor; by 2009, this number had risen to 25 percent. This increase has occurred across the board, not just for babies who are overdue. In 1990, only 7 percent of births at 39 weeks of pregnancy were induced, but 23 percent were induced by 2009. Sometimes, labor is induced for medical reasons — the baby isn’t doing ...

Events: A Taste of Colorado, free festivals and more

Taste of Colorado. A Labor Day tradition in Denver, Taste of Colorado not only has more than 50 of Colorado’s favorite food establishments and 280 Marketplace booths but loads of family-friend events. Featured acts, including Wayne and Wingnut’s “Red Hot Chili Puppets” Comedy Ventriloquist, Bekah Smith’s One-Woman Circus Adventure, and Mr. Kneeel’s Hip Hop for Families, are set to appear on the Comfort Dental KidzStage. Children and adults can stay busy for hours with carnival rides, games, educational exhibits, and more.  The KidZone presented by MIX 100 is a family-friendly area offering play equipment and table tennis. There will also be a great variety of free, hands-on craft activities for children of all ages, presented by 101.9 WAY-FM. KidZone hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fri.,...

Apps allow parents to monitor children’s mobile Web surfing

With smartphone and tablet users getting younger, new apps can help parents of 2-to-13-year-olds monitor and control their children’s use of the Internet. A Pew Research Center study shows that more than one-third of American teenagers own a smartphone, up from more than a fifth in 2011. For nearly half of these users, the phone is their main way of getting online, making it difficult for parents to supervise their behavior. “When you have a smartphone, you basically have the Internet in your pocket wherever you are — away from your parents’ eyes,” said Anooj Shah, a partner in Toronto-based company Kytephone, which develops apps.

Learning Begins at Birth: Five Ways to Teach Your Baby

Research shows that by three years old, the learning pathways of a child’s brain are 90% developed. This is why it is so important that from the time a baby is born, parents and caregivers are engaging them in simple activities so they are ready to learn and read even before preschool. There are so many things you can do with young children to help them enjoy language, books and reading. Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. Here are some easy tips to integrate into your everyday life: READ: Read a book with your baby and describe the pictures. Play I-Spy with a letter or object while reading a book. Have your child repeat words and sounds and turn the pages while sharing a book. Also, read a book yourself, and show them your love of reading. SING: Sing the alpha...

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