Archive for 'Education'

Sep201001

PDXrover

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Have You Seen Our Family Fun Pages?

A few months ago we launched a new addition to our website: Metro Parent Family Fun Pages ! It’s a one-stop site for information about family-friendly destinations, educational adventures, arts-related events, restaurants, physical fun, day trips and much more. You’ll find lots of informative reviews of fabulous places to go with your kids, too, and we add more every week. Ever heard of the Bike Farm ? Read about this northeast Portland nonprofit collective dedicated to educating people of all ages about cycling, including safe riding and bike maintenance on our Family Fun pages! How about the Tillamook Forest Center ? We’ve got the scoop on how to get there, what to do once you’re there and what ages will enjoy it most. Even though summer is winding down, that’s no reason to stop exploring the Portland metro area with your kids. Check out our reviews of Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden , Bishop’s Close and Whitaker Ponds , then plan your next weekend or day-off-of-school adventure! We really want these pages to provide all the information you might need to make the most of the family-friendly attractions and activities in the Portland area – and all at the click of a mouse! Please check them out and let us know what you think, what you’d like to see and read there, and any ideas you might have for fabulous family fun in and around the Portland metro area!

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Have You Seen Our Family Fun Pages?

Aug201018

Jeremy

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Teaching Kids Money Management

In Savings & Loans – a story about saving (and paying) for college in our August issue – we found that not only are kids today often expected to contribute to their college expenses, but many families begin teaching them the importance of saving long before they graduate high school. A survey conducted recently by Money Management International (MMI), the nation’s largest nonprofit credit counseling agency, supports our finding, revealing that kids today are being exposed to financial education far more often than their parents were as children. According to the MMI report, “nearly five times as many parents did not learn about money until they were adults compared to their kids.” “It’s never too early to start teaching the next generation the financial skills they need for life” says Cate Williams, vice president of financial literacy for MMI. “Being exposed to financial education at a young age prepares youth to have financially successful futures.” Key findings from MMI’s 2010 Kids and Money survey include: Kids are starting to bank younger these days. Three times as many children under 10 have bank accounts than their parents did when they were that age. Piggy bank popularity is increasing. Nearly twice as many parents use the piggy bank as a learning tool for their kids compared to how many used it themselves as kids. Kids are learning how to raise money. Nearly 7 in 10 American kids participate in fundraisers for their school or organization. Parents are using these fundraisers as an opportunity to teach financial lessons – two-thirds of parents teach financial responsibility or basic math skills, roughly half of parents surveyed teach goal setting or basic business skills, and 4 in 10 use fundraisers to teach about budgeting or charitable giving. Some kids have control over their money, others don’t. When it comes to controlling the money kids receive, parents are roughly evenly split on who gets to control their children’s money – 49 percent say that they either give their children the total decision or most of the decision while 51 percent of parents say they give kids pretty free rein or put their money directly into savings. Kids mostly spend their money on wants. Almost half (49 percent) of parents report that their children primarily spend their money on things they want, such as ice cream, video games, etc. Twenty-seven percent of parents say that kids save their money. Nearly 20 percent said their children spend their money on things they need, like new clothing, school supplies, etc. Have you started teaching your kids about money management? What’s worked for your family? What have you tried that might not have worked as well? For tips on teaching kids good money management skills, check out the resources on MoneyManagement.org . For tips on saving for college, no matter how old your kids are today, read Savings & Loans in our August issue .

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Teaching Kids Money Management

Aug201016

PDXrover

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Starting a New School?

If your child is starting a new school this fall – whether preschool, kindergarten, middle school or high school – now is the perfect time to start preparing him for a smooth transition. Here are some simple ways to help kids feel comfortable and familiar with their new school before the first bell rings: Visit the school with your child during the summer. Play on the playground. Look into classrooms, walk down the halls and check out the cafeteria if you can. Get together with other families whose children will attend the new school. If your child sees a few familiar faces on his first day, he’ll feel more at home there. If your child is starting middle school, find out if you can walk around the school and find her locker and classes prior to the first day. That will alleviate the anxiety of trying to navigate unfamiliar halls crowded with excited teens and ‘tweens. If your child is interested in sports, music, dance or theater, find out if he or she can get involved in school activities during the summer. Many organized clubs and teams begin practicing before school begins. Talk with your child about what to expect – what will be similar to what they’re used to and what will be different. Acknowledge their concerns and remind them that everyone feels a little nervous on the first day. Show them you have confidence in them and in their ability to succeed in their new school. For more tips about smoothing the transition to a new school, read Smooth Moves in our August issue .

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Starting a New School?

Aug201009

Jeremy

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Explore the World at Local Fairs & Festivals

Our August issue features an Ages & Stages article focused on raising global citizens , starting when kids are babies and continuing throughout their lives. One simple and entertaining way to introduce kids of all ages to diverse cultures is by attending culturally diverse fairs and festivals – which you’ll find year-round in the Portland metro area! This month seems to be especially rich in cultural celebrations – including the ones below – making it the perfect time to start exploring the cultures of the world with your family! India Festival. Entertainment and food from India. Aug. 15, 11 am to 9 pm. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. 503-645-7902. icaportland.org . Glendi. Greek festival with entertainment, pony rides, face painting, crafts and more. Aug. 20 and 21, 11 am to 10 pm. FREE, charge for food and children’s activities. St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 14485 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton. 503-644-7444. glendipdx.com . Explore Japan. Drink tea, learn how to use chopsticks, make crafts and more. Aug. 20, 11 am to 1 pm. FREE w/museum admission. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org . Soberiha. A Russian-American cultural festival in the style of a traditional Russian folk carnival with American music. Aug. 21, noon to 6 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Celebrando la Familia. A Latino Summer Resource Fair with information on health, education, legal and other topics along with entertainment and more. Aug. 22, 1 to 5 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Festa Italiana. Italian entertainment plus marionettes, pizza toss, grape stomp and more. Aug. 26 and 28 noon to 11 pm; Aug. 27 noon to midnight. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. festaitalianaportland.shutterfly.com . Salsa en la Calle PDX. Salsa lessons for all ages, a children’s art tent from noon to 6 pm, and dancing in the streets! Aug. 29, 11 am to 11 pm. $15; free ages 12 and under. East Bank Festival Plaza, SE Main/Water. 503-314-2639. salsaenlacallepdx.com . What’s your family’s favorite local cultural celebration?

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Explore the World at Local Fairs & Festivals

Jul201028

PDXrover

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Our August Issue

Our annual Back-to-School issue comes out this week with loads of information to help you make the most of this school year … and every school year to come! We explore how parents can help kids make a smooth transition to a new school – whether that’s preschool, high school, or any school in between! – and we offer advice about saving for college , no matter how old your kids are today. Our Ages & Stages feature discusses our increasingly global community and how you can nurture true citizens of world at every age and stage. The Portland Eco-School Network is our Angel this month, offering parents the tools they need to make our children’s schools – and their educational experiences – as eco-friendly as possible. And to help you slow down and enjoy the last glorious days of summer, our August Family Fare is a roundup of the area’s best ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt shops , including recommendations from our staff and our readers. Pick up a copy beginning next week, or read it online beginning August 1.

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Our August Issue

Jul201019

Jeremy

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Need Summer Reading Recs?

Last week we wrote about “Summer Learning Loss” – where the average student loses about two months of academic growth during summer break – and all the educational opportunities parents have incorporated into their summer travel plans. But there’s an even easier way to stave off learning loss – encourage your kids to read! They can do it anywhere. It’s free. And it’s fun! The key is to provide kids with plenty of engaging, quality books to choose from. That’s why we were so excited to include recommendations for great new books for kids from some of our favorite local children’s librarians in our July issue . You’ll find something for every interest and reading level, and because they’re all recently published, even the most voracious reader should be able to find something new! Check out their recommendations in our magazine or online, then tell us what your family’s favorite books are. What books did you love as a kid that your own kids now love? What are some of the great new books you’ve discovered along with your children?

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Need Summer Reading Recs?

Jul201012

Samantha

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Planning an Educational Vacation?

We’ve all heard about “Summer Learning Loss,” where kids educational development backslides during the long summer break. But according to a recent American Express Spending & Saving Tracker Survey, an overwhelming majority of parents with kids under 18 believe learning should continue throughout the summer, and most believe it’s a good idea to take an educational family vacation. In fact, 45 percent of parents surveyed said their summer vacation plans for this year include an educational component, whether that’s exploring history and culture (30 percent), exploring wildlife while on vacation (27 percent), and/or traveling to a destination focused on culinary arts (8 percent). For my family, a recent road trip through southern Oregon and northern California offered countless opportunities to review my son’s existing skills and even hone some new ones – even though the main focus of our trip was most definitely to have fun! He honed his geography and map-reading skills along the way, practiced math by calculating our estimated travel time and miles per gallon, and took in some history and social studies at the High Desert Museum near Bend. And of course, reading is a daily staple for all of us. How does your family infuse your summer vacations with educational enrichment? Where are some of the most educational places you’ve traveled, and what are some of the most educational – and entertaining! – activities you’ve found along the way?

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Planning an Educational Vacation?

Jun201007

PDXrover

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It’s GO Time!

This Saturday, June 12, is National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day!), a new annual event designed to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun in communities across the U.S. Locally, the Vancouver Water Resources Education Center is celebrating with Second Saturday festivities for the whole family. The theme for their free event is “Explore Your Backyard,” with activities to encourage families to experience active outdoor fun in our own backyards, neighborhoods and region. Smokey Bear and Ranger Rick will be in attendance, and activities will include a Family Fun Walk along the Columbia River and much more. You’ll be able to get up close and personal with birds of prey, ride in the Big Canoe or paddle a kayak, play disc golf, watch a Dutch over cooking demonstration, find out how to care for wooden lawn furniture and learn about the many opportunities for walking, biking and hiking around the area. There also will be an archery demonstration and bike maintenance clinic, and the Burgerville NOMAD will provide tasty eats. For more information about this free event, visit cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.asp . For more information about National Get Outdoors Day, visit nationalgetoutdoorsday.org .

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It’s GO Time!

May201021

PDXrover

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Leach Botanical Gardens

What’s to Love:  Leach Botanical Garden’s mission “…is to maintain and enhance living collections of plants for the purpose of education, research and conservation and to preserve the legacy of the Gardens founders, John and Lilla Leach. The Garden is committed to providing positive experiences to the diverse community

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Leach Botanical Gardens

Sep200907

Jeremy

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Opal Creek – Family Workshops

Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is a beautiful nature preserve about 2 hours from Portland. The Center hosts a plethora of educational programs for families.

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Opal Creek – Family Workshops

Sep200816

Samantha

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Ethos Music Center

Ethos was established in 1998 by Charles Lewis in direct response to budget cuts that limited music education in public schools. In light of the numerous studies that demonstrate the tremendous benefits of music education, Ethos believes that every child should have the opportunity to make music.

Learn more at: http://www.ethos.org