Tag Archives: children

Dec201119

PDXrover

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Local Children Are Living in Poverty

Officially, the recession might be over, but many local families are still feeling the effects. In fact, according to Regan Gray, policy director at Children First for Oregon : “Today, 21.6 percent of Oregon children — over one in five — are living in poverty, the highest rate of poverty since 1993. …Almost twice that many are in ‘low income’ households, households that are just one paycheck or one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. More than ever before, children in poverty are the children of the college-educated, the former middle-class worker, the suburbanite and the homeowner.” In this month’s online Viewpoint , Gray discusses the ongoing effects of poverty on our neighbors, the government cutbacks that are exacerbating the problem, and what we can do to help.

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Local Children Are Living in Poverty

Nov201109

Samantha

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Calling All Future Vets & Animal Lovers!

Do your kids love animals? Do they play doctor with their stuffed animals? Perhaps they even dream of someday become a veterinarian. If so, you won’t want to miss Future Vet tomorrow, Nov. 10, from 10 to 10:30 am, at the Portland Children’s Museum! At the event, presented by Banfield Pet Hospital, a licensed vet will show kids how to care for pets and what they need to be happy, safe and healthy. The lesson is designed for kids 10 and under, and the setting — the Museum’s own Pet Hospital exhibit -– is ideal! After all, children can care for “pets” in the kid-sized clinic every day, developing compassion and empathy while administering checkups and taking play pets for walks in the Bark Park. After Future Vet, kids can practice what they learned in the Museum’s Pet Hospital or take their new skills home to care for their own beloved pets. Don’t let your animal lovers miss this delightful introduction to the world of veterinary medicine! Thursday, Nov. 10, 10 to 10:30 am. Free with museum admission of $9, ages 1 and up. Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org .

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Calling All Future Vets & Animal Lovers!

Oct201119

Jeremy

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Trick or Treat Safely – and Charitably!

It’s nearly time for Halloween so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some safety tips from the Safety Store at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel to ensure a happy, healthy holiday (sugar overload not withstanding!): 1. Help children choose fire retardant costumes that can be seen in the dark. Add reflective tape or strips to costumes and treat bags. 2. Wear shoes that fit properly (even if they don’t “go” with the costume) to avoid trips and falls. 3. Rather than wearing a mask, which may restrict a child’s vision, paint their face instead. (If a child wears a mask, make sure it does not interfere with their breathing or hearing and be sure the eyeholes are wide enough that it does not interfere with their eyesight.) 4. Carry a flash light or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers. 5. Trick or treat in groups, adults should accompany children as escorts to doors and carefully inspect all treats collected prior to children eating it. 6. Talk to your children about walking safety, including the following: . – When crossing the street, cross at a corner using traffic signals and crosswalks. . – Always walk, never run out into the street or cross between two cars. . – Look left, then right, and left again when crossing the street. . – Make eye contact with drivers; make sure the driver sees you before you cross the street. And to make the holiday happier for children everyone, consider having your trick or treaters bring a little orange UNICEF box with them to collect donations for the world’s neediest kids, too. This year, UNICEF is also introducing a “Party for a Purpose” program, with great ideas for hosting a FUNdraising fete of your own. Get details at unicefusa.org/trickortreat . Last but not least, if you’d like to avoid the ongoing sugar craze in the days following Halloween, encourage your kids to participate in a Candy Exchange like the one at World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry (11790 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 280). Dr. Michelle Stafford welcomes kids -– patients or not! -– to turn in their unopened Halloween loot for fun prizes on weekdays from Nov. 1-7. (The more you bring in, the more you earn!) For details visit visitworldofsmiles.com or call 503-626-9700.

Originally posted here:
Trick or Treat Safely – and Charitably!

Oct201117

PDXrover

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Free Parent Leadership Conference Oct. 22

As parents, we know how important it is to support our children’s education. We know it’s our job to help them develop and strengthen the academic skills they’ll need to succeed in school and in life. We know it’s our job to keep the lines of communication open between school and home, and to work as partners with our children’s teachers and school administrators. And these days, most of us are learning how important it is to stay informed and involved in local, state and even national school funding and policy making. But many of us aren’t exactly sure how to do it all. Enter Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS), which is hosting an annual Parent Leadership conference Oct. 22 at Parkrose High School. The conference is free, with breakfast, lunch, childcare and interpretation services all offered at no cost. You’ll find workshops on everything from helping kids become better writers to navigating the school system to college prep and much, much more! Learn more about the conference in this month’s online article , then register to attend at cppsportland.org/plc .

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Free Parent Leadership Conference Oct. 22

Oct201117

Samantha

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Free Parent Leadership Conference Oct. 22

As parents, we know how important it is to support our children’s education. We know it’s our job to help them develop and strengthen the academic skills they’ll need to succeed in school and in life. We know it’s our job to keep the lines of communication open between school and home, and to work as partners with our children’s teachers and school administrators. And these days, most of us are learning how important it is to stay informed and involved in local, state and even national school funding and policy making. But many of us aren’t exactly sure how to do it all. Enter Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS), which is hosting an annual Parent Leadership conference Oct. 22 at Parkrose High School. The conference is free, with breakfast, lunch, childcare and interpretation services all offered at no cost. You’ll find workshops on everything from helping kids become better writers to navigating the school system to college prep and much, much more! Learn more about the conference in this month’s online article , then register to attend at cppsportland.org/plc .

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Free Parent Leadership Conference Oct. 22

Sep201105

Samantha

0

… and the Winner Is …

You voted. We counted. Now we’re happy to announce the winners of our 2011 “Family Favorites” Reader Survey. (Read our September issue for a more detailed recap of our survey, including readers’ comments and a few additional categories, beginning on page 30.) Family Favorite Restaurant (Our “Happy Highchair” Award) Our readers love their brewpubs, with Laurelwood Public House & Brewery (5115 NE Sandy Blvd.; laurelwoodbrewpub.com ) earning this year’s “Happy Highchair” award, and Hopworks Urban Brewery (2944 SE Powell Blvd.; hopworksbeer.com ) coming in a close second. Local favorite Old Spaghetti Factory (multiple locations; osf.com ) rounded out the top three. Coffee Shop Indie coffee shops still reign supreme, with Munchkin Playland (18335 NW West Union Rd.; munchkinplayland.com ) once again taking top honors. Café Sip-n-Play (3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver; cafesipnplay.com ) took the silver. Pizza Parlor (new category!) Hillsboro’s Out of This World Pizza (6225 NW Century Blvd., Hillsboro; 503-629-8700; outofthisworld.net ) ranked number one in our survey, with Papa’s Pizza (16321 SE Stark and 15700 NW Blueridge Dr., Beaverton; papaspizza.net ) close behind. Toy Store The region’s Toy Trifecta includes the same players this year -– Finnegan’s, Piccolo Mondo and Thinker Toys -– but in a different order. Thinker Toys (7784 SW Capitol Hwy; thinkertoysoregon.com ) grabbed the top spot, Piccolo Mondo (4768 SW Bethany Blvd.; piccolomondotoys.com ) in hot pursuit and Finnegan’s (922 SW Yamhill; 503-221-0306; finneganstoys.com ) taking third. But watch out guys –- Learning Palace (multiple locations; learningpalace.com ) nearly broke into the top three this year with plenty of loyal reader votes. Movie Theater Just like us, you love the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark; academytheaterpdx.com ) and McMenamin’s Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd; mcmenamins.com ) for family-friendly flicks. Book Shop It’s Portland. Naturally Powell’s (1005 W Burnside and other locations; powells.com ) took the top spot, but Annie Bloom’s (7834 SW Capitol Hwy; annieblooms.com ) is much loved by our readers, too. Birthday Party Place The Little Gym (17890 SW McEwan Rd., Lake Oswego; tlglakeoswegoor.com ) once again claimed top honors, with runners Club Sport (18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; clubsports.com ) and JJ Jump (9057 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas and 7500 NE 16th Ave., #2-D, Vancouver; jjjump.com ). Fitness Center Club Sport (18120 SW Lower Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard; clubsports.com ) prevailed, with 24 Hour Fitness (multiple locations; 24hourfitness.com ) taking the number two slot. Place to Swim North Clackamas Aquatic Park (7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie; ncprd.com/aquatic-park ) was the individual pool named most often in our survey, Portland Parks & Rec (multiple locations; portlandonline.com/parks ) pools collectively garnered the most votes. The very big and very new Wings & Waves Waterpark (460 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville; evergreenmuseum.org/waterpark ) also got a fair share of mentions, considering they just opened in June! Indoor (Rainy Day) Destination Once again, OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave.; omsi.edu ) triumphed in this category, with newcomer Playdate PDX (1434 NW 17th; playdatepdx.com ) and stalwart Portland Children’s Museum (4015 SW Canyon Rd.; portlandcm.org ) both ranking high. Outdoor Destination Two diverse experiences topped the list: the Oregon Zoo (4001 SW Canyon Rd.; oregonzoo.org ) and Jamison Square (810 NW 11th; portlandonline.com/parks ), in that order. Family Vacation Destination Sunriver (resort: sunriver-resort.com ; area: sunriverchamber.com ) edged out the Oregon Coast for the top spot this year, though the coast still made a respectable showing! To read more about our Family Favorite winners –- including those for Ice Cream (Yogurt/Gelato) Parlor , Kids’ Clothing/Shoe Store , Bike Shop and Children’s Gym -– check out our September issue in print or online.

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… and the Winner Is …

Aug201116

PDXrover

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Old Salmon River Trail

What’s to Love:  We had heard good things about this hike from a close friend.  Those sentiments were corroborated by Bonnie Henderson in her book “Best Hikes with Children in Western and… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Old Salmon River Trail

Jul201127

PDXrover

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Who Cares About Teacher Contracts?

Tyler Whitmire Who cares about the results of the May 2011 school board elections? Who cares about the new PPS teacher contract? Who cares about legislative bills to fund all-day kindergarten statewide, grant high school student more access to classes at community colleges and create a more unified kindergarten-to-higher-education system in Oregon? We parents should, that’s who! In this month’s online article , Portland Director of Stand for Children Tyler Whitmire explains why. So even though you’re knee deep in summer fun this month and next month you’ll be busy getting ready for a new year of school, why not take a moment to read Whitmire’s thoughtful article , which outlines some of the recent changes that have taken place in Portland Public Schools, how they affect our children’s present and future, and how you can get involved in improving education for every child in Oregon!

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Who Cares About Teacher Contracts?

Jun201113

Jeremy

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Father’s Day Fun!

Need ideas for celebrating Father’s Day? Here’s a roundup of options, with something for every family: SATURDAY: Make a Gift: If the kids haven’t made dad a gift yet, head to Lakeshore Learning Crafts on Saturday, June 18 between 11 am and 3 pm. Children 3 and older can make a Father’s Day wallet for FREE! (16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com .) Pick Some Berries: Show dad how sweet you think he is by celebrating at French Prairie Gardens’ Strawberry Festival or Kruger’s Berry Jam. The French Prairie event is open from 9 am to 6 pm June 16 & 17, 9 am to 5 pm June 18, and 10 am to 5 pm June 19. $4 admission, with an extra charge for some activities and berries. (17673 French Prairie Rd., St. Paul. 503-633-8445. frenchprairiegardens.com ). Kruger’s Berry Jam is open from 11 am to 4 pm June 18 & 19. Free admission; purchase berries. (17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-621-3489. krugersfarm.com .) Have a Date Night: How about an evening out for the parents to celebrate Father’s Day? The Little Gym of Lake Oswego is hosting a Parents’ Survival Night from 6 to 9:30 pm on Saturday, June 18, for kids from 3 to 12. Call for details. (503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor.com .) Sleep with the Sharks: If a road trip is Dad’s idea fun, how about driving out to the coast for a Father’s Day Family Sleepover at the Oregon Coast Aquarium? The event, for families with kids 4 and older, runs from 6 pm on Saturday, June 18, through 9 am on Sunday, June 19. You’ll sleep with the sharks and enjoy dinner, a scavenger hunt and breakfast in the morning. ($55; pre-registration required. Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport. 541-867-3474 xt 5301. aquarium.org .) Check Out Cool Cars on the Coast: While you’re in the area, dad might also enjoy the Oregon Coast Exotic Car Show on Saturday, June 18, which not only features cool cars but music, exotic animals, kid’s crafts and more. Runs from 10 am to 4 pm. $5; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. (Salishan Spa and Golf REsort, 7760 Hwy. 101 N, Gleneden Beach. oregoncoastexoticcarshow.com .) THE BIG DAY (SUNDAY): A Spectacular Car Exhibit … and Pancakes, too! The Portland Art Museum is hosting a Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast, featuring the new exhibit The Allure of the Automobile . The event runs from 9 am to noon and includes a special pancake breakfast, admission to a Tribute to Cambellini , featuring a built-from scratch 2006 Cambellini, plus “The Allure of the Automobile” exhibit. And all for $10 members and children, $20 non-members (plus handling fee). (1219 SW Park Ave. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org .) Zen and the Art of Father’s Day: The Japanese Garden also is hosting a special Father’s Day event, with a treasure map activity for the whole family plus a prize drawing and the garden’s incomparable peace and beauty. They’re open from 10 am to 7 pm. (611 SW Kingston Ave. 503-223-1321. japanesegarden.com .) Did Someone Say Free Admission? The Portland Children’s Museum and A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem are offering free admission for dads to celebrate the day, too. (Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org ; AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org .) Make Time for a Brewsky: And for that special Dads’ Day dinner, we recommend one of the area’s many family-friendly brew pubs. Read our review of The Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in our June Family Fare column . The column also includes a list of many other fabulous local brew pubs for families. Happy Father’s Day!

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Father’s Day Fun!

Jun201101

Samantha

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Our Education & Enrichment Issue

Our annual Education & Enrichment issue is hitting the stands beginning this week, packed with articles and listings to help you find the best school for your children and support their academic success. Inside you’ll find a primer on many of the different Educational Philosophies available around the area as well as a feature to help you decide if it’s Time for a Tutor . We offer tips about helping your child with homework and helping them succeed academically throughout their school career. And for those of you looking ahead to college, we have a feature on college savings and one debunking the myth of the “best” colleges . You’ll also find listings for a host of local schools to help you find the one that best fits your family and your child. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed, or look for it online beginning next week.

More here:
Our Education & Enrichment Issue

May201131

Samantha

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Our June Issue

Our June issue is available around the area beginning this week, with a special focus on Safety and a celebration of Dads! Our Ages & Stages feature offers advice for keeping kids safe as they grow, and our Father’s Day feature showcases some prominent local dads – from Governor Kitzhaber and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler to Stand for Children Founder Jonah Edelman to OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil and The Decemberists’ Chris Funk – reflecting on what they’ve learned from fatherhood . (It’s a heart-warming and humorous read!) You’ll also find all your favorite regular features, with Ramona learning to roller skate , an Out & About at the Pacific Northwest Live Steamers’ Molalla Train Park , a Family Fare review of the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company , an Angels Among Us spotlight of Financial Beginnings , and a Viewpoint offering advice about gun safety , in honor of national ASK (Asking Saves Kids) day June 21. As always, our Family Calendar is packed with family-friendly events and activities every day of the month. Pick up a copy at your favorite distribution point, or read it online beginning June 1.

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Our June Issue

Mar201119

Samantha

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Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP)

What’s to Love:  Love art at home but hate the mess and clean-up?  Simple solution — turn your kids loose inside the Art Factory of the Children’s Healing Art Project.  It’s sort… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP)

Nov201003

PDXrover

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Do You Know What Your Children’s Goals Are?

How would you react if your child started hanging out with a youngster who wouldn’t be your first choice in a friend for him? What if your teen, after years of banking on a four-year university in her future, told you she wanted to attend a technical school or earn a two-year degree instead? In this month’s Viewpoint, available online only , Emily Moser, director of parenting programs at Oregon Partnership , discusses the important issue of goals – our goals for our children, and our children’s goals for themselves. Find out how you can set the stage for your children to make their own well-reasoned, values-based decisions, and how you can rein in the natural instinct to jump to conclusions or judgment, focusing instead on meaningful conversations that will help you discover what your children’s goals are for themselves and their lives – and stay connected to them throughout their lives. After all, isn’t it our most important job as parents to encourage our children to be confident, to know what the right thing is – and do it – and to always be their own wonderful unique selves? Read the full article today.

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Do You Know What Your Children’s Goals Are?

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