Break with tradition this holiday season when you pull out your camcorder and prepare to preserve priceless memories. Leave in the past the telltale signs of the amateur videographer — such as wobbly footage and boring blow-by-blow accounts — and get ready to create timeless family films that everyone will clamor to watch again and [...]
Archive for October, 2006
Take One
Friday, October 27th, 2006Special Education in Public Schools
Friday, October 27th, 2006Public schools in both Baltimore and Howard counties can meet the needs of children with learning differences. Patti Caplan, director of public relations for the Howard County School System, explains that in all but the most severe circumstances, students with learning differences can stay in a traditional schools. Public schools take the stance that children [...]
Guide for parents
Friday, October 27th, 2006Searching for an appropriate placement for a child with learning differences can be daunting. Patti Caplan of Howard County Public Schools recommends that parents navigating public school services for their children take the following steps: Educate yourself about the law and how it requires that services must be provided for children who are entitled to [...]
When School Fails Your Child
Friday, October 27th, 2006“I love my school!” exclaims my 7-year-old son. Hearing his words I am flooded with a mixture of joy and relief. Not so long ago my bright, creative boy used to come home from school complaining he was dumb and nobody liked him. The trouble? My son was struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [...]
Hot Dates
Friday, October 27th, 2006As the Leaves Turn Take an early evening walk through the woods to see how the weather is changing the landscape and affecting wildlife Nov. 4 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center. The activity is for families with children age 4 and older. Cost is $8, $5 for members, and includes a [...]
Tips for parents who work nights
Friday, October 27th, 2006Researchers, experts and parents who have been there offer some tips for dealing with the stresses of night-shift work: Explain your schedule, and why you work it, to your children. Try keeping your hours on a family calendar. Set aside time for your family. For example, attempt to eat at least one meal a day [...]
Night Shift
Friday, October 27th, 2006Although it initially sounded appealing, police officer Michael Hill soon discovered working the night shift so he could care for his three children during the day was a mistake. His evenings were like most fathers’ — dinner with the family at 6 p.m. followed by an organized sport or school activity with the kids. But [...]
Teaching Gratitude
Friday, October 27th, 2006Toni Zollicoffer-Brown, a counselor at Intuitions in Baltimore, offers the following ways parents can help their children be grateful: For your child’s birthday party (around age 9 or 10 is appropriate), consider having guests wrap gifts for a needy child rather than bring a gift for the birthday child. Make a game of trying to [...]
The Thankful Family
Friday, October 27th, 2006When Bill Fiege and Tracy Trobridge decided to purchase a gaming system for their two sons last summer, they researched their options and found just what they were looking for — bargain priced at a second-hand game store. When the West Friendship couple presented the gift, minus the shrink wrap and pristine packaging, sons Eric, [...]
A place where all children can play
Friday, October 27th, 2006A playground is the ultimate hot spot for children, but traditional play areas often exclude kids with disabilities. These days playground planners are taking this into consideration, designing areas with activities easily accessed by children in wheelchairs and with walkers. Earlier this year Meadowbrook Park opened in Ellicott City, and later this month a nearly [...]