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Baby sling warning expected; Sanford couple to launch 7,000-mile trek

Do you use a baby sling? I did with both of my kids and found them to be indispensable, but the government is preparing to issue a safety warning about these infant carriers because of concern that infants suffocate in them, according to the Associated Press. The warning, expected to go out this week, comes on the heels of deaths associated with the slings.

Are you an organ donor? My teen son and husband are, but I’m not yet. This true story of an 11-year-old North Carolina girl and a local couple is making me think about becoming one: On March 16, Ken Burris and Jen Ballentine, of Sanford, will begin a 7,000-mile journey across the United States using TerraTrikes as their means of transportation. The primary purpose of their TerraTrike Tour is to educate as many people as possible about the importance of organ donation.

Their motivation for doing this comes through Jen's 11-year-old daughter, Alexandria Kai Ballentine. In 1999, Alex and her mother had a discussion about organ donation. Alex told Jen that if something happened to her she did not want her organs wasted if they could be given to someone that could use them. That decision became significant when, just six months later, Alex was hit by a car and killed while walking across the street. Jen honored her daughter's wishes and donated Alex's organs. Alex’s donated organs and cornea’s saved five lives and gave two others the gift of sight. The tour is in memory and honor of Alex.

During their tour at an event hosted by Donate Life CO and Donor Alliance, Inc., Ken and Jen will meet the recipient of Alex’s heart. Born with a heart defect, Dillon, now 11 years old, was just 2 years old at the time of his transplant. The operation was a success. About 28,000 lives were saved as a result of organ donation last year, according to Carolina Donor Services in Durham, where the couple will be starting their tour cross country tour on Tuesday. The public is invited to attend the send-off from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Carolina Donor Services, located at 3621 Lyckan Parkway.

Sometimes, it takes our kids to lead the way.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Ready your child for kindergarten

If you’re enrolling your child for kindergarten for the 2010-11 school year, you might be interested in going to a free information session about kindergarten in the Wake County Public School System.

The 90-minute sessions designed for adults only are being held across Wake County on Mondays and Thursdays during March by Project Enlightenment, a WCPSS early childhood education and intervention program. It’s a chance to learn how to help get your child ready for the new experience of kindergarten and how to ease that transition. No reservations are necessary. Click on this flier for meeting times and locations. Call Project Enlightenment for more information at 856-7774.

Project Enlightenment is facing budget cuts for upcoming school year in Wake County, but it would be a great loss to parents and children, if its services—many of which are free—disappear. The program reaches children from birth through kindergarten, promoting their development at a time when their brain is developing most rapidly. Catch them then, and you can propel them to success.

I know. When I moved to a small town in Indiana, I discovered Project Enlightenment. Alone in a new town with a busy, curious toddler, far from family and friends, I felt alone and often worn out by my new job of parenting. But soon I was getting home visits from a wonderful woman who worked with Project Enlightenment. She taught me how to keep my child entertained with activities that stimulated his brain. He looked forward to each visit from her because of the “games” she taught me to play with him, from dipping into a hat with eye shut and guessing what was inside, to exploring colors through painted “butterflies” made of paper towel sheet and pipe cleaners. She opened a world of exploration for both me and my son, and helped me be a better parent.

In Wake County, Project Enlightenment offers parent counseling, support and education, home visits, and a Talk Line, where parents, teachers, child care providers, others can call to get advice about young children. There’s also a parent teacher resource center. Project Enlightenment services are building better kids through parents. If they’re cut, we’ll just end up paying the price later in life. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Soar at Cary's Kite Festival!

One of my best childhood memories is of flying a kite with my father. The gift of time with a parent gazing at a kite dancing in the sky is a treasure we keep as grown-ups. This weekend Cary’s 15th Annual Kite Festival offers you a chance to share the experience with your kids for free.

Seasoned and amateur kite fliers are invited to the multi-purpose field at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, for an afternoon of spring fun, including an educational workshop, demonstrations and kite flying contests. The event is free and open to the public.

Kites Unlimited from Atlantic Beach will host a stunt kite demonstration at 1 p.m., and at 1:45 p.m., kite fliers will launch their kites to become eligible to win various award certificates, including Youngest Kite flier, Oldest Kite flier, Quickest Take-off, Most Generations Flying a Kite, Best Tangle, Best Crash (my favorite!) and more. Demonstrations will continue throughout the event, depending on the wind, and award winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate in the Kite Festival, but registration is required and will begin at 12:30 the day of the festival.

“Our annual Kite Festival is a great way to enjoy the Spring weather in Cary,” said Tracey Filomena, Recreation Program Specialist. “If you don’t have a kite, registration is open for a kite-making course scheduled for the morning of the festival.”

Before the Kite Festival, children can build a kite on Saturday, March 13 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bond Park Community Center. Kite Capers art class is for ages 3-5, and High in the Sky is for ages 5-10. The cost of each class is $12 for residents and $16 for non-residents. Registration is required and can be completed online using EZ-REG Web or by calling (919) 469-4100.

Learn more about the 15th Annual Kite Festival at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4100. — Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking for more free local fun for the kids? Check www.CarolinaParent.com's daily Calendar and Storytimes and Weekly Events.and Bunny Sightings and Egg Hunts in the Triangle.

Visit with Magic Tree House authors!

Spring is right around the corner, heralding blooms, leprechauns, Easter egg hunts and the joy of nature! It’s time to pull out the picnic blanket and head to the park with the kids and some good books to take in the sweet smells of Mother Earth. Carolina Parent’s Carol McGarrahan has been busy picking out the best of spring-themed books for kids. Check out her selections, where you’ll find everything from books about bunnies to a new compilation celebrating Dr. Seuss’s March birthday and the latest Magic Tree House release about leprechauns.

Lucky for us, Magic Tree house authors Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce will be appearing Saturday, March 13, 1 p.m., Quail Ridge Books & Music, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh; and Sunday, March 14, 2 p.m., Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth St., Durham. You’ll need to have a ticket to attend this event, and tickets are free with the purchase of either of their new Magic Tree House books at The Regulator.

If you want to know where the egg hunts are in your neck of the woods, you can find them, along with bunny sightings, on our Family Fun page. All of the events listed on the Family Fun page are free unless otherwise noted. Carolina Parent's Janice Lewine, who has been busy rounding up spring festivities for local families, says Peter Cottontail has been busy dropping eggs all over the Triangle in preparation for Easter. She suggests you remember to arrive early for egg hunts and take your Easter baskets and cameras!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle weekend offers eclectic family fun!

What’s on the agenda for weekend family fun in the Triangle? The return of a kids' hockey ice rink, free movies, acrobats, newborn goats, puppet shows, story times, free birthday cake, and spring shopping for a cause!

This weekend’s family fun starts with First Friday events in Raleigh. Head to Arts Together, at 114 St. Mary's St., in Raleigh, from 7-8 p.m. to see the innovative Triangle modern dance company Even Exchange Dance Theater. Also in Raleigh, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, will showing a free Sci-Fi movie The Giant Gila Monster for first Friday entertainment. The museum will stay open until 9 p.m. so you can wander through exhibits and swing to the classic honkey tonk sounds of TONK.late.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, The Arts Center, at 300-G E. Main St., in Carrboro, is featuring Love and Robots: A Puppet Rock Opera in Zeros and Ones. Visit www.artscenterlive.org for showtimes for this epic tale of love, sacrifice, triumph and redemption with robots.

You’ll find the Golden Dragon Acrobats flying through the air this weekend at the Carolina Theatre, at 309 W. Morgan St., in Durham. Get ready to enjoy death-defying feats celebrating 2,500 years of Chinese history, authentic costumes and graceful beauty. Visit www.carolinatheatre.org for show times.

On Saturday, Marbles Kids Museum, in Raleigh opens its newest exhibit, Power2Play World Tour, which encourages kids to be healthy, be active and go global. Kids suit up in real hockey gear; practice fancy “fútbol” footwork; train to build endurance, balance, strength and flexibility; and move and groove to music from around the world. The exhibit features the return of the kids' favorite Hometown Hockey Center Ice rink sponsored by the Kids 'N Community Foundation of the Carolina Hurricanes. Stormy and the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad from the Carolina Hurricanes will meeting fans at 11 a.m. during the opening celebration, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission fees apply.

Also in Raleigh, at 1 p.m. Saturday, the Historic Oak View County Park, Farm History Center, at 4028 Carya Dr., Raleigh, will show "Where the Red Fern Grows,” a movie about mountain life. Free popcorn and lemonade will be served. Call 250-1013 or visit www.wakegov.com/parks/oakview for details.

In Knightdale, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, take the kids for Bilingual Storytime at the East Regional Library, at 946 Steeple Square Ct., to hear stories in English and Spanish and meet animals. Call 217-5300 or visit www.wakegov.com/libraries.

Over in Apex, also at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Carolina Kinder Storytime offers a chance to hear the story , "Die neugierige kleine Hexe" by Lieve Baeten, read in German at the Eva H. Perry Public Library, 2100 Shepherd's Vineyard Dr. Call 265-3500 for details.

In Holly Springs, the Cashore Marionettes offer a puppet show that celebrates the richness of life on Saturday at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, at 300 W. Ballentine St. For more information on ticket prices call 567-4000 or visit www.hollyspringsnc.us.

Shopping for clothing, toys, equipment for the kids? On Saturday and Sunday, head to Kidaround Kidsale at The Factory, at 1839 S. Main St., in Wake Forest. Call 413-4956 or visit www.kidaroundkidsale.com for hours of operation.

If you’re up for a day trip or live in Siler City, don’t miss the Open Barn at Celebrity Dairy, located at 144 Celebrity Dairy Way, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. You’ll see newborn baby goats, and you can shop for baked goods, goat cheese, jams and more. Donations accepted. Phone 742-5176, or visit www.celebritydairy.com.

And on Sunday you’re invited to join in festivities from 1-5 p.m. as Kidzu Children’s Museum, in Chapel Hill celebrates its fourth anniversary. The hands-on museum for young children will offer free admission from 1 to 5 p.m. Enjoy active games including limbo, hopscotch, exercise cubes, crazy bucket toss from 1-3 p.m.; and savor free snacks,--including healthy treats and birthday cake (while supplies last)—at 4 p.m.

Also on Sunday, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Nordstrom, at the Streets at Southpoint, in Durham, how about enjoying an evening of shopping as well as dessert, wine and complimentary makeovers? It’s Girls' Night In: Shop for a Cause, an opportunity to see spring 2010 fashions, with proceeds benefiting the Girls on the Run of the Triangle. You’ll need to buy tickets online; they’re not available at the door. For details, call 401-6307 or visit www.gotrtriangle.org/events/girls-night-shop-cause-nordstrom.

Enjoy classical music or want to get the kids interested in it? At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the Young Artists Classical Concert., at Carolina Theatre, at 309 W. Morgan St., in Durham, offers a chance to hear the winners of the Young Artists Classical competition perform with the Durham Symphony. For ticket prices, call 560-3030 or visit www.carolinatheatre.org.

If you’re still looking for an activity that’s age-appropriate for your child in your home town any day of the week, see www.CarolinaParent.com’s daily Calendar or Story Times and Weekly Events.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

It's time to see the newborn goats! Photo Courtesy of Celebrity Dairy, in Siler City, N.C.

Friday family fun on tap!

Wondering what to do with the kids on Friday? If you’re in Raleigh, you can catch First Friday fun. Head to Arts Together, at 114 St. Mary's St., in Raleigh, from 7-8 p.m. to see the innovative Triangle modern dance company Even Exchange Dance Theater. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, is also featuring a free Sci-Fi movie, The Giant Gila Monster, which is probably best for older kids. The museum will stay open until 9 p.m. so you can wander through exhibits and swing to the classic honkey tonk sounds of TONK.late.

Feel like a little bargain shopping? Check out Kidaround Kidsale, from 2-8 p.m., on Friday, at The Factory, 1839 S. Main St., in Wake Forest, where you’ll find clothing, toys, equipment and more.

The Arts Center, at 300-G E. Main St., in Carrboro, is featuring Love and Robots: A Puppet Rock Opera in Zeros and Ones on Friday at 8 p.m. www.artscenterlive.org Enjoy an epic tale of love, sacrifice, triumph and redemption with robots.

And if you’re in Apex, how about taking your tot for Science Preschool Story Time at 10 a.m. at the Wake Zone Coffee House, 6108 Old Jenks Rd., to hear a story with a science theme. For more information, calll 889-0809.

You’ll find the Golden Dragon Acrobats flying through the air starting at 7:30 p.m., at the Carolina Theatre, at 309 W. Morgan St., in Durham. Get ready to enjoy death-defying feats celebrating 2,500 years of Chinese history, authentic costumes and graceful beauty.

If you’re still looking for an activity that’s age-appropriate for your child in your town any day of the week, see our Story Timres and Weekly Events listing. For example, did you know First Friday is American Girl Night at the Barnes & Noble, at 760 S.E. Maynard Rd., in Cary? You’ll find books, activities and discussion for school aged kids at 7 p.m. during Family Fun Night. Call 467-3866 for more information. If you live in Durham, check out the story time for ages 1 through pre-kindergarten at 10:30 a.m. at the Barnes & Noble, at the Streets at Southpoint, in Durham. Call 806-1930 for more information.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

What do neighborhood schools mean?

Many schools have delayed start times this morning, which leaves working parents like me juggling two delayed school openings. My kids were up early ready to go to school when they heard the news. One opted to watch his TV favorite shows, while the other headed back to bed.

Knowing what time your child’s school will open seems to be the only thing parents can be certain of these days when it comes to school. Yesterday, the Wake County Board of Education voted to move toward assigning students to schools in their neighborhoods, casting aside its diversity policy. If a second vote at the next school board meeting March 23 also favors neighborhood schools, no longer will schools try to ensure a balance that kids from well-to-do families attend with those from lower economic brackets.

I greet this news with ambivalence. On the one hand, I believe in neighborhood schools. I’ve seen the power of a strong PTA, and how parents’ volunteer efforts keep a school running when budgets are being cut. These parents are vested in their “neighborhood schools.” I understand the pain of having children bored as they sit through lessons that are being taught to the lowest academic level in the classroom. I know that one disruptive child who is acting up either due to hunger or abuse at home can delay the learning of an entire class. I, too, want the best for my children.

But yesterday I realized what “neighborhood schools” mean. They mean that children whose parents have less economic means will be clustered together at school. They mean that children will have less exposure to people who come from walks of life different than their own. They mean we parents are ultimately going to take care of our own children, and leave those less fortunate to their own resources.

Is there a way to help those children who are falling behind because they didn’t– or don’t– get academic support at home or do not yet know English well? Can we build a system to bring children who are behind academically up to the average level through personal attention? I believe we can, but it will take vast infusions of capital at a time when schools are cutting back. Programs like Project Enlightenment, which catches delays early and provides help before children’s development becomes stunted, need more funding, not less.

So it remains to be seen how Wake will respond to the youngest and most vulnerable members of society, who will ultimately be our caregivers. – Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Warning: Mom carrying snacks in car

If you’re like me—and like all the moms I know— you carry snacks in the car for your kids. After all, you never know when hunger will strike, and you wouldn’t want your child to go hungry. Right? Maybe.

A new study from University of North Carolina researchers is making me reconsider how fast I pull out those snacks and what I’m serving. They find that children are snacking so often, they’re moving toward constant eating. Our kids are downing an average of three snacks a day besides three regular meals, which could explain why the rate of overweight children has risen to more than 16 percent, Reuters reports.

It seems that in our effort to be good parents, we might be giving our children too much. So what can we do? How about serving more vegetables? Patty James, author of More Vegetables, Please! says that given our busy and stressful lives, getting kids to eat healthier takes some planning but can be done.

A certified natural chef with a Master's degree in holistic nutrition, she says the easiest way to begin is to take a few moments to plan meals and snacks for the week. She offers the following advice to getting your kids to buy into the healthy changes:

* Be sure to have your child help you; they are more likely to embrace change when they are part of the process. Explain why you’re doing what you’re doing; become a health educator. If you have purchased sugary cereal in the past and are now stocking your home with healthier choices, explain that sugar offers no nutrients at all, doing nothing but adding ‘empty’ calories to their diet, something neither one of you needs. Kids are smart and want to understand. Explain that together you will create healthier habits.

* Since snacks are often a large part of your child’s daily caloric intake, plan for those as well. Have carrot and celery sticks, red pepper and jicama slices, as examples, available at all times as well as fruit and some easy spreads for protein such as nut butters and hummus.

* You can getting your child to follow a healthy route if you figure out what matters to him or her. If he or she is on the tennis team, in the band, or on the debate team, could they do what they love without the energy and mental clarity that good health provides? Is your teen concerned about the looks of their skin? Weight management? A family history of diabetes? Speak to their concerns and desires and they will work with you. Everyone likes to be spoken to as an intelligent person, and everyone likes to be part of the process, including your kids. But if your child is less than enthusiastic about changes you are making, make them anyway, but explain you are doing it out of love and that it is your responsibility to look after their health.

* You can’t get your kids to change habits if you don’t. If you consume a lot of junk food, and never exercise, this sends a very clear message to your child. Are you a stress eater or drinker? Do you eat out of boredom? Work on healthy habits together. Conversely, if you are a healthy person with good habits, yet feed your children more unhealthy food than you know they should consume because it’s simply easier, then first of all forgive yourself, and start with step one-Plan. There are many cookbooks and ideas out there to help you create simple, nutritious meals.

* Don’t set yourself up for failure; a complete overhaul might be too extreme for you and your family. You could begin with just having healthier snacks in the house and not bringing any more junk food into your home. No one knows you and your family better than you, so be realistic about what changes you can maintain. Start small and develop one or two new habits at a time. Soon you will have many health-supporting habits for you and your child.

-- Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle Weekend famiy fun unfurls!

Ready for weekend family fun? This weekend’s lineup includes the annual African American Read in at the Capitol, a free two-day living history event at Durham’s historic Bennett Farm, the circus in Raleigh, and a puppet rock opera in Carrboro. And don’t miss Durham’s cutest arrival, Yona, a black bear yearling, at the Museum of Life and Science!

Planning ahead? Chinese acrobats will perform spellbinding feats in Durham on March 5-6, and the Harlem Globetrotter Magical Memories” World Tour will be in Raleigh at the RBC Center on March 5.

This Saturday, head to the Capitol in Raleigh for the 21st annual National African American Read to hear great literature as local authors, community leaders and students read from works by their favorite African American writers. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. and is presented with Wake County’s Richard B. Harrison Library. Also in Raleigh this weekend, see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus – Zing Zang Zoom at the RBC Center.

Take the kids over to Durham’s historic Bennett Farm this weekend, and you’ll be swept back to life during the Civil War as a free reenactment plays out Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll discover how the Confederate soldiers of North Carolina came to be known as “Tar Heels.” Also, in Durham, check out this cutie pie: Yona, the black bear yearling, at the Museum of Life and Science.

In Carrboro, Paperhand Puppet Intervention is presenting Love and Robots: A Puppet Rock Opera Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the The ArtsCenter. Visit www.artscenterlive.org for ticket prices and performance times for this epic tale of love, sacrifice, triumph and redemption with robots.

And you’ll want to get your tickets now for the mesmerizing Chinese acrobats and the fabulously funny Harlem Globetrotters who performing in the Triangle next weekend. Carolina Parent’s Janice Lewine has the scoop on both events as well as ticket prices and times on our Monthly Calendar Highlights guide, along with more upcoming family fun!

If you’re looking for something to do with the kids in your town, check CarolinaParent.com’s daily Calendar and Storytimes and Weekly Events listings, where you’ll find loads more free and inexpensive activities for kids.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Meet Yona, a black bear yearling!

Kids have a new reason to head to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. It’s Yona, a 90-pound black bear yearling. She’s joined four other bears, Gus, Mimi, Virginia and Ursula in the museum’s 1-acre Explore the Wild bear attraction.

Yona—which means bear in the Cherokee language—was only a 4-pound cub when she was found abandoned in Townsend, Tenn., last year. Now her new digs allow her to swim beneath a cascading waterfall, lounge on deadfall trees, dig for nuts and berries, and climb granite walls in search of rest.

“It’s exciting to have a new bear for our youngest bear Gus to pal around with,” says Kristen Pormann, lead animal keeper.

Yona arrived at the museum on Jan. 15 and was placed in quarantine in the bear house before meeting the other four bears. She’s still getting adjusted to her new space; she prefers to stay in the bear house, while the other four bears prefer to lounge in the bear yard.

“I’m sure she will eventually feel comfortable enough and head out, but for now, evidently there’s no place like home,” says Sherry Samuels, animal department director.

To learn more about Yona’s progress, attend one of the daily 2 p.m. Meet the Keeper talks at the Museum of Life and Science or visit the animal department blog at http://blogs.lifeandscience.org/keepers. The museum spends more than $40,000 a year to care for its rescued bears. If you would like to help, join the Adopt a Bear program by calling 919.220.5429 ext. 352.

Yona at 2 month’s old – Appalachian Bear Rescue

Bennett Farm offers free living history event

Head to Durham’s historic Bennett Farm this weekend with the kids, and you’ll be swept back to life during the Civil War as a free two-day living history event unfolds.

More soldiers from North Carolina served in the Confederate army than any other Southern state. Some of these Tar Heel “soldiers” will take part in the event at the Bennett Farm on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and again on Sunday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presentations and talks will explain how the Confederate soldiers of North Carolina came to be known as “Tar Heels.” You’ll also learn about the unique style of uniforms and equipment, which were produced from the booming textile industry in North Carolina at the time of the Civil War.

“Our re-enactors will pitch their tents and camp on the grounds of the farm just as Confederate soldiers did 145 years ago, allowing visitors to see firsthand life of a Civil War soldier,” says Bennett Place site manager John Guss. “These men will cook their salt pork and corn over open campfires, gather and chop firewood, and mend their worn clothing, necessities every soldier had to learn away from home.”

Military demonstrations include marching drills and maneuvers, skirmish and battle line formations, and the always-exhilarating musket firings. Other talks and demonstrations will include the history of the Confederate flag.

Across North Carolina new recruits enlisted in the Southern cause, some willingly and some by conscription. In the Piedmont, such towns as Hillsborough, Company Shops (now Burlington), Graham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro and Raleigh served as recruiting and training stations for civilians young and old who rallied to the cause. They were mustered in and trained to provide reinforcements and relief to soldiers already battling in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and along the North Carolina coast.

Presentations and displays include a program by the local Sons of Confederate Veterans Lorenzo Bennett and Robert Duke Camp, which replaced and dedicated more than 40 Confederate soldier headstones in Historic Maplewood Cemetery in Durham in 2009.

The Visitor Center at Bennett Place State Historic Site will be open over the weekend. You can view some of the many exclusive Civil War-related artifacts interpreting the life of the Bennett family and the soldiers serving in North Carolina during the time of the surrender negotiations. The short film "Dawn of Peace" will be shown in the theater throughout the weekend as well. You’ll also be able to buy a variety of Civil War- and Bennett Place-related souvenirs and collectibles at the museum gift shop, which uses all proceeds to help with the preservation of this historic landmark.

Once the farm of Piedmont North Carolina yeoman farmers, James and Nancy Bennitt (or Bennett), their home became the site of negotiations that led to the largest surrender of the American Civil War. On April 26, 1865, General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered the Army of Tennessee and all existing soldiers in the field throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to Major General William T. Sherman. The total number of Confederate soldiers surrendered was 89,270, making it the largest troop surrender of the war.

Three more noteworthy armies surrendered in Alabama, Louisiana and the Oklahoma Territory. These surrenders, together with General Robert E. Lee's capitulation to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Va., effectively disbanded all Confederate forces.

The mission of Bennett Place State Historic Site is to preserve and interpret the history of the largest surrender of the Civil War and the lives of 19th-century yeoman farmers such as the Bennetts. Bennett Place is located in the western part of Durham at 4409 Bennett Memorial Road. It can be reached by taking Hwy. 15-501 North, the Durham Freeway (Hwy. 147) or I-85; follow the brown Historic Site signs. For more information on this program or Bennett Place, call (919) 383-4345, e-mail bennett@ncdcr.gov or visit the Web site at http://www.bennettplace.nchistoricsites.org.

Re-enactors drill at Bennett Place State Historic Site, site of North Carolina’s largest Civil War Confederate troop surrender. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

Mom's diet may alter infant's allergies

Want to cut your chances of having a baby with eczema, that dry, itchy, patchy red skin? According to a new Japanese study, you might want to eat more fruits and vegetables in a range of colors, Reuters Health reports. Researchers also found that foods high in vitamin E, found in some green vegetables, also may reduce the risk of having a baby who wheezes.

It's been known for a while that eating a rainbow of colors benefits both you and your baby by building a strong, healthy immune system. Experts suggest you choose as many different colors, textures and varieties of fruits and veggies as you can every day to maintain a balanced diet. For the full range of fruits and veggies that cover the rainbow, see our guide, where you'll also find tips for eating healthy on a budget.

Having trouble getting your family together to sit down for meals? Check out these ideas for making it easy to dine as a family as well as easy, yummy recipes from online recipe sites.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Special needs kids' fun tonight!

Do you have a child with special needs? Tonight, Pump it Up of Raleigh, a kids' party venue, is featuring a Sensory Jump. It's a fun session designed for kids with special needs who benefit from a smaller, more controlled and private jumping environment. The $7 per child session, from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at 10700 World Trade Blvd, Suite 112, is open to siblings and therapists. Pump it up offers private indoor arenas, filled with gigantic inflatable slides, bounce houses, obstacle courses and more.

Raising a special needs child can be challenging, but did you know that it gets easier? Find out why in this blog from mental health experts at the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood in Cary. Need to have your child tested? Visit in CarolinaParent.com’s Special Needs Resources listing, which covers a range of needs from gifted and talented to speech and occupational therapy.

And if you could benefit from the perspective of other moms and dads, check out Carolinaparent.com’s Parent Support Directory, from A to Z. You’ll find groups for moms, dads and other caregivers that run the gamut of interests, from adoption to post-partum support to special needs parenting and groups who meet in your area. – Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor.

For more information and resources, see our feature, Finding Child Care for Children with Special Needs.

Triangle weekend kids' fun lands!

What’s on the agenda for this weekend’s family fun? Camps, a day-long money savvy party, time travel, Barbie, black bears, butterflies and the largest shark that ever lived!

If you haven’t thought of what the kids are going to do over the summer or during their next track-out from school, head over to Camp & Education Fair at St. Mary’s College in Raleigh from noon to 4 p.m. this Sunday. You’ll find an array of camps and schools for your child, from surfing at the beach and cooking to movie making and chess.

On Saturday, from 9: a.m. to 5 p.m., join the folks at Marbles Kids Museum, in downtown Raleigh, for a party in their piggy bank to celebrate the opening of Moneypalooza, a colorful new learning gallery. Enjoy special appearances by Moneypalooza friends Frugal Freddie, Banker Ben and Aunt Polly. Play a life-sized version of the Moneypalooza Board Game at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Build your own piggy bank, take home great giveaways and enter to win prizes. The gallery offers hands-on fun that promotes healthy money habits to kids ages 4 to 10. There, imaginative pretend “work” lets kids earn bucks, like helping Ellie run a lemonade stand, walking Aunt Polly’s dog and feeding her cats.

In downtown Raleigh, the newest exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences offers gigantic fun. Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived runs through May 9, featuring a 60-feet-long Carcharodon megalodon, which was a dominant marine predator.

Barbie fans, check out the N.C. Museum of History, also in downtown Raleigh, to see Barbie: Fabulous at 50! The exhibit features Barbie’s stylish outfits, her 1962 sports car and 1971 revolving kitchen, and boyfriend Ken. Several personal and humorous Barbie stories and photographs have been contributed by North Carolinians.

Over in Hillsborough, families can blast back to the past with a reenactment that offers time travel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. During the 10th Annual Revolutionary War Living History Day, you’ll find Continental, British and militia reenactors demonstrating camp life during the Revolutionary War and commemorate Lord General Cornwallis’ encampment in Hillsborough in February 1781 on the grounds of the Alexander Dickson House (ca 1790), located at 150 E. King St. Events include marching drills, musket-firing demonstrations and open-flame cooking.

If you live in Durham, Sunday is a great time to head to the Museum of Life and Science as Durham residents get in free with ID from noon to 2 p.m. There’s loads to see at the museum, from black bears braving the cold to butterflies enjoying the warmth at the Magic Wings Butterfly House.

Going to the movies? Get the scoop on what’s good for your tot, tween or teen from Jean’s blog, Movie Choices for Kids. And any day of the week, you'll find fun— and often free— activities for your kinds in CarolinaParent.com's Daily Calendar.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Escape February: Fantasy, bears & butterflies

Are February's frigid mornings making you wish for a fairy godmother? Tonight, watch romance bloom as a Cinderella’s fairy godmother transforms her into a beautifully adorned princess aboard a golden carriage headed for a prince’s ball with the opening of Carolina Ballet’s Cinderella. The ballet, at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, in Raleigh, casts a spell designed to warm the entire family. After Cinderella, there’ll be short works by George Balanchine and a new ballet by Robert Weiss.

Looking ahead to the weekend? If you live in Durham, Sunday is a great time to head to the Museum of Life and Science as Durham residents get in free with ID from noon to 2 p.m. (A $2 per person donation is suggested.) There’s loads to see at the museum, from black bears braving the cold to butterflies enjoying the warmth at the Magic Wings Butterfly House.

For more magical escapes, check out our storytimes and weekly events listing, for fun for preschoolers, tots and their elders around the Triangle.

And don't miss the Camp & Education Fair on Sunday in Raleigh from noon to 4 p.m. to find the best camps and schools for your kids. Sponsored by Carolina Parent magazine and the YMCA of the Triangle, the fair at Saint Mary's School, at 800 Hillsborough Street, is the largest of its kind in the Triangle.

– Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Photo Courtesy of the Museum of Life & Science

Hillsborough offers families peek into past

Nothing beats a reenactment to bring history to life. It’s a time machine for kids, blasting them back to the past. On Saturday, Feb. 20, your kids can enjoy historic fun in Hillsborough with the 10th Annual Revolutionary War Living History Day.

During the Revolutionary War, Continental and British armies occupied Hillsborough and commanding figures like Horatio Gates, Nathanael Greene and Lord General Cornwallis headquartered in the town's inns and taverns. Cornwallis' ill-spent week in Hillsborough in February of 1781 eventually culminated in his surrender at Yorktown eight months later.

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Continental, British and militia reenactors will demonstrate camp life during the Revolutionary War and commemorate General Cornwallis’ encampment in Hillsborough in February 1781 on the grounds of the Alexander Dickson House (ca 1790), located at 150 E. King St. Events include marching drills, musket-firing demonstrations and open-flame cooking.

The Alliance's Revolutionary War Guided Tours will also be held that day, beginning and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The 60-minute tour showcases Hillsborough's revolutionary and colonial era sites, while retelling stories of the events that took place in and around the town. Tours cost $5 per person.
For additional information please call the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Alliance office at 919-732-7741 or visit www.historichillsborough.org.

Photo courtesy of David Hunt

Green cleaning? Let kids lead the way!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about switching my household cleaners for products with a “natural, environmentally friendly” label. Just when I was about to hop on the clean green bandwagon, I’ve discovered that when it comes to household cleaners, there's no one regulating them. CBS reports that Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumer Reports magazine, says there's no government-sponsored set of guidelines for household cleaners, so really, there's no way to tell if these products are actually all-natural.

So what’s a parent to do if you’re seeking safer way to protect your kids and yourself from chemical toxins while cleaning? You might want to make the products yourself. It’s cheaper, more effective and safer.

If you’re wondering how to get started, how about having your child lead the way? Blue Jay Point County Park’s Environmental Education Center, in North Raleigh, is offering kids a “green” science class from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. The $8 session for kids ages 6 to 8, lets them mix up and test some household cleaning aides and learn what makes them earth friendly. They’ll make their own cleaning products, compare them to those on the market in terms of safety and effectiveness, and come up with their own artful labels for their protects. Pre-registration is required.

D’Nise Hefner, education program director at Blue Jay County Park says if you’re looking to go green, a good way to start with kids. It’s hard for adults, like her, to shake their habits.

“Even though I have very much of an interest in wanting to be green and earth-friendly, you get into a pattern of things you’re just used to buying—the Windex in the grocery store—and it’s a little bit hard to break out of that mold and try something that is a little bit different,” she says.

Children, on the other hand, can propel parents in the right direction. “Kids can be powerful influence with their parents,” she says, laughing. “If the kids go home and they have the little bottle of stuff that they’ve mixed up and they’ve put their art work on, the parents are going to want to use it—because that’s what parents do. And by the time the parents have used up that bottle of homemade window cleaner, we may have affected behavioral change. And it’s certainly a lot cheaper than going and spending 4 bucks for a bottle of Windex.”

Like Green Science? You’ll find lots more fun activities every day in CarolinaParent.com’s Calendar.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Teen substance abuse take stage

Drugs. Every parent of a teen fears them. But how do you keep your teen on the right path? We already know we must keep the lanes of communication open with our teens. We know we need to help foster their self esteem, confidence and independence. But here’s a novel approach coming your way: comedy.

Dirt: A one-man show about substance abuse and choices comes to the Cary Academy Fine Arts Theater, Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Actor and comedian John Morello’s cast of four characters are destined to leave you laughing and crying. There’s David, a high school junior becoming entangled in ecstasy and prescription drugs; Jason, every town’s “stoner” who sees weed and his actions as harmless; Melissa; a college bound girl who drinks “socially” and is now dealing with the issue of date-rape; and Hank, A 79-year old WWII veteran who reflects on his life, his choices, and his care for the young people in his life.

Morello’s show “Dirt” has become the number one recommended assembly for young people by the New England and New Jersey chapters of SADD, MADD, andASAP (Association of Student Assistance Professionals). In Morello’s show, as the characters speak honestly about their experiences, the audience understands how seemingly disconnected lives are indeed tied together and influence each other. Ultimately, “Dirt” explores the underlying reasons for substance abuse such as low self esteem, depression, and a desire to find a purpose amid life’s chaos.

Read Get the DIRT on dealing with addiction for more on John Morello and his show; and for ticket information, visit our Carolina Parent U page.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Weekend offers Valentine family events & indoor fun!

Triangle families get to celebrate a triple treat with the Winter Olympics kicking off on Friday, Valentine’s Day fun—like sledding and carriage and rickshaw rides in downtown Raleigh—on Sunday and the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, offering fun events through Monday. And if you’re seeking a respite from the cold, how about heading to Durham for the Museum of Life’s 80-degree tropical paradise? There you’ll bask in the warmth of the Magic Wings Butterfly House, one of the largest butterfly conservatories in the world.

On Saturday from 1-3 p.m., a drop-in program at the N.C. Museum of History offers a chance for kids to make a Valentine based on Victorian samples from the museum's collection. You’ll find more family events on our Valentine’s Guide to the Triangle.

On Saturday at 2 p.m., the Raleigh City Museum is offering a free kids’ Black History Month program that includes creating a take-home cornhust doll and sampling traditional African-American foods.

On Saturday night from 7-8 p.m., attend a Valentine Dance to benefit Haiti relief effort, at Evolve Yoga Studio, in Raleigh. The hour-long dance is easy, playful and fun! No experience or partner needed.

Got a curious kid who likes to make stuff? Don’t miss “Design it,” a special event at the Museum of Life & Science in Durham on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. The day-long event offers a hands-on day of tinkering, creating, building and inventing. Activities will include spin art, a take-apart station, Contraptions workshops, and a KEVA building challenge. The event is free with museum admission.

On Sunday, celebrate Valentine’s Day in downtown Raleigh with sledding as well as carriage and rickshaw rides at the AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink. The rink will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Snow My Yard will create a winter wonderland with sledding ramps open from noon to 5 p.m. This activity is free for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband.

Valentine’s aside, The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh opens its newest special exhibit this Saturday, Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived, which runs through May 9. At 60 feet long, Carcharodon megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived and a dominant marine predator. The museum is also hosting Darwin Day from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, a free event that offers a closer look at evolution and famed naturalist Charles Darwin

If watching the winter Olympics this month gets your kids interested in winter sports, take advantage these area opportunities to try ice skating, hockey and even curling.

And if you’d rather head indoors to a movie with the kids, check out what’s appropriate for your tot, tween or teen in Jean’s Movie Choices for Kids.

Happy Valentine's!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Great Backyard Bird Count offers family fun!

Does it seem like February is for the birds? You’re right!

Bird watchers coast to coast are flocking to join in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, Feb. 12, through Monday, Feb. 15, and Wake County is offering wonderful free activities for families to take part in the fun. The free event engages tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Each checklist submitted by these "citizen scientists" helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Bird Studies Canada learn more about how the birds are doing—and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent's largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all at the same time," said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. "Even if you can identify a few species you can provide important information that enables scientists to learn more about how the environment is changing and how that affects our conservation priorities.”

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Last year, Wake County participants helped to count more than 9.8 million birds, identifying 635 species. Participants will report their results online to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For more information or to locate the online checklist, visit the GBBC Web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

Here’s a list of some Wake County GBBC Events:

CROWDER DISTRICT PARK
4709 Ten Ten Road, Apex

Bird Bonanza
Participate in one or all of the fun activities to learn about the birds at Crowder. Participate in a scavenger hunt, play a bird identification game, or make a craft. Registration is required.
•    Friday, Feb. 12, 2-4 p.m.

Bluebird Trail Hike and Craft
Learn about the history of the Eastern Bluebird and how to attract them at home. Hike along the bluebird trail and make a bluebird mobile to take home. Participants and staff will be counting all birds. Registration is required.
•    Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Breakfast with the Birds
Enjoy doughnuts with a cup of shade grown coffee or hot chocolate for kids. Walk the trails to identify and count the birds. Registration is required.
•    Monday, Feb. 15, 8:30-10 a.m.

Public Bird Count Walks
Attend a quick lesson on bird watching and how to count birds, then join park staff on a walk to identify and count them. Walks will cover different habitats in the park.
•    Friday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.
•    Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m.
•    Sunday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.
•    Monday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.

HARRIS LAKE COUNTY PARK
2112 County Park Drive, New Hill

Public Bird Count Walk
Join the staff at Harris Lake and participate in a bird count in the park. No birding experience is necessary. Binoculars will be provided. Meet at the Loblolly Shelter.
•    Sunday, Feb. 14, 2-3 p.m.

LAKE CRABTREE COUNTY PARK
1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville

Bird Bazaar
Stop by the Beech Shelter to participate in a variety of fun activities and crafts related to bird watching. Win prizes by testing bird knowledge, improve bird identification skills and more. Follow “Bird Bazaar” signs to the Beech Shelter.
•    Saturday, Feb. 13, 1-3 p.m.
•    Sunday, Feb. 14, 1-3 p.m.

All About Birds
Kids ages 7 to 11 are invited to learn all about birds through a variety of games and hands-on activities. Participants will learn how to use binoculars, practice bird identification skills and discover how to help birds at home. Find out what makes birds unique from other animals and how adaptations help them survive. Registration is required. The fee is $12 per child.
•    Monday, Feb. 15, 1-4 p.m.

Public Count Walks
Join park staff on a walk through several habitats to identify and count birds. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
•    Friday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.
•    Saturday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m.
•    Sunday, Feb. 14, 9 a.m.
•    Monday, Feb. 15, 9 a.m.

COUNT THE BIRDS AT KIDS TOGETHER PLAYGROUND
111 Thurston Dr.,Cary

Learn to identify birds and record the numbers. Enjoy refreshments as results are tallied for the Great Backyard Bird Count.
• Saturday, Feb. 13, 9-10 a.m. Phone: 481-3180. Website: www.townofcary.org.

Frigid? Time to think about camps!

With the wind whipping outside as I dodge icy patches on the roadway this morning, my thoughts naturally turn to summer fun. Dreaming of being on the beach and my kids at sports camps is a great escape from this endless winter, and I’ve even put a few summer plans in place.

Last night, my husband signed my son up for a golf camp. For years, my youngest had been waiting for the day when he was old enough to head out on the golf course from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and eat his lunch with his pals in the snack bar. Who wouldn’t want to order from the menu by themselves, like the grown-ups: BLT, hamburger and fries, grilled cheese, or hot dogs? For many years, he’d ridden with me in the car to pick up his older brother after he’d had a long hard day of playing golf, wishing he had been there. This morning, you should have seen his face when he discovered he was going to be able to put his Christmas set of clubs to use for a week this summer.

If you haven’t yet signed your kids up for a camp, you may think it’s early to do so, and you’re right, but believe me—the best camps fill up fast. Each year, Carolina Parent magazine and the YMCA of the Triangle sponsor a Camp & Education Fair in Raleigh that offers a fabulous line-up of camps and schools in the Triangle, the state and beyond, and about 1,200 people show up. This year, the fair will be Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 at Saint Mary's School at 900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

Last year, I found camps for every conceivable interest, from surfing at the beach to chess, movie-making, art and horse riding and much more. You'll find day and residential camps. The exhibitors all have booths laden with brochures, and each one is staffed with at least one person who’s just waiting to answer your questions. Last year, when I was thinking of signing my son up for a local camp that offered swimming in a lake, archery and horse riding, I got my questions about the ratio of camp counselors to campers and other safety issues. Many of the booths offer giveaways for kids.

Some people take their kids along so they can see the variety of camps out there and choose for themselves. It’s just a fun way to choose a camp, and I’m always amazed by the variety of camps that I never knew exhibited. If you haven’t been, it’s worth going with your kids. He or she might just pick up a new hobby that you never knew they liked.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Can't make it to the Camp & Education Fair? Check out our Camps Directories online.

Find Valentine's fun events for your kids in our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle.

Carolina Ballet rehearsal to raise funds for Haiti

In the wake of the quake that rocked Haiti three weeks ago, the dancers of Carolina Ballet are raising funds for the people of Haiti, through "Hearts for Haiti," an open studio rehearsal of Cinderella. The rehearsal will take place 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Carolina Ballet studios, at 3401 Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh.

“Most of us do not know how to treat wounds, speak Creole, or use forklifts to dig through the rubble.” says dancer Taisha Barton-Rowledge.“We do, however, know how to inspire people through dance. We are given the chance to heal souls, to lift people out of their daily lives and allow them to connect to the further reaches of humanity.”

The company is asking attendees to make a minimum contribution of $25 to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund.All of the money raised will be given to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund. Seating is limited, contact Emily Hughes in the Carolina Ballet Development Office at (919) 719-0800 ext. 229 or ehughes@carolinaballet.com.

Carolina Ballet's Cinderella opens Feb. 18 at the Fletcher Opera Theater at the Progress Energy Center
for the Performing Arts, in Raleigh. Due to the demand for tickets to attend the Cinderella/Balanchine program, Carolina Ballet is adding an extra performance of Cinderella at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 6, in the Fletcher Opera Theater. This performance will be only the Cinderella portion of the program to allow families with younger children to enjoy this classic fairy tale without sitting through a longer production of dance. You can buy tickets for the 11 a.m. show by calling the Carolina Ballet box office at (919) 719-0900 or through Ticketmaster at (800) 892-2787.

For more family-friendly Valentine's fun, visit our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle.

Find Community Service news in our Get Involved guide to the Triangle.

N.C. college financial aid resources ramp up!

Is your teen headed to college in North Carolina? This week, you’ll have a special opportunity to discover how to lower the cost of his or her education. That’s because Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed Feb. 8-12 to be as Financial Aid Awareness Week, a chance for N.C. students and families to learn more about applying for financial assistance for college.

The week culminates with FAFSA Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, when college financial aid officers and specialists will be at more than 120 locations across North Carolina to help high school seniors and families complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most FAFSA Day sites will be open between 9 a.m. until noon on Feb. 13 to offer free assistance. Registration is encouraged. To find locations and register for FAFSA Day, go to www.CFNC.org/fafsaday or call toll-free 1-866-866-CFNC.

More than 350,000 students in N.C. have applied for financial aid to help pay for college costs and many of N.C. leaders, including former governors, judges, civic leaders, educators and other professionals were financial aid recipients, according to the Governor's proclamation. Financial Aid Awareness Week and FAFSA Day are sponsored by the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and the State Employees' Credit Union.

CFNC is a free N.C. government service that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFNC is a partnership of Pathways, the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. Pathways, created by the N.C. General Assembly in 1999, is a state-wide initiative to increase the college-going rate of North Carolinians by providing: comprehensive college and career planning resources; electronic applications and transcripts accepted by all 110 North Carolina colleges and universities; and, information on student financial aid and college affordability. CFNC offers resources toll-free at 1-866-866-CFNC and at www.CFNC.org.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Check out CarolinaParent.com's Parents' Guide to North Carolina Colleges, a free publication and one-stop source of basic information on every North Carolina college and university, complete with stories and data specifically tailored for parents.

Triangle free weekend fun lands!

Heading out for weekend family fun? You’ll find lots of kids’ activities, from a free community day of arts exploration in Chapel Hill to a free drop-in crafts program in Raleigh about African-Americans who have called North Carolina home.

RALEIGH

First Friday events set the stage for the weekend in Raleigh. Enjoy a free sci-fi movie, starting at 7 p.m., at the N.C. Museum of Natural Science. Check out Jonathan’s review of 2010: The Year We Make Contact, rated PG.

Drop by Arts Together, at 114 St. Mary's St., in Raleigh, from 7-9 pm., for a free informal showing by Code f.a.d. dance company, also part of First Friday festivities. Curated by Even Exchange Dance Theater, the showing is part of Dance Seen, which features innovative Triangle dance companies.

Got a budding businessman or woman in your home? In Raleigh, check out the hands-on fun for future financiers in Moneypalooza, a colorful new learning gallery at Marbles Kids Museum. The gallery, which aims to teach the value of money and promote healthy money habits to kids ages 4 to 10, let’s kids jump right in with imaginative pretend “work” that earn bucks. They can help Ellie run a lemonade stand, walk Aunt Polly’s dog and feed her cats, and bake pizzas with Mr. Vito to earn money on payday and much more.

If you’re a Barbie fan, catch Barbie – Simply Fabulous at 50! on display at the N.C. Museum of History, in Raleigh. The exhibit features Barbie’s stylish outfits, her 1962 sports car and 1971 revolving kitchen, and boyfriend Ken. Several personal and humorous Barbie stories and photographs have been contributed by North Carolinians.

Also at the N.C. Museum of History, you’ll find Hands-on History, a free drop-in program from 1–3 p.m. on Saturday invites kids to learn about African Americans who have called North Carolina home, as they make a craft, jump a rope or hear a story!

Are your kids interested in stargazing? Visit the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh for Astronomy Days , which offers loads of fun for all ages on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Or head over to Oak View County Park’s Farm History Center, in Raleigh, for free popcorn and lemonade at you learn about mountain life through the movie, Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People, which runs from 1-3 p.m.Guided tours of the exhibition available immediately after the film's conclusion.

CHAPEL HILL

Over in Chapel Hill, The Ackland Art Museum, invites families to the museum's free Community Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, to explore art and ideas from around the world. Artists will lead workshops, gallery teachers and docents will lead guided tours, and a full schedule of other programs and events offer something for the whole family.

DURHAM

In Durham, the Nasher Museum at Duke University is hosting a free Family Day, from noon to 4 p.m on Sunday with hands-on activities that include silhouette self portraits, creative clay heads and a neon face mural. It's a chance to explore faces in art, enjoy a gallery hunt and more! Paul Miller of Flow Circus will perform a juggling and magic show in the Mary D.B.T. Semans Great Hall at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Before, between and after the shows, Paul will perform roving close-up magic. Activities are designed for kids ages 3 to 12 and their accompanying adults, but all ages are welcome.

On Saturday, one of the hottest kids’ rock bands—Princess Katie and Racer Steve—lands at the Durham Performing Arts Center for two performances. With their musical sidekicks Crash the Drummer and Space on Bass, the New York City-based quartet will feature a combination of folk, pop, blues and rock music, as well as zany antics and animated skits.

GARNER

In Garner, The Polar Ice House location at 103 New Rand Road will host an open house in honor of National Skating Month from 1:15 p.m. – 4 p.m., on Saturday. The fun-filled afternoon includes free group skating lessons and free admission when you sign up for any Garner location program, including track-out camps, summer camps, learn-to-skate or birthday parties.

EARLY VALENTINE'S CRAFTS & HEALTHY KIDS SUPERBOWL FARE

If you’re looking for some early Valentine’s fun for the kids, check out our Valentine’s Guide to the Triangle, where you’ll find a drop-in craft making session in Carrboro and a special Valentine’s story time in at the Barnes & Noble, on 760 S.E. Maynard Rd., in Cary.

And if you’re hosting a Super Bowl party this week and want to serve tasty, healthy fare to kids, we have a game plan for you! Check out Help Your Kids Eat Like Champs for recipes for dips to heros and pizzas that are appetizing and good for kids.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Planetarium unveils stellar tech shows

Starting Friday, parents, kids and other visitors heading to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's historic Star Theater can take in shows projected through a new state-of-art system.

The new system was made possible because drug maker GlaxoSmithKline donated $1.5 million to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to convert the planetarium's historic Star Theater from analog to fulldome digital video technology. In recognition of the gift, the theater will be renamed the GlaxoSmithKline Fulldome Theater.

"GlaxoSmithKline is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where employees live and work and to invest in health and education programs," said Janice Whitaker, GSK senior vice president for quality, global manufacturing and supply. "We hope this gift will help a historic science resource continue to develop and fuel a love of science and the stars in millions more visitors."

The fulldome digital video technology is a world-class projection system that puts Morehead in the same class as the National Museum of Air and Space, the American Museum of Natural History and the Griffith Observatory, officials said. Morehead visitors will experience the new technology through super-high-definition picture resolution, a digital surround sound system and reconfigured seating for better sight lines, they said.

Because the technology is a standard format that many planetariums share, Morehead can now lease shows from other planetariums to expand its offerings, officials said. The spring schedule includes the planetarium shows "Astronaut" from the National Space Centre in England and "Black Holes: Journey into the Unknown" from Museum Victoria in Australia.

Morehead can also enhance its revenue by leasing its own shows to other planetariums. A new version of Morehead's popular "Earth, Moon and Sun" show, recreated for fulldome digital video, has already been leased to four planetariums in the U.S. and is under consideration for lease by planetariums in Brazil and Hong Kong.

The Morehead theater has been closed during January to install the new video system, and it will reopen Feb. 5 as the largest fulldome installation in the southeastern United States. Officials said they expect more than 160,000 visitors, including nearly 85,000 school children, during the next year.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

There's a hot kids band coming to Durham, Feb. 6.

See our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle for fun events, like Mommy & Me Stroller Skate Day Feb. 4.

Study sheds light on SIDS

If you’re expecting a baby or already have an infant at home, you may worry about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. Now a new study offers a clue why babies may die of SIDS and offers encouragement to parents to keep putting their infants to bed on their backs to ward off the syndrome.

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital Boston found that babies who died of SIDS had abnormalities in serotonin in parts of the brain stem that control breathing, heart rate and blood pressure during sleep, WRAL reports. Babies who have a defect in those brain stem circuits that use serotonin cannot lift or turn their head when challenged, and if they are face down, they go on to rebreathe carbon dioxide, which is toxic.

Even if you're not a first-time mom, coming home from the hospital with a newborn, knowing that you’re in charge of his or her life is a scary feeling. You’re already physically exhausted from giving birth, and caring for this new life can be tiring and emotionally draining. For new moms unsure of their parenting skills, the fear is even greater. A crying baby who cannot be consoled is nerve-racking. CarolinaParent.com blogger Vivian Muzyk, mother of a toddler, says the hardest part of caring for her baby boy was dealing with his crying.

“Before having my son 11 months ago, I could never have imagined the panic, anxiety, and frustration I would feel on a daily basis from his crying,” she writes in her blog. But she says she was lucky that she had attended a program two years ago that teaches parents about infant crying and sleep patterns. The presentation about the Period of PURLE Crying teaches caregivers that a baby’s crying will, essentially, get worse before it gets better and that this is normal development.

“Knowing that it was normal for my son’s crying to peak at 2 months rather than just get progressively better, was a comfort,” she writes in her blog, where she shares the suggestions she learned for staying calm and de-stressing.

If you have another child in the house, you’ll also find suggestions for helping him or her with Adjusting to a Sibling’s Arrival from mental health experts at the Lucy Daniels Center.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Museum offers Groundhog's Day fun!

As kids gain another day of play while snow and ice wreak havoc on local streets, I am anxiously awaiting news from Sir Walter Wally.

Each year on Groundhog’s Day, Triangle-area kids and parents wait in anticipation to see if Wally—said to be the most accurate groundhog in the Southeast—sees his shadow. If he does, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. The resident Tar Heel—will visit the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, for the 12th annual Groundhog Day celebration today for a free event that offers children fun, educational activities. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the shadow ceremony beginning promptly at noon out on Bicentennial plaza (the ceremony will be held in the museum auditorium in case of inclement weather). Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker will join Museum Educator John Connors, who will be outfitted in top hat and tails, to assist Wally with the forecast.

Sir Walter Wally may not be as famous or as nationally recognized as Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania, but Wally has an amazing accuracy record and was even added to The Weather Channel's list of national representatives. (FYI: Phil is calling for six more weeks of winter.) Following the ceremony, Wally moves inside to his special station where those with cameras can pose for pictures alongside the famous weather prognosticator.

Visitors can also take advantage of educational stations on the first floor of the Museum. There will be information on the history of Groundhog Day, reptiles in winter, and several presentations every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the museum's auditorium (1st floor) and Windows on the World (3rd floor) about groundhogs and rodents. For kids six and under, there will be a sand art activity sponsored by Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation and games like the Hog Toss and the Squirrel Nut Hunt.

Students will be keeping a close eye on Wally's prediction by comparing their findings to his via the museum's Web site, naturalsciences.org. Anyone can download a free Groundhog Day Kit from the site, which includes a Weather Watch Activity Guide with activities about weather and groundhogs for grades K-8. You'll also find complete Groundhog Day results from previous years thanks to a collaboration between the museum, the N.C. State Climate Office and the University of N.C. Department of Geography.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Looking for early Valentine's fun for your family that won't leave you broke? Visit our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle for inexpensive or free events and restaurant meal deals for kids.

Hot kids' band to hit Durham

Most schools are out for a snow day, and the kids are busy building snowmen, forts and making snow angels. But if you’re looking ahead to weekend entertainment, you’ll want to get your tickets now for one of the hottest kids' rock bands which lands in Durham Feb. 6.

That’s when married couple Princess Kate and Racer Steve—and their sidekicks Crash the Drummer and Space on Bass—will be thrilling crowds at the Durham Performing Arts Center with a mix of folk, pop, blues and rock music, as well as zany antics and animated skits.

Their high-energy extravaganza features tunes from Princess Katie and Racer Steve’s critically acclaimed albums, Songs for the Coolest Kids, Fast & Feisty and their new CD, Tiny Cool, with hip lyrics that deal with emotions, bullying, making friends, cultural acceptance and having fun being a kid, according to Carolina Parent’s Janice Lewine, who keeps track of the best in Triangle entertainment. Find more details on www.CarolinaParent.com’s Calendar Highlights.

For Valentine's Family Fun events, visit our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Snow! Time for unique indoor kids' fun!

There’s nothing like an impending snow storm to make us speed up (before the storm) and then slow down, when it hits! Last night after he got off work, my husband visited the grocery and got the last loaf of English muffins among other items. Today, I was on the long line for gas and more food at Costco.

If you’ve secured bread, milk and brownie mix and know where you can access a sled and shovel, it’s time to think ahead. What will the kids do when they’re come in from the cold and are warming up inside the house? (I know they think they can stay out all day, but we know that’s not advisable.) For parents, snow storms are a great time to teach the kids all those things you’ve always wanted to but never had the time. Do you speak a foreign language and never have time to pass along the skilll? How about sharing some songs around the fireplace? Kids love to sing and it’s very cool to do so in another language. If you know some children’s songs from your childhood, singing may turn into storytelling about another culture and time.

Do your kids want to learn how to knit? My sister just recently got such a request from her 9-year-old daughter, and after locating knitting needles, she had to make a few attempts before she could remember how to do it. And if your children are inclined toward science, try some chemistry experiments you can do with ingredients you already have on hand. About.com’s Kitchen Science Experiments are fun and easy to do, like making a rainbow-colored liquid density column. The project is very pretty, is safe enough to drink and only uses sugar, water, food coloring and a glass. Got a budding Indiana Jones? He or she can build a baking soda and vinegar volcano. Or for the detectives in your house create invisible ink to write a secret message. For up and coming chefs, try making Rock Candy, a fun and tasty way to grow crystals and see the structure of sugar on a big scale.

If your child is really too young for these activities, try spreading a sheet over furniture, like the kitchen table, to create your own tent. Don't forget to crawl inside and enjoy the fun! Snow storms offer an opportunity to slow down and spend time with our kids, when they’re not outside sledding. Got some great ideas of your own for more indoor activities? Share them with us and don't forget to send us your snow photos!

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

New test reveals pregnancy sooner

Women may soon be able to know sooner than ever if they are pregnant or not. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the FIRST RESPONSE® Early Result Pregnancy Test which can determine pregnancy up to six days before the day of a woman's missed period.

The new test now has patent pending technology that can detect the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), up to six days before the day of a woman's missed period with accuracy. That’s one day before any other at-home pregnancy test available on the market.

For any woman who has ever wondered if she is pregnant, the test offers a day less of anxiety and perhaps, one more of happiness. And for women knowing they’re pregnant earlier means a jump on pre-natal care that benefits both mom and baby in those critical early stages of development.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, discover how pregnancy can change your eyes as well as your body and be sure to visit our Baby Guide to find all the resources you need, from maternity clothing to birthing centers to pediatricians and beyond, right here in the Triangle.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Tired, anxious? Blame your school bully

Were you bullied at school? Chances are you still remember who did it and when, but did you know that past bullying could be the cause of your current anxiety, fatigue and—yes—even your runny nose?

An Australian study just published found that adults who were bullied as children were more likely than others to suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as many other physical ills, including fatigue, pain and a greater susceptibility to colds, MSNBC reports. Apparently, the daily stress of being bullied can wreak long-term damage on your body.

A couple of decades ago, bullying was considered a rite of passage at school, and many parents encouraged their children to “stand up for themselves.” Other kids just never told their parents and took matters into their own hands. A girlfriend of mine who now has four children told me last week that she was regularly getting beaten up at school, until she paid another “bully” to bully her tormentor. The going fee was $1 back then, and once the deed was done, my friend said her school days were bully-free.

Obviously, her method of perpetuating the cycle isn’t recommended. Especially since the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, parents and schools have been working to rein in bullying. In Durham, a pilot program, called Peaceful Schools North Carolina, teaches students, staff and parents how to diffuse potentially volatile situations, WRAL reports. Bullying isn’t just seen as physical violence but anything that damages a person’s self esteem. Organizers of the program hope to take the program state-wide.

So what can parents and kids do about bullying? Open communication between parents, students and school leaders is an important first step in stopping school violence before it starts, writes Jane Paige, who interviewed Triangle-area and state school officials for Carolina Parent. To encourage students to talk about safety concerns, North Carolina runs a statewide safe schools tip line: 888-960-9600, where students can call in anonymously and talk with a communications specialist who gathers information, prepares a written report and sends it to the school.

Parents should also find out what their children’s school is doing to maintain a safe learning environment and know their own children’s typical behavior patterns so they can recognize potential warning signs.

Getting inside a bully’s head to understand what motivates him or her can put you at an advantage for helping your child as well as the bully, who may be suffering from mental health problems or other issues. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Bullies, Carolina Parent writer Emily Gorovsky looks at 7 antidotes to bullying behavior. For example, bullies generally feel contempt for their targets, so teaching children to have a strong sense of self can turn the situation around.

No longer should adults assume bullying is part of growing up or tell children who are targets of bullying to work it out or deal with it. Bullying moves beyond conflict to contempt for others and should be nipped in the bud.

Were you bullied as a child? Or were you a bully? Share your stories and comments with us.

— Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Are family-friendly tax credits headed our way?

Feeling squeezed between caring for your children and your parents? President Obama Monday unveiled a package of initiatives designed to help families pay for care for their children and elderly relatives, save for retirement and pay off student loans, The New York Times reports.

If you’re among the “the sandwich generation” — struggling families squeezed between sending their children to college and caring for elderly parents — you know help can’t come soon enough.

The president is asking Congress to nearly double the child care tax credit for families earning less than $85,000 and proposes to expand financing to help families care for elderly relatives at a cost of $102.5 million, The New York Times reports. With these proposals, Mr. Obama is looking to help the middle class—a group he says has been under assault for a long time – and his State of the Union address on Wednesday is expected to continue to seek ways to ease their pain, according to the Times.

I’ll be waiting to see what steps—if any—this president is taking to move our nation down a family-friendly path. Easing our economic burden for family care would be a start.

But even if you have the money for care, finding someone to care for your child or parent in a crunch is a daily difficulty for parents. A 2007 national survey of working adults commissioned by Workplace Options (WPO), the largest provider of work-life employee benefits in America, found that 59 percent of employees or their spouses missed three to ten days of work in the last year due to the lack of adequate back-up child or elder care options. You need back-up care when your main child care or elder care arrangements falls through due to illness, vacation or other unexpected circumstances.

Some local companies have come up with a creative solution to this dilemma. Raleigh-based Workplace Options partnered with Bright Horizons, a national child-care provider, to start the Back-Up Care Advantage Program, which arranges care for employees with children and aging parents. Employees at companies who have signed up with the program can access a nationwide network of quality, licensed child care centers and in-home care provided by trained, licensed home health care professionals.

For parents, the program offers a safety net and peace of mind, while employers reap the benefits of reduced absenteeism and can use it as a recruitment tool. If you’re working at any of N.C.'s family-friendly companies or have a supportive supervisor, you may be able to work at home or use flexible work hours to help you through such family emergencies.

But parents who don't have these options and are feeling the squeeze will be looking to see if help's on the way tomorrow during the president's address.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Lower birth weights for full-term babies

As more and more Americans worry about gaining weight, a new study shows a troubling decrease in the weight of newborns. Birth weights of full-term babies in the United States decreased from 1990 to 2005, according to a new study of nearly 37 million births reported by WebMD.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston University were surprised at their finding because past studies showed that birth weights had been rising over the past 50 years. Why are our newborns weighing less? The researchers say more studies are needed to look at whether mothers’ diets, stress, physical activities and exposure to environmental toxins, are contributing to newborns lower weight.

If you’re expecting a child and already have a little one in the house, you know stress can be a factor: It’s easy to run yourself ragged caring for everyone. As Jessica Fisher, a mother of five, put it, when she was expecting her sixth child: “Expecting a new little one is a joyful time, but the pregnancy can be exhausting. You want to do your best for everyone in the family — your current children as well as the one on the way. It’s a balancing act to manage pregnancy symptoms while caring for your family and attending to household and work responsibilities.

Fisher offers seasoned planning and organizing tips to make your nine months a little easier and more enjoyable for everyone, such as storing up on provisions and requesting transportation assistance. You’ll find more practical suggestions in Balancing the Ups and Downs of Pregnancy with Motherhood.

Having Back-to-Back Babies can be especially challenging. A major risk for women who have babies within one year of each other is postpartum depression, writes Carolina Parent Associate Editor Carol McGarrahan, who interviewed Triangle area doctors on the topic of close births. One doctor she interviewed said that while some high-energy women thrive having babies close together, the vast majority of women tend to feel overwhelmed. Many are sleep-deprived, irritable and anxious from the constant demands of mothering several children under the age of 4. Malnutrition and exhaustion also top the list of physical risks for the mother because short pregnancy intervals make it difficult for women to recover from all of the nutritional demands of a prior pregnancy, McGarrahan reports.

So when you’re expecting, it’s best to put some things on the back burner, say cleaning, and make yourself the priority. Getting enough sleep and eating right should come first, for you, your family and your baby-to-be.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle lands weekend family fun!

Hunting family fun in the Triangle this weekend? Keep the weather in mind as Saturday’s forecast is sunny, but Sunday’s is rainy. But you’ll find lots for kids to do both indoors and outdoors, from bird counting and animal tracking at local parks to bargain shopping indoors for kids' items.

On Saturday, from 1-3 p.m., don’t miss Nature Crafts: Tricky Tracks, at the Blue Jay Point County Park, at 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., in Raleigh. The session is $8 per child and is designed to teach kids ages 6-8 the art of tracking. Park Aide Dana Fitz-Simmons said the program is a hit with kids because they really like the “less delicate parts of nature.” Kids will look at animal tracks, make a take-home bandana with an animal track on it, and go hiking. Pre-registration is required. Call 870-4330. Visit www.wakegov.com/parks/bluejay/default.htm.

On Saturday from 2-4 p.m., head to the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area, at 301 Little River Park Way, in Rougemont, for Bird Counting Basics. The session is $5 per family and teach kids ages 5 to 9 about birds in preparation for The Great Backyard Bird Count, a national event in February. On Saturday, kids will discover how to find birds, what types to look for and how to record data.. Pre-registration is required, so call 732-5505. Visit www.co.orange.nc.us/RecParks/little_river_park.asp.

If you’re up early on Saturday and live in Apex, take your kids to a Pajama Party at The Chick-fil-A® restaurant at 1110 Beaver Creek Commons Drive for a good cause. Kids will hear author Kristi Butler read from her children’s book, “Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise,” at 8:30 a.m., and for every book sold that morning, Kristi will donate $1 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

On Saturday at 8 p.m., catch Even Exchange Dance Theater’s performance of “Vantage Points” at Meredith College's Jones Auditorium, in Raleigh. The piece to be performed—part of the North Carolina Dance Festival running this weekend at Meredith—abstractly illustrates the roles people play in historical events.

On Sunday at 3 p.m., stay dry and head to the Children’s Festival, also in Meredith College’s Jones Auditorium, where area youth will perform many dance styles. For details, visit http://www.meredith.edu/dance-theatre/current-season.htm.

Also indoors on Sunday, shop for gently used kids' clothes, baby equipment, furniture, toys and more at Kids Exchange, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (half-price day) in the Jim Graham Bldg., N.C. State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., in Raleigh. Visit www.kidsexchange.net.

If you’re haven’t seen a kids event in your town, check www.CarolinaParent.com’s daily Calendar, where you’ll find lots more activities for every age group. Headed to the movies on Sunday? See Jean’s picks for best movies choices for kids on www.CarolinaParent.com.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Plan a great family Valentine's with free and thrifty fun! See our Valentine's Guide to the Triangle.

Triangle serves up sweet family fun!

With gray skies outside, today is a day to dream up some February fun. I’m talking Valentine’s! Across the Triangle, love is in the air. Folks are planning ahead for Valentine’s family fun with an array of events offered ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Some ideas? Cary and Raleigh are offering daddy-daughter dances. Or catch Mommy and Me Stroller Skate days at the ice rink in Raleigh. Carrboro is offering a Valentine’s drop-in program for kids where they can make cards and felt pouches, and you’ll find a Valentine’s story time in Cary. In Raleigh, kids can make a Victorian Valentine at a museum drop-in program or head out to a County Park to play deer games before making Valentine crafts. Some of these programs require pre-registration, so check them out in our Valentine’s Guide to the Triangle.

If you’d like to take the whole family for a getaway, see our picks for great places to Ski, SnowBoard and Tube, all within driving distance. And if you think you can't afford to dine out with the kids, visit our Meal Deals directory for places where kids eat free or for 99 cents.

You’ll find more events as well as ideas to spice up your relationship with your Valentine partner in parenting in our new Valentine’s Guide to the Triangle.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Haiti highlights benefits of family giving

As we watch the damage of the quake in Haiti unfold before our eyes, our hearts go out to those suffering pain and loss, especially the children. Across the Triangle, families, schools and businesses are trying to help in a variety of ways, donating to organizations such as the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

You’ll find news of local organizations fund-raising to help quake victims as well as other ways to help folks right here in the Triangle on our Get Involved page. Parents know that teaching compassion for others is an important part of bringing up children, and volunteering as a family is one way to lead by example.

Karen Lewis Taylor, who recently interviewed parents and children who regularly volunteer in the Triangle, says it’s no secret that volunteer service has a number of benefits.

“It helps meet the needs of the community, it builds connections among people who work together for a cause, and it furthers the notion that determined individuals can change their world,” writes Taylor in Get in the Spirit of the Season by Giving Back. “Studies show that volunteers also enjoy enhanced self-esteem, confidence and sense of well-being as a result of their contributions. When you involve your children in volunteer efforts, you share those gifts with them, too.”

If you’re looking to serve as a family, Taylor suggests you ask yourself these questions:

• What are our interests? What skills do we bring to our efforts?
• What do we hope to get out of this experience?
• When can we volunteer together? How often?
• How flexible are we willing to be about what kind of work we do?

Once you’ve nailed down your interests and availability, Taylor says the next step is to find an organization that can match you up with local nonprofits that need help, like these four:

• Kids Connect : www.kidsconnectnc.org
• ME3 (Motivate, Educate, Empower, and Engage): www.me-3.org (Wake County)
• Triangle United Way Volunteer Services: www.unitedwaytriangle.org/volunteer
• The Volunteer Center of Durham: www.thevolunteercenter.org (Durham and Orange Counties
• Volunteer Match: www.volunteermatch.org

On Kids Connect, Elizabeth Jordan says she got the idea for the site after the birth of her son, Jack. That’s when she began thinking about thinking about what experiences she wanted to share with him and what core values she wanted to instill in him.

If you’ve ever volunteered with your family, you know what she means. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Volunteering helps kids learn the value of giving.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Non-profit starts free sports camp

Is your middle school child on the honor roll and interested in playing any of the Olympic sports? She or he could be eligible for a free sports camp, offered by Sports Explorers Inc., a new nonprofit. The organization is inviting parents, middle school principals, athletic directors and guidance counselors to its open house from 3-6 pm., Friday, Jan. 29, at 2530 Meridian Parkway, 3rd floor, in Durham, to meet its staff and board of directors.

Any middle school student can attend Sports Explorers’ summer and track-out camps in Olympic sports, which start in June, but honor students can attend for free. The offer is an attempt to help defray some of the growing costs college education, says Marlynn R. Jones, Executive Director for Sports Explorers.

“By reaching out to middle school honor students, Sports Explorers wants to encourage these scholars to add athletic participation to their schedules,” she says. “In turn, they may find a sport they enjoy, and can become competitive for high school athletic teams and potentially compete for college scholarship opportunities.”

Campers will receive an introduction to the skills necessary to participate in the sports of baseball, bowling, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. After learning basic skills and conditioning methods, the students will participate in friendly competition in these sports, and will have a chance to speak with sports administration professionals across a range of disciplines.

Parents will be guided through NCAA legislation and will be shown how to map the four years of high school to best ensure NCAA eligibility for Division I and II athletic scholarships. By understanding NCAA rules, before entering high school, these families will be better prepared for the collegiate recruiting process.

The inaugural Sports Explorers Board Meeting will be held Saturday, Jan. 30. Sports Explorers, Inc. is a NC and NY non-profit organization that assists middle school students in exploring competition and scholarship opportunities in Olympic sports, exploring career opportunities in athletics administration, and assisting parents in understanding NCAA legislation. For more information: call Valerie Whitted or Karl Blake at 919-235-2958.

– Writen by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

You'll find more Triangle-area community service news in our Get Involved page.

Looking for a great camp or school? Don't miss Carolina Parent's Camp & Education Fair, Feb. 21!

Triangle families honor MLK legacy

Triangle towns are joining together today to honor Martin Luther King Jr., with peaceful rallies, as well as worship and community service.

Raleigh honors Dr. King with the Dream of Democracy: March and Day of Service March, at 10 a.m. downtown, and at 2 p.m., in Cary, the public is invited to help with a community service project at the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. With beautiful weather forecast, what a great day to head out the Preserve with your family to work in the garden. The project runs until 4 p.m. Call 919-387-5980 for information.

Looking ahead, on Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill, the public is invited to a candlelight vigil at the Old Well on the campus of the University of North Carolina. At 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, Actor and Activist Danny Glover gives the keynote lecture in Memorial Hall, also on the UNC-CH campus. Call the box office at 919-843-3333 for free, reserved tickets. Visit www.unc.edu/diversity/mlk for a complete list of activities.

If you can’t make it to any organized activities, you might be doing community services projects of your own in your neighborhood. Share your stories with us. SomeTriangle readers have luanched their own projects to help others. On CarolinaParent.com's Get Involved page, you'll learn about a Garner elementary school teacher, who is working to provide children who have been abused or neglected with aa new pair of pajamas and a new book. Or discover how a Raleigh teen followed her dream to become a princess and help the Ronald McDonald House of Durham help families of sick kids. You'll also find more ways to volunteer to help Triangle families on our Get Involved page.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

MLK events kick off fun family weekend!

This weekend the Triangle kicks off plenty of family-friendly ways to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., from a holiday parade, book fair and talent show in Durham to a community expo, children’s activities and an African-American music concert in Cary. Plus, you can attend a marathon game by UNC and Duke students who are raising funds for kids or take in N.C. Symphony’s Latin Fiesta, a special kids concert featuring music of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

CarolinaParent.com’s Janice Lewine has rounded up loads of Triangle events honoring Dr. King. Check out the following activities this weekend and visit CarolinaParent.com’s Monthly Calendar Highlights for more MLK events later in the week.

Durham
Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality is the theme of the 8th Annual MLK Day Holiday Parade, which marches down Fayetteville Street at noon on Jan. 16. Call 919-680-0465 for details.
Hayti Heritage Center hosts the annual Raise a Reader Bookfair and Youth Talent Showcase Jan. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. At 2 p.m., actor and playwright Mike Wiley performs his one-man show, Brown v. The Board of Education, that chronicles the desegregation of schools. Events are free. The center is at 804 Old Fayetteville St. For more information, visit www.hayti.org or call 919-683-1709.

Raleigh
On Jan. 15, a wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens, at the corner of Rock Quarry Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard, at 6 p.m.

Cary
The town’s MLK Jr. Dreamfest 2010 on Jan. 16 features a community expo, children’s activities and African-American music performed by the Chamber Choir of the Concert Singers of Cary. The celebration begins at 1 p.m. at the Herbert C. Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave.

Smithfield
On Jan. 16, Johnston Community College and TheatreworksUSA present the inspiring story of Harriet Tubman and her quest to free more than 300 fellow slaves through the Underground Railroad. Freedom Train is at 3 p.m. in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, 245 College Rd. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.johnstoncc.edu/performingarts by calling the box office at 919-209-2099.

More Weekend Fun

If you’re a Blue Devils or Tar Heels fan or you simply like helping kids, don’t miss the Duke-Carolina Student Basketball Marathon. UNC and Duke students have spent the past semester raising money for the BounceBack Kids, a non-profit organization that provides athletic and recreational activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Now they’ve combined their love for basketball and dislike for the rival basketball team to hold a 20-hour basketball game, from Saturday to Sunday, pitting UNC students against Duke students.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., celebrate the vibrant cultures of Latin and South America as N.C. Symphony Conductor Grant Llewellyn leads a whirlwind tour of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. The performance at Meymandi Concert Hall, in Raleigh, features the world-famous Mariachi Cobre, best known for their performances at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center. This Young People's Series concert has a special hour long kid-friendly program. Arrive at 10 a.m. before the concert, and your kids can enjoy the Marbles Kids Museum Learn Your Notes and Be the Conductor activities right in Meymandi Concert Hall as well as the Instrument Zoo. Details at www. http://www.ncsymphony.org.

You’ll find more family fun in the CarolinaParent.com’s Daily Calendar and Monthly Calendar Highlights.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Gov't study: 1 in 4 teen girls involved in violence

Girls aren’t usually seen as violent, but a government report released today finds that about one in four female teens is involved in some sort of violent behavior at school or at work.

The survey of more than 33,000 girls aged 12 to 17 found that 26.7 percent had been involved in a serious fight, a group-against-group fight or had attacked someone with the intent to harm the person in the previous year, the Associated Press reports.

And the problem is not going away: The new survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration was done between 2006 and 2008, and the results are similar to those in a SAMHSA study from 2002-2004. If you are the parent of a girl, you know young females can be nasty to each other, even if they’re not physically hitting each other. One mom I know told me she has watched in horror as her daughter received hurtful text messages sent by two girls for the sheer fun of it.

Spreading rumors about a victim to damage her reputation, ignoring her, excluding her from a group of friends, or being friendly to her one day but cold and distant the next are forms of relational aggression, writes D'Ann George in Cliques, Bullies and Mean Girls.

A few years ago, George interviewed Triangle and national experts to find out how parents can help girls in danger of bullying behavior. She found that helping strategies change whether the bullying is physical or relational. A girl who is in danger of being physically harmed needs immediate protection, and parents should form a plan with teachers and school officials to keep her safe. But when no physical threat exists, parents can better help by talking with their child regularly—if she’ll open up. It’s important that your daughter knows that you understand the hidden culture of girls' aggression and you can asking leading questions like the following:

• Can friends be mean to each other? How?

• When girls are mean to each other in your class, what do they do?

• Are some girls more secretive about their meanness? How?

• Does the teacher see what's happening? Why or why not? How does she respond?

For more on how to help your girls deal with bullying, read Cliques, Bullies and Mean Girls.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Pull Wake County's schools survey

Would you like your child’s school to operate on a year-round schedule or traditional calendar? That’s the question that Wake County’s Board of Education is asking parents in an online survey as it tries to decide which schools should be year-round and where students should be assigned.

To fill out the survey, which runs until Jan. 25, parents simply type in their child’s student ID number. Sounds great, except for a couple of snags. The online system allows a parent to make multiple entries using their child’s ID, and survey-takers can also enter any number combination and easily get into the system, according to WRAL. Wake school officials are aware of the problem and to get the most accurate results, they will ensure that the ID numbers are valid, by throwing out those sent in multiple times, WRAL reports.

What a mess! It seems to me that Wake County should have done its homework on how to conduct a valid survey rather than put out a questionnaire whose results no one will value.

Then again, mistakes happen. Wouldn’t it be better to pull the survey and start over with one that will accurately measure parents’ responses? Starting over would send a signal to parents that Wake County really values their opinion.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Experiencing stress after your child's injury?

If your child has ever been seriously injured, you know how scary it is. With our two sons, my husband and I have seen our share of accidents over the years, from protruding bumps on the head to serious cuts demanding stitches in emergency rooms. The culprits range from stairs and slippery bathroom floors to playground equipment. If you find yourself feeling stressed and anxious after these accidents, you are not alone: A recent study finds that more than one third of parents experience traumatic stress one month after a child’s injury. It's a wake up call for parents to take care of themselves.

According to research by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) published Monday, one month after their child was injured 37 percent of parents experienced acute stress disorder or significant traumatic stress symptoms, including re-experiencing the incident, avoiding reminders of the incident, and increased general anxiety or jumpiness. Of those parents, 15 percent displayed longer-term symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more than six months after the initial injury.

So while we look after our children, how about tending to our own emotional wounds caused by seeing our children unconscious or bleeding? After all, how can we help them recover, if we’re suffering?

"Research consistently shows the important role that parents play in a child's recovery. So, in addition to all the things parents do to help their child recover, it's very important that they also take good care of themselves," says Nancy Kassam-Adams, Ph.D., the study's lead author and director of the behavioral science core at CHOP's Center for Injury Research and Prevention. "To help families understand and deal with their reactions to a child's injury, we created a web site, www.AfterTheInjury.org."

It is natural for parents to feel very upset or anxious in the first days and weeks following a child's injury, says Flaura Koplin Winston, M.D., Ph.D., a co-author of the study and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. But when traumatic stress reactions go on for longer than a month, worsen, or get in the way of normal life, she says it is important for parents to seek support for themselves.

Parents who are feeling nervous, worried, upset or overwhelmed have a harder time helping their children," says Dr. Kassam-Adams. "Parents need to take time to talk about their concerns or feelings with loved ones, take a break, and recognize when outside help might be needed."

In this study, the researchers worked with 334 parents of children who had suffered road traffic injuries requiring hospital care. The researchers identified factors that predicted the severity of ASD (acute trauma symptoms rated in the first month) and PTSD (longer-lasting trauma symptoms rated about six months later) in parents of the injured children. Highlights from these findings include:

• The severity of parents' PTSD six months after the injury was strongly associated with the severity of their traumatic symptoms within one month after the injury.
• Parents who had experienced a previous trauma had more severe traumatic stress symptoms immediately after their child's injury and six months later.
• Parents' traumatic stress symptoms were linked to their experience of the injury. Those that experienced more severe and persistent symptoms were present when their child was injured, perceived their child to be in pain, or thought that their child's life was in danger.
• Parents' traumatic stress symptoms were linked to their child's symptoms. They were more likely to experience PTSD if their child was in poorer physical health six months after the injury than they were before the injury, or when their child reported more severe acute traumatic stress symptoms.

"The focus after an injury is on the child's physical recovery. Our previous research demonstrated that a child's full recovery plan needs to address physical and emotional needs. This study points to the needs of parents of injured children, which might be overlooked," Dr. Winston says. "Parents need to know how to find the help and support they need so that they can give help and support to their injured child." "

AfterTheInjury.org is a parent-friendly website designed by CHOP experts to help parents ensure they - and their kids - achieve a full physical and emotional recovery. The site includes expert tips and help for parents on how to manage hospital visits, making the transition to home, how to help children with fears and worries, and how to help return to life as usual. Based on this research, the researchers have created a tip sheet for parents dealing with the aftermath of a child's injury.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Resolutions: 6 steps to better parenting

When our children are babies, our lives revolve around keeping them fed, clean and comforted. But as they grow like magical beanstalks before our eyes, we come to realize that we also want them to be emotionally balanced and caring. How do we get them to that point?

Author Laura Gauld suggests we start with ourselves, doing something each day for the pure joy of it and tackling attitudes that hold us back. Our own personal growth as adults will be our true legacy to our children, says the award-winning co-author of the book The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have and creator of the effective parenting seminars that emerged from it.

I believe she has a point: Everyone knows the best way to lead is by example. Take the true story of this Raleigh teen who got into community service work after being inspired by the work of the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, which she visited with her mom. The New Year provides an excellent chance to grow as people and parents. So what can we work on in 2010?

“As parents, we make mistakes every day,” Gauld says. “And that’s all right. We will never be perfect. Still, there are some guiding principles and practical tools that can help us grow as people, inspire our children, and ultimately build confidence in performing our most important job.”

“As Carl Jung states in his powerful quote,” Gauld says, “‘Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on children than the unlived lives of their parents.’”

Gauld’s advice to parents: Live a little.

How?

• Lead by example.
• Take risks in front of your child.
• Do something each day for pure joy.
• Tackle the deep attitudes that hold you back.
• Accept what your own parents gave you, what they tried to give you, and what they were unable to give you.
• Understand your job as a parent.

“This is the foundation of parenting,” Gauld says. “Like any job, one must understand the duties and responsibilities that go along with it. Most of the unproductive issues we get into as parents stem from the conflict between the role we want to play in our child's life, rather than accepting the role we need to play.”

For example, Gauld offers, we can be friendly with our children, but we are not their “friends.” Also, we love our children, yet we must resist seeking their love. Our role is to teach, and guide, and to establish a foundation of character.

Finally, take some time this year to build family traditions.

“The big picture of raising children is done with the actions, routines, and practices that make up a lifetime of memories, habits, and character,” says Gauld. “It is never too late to start a family tradition. Often, the value of these actions is seen looking back at one's upbringing.”

If you get so busy with school, work and the day’s activities that you’re missing meals with your family, find a way to establish dinner as a meal where everyone sits down together. Light candles at the dinner table.

“Studies show that simply having dinner together reduces the chances of depression in teens, drug use, and other challenges to young lives. If a shared meal seems an impossible task, remember that an improvement in parenting requires a commitment to priorities—and those priorities need to be made clear.”

For more on how dining together as a family builds well-adjusted children, read CarolinaParent.com's Ages 11-18: Teens Benefit From Sitting Down to Dinner.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Catch free family fun in Triangle!

The holidays are over, but family fun just keeps on rolling into the Triangle, and so much is free. Free events include a Three Kings Day parade in Cary; a crafts session that teaches kids how to make historic toys at the Raleigh City Museum, and a concert of Latin American and Spanish music at the N.C. Museum of History, in Raleigh.

If you’re willing to spend a little, head to downtown Raleigh for ice skating ($6 a person) outdoors at City Plaza. You'll find the AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink situated on the southern end of the 400 block of Fayetteville Street. Or catch The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head—an interactive exhibit for kids that teaches academic skills and respect—before it closes Jan. 10 at Marbles Kids Museum, in Raleigh. Entry to the exhibit is included with museum admission of $5 a person (kids under 1 are admitted for free.

On Saturday, the free Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) Parade & Estrella de la Esperanza Gift-Giving Celebration, kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Kiwanis Shelter.
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In Latino cultures, Dia de los Reyes is an important holiday celebration, when the Magos (Magi) visit and bring joy to children in the community. In Cary, the traditional "Rosca de Reyes" bread and other holiday foods from Latin American countries will be served and you can hear traditional songs and music associated with the "Desfile de los Reyes" (Three Kings Parade). Following the parade, activities will be at the Kiwanis Shelter, in Bond Park. For more information call (919) 460-4963.

On Saturday, from 2 to 3 p.m., kids are invited to learn about the history of play through hands-on activities with the toys of our past at the Raleigh City Museum. They’ll explore how toys have changed over time, how they were made and used, and talk about the toys of our future. They’ll also have a chance to play historic games and learn how to make toys such as cornhusk dolls and marbles at home. Admission is free. Visit www.raleighcitymuseum.org for more information.

On Sunday in downtown Raleigh from 3 to 4 p.m., take a free musical journey through Latin America and Spain as the N.C. Museum of History presents Songs of the Soul, featuring Teresa Fernández, Ed Stephenson & The Paco Band, with Craig Hilton, Sara Romweber and Pee Wee Watson. The concert at the museum’s Daniels Auditorium, is sponsored by PineCone, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving, presenting, and promoting traditional music, dance, and other folk performing arts. You’re advised to arrive early as the concert is popular and seats fill up fast.

If you're a Barbie fan, don't miss Barbie – Simply Fabulous at 50! That exhibit, which explains the history and evolution of the American icon and business phenomenon, is also at the N.C. Museum of History. You'll find details on more family-friendly fun on CarolinaParent.com's Long-Running Events, and check out Where to Ski, Snowboard and Tube Within Easy Driving Distance of the Triangle.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Are you ready for snow?

Are you ready for a snow day on Friday? The Triangle could see up to an inch of snow on Thursday night and early Friday, which could cause some problems on the roads, according to WRAL.

What does snow mean for you? If you’re working out of the house, better get your plans in gear so you’ll have someone to stay with the kids if schools open later than usual or call a snow day. Some parents will take their kids to work with them. If you’re at a family-friendly company, carrying your kids to work might be an option. Others may have a grandparent or friend who can help out. If it’s your day to drop kids on car pool—my husband is scheduled to pick up 3 teens tomorrow—better be prepared and only leave when it’s safe. Those side streets can be treacherous.

If you’re staying home with the kids, what will you do to keep them entertained, after they finally come in from playing in the snow? Baking cookies or brownies is a fun activity for our kids. My 10-year-old just baked his first batch of brownies by himself last week. (All I did was put them in the oven and take them out.) I will be among the crowds at the store later today getting milk (for hot chocolate), mini marshmallows and brownie mix. I might head to the library to pick up some books, too, as I don’t want my children to be playing video games all day.

What are your “snow day” preparations? Tell us who keeps the kids and what you do. And if we get snow, don’t forget to share your snow photos!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Birth defects linked to women's health before pregnancy

As moms and care-givers, we often neglect our health, but here’s an incentive to pay attention. Research suggests staying fit and eating right is important not just to us, but also to having a healthy baby, even if you’re not pregnant.

Why? Almost half of all pregnancies resulting in a live birth are unintended, and evidence suggests that a woman’s health before conception is directly linked to birth outcomes, according to the March of Dimes, a a nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.

During National Birth Defects Prevention month, The March of Dimes and The North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign offer specific advice to North Carolina women on how to stay healthy:

Know your family history. For help getting started on tracking your family's medical histories read CarolinaParent.com's “What Grows in Your Family Tree."

Keep regular check-ups with a health care provider, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet are important components of a healthy lifestyle. For every woman from puberty to menopause, these habits should also include taking a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid every day to improve the likelihood of delivering a healthy baby. Find more advice on immune boosting nutrition for all ages in CarolinaParent.com's You Are (as Healthy as) What You Eat.

Focusing on attaining a healthy weight is important because more than half of North Carolina women of childbearing age are overweight or obese and almost 47 percent don’t get the physical activity they need. Being overweight increases your chance for diabetes and other health conditions, and being obese or even just overweight creates unnecessary risks to your baby’s health. Moms who are overweight or obese have higher risk pregnancies. They are more likely to experience hypertension, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia – conditions that add to the chance of having a premature baby. Studies also show that babies of obese mothers are more likely to be born with birth defects like spina bifida.

According to a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, obese and overweight mothers were at significantly increased odds of a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect (NTD), like spina bifida, compared with mothers of normal Body Mass Index (BMI). There was a two-fold increased odds of a pregnancy affected by spina bifida in particular in obese mothers compared with mothers of normal BMI.

Good habits include eating smart and moving more. Eating smart means trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, preparing more meals at home, right sizing portions, and changing drink habits by cutting out sugary drinks and replacing them with milk or water. Find tips for eating healthy on a budget and geting the kids to bite into food that's good for them on CarolinaParent.com.

You can up your physical activity by taking walks, parking the car farther away and swapping TV time with some sort of physical activity. For down-to-earth suggestions on how to sneak exercise into your busy routine, read The Fit Parent by Karen Alley, of Piedmont Parent Magazine.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Raleigh teen 'princess' help families of sick kids

Maria Cannon is a professional princess. But at heart, she’s Robin Hood; any wealth she earns she gives to those in need.

The Cardinal Gibbons High School senior regularly dresses up like a princess and entertains children at parties, donating any money she makes to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, which provides a home for families to stay while their child receives medical treatment.

She says she got the idea for a charitable venture when she was a high school freshman. Then, she thought she and her school pals could dress up as Disney princesses and entertain at little girls' parties. But the plan came together after a visit with her mom to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, and after her dad’s colleague asked if she would be at her daughter’s party dressed as Belle, the beautiful princess from the Disney movie, Beauty & the Beast.

That initial gig did not have a fairytale beginning. First, the “Belle” dress she had ordered using her own money didn’t arrive on time. Second, her friends had to opt out of playing fairytale princesses at the party due to having a lot of homework. Reluctant to disappoint the kids waiting for her, she donned an old bridesmaid’s dress and set off solo. Since that first party in December 2008, she’s continued on as a lone princess, and “Belle” has been booked regularly. She’s performed at a Disney-themed wedding and at parties big and small, including one last month attended by 400 girls.

“Every couple of weeks, I get a call to do one,” Cannon says, noting she uses word-of-mouth and e-mail flyers to generate business. “It’s very successful.”

Besides applying to colleges to study musical theater, Cannon is also a co-captain of the Cardinal Gibbons dance team, which means she has practices to attend 3 to 4 days a week. I wondered how she keeps up with everything.

“You just learn to manage your time very well and just say ‘no’ to some things and ‘yes’ to other things,” she says. “I guess it’s all part of growing up.”

“Project Princess” returns more to her than she gives away, she says, adding that teenagers—like her—often get wrapped up in “what’s coming for them and their next step in life.”

“It’s easy to forget about other people—and especially people who are less fortunate than you are,” she says. “This has really helped me to think of other people before me and help me grow more compassionately toward others. So it has really been a really good thing for me. And I would hope that it has helped someone else in the community.”

Do you know of any other teens volunteering to help others in the Triangle? Write and let us know. Find more community service news and Triangle volunteering opportunities in CarolinaParent.com's Get Involved page.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Maria Cannon, a princess among little princesses, performs as Belle to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, which she describes as "the most incredible place."

Emma comes home!

As the kids head back to school after the holidays, I’ve got a new “baby” at home. Yesterday, our family grew with the adoption of Emma, and I find myself parenting a newcomer all over again.

A 3-year-old mixed terrier, Emma was living in a house with more than 100 other dogs in Beaufort County, N.C., before she arrived at the SPCA of Wake County a few weeks ago. When she met my 10-year-old son yesterday afternoon, she took to him right away, licking him and sitting in his lap, although we’d been warned that she was very timid.

Bringing her home and watching her interact with my sons and husband brings back so many memories of returning home from the hospital with our newborns. My husband and I brought both our baby boys home on cold winter nights, but unlike them, Emma slept through the night, after we moved her crate up to my 10-year-old’s bedroom. Like them, she wanted to sleep near a loved one. (Both of my boys slept in cribs in my bedroom for some months after they were born.) I guess I was surprised that Emma slept through the night; I was too wired to sleep myself. So many memories had surfaced.

For one, I understand more of the anticipation and fears my friend felt a decade and a half ago when she got the call that her adopted child had arrived. "What would she be like?" "Would we like her?" "Would she like us?" Now that she’s here, the landscape of the house has been adjusted to fit her needs, just like when our boys first arrived. We’ve rearranged our stuff a little to ensure she doesn’t get into things she shouldn’t.

I guess the biggest surprise has been how much we love her already. When my 10-year-old son told us more than a year ago that he wanted a dog, his dad cautioned him that he (dad) wasn’t going to be walking the dog since my son would be responsible for him. Since Emma arrived yesterday, my husband has been out happily with her a few times. When my husband woke our 10-year-old up at 6:30 a.m. for school, guess who insisted on taking Emma out to relieve herself despite it being only 15 degrees outside? Yes, Dad himself. When he returned, he announced that Emma’s looking cuter today than she did yesterday.

The new year has brought us a new family member to parent and is revealing ourselves in ways we never suspected.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Visit CarolinaParent.com's Pet Corner, where the Triangle Pet Resources are right at your fingertips!

For more on preparing a pet for baby's arrival, see Four Legs Meet Two!

Ski, Board & Tube Close to Home

With temperatures in the teens in the Triangle, a fun way to stay warm is to get active outdoors. If you're looking to ski, snowboard and tube within easy driving distance, check out Carolina Parent Associate Editor Carol McGarrahan's picks for prime spots.

They're winter wonderlands for families, offering a variety of winter activities whether you are planning a long day trip or a long weekend, she says. Get the scoop on resorts in North Carolina, Virginia & West Virginia, plus tips for hitting the slopes in Whooshing Through A Winter Wonderland.

Triangle rings with New Year's fun!

Hunting a little fun with your kids in the next few days? Don’t miss Raleigh’s First Night’s Children’s Celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve. You’ll find a stellar line-up of performers and kids’ activities. Join in the “People's Procession at 6 p.m.,” and celebrate an early countdown to 2010 at 7 p.m.

Through Jan. 3, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are offering a variety of family-friendly entertainment, from “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head—an interactive exhibit that teaches—to The Star of Bethlehem, a planetarium show about the legendary celestial event that tells its story with art, music and science. Take in Holiday Springs and Sprockets – Art That Moves, which lets sculptures illustrate scientific principles. Explore the legacy of pirates from ancient to modern times in another interactive exhibit, and see a traveling exhibit of Picasso’s work before it heads out of town. For more on where and when to see these exhibits and others, visit CarolinaParent.com’s Long-Running Events page.

Through Jan. 2
The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head
This interactive exhibit features engaging learning experiences that help children build academic skills and discover ways to respect themselves and others. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-833-4040. www.marbleskidsmuseum.org.

Through Jan. 3
Raleigh on Ice
Traveling outdoor ice skating rink at North Hills benefits the Raleigh Rescue Mission for Raleigh’s poor and homeless. 919-995-6958. www.raleighonice.com.

Through Jan. 3
Star of Bethlehem
The annual presentation explores the mystery surrounding the legendary celestial event, weaving art, music and science into a holiday tradition. Star of Bethlehem has undergone several revisions on the way to becoming the longest-running planetarium show in the world. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill.919-962-1236. www.moreheadplanetarium.org.

Through Jan. 3
Holiday Springs and Sprockets – Art That Moves
Special exhibit features five mechanical, holiday-themed sculptures by artist Steve Gerberich that present scientific principles. Museum of Life and Science, 433 Murray Ave., Durham. 919-220-5429. www.lifeandscience.org.

Through Jan. 3
Picasso and the Allure of Language
This traveling exhibit includes 60 works by Picasso and focuses on his interest in writing and language. Works by other artists and writers are included. The exhibit is complemented by “Africa and Picasso,” a small exhibition inspired by Picasso’s own collection of African art on view through Jan. 10. Nasher Museum of Art, 2001 Campus Dr. at Anderson Street, Duke University, Durham. 919-684-5135. www.nasher.duke.edu.

Through Jan. 3
Knights of the Black Flag
This interactive exhibit explores the legacy of pirates from ancient to modern times. It includes the largest collection of artifacts ever exhibited from the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-807-7900. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Boost your 2010 parenting power!

The New Year is almost here. Got your resolutions ready? For parents, every year offers new joys and challenges. Here are a few ideas to help you increase the joy—and prepare for the challenges—of parenting in 2010 from ParentingCounts.org, with helpful links to CarolinaParent.com's resources.

Love your child for who he or she is: Every child is unique with different temperaments and different interests. Every day, your child is learning and growing - and the new year is a perfect time to take a new look at what makes him or her special. Lend your support as he struggles to master more difficult skills, and celebrate her unique successes with her. See Ages 6-10: I Think I Can on CarolinaParent.com.

Be a part of playtime: Play is how young children learn about the world and practice new cognitive, emotional, and social skills. A parent can learn a lot about a child's developing skills and interests by participating in her play. Your questions, ideas, and attention support your child's curiosity and creativity. Play interactions with you can also help them to develop skills to use when they are playing alone or with peers. (See CarolinaParent.com’s 9 Ways to Nurture Creativity for more on the benefits of join in children’s play.)

Talk about feelings: Understanding and managing feelings is one of the hardest skills children under five have to tackle. So respect what they are feeling by recognizing their emotions, listening to their thoughts and helping them to work through their emotions. Discover Why Explaining Emotions to Children Pays Off in this blog from mental health experts at the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, in Cary.

Be an example: Though your voice, your expressions, your gestures and your actions, your child learns from you how to interact with other people and with the world. You are in a wonderful position to set a positive example for everything from solving problems to showing compassion to buckling seatbelts.

Create routines and stick to them: Children respond to the expected. If you create a bedtime routine that has three steps and you do the same things every night, your child finds comfort in knowing what comes next and will respond in positive ways as a result of sticking to the plan. Looking for ways to get your tots, tweens and teens to bed on time? See CarolinaParent.com’s Sleep Smarts.

Make mealtime special: Whenever possible, make mealtime a time to be together and enjoy a healthy meal. This not only develops a good pattern for eating, but it creates an opportunity to connect as a family. For tips on how to make family meals together happen, see CarolinaParent.com’s Serving Solutions and Ages 11-18: Teens Benefit From Sitting Down to Dinner.

Make books a part of your child's life: Make reading fun. Cuddle up. Let your child choose the books. By reading to your children, you are helping them to increase their vocabulary, inspiring their imagination, and setting the groundwork for a love of reading. Check out our editor’s picks for books your kids will enjoy by searching the words, Book Nook, in CarolinaParent.com's articles.

Start your baby off right: Check out CarolinaParent.com's 5 ways to boost kids’ brain power.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Raleigh celebrates 2010 with family fun!

Head to First Night Raleigh’s Children’s Celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve for entertainment and creative fun designed for you and your kids.

Now in its 19th season, Raleigh’s family-friendly celebration offers a stellar line-up of performers and invites you to join in the fun through kids’ activities, the “People's Procession at 6 p.m.,” and an early countdown to 2010 at 7 p.m.

For the Children’s Celebration, head to the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and on the Bicentennial Plaza, where you can hear award-winning singer songwriter Barbara Bailey Hutchison live. Her original lullabies won her a Grammy for "Best Musical Recording for Children.”

The Children’s Celebration area also has lots of crafts to keep the kids busy. Among activities, kids can create “joy sticks,” –something special to carry with them in the People's Procession—and make “Happiness Journals” of all their ideas and resolutions for 2010. There’s an opportunity to meet a new living creature each hour as Museum of Natural Sciences staff share fun facts about the smaller inhabitants of our state. Your kids can watch magicians, a mariachi band, puppets, Scottish dancers and join in theatre games. The Triangle Youth Philharmonic will be performing, and there’s even art for tots!

Children 5 and under attend for free (when accompanied by a button-wearing adult). Admission buttons are required for Adults and Children ages 6 and up. For ticket prices, visit the First Night Raleigh Web Site.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Ring in the New Year with kids!

New Year’s eve looms as the next holiday celebration, but if you have young kids you might think your days of glitzy celebrations are over. After all, even if you can find a babysitter, who can afford one?

That’s why now’s the time to step into a new New Year’s tradition with your family and make it memorable. Jessica Fisher, a wife, mom of six and writer, offers some fun, inexpensive, do-able suggestions for Ringing in the New Year With Kids. Among my favorites are hosting a Game-athon night, where you invite young and old over to play classics such as Monopoly, Yahtzee, Candy Land and Battleship, as well as some newer games, such as Blockus, Rush Hour or Apples to Apples. Serve inexpensive munchies and drinks to keep folks happy! Another simple, sweet idea from is to bake a Happy New Year Cake. Jessica suggests you use a boxed mix and let the kids help top the cake with frosting and sprinkles. You take a photo of the family blowing out the candles together for posterity. I also like suggestion of gathering the family to think and dream of all they’d like to do in the coming year. I do believe that dreams are the roots from which reality can spring. What a great way to start the New Year and bond as a family.

Each new year, I like to make crackers with my family. Popping crackers, which are decorative party favors shaped like cylinders, are an English tradition dating to Victorian times. I remember the fun I had as a child pulling the crackers apart (tug-of-war style) with a friend and exploring the contents for a joke, riddle, party hat or whistle! If you buy these crackers in a store, they’ll run you from $10 to $25 for a box of eight, but making them with your kids is so much more fun and inexpensive. I recycle cardboard rolls from paper towels for the cylinders and cover them with leftover Christmas paper. You can fill them with inexpensive surprises, making each one different. I must admit that my crackers do not make the official cracking pop, but there’s a lot of yelling and excitement when the contents spill open. That counts, doesn’t it?

Do you have great New Year’s traditions? Share them with us!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Visit CarolinaParent.com’s Story Times & Weekly Events for free or thrifty daily fun and visit our Triangle Holiday Guide for more local seasonal fun!

Kids: 5 creative ideas for holiday fun!

With the holidays here, your child might just feel inclined to sit on the couch with TV remote in hand. But try these five ideas from Karl Dune, of Huntington Learning Center of Fayetteville, and visit CarolinaParent.com’s sources, for fun—and often free—ways to keep kids learning during the holiday break.

1. Take trips to the library. Call your local library to see what programs they have for children who are off from school such as arts and crafts classes or enrichment programs. (See CarolinaParent.com’s Story Times & Weekly Events for free fun any day of the week and visit our Triangle Holiday Guide.) Holiday break is also the perfect time for your child to pick out some fun reading material, whether that’s a book about penguins and the North Pole, or the latest Harry Potter novel. If you’re the parent of a tween or teen, try selecting a book that both of you can read and scheduling a "book club" date to discuss it over ice cream or lunch when you’re finished. (See CarolinaParent.com’s daily Calendar for fun activities.)

2. Bake holiday treats. Search for tasty cookie or pastry recipes online together and let your child take charge in the kitchen, reading the recipe instructions aloud and measuring the ingredients. Then, bag up those holiday goodies for family, friends or neighbors, and have your child get out a ruler to measure and cut 18-inch ribbons to tie the gift baggies closed. (Looking for local recipes? Check out www.CarolinaParent.com’s Holiday Traditions at the Table for recipes from our readers and staff.) Have your child cut small cards out of construction paper and write holiday greetings inside.

3. Explore your town’s museums and other tourist sites. What is your child interested in these days - Space? Art? American History? Why not spend an afternoon or evening together the local nature and science museum, art museum or history museum? For younger children, be sure to check out children’s museums and their holiday programs for kids and families. You’ll find some Triangle museum events on CarolinaParent.com’s Calendar Highlights. Live in a smaller town with fewer amenities? Call your local Chamber of Commerce or community (or visitor’s) center to investigate tours at interesting organizations or factories, or walking or bus tours in your town’s downtown area. Your child might enjoy discovering something new about the place you live.

4. Write holiday greetings and thank-you notes. Recruit your child to help you create homemade holiday cards for family and friends. It’s a great way to practice penmanship, grammar and spelling. When the holidays are over, why not brew up some hot chocolate and make a day of writing thank-you notes for any gifts received?

5. Play board and card games. Not only are games a wonderful way to deter boredom, many games can help your child fine-tune his or her math, reading and critical thinking skills. Schedule a few family (or friend) game nights, and let your child choose the game. Try word board games such Scrabble or Balderdash, logic games such as chess or checkers, or games that incorporate math, such as Monopoly, UNO or High/Low.

While the mere suggestion of finding "fun" learning activities to fill holiday break might elicit groans and grumbles from your child, Dune says many children simply need a nudge off the couch, and once they try some of these things, they might really enjoy them.

Breaks from school can be a chance to explore children’s interests and inspire creativity.

When The Recession Hits Santa

With unemployment stuck at historic highs in North Carolina, here’s some good news for families having to explain to their children why there aren’t as many presents under the tree this year.

A Wake Forest University psychology professor who studies parent-child relationships says "children, in their heart of hearts, don't want a lot of things from their parents as much as they want love from them and time with them. In the long run, it's love, shared time, and quality interactions that they'll remember."

When I think back to my childhood Christmases, I see that what professor Christy Buchanan says rings true. Happy memories come back to me, and they aren’t of expensive outings: Driving around town with my father looking at Nativity displays as he ran errands; licking the mixer bowl after my mother made chocolate cake; and helping my older sister gather dried grasses for the manger she had made from a cardboard box. She always insisted we drop Johnson’s Baby Powder “snow” over the figures she had made of clay dug from our backyard! (The mingled smells of hay and baby powder still remind me of Christmas!)

In lean times, we made cottonball and aluminum foil ball decorations and turned our ficus tree into our Christmas tree. In subsequent years, we added on our homemade red ribbon bows and flour paste cut-out decorations that my younger sister baked in the oven.

Buchanan, who teaches courses on effective parent-child relations, says the problem is we often express love through gifts, and we worry our children won't feel loved if we don't provide material things. She offers these suggestions for families who are cutting back this holiday season:

• Don't be overly apologetic for what children are not getting. Although it's OK to acknowledge a child's desires or even disappointment, parents are encouraged to focus on those things for which the child and family can be grateful.
• Parents should try to be upbeat and positive. If they are, children are more likely to be positive. Focus on the gift of time. Think about what the family can do together that is fun and memorable and treat it like a gift.
• Leading up to Christmas ... Instead of going shopping, design time around what your kids enjoy and make that special. Make plans to bake cookies and drink hot chocolate, play a favorite board game, or shoot hoops at the park.
• Try to minimize exposure to commercials and marketing. The more children see, the more they think they want and are more likely to be disappointed.
• For younger children who expect Santa to bring lots of presents, small, inexpensive gifts like a ball or a game can be the basis for fun, family time on Christmas Day. Shift the focus to a fun activity and away from items that may be missing from under the tree.
• For teenagers, things often become more important. But, teens are also old enough to understand when parents explain that money for expensive items just isn't in the family budget this year. For the items they most want, parents can work with them on a longer term plan to save for those things.
• At all ages, parents should convey a confidence that things will be OK.
• Parents should not make promises they cannot keep. They should be honest with children about what they can or cannot afford.
• If a family is having to cut back, a parent can use the opportunity to emphasize that their relationships are the most important thing.

"It comes down to communication," Buchanan says. Parents can look for ways beyond presents to convey their love for their children.

If you’re looking for free fun in the Triangle, check out CarolinaParent.com’s Story Times and Weekly Events and visit our Triangle Holiday Guide.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Smoke-free dining law lands Jan. 2!

If you’re like me, you can’t stand to dine where smoke is in the air and you especially don’t want your kids to breathe in smoky air. Well, come Jan. 2, you won’t have to ask to be seated away from smokers when you eat out. North Carolina’s historic smoke-free restaurants and bars law goes into effect at midnight, Jan. 2, rendering all restaurants and bars smoke-free indoors, with very few exceptions.

I cannot wait. I come from a family of smokers, most of whom have struggled to quit—and succeeded—and I don’t intend for my kids to be prey to the dangers of secondhand smoke.

The new law, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Perdue in May, includes not only restaurants and bars, but other venues that serve food and are inspected by local health departments, including many recreational facilities, convenience stores, hotel common areas, and private/for-profit clubs. Hotels and other lodging facilities may designate no more than 20 percent of their guest rooms for smoking.

Exceptions from the smoke-free law include cigar bars that meet a list of criteria and non-profit private clubs, such as patriotic clubs and some country clubs.

If you find yourself in a restaurant with someone smoking next to your family, here’s information you’ll want to know: The new smoke-free law requires affected businesses to post no-smoking signs, remove ashtrays, and ask smokers to step outside to smoke. Businesses that repeatedly break the law can be fined up to $200 per day. Smokers who refuse to smoke outside can be fined up to $50 by local law enforcement for defying the law.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services says enforcement is complaint-driven, and local health departments will investigate businesses based on filed complaints. If you want to report a business violation of the law, you’ve got 3 options:
(1) call the local health department; (2) visit www.smokefree.nc.gov and complete an on-line form; or (3) call the N.C. CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY 1-877-452-2514) 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., seven days a week. After hours, you may leave a message and your call will be returned.

Thinking of dining out over the holidays, but looking to save? Visit CarolinaParent.com’s family meal deals to discover where kids eat free!

Also, check out our great ideas for Ringing in the New Year with Kids in our Triangle Holiday Guide.

— Written by Odiile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Triangle pops with holiday family fun!

With snow in the forecast, the fun may be right in your backyard for the next couple of days, but if you’re looking ahead for festive ways to celebrate the holiday with friends and family, head to downtown Raleigh for Winterfest at City Plaza.

Through Jan. 31, you’ll find a large outdoor skating rink with natural ice and fun-filled family activities ranging from skating with Santa and Disney characters, to entertainment from live bands and free carriage rides for couples. Visit our Monthly Calendar Highlights for details.

For old-fashioned holiday fun, don’t miss the Lights on the Neuse, a magical Christmas wonderland located in Clayton. Get in the spirit of the season on a one-mile nighttime hayride through woods and along the Neuse River which features more than a million holiday lights. After the ride, visitors can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate at Santa’s Sweet Shoppe. Santa visits Lights on the Neuse every night, and children are welcome to board his sleigh, hand him their wish lists and have their picture taken with him. Visit Monthly Calendar Highlights to get all the details from Carolina Parent’s Janice Lewine who’s been hunting holiday fun in the Triangle!

If you’re thinking of taking a holiday day trip, check out our Holiday Highlights from the Mountains to the Sea! You’ll find more holiday family fun in our Triangle Holiday Guide.

With snow on the way, don't forget to call ahead to find out if schedules have changed! In the meantime, happy snow days!

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Let it snow? Not!

Usually I can’t wait for it to snow. I love playing outdoors with the kids and watching my neighborhood transform into a winter wonderland. Not this year. For once, I actually have somewhere to go: Two parties in one night. It’s unprecedented for me. Usually, that’s two more than I attend all year, excluding, of course, the children’s parties, where I ferry my kids and sometimes stay on to chat with parents. I just hope the roads aren't too snowy this weekend.

As usual, I’ve waited until the last minute to put up the tree, bake gingerbread and finish my decorating and holiday shopping. This was to be my comeback weekend. Now, I may not be able to get my Christmas tree this weekend, or shop, which may just leave baking as the only thing I can do if the roads are treacherous.

Still, I know my children’s joy at the prospect of snow will be contagious when they get home from school. Snow on Friday or Saturday is a heaven-sent gift for children. So I guess it’s a message to me to stop, taste the flakes and focus on what’s important: Spending family time rather than hunting and gathering.

The day before a possible snow storm brings such uncertainty for working parents with school-aged kids. Will schools close early? Will I be able to pick up the children from school and who will watch them if they come home early? I guess, as with all things, we’ll just have to wait and see what falls from the sky.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Got some great snow photos to share from previous years? Send them to us!

Report: NC to gain from Senate Health reform plan

As the U.S. Congress debates health reform, a new report from the consumer health organization Families USA finds that nearly 1 million North Carolinians would gain health insurance by 2019 under the Senate health reform bill.

Based on a Congressional Budget Office estimate, the report released today found that, under the bill, North Carolina would see the seventh largest gain in the country, with an estimated 988,000 North Carolinians acquiring health coverage by 2019.

"These numbers show that North Carolina is one of the states that would benefit the most from health care reform," said Barb Bradley, President and CEO of Action for Children North Carolina, a local nonpartisan child advocacy organization."North Carolina's children and their families are counting on Congress to pass comprehensive health reform legislation."

The report also found that, should the bill fail, an estimated 254,000 North Carolinians would lose their coverage by 2019 -- the seventh-largest loss in the country. Nationally, more than eight million people would lose coverage if the bill were to fail.
"We can't afford to not reform our health insurance system," said Bradley. "The cost for North Carolina is just too great."

The report is available online at: http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/health-reform/at-a-crossroads.pdf.

What's your opinion on health care reform? Write and let us know what you think.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

If you’re looking for holiday family fun, visit our Triangle Holiday Guide. You’ll find Holiday Destinations Close to Home as well as festive happenings in local towns.

NC public health tops in preparedness; Some H1N1 vaccine recalled

North Carolina parents have seen good and bad news to do with our public health lately.

Tuesday, the N.C. Division of Public Health announced a voluntary recall of H1N1 vaccines involving 18,000 doses in North Carolina. Also on Tuesday, North Carolina and six other states received the country’s highest public health readiness ratings issued by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

If you have a child between the ages of 6 months and 35 months of age who got an H1N1 shot, you should know that the N.C. Public Health divisiion is contacting 132 health care providers who received H1N1 pediatric vaccine from four lots that were voluntarily recalled Thursday by the manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. North Carolina received 17,900 doses of the about 800,000 doses impacted by this recall. These vaccinations were intended for children ages 6 months to 35 months of age.

“There are no safety concerns with these lots of H1N1 vaccine,” State Epidemiologist Megan Davies said. “The concern is that the recalled vaccine may not be strong enough to provide full immunity. However, children in this age group should have adequate protection because we already recommend that they receive two doses of the vaccine.”

The vaccine is being voluntarily recalled because the manufacturer determined the antigen content, which is the component in the vaccine that causes immunity to a virus, is slightly below the specified range. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the vaccine in these lots still offers protection against H1N1 influenza. The CDC does not recommend doctors re-administer flu shots to those who received vaccine from these lots.

Vaccine from these lots was distributed to providers across the state. More information on this voluntary recall can be found online at: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm

Also on Thursday, North Carolina and six other states today received the country’s highest public health readiness ratings issued by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). North Carolina – along with Arkansas, Delaware, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Vermont – are shown as having met nine of the 10 readiness indicators as established by Trust.

The ratings and the parameters used to determine state public health readiness are reported in the Trust’s seventh “2009 Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism” report. While the Trust found that the H1N1 flu outbreak has exposed serious underlying gaps in the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies, North Carolina was not shown to be lacking in that area. The report also indicates that “the economic crisis is straining an already fragile public health system” and is the only indicator where the Tar Heel state was reported to be unsatisfactory.

“While we are pleased and proud to have done so well in the TFAH report again this year, it also is sobering to know that we are one of numerous states dealing with funding issues,” State Health Director Jeffrey Engel said. “Obviously, adequate funding is essential to maintaining these high standards and our high state of readiness. The TFAH report tells us that we are doing a great job despite having fewer resources.”

The other nine indicators reviewed by the Trust include:

Mass Distribution -- State Antiviral Purchases
Hospital Preparedness -- Hospital Bed Availability Reporting
Public Health Laboratories -- Lab Pick Up and Delivery Services
Public Health Laboratories -- Surge Workforce
Biosurveillance -- NEDSS (National Electronic Disease Surveillance System) Compatibility
Food Safety -- Detection and Diagnosis
Medical Reserve Corps Readiness
Community Resiliency -- Children and Preparedness
Legal Preparedness -- Entity Emergency Liability Protection

-- Compiiled by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor, from news releases from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Hillsborough offers classic holiday tale!

Need an escape from the holiday hustle? Head to Hillsborough on Thursday and Friday
for “A Christmas Carol.” Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale will take on a North Carolina flavor as local authors, Michael Malone and Alan Gurganus, and other artists put on two special performances.

Sponsored by The Burwell School Historic Site and St. Matthews Episcopal Church, the event has become a holiday tradition for the community of Hillsborough. This year offers two performances at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 210 St. Mary’s Rd., Hillsborough, on two evenings: Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. A light reception follows both performances. Ticket prices are $15 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Tickets are limited, so reservations are suggested. Call 919-732-7451 for information or to reserve your tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Burwell School Historic Site, The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough (Dixon House), and the Hillsborough Wine Company.

Proceeds will benefit the enrichment and educational programming of the Burwell School Historic Site. www.burwellschool.org.

If you’re looking for more holiday family fun, visit our Triangle Holiday Guide. You’ll find Holiday Destinations Close to Home as well as festive happenings in local towns.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

NORAD gears up to track Santa!

Are your kids getting antsy in these final days before Santa arrives? The folks who track that jolly old elf’s path each Christmas Eve—the North American Aerospace Defense Command officials—already have fun and games lined up on their Web site for kids.

When the weather outside is frightful and the kids are being less than delightful, it helps to head to The "NORAD Tracks Santa" Web site, http://www.noradsanta.org, where holiday activities change daily. I recommend you watch the introductory video of Santa on his sleigh flying over some of the world’s greatest monuments, from Big Ben, the Taj Mahal, and the Eiffel Tower, to the Seattle Space Needle, and Golden Gate Bridge, among other sites. It even puts parents in the right frame of mind to celebrate the season!

If your native language is something other than English, you’re in luck! The site is available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese. On Dec. 24, the Web site will stream videos, captured by NORAD "Santa Cams," from numerous cities along Santa's journey.

This year, children and the young-at-heart are able to track Santa through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and TroopTube.mil. To follow on any of these Web sites, type in @noradsanta into the site's search engine and start your tracking.

Beginning at midnight MST on Dec. 24, visitors to the "NORAD Tracks Santa" Web site can watch Santa as he prepares his sleigh, checks his list, and goes through all his preparations to ensure he has a successful journey.

As soon as Santa takes off from the North Pole, children can track him with up-to-the-minute Google Maps and Google Earth reports.

Santa trackers will begin answering phones and replying to e-mail at 4 a.m. MST on Christmas Eve. Children of all ages can call 877-Hi-NORAD (877-446-6723) toll-free, or can send an e-mail to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

The program began Dec. 24, 1955, when a child dialed a phone number that was misprinted in a newspaper advertisement and reached the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The commander at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested: Santa's whereabouts. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.

The program has grown immensely since it first was presented on the Internet in 1998. The Web site receives millions of unique visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world. In addition, its operations center will be occupied for 25 hours with more than 1,200 volunteers on Christmas Eve, who will be receiving hundreds of thousands phone calls and e-mails from families around the world.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

For family holiday events and more, visit CarolinaParent.com's Triangle Holiday Guide.

Triangle kids holiday fun turns retro!

Triangle families can sample an eclectic feast of holiday fun this weekend, from a free 1860s-era Christmas to a German Christmas market and a performance that echoes Tchaikovky’s The Nutcracker with a Carolina twist, all in Durham. In Raleigh, kids can return to the 1940s for A Miracle on Fayetteville Street, a movie and craft-filled afternoon at a local museum, or head out on the Holiday Express Train at Pullen Park.

The Bennett Place State Historic Site’s home will be decorated in 1860s holiday finery, the kitchen will be filled with aromas of favorite recipes cooking, letters from soldiers will be read, and stories will be told around the fire on Dec. 12-13. The free programs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, will share Christmas customs from the Civil War era.

The roasting of the hog’s head in the front yard will be a unique holiday experience. Visitors can participate in making ornaments and writing letters, and also enjoy a warm cup of cider and ginger snap cookies. Live 19th-century musical entertainment from Morrison and Boggs will make the activities especially merry.

Also in Durham, on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 pm., Guglhupf Bakery & Café transform its patio into a festive "Weihnachts" German Christmas Market. These popular historic markets are held in villages and towns throughout Germany, where they evoke the magic of the festive season. In keeping with German tradition, the Christmas Market will showcase quality, hand-made crafts and art from local artists. Members of the Durham Craft Market, The Ginger Young Gallery and Outsiders Gallery will be selling art and crafts including handmade jewelry, pottery, metal yard art, blown glass and more.

In Durham, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Barriskill Dance Theatre invites families to A Holiday Spectacular, a two-act performance. Look for a combination of Tchaikovky’s The Nutcracker—in which a young girl named Clara is escorted by her Nutcracker Prince to the Land of the Sweets—and Broadway Holiday—which echoes the storyline of The Nutcracker as Dora, a young girl from North Carolina, visits New York.

In Raleigh on Saturday, celebrate the holidays with the Raleigh City Museum, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., when Miracle on Fayetteville Street takes you back in time for a fun, historic holiday celebration. It’s a chance to watch the original 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street, (WRAL-TV’s first broadcast on Dec. 15, 1956), enjoy cider and festive cookies, and explore your creative side making Christmas ornaments and other holiday decorations. Register to attend.

Also in Raleigh, step aboard the annual Holiday Express Train at Pullen Park from 4-9 p.m. each night through Sunday for a festive lights display that transforms the park into a winter wonderland. The train ends its journey with a meeting with Santa himself at the North Pole, and the evening features carousel rides, holiday entertainment, concessions and more. Presented by the Crabtree Rotary Club and Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department , and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund. For ticket prices and more information, visit http://www.raleighholidayexpress.com/.

You’ll find lots more ways to celebrate the holidays in the Triangle Holiday Guide.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Free event offers taste of olde Carolina Christmas

Bennett Place Presents “Christmas in the Carolinas during the Civil War”

DURHAM – The kitchen will be filled with aromas of favorite recipes cooking, and the traditional Christmas roasting of a hog’s head will be presented with other activities at the Bennett Place State Historic Site on Dec. 12-13. The free programs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, will share Christmas customs from the Civil War era.

The Bennett Home will be decorated in 1860s holiday finery. Letters from soldiers will be read, and stories will be told around the fire. Ladies will prepare packages to send to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. The roasting of the hog’s head in the front yard will be a unique holiday experience. Visitors can participate in making ornaments and writing letters, and also enjoy a warm cup of cider and ginger snap cookies. Live 19th-century musical entertainment from Morrison and Boggs will make the activities especially merry.

The Visitor Center will be open, showing artifacts and exhibits interpreting the life of the Bennett family. James and Nancy Bennitt (or Bennett) were yeoman farmers whose farm became the site of the largest troop surrender of the Civil War. Exhibits in the museum gallery interpret the lives of the family, soldiers and events pertaining to the surrender. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

Bennett Place is in the western part of Durham and can be reached by taking US 15-501 North, the Durham Freeway (147), or I-85. Follow the brown historic sites signs. For more information, call (919) 383-4345, visit www.bennettplace.nchistoricsites.org, or e-mail Bennett@ncdcr.gov.

Bennett Place is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.

A traditional Christmas of the 1860s, including roasting a hog’s head, will be part of a Civil War re-enactment program at Bennett Place State Historic Site. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

Magical events transform Triangle towns

Just two weeks to Christmas Eve, and magical events continue to unfold around the Triangle. Head to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., for a “Seasoning of Stories and Song,” a winter stories program for children of all ages. The fun begins with refreshments in the lobby and continues with seasonal tales and music, including sing-alongs.

Tonight in Raleigh, a chorus of Girl Scouts invite you to celebrate with them at the Capitol as they Carol for a Cause to fight hunger. They are asking people to bring non-perishable food items that the Girl Scouts will donate to local food pantries. Troops from the Raleigh/Cary area will sing winter carols from 5:15-6 p.m. at the east entrance of the State Capitol during the Tree Lighting program. Gov. Bev Perdue will light the State Tree around 6:30 p.m.

This Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 pm., Guglhupf Bakery & Café, in Durham, will transform its patio into a festive "Weihnachts" German Christmas Market. These popular historic markets are held in villages and towns throughout Germany, where they evoke the magic of the festive season. In keeping with German tradition, the Christmas Market will showcase quality, hand-made crafts and art from local artists. Members of the Durham Craft Market, The Ginger Young Gallery and Outsiders Gallery will be selling art and crafts including handmade jewelry, pottery, metal yard art, blown glass and more.

And in Durham, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Barriskill Dance Theatre invites families to A Holiday Spectacular, a performance that features Tchaikovky’s The Nutcracker—in which a young girl named Clara is escorted by her Nutcracker Prince to the Land of the Sweets—and Broadway Holiday—which echoes the storyline of The Nutcracker as Dora, a young girl from North Carolina, visits New York

You’ll find lots more ways to celebrate the holidays in the Triangle Holiday Guide.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

The tree-lighting program at the State Capitol is free festive fun for families. This year’s lighting ceremony Dec. 10 starts at 5 p.m., followed by an open house. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources)

Holiday books make hot gifts!

Has your child made a Santa list yet? Yesterday, my son’s friend told me that he had 21 items on his list! Guess what? Books accounted for 16 of the items! If you’re headed to the bookstore or library to pick up some holiday books for your children, don’t leave without reading our editor’s picks first. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, you’ll find stories to cover a range of ages and stages, from teaching numbers to explaining holiday traditions. Some tales tell of compassion and family values while others simply make you laugh!

Carolina Parent Associate Editor Carol McGarrahan says one book about Santa’s reindeer going on strike turns hilarious as Santa tries everything from flamingos to elephants to guide his sleigh. But if you’re looking for a beautiful gift book, she suggests The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, a classic for nearly 200 years. You can find more of her recommendations in the Triangle Holiday Guide.

Heading to the library or local bookstores is a fun way to escape from the house for a few hours and instill a love of books in your children without spending a dime. Find out what’s happening in your town each day, in CarolinaParent.com’s StoryTimes and Weekly Events.

On Thursday: Don’t miss the Scouts Caroling at the Capitol For a Cause.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Fielding questions about Santa & magic?

Are you fielding some tricky Santa questions? It’s that time of the year when they come in at a fast and furious pace.

If you’re wondering how to answer one of the top questions, “How does Santa make it around the world in one night,” you have help this year from a local professor of engineering who just completed a six-month visiting-scholar program at Santa’s Workshop-North Pole Labs (SW-NPL).

“Santa is using technologies that we are not yet able to recreate in our own labs,” says North Carolina State University’s Dr. Larry Silverberg, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. “As the first scholar to participate in the SW-NPL program, I learned that we have a long way to go to catch up with Santa in fields ranging from aerodynamics and thermodynamics to materials science.”

Silverberg says that Santa’s sleigh is far more advanced than any modern form of air transportation. “The truss of the sleigh, including the runners, are made of a honeycombed titanium alloy that is very lightweight and 10 to 20 times stronger than anything we can make today,” he says. The truss can also morph, Silverberg adds, altering its shape slightly to improve its aerodynamics and “allowing it to cut through the air more efficiently. The runners on the sleigh, for example, have some flexure, allowing them to tuck in to be more aerodynamic during flight, and then spread out to provide stability for landing on steeply pitched roofs.

You’ll find more news of Santa’s state-of-the-art sleigh on CarolinaParent.com’s Triangle Holiday Guide. But if you’re facing a lot of skepticism regarding the jolly old elf himself, see what the experts at the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood Development say about age-appropriate responses to questions of Santa and magic. These mental health experts look at when’s a good time to break the news and whether children resent deception in our Triangle Holiday Guide.

Speaking of the truth, I’ve had some experience with breaking the news this year. For about a year or so, I’ve been hammered with hard questions about Santa. The facts just didn’t add up for my son, and as he posed logical arguments one after another, I understood that the time had arrived. I made it into a game for a while, reluctant to let go.

“What do you think,” I’d ask.

“I want to know what you think,” he’d reply.

One afternoon this year as we were driving home from school, I finally blurted out: “Do you think that a person can fly around the world in a night?”

“No,” he replied.

“There you have it,” I said.

I waited for disappointment and accusations to follow. But all I heard was a giggle. Then, silence.

Five minutes later, another question arrived: “What about the Easter Bunny?”

“Do you think a bunny hops around the neighborhood, delivering presents?” I said, feeling worse and worse by the minute.

“No,” he replied.

Another giggle.

The Tooth Fairy succumbed five minutes later to a similar intellectual attack. Then for the rest of the ride, there was laughter from the back seat.

“Do you mean all these grown-ups have been playing along all this time?” he asked, smiling.

Then came a barrage of questions: “Who’s been eating the cookies and milk we left out on Christmas Eve?" "Who writes the notes?"

To my amazement, he was thrilled! Instead of feeling terrible, I was reaffirmed. All the time and effort that my husband and I had invested in making Christmas magical was recognized. It was a magical moment.

P.S. Santa is still coming to our house.

— Written by Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor

Scouts to carol at the State Capitol

While hundreds gather on the grounds of the State Capitol for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 10, a chorus of Girl Scouts will be caroling for a cause. They are asking people to bring non-perishable food items that the Girl Scouts will donate to local food pantries. Troops from the Raleigh/Cary area will sing winter carols from 5:15-6 p.m. at the east entrance of the State Capitol during the Tree Lighting program. Gov. Bev Perdue will light the State Tree around 6:30 p.m.

“We appreciate that these young women identified a community need and developed a plan of action to address the issue of hunger,” says Site Manager Deanna Mitchell. “It also warms our hearts to be part of their development as community leaders.”

Visitors are encouraged to bring canned foods, rice, dried beans, peanut butter and soup for the collection bins. Girl Scout Troop 244 of Cary will deliver the donations to area food pantries.

For additional information call the State Capitol at (919) 733-4994. The State Capitol is located in downtown Raleigh and is bounded by Edenton, Salisbury, Morgan, and Wilmington streets. Free parking is available when entering state lots near the Capitol after 5 p.m. To visit or receive information on Capitol programs, call (919) 733-4994.

The Capitol is within the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources,
the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information about Cultural Resources is available 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.

For more hoiday events and getaways close to home, visit CarolinaParent.com's Holiday Guide.

You'll find more ways to give back to your Triangle town, in our Get Involved guide.

Triangle holiday fun kicks off!

The Triangle is welcoming in the holidays with tons of family fun, from Santa sightings and tree lightings, to festivals, caroling and parades.

Head to downtown Raleigh Friday for the debut of AT&T Raleigh Winterfest, which features a large outdoor skating rink with natural ice and family activities through Jan. 31. Youngsters can skate with Santa and beloved Disney characters on Tuesday evenings; Wednesdays nights showcase live bands and other musical talent performing outdoors; and Date and Skate Nights on Thursdays offer couples free carriage rides, dinner specials at nearby restaurants and discounts on rink admission, according to Carolina Parent staffer Janice Levine, who tracks Triangle family-friendly events.

On Friday, don’t miss Winterfest’s grand celebration 5-11 p.m. at Raleigh’s City Plaza when Grammy-Award winner Michelle Branch performs and Mayor Charles Meeker lights a Christmas tree. The kickoff event also features talented figure skaters; local choirs and bands; a visit by Santa; a reading by Ira David Wood III, star of Theatre in the Park’s A Christmas Carol; food and drink; and sledding ramps with real snow, according to Lewine, who tracks Triangle family fun. Admission to Raleigh Winterfest is free, but there is a charge of $6 to skate, which includes skate rental.

Towns across the Triangle from Apex to Zebulon will be kicking off holiday festivities, Lewine reports. On Friday, Apex hosts a Christmas on Salem Street. Enjoy carolers at the Apex Depot at 5 p.m., followed by the town’s tree lighting ceremony and sleigh rides at 6 p.m. The next morning, from 7 to 11 a.m., the Salem Street firehouse hosts a pancake breakfast for families. Pictures with Santa are available from 9 a.m. to noon. A Christmas parade featuring area bands, floats, antique cars and St. Nicholas takes place at 5 p.m., according to Lewine.

Also Friday, Benson is ringing in the holidays with a Christmas on Main event from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a Christmas parade, entertainment, hot cider and cookies. Families in Cary can enjoy a full day of holiday events Saturday beginning with an Ole Time Winter Festival downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event features arts and crafts, entertainment, kid’s activities and a visit with St. Nicholas, according to Lewine.

On Friday, Holiday festivities on First Avenue in Knightdale include a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. and Santa’s Magical Workshop, where youngsters can have their pictures taken with Santa and peek inside his workshop in the caboose, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, downtown Knightdale will have it s Christmas parade takes place at 2 p.m.

The Lighting of Wake Forest features entertainment, refreshments and Santa’s arrival on a carriage Friday at 6 p.m. And in Wendell on Friday, Santa arrives with Mrs. Claus at the Town Square for a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.

In Garner, the mayor is hosting the town’s tree lighting ceremony Friday at 7 p.m. at the Garner Recreational Park. Over in Zebulon, families can watch the town’s annual parade Sunday at 2 p.m. Holiday festivities in Hillsborough include a Christmas parade on Churton Street Saturday at 3 p.m. The town lights its community tree after the parade.

In Pittsboro and Fuquay-Varina, holiday parades unroll at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Check CarolinaParent.com’s A-to-Z city guide to welcoming the holidays for details on these events and more on what’s happening in your town for the holidays.

There’s also a slew of holiday performances and traveling exhibits, ranging from Cirque Dreams Holidaze to Visions of Sugar Plums and A Christmas Carol.

If you’re thinking of heading out for a day trip or quick getaway to celebrate the holidays, see Carolina Parent’s editor’s picks in Highlights from the Mountains to the Sea. And you’ll find more upcoming events and answer to tricky Santa Questions in CarolinaParent.com’s Triangle Holiday Guide.

– Odile Fredericks, Carolina Parent Web Editor