ML Interest Tag: enrol

Virtual Kindergarten Readiness Works, According to New Study

by Sarah Shebek

Write your first name, recognize numbers, know the sounds of the alphabet, pay attention and take turns…the list of kindergarten readiness tasks can be daunting. Summer success programs can be key to help kids prep for school, but when COVID-19 locked down the country last year, educators had to innovate.

Would a fully virtual readiness program work with four and five-year-olds? The Ohio State University decided to try it and researchers found that it was successful in theory and in practice. Their data showed that it was feasible to operate, it was popular with teachers and parents and it had success in teaching children literacy skills, early math skills and emotional regulation.

“The promising evidence is that a virtual problem like this can succeed, despite the challenges,” said Rebecca Dore, lead author of the study and senior research associate at Ohio State’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy.

Ninety-one families enrolled in the four-week virtual program last year and received storybooks plus a computer tablet preloaded with educational videos. It also included weekly individual video interactions between teachers and children and a weekly video or phone meeting with parents. The final result? Seventy-seven percent of families finished the program and teachers found that kids were engaged for more than half the lesson 90% of the time. Participating children were tested before and after the program and the final data showed an upswing in all testing categories.

Although life is returning to normal, the success of this virtual program is promising for other scenarios. Kids who live in very rural areas may not have ready access to resources and kids who must stay home due to extended illness could certainly benefit from future online offerings. Technology for the win!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of andrii Sinenkyi /Pixabay 

 

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Fuel Your Mondays with Free Coffee from Dunkin’

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Dunkin’ wants to keep their most loyal fans runnin’ this month. DD Perks members can start the week off right with a free medium hot coffee with any purchase every Monday in February. Coffee fans who are not currently enrolled can take part in Free Coffee Mondays by signing up on the Dunkin’ App or at DDPerks.com. 

Free Coffee Mondays

Fans can enjoy their go-to Dunkin’ brew, such as Original Blend or Dunkin’ Decaf, discover a new favorite with recently introduced hot coffee options, including Dunkin’ Midnight and Explorer Batch or check out their Valentine’s Day Menu.

“As we head into the home stretch of winter, we know our fans could use a little extra boost to stay energized. With Free Coffee Mondays, we look forward to keeping our rewards members running with a free cup of hot coffee to help start each week in February off right,” said Joanna Bonder, Director, Loyalty Marketing and Strategy at Dunkin’.

To take part in Free Coffee Mondays, DD Perks members can simply order ahead via the Dunkin’ App or have their loyalty ID QR code scanned before they pay. DD Perks members earn five points for every dollar they spend on qualifying purchases at Dunkin’. Once a member accrues 200 points, they receive a free beverage reward of any size, redeemable at participating Dunkin’ restaurants.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Dunkin’

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This Harry Potter Dining Set Is Sure to Make Meal Time Magical

by Shahrzad Warkentin

You don’t have to be enrolled at Hogwarts to dine like a wizard. This new Harry Potter dining set will bring the magic straight to your own table.

Amazon’s new Harry Potter Hogwarts Dinnerware Set is the perfect way for wizards and muggles alike to dress the table in their house colors. The 16-piece set comes in four different designs for each Hogwarts House, including Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw, so you’re covered no matter where your allegiance lays.

The dinnerware set includes large and small plates, bowls and mugs all adorned with sleek, colorful designs to symbolize each particular house. The entire set is dishwasher and microwave safe, making it easy for everyday use because you’ll be wanting to dine on these all the time.

The Harry Potter Hogwarts House 16-Piece Dinnerware Sets are currently available on Amazon for $70.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Amazon

 

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What to Do If Your Teenager Is Involved in a Car Accident

By Faizan Raza

Photo: Photo by bruce mars from Pexels

All car accidents take a heavy toll on all individuals involved in the accident. However, things can be even more difficult when our children are involved in a car mishap. I sincerely hope and pray that your teens never run into such incidents. However, it really helps to know what a parent should do under such difficult situations. Always remember that when a teenager is involved in an accident, their emotional health is the most important factor to focus on. Everything else can be dealt with later on. 

Enquire about Your Child’s Health: When you first come to know about the accident, your initial comments must be focused around your child’s health and others involved in the incident. Even if you are worried about the damage to your car, don’t talk about it right away. Accidents can be much more traumatic for a teenager than you think. In these circumstances, most of them feel that they have failed themselves, as well as, their parents. They also understand that the accident has its financial consequences that their parents will have to bear. Therefore, as a parent, your job is to reassure them that they are not a failure by any means. 

Go to the Accident Scene: Get to the accident scene as early as possible because your presence will provide the much-needed emotional support to your kid. Your presence on the scene will also act as a buffer from other parties involved in the accident because these individuals are not likely to be understanding of a teenager’s mistake. 

Moreover, you will also get an opportunity to inspect the accident scene and understand what actually happened. It is likely that your child will be in a state of shock. On his or her behalf, collect detailed information of the other parties involved in the accident, and take photos of the accident scene. Also, if the police have still not arrived at the scene, protecting crash site evidence is important. Once the police arrive, try to collect a copy of their accident report.  

If your child is injured in the accident, take him or her to a nearby medical facility, and arrange proper care as early as you can. Don’t forget to collect the detailed examination report from the facility, because this will help you while filing an insurance claim. 

Call the Insurance Company: Your next important task is to call the insurance company. Provide them all the details you have about the accident so that they can process your claim immediately. During this entire process, have your child nearby, so that he or she can hear everything. First, the insurer may ask questions that you may not be able to answer. Second, by being a part of this discussion, your child will understand how auto insurance policies work, which will certainly benefit them in the long run.  

As time goes by, your child will gradually come out of the stressed emotional state caused by the accident. However, in the aftermath of the accident, the parents must do certain things. 

  • Reinforce the value of responsible driving: Remind your child of the potential consequences of driving too fast, using mobile devices while driving, and distracted driving. This may end up becoming an emotional discussion, but will surely make your kid more responsible in the future while driving. It is also a good idea to have them enrolled in a local driving safety class. 

  • Get them back to driving: After an accident, your teen may feel hesitant to start driving again. However, once the emotions settle down, try to get them back in the driving seat as soon as possible. If required, be with them for the first few times to provide a sense of comfort and security.  

I love RedTri authors, publishing, and talking incessantly about them. My passion is partnering with authors to bring worthwhile content to publication. I started blog as a way to create a community of writers, both published and seeking publication.

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Walmart Will Send You to College for $1 a Day with Expanded Employee Program

by Erica Loop

With the rising costs of post-secondary education, going to college for $1 a day sounds pretty rad, right? For Walmart employees, education benefit—such as a low cost college credit program—are life-changing perks of the job.

Walmart’s Live Better U takes the big box retailer’s education benefits and puts them all into one place. The platform supports associates’ educational goals on multiple levels, ranging from high school to graduate degrees and so much more.

photo: Logan Isbell via Unsplash 

Along with its “$1 a day” college program, Live Better U includes cost-free high school education (for both associates and their eligible family members), discounts on higher education degrees and discounts on foreign language learning programs. Beyond those perks, Live Better U and the broader Walmart Academy development program are helping associates to get college credit for on-the-job training, too.

Not surprisingly, more than a few Walmart associates are taking advantage of the generous, and much-needed, educational assistance. According to a recent press release, over 4,500 of the company’s associates have already enrolled in at least one of its programs!

With growing company and associate needs, Walmart has plans to expand the program, meaning more educational options and potentially a better career path for thousands of employees.

—Erica Loop

 

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Does “Sesame Street” Make Kids Smarter? New Research Weighs In

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Did you grow up dreaming of sunny days chasing the clouds away? Then there’s a pretty good chance you were a straight-A student. A new study shows Sesame Street helps kids do better in school.

New research published in the American Economic Journal found that kids who had access to Sesame Street before the age of seven had improved academic performance. The impact was most significant in elementary school, especially among Black children and boys who grew up in poor counties. However, it had no real effect on college attendance, graduation rates or long-term career prospects.

It’s important to note that the findings were based on kids access to the show, not specifically that they watched it. The information came from census data on kids from 1980, 1990 and 2000. Access was determined by the strength of television signals in individual counties across the country.

“You can think about this as kids potentially having access as opposed to watching the show,” study author Melissa Kearney told the American Economic Association. “We don’t know who actually watched the show. We know that you probably could get it in your house or you probably couldn’t. And we also know that at the time, most of the kids who probably could get it were probably watching it.”

The researchers then assessed the kids’ academic and career success based on several factors, including what proportion of kids were enrolled in the appropriate grade for their age, drop out and graduation rates, college attendance and their employment, wage and poverty status.

“Our mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder knows no geographic boundaries,” Jeffrey D. Dunn, Sesame Workshop’s chief executive officer, said in a press release celebrating the show’s 50th anniversary. “We’re everywhere families are and we never stop innovating and growing. That’s what keeps us timeless.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: photo: Sesame Street via YouTube

 

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An Arts Education Makes Kids Better Writers & It Makes Them Better People, Too

by Shahrzad Warkentin

How do you teach students to be more compassionate and make them better writers? Put on a puppet show. Give them crayons. Put on their favorite Spotify playlist—and here’s why. A new study reveals why the arts are so important for kids.

New research from the Rice Institute for Urban Research has found that arts-learning experiences benefit students in terms of reducing discipline rates, increasing compassion for others and improving writing achievement. The study also showed that these experiences improve school engagement and college aspirations.

photo: iStock 

The randomized controlled study involved 10,548 students who attended 42 schools across the Houston, Texas area. The students were enrolled in elementary and middle schools, which predominantly served low-income students of color. Nearly one-third of the schools in the district were lacking a full-time arts teacher.

With many schools nationwide minimizing arts education, the study’s results are an important reminder that the arts have an impact far beyond encouraging creativity. It’s also important to note that the addition of arts education did not come at the expense of traditional academics.

“It could have come out negative. It could have been, look, they did this extra stuff where they learned more in these other domains but their math scores went down, so here’s the tradeoff,” said Brian Kisida, one of the researchers from the University of Missouri who worked on the study. “We don’t see evidence of a tradeoff.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Big News! OCT’s Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space Is a Blast

by Marianne Walters

Cheese niblets! Our favorite whiskered newspaper editor hits the stage for the Oregon Children’s Theatre world premiere of Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space. Whether or not you’ve read book #52 by the same title, you and your theater-loving littles will be pulling for this reluctant hero and his crime-fighting friends. Mark your calendars with the show dates and read on for the inside scoop on this brand-new show.

photo: Owen Carey

The Story
The play is based on one of many wonderful stories in the Geronimo Stilton series. New Mouse City is being threatened by a sneaky villain and Geronimo is determined to get to the bottom of a series of crimes. He finds himself being sent on a top-secret mission in outer space, and he and his friends set out to solve the mystery once and for all.

This production is recommended for ages 4 and up. It’s not a musical and even though the storyline had us on the edge of our seats, it’s definitely a longer play at 1 hour and 10 minutes with no intermission. There are a few moments of darkness in the theater during transitions but nothing too alarming for the 4 and up crowd.

photo: Marianne Walters 

Before & After
Make sure to arrive at least a half hour early to take advantage of Art a la Carte, which provides an art project an hour before showtime. Just head up the stairs to the second floor and you’ll be welcomed to the tables to participate for free. After the show, the characters sit at a long table to sign autographs. Even if the line is long, it moves quickly as people bounce from one character to the next. (We got through the line in less than 10 minutes, so it’s worth it if your tykes can wait.)

You can make the most out of your day by making plans before or after the play. Head to the Multnomah Library’s Central location (801 SW 10th) to check out some Geronimo Stilton books for bedtime reading, or burn off some energy while running around the South Park Blocks behind the Newmark, between SW Park and 9th avenues. The theater also has a list of nearby activities and restaurants. Click here to see it.

photo: Marianne Walters

Eat, Drink & Go Potty
The Newmark has a concession stand that is open before, during and after the show in case of a snack emergency among your crowd (think chocolate chip cookies and bags of chips). If you’re thinking of having lunch before or after the show, hit up 21st Century Pizza (1221 SW Jefferson) for slices. Make sure that your entire crew visits the restroom before the show since there is no intermission, and stop by the coat check for a booster seat for $1. It’s worth it for the youngest theater-goers, especially if they have a grown-up sitting in front of them. Finally, only closed containers are allowed in the theater so feel free to bring your bottled water in but finish everything else out in the lobby.

The play is one of the OCT’s Ticket to Read performances, which is a program designed to get low-income students excited about reading by linking literacy with live theater. Students enrolled in the program get a free theater ticket and a copy of the Geronimo Stilton book upon which the play was based. Want to know more about it? Click here.

photo: Marianne Walters

Getting There
Arrive at least 15 minutes to secure a parking spot. Street parking can be found in the area, but make sure you can stay there for at least 90 minutes. For peace of mind, you might choose to park in the nearest lot two blocks away at the Fox Tower (775 SW Taylor), or Smart Park (123 SW Jefferson).

There’s a set of elevators and ADA restrooms making the Newmark Theater accessible for wheelchairs, as well as strollers.

When: Showing now through Feb. 14th
Cost: ranges from $14-$32.
Where: Newmark Theatre
Antoinnette Hatfield Hall
1111 SW Broadway
503-228-9571
Ages: 4 & up
Online: octc.org

How excited are you for this world premiere showing of Geronimo Stilton? Let us know in the comments below!

—Marianne Walters

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12 Signs You’re a Chelsea Parent

by Michelle McIvor Cohen

Once run down and desolate, Chelsea is now one of the most “kidcentric” hoods in Manhattan. Filled with indoor play hubs, newly renovated parks and charming tree-lined streets, traffic jams on 8th Avenue have been replaced by stroller jams on the sidewalks. Whether you’re new to the area or were lucky enough to buy before real estate prices soared, it’s the place to be if you’ve got little ones. The Highline and Chelsea Market are world-famous attractions for kids of all ages. But read on to see if you’re really in the know about what it means to be a Chelsea parent.

                                                                                                                           photo: via Chelsea Piers Field House on Yelp

1. Chelsea Piers is #1 on your speed dial. Every member of your family is enrolled in an athletics program – even your 12-month-old.

photo: Michelle Cohen

2. You order your kiddo’s birthday cake from Billy’s every year.

                                                                                                     photo: Dan Griffith

3. You jam with Dan Griffith (a.k.a. Ramblin’ Dan & The Freewheelin’ Band) at least once a week.

                                                                                                     photo: Salim Fadhley via Flickr

4. Your loft apartment doubles as an indoor playground. There is a swing and an ergonomic bouncer hanging from your 12-foot ceiling.

                                                                                                             photo: Kelko S. via Yelp

5. You shop at Buy Buy Baby so often the sales associates know you by name.

                                                                                                photo: Tribeca Pediatrics via Yelp

6. You spotted Chelsea Clinton at your pediatricians office and your neighbor’s kids studied Mandarin with Suri Cruise at Avenues.

                                                                                                                           photo: NYC Parks

7. You practically live at “Seal Park” during the warmer months – so what if “some people” say it’s infested with mosquitos?

                                                                                      photo: Books of Wonder via Instagram

8. You’ve met some of the most celebrated children’s authors in New York at Books of Wonder.

                                                                                                                 photo: Michelle Cohen

9. Families come from every borough to trick or treat on your block. Last Halloween, you and your neighbors decorated the facade of your brownstone with cobwebs and handed out enough candy to make any suburban kid jealous.

                                                                                                   photo: Umair Mohsin via Flickr

10. You’re raising emerging artists. Your six-year-old spends Tuesday nights drawing Manga characters at HiArt! and your two-year-old just celebrated her first gallery opening at Appleseeds.

                                                                                                                       photo: Vi N. via Yelp

11. Your family eats breakfast at Grey Dog every Saturday. You treat your young foodies to fine delicacies on the kids menu, especially the dog-bone shaped pancakes.

                                                                                                                   photo: Paul L. via Yelp

12. You can get anywhere in Manhattan in 20 minutes, but you can’t think of a reason to leave. All you have to do is walk outside to experience some of the best restaurants, parks, art galleries and shopping in the city. Life is good in Chelsea.

What did we miss? Tell us in the comments below!

–Michelle McIvor Cohen

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