Kids VT, August 2013
Living With the Vermont Lake Monsters; Recess Is In: Natural Playground in Waterbury; Why You’ll Dig Graniteville’s Rock of Ages
Vermont Day-cations: Rock of Ages & Little River State Park
There’s still time to take a few “day-cations” before school is back in session. Has the hot weather addled your brain, leaving you uninspired? We’ve got a few day-trip suggestions for you. Every summer, Kids VT seeks out family-friendly destinations where you and your kids can experience the natural beauty and unique culture of the…
Playground Paradise
School’s out, but kids are still coming to Waterbury’s Thatcher Brook Primary School — for the playground. This sprawling hillside funscape is home to tetherball and teeter-totters, swing sets and slides. But what really sets it apart are the natural play structures, including a rock-garden labyrinth, a massive sandbox and a rock-climbing wall. “The goal…
Fruit Popsicles
Raise your hand if you love Popsicles. Yep, that’s what we thought. Easy to make and fun to eat, these frozen treats are a summer staple. This recipe makes colorful, layered pops that are perfect for keeping cool when the weather gets hot. Tip: Whip these up right before bedtime, and they’ll be frozen by…
Risky Business
You have to let kids get hurt sometimes, my friend Meghan told me recently. We were talking on her back porch, while my kids, 5 and 7, played with a 6-year-old neighbor boy in the yard. The three of them had invented a game. They were standing beneath a tree. From its branches hung two…
How can parents tell when it’s too hot for their kids?
Hot enough for you? Especially in the summer, it’s important to remember that children are more susceptible to heat-related ailments than adults. Kids have a larger surface area relative to their body weight, which means they absorb heat faster. It takes them longer to cool down because their sweat glands are not as developed —…
Having a Ball
It was a sweltering summer morning at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, but the dozens of red-faced kids kicking soccer balls didn’t seem bothered by the heat. They were busy negotiating orange cones, dodging and darting, when head coach Stan Williams shouted, “Katie, send your pinnies here! Tucker, send your blue team over…
The Librarian Likes
Librarian: Amanda Perry, Winooski Memorial Library Book: The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague Age range: 3-5 Perry’s summary: The Three Little Pigs is a children’s classic, but award-winning author and illustrator Mark Teague gives the story a twist. When a farmer and his wife move to Florida, three pigs…
What are your family’s favorite rainy-day activities?
Brian Williams, Burlington Principal, Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes Son Haven, 15; daughters Maude, 12, and Eleanor, 6 Rainy days are when my family takes a deep breath and looks around. Too often we are going at light speed here and there — just missing, not listening. It’s almost like a rainy day causes time…
The Art of Taiko Drumming
Contrary to geographical probability, Japanese taiko drummers are a familiar sight in Vermont. The loud, rhythmic adult taiko ensemble has become an integral part of both the Vermont City Marathon and the First Night Burlington Parade. Less visible but just as surprising: For the past 20 years, Stuart Paton, founder of Burlington Taiko, has also…
