The Dad Issue 2013
Gearing Up for a Trip to Thunder Road; Gay Dads Discuss Their Journeys to Parenthood; Fit Families Have Fun on the Run
Book Review: Road Trip
Librarian: Thad Gembczynski, youth librarian, Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho Book: Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen Age range: 11 and up Gembczynski’s summary: Three-time Newbery Honor Award-winner Gary Paulsen and his son, Jim, wrote Road Trip through a series of emails to each other. Their editor tied the exchanges together into this fast-paced,…
How often do you make dinner, and what’s your specialty?
Chris Eaton, Weybridge Owner, Backspin Renewables Son Beckett, 3; daughter Wren, 2 In the winter, I don’t do much cooking, aside from breakfast. But in the spring, summer and fall, I do most of the cooking because of my work schedule and because I like to grill outdoors. My specialty is fish on the grill…
The Art of… Music Appreciation
Some parents might tire of hearing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” on the car stereo for the 50th time, but the song never gets old for musician Derek Burkins. Neither does the interminable “The Wheels on the Bus.” These kids’ classics are staples of the weekly music classes he offers for babies through preschoolers all…
Vermont Day-cations: Thunder Road SpeedBowl & Burton Island State Park
School’s almost out, which means it’s time again for Kids VT’s annual Vermont Day-cations series. Every summer, we send our writers to must-see, family-friendly destinations across the state and around the region. They’re all places you can visit for a day — though some, such as Burton Island State Park, merit a longer stay. In…
The Dads Next Door
Gay dads say homophobia is less of a problem than the perennial question: “Where’s the mom?”
Tricked-Out Treehouse
As a kid, Brian Beaudoin used to build forts with his neighborhood friends, but he always wanted a treehouse. So when, as an adult, the civil engineer constructed a tree-mounted hideaway for his two kids in their Middlesex backyard, he admits that “I built it as much for me as I did for them.” The…
Mini Race Cars
Looking for a fun Father’s Day activity? Spend the afternoon with your kids making and racing these colorful cars. Our summer day-cation trip to Thunder Road SpeedBowl inspired this collaborative craft project. Kids paint and decorate the toilet-paper rolls that make up the body of the vehicle; adults can help them pin on the wheels.…
Pop Art
Last June, Kids VT published its first Dad Issue to coincide with Father’s Day. It was such a hit, we’re doing it again. Readers might remember last year’s Star Wars-themed cover. It won an award for Best Newsprint Illustration Cover at the 2013 national Parenting Media Association conference. We got the idea for the Jedi…
When should parents start toilet training their children, and how does it work?
It’s only natural that parents want their toddlers to learn to use the toilet. Lately, however, many pediatricians are seeing parents who push kids to potty train before their bodies are ready for it. When is the right time to start? Dr. Lewis First, head of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health…
Fun on the Run
Parades are a familiar sight in the week leading up to July 4. So, too, are fun runs. Many towns host both on the same day. Tom Thurston, race director for Waterbury’s Green Mountain Mile, says tying the kid-friendly contests to a big festival makes sense. “Having the roads already closed for the parade makes…
