Camping for Special Needs

from Campy Jaycee

  Canoeing, hiking, swimming, postcards from home, and don’t forget the bug spray! Ah, summer camp. It’s a great way for kids to develop new friendships, learn new skills, and have fun in a safe, structured environment, and it’s also nice for parents to get a break sometimes. The benefits of a summer camp program…

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Inspiring New Perspectives Through ART

Looking for a place to jump into the art world with your children? Look no further than Art Venture at the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke. This interactive exploratory gallery has thirteen stations integrating the arts with imagination for all. Station activities range from drawing to sculpture to theater and much more. Everyone…

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Learning in the Kitchen

  Since beginning his culinary career in grade school, when he sold pretzels from his “Awesome Pretzel” cart, Guy Fieri has gained widespread popularity as a restaurant owner, Food Network personality, and author.  He has said that “cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.” …

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Eating Healthy on the Go

It’s no secret that during the first few months of the year many Americans wrestle with the ever-popular New Year’s Resolution: to get healthy and lose weight. With 2014 in full swing it can be easy to lose some of that motivation, especially for a busy family on-the-go. Dieticians at the Academy of Nutrition and…

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Experiment: Floating on Air

Can we really make things float on air at home? Let’s test gravity and air pressure along with your hand-eye coordination in this fun experiment. What you’ll need: package of ping pong balls A hair dryer Instructions: Plug in the hair dryer and turn it on. Put it on the highest setting and point it…

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Ten Things Every Family Should Know about Autism

With an estimated one in 88 children diagnosed with autism, it is not surprising that so many families are struggling with decisions and next steps for their children who were recently diagnosed.  For the parents who are devastated to first hear the word “autism” from a developmental pediatrician or other professional, there is hope!  In…

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Growing a Family Garden

Some of the most vivid memories of my childhood are traipsing through the vegetable garden with my parents, collecting buckets full of green beans, yellow squash, tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables. I remember sitting beside my great grandmother on our screened porch in the heat of summertime. We snapped beans, which would ultimately be canned…

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College Savings Season

As a parent, you realize how much time flies.  There are some stages in our childs’ lives we want to go by quickly, like the sleepless nights with a newborn, or the dramatic teenage years.  Ultimately, these times do come to an end, and they will be ready for college in no time.  When that…

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Rhythm of Birth

Rhythm of Birth-Shalene Massie by: Rachel Robison   As a result of her unique personal experiences with pregnancy and childbirth, Shalene Massie, Doula and Childbirth Mentor, has a special perspective on the childbirth process. Massie and her husband met in Blacksburg, Virginia and moved to South Sudan to do mission work soon after the birth…

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Cheer 4 Savannah

  The day before her brain surgery, 14-year-old Savannah Day of Botetourt County had plenty to keep her busy. One of the highlights—preparing for a press conference which showcased the thousands of toys she and her family had collected for the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she would be spending the next couple of weeks. Savannah…

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