Encourage Creativity - Publish Your Child's Artwork

Scholastic Parent & Child considers submissions of children's artwork, including drawings, photographs, and paintings, for possible publication in one of the magazine's issues. If they do end up using your mini-Michaelangelo's artwork in a future issue, Scholastic will send your son or daughter a complimentary box of books!

Send submissions to:
Samantha Brody
557 Broadway
5th Floor
New York, NY 10012

or

SBRODY@SCHOLASTIC.COM

Happy Mother's Day!

Can't write much...this is time that is practically sacred, but could not let Mother's Day go by without giving a shout out to all the Moms out there.

Not all superheroes wear capes!

Happy Mother's Day. :-)

Stamp Out Hunger today!

Community food banks have been hit even harder in the current economic downturn than our pantries have been.

Today is the Stamp Out Hunger community food bank drive. Donating is as easy as putting non-perishable food items in your mailbox (or in a box or paper bag under the mailbox). The postal carrier and area volunteers will pick up the donations.

Let's not punish the needy because we're feeling passive-aggressive about Monday's postage rate hike!

New Generation of Feminists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5heUgjHB3X0

There is no embedding available, but this is the URL for Part 3 of 5 of a YouTube video of Gloria Steinem when she spoke at a Lecture series in 2007.

There are 5 parts, and several of my friends asked questions. I can't remember if I ever got questions out of my mouth or just sat there alternately crying and in stunned silence.

The little girl is my daughter, who was allowed to play hooky from first grade that afternoon. After all, Ms. Steinem is 73, and by the time my child is a grown woman, the opportunity to hear her speak may be long gone. There is much life learning to be had outside of school, too.

Although this post is more personal than informational, I share it with you, readers, to encourage you to encourage all the woman in your lives to use their voices. "Use your words" may take them places we could never expect.

Scholastic has April sweepstakes for parents

Scholastic is offering an online sweepstakes for a bundle of Baby Einstein brand goodies this month. Enter to win the Baby Einstein sweepstakes, Thai Kitchen sweepstakes, or "Tale of Desperaux" contest by visiting their home page.

Online Resource for Caregivers of Children with ADHD

Internet savvy moms are now all over social networking sites such as Facebook. All parents need to reach out and create a social support system.

McNeil Pediatrics, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., sponsors the "ADHDMoms" group on Facebook. All parents and caregivers of children with ADHD are invited to join the online community. Parents and pediatricians provide insight and encouragement about raising a child or children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Hear from others what has worked for them in coping with and managing their children's ADHD diagnosis, and share your story.

Celebrate Spring with Snack Mix

Does your pantry look a little bit like a pastel marshmallow barnyard right now? Either the Easter Bunny left a few goodies behind, or you found a great after-the-holiday sale at your neighborhood grocer. What are you going to do with all of them, besides using them in hot cocoa or rice cereal treats?

How about pouring some trail mix into snack bags (make your own with granola, dried fruits, and sunflower kernels) and then including the marshmallows for a touch of sweet with the salty?

We also added yogurt-covered fruit bits (Kellogg's brand Yogos Bits) for more color and a different texture, but you could also use yogurt-covered raisins.

My little one called ours "Hopping Down the Bunny Trail Mix." If you want the mix to be a mouthful but can't wrap your mouth around that long of a name, you could call it "Peter Cottontrail Mix." Or make some "Chicks Mix" for your brood!