Carolina Parent RSS Feeds

Triangle weekend offers free family fun events

2012-02-02 10:56:00

This weekend, you'll find a range of free family fun around the Triangle, starting with First Friday events during Raleigh's monthly arts celebration. Grab the kids and head to a parade in Durham featuring floats and bands in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Two Raleigh parks are hosting special celebrations, where kids will enjoy games and activities for kids. Bookshops are hosting free events for children.

Read more ...

Wake Forest Mom Wins IKEA Contest to Improve the Life of Others

2012-02-01 13:44:44

What would you do if you won $100,000? Wake Forest mom Melissa Matthews was cooking dinner Jan. 2 when she got a call telling her that she had just won a year-long sabbatical worth $100,000 in an IKEA contest designed to improve the life of others.

Read more ...

Blue Jay Point County Park hosts free nature fun Feb. 4

2012-01-31 11:46:34

Looking for some outdoor fun with the kids this weekend? Blue Jay Point County Park, in Raleigh, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Winter Open House event that features free activities, hot cocoa and cake from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4.

Take part in "The Amazing Place"—an all-weather adventure similar to "The Amazing Race"—where you follow clues to learn about the 236-acre park. Catch the Blue Jay Express train from the education center to the lodge and let the kids enjoy a slew of fun nature-themed activities.

Read more ...

Museum to host family fun Groundhog Day celebration Feb. 2

2012-01-29 20:49:09

Will there be 6 weeks more of winter or will spring come early this year? Sir Walter Wally, Raleigh's own distinguished groundhog, will make his prediction at the 15th annual Groundhog Day celebration, a free fun family event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2.

If you've never taken your kids to this special event, you're in for treat. Each year, kids, moms and dads gather on Bicentennial plaza in front of the museum in downtown Raleigh at noon on Groundhog Day to find out if Sir Walter Wally will see his shadow.

Read more ...

Weekend Family Fun: Festivals, Nature Programs, Free Shows

2012-01-26 20:48:03

This weekend, family-friendly festivals invite Triangle families to celebrate the Chinese New Year and explore African-American contributions to North Carolina through food, song and dance. Kids can catch free performances or head outdoors for nature programs that take a look at a range of creatures from possums to salamanders and coyotes.

If you're thinking of a winter getaway close to home, see our newest resources for where to where to ski, snowboard and tube within a short drive of the Triangle.

Read more ...

Wake County elementary schools plan kindergarten registration events

2012-01-25 11:56:16

Got a child going into kindergarten in Wake County? Many Wake County elementary schools are hosting special events on Thursday, Feb. 2, for parents to register and enroll their child for kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year as well as tour the schools.

Read more ...

Win a Sensational Soups Cookbook

2012-01-23 12:23:25

In my home, fall and winter are soup season. My husband loves to make soup, and he, my kids and I enjoying eating it. It’s warming when it’s dark and cold early in the evening and delicious with a loaf of crusty bread. Soup is also healthy, economical and convenient. During the week, we find it easy to take a pot of soup out of the fridge and warm it up after a long day at work. Add some alphabet pasta to a Minestrone soup, and kids enjoy a full day’s serving of veggies without complaint as they try to spell out their names. When you make your own soup, you’re also in control of the ingredients, which often means you’re eating less salt and preservatives. And double the proportion of soup, and you can make two meals of it without much extra work.

If you’re a soup lover, like me, share a comment in this blog about your favorite soup, and you could win 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds. This cookbook, by publisher Robert Rose, covers winter recipes, like creamy chicken and rice soup, as well as soups that are welcome in the summer, like gazpacho. If your palate leans toward the exotic, try any of the cookbook’s 50 international soups, including Vietnamese pho, Italian wedding soup and Middle Eastern harira.

Each recipe also includes tips and techniques along with garnishing ideas. Never having had a soup for dessert, I’m intrigued by the Just (Soup) Desserts chapter, which features 20 dessert soups, including coconut soup with mango fritters and chocolate soup with brownie croutons. Any new ways to eat dessert always appeal to me!

So share a comment with us about your family’s favorite soup or tell us a soup memory. I’ll start with one of my own: In my family, we’ve been eating “green soup” for years. That was my made-up name for the pureed creamy soup I got my kids to eat it by not revealing that the “green” was actually spinach. When they were young, my kids had an irrational fear of “little green things” in their food, but when I pureed the spinach and potatoes they had no problem with it. When they reached the age of reason, somewhere around age 9, I told each of them the spinach truth, and they continue to enjoy the soup without fear.

Free offers let parents schedule in "me" time

2012-01-23 09:52:03

If the January doldrums are settling in, you might be thinking of ways to schedule in some "you" time. For me, finding time to exercise or to do something just for myself—say browsing gardening shops in the dead of winter—always lifts my spirits. This week, I've found two Triangle venues are making it easy for you to tune in to your own needs with free offers.

Read more ...

Triangle weekend family fun: Nature hikes, shows, art mart

2012-01-19 20:37:19

Wondering what's on tap for weekend family fun? You'll find a range of events, from nature hikes to a game night at a local museum and third Friday fun. Catch live performances by kids or for kids.

Or see two exhibits: "Genghis Khan: The Exhibition" and "Race: Are We So Different," before they head out of town. Another interesting exhibit is At the Speed of a Girl – Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting. If you'd like to play indoors, check out Marbles Kids Museum Power2Play Exhibit idesigned to promote fun and fitness for the whole family.

Read more ...

Kids enjoy Valentine-themed events in February

2012-01-18 09:28:50

With Valentine's Day approaching rapidly, Triangle venues are planning lots of creative ways to celebrate love with Valentine-themed events for kids throughout February.

Dress to impress and join a Valentine's Day party featuring healthy treats, proper Victorian etiquette and Valentine crafts in Raleigh. Head to the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh to tour Valentine-inspired projects. In Cary or Durham, take in a Valentine story time or craft with your kids. Or show your love for birds; in Chapel Hill and Apex, kids will be making treats for their feathered friends. If your kids are into bugs, visit Raleigh to hear a story about bugs and make a take home buggy craft.

New school choice selection opens for Wake parents

2012-01-17 11:20:59

After two years of contentious debate, Wake County Public School System's choice-based student assignment plan becomes a reality today, allowing parents to choose a new WCPSS school for their child to attend next year.

Read more ...

MLK events feature song, dance & service in the Triangle

2012-01-17 11:15:58

Across the Triangle, families are honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with special events. Dr. King's dream that "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers" comes to life today and continues through February as groups of all races gather to celebrate with music, dance and community service projects.

Read more ..

MLK events feature song, dance & service in the Triangle

2012-01-16 10:21:19

Triangle weekend offers free family fun, MLK events

2012-01-16 10:19:16

Get ready for a long weekend full of fun family events in Triangle with many kids out of school on Monday, Jan. 16, to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. You'll find lots of free MLK events spread across the weekend as well as nature programs that take kids outdoors for hands-on exploration. See how your town is honoring the legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in this round-up of MLK events.

Read more ...

Gustafer Yellowgold show offers kids a special escape

2012-01-12 11:19:27

When you were a child, did your mom or dad take you to a live performance that captured your imagination? For me, it was the circus, with flying trapeze artists and daring stuntmen. I also enjoyed going to plays at our local community theater and school, which transported me to worlds far different from my own.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, parents will have a opportunity to introduce kids to a performance with a creative storyline when Gustafer Yellowgold returns to The ArtsCenter, in Carrboro.

Read more ...

One super dad to win Super Bowl tickets

2012-01-10 08:26:47

Dads: Picture this. It's Feb. 5, and you're sitting with your child at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis waiting for the kickoff for Super Bowl XLVI. Your tickets, valued at $2,000 each, didn't cost you a penny.

Fathers wanting a chance to realize this fantasy can opt to enter a contest designed to showcase the characteristics of a good father: loving, coaching and modeling.

Read more ...

Fit Mama Fest Offers Free Workouts and Kids Fun

2012-01-08 20:36:14

Is getting more exercise one of your New Year's resolutions? No? How about getting a free massage? Either way, if you happen to be the mother of an infant, tot or preschooler, you won't want to miss Fit Mama Fest 2012, a fun free event Wednesday, Jan 18, at Cary Towne Center Mall.

Hosted by Stroller Strides of Raleigh, a fitness program designed for moms and stroller-aged kids, the event will include free Stroller Strides workouts, "Mommy-and-Me" yoga, other fitness and fun sessions for both moms and kids, as well as free massages, mommy-friendly vendor exhibitions, arts and crafts, and raffle prizes.

Triangle weekend offers free family events

2012-01-08 20:34:56

This first weekend in January brings balmy temperatures and lots of family fun to the Triangle, from First Friday events at museums in Raleigh that are free or discounted to a free Day of the Kings parade and celebration in Cary on Saturday. You'll also find opportunities to enjoy live music or head outdoors to enjoy nature with your kids. Unless otherwise noted, look for details on these upcoming programs in our Daily Calendar.

Read more ...

Parents to get primer on Wake schools assignment plan

2012-01-04 12:05:19

Planning to send your child to a Wake County public school for the 2012-2013 school year but not sure how to go about choosing a school under the new Choice Student Assignment Plan? The Wake County Public School System is gearing up to help parents navigate the new school choices set to take effect in two weeks, even as some school board members are proposing last-minute changes to the choice assignment plan.

Read more ...

Cary, Hillsborough celebrate '3 Kings' with family event

2012-01-03 12:35:23

The holidays are over, and it's bitterly cold, but hold on; two fun family events are coming later this week, just when temperatures are expected to rise to the 50s and 60s. Both events celebrate the end of the Christmas season, when Christians believe the three wise men arrived at the stable in the Bethlehem bearing gifts to see the infant Jesus.

Read more ...

Homemade cures for the post-holiday blues

2012-01-02 12:33:08

Are you ready for the difficult task at hand? I'm talking about returning to reality on a cold dark January morning. This week, after the delights and magic of the holidays, we'll be coaxing our kids to return to school, even as we head back to work and pick up our daily chores.

If you're looking to help your kids transition back to school, one trick is to get them into bed about 15 minutes earlier each night of the vacation time, so that by the time school day rolls around, they will be prepared to wake up.

Triangle rings in 2012 New Year with family fun events

2011-12-29 13:48:17

Got plans to celebrate the New Year with your family? Across the Triangle, you'll find lots of family-friendly holiday events designed to please kids and grown-ups of all ages. Sample culture from Africa to France, or escape to the beauty of our state parks.

On Dec. 29-30, Cary and Durham will host free family-friendly celebrations of Kwanzaa, a holiday that highlights African-American family, community and culture. Enjoy live performances, children's activities and a market featuring handmade arts and crafts with African theme.

Girl delivers holiday spirit to children in NC hospitals

2011-12-28 11:44:51

Sometimes, it takes a 6-year-old to see pain and move grown-ups to act. Five years ago, when Katie Greene was out shopping with her father, she had a thought: If she could give the toys she saw in the store to sick children, they'd feel better and could have a happy Christmas.

Moved by the idea, Katie, then age 6, and her parents started Katie's Kidz, an organization that has now grown to donate presents to children who are in hospitals in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Read more ...

Triangle celebrates Kwanzaa with family-friendly events

2011-12-25 16:16:31

This week, Triangle families are invited to join in free fun celebrations of Kwanzaa, a holiday that highlights African-American family, community and culture. Events in Cary and in Durham will offer live music, a cultural marketplace with handmade arts and crafts, children's activities, spoken African folktales, and more family-friendly activities.

Read more ...

Enjoy holiday weekend family fun in the Triangle

2011-12-22 16:19:57

What's at the top of the weekend holiday fun list? For good little boys and girls across the Triangle, it has to be Santa, coming down your chimney! If you'd like to track that jolly old elf as he makes his way across night sky on Christmas Eve, visit our Winter Holidays Guide, where you'll also find some surprising high-tech answers to your kids' tricky Santa questions.

It's no surprise that some museums and places to play will be closed on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate Christmas, but many will reopen on Monday, so call ahead to find out specific schedules. Over the weekend, why not make your own fun? Here's a list of ideas to entertain the kids, some of which are free:

Enjoy holiday weekend family fun in the Triangle

2011-12-22 11:52:59

Take the stress out of hosting holiday guests

2011-12-22 11:51:03

It's that time of year, when holiday guests appear. Although I love having family and friends over, I do tend to get a little stressed and nervous about fitting everyone into my house and keeping them entertained and fed. Then there is the cleaning frenzy I engage in before they show up which leaves me with hardly any energy by the time they get here. (It's how I show I care.)

This year, I've been trying to keep a perspective on what really matters, which I know is keeping the holiday spirit alive and actually spending quality time with guests. Afterall, having a perfectly clean house is no guarantee that guests will feel welcome, especially if it comes with a grouchy hostess. With that in mind, here are some tips I plan to be following:

Read more ...

Head to Cary's first Jewish Cultural Festival Dec. 20

2011-12-20 10:44:31

Interested in learning more about Jewish culture, food and entertainment in a festive atmosphere? On Tuesday, Dec. 20, the Town of Cary will host its first Jewish Cultural Festival Tuesday, from 4-9 p.m. at the Cary Arts Center.

The festival will feature traditional Jewish dance, skits and singing, and children's activities that include making candles, menorahs and dreidels.

Read more ...

Should you give kids gender-specific gifts?

2011-12-20 10:43:08

Should you gift the girls on your shopping list, typical "girl" toys like dolls, and give the boys toys like trucks and race cars? Over the years, I've pondered this question. When my son was a tot, I gave him a small umbrella stroller so he could take his doll for a walk with me. I figured it was never too early to teach him parenting skills. I also gave him a dollhouse one year.

OK, so he did use his pirate ship to sack the doll's house, but we also enjoyed many leisurely outings with the stroller on sunny days. Was I doing the right thing? Deborah Best, a developmental psychologist at Wake Forest University, says that although kids naturally gravitate to gender-appropriate toys, playing with other-gender toys may teach new skills.

Read more ...

Triangle offers free weekend holiday family fun!

2011-12-15 13:27:12

Don't think you can't fit in some family fun this last weekend before Christmas. Lots of events are happening in the early evening when you can take a moment to unwind with the kids, and some are free. It's not too late to visit with Santa or watch a holiday show.

Check our Daily Calendar for nature programs that let you escape with the kids from holiday stress for a night out in the woods, make crafts or listen to stories about animals.

Read more ...

Sneak fun exercise into your kids' holiday break

2011-12-14 13:30:10

Will the kids be camping on the couch when school's out for the holiday break? If you'd like to help nudge them into a more active and healthier holiday, you might try sneaking fitness into holiday activities. Take a look at these tips from i9 Sports fitness, a youth sports franchise with local leagues, for some tricks that just might work.

Read more ...

Tips to go green and cut waste this holiday season

2011-12-13 10:46:01

Do you find yourself rushing to buy gifts, get decorations up and bake cookies while still trying to put dinner on the table, clean house and get the kids to school on time? Amid the rush, it's still possible to have a green holiday that cuts down on holiday waste and sends your kids the right signal about living sustainably. Making just one small change this holiday season could make a big difference to the planet.

Read more ...

Wake Forest mom is finalist in IKEA's life improvement contest

2011-12-11 21:22:06

When Wake Forest mom Melissa Matthews was 18 weeks pregnant, she found out her baby had Down Syndrome. From that moment, the former kindergarten teacher says she worried about how her child would transition to school, a concern that turned out to be well-founded as she hit many roadblocks to getting him to a place where he could flourish. But now that her son, Aidan, is 3 years old, she speaks with joy about his achievements and his love of school, and she's hoping that by winning an IKEA contest, she can help other children like him feel as happy about learning.

Read more ...

Triangle offers free weekend holiday family fun

2011-12-08 10:52:42

Ready for some free weekend holiday family fun? You'll find lots of free events across the Triangle, from story times to holiday parades, complete with marching bands, floats, dancing elves and Santa.

Celebrate an 1870 Christmas by candlelight at the historic Duke Homestead, in Durham, or munch on cookies with Santa at SmartMomma, in Raleigh. Many events feature free goodies, like hot apple cider or hot chocolate.

Read more ...

Keep tots away from glass-fronted fireplaces

2011-12-08 10:50:49

A family gathered around a fireplace looks like a picture-perfect holiday setting, but if there's a toddler near a glass-fronted fireplace in the scene, serious injury could ensue.

The glass that covers fireplaces can reach temperatures of 400 degrees and is at a height curious toddlers can reach, according to Fairwarning.org, a news service that today released a disturbing investigative report on toddler burns due to fireplace glass. Since 1999, more than 2,000 children ages 5 and under have been burned from fireplace glass, according to a federal estimate reported by Fairwarning.org.

Read more ...

Kids' wish lists reflect recession, Santa finds

2011-12-07 10:44:05

Are you feeling the pinch of the recession this holiday season? So are kids. They're downsizing their wish lists to Santa, according to the Associated Press, which says these days children are asking Santa for a job for mom or dad or heating for their home.

But good can emerge from hardship, and parents seem to be spearheading that positive outlook. See where you can enjoy free holiday events in the Triangle.

Read more ...

Santa's high-tech secrets revealed

2011-12-06 11:35:12

Are your kids beginning to ask very tricky Santa questions? How does Santa deliver all those toys in one night? How does he figure out exactly what each child wants for Christmas? How does he fit down the chimney? And how can he possibly eat all those cookies set out for him across the world?

It turns out that Santa is a techie and uses the latest science to stay efficient. We know this because a research team led by Dr. Larry Silverberg, of North Carolina State University, undertook a visiting scholars program at Santa's North Pole Laboratories. What's he's discovered at the North Pole could make our world a better place, from faster deliveries to more sustainable living. Here's a look inside Santa's bag of high-tech tricks:

Read more ...

Sign-ups for Wake magnet schools start Dec. 5

2011-12-05 12:29:37

Interested in your child attending a Wake County Magnet school? Starting at 1 p.m. Dec. 5, you can log into Wake County Public School System's student assignment website to choose from a number of magnet school options based on your home address. The magnet selection period for the 2012-2013 year will run from today through the end of the day on Dec. 19.

The offerings are part of a new school choice student assignment process approved by the Wake County Board of Education after contentious debate between proponents of "neighborhood schools" and those who favor busing students for socio-economic diversity.

Read more ...

Triangle weekend offers free holiday events

2011-12-02 10:48:35

Triangle towns are ringing in the holidays with lots of free weekend events designed to delight children of all ages and their parents. Enjoy parades, visits with Santa, tree-lighting ceremonies, sleigh, train and carriage rides, snow sledding and much more. Some holiday events offer a taste of Christmas past, and you'll find a great selection of family-friendly performances.

Beware of what's lurking in your child's juice

2011-12-02 10:44:56

Did you know that there are no federal standards limiting the amount of arsenic and lead levels in juice? I certainly assumed that juice, which is consumed by so many young children, would be regulated as is water. And there's more bad news.

Consumer Reports tested samples of apple and grape juice and found that 10 percent of the samples had total arsenic levels that exceeded federal drinking-water standards of 10 parts per billion (ppb) and 25 percent of the samples had lead levels higher than the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) bottled-water limit of 5 ppb.

New handle for infant car seats offers relief for moms

2011-11-29 11:21:28

Besides being a skilled chauffeur, psychologist, nurse, chef and maid, a mom also needs to be a weight lifter. At least, that's what I thought as I attempted to lift my babies in car seats from the car some years ago. My wrist ached, and it didn't help that I was already exhausted from giving birth and being sleep deprived.

Finally, some local researchers are working on helping weary moms and dads. Engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a new handle for infant car seats (ICSs) that makes it easier for parents to lift the seat out of a car – while keeping a firmer grip on the handle – making it less likely that the seat will be dropped.

Tips to help kids & adults eat healthy during the holidays

2011-11-28 09:25:24

'Tis the season for delicious turkey and dressing, cookies and pies. We've enjoyed gathering with family around the Thanksgiving table, but with Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa just around the corner, you might be wondering how to savor the rest of the holidays without over-indulging.

If you're looking to avoid more weight gain, consider these tips for adults and children from Phil and Amy Parham, contestants of NBC's TheBiggest Loser, season six.. In their new book, "The Amazing Fitness Adventure For Your Kids," by Harvest House Publishers, they offer suggestions for healthy eating during the holidays through simple lifestyle changes.

Family Fun Shows, Exhibits & Events for Kids in Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill

2011-11-22 23:26:50

If your family is visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday, why not head out to explore fun things to do around the Triangle? Visit our Thanksgiving Guide to find family-friendly shows and exhibits. See our roundup of fun for kids in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and if you're headed to the movies, check Jean's Movie Choices for Kids to see what's appropriate for your tot, tween or teen and what's worth watching.

Read more ...

Put safety at the top of your holiday to do list

2011-11-20 21:36:33

With the holidays fast approaching, we've got more to do than we can realistically get done. Between the baking, shopping and cleaning, safety sometimes takes a backseat, and those we care for could be at risk.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is offering parents a timely reminder that although baby gear products are convenient and portable, parents should take precautions to avoid dangerous falls and accidents by using the products only as directed.
With the holidays fast approaching, we've got more to do than we can realistically get done. Between the baking, shopping and cleaning, safety sometimes takes a backseat, and those we care for could be at risk.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is offering parents a timely reminder that although baby gear products are convenient and portable, parents should take precautions to avoid dangerous falls and accidents by using the products only as directed.

Read more ...

Triangle weekend brings old-fashioned family fun

2011-11-17 22:55:28

Get ready for a weekend of old-fashioned family fun in the Triangle. Enjoy a holiday parade that heralds the arrival of Santa. Celebrate the reopening of Pullen Park, complete with its restored antique carousel. Step back in time to learn about a Mongol warrior and see a mummy as the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences unveils its newest offering "Genghis Khan: The Exhibition." And head to the free American Indian Heritage Celebration at the N.C. Museum of History to enjoy performances and hands-on workshops and crafts.

Nature lovers of all ages will find lots of weekend activities in our Daily Calendar. And if you're looking to help families in the Triangle, don't miss the Junior League of Durham and Orange counties' holiday market. Headed to the movies? Check Jean's Movie Choices for Kids to see what's appropriate for your child and worth watching. Unless otherwise listed, you'll find details of these events in our Daily Calendar.

Food fight in Congress over school lunches

2011-11-16 13:16:19

There's a food fight going on in Congress over our kids' school lunches, and it looks like the pizza and french fries fans are going to win over the veggie proponents.

Where are the grown-ups? Well, they seem to be in two opposing camps: Those backed by the potato, frozen pizza and salt industry and those who make their living in science, medicine and health, as well as a group of retired generals.

Read more ...