Annapolitans and Marylanders in general have been eagerly awaiting the Annapolis Blues Soccer Group - a new soccer team in the state capital! Joining us is Fred Matthes, the team’s General Manager.  Our discussion with Fred Matthes touches on the following topics: Let’s start with a bit of background and context for listeners and viewers. Could you explain both the Annapolis Soccer Group and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), and where the Annapolis Blues fits within both? The team-...

What's the best way to deal with seasonal allergies?  We talked to Dr. Jennifer Dantzer, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Johns Hopkins, and Johns Hopkins pediatric allergy and immunology fellow Dr. Aimee Magnarelli. We discussed something near and not-so-dear to many of us in the mid-Atlantic right now- seasonal allergies! Questions about Seasonal Allergies Let’s begin with what you do at Hopkins- what does the average day of a pediatric allergist and immunologist look...

Today, we’ll be talking about body image- a healthy body image and how it can be disturbed, the media’s effect on body image, and what parents can do to help their children love their bodies. Joining us is Dr. Renee Engeln, professor of psychology at Northwestern University and author of Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women. The interview answers the following questions. You run the Body and Media Lab at Northwestern. Could you tell us your focus and...

Caregiving and losing a loved one is different for every family. Authors of the book, Ok, Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters, Nancy Taylor Robson and Sue Collins give the answers to questions that caregivers don't even know to ask.   They address how to talk to children about a loved one’s illness or the fact that they’re dying. Quoting from the book: “Some children want and need to be protected until they can’t be protected any longer. Others need to be included. It’s a...

What are the benefits of Garden to Table for your family? Farm, or Garden to Table, or the process of growing and consuming your own food - from the nutritional benefits, to the process, to the recipes, is featured in Kayla Butts’s new Garden to Table cookbook. A recent study has revealed that Americans now consume 25% more than they did in the 1970s. A big part of American diets consists of refined grains and inflammatory see grains. Corn and soy are in nearly everything that we eat. The...

We’re talking about mental health and teaching coping skills for children with Jenna Bernstein, assistant director of social work at Sheppard Pratt. They are the nation’s largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health services.  A Pew Research study from January noted that more than being bullied or facing difficulties with drugs/alcohol, parents are most worried about their child experiencing depression or anxiety.  The CDC’s recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey reflects a worsening of...

We discuss the symptoms, treatment and prevention of concussions with Dr. Adrian Svingos from the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Brain Injury Recovery. Concussion Source It’s estimated that each year between 1 and 2 million children experience a concussion. Falls are the primary source for toddlers and preschoolers, while driving and sports accidents cause the most concussions in teens. Concussion Symptoms Parents and coaches should learn the symptoms of a concussion, some of which...

We’re talking about STEM, nature, language, and illustration in children’s literature. Joining us are Donna Jo Napoli and Feleecheeta Sala, author and illustrator (respectively) of the new children’s picture book AS NIGHT FALLS, from Penguin Random House. AS NIGHT FALLS is a glimpse into what creatures do after dark. From algae to spiders to jackals. Why is this important- uncovering the mysterious for kid readers?  The book depicts the exact processes, habits, tendencies of these creatures....

We’re talking about all things homeschool and joining us is homeschool advocate, educational consultant, and founder of the Maryland Homeschool Association, Alessa Giampaolo Keener. Also with us are Nicole Kennedy Green, a veteran homeschool parent, author, and co-director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, and Brittany Young, a Maryland mother now in her third year of homeschooling. The Maryland State Department of Education reported roughly 4.6% of K-12 public school population students were...

Today we’ll be talking about the importance of crafting and what it provides for the community. Joining us are Judith Carr, owner of Bumbershoots sleep sacks, Amy Blair, owner of Sun Ah Blair jewelry, and Nicole Stokes, owner of HGE Designs. You’re all from the Baltimore/Anne Arundel County area and will be exhibiting your crafts at the 46th annual American Craft Council Craft Made Marketplace- Baltimore Convention Center, March 3-5, where 350 artists will be showcasing their creations. Each...

Today we talk about opportunities for neurodivergent musicians, disability rights, and music therapy. Joining us are CJ Shiloh, owner of Annapolis Music Therapy Services and co-founder of the Musical Autist, Naomi Davis, an instructor with The Musical Autist, and Will Swartz, a board member of The Musical Autist and participant of the organization's Troupe. We explain neurodiversity and how neurodivergent individuals-including musicians, and those on the autism spectrum, learn differently or...

The college application process can be stressful for a family but we got some advice from experts Elizabeth Almeter, Director of College Counseling at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, and Lee Norwood of Annapolis College Consulting in Severna Park. Tips for a Stress Free College Application Process The timeline; when do high school students truly begin the college applications process? Tours, considering things to include on their college applications such as extra curricular...

Food, Health and Education is the mission of the Kids' Health and Wellness Fair on February 4th, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center at Truxtun Park, Annapolis, MD. The Fair is sponsored by Annapolis Pediatrics. The Fair purpose is to encouraging wellness as a whole for our children and providing information and resources to local families. It is free to families in the community, with lunch from Mission BBQ and food boxes for the first 100 people from the Anne...

Author Zetta Elliott discusses inclusivity and representation in children's books. Elliott is an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing as she grew up in Canada and rarely read books that included characters that were children of color. Children need to see themselves in books regardless of their color, gender or ability, otherwise they feel erased and that can cause harm. Elliott has created her own imprint, Rosetta Press, “To generate culturally relevant stories that center...

It’s clear that keeping plastic out of the Bay should be a priority. In our discussion with Doug Myers from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation he details how your decisions about the products you buy can have a big impact on the overall use of plastic. Plastic Litter Portions of the bay, especially in tributaries, are littered with plastic trash. Nationally 5 trillion pounds of plastic is disposed of each year in the United States. Unfortunately there is no state or national ban on plastics. Bag...

Gentle Parenting is a term being thrown around quite a bit. Laura Goldstein, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Founder of the Montgomery County Counseling Center talks about what Gentle Parenting, or as she prefers, Balanced Parenting, means. Balanced Parenting is bringing compassion and emotional well-being to interactions, but it also includes providing a structure and limits for children. Parents need as many coping skills as teens, and children learn their coping skills...

Engaging kids in reading isn't hard. That's what Kit Ballenger, a DC-based youth services librarian who helps kids and families find the right books for them, wants all parents to know. That and the fact that Graphic Novels are terrific. Kit with talks about trends in youth literature, inclusivity and diversity (LBGTQIA, various cultures and ethnicities) and strategies for engaging kids with reading.

We are discussing how to keep kids eating healthy during the holidays. Joining us from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center are Dr. Kristin Arcara, a pediatric endocrinologist, and Dr. Jennifer Dantzer, a pediatric allergist and immunologist. They will provide tips and answer the following questions. This is the time of year - full of treats, special meals, and desserts. What are some of the concerns for all of us about holiday foods, from a nutritional standpoint? What is diabetes, and why is...

The number of homeless kids in Maryland is about 1.8% of all kids enrolled in public school.* That means that for a high school with a total enrollment of 1,000, 18 of those kids are homeless. Anne Arundel County Homelessness In Anne Arundel County the number of homeless kids has risen by 58% between 2018 - 2021. The Light House Shelter notes that there are 1,000 students in the public school system that are currently homeless. The Governor’s Office for Children states that these children are...

Poverty Amidst Plenty, is the seventh Needs Assessment undertaken by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) in partnership with Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. Pamela Brown, Ph.D., currently the Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, is the author of the study. We spoke with Mary Spencer, President and CEO of CFAAC about the results of the 2022 Needs Assessment. The report examines the gap...

Art education is important in any community because of the many ways in which art can tell stories, inspire and empower better than most other mediums. Alison Harbaugh and Darin Gilliam are the founders of ArtFarm, a space that inspires others to create, encourage artistic innovation and bring together the community in Annapolis. Alison and Darin join us to discuss how art education can benefit kids and adults alike, as well as some of their recent and upcoming community projects,  including...

Dr. David Baron joins us to discuss the importance of stress management for female athletes and what can be done to slow down the rate of tragedies. 2022 has been an unthinkably sad year for NCAA athletes. Lauren Bernett, a 20-year-old softball star from James Madison University, killed herself a few weeks ago. Her suicide follows Sarah Shulze, a cross-country athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and 22-year-old Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer who took her own life in early...

Persistence paid off for high school student Reed Spaulding as he planned the Tributary Festival to raise money for the Chesapeake Bay. After a two year COVID delay Reed held the first Tributary Festival in 2021, followed a year later with the second concert raising over $20,000 to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Reed grew up kayaking and digging for oysters on the Chesapeake Bay and as he entered high school, felt compelled to protect the Bay. He decided to pair his passions for the Bay and...

Keeping kids safe online is now a concern for nearly all parents. Derek Fisher, the author of a book series, Alicia Connected aimed at making complex security topics simple and easy to consume, joins us to talk about online safety. Using his understanding of the security field, Derek provides his insight for parents and answers the following questions. Tips For Keeping Kids Safe Online What are the biggest concerns with online safety and kids?As kids grow and mature and gain independence how...