Gaining self-confidence is only one of the benefits of arts education. Coordination, verbal skills and learning a good work ethic are only a few reasons to introduce children to the arts. According to a report released by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2019, the sector accounts for 919.7 billion, nearly one trillion, to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Our discussion panel dives into the positive impacts that art education has on school children. The panel includes from the...

Drake Brown is already making waves competing in the Junior Olympics. Drake is a student at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis going into the 6th grade. He just returned home after competing in the 2022 AAU Junior Olympics at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro.  Drake runs for the Union Track Club and this was his 3rd appearance at the Junior Olympics. This year Drake had a Personal Record in the long jump, leaping a whopping 14 feet, 6 inches. Drake and his mom joined us to talk...

Dealing with bullies is unfortunately, a challenge that many parents and students deal with.  The negative impacts of bullying can impact the academic progress of students along with mental health. Counselor Samantha Straub, MS, LCPC provides tips and strategies for dealing with bullies. Straub says that bullying happens when there is a power imbalance between kids. Adolescents especially, are in a development phase when they do more comparisons between their peers but are unable to...

At the start of its 35th season, the Hole in the Wall Camp announced that they are coming to Maryland. The Aspen Institute has donated their Wye River Conference Center, which will be renovated to provide free year-round camp programming for children with serious illnesses and their families in the Mid-Atlantic. The historic property, boasts a scenic waterfront, tree-lined pathways and majestic meadows. Several residential buildings and other conference facilities will be renovated to provide...

How can parents help kids catch up in school? There's no doubt that academic achievement has taken a hit over the last couple of years. Study after study show that parents are worried about their children's educational delays due to the pandemic. We talked to Tiffanie Catron, Educator and owner of Priority Academic Tutoring to discuss. Tiffanie first recommends that parents not blame themselves. Shifts in education due to the pandemic have pushed parents to be more involved and kids less...

What are the best Maryland hikes for Families? Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker and mom, Janet Jefferson discusses hikes suitable for everyone in the family. A variety of trails for all abilities have been chosen, some leading to magnificent views, others to waterfalls, and some that are fun for rock hopping. Trails have been evaluated for length and difficulty as well as any amenities. Plus some tips on where to look for as you hike, since many trails reveal hidden surprises if you know where...

Pearl Purpose was created as a safe space for queer and questioning youth by Leandra Nichola. It started organically with kids meeting in the Main Street Pearl micro-cafe. Kids came for drinks and vegan food in an environmentally friendly restaurant. They stayed to play games, talk and be together with like-minded friends. Thus, Pearl Purpose was born. The space allows for self-expression and exploration, and offer programs that promote identity affirmation and inspire unconditional...

Birds of Maryland author and birding expert Marc Parnell discusses how to get into birding and how to set up your backyard for optimal birdwatching. Parnell’s book details the 140 species of bird that are common to Maryland. He follows a day in the life of each bird and also a monthly bird forecast, which birds can be seen in which months. Sponsored by Annapolis Pediatrics.  What to bring 8X binocularsSunscreenA water bottleWear long pantsWhere to go Sandy Point State ParkSusquehanna State...

This expert panel discusses tips to help manage anxiety in children. Despite recent school shootings that can be very scary for kids and adults alike, we are still sending our kids to school. Some kids may want to stay home and they feel safest in their rooms. Panelists Dr. Shandonna Harris, a therapist specializing in client-centered therapy and Michelle Schall, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) reveal strategies for easing anxiety in kids.

Motherhood can be an isolating experience, but Mom Milestones will make new parents feel seen, encouraged, charmed, and loved. From the horrors of toddler meltdowns to the sweetness of bedtime kisses. From crying in the bathroom to reclaiming your identity, every new mom will find something to relate to, and something to laugh at, in this heartfelt, funny book that covers first becoming a mom through starting elementary school. Author Grace Farris, a doctor, mother of two sons, and...

Author and illustrator, Carlyn Beccia takes a look at the childhoods of ten famous people in her book, 10 at 10: The Surprising Childhoods of Ten Remarkable People. Turns out famous people have pretty typical childhoods and at ten, none of the people profiled in the book had any idea that they would become famous later in their lives. Learn about research and process behind the book, and the one theme that seems to run throughout the childhoods of the accomplished people described, including...

Citizen science volunteers are often essential participants in monitoring and collecting data. They are also observers for many of the different habitats and species that scientists are studying. Participation in scientific studies allows volunteers to become involved in the data collecting process. Plus volunteers have the opportunity to learn more about ongoing scientific studies and the long term impacts revealed in the studies being done. Would you like to participate? Liana Vitali, is...

Planting a Pollinator Garden introduces children to the their place in the environment. By using native plants in a garden kids learn how their efforts help the birds and bugs that depend on plants for their survival. Pollinators, the critters who travel from plant to plant with pollen on their bellies, are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world’s flowering plants to reproduce. Without them, humans and wildlife wouldn’t have much to eat. Joining us for the interview are co-author of...

Kate Fritz, the CEO of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, discusses Project Clean Stream a program initiated by the Alliance. Over the last 20 years thousands of volunteers have partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to clean up miles of shoreline. Project Clean Stream offers hands-on opportunities for residents, local businesses, environmental organizations, local governments, community groups, houses of worship, schools and universities, to come together to take action to restore...

What is Zero Waste Living? Rini Saha started a project in 2019 to help the Takoma Park/Silver Spring/DC community approach zero waste. Her business is now a storefront called FullFillery. They sell cleaning products in bulk or without packaging, with minimal fossil fuel use. Local vendors are used so that they come into the store to drop off their products, instead of shipping them. Zero Waste and Circular Design Zero waste means that there isn’t even anything to recycle in the product that...

What does Green Building mean? What impact does green building have on your home? Dr. Polly Bart of Greenbuilders discusses what it means to build green. Making green changes in your home, whether it’s a new kitchen or bath, a porch, or an addition, has many benefit and can pay off if you want to sell. Surprisingly, green building or remodeling doesn’t cost any more than traditional building. Green construction is beautiful and usually of very high quality. When a green home remodel includes...

Even as a young boy, Carter Weinstein had to learn how to overcome his student anxiety. Leaving his home and parents, Carter would be anxious. Summer camp was fear inducing. Carter feels that there is a disconnect between the professionals who are writing the books about managing anxiety and the teenagers who need the information and help. So as a teenager he put pen to paper and wrote his own book, "Conquering Fear" that talks directly to students and provides tips for managing anxiety.

Get expert advice on how to pay for college from Certified Financial Planner Ann C. Alsina, CFP®, CPWA® of Covington Alsina, and Lee Norwood from Annapolis College Consulting. With tuition for an instate school at $25,000 per year, $40,000 if the student is from out of state, parents need a plan for paying for college. Get answers to the following questions about paying for college: What does it financially take to go to college these days (what is the price range of schools) and is that...

Building a community of mom friends is essential to overcoming a sense of isolation as well as the negative impact of technology, over-efficient living, and the choices that can root us in chronic loneliness. Social media is no substitute for face-to-face conversations. Mothers are used to giving to their kids, their spouses and their community but they are not getting their own needs met or recognized, and they need a release valve. That's where friendships come in. COVID has maxed out...

Animal care and sustainable farming are just a few of the programs at Wild Kid Acres in Edgewater, Maryland. What started as a small homestead has turned into something so much more including: Farm, animal assisted and horticulture therapyFarm physical fitness (Farm Fit)Educational programs, classes and campsMarkets and private eventsWhat led city kid Gerardo Martinez to become owner, farmer, builder and educator at Wild Kid Acres? Listen to his amazing story and find out how a trip to Africa...

Turns out that learning history in a kitchen is a great way to get students immersed in a particular period of time. Adults and children alike can learn a lot from Riversdale Kitchen Guild & interpreter Marvin-Alonzo Greer, and Maya Davis - Director of Riversdale House Museum.  They regularly give demonstrations preparing foods popular among enslaved communities in Maryland and open the house to visitors.  Two Families - One Home The Calvert family lived at Riversdale. The Plummer family...

Black History stories celebrate, recognize, and represent Black people. Black History has historically been saturated with stories of the pain and suffering of Black people, but none of the success or happiness. Award-winning filmmaker and poet, childhood sexual abuse survivor, and author of Butterflies In Me: An Anthology Bringing Awareness to Mental Health, Denisha Seals seeks to change the narrative and believes that telling stories of joy, triumph, and every day life is imperative to...

Learn how to deal with challenging behavior in kids from Karin Jakubowski, Ed.D. She provides parents, caregivers and teachers with problem-solving tips to help kids cope with the challenges they are faced with every day. Dr. Jakubowski demonstrates some simple breathing exercises which she has learned helps kids regain control of their emotions. As adults, we need to remain calm and speak in a calm voice before we can help kids. The breathing exercises work for adults too. Dr. Jakubowski is...

Mary McCarthy is an expert at beachcombing and finding treasures. She shares some of her beachcombing tips for finding the spots that are more likely to reveal fun artifacts. While she won’t tell us her favorite hunting spots, she does say that the sandy beaches that everyone visits in the summer are not where you are going to find treasures. Instead look for gravely beaches near towns and old dumping grounds. And creeks, streams and river beds make good candidates for hunting. Mary is the...

Talking to kids about puberty and their body changes can be a squirmy proposition. The traditional puberty education in school has involved splitting kids up according to gender. It often does not include all kids' experience of puberty, fostering shame and secrecy and alienating kids who may be gender diverse.  And often leaving kids with questions about how puberty affects their friends and classmates.  Mistakes Parents Make Talking to Kids About Puberty Don't outsource to TikTokDon't freak...