ABCmouse.com was created by the folks who rocked the kiddie-world with Neopets. Getting your child registered (up to three on the same account) will definitely up your parent-cred and, better yet, help your little ones learn math, social studies, science, music, art and how to read.

It doesn’t matter where your child clicks, each activity — even free play — has a learning objective. What makes this different from other sites or programs are the three modes of learning: step-by-step, independent learning and parent-guided lessons. You don’t have to be a teacher to create your own lessons. Just log on and the site will help with the rest.

Facts: ABCmouse.com boasts of over 2,000 activities and 350 lesson plans. Included are online books, games, songs, puzzles, art activities and printables. Also, ABCmouse.com has recently won an Editor’s Choice Award from Children’s Technology Review (CTR). The site was awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars for ease of use, educational value, entertainment value and design.

Cool factors: Each child gets a customizable avatar. Zero advertising or pop-up ads. Safe and secure ABCmouse.com network to send and receive inter-site messages, show off artwork and share completed lessons. Also, grandma and grandpa can be invited to view your child’s progress and cheer ‘em on.

Take it for a test-drive for $7.95 a month. Love it at $79.00 a year.

Teachers: The “Early Learning Academy” is available free of charge to public schools throughout the United States and Canada. Check out ABCmouse.com for more details.

Hey on-the-go, tech-savvy parents

Are you trying to tame a preschooler while waiting at the pediatrician’s office? ABCmouse.com has iPhone apps for that.

ABCmouse.com Aesop’s Fable Series

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

The Tortoise and the Hare

Big Bug and Little Bug

The Hen in the Pen

ABCmouse.com Beginning Reader Series

Dan and Jan

ABCmouse.com Search and Explore

The Grand Canyon

Interactive Environment Series

Visit the Zoo, Set 1

Find ABCmouse on Facebook.

It’s no secret that bullying is an issue with today’s kids. What’s surprising is that no one’s talking about the largest demographic of children who experience abuse and hate speech by their peers — children with special needs. They’re two to three times more likely to be victims of teasing, name calling, physical abuse and online attacks. That’s 50 to 80 percent of special needs children being bullied. Unfortunately, bystanders often stay quiet. Up to 85 percent watch and, even if they want to, don’t say or do anything to make it stop.

Lauren Potter

Potter knows how it feels. She’s been teased and made the butt of the joke because of her differences with Down Syndrome. In a recent interview to launch the “Disable Bullying” campaign and talk about the “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” report, Potter shared a bullying incident about boys following and taunting her at school.

“It was real hard at first, and the boys were too immature,” Potter said. “I would tell them, ‘You know what? It’s time to grow up.’”

“It’s hard as a parent when your child comes home every single day after school and they’re upset and they’re crying and they don’t want to go back to school because of the mean things that children are doing,” Robin Sinkhorn, Potter’s mom, said. “Lauren’s handled that situation better than I ever could’ve done.

“Lauren found her voice and that’s what we’re doing here today and through this campaign is we’re helping children with disabilities to find their voice.”

Helping to launch the “Disable Bullying” campaign are Sheryl Young (CEO, Community Gate and AbilityPath.org), Anthony Shriver (Founder and Chairman, Best Buddies International), Timothy Shriver (Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics), Jackie Speier (U.S. Representative, CA-12) and Tom Torlakson (California State Superintendent of Public Instruction).

One of the obstacles is the mindset of adults. Often they don’t take the bullying seriously, possess a get-over-it mentality, or don’t believe these children should be mainstreamed in general education classrooms.

Adults don’t take it seriously? It’s difficult to believe at first but …

When was the last time you heard the word “retard?” (Or the word “‘tard?”) Was it uttered from your lips in jest to a friend or co-worker? Did you hear it as a putdown on a TV sitcom or radio show? Was it mumbled by a child to a sibling, but you thought ‘meh, it’s not really a bad word’ and let it slide? Did you think about it twice at all?

If you didn’t, you’re not alone.

"Walk A Mile In Their Shoes" report testimonial -- Kevin Kaneta was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. During an interview with a Denver, Colo. television station, he shared his experience as a bullying target since the third grade, and each year, it gets worse. (Read more of Kevin's story below)

Timothy Shriver (Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics) pointed out the silent epidemic is silent because it’s a problem most people don’t recognize. The Special Olympics and Best Buddies, with many other organizations, launched a campaign to sensitize the public to the language of humiliation and degradation but struggled in their efforts to educate that the word ‘retard’ is hate speech.

“What we found was that people said, we don’t think we have a problem. We don’t see why this is hate speech. We don’t understand why you want to change the way we refer to one another when we’re trying to make fun of people,” Shriver said. “It’s awakened in us all, I think within this movement, to the realization that we have a civil rights movement that we’re struggling to create here. People don’t understand we have a whole history of injustice that’s gone over centuries of injustice.

“The humiliation, the institutionalization, and all sorts of horrible crimes perpetrated in the name of care against people with special needs. So, we’re trying to awaken the country now, to the idea that there is an epidemic and that it has to stop.”

Bullying doesn’t stop at a word, but it’s a start.

Even now, Lauren Potter isn’t immune to taunts and meanness from others. Recently, her Facebook fan page was attacked by cyberbullies who posted awful pictures and comments.

“It was almost a campaign of negative, using the “R” word, using terrible posters. In just a few hours her Facebook was covered with these things,” Sinkhorn said. “Now, I didn’t tell her (Potter) until we were at the end of it. I had cleared most of it up and some of her fans had come to her rescue.

“Lauren posted a response saying to her fans, ‘Thank you for having my back.’ Within a couple of minutes, at least a couple of hours, we had worldwide response from people in New Zealand, Australia, France, England, United States, everywhere saying, ‘we got your back.’ England has your back. New Zealand has your back. Australia has your back.

“So there are good people out there than want to take up this fight. And I hate to say fight, but that’s basically what it is.”

So a fight it is. A civil rights fight. Are you up for the challenge?

Hey, Lauren Potter, this is Genevieve Hinson from MotherofConfusion.com. Just wanted you to know, I got your back.

Now world, it’s your turn. Let Lauren Potter and children with special needs know, you got their back.

“Disable Bullying” Extras!

“Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” Testimonial
Kevin Kaneta : Bullied since the third grade

Kevin Kaneta was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. During an interview with a Denver, Colo. television station, he shared his experience as a bullying target since the third grade, and each year, it gets worse.

“They go after me because they see me as a vulnerable target,” said Kevin. Kevin walks slower than most children and drags his feet because of his disability. His mother, Tyleen Wilson, fears for his safety each day at school. “I worry if he’ll come home today,” said Wilson. “What if they really hurt him?”

Wilson stated she’s notified school administrators, as well as the Colorado media, that her son’s classmates have tripped and pinned him down and force fed dog food into his mouth. In late December 2010, Wilson noticed a Facebook picture that enraged her. It was of Kevin with his hooded sweatshirt tied tightly around his face.

“I thought it was a joke,” she said. “I prodded Kevin to tell me about the picture.” Kevin’s classmates had tied his sweatshirt tightly around his face and forced him to walk around the playground, barely able to see through the small opening. After taunting and teasing, the kids ripped the sweatshirt off, cutting his eyelids.

Another picture showed Kevin against the playground fence trying to break free. Both arms of the sweatshirt were tied to the fence post. “They just watched me struggle to get out,” said Kevin. “They put it on Facebook and now everyone knows it.”

There are many more personal stories in the full “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” report.

What can you do?

Do you have Lauren Potter’s back? Like her fan page on Facebook and let her know.

Are you taking up the cause to get the backs of children with special needs? Let everyone know. Blog, tweet, write and talk about this campaign. Take a stand, pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word. Share the “Walk a Mile in their Shoes” report (.pdf), post Lauren’s video with her mom and visit AbilityPath.org to find toolboxes for parents, learn about the types and ways children are bullied, and find more ways to get help. Also, if you see someone in need, let them know you got their back and about AbilityPath.org.

Need help but aren’t getting it?

Call the Civil Rights Bureau at 1-800-926-0648. Parents can register complaints if they feel their child’s school hasn’t been responsive. A Department of Education specialist can talk to officials at the school and help work out a strategy for dealing with the culture or particular individuals that are creating the problem.

Did you know?
FX is the only TV network that doesn’t allow the word ‘retard’ used as a joke. It’s only one of three words banned by the network.

Now, it may feel like you’ve read a thousand kid’s books but Silvey’s actually read 130,000 more. It’s obvious from her daily posts that she has love and respect for great literature. Her recommendations are intriguing, thought-provoking and brilliant. Included with each day’s selection is the story behind the book or author. Make sure to read the daily facts – like the recently noted Susan B. Anthony’s birthday with the suggestion for “Fighter for Women’s Rights” by Deborah Hopkinson.

The website is set up so the homepage shows that day’s selection and photo, a sidebar of facts related to the date, and more book suggestions related to the author or subject. You can thumb through the site page-by-page or click on ‘find a book’ in the left rail and browse by age group, subject, type of book, author or illustrator, or by the date featured.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Anita Silvey about this intriguing project.

Anita Silvey

Mother of Confusion: The Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac is described as a daily love letter to a book or author. How did you become involved in this project?

Anita Silvey: I had submitted a proposal to Simon Boughton of Roaring Brook– a very ambitious project about children’s books. At the same time Simon was considering publishing an Almanac for children. It occurred to him that he could combine the two proposals and give parents and teachers a useful tool. In discussions with his staff, they decided it would be wonderful for me to post the essays on line,as I wrote them. That way I could get back responses from readers about what was helpful, what they needed, and what else should be included. The entire proposal was suggested to me over dinner; I believe I waited a nanosecond before saying, “You bet!”

MOC: This is a huge project. Have you already selected the books or are you writing the recommendations throughout the year?

AS: When I began the project, I drew up a master plan for the year. But that outline changes constantly. I develop a month at a time; at that point I make final selections and write the essays. I’m trying to keep a balance of age ranges and kinds of books – and consider the needs of all types of readers.

MOC: I love that you chose David Klass’s “Stuck on Earth” to coordinate with Extraterrestrial Culture Day – both new to me. There are so many incredible and memorable children’s books, how do you decide which ones to include in the almanac and which date to publish them?

AS: Sometimes a day seems too perfect to pass up –Extraterrestrial Culture Day, for instance — and then I find a book that I really love to fit it. Coming up we have Talk like Shakespeare Day, the Tooth Fairy Day, or Talk like a Pirate Day. For Tooth Fairy Day I read about 50 books and chose the two best.

I include superb new titles that may well be unknown to my readers but much more frequently focus on 20th century classics. When I feature the classics, I sometimes write about an author’s birthday. Walter de la Mare once said that “only the rarest kind of best in anything can be good enough for the young.” I am always hunting for that rarest kind of best.

MOC: The behind-the-scenes stories about the books are fantastic. What’s your most startling or amazing discovery about a book?

AS: Every book tells a story, but every book has a story behind it. In my research I am always hunting for the story behind the book. When I can, I try to reveal something about the creative process or the author’s struggle to get published. Dr. Seuss was turned down by 24-27 publishers; Robert McCloskey kept ducks in his bathtub to write “Make Way for Ducklings.” Intriguing details like these often make these authors and illustrators seem human to both children and adults.

MOC: What elements do you look for in a book that make it more than just a good read, but distinguish it as a future classic?

AS: All of our classics have some of the same ingredients: an intriguing story and theme, characters young people want to know, an underlying message or concern, a lightness of touch, originality, and artistic integrity. These are the books that linger in reader’s minds. Classics often are based in a “love of perfection” – the author went to extreme lengths to get everything right.

MOC: Speaking of the classics, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was recently in the news over the edit in the newest edition to make it more politically correct. Often there’s a buzz about a book and whether it’s appropriate for young readers. How do you deal with the controversies surrounding some of these titles?

AS: Almost every classic has generated some type of controversy in its life. For Banned Books Week, for instance, I am going to talk about some of our most challenged books and why I recommend these titles. I think any book that makes a child think and respond to the world will upset someone. But my question always is, “How well did the author do what he or she set out to do?” I then am honest in my comments, so that a parent or teacher can decide what works for them.

MOC: It’s a tradition of mine to include a children’s book (such as “On the Day You Were Born” by Debra Frazier) in baby shower gifts. Often it’s the baby’s first book and prompts conversation at the gathering about favorite childhood books. What five books do you think every parent-to-be should put on the wish-list for their child’s library?

AS: I, too, like the Frazier. I would always give “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown, a Max book by Rosemary Wells, “Brown Bear,Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin, some volume of nursery rhymes like “This Little Piggy” by Jane Yolen, and one of the repetitive text books like “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen. But I strongly believe that every child should have exposure to hundreds of books, so that they can find their own favorites. Hence I write about a different book each day.

MOC: What’s happens when the almanac is finished? Are there plans to continue into 2012?

AS: When this year is done, I will start on the next one. But I haven’t solved those problems yet. I am just focusing every day on trying to write an interesting, engaging essay that will excite readers about a book and make them want to share it with the children in their lives.

Related Links:

– Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac

– Anita Silvey’s website

– Books written by Anita Silvey

In this episode, Manny and the tools leave Sheet Rock Hills to work on a big out of town construction job where they meet new tool friends, Jack the jackhammer and Spinner the power drill.

Make sure to stop by Playhouse Disney (www.playhouseDisney.com/HandyManny) for more Handy Manny recipes and activities.

Manny’s Big Construction Sandwich

Ingredients:

8 slices low-carb whole wheat bread

1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut into thick strips

1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and

then into strips

8 ounces sliced low-sodium ham

2 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise

4 slices non-fat cheddar or mozzarella cheese

4 leaves green leaf lettuce

Directions:

1. In a small bowl mix together mustard and mayonnaise. Set aside.

2. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Spray one side of bread slices with cooking oil spray and add to grill

pan. Cook until toasty and grill marks are golden brown. Set aside.

3. Place pepper and zucchini strips in grill pan and cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn and cook until cooked

through. Remove from heat.

4. Place mayonnaise, toast, pepper, zucchini, ham, cheese and lettuce on a serving platter and let

everyone assemble their own sandwich.

Makes 4 servings.

Dusty’s Building Block Snack

Ingredients:

1 medium carrot, peeled

1 large stalk celery

1 small cucumber (pickling or Persian)

1 apple, peeled and pitted

6 ounces your favorite cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions:

1. Cut carrot, celery, cucumber and apple into 1/4×1/4×2-inch pieces. Serve with cheese cubes.

Makes 4 servings.

Felipe’s Cazuela

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1 pound beef round roast, trimmed

of fat and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 teaspoons vegetable or corn oil

3/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 cloves garlic, minced

6 cups low-sodium beef broth

1 cup butternut squash, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup white potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 ear corn, cut into 1-inch wheels

1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tablespoons chopped fl at leaf parsley

Directions:

1. Place salt, chili powder, cumin, and paprika in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add beef and toss to evenly coat.

2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Remove from saucepan and set aside.

3. Add onion and celery to saucepan and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 more minutes.

4. Add beef broth and stir to loosen any browned bit

stuck to bottom of saucepan. Add beef to broth and

bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and

cook for 1 1/2 hours.

I’m a mom, not a do-all-be-all-everything entity. Sometimes I need someone to step in and help.  Other times, the kids will want to confide in a non-parent. I’m OK with that, expect it and encourage that type of independence. It’s my job as a parent to help foster those connections with trustworthy people, and then let them be.

Recently, I learned a second, and equally important, lesson in parenting: Communication between the villagers is key.  This particular epiphany popped for me the morning of the Central California Women’s Conference. The night before a good friend, and member of our family village, stayed over so she could shuttle the kids to school and the sitter – freeing me to be at the conference by 7 a.m.

“Hey, Debra,” I said, after finding a quiet-ish spot amongst the 3,400 women in attendance and calling her on my cell. ”I just wanted to thank you so much for your help this morning.”

“Oh, sure! Craig’s at school and Abby’s with grandma. He did a good job this morning getting dressed and ready,” Debra said. She’d taught my son how to make a little man out of his clothes, socks and shoes after dinner to speed up the morning drag. “He brushed his teeth too.”

“Fantastic.” Oral care seems simple, until you try to wrestle a grumpy, 6-year-old spitting rascal with a toothbrush. “I can’t thank you enough. It was such a relief knowing all that was taken care of and Jimmy and I could get to work on time. Only there’s a small … minor … little problem.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Wrong school.”

Perhaps Debra was thinking more along the lines of a forgotten backpack or jacket before my last statement. I know that was my thought a few minutes earlier, when my caller ID showed his old school, where he attended preschool and then Kindergarten, calling.

“Ms. Hinson, we have Craig in the cafeteria,” the office secretary said. “He’s … “

“What? How’s that possible?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and my memory of the morning scrambled. “Did the bus drop him off there?” How in the world could that happen? No, it wasn’t possible. They were incredibly careful with the kids.

“Well, no. He said someone named Dobba dropped him off?”

“Oh my god, that’s right.” During the sharing of instructions to grandma’s house, packing items to take to the conference and installing the car seats in Debra’s SUV, Jimmy and I forgot to tell her Craig was attending a different school this year.  (Oh yeah, Jimmy. I’m dragging you down with me.)

The early morning sun raced hot air balloons into the sky Labor Day weekend at the Mistlin Sports Park in Ripon, California. Spectators of all ages gathered on the field to watch as baskets were assembled, machinery tested and giant balloons aired in preparation for liftoff during the fifth annual Color the Skies Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Color the Skies is much more than a festival. It’s a community event with a purpose – to raise awareness and financial support for Children’s Hospital Central California. Because of Children’s kids like Corbin Maldonado, a teen cancer patient and this year’s Color the Skies Ambassador, are able to receive state-of-the-art and family-centered care close to home.

“So many people in our area give to distant Children’s Hospitals without realizing that we have a world-class hospital here. Our local Children’s hospital serves the children in our community and does a phenomenal job,” says Jessica Coleman, founder of Color the Skies, Inc., “but it needs our support to continue to fund cutting-edge care to the sickest and neediest of our local children.”

This year’s event hosted a Save Mart Supermarket pancake breakfast, kite performances, sky diving demonstrations, dancers, Dorothy and Toto and, among so much more, a special visit from Air George.

As an extra-special treat, 50,000 toys, gifted by an anonymous donor, were given to children at the event.

More photos can be seen on Flickr here.

Summer still sizzles.  It’ll be another month before swim season is truly over. Parents, even with the craziness of school starting and a multitude of everything, remember to stay focused on the kids around water.

Keep in mind these important water safety tips:

• Maintain constant visual contact with children in or near the water. This includes swimming pools and bathtubs.
• Designate an adult to supervise the water area. The supervising adult should not partake in any distracting activities while watching children.
• Prevent children from having direct access to a swimming pool.
• Store buckets upside down.
• Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks if you have an infant or toddler in the house.
• Adults and kids over age 13 should learn CPR.
• Do not use aio-filled toys in place of life jackets or life preservers with children. These give a false sense of security and increase the risk of drowning.

Simple enough? It seems that way, but life can be distracting and it takes only a second for a child to drown.

Also, know drowning doesn’t look like drowning. At least not how it’s portrayed in the movies with waving arms and splashes. It’s a very quiet event and you may not realize what’s happening even if you’re looking directly at your child. Read this blog post by Mario Vittone to learn more about the real signs of drowning.

Click here to find more tips and resources on the Children’s Hospital Central California website.

Participated in extreme water sports

Got close and personal with exotic animals.

Tasted extraordinary culinary delights.

Met up with old friends.

Made a few new.

Climbed mountains.

Drank coffee.

Met celebrities.

Went camping.

Narrowly avoided calamity.

Summer reading list.

Spent time at an exotic day spa.

Caught up on some Zzzzs.

Admired fine art.

Partied.

Met an amazing poet.

Entertained.

Listened to music.

Argued about best maker of coffee.

Purchased tourist trinkets.

Exercised with new trainer.

Tackled new adventures.

Drank more coffee.

Went to a show.

There was also some streaking, but those are private photos.

What did you do this summer?

“I’m done with the idea of white-picket fences and the exact-right school district,” I said while scrolling through ads on Craigslist. “We should live somewhere for the experience of it.”

Jimmy agreed.

An old dream wiggled, jiggled and then forced its way into my conscious: What about the Tower District? In theory it captured the diverse, creative and cultural experiences we wanted our children to value. The neighborhood was at the heart of town and each house had individual character and charm. There was also the wonderful mix of restaurants, art galleries, book stores and coffee shops within walking distance.

So what was the drawback?

“What about the crime rate?” Jimmy asked. “And schools?”

He had a point. Typically you lived in the Tower District as a college student, moved when you had a family, and, perhaps, moved back when the kids were grown. Who moved into the area with school-aged children?

Still, I couldn’t shake the idea. Jimmy researched crime stats and I conversed with people who lived there. We were surprised. The district had less crime than our current area, and the residents loved it. The one thing we couldn’t overlook was the school ratings, but there were options. We could look at magnet and charter schools, or request an inter-district transfer.

With that input we decided to make the move.

We found a gorgeous 1924 Tower Bungalow that was re-vamped with all modern amenities, like central air and a modernized kitchen and bathroom. Yet, I was nervous when it came time to sign the rental agreement. South of McKinley, were we crazy?

On moving day, our new neighbors came over. One offered a dolly to help move furniture, another brought over homegrown and 100% organic summer squash, zucchini and tomatoes. On evening walks, everyone waves or says hello. That and there are many families with young children, as well as, residents of all generations. Last week we attended the grand opening of City Arts Gallery, Photography & Art Studio with the kids and were greeted by friends who now feel like family.

Sure there are downsides, like the Ghetto Bird and more frequent police sirens, but the upsides are so positive and good we can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else. It’s crazy that it took us so long to realize the Tower District can be a great place to raise a family.

You know what the best part is?

For the first time in my native-Fresno life, I feel at home.

Lacey

Lacey ate more than normal for a newborn, but kept losing weight. At about a week old she started vomiting and having episodes of pain that made her act as if she was on fire.

“I thought she was going to die, she was that frail looking. It was absolutely horrible,” said Lacey’s mother, Lisa Roche.

By 5-months-old, Lacey topped the scale at 9 pounds and was admitted to Children’s Hospital Central California. A team of doctors pieced together clues and Lacey was diagnosed with an incredibly rare genetic metabolic disorder. There’s only about a 100 cases reported worldwide.

Read the story of this amazing girl, by Marlin Ezell, on ChildrensCentralCal.org.