Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

PA Cyber: A Tuition-Free Online Charter School With Rigorous, Personalized Instruction

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 11/18/2021 - 11:00am

PA Cyber serves up an online tuition-free public school education to kids in grades K-12.

Online learning has risen in popularity with families looking for high-quality educational alternatives that provide flexibility and individualized instruction to fit their unique learners. The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) serves up an online tuition-free public school education to kids in grades K-12 that spans from their computer screens out into their communities with a combination of online and in-person learning opportunities.

One of the largest, most experienced remote public schools in the nation, PA Cyber is well-loved for its personalized instructional methods; state-certified, highly-qualified teachers; and rich academic content that’s aligned to state standards. Flexible and engaging, the program offers both virtual live and self-paced instruction, plus a number of meaningful ways for kids to connect with their teachers and peers on and, sometimes, off-line.

If you’re out there wondering whether this popular online program could be the right choice for your family, read on. We’ve rounded up answers to some of the most-asked questions about PA Cyber to help you make the best call.

These Free Interactive Typing Games Help Teach Kids To Touch Type

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/21/2021 - 11:00am

KidzType offers fun, interactive online typing games, plus helpful exercises and typing tests. Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels.

In these digital days, typing has become an essential skill for kids. From emails to essays to online classes, the sooner young learners master touch typing on the good old QWERTY keyboard, the better (and the less likely they are to develop bad “hunt and peck” habits that quickly become very hard to break).

5 Easy Ways To Scare Your Kids Silly this Halloween

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 10/11/2021 - 11:00am

Light on the fright and heavy on the fun, these Halloween activities are inspired by Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories.

Whether you’ll be celebrating Halloween at home with the family this year or you’re planning to have a few friends over, there’s no shortage of easy ways to make the holiday extra special.

Light on the fright and heavy on the fun, here are five Halloween activities inspired by Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney, #1 international bestselling author of the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Packed with comically terrifying zombies, vampires, and ghosts, the book’s scary-but-silly tales will leave your whole crew laughing—much like these Halloween games!

Affordable At-Home Yoga and Fitness Classes for the Whole Family—Plus, a FREE Trial

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 09/14/2021 - 11:00am

Bulldog Yoga is all about bringing fun live and on-demand online yoga and fitness classes to kids and grownups.

Whether you’re a total newbie or an experienced yogi, Bulldog Yoga is all about demystifying the practice and bringing fun and non-intimidating online yoga and fitness classes to kids and grownups alike. If, like me, you’re trying to squeeze a little exercise into your family’s undoubtedly busy schedule or you’re not ready to head back to the gym, the library of live and recorded classes for all levels makes yoga approachable and accessible in a whole new way.

Of course, there’s no shortage of options out there when it comes to online fitness, so what makes Bulldog Yoga different from other online platforms? I gave it a try so I could answer that exact question. Read on for answers, and see for yourself with a free 30-day trial for Mommy Poppins readers.

Answers to Parents’ Most-Asked Questions About At-Home COVID Test Kits

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 11:00am

How do rapid tests work? And are they actually accurate? Get answers to common questions from parents.

At-home COVID tests offer fast results without a trip to the doctor whenever there’s worry about a possible infection—giving families reassurance and helping to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Whether it’s a trip to see the grandparents or one of those dreaded exposure emails from school, there are so many reasons you might want access to an at-home COVID test these days. Quick and easy for parents and less likely to cause tears than a trip to the pediatrician, over-the-counter options like the QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test get you results in about 10 minutes from the comfort of your own couch. (And I can attest to it, because we recently swabbed the whole family to make sure a summer cold was nothing worse!)

So, how do these rapid tests work for kids and adults? And are they actually accurate? Read on for answers to some of parents’ most-asked questions about at-home COVID testing, from the team at QuickVue.

Tips for Preparing Your Child for the First Day of Daycare

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 09/07/2021 - 10:00am

Bright Horizons has been designing early education centers, programs, and schedules to meet the needs of working families for over 30 years now.

The reality is, everyone is likely to be a bit nervous on the first day of daycare. Starting at a child care program is a big transition for the entire family, and a little preparation goes a very long way for kids and parents alike.

While I’ve done my share of first day drop-offs, I connected with the experts at Bright Horizons to create the child care to-do list I wish I’d had myself. If you don’t know Bright Horizons, the popular early education and preschool program has been thoughtfully designing centers, programs, and schedules to meet the needs of working families for over 30 years now. With more than 1,000 locations worldwide—plus 3 brand new NYC centers opening at West 53rd, Essex Crossing, and down in NoHo—the team behind the innovative program for infants through pre-kindergarteners knows everything there is to know about gearing up for that very first day.

Brooklyn Youth Chorus Returns to In-Person Programming With Openings for Young Singers

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 10:00am

Following a year of virtual programming, Brooklyn Youth Chorus returns to in-person classes and performances with online options.

After a year of virtual vocal classes and performances, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is back to in-person programming this fall, with plenty of safety precautions in place. Now in its 30th season, the Chorus offers world-class music training for ages 7 to 18 with an emphasis on healthy vocal development, music literacy, and group performance at all levels.

There’s no experience required to join the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, but a love of singing is an absolute must! If you’re interested in getting your music-lover involved, read on for class offerings, COVID-19 safety measures, and the lowdown on how to apply for the 2021/22 season.

Back to School and the Delta Variant: What Infectious Disease Experts Want Parents to Know

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 11:00am

Connecticut Children’s has been working closely with other national and global health leaders to stay on top of the latest coronavirus data.

Just as families are preparing to send kids back to school, the highly-contagious Delta variant is driving COVID-19 cases back up. Parents everywhere are wondering what these soaring numbers mean for their vaccinated and unvaccinated kids and how to keep them safe.

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

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