Kids VT, October 2018

Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control? PAGE 20

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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

COPUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cathy Resmer cathy@kidsvt.com

COPUBLISHER

Colby Roberts colby@kidsvt.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Alison Novak alison@kidsvt.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mary Ann Lickteig maryann@kidsvt.com

ART DIRECTOR

Brooke Bousquet brooke@kidsvt.com

MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR

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CALENDAR WRITER

Brett Stanciu brett@kidsvt.com

PROOFREADERS

Katherine Isaacs, Kara Torres

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Plugged In

When my son, Theo, was 6 years old, he started playing Minecraft. He quickly became hooked. The video game became a frequent topic of conversation with his friends, and he spent more time than I’d care to admit down in the basement — often in the company of my husband, who also caught the Minecraft bug — collecting wood, planting crops, building homes and fending o creepers. These days, he enjoys kicking back and watching YouTube videos featuring British commentator Joseph Garrett, better known as Stampy Cat, providing humorous, blow-by-blow narration of his Minecraft exploits. Theo is not alone in this pastime; Garrett’s videos have been viewed billions of times.

Though I dabbled in Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt as a kid, I’m not a gamer at heart. In truth, Theo’s love of Minecraft and other video games has always confounded me. What is it about these games that draws in so many kids? In “Child’s Play” (page 20), I talk to a psychiatrist, a psychologist and gaming experts about what makes video games so compelling, and how parents can make sure the hobby doesn’t get out of hand. An added bonus: The experience gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of one of my 8-year-old son’s favorite activities. This is our Innovation Issue, and it’s packed with articles about inventive and imaginative pursuits. Check out “Home Schooled” on page 28, a piece about a unique program at the Center for Technology, Essex, where high school students learn construction skills while building homes — which are then put on the market. On page 16, Dr. Lewis First o ers advice on what parents should know before giving “smart” tech toys and gadgets to their kids. On page 18, parents share some very innovative and original costume creations, just in time for Halloween.

And in “One to Watch,” on page 15, read about 17-year-old Milo Cress of Shelburne, who is the sole student member of the state’s new Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Milo will discuss the challenges and opportunities AI presents during a panel discussion at the Vermont Tech Jam, on Friday, October 19, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Organized by Kids VT’s sister publication, Seven Days, the Tech Jam is a career and tech expo that might interest techie teens and their parents. Find the schedule at techjamvt.com.

At Kids VT, we know that parents are the ultimate innovators — always looking for new ways to engage our kids, to deal with obstacles and outbursts, to juggle work and parenting and everything else life throws at us. So this one’s for you. Enjoy!

ALISON NOVAK, MANAGING EDITOR

STAFF QUESTION

What was your favorite game to play when you were growing up?

I spent hours upon hours playing M.U.L.E. on my Commodore 64 when I was a kid, sometimes with my sister, cousins or friends, sometimes by myself against the computer. It’s a strategy game in which players colonize a new planet and have to acquire land and manage resources. I can barely remember how to play, but the theme song is still stuck in my head!

CATHY RESMER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

I remember playing TWISTER in our den with my friends and cousins. Board games don’t get much simpler than this one. Back then, none of us kept score or felt bad if we “lost.” A few years ago we broke out this game for an adult party and it was as fun as ever!

KEN PICARD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I really liked playing THE OREGON TRAIL. Thinking back to my middle-school mind, I’m assuming I liked it because it was historical, there was a story line, and it was basic.

COREY GRENIER, MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR

I played the board game CRACKERS IN MY BED. It does not involve any strategy whatsoever, but my brother and I were entranced by it. It was simply fun to play with fake food, and the boy in the bed on the cover of the box looked maniacal.

KARA TORRES, PROOFREADER

CONTRIBUTOR’S NOTE

JESS WISLOSKI (“Use Your Words,” page 47) is a website manager and recovering journalist who lives in Essex Junction with her intrepid 5-year-old, Calliope, and chronically petrified dog, Penny. She revels in hiking, snowboarding, yoga, old movies and ’70s rock — and in tormenting her daughter into hiking, riding, doing yoga, watching old movies and listening to ’70s rock.

Alison checks out Crystal Wagner’s innovative installation at Burlington City Arts

TRENDING

Why

Innovation is a popular buzzword, particularly as it applies to tech and business. While the internet o ers literally hundreds of definitions of the word, according to MerriamWebster, it means “the introduction of something new” or “a new idea, device or method.”

Every parent knows that kids start innovating at a young age. Children pile up stu ed animals to escape cribs. Babies finagle the seat buckle on the high chair, sliding stealthily down and out before we can even reload the spoon with mashed peas. When one adult says no, kids find a di erent adult to ask. Although it can be a little startling to watch on the baby monitor as your toddler parkours out of her crib and onto the floor (where she’s flung her mattress to ensure a soft landing because she is, of course, above average), it’s also crucially important that our kids do exactly this — observe a problem and apply a new idea, device or method to solve it.

Why does innovation matter?

Because human relationships,

it?

the world we live in and the problems we face require innovative solutions, along with a willingness to take risks — to try, fail and try again. Unfortunately, public education in America — particularly middle and high school — does not always encourage kids to innovate. Standardized tests focus not on creativity, but on memorizing, not on taking calculated risks and trying something new, but on being singularly right.

Tony Wagner, a former expertin-residence at Harvard Innovation Labs, and author of the best-selling book, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, writes, “The average child asks 100 questions a day. But by the time a child is 10 or 12, he or she has figured out that it’s much more important to get right answers than to keep asking thoughtful questions.”

So how can parents support and encourage innovation? An article published in Inc., “5 Ways You Can Encourage Your Kids to Become Innovators,” highlights the importance of play. Whether it’s playing

#INSTAKIDSVT

Thanks for sharing your photos with us this month by using the hashtag #instakidsvt. We could relate to this photo of a full shopping cart after a grocery store outing. Share a picture of your kids having fun in the fall this month!

AUTUMN ANSWERS

with toys or making up imaginary games, play encourages creative problem solving. The article also suggests that parents model inquiry. Don’t know the answer to a question? Show your children how you go about finding it. Also, keep books about innovation and magazines like Scientific American and Wired around the house; check them out at the library.

The next time you find your child has pushed a stool up to the counter, placed a box on top of it and is climbing her way to the cookies she somehow knows you’re hiding from her on the top shelf, remind yourself that we want our kids to know how to innovate. And though the rules may be no cookies and no climbing on the counter while she’s little, these same problem-solving skills, encouraged and fortified as she learns and grows, will serve her well — in her education, her relationships, and her work — throughout her life.

In this monthly column, comedian, writer and mom Autumn Spencer answers tricky parenting questions. Have a question for Autumn? Send it to ideas@kidsvt.com.

HERE’S HOW: Follow @kids_vt on Instagram. Post your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #instakidsvt. We’ll select a photo to feature in the next issue.

American Academy of Pediatrics renews call for ban on infant walkers, citing a recent study showing that they caused more than 230,000 injuries between 1990 and 2014. That’s one less piece of baby gear parents have to buy.

Family and community of 2-year-old Brody Allen, who has a rare form of brain cancer, put up decorations and put on a parade in his Ohio hometown to give him an early Christmas. “We did it to make him happy,” his mom said.

Teacher’s post about “lawnmower parents” — those who go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their kids from facing adversity — goes viral. Move over helicopter, tiger and free-range moms and dads, there’s a new label in town.

Data published in September by the Pew Research Center show that millennials are more likely to be stay-athome parents than Gen Xers. They’re also probably more likely to blog about it.

missyellowshoes

Running a multitude of errands with my miniest.

#instakidsvt

Tag us on Instagram!

is it important to encourage kids to innovate — and how do we do

PET CORNER

PARENT PARTICIPATION

Michelle Claflin shared this photo of her 7-yearold daughter, Addison, with Fergus, their 3-yearold Great Pyrenees. Fergus is a guard dog on the family’s farm in North Ferrisburgh, where he keeps sheep safe from predators, wrote Claflin. “Addison is by far his favorite little person.”

Dozens of students from across Vermont have completed Kids VT’s first-ever Good Citizen Challenge, and more scorecards are arriving at our office daily. We’ve loved reading the poems about America, seeing posters encouraging adults to vote and watching the videos of participants reciting the preamble to the Constitution. Not finished yet? Better hurry! Entries must be postmarked or emailed by Tuesday, October 9. Look for a complete list of Good Citizens in the November issue. Find more information about the Challenge at goodcitizenvt.com.

KIDS SAY WHAT?

“Mama, I love you more than the whole university.”

MIRA, AGE 4

This month, we asked our Facebook followers to share photos of their kids going back to school. Find a sampling of the submissions below!

We’ve been providing pediatric care in the Burlington area for over 40 years. Our physicians and staff continue to dedicate themselves to the health and care of infants, children and adolescents from birth through age 22. Our goal is to provide you with the best medical care for your family.

are accepting new patients at our 3 locations.

BY ALISON NOVAK

TECHNOLOGY Mind the Gap

The Vermont Women’s Fund supports programs that provide at-risk young women ages 12 to 25 with opportunities and experiences that expand their vision for the future. Reshma Saujani knows more than a little about this. Six years ago, Saujani started GIRLS WHO CODE, a national nonprofit aimed at closing the gender gap in technology by o ering after-school coding clubs and summer immersion camps for thousands of third- through 12th-grade girls in all 50 states. She will speak about her experience at the October 30th Vermont Women’s Fund Annual Benefit Celebration. In 2010, Saujani ran for Congress in New York, becoming the first Indian American woman to do so. During her campaign, she was struck by the gender disparity in computer classes at local schools she visited, which spurred her to launch Girls Who Code. The organization aims to empower girls from di erent backgrounds to pursue careers in computer science and related fields. According to the organization’s website, Girls Who Code alumnae are choosing to major in computer science or related fields at a rate 15 times the national average. The Vermont Women’s Fund benefit will feature a cocktail reception, followed

Star Struck

On October 26, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains host a STAR PARTY at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, featuring a 50-minute planetarium presentation; hands-on activities, including paper rocket construction; and models showing the Earth and moon’s orbits and the layers of the atmosphere. The event is part of the Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts program, funded by NASA and led by the SETI Institute, a Californiabased nonprofit that aims to explore, understand and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe. Reaching for the Stars o cially rolls out in 2019, but last year, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains was one of 11 councils nationwide chosen to pilot the program, which entails testing and providing feedback on the curriculum. The space initiative is part of a larger expansion of the Girl Scouts’ STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — programming. This summer, the organization released 30 new badges geared to helping Girl Scouts explore computer science, mechanical engineering, robotics and other STEM topics. “We believe we have the premier program in leadership for girls,” said Ginger Kozlowski, communications and public relations manager for the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Science fields are “where the better paying jobs are,” she added, and the expanded STEM programming will help girls “develop a strong sense of self, seek out challenges and learn from their setbacks.”

The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains’ Star Party takes place on Friday, October 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. The event is open to the public, and admission is $5. Learn more at girlscoutsgwm.org.

by a speech and Q & A with Saujani. “Girls Who Code is a terrific example of a program that found the key to engaging girls with 21st-century opportunities,” said Vermont Women’s Fund director Meg Smith. “And Ms. Saujani’s personal story adds another dimension to how we look at raising girls and the subliminal boundaries we put on them in the name of achievement.”

The Vermont Women’s Fund Annual Benefit Celebration takes place on Tuesday, October 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center. Cost is $50 for general admission and $10 for student admission. Visit vermontwomensfund.org to purchase tickets.

EDUCATION

Boston Bound

Since it premiered in 2015, the Tonywinning Broadway musical Hamilton has drawn throngs of theatergoers to its sold-out performances. In November, Poultney High School students will get their shot to see the touring production of Hamilton at the Boston Opera House, thanks to a grant from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Poultney is the only Vermont school taking part in the HAMILTON EDUCATION PROGRAM, an initiative which began in New York City in 2015 and has expanded to reach 250,000 students in Title 1-eligible schools nationwide through 2020. This fall, students are learning to tell a story using primary source documents, with curriculum provided by Gilder Lehrman and the Rockefeller Foundation. Materials include videos featuring Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and author Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography of Alexander Hamilton that inspired Miranda to write the musical. Students are also tasked with creating a short performance piece — a skit, rap or poem — based on their learning. Poultney civics teacher Liz LeBrun said learning about Alexander Hamilton has been engaging for her students. “I think one of the things that’s really exciting about this is when they find out Hamilton’s personal history,” she explained. “He’s so relatable to people today … It’s an immigrant story, a success story, a rags-to-riches story.” On November 8, students will travel to Boston to take part in a Q & A with the Hamilton cast and watch other students’ performance pieces before seeing the sought-after show.

Learn more about The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s Hamilton Education Program at gilderlehrman.org.

Reshma Saujani

Girl Scouts at a previous Star Party

DESTINATION RECREATION BY ALISON NOVAK

Ten Obscure Places to Visit

Want to know more about the fanciest public restroom in New York City? An Egyptian temple featuring one of the first drawings of medical and surgical instruments? An angel sculpture in England made from more than 100,000 knives? Look no further than Atlas Obscura. Founded by author Joshua Foer and documentary filmmaker Dylan Thuras, the digital media company describes itself as a collaborative project that features “the most unusual, extraordinary, strange, secret, surprising, or otherwise amazing locales on the planet.”

Visit its website, atlasobscura.com, and you’ll find posts on thousands of o -the-beaten-path places, plus weekend guides to di erent cities, stories about interesting food and more.

Last month, Workman Publishing released The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid by Thuras and coauthor Rosemary Mosco. Geared toward kids ages 9 to 12, it gives readers a look at 100 cool destinations, from an abandoned water park in Vietnam to a cave full of giant crystals in Mexico. For the trivia-loving kid, there are also obscure facts about each of the 47 countries included. (Did you know Indonesia is home to both the world’s largest lizard and the world’s largest flower?)

Thuras, who coauthored the 2016 New York Times bestseller for adults, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders, said his positive childhood travel experiences were one of his reasons for producing a kids’ version of the book. “I was 10, 11, 12 when my parents took me on early big road trips through the Midwest,” he explained. They stopped at places like the House on the Rock in Wisconsin, a 14-room structure featuring the world’s largest carousel constructed by an eccentric builder. “I found it very amazing and inspiring. It stuck with me,” said Thuras. He was at the age when kids start to look outward and become interested in what’s going on in the world, he added, an age particularly well-suited for a book like the Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid

Thuras said he’s been to around 20 percent of the locations featured in the book, including his favorite one: The Keshwa Chaca Rope Bridge in Cusco, Peru, made entirely out of grass. The suspension bridge, which is rebuilt by locals every year, dates back to the Incan Empire. “The fact that this exists as it was then — this example of cultural continuity — makes it an amazing place,” Thuras explained. Also, “it probably fulfills some deeply held Indiana Jones [fantasy].”

Thuras acknowledged there are lots of atlases for kids on the market. One of the ways his book sets itself apart, he said, is its “daisy chain” format that draws thematic connections between di erent countries. For example, readers will learn about the Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive ice field in Argentina, then turn the page and read about Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave, in Austria. “Hopefully they plant a little bit of curiosity in a kid’s mind about what else is out there,” he said.

In the box below, Thuras, who lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, recommends 10 weird and wonderful places for families to visit in and near Vermont; all have been featured on Atlas Obscura.

IN VERMONT:

FREEDLYVILLE QUARRY, Dorset, vermontcavers.org

Enjoy ice skating and hot chocolate in the winter at this cavernous, abandoned marble mine.

MINIATURE CASTLES, South Hero

Go on a scavenger hunt to find the tiny castles scattered across this town in the Champlain Islands.

WILSON CASTLE, Proctor, wilsoncastle.com

Share ghost stories as you explore the history of this beautiful, creepy structure built in the 19th century.

ESTEY ORGAN MUSEUM, Brattleboro, esteyorganmuseum.org

Play everything you see at a museum dedicated to the town’s historic organ industry.

ROCK OF AGES, Barre, rockofages.com

Tour the world’s largest deephole dimension granite quarry, view the plant where gravestones are made, and roll a ball down the outdoor granite bowling alley.

HASKELL FREE LIBRARY AND OPERA HOUSE, Derby Line, haskellopera.com

Send your kid to another country and have them come back with a good book at this library that straddles the U.S.-Canada border.

NEARBY:

ANDRES INSTITUTE OF ART AND SCULPTURE GARDEN, Brookline, N.H., andresinstitute.org

Check out more than 60 sculptures from artists all over the world that decorate the hiking trails surrounding this locale.

MADAME SHERRI’S CASTLE, Chesterfield, N.H., chesterfieldoutdoors.com/ madame-sherri-forest

Explore the ruins of the elaborate house where an enigmatic costume designer threw glamorous parties for New York’s theatrical elite.

AUSABLE CHASM, KEESEVILLE, N.Y., ausablechasm.com

Visit this sandstone gorge in upstate New York, known as the “Little Grand Canyon of the East.”

LAKE GEORGE MYSTERY SPOT, Lake George, N.Y.

Defy the laws of acoustics by creating a mysterious echo at this small pavilion behind the Lake George Visitor’s Center.

Dylan Thuras

Tech Habits

Data show how kids and teens use cell phones, tablets and online apps

14

TEENS WHO HAD ACCESS TO A SMARTPHONE4

cofounderMicrosoft

Age

Bill Gates and wife, Melinda, allowed their three children to get their first cell phones.2

24%

TEENS WHO SAID THEY WERE ONLINE “ALMOST CONSTANTLY”4

ONLINE PLATFORMS TEENS USED MOST4

NOTE:

was not an option in the 2014-2015 survey.

54% of teens ages 13 to 17 say they spend too much time on their cellphone.

72% of teens say they often or sometimes check for messages or notifications as soon as they wake up.

36% of parents of teens say they themselves spend too much time on their cellphone.

56% of teens associate the absence of their cellphone with loneliness, being upset or feeling anxious.

17% of teens associate the absence of their cellphone with feeling relieved or happy.

91% of teens view spending too much time online as a problem facing people their age.

60% say it is a major problem.3

AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME KIDS AGES 8 & UNDER SPENT ON MOBILE DEVICES EACH DAY 5

BY ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE

Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin

A Vermont spin on a French classic

In July, I traveled to Toulouse in southwestern France with my mother and sister to celebrate a family wedding. My father’s cousin and his daughter live there now, and she was getting married.

None of us speaks much French, but we do speak food. When people rave about French cuisine, they are not just talking. There wasn’t a culinary dud the whole week. Even the South Hero-sized town we stayed in, Aurignac, had a restaurant that we returned to more than once. We ate delicate fish served in red pepper beurre blanc with bits of zucchini, pork wrapped in puff pastry, mango mousse and more. And of course, there was cheese, bread and wine.

Most restaurants had a threecourse menu for a very reasonable price that offered a few choices for appetizer, entree and dessert. I was shocked when, perusing the menu options at one restaurant, my mother told me she had never heard of tarte tatin. I urged her to order it, and she was very happy that she did. It’s a dish that translates incredibly well to our Vermont palate.

For a culture known for fancy and complicated desserts, tarte tatin is surprisingly simple. Slices of apple swim in rich caramel inside a rustic crust of either shortcrust or puff pastry. The dish was created at Hotel Tatin in a town south of Paris in the 1880s.

Once home, with apple season in full swing, I decided to give it a whirl. Because I wanted to be sure that the water content in the apples didn’t dilute the caramel, I used a tip I found online: I peeled and sliced them about eight hours before cooking, then left them out to “dry.” (You could also do this a day or two ahead of time, and refrigerate them.) The apples may brown a little, but it doesn’t really matter because they are going to be covered in caramel in the end. Rather than make the caramel with the apples already in the pan, I opted to simmer the apples in caramelized sugar, so that I could be sure that the sugar cooked properly

and didn’t burn. I also decided to use a shortcrust, instead of puff pastry, so that it wouldn’t get soggy if we didn’t eat it right away. And to add a little Vermont flair, I used some maple syrup in the caramel. Because this tarte is cooked upside down and flipped before serving, it is important to use a pan that works both on the stovetop and in the oven. Having a surface that the caramel won’t stick to is also key. I love a well-seasoned cast-iron pan, but a nonstick skillet would also work. Flipping is the most nervewracking part — but even if the tarte falls apart a bit, it’s still going to be wonderful.

You may not be able to travel to France, but you can bring France to your table. We’ve all been enjoying the dinners inspired by our trip, and this was the icing on the cake — or, really, the caramel on the apple. K

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:

• 8 tablespoons chilled butter

• 1 cup flour

• 1/4 cup sugar

• zest of 1 lemon

• 1 egg yolk

2-3 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

• 4 tablespoons butter, divided

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/4 cup pure Vermont maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 4 apples (I used Pink Lady), peeled and sliced into wedges at least 8 hours before cooking

• pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS TO MAKE THE CRUST:

Cut the cold butter into pea-sized pieces. Put it in a food processor with the dry ingredients and lemon zest. Gently pulse until just combined into a coarse crumb. Add the egg yolk and drizzle in ice water as you pulse, just until the dough starts to stick together. Don’t overwork; it only needs to form a ball when pressed in your hands. Place on wax paper, and roll out into an approximately 1/4-inch-thick circle the diameter of the top of your skillet. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:

Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or wellseasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter to coat the bottom. Sprinkle the sugar over the surface of the pan, and add the water, syrup and vanilla. Stir for about 3 minutes over low heat, then add the lemon juice. Continue to caramelize, stirring occasionally, for another 5 minutes. If the mixture begins to get too dark, turn off the heat so it doesn’t burn. Add the remaining butter, one pat at a time, and swirl the pan to melt it into the caramel.

TO ASSEMBLE:

1. Remove the skillet from the heat. Lay the apples in the caramel, so that they are densely packed. This will become the top of the tarte, so arrange them in an attractive pattern, trying to minimize holes. Sprinkle with the pinch of salt.

2. Return the skillet to the stove and simmer on very low heat for about 20-25 minutes, lightly shaking occasionally to coat the apples with caramel.

3. Place the pastry round on top of the caramelized apples, allowing it to drop 1/4 to 1/2 inch over the sides of the skillet. Use a rubber spatula to lightly press down the sides. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned.

4. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes, then place a serving plate over the skillet and flip over (you may need an assistant for this part). If caramel is stuck in the pan, scrape it out and use it to fill in any holes. Serve with maple whipped cream, if desired.

MEALTIME

Tarte tatin with maple whipped cream

Apples arranged on top of a layer of caramel

Real Intelligence

A teen tackles tricky questions on a new tech task force

What should the government’s role be in regulating artificial intelligence technologies? Should self-driving cars prioritize protecting the lives of their passengers at the risk of pedestrians? What is artificial intelligence, really?

These are tough questions, and 17-year-old Milo Cress is helping to find the answers. The Champlain Valley Union High School senior is a member of the state’s new Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Appointed by Gov. Phil Scott in July, Cress will spend the next six months working with technology experts and social justice advocates to define artificial intelligence and provide guidance on how the state should regulate the emerging technology.

“If you asked 10 di erent artificial intelligence researchers or experts in the field [for a definition], they’ll give you 10 di erent answers,” said Milo. “When you are trying to regulate a field as broad and complex as this, it is important that everyone have a common definition of artificial intelligence.”

AI, he said, encompasses concepts ranging from simple machines learning algorithms to the futuristic robots of Terminator.

Rep. Brian Cina (P-Burlington) sponsored the bill that created the AI advisory group last year. Cress read about the proposal in the news, and emailed Cina to learn more. When

lawmakers added a student position to the committee, Cina wrote a letter to the governor recommending Milo.

The task force met for the first time last month and is expected to deliver an initial report to the governor by mid-February.

Cress, who spent part of his summer reading scientific and philosophical papers about AI, said he wants to help Vermont stay ahead of the curve when it comes to AI policies. He cited cellphones as an example of technology outpacing policy.

“A lot of laws for cellphone use — for example, texting while driving — were made after the fact, in response to a bunch of tragedies where people died because of their phone use,” he said. AI regulations should be considered before the technology becomes mainstream.

Cress doesn’t just read up on AI. He has already developed his own AI program to encrypt data, and is working on a new program to create hyper-realistic images using two AI systems. One will create pictures that look as much like a photograph as possible, while the other is designed to distinguish real images from fake ones.

Milo is adept at explaining technology to reporters, and he’s had plenty of practice. At age 7, he spoke confidently to the Bennington Banner after his solar-powered popcorn maker stole the show at a Live Green fair.

NAME: MILO CRESS

AGE: 17

TOWN: SHELBURNE

But tech isn’t the only thing for which Milo has made headlines. He spent part of the summer fielding interview requests from National Public Radio and the New York Times for his role in inspiring a worldwide movement against plastic straws.

When he was 9 years old, Milo noticed that many restaurants automatically gave diners straws with their drinks, which seemed like a waste to him. He began asking local businesses to stop. Some restaurants, like Tiny Thai in Winooski, agreed to ask customers first.

Now, the cities of Burlington, Denver and Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, have formally adopted Milo’s “o er-first” policy as a recommended best practice for restaurants. His Be Straw Free campaign gained traction this year when Starbucks promised to end it’s use of plastic straws, and major cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, sought to ban them. Cress has never campaigned for an outright ban on straws, maintaining that it is more powerful when people make their own choices about whether to use them.

He drew a national spotlight this summer when it was discovered that a widely cited statistic for the number

ISSUE

of straws Americans use daily — 500 million — originated with 9-year-old Milo. He had come up with the figure by calling straw manufacturers and asking them for market estimates.

In his free time, Milo enjoys exploring local hiking and biking trails, playing ultimate Frisbee, and following the Red Sox. He also enjoys kicking back with a glass of cranberry-lime seltzer and watching the “The Big Bang Theory.”

Fame has not gone to his head, according to Bay Foley-Cox, who befriended Milo at the start of their sophomore year and describes him as curious, low-key and universally liked. The two are on CVU’s Scholars’ Bowl team and spend time together coding and playing video games.

“There’s always a new artificial intelligence thing or a cool application of a technology he’s excited about,” said Bay. “Just today, he was texting me about some future of a programming language he thought was interesting.”

Milo is thinking about his own future, too. He recently started to prepare his college applications. Not surprisingly, he plans to study science and artificial intelligence.

A version of this story appeared in the August 1 issue of Seven Days.

Milo will take part in a Vermont Tech Jam panel discussion about AI on Friday, October 19, from 2:30-3:15 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction.

SARA TABIN

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What Do Parents Need to Know About “Smart” Tech Toys?

Robots, play telephones and speaking toys have long been part of the children’s toy landscape. However, never before have electronic toys been as sophisticated as they are today. Many so-called “smart toys” now include built-in computers, digital cameras, microphones, Wi-Fi capability and even artificial intelligence that remembers, learns and alters its behavior based on interactions with a child.

The tech toy industry is growing fast. According to Juniper Research, annual smart-toy sales worldwide will jump from $2.8 billion in 2015 to $11.3 billion by 2020.

Dr. Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, o ers parents some guidelines for how to be smart about kids’ smart toys.

KIDS VT: Why should parents educate themselves about smart toys?

LEWIS FIRST: Because kids are now surrounded by this technology. Most kids between the ages of 2 and 5 know how to operate video games. Kids as young as 1, and certainly by age 2, can swipe on a smartphone, long before they can ride a bike or tie their shoes. But tech toys should be a tool, not a driver, for play. They should be used to assist parents, families and teachers and not become substitutes for interacting with family and friends, or playing outdoors.

KVT: Are there benefits for kids using smart toys?

LF: Yes. If a child has a learning disorder or is concerned about being behind, relative to peers, in a language, math or reading skill, a tech toy can be helpful in gaining competency in that skill — assuming it’s used in conjunction with a teacher or parent — so the child doesn’t face embarrassment in the classroom. Tech toys can be beneficial in getting kids engaged

in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — at a time when we’re trying to teach all children that STEM is fun. They also can be used to reinforce a child’s realworld experiences, such as if a child goes to a farm or zoo and then comes home and wants to learn more about the animals they’ve seen.

disadvantage developmentally. These toys can potentially slow kids’ verbal development by creating a one-sided conversation in which the child just watches, and the machine does all the talking. Another problem is that some of these toys don’t provide the nuances of natural human speech. Children can play on them for hours and never interact with another

KVT: Any advice for families who are considering buying one?

LF: First, if you’re ordering or using a toy that goes online, parents should use a di erent mailing address, such as a PO Box, for that device separate from where the child lives, to reduce the likelihood of your child getting into an online database. Educate children, especially older ones, about the dangers of giving out personal information about themselves and their family. Finally, before giving a smart toy to your child, check its settings. See if you can disable certain features such as the microphone and camera.

KVT: What are the downsides to smart toys?

LF: Toy manufacturers make bold claims about their e ects on social and cognitive development, but the research is still incredibly scanty. There was an interesting study from 2016 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics from Northern Arizona University, which divided kids and parents into three groups. The first group got electronic toys, the second got blocks, and the third got books. Researchers put microphones on the children and parents to measure how much speech they engaged in while using these objects. When kids used the electronic toys, there was virtual silence because the toy did most of the talking. Conversation was better in the group that played with the blocks, and it was best with the group using books.

KVT: What are the risks of kids spending too much time with tech toys?

LF: If a parent turns an older infant or toddler over to a tech device that basically doesn’t create the verbal interaction, warmth and caring that goes on with peers or parents, then these children will be at a

human except when a parent says it’s time to stop and come to dinner. This amount of prolonged time spent with a tech toy can also potentially lead to early screen addiction.

KVT: What about issues of security and privacy?

LF: Many tech toys use artificial intelligence to learn who your child is and his or her level of development, then grow with them in an interactive way, often using the child’s own voice to activate the toy. The problem is, to learn about your child, it starts by asking questions such as, “Where are you? Who are your siblings? What is the environment you’re in?” Many of these toys do not have sophisticated security safeguards and are potentially vulnerable to hackers. Some kids’ toys, such as smart teddy bears and smart watches, even track the users’ location, which can be very dangerous.

KVT: What type of smart toys do you recommend?

LF: The best ones encourage your child to speak and interact rather than the device doing all the talking. A fitness tracker for children that encourages physical exercise and getting outside to play is another good idea. It’s really important for these toys to engage the family in real-world activities, such as having a dialogue or completing a story, and not just allowing the child to sit there passively. There are websites for parents and Consumer Reports articles that review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tech toys. Bottom line, these toys are here to stay, and parents need to educate themselves about which ones will benefit their child’s development and well-being, rather than delay their development or put them in danger should the toy pose a security risk to the child or his or her family.

Tech toys can potentially slow kids’ verbal development by creating a one-sided conversation in which the child just watches, and the machine does all the talking.

DR. LEWIS FIRST

It wasn’t until I was 16 that one of my friends got a Nokia 3110 phone. It was essentially useless for months, as no one else in our friend group had a cellphone and service was very expensive. Eventually, more and more friends got cellphones and we were able to send 160-character messages back and forth. Around the same time, I started using the internet. It felt clunky and awkward, and my computer made a weird noise when connecting online.

By comparison, my 1–year-old daughter, Saga, was born into a much more technologically advanced landscape, where using information technology and connecting with people online is an unquestionable state of reality. Sometimes I wonder if this will create a divide between the two of us. Will we be able to relate to each other as she gets older and more immersed in the digital world?

When I feel worried, I think about my late granny, who was born in 1917, 10 years before television was invented. I always knew she came from a different time, but that never mattered to our relationship. There was always something we could do together: go for a long walk, play in the park or read a book. Sometimes, she would simply look into my eyes and listen to what I had to say. That’s the kind of communication that never gets old and survives any technological change. K

Do-It-Yourself Costumes

Families share their favorite homemade Halloween getups

SEW SCARY Cheshire Cat

COSTUMED KIDDO: Jacob Devecchio, 4

PARENT: Ceili Quigley, Waterbury

INSPIRATION: “For the last few years we’ve let our daughter [Jacob’s sister] choose her costume, and I build our costumes around her idea,” wrote Quigley.

MATERIALS: Felt, faux fur and fabric spray paint

and motivation, then broke down the cost, materials

What better time for mummies, daddies, boils and ghouls to let their imaginations run wild than in the weeks leading up to Halloween? For our October 2014 issue, we asked readers to share their favorite homemade costumes from years past. It was so fun, we decided to do it again. Via email, parents discussed their creative process and motivation, then broke down the cost, materials and time commitment required for each costume.

Be they sewing-machine whizzes or DIY neophytes, lovers of the hair-raising holiday are sure to find spooktacular inspiration in the handcrafted disguises described below.

CREATIVE PROCESS: Conscious of cold weather, Quigley built this outfit around a snowsuit, sewing fur around the suit and spray-painting stripes. After the paint dried, she stitched on a felt face and ears. Her words of warning: “The fake fur was all over after I cut out the pieces.”

CONSTRUCTION TIME: Two nights

COST: Around $45

GREEN MOUNTAIN PRIDE Vermont License Plate

COSTUMED KIDDO: Benjamin Carney, 6

PARENT: Elizabeth Carney, Shelburne

SCREAM TIME

MOVIE NIGHT

Boo from Monsters, Inc.

COSTUMED KIDDO: Isabelle McClain, now 7

PARENT: Gina McClain, South Hero

INSPIRATION: “Isabelle looked so much like Boo that I just had to do a family costume of her favorite movie,” McClain wrote.

MATERIALS: Glittery purple fabric, a purple zipper and thread, Styrofoam balls, cotton stu ng, pipe cleaners, markers, shoelaces, felt, a glue gun, a mop head and a baseball cap

CREATIVE PROCESS: With no sewing machine, McClain relied on hand stitching, dividing the fabric body of the suit into three stu ed sections and installing a zipper in the back to make it easy-on, easy-o . A baseball cap surrounded by stu ng gave the hood its shape, and shoelaces tied under Isabelle’s chin secured the hood to her head.

CONSTRUCTION TIME: Four weekends

COST: Around $30

COSTUMED KIDDO: Sydney Feltz, 12

PARENT: Cheryl and Joe Feltz, Colchester

INSPIRATION: “Sydney really loves technology,” wrote her parents. “She was in a fifth grade tech class at Malletts Bay School, and wanted to incorporate all that into her Halloween costume.”

MATERIALS: Lots of duct tape, paper copies of Apple application icons, thick poster board and glue

CREATIVE PROCESS: 10 when she made this costume and took charge of the construction. Using her actual iPad as a template, she attached printed images of apps to a posterboard “screen.” Duct tape joined the two boards that sandwiched Sydney’s body.

CONSTRUCTION

TIME: A few hours

COST: $10-$15

INSPIRATION: “Ben came up with the idea,” Carney wrote. “He is really fascinated by the colors of the Vermont license plate. We moved here from Maryland, where the license plates are decidedly more boring.”

license paint,

MATERIALS: Cardboard from an old moving box, poster paint, finepointed paintbrushes, twine, green pants and a matching hoodie

FROM THE DEPTHS

COSTUMED KIDDO: Jameson Reynolds, 4

Kara Gomez,

Cambridge had

INSPIRATION: “[Jameson] told us in the summer, when he had received a snorkel set, that he wanted to go scuba diving,” wrote Gomez. “The obsession with scuba diving had begun, and it was a must for

obsession with scuba diving had Halloween.”

A base layer of black clothing, a ski mask, two soda bottles, glow-in-the-dark duct tape, silver spray paint, air tubing, zip ties, a snorkel set, a backpack, flippers, letter stickers and a pail

green on both sides so

CREATIVE PROCESS: This costume took precision. Carney measured an actual license plate and scaled up the measurements before cutting out a cardboard replica. She created templates of the letters to achieve accurate spacing between characters. Thinking ahead, she painted the cardboard green on both sides so she’d have a backup in

CONSTRUCTION TIME:

COST: Around $45

CREATIVE PROCESS: Gomez was the mastermind behind the materials, and Jameson’s dad, Steven Reynolds, put in most of the labor to fashion the aquatic attire. After spray painting and decorating two soda bottles, he connected the bottles with air tubing. One tube also attached to the snorkel’s mouthpiece. Zip ties secured the bottles to a backpack. For footwear, Dad cut the bottoms out of flippers and taped them to the top of Jameson’s sneakers.

CONSTRUCTION TIME: Two hours

COST: Around $22, plus some household items

Burlington City Arts offers a DIY Halloween Costumes class for kids ages 6 to 12 on Friday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BCA Studios in Burlington. Registration is required. For more information, contact Burlington City Arts at 865-7166 or visit burlingtoncityarts.org.

BOOKWORMS BY BRETT STANCIU

Somewhat Scary

On a Megabus trip to Boston last year, author Katherine Arden paid extra for a prime upper deck seat, anticipating an awesome view. But when dense fog surrounded the bus, the writer turned her disappointment into creativity.

During the ride, she scribbled notes that became “the bones” of a spooky middle grade novel, Small Spaces, released this September.

The book features spunky 11-year-old Ollie Adler, who lives with her dad in a house called the Egg — a name inspired by the house’s Easter-like colors.

In the opening scenes, Ollie — who recently lost her mother — confronts an agitated woman near a swimming hole and steals a book the woman attempts to throw into the water. Small Spaces takes a twisted turn when Ollie, on a school field trip to a haunted farm, discovers real-life gravestones inscribed with the names of the book’s characters. With the help of two new friends, she sets out to solve this spine-tingling mystery.

Arden describes herself as a writer in “career phase two.” Her well-received 2017 debut, The Bear and the Nightingale, a crossover adult/young adult literary fantasy novel based in Russia, was followed by a sequel, The Girl in the Tower The trilogy’s final installment, The Winter of the Witch, hits bookstores in January. Arden’s second middle grade novel is due out next fall. She spoke with Kids VT from her East Middlebury home.

Kids VT: Can you give our readers a teaser about Small Spaces?

Katherine Arden: I love Vermont in the fall, with all the harvest festivals and pumpkins — that clichéd Vermont ... So I wrote in a corn maze and a haunted house. You know how many houses put scarecrows around them? Right at dusk, they’re really creepy. So I

wondered, What if a scarecrow moved? I’m a huge Goosebumps [series] fan, and I love atmosphere. The book isn’t gory, but more like, What’s under the bed?

KVT: Without spoiling the fast-paced plot, could you comment about the deeper themes in this book?

KA: I really think you need a personal journey in a book. I wanted Ollie to be a recognizable person beyond the one bad thing that happened to her, so that’s not her entire personality. The book is also about her sadness, her mourning and how she gets through. Middle school is a time when kids are put into little tiny boxes: the popular girl, the jock, into science or Dungeons & Dragons. I wanted to subvert the boxes a little. So Coco [Ollie’s classmate] is a pretty girl, but she’s not a popular girl.

KVT: The luminescent cover illustration was created by well-known London artist Matt Saunders, who also does artwork for J. K. Rowling’s Pottermore website.

KA: He’s one of the greatest. My editor thought Matt had a good vibe for the book, and he just jumped on it with this incredible drawing. He’s going to do the next book. I’m excited!

KVT: What’s your advice to aspiring authors?

KA: Finish what you start. Go beyond the first rush of excitement. You’ll learn more from finishing it up. Even on the days when you don’t like the book, keep putting words down. K

The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury hosts an open house for Katherine Arden on Friday, Oct. 26, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with an author meet-and-greet, book signing, party favors, treats and activities. Learn more about the author at katherinearden.com.

The Vermont Cub Project

Vermont Teddy Bears are more than fur & stuffing. Everyday we see Bears come to life in the arms of children, and we knew we needed to share this love with our fellow Vermonters. This is why we created The Vermont Cub Project.

Through this project, every Vermonter four years of age can come to our Bear Shop in Shelburne and pick up a FREE best friend (up to $39.99). Come be a part of this great new program today!

Visit VermontTeddyBear.com/cub-project to register!

Child’s Play

Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control?

BY ALISON NOVAK

Eleven-year-old Gabe Little is an articulate, polite sixth grader with a purple streak running through his dark brown hair. He’s a Boy Scout, a football player for the CSSU Buccaneers and a saxophonist in the Shelburne Community School band. Gabe is also an avid and enthusiastic video game player. His game of choice these days? Fortnite

If you have a school-age child, chances are you’ve heard of it. The multiplayer Battle Royale version of the free, online video game has attracted more than 125 million players since its September 2017 release.

In Fortnite, players are dropped from a flying bus into a brightly colored, cartoonish fantasy world populated by other players. The object of the game is to hunt and kill them all. The last one standing is the winner.

It’s less disturbing than it sounds.

On a recent school night, after tae kwon do practice, Gabe gave this reporter a Fortnite tutorial using the Xbox console hooked up to his living room TV. For this demonstration, he played in “solo mode,” working alone to defeat other randomly chosen opponents; he also likes to play in duo or squad mode, teaming up with friends who log in using their own devices.

Gabe’s avatar floated down to a location called Dusty Divot, aided by a special glider he purchased in the game’s shop. Though players don’t pay to download Fortnite, they can purchase items like the glider, or “skins,” which change the appearance of their avatars. Gabe has several of those. His favorite is the Dark Voyager — a black space suit with glowing orange embellishments.

As his avatar, wearing the Dark Voyager skin, descends on Dusty Divot, Gabe comments that his

landing spot “was actually just a warehouse until a giant meteor hit it.” He’s been playing Fortnite since January, long enough to see the world evolve over time.

Upon touchdown, he begins to open chests nearby in order to collect weapons and healing items, like bandages, that will help him in the battle. “I’m looting up,” he explains.

Then he’s o , barreling through the virtual world while narrating his actions.

“Right now, I’m in some unnamed house,” he says. When he encounters other players involved in a gun battle, he becomes more animated.

“There’s fighting,” he says, as he maneuvers his avatar to engage. “Oh, my God, he has the high ground on me,” he observes nervously. “That’s a huge advantage, but I’m just going to shoot his base down,” he continues as he fires his gun.

Then he sees his opponent’s weapon. “He has a grenade launcher,” he says, followed by, “Oh shoot, he got me.”

There’s no blood or gore when Gabe’s avatar dies. The character simply disappears. And just like that, after only a few minutes, his game is over. Gabe is briefly disappointed, but, like many of his peers, he’s eager to play again.

A 2018 study from the Pew Research Center finds that 97 percent of boys and 83 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 play video games. And a

2018 report from the Entertainment Software Association shows that 64 percent of U.S. households own a video gaming device.

This pastime can mystify parents who might not have grown up gaming, and worry those who see their kids spending hours sitting in front of a screen. What is it, exactly, that makes video games so compelling? And what can parents do to make sure gaming doesn’t get out of control?

Reaping Rewards

Marguerite Dibble, founder of Burlington-based game design company GameTheory and a 2012 graduate of the game art and animation program at Champlain College, is a local gaming expert. When Dibble was growing up in rural Landgrove, her mother wouldn’t let her have a Nintendo 64 gaming system. Dibble says her mom was worried that she

would spend all her time playing games.

“Video games felt like this alien, strange thing that she wasn’t familiar with,” the game designer explains. And many games are, indeed, designed to suck players in for as much time as possible, she adds. It’s understandable that this can feel “scary” and “nefarious” to parents.

But Dibble sees things di erently. She’s spent a lot of time thinking about gaming’s appeal. In a 2014 TEDx Talk, available on YouTube, Dibble speaks about the “ingredients” that make video games fun for people of all ages. If we understand the ways in which games motivate people psychologically, she asserts, we can

apply these tools to other arenas, like government and education.

For example, Dibble’s team has created a game that explains the complex political concept of gerrymandering. (Full disclosure: Playing it is worth 10 points in Kids VT’s Good Citizen Challenge. And Kids VT partnered with Dibble in 2013 to create Runo , an educational game about stormwater pollution.)

According to Dibble, one ingredient in successful games is reward, meaning an action leads to a reaction. “As humans beings, we love this,” she says in her talk. “We want to know that what we do produces results.”

It’s the principle behind even the simplest of baby toys, like a rattle. And it’s why it’s so satisfying for Gabe to open a chest in Fortnite and find a rocket launcher or rifle.

Other ingredients that make video games engaging, she says, include surprise, challenge, mastery, status, cooperation, competition, collection, construction and, crucially, identity. “Identity is all about defining ourselves through specification,”

Dibble explains. “When you create an avatar in a game, that’s what it’s all about.”

Fortnite capitalizes on this aspect. Its game store sells skins and “emotes,” which enable avatars to perform silly poses and dance moves — as well as items like gliders, backpacks and pickaxes, which allow players to customize their appearance. The items in the store change nightly at 8 p.m., which adds to the allure.

In addition to building a player’s identity, these items make loads of money for Fortnite’s creator, Epic Games — more than $1 billion to date, according to research firm SuperData

Research. Gabe estimates he’s spent roughly $160 of his own cash — some of which he earns mowing his dad’s lawn — on di erent skins. “If you have a cool skin in a popular game, it makes you feel good,” he says.

Gabe’s mom, Samantha Little, admits it can be frustrating that her son spends his money in the virtual world. But, she continues, Gabe “is adamant that it is worth it … and I leave the choice up to him.” Even if he ends up regretting it, she says, it’s a good lesson in money management.

Video games can also provide kids with the opportunity to show agency at a time in their lives when many decisions are dictated for them, says Ben Wiley, an instructor of game production management at Champlain College who has worked in marketing for the gaming industry.

“It is something in your life that you choose to do, even if everything in your life feels out of control,” he notes. Other rewarding aspects of video games, he says, include having an achievable goal to work toward; a set of rules, which lead to coming up with creative solutions; and feedback that lets you know when you’re successful. In most games, the player is building social connections as well, says Wiley, noting that he’s met people through video games who have become reallife friends.

For Gabe, the ability to play with his friends is one of his favorite aspects of Fortnite. Sometimes he uses a texting group chat to arrange to meet peers in the virtual world after school or dinner.

Samantha, who also has a 9-yearold son, Gavin, points to the social benefits of gaming, as well. “Honestly, I do think the positive of online video

games is the togetherness of it all … They are interacting and strategizing, sometimes for themselves and sometimes working together as a team. I see them share tools and weapons and even give helpful tips to other players from time to time. Oftentimes, during a boy sleepover at my house, all seven or eight boys will be quietly playing on their own device, but turns out they’re all playing together.”

Your Move, Mom and Dad

Not all the news about video gaming is positive. In June, the World Health Organization made headlines when it identified gaming disorder as a mental health condition (see “System Overload” sidebar, page 22). And a recent police sting in New Jersey resulted in the arrest of 24 men for allegedly trying to arrange meetings with kids, in some cases through online games like Fortnite.

Dr. David Rettew, director of the pediatric psychiatry clinic at the University of Vermont Medical Center, says he sees many kids who “spend a huge amount of time on video games.”

He’s careful, though, not to write o the activity. “Older generations are always saying that the younger generation is going to hell in a handbasket,” he says. It’s been true since parents griped that their kids were listening to Elvis Presley.

He o ers another analogy: “I play golf. People say, ‘You spend half a day hitting a non-moving ball into a cup.’ I think you can argue that a lot of what people do for fun doesn’t have tremendous inherent value.”

Still, medical and gaming experts agree: It’s important to understand what your kids are doing when they go down to the basement to play

Fortnite, or whatever their favorite game may be.

Says Dibble: By simply asking your kids, “Can I play with you a minute? I want to see how this works. This seems cool and interesting,” parents will get a window into what the game is actually like and whether there is something to be concerned about — whether it’s violence or characters being represented in a stereotypical or sexist way.

When parents understand what their kids are playing, “if you get into the position of needing to limit it, you’re in a much better space because you sort of get it,” says Rettew.

Another way to get a sense of di erent video games is by watching others play them. Jamie Danaher, who owns the Vermont Gaming Academy in the University Mall in South Burlington, advises parents to check out YouTube or video game streaming site Twitch to watch the game their child wants to play for 15 or 20 minutes to “get a realistic impression of what that game is going to look like … You’re going to make up your mind pretty soon whether or not it’s something you want your child to play,” he says.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which rates games much like movies, is another resource, says Wiley of Champlain College. Ratings include E for Everyone, E 10+ for ages 10 and up, T for teens ages 13 and up, M for mature players ages 17 and up, and A for adults. Parents can visit esrb.org and search for a game to get its rating, as well as a brief summary explaining it.

Fortnite, for instance, is rated T because of the violence: “Battles are highlighted by frequent gunfire, explosions and cries of pain,” reads the review.

The positive of online video games is the togetherness of it all. They are interacting and strategizing … working together as a team.

SAMANTHA LITTLE

CHILD’S PLAY

CONTINUED FROM P. 21

Another consideration, especially when it comes to multiplayer games, is whether kids are being exposed to toxic language or views — or even online predators. Like most online multiplayer games, Fortnite enables players to talk to each other. Danaher says he’s heard of cases of adults asking for kids’ email addresses, then soliciting photographs, personal information and even parents’ credit card numbers .

Samantha Little says she’s talked to Gabe about not disclosing any personal information to fellow gamers, and she periodically swipes his headset — which he uses to communicate with other Fortnite players — to ensure that there’s no vulgar language

or taunting. “It’s a sneak attack, and it really keeps the boys in line, knowing that they need to be appropriate and only play with others who are behaving similarly,” she explains.

For TV, movies, social media and video game usage for school-age children and adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents “place consistent limits on hours per day of media use as well as types of media used.”

Dr. Rettew recommends enforcing these limits starting when kids are young. “If you ignore it and now you have a 16-year-old spending every waking hour” playing video games, he says, “it’s kind of hard to institute some kind of martial law.”

One way to manage screen time is through devices such as Circle, which enable parents to set a time limit on di erent apps, block websites and disconnect the internet. Dr. David Greenfield, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the founder and chief clinical o cer of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., endorses this approach. Parents shouldn’t leave it to their kids to monitor their own screen time use, because “everyone who looks at screens disassociates or time distorts,” he says. This means they might believe they’ve been playing

Minecraft for 30 minutes when it’s actually been two hours.

When it comes to video games, Dr. Greenfield stresses that — just like watching TV or eating chocolate cream pie — it’s all about moderation. “If you can play a video game and it can enhance the quality of your life simply because you’re enjoying it, I think that’s wonderful,” he says. Dibble agrees. She recalls that when she was 13, she was an avid gamer, but she also loved reading books and going outside and walking her dogs. “I think it’s just important to help encourage kids to find that balance,” she says, “and see that there is a lot of value in all these di erent parts of life.”

SYSTEM OVERLOAD: VIDEO GAME ADDICTION

The World Health Organization identified gaming disorder as a mental health condition in its most recent International Classification of Diseases. To be diagnosed with it, a person has to show a pattern of behavior for at least 12 months in which gaming is out of control; the pattern of behavior must show an “increased priority given to gaming” so that gaming “takes precedence over other interests and daily activities;” and there must be a “continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

The classification was met with some pushback. A group of several dozen psychologists published a rebuttal in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions stating that, though there could be benefits to formalizing gaming disorder, the new classification

“lacks the necessary scientific support and sufficient clinical utility” to justify the diagnosis. In the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, internet

gaming disorder is classified as a condition for further research.

Dr. David Greenfield, founder and chief clinical officer of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., has been studying and treating patients for technology addiction for more than 20 years. He acknowledges that there isn’t yet consensus on the criteria that constitute gaming disorder, but based on his clinical work, he says, “I have no doubt that there is a phenomenon with regard to the internet and how it is used and abused, and that it’s addictive … Bottom line, if you’re a doctor and you have a patient who walks into your office, you’re going to treat them, not turn them away until there’s an agreedupon diagnosis.”

Since he began treating internet addiction — which includes addiction to video games — in the 1990s, Greenfield says there’s been at least a 1,000 percent increase in the number of cases he’s seen.

The majority of patients he treats for video game addiction are in their mid- to late teens or early twenties. He attributes this to several factors. Up until around age 25, he explains, people have less development of their brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, which is associated with executive skills and higher-order judgment, and they have a more sensitive limbic system, or mammalian brain, which is associated with emotion and addiction. This makes adolescents more prone to “develop disorders that are pleasureoriented.”

Additionally, when people become gamers as adults, they’re more likely to have already developed life skills that have enabled them to do things like hold down a job or get through college. In contrast, teens haven’t learned these skills yet, and

so they are more likely to develop what he calls “reward deficiency syndrome.” Essentially, video games are so stimulating that everyday activities like schoolwork feel boring in comparison.

Dr. David Rettew, a child psychiatrist at UVM Medical Center, underscores this point. “There’s some evidence that video games kind of reset your brain arousal level,” he says, “so if you’re spending six hours a day in simulated combat and there are all these sights and all these sounds … that’s the level of stimulation it takes to get you to pay attention.”

Another common worry about video games, says Rettew, is whether playing them will make kids more aggressive. There is some evidence that video games can desensitize kids to violence or create a lack of empathy, he says, but the link between engaging in simulated combat and real-life violence is weak.

Both experts agree that the vast majority of young people can play video games without becoming addicted to them.

“People need to be aware that there’s a variability in response, just like with alcohol or cannabis,” says Rettew. “There are people who can use these things and not get into trouble, and there are people who get into trouble.”

Kids who struggle socially, who have aggressive feelings and who have attention problems are likely more prone to becoming addicted to gaming, says Rettew. Data also show it’s more of a “male problem,” which Rettew attributes to both genetic and cultural factors.

Greenfield says he can’t remember the last time he treated a female patient for video game addiction and that around 90 percent of patients he’s treated for the condition also have ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. —AN

Video games are so stimulating that everyday activities like schoolwork feel boring in comparison.

KIDS JUST FOR

A Clockwork Pumpkin

From the secret notebook of rodent scholar and inventor Elon Muskrat

“ L

ooking at that other smart watch, I kept thinking that it wasn’t packed with nearly enough functions. How can I, Elon Muskrat, tiny genius, make it perfect?

And then it dawned on me: We’re gonna need a bigger fruit!

Like those other devices, the pumpkin watch tells time, it’s a computer, it’s a game console, it plays music, and it takes photos. But it also does your homework, brushes your hair and makes your

bed! And when you’re really hungry, just pull out one of the wedges and you have an instant slice of yummy pumpkin pie (optional whipped cream dispenser: $100 extra).

So, as smart as I am, I can’t figure out why I can’t sell even one of these beauties. Can you help me?

I mean, what’s the problem, people?”

Why can’t Elon Muskrat sell any pumpkin watches?

ANSWER P. 47

BY MARC NADEL

KIDS JUST FOR

Writing Contest

At the end of October, families celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating. Tell us about your best Halloween ever. What did you wear? What kind of treats did you get? What did you do to celebrate? Feel free to write in poem or paragraph form.

COLORING CONTEST WINNERS

SPONSORED BY

A marvelous mixture of pooches perked up our mailbox this month. Nine-year-old Lyndsey designed a supercool disco dog wearing dark sunglasses, with a spinning sparkly ball overhead. Leanora, 5, colored the cutest brown pup, surrounded by little bubbles filled with expressions of love. Franklin, 7, titled his artwork — a black-spotted canine sporting a long beard — “Old Man Dog.” Have a festive foliage season, kids, and mail us your most magnificent artwork this month.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“DOG”

Connor Yefchak, 4, Montpelier

“CAMOUFLAGE PUPPY POWER”

Tessa Lynch, 7, Essex Junction

“STRIPED DOG”

Shiloh Skalka, 8, Burlington

“WINTER SUNSET”

Lark Woodward, 9, South Burlington

“PUPPY DOG”

Michael Bell Jr., 11, St. Johnsbury

“A DOG IN A HAWAIIAN SHIRT”

Maxwell Hornus, 6, Williston

“STELLA THE DOG”

Aspen Long, 5, Cabot

We’ll pick two winners and publish their names and entries in the next issue. Winners receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop Deadline to enter is October 15. Send your entries to: Kids VT, attn: Writing Contest, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

WRITING WINNERS

In our September issue, we asked kids to tell us about what they’re excited for as they begin a new school year. Below, find the winning entries. Amelia and Cristo each receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington.

MANCHESTER

Amelia VanDriesche, 12 BURLINGTON

Home Outdooors Music

Epic Sun Curious Happy Out in the sun bOoks Love HOMESCHOOLING

“GINGER DOG”

Arlo Kiviranna, 4, Waitsfield

“RAPUNZEL DEXTER DOG”

Liliveve Cueto, 5, St. Albans

“JEFFREY”

Kinsley Maxfield, 10, Highgate

“HIPPIE DOG”

Amelia Friot, 9, Worcester

“LEOPARD DOG”

Jack Sharkey, 6, Colchester

TOP TITLES

“A WALK IN THE CLOUDS”

Tori Barria, 4, Colchester

“GALACTA DOGGY”

Laurel Slagle, 11, Barre Town

“DOG-ICORN”

Mia Johnson, 8, Huntington

The winners of annual family memberships to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium are…

Cristo Buckley, 12

Going back to school, So I won’t grow old and be a fool, I got to see all my friends, But I couldn’t choose my favorite, I have so many of them, I love my new teachers, They are the best school leaders.

Coloring Contest!

Three winners will each receive an annual family membership to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Send Kids VT your work of art by October 15. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6 to 8 and (3) ages 9 to 12. Winners will be named in the November issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@ kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Sponsored by

Jumble

BY DAVID L. HOYT & JEFF KNUREK

The letters of these crazy words are all mixed up. To play the game, put them back into the right order so that they make real words you can find in your dictionary. Write the letters of each real word under each crazy word, but only one letter to a square.

FELIX lives in Burlington and turns 2 on October 26. He loves race cars, bulldozers, and dancing to classical and ’90s hip-hop music. He’s going to be a dinosaur for Halloween this year.

Felix wins an assortment of children’s books.

Congratulations to these October Birthday Club winners! Join the Club!

To enter, submit information using the online form at kidsvt.com/ birthday-club.

You are now ready to solve this month’s Jumble for Kids. Study the picture for a hint. Then play around with the letters in the circles. You’ll find you can put them in order so that they make your funny answer.

Print your answer here:

Puzzles4Kids

BY HELENA HOVANEC

CrissCross — RHYMES WITH “ME” Each word will fit into one spot in the grid. Use the starting letters as a guide, and fit each word into its spot. All words will be used, so cross off each one after you put it into the grid.

3 LETTERS GEE KEY SKI

4 LETTERS FLEE KIWI LILY PLEA PONY RUBY ZANY

5 LETTERS AGREE FERRY SCARY YUMMY

6 LETTERS EIGHTY WORTHY YIPPEE

7 LETTERS CLOSELY REFEREE RETIREE

8 LETTERS CAREFREE CHICKPEA

IAN lives in Wallingford and turns 4 on October 2. He enjoys playing with trucks, cars and trains, and digging in the dirt. He loves spending time with his new puppy, Shadow, and hopes to be a big truck driver when he grows up.

ARIANA recently moved from Williston to Massachusetts and turns 6 on October 2. She loves to draw and make people laugh. She also enjoys tae kwon do, swimming and ballet.

Just give us your contact info, your children’s names and birth dates, and a photo, and they’re automatically enrolled.

Ian, Ariana and Graham each win a children’s book.

GRAHAM lives in Montpelier and turn 6 on October 17. He is happiest when he’s outside catching butterflies and moths, knee-deep in mud, or building contraptions in the yard out of stuff salvaged from free piles. He loves his cat, Max; riding his bike; and listening to books.

Auditions held Saturday, November 10, noon-3 p.m. on the Higher Ground stage. Live show takes place in December.

To participate you must try out in front of a panel of judges. Visit kidsvt.com/talentshow to register your act.

Home Schooled

Teens build houses in Essex tech program

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

When they graduate from high school, students enrolled in the residential building class at the Center for Technology, Essex, will have something other than a diploma to show for their work: a 2,900 square-foot, four bedroom, two-and-a-half bath colonial. They’re installing Sheetrock in it now.

The house, at 28 Taft Street in Essex Junction, is expected to be ready for sale in early June. Students in the Essex program — with help from professional, licensed contractors — build one house every two years. The Taft Street home is the 25th Essex tech students have constructed to sell. They have built all of the homes on Taft and nine on neighboring Drury Drive. “So, we’ve actually built a neighborhood of houses right next to our tech center,” said principal/director Bob Travers. “They’re monuments to all of the students we’ve had in the past,” said Travers, who likes to point out that his school, via the home sales, actually contributes to its own tax base.

The Essex tech center is one of five in Vermont that builds houses on site, according to Jay Ramsey, the state director for career technical education. Three other tech centers build modular houses in their shops, and three have built tiny houses. Home-building classes, like career and technical education in general,

provide a context for academics and a means to try out careers without accumulating student loan debt, Ramsey said.

“Many individuals have used college as the exploration opportunity,” he said. “And it’s kind of expensive to do that.”

Vermont has 17 career and technical centers, and is one of only a handful of states to have regional tech centers, rather than tech education at individual high schools. Essex’s tech center, for example, serves eight high schools in Chittenden County, as well as Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax in Franklin County.

Collectively, the centers offer a wide range of classes, including forestry and natural resources, criminal justice, auto body repair, aviation and aerospace technology, dental assisting, and cosmetology. If the center in your region doesn’t offer the class you want, you can take it at another center. Last year, 30 percent of Vermont 11th and 12th graders took at least one class at a tech center. Some classes award both high school and college credits and hours toward professional licenses.

Students in Essex’s Building Technology: Residential class earn six high school credits, CPR and First Aid certifications, as well as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-hour card, awarded upon completion of OSHA’s

10-hour safety course. The class is open to juniors and seniors; 21 are enrolled this year. Two aren’t working on the house; they have full-time co-op jobs, one with Omega Electric Construction and the other with Bread Loaf Corporation. For the other 19, class starts in a low slung, metalsided building at the end of a gravel drive.

On a recent Friday, dates for upcoming events, including school picture make-up day, OSHA training and the tech center’s open house, were projected on a screen under the

motto, “Safety First, Quality Second, Quantity Last.”

After announcements, instructors Chris Welch and Matt Bruneau got to the business of the day. A load of half-inch Sheetrock had arrived the day before, and students would start installing it on the second-floor walls. Bruneau, whiteboard marker in hand, asked the class to name the tasks involved in installing drywall.

“Fastening,” someone said.

Bruneau wrote it on the board.

“That’s a job; what’s another one?”

“Measuring,” came an answer.

PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK

Essex High School senior Mustaf Mohamed uses a surform rasp to make drywall flush with a door frame

Essex tech instructor Chris Welch (left) reviews the morning’s progress with students at the home they are building in Essex Junction

“Measuring, cutting; what else?” Bruneau asked. Welch offered a hint. He and Bruneau stood together at the front of the room, effortlessly dovetailing their instruction. Welch has worked in information technology and built houses with Habitat for Humanity, as well as his own home. Bruneau is a former housing contractor who has built three houses by himself.

Think about the upper piece of Sheetrock going on a wall, Welch told the kids. What does it require? And Bruneau got the answer he was looking for: “Holding it.”

The students — 17 boys and two girls — listened attentively. They wore work clothes, some in sneakers and T-shirts; others in steel-toe or composite-toe boots and carpenter pants. Baseball-style caps and camo dotted the room.

They would divide into groups at the house. Bruneau listed the tools each group would need and the tools they would share. Welch told them to install Sheetrock on exterior walls first because once interior walls are up, it’s harder to move Sheetrock around. Bruneau drew diagrams to illustrate how to stagger the panels and where to put the screws, and he suggested a technique for cutting out windows. Then he collected everyone’s cellphone — fewer distractions promote safety on a job site — and the class left the building, walked on a grassy path, past community gardens and the forestry and horticulture program’s apple orchard, to the construction trailer parked in the driveway at 28 Taft Street.

Last year’s class worked with students in the Natural Resources: Mechanical and Small Engines program to prepare the site. A contractor dug the basement, then students helped a concrete contractor frame up the foundation and footings. Other work — plumbing, electrical and roofing — was also done by licensed contractors (the roofer is an Essex tech alum), with students assisting whenever possible. Students framed the house, built floors and walls, and installed windows, doors and insulation. They even got the vinyl siding installed, a task that had been scheduled for this school year.

“We’re a little ahead of the game right now,” Welch said. This year’s students will build a deck and two sheds so they can get framing experience.

On that September Friday, they gathered tools from the trailer, tightened construction belts and put on safety glasses. Crews in each room measured and marked the location of windows, light switches and outlets on the drywall. In no time, the bzzt of impact drivers firing screws into studs filled the house. In the second bedroom, three students held an 11-foot, 10-and-a-half-inch length of Sheetrock flush to the ceiling while Essex High School senior Matt Russell climbed the ladder with an impact driver. Bzzt! A screw flew into the top right corner.

“Whoa, Matt! There’s something sticking out in the wall there,” Essex senior Keshon Peters said. A small object had cut through the Sheetrock.

“No putty will fix that,” said Phillip Danis, 17, who is homeschooled in Essex. “I would suggest, take it down.” Matt put the impact driver in reverse, and the rest of the crew, which also included Winooski High School junior Sharmake Ali, lowered the panel to the floor.

Maynard all want to be electricians. Colchester High School senior Dylan Roberge has already accumulated 450 hours toward the 8,000 needed to test for a journeyworker electrician’s license. Josh Walp of Mount Mansfield Union High School said he’s considering becoming an electrician or a plumber.

There’s room for another 13 houses on this parcel, which is owned by CTE Corporation, the nonprofit that

of the Gardner Group and co-owner of Re/Max North Professionals. “You couldn’t have a construction company and sell one house every two years.”

Ron and Judith Frey bought the Taft Street ranch students completed five years ago. “I think it was sort of a plus that we were helping the school and the kids out,” Ron said.

A nail protruded from the top of the wall. The team pounded it down, flush with the frame, then raised the Sheetrock again.

Students take this class for a variety of reasons. Phillip wants to travel and work in interesting locations.

“It’s great paying work if you know what you’re doing, and you can get a job almost anywhere,” he said.

Keshon wants to enlist in the Marine Corps. He took the class to learn life skills and to get out from behind a desk. “It’s nice learning this way,” he said.

Sharmake and Essex High’s Noelle Rosberg want to build their own homes. South Burlington High School senior Brandon Posey, Burlington High School senior Elliot Maher and Milton High School senior Ethan

finances the home-building program. The last house to be completed, in 2016, was designed to be a net zero house, able to operate off the grid. Solar panels on the roof can generate enough energy to meet the home’s power demands, walls are nearly one foot thick and special insulation and windows were installed.

The three-bedroom ranch with a walkout basement sold for $431,700, not a first-time homeowner price, said Rich Gardner, the real estate agent who handled the sale. “It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids. It’s a house that’s professionally built with kids that are part of the process . . . They are well-built homes,” he said.

Students probably spend more time talking about details than commercial builders, said Gardner, owner

The home is well insulated and has an energy-efficient design, Judy said. It was inspected and came with a one-year guarantee. If anything went wrong, students would fix it. The couple had some minor plumbing problems. “But that wasn’t done by a student; that was done by a contractor,” Ron pointed out, and the plumber made repairs. “The things that the students did, we didn’t have any problem with.” When the couple wanted a shed and a ramp to make their home wheelchair-accessible, they hired Essex tech students to build both.

At the start of past school years, when building instructors wanted to show their students what their work would produce, they took them to the Freys’ home for a tour, and Judith baked them cookies.

“I think building a house as part of a high school program is unique,” said career technical education director Ramsey. It’s “certainly a point of pride for students to be able to sit in a car with their parents and drive through this neighborhood and say, ‘Look, I’m building that.’” K

It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids . . . They are well-built homes. REAL ESTATE AGENT RICH GARDNER

Essex High School senior Keshon Peters (left) and instructor Chris Welch discuss the measurements needed to cut ceiling drywall to fit around a corner

“Measuring, cutting; what else?” Bruneau asked. Welch offered a hint. He and Bruneau stood together at the front of the room, effortlessly dovetailing their instruction. Welch has worked in information technology and built houses with Habitat for Humanity, as well as his own home. Bruneau is a former housing contractor who has built three houses by himself.

Think about the upper piece of Sheetrock going on a wall, Welch told the kids. What does it require? And Bruneau got the answer he was looking for: “Holding it.”

The students — 17 boys and two girls — listened attentively. They wore work clothes, some in sneakers and T-shirts; others in steel-toe or composite-toe boots and carpenter pants. Baseball-style caps and camo dotted the room.

They would divide into groups at the house. Bruneau listed the tools each group would need and the tools they would share. Welch told them to install Sheetrock on exterior walls first because once interior walls are up, it’s harder to move Sheetrock around. Bruneau drew diagrams to illustrate how to stagger the panels and where to put the screws, and he suggested a technique for cutting out windows. Then he collected everyone’s cellphone — fewer distractions promote safety on a job site — and the class left the building, walked on a grassy path, past community gardens and the forestry and horticulture program’s apple orchard, to the construction trailer parked in the driveway at 28 Taft Street.

Last year’s class worked with students in the Natural Resources: Mechanical and Small Engines program to prepare the site. A contractor dug the basement, then students helped a concrete contractor frame up the foundation and footings. Other work — plumbing, electrical and roofing — was also done by licensed contractors (the roofer is an Essex tech alum), with students assisting whenever possible. Students framed the house, built floors and walls, and installed windows, doors and insulation. They even got the vinyl siding installed, a task that had been scheduled for this school year.

“We’re a little ahead of the game right now,” Welch said. This year’s students will build a deck and two sheds so they can get framing experience.

On that September Friday, they gathered tools from the trailer, tightened construction belts and put on safety glasses. Crews in each room measured and marked the location of windows, light switches and outlets on the drywall. In no time, the bzzt of impact drivers firing screws into studs filled the house. In the second bedroom, three students held an 11-foot, 10-and-a-half-inch length of Sheetrock flush to the ceiling while Essex High School senior Matt Russell climbed the ladder with an impact driver. Bzzt! A screw flew into the top right corner.

“Whoa, Matt! There’s something sticking out in the wall there,” Essex senior Keshon Peters said. A small object had cut through the Sheetrock.

“No putty will fix that,” said Phillip Danis, 17, who is homeschooled in Essex. “I would suggest, take it down.” Matt put the impact driver in reverse, and the rest of the crew, which also included Winooski High School junior Sharmake Ali, lowered the panel to the floor.

Maynard all want to be electricians. Colchester High School senior Dylan Roberge has already accumulated 450 hours toward the 8,000 needed to test for a journeyworker electrician’s license. Josh Walp of Mount Mansfield Union High School said he’s considering becoming an electrician or a plumber.

There’s room for another 13 houses on this parcel, which is owned by CTE Corporation, the nonprofit that

of the Gardner Group and co-owner of Re/Max North Professionals. “You couldn’t have a construction company and sell one house every two years.”

Ron and Judith Frey bought the Taft Street ranch students completed five years ago. “I think it was sort of a plus that we were helping the school and the kids out,” Ron said.

A nail protruded from the top of the wall. The team pounded it down, flush with the frame, then raised the Sheetrock again.

Students take this class for a variety of reasons. Phillip wants to travel and work in interesting locations.

“It’s great paying work if you know what you’re doing, and you can get a job almost anywhere,” he said.

Keshon wants to enlist in the Marine Corps. He took the class to learn life skills and to get out from behind a desk. “It’s nice learning this way,” he said.

Sharmake and Essex High’s Noelle Rosberg want to build their own homes. South Burlington High School senior Brandon Posey, Burlington High School senior Elliot Maher and Milton High School senior Ethan

finances the home-building program. The last house to be completed, in 2016, was designed to be a net zero house, able to operate off the grid. Solar panels on the roof can generate enough energy to meet the home’s power demands, walls are nearly one foot thick and special insulation and windows were installed.

The three-bedroom ranch with a walkout basement sold for $431,700, not a first-time homeowner price, said Rich Gardner, the real estate agent who handled the sale. “It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids. It’s a house that’s professionally built with kids that are part of the process . . . They are well-built homes,” he said.

Students probably spend more time talking about details than commercial builders, said Gardner, owner

The home is well insulated and has an energy-efficient design, Judy said. It was inspected and came with a one-year guarantee. If anything went wrong, students would fix it. The couple had some minor plumbing problems. “But that wasn’t done by a student; that was done by a contractor,” Ron pointed out, and the plumber made repairs. “The things that the students did, we didn’t have any problem with.” When the couple wanted a shed and a ramp to make their home wheelchair-accessible, they hired Essex tech students to build both.

At the start of past school years, when building instructors wanted to show their students what their work would produce, they took them to the Freys’ home for a tour, and Judith baked them cookies.

“I think building a house as part of a high school program is unique,” said career technical education director Ramsey. It’s “certainly a point of pride for students to be able to sit in a car with their parents and drive through this neighborhood and say, ‘Look, I’m building that.’” K

It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids . . . They are well-built homes. REAL ESTATE AGENT RICH GARDNER

Essex High School senior Keshon Peters (left) and instructor Chris Welch discuss the measurements needed to cut ceiling drywall to fit around a corner

Halloweeeeeeening!

At HALLOWEEN HOWL, kids and their caregivers, dressed up in awesome costumes, venture through a FreakyFairytales-themed haunted walk, hop on a hayride, dance to spooky tunes, get their fortunes told and have a blast with fun fall games. Saturday, October 27, 2-6 p.m., Oakledge Park, Burlington.

21

National Chemistry Week Kick-Off Weekend: Curious families spark their imaginations with surprising experiments, hands-on activities and science shows. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington.

Mad River Valley Trick or Trot: Goblins, ghosts and princesses lace up for an 11:30 a.m. 3K or 5K run or walk, with festive Halloween music and decorations. A fall jamboree follows, featuring food, music, games and a costume parade. Warren School, Warren.

CALENDAR

2 Tuesday

ADDISON

OCTOBER

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet and Groton host consecutive town parties, jammed with art exhibits, crafts, hayrides and hearty fall fare. Check nekchamber.com for specific info. Various locations, Northeast Kingdom. Info, 748-3678.

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: Fledgling architects construct collaboratively with colorful blocks. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 3-5 p.m. Info, 472-5948. FREE

CHITTENDEN

‘Awaken: The Spirit of Autism’: Made by a local 11th-grader, this documentary engages the audience with interviews of students on the spectrum, allowing viewers to see beyond a label. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: Young artists involve their imaginations with interesting materials. Kids under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:15-4:45 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Dorothy’s List Book Club: Middle readers make merry conversation around a DCF pick. Call the library for the title. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Classes

List your class or camp here for only $20 per month! Submit the listing by October 15 at kidsvt.com or to classes@kidsvt.com.

AFTER SCHOOL DANCE CAMP: Movement artist and educator Madeline Warriner directs Pentangle’s after-school dance camp. In this two-week camp, dancers will be fully immersed in a fun and challenging creative dance experience. Campers will take daily classes in Contemporary Modern Technique and Choreography, as well as other styles like Jazz and Hip-hop. Ages 9-14. $100/camper. MONDAY, NOV. 5, TO FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 3:30-5:30 P.M Final performance NOV. 16, 5:30 P.M., Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 31 The Green, Woodstock. Info, 457-3981, pentanglearts. org/afterschool-dance.

FRIDAY FAMILY CLAY: Spend a Friday night with your family at the BCA Clay Studio. A ticket provides a wheel demonstration at the beginning of class, wheel access (for ages 6+), hand building for any age, unlimited clay, and time to create. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may assist their child(ren) free of charge. Additional tickets are required for adults who’d like to join the fun and either hand build or use a wheel of their own. If you’d like your work to be fired and glazed by the studio, there is a $5 fee per piece. Finished pottery will be available for pickup three weeks after visit. All ages. Ticket purchases for this class are non-refundable. FRIDAYS, SEP. 21 TO NOV. 16, 5-7 P.M. $10 per participant, $9 BCA members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

EVOKIDS AND EVOBABIES YOGA CLASSES: Now in Burlington AND Essex Junction! Register now for our fall sessions of baby and kids yoga, ages 6 weeks to teen. Weekday and weekend classes available in both locations: Evolution Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington, and 37 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction. Info,  evolutionprenatalandfamily.com.

DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES: Students will create one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes that will blow away those store-bought costumes and impress their friends. Cut, sew, and craft your way to the best Halloween ever! Basic materials are provided; please bring two ideas of what you want to dress up as, and any material or old clothes to help create your costume. Students must also bring a bag lunch and snacks. Parents are invited to a costume parade at 3 p.m. Registration required. Ages 6-12. FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 8 A.M.-3 P.M. $75, $67.50

BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY: Tell your story with photographs in this eightweek session for high school students! Students will explore their ideas, go on group photo shoots, process and print digital photos and zines in our digital lab, experiment with film photography in our darkroom and participate in supportive discussions and critiques. All supplies and cameras provided. Ages 14-18. Scholarships are available. No experience required. FRIDAYS, OCT. 12 TO DEC. 7 (no class Nov. 23), 5-7:30 P.M. Instructors: Liza Semler & Renee Greenlee. $240/$216 BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Get creative and make art together! Families are invited to drop in to the BCA Center every third Saturday of the month to create their own artworks inspired by our current exhibitions. Each Family Art Saturday offers a different art-making project that will ignite the imaginations of your family members!

SATURDAYS, OCT. 20, NOV. 17, AND DEC. 15, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Free and open to the public. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

Spanish Musical Kids: Niños celebrate Latin American culture through tunes and games en español. Ages 1-5 with a caregiver. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Williston Lego Day: Kids create colorful creations with the library’s brick collection. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE

Winooski Lego Club: Budding builders bust out plastic-block creations with the weekly Lego challenge. Free meals available for ages 18 and under. Winooski Memorial Library, 3-6 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

RUTLAND

Chess Club: Strategists of all skill levels partner up for playing. Ages 6 and up. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3-4 p.m. Info, 422-9765. FREE

PRENATAL & POSTNATAL YOGA AND STRENGTH TRAINING CLASSES: Evolution

Prenatal Yoga Center now has two locations, Burlington and Essex Junction! Have a more comfortable pregnancy and prepare for birth with stretching, strengthening and relaxation — and then bring body back to balance and strength in our postnatal classes. Join our community at any point in your pregnancy, and 6 weeks or later in your postpartum time (until baby is crawling). No yoga experience necessary. $17/class, $140/10-class pass ($20 off if purchased on your first class), or $90/monthly unlimited. Evolution Prenatal Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington, and 37 Lincoln St., Essex Junction. Info,  evolutionprenatalandfamily.com

BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: The future of our nation lies in the courage, confidence and determination of its people. Our Kids BJJ Program promotes self-esteem, selfconfidence, character development and a physical outlet with discipline, cooperation with other children, respect for peers and adults, perseverance and a healthy lifestyle. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will help your kids to learn realistic bully-proofing and self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds endurance, patience and self-respect. Give your kids the ability to get stronger, gain confidence and build resilience! Our sole purpose is to help empower people by giving them practices they can carry with them throughout life. Remember you are raising children, not flowers. First class is free! Please stop by our school at 55 Leroy Road, Williston; call 598-2839; visit vermontbjj.com or email julio@bjjusa.com to register your son or daughter!

SUNDAY FAMILY PAINT: Spend an afternoon with our teaching artists in BCA’s painting and drawing studio. Using our paints, brushes, easels and more, your family will create beautiful works of art. All supplies are provided; no experience needed. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may assist their child(ren) free of charge. Additional tickets are required for adults who’d like to join the fun and paint on their own. All Ages. SUNDAYS, OCT. 14, NOV. 11, AND DEC. 2, 2-4 P.M. $10 per participant, $9 BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

WINDSOR

Norwich Lego Tuesdays: Imaginative architects bust out blocks and get busy. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Norwich Public Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 649-1184. FREE

Yoga for Girls: Girls ages 12 and up work on body awareness, posture alignment and core strength in a supportive and all-abilities setting. Bethel Moves, 3:30-4:45 p.m., $15. Info, 234-8902.

3 Wednesday

ADDISON

Middlebury Farmers Market: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies, eggs and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes. Middlebury VFW, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare are included. Weeklythrough January 16. The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, 6-8 p.m., preregister. Info, 498-0607. FREE

Family Game Day: Grownups and youngsters rally for a weekly round of tabletop fun. Free meals available for ages 18 and under. Winooski Memorial Library, 3-6 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

Five Corners Farmers Market: Downtown shoppers fill their baskets with locally grown fresh foods, agricultural products and handmade crafts. Five Corners, Essex Junction, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: Book buffs bring a selection from home or borrow from the library to amuse an attentive canine. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Yoga for Kids: Young yogis engage their energy and explore breathing exercises and relaxation poses with professional instructor Melissa from Evolution Yoga. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

FRANKLIN

Fit Moms: Expectant mamas work out together, preparing for labor with cardio, strength, stretching and breathing. Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Info, 288-1141. FREE

St. Albans Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills and gain practical tools to empower their families. Weeklythrough January 16. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., preregister; light dinner and childcare provided. Info, 498-0607. FREE

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: Local vendors peddle farm-fresh produce and fruits, handcrafted breads, artisan cheese and more at this outdoor emporium. Downtown Rutland, 3-6 p.m. Info, 342-4727.

ORANGE

Randolph Lego Wednesdays: Aspiring architects construct creatively while chatting. Kimball Public Library, Randolph, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 728-5073. FREE

SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM

WASHINGTON

Maker Program: Crafty kiddos dig into di erent projects using the library’s materials and mentoring. Ages 8-11. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 244-7036. FREE

WINDSOR

Woodstock Market on the Green: Fresh vegetables, farm eggs, local meats and cheeses, cut flowers, and seasonal fruits and berries represent the best of the growing season, with the accompaniment of live music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Info, 457-3555.

4 Thursday

ADDISON

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Lego Club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with interlocking toys. Ages 6-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Milton Giant Veggie Growing Contest: Enormous garden goods compete for the heaviest title. Milton Farmers Market, 3:30-7 p.m. Info, 893-4922.

Live Performances

WINOOSKI WEDNESDAYS: City folks sprawl out in the evening with live music, downtown specials and free meals for kids under 18. Rain location is Monkey House. Rotary Park, Winooski, FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 6-8 P.M.; food and drink available to purchase. Info, 777-1621.

Art,

JASON BISHOP: MAGIC AND ILLUSION: This world-traveling magician makes the audience marvel with sleightof-hand tricks, grand illusions and close-up magic projected onto a huge movie screen. Ages 6 and up. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 7 P.M. $35-50. Info, 760-4634.

‘THE SNOW QUEEN’: Young thespians mesmerize the audience with Hans Christian Andersen’s spellbinding adventure story of a wicked queen, talking ravens, a prince and princess, a wild robber-girl, and a brave reindeer. Rutland Intermediate School, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 7 P.M., AND SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 2 & 7 P.M., $6-8. Info, 558-4177.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA RUG CONCERT: Young classical music lovers meet instruments, composers and singers in an intimate and child-friendly setting. Ages 5 and under with caregivers. First Congregational Church, St. Albans, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, NOON-1 P.M. preregister. Info, 524-4555. FREE

‘WHO WANTS TO BE A VAUDEVILLIANAIRE?’: Performers of all abilities and interests take to the stage for an evening of comedy, magic, music and mayhem, competing to perform in the 10th-anniversary Vermont Vaudeville shows the following weekend. Hardwick Town House, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 7:30 P.M., suggested donation $10. Info, 472-1387.

‘ANIMAL FARM’: Based on George Orwell’s 1945 novel, this performance captivates the audience with the story of the animals on Mr. Jones’ farm who plot to overtake the humans in charge and create a utopia. Grades 5-12. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 10 A.M., $8. Info, 728-9878.

VERMONT VAUDEVILLE: Celebrating their 10th anniversary, old-school entertainment combines with cutting-edge music, acrobatic stunts and comedy for a one-of-a-kind theater experience. Food truck Miso Hungry serves up hot and savory fare.

Hardwick Town House, THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 7:30 P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 7:30 P.M. AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2 & 7:30 P.M., $8-15, preregister. Info, 472-1387.

IAIN MACHARG ON THE SCOTTISH

BAGPIPES: Founder of the Celtic rock bands Whiskey Before Breakfast and Prydein and the Catamount Pipe Band, this acclaimed local musician makes a merry evening for the audience. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 7 P.M., $8-10; free for children; proceeds benefit youth services. Info, 426-3581.

October

Ensuring Equity in Our Schools

Workshops by National Experts • Capitol Plaza, Montpelier

NOVEMBER 1 & 2 • $75

Equity Literacy Approach: Becoming a Threat to Inequity in Classrooms and Schools*

With Paul Gorski, writer, professor, and founder of EdChange, a team of passionate, experienced educators dedicated to educational equity and justice

MARCH 19, 2019 • $35

Confronting Gender-Based Inequity in Classrooms and Schools

With Ellen Tuzzulo and S. Leigh Thompson, working together to facilitate exploration and dialogue about equity, diversity, and inclusion

APRIL 12, 2019 • $35

Whose Country Is This?

Race, Racism, and Refugee Status in America

With Taharee Jackson, assistant professor, author, and facilitator of inclusive schooling practices and policies

MAY 15, 2019 • $35

Reaching & Teaching Students in Poverty - Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap

With Paul Gorski

* Attendance at Nov. 1 & 2 are prerequisites for the other workshops

4 THURSDAY, P.35

Jason Bishop

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Halloween Happenings

5K GLOW RUN: The spooky season kicks off with runners dressed in illuminated costumes, followed by prizes, music and merriment. Kids’ free glow run starts at 5 p.m. at Taylor Park. Taylor Park, St. Albans, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 5:30-8 P.M., $25-35; preregister. Info, 524-1500.

NIGHTMARE VERMONT: This interactive, theatrical haunted house scars the socks off visitors. Ages 13 and up. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, THURSDAY, OCT. 18, 7-9

P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 7-10 P.M., SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 6-10:30 P.M., THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 7-9:30 P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 7-10:30 P.M. AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 6-10:30 P.M., $12-15; a portion of proceeds donated to charitable causes. Info, 878-5545.

5/10K TRICK OR TROT: Costumed runners lace up for a trail run, featuring guest speaker and runner Newton Baker, accomplished athlete and child advocate, followed by maple creemees, kettle corn, and prizes for race categories and costumes. Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 9 A.M.-1 P.M., $20-60, preregister; proceeds benefit YWCA Vermont Camp Hochelaga. Info, 862-7520.

MONSTER MILE FAMILY FUN WALK/RUN: Halloween enthusiasts complete a 1.1 mile village course, with a costume contest and a petting zoo. Food donations encouraged.

Bombardier Park, Milton, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 2-4 P.M., $5-10, $15 per couple, family of four $25 with $5 each additional member; proceeds support the Milton Community Food Shelf. Info, 524-9771.

SPOOKYVILLE VERMONT: Hundreds of jacko-lanterns evoke the season’s essence on this family-friendly walk with storytelling, dance, theater and special effects to evoke the magic of the season. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, SUNDAY, OCT. 21, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27,

NOON-4 P.M., $10; Camp Exclamation Point receives some proceeds. Info, 355-3107.

HIGHGATE HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION: Bounce Around VT hosts a family-friendly, not-too-spooky holiday shindig for ghouls, goblins and princesses, with outdoor inflatables, train rides by the Big Blue Trunk, Halloween bingo, pumpkin painting and more. Ages 2-12. Highgate Commons, St Albans, SUNDAY, OCT. 21, 10 A.M.-2 P.M., $12; includes entry into Bounce Around Fun Center. Info, 527-5725.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION: Creative costumes add flair to this safe night of treats, games, crafts and an appearance by Officer McGruff. Preschoolers to grade 4 and their families. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24, 5-6:30 P.M. Info, 878-1375. FREE

MILTON TRUNK OR TREAT: Costumed kiddos carve up their own pumpkins with provided tools and stencils, get cozy by a crackling bonfire, and gather sugary and not-sosweet treats. Bombardier Park, Milton, FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 6-8 P.M. Info, 893-4922. FREE

FRANKENSTEIN FEST: In celebration of the 200th anniversary of this science fiction classic, the museum gets creative with creepy science and shocking experiments exploring the “spark of life.” ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 27 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission $11.50-14.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

HALLOWEEN AT THE GRANGE: Costumed families bring their pumpkins for an afternoon of creative carving with a demonstration by artist Adrian Tans, warm cider, doughnuts and colorful candies, followed by 4 p.m. spooky flicks on the big screen. The Grange Theatre, South Pomfret, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2-9 P.M., no fee for carving; $5 per movie ticket. Info, 457-3500. FREE

HALLOWEEN EXPRESS PARTY & TRAIN

RIDES: Dressed-up Halloween lovers enjoy a preboarding party on the Burlington waterfront with costumed characters, music and more, followed by a round-trip train ride from Burlington to Shelburne. The family-friendly experience features an interactive story time, cookies and juice, colorable trick or treat bag, fun activities, and a departing goodie. Ages 10 and under. Main Street Landing, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 27 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 9 A.M.-4 P.M., $29 per person, preregister; donations accepted on-site for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. Info, 872-9000.

HALLOWEEN HOWL: Families dressed up in awesome costumes venture through a Freaky-Fairytales-themed haunted walk, hop on a hayride, dance to spookytunes, get their fortunes told and have a blast with fun fall games. Oakledge Park, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2-6 P.M.; food available for purchase. Info, 881-7767.

HALLOWEEN HUSTLE 5K: Runners decked out in holiday attire hoof it to the finish line in short road races. Prizes awarded by age group and for best costume. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 9 A.M., $15-20 5K registration, $5 for kids race, or free with a registered runner in the 5K. Info, 878-1375.

HOOTS AND HOWLS: This educational naturebased shindig features science experiments, up close encounters with snakes, owls, skulls and bones, magical storytelling, games, crafts, and ooey-gooey seasonal fun. The evening ends with lit jack-o-lanterns, stories, song and dance and a final wrap-up of tricky treats. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 10 A.M.-8 P.M., regular museum admission, $13.50-15.50; free for members and kids under 4. Info, 359-5000.

A FAMILY HALLOWEEN: All Hallow’s Eve inspires pumpkin carving, doughnuts-ona-string, wagon rides, animal programs and “not-too-scary” stories. Costume parades at noon and 2 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3 or in costume when accompanied by an adult. Info, 457-2355.

HALLOWEEN BIKE RIDE: Cyclists in costume wheel their way through town, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending in a super-secret location.

Burlington City Hall Park, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 1:30-4 P.M. Info, 864-0123. FREE

MAD RIVER VALLEY TRICK OR TROT: Runners and walkers in costume lace up for an 11:30 a.m. not-very-spooky 3K or 5K jaunt through the village, with festive Halloween music, fun and decorations. A fall shindig follows, featuring food, music, games and a costume parade. Warren School, SUNDAY, OCT. 28 $10-20; proceeds benefit the Warren PTO. Info, 496-2487.

MIDDLEBURY SPOOKTACULAR: Little ghosts, ghouls and goblins spread over the town green for games, prizes, music and face painting, with the finale a children’s trick-or-treat parade down Main Street. Middlebury Green, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 1-3 P.M. FREE

SPOOKY SILENTS: The audience boos and hisses at three ghostly silent films from the early 1900s, paired with historical orchestral scores performed by the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. All ages. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 5 P.M., $25-50; one free child’s ticket with each adult ticket purchased until Oct. 7. Info, 760-4634.

SWIM WITH THE PUMPKINS: Little ones go pumpkin picking in the pool, followed by light refreshments and a special squash to take home. Greater Burlington YMCA, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 6-7:30 P.M. $10; free for members; preregister. Info, 652-8143.

UVM HALLOWEEN BARN: Horses don costumes, too, for this non-spooky trick-ortreating session, with an obstacle course and crafts. Parking available at Gutterson Fieldhouse with shuttles to the barn. Miller Research Facility (Dairy Farm and Horse Barn), South Burlington, MONDAY, OCT. 29, 5:30-7 P.M., suggested donation $3. Info, 656-2108.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN CELEBRATION: Bright-eyed pedestrians admire glowing hand-carved squash of all sizes and shapes, while soaking up stories and s’mores around a crackling fire. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, TUESDAY, OCT. 30, 6-8 P.M. Info, 878-1375. FREE

HALLOWEEN TRICKS & TREATS: Kids in all kinds of costumes make merry at the museum. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 4-8 P.M. Info, 748-2372. FREE

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN SNACKS FOR KIDS: Youngsters and caregivers drop in and delight in making seasonal snacks, including pretzel and cheese broomsticks, clementine ‘pumpkins’ and fruit monster faces. Coffee and music add to the merriment. City Market, Onion River Co-op (Downtown Burlington), WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 9:30-11:30

A.M. Info, 861-9700. FREE

HIGHGATE TRICK-OR-TREAT: All ghosts, goblins, witches and princesses are invited to stop in at the fire department on their way around town for Halloween treats. Highgate Fire Station, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 5-8 P.M. Info, 868-2493.

STOWE HALLOWEEN PARTY: Dressed up kiddos enjoy spooky games, DJ music, a costume contest and a photo booth before heading out for candy. Stowe Elementary School, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 4:30-6 P.M. food and gaming fees apply. Info, 253-6148.

BURLINGTON PARKS, RECREATION & WATERFRONT

Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 6-8. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: An attentive canine listens to little people read. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Ukulele Kids: Musical ones join Joe to sing and play. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 865-7216.

FREE

Williston Preschool Music: Lively tunes with local musicians strike the right note among the wee crowd. Ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m., limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918.

FREE

FRANKLIN

Fairfax Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare are included. Weeklythrough January 17. BFA Fairfax, 5:45-7:45 p.m., preregister. Info, 229-5724. FREE

Franklin Lego Thursdays: Kiddie constructionists combine their imagination with the library’s supplies. Haston Library, Franklin, 1-6 p.m. Info, 285-6505.FREE

LAMOILLE

Pre-K Art Play: Toddlers drop in and create personal projects with diverse art supplies. Ages 1-4; caregiver required. No class on school breaks. Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, 10-11 a.m., $5. Info, 253-8358.

5 Friday

ADDISON

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Farmers Market: Local produce, plants, artisan cheese, syrup and more fill shoppers’ market baskets. Diverse dinner fare available. Atkins Field, Hardwick, 3-6 p.m. Info, 832-603-9334.

CHITTENDEN

Family Gym: Indoor playground equipment provides tiny tumblers a chance to run free. Ages 7 and under with caregivers. Greater Burlington YMCA, 10:15-11:45 a.m., $5-8 per family; free for members; preregister. Info, 862-9622.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’

Bassick: Toe-tapping tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Info, 660-9346.

Lil’ Vermonters Consignment Sale: Shoppers delight in gently used baby, child and maternity items, from newborn to youth 14, including toys, furniture, books, baby carriers and much more. See lilvermonters. com for consignor info. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 5-9 p.m., $5 admission for non-consignors on Friday with advance ticket purchase; free on Saturday. Info, 860-810-9872.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Magic the Gathering: Planeswalkers seek knowledge and glory in this trading-card game. Grade 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Info, 878-6956.

FREE

One-on-One Tutoring: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students coach elementary-age kids in reading, math and science. Grades 1-6. Some assistance available for other grades in certain subjects with inquiry. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-6 p.m., preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Preschool Yoga with Danielle: Small ones stretch and relax. Ages 2-5. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Richmond Farmers Market: Vendors peddle handheld pies, dinner delectables, homemade pickles, just-picked produce and much more at this lively showcase of locavorism. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-7 p.m. Info, 391-0806.

Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: Skiers and riders of all ages get great deals on winter gear. Consignment drop-o Friday, October 5. Tarrant Recreation Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester, 6-8 p.m. Info, 644-1177. FREE

STEAM Fridays: Eager youngsters engage with inventive science, technology, engineering, art and math projects. Check online for specific program details. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

FRANKLIN

Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: Small ones soak up a storytime with stories, songs, stretches and bubbles. Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-7656. FREE

LAMOILLE

Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: Multicolored leaves set a stunning scene for juried artwork, live music, great food and craft demonstrations. Topnotch Resort, Stowe, $10-12; free for children. Info, 316-5019.

RUTLAND

Rutland Library Book Sale: Bibliophiles thumb through thousands of hardcovers, paperbacks, puzzles and more. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 773-1860.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: Petite ones build with plastic blocks and chat companionably. Ages 4-12. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 3-4:30 p.m. Info, 586-9683.

WINDSOR

Bethel First Friday Flicks: Families flock together for free films. Seating available or bring blankets and beanbags. Bethel Town Hall, 6:30-8:30 p.m., donations accepted; popcorn and drinks available for purchase. Info, 234-6305. FREE

5 FRIDAY, P.36

Science & Nature

RAPTORS IN RESIDENCE: The mysteries surrounding birds of prey are revealed as visitors come face-to-face with live feathered creatures. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAYS, TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 1-1:30 P.M., regular museum admission, $5-8; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686.

SCIENCE & STORIES AT ECHO: Preschoolers rally ‘round for nature-inspired tales and activities. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, TUESDAYS, 10:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

SEASON OF CHANGE: Little ones explore the hard work of how wild critters prepare for chilly weather by finding and hiding food and fashioning a home. Ages 3-5 with caregiver. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 9-10:30 A.M. $6-8 per child, preregister. Info, 434-3068.

MONTSHIRE MAKERS: Middle school inventors use their imagination and the museum’s materials to create cool projects, with different monthly themes. Grades 6-9. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 6:30-8 P.M., $8-15, preregistration encouraged. Info, 649-2200.

DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY: Natural wonders wow youngsters during this day dedicated to wild things, hosted by pros from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Otter Creek Audubon Society, and local sportsmen’s clubs. Pack up the family and the binoculars for a full or drop-in day of birdwatching, canoeing and numerous nature-based activities. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 9:30 A.M.-4 P.M. Info, 318-1347. FREE

FAMILY FUN DAY ON THE FARM: This family-owned dairy farm opens its doors for folks to meet the animals, pet the goats and chickens, and partake in hands-on, child-friendly, educational farm activities. Boston Post Dairy, Enosburg Falls, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 10 A.M.-2 P.M. Info, 933-2749. FREE

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT CEDAR CIRCLE FARM: Families see orange at this quintessential fall farm affair, featuring pumpkin picking, cider pressing, live music and food galore. Kid-centered activities include traditional folktale storytellers Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder, Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s birds of prey, horsedrawn wagon rides, a hay bale climb, and more. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, SUNDAY, OCT. 7, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., suggested donation $10-15 per car; food and drink available to purchase. Info, 785-4737.

NESTLINGS FIND NATURE: Preschoolers discover how feathered friends grow, using imaginative play, books, crafts, nature walks and activities. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30-11:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for children under 3. Info, 434-2167.

SAW-WHET OWL BANDING: Families have a hoot as they view these seldom-seen, pint-size migrants and learn about recent research. Dress warmly. Weatherdependent. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, THURSDAY, OCT. 11, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, TUESDAY, OCT. 16, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 7-9 P.M., donations accepted; RSVP required. Info, 229-6206.

FALL CAMPFIRE WITH ABENAKI CHIEF DON

STEVENS: The Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki Nation shares traditional stories, artifacts, drumming and songs with families around a crackling blaze. Ages 6 and up. Shelburne Farms, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 6:30-8 P.M., $5-6; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

AUTUMN WAGON RIDE WEEKEND: Foliage enthusiasts of all ages enjoy a narrated horse-drawn tour through a colorful landscape, check out the restored and furnished farmhouse and engage in farmbased activities, including cider pressing. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 10

A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

LEAF PEEPERS BIRD-MONITORING WALK: Avian enthusiasts with some binocular and birdsong experience check out fall colors while assisting with community science data collection. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 8-10 A.M., donations appreciated. Info, 434-3068.

NORTHERN SAW-WHET

OWL BANDING: YOUTH

OVERNIGHT: Avian enthusiasts stay up late with North Branch Nature Center biologists to capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. Pizza provided. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 6 P.M. preregister; space is limited. Info, 229-6206. FREE

TERRIFIC TRACTORS & OTHER COOL MACHINES: Future farmers climb aboard a collection of colossal machines that can get the job done. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $5-8; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686.

ARMS FOREST TREE WALK: Master naturalists share their savvy with curious community members. Arms Park Trails, Burlington, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 2-4 P.M. Info, 864-0123. FREE

FOREST FANTASY WITH WONDERFEET: Whimsy lovers of all ages dressed in forest-themed costumes create tiny dwellings and fairy arts and crafts in a magical woods, while music and dance make more merriment. Camp Betsey Cox, Pittsford, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, NOON-3:30 P.M., $7, $30 for a family of 5. Info, 282-2678.

BOOKS & BEYOND: SCIENCE FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Children’s literature and hands-on activities combine for fun science learning and exploration. Ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, MONDAY, OCT. 15, 10:15 & 11:30 A.M. regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

VERMONT TECH JAM: Tech-savvy teens and their parents make connections at this career and tech expo, with dozens of Vermont’s most innovative companies and organizations, panel discussions, and workshops. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. Info, 864-5684. FREE

NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK KICK-OFF WEEKEND: Curious families spark their imagination with surprising experiments, hands-on activities and science shows.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 21, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

A WALK IN THE WOODS: WILDLIFE TRACKING: Expert tracker and longtime UVM instructor, Mike Kessler, leads curious nature lovers on an educational exploration. Ages 6 and up. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 1-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for members and children under 3. Info, 434-2167.

HOMESCHOOLERS DAY: CHEMISTRY AND MATTER: Out-of-classroom learners zoom in to learn about physical and chemical change and the states of matter. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $13-16; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

MAZE BY MOONLIGHT: Get lost! Using a flashlight as a guide, visitors search for hidden stations in the Fort’s corn maze after dark. Last ticket sold at 9 p.m. Fort Ticonderoga, FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 7-10 P.M., $10. Info, 518-585-2821.

5

Friday

Foodways Fridays: Guests tour the heirloom garden, then watch as veggies make their way into historic recipes prepared in the 1890 farmhouse kitchen, with different menus every Friday. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

6 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3.

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Farmers Market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, beef and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of “shop local” options. St. Johnsbury Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 592-3088.

Dog Mountain Fall Dog Party: Canine fans celebrate the season with leaf-romping and four-legged fun, with live music by Don & Jenn. Dog Mountain, St Johnsbury, noon-4 p.m. Info, 800-449-2580. FREE

Make a Granite Workers Printers Hat: Kids — and adults, too — fabricate an old-fashioned hat while learning about local history and the Vermont Reads book Bread and Roses, Too Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 11 a.m. Info, 472-5948. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Birth + Love + Family Festival: Vermont families are celebrated with a full day of kid and adult activities, including a performance by singer/songwriter Myra Flynn, a magic show, mindful parenting with Maris Rose, numerous panel discussions and workshops led by local birth and family experts, yoga, live music, a bounce house, art, and more. Doors reopen at 7 p.m. for Stories On the Road to Becoming a Parent. See website for detailed schedule. Railyard Apothecary, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $27; free for children under 18.

Bollywood Dance Fun and Fit Kids: Youngsters immerse themselves in an intro workshop of dance and music which combines Bombay and Hollywood. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m., $25. Info, 825-7597.

Burlington Farmers Market: Growers and artisans offer fresh and ready-to-eat foods, crafts and more in a bustling marketplace. Burlington City Hall Park, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 310-5172.

James Wakefield Rescue Row: Youth race in a series of heats along the Burlington Waterfront, in commemoration of the heroic 1876 rescue of the General Butler by James Wakefield and his son. Races begin at 10 a.m. Perkins Pier, Burlington, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $25 per participant; free to spectate. Info, 475-2022 ext. 113.

Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon, preregister at workshops.homedepot.com. Info, 872-0039.

FREE

Play, Laugh, Learn: Little ones explore the library in engaging and interactive activities with Early Learning Specialist Tina Boljevac from Allow Play and Yoga. Ages 5 and under. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Read to Cleo The Therapy Dog: Canine and reading enthusiasts visit with a personable pooch. Ages 2-12. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Shelburne Farmers Market: Musical entertainment adds merriment to this exchange of local fruits, veggies, herbs, crafts, maple syrup and more. Shelburne Village Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 482-4279.

Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: See October 5, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Story Time with Robert Broder: This local author shares his new picture book — a musical story about the sweet satisfaction of wandering — with young listeners. Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, 11 a.m. Info, 985-3999. FREE

Storytime at the BCA Center: The Fletcher Free Library hosts a storytime and art activity in Crystal Wagner’s colorful and three-dimensional exhibit. Burlington City Arts, 3-4 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

GRAND ISLE

Champlain Islands Farmers Market: Growers, specialty food businesses and artisans sell their high-quality wares. St. Joseph Church, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

LAMOILLE

Spanish Musical Kids: Buenos Aires native Constancia Gomez shares stories, singing, dancing and Latin culture with small ones and caregivers. Ages 5 and under. Varnum Memorial Library, Je ersonville, 10-11 a.m. Info, 644-2117. FREE

Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: See October 5.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Rutland Library Book Sale: See October 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

ORLEANS

Jed’s Maple Products Open House: Folks celebrate the fall flavors of maple, apple and pumpkins with tours of the sugarhouse and maple museum, info about Audubon’s Bird Friendly Maple Program and hot wood-fired pizza. Jed’s Maple Products, Derby, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., maple products and food available for purchase. Info, 766-2700.

Vermont Reindeer Fall Festival: Little ones meet the real-deal Rudolph and other farm animals. Pony rides, a nature trail and craft fair add to the amusement. Vermont Reindeer Farm, West Charleston, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $6; lunch available for sale. Info, 754-9583.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Farmers Market: Veggies, honey, maple syrup and more change hands at a celebration of farm-grown food and handmade crafts. Downtown Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 223-2958.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Rocktober Fest: The local history of stonecutting is honored through live music, demonstrations, exhibits, hands-on sculpting in multiple materials and participating in traditional games played by the granite cutters and their families, including horseshoes, croquet, bocce and bolo palma. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $3-5, $10 per family. Info, 476-4605.

WINDHAM

Newfane Heritage Festival: Rain or shine, an arts and crafts fair spreads through the village, with live music, an outdoor food tent, children’s activities and much more. Newfane Village, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 365-4079. FREE

WINDSOR

Family Clay: Children and their parents make memories firing and glazing special pieces. ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, South Pomfret, 10 a.m.-noon, $20 per parentchild pair, $5 each additional child. Info, 457-3500.

Harvest Weekend: Visitors help prepare the farm for winter with root veggie harvesting, and celebrate the season’s bounty with a husking bee, 19th-century games and a barn dance from 1-4 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3; seasonal food and drink available for purchase. Info, 457-2355.

NEW YORK

Heritage Harvest & Horse Festival: Equestrian demos of sport and work horses, a fall market in the colorful King’s Garden, family activities including sack races and a visit to the corn maze make for autumn fun. Fort Ticonderoga, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $10-22; free for children under 5. Info, 518-585-2821.

Plattsburgh Farmers Market: From honey to freshly baked breads, homegrown produce and handmade crafts, folks enjoy live music and family-friendly events. Downtown Plattsburgh, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 518-493-4644.

7 Sunday

CHITTENDEN

Champlain Valley Buddy Walk: Community members walk to raise awareness and funds for programs benefitting people with Down syndrome and their families. Walk begins at 1 p.m. Battery Park, Burlington, noon-3 p.m., $8 per person, maximum $30 per family; no registration necessary for children under age 10. Info, info@cvsdg.org

Essex Open Gym: Energy-filled kids flip, jump and tumble in a state-of-the-art facility. Ages 6 and under, 1 p.m.; ages 7-12, 2:30 p.m.; ages 13 and up, 4 p.m. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 1-5:30 p.m., $10 per child. Info, 655-3300.

7 SUNDAY, P.38

BY:

Waitsfield Elemen tary School

Find new and used winter gear for skiers and riders of all ages.

Consignment drop-off: Nov. 9, 4–7pm Waitsfield Elementary School (WES)

Pre-register at WES: Nov. 5–9, 7:45am-3pm

802-496-3643 www.waitsfieldschool.org

New Parents

BOSOM BUDDIES TOO: Nursing mamas of toddlers and mobile wee ones socialize and swap supportive stories and advice with peers and professionals. Babies welcome. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:30-7 P.M. Info, 371-4415. FREE

EVOLUTION POSTNATAL YOGA: New mamas tote their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a relaxed and nurturing environment.

Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 12:15-1:30 P.M., TUESDAYS, 11 A.M.-12:15 P.M., THURSDAYS, 10:45-11:55 A.M. AND FRIDAYS, 8:15-9:15 A.M. AND NOON-1 P.M., $15 or $130 for a 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.

Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 10-11:30 A.M., MONDAYS, 5:45-7 P.M., TUESDAYS, 4:15-5:30 P.M., WEDNESDAYS, 5:45-7 P.M., THURSDAYS, 12:30-1:30 P.M., FRIDAYS, 8:15-9:15 A.M. AND SATURDAYS, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M., $15 or $130 for 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.

MOM AND BABY YOGA: Brand-new mamas and their littles relax, stretch and bond. Followed by a free mothers’ gathering at 11:30 a.m. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 10:30-11:30 A.M. $11. Info, 223-5302.

PRENATAL YOGA: Moms-to-be stretch and bend. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 6-7:15 P.M., $16 per drop-in class. Info, 778-0300.

BURLINGTON EARLY MONTHS INFANT

MASSAGE: This mother-infant group includes baby massage and postpartum new mama support. The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, WEDNESDAYS, 11 A.M.-NOON. Info, 862-2121. FREE

ESSEX LA LECHE LEAGUE: Moms bring their bitty ones to a discussion of parenting and breastfeeding. Siblings welcome. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 6:30-8 P.M. Info, 899-5490. FREE

HYDE PARK BABY CHAT: Parents with babies mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229.

BURLINGTON LA LECHE LEAGUE: New moms bring their babies and questions to a breastfeeding support group. Older children welcome. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:15

A.M. Info, 985-8228. FREE

LA LECHE LEAGUE OF THE NORTHEAST

KINGDOM: Expectant, novice and experienced moms join nursing experts for advice and support. Enter through the children’s section of the library. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30 A.M. Info, 720-272-8841. FREE

BABYWEARERS OF CENTRAL VERMONT: Brand-new mamas and papas check out infant carriers, get advice and spend some socializing time with other new parents.

Good Beginnings, Montpelier, SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:45-7:45 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: Nursing mamas (and soon-to-be mothers!) make the most of La Leche League support while socializing with other moms and wee ones. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30 A.M.-NOON. Info, 281-731-7313. FREE

MAMA’S CIRCLE BARRE: This supportive gathering brings moms of new babies and toddlers together to foster friendship through unique-but-shared experiences.

Imagine Yoga, Barre, SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

MORRISVILLE BABY CHAT: Parents with babies socialize, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229.

BREASTFEEDING CAFÉ: Mamas nurse their babies, chat and ask for answers from a certified lactation consultant. Pregnant women, supportive dads and older siblings welcome. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 236-4136. FREE

BREASTFEEDING FAMILIES GROUP: Nursing moms (and supportive dads, too!) gather for snacks and advice. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE

ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION: Novice parents pursue advice about this practice where a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues and intuition to address a baby’s need to eliminate waste without using a diaper. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 1-2 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

LA LECHE LEAGUE OF CENTRAL VERMONT: Breastfeeding mamas swap stories and support each other, with a professional available for consultation. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

NURSING BEYOND A YEAR: In a supportive setting, mothers discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding children approaching one-year-old and beyond. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

HOW TO BREASTFEED PRENATAL CLASS: Expectant mamas and their partners learn the basics of breastfeeding, how to get off to the best start with their baby and where to find assistance when needed. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 4:30-6 P.M., preregister. Info, 371-4415. FREE JOHNSON BABY CHAT: Parents with babies mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE REFLEXOLOGY FOR PREGNANCY: Professional Melanie Giangreco shares the benefits of her practice during pregnancy, labor and postpartum with expectant mamas. For adults. Online, Burlington, TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 8 P.M., $20; free for Birth Love Family members; preregister. Info, 373-8060.

MOMMY GROUP: Breastfeeding peer counselor Angela Scavo hosts mamas and answers questions in a relaxed setting. Junebug Mother and Child, Middlebury, FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-10:30 A.M. Info, 349-9084. FREE

Family Concert: Local musicians make a melodious afternoon for library listeners. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2 p.m. Info, 899-4962. FREE

Family Gym: See October 5.

Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: See October 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

FRANKLIN

Highgate Volunteer Fire Department Open

House: In celebration of fire prevention week, the station swings open its doors for visitors to check out fire truck tours, safe planning and equipment displays, games for kiddos and community spirit. Highgate Fire Station, 1-4 p.m. FREE

LAMOILLE

Stowe Farmers Market: Live music and agricultural and craft vendors make for a bustling atmosphere. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 279-3444.

Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: See October 5,

ORLEANS

Jed’s Maple Products Open House: See October 6.

Vermont Reindeer Fall Festival: See October 6.

WASHINGTON

Mad Dash & Kids Fun Run: Outdoor enthusiasts lace up for a 5K, 10K or a shorter course for young athletes, winding along a dirt road with a scenic foliage backdrop. Live music, a silent auction and a raffle furthers fall festivities. Mad River Path, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-noon, $15-35 for 5K and 10K races, includes lunch; free for kids fun run; funds benefit the Mad River Path. Info, 371-9608.

Montpelier Fall Festival 5K and Kids Cup: Young athletes ages 3-10 take a one-mile loop at noon, followed by a 5K. Games, food for sale, family activities and a kickball tournament organized by the middle school students furnish more festivities. Montpelier High School, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., no fee for fun run but $25 fundraising requested; $10-25; proceeds benefit Montpelier and Roxbury schools’ students and teachers; preregister. Info, 404-308-0510.

WINDHAM

Newfane Heritage Festival: See October 6.

WINDSOR

Harvest Weekend: See October 6.

8 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: Bitty ones dance and sing to a brisk beat. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Crafts for Kids: Clever kiddos pursue artsy projects. Ages 5 and up. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

ORLEANS

Jed’s Maple Products Open House: See October 6.

9 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.

CHITTENDEN

Creative Tuesdays: See October 2.

Library Elementary Event Planners: Junior helpers prepare snacks and plan projects for younger students. Grades 6-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: A certified reading pooch listens patiently to emerging readers. Ages 3-8. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4:15 p.m., preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2.

Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.

WINDSOR

Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2.

Yoga for Girls: See October 2.

10 Wednesday

ADDISON

Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3.

CHITTENDEN

Dorothy’s List Group for Homeschooled

Students: Books nominated for this esteemed award generate group discussion. Grades 4-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Family Game Day: See October 3.

Green Mountain Book Award Book

Discussion for Homeschooled Students: High-school homeschoolers spark lively conversation around award-winning books. Grades 9-12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Live-Action Role Play: LARPers create characters and plots in an amazing and imaginary adventure. For middle and high school students. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-5 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.

Red Clover Group for Homeschooled Students: Budding book lovers bury themselves in bibliophile activities. Grades K-4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Yoga for Kids: See October 3.

Young Writers & Storytellers: Small ones spin their own yarns. Ages 5-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4-5 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

FRANKLIN

Fit Moms: See October 3.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3.

ORANGE

Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.

WASHINGTON

Maker Program: See October 3.

WINDSOR

Woodstock Market on the Green: See October 3.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

11 Thursday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Lego Club: See October 4. Milton PJ Story Time: Small tots in jammies snuggle in for stories, songs and crafts. Ages 2-7. Milton Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 9-12. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25 per child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4.

Ukulele Kids: See October 4. Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.

FRANKLIN

Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4. St. Albans Library Legos: Eager architects engage in construction projects with their peers. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Info, 524-1507.

12 Friday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Farmers Market: See October 5. CHITTENDEN

Champlain College Game Career

Exploration Event: High school students and adults interested in exploring a career in the game industry check out this college’s Game Studio, talk to faculty and get questions answered. Ages 14 and up. Champlain College, Burlington, 3:30-6 p.m., preregister. Info, 625-0201. FREE

Dungeons & Dragons: Players embark on invented adventures, equipped with their problem-solving skills. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Family Gym: See October 5.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’

Bassick: See October 5.

Kids’ Night Out: While parents take wellearned time o , kids delight in dinner and fun. Ages 3-12. Greater Burlington YMCA, 6-8:30 p.m., $10-19; preregister. Info, 862-9622.

Music with Raph: Melody lovers of all ages play and sing. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Richmond Farmers Market: See October 5.

STEAM Fridays: See October 5.

OCTOBER CALENDAR Story Times

Early literacy skills get special attention during these read-aloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Most story times follow the school calendar. Contact the organizers for site-specific details.

MONDAY

BARRE CHILDREN’S STORY

HOUR: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 476-7550.

COLCHESTER PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

ESSEX DROP-IN STORY TIME: Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

HUNTINGTON STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Huntington Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-4583.

HYDE PARK STORY TIME: Lanpher Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Info, 888-4628.

NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S

STORY TIME: Brown Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 485-4621.

RICHMOND BABY LAP TIME: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.

ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC STORY HOUR: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507.

STOWE STORY TIMES FOR 2-3-YEAR-OLDS: Stowe Free Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145.

WOODSTOCK BABY STORY TIME: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.

TUESDAY

ALBURGH STORY HOUR: Alburgh Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.

COLCHESTER TODDLER STORY

TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME: Craftsbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 586-9683.

EAST BARRE STORY TIME: East Barre Branch Library, 10 a.m. Info, 476-5118.

ESSEX JUNCTION PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: Brownell Library, Wednesdays, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 878-6956.

ESSEX JUNCTION TODDLER

STORY TIME: Brownell Library, 9:10-9:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956.

FAIRFAX PRESCHOOL STORY

TIME: Fairfax Community Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Info, 849-2420.

HINESBURG YOUNGSTERS

STORY TIME: Carpenter-Carse Library, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 482-2878.

LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME: Cobleigh Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 626-5475.

MILTON INFANT STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

MONTPELIER STORY TIME: Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 223-3338.

MORRISVILLE PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: Morristown Centennial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 888-3853.

WILLISTON STORY TIME: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918.

WOODSTOCK PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.

WEDNESDAY

BARNES & NOBLE STORYTIIME: Barnes & Noble, 11 a.m. Info, 864-8001.

ESSEX JUNCTION PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

HYDE PARK STORY TIME: See Monday, 10 a.m.

JERICHO STORY HOUR: Jericho Town Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-4686.

LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME: See Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.

MARSHFIELD STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Jaquith Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 426-3581.

MILTON TODDLER RHYTHM & MOVEMENT STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

NORWICH WORD PLAY STORY TIME: Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 649-1184.

QUECHEE STORY TIME: Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 295-1232.

RANDOLPH PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Kimball Public Library, 11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.

RICHMOND MOVERS AND SHAKERS STORYTIME: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.

STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN ESSEX: Phoenix Books, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 872-7111.

SWANTON STORYTIME: Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-2493.

WARREN PRESCHOOL

STORYTIME: Warren Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 496-3913.

THURSDAY

BRISTOL STORY TIME: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2366.

HINESBURG YOUNGSTERS

STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S

STORY TIME: See Monday.

RUTLAND STORY TIME: Rutland Free Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 773-1860.

ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC STORY HOUR: See Monday.

ST. ALBANS STORY HOUR: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507.

VERGENNES STORY TIME: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 877-2211.

WATERBURY PRESCHOOL

STORY TIME: Waterbury Public Library, Oct. 11, 10:15 a.m. Info, 244-7036.

WESTFORD STORY TIME: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Info, 878-5639.

FRIDAY

BRANDON STORY TIME: Brandon Free Public Library, 3 p.m. Info, 247-8230.

COLCHESTER BABY STORY

TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

ENOSBURG MOMMY & ME STORY HOUR: Enosburgh Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Info, 933-2328.

ESSEX MUSICAL STORY TIME: Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

GEORGIA PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 524-4643.

KILLINGTON STORYTIME: Sherburne Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 422-9765.

LINCOLN STORY TIME: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2665.

MILTON PRESCHOOL STORY

TIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

MONTPELIER STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

RANDOLPH TODDLER STORY

TIME: Kimball Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.

ST. JOHNSBURY ACORN CLUB

STORY TIME: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Info, 748-8291.

STOWE BABY & TODDLER

STORY TIME: Stowe Free Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145.

WINOOSKI STORY TIME: Winooski Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 655-6424.

SATURDAY COLCHESTER SATURDAY

DROP-IN STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

ENOSBURG STORY HOUR: Enosburgh Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 933-2328.

ESSEX WEEKEND STORYTIME: Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

MILTON DROP-IN SATURDAY STORYTIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

NEXT CHAPTER BOOKSTORE

STORY TIME: Next Chapter Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Info, 476-3114.

STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN BURLINGTON: Phoenix Books, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 448-3350.

STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN ESSEX: See Wednesday, 11-11:30 a.m.

Teddy Bear Sleepover: Kids drop o their favorite stu ed friends before 5 p.m. Friday, then return at 10 a.m. the following morning for brunch and a slideshow about their animals’ nighttime adventures. Ages 2-7 with caregiver. Milton Public Library. Info, 893-4644.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5.

WINDSOR

Foodways Fridays: See October 5.

13 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3. Rabble in Arms Weekend: History comes alive in this weekend devoted to demonstrations of camp life, trades and crafts, open-air cooking and an opportunity to step aboard the Gunboat Philadelphia II. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $8-14; free for children under 6. Info, 475-2022.

BENNINGTON

Story Time with Tomie dePaola: This legendary author-illustrator presents his contemplative new picture book, Quiet, which reminds young listeners that mindfulness is a very special thing. Ages 2-12. Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 362-2200. FREE

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6.

Champlain College Fall Open House: Prospective students check out the college’s unique Upside-Down Curriculum and Career Collaborative. Ages 14 and up. Champlain College, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 625-0201. FREE

Friends of the South Burlington Library

Used Book Sale: Ravenous readers scope out stacks of gently used titles, audiobooks and DVDs. Wheeler Homestead and Garden Park, South Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 846-4140.

Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6.

Shelburne Farmers Market: See October 6.

Tag Sale Bliss: Rooms of gently used furniture, rugs, books, boutiques, linens and kitchenware donated by over 200 families delight savvy shoppers. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 9 a.m.-noon. Info, 985-2827. FREE

Teddy Bear Sleepover: See October 12, 10 a.m.

GRAND ISLE

Champlain Islands Farmers Market: See October 6.

LAMOILLE

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

SUBMIT

YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM

FRANKLIN

Stay and Play: Little ones rally for romping in the youth room. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Info, 524-1507. FREE

LAMOILLE

MAKING FAMILY MAGIC HAPPEN!

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

WASHINGTON

Cabot Apple Pie Festival: In its 19th year, townsfolk sample fruit pastries and lunch fare, check out the pie contest and browse crafts during this sweet event. Cabot School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 563-3396. FREE

Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6.

Kids Trade & Play: Families exchange clean and gently used clothing and toys, sizes newborn to 12. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11 a.m., $3 per family. Info, 831-337-8632.

WINDSOR

Peak to Peak: Fall foliage fans explore Woodstock’s trails with guided hikes to scenic viewpoints on Mount Peg or Mount Tom, with snacks and activities for all ages along the way — or grab a Walk Woodstock map and head out on your own. MarshBillings Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Info, 457-3368.

FREE

NEW YORK

Plattsburgh Farmers Market: See October 6.

14 Sunday

ADDISON

Rabble in Arms Weekend: See October 13.

CHITTENDEN

East Charlotte Tractor Parade: Antique and modern farm vehicles rumble down Spear Street amidst a town party with food, live music, pony rides and children’s games. Spear Street, Charlotte, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 425-4444. FREE

Essex Open Gym: See October 7.

Family Gym: See October 5.

Harvest Run for Sustainability: Fleet feet romp through farm fields and along dirt roads in a fun run and 5K race followed by family activities, healthy snacks and live music. Proceeds benefit the Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes. Burlington Intervale Center, 1-4 p.m., $5-12, $25 per family, preregister, day-of-race registration slightly higher. Info, 861-9700.

LAMOILLE

Stowe Farmers Market: See October 7.

15 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8.

Lego Fun: Budding builders bring out the blocks. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-7 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m.

Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.

Navigating Special Education and the Individualized Education Plan: A trained professional instructs parents about special education evaluations, what it takes to qualify for an IEP, how to develop a strong plan, parents’ rights and tips for school meetings. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, 6-8 p.m., preregister; childcare provided by request; light dinner served. Info, 888-5229. ext. 149.

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: Mini-musicians ages 2 and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 773-1860. FREE

16 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.

CHITTENDEN

Cartooning Club: Kids meet with other kids who are crazy about drawing comics. Grades 3 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: See October 2.

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2. Teen Advisory Board: Teens take time together and plan projects for the upcoming year. Grades 9 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.

FRANKLIN

Homeschoolers’ Project: Breakout Some Math!: Homeschoolers check out the library’s new educational kits to create an interactive game using a story, time limit and puzzle activities with a math theme. Ages 6 and up. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m., preregister. Info, 524-1507. FREE

ORLEANS

‘In Focus: Dislecksia’: Wonder Arts sponsors a showing of Harvey Hubbell V’s upbeat documentary about his experience growing up dyslexic, and his exploration about this “learning di erence.” Ages 10 and up. Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, 6:30-8:30 p.m., suggested donation $5. Info, 533-9370.

WINDSOR

Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2. Yoga for Girls: See October 2.

17 Wednesday

CHITTENDEN

Family Game Day: See October 3. Mater Christi School Fall Open House: Parents and prospective students interested in this private Catholic school take an informative tour of the elementary and middle school buildings. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 8:30-11 a.m., walk-ins welcome, but preregistration appreciated. Info, 658-3992. FREE

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.

Jason Bishop: Magic & Illusion

Saturday, October 6 at 7pm

Spooky Silents

A Silent Film Halloween

Sunday, October 28 at 5pm

Shimmer: A Cirque Reverie

Friday, November 23 at 3pm & 7pm

Reduced Shakespeare Company’s The Ultimate Christmas Show

Saturday, December 15, 7pm

National Ballet Theatre of Odessa

Swan Lake

Saturday, January 26 at 7pm

Step Afrika

Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm

American Girl Live

Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm

Thursday, February 21 at 7pm

Le Cirque Esprit: Spirit of the Machine

Thursday, March 28 at 7pm

Under the Street Lamp

Saturday, April 13 at 7pm

OCTOBER CALENDAR

17 Wednesday (cont.)

Visiting Morning: Pre-K through 8th Grade: Parents of preschool through 8th grade students curious about the Waldorf philosophy tour classes, meet teachers and ask questions. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m., preregister. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE

Yoga for Kids: See October 3.

Zine Club: Imaginative youngsters experiment with different writing styles and art techniques to create personal publications. Grade 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

FRANKLIN

Fit Moms: See October 3.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3.

ORANGE

Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.

WASHINGTON

Maker Program: See October 3, 3-5 p.m.

18 Thursday

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local level and how to transition to a safer and healthier world. Vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 3 and under provided. Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m., RSVP requested. Info, 862-5630. FREE

Colchester Lego Club: See October 4.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Discussion: Little literati chat about DCF pick Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Grades 4-8. Milton Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Halloween Luminaria Workshop: Creative types craft a themed lantern. Ages 10-13. Milton Public Library, 2 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Hinesburg Lego Club: Imaginative kids get creative with colorful blocks. Ages 5-10. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 482-2878. FREE

Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4.

Ukulele Kids: See October 4.

Visiting Morning: High School: Students and parents interested in finding out more about the Waldorf philosophy tour classes, meet teachers and ask questions. Lake Champlain Waldorf High School, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m., preregister. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE

Playgroups

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal gettogethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music. Most playgroups follow the school calendar. Contact the organizer for site-specific details.

MONDAY

AUDUBON NATURE PLAYGROUP: Audubon Vermont, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 434-3068.

BURLINGTON CRAWLERS, WADDLERS AND TODDLERS: Janet S. Munt Parent-Child Center, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 862-2121.

CHARLOTTE PLAYGROUP: Charlotte Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 425-2771.

JERICHO PLAYGROUP: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-3932.

OPEN GYM: Central VT Gymnastics Academy, Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon, $10. Info, 882-8324.

ROBIN’S NEST NATURE

PLAYGROUP: North Branch Nature Center, 10 a.m.-noon, donations welcome. Info, 229-6206.

TWINFIELD PLAYGROUP: Twinfield Union School, 8:15-9:45 a.m. Info, 262-3292.

TUESDAY BRADFORD PLAYGROUP: Grace United Methodist Church, 9-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

BROOKFIELD PLAYGROUP: First Congregational Church of Brookfield, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

BURLINGTON FATHERS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER: Janet S.

Munt Parent-Child Center, 4-7 p.m. Info, 862-2121.

CHARLOTTE BABYTIME: Charlotte Public Library, 9-9:45 a.m. Info, 425-3864.

EVOLUTION NEW FAMILY

PLAYGROUP: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Info, 899-0339.

WATERBURY PLAYGROUP: Thatcher Brook Primary School, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.

FRANKLIN

Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4.

WASHINGTON

AB2: Books Come to Life: This Active BodyActive Brain class, led by literacy professional Rachel O’Donald, combines reading, music and movement. Babies through preschoolers. Waterbury Public Library, 10:15 a.m. Info, 244-7036. FREE

19 Friday

CHITTENDEN

Baby Time: Families with wee ones socialize, read board books, learn some sign language and play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Edible Haunted Houses: Clever crafters create spooky dwellings of munchable materials. Ages 7-10. Milton Public Library, 2 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Family Gym: See October 5.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See October 5.

One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5. Preschool Yoga with Danielle: Simple movement, stories and songs satisfy children ages 5 and under and their caregivers. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE

WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: O’Brien Community Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 655-1422.

WEDNESDAY

BARRE PLAYGROUP: Aldrich Public Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

MAMA’S CIRCLE: Good Beginnings, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 595-7953.

NORTHFIELD PLAYGROUP: United Church of Northfield, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

PURPLE CRAYON PLAY GROUP: ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, 9:3011:30 a.m., donations accepted. Info, 457-3500.

RICHMOND PLAYGROUP: Richmond Free Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-3036.

SOUTH ROYALTON PLAYGROUP: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

ST. JOHNSBURY TODDLER TIME: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Info, 748-1391.

THURSDAY

DADS AND KIDS PLAYGROUP: Family Center of Washington County, 5:30-7 p.m. Info, 262-3292.

MONTPELIER PLAYGROUP: St. Augustine Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292.

OHAVI ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE

PLAYGROUP: Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Info, 864-0218.

Spooky Movie: Young film-lovers have fun with free popcorn and a PG-rated flick featuring three 17th-century witches who are resurrected in modern-day Salem by an unsuspecting boy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 828-6956. FREE

STEAM Fridays: See October 5

Vermont Tech Jam: Tech-savvy teens and their parents talk with local colleges and companies at this career expo organized by Seven Days Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Info, 864-5684. FREE

FRANKLIN

Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: See October 5.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5.

WASHINGTON

Montpelier Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local, state and national level, and how to create a more just and naturefriendly world. Dinner and nature-themed kids’ programming included. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7:30 p.m., RSVP requested. Info, 229-0041. FREE

WINDSOR

Foodways Fridays: See October 5.

20 Saturday

ADDISON

RANDOLPH PLAYGROUP: St. John’s Church, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

UNDERHILL PLAYGROUP: Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 899-4676.

WAITSFIELD PLAYGROUP: Big Picture Theater, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

WILLISTON PLAYTIME: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Info, 878-4918.

WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: See Tuesday.

FRIDAY ALBURGH PLAYGROUP: Alburgh Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.

OPEN GYM: See Monday.

RUTLAND PLAYGROUP: Rutland Free Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 773-1860.

SATURDAY MONTPELIER SATURDAY PLAYGROUP: Family Center of Washington County, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 190.

Fledgling Bird Watching: Bixby Library’s young birders wing it on a field trip to check out area avian life. Pack a snack, water and boots. Ages 6-10. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, 10:30 a.m.-noon, preregister. Info, 877-2211. FREE

Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3.

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6. Family Art Saturday: Families drop in and ignite their imaginations with a current exhibit, then get hands-on with an artistic endeavor. Burlington City Arts, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 865-7166. FREE

Free SAT Practice Test: Students engage in a practice test proctored by the library, with scores provided later by the Princeton Review. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6. Read to Cleo The Therapy Dog: See October 6. Spanish Musical Playgroup: Rhymes, books and songs en español entertain niños. Ages 5 and under. Non-Spanish speakers welcome. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE

FRANKLIN

Baby Storytime: New babies are welcomed to the library with nursery rhymes, songs and simple stories. Ages 2 and under with caregivers. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE

Super Hero & Princess Family Fun Run and Fall Fest: After a costumed 9 a.m. fun run, families have a fling at the festival with tractors, animals to meet and greet, fall-themed crafts and games. Swanton Recreation, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 868-2493.

GRAND ISLE

Champlain Islands Farmers Market: See October 6.

LAMOILLE

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6.

Montpelier Ski and Skate Sale: The Montpelier Recreation Department sponsors a winter-prep sale o ering lightly used skiing and boarding equipment. Drop o gear Friday, October 19, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and shop on Saturday. Montpelier High School, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 225-8694.

21 Sunday

CHITTENDEN

Essex Open Gym: See October 7.

Family Gym: See October 5.

United Synaogue Youth Escape Room: Kids have a ball munching bagels and solving a puzzle adventure. Grades 5-8. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, 11:45 a.m. Info, 864-0218. FREE

22 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8.

Crafts for Kids: See October 8.

One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m.

Stories with Kate or Megan: Little listeners learn and laugh. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See October 15.

23 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.

CHITTENDEN

Board Games: Families take over the library’s tabletops for an afternoon of fun. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: See October 2.

Drop-In Craft: Halloween Lanterns:

Imaginative kiddos of all ages make a magical creation. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918.

FREE

Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: See October 9.

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2.

Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.

WINDSOR

Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2.

Yoga for Girls: See October 2.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at

24 Wednesday

CHITTENDEN

Family Game Day: See October 3.

Live-Action Role Play: See October 10.

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.

Yoga for Kids: See October 3.

Young Writers & Storytellers: See October 10.

FRANKLIN

Fit Moms: See October 3.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3.

ORANGE

Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.

ORLEANS

Hands-on Intro to Screenprinting: Artists of all abilities explore the basics of making a stencil and painting on paper and cloth patches. Ages 12 and up. Craftsbury Town Hall, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $15-20, preregister. Info, 533-9370.

WASHINGTON

Halloween Movies: Spooky flicks amuse the audience. Check jaquithpubliclibrary.org for titles. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7 p.m. Info, 426-3581. FREE

Maker Program: See October 3, 3-5 p.m.

25 Thursday

CHITTENDEN

Babytime: Infants through pre-walkers have a ball with books, rhymes, songs and socializing. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:15 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Colchester Lego Club: See October 4.

Hinesburg Lego Club: See October 18. Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4.

Spooky Stories: Young listeners snuggle together and savor stories of the season shared by Linda Costello. Grades 1 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:15 p.m. Info, 828-6956. FREE

Ukulele Kids: See October 4.

Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.

FRANKLIN

Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4. St. Albans Library Legos: See October 11.

Trick-or-Treat in the Library: Dressed-up kids drop in for Halloween festivities. St. Albans Free Library, 5-6:30 p.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE

OCTOBER CALENDAR

26 Friday

ADDISON

Author Katherine Arden: Book Party: This local author shares her brand-new middle school novel, Small Spaces, with tricks, treats and a creepy, spooky story. Vermont Bookshop, Middlebury, 5-7 p.m. Info, 388-2061. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Dungeons & Dragons: See October 12.

Family Gym: See October 5.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See October 5.

Music with Raph: See October 12.

One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5.

STEAM Fridays: See October 5.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5.

WINDSOR

Foodways

Fridays: See October 5.

Ongoing Exhibits

ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN Info, 864-1848

INNOVATION PLAYGROUND V2.0 EXHIBIT: In a celebration of lifelong play, visitors of all ages unleash their imaginations building life-sized worlds with giant blue blocks, swimming and soaring beside virtual wildlife, and inventing contraptions in the museum’s maker space. Regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Through January 6.

FORT TICONDEROGA Info, 518-585-2821

HEROIC CORN MAZE: Get lost! Families navigate their way through a giant puzzle in the shape of this historic fort while searching for history clues among the stalks. Regular museum admission, $10-24; free for children under 5. Fall weekends through October 21.

THE GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE Info, 748-1399

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: A 24-acre maze of maize lures labyrinth lovers. If possible, arrive before 1 p.m. to solve the puzzle without clues. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; open until 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Through October 14.

HELEN DAY ART CENTER Info, 253-8358

‘EXPOSED’: National and local outdoor sculpture of all sizes and shapes spreads through the town of Stowe. Through October 20. FREE

27 Saturday

ADDISON

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6. Champlain College Fall Open House: See October 13.

Come Play: Launching Oakledge for All: Celebrate the first installment of the region’s first universally accessible playground. Enjoy live music with Mr. Chris, play on new swings and a glider, and fuel up with tasty treats. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Info, oakledgeforall.org. FREE

Family Fun Afternoon: Cookies, crafts, costumes, cocoa and a cartoon are the theme for this all-ages community afternoon celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, noon-2:30 p.m. Info, 482-2878. FREE

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE Info, 649-2200

MAKING MUSIC: Families explore the inner workings of all things musical — from cellos to electronic synthesizers — play and make instruments, and engage with multimedia exhibits which share stories of musicians, scientists and craftspeople, highlighting traditional and new practices, techniques and materials. Regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Through May 15.

PECK FARM ORCHARD Info, 249-1223

PECK FARM ORCHARD CORN MAZE: Festive fall families have fun on the farm with a leafy puzzle, PYO apples and pumpkins, and free weekend hayrides. $5. Through October 30.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM Info, 985-3346, ext. 3395

PLAYING COWBOY: The formative ways turn-of-the-century performing and visual arts mythologized cowboys and villainized Indians is investigated through popular forms of mass media and entertainment, including dime novels, live stage performances, traveling exhibitions, illustrations, paintings and sculpture. Regular museum admission, $8-25; free for members and children under 5. Through October 21.

SPOTLIGHT GALLERY Info, 828-3291

MACAULAY IN MONTPELIER: SELECTED

DRAWINGS AND SKETCHES: Author/ illustrator of the famous The Way Things Work exhibits art from eight of his books, offering a glimpse of his “draw ’til you drop” creative process through preliminary sketches and finished art, from 1982 to 2010. Through November 2. FREE

Halloween Story Time: Costumed kiddos soak up spooky stories, get creative with crafts and partake in a parade through the library. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 878-6955. FREE

Morning Magic: Prospective families at this nature-based early education program gather for homemade bread, circle time and lantern making. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 10-11:30 a.m., RSVP. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE

Movie at the Library: The big screen shows a family-friendly feature. Milton Public Library, 1 p.m. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6.

FRANKLIN

Fairfield Trunk or Treat: Family-friendly festivities for kiddos in costume include games, snacks and trick or treating. Bent Northrop Memorial Library, Fairfield, 3-5 p.m. Info, 827-3945. FREE

Halloween Kid’s Craft: Creative kiddos drop in and construct seasonal crafts. St. Albans Free Library, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE

LAMOILLE

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6.

RUTLAND

Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6.

EarthWalk Fall Community Day: Pumpkin carving, fire by friction, wild food and tea tasting, earth-oven pizza and seasonal stories celebrate community and nature. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All ages. EarthWalk Vermont, Plainfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., suggested donation $5 per person, $15 per family. Info, 454-8500.

28 Sunday

CHITTENDEN

Essex Open Gym: See October 7.

Family Gym: See October 5.

29 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8.

One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m.

Stories with Kate or Megan: See October 22.

Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See October 15.

30 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Circle of Parents for Adoptive & Guardianship Families: Moms and dads come together to socialize about their parenting experiences and strengthen skills. Childcare and dinner included without fee. Howard Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 864-7467. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: See October 2.

Halloween Party: Ghoulish games, crafts and treats rock this costumed holiday. For families with children ages 10 and under. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE

Karaoke Party: Musical kids make merry with the library’s new machine. Grades 4 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2.

Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.

WINDSOR

Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2.

Yoga for Girls: See October 2.

31 Wednesday

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Find more spooky activities on P.34!

CHITTENDEN

Family Game Day: See October 3.

Halloween Face Painting: Teen volunteers match younger ones’ faces to their costumes in preparation for trick-or-treating. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-5 p.m. Info, 878-6955. FREE

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.

Yoga for Kids: See October 3.

FRANKLIN

Fit Moms: See October 3.

ORANGE

Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.

WASHINGTON

Halloween Movies: See October 24.

Maker Program: See October 3.

BY JESS WISLOSKI

Parent as Patient

How

This summer, I stumbled upon a surprising discovery: My major hip operation — and the arduous recovery that followed — had a positive impact on my 5-year-old daughter, Poppy.

I’d struggled with leg pain all my life, but a year after Poppy’s birth, when I was 34, the sharp pain in my hip became excruciating. I visited a world-renowned hip specialist in New York City, who finally diagnosed me correctly: I was born with hip dysplasia, a genetic condition in which the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the thigh bone. My pain and physical indicators had been misdiagnosed and misunderstood for years.

The specialist told me I needed a hip replacement. My reaction was one that I imagine most people with a 1-year-old would have had: Heck, no.

But last spring, when the course of hip injections I’d been following for years stopped giving me relief, a heart-to-heart with a chiropractor persuaded me to reconsider. “How much more of your child’s life are you willing to miss out on because of your pain?” he asked me.

This question forced me to confront the brutal truth of how much my pain had changed me as a mother. How I’d stopped carrying my daughter on my hip at 14 months, when she began walking. How bath time had to be kept short, because it hurt to sit on a low stool next to the tub. How my outsized reactions to her sneaky efforts to dodge bedtime and get into my room were not about her behavior, but rather a response to the roaring pain I was feeling. She deserved more.

Still, I resisted. Poppy was too young for me to be so limited in my functions during the recovery process, I thought. Plus, I’m a single parent, responsible for the bulk of her care.

But that conversation did prompt me to schedule a consultation with another surgeon, in New York City.

I learned that, in the four years since I’d initially sought help, a new procedure had been developed. It entailed drawing high-potency stem cells from abdomen fat and injecting

them into the hip joint, and it could delay the need for hip replacement for up to 10 years. The doctor suggested I try this experimental, yet safer, technique.

The post-op protocol seemed like a deal breaker, though. With a fake hip I’d be walking in days; with this procedure, I’d be on crutches for a month. I would not be allowed to drive for six weeks. My surgeon suggested that someone else care for my daughter for a month. He clearly doesn’t know any single parents, I thought.

But that chiropractor’s question kept plaguing me. In what myriad of ways was my daughter already suffering alongside me? So I decided to go for it.

a glimmering message of hope from my bucolic Essex Junction neighborhood, 300 miles away.

I had just finished throwing up and was waiting for an IV drip, when I checked my email. My neighborhood friend had shared 200 photos with me. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I flicked through photo after photo. There she was, my cornsilk-blond, giggling daughter, eyes bright, running around in a swimsuit, hammering nails into a bug house, swapping sneakers with her newest best friend. A video showed her and two friends, all in leotards, doing an interpretive dance.

She was not only fine, she was great. I was going to be fine. Maybe even great.

I spent June preparing. I set up rides to school with my daughter’s classmates. I scheduled my mom and my brother’s family to help with childcare. I made pancakes and chili in bulk and froze them. I asked coworkers to donate prepared meals.

When my flight to New York departed in July, Poppy was attending a morning yoga camp. That week, a neighbor dad picked her up every afternoon, fed her and watched our girls until a family member came to get her. Those neighbors gave her the closest thing to a vacation she’d get all summer.

My operation, meanwhile, went smoothly, but the five-day hospital stay afterward was miserable. I had to ring a nurse for everything: if I dropped my book, if I had to take my meds or if I wanted my food tray taken away. Parents are equipped to fix things, not to ask for help and accompaniment to go potty.

I worried about how it would feel to be incapacitated in front of my daughter and how I would manage everyday tasks and duties. But on day three of my hospital stay, I received

At two weeks post-op, Poppy moved back home. I’d been managing at home for six days at that point, with some assistance from friends, and felt ready. She quickly adapted to curling up in the nook my knees made on the sunporch couch, where I lay most days, hooked up to an ice and compression machine. We colored together. We watched movies and TV shows. After our time apart, she wanted nothing more than to be close to me.

I discovered that by having to do exactly nothing, I was doing exactly what she needed: being present. Sharing close spaces with her. Being constantly available to her.

Friends and relatives continued to help with meals, cleanup, bedtime and driving. One night, a friend let Poppy make macaroni and cheese. I’d never let her near a boiling pot of water but he — a professional manny in a previous life — just gave her a few safety tips and let her have at it.

At last count, 27 people have helped me, in little and big ways, since I came home from New York. They have made it clear to me that I am not alone raising my child.

The surgery eased the pain in my hip, but it also gave me something of greater value. It nourished the bonds that were already surrounding me. All I had to do was ask for help. K

PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS

Frankly, the whole idea is cuckoo!

a major surgery taught me what my daughter needed

After our time apart, she wanted nothing more than to be close to me.

Champlain Valley’s Most Magical Halloween Event

Champlain Valley’s Most Magical Halloween Event

Champlain Valley’s Most Magical Halloween Event

ww.SpookyvilleVermont.org

ww.SpookyvilleVermont.org for advance tickets and info

www.SpookyvilleVermont.org for advance tickets and info

for advance tickets and info

October 20, 21, 27

October 20, 21, 27

October 20, 21, 27

Shows running between Noon and 4pm Enjoy a school of monster magic, kooky characters, and ghostly dance in Vermont’s spookiest village at the Champlain Valley Expo.

Shows running between Noon and 4pm Enjoy a school of monster magic, kooky characters, and ghostly dance in Vermont’s spookiest village at the Champlain Valley Expo.

Shows running between Noon and 4pm Enjoy a school of monster magic, kooky characters, and ghostly dance in Vermont’s spookiest village at the Champlain Valley Expo.

Be Part of the Show!

Be Part of the Show!

Be Part of the Show!

Volunteer to Act, Guide, or Craft info@SpookyvilleVermont.org

Volunteer to Act, Guide, or Craft info@SpookyvilleVermont.org

Volunteer to Act, Guide, or Craft info@SpookyvilleVermont.org

Do you dare to enter Vermont’s best horrorfest?

Do you dare to enter Vermont’s best horrorfest?

Do you dare to enter Vermont’s best horrorfest?

October 18—20, 25—27, Ages 13+, Tickets $13/$15

October 18—20, 25—27, Ages 13+, Tickets $13/$15

October 18—20, 25—27, Ages 13+, Tickets $13/$15

Advance tickets at www.NightmareVermont.org

Advance tickets at www.NightmareVermont.org

Advance tickets at www.NightmareVermont.org