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INTERNET SAFETY CLASSES AVAILABLE

Keeping young web surfers safe online can feel daunting, but the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center offers free online classes to help. Each month, three live virtual classes hosted by a trained education specialist are available: one for elementary school students, one for teens and another for adults raising children. Younger children, kindergarten-fifth grade, learn how to recognize unsafe online situations and what they should do when they experience them. Teens also learn about abuse and its prevention. In the adult-focused classes, parents and caregivers will get an overview of what kids face online and advice to help with device management. Funding from the Louisiana Bar Foundation makes the classes possible. ■ facebook.com/brchildrensadvocacycenter

A scholarship based mostly on chance could provide a little financial padding for seniors preparing for college. The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s 25th annual scholarship contest offers 10 $2,000 awards. After reading an educational essay about fire sprinklers, applicants answer eight questions. Each correct answer translates to one entry in the scholarship drawing. Awards will be paid directly to the winners’ colleges to be used for tuition and/or books. The deadline is Thursday, April 1. The contest helps “lift some of [students’] financial burdens while also educating them about our industry and the potentially life-saving benefits of fire sprinklers,” says Nicole Duvall, AFSA director of communications. ■ afsascholarship.org

Some popular baby foods contain high levels of toxic heavy metals, according to a recently released report. After examining a range of rice cereals, purees, puffs and juices from seven of the largest baby food manufacturers, investigators reported the presence of dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. The chemicals are on the World Health Organization’s list of top 10 chemicals of concern for infants and children. Exposure to toxic chemicals can cause serious and often irreversible damage to babies’ developing brains. The subcommittee on economic and consumer policy recommends mandatory testing, better labeling, phasing out toxic ingredients, and parental vigilance.

FIRE SPRINKLER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

PHOTO BY KLEINPETER PHOTOGRAPHY 2020-21 COVER KID OLIVIA Q.

HEAVY METALS FOUND IN SOME BABY FOOD

EXPERIENCE LOUISIANA WHILE ON HORSEBACK

Spring means fresh air and sunshine. One way to make the most of the season is with a horseback riding tour. Louisiana offers plenty of options for all ages and experience levels, no horse ownership required. Close by, BREC’s Farr Park Equestrian Center features a network of horse trails, and guides can accommodate groups of up to eight riders every weekend year-round. Sweetwater Campground and Riding Stables in Tangipahoa Parish offers a wild west experience, and Kisatchie National Forest in Alexandria provides a remote getaway. Hayes E. Daze Ranch in Forest Hill has more than 70 miles of trails with lots of shade, and Splendor Farms in Bush on the Northshore also includes a petting zoo. ■ louisianatravel.com

Pregnant women are inundated with health care decisions, and choosing whether or not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is one more to make. According to the CDC, moms-to-be who contract COVID-19 are at greater risk for severe illness, even death, and coronavirus increases the potential for preterm birth and other complications. Fertility Answers, a local reproductive care organization, strongly recommends women consider vaccination to prevent such complications. Those who wish to become pregnant may worry about the vaccine’s impact on fertility. Fertility Answers physicians assure there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to infertility. Consult your doctor to make the best decisions for your health.

As we mark one year of the pandemic in Louisiana, some of our favorite family activities remain closed. But there are options for safely getting out while wearing masks, washing hands frequently and staying socially distanced from those outside your household. BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is open regular hours; the Cypress Bayou Railroad, L’aquarium de Louisiane and KidsZoo Petting Corral remain closed. Downtown’s Louisiana Art & Science Museum and its Irene W. Pennington Planetarium is open three days each week, Thursday-Saturday. Movie theaters are open, with limited capacity and spaced out seating. If you want to drive a little, the Audubon Nature Institute’s Zoo and Aquarium are both open, with advance online tickets required.

WHAT’S OPEN AROUND LOUISIANA

CELEBRATE SPRING AT THE ZOO

Spring has sprung at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo. Zippity Zoo Fest, its annual spring festival and birthday celebration, will take place the weekend of March 27 and 28. Regular admission and hours, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., apply for this 51st anniversary event. Community groups from around the area will provide entertainment. There will be zoo keeper chats and other learning opportunities for animal lovers of all ages. Zoo animals will receive special birthday treats, and human visitors can enjoy a free piece of birthday cake as well. Kids will receive party favors to keep the celebration going. Winners of the zoo’s annual photo contest will also be revealed and be on exhibit, gallery style. ■ brzoo.org

PHOTO BY KLEINPETER PHOTOGRAPHY 2020-21 COVER KID TRIPP K.

Unlocking mysteries of autism is the subject of a new research study, the nation’s largest. Local nonprofit Emerge is collaborating with Geisinger in Pennsylvania to be part of the online initiative SPARK. Information and DNA for genetic analysis will be collected from 50,000 people with autism and their families. “SPARK empowers researchers to make new discoveries that will ultimately lead to the development of new supports and treatments to improve lives, which makes it one of the most insightful research endeavors to date, in addition to being the largest genetic research initiative in the U.S.,” says Deanna Whittle, CEO of The Emerge Center. ■ emergela.org/ spark

ANXIOUS WHEN HELPING WITH MATH HOMEWORK?

If you need some help figuring out your kid’s math homework, new research says that you are not the only one. The survey, commissioned by homework assistance app Photomath, found that while most parents feel comfortable with their own math skills, they are less confident helping with homework. “As a parent myself, I know these feelings well,” says Jennifer Lee, Photomath vice president. “We want our kids to succeed, but when difficult subjects like math come up, it’s not unusual for us to feel hesitation or even anxiety come homework time. Since the pandemic started, we’ve seen over three times the number of new parents download the app each week as they increasingly look for new ways to help their kids in school, even from home.” ■ photomath.app/en

CDC: TEENS DON’T EAT ENOUGH VEGGIES

Bummer news about American teenagers’ diets. New data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that adolescents across demographic groups eat too few fruits and vegetables, continuing trends from previous years. Only 7.1 percent ate the recommended amount of fruits, and 2 percent ate enough vegetables. How much teens should be eating daily varies by age and gender: 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 to 3 cups of veggies. The CDC report suggests some ideas for increasing the appeal of better nutrition, including social media approaches and expanding existing school and community programs. Parents can also help, as modeling good eating behavior can be an effective way to encourage better nutrition. ■ cdc.gov

Young content creators can bring their music video dreams to life with a new app. The LEGO Group and Universal Music Group have created LEGO VIDIYO, an augmented reality experience aimed at ages 7-10. Using new technology and music from multiple genres, the app can inspire creative expression. “We want to feed the imagination of the next generation of creatives, providing a new canvas for kids to creatively express themselves,” says Julia Goldin, chief product and marketing officer, the LEGO Group.

“Research shows over three quarters of parents globally wish their children had more creative confidence, so we’re launching LEGO VIDIYO to help make that happen.” Posting requires verified parental consent. ■ lego.com

GRANT PROVIDES SAFE BABY BEDS

Having a safe place for baby to sleep isn’t something to take for granted. A new initiative from the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority will invest in safe baby beds and bedding for families living in EBRPHA communities. The project is funded by a Junior League of Baton Rouge Community Assistance Grant. “East Baton Rouge Parish has a disturbingly-high infant mortality rate, twice the national average,” says J. Wesley Daniels, Jr., EBRPHA chief executive officer. “We are grateful to the Junior League for this award of nearly $5,000 to purchase 18 new safe cribs, mattresses, and bedding for babies who were not in cribs or playpens and were sleeping with parents or other siblings.” ■ ebrpha.org