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SAFE WAYS TO ORDER GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
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GIRL SCOUT COOKIE time is officially here, and girl scouts are offering safe and socially distant ways to help you get your fix. The girl-led entrepreneurship program is adapting sales methods to include contact-free pickup and an option for delivery through a collaboration with Grubhub. Even if you don’t know a Girl Scout, you can still order your favorite Girl Scout cookies online. “People will notice some delightful changes to the way we do cookie season this year,” says Rebecca Pennington, CEO of Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “With more emphasis on using technology and using girl-powered creative solutions such as innovative drive-thru cookie booths, we hope our communities will support their local Girl Scouts with the same energy and excitement as they have in years past.” girlscoutcookies.org
MORE THAN 300 million people are currently living with a rare disease, and more than 6,000 rare diseases have currently been identified. Rare Disease Day, the last day of February each year, is an effort to raise awareness of these diseases and their impacts on patients’ lives. Garage 10 is a local nonprofit started by two friends, Ashley Gravois and Kasey Gary, who have both been affected by rare diseases. The name comes from the parking structure at MD Anderson where Gravois’ husband received treatment. Its mission is to provide emotional and financial support to help ease some of the challenges patients face. Garage 10 is launching a website and fundraising to help families like theirs. garage10br.com
AFTER AUTHOR RUTH Forman’s daughter said she didn’t like her curly hair, Forman was inspired to write Curls, a love song to African-American hair. A great way to mark Black History Month, the joyful and poetic board book features five friends who are experiencing the confidence that comes from having the perfect hairstyle. Bright, captivating illustrations by Geneva Bowers help bring the story to life. “I understand how critical books for very young children of color can be in helping to form a sense of positive identity, self-worth and inspiration,” Forman says. “[Curls] is intended to be the first in a series for these young readers, celebrating identity and self-love for children of color and for all children to enjoy.” simonandschuster. com/books/curls
RARE DISEASE DAY IS FEBRUARY 28
NEW BOOK CELEBRATES BLACK JOY
Photo by Lauren Ashton Photography 2019-20 Cover Kid: Tyler B.
NEW KID-FOCUSED STREAMING PLATFORM
NETFLIX, DISNEY+, AMAZON Prime, Hulu, the list
goes on for streaming choices. In addition to juggling logins, parents have to ensure little eyes don’t see inappropriate content. Common Sense Networks, the for-profit affiliate of Common Sense Media, has announced it is launching a kid-friendly streaming service this year called Sensical. The free platform will provide only age-appropriate content, offering thousands of videos for ages 2 to 12. Each hour of programming will have no more than seven minutes of advertising. “Every family can afford to add Sensical to their personal bundle, and we couldn’t be more excited to create a distinctive alternative for parents and partner with them in their goal to raise good humans,” says Eric Berger, CSN CEO. commonsensenetworks.com
WE ALL HAVE those songs that get stuck in our heads, and sometimes, we only know one or two lyrics from the song and can’t quite figure out what song is even stuck to begin with. The best way to get an earworm unstuck from your mind is to hear the song all the way through. But what if you don’t know the name or artist? Google can now help–no lyrics or perfect pitch required. Just hum, whistle or sing the melody that is stuck in your head to Google to figure out what song is stuck on repeat. Open the Google app or search widget, tap the mic and say “what’s this song?” or click “search a song” button and start humming for 10-15 seconds. The feature is available on iOS and Android, and Google uses a machine learning algorithm to help identify potential song matches.
SESAME STREET VIRTUAL CHALLENGE
clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet.” Sing this iconic ditty, the theme song to the longest running children’s program, while participating in the Sesame Street Challenge this year. Virtual Running Club teamed up with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, to create the virtual run/walk/hike event. Benefiting Sesame Workshop’s Yellow Feather Fund, entrants sign up to complete either 100 or 500 cumulative miles and earn character pins by hitting six milestones along the way. Registration is open now while supplies last, and entrance fees start at $100 with the option to add a keepsake race bib and T-shirt. The challenge can be completed any time in 2021. virtualrunningclub.com
LEARN IN THE KITCHEN WITH FREE CURRICULUM
PARENTS WHO NEED to adapt to their students’ needs in this era of social distancing and remote learning can look no further than their home kitchen to fill the gap. The nonprofit Spoons Across America has launched three new athome programs to help support parents and home educators in keeping kids engaged and learning. Two of the three are free options, providing printables, stories and activities focused on food and healthy eating. For $30, the Food Exploration project teaches about the elements of taste, and includes a journal, apron and child-safe knife ($10 for each additional child). Spoons Across America seeks to build “recipes for healthier children” with its programming. spoonsacrossamerica.org WHAT’S A FIRST birthday celebration without a smash cake? Parents who want to follow best practice advice will soon find out. Added sugar before the age of two is officially a no-no, according to new federal government dietary guidelines issued by the departments of Agriculture and Health & Human Services. Only breast milk for at least six months or an iron-fortified infant formula during the first year are also advised. The guidelines are the first from the U.S. government that include recommendations by life stage. Released every five years, the advice is designed to help Americans make healthy decisions on what to eat and drink. There’s also an app available for download to help you make healthier decisions while you’re out.
APPLY FOR VISUAL ART & SONGWRITING SCHOLARSHIPS
ARTISTS CREATE ART regardless of circumstance, and that has been true throughout the pandemic. The George Rodrigue Foundation and Trombone Shorty Foundation are inviting Louisiana high school juniors and seniors to create works of art and music inspired by reflections on their pandemic experience. Applicants will explore their thoughts on a difficult year as well as their hopes for the future by interpreting the theme “Alone Together: Art in the Time of Pandemic.” Ten winning visual artists and three winning songwriters will share $25,000 in college scholarship funds. The deadline for both visual art and songwriting competitions is Friday, February 26. The late artist established his foundation to advocate for arts in education. georgerodriguefoundation.org
PICNIC WITH YOUR POD WHILE IN NOLA
EATING A MEAL with those in our pandemic pod is more than routine at this point, but the Friends of City Park have a suggestion to make it a little more interesting with their 2021 Lark Picnic in the Park fundraiser on Sunday, March 14. Two daytime seatings, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., will allow for limited attendance and social distancing in the expansive Botanical Garden. “This is a very special event for us, and we look forward to raising money for City Park, while also making patrons feel safe in doing so,” says Stephanie Bell, executive director of Friends of City Park. “Few experiences match an intimate and glamorous picnic in one of New Orleans’ most prized landmarks.” Tickets start at $100. friendsofcitypark.com
A NEW PEDIATRIC super-clinic is in the works as an expansion of Ochsner Medical Complex–The Grove. Pediatric specialty and subspecialties services will be available under one roof. Encompassing nearly the entire fifth floor of The Grove, the space will provide a familiar, friendly and welcoming environment for children and minimize sitting in Baton Rouge traffic. “Kids are resilient,” says Eric McMillen, CEO, Ochsner Baton Rouge.
“The majority of conditions children face can be treated in an outpatient clinic setting or at a same-day surgery center–like what we already have at The Grove.” The super-clinic is a $6.8 million investment with more than $700,000 in pediatric-specific medical equipment, and it’s expected to be complete this fall.
SAFER INTERNET DAY IS FEBRUARY 9
THE INTERNET CAN be a dangerous
place, and while we continue to navigate changes created by the pandemic, our children have more access to the Internet than ever before. Celebrated on Tuesday, February 9 this year, Safer Internet Day is an international event aimed at creating a safer and better Internet for our little ones. In the United States, the event host is ConnectSafely.org, a nonprofit dedicated to educating tech users about safety, privacy and security. The 2021 theme is “The internet starts with I & ends with T,” emphasizing personal responsibility and that we’re all in this together. Families, companies, the government and others have roles to play. Ideas for schools, families and companies to get involved with #SID2021 are available online. saferinternetday.us
