Kids VT, April 2016 by Kids VT

Money Issue The

2016 CAMP GUIDE FREE

Life in

Balance

APRIL 2016 V OL.23 NO.3

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APRIL 2016

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Whether you’ve got toddlers or teenagers, family finances can be a challenge. That’s why NEFCU is focused on making money management easy. From low-cost credit cards, to home loans, to education financing, we help you take control of your family’s fortunes. For more information or to apply call 800-400-8790 or visit nefcu.com.

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Money Issue The

VOL.23 NO .3

APRIL 2016

Editor’s Note....................................................................5 See & Say ..........................................................................6 Coloring Contest Winners .................................7 Writing Contest Winners....................................7 Habitat: Batcave Bedroom ..................................51 Birthday Club..................................................................54 Use Your Words: Fear Not ..................................55

April is tax time, and money is on everyone’s minds. It’s also NATIONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH, which prompted us to offer this package of stories about money matters. We’re grateful to our sponsor, New England Federal Credit Union, for supporting our work. THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY: NEFCU is local, affordable and on your side when it comes to personal finance.

ORGANIC SNACKS, CHIPS, YOGURTS, COOKIES, FOODS FOR KIDS, SOUPS, RICE, BARGAIN CHEESES, CLOSE-OUT WINES & NEW SURPRISES EVERYDAY!

Tough Choice$ .....20 Vermont parents are opting out of work to retain their benefits

EAT. LEARN. PLAY Kids Beat .............................................................................8 One to Watch: Olivia Machanic.......................10 Fit Families: Speed Stacking ............................11 Destination Recreation: Widlflowers Studio 12 Bookworms: Financial Literacy ...................13 Balancing Act: The Albees ..................................14 Mealtime: Yogurt & Granola.............................16 Out to Eat: Papa Frank’s ........................................17 Home Cookin’..................................................................17 The Art of Poetry Recitation.............................18 Checkup: Night Terrors ..........................................19

ARGAIN PRICES ! ALL AT B

Book ’em Learning .....22

Burlington kids get an inside look at law enforcement at the Junior Community Police Academy

1186 Williston Rd. So. Burlington, VT 05403 (Next to the Alpine Shop) 802.863.0143 Open 7 days 10am-7pm cheeseandwinetraders.com

2016 CAMP GUIDE

Time After Time ...27

CALENDAR

From Popsicle days to tippy tests, summer camps share traditions that keep kids coming back for more

Coloring Contest .........................................................52 Writing Contest............................................................53 Puzzle Page ......................................................................54

Players take risks and hope to reap the rewards in illustrator Matt Mignanelli’s colorful Game of Life.

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AL FUN! E R Balance

Money Issue The

2016 CAMP GUIDE

FREE

Life in

APRIL 2016

VOL. 23 NO. 3

Cathy Resmer Colby Roberts Alison Novak Meredith Coeyman Brooke Bousquet Corey Grenier Kaitlin Montgomery Brett Stanciu

cathy@kidsvt.com colby@kidsvt.com alison@kidsvt.com meredith@kidsvt.com brooke@kidsvt.com corey@kidsvt.com kaitlin@kidsvt.com brett@kidsvt.com

Montshire Museum! ext. 74 ext. 77 ext. 75 ext. 75 ext. 41 ext. 76 ext. 72 ext. 78

P.O. Box 1184 Burlington, VT 05402 802-985-5482 kidsvt.com

Editorial in Kids VT is for general informational purposes. Parents must use their own discretion for following the advice in any editorial piece. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute service/product endorsement. Kids VT is a proud member of the Parenting Media Association. Kids VT distribution is audited for accuracy.

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•

Contributing Writers: Darcie Abbene, Grace Per Lee, Ken Picard, Erinn Simon, Jessica Lara Ticktin, Katie Titterton, Sarah Yahm Illustrator: Matt Mignanelli

• 135+ Hands-on exhibits • Daily activities • Visiting exhibitions • Science Park • Nature trails • Live animals & aquariums • Museum Store • Free parking $2 Off Admission! When you subscribe to Montshire’s eNews at montshire.org.

OPEN DAILY 10-5

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Montshire Museum of Science

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Proofreaders Katherine Isaacs Marisa Keller Production Manager John James Creative Director Don Eggert Designers Rev. Diane Sullivan Charlotte Scott Circulation Manager Matt Weiner Business Manager Cheryl Brownell

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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Copublisher/Executive Editor Copublisher Managing Editor Contributing Editor Art Director Marketing & Events Manager Account Executive Calendar Writer

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ON THE COVER

Real Science.

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Daily Listings ..................................................................37 Classes ..................................................................................38 Story Times ......................................................................40 Ongoing Exhibits ........................................................43 Playgroups ........................................................................44

•

DISCOUNTED

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Saturday, April 23 10 am to 4 pm The Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT

Open to the public! Over 100 exciting exhibitors, free workshops, hands-on activities and main stage shows!

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Tickets are $5 at the door. Visit girlscoutsgwm.org for more information. • Vermont National Guard Climbing Tower • Miss Vermont 2015 Science Demo • Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum’s Imagination Playground • King Arthur Flour “Bake for Good” Demo • Civil Air Patrol’s Drones and Rockets • Authors Marcia Wells & Sarah Dillard • L.L. Bean Boot Mobile • Emily Packard, 19 yr old Race Car Driver • Camp Farnsworth Archery Range • Montshire Museum’s Pop-Up Science sponsored by Creativity Garden

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Money Issue The

EDITOR’S NOTE

For What It’s Worth Vermont families avoid falling over the “benefits cliff.” That’s the point at which parents make too much money to qualify for health care and childcare subsidies. It seems counterintuitive, but couples who do the math discover that sometimes it pays off when one partner declines a raise or leaves their job altogether. But does it really make sense for the state to incentivize workers to scale back or drop out of the workforce? This story anchors our annual Money Issue, timed to coincide with tax day on April 15. Our package of stories also includes a profile of a young entrepreneur (“One to Watch,” page 10), a recipe for making your own yogurt and granola (“Mealtime,” page 16), and an inspirational “Habitat,” (page 51), which explains how a Burlington mom turned her sons’ bedroom into a batcave — on a budget. This month’s “Bookworms” offers recommendations for resources that teach kids about personal finance (page 13). And finally, with summer vacation just around the corner, you’ll want to peruse the camp guide starting on page 27. In “Time After Time,” we surveyed local camps to find out about their quirky, fun traditions that keep kids coming back year after year. Perhaps reading it will be the jumpstart you need to get your kids signed up for a session! Playing board games will only get you so far during that 10-week school break. C

CMY

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TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE 2016 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LACROSSE SEASON! vISIT uvmathletics.com

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MY FAMILY HAS a new after-dinner ritual: Monopoly. Not the junior version with the plastic game pieces and low-stakes investments. No, we’ve moved on to the real-deal, deluxe edition, with the hefty metal pieces, houses and hotels, and multitude of rules. When we started, my first reaction was shock that both my kids Game night at the are now old Novak household enough to play an involved board game without knocking things off the board or pouting when things don’t go their way. But when that wore off, I realized that the game is actually a great teaching opportunity. While rolling dice and buying properties, we’ve had conversations about the meaning of words like mortgage, rent and insurance. And counting cash and calculating change make for great math practice. Monopoly has also helped me learn about the misconceptions my kids have about money. Six-year-old Theo, for example, feels like he’s winning if he gives the bank one bill and gets two bills in return, regardless of the value of the currency. We’ve tried to explain that more bills doesn’t always mean more money, but I’m not sure that’s sunk in yet. He’ll learn. Eight-year-old Mira is cautious about spending her dough, so we’ve tried explaining that investing in property isn’t the same as giving money away. I think she’s beginning to understand that concept. Navigating money matters doesn’t get much easier as you get older. In “Tough Choice$” (page 20), contributor Katie Titterton explores how

ALISON NOVAK, MANAGING EDITOR

Some of this month’s Kids VT contributors: GRACE PER LEE (“Destination Recreation”) lives in Burlington, with her husband, son and her son’s pet “snake,” Boy — actually a draft stopper made from flannel and beans. DARCIE ABBENE (“Fit Families”) is a freelance writer, educator and book reviewer living in Morrisville with her husband and two daughters. When not wordsmithing articles about kids, books or farms, she enjoys writing fiction.

SEE & SAY

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Vermont has some talented young people! Here are a few who were recently recognized for their accomplishments. for Vermont high school KIRAN WAQAR, a sophostudents that covers more at South Burlington Kiran topics related to the High School, was the Waqar human brain including recipient of a Prudential intelligence, emotions, Spirit of Community memory, sleep and Award for her work addiction. Fellow making gift bags, Burlington Tech junior packed with art supRYAN MARTIN placed plies and activities, for second. Eliza advanced hospitalized kids. Kiran to the National Brain Bee in received donations from Maryland in March, where she placed local stores and recruited a team of 27th in a field of 57 competitors volunteers to donate their babysitfrom 29 states. ting proceeds to her project. Twelve-year-old MIRANDA Fourth grader DAVID WALBRIDGE, a student at HARRIS won a Barre City Elementary $1,000 scholarship and Middle School, was David for growing a giant also recognized for Harris cabbage as part her work as a buddy of the National partner for athletes in Bonnie Plants the Special Olympics Cabbage Program. United Sport program. As Last year, third part of the award, sponsored graders at his school, by Prudential Financial Founders Memorial and the National Association School in Essex, were given of Secondary School Principals, baby cabbage plants from Bonnie Kiran and Miranda will each receive Plants. His family planted theirs in a $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip bed along their driveway with to Washington, D.C., in organic compost and good May to participate in a Eliza Kissam topsoil, said David’s national recognition and Ryan mom, Maria. Every ceremony. Martin time they watered the plant, they used On February fish and seaweed 20, Burlington fertilizer from Technical Gardener’s Supply Center junior Company. After 11 ELIZA KISSAM weeks, David’s cabtook top honors bage weighed in at a at the seventh whopping 53 pounds, annual Vermont earning top honors in Brain Bee, a neurothe state. science competition

Test Your Financial Knowlege

How smart are you when it comes to money matters? We borrowed questions from the Vermont Treasury Cup Challenge, an annual contest for local students that took place last month, on topics ranging from inflation to credit. Find it at kidsvt.com. Congratulations to the winning team from Essex High School! GOT A COMMENT? Email us at feedback@kidsvt.com.

MORE THAN ALRIGHT We had a blast sponsoring the Kids Are Alright concert, held at Higher Ground on Saturday, March 19. The show, a fundraiser for arts programs at the Integrated Arts Academy at H.O. Wheeler in Burlington, featured local musicians including Swale, Steady Betty, members of Rough Francis and Guster’s Ryan Miller. DJ Necutron, aka Essex eighth grader Ben Sprenger — who we wrote about in the June 2015 “One to Watch” — spun tunes in between bands. And kids from the school’s ONE Strings program took to the stage with their violins for a rousing rendition of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” The show raised $11,000 for the magnet school. Can’t wait to jam with you next year!

Word Sleuths

We were delighted to see kindergarteners at C.P. Smith Elementary School in Burlington using copies of the March issue of Kids VT to hunt for consonant-vowel-consonant patterns and SnapWords (also known as sight words). Kudos to the budding readers and writers for their good literacy work, and to teacher Adam Deyo for his resourcefulness!

PHOTOS: SAM SIMON

Winners’ Circle

Research shows that offering students breakfast after the first school bell, rather than before school, is an effective way to increase participation in school breakfast programs. And when students start the day with a healthy meal, their behavior and academic performance gets a boost. That’s the rationale behind the Vermont Breakfast After the Bell Challenge, a program launched in January by the New England Dairy & Food Council and Hunger Free Vermont aimed at increasing school breakfast availability by 20 percent statewide. In March, Morristown Elementary School got a special visit from New England Patriots player DURON HARMON and 2015 Vermont Dairy Farmer of the

COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND DAIRY AND FOOD COUNCIL

Breakfast of Champions

NFL player Duron Harmon and a student

Year LES PIKE to celebrate a $12,000 award split between that school, Peoples Academy High School and Stowe Elementary School to support their breakfast programs. Harmon, a 25-year-old safety for the Pats, played with students in the gym and gave a pep talk about staying healthy — and staying in school.

COLORING CONTEST

Unlike this winter’s snow, the March coloring contest entries piled up high, creating some difficult choices for our judges. Maxwell McCalla, 11, wasn’t quite ready to let the season go. His bear took a journey to the South Pole, complete with artistic snowflakes and puffy clouds. Flying birds, golden sunshine and tiny flowers created an idyllic scene around 4-year-old Violet Sky Marias’ rainbow-colored bear. Kai Mahaffey, 8, worked carefully with red and blue markers to keep his coloring within the lines, adorning his teddy with tattoos — a clover on one arm and “Mom” on the other. Keep the creativity coming, and congratulations to all the winners.

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

Sylas Weaver, 5

5 and under

SOUTH BURLINGTON

“Pond Hockey Bear”

HONORABLE MENTIONS CLOVER-LEAF CUB

Writing Contest Winners Lily Kate Keech, 9 CHARLOTTE

POT OF GOLD

Ida Eames, 12, Craftsbury Common PRESIDENT BERNIE

Andrea Henderson, 5, Burlington RIDING A RAINBOW

Alice & Lily Ide, 5, Richmond

6 to 8

Sophia Van Zyl, 8

APRIL 2016

ADDISON

“Pop Star Power”

LUCKY LEAVES

Ruby Shangraw, 8, Williamstown TANGLED-UP TEDDY

Cullen Gerlach, 2, Colchester EAGER EXPLORER

Hunter Norton, 10 FERRISBURGH

John, 6, East Montpelier

There once was a king, of Irish descent. But he didn’t want a princess, for he loved a peasant.

Humiliated, the girl fled, from her father’s throne. She roamed around, until she found a new home.

They both got married, and they had a child. But the child hated dresses, and her heart was very mild.

A leafy green forest, as leafy as can be. A place where she could keep, her dreadful singing to the bees.

One day in the woods, the child was a-swing. Then, deep in the grasses, the girl found a ring.

So there she stayed, without the company of her mother. And there she perished, without the company of any other.

But a dark spirit dwelled, inside that ring. It loved to play tricks, so it made the girl sing.

So let that be a lesson, to those who find rings. In the tall grass of forests or you may learn to sing.

FOUR-SEASON PICTURE

Tess Barker, 10, & Sadie Harris, 10 Burlington LEAPING LEPRECHAUN

Lumia Beeli, 7, South Burlington BROWN BEAR AT DUSK

Maria Bush, 5, Hinesburg

TOP TITLES

“3 BEARS IN THE RAINBOW FOREST”

Harper Hayes, 7, Bolton Valley

“JUST CHECKING MY BANK ACCOUNT”

Hanna Gustafson, 11

9 to 12

SOUTH BURLINGTON

“Snow White & the 7 Bears”

Veronica Lindstrom, 9, South Burlington

“BLACK BEAR’S CAVE/MINE WORLD”

Sebastian Hempey, 5, Richmond

Find this month’s coloring contest on page 52. The deadline for submissions is April 15.

Find the April writing prompt on page 53. The deadline is April 15.

BEARY ADVENTURE

Lily O’Brien, 10, Shelburne

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Down in the depths and earthen caves live very special men, with pots of gold. The young and old are merriest of all when the winter is done and spring has come, the merriest time of year. But how do they find the precious gold, when few of us humans can? It’s leprechaun magic inside of their heart, the luckiest thing they have.

BOWLING BEAR

Caitlan Reed, 7, Hinesburg

KIDSVT.COM

Congratulations to these talented young poets who submitted St. Patty’s Day-inspired poems this month. They both win a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington.

Dominic Russell Mazzilli, 10, Moretown

THE

BEAT

PARTY

B Y A L I S ON N OVA K

Retro Reveling

KIDSVT.COM

Big hair, awkward slow dancing, hideous dresses — not everyone has fond memories of their high school prom. But there’s a chance for a do-over at the end of the month. An ADULT PROM at ArtsRiot in Burlington will raise money for the Handle With Love VT Doula Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based financial aid to families who want to hire a doula for birth or postpartum support. Research has shown that doula support during birth has many benefits, including fewer medical interventions and more positive feelings about the birth experience, says Handle With Love founder Francesca Arnoldy, a certified childbirth educator and doula with VT Birth Haven. At the grown-up gala, a DJ will spin tunes from the ’70s to’90s, and revelers are encouraged to dress as pop-culture icons The ADULT PROM from that era. Attendees can pile into a photo beneﬁtting the Handle booth, enjoy mini cupcakes and kombuchaWith Love VT Doula based cocktails, and vote for the best-dressed Scholarship Fund takes prom goer. A lucky raﬄe winner will go home place on Saturday, April with a gold and pink sapphire necklace from 30, from 8:30-11:30 Von Bargen’s Jewelry at the end of the night. p.m. at ArtsRiot in Why put on a prom? “It’s a guaranteed Burlington. Tickets can good time for attendees,” says Arnoldy. be purchased for $25 in “Cheesy as it sounds, prom ensures the ‘fun’ advance at artsriot.com in fundraising.” or at the venue, or for $30 at the door.

COMMUNITY

Catching the Bus If you see a tennis-ballgreen minibus whizzing down the road, it’s likely filled with Burlington kids headed out on a community adventure. The KING STREET LEARNING BUS hit the streets last month, thanks to a grant from Dealer.com and additional funds from Champlain Valley Head Start. After an unveiling at the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade in early March, the green machine — which replaced an older vehicle known as Cliﬀord the Red Bus — will be taking kids of all ages served by the King Street Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington and the Greater Burlington YMCA to Shelburne Farms for barnyard frolicking, the EDGE Sports & Fitness for tennis and Wind Ridge Fjords & Friends for horseback-riding lessons. The vehicle even has built-in car seats with threepoint harnesses for preschoolers.

The bus is decorated with engaging and educational illustrations, designed by artist Scott A. Campbell, that show the highest and lowest points on Earth, the most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., and a color wheel. There’s also an apt quote paraphrased from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: “Where should I go?” it reads. “That depends on where you want to end up.” Look for the KING STREET LEARNING BUS around town. For more information about the King Street Center, visit kingstreetcenter.org.

COURTESY OF KING STREET CENTER

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EAT. LEARN. PLAY.

NOMINATIONS

Outstanding Academics • Inspired Learning

Unsung Heroes Know an early childhood educator who’s truly amazing? For the second year, the nonprofit Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children will honor a top-notch teacher with the EARLY EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD. Two finalists will be recognized at the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in October, where one of them will be awarded $5,000 and have all expenses paid at several conferences. The winner’s workplace will get an additional $2,500; the runner-up and his or her program also receive a monetary prize. Last year, the award focused on home-based providers, and the top prize went to Geralyn Barrows —

a 30-year veteran childcare provider who runs Discovery Hill Family Child Care and Preschool in New Haven. “We are caring for the children during their most formative years,” she said. “We have a chance to make an impact on their future success.”

Core Academics • STEM • Global Studies • Digital Literacy • Art • Music Spanish • PE • Project based learning• Individual Learning Goals

Nominate a center-based childcare professional you know and love for the EARLY EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD before May 1 at permanentfund.org.

NOW ENROLLING K-8 FOR FALL 2016

Open House: Sunday, May 1st at 3 pm Middle School Visiting Day: May 5th from 9-10 am (pre-registration required for this event)

Visit our website vtdayschool.org for more information. Email: info@vtdayschool.org. Phone: 802-495-5150 6701 Shelburne Road, Shelburne

CHARITY

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Once, she couldn’t face the day.

Vermont Department for Children and Families, Mathewson plans to distribute bikes in Middlebury and move south from there. Ultimately, he dreams of creating a program model that can be used nationwide. “I can’t help kids with their problems,” he says, “but I can give them a bike and the bike will help them with their problems.”

Now she dreams about the future.

Mental illness and addiction can keep young people from realizing their full potential. That’s why we offer specialized, expert care at the Brattleboro Retreat to help you reach children and adolescents facing serious challenges.

Donate bikes to GREEN MOUNTAIN FOSTER BIKES at Little City Cycles, 10 N. Main St., Vergennes. To learn more about the program, visit facebook.com/ greenmountainfosterbikes. To donate money to the program, visit gofundme. com/gmfosterbikes.

Call 800-738-7328 brattlebororetreat.org

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COURTESY OF LITTLE CITY CYCLES

APRIL 2016

When Tim Mathewson, owner of Little City Cycles in Vergennes, was growing up in the ’60s, he remembers that getting a bike was just part of being a kid. Now he’s helping to ensure that children in the foster-care system can enjoy that typical childhood experience. Along with friend Tanya Bashaw, Mathewson recently started GREEN MOUNTAIN FOSTER BIKES, a program focused on refurbishing old bicycles and giving them to kids in foster care. With help from volunteers, Mathewson is converting donated cycles — many of which have what Mathewson calls “Walmart fall-apart brakes” and cheap gears — into onespeed coaster bikes with back-pedal brakes. Mathewson has revamped about 15 two-wheelers so far — replacing brakes and gears, putting on new tires, seats, chains, pedals and grips, if needed, and detailing them so that they are “as pretty as possible.” His vision is to create a fleet that can be returned and swapped out as needed. Along with a tricked-out ride, every kid who receives a bike will get a helmet, pump, and rag and oil for maintenance. With the help of the

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Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Adolescents

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✱ ONE TO WATCH

Money Issue The

BY A LISON NOVAK

Selling Spirit

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PARENTS TODAY MAY remember that when they were kids, starting a business meant creating flyers, making copies and stuffing mailboxes — methods that might seem archaic for today’s savvy NAME: OLIVIA MACHANIC young entrepreneurs. TOWN: SHELBURNE In 2014, a domain AGE: 18 name was one of the first things on Olivia Machanic’s mind when she decided to start Liv Lax, a company that sells lacrosse-inspired bracelets and key chains. A priority: check to see if the web address livlax.com — a clever mash-up of her first name and “lax,” which is short for lacrosse — was available. It was, which she took as a good sign. The love of lacrosse runs in Olivia’s family. She’s been playing since eighth grade and currently competes on Champlain Valley Union High School’s varsity team, and club team 802 Lacrosse during the off-season. Her two younger siblings also play, and her parents coach Shelburne Youth Lacrosse. The initial inspiration for Liv Lax came two summers ago, after Olivia’s dad, Rick, and younger brother, Aiden, noticed the many vendors selling clothing, bags and other athletic gear at out-of-state lacrosse tournaments. Olivia and Rick started brainstorming and thought bracelets would fill a niche and capitalize on Olivia’s craftiness. Mom Jen has a background in retail management and offered to help run the business. After she checked on the domain name, Olivia went to Kevin Smith Sports, a sporting goods store in South Burlington, to purchase rolls of sidewall string, used to fasten the mesh pocket to the head of a lacrosse stick. Then she began experimenting by weaving the brightly colored string in various patterns. She settled on a crisscross design and, for the bracelets, chose a squeezable cord lock that allows wearers to adjust the size.

COURTESY OF OLIVIA MACHANIC

KIDSVT.COM KIDSVT.COM

A teen entrepreneur runs a lacrosse-inspired business Olivia (right) with mom Jen

GETTING TO THE GOAL We asked Liv Lax founder Olivia Machanic to share some advice with Vermont’s budding young entrepreneurs. Parents might find her tips relevant, too. • Take the time to learn from your mistakes and don’t let problems get you down.

• Work hard and do your very best. If you can do that, then the sky’s your only limit.

• Be confident and tell your story to anyone who will listen.

• Have fun, and love what you do! If you stop having fun, then it’s time to make a change.

• Be innovative and step outside of the box; it’s OK to color outside of the lines.

The Machanics registered Liv Lax as a limited liability company, or LLC, with the state and got their name trademarked with the U.S. Patent and

Trademark Office. Going “the official route” came at a price, Jen says, but they felt it was worth making Liv Lax a “legitimate business” and have since recouped their start-up costs. It’s been “a great thing for our family,” Olivia says of Liv Lax. Rick, an entrepreneur who started Tag New Media, helped design the company’s logo — Ls intertwined to look like a bracelet — and deals with legal matters. Olivia created the Liv Lax website using Squarespace, while younger siblings Aiden and Emma help pick bracelet colors and talk up the products to their friends. Olivia and her mom make each bracelet and key chain. “I am the hired hand,” Jen jokes. “She’s really running the show.” Mother and daughter have traveled to lacrosse tournaments in Middlebury, Stowe, Massachusetts and New York to sell their wares. They’ve also set up shop at hockey tournaments in Vermont since, Olivia explains, many athletes play both sports. For added appeal, she researches team colors before tournaments and makes bracelets in those color combinations. They retail for $10 online; key chains are $8. And they offer group discounts so teams can buy in bulk and show team solidarity. Most of the money they’ve made goes back into the business. Olivia isn’t sure what the future holds for Liv Lax. The high school senior is planning to sell bracelets at summer lacrosse tournaments and eventually wants to expand her product line to include bags, hats and shirts. She hopes that, with her family’s help, the business will remain in operation when she goes to college in the fall. “I was thinking about bringing the materials with me,” she says.

“One to Watch” shines a light on a young Vermonter who is going places. Know a local child or teen who’s recently done something amazing? Nominate him or her at kidsvt.com/vermont/kidsvtonetowatch/page.

KICK UP some Family Fun at TaeKwon Do K.I.C.K.S! Classes for the whole family Ages 1.5 through 99 Self-defense classes for groups and businesses Locations in Middlebury & Vergennes Call 802-377-0476, or email tkdkicks101@yahoo.com for more information or to set up a free class. Visit us online at tkdkicks.net! Untitled-12 1

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✱ FIT FAMILIES

BY DARC IE AB B E N E

EAT. LEARN. PLAY.

Speed Stacking

Second graders Caleb Brookens, Reuben Lodish and Nolan Beckert (left to right)

APRIL 2016

See a speed stacking video from the StackFest at kidsvt. com. To learn more about sport stacking, visit thewssa.com.

“Fit Families” is a monthly feature that offers easy and affordable ways to stay active. Got an idea for a future FF? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

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into a database and projected onto the wall. Godfrey was able to get equipment donated from Speed Stacks, a cupstacking equipment manufacturer. Staffers from the WSSA also helped run the event. Finian’s mom, Allegra Carpenter, said she likes sport stacking for its simplicity: It doesn’t require supervision, there are no practices to drive to and it’s relatively inexpensive. Forty bucks will buy a set of cups and a stack mat. Another mom, Genevieve Burnell Habeck, attended StackFest with her first grader, Caleb. She volunteered as a timesheet runner and was almost as excited about the competition as her son, whose face was painted like a green zombie. “It’s really great that it teaches sportsmanship without being super athletic and hardcore,” Habeck said. What did Caleb say he liked about it? “Getting timed, and beating myself.”

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I can basically do it with my eyes closed.

PHOTOS: SHEM ROOSE

IT WAS LUNCHTIME at the first Third grader Juniper Vermont Family StackFest competiGalvani at the Vermont Family StackFest tion at Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond. A crowd of kids and adults were gathered in the cafeteria, munching on hot dogs and baked goods and getting their faces painted. But 9-year-old Finian Towle was standing at a rectangular table in the gym, focused on a singular task: stacking cups as fast as he can. He was practicing a sport known as speed stacking. Finian started by slapping a StackMat timer — a long strip of rubber with a built-in stopwatch — before quickly assembling and disassembling 12 plastic cups in a specific sequence of pyramids known as “the Cycle.” When he was finished, he stopped the timer by slapping the mat again and proudly stood back. That afternoon, Finian won this category for his age group with a time of 14.179 seconds, and take third place overall. “I basically practice two hours a day,” Finian explained. “When I get home from school, I get my cups out seem like a sport, it helps strengthen and stack.” At this point, he said, hand-eye coordination, ambidexter“I can basically do it with my eyes ity and muscle memory, Godfrey closed.” Will Towle, Finian’s dad, said explained. The movement of reaching he loves hearing the click, click, click across the body to construct the cup of cups at home, knowing that his son sequences is especially helpful to kids is getting a little better each time. with certain disabilities, who need Speed stacking originated at a practice crossing their midline — an Boys & Girls Club in California in the imaginary line down the center of 1980s, and now has its own governing their body. body, the World Sport Fourteen adults Stacking Association, and 101 kids which hosts national registered for the and international StackFest, and it tournaments. This was a lively scene: event was a local Godfrey was in affair organized constant motion by Richmond 9-YEAR-OLD directing students, Elementary School FINIAN TOWLE parents and volunphysical educateers. Spectators tion teacher Brian sat in the bleachers Godfrey. He added and gathered around 11 long tables, sport stacking to his curriculum watching competitors race to stack when a student with a health condicups in three different sequences. tion required a less physically taxing Officials recorded results, which activity. were then ferried to the front of the While stacking and unstacking gym by timesheet runners, entered cups as fast as possible might not

Levi playing with multicolored macaroni at Wildflower Studio

Creativity Blooms

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APRIL 2016

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Wildflowers Studio, 1 Executive Drive #103, South Burlington, 318-8880, wildflowerstudiobtv.com I LOVE ART, and I’d always looked forward to sharing that love with my children. But my 2 1/2-yearold, Levi, would rather climb and jump — or anything other than sit still with a crayon in his hand. So I was curious to see how he would do visiting Wildflowers Studio, an art-focused play space that opened last year. Two minutes after entering the spacious studio on a frosty Monday morning, I knew our visit would be a success. Levi’s eyes widened as he peered around the bright, inviting room. He often hangs back in a new environment, but I’d barely finished signing us in before he was pulling me to a pegboard wall full of gadgets. Phones, remote controls, locks and other doodads that are off-limits at home were right at his level, begging to be fiddled with. This was my first clue that Wildflowers is about much more than art, in the strictest sense of the word. In fact, it’s a self-described multisensory creative play space.

Alongside more traditional artistic pursuits like clay and painting, there are other interesting things: building materials; colored tape and yarn; an old typewriter; a bunk bed upcycled into a fort with a Lego loft; and much more. Levi spent the majority of his time in a play kitchen in the middle of the room, where shelves of utensils and trays of multicolored macaroni kept him busy for the better part of an hour. He was so engaged that I knew he’d play past the point of hunger, so I had to insist he take a mid-morning snack break. The studio offers a separate, quieter room for snacking, with couches, a table and a sink. Some mothers used the space for nursing while their kids played on the floor with provided books and toys. Wildflowers is full of these thoughtful touches. From coffee and tea in the snack room to a diaper-stocked changing table in the bathroom, there’s a feeling of being well cared for — something all parents can appreciate. K

DETAILS Open-studio time is offered in two-hour blocks, Monday-Friday; times vary. Wildflowers also offers six-week class sessions and camps for kids ages 18 months to 10 years. Visit their website for details.

PROS • A clean, welcoming space where parents can relax and explore with their kids • Activities for every age, from infants to 10 years

CONS • At $15 for the first child, and $5 each additional kid, it’s not cheap. Monthly passes available for $55 • Only open weekdays, with occasional weekend events, making it difficult for working parents to enjoy with their children

Local parents review a play space each month in “Destination Recreation.” Got a spot you’d like us to feature? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

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GRACE PER LEE

Q DESTINATION RECREATION BY GR A CE PE R L EE

Money Issue

Q BOOKWORMS

The

By the Numbers

that challenges kids to keep a lemonade pitcher full and customers happy. As the game progresses, students are asked to make business decisions to keep their stand open.

Helme advises parents to explore what the State Treasurer’s Office has to offer. Its Reading is an Investment program has generated six years’ worth of lesson plans, activities and reading lists aimed at teaching personal finance to elementary-age children. All those materials are archived online on the Reading is an Investment page, one of the financial literacy links listed on moneyed.vermont.gov. Here are some of her other suggestions:

For middle schoolers Visa has developed two competitive, sports-themed games — Financial Football and Financial Soccer (vermont.financialfootball.com/ games). Players move down the field and score points by answering multiple-choice questions like, “When should you report a lost or stolen credit card?” and “If you save $25 a month, how long will it take you to save enough to buy a $300 mountain bike?”

Money-focused games — like Know Your Dough, which trains kids to spot the differences in U.S. currency — can be found at the Fun Vault at doughmaineducation foundation. org, the website of the DoughMain Education Foundation. The U.S. Mint website hosts an interactive animated story that illustrates how a coin is designed and produced (usmint.gov/kids/ cartoons/birthofacoin). Biz Kid$ is a national initiative based on an Emmy Award-winning public television series about kids, money and business. The bizkids. com site includes video clips, lesson plans, and a game called Dollar a Glass Recommendations compiled by Alison Novak

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For helping high schoolers, Cook raves about the work of financial planner and New York Times columnist Carl Richards. Writing under the name “Sketch Guy,” Richards shares simple black-andwhite drawings and stories that address financial planning, investing and concepts like “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Cook’s students regularly analyze Richards’ sketches. “Kids come in, they try to decipher them,” Cook explains. “They’re great conversation starters.” Find Richards’ work at behaviorgap.com.

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IF YOU WANT YOUR KIDS to be responsible and self-sufficient adults, it’s important to discuss things like budgeting, investing and managing money. But it’s not always easy, or fun. We reached out to two local educators to find out how they do it. Lisa Helme, director of financial literacy at the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office, recommended relevant resources aimed at elementary and middle school students. For teens, we turned to George Cook, a business teacher at U-32 High School in East Montpelier, which won the 2014 Vermont Jump$tart Financial Literacy Champion award. We usually write about books in this column, but both Helme and Cook pointed parents to online resources where kids can learn about money management through reading, watching tutorials and playing games. Maybe learning about money can be fun?

5/28/14 5:03 PM

Q BALANCING ACT

BY BY JESSICA LARA TICKTIN

Money Issue The

MATTHEW THORSEN

‘Tiny Town’ Life

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How a couple with a jewelry business redefined success after kids JACOB ALBEE DIDN’T SET OUT to be a jewelry maker. He took undergrad classes in art and wildlife biology at the University of Vermont and planned to study birds of prey in graduate school at Montréal’s McGill University. But after a summer job at the former Grannis Gallery in downtown Burlington, his Dad: Jacob Albee, designer/co-owner at interest in jewelry took flight. Jacob Albee Goldsmith, 40 On his lunch breaks from the gallery, Mom: Kristin Albee, business manager/ Albee frequently went to Penny Cluse co-owner at Jacob Albee Goldsmith, 38 Café, where a waitress named Kristin Kids: Son, Axel, 5, and daughter, Noël, 3 caught his eye. They’d both attended UVM and had some mutual friends. In the fall of 2005, Jacob had his first galstudio and spends two days at home with lery show at Grannis. Kristin stopped by Noël. and bought one of his pieces. After that, When Jacob and Kristin head out to they popped into each other’s workplace their office on Maple Street, Axel and more often than necessary, and soon Noël say their parents are going to “tiny began dating. town,” referring to the micro tools Jacob Jacob opened his own studio, Jacob uses to craft jewelry. But running a busiAlbee Goldsmith, in 2006. Kristin, who ness and a family with your partner is has a degree in English literature, was no small feat. figuring out her career path but had always loved jewelry and deeply admired On the morning Jacob’s work. After she hustle: helped him put on his KRISTIN: Lately the kids first national show in have been letting us sleep Washington, D.C., they in until it’s time to wake came to the realization them up on a school day, that they worked well usually around 6:30 or 7. together. So, before Then it’s a mad rush to getting married, she get them dressed, lunch bought into Jacob packed and asking Axel Albee Goldsmith, and JACOB ALBEE to put his shoes on about they became equal 30 times. I think that’s partners. the thing we say most in the world! The couple married in 2008, and their first child, Axel, was born two years later. JACOB: It’s usually, “Get off the floor and put your shoes on,” or “Stand up and Traveling to craft shows is essential put your shoes on.” for sales and promotion, and, as new KRISTIN: Jake has gotten really into biparents, the Albees brought young Axel cycling so now, almost every day, he puts along to shows around the country. But both kids on the back of his bike and when their daughter, Noël, was born in he takes Axel to IAA [Integrated Arts 2013, Jacob says they decided to “divide Academy], then he takes Pine Street to and conquer.” He traveled solo while the bike path and drops Noël off at Pine Kristin stayed home with the kids. She Forest [Children’s Center] on Flynn now works three days a week at the

I don’t care about fame like I did 10 years ago. The focus right now is to be a spouse, dad and then jeweler.

ing when they are in college, or whatever they do.

On housework: JACOB: I would say that it’s 97 percent Kristin. KRISTIN: When it happens, it’s usually me. JACOB: I would say our division of labor is: If it’s inside the house, it’s almost always Kristin who does it. If it’s anything broken or outside the house, it’s almost always something that I do. KRISTIN: It’s always a struggle getting to that. Sometimes I’ll tackle it late at night. JACOB: Sometimes it’s 8:30 and the children are asleep, we want to be in bed by 11 and the house needs to be cleaned, so the two of us will do it. KRISTIN: It’s the hard part of the whole mix, getting the house cleaned!

On how becoming parents has changed them:

Avenue. Then back here to the studio, so that’s how Dad gets his exercise! JACOB: That’s right. If I do that, it’s 16 miles a day. With a very heavy bicycle!

On meal prep: JACOB: Kristin does 97 percent of the cooking. KRISTIN: He’s a goldsmith, so he makes beautiful food. JACOB: But I don’t make it in 21 minutes. KRISTIN: He’s too much of an artist to make the quick kid dinner. JACOB: I am very good at turning whatever is in the refrigerator in the form of leftovers into— KRISTIN: —a smoothie!

On changing priorities: KRISTIN: Jake used to get really stressed out right before craft shows, about two weeks before. JACOB: I would be here [in the studio] like 20 hours a day. KRISTIN: He wouldn’t even come home to eat. Now that we have kids, his priorities have shifted so much because he cares about making that all happen right. JACOB: So I’ll come back to work sometimes at night, but less so now. Work will last longer than my children being little, unfortunately. We will be working when they are in high school. We will be work-

JACOB: I am more patient at work than I am as a parent. It’s only done when it’s done, as far as work goes! KRISTIN: I think it made me realize that work is actually easy! [They both laugh.] My work days are my easy days. I love being home with the kids, but those are the hard days. JACOB: I’d say it’s been a good priority shift being a creative person. I’m not staying up until three in the morning making jewelry and having panic attacks before I go to a craft show because … it’s just a craft show, really. It doesn’t warrant that level of stress. It’s taken me a few years and [our first] child to stop taking myself so seriously. There are way more important things than my little job. KRISTIN: That’s the way it’s influenced our business model. We had dreams of going big — of being in Saks Fifth Avenue… JACOB: Yeah, I wanted different things, that’s true. KRISTIN: It was actually a decision after having Axel that that wasn’t what we wanted. It’s made us redefine success. JACOB: Success is having enough money, and I don’t care about the vain parts of fame or any of that like I did 10 years ago. The focus right now is to be a spouse, dad and then jeweler. KRISTIN: Right now, I love the lifestyle and flexibility that all this gives us. I don’t know if there will be another career for me in my future or not, but right now I love working together, and I love Jacob’s work. K

In “Balancing Act,” we ask Vermont parents about the intersection of work and family life. Know parents we should interview? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

THE LEARNING CENTER AT HEALTHY LIVING GREEK VEGGIE BURGERS 2

cups canned chickpeas, drained

Greek Yogurt Sauce

small yellow onion, roughly chopped

cup Greek yogurt

Tbsp fresh dill, chopped

large carrots, shredded

Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

cloves garlic, minced

Tbsp fresh cilantro, minced

tsp cumin

tsp baking powder

- Tbsp flour

DIRECTIONS:

Fresh cracked pepper, as desired 1

bunch green onions, diced Salt & fresh cracked pepper as desired In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients.

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In a Cuisinart, pulse chickpeas until coarse, about the size of peas or smaller. Add onion, parsley and cilantro and pulse for another second. Turn into a bowl and mix in carrots, cumin, baking powder, and enough flour to make the mixture nice and tacky (so it holds enough to be formed into burgers). Season with salt and pepper. Heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a straight sided pan on medium high heat until oil begins to helicopter. Form chickpea mixture into pa ies and fry in pan for approx. 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve warm.

APRIL 2016

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KIDS IN THE KITCHEN IN APRIL

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A Perfect Pairing: Homemade Yogurt & Granola EVERY DAY I COOK for 45 toddlers and preschoolers at the Burlington Children’s Space. To promote healthy eating, and to stay on budget, I make cooking from scratch a priority. I follow the same philosophy with my three kids. Though it’s difficult to go completely homemade, I’m always looking for practical recipes to try in my own kitchen and at school. Because of this, I was already familiar with the DIYyogurt process before I attempted it for Kids VT. Last year, I also experienced a pretty funny yogurt-making experience at work. BCS kids love yogurt at snack time, so a coworker

decided to try making it in the lunch kitchen. The process is all about temperature; you need to keep the milk warm, but not too warm, while it ferments into yogurt. We don’t have a slow cooker at the center, and can’t leave the oven on overnight, so, unbeknownst to me, my friend came up with a brilliant plan. She put the milk and yogurt-starter mixture into two half-gallon mason jars, wrapped them in towels and zipped them up in a kid-size winter jacket, which she set on the counter. Upon arriving at work the next morning, I screamed at the sight of a disembodied jacket upright on the counter. Teachers came running.

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Homemade Yogurt

(makes approximately two quarts)

DIRECTIONS:

1/2 gallon milk (I used 2 percent)

1. Wash all of your equipment in hot soapy water and dry well with a clean towel. Fill your slow cooker halfway with warm water and set to the lowest setting, or to “warm” if you have the option. Keep the lid off.

EQUIPMENT: Slow cooker Large saucepan Instant-read thermometer 2 glass quart jars with tight-fitting lids Aluminum foil Large clean towel

“What is this?” I implored, thinking it was a practical joke. “Oh! I didn’t mean to scare you!” my coworker apologized. “It’s just Yogurt Kid!” Despite my alarm, the yogurt was a huge success. The kids loved it, and we certainly saved money by making our own. At home, I enlisted a slow cooker to warm my first batch. It was easy and made a good amount: Set it up on Sunday night, and you’ll have yogurt for the week on Monday morning. Pair it with homemade granola, and you’ve got two healthy, tasty, homemade breakfast staples — and you can leave the coats in the closet.

PHOTOS: SAM SIMON

Erinn’s Favorite Granola INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS: 4 tablespoons plain yogurt (This is your starter culture; for the next batch you can use your homemade yogurt instead.)

Money Issue The

✱ MEALTIME B Y E RIN N SIM O N

4. Divide the milk between your two jars, and stir 2 tablespoons of yogurt into each jar. Make sure the milk and yogurt are well blended, and screw the lids on tight. 5. Put the sealed jars into the slow cooker and cover the whole thing (yep, base and all) with aluminum foil to keep the heat in, then turn it off and unplug it. Wrap a large,

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup brown sugar 3 cups rolled oats (not instant) 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts or a combination work well)

2. Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat, whisking gently. Check the temp with your thermometer and watch carefully — don’t let it boil! When the milk reaches 180-190 degrees, remove it from the heat and let it cool to 125 degrees. This will take about 30 minutes. You can cool it faster by setting the pan in a sink of shallow, cool water. 3. Check the temp of the water in your slow cooker to make sure it’s between 110 and 125 degrees. (Essential bacteria will die if the temp goes above 130.)

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

clean towel around the foil (again, base and all) to further insulate the jars. Make sure it’s in a warm spot in your kitchen, and leave it alone for eight hours, or overnight. 6. To see if your yogurt is ready, open one of the jars and tilt it from side to side. The yogurt should be set and just a little jiggly. If it’s still runny, you can wrap it back up for another hour or two.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Warm coconut oil, honey and brown sugar in a small saucepan over mediumlow heat until it melts and begins to bubble. Remove from heat.

Stir together oats, nuts, seeds, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour the sugar mixture over the top and toss to coat evenly.

Spread the mixture on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden. Cool completely, add dried fruit (if using) and store in an airtight container.

7. When the yogurt is done, promptly refrigerate it. It will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.

“Mealtime” is a feature about families and food. Got a topic you’d like us to explore? Email it to ideas@kidsvt.com.

✱ OUT TO EAT BY CAT HY RE SM E R

✱ HOME COOKIN’

Papa Frank’s

Puff-Pastry Pizza Twists

13 West Center Street, Winooski, 655-2423 CATHY RESMER

FROM THE KID VT BLO S G!

AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS, WEEKENDS and school vacations always bring extra kids to our house to play or, in 12-year-old terms, “hang out.” I love when we have a full house, but lots of kids need lots of snacks. For those times when carrot sticks and goldfish crackers just won’t cut it, I make these pizza twists. The recipe is customizable — try using pesto or salsa instead of marinara sauce or, for a sweet twist, skip the sauce and cheese and use Nutella! INGREDIENTS

PHOTOS: ERINN SIMON

Frozen puff pastry sheets Marinara or pizza sauce Shredded mozzarella cheese Egg Salt Black pepper

Find these recipes and more on kidsvt.com!

INGREDIENTS Great northern beans Garlic Chipotle chilies in adobo Shredded cheddar cheese Refried beans

Flour tortillas Crushed tomatoes Scallions Olive oil Salt Black pepper

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WHEN I NEED A BREAK from tacos, it’s enchilada time. I make a few different variations, but this one is my current favorite. My family likes it so much, it just might give Taco Tuesday some competition. It’s quite spicy as is, but you can adjust the heat by using fewer chipotles and/or adding more white beans. Serve with a green salad and some guacamole, of course!

APRIL 2016

White-Bean Chipotle Enchiladas

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Linguine with red WHEN OUR FAMILY of clam sauce four wants to dine out without breaking the bank, we head to Papa Frank’s. Years ago, before my partner Ann-Elise and I got civil unioned, before we had steady jobs and kids, we went there because we could eat half of our generous portions and save the rest for lunch the next day. So much has changed since then — we’re now gainfully employed Winooski homeowners with a son, daughter and real marriage license. And Graham the Onion City’s downand Ivy town has become a hipster haven. But Papa Frank’s has remained remarkably consistent — with the same creaky wooden floor, of a paper plate, using framed sports-car photos HITS: the restaurant’s crayon on the walls and decent, • Reasonable prices collection. reasonably priced food. • Generous portions Our two pasta dishes The menu doesn’t say if came with a half basket the pasta is homemade or • Gluten-free options of garlic bread each, where the chicken came • Family atmosphere which we ordered with from, but it hasn’t hurt • Crayons and paper plates for coloring cheese on top. The bread their business any. On any — kids’ gallery above arrived first, making given night, the place is the counter a gooey and satisfying filled with families enjoy• Near a scenic appetizer. The pasta, ing no-frills Italian fare. riverfront walking path for an afterpizza and sub showed up Ann-Elise, Graham, Ivy dinner stroll shortly afterward, and we and I had an early dinner MISSES: eagerly dug in. Graham there on the Sunday after • Salads and a and Ann-Elise finished the end of Daylight Saving broccoli side are almost all of theirs. Just Time. I got my usual available, but not included with like the old days, I took linguine with red clam entrées home enough for lunch sauce. Ann-Elise ordered • They were out of the next day. We boxed up the fettuccine alfredo apple juice when we half of Ivy’s pizza, too. special. Graham, 10, had a visited We each had a soda — small buffalo chicken sub I skipped my usual pint of and Ivy, 7, chose a small Switchback — and a mini cannoli with cheese pizza. rainbow sprinkles for dessert. Before While we waited for our food, tip, the bill totaled $46.82. While we Ann-Elise and I reminisced about the settled up, the waitress found a spot for days when the kids needed high chairs Ivy’s artwork among the other colorful and shared our meals. “Remember paper plates above the restaurant’s when we used to bring you here after take-out counter. we picked you up from daycare?” she It was still light out when we left, asked them. so we walked off our meals along The kids barely acknowledged the Winooski Riverwalk as the sun us. They were more interested in the lingered low in the sky. picture Ivy was drawing on the back

B Y E RIN N S IM O N

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. Q THE ART OF

BY SARA H YA HM

THE ORNATE BARRE OPERA HOUSE typically hosts world-renowned actors and musicians. But at the Poetry Out Loud semifinals on March 9, Vermont high school students took center stage. In formal attire, they recited the words of Elizabeth Bishop, Edgar Allen Poe and a range of contemporary poets. If the idea of a poetry-recitation contest sounds old-fashioned, these devoted participants are reviving the tradition. Many spent hours memorizing and practicing their poems, and the teens in the audience were rapt. “Students are really taking to the idea of oral storytelling,” says Erika Lowe, arts education program manager for the Vermont Arts Council. “And many of these poems are telling a story.” She suggests the cultural resurgence is in part due to the rising popularity of podcasts and story slams, like the ones organized by the Moth, a nonprofit that hosts gatherings across the country. The competition is a product of Poetry Out Loud, a program sponsored by the National Foundation for the Arts and the Poetry Endowment and administered by local arts councils. To start, hundreds of teachers in English classrooms throughout Vermont helped students chose from a bank of 800 provided poems. Then, with additional help from artistsin-residence, students worked to interpret line breaks and punctuation, research context, and learn performance techniques. One winner from each of the 35 participating schools advances to the state semifinals, which produces 10 finalists. The last student standing in each state wins an all-expense-paid trip to the national competition, which takes place next month in Washington, D.C.

Students are really taking to the idea of oral storytelling. ERIKA LOWE, VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER

According to POL rules, each student must prepare three poems that together cover two criteria: pre-20th century and shorter than 25 lines. In the semifinals, participants chose two of the three to recite. There was a teleprompter offstage,

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but no one seemed to need it. During breaks between performers, judges tallied scores evaluating physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance.

SAM SIMON

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APRIL 2016

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Poetry Recitation One might assume that kids with theater or poetry-slam backgrounds were shoo-ins. Not necessarily, says Lowe. Those students sometimes find it harder, because at POL, dramatic flourishes must be used judiciously. “Whatever emotions, physical gestures, a student uses should be in service of the poem, rather than overpowering the poem,” Lowe explains. Sharon Academy junior Taite Clark advanced to the state finals. Though he describes himself as “a quiet person — timid, shy, whatever,” he projected confidence reciting Tony Hoagland’s “Requests for Toy Piano” to a nearly full auditorium. Many students chose poems that tackled big issues like death, aging and violence, and Taite’s was no exception. Mt. Abraham High School senior Hannah Funk enjoyed accessing the universal emotions in poems by writers very different from her. She performed works by Native American Louise Erdrich and Chicana Pat Mora at the semifinals, and says POL taught her how to find “that one nugget in your poem that connects to you.” Funk, who made it to the finals, also appreciated the level of concentration required to memorize a poem. “I love that POL forces me to slow down,” Funk says. “You spend weeks, months, memorizing it and interpreting it in such depth … it’s something we rarely do anymore.” K

THE POETRY OUT LOUD state finals took place at Vermont PBS in Colchester on March 17. The winner, Rice Memorial High School’s Maggie Fitzgerald, will represent Vermont at the national competition in May.

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Q CHECKUP W IT H DR . L EW I S F I R S T

Managing Night Terrors BAD DREAMS ARE COMMON during childhood — almost every parent has comforted a child upset by one. But on rare occasions, sleeping children may sit up in bed, scream and act very frightened. Though seemingly awake, they are completely unaware of their surroundings. This more-intense phenomenon is called a night terror. Dr. Lewis First, head of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital, differentiates between nightmares and night terrors, offers advice for what to do if your child experiences them, and helps make them a little less scary — for parents.

sleep. We’re not exactly sure what’s happening in the brain but the belief is kids experience night terrors as they transition from one deep state of sleep to another.

The one thing you don’t want to do is wake up the child.

KVT: Do night terrors tend to occur at a certain age? LF: Generally they happen between the ages of 4 and 12. They may happen just once and never happen again. Or they may happen periodically. Only 3 to 6 percent of children will ever have one, though they tend to run in the family. If a child has night terrors, about 80 percent of the time another immediate family member has had them, too. KVT: Are night terrors a symptom of some underlying problem? LF: No, they’re not indicative of some deep psychological problem, and they will eventually self-correct. They’re

very scary to watch but only dangerous if your child gets out of bed and starts moving around the house and gets hurt.

KVT: Is there a way to prevent nightmares or night terrors? LF: They’re not preventable, but there Tuesday - Friday 11 - 5 are ways to reduce their frequency. For Saturday 9 - 3 example, being overtired or sleeping in a new environment may trigger 13 Washington St, Middlebury them. Having a regular bedtime, taking (802) 382-8558 a nice warm bath, a little snuggling, some reading and quiet talk, providing olliesotherplace.com a favorite stuffed animal or toy — all these things make the child feel supported and calm and generate pleasant Vermont’s Premier3/23/16 3:41 PM Untitled-10 1 thoughts as they drift off to sleep. KVT: What should parents do if night terrors occur repeatedly? LF: If they’re occurring, say, two or three hours into sleep, there’s some evidence that waking the child up shortly before then will disrupt the cycle. If parents are worried about a child who’s having an ongoing sleep problem, the best thing they can do is keep a sleep diary. Parents should record where the child sleeps, what the child needs to fall asleep, how long it takes, how many hours of sleep the child gets and how often he or she wakes up during the night. With that information, your health care professional can begin to help work through the problem. KVT: Anything else parents should know about night terrors? LF: Make sure babysitters and other caregivers know this can happen, otherwise they may panic if they see one. Also, if a child has had night terrors before, especially if he or she has gotten out of bed, it’s important to have gates at the top of stairs and keep windows and doors locked to prevent falls. K

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KVT: What exactly is a night terror? LF: Night terrors are far more dramatic — and they can be very scary to witness. Kids will bolt upright in bed, scream, shout, breathe fast, sweat, thrash about and act very frightened. This usually occurs in the first half of the night — or whenever the child is asleep for enough time to enter a deep

KVT: Why not? LF: Because it’s very tough to do, and when kids are woken up during a night terror they’ll be disoriented and confused and it will take them a lot longer to settle down and go back to sleep. But the next day, they’ll have no memory that they even had one because they were in such a deep sleep.

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APRIL 2016

KIDS VT: Are night terrors the same as nightmares? LEWIS FIRST: No. Nightmares are basically very bad dreams and are generally triggered by things that bother you. For a toddler, that can be separation from a parent, something scary they saw on television, a new school or the birth of a sibling. With older children and adolescents, they can result from the fear of losing a parent, friend or pet, news of a disaster or something else that’s emotional. They usually occur in the wee hours of the morning or toward the end of sleep, when the brain is in rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep — the phase when the brain is processing images, thoughts and ideas from the day. REM sleep is not deep sleep, so you tend to remember what happens in that phase.

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KVT: What should parents do if it happens? LF: They can try to comfort their child, but often the child is not going to want comforting. Don’t worry if the child doesn’t acknowledge that you’re there and even tries to push you away. Their eyes may even be open but they’re not processing what’s going on around them. Parents should just wait it out and make sure the child doesn’t get hurt by thrashing or falling. Usually within five to 15 minutes, the child will quickly stop shouting and flailing and return to sleep. The one thing you don’t want to do is wake the child up during a night terror.

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Money Issue The

Tough

Vermont parents are opting out of work to retain their benefits

Choice$

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love working — solving problems, thinking creatively, collaborating with other adults. I even like meetings. So until recently, I never thought I’d voluntarily quit my job. My husband and I both worked full time at nonprofits, which meant we didn’t make a ton of money. But we had enough income to meet our needs and sock some away. We had insurance through my husband’s employer, and though premiums were expensive and the deductible was high, it still beat paying out of pocket. Then we had a baby. When we crunched the numbers, some big gaps appeared in our budget. Namely, health insurance; adding a kid to our plan was shockingly expensive — $450 more each month just for the premiums. Another blow: We’d have to pay for childcare. The combined cost of keeping us insured and our child cared for almost matched my salary. Then we realized that, minus my income, our son would qualify for Dr. Dynasaur, Vermont’s cheap or free health insurance for kids. And if I were able to stay home and care for him — and freelance as a writer during his naps and on weekends — we’d save thousands on childcare costs. I’d also get to be home with him during his first year, a time that parents of grown children are always reminding me is precious.

BY KATIE TITTERTON

So I quit. My family had backed right up to what’s known as the benefits cliff. The term refers to the point at which an increase in income triggers a loss of government-funded benefits. For example, if your kids’ state-subsidized health insurance costs $5,000 a year, and the $2,000 raise you’ve been offered puts you over the income threshold to retain that insurance, you’re better off declining the pay increase. If you lose the state-provided insurance, the premiums on your new policy will quickly eat up your extra $2,000 — and possibly thousands more. If you take that raise, your income will go down, not up. In many cases, families fall off the benefits cliff as they climb out of poverty. My family was about to go over it backward: The benefits of dropping my income outweighed my continuing to work. Leaving my job made financial sense, but something still doesn’t sit right. It’s not that there’s an incentive for me to stay home with my kid — it’s that there’s a disincentive for me to go to work. As a born worker, I feel ambivalent about my decision. It’s not an easy thing to discuss openly. I found several Vermont families in similar situations (see “Cliff

To qualify for Dr. Dynasaur in 2015, a Vermont family of four could earn up to $71,550.

Costly Care

Notes”) but for each one I interviewed for this story, two or three backed out, or didn’t want to be named. Steve Ames is the regional coordinator for Building Bright Futures in Lamoille County and teaches skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort. He says he kept his income low for years to qualify for benefits and parent his kids. It’s a choice he’s more comfortable with now that his kids are older. But there was a time when, he says, “I felt like I was copping out, or somehow less successful of a person.” It’s not just parents who are conflicted. Economist Paul Cillo, founder and executive director of the Public Assets Institute, thinks the situation is problematic, too. “The concern has been, it’s a deterrent or impediment to people having a work life if they want to,” he told me. “It’s one thing to say, ‘I want to stay home with the kids.’ It’s another to say, ‘I’d like to work, but it doesn’t make financial sense.’ It becomes a poor financial choice, frankly, and I think that’s what’s bothersome about it.”

The problem, according to Cillo, is that families struggle to afford healthcare and childcare — “these basic things that should just be part of being a citizen in the state.” But in the U.S., they’re not. And families have to make trade-offs to meet those needs. Paradoxically, efforts to make them more affordable also contribute to the problem. Government subsidies for insurance and childcare include income thresholds, which make benefit cliffs inevitable. It doesn’t help that navigating the income qualifications for various programs can be really confusing. “They’re all a little different, as opposed to having one comprehensive system,” Cillo explains. “I think that’s what the struggle has been. How do you get this disparate bunch of programs to make sense to the human beings whose lives are affected by them?” And Vermont also faces a unique benefit-cliff challenge: Because the state’s income-eligibility cutoff is relatively high, many middle-class parents find themselves on the edge. To qualify for the national Children’s Health Insurance Program, for example, a family of four must earn $48,500 or less. By contrast, to qualify

Cliff Notes — Stories from Families on the Edge A few families were willing to speak on the record about how they navigate the benefits cliff — the point at which an increase in income triggers a loss of government-subsidized benefits. If having options is an indicator of wealth, everyone I spoke with is doing OK. They’re college-educated and capable of increasing their household income, and probably will once their kids reach school age. But while their kids are young, they’re taking the better deal.

You can’t really gamble with not having health insurance when you have kids.

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TOUGH CHOICE$, P. 22 »

Even before they started a family, Becky and Ben Colley of Waterbury are both self-employed and successful, Morgan and Andy Greenwald of East Becky as a creative director, Ben as the Montpelier had an idea of how they wanted it to unfold. “We’re having kids owner of a coffee-equipment service. because we want to raise them, we Being self-employed and having help want to be with them,” Morgan says. from Becky’s mom gives the Colleys a “We’d sacrifice other things in order to degree of scheduling flexibility. They have one of us stay at home.” spend a lot of time with their almostThe Greenwalds have a 4-year-old 2-year-old daughter. son and a 2-year-old daughter. After But with that flexibility comes the their son was born, Morgan went back responsibility of purchasing their to work part time, Andy worked full own health insurance. As a freelancer, time and their son was in daycare two “sometimes I have to wait months days a week. When at a time to get paid,” their daughter explains Becky. But arrived, they looked Vermont Health at costs. “You make Connect, the state’s more if you work health care exchange, full time, but you’re looks at monthly paying more,” income to determine Morgan says. She subsidy level. During brought her case to a lean month, the her employer, who Colleys may qualify MORGAN GREENWALD offered her a fullfor subsidies. But the time position and a next month, if several raise. She accepted, and now Andy is paychecks come through, they may the kids’ primarycaregiver. not. Their approach is to go with a The family is on Morgan’s modest average and claim the subsidy. employer’s insurance, but it’s a highIf they make too much money and end deductible plan. As a single-income up owing, they pay it in a big chunk at family, they still qualify for Dr. the end of the year. Dynasaur, which covers the balance of “I know that’s technically not what what Morgan’s insurance doesn’t pay. I’m supposed to be doing, but it works “We’re so tied to this benefit thing, for us,” Becky says. “I don’t think there’s and needing insurance from your enough flexibility for self-employed employer right now, that we’re pretty people. Also, the time-suck part of much stuck,” she says. “We would do it is huge. Just to get in touch with something a little less mainstream, them and change my income level on but you can’t really gamble with not a monthly level? My income changes every month, sometimes by thousands having health insurance when you have kids. It really does tie you to a of dollars. I don’t have time. I don’t traditional job with an employer with have time to take a shower.” When Becky picked up benefits.” a couple of new clients this past year, it was too much money to turn down, she says. And it was great for her business. But it also means the Colleys will start paying full freight for insurance. “I think it’s awful that people feel they have to give up income and give up growing their own businesses in order to have reasonable health care costs,” she says.

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for Dr. Dynasaur in 2015, a Vermont family of four could earn up to $71,550, or 300 percent of the poverty line. Why is Vermont’s cutoff so much higher? The state has a history of investing in health care, especially for children. Before the Affordable Care Act, Vermont was one of only a few states to offer subsidized health care to families earning up to 300 percent of the poverty line, though “that’s pretty standard now,” says Robin Lunge, Vermont’s director of health care reform. The good news: Lunge says that since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, 94 percent of Vermonters, and 99 percent of Vermont kids, have health insurance. And even though health care costs soak up a huge portion of the state budget, 55 percent of Dr. Dynasaur, which is basically Medicaid, is federally paid; Vermont pays only 45 percent. From the state’s perspective, it makes sense to invest

Ashley DiMercurio started a side business before she decided to stay home with her kids, a newborn and an almost-4-year-old. As a brand representative for a fitness company, she coaches people through homeworkout programs. She also started writing for the Burlington VT Moms Blog and picked up high-end baby swag through photo shoots. The blog also gave her a support network: When she was pregnant, she says, people in that community gave her baby clothes. “Vermont is expensive,” DiMercurio says. “I hear more and more people saying, I stay home but I tutor on the side. Or the multilevel marketing companies: you can sell essential oils, or you can sell yoga clothes or you can be a passion party consultant. It seems like more and more moms have home businesses now.” DiMercurio used to teach, and after her first child she went back to work full time. “We felt like I had to go back to work at that point because of finances,” she says, “and as a teacher, you get really good health insurance. I was providing the benefits for our family.” She and her husband wanted a second child but couldn’t afford childcare for two kids. Then, just as her side business began to grow, DiMercurio found out her teaching position was going to end. So instead of looking for another job, she and her husband decided to have another baby. “I’m still staying home because I think it would be $500 a week to put them in childcare. With us being single income except what I make on the side, our kids are eligible for Dr. Dynasaur,” she says. “Even when I was teaching, money was still tight. But at least now both kids are eligible for that supplemental insurance. When I was teaching, we were just over the cutoff.” Sometimes she wonders if she made the right choice. Would it have been better to keep working and have the income, even if most of it would pay for insurance and childcare? “It’s a very hard decision … it’s hard to keep up with all the expenses. Kids outgrow clothes overnight.”

Tough Choice$

CONTINUED FROM P. 21

in a social program that doesn’t rely solely on state funding, Lunge says. The bad news: Because the state uses federal funds for Dr. Dynasaur, it can’t gradually decrease subsidies as parents earn more money. Families either qualify, or they don’t. That’s also true for programs that predominantly affect low-income families, like Reach Up (Vermont’s name for its Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families program), SNAP (food stamps), fuel assistance, Section 8 housing and others. “The challenge with any eligibility process is that under federal law, the feds will not approve a program that just phases out,” Lunge explains. “It’s just the way Congress wrote the statute. Not just Medicaid, but all benefits programs have that divide. There’s not much the state can really do about

YOU DO THE MATH

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These hypothetical situations weigh family incomes against gains and losses. There are many variations, including employerprovided retirement plans and health insurance, and other state or federal benefits. While these situations are not comprehensive, they are designed to illustrate a family’s decision-making process.

Jerome is a single parent to a 3-year-old son and earns $31,400/year. He receives a 50 percent subsidy through Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program, bringing his childcare costs — $10,250/year — down to $5,125/ year. Jerome’s boss offers him a promotion, and a raise of $8,200/year. If he accepts, he would no longer be eligible for CCFAP subsidy. He also couldn’t claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which on his 2015 taxes was $3,359. His choices, by the numbers 1. Take the raise: lose benefits, make $284 less a year 2. Decline the raise: stay at $29,634/ year after the tax credit and childcare costs, retain benefits 3. Negotiate a lower raise: slight income increase, retain benefits

Maria and Marcy have two young children and work full time. Their combined income is $82,000/year. They pay $21,000/year for fulltime childcare for two kids, and $14,500/year in premiums for a family health-insurance plan through Marcy’s employer. They decide that Marcy will quit her job to spend more time with the kids. Their household income drops $41,000/year. They pay $7,332/ to $41,000/year year for subsidized health insurance through Vermont Health Connect, and the kids go on Dr. Dynasaur. They are eligible for a $5,548 Earned Income Tax Credit. And with Marcy staying home, they save $21,000/year on childcare. Since she’s no longer commuting, they sell her car to bring expenses down. They decide that the intangible benefits of Marcy being with the kids are worth a temporary income drop. Their choices, by the numbers: 1. Both work full time: make $46,500/ year after major expenses 2. Marcy stays home: make $1,784/ year less, gain time spent with kids

To learn more about the resources your family may qualify for call 211, visit vermont211.org or dcf.vermont.gov.

that, unless we pay for [programs] with 100 percent state dollars.” Contrast that with childcare subsidies in Vermont, which are paid for entirely with state dollars. That means they can be offered on a sliding scale. Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program supports families whose income is up to 200 percent of the 2015 poverty level, or $48,500 a year. Subsidies range from a 10 percent discount for a family of four earning no more than $3,975 per month, to 100 percent for a family of four earning $1,988 per month. Robyn Freedner-Maguire is director of Let’s Grow Kids, a statewide campaign that highlights the need for high-quality affordable childcare for children ages 5 and under. She says CCFAP does a “fairly good job of supporting families who are most on the fringes,” but as soon as families cross that income threshold, they’re paying “an exorbitant amount of money.” Let’s Grow Kids pegs the current cost of home-based care at $150 a week per child, and center-based care at $205 a week. The initiative estimates that a family with two kids needing full-time childcare spends more than $19,000 a year. Says Freedner-Maguire: “We know middleincome families are paying up to 40 percent of their household income on childcare.” She suggests that this is in part because the state budgets the same dollar amount for CCFAP annually, even if the actual cost and demand for care has increased. As a result, there isn’t enough money to aid all families eligible for tuition assistance. Many parents find themselves on a waitlist, forcing them to cut work hours or quit. “We’re creating this vicious cycle for families here in the state who want to get ahead and want to provide for their children and want to contribute to Vermont’s economy as employees or entrepreneurs,” says FreednerMaguire, “but the cost of childcare is so high and so prohibitive to accomplishing that.” Lunge notes that the legislature is aware of the unintended consequences of these benefits programs. When a new one is implemented, she says, it’s studied by the Agency of Human Services and discussed in the legislature. In other words, the benefit cliff is no secret. A 2009 report by the Vermont Child Poverty Council called

“Improving the Odds for Kids” illustrates the problem. The authors point out that families of four with two working parents lose more resources than they earn in income when they’re hovering between 101 and 250 percent of the poverty line. The report notes that the council heard stories from parents who yearned for financial stability but chose to decline raises or quit jobs in order to keep benefits for their kids. “Yet this decision was often accompanied by discouragement and despair, because it meant they remained in poverty and dependent on government support.” Drawing eligibility lines, and deciding which values to prioritize isn’t easy, says health policy consultant Steve Kappel. He notes that this conflict is inherent in the way humans make representative decisions on a broad scale. It’s “a group of people providing incentives and disincentives to another group of people,” he says. “What behavior do I want to incentivize? What behavior do I want to disincentivize? And who am I to decide, anyway?”

Unmeasurable Losses

It’s difficult to ascertain how much productivity is lost when parents opt out or scale back out of financial necessity. But anecdotally, Vermont employers say they see it happening. “I’ve seen people linger at part time a lot longer than they might have liked to,” says Laura Slavin, human resources manager of Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op. She hasn’t had an employee refuse a raise in order to keep their subsidies, she says, but sometimes workers will ask her to reduce their hours. Slavin complies, but it “gets tricky, if it’s an incredibly well-skilled individual, and you actually need somebody four days a week.” Public Assets Institute founder Cillo says that while there isn’t a way to measure the number of parents who drop out of the workforce to retain benefits, it’s clear that providing benefits to all Vermonters would have a positive economic impact. “What we know is 99 percent of job growth in Vermont is the result of either startups or expansions by people who already live here,” he says. “So if you make it easier for those individuals to start a business and find employees, then you’ve made Vermont a friendlier place for these startups and expansions.

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of the organizers of a March gubernatorial candidate forum on early childhood education, for example. According to a report from Vermont Public Radio, former Windsor county state senator Matt Dunne specifically addressed childcare subsidies and the benefits cliff. “Too many Vermont families, too many single parents, are literally making the choice to not pursue their career because they will end up net behind if they’re doing right by their children,” he said. And last legislative session, a group of parents, early childhood professionals, business leaders and administration figures came together as a Blue Ribbon Commission to take testimony on how to finance affordable childcare. The group will present a report to the legislature on November 1. Even if there’s interest and, as Cillo points out, it’s in the long-term economic best interest of the state, Vermont still has to decide if it will budget for expanded benefit programs for families. Health policy consultant Kappel says, “One of the things that is simultaneously wonderful and challenging about Vermont is we want to do a lot of things for the population. Probably more things than we can afford to do.” In the meantime, parents must look at the whole picture: income and costs; family values; professional goals; life in Vermont. There’s no way to measure the joy of raising kids, but as Ames at Building Bright Futures wryly says of taking the leap into parenthood: “There is a profound choice one makes when deciding to take on a round-the-clock job that has no cultural support or recognition — and that presents no economic incentives.” As for me, I’m still ambivalent. I’m aware that my decision to step away from the workforce may hold me back when I return full time. I’m lucky that my family is resilient enough to absorb a lower income for a while. Most of all, I’m grateful to have this time with my son. But when a parent’s choice whether to work or be a caregiver is determined solely by the family’s net income and access to healthcare and childcare, it’s not really a choice. K

The benefits of dropping my income outweighed my continuing to work.

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CALENDAR SPOTLIGHTS & LISTINGS BY BRETT STANCIU

Highlights FRIDAY, APRIL 8

FAMILY AMPHIBIAN BIG NIGHT Naturalists in mud boots discover why the first wet and warm night of spring is so important to Vermont’s semiaquatic friends. Bring a flashlight. Meet at the Education Barn on Sherman Hollow Road at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. 7-8:30 p.m. $8-10 adult/child pair; $4-5 each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068. vt.audubon.org/events/ family-amphibian-big-night

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

On the farm, spring means a haircut for our four-legged, wooly friends. At SHEEP AND SHEAR DELIGHTS, little ones gather the shorn locks and remove the dirt, then wash the fleece clean. Using flat cards with sharp teeth, they can also try combing the curly fibers, which straightens the wool for spinning. Other activities include yarn-bracelet making and warm-water felting. For a cuddly end to the day, small hands get a chance to pet mama sheep and baby lambs.

BEN & JERRY’S FREE CONE DAY The concept is easy — free ice cream! — but choosing between flavors like Chunky Monkey and Chubby Hubby is oh so hard. All ages. Ben & Jerry’s, Burlington and Waterbury. Free. Info, 846-1500. benjerry.com/scoop-shops/ free-cone-day

SATURDAY, APRIL 16-SUNDAY, MAY 1

MUDFEST Young ecologists celebrate Vermont’s messiest season with 16 days of activities, games, live music and a daily Mud Fling. All ages. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848 echovermont.org

SHEEP AND SHEAR DELIGHTS: Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Shelburne Farms. All ages. $5-6. Info, 985-8686. shelburnefarms.org/calendar/event/ sheep-and-shear-delights

APRIL 2016 KIDS VT

Come on, get sappy! A giant parade, marionette shows, Main Street entertainment, specialty foods and more showcase Vermont’s signature sweet. All ages. Various locations, St. Albans. Check vtmaplefestival.org for schedule. Info, 524-5800. vtmaplefestival.org

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VERMONT MAPLE FESTIVAL

DREAMSTIME

Spinning a Yarn

FRIDAY, APRIL 22-SUNDAY, APRIL 24

1 FRIDAY

Arts & Crafts

Family Wheel Drop-In: Families form clay sculptures with assistance from staff. All ages. BCA Print and Clay Studio, Burlington, 5:307:30 p.m. $7-8 per participant; $5 additional for each piece fired and glazed. Info, 860-7474.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: Mothers-tobe build strength, stamina, comfort and a stronger connection to their baby. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 8:15-9:15 a.m. $15 or $130 for 10-class pass. Info, 864-9642. Mother’s Gathering: Moms and new babies spread out, sip tea, nurse and swap stories. Children under 2 welcome. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-5302.

Community

Milton Community Dinner: Hungry community folks celebrate Spirit Week with a savory meal. Milton High School, 4:30-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 893-1009.

Education

Early Bird Math: Young children and their caregivers put two and two together using interactive books, songs and games to delve into arithmetic concepts. Richmond Free Library, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. White River Junction: Let’s Grow Kids Speakers Bureau Training: Parents and community members learn to write and deliver their own persuasive stories to campaign for high-quality, affordable childcare. (See spotlight on page 48.) Hartford Town Hall, White River Junction, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 578-7796.

Games

Magic: The Gathering: Planeswalkers seek knowledge and glory in this trading-card game. New players welcome. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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APRIL 2016

KIDSVT.COM

Library & Books Book Launch: ‘Woolly Bear Winter’ & ‘The Comstock Crimebusters’: Vermont authors and illustrators Cam Sato and Abbie Bowker celebrate the publication of their picture book, and team up with Vermonter Ruth Wallace-Brodeur and her middle school novel. Shelburne Town Hall, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5689. Family Story Time: Librarian and storyteller Molly Pease leads little ones in stories, crafts, music and more. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-1441. Songs & Stories With Matthew: Musician Matthew Witten kicks off the morning with tunes and tales of adventure. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Music Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: Toe-tapping tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 660-9346. Music With Robert: Families sing along with a local legend. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Theater

Memorial Library, Hardwick, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 472-5948. ‘Mary Poppins’: This magiVisual Storytelling Workshop: cal nanny changes the lives of Small Spielbergs collaborate on her young charges and charms a group film to be screened April See Dr. First videos the audience through song and 3. Ages 5-7. Catamount Arts, St. “First With Kids” at dance. (See spotlight on page 43.) uvmhealth.org. Johnsbury, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; All ages. Flynn MainStage, Burpreregister. Info, 748-2600, ext. lington, 7:30 p.m. $18-38. Info, 108. 863-5966. Webby’s Art Studio: The museum’s temporary and permanent exhibits 2 SATURDAY inspire specialized art activities for all ages. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular Arts & Crafts admission, $5-10; free for children under 5. Family Clay: Kids and their parents make Info, 985-3346. memories firing and glazing special pieces. All ages. Purple Crayon/ArtisTree, South Baby & Maternity Pomfret, first Saturday of every month, 10 Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: Women a.m.-noon, $20 per parent-child pair; $5 per prepare for birth through yoga, with a focus additional family member; preregister. Info, on strengthening the body and mind. See 457-3500. prenatalmethod.com for class descriptions. Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 10:30learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as 11:30 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211. they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon. Free; Community preregister at workshops.homedepot.com. Cailey’s Closet Prom Dress Event: Young Info, 872-0039. ladies in search of a stylish dress for prom seaOrigami Workshop: Paper folders let their son choose the perfect one from a selection of imaginations run wild. Children under 8 donated frocks. Highgate Public Library, 11:30 must be accompanied by an adult. Jeudevine a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Classes

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

EvoKids Yoga at Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center: New sessions in EvoKids Yoga classes beginning April 2. Kids yoga promotes a healthy lifestyle for your child through exercise, focusing and relaxation tools and family fun. Classes seven days a week for all ages, babies to teens. See detailed schedule on website for age groupings, descriptions and pricing. Location: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: evolutionprenatalandfamily.com, 899-0339 Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Classes at Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center: Have a more comfortable pregnancy and prepare for birth with stretching, strengthening and relaxation in prenatal yoga — and then bring your body back to balance and strength in postnatal yoga. Join our community of mothers at any point in your pregnancy, and 6 weeks or later in your postpartum time (until baby is crawling). No yoga experience necessary. Prenatal Yoga: Sundays, 10 a.m.; Mondays, 5:45 p.m.; Tuesdays, 4:15 p.m.; Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m.; Thursdays, 12:15 p.m.; Fridays, 8:15 a.m. Postnatal Yoga: Sundays, 12:15 p.m.; Tuesdays, 11 a.m.; Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.; Fridays, noon (postnatal core). Drop-ins welcome; $15/class or $130/10 class pass. Location: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: evolutionprenatalandfamily.com, 899-0339 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for children promotes self-esteem, self-defense and bully-proofing, self-confidence, character development, a physical outlet with discipline, cooperation with other children, respect for peers and adults, perseverance and a healthy lifestyle. Brazilian JiuJitsu will help your kids to learn realistic

bully-proofing and self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Regular BJJ training builds endurance, resilience, patience, discipline, self-respect and helps to instill courage and self-confidence. First class is free! Location: 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Please stop by our school, call 660-4072 or email julio@bjjusa.com to register your son or daughter and receive a free uniform with the first month’s enrollment. vermontbjj.com FlynnArts Summer Camp Registration Now Open: Summer camp registration is open and filling quickly! FlynnArts offers over 30 summer camps for ages 3-19, taught by professional educators and performing artists at the Flynn Center and other locations. Visit flynnarts.org or email flynnarts@flynncenter.org for more information. Burlington Kids & Parents Taiko Drumming: Japanese Drumming with Stuart Paton of Burlington Taiko! Class is on Monday & Wednesday, 4:30-5:20 p.m. Session starts April 25: $60/child or $112/ parent-child for three weeks. Location: 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G (12 steps from Chef’s Corner in Burlington’s South End). A fiveperson minimum is required to run most classes, so invite friends! Please register online or just come to the first class! Information: 999-4255. burlingtontaiko.org Montpelier Kids & Parents Taiko Drumming: Japanese drumming with Stuart Paton of Burlington Taiko! Class is on Thursday, 4:30-5:20 p.m. Session starts April 28. $48 or $91/parent-child for 4 weeks. Location: Capital City Grange, 6612 Vermont Route 12, Berlin. A six-person minimum is required to run most classes, so invite friends! Please register online or just come to the first class. Information: 9994255, burlingtontaiko.org

The FUN Group: Children with intellectual and developmental delays enjoy art and amusing activities in a peaceful space. Wildflowers Studio, South Burlington, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $6 drop-in donation; RSVP appreciated. Info, 310-1861. Maple Madness: The state’s sugaring season is celebrated locally with activities on the green, bike riding and a scavenger hunt. All ages. See woodstockvt.com for locations, times and fees. Info, 457-1601.

Education

Mother’s Helper Class: Junior babysitters learn the basics of child development, how to keep kids safe, hazards and basic first aid. This is not an official Babysitter Safety course. Ages 9-12. Milton Municipal Complex, noon-3 p.m. $15. Info, 893-4922.

Fairs & Festivals Huntington Sugarmakers’ Open House: Beat the mud-season blues! Folks tour the town’s maple-syrup operations and taste this year’s crop. Map of participating locations available at Beaudry’s store in Huntington. All ages. Various locations, Huntington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3269. Maple Open House Weekend: Sweet-toothed visitors find satisfaction when sugar shacks all over the state open their doors. All ages. Various locations statewide. Free; visit vermontmaple.org to find a list of participating sugarhouses. Info, 858-9444. Sugar-on-Snow Parties: Seekers of the sweet stuff tour the sugarbush, learn tapping techiques, observe sap boiling and taste the yummy result. All ages. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Food and syrup for sale. Info, 434-3068.

Food

Burlington Winter Farmers Market: Local farmers, artisans and producers offer fresh and prepared foods, crafts and more in a bustling indoor marketplace with live music and lunch seating. All ages. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 310-5172. Caledonia Winter Farmers Market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, handmade crafts, meat and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of Vermont wares. All ages. Welcome Center, St. Johnsbury, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 592-3088. Capital City Winter Farmers Market: Root veggies, honey, maple syrup and crafts change hands at an off-season celebration of locavorism. All ages. Montpelier High School, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-2958. Maple Sugar Open House Weekend: Junior sugarmakers see sap boil, learn how trees are tapped and sample syrups, spreads, candies and mustards. All ages. Sugarbush Farm, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 457-1757. Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes. All ages. Mary Hogan Elementary School, Middlebury, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 537-4754. Rock Point School Maple Brunch & Run: Families kick off the spring season by running a 5K, then savor pancakes with syrup made on-site and tour the sugarhouse. Rock Point School, Burlington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $5-25. Info, 863-1104. Rutland Winter Farmers Market: Fifty vendors peddle produce, artisan cheese, homemade bread and other local products. All

APRIL

CALENDAR

ages. Vermont Farmers Food Center, Rutland, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 342-4727. Open Sugarhouse Weekends: Families sample the state’s “liquid gold” on snow and enjoy boiling demonstrations, maple candy, live music, walking trails and a petting zoo. All ages. Palmer’s Sugarhouse, Shelburne, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5054.

Games Vermont Scholastic Chess Championships: Checkmate! Players of all abilities sit down for a strategy game focusing on fun and sportsmanship. Grades K-12. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Berlin Elementary School, 10 a.m. $12-20 to participate; free to watch. Info, 223-1948.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: Youngsters master basic yoga poses through games, songs and dance. Mindfulness activities improve focus and concentration. Ages 3-9. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $15. Info, 864-9642.

Community

All Souls Interfaith Kids Gathering: Little ones engage in mindfulness and yoga. Grades K-4. Parents must remain on-site. All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Shelburne, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3819. Maple Madness: See April 2. Dance, Sing & Jump Around: A lively intergenerational afternoon includes traditional dances, with songs, chants and live music. Ages 3 and up. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-1509.

Fairs & Festivals

Maple Open House Weekend: See April 2. Sugar-on-Snow Parties: See April 2.

Food

Maple Sugar Open House Weekend: See April 2. Open Sugarhouse Weekends: See April 2.

Health & Fitness

Music

Nature & Science

Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group Performance: Led by artistic director Pete Sutherland, accomplished adolescent performers get the audience’s toes tapping with traditional Irish tunes. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing, Burlington. 7-9:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 233-5293.

Nature & Science

Science Challenge: Kids of all ages tackle tough problems with a mixture of materials and tools. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon & 2 p.m. Free with $10.50-13.50 museum admission; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848. Tour the Cosmos: This 50-minute live presentation takes the audience on a journey deep into the universe. Ages 6 and up. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 1:30 p.m. $7-9 regular museum admission; free for children under 5. $6 per person per planetarium show. Info, 748-2372.

Theater

‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1, 1 & 7:30 p.m.

3 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

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. $8. Info, 655-3300. Discovery Sundays: Families have fun with hands-on science experiments and investigations, using wheels, towers, magnets, feathers, water and bubbles. All ages. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free with $11.50-13.50 museum admission; free for children under 3. Info, 359-5001, ext. 228. Science Challenge: See April 2. Tour the Cosmos: See April 2.

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Theater

‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1, 1 p.m.

4 MONDAY

Arts & Crafts

Craft for Kids: Artsy youngsters put their imaginations to work. Ages 5 and up. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Baby & Maternity

Because he had to keep up with the big kids. and bikes don’t come with seat belts When your day doesn’t go as planned, our goal is to get you back on your way within an hour. We offer quick, quality care, on your schedule, from the people you know and trust.

For more information, call (802) 524-8911 or visit NorthwesternUrgentCare.org

Education

NMC Campus Cobblestone Health Commons 260 Crest Road St. Albans, VT 05478

South off I-89, Exit 18

Ethan Allen Hwy. (Rte. 7) & 927 Georgia, VT 05468

KIDS VT

Count Me In!: Preschoolers and their parents partake in hands-on activities to foster a love of math in their daily lives. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

APRIL 2016

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 5:45-7 p.m. Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: New moms tune in on toning and relaxation. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211. Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: Expectant mothers get a ballet-inspired workout. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $15. Info, 829-0211. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

KIDSVT.COM

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: Moms tote their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a fun and nurturing environment. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 12:15-1:30 p.m. $15; $130 for a 10-class pass. Info, 864-9642. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 1011:30 a.m.

VCBH can help

Dance

Library & Books

Cleo the Therapy Dog: Canine and reading enthusiasts visit with a friendly pooch from Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Ages 3 and up. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Want to Quit Smoking?

The Vermont Center on Behavior and Health is conducting a study to help mothers quit smoking. With your participation, you could earn up to $1,310. If you have at least one child under the age of 12, you may qualify for this study. To see if you qualify, go online at http://j.mp/1MSDgeE to take our online survey or call (802) 656-1906 to learn more about this study.

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4 MONDAY (CONTINUED)

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: Little musicians ages 2 and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860. Essex Lego Challenge Club: Kids press together plastic-piece creations. Ages 5 and up. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Milton Legos at the Library: Junior builders bust out interlocking blocks. Grades K-5. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Reading Buddies: Eighth-grade mentors make time to read with youngsters. Bring a favorite book. Ages 5-10. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

Story Times MONDAY Barre Children’s Story Hour: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-7550. Bristol Story Time: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 802453-2366. Brownell Preschool Story Time: Brownell Library, Essex Junction, April 4, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Colchester Preschool Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660. Essex Preschool Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. Hyde Park Story Time: Lanpher Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 888-4628. Milton Infant Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Northfield Children’s Story Time: Brown Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 485-4621. Richmond Pajama Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. Richmond Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. Shelburne Story Time: Pierson Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124. St. Albans Story Hour: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507. Stowe Story Time for 2- to 3-Year-Olds: Stowe Free Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145. Waitsfield Story Time: Joslin Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 496-4205. Waterbury Baby & Toddler Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. Woodstock Baby Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

APRIL 2016 KIDS VT

WEDNESDAY Barnes & Noble Story Time: Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001. Brownell Story Time for 3- to 5-Year-Olds: See Tuesday, 10-10:45 a.m. Highgate Story Time: See Tuesday. Hyde Park Story Time: See Monday, 10 a.m. Jericho Story Hour: Jericho Town Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4686. Johnson Story Time: Johnson Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 635-7141. Marshfield Story & Activity Time: Jaquith Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581. Norwich Story Time: Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1184. Quechee Story Time: Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 295-1232. Randolph Morning Story Time: Kimball Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073. Richmond Toddler Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. South Burlington Baby Book Time: South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080. KIDS VT

East Barre Story Time: East Barre Branch Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-5118. Fairfax Preschool Story Time: Fairfax Community Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 849-2420. Highgate Story Time: Highgate Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3970. Hinesburg Youngsters Story Time: Carpenter-Carse Library, 9:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878. Milton Preschool Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Montpelier Story Time: KelloggHubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338. South Burlington Tiny Tot Time: South Burlington Community Library, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080. Williston Story Time: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Winooski Pajama Time: Winooski Memorial Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6424. Woodstock Preschool Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

APRIL 2016

Alburgh Story Hour: Alburgh Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077. Barre Children’s Story Hour: See Monday. Brownell Baby & Toddler Story Time: Brownell Library, 9:10-9:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956. Brownell Story Time for 3- to 5-Year-Olds: Brownell Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6955. Colchester Toddler Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660. Craftsbury Story Time: Craftsbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Music & Movement for Preschoolers: Educator Emily Lanxner gets the beat going with creative storytelling, movement and rhythm. Geared toward preschoolers, but all are welcome. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948. Music for Preschoolers: 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, 11 a.m. Free; limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918.

Nature & Science

Robin’s Nest Nature Playgroup: Little explorers and their caregivers discover the sights and sounds of the forest and field, while learning how the natural environment can be used as an adventurous classroom. Dress in outdoor clothing. Ages 5 and under. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free; donations welcome. Info, 229-6206.

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 schedule. Contact the story-time organizer for details.

KIDSVT.COM

TUESDAY

Music

Stowe Story Hour: Stowe Free Library, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145. Swanton Storytime: Swanton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656. Warren Preschool Story & Enrichment Hour: Warren Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 595-2582. THURSDAY Bristol Story Time: See Monday. Franklin Story Time: Haston Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. Hinesburg Youngsters Story Time: See Tuesday. Northfield Children’s Story Time: See Monday, 10-11 a.m. Rutland Story Time: Rutland Free Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860. Shelburne Musical Story Time: Pierson Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124. St. Albans Story Hour: See Monday. Vergennes Story Time: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2211. Waterbury Preschool Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. Westford Story Time: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-5639. FRIDAY Brandon Preschool Story Time: Brandon Free Public Library, first Friday of every month, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 247-8230.

Craftsbury Story Time: See Tuesday. Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 933-2328. Essex Musical Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. Georgia Preschool Story Time: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-4643. Huntington Story Time: Huntington Public Library, 10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 434-4583. Lincoln Toddler/Preschool Story Time: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665. Milton Rhythm & Movement Toddler Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Montpelier Story Time: See Tuesday. South Burlington Pajamarama: Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8001. South Burlington Story Time Adventures: South Burlington Community Library, April 1, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539. St. Johnsbury Story Time: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. Stowe Baby & Toddler Story Time: Stowe Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145. SATURDAY Barnes & Noble Saturday Morning Story Time: Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001. Barre Story Time: Next Chapter Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-3114. Burlington Story Time at Phoenix Books: Phoenix Books, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 448-3350. Colchester Saturday Drop-In Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 264-5660. Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 933-2328. Franklin Walk-in Story Hour: Haston Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. Hardwick Preschool Story Hour: Jeudevine Memorial Library, first Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5849. Milton Drop-In Saturday Storytime: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Swanton Storytime: See Wednesday. 10:30 a.m.

APRIL

CALENDAR refreshments available. Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-0427.

5 TUESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Creative Tuesdays: Young artists involve their imaginations with recycled materials. All ages. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

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

Baby & Maternity

Breastfeeding Support Clinic: A certified lactation counselor answers nursing questions in a supportive setting. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 9 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211. Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See April 3, 10:4511:55 a.m. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 4:155:30 p.m. Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: Brand-new mamas and their littles relax, stretch and bond. For moms with infants and early crawlers. Emerge with Amy Lepage-Hansen, Montpelier, 10:45 a.m.-noon. $15. Info, 223-5302. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 4:30-5:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Community

Burlington Summer Camp Fair: Representatives from Burlington organizations — including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and Sara Holbrook Community Center — provide information about upcoming summer programs. Translators, childcare activities and

Games

Fairfax Family Game Night: Families take over the library’s tabletops for a fun evening. Ages 5 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420. Magic: The Gathering Drop-In Gaming Tuesdays: Novice and experienced players team up for card playing. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Library & Books

Author Visit: Jennifer Armstrong: The author of Vermont Reads book, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, answers questions about this true-life Antarctica adventure story. Refreshments served. Fairfax Community Library, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420. Gaming For Teens & Adults: Players of all skill levels enjoy Magic: The Gathering and other amusements. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult or have parental permission to attend. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216. Hinesburg Crafternoons: Maker-minded kiddos mix it up with marble runs. Ages 7 and up. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 482-2878. Read to a Dog: Pet-lovers peruse books with registered therapy pooches. All ages. Dorothy

Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918. Read to Daisy the Therapy Dog: Book buffs bring a selection from home or borrow from the library to amuse an attentive canine. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-4 p.m. Free; preregistration appreciated. Info, 878-6956. 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. Free. Info, 865-7216. Teen Book Club: Young adults engage in lively conversation about I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 3:45-4:45 p.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

Movies

Youth Media Lab: Aspiring movie makers film, edit and produce videos while exploring the depths of digital media. Grades 4 and up. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4097.

Music

Preschool Music: Small ones dance and sing to a brisk beat. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Ages 2-4. Purple Crayon/ArtisTree, South Pomfret, 10-11 a.m. $12 drop-in; preregister. Info, 457-3500.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 5:457:15 p.m. Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See April 4. Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See April 4. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Food

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See April 2, 3-6 p.m.

Library & Books

Creative Writing Club: Youthful literati let their imaginations loose through prompts, games and other activities. Ages 9 and up. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Discussion: Avid readers ages 8-11 enjoy a spirited chat around the award-winning The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

6 WEDNESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Arts for Tots: Music, movement, free play and projects inspire creativity in young minds.

6 WEDNESDAY, P.42

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$4 each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068. Home School Program: Spring Inquiry: Learners explore the outdoors in a hands-on environment. Ages 9-12. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $20 per child; $15 each additional sibling; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Blades of Grace

Parenting Colchester Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, develop empathy and determine how to empower their family. A light dinner and childcare are included. Union Memorial School, Colchester, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 498-0607.

The ice outside may have melted, but the Zamboni keeps the rink slick inside the Leddy Park arena. Youth and adult figure skaters from Vermont and neighboring states lace up their skates for the NORTHEAST THEATRE ON ICE FESTIVAL. Teams dressed in black begin the bash with a choreography showcase, followed by theatrical entertainment featuring snazzy music and glitzy costumes. The University of Vermont’s exhibition and synchronized skating teams show their stuff, and kids from Burlington’s Park, Recreation & Waterfront’s Sk8 Across the Stage program get a turn on the rink, too. With officials present to offer feedback but not formal judging, skaters pull out the stops to wow the audience before gliding on to upcoming competitions.

Theater

‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1.

8 FRIDAY

Arts & Crafts

Family Wheel Drop-In: See April 1.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1. Mother’s Gathering: See April 1.

NORTHEAST THEATRE ON ICE FESTIVAL: Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena, Leddy Park in Burlington. All ages. $5. Info, 865-7558. champlainvalleyskatingclub.org

Community

Kids’ Night Out: While their parents appreciate time off, youngsters enjoy dinner, a movie and games. Grades K-6. David Gale Recreation Center, Stowe, 6-10 p.m. $15 per child. Info, 253-3054. 6 WEDNESDAY (CONTINUED)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Group for Homeschooled Students: Books nominated for this esteemed award generate group discussion. Grades 4-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Green Mountain Book Award Book Discussion for Homeschooled Students: High school homeschoolers meet monthly and make video book talks of their favorite literary finds. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Red Clover Group for Homeschooled Students: Budding book lovers enjoy bibliophile activities. Grades K-3. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Movies

KIDS VT

APRIL 2016

KIDSVT.COM

After-School Movies for Kids: Film buffs settle down for an afternoon viewing. Children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

Nature & Science

ECHO: Science & Stories: Tales with naturerelated teaching team up with crafts, activities and socializing. Ages 3-6. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free with museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

Parenting Hinesburg Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, develop empathy and

determine how to empower their family. A light dinner and childcare are included. Hinesburg Community School, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 498-0607.

7 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Clay for Tots: Little potters practice, poke and play with a malleable medium. Ages 3-6. Purple Crayon/ArtisTree, South Pomfret, 10:30-11:15 a.m. $12 per drop-in class; preregister. Info, 457-3500. Preschool Art Drop-In: Petite Picassos craft cool projects. Ages 6 months-5 years with accompanying adult. BCA Center, Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $5-6. Info, 865-7166. Webby’s Art Studio: See April 2.

Baby & Maternity

Essex La Leche League: Moms tote their little ones to a discussion of parenting and breastfeeding. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 383-8544. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1. 12:151:15 p.m. Infant Massage Class: Masseuse Nell Ishee teaches basic techniques to alleviate colic and promote better sleep in pre-crawling tots, and build mindful bonds between baby and parent. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 482-2878. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2. 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Library & Books

Colchester Lego Club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with colorful interlocking blocks. Ages 6-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660. Fairfax PJ Story Time: Children chill in their jammies while crafting and listening to stories. Ages 6 and under. Fairfax Community Library, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420. Lego Thursdays: Kids combine their creativity with the library’s supplies. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. Read to Archie the Therapy Dog: An attentive canine listens to little people read. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-4 p.m. Free; preregistration appreciated. Info, 878-6956. Word Play for Kids: Professional storyteller Peter Burns spellbinds early learners with stories, nursery rhymes, finger plays and art projects that encourage emerging language skills. Ages 3-4. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Music

Music for Preschoolers: See April 4, 10:30 a.m.

Nature & Science

Feathery Friends: Young naturalists take flight on an avian adventure where they build a nest, guard their eggs and learn to fly. Ages 3-5. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9-10:30 a.m. $8-10 adult/child pair;

Submit your May events for print by April 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

Education

Early Bird Math: See April 1. Milton Homeschool Project Day: Out-ofclassroom learners exhibit their current endeavors to an audience of parents and siblings. Grades K-12. Milton Public Library, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Games

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

Library & Books

Brownell All-Ages Story Time: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers pass through for picture books and finger plays. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Family Story Time: See April 1.

Music Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See April 1. Music With Robert: See April 1.

Nature & Science Animal Buddies: Night at the Museum: Preschoolers take their stuffed friends to the Museum for a “hibernation” night on Friday before 6 p.m. The next morning at 9 a.m., little tykes enjoy a light breakfast and learn how Vermont’s woodland animals spend their wintery nights. Ages 3-6. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, $10 per buddy

APRIL

CALENDAR

Montshire Unleashed: An Eveincludes light breakfast for the ning for Adults: The museum whole family. Info, 748-2372. opens its doors after hours so Family Amphibian Big Night: grown-ups can let their inner Naturalists in mud boots discover curiosity go wild. Beer and why the first wet and warm night See Dr. First videos wine available for purchase. of spring is so important to Ver“First With Kids” at Montshire Museum of Science, uvmhealth.org. mont’s semiaquatic friends. Bring Norwich, 6-9 p.m. $14 museum a flashlight. Meet at the Education admission; free for members. Barn on Sherman Hollow Road. Info, 649-2200. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 7-8:30 p.m. $8-10 adult/child Theater pair; $4-5 each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068. ‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1.

9 SATURDAY

Arts & Crafts

Webby’s Art Studio: See April 2.

Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2.

Community

Big Rig Day: Families get up close and personal with large vehicles, then follow the Storywalk to Swanton Central School for games and activities. All ages. Swanton Village Municipal Building, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 868-5077. Good Beginnings Baby and Child Expo: Over 40 local vendors and community exhibits celebrate the 25th birthday of this organization devoted to supporting families with newborns. Rockin’ Ron and Marko the Magician add to the festivities, with car seat safety checks, games and refreshments. All ages. Berlin Elementary School, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $8; free for children. Info, 595-7953. Kids Trade & Play: Families exchange clean and gently used clothing and toys, size newborn to 12. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $3 per family. Info, 337-8632. Vermont Achievement Center Open House: In honor of the Month of the Young Child and Autism Awareness Month, families enjoy a VINS Raptor Encounter, a bouncy house, yoga and hands-on music demonstrations. Adults take part in workshops on topics from nutrition to behavior analysis. All ages. Vermont Achievement Center, Rutland, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 775-2395. Welcome Baby Celebration: Book donations, giveaways and refreshments honor Milton’s newest — and smallest — residents. For ages 1 and under with their families. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Dance

COURTESY OF LYRIC THEATRE

Companhia Urbana de Dança Modern Moves: Created in the the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, this energetic troupe mixes hip-hop, b-boy and contemporary styles. (See spotlight on page 47.) Ages 3 and up. Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

Fairs & Festivals

Good Governess

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: See April 2. Norwich Winter Farmers Market: Local growers offer produce, meats and maple syrup, which complement baked goods and handcrafted items from area artists. All ages. Tracy Hall, Norwich, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 384-7447. Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See April 2. Open Sugarhouse Weekends: See April 2. EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See April 2.

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, NORWICH Info, 649-2200 Human Plus: Real Lives & Real Engineering: Cutting-edge science and engineering match forces to assist the human body through low- and high-tech tools. This hands-on experience includes a neuroprosthetic limb controlled by a person’s thoughts and a touchless computer mouse, controlled through slight movements of the head. Through May 8.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM, SHELBURNE Info, 985-3346 32 Degrees: The Art of Winter: Snowy season-inspired artwork graces the museum’s gallery spaces and grounds, from contemporary photography to Monet’s “Wheatstacks” to sound art and games. Through May 30.

Library & Books

Second Saturdays: This child-friendly afternoon, a collaboration between the Norwich Public Library and the Norwich Bookstore, celebrates reading with various themed activities. Check norwichlibrary.org for location. Norwich Bookstore, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

Music

Eric Herman: This Washington state singersongwriter delivers cool tunes for kids. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Nature & Science

Animal Buddies: Night at the Museum: See April 8. Berlin Pond Waterfowl Walk: All-age ornithologists look for song birds, waterfowl, loons and herons returning from their winter in the south. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7-9:30 a.m. $10-15. Info, 229-6206. Science Challenge: See April 2. Tour the Cosmos: See April 2.

Theater

‘Jack & the Beanstalk’: Crabgrass Puppet Theater reimagines the boy who plants magic seeds, climbs a vine and battles a giant. Thatcher Brook Primary School, Waterbury, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-5605. ‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1, 1 & 7:30 p.m.

KIDS VT

Health & Fitness

Info, 864-1848 XOXO: An Exhibit About Love & Forgiveness: Developed by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, this interactive exhibit asks participants to open their hearts and minds, through puzzles and art, in a giant conversation starter. Through May 15.

APRIL 2016

MARY POPPINS: Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 10, various times, on the Flynn MainStage in Burlington. All ages. $18-38. Info, 863-5966. flynntix.org

Food

ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN, BURLINGTON

KIDSVT.COM

An umbrella-toting English nanny breezed into the Banks’ household on an east wind in the classic 1934 novel MARY POPPINS. This spring, the 40-year-old Lyric Theatre performs this fanciful story with Broadway-style song and dance. Audience members of all ages delight in the children’s madcap adventures, featuring a comical chimney sweep and park statues that miraculously come to life. With a touch of magic and a “spoonful of sugar,” the beloved caregiver lends her charms to transform an unhappy family into a kite-flying picture of happiness.

Northeast Theatre on Ice Festival: Teams from around New England perform choreographic exercises and skate routines. Tickets good for the entire day. See spotlight on page 42. Leddy Park Arena, Burlington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. Info, 865-7558.

Ongoing Exhibits

Playgroups

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal get-togethers, 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 playgroup organizer for site-specific details.

MONDAY Burlington Crawlers, Waddlers & Toddlers: VNA Family Room, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 862-2121. Burlington EvoMamas Playgroup: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, fourth Monday of every month, 2:30-4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-9642. Burlington Playgroup: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 578-6471. Charlotte Playgroup: Charlotte Central School Early Education Program, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Jericho Playgroup: Jericho Community Center, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. South Burlington Playgroup: Leo O’Brien Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 489-0410. Swanton Monday Playgroup: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 9:45-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656. Winooski Playtime: O’Brien Community Center, Fridays, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 655-1422. TUESDAY Bradford Playgroup: Grace United Methodist Church, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24. Brookfield Playgroup: First Congregational Church of Brookfield, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24. Burlington Dads’ Night: VNA Family Room, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420. Burlington Playgroup: See Monday. Essex Junction Building Bright Futures Playgroup: Maple Street Recreation Center, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555. Johnson Baby Chat: Church of the Nazarene, fourth Tuesday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470. South Burlington Playgroup: See Monday 9:30-11:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY Burlington Playgroup: See Monday. Essex Building Bright Futures Baby Playgroup: Move You Fitness Studio, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555. Fairfield Playgroup: Bent Northrop

KIDS VT

APRIL 2016

KIDSVT.COM

10 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See April 3. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 1011:30 a.m.

Community

All Souls Interfaith Kids Gathering: Creative kiddos engage in arts and crafts. Grades K-4. Caregivers must remain on-site. All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Shelburne, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3819.

Memorial Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 827-3945. Hinesburg Playgroup: Hinesburg Town Hall, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-4667. Milton Playgroup: Milton Public Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Purple Crayon Play Group: Purple Crayon/ ArtisTree, South Pomfret, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-3500. Richmond Playgroup: Richmond Free Library, 8:45-10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. Shelburne Playgroup: Trinity Episcopal Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. South Burlington Playgroup: See Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. South Royalton Playgroup: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 6852264, ext. 24. St. Albans Building Better Families Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, St. Albans, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426. Stowe Tumble Tots: David Gale Recreation Center, 10 a.m.-noon, By donation. Info, 253-6138. THURSDAY Alburgh Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, Alburgh, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426. Brandon Stories & Crafts: Brandon Free Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 247-8230. Essex Junction Building Bright Futures Playgroup: See Tuesday, 9:30-11 a.m. HInesburg Infant Playgroup: CarpenterCarse Library, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 482-4667. Milton Playgroup: See Wednesday. Montgomery Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426. Randolph Playgroup: White River Craft Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24. South Burlington Playgroup: See Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. West Fairlee Playgroup: Westshire Elementary School, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 6852264, ext. 24. Williston Play Time: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m.-noon, Free. Info, 878-4918.

Food

Open Sugarhouse Weekends: See April 2.

Health & Fitness

Essex Open Gym: See April 3.

Music

Family Concert: Muscian Eric Herman puts on a show for a family-friendly crowd. All ages. South Burlington Community Library, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Theater

‘Mary Poppins’: See April 1, 1 p.m.

11 MONDAY

Baby & Maternity

Birthing From Within: Birth Healing: Local professionals teach post-delivery self-care and parenting techniques. Babes in arms welcome. Free on-site childcare for elder siblings may be available on inquiry. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 595-7953. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 5:45-7 p.m. Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See April 4. Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See April 4. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Food FRIDAY Huntington Playgroup: Huntington Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. Marshfield Open Gym: Old Schoolhouse Common, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581. Montgomery Tumble Time: Montgomery Elementary School, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 347-1780. Randolph Toddler Time: Kimball Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073. Rutland Playgroup: Rutland Free Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860. Swanton Friday Playgroup: Swanton Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3033. Underhill Playgroup: Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. Williston Babytime Playgroup: Allen Brook School, first Friday of every month, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Winooski Playtime: See Monday, 9-11 a.m. SATURDAY Hinesburg Family Playtime: Hinesburg Community School, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-4667. Morrisville Baby Chat: Lamoille Family Center, second Saturday of every month, 1011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229. Swanton Tumble Time: Swanton Elementary School, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3033.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: See April 3. Tour the Cosmos: See April 2. XOXO: Love the Lake: Hands-on activities and workshops, with guest presenters from Puppets in Education and Burlington’s Peace and Justice Center, challenge youngsters to think creatively about how they can assist in lake clean-up. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular $10.50-13.50 museum admission; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

Submit your May events for print by April 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

Mama Mangez: Families prepare and share a meal and conversation. Tulsi Tea Room, Montpelier, 4-6 p.m. Free; ingredient donation optional. Info, 595-7953.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See April 4. Blizzard of Books Raffle: Library visitors take a gamble on winning their favorite booktastic prize. South Burlington Community Library, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7080. Egg-cellent Scavenger Hunt: Middle schoolers host a treasure hunt, a craft project and serve snacks for kids grades K-5. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Essex Lego Challenge Club: See April 4. Food for Thought Teen Group: Young adults polish off pizza as they discuss library projects. Grades 7-12. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Pajama Story Time: Flannel-clad wee ones bring their stuffed pals for seasonal tales, crafts and a bedtime snack. All ages. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Reading Buddies: See April 4. STEM Club: Science-y types work their hands and minds. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Music

Music & Movement for Preschoolers: See April 4. Music for Preschoolers: See April 4.

Nature & Science

Robin’s Nest Nature Playgroup: See April 4.

Parenting

Parenting Workshop: Power Struggles: In conjunction with the Charlotte Children’s Center, educator Scott Noyes assists adults in forming a more positive and less stressful relationship with children. Childcare may be requested. Charlotte Congregational Church, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 425-3328.

APRIL

CALENDAR

12 TUESDAY

Is your child allergic to ragweed?

Education

History for Homeschoolers: Eager learners launch into history-related activities Creative Tuesdays: See April 5. organized around monthly themes. Ages 6-12. Check vermonthistory.org for specific details. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, 1-3 Baby & Maternity p.m. $6.50-8; preregister. Space is limited. Breastfeeding Support Clinic: See April 5. Info, 828-2291. Burlington La Leche League: Young Writers & StorytellNew moms bring their babies ers: Small ones spin their and questions to a breastfeeding own yarns. Ages 5-9. Burnham support group. Older children Memorial Library, Colchester, welcome. Lending library avail4-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, able. Fletcher Free Library, See Dr. First videos 264-5660. Burlington, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, “First With Kids” at 985-8228. uvmhealth.org. Food Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See Rutland Winter Farmers MarApril 3. 10:45-11:55 a.m. ket: See April 2, 3-6 p.m. Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 4:15-5:30 p.m. Games La Leche League of the Northeast Kingdom: Dungeons & Dragons Night: Players don Expectant, new and experienced moms join invented personas and use cleverness and breastfeeding experts for advice and supluck to overcome challenges, defeat enemies port. Enter through the children’s section of and save the day. Beginners welcome. Ages the library. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury 9-13. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 6-7:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660. 720-272-8841.

Arts & Crafts

Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See April 5. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 4:30-5:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering Drop-In Gaming Tuesdays: See April 5.

Library & Books

Movies

Brattleboro: Let’s Grow Kids Speakers Bureau Training: See April 1, Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 578-7796.

Food

Free Cone Day: The concept is easy — free ice cream! — but choosing between flavors like Chunky Monkey and Chubby Hubby is oh-sohard. All ages. Ben & Jerry’s, Burlington and Waterbury, noon-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-1500.

Games

Gaming For Teens & Adults: See April 5. Read to a Dog: See April 5. Read to Daisy the Therapy Dog: See April 5. Spanish Musical Kids: See April 5. Wearable Words: Artsy youngsters drop in and design their own buttons. All ages. South Burlington Community Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Movies

Youth Media Lab: See April 5.

Music

13 WEDNESDAY

Baby & Maternity

You may be compensated for time and travel! Please call Emily at (802) 865-6100 or email kimball@tlaaa.com for more information

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After-School Movies for Kids: See April 6.

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Nature & Science

ECHO: Science & Stories: See April 6.

Parenting

Hinesburg Nurturing Parent Program: See April 6.

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14 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Crafternoon: Creative ones make inventive masterpieces. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420. Preschool Art Drop-In: See April 7. Webby’s Art Studio: See April 2.

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APRIL 2016

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See April 1, 12:151:15 p.m. Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See April 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

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