As technology advances at an exponential rate and we become more plugged into our personal devices, our children are starting to forget the wonders of Mother Nature and what it means to play outdoors. Some concerned teachers are trying to change that by implementing outdoor classrooms into their curriculum.

When Brookside Communities, LLC planned their development in and around a Fauquier County wetland area, Ed Moore, President of Brookside Communities, LLC in Fauquier County, Vice Chairman of the Fauquier County Transportation Committee and a Director of Grow, Learn & Thrive, an organization helping financially disadvantaged children, understood that any wetlands disturbed would need to be replaced. Having his own concerns about minimizing the carbon footprint of their efforts and increasing the potential for water purity, Ed envisioned joining wetland creation and regional storm drain facility development into one project. “Mother Nature’s filtration system is still superior to anything we can create,” Ed asserts, “including a wetland in the filtration process [which] cleans the water further.” What began as an enormous muddy hole evolved into a lush wetland habitat, teaming with flora and fauna. As he saw his project developing, Ed realized that this habitat was an incomparable educational opportunity, especially for area children. He just wasn’t sure how to reach them.

The Primrose School of Ashburn celebrated accreditation on Friday, March 15th, 2013, with a special Flag Raising Ceremony for students, staff, families and invited guests.

The Primrose School of Ashburn, a high-quality educational child care provider in Ashburn, has earned accreditation under the new AdvancED Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools. The school is now accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), the same body that accredits the University of Virginia, Duke University and Vanderbilt University, to name a few.

“We are very proud to earn this accreditation as it demonstrates to our students, parents, and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” stated Adela Taboada, franchise owner, Primrose School of Ashburn. “We know that the early years are critical to a child’s future success. AdvancED’s new Standards are a big step forward in the improvement, quality and development of early learning in these crucial years, and we were honored to play a part in their development.”

These new research-based AdvancED Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools, were developed by AdvancED in partnership with Primrose Schools, and represent the evolution of accreditation as a tool for continued improvement and performance excellence. These Standards will challenge early learning schools across the country to commit to reach higher levels of education, examine closer, and demonstrate the results of best practices in early learning.

For additional information on the Primrose School of Ashburn, reach them at 703.724.9050, or visit www.PrimroseAshburn.com.

Maybe it was due to holiday fatigue, or maybe I’m just a supportive husband, but somehow my wife convinced me to join her in a 21-day cleanse program that started January 1. After a month of anything goes gluttony, I agreed to eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, citrus fruit, gluten, most meats, peanut butter, condiments, soy, and medicine, among other things from my diet. Talk about a New Year’s resolution! Was I successful? Not quite.

Based on the book Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger, M.D., the program’s premise is to eat a smoothie for breakfast, a healthy solid meal for lunch, and a smoothie or soup for dinner. I won’t go into the science behind removing toxins from your diet to allow healthy digestive flora to grow, but basically your body digests liquids more easily than solids which frees up time for your body to spend healing itself. It all sounded pretty crazy, but the effusive testimonials from Clean fanatics about how much their health—not to mention their lives—improved following the cleanse was intriguing. The benefits of abstaining from everything I enjoy for three weeks suddenly seemed worth the inconvenience. My attempt to fast was sincere but, alas, one doomed to failure.

Parents are the first resource that students look to for homework help. You might be able to help your child figure out how to do a tough math problem or help them think of a subject to write about for a History class. They may need your help figuring out simple things that need to be changed, such as finding that perfect spot in the house to do homework and where to keep supplies. Parents also can cut down on distractions, such as loud televisions or noisy siblings!

But, sometimes parents need help sorting out the best direction to take on more complex issues. If your child is having a difficult time with homework, consider consulting with people who can help you brainstorm some possible solutions. Talk with your child’s teachers or the school’s counselor. These efforts will help your child avoid getting so far behind in their studies. Teachers are an important resource for you to seek, because they can give you advice specific to the assignment your child may be having trouble with. They can help your child set up systems for writing down assignments and remembering to put all the necessary books and papers into his or her backpack. Teachers can give the student study tips and offer ideas about how to tackle homework. Helping kids learn is their job, so be sure to ask for their advice!

In 60 seconds, my seven-year-old son rode his bike around our cul de sac three times. In 60 seconds, my son ate a cheese stick and two apple slices. And as I waited 60 seconds for the microwave to heat up my mint tea, 30 children died of hunger. There are 870 million hungry people around the world, 146 million children are underweight, and 15 million children die every year of hunger – which means one dies every 2 seconds. I spent over 18 years as a business technology and intellectual property attorney representing many companies. However, serving on non-profit boards over the years and becoming a parent prompted me to think more about the meaning of life and what success means to me.

Are your daughter’s “A” papers in science or math adorning your refrigerator? That’s one good step you can take to encourage her to pursue courses traditionally geared toward the boys at her school. Girls, however, are not only earning high school math and science credits at the same rate as boys now, but they are earning slightly higher grades in these classes – neither of which has historically been the case. Unfortunately, girls showing promise in STEM-related course work aren't getting much further than having their papers posted proudly on home refrigerators, and a widely held stereotype still exists that STEM fields are “male” fields, with most young women often being steered towards more ‘nurturing’ career paths, such as teaching or nursing.

Karen Purcell, P.E. founder, owner, and president of PK Electrical in Reno, NV–an award-winning electrical engineering, design and consulting firm–has published a book, Unlocking Your Brilliance: Smart Strategies for Women to Thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Purcell holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Widener University and is highly sought for speaking engagements.

Q: My child might be KICKED OUT of daycare because he isn't eating solids...is that allowed? He doesn't have any teeth!!

A: This absolutely sounds like a red flag regarding your daycare center/provider. Children develop at his or her own pace, and parents shouldn't be threatened with having their child "kicked out" for not reaching a milestone "on time." The introduction of solids or table foods cannot be rushed. It is a process. Some children take time to accept food with texture. Others hate pureed foods and jump straight to finger foods. My best advice is keep offering your child plenty of opportunities to try table foods and have a serious conversation with your daycare center/provider regarding mutual expectations. They may have strict policies, but you always have a choice because it is your child. A quality provider will work with you to get your child over the hump, not make demands. Good luck!

I’ve finally hit the big time. I’m a Little League t-ball coach. It is my honor to lug around a heavy equipment bag, a dusty rubber tee, and a bucket of weathered baseballs twice a week. It is my privilege to arrive early before games to unlock the shed, load the broken chalk spreader with a heavy, unmanageable bag of fine white powder, and attempt to roll straight baselines on the field. I am no longer Mr. Matt; I am Coach Matt. However, my big break didn’t come without its share of heartbreak and disappointment.

At the age of 12, I was able to prepare a complete meal for my family of six (mom, dad, sisters, and brother), not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I had spent many years watching and helping my parents and grandmothers, all of which were great cooks! They each had their own style of cooking, so I soaked it all in and took the best of what they each had to offer by way of instruction to me, their young prodigy. What I did not learn until years later, when I taught my own children to cook, were all of the educational benefits in learning to cook.

Eighteen years have passed and the bundle of joy who used to depend on you for everything is finally learning to stretch out his or her own wings and take flight. As a new chapter begins, another comes to a close. How do you cope when they finally leave the nest?

TAKE A SIDE TRIP
Plan a fun detour on the way home after dropping your kid off at college, recommends Karen Levin Coburn, author of Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years and a senior consultant in residence at Washington University in St. Louis. Stop at a quaint bed & breakfast for a few nights or visit an old friend. Building in a post-drop-off event you are looking forward to can help take the edge off the goodbye.