MetroKids

5 Father's Day Events

Father's Day weekend is coming up and the Philadelphia area has a wide variety of events to celebrate dad's special day. From fishing to woodworking to a Sesame Street-themed…

CHOP ranks as nation's second-best children's hospital

For the past 15 years, parents have turned to U.S. News & World Report’s national rankings of children’s hospitals when searching for specialized pediatric care. To help parents find…

Kid-Friendly Events this Weekend: June 11-13

This weekend sees some of the family-friendly Pride events from our recent round-up, as well as a special family day at the much-anticipated Philadelphia Flower Show. Elmo and friends…

Editor’s Picks for June 2021

Miffy Cool To Be Kind Plush Toy Kids will appreciate this beloved children’s book character with a fresh, modern palette and a positive message that reads “it’s cool to…

Local Spraygrounds and Splash Pads Open

It's only the second week of June and we're already looking for ways to cool down in the Philadelphia area. Thankfully, for kids, the city has over 90 spraygrounds and…

Our Picks

Elementary Cyber Option Prepares Students for a Lifetime of Success

The key to all that Agora Cyber Charter School offers is its dedication to supporting its students on an individualized basis.

You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover...If There Is No Cover

At cyber schools, the pressure that often comes with the superficial nature of appearance and first impressions is removed

Good Intentions Don't Prevent Cavities

Parents choose juice boxes, gummy vitamins and bottled water with their kids' health in mind, but it could lead to more cavities, warns Dr. Rachel A. Maher.

Education

Zoo-on-Wheels to Continue Fun and Educational Programs

Elmwood Park Zoo's Zoo-on-Wheels program will continue to bring their mobile educational programs to public venues including schools, hospitals, libraries and more thanks to a grant from the Green Mountain…

6 Crafts for Teacher Appreciation Week

After an immensely challenging school year, teachers deserve more appreciation than ever. This year’s Teacher Appreciation Week is now underway and continues through May 8. These six DIY crafts are unique…

Philadelphia Expands PHLConnectED to Pre-K Households

Philadelphia expanded PHLConnectED, a program that offers free high-speed internet to eligible students, to families with children in prekindergarten last week. The city launched the program, which was previously only…

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Free Online Education Tools to Keep Kids Learning

12 free educational sites to help keep your kids on track while schools are closed.

Camps & Classes

Sandcastle Fun Co. Provides Safe, Affordable Programming

During the coronavirus pandemic, University of the Arts graduates Jason Corn and Billy Sander noticed that local parents were looking for safe, flexible and affordable educational programming for their…

Philadelphia Announces Youth Summer Programs

Summer is fast approaching, and Philadelphia recently announced its fun and enriching summer programs and activities for local children and teens. To make it easy for families to find opportunities…

Camp Is for All Kids!

People who work at camps for children with special needs will often report one universal truth about these programs. Once the kids enter the camp’s grounds, they’re no longer defined by their…

5 Tips for First-Time Overnight Campers

Whether you've attended summer camp as a child or whether your child is the first in your family to go to camp, sending your child to camp takes some preparation and…

Ages & Stages

Frustrated Young Child Sulking With Crossed Arms And Dirty Look

All the Feels

We’ve all been there. Your 3-year-old has a meltdown in the middle of the grocery checkout line or you become beyond exasperated when your eldest clobbers your youngest for no apparent reason.…

Good Intentions Don't Prevent Cavities

Parents choose juice boxes, gummy vitamins and bottled water with their kids' health in mind, but it could lead to more cavities, warns Dr. Rachel A. Maher.

At What Age Can You Leave Kids Home Alone?

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware don't give a specific answer, but a new survey of social workers says kids should be at least 12.

How to Learn Family Medical, Genetic History When Adopting a Child

Open adoptions and genetic testing make it easier for parents to learn about family medical history for a baby or themselves.

SpecialKids

How to Help Your Child With Special Needs

Here are ways to comfort and entertain children with special needs during what can be a frightening time.

Resources for Parents of Children With Special Needs During School Closures for Coronavirus

What are schools required to do for students with special needs during a shutdown? Special Education Advocate Lisa Lightner has put together this guide.

Field Trips for All Students

Advice for parents of students with disabilities to avoid exclusion on field trips.

Emotional support animals can endanger the public and make life harder for people like me who rely on service dogs

There is a proposal to keep Emotional Support Animals off of airplanes. Service dogs would still be allowed.

Health

5 Summer Health and Safety Myths Debunked

In addition to the likely continued threat of COVID-19 this summer, families will still have to deal with the season’s typical health and safety concerns, from bee stings to sun…

EPA Mid-Atlantic Recognizes CHOP Asthma Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region selected the Community Asthma Prevention Plus Program (CAPP+) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as its first-ever Asthma Community Champion.…

Philly HopeLine Provides Free Mental Health Services

The Philly HopeLine is a critical resource for local students and caregivers to know about this Mental Health Awareness Month. The free and confidential helpline was launched last May by…