As I looked out the back window on a beautiful sunny day this past winter break, I told my kids that the groundhog must have been mistaken.  With another day of 40-plus-degree weather, I was sure that winter was nearly over.  Boy was I wrong!  BOOM!  We were hit with a nice weekend blizzard just to remind us what North Country winters are all about.  So here I was, once again, bundled up and shoveling.  When I came back in what did I find?  My two (less than motivated) kids plugged in and tuned out - completely oblivious to the world around them.  In fact, they were still in their pajamas and it was nearly 1pm.

I remember back in my day, when cartoons were only available before school and on Saturdays.  Saturday cartoons were a luxury to be enjoyed only after we did all our weekend chores.  I hated weekend chores.  I suppose that is why I never imposed that ritual on my own children.  But, having an all day pajama party completely glued to the television is not what I call a positive solution to a snowy day.

The economy is making it tough for most of us.  Gas prices keep going up.  Groceries cost more.  Our cost of living is taking its toll on families in ways that most of us have not experienced before.  Most are now forced to cut back on spending money on extras, including fun activities.  The last time I took my children to the movies, it cost over $40 just for the three of us.  I can imagine what larger families are dealing with in trying to satisfy the active minds and energy of their little people.  Luckily, we have The Frank S. McCullough Jr. Hawkins Point Visitors Center right here in the Massena area.

The gray skies of February bring snow, then sleet, then rain, the more rain, sleet and snow.  Recently, I think I saw all three coming down at the same time.  The wet and cold has us wondering how long winter will last.  Punxsutawney Phil may or may not be a reliable indicator on when we can expect warmer weather, but we know the weeks ahead bring more day light as the days grow gradually longer.

Yes parents.  Spring will come.  But wait!  Let's not wish away winter without making it a fun and memorable time for the kids.  This year is a leap year, and you only get a few of those while you're young.  Can you remember what made yours special?  This February comes with an extra day.  Why not do something special on February 29th to give this leap year some significance?  Since it's "leap year" you can have a birthday party for "The Frog."  Or, have the kids make froggie-type crafts.  If they are older, it's a great time to teach them about earth's rotation around the sun.

It's New Year's resolution time.  What a great opportunity to teach your children how to set goals for themselves, and work toward achieving them.  Through role-modeling the discipline and perseverance to accomplish new goals, you can help your children develop the self-motivation necessary to accomplish their own goals.  Young people will also learn to deal with pressure, whether from their teachers, you or themselves.  These skills will give them a sense of personal accomplishment and build their self-confidence - qualities that help children navigate through the school years as independent leaders, rather than followers.

Sitting down with your kids to set new goals also translates into spending positive family time together.  If your resolution IS  to spend more time with your children, or if getting the family move active and fit is important, then Casper may be just what you need to make that happen.  In Massena, Casper is not friendly ghost.  It's Massena Central School District's "Community and School - Education - Recreation" program (CASP-E-R), and I am surprised that many people I speak with know nothing about it.

I am always looking for enjoyable activities for my kids.  I feel it's important to keep them active and engaged in constructive fun.  Since we are relatively new to the Massena area, I took the advice of friends and got my daughter involved in sports, which is what a lot of Massena parents do to keep their kids active.  But since my son has autism, team sports are not an option for him.  Like many 11-year-olds, he is much more proficient at playing video games and spends most of his free time gaming alone.  I'd rather get him playing with other children, which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Massena has a brand new store for gamers.

Time Capsule Games opened its doors on November 18th on East Orvis Street right across from Jreck Subs.  In addition to being a retail store that specializes in card games, Time Capsule offers many activities for the community youth including game tournaments, karaoke, a DJ (complete with disco ball) with dancing, air hockey, darts, and a place to play video games with others on a 42' flat screen TV.

“Today, 12.5 million children are overweight in the United States—more than 17 percent. Overweight children are at greater risk for many serious health problems.”--U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Surgeon General

"That's DISGUSTING!"
Parents hear that far too often at the diner table.  It seems, kids just look at food and before they even taste it, decide not to eat it.

Every morning it's a fight to get Jeff on the bus.  His mother assumes he just doesn't like school, and will do anything to avoid the work.

What she doesn't know, is that Jeff has been targeted as easy prey by a few boys on the bus.  For him, it's more than being teased and laughed at.  It's a down-right frightening experience.

Every morning, Halyn waits for school bus #227.  Now that the mornings have a chill in the air, he bundles up, pulls his hood over his head and is ready to start another day of learning - just like other elementary kids in Massena.  What makes this 10-year-old unique? Halyn has autism.  While the other children are laughing and talking to each other, he paces back-and-forth waiving his arms and talking to the sky, oblivious to others.

Autism is a neurological disorder that effects the way information is received and transmitted by the brain.  It reveals itself to parents in little ways as a child develops.  It may be subtle like a lack of eye contact, not answering to their name, or limited food preferences.  Hand-flapping and toe-walking are often one of the first obvious signs.  Most children affected with autism are not diagnosed until they are near three-years-old.  Sometimes, less severe forms of this neurological disorder like Asperger's are not diagnosed until much later. Some children, like Halyn, are capable to being mainstreamed in regular education classrooms.  They are learning the same subjects and routines as others, but having to cope with many invisible issues that cause anxiety and frustration.