ShortStuff

Get Your Kids Flying with Oxford Owl

As parents, you want the very best for your children, but finding the right advice and resources can be challenging. What’s more, the things children are expected to learn and the way they are taught have probably changed a lot since you were at school—which can make navigating the education system tricky!

Oxford Owl for Home is written specially for parents and caretakers by leading experts in education, and can help you be as well-informed as you can be, making sure you have everything you need to support your child on their journey through school. From learning to read, to tackling tricky math problems, from the very first day at school, to the big move up to secondary, Oxford Owl provides all the important information you need, when you need it.

Support for Parents

• Reading: Advice, ideas, and resources to support your child’s reading and comprehension.

• Mathematics: Get to know key topics covered in primary school, with lots of practice activities.

• At school: Your year-by-year guide to curriculum, including the tests your child will take.

• Blog: Practical tips and everyday learning ideas for busy parents.

Activities for Kids

• eBook library: Over 100 free eBooks for children ages 3–11.

• Storyteller videos: Exciting stories to capture imaginations, told by professional storytellers.

• Math games and activities: Fun ways to develop math skills.

• Creative writing: Unleash your child’s creativity with ideas, activities, and author tips.

• Coloring: Printable coloring sheets featuring character favorites!

Visit oxfordowl.co.uk for all these great resources and so much more!

Nominate a Librarian

Has a librarian made a difference in your life or gone above and beyond to serve your community? The I Love My Librarian Award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. Each year, up to 10 librarians are honored at a ceremony held in their honor and receive a $5,000 cash award. Visit ilovelibraries.org/love-my-librarian and nominate your librarian by September 30th!

Learn & Earn with Zogo

Noble Credit Union has partnered with Zogo, a financial literacy app backed by behavioral science, to offer members and non-members alike the opportunity to experience a product poised to enlighten kids, teens, and adults on the ins-and-outs of money management, all while having fun. The free gamified app allows users of all ages to play their way to improved financial literacy. The game’s reward system is simple: players collect points in the form of pineapples, which they can then exchange for gift cards.

Zogo is available for both iPhone and Android users, and is free to download. Play all year to earn gift cards—a win for everyone! Visit noblecu.com/home/contact-us/zogo for more information.

Some Shorter Stuff

Meet our Cover Kid, Isabella!

Like many young girls, Isabella was put into dance and gymnastics classes at a very young age. Now at 12 years old, she continues to practice with Aerial Silks and competes locally and out of town with her dance team. Isabella knows how important it is to keep her body and mind challenged. She loves to read and she excels in school. She is a great friend and is very loyal. Isabella helps around the house with chores and with her two giant mastiff dogs. When she is not busy with her extracurriculars inside and outside of school, she loves to spend time with her four baby cousins and her younger brother.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Each day, 47 families in the United States will hear the words “your child has cancer.” Childhood cancer may seem too big or too overwhelming to solve. However, researchers are working hard every day to find better treatments and cures for kids fighting cancer—and they’re making progress. Visit childrenscancer.org to learn how you can support the cause and families near you.

Ready, Set, Go!

It’s National Preparedness Month and kids can help their families get ready for an emergency at ready.gov/kids through fun, non-scary activities. For instance, plan a family scavenger hunt by dividing up the family emergency supply list! Games and tips make organizing and planning a snap.

Growth Awareness Week is September 17th–23rd.

Height is nature’s early warning signal—a potential visual alarm for parents and physicians. Growth can be an overall sign of the health and physical development of a child, but when children aren’t growing properly, it may be an indication of a treatable medical condition. During Growth Awareness Week, The MAGIC Foundation (Major Aspects of Growth in Children) is working to draw attention to the issue of children’s growth. Head to magicfoundation.org resources for more information.

Take the Rail Safety Pledge with Your Kids.

Operation Lifesaver, the national non-profit rail safety education organization, launched online rail safety pledges for kids and adults. Help your kids learn to make safe choices around railroad tracks and trains by visiting oli.org and signing the pledge today.

Weekly Giveaways!

Be sure to stay connected with Central California Parent at ccparent.com and on all our social platforms for a chance to win prizes every week! Last month, we gave away backpacks, sweet treats, kids' travel products, and more!

FREE Entrance Day at National Parks!

Explore Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks free of charge as the National Park Service celebrates National Public Lands Day. The entrance free day is September 23rd. Call ahead to confirm that the area you plan to visit is open.

High School Seniors Can Win a $1,000 College Scholarship

through the AFSA Scholarship Program. Visit afsascholarship.org/high-school-contest to learn more. Deadline is January 1st, 2024!