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KIDS

McAllen Kids Marathon kicks off Friday

The 8th annual McAllen Kids Marathon Kickoff Mile is set for this Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m.A collaboration between McAllen ISD, the city of McAllen and several public and private entities, the marathon challenges children to get into the habit of daily exercise and run the equivalent of 26.2 miles over a four month period. The honor-based challenge allows kids to rack up miles doing any movement activity, like playing, running, walking or dancing. “After the Kickoff Mile, kids will log their miles during the fall and finish their 26-mile marathon in January,” the district said in promotional material. “Kids can win t-shirts and medals.”The marathon is free for kids in elementary and middle schools from all communities. Registration and more information on the event is available at www.mcallenkidsmarathon.com.

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How to help ‘Kids’ Meals’ replace lost food due to power outages

HOUSTON – The nonprofit “Kids’ Meals” has been fighting hunger in Houston since 2016 providing free, healthy meals to preschool-aged children who live in extreme poverty. Beth Harp, executive director with Kids’ Meals, Inc., explained how the community can help them restock to aid those in dire need. Kids' Meals, Inc. (Kids' Meals, Inc.)Kids’ Meals lost all meat, cheese, milk, juice, and much of its bread and need help to resume delivery of 6,400 meals on Monday. We have been desperately trying to get the word out and raise funds in order to get new food supplies. You can donate here: https://www.giveffect.com/checkout/4136 Posted by Kids' Meals, Inc. on Thursday, February 18, 2021To donate or volunteer to Kids’ Meals, click here.

7 things doctors want parents to know about the COVID vaccine and kids

While the vaccine is not ready yet for kids, there is still plenty of information parents need to know right now. “The primary concern would be a severe allergy to any components to the vaccine.” Dr. Chang said. “I am very eager to be able to get my grandchildren vaccinated at some point,” Dr. Spinner said. We don’t know if being vaccinated will still stop us from spreading the virus to others,” Dr. Spinner said. “As a pediatric specialist, I just want what is best for kids,” Dr. Chang said.

Does your child want to be a toy tester? Find out how you can sign them up

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island – How would your kids like to be toy testers? You can sign them up at Hasbro’s FunLab here. The FunLab is Hasbro’s in-house Toy and Game testing research facility, located within Hasbro headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Testers normally have to go to a testing site to participate, but because of the pandemic, the program is virtual. The studies in this program are one-time tests and are scheduled anywhere from one day to one week in advance.

Missouri City brothers give back to teachers with a sweet project

HOUSTON – With two books and a baking business under their belts and, Nigel and Shane Mushambi are thriving entrepreneurs. The Missouri City brothers explained to Houston Life how they’re spreading kindness and gratitude to teachers with a sweet new project called “Sweet Compassion”. #SweetCompassion #2brositk#teamwork #thorntonmiddleschool #teacherareheroestoo #JBDondolo Posted by 2brositk on Wednesday, December 9, 2020“We created this project to encourage teachers during this time. We just thought a lot of teachers during this time are sacrificing their health and bodies to teach the next generation. Even though they are still young, the Mushambi brothers are used to doing charity work.

Have you tried the candy temptation challenge on your kids yet?

HOUSTON – Have you guys seen the kids candy temptation challenge on your newsfeeds lately? The object is pretty easy: a parent puts some candy (or any other delicious snack) in front of their little one, and then tells them they can have some…BUT ONLY AFTER THEY COME BACK FROM LEAVING THE ROOM. This challenge is so funny, mainly because most of the kids FAIL with flying colors. Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi was one of the first to try it...and she PASSED! Watch as these adorable kids straight up lose all of their willpower when no one’s watching!

New ways parents can help kids cope with anxiety

Now, researchers are studying a new method that helps parents help their children. Eli Lebowitz, PhD, Psychologist, Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center, and his colleagues, developed a method of training parents to support anxious children. Parents go through training to help their child face anxiety. Lebowitz says parents also learn to help their child by not accommodating them. In a study of 124 kids and their parents, the Yale researchers examined whether SPACE intervention was effective in treating children’s anxiety.

‘Kidfluencers’ are targeting your children with junk food ads

In a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, they looked at 418 YouTube videos, 179 of the videos featured food and drinks which popped up almost 300 times in those videos. Anyone searching for children and teen videos can easily be bombarded by social media stars playing with toys, fast food, coffee, etc. Even though for decades, TV characters haven’t been allowed to do things like this but there are no regulations for social media. Adults know that it’s going on, but we’re influenced by social media influencers who are paid to get endorsements,” Dr. McGee said. Dr. McGee said policymakers should consider banning all kinds of product placement in any children’s videos.

Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO shares what parents need to know about social media’s impact on our kids

HOUSTON – Distance learning has added another layer of parenting: keeping your kids safe online. With many of you out there homeschooling your children on different devices, and with social media and mainstream programming accessible basically everywhere, navigating that can be challenging for parents. Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarious shares tips to navigate your child’s online usage.

Here is where you can find the Lego truck and get free Legos this week

HOUSTON – A brand new Lego store is opening in Willowbrook Mall. To help spread the word, the Lego truck is trolling around Houston giving away free Lego mini build kits. The truck dispenses the kits contact-free. After kids build their free kit, they can take it to the new Willowbrook Lego store to get another free surprise. Here is where you can find the Lego truck this week:Wed, Oct. 7, 20202:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.Houston Heights Fire Station107 W 12th StreetHouston Texas 77008Friday, Oct. 9, 20202:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.Houston Heights Fire Station107 W 12th StreetHouston Texas 770085 p.m. - 7 p.m.City Centre Plaza800 Town & Country BlvdHouston, TX 77024

‘Holding her brilliance against her.’ Family sues Cy-Fair ISD for special ed designation for teen

HOUSTON – Who qualifies as a special education student? Grace Jester, 17, looks like any other Cypress Ranch High School student. “I want Cy-Fair to designate Grace as a special education student,” said Steve Jester, Grace’s dad. But so far Cy-Fair ISD has refused to grant the “special education” designation. The Texas Education Agency has resources for parents who have questions about the Special Education Program in Texas.

If your child attends HISD, you can sign them up to receive free books through Dolly Parton’s foundation

HOUSTON – Thousands of students at Houston Independent School District will receive books through country music star Dolly Parton’s foundation. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a gift program that gives free books to children from birth to age 5, will provide books to up to 5,000 children in Houston. The program called “Book of the Month” will provide children in Houston access to books by mail. Children will receive a book every month until the child turns 5 years old. A drive-through sign up event will be held at Sherman Elementary School on Wednesday, where parents can sign up for the book program.

First-time parents expecting triplets in a remarkable double pregnancy

Oh, baby... baby... baby...After being told by a doctor that they would be unable to have children, a Pittsburgh couple is now expecting triplets in a rare double pregnancy, according to a Because of Them We Can (BOTWC) blog. “Last year, my doctors told me that I wouldn’t be able to have kids and would need surgery,” Dee wrote on Instagram. “But God said otherwise and gave us three healthy babies along with a completely healthy mother!”The parents-to-be are experiencing superfetation, an instance in which a second, new pregnancy can occur during an initial pregnancy, Healthline Parenthood explains. Despite the high-risk nature of the pregnancy, the expecting parents are hopeful of a healthy delivery. “We are believing that all three of our babies will be healthy, equal in size, and have no complications," Dee wrote on Instagram.

Texas Department of State Health Services withdraws data on school infections, citing ‘issues’

Editor’s note: After this story was published, the Texas Department of State Health Services removed the data from its website, citing “issues” with the numbers. The state recorded 1,212 new cases among public school students between Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 and 660 new cases among staff. The numbers, the first comprehensive state data showing where cases have occurred in Texas, illustrate how widespread infections are. The coronavirus has put Texas school districts, and parents, in the difficult position of balancing health and educational concerns for their children. In Texas, 53% of public school students are Hispanic, and 13% are Black.

Doctors using baby monitors in fight against COVID-19

HOUSTON – A tool for new parents is now being used by doctors in the fight against the coronavirus. Baby monitors can be a comfort or added stress to new parents. There’s a variety of baby monitors for parents to choose from, such as a monitor that goes on the baby, often the foot, and connect to the wireless cameras and monitors, which will alert the parents if a baby’s breathing is irregular. The hope is that such baby monitors will help parents monitor their children in their sleep and help eliminate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It’s another tool that’s been tough to come by during the pandemic but they’re starting to come back.

Katy ISD will provide free meals to all students living in the area until December

KATY, Texas – The Katy Independent School District is providing free meals to all students in the area, even if they aren’t part of the district, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) extended the food program waiver, the district announced. Katy ISD began providing meals Monday and students can receive free breakfast and lunch through Dec. 31, or pending available funds through the USDA and TDA. “All students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch meal per day per federal guidance,” said Nutrition & Food Service Executive Director Donna Pittenger. “Parents can however add funds to their student’s Pay N' Go meal account for a la carte purchases or in preparation for when the USDA waiver ends,” she added. Once the waiver expires, Katy ISD will switch back to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, according to a press release.

Moody Foundation gives HISD $1M grant to help shrink digital divide for students in need

HOUSTON – The Moody Foundation is giving the Houston Independent School District a $1 million grant to help Texas' largest public school district purchase of more than 2,000 devices for students in need. The grant will cover devices for Pre-K through fifth-grade students in the district’s achieve 180 schools, which are underserved an underperforming HISD feeder pattern communities. About 35% of HISD’s 209,000 students lacked internet at home at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, the Moody Foundation has given out grants amounting to more than $10 million to more than 100 nonprofits in need of relief. Ross Moody, Trustee of The Moody Foundation, spoke to KPRC 2′s Andy Cerota about the donation and the impact he hopes it will have on increasing student achievement and educational equity across the district.

Children’s Museum Houston to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with virtual activities, story times

HOUSTON – The Children’s Museum Houston will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with virtual activities and storytimes via social media. The museum’s free event will recognize the achievements and success of the Hispanic community between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.Toma Todo – via FacebookUp your chances in this traditional Mexican spinning top game where the winner takes it all! Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln – via InstagramExplore how a talented Venezuelan girl showed her amazing skills to President Lincoln in this storytime. Thursday at 3:45 p.m.Grilled Mexican Street Corn Recipe – via FacebookThere’s no celebration without food!

La Porte ISD will provide free meals to all students, district says

HOUSTON – The La Porte Independent School District announced this week that all of its students will begin to receive free meals after the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended the Summer Food Service Program. The program will also provide free curbside meals for children 18 and younger who are not enrolled in the district. “This (waiver) essentially allows us to provide meals to all children without the added burden of determining who is eligible and who isn’t,” said Yvonne Bennett, La Porte ISD nutrition director. “If students are not present in the vehicle, the parent or guardian must present the student’s school ID number or badge to the cashier. Find more information on the La Porte ISD website.

Teachers from these Houston-area school districts made most complaints to union of COVID-19 protocol violations, discrepancies

HOUSTON – The Texas State Teachers Association announced Monday that its members had reported hundreds of COVID-19 protocol discrepancies or violations in the first couple weeks of the school year. In the Houston area, the most complaints of violations were submitted by teachers in the Cy-Fair Independent School District with 210 reports of violations since the school district began the academic year last week. We hope we haven’t prolonged the day when we can think about being normal again.”See the Houston-area districts where the most teachers reported COVID-19 violations during the first couple weeks of the school year. Across the state, TSTA claims it has received hundreds of reports of COVID-19 protocol violations from members in 135 school districts. What the school districts are sayingKPRC 2 reached out to the Houston-area school districts with a high number of reported violations.

What you need to know about college applications, financial aid and more amid pandemic

Her daughter Hilary is a senior at Glenda Dawson High School in the Pearland Independent School District. He’s a senior at Strake Jesuit High School and says the “new normal” is anything but. Financial aidProjectGRAD Houston is a free resource for parents and students which helps them with college and career prep. Check and update your college listDue to COVID-19, many colleges and universities have made changes to their admissions deadlines and important dates. The experts suggest that you need to make sure you’re informed about the school’s most up-to-date deadlines and information.

14 Houston-area churches welcome about 800 HISD elementary students to virtual learning centers

Thats how students enrolled in the landmark, Sanctuaries of Learning program began their first day of school in the Third Ward Tuesday. As part of the program by the United Methodist Church, 14 different Houston-area churches have been converted into virtual learning centers so about 800 Houston Independent School District students will have a place to learn virtually while their parents go back to work. Created specifically to help working parents by providing laptop computers, a powerful WiFi signal and even meals, the program completely free for the students in attendance. Thats when she found out about Sanctuaries of Learning through her sons elementary school. HISD elementary school students are eligible for this program and to register, call your school office and ask for the Turn-Around Specialist.