That nervous frenetic energy your children are putting off is a sure sign of what is to come: the last day of school. That day, dedicated to the pursuit of freedom, often is also filled with goodbyes, thank yous, and the recognition of what students and the teachers that have guided them have accomplished. But how do you recognize the dedication of a teacher? A gift? a note? Is it as simple as some baked treats, or as lavish as high-priced gift cards? Is the bright smile of a child moving on to the next grade all the reward a teacher needs to feel their work has been recognized? While teacher…

State testing. It has become a part of the school experience like lunch lines and gym class. Every spring, students sharpen their No. 2 pencils to show what they know and to determine how the student, the teacher and the school are performing. In addition to the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests in reading and math given every year in grades 3-8, 10 and 11, students also take a science test in fifth- and eighth-grade, and once again in high school. The Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma (GRAD) are administered throughout high school, giving students a chance to show they meet …

Car seats have gone through many changes over time, beginning many decades ago as drawstring sacks and progressing to today's heavily padded and harnessed seats. Laws and recommendations for car seat use also have changed. In Minnesota, the law states that a child restraint must be used until the child is 7 years old or 57 inches tall, and then it's OK to put the child in an adult seat belt; the fine for violating the law is $50. But the most recent changes in recommendations (not laws) for using car seats came a week ago from the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a report in the Pediatrics …

At least one figure has continued to spend money during the tough economy: the Tooth Fairy. A recent article from the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal highlights an annual poll by Delta Dental that this year found the going rate for lost teeth is up 33 cents from two years ago. The average in Minnesota is $2.01 per tooth, and the range nationally is from 1 cent to $100, the article says. While finding some money under their pillows might spark some gap-toothed grins from your children, we're wondering whether local families today are spending more, less or nothing at all on Tooth Fairy…

Sometimes the most important advice a mom can get is help weeding through the endless choices kids have when choosing activities. With that in mind, one choice facing parents now and in upcoming weeks is what summer camps to send their children to this summer. Whether it’s a day arts program, language camp, or traditional “Kumbaya” and canoeing experience you seek, there’s likely an option out there for children of every stripe. The sheer number of camps available supports that. According to the American Camping Association, more than 11 million kids and adults attend one of roughly 12,000 …

There's no denying that household cleaners can be dangerous: Mix bleach with many common toilet bowl cleaners, for example, and you produce poisonous chlorine gas. The resurgence of environmentalism in the United States brought with it a number of eco-friendly cleaning products, like Seventh Generation and Eco-Me. But many question whether those non-toxic products are as effective as traditional cleaning agents. To further complicate matters, some products labeled "biodegradable" or "organic" aren't always as environmentally friendly as their manufacturers would like you to think. This week, …

Moms Talk is a new feature on Patch that is part of a new initiative to reach out to moms and families. Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in the area. Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council—a group of moms who work with us to share what matters to them and in turn to other local moms—will take your questions, offer advice and provide solutions. The moms who have graciously given their time and thoughts, and who you'll see posting their comments on our Moms Talk discussions, are: Jodi Saari, Dyane …