Education

Arts enrich special-needs students’ lives at Hi-Star

Students at Hi-Star Center for Children in Phoenix performed their own take on a popular musical for more than 500 people in May. Their...

Biomimicry helps students blend art and science

If you've ever seen a preschooler fasten the Velcro® strips on a pair of sneakers, you've witnessed the wonders of biomimicry, which uses properties...

Character education through fairy tales

Several years ago, Arizona schools adopted character education programs to help students develop attributes including compassion, gratefulness and responsibility. Community organizations responded by offering...

Encourage children’s critical thinking—it’s science!

The term “critical thinking” is thrown around a lot when discussing what is important for children’s success in school and in life. Like Sherlock Holmes...

Innovative ways to teach math

A week of Math Camp at Grand Canyon University (GCU) for a group of middle school students ages 12 to 14 involved math projects...

Dominique Roe-Sepowitz: What parents need to know about sex trafficking

The difference between sex trafficking and prostitution. The number of men who regularly buy sex online or on the street in the Phoenix area....

Radioo tunes to goals at Q High Learning Center

Radioo (pronounced "radio") Kennedy recently graduated from Q High Learning Center in Phoenix. Q High, as the students call it, is a blended learning...

Arizona Science Center reveals ancient Egyptian secrets

“Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science,” on exhibit at the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix from May 31 to September 1, uses science...

Amateur radio fun at the Harkins Ham Shack

Lots of kids have nicknames, but our son Christopher is known to many of his friends by the unique series of numbers and letters...

Art4All at the Boys and Girls Clubs

A group of kids at the Jerry Colangelo Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Phoenix waited patiently last week while sponsors and...

All-girl team wins app-design competition

Three seniors from Centennial High School in the Peoria---Kylee Burgess, Jiaqi Wu and Mikayla Whalen---won an app-writing competition sponsored by the SPARK App League,...

Chandler pianist Anna Han heads to NYC

I first wrote about Anna Han, of Chandler, in April 2009, before she performed with the Phoenix Symphony. At 13, she was already an...

Early prep earns BASIS Scottsdale “best” AZ high school

BASIS Scottsdale is the best high school in Arizona and the second best in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report 2014...

Showcase features student art

Families can enjoy a free arts experience this Wednesday, May 7 during an "Arts Education Showcase" at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The...

Mom-daughter entrepreneurs support arts in schools

Scottsdale mom and daughter Jen and Ariana Silver are working together to support arts education in Arizona and beyond. Ari, then just 8 years old,...

How to lead a learner

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. The same can be said for children and learning. As parents,...

PARTY ARTICLES

Money Lessons from Birthday Parties

Teaching Kids the Value of Gifts & Gratitude Between the cake, balloons, and wrapping paper tornado, birthday parties are often all about fun, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids early lessons...

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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