COCOA ORANGE BALLS

3 1/4 cups crunchy whole-grain corn cereal (such as Puffins)
1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus additional for dusting
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1.  Place cereal in a large zip-close plastic bag. Press out air and close bag. With rolling pin or bottom of heavy pan, crush cereal into fine crumbs.

2. In a large bowl, combine crushed cereal, sugar, pecans and cocoa. Stir thoroughly. Add orange juice concentrate and corn syrup, then stir until all ingredients are well moistened and mixture holds together when squeezed into a ball.

3. Moistening your hands with cold water as needed, form mixture into 24 small balls. Roll balls in additional powdered sugar to coat.
NUTRITION DATA PER CLUSTER:
Calories 51 (18 from fat); fat 2 g (sat 0 g, trans 0 g); protein 1 g; carbohydrates 9 g; fiber 1 g; sodium 35 mg

Solution?

Baby Smash!

Activate this FREE program and your child can bang away at the keyboard to their heart’s content, bringing up only amusing images like the below shapes. (Or letters and numbers, in the case of older kids.)

Only the rather complex ALT-F4 key combination will unlock it, something the child will probably never hit by accident, so it’s truly goof proof. And the videos of kids in action show that they can find a great deal of fun in such a simple program.

There’s been a version of this software for Macs for a while now called AlphaBaby, apparently. But now even PC users can entertain their kids while preserving their computers at the same time. Now if only there was some defense against fingerprint smears on the monitor or the inevitable, toothless gumming of the mouse.

Hmmm.

Yesterday’s Gazette covered this parental dilemma extremely well:

The stakes are high: Wait too long, and a gifted child could become frustrated; start too early, the child could struggle and develop a negative attitude toward school that lasts for years.

First of all, parents who know that their little prince or princess is ABSOLUTELY GIFTED. (A Picasso with finger paints. Can count the stars in the sky, and spell Abracadabra backwards, I tell you. GIFTED!), state lawmakers have yet to decide which tests or standards will bestow the gifted label, and Cherylin Peniston, retired teacher and sponsor of the measure, “estimates only 60 to 80 children statewide would meet the criteria to start kindergarten early.”

And while there are parents who would jump at the opportunity to enroll their little Einstein early, there are those that would prefer to wait until their child is 6, too. And they have just as many good reasons: Amy Hollis didn’t hesitate to keep her son Duncan home for an extra year before deciding to have him start kindergarten this fall at age 6. “I’m more interested in him getting fresh air and sunshine than reading right away,” said the mother of three boys, who solicited advice from doctors, teachers and other parents. “Everyone I knew who had male children said it would be better for them socially to wait.”

Why? Experts advise this course because kids (especially boys) will be bigger and stronger, less likely to feel bullied and picked on. (OK, I’m not even going to touch that sexist argument with a 10-foot pole.) And because increased social development will give them more confidence. (That makes a little more sense, IMHO.)

KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE — Duncan Hollis, 6, looked for tadpoles with his twin brothers, Jonah, left, and Aidan, 11. Duncan’s mother, Amy, decided to keep her sons out of kindergarten until they turned 6.

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Several educators also point out that today’s kindergarten isn’t the experience that parents remember from their childhood. Play stations and nap time have been replaced by desks and pencils, and relaxed fun has given way to demanding curriculum and high expectations. “The problem is that kindergarten is what first and the early part of second grade used to be,” said Kathy Stevens, coauthor of “The Minds of Boys” and executive director of the Colorado Springs-based educator training center Gurian Institute. “Developmentally, that’s not where kids are, and what you end up doing is making them hate school.”

Sheesh. I see the point of this debate, and I understand why it’s an important decision in the life of a child. But then again, it’s only one of MANY important decisions in the life of a child, and how does a parent really know which choices are really going to effect their future and which were rather incosequential in hindsight? How do you judge your child’s academic and social development in an unbiased manner? The article gives this advice:

• Birth date. When does your child’s birthday fall? Will he or she be one of the youngest or one of the oldest in class?
• Gender. Boy or girl? Boys are redshirted more often than girls because girls tend to be ready earlier - but not always.
• Size. Is your child big or little for his or her age? Do you think athletics or bullying could be a problem?
• Patience. Is your child ready to sit still in a desk?
• Literacy. Is your child ready to read and write? Consider not only concentration and focus, but the fine motor skill of holding a pencil.
• Social skills. How mature is your child in terms of social and emotional development? Can they comfortably carry on a conversation with an adult, understand rules, share with other kids and balance kindness with forcefulness?
• School environment. What percentage of kids at your school enter kindergarten at age 6 or age 4? Would your kid be the only one?
• Stimulation. Can you offer your child a stimulating environment if he/she does stay home an extra year? Educators say you should read to them, talk with them, take them on trips to the zoo, to museums, to farms or garden centers or nature walks. Consider how you can enrich their brains every day with new experiences. If that’s not possible, perhaps school is a better place for them.
• Milestones: Can your child write his or her name, recite his or her address, sit for long periods and communicate well with friends?

But even this advice seems rather gray rather than black and white. It’s still all opinion and hypothesis.

So how did you decide whether your child was ready? Was there one thing that pushed you over the edge either way? Or if your child is younger, when the time comes, what do you think you’ll be looking for? Do you think this choice is as monumental as it’s made out to be in parents’ minds?

*I’ll say this, as a birthday-cut-off casualty, I was always one of the oldest, and I don’t think it radically changed my future. One the one side, I was the first to do things like get my driver’s license. On the other side, hitting puberty before most of the other girls did, well, I’m sure you can imagine those red-faced years. A mixed bag, really, like all school experiences.*

The El Paso County Fair

Running through July 26 at the El Paso County Fairgrounds, Calhan
See rodeo events, shows, tricks performed by animals, a petting zoo and more. Go online to www.elpasocountyfair.com for details on admission and the complete lineup of entertaining events, or check out this great article in The Gazette for a complete rundown.

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All weekend

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Pikes Peak Highway, Cascade
The 86th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a race to the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak between approximately 150 drivers. Tickets are $40 for general admission and $80 for VIP admission, and can be purchased through www.ticketswest.com, King Soopers locations, the Pikes Peak Center, the Colorado Springs World Arena and The Citadel mall. Click www.ppihc.com for more information.

Teddy Bear Days
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Kids who bring a favorite stuffed animal to this event receive $1 admission and enjoy a teddy bear clinic, face painting and a special bear show with Digger and Emmitt, the zoo’s new grizzlies. Admission is $14.25 for adults, $12.25 for seniors, $7.25 for kids 3-11, and free for kids younger than 3 and members. Call 633-9925 or visit www.cmzoo.org for details.

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Saturday

6th Annual CARE Fair
Peak Vista Community Health Center
The Junior League of Colorado Springs hosts this free health fair for uninsured and under-insured kids, with back-to-school physicals, free school supplies and haircuts, and health screenings. Details: 650-4089, 440-7779 or www.jlcoloradosprings.org.

Tipi Raising and Ute Heritage Workshop
Helen Hunt Visitors Center, North Cheyenne Cañon Park
A challenging hike to transport and set up a tipi and learn from local Ute Elders for kids ages 8 and older with an adult. Participation is $8 per person and reservations are required: 385-6086.

Take, for instance, skin pigmentation. Every once in a while (say, one in a million births), a baby can be born with incredibly different pigmentation that its parents or siblings. White parents can give birth to a baby with skin as dark as their darkest ancestor, and vice versa. But the most visibly odd example lies in twins.

This is Ryan and Leo Gerth, born on July 11 in Germany. Ryan has light skin and blue eyes. Leo is dark-skinned with brown eyes. (Click on the above picture to begin a video in another screen.)

“None of us could believe it,” the maternity ward’s head doctor, Birgit Weber, told one news source. “Both kids have definitely the same father.”

Stephan Gerth is German and white. His wife, Florence Addo-Gerth, is from Ghana and has dark skin.

It was “a real surprise,” Gerth told the German newspaper Die Welt, adding that the most important thing to him isn’t color, but that everyone is healthy.

Check out the whole article for examples of other twins with extremely different pigmentation.

Congrats to the Ultimate Frisbee team of CIVA (Character, Integrity, Vision and the Arts) charter school in District 11, who placed 10th out of 32 teams at the state competition — and it’s only their first year in existence. Great job, guys! (Photo by Kirk Speer, The Gazette.)

While it may seem odd that a school focused mostly on the arts is tackling athletics, apparently such co-mingling is increasingly popular and effective in local charter schools, according to an article in today’s Gazette. For instance, District 20’s Discovery Canyon has offered sports for only one school year, had its first state champion in wrestler Nick Adams and had 102 out of its 121 students participate in athletics. Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy began with cross country and is expanding to basketball and track this year.

The Vanguard School, another charter, has a budget for athletics of $75,000 a year.

“We wouldn’t be able to attract students or sustain the high school without offering activities,” said (Vanguard) athletic director Dina Fuqua. “It’s not always about the books.”

Yet another example of schools taking a real interest in creating well-rounded students, an educational attitude I really respect in a world increasingly driven by CSAP scores.

Want to try your hand at Ultimate Frisbee, or does your student want to practice up for next year’s team? Check out the Widefield Disc Golf Course at Widefield Community Park, 1330 Fontaine Blvd. It’s a free 18-hole disc golf course that has played host to the largest disc tournament in the history of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Disc Golf Championships, and offers alternatives for every skill level. Find out more about Ultimate Frisbee and rules through the Pikes Peak Flying Disc Club at www.ppfdc.com.

Skysox versus Grizzlies
July 11-14, Security Service Field
See our local Sox take on the Fresno Grizzlies with various promotions throughout the weekend, including fireworks on Friday, a used-car giveaway on Saturday and 50-cent hot dogs on Sunday. Tickets are $8-$11, and are available by calling 591-7699 or visiting www.skysox.com. (Photo by Kevin Kreck, The Gazette.)

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Through the weekend

68th Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
Through July 12, Norris Penrose Event Center
You can “break from the herd” at this weekend rodeo, which boasts events like steer wrestling, bareback bronco riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, team roping and wild-cow milking. Tickets for adults are $10-$15  ($12-$17 for the Saturday evening rodeo) and $5-$7.50 for kids younger than 12 (also $12-$17 on Saturday night) for grandstand seating. Box and Loge seating is $25-$29. For tickets, call 520-SHOW or visit www.ticketswest.com. For details, click www.coloradospringsrodeo.com.

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Today/Friday

YMCA Family Challenge
Downtown Family YMCA
Prove your family makes the best team in this free “American Gladiator” meets “My Dad is Better Than Your Dad” competition, which includes trivia and fitness challenges. Call 473-9622 for details.

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Saturday

8th Annual Cycle for SET & Healthy Lifestyles Fair
Monument Valley Park
A non-competitive bike ride with various routes, a health fair, a decorated bike and helmet contest, and a walk to benefit SET Family Medical Clinics. Participation is $10 for ages 13 and older for the walk and $20 for the fun ride; kids younger than 13 free. For information, call 776-8850 or visit www.setofcs.org.

Crawdad Fishing
Fountain Creek Nature Center
Learn about these “freshwater lobsters,” hike to a pond and do some catch-and-release fishing. Bait and string are provided. Participation is $4 per person and reservations are required: 520-6745.

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Sunday

Pikes Peak Young Composers Concert
Packard Hall, Colorado College
This free concert is the culmination of the Pikes Peak Young Composers Workshop July 9-13 and features original music written and performed by the talented young musicians. Visit www.pikespeakyoungcomposers.org for more information.

The free parade celebrates the beginning of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, which runs July 9-12. Tickets for events throughout the week are $10-$29 for adults and $5-$17 for kids, depending on seat selection and day, although kids get is for only $1 for the Saturday matinee.

But remember, the parade is FREE family fun, and even though its a weeknight, you should still be in by most bed times.

For more information, call 635-3547 or visit www.coloradospringsrodeo.com.

I mean that the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Pikes Peak Region, of which I am a part (click here to read about my experiences as a big sister), are calling on the males of our community to be mentors. Right now, there are about 50 boys who want a Big Brother but haven’t yet been matched, and matching boys with mentors can take up to a year.

Click on the picture of the adorable little boy below to view a KKTV video from yesterday’s newscast about the call for volunteers:

Who wouldn’t want to volunteer to help Scott, or a young boy just like him? Remember, after 18 months of spending time with their “bigs,” little brothers and little sisters were:

- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 37% less likely to skip a class
- 33% less likely to hit someone

Visit www.biglittlecolorado.org/pikespeak for more information on how you can get involved with this fantastic non-profit and change the life of a young child.

Hoskins wrote: The program enforces the message that you never outgrow your need to play outside, says (Nancy) Bernard (interpretive specialist at FCNC). The idea is to “restore the bond between children and nature,” she says … Spending time in nature stimulates the senses and the imagination. It means actively doing, not just passively watching, says Bernard.

And according to a press release I just received, how right Bernard was. Not that we doubted her, of course. Children were inspired, especially 10-year-old Andie Turner, who wrote a poem about her outdoor experiences during a Nature Camp conducted by El Paso County Parks at Fox Run Park:

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Nature Spot

The running sound of water
With the click-click of bugs,
Make my strong love to this place
Like a rope that I can’t tug.
The soft buzz of passing bees
And cries of birds so high
Keep me close to this spot
Like an undoable tie.
I can’t seem to figure out
Why this forest is so grand,
Is it the feeling of free or swaying trees
That I touch gently with a hand?
My eyes just seem to wander off
As I go to and fro,
Looking up the valley
I’ll cry when I must go.
Oh, may it always be here.
This beautiful natural place,
I now sit up and say goodbye,
But there is water trickling down my face.

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How great that Andie was so inspired by the great outdoors! If you’d like to share in the inspiration, take part in one of FCNC’s or BCNC’s many programs, or just drop by to take a hike around. Of course, we have lots of outdoor spaces right in our own backyard. That’s one of the reason so many of us love Colorado Springs. Where is your family’s favorite outdoor hangout?