Are 'The Hunger Games' Appropriate for Your Child?

Librarians, educators weigh in on popular young adult book series turned movie

It's hard not to be aware of The Hunger Games, the popular young-adult novel turned movie, and that goes doubly for youngsters. Young children — maybe too young — are latching on to the books, which depict violent scenes of teenagers killing other teens. It sounds incredibly violent when taken out of context, but within the pages of the book the imagery is justified and clearly winning praise from readers old and young. One wonders, though: how young is too young for a child to experience such scenes? Sarah Wilsman, manager of youth services at the Kent Free Library, read the trilogy before her 15-year-old daughter started the first book, The Hunger Games. Now Wilsman is waiting for her daughter to finish the book before going together to …

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Breakfast with Santa a Holiday Treat

Santa stopped by Avon East to have breakfast and meet Avon's youngsters, courtesy of the Avon Early Childhood PTA.

That Santa fella sure is busy this time of year. Saturday he was at Avon East Elementary School for the Avon Early Childhood Parent Teacher Association’s Breakfast with Santa, an annual fundraiser that usually yields about 700 Santa-seers, said ECPTA member Mariko Weaver “We probably raise between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars,” said Weaver, who co-chairs the event with Jen Williams. “At the end of the year, the ECPTA gets together and donates whatever money we have left to local charities.” Did you bring your child to meet Santa? Share your photos here! The event featured a continental breakfast, a crafts room for kids to color sun catchers and mail letters to Santa, a raffle of 30 items donated from area businesses, musical entertainment …

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Avon Lake Library: Register for Minute to Win It, Splash and Dash

Register now for the upcoming weeks' activities

Library Closed Avon Lake Public Library will be closed Monday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Jr. Tree House Club – Masks Around the World Take a trip around the world of masks and make a mask of your own, Tuesday, July 5 from 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. For ages 6 and 7.  Registration begins June 29 in DiscoveryWorks or by calling 440-933-7848. Splash ‘n Dash Make a splash with stories, games, a craft and food on Wednesday, July 6 from 11 a.m. – noon. Meet in the Children’s department and dress for water games. For ages 7 – 10. Registration begins June 29 in the Children’s Department or by calling 440-933-8128 x 253. Minute to Win It! You’ve got only 60 seconds on the clock to complete our challenges using household items.  Think you …

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Police Blotter: DUI, Threats and Naughty Kids

The following arrest information was supplied by the Avon police department. It does not indicate a conviction.

A 38-year-old man was arrested for DUI on June 13. Avon police spotted Dennis Claycomb, address unknown, over around 9:18 p.m. as he was driving his motorcycle on Miller Road. He was pulled over in Avon Lake and arrested. Creepy A Churchill Drive woman was threatened in a phone call from a man on June 14. When she called the number back, he insisted she had the wrong number, got mad, and began hurling accusations at the woman. He claimed that he was an Elyria police officer named Charlie Adamson and that he was “coming over there.” He never showed.  The woman reported the call to Avon police Vroom! Three boys riding ATVs to go fishing at a pond near Avon High School on June 13 were warned about driving them safely and told to stay off …

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'Stop Arguing With Us' and 7 Other Childspeak Translations

Why do directives to children go in one ear and come out completely different out of the other?

“Do as I say, not as you hear” What is it about a young child’s thought processing that so distorts what adults say to them? During an admittedly angry discipline discussion, we were punishing one of the older boys for biting his brother. He didn’t understand why we were so upset – aside from the obvious biting incident itself. “You’re too old to be biting anyone. You know better!” we said. “We’d be this angry with your sister if she bit someone and she’s 5.” Somehow, by the time this bit of conversation when through our son’s brain, it came out the other side as us calling him a baby.  I know people of any age can listen to the same conversation and hear different things but they generally agree about the gist of the content. Kids often …

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Parenting Peaks and Pitfalls

Facebook and YouTube: When Are Kids Old Enough?

What do you think? At what age should kids get their own Facebook accounts and have access to YouTube?

The Internet has been in our home for many years but our children were only interested in looking at pictures of the family I’d downloaded or playing at one of the kid-friendly tie-in web sites for various children’s TV shows. When our niece turned 13 she was able to get a Facebook page. Our kids are aware of Facebook because my husband and I both have accounts and play various games on the site. Our oldest, Ryan, loves the chat feature because he can talk to Grandma who is also on Facebook. The problems started about a year ago. A number of Ryan’s friends are allowed on various sites we’ve put on the “Forbidden for Now” list like YouTube. There are, of course, lots of age appropriate videos – my kids are fans of the kittens and puppies …

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