MetroFamily proudly provides you the best parenting resources in Central Oklahoma and the following Extracurricular Activities Guide is no exception. Activities are divided into three categories, Sports, Arts and Enrichment.

“Where did the summer go?” Are you hearing that in your house, too? Yes, it’s time to think about getting the kids ready to head back to school. Are your child’s immunizations up to date? Does he need new glasses? What time should she go to bed? Should he bring a cell phone to school for safety? We’ve rounded up expert advice on all this and more. Read on and you’ll be ready for the big day!

VSP® Vision Care and Prevent Blindness America announced today the results of their joint nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 participants. The study revealed more than one in five 12 to 17-year-olds have difficulty seeing the classroom whiteboard/chalkboard, with more than one in four complaining of headaches. These complaints are noted even though nearly half (45 percent) of the children in this age group reported wearing some type of prescription eyewear.

For many families, sending children back to school in the fall can be a challenging transition. “As the mother of three kids, I can tell you that the pace and schedule of the summer is hard to leave behind,” says Susan Fletcher, a nationally-known psychologist, author and speaker from Plano, Texas. “Going back to school means you have to be on a schedule, and most of the time there is little flexibility to fi t it all in.”The author of Parenting in the Smart Zone, Fletcher believes the cornerstone of being a successful parent is knowing what you expect from yourself, your own philosophies and goals. Beyond that, she says that if you want to stay in the “Smart Zone,” you have to be able to adjust to whatever life tosses your way.

School bells are about to ring, and changing from the relaxed mode of summer to a school  program can be as harrying as jet leg for the long distance traveler. But not to worry…there are a few simple steps that can help your family make the change like seasoned pros.

Our monthly giveaway this month includes several books from the Tate Publishing company, a Christian-based, family-owned, mainline publishing organization with a mission to discover and market unknown authors.

The answer to the questions about whether your child should be enrolled in extracurricular activities always begins with “it depends.” It depends on your child’s temperament, any special needs, available time and financial resources and a whole host of other factors unique to your child. Before choosing an activity, consider the following Commitment, Quantity and Quality (CQQ) questions: