Relationship Between Children, Dogs Topic of Kent State Study

Families needed for psychology department research project

How children relate to their pet dogs is the topic of a study by researchers in Kent State University's Department of Psychology. Professor Kathy Kerns is leading the study, in which researchers are trying to determine how a child's relationship to their pet dog relates to their connections with other people and how they adjust as they grow. Kerns said the study is part of a grant from the National Institute of Health to examine how pet relationships fit in with other kinds of relationships children have. "So do they provide support?" she said. "Are they particularly important for kids who may be having difficulties in their human relationships? The studies that are out there have sort of looked at pet relationships in isolation, so we don…

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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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Piano, Folk Music Fills Kent Library

Young pianists and a five-piece folk band made a little noise in the library this weekend

At least twice a year Sarah Wilsman, Children's Department Manager at Kent Free Library, orchestrates a concert for young musicians. Usually, there's a piano concert in the fall and a performance for instruments of the musician's choosing in the spring. The concerts are open to performers ages 17 and under. On Saturday, the Open Piano Concert featured 11 children. About 40 people were in attendance to hear the performances. The youngest pianist was 5 years old. Wilsman encouraged each performer to introduce him- or herself and to announce the name of the songs they would play. At the end of the concert, Wilsman congratulated everyone for a job well done. The performers, in order of appearance, were Clara MacPherson, Megan Moser, Dawson …

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WATCH: Annual Halloween Parade by St. Patrick School

Students marched around downtown Kent Friday to celebrate Halloween

Folks in downtown Kent Friday afternoon got a special treat from the students at St. Patrick School, who marched in the school's annual Halloween parade.

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Moms Q&A: Summer Activities

Our Kent Patch Moms Council members offer up suggestions for summer activities

Ah, summer. It's that time of year when children have few worldly responsibilities and are free to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. That doesn't mean you have nothing to keep the young ones occupied. There are so many options to choose from, including youth sports, one of many vacation bible schools, swimming (or canoe or kayak) lessons, music lessons, hiking and biking, (gasp) summer course work at Kent State or just visiting a park. Alas, some times children can run out of things to do — even in Kent. And you know the old saying: idle hands are the devil's playthings. So if you think none of those aforementioned options would pique your child's curiosity, pay attention. Our Kent Patch Moms Council members have some suggestions for …

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Maureen Drinkard

12:04 pm on Friday, June 17, 2011

There are SO MANY GREAT BOOKS!! I have one called Unplugged Play that the kids treat like a menu in the summer. Its sorted by age group but I find that my kids modify everything anyways (mine are 12, 8 and nearly 3). It includes everything you could imagine - games, crafts, songs, etc, etc. Maureen   more ›

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Children's Art Program Explores Connections of the World

Kent State youth art program held weekly

The art enrichment program for children between ages 4 and 14 at Kent State University explores all the connections of the world — big and small. Throughout the course of this program, sponsored by the Kent State Office of Continuing and Distance Education, children create works of art reflecting the connections of our direct environment to the world around us. The art also depicts experiences from all our worlds. For more information on this program, check out our Kent Patch event listing.

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