Lifestyles

With almost half of marriages ending in divorce, if kids haven't experienced one, chances are, they have a friend who has. Divorce can be a perplexing and difficult situation for the entire family, and for many preteens and teens, it might seem that there are more questions than answers.

First published in 1997 by teen authors Zoe and Evan Stern with some help from their mother, author and lecturer Ellen Sue Stern, "Divorce Is Not the End of the World" offers kids guidance and encouragement on topics such as dealing with anger and guilt, adjusting to different schedules at different houses and coping with parents who date or remarry.

Zoe and Evan answer questions from kids and offer tips based on their experience as children of divorce. Now, as adults, the siblings have enriched the text with additional looking back updates that offer an informed hindsight perspective as well as a list of Web resources for kids and parents.

The new 112-page paperback is available for $9.95 at stores or online.

Comprehensive eye exam recommended for students

The American Optometric Association and Pennsylvania Optometric Association remind parents a comprehensive eye examination for students is one of the most important "to-dos" now that children are back to school.

"Many parents rely on vision examinations in school to check for eye problems, but that isn't enough" says Dr. Leonard Press, the association's vision and learning specialist. Vision screenings are not diagnostic, and, therefore, typically identify only a small portion of the vision problems.

Parents should be aware of symptoms that might indicate that a child has a vision or visual-processing problem, including: loses place while reading, avoids close work, holds reading material closer than normal, tends to rub his or her eyes, has headaches, turns or tilts head to use one eye only, makes frequent reversals when reading or writing; uses finger to maintain place when reading, omits or confuses small words, consistently performs below potential.

According to the American Eye-Q survey, studies indicate that 60 percent of children identified as "problem learners" actually suffer from undetected vision problems. The longer a vision problem goes undiagnosed and untreated, the more a child's brain has to overcompensate to live with the vision problem, instead of developing and learning normally, Press says. For more information about children's vision, visit online.

Peanut butter contest can net scholarships

Kids can earn as much as $25,000 for college through peanut butter. The Seventh Annual "Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest," where entrants ages 6 through 12 can submit their recipes for peanut butter sandwiches, will bring five finalists to New York City for judging. The grand-prize winner will get a $25,000 scholarship fund, and four runners-up will receive $2,500 for college.

Entry forms are available online, and will be accepted through Nov. 14. Jif also is sponsoring a "Jif Moms Voice Their Choice" contest, where moms can write as many as 250 words about how they make the best choices for their families.

ParentWISE sponsors classes for dads

The ParentWISE program of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania will offer a series of parenting courses and workshops during the next few months. The classes include "Dr. Dad," which teaches fathers how to care for sick children, along with "Parenting Your Adolescent" and "Building Your Family." Tuition ranges from $15-$75, or goes on a sliding scale depending on ability to pay. Details: 724-837-5410 or online.

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