More Lifestyles category, Page 42

In 1972, a Stanford University psychologist conducted a study in which young children, individually, were offered either a small but immediate reward (a marshmallow or a pretzel) or a doubled reward if they were able to wait for 15 minutes. In follow-up studies, researchers found that children who were able...

Like sports and art camps, vacation Bible schools are a big draw for children during the summer. “It’s a major program for us,” says Rachel King, youth coordinator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hempfield’s West Point section. “Most churches do a vacation Bible school, and a lot of kids...

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and MuseumLab will offer 10 weeks of virtual summer camps and studios for children ages 3-13. Registration is open for Summer Camps @ Home and Summer Studios @ Home, week-long programs starting June 15. Each week will focus on a different theme and learning goals. Camp...

The folks at Mattel did their part to lighten the mood for children and support frontline workers in the fight against covid-19. Earlier this month, the company introduced its #ThankYouHeroes Barbie program. For every career doll sold between May 14-17, Mattel donated a doll to the First Responders Children’s Foundation....

Sheetz is going one better on the classic summer combination of a hot dog and a cold brew. The Altoona-based convenience store chain has announced the release of Project Hop Dog, a new, limited-edition craft beer brewed in partnership with Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. of Bucks County. “Now available at...

I have come up with a new psychological diagnosis, one that I won’t, however, be submitting for approval to the powers that be: simply, odd. My “odd” is to be distinguished from ODD, the acronym for oppositional defiant disorder, an invention that enables mental health professionals to obtain payment from...

For Tim Roth of Hempfield, selling his artwork at area fairs and festivals is a hobby. The cancellation of this summer’s events won’t break his budget. But things are different for Grace McCracken of Carnegie, who left her day job in 2016 to produce and market her charcoal drawings full-time....

The Greensburg Night Market will go on as planned this summer, with the first of five monthly events pushed back one month to June 25 on South Pennsylvania Avenue behind the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Safety accommodations, including hand sanitizing stations, no product sampling and social distancing practices, will be in...

Psychologist B.F. Skinner, the formulator of behavior modification theory, was attempting to prove that the same principles that govern the behavior of amoeba, planaria, rats, dogs and monkeys also govern the behavior of human beings. A very Darwinian proposition, indeed. What my graduate school professors conveniently “forgot” to tell me:...

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is seeking volunteers to assist with planting some of its Pittsburgh and Allegheny County community flower gardens. “Healthy people of all ages who want to get outdoors and help beautify local communities can sign up now to volunteer through mid-June,” the Conservancy says. “To prevent the...

While your cat might have resented your recent work-from-home schedule, chances are your dog loved it. Dogs love having their owners around. While science disputes the notion that dogs are true pack animals, no one denies that most dogs are pretty sociable. More time at home for you means more...

Though an opening date for this year has not been set, Idlewild & SoakZone has announced that it will extend all 2020 season passes through the entire 2021 summer season. Dining passes and other perks also be extended at the Ligonier Township amusement park. The 2020 season passes that include...

Editor’s note: This event is now at maximum capacity. Another Pop-Up Studio is set for June 24, with a project to be announced. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host its first digital Pop-Up Studio on May 27, inviting participants to create their own explosion gift box photo albums....

The biggest problem in the life of today’s all-too typical mother is herself. She is her own worst enemy. Them’s fightin’ words, I know, but please, hold the tomatoes and other vegetables and bear with me. One of the doctrines of the Good Mommy Club, the evil sisterhood to which...

Although its doors have been closed during the pandemic, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is taking orders for native plants from its nurseries and bird seed that it will deliver to area homes. Audubon offers more than 70 species of native plants that attract birds, butterflies and a range...

NEW YORK — Love in the age of coronavirus sometimes requires a lawn. Couples with dashed wedding plans due to lockdown restrictions have been tying the knot on those tidy green spreads instead, including at least one loaner. Danielle Cartaxo and Ryan Cignarella were supposed to get married in West...

Mother’s Day is the final day to register for more than 50 online courses Penn State Extension is offering to the public at no cost, to help families and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Topics of the courses, which normally require a fee, include healthy meals, food safety, gardening tips,...

Greensburg Garden Center is selling a variety of perennials that originally were intended for sale at the annual May Mart, canceled this year due to the covid-19 quarantine. Plants ordered by Friday will be available for pickup from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 12 and 13 in the garden at the...

The good news is that, even though you can’t take Mom out to eat on Sunday, you still can treat her to a special Mother’s Day meal. The better news is that you don’t have to cook it yourself. Restaurants around the area are offering a variety of takeout brunch...

This past Saturday would have been Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s annual Spring Hat Luncheon. The event not only has an attendance roster of 600 of Pittsburgh’s fashionable who’s who, it raises more than a half-million much-needed dollars for the nonprofit. With the covid-19 pandemic, the luncheon didn’t go off as scheduled...

“No rational person would argue that the smaller the class size, the better, right?” asked the radio talk show host. “I think I’m a rational person,” I said, “and I can offer proof that smaller class size propaganda is nothing but, well, propaganda. Small classes are overrated. Individual attention is...