In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, which takes place May 2-6 and celebrates the accomplishments and efforts of teachers, Northeast Ohio Parent spoke with regional educators to find and honor some local teachers who are doing something extra special for their school and students.

It’s Better Hearing and Speech month from the American Speech Language Hearing Association — a good time to gain awareness about communication disorders. Since everyone uses their devices or talks in noisy environments where they need to raise their voices, Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center offers information to help you understand the impact these scenarios have on your hearing and voice.

Visit Eton on Chagrin Blvd in Woodmere this summer season for a free, family-friendly event with fun and interactive activities targeted for kids ages 2 to 9. The event is sponsored by Lawrence School and brought to you by Northeast Ohio Parent magazine. The first 250 families to register, which opens on May 3, qualify for a free Eton Explorers T-shirt.

Old Trail School’s Summer Camp (S’Camp) is returning for another great summer filled with sun, fun, friends and nonstop activities in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Camp begins on Monday, June 6, and runs through Friday, July 29, with 150-plus options for children (toddler to age 15).

Adventurers ages 8-14, can be found kayaking the Cuyahoga, rigging a rocket, making their own movie, jewelry making, swimming, cooking and much, much more. For parents, the full-day schedule is convenient. For kids, 
it’s unforgettable. Weekly sessions from June 13 - July 22.

While it’s typical to have a rosy perspective on experiences after the child arrives, it’s not always perfect — or even happy. The “baby blues” and postpartum depression can happen. Families, friends and new moms need to know the signs.

Welcoming a new baby into the world is a time full of emotions — joy, excitement and perhaps even a little anxiety. To some, the first year can seem even more challenging the second time around. Now, you’ve got a new baby and their older sibling to care for. How do you manage all of their needs at once? Here is some advice from parenting experts, as well as experienced parents themselves, on how to survive the first year — again.

Come to a program that encourages young readers by letting them borrow a fuzzy friend. Paws to Read pairs children with trained therapy dogs who provide a supportive ear. It’s open to any kid who can read independently between the ages of 6 and 12.

Most schools would agree that keeping parents and students connected to day-to-day activities in and out of the classroom is important. With modern technology, effective communication is becoming increasingly more convenient.

"Mom, I wa- wa- wa- want some juice,” is something you might hear your preschooler or older child say. Stuttering — repetition of words or other parts of speech — is something many children experience during their developmental years. While some might outgrow this pattern of speech, others might need extra help to get a handle on how they talk.