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Do we take it for granted that there will be kids dropping out of high school? Ask a superintendent what their system's drop out rate is and they recite it from memory. In contrast, a South Korean principal immediately becomes offended and claims their students don't drop out. USA Today reports today that South Korea has a 93% graduation rate. What's the difference? Maybe just that, we take it for granted that it's a fact of life kids will drop out. But dropping out of school is detrimental to the kid who does it as well as society as a whole.  Kids who drop out are 72% more likely to face unemployment and earn 27% less than high school grads.

Of course, the first step in stemming the drop out rate begins at home. Parents who view education as important will pass that value on to their kids, and will also be involved during their child's entire school career, communicating with teachers and providing appropriate resources.

But not every child has that type of home life. Luckily, officials in both Guilford and Forsyth county are making tackling the drop out rate a priority. And by focusing on the importance of education it will only serve to make our schools better for all kids. Mo Green, the new superintendent of Guilford County Schools, has announced that drop out prevention is one of his first priorities. Kenneth Simington of WS/Forsyth County Schools recently reported on various drop out prevention programs.

Here are some of the cool programs currently going on:

The YWCA in Winston teamed up with STRIDES and Carver HS this summer for an internship program aimed at at-risk kids to promote positive behaviors.

Smith HS is teaming up with mentors from neighboring Ebenezer Church.

Guilford County Schools implemented a drop out coach program.

You can make a difference too. Volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister, become a mentor, and just be a good role model. It will make a difference in all of our futures.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports this morning that after the end of this year, the interactive children's museum at Old Salem will be closing its doors. It's only been open since 1998, but those few years have made it a part of the city's life near and dear to the hearts of many parents. Luckily, most of the exhibit will be moved a few blocks up the road to the Winston-Salem Children's Museum.

We're lucky to have in our area two great children's museums, the one in Winston and also the Greensboro Children's Museum. But there are also plenty of ways to get your kids involved in some living history. Head out to the High Point Museum and Historic Park on weekends to take part in Pastimes in the Park, where you get a chance to watch interpreters perform tasks such as blacksmithing and candlemaking, and even try your hand at some of the activities.

And if you're up for a daytrip, there are some living history museums not too far from home. Check out the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village in Mint Hill, or the Hickory Ridge Village at Horn in the West in Boone.

It might seem like a stretch for our kids, who are so used to texting and playing Wii, to spend an afternoon away from technology and imagine life over 100 years ago. But thanks to the living history museums, where you get to dress up and get immersed in the way of life, it makes learning about history fun.

What should kids be learning in preschool? It turns out, it should be a mix of academics and socialization, according to a study done at Penn State University. Something that seems common sense to any parents who have looked at different preschools to try to find one right for your child. Rather than sitting at desks all day, most preschools have kids at play centers, sharing toys at a sand table and talking about show and tell at circle time. But our kids are learning important lessons during all these activities, from how to get along with others to practicing self control.

Preschool age is the optimal time to teach children self control and other social skills. And while a lot of it is done through school and play groups, it is also done at home through parenting and nurturing. Parenting Science offers some tips for teaching preschool social skills at home. And KidsHealth.org has good advice on how kids learn self control at different stages of development.

If you happen to be looking for a good preschool to enroll your kids in, PiedmontParent.com is a great resource. Check out our preschool directory for a comprehensive list of area preschools. And you can read up on the subject with our articles, More at Four: North Carolina's Preschool Program and More Than Just the ABCs: The Benefits of Preschool.

I was in Wal-Mart this week and noticed Christmas music playing in the store. I couldn't believe it had already started, but someone corrected me and said they started playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. Which makes me wonder, what is the holiday season anymore? Is it the period from Thanksgiving to New Year's, or does it now start pre-Halloween?

For many of us in the Triad, the holiday season starts with the Community Theatre of Greensboro's annual production of The Wizard of Oz, and that beloved play begins this weekend. And for some of us, the Christmas shopping has already started. Whether you're out there taking advantage of great sales or just compiling your list and letting the kids circle their wishes in the Wal-Mart toy book, this weekend will probably mean some shopping for many of us parents.

Before you head out, check out our Holiday Gift Guide. We've published NAPPA's award-winning products for toys, DVDs and audiobooks. And for some other cool ideas check out the new Web site, ModernMommyGear.com, started by a woman on bedrest during her first pregnancy who decided there needed to be one convenient place to get baby gear, clothes, diapers, toys and more for people looking for eco-responsible products.

This week we celebrated Veteran's Day with heartfelt parades and special ceremonies around the area to thank our veterans for all they've done. But at Stokes Family YMCA, Misty Cummings decided to use the day to remember the soldiers who are in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for us now. She organized a card-making project because she knows how hard it was on her family when her dad was deployed.

With National Guard and Reserves units in our area, many more people that we know will be missing a loved one during the upcoming holiday season. But there are a lot of ways to help, and getting kids involved is a great way to boost the spirits of troops overseas. Organize a letter writing or card making project, get your church to help make care boxes, or even just do a couple with your kids. The soldiers will love it, and it's a great conversation starter for kids. Who knows, you might even get something cool in return. When my husband was a single soldier stationed in Croatia, he would write back to the school kids who sent him letters and stuff the letters with Croatian money and other neat little things.

For ideas on what to send and help getting packages into soldiers hands, check out these sites:

AnySoldier.com

Love Boxes for Our Troops

Treats for Troops