SEPT. 2013 ~ÛÝÛLivingston Parent Journal ÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛ
Emily Whittaker Class of 2018 Involved in Cross Country, Basketball and Art Honors Society “At Kensington Woods, I feel safe. Everybody knows each other and gets along.”
Kensington Woods High School offers students in grades 7-12 a small, personal, college-prep education. Students have the support they need to excel in school by exploring content in an engaging, relevant and innovative way with passionate teachers. Kensington Woods offers: . . . . . .
Small class sizes College-prep curriculum with high expectations Subject-area integrated classes Accessible, supportive faculty AP classes & college dual enrollment Character education
. . . . . .
Safe and orderly environment College planning & advising Advanced art & foreign language Extracurriculars and athletics No hassle transfer system Fully accredited, state funded & tuition-free
Now enrolling 7th-12th grades for fall
www.kwoods.org . 517.545.0828 . On the Campus of Cleary University . 3700 Cleary Drive, Howell
Visit www.kwoods.org for more information or call 517-545-0828 to schedule an appointment and personal tour with our counselor.
ÛÝÛLivingston Parent Journal ÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛ
Features... An Independent local publication.
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Livingston Parent Journal is to share worthwhile information with area parents by listing family-oriented events, educational opportunities for parents, and by providing feature articles and tips on topics relevant to raising children of all ages.
SEPTEMBER 2013
7
8
Back to School Butteries
Mean Girls
— EDITOR/ PUBLISHER — Rick & Terri McGarry —WRITERS— Haley Kilpatrick Don MacMannis, Ph.D. Debra Manchester MacMannis, MSW Katrina K. Wilson —PHOTOS— Cover Photo by A Moment to Remember Photography amoment2rememberphoto.com — GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT —
Mindy Simon
17
Awesome Autumn Activities
In every issue...
Biting Toddlers
21
Off The Wall ..................................................................... 6 Events......................................................................... 11-14 Ongoing Resources .................................................. 15-16 ClassiďŹ eds ....................................................................... 22
The Livingston Parent Journal does not necessarily endorse the views of the authors or the products of the advertisers. Medical and health advice is not intended to replace the care of a physician. Member of
0/ "OX s &OWLERVILLE -) INFO LIVINGSTONPARENTJOURNAL COM WWW ,IVINGSTON0ARENT*OURNAL COM ,IVINGSTON0ARENT*OURNAL 7ORDPRESS COM
866.806.1680 Š December 2012 All rights reserved.
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From The
LPJ
Our
Family to
Yours.
Dear Friends, If your children celebrate their birthday annually, and you missed the Party Planner last month, it is still available on our website to help make your kid’s birthday fabulous. We should also mention that we do archive our back issues, and that the links to those are also available at LivingstonParentJournal.com. Even with many kids going back to school, the family fun does not stop in Livingston County, so be sure to check out our calendar of events on page 11. As an added bonus, look on page 17 for information about corn mazes, fall festivals, fall color tours and other local Autumn adventures.
Every October we publish our Prenatal and Baby Guide, so be watching for that next month. We expect to include plenty of information that will be very useful to new and expecting moms, so if that’s not you, pick up a copy for a friend.
Finally, a word to all parents reading this: Take courage. This magazine should serve as a reminder to you that you are not alone.
We are all in this together. In between issues, as always, we encourage you to connect with us on Facebook or send us your email to subscribe to our weekly events newsletter. Email info@livingstonparentjournal.com to request your free subscription.
September Happy Birthdays!
We are always looking for more sponsors for the Birthday Club. Email rick@livingstonparentjournal.com or call 866.806.1680 for details. Kids! Join our Birthday Club and we’ll send you a special treat and let everyone know it’s your special day! Send your child’s date of birth to birhtdays@livingstonparentjournal.com
01 Sheila Beane 02 Cosmo Keegan DeLuca 03 Rachel Hund Isabelle Berendt-Pomnitz Prudence Atkins Ava Elisabeth Warren Brayden Arnold 05 Jasmin Jelati Lucas Lamberjack Emily Thompson 06 Sienna Bolton 07 Mikenzie Massey 09 Charlie Nitz 10 Gryphon Mayes 11 Rylee Phillips 12 Evan Nitz Alyssa Cotter Joshua Porter Claire Blauer
109 West Grand River, Howell 517.579.2206
13 Ashley Hansen Cole Conners Shelby Hansen 14 Alaina Pierson Taylor Gamble Carter Gilbert Ashleah Jewell 15 Cameron Phillips Kyleigh Combs Amilia Soriano 16 Nicholas Kafkakis 17 Jeanna Schmanski Reese Schmanski 18 Kylie Porter Ella Zaborowski 19 Ethan Kwek 21 Jaden S. Hartwick 22 Andrew Kafkakis 23 Kaiden Buesing
Homemade Chocolate 129 E. Grand River. Fowlerville 517.223.1322
25 Evan Garner 26 Abbie Marshall Noah Schmidt Colton Slater Paige Hytinen 27 Morgan Harman Liam Richter Austin Hacker 28 Caitlyn Rene Moenart Marissa Ineich Marisa Long Alex Weller Ian Weller 29 Tara Wilhelm 30 Addison Miner Logan Walton Isabella M Race
Howell Big Boy 10006 Highland Rd. Hartland 2222 E. Grand River. Howell 810.632.6932 517.548.1800
4 ÝÛLivingston Parent JournalÛÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛÛ
Flint Youth Theatre A Program of the Flint Institute of Music
DRAMA SCHOOL Fall Acting Classes begin September 24 Classes and performance opportunities for all students age 2 – grade 12.
Make plans now for an exciting fall! It’s a short drive to FYT and registration is now open.
F LINT Y OUTH T HEATRE.ORG 810.237.1530
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Brian Edwartds Whoever said “You cant ignore the writing on the wall.” Must not have been as dedicated to keeping his head down and his eyes on the floor as I am.
Tara Boriss For the past 10 minutes or so I’ve been trying to sign in to my “Sam’s Club” account to print photos. Turns out I don’t have a Sam’s Club account, I have a Costco one. Haha. I need sleep!
Carrie Tennant Shumaker Dave revealed another talent today: pediatric leech removal. I covered up Sam’s eyes and he didn’t even know his dad was holding a lighter to his foot.
Lori Burkart Nor sure which is worse, Pink’s singing or the two little girls singing along off key in the back seat.
Karli Beauvais It’s football season! Took Kenny to practice tonight. He’s going to do so good this year!
Jessica Cardoni With Sherri Osterman. This is her idea of a good time, Board of Education meeting! Lol— at Brighton Area Schools.
Angie Baynai Tyrpak Ok, I’m not even kidding: We had a rooster wander into our garage tonight (this never happened in Dearborn Heights growing up) Is there anyone who raises chickens that would take care of it? I don’t even like fish as pets. Anyone?
7 cousins in a tree
Laura Cronenwett Webber Judah: I want to play Cranky Birds!
Angela Cox Romantic kid-free date with my husband after church. Splitting a hot dog at Costco.
Story Time
ÛÝÛLivingston Parent Journal ÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛ
Then she proposed a crazy idea. “Why don’t you try out for the high school dance team?� she asked me. “Are you kidding?!� Even though I really, really wanted to be on the dance team that next year when I started high school, I didn’t see why I should put myself in the spotlight like that. But my mother explained that it would be a good opportunity to meet new people and put my energy toward moving on to high school. For the next few weeks, I turned it over and over in my mind: Was I good enough to make it? Did I believe in myself enough to risk the social repercussions of going for it, and possibly not succeeding? Then I had an aha! moment: What do I have to lose? I thought. I’m not gaining anything by not auditioning. But those other girls are just winning: I’m conforming to everything they want me to be.
Mean Girls In the middle of my eighth grade year, I was feeling alone at school. Since I never knew if I’d be left out in the lunchroom, I brought my lunch from home and ate in one of the girls’ bathrooms just to avoid the drama. It didn’t feel like a big deal to me; it was just a simple way to sidestep the mean girls in the cafeteria. Afterward I’d stop into the library, where I’d hang out with Mrs. Lentz. On my birthday that year in late April, I was eating lunch in the bathroom as usual when I heard my mom’s voice: “Haley?� Why was my mom at school? And how did she know where I was? I hadn’t told her that I often ate in the bathroom. “Yes?� I called back as I opened the door of the stall and saw my mom standing before me with a surprised look on her face. “What are you doing in here?� she asked. “Are you okay?� I saw that she was holding a cookie cake (my favorite), a birthday surprise for me. When she saw my bagged lunch in my hand, she broke out in tears, and then I started crying too. She took me home, and I told her everything. She had known that I was unhappy at school because of the girls in my class, and she knew that I often came home with hurt feelings, but she hadn’t known until that moment how bad it was.
Almost immediately after I signed up, the girls in my class started in on me: “Oh, are you nervous about trying out?â€? they’d ask pointedly. I worked hard to ignore them, and I spent every afternoon with my boom box out under the carport, practicing my routine. Somewhere along the way, attempting to make the team became much bigger than just making the cut; it was my way of proving to myself that I wouldn’t let anyone hold me back. After the tryouts, when my mom asked me about them in the car on the way home, I told her that I wasn’t sure how I did, but I was really proud of myself for going through with it. Even though I knew all those girls doubted me, I thought I’d performed okay. And a few days later, I felt totally overwhelmed when we got the call that I’d made the team. I was super excited and proud and nervous all at the same time, and mostly so relieved that I had stayed true to myself in the ďŹ rst place. I’d stayed committed to something I loved doing and hadn’t let the mean girls in my class hold me back.
Girls Talk: What Makes You Feel Good about Yourself? s $ OING GIRL STUFF LIKE SHOPPING OR SEEING A MOVIE WITH A PARENT AN OLDER SISTER A MEN TOR OR ANOTHER ADULT s ! PHYSICAL OR CREATIVE ACTIVITY THAT S SUPPORT ED BY PARENTS LIKE HORSEBACK RIDING DANCE SOCCER OR THEATER s 3 OLID RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS WHO AREN T OBSESSED WITH SOCIAL STATUS AND POPULARITY s AKING FRIENDS OUTSIDE SCHOOL GIVING HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERSELF WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS IN THE HALLWAYS s # OMPLIMENTS FROM PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS Christie was on that dance team, and that’s where I discovered how powerful and healing it is to have an older girlfriend to serve as a mentor, to tell me that she’d dealt with the same things I was going through. My friendship with Christie and a few of the older girls gave me the conďŹ dence to think I could actually make a difference when my younger sister started middle school. Excerpted from The Drama Years: Real Girls Talk About Surviving Middle School—Bullies, Brands, Body Image, and More (Free Press Trade Paperback Original; April 3, 2012; $16.00), Courtesy of Free Press Haley Kilpatrick founded Girl Talk, an organization in which high school girls mentor middle school girls, when she was 15. Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Girl Talk is more than 40,000 participants strong, in forty-three states and in six countries around the world. mygirltalk.org
The Bottom Line s -IDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS OFTEN SEE THEMSELVES THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS AND AREN T SURE YET WHO THEY TRULY ARE s 3INCE THEIR SENSE OF SELF IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE SO RAPIDLY IT S COMMON TO SEE MAJOR DECREASES IN SELF ESTEEM ONCE GIRLS START MIDDLE SCHOOL s 4WEENS FEEL CONm ICTED AND EQUALLY TORN BETWEEN STAYING TRUE TO THEMSELVES AND l TTING IN s 0ARENTS CAN OFFER THREE LIFE CHANGING WAYS THAT WILL HELP GIRLS DISCOVER WHO THEY TRULY ARE AND WEATHER MANY OF THE UPS AND DOWNS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL s !N ANCHOR ACTIVITYˆAN OUTSIDE SCHOOL ACTIVITY THAT SHE CAN THROW HERSELF INTO s ! HELPING HANDˆAN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEER AT AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHE FEELS PASSIONATE ABOUT s !N ADOPTED OLDER SISTERˆA STABLE ROLE MODEL THAT SHE CAN TRUST AND CONl DE IN 2EAD MORE ABOUT ANCHOR ACTIVITIES HELPING HANDS AND ADOPTED OLDER SISTERS AT ,IVINGSTON0ARENT*OURNAL COM
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Back to School Butterflies Every year, over six million kids in the USA begin attending a new school where they lack friends or familiarity. Even kids starting a new grade at the same school can still feel a little anxious.. Perhaps you’re one of the lucky parents whose kids can’t wait to go back to school. Unfortunately, lots of kids have a hard time approaching the first day or don’t settle in for weeks, and for many different reasons. For those starting kindergarten, fear of the unknown can be pretty overwhelming.
1. Ask how your child is feeling about going back to school. Some parents make the mistake of either filling their child with their own fears, or telling them not to be scared or upset. The first step is to listen to your child’s own thoughts and feelings. Ask questions and keep listening.
Plus, lots of kids already know all the things that they don’t like about school. They have to get up early, sit in classrooms, do what the teacher tells them to do all day long, then do homework when they get home. Although everyone agrees that getting a good education is essential, many kids still hate the loss of freedom that goes with it, especially after a carefree, fun-filled summer vacation.
2. Offer empathy and reassurance. If your child seems upset, share that “Lots of kids feel sad or scared. Are you feeling something like that? I can understand how this might feel like a big step.” Once feelings are on the table and normalized, your child can more easily hear your words of encouragement and reassurance that everything’s going to be okay. 3. Help your children view change as an opportunity. Even though it’s normal to have uncomfortable feelings of anticipation, those butterflies in their tummies can also playfully be viewed as excitement instead of just anxiety. 4. Talk about your own experiences around transitions. It’s helpful for parents to teach by example. Share not only your childhood triumphs, but also times that, even as an adult, you overcame your butterflies of anxiety and are happy you confronted a necessary change. 5. Program positive thinking. As much as possible, scout out the school, teacher or classmates ahead of time so your child can mentally rehearse what things will be like. Have them close their eyes at bedtime and imagine how their experience will be fun and positive.
So how can parents prepare kids who are anxious, shy or afraid? Here are ten tips to start your child’s school year off on a positive note:
6. Re-establish routines. Providing a sense of security gives children a firm foundation for tackling the unknown. Keep things loving and positive, but return to a predictable routine. Sleep is essential to reducing fears and irritability. Spend a few days before the first day of school getting your child back on a sleep schedule that allows them to wake up refreshed and ready.
7. Create a ritual of planning. Create a checklist of things to do ahead of time, including purchases, and make it a fun adventure. You can also avoid last-minute panic by packing the backpack and laying out the first day’s special clothes the night before. 8. Deal with your own feelings. Facing and constructively expressing your own feelings about your child’s transition helps to clear some family tension that could otherwise affect them adversely. You may need to have a good cry about how quickly your child is growing up or how much you will miss them. 9. Celebrate the first day. How about a special healthy breakfast and end of the day celebration for their accomplishment? Give yourself a pat on the back as well. Given that the only thing constant in life is change, realize that you are helping your kids build emotional muscles, overcome challenges and thrive in the future. 10. Coach them to reach out. Children often wait for other kids to initiate contact with them rather than making the first move. Remind them that others are feeling anxious too. Encourage your child to smile, say “Hi” to those they know, and reach out and introduce themselves to new kids. The song, Reach Out, is a perfect fit to emphasize and support these ideas, and it comes with free coloring and activity pages and can all be downloaded from the website at KidsEps.com.
Don MacMannis, Ph.D. & Debra Manchester MacMannis, MSW are a husband-wife team, serving as co-directors of The Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara. They are co-authors of How’s Your Family Really Doing? 10 Keys to a Happy Loving Family. Dr. MacMannis is also the creator of Kids’ EPs and Kids’ EPs Workbook. HowsYourFamily.com
ÛÝÛLivingston Parent Journal ÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛ
Now Featuring the tea Collection!
Helping Livingston County Families Grow! BloomBabyandKids.com | Call/Text - 810-844-1031 |222 W. Grand River Ave., Brighton, MI
Brighton Montessori UĂŠĂŠ Yi>Ă€ĂŠĂ€ÂœĂ•Â˜`ĂŠ ÂœÂ˜ĂŒiĂƒĂƒÂœĂ€ÂˆĂŠi`Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜]ĂŠ ĂŠ ĂƒĂ•Â“Â“iÀÊiÂ˜Ă€ÂˆV…“iÂ˜ĂŒĂŠEĂŠV…ˆÂ?`V>Ă€i Call ab UĂŠĂŠ -ÂŤiVˆ>Â?ÂˆĂ˘ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ ÂœÂ˜ĂŒiĂƒĂƒÂœĂ€ÂˆĂŠ `Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ o our inf ut ĂŠ vÂœĂ€ĂŠĂ“Â°xĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠĂŠĂˆĂŠĂži>Ă€ĂƒĂŠÂœÂ?`ĂŠV…ˆÂ?`Ă€i˜ and to ant UĂŠĂŠ Ă•Â?ĂŒÂˆÂ‡>}i`ĂŠVÂ?>ĂƒĂƒiĂƒĂŠÂ“iiĂŒĂŠ œ˜`>ÞÊ dd progra ler ĂŠ ĂŒÂ…Ă€ÂœĂ•}Â…ĂŠ Ă€Âˆ`>Ăž m! UĂŠĂŠ ivÂœĂ€iĂŠEĂŠ vĂŒiÀÊ-V…œœÂ?ĂŠV…ˆÂ?`V>Ă€iĂŠ>Ă›>ˆÂ?>LÂ?i ĂŠĂŠ
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5291 Ethel, Brighton, MI 48116 www.brightonmontessori.com
810-229-8660 oooÂ?Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYdÂ?[geĂ›Ă?Ă›Â¨Â…ÂƒÂƒÂŠĂ›Â…Â‡ÂƒÂ¤~ÂƒÂ…Â‡Ă›Ă?Ă›Livingston Parent JournalĂ›Ă?Ă›9
DOES YOUR CHILD LISTEN TO YOU THE FIRST TIME? It’s frustating when our children can’t focus or listen, isn’t it? And when they don’t pay attention to what you are saying in the home, you have to wonder how much they are missing at school! In 20+ years of teaching Martial Arts and Success Skills, I’ve developed a ďŹ ve step approach to improve a child’s skill of listening. We use structure and discipline (and kids love it!). You can easily use these same ďŹ ve steps with your child! s 4HE ,ISTENING 0OSTURE We use what are called “listening cuesâ€? in our classes. Teach your child that when it’s time to listen, they must sit or stand straight up with good posture. Shoulders back. Lift the chest a little. Chin high. This alone can double listening retention! s $IRECT %YE #ONTACT IS %SSENTIAL Insist on it. Your child will then be able to focus on the words being said. Computers, cell phones and texting work against us in developing good eye contact skills in children and teens! s ,ISTEN TO THE #OMPLETE -ESSAGE "EFORE !CTING Children tend to listen incompletely. We ďŹ nd that children will often to listen to the ďŹ rst part of an instruction, then start to act before the complete instruction is heard. Teach your child to maintain eye contact and posture until the talker is completely done. They have to learn patience and self discipline. s 2EPEAT THE -ESSAGE "ACK TO THE 3PEAKER 7HEN 0OSSIBLE We like getting them to repeat complex instructions in class. You can do the same at home. For example, a child might say, “So, Mom, you’d like me to clean up my room and feed the cat before I play on the computer?â€? This lets the speaker know your child has understood!
s 0RAISE 'OOD ,ISTENING 3KILLS Changing children’s behavior is basically pretty simple - just praise the desired behavior and ignore the undesired behavior. “Catch them doing something rightâ€?. When they listen well - PRAISE THEM!!!! Even very young children can be taught these steps. Begin by reading the steps to them, and then practicing each skill! When you observe your child losing focus, just the simple reminder, “Remember ... listening skills!â€? will refocus them. In our class we frequently use the powerful and effective question cue h!RE YOU LISTENING LIKE A "LACK "ELT v. And, of course, it can’t be repeated enough - watch like a hawk for situations when YOUR CHILD DOES LISTEN EFFECTIVELY Catch them doing it right, and follow up with a huge dose of appreciation, like, “Honey, I am so proud of you for listening to what I was saying!â€? If you have questions about the ďŹ ve Skills of Listening, give me a call; I’d be happy to help! Yours for Rock Solid Kids.
Ohana Karate - “Where Success is an Attitude and a Habit�
517-586-1001 WWW OHANAKARATE COM P.S. – “New beginner classes now forming! P.P.S. – Remember to ask about our special “Introductory Program� and if you qualify for a free karate uniform. P.P.P.S. - Go to our website for more information and to get your Free Report - www.ohanakarate.com.
~‡ÛĂ?Ă›Livingston Parent Journal Ă?Ă›Â¨Â…ÂƒÂƒÂŠĂ›Â…Â‡ÂƒÂ¤~ÂƒÂ…Â‡Ă›Ă?Ă›oooÂ?Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYdÂ?[geĂ›
FARMERS MARKETS Brighton Saturdays 8am-1pm 200 North 1st Street 810.955.1471 brightoncoc.org Howell Sundays 9am-2pm Downtown Courthouse Lawn 517.546.3920 howell.org
Green Oak Sundays 10am-3pm Green Oak Village Place Mall 313.590.1960 greenoakmarket@gmail.com
Fowlerville Fridays 3-7pm City Parking Lot on Grand River 517.375.5132
Hartland Saturdays 9am-1pm Old Hartland High School 810.632.1030 hartland.market@hotmail.com
Whitmore Lake Thursdays 4-8pm 75 Barker Street 810.623.8131 Pinckney Saturdays 9am-1pm Towne Square Park 734.660.4639 tbest9778@charter.net
LivingstonParentJournal.com
SEPTEMBER Sun & Mon 1 & 2
Sat & Sun 7 & 8
Voyageur Canoe Trip Help paddle the 34-foot Voyageur canoe while exploring the islands and bays of Kent Lake. For adults and children ages 8 and up. Kensington $5 810.227.8910
Zip Line and Climbing Tower 500’ zip line over a pond. Tallest outdoor tower in Michigan. Reservations are required. Howell Nature Center $17 517.546.0249
Farmer for a Day. Kids ages 8-15 work alongside farmers cleaning stalls, feeding and brushing animals, planting and more. Kensington 10am $35 248.684.8632 metroparks.com
Thursday 5
Pottery Workshop: Native American Techniques. Learn the ways of the Eastern Woodland Indians and make your own pot to take home. Kensington 1pm $5 810.227.8910 metroparks.com
Mon-Thur 9-12 Hunter Safety DNR approved Hunter Safety Certificate. Marion Township Hall 6-9pm $10 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org
Friday 13 Fall Shadow Day Experience Kensington Woods High School first hand by attending classes and making connections with teachers and other students. 517.545.0828 kwoods.org
Sat & Sun 14 & 15 Zip Line and Climbing Tower see September 7 & 8
howellnaturecenter.org
Saturday 7
Swinginfusion Swing dancing at the Brighton Mill Pond every Monday night from 7-10pm $1 Swinginfusion@yahoo.com
metroparks.com
Jazz @ the Pond Organ Trio Julian VanSlyke & the Marksmen Brighton Mill Pond 7-9pm FREE 2stonesevents.com
LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE
Monday 2
Kensington Critters Meet some of the critters that make the Nature Center their home, such as turtles and snakes. Kensington 2pm 810.227.8910
Wednesday 11
fowlerville.org
metroparks.com
Sunday 8
A
Voted #1 Preschool in Hartland in the Hartland Patch Reader’s Choice Awards for 2012!
Little Saints Christian School
B
Family Tae Kwon Do Tuesdays and Thursdays through 9/30. Kils Tae Kwon Do 6:30-7:30pm or 7:30-8:30pm $100 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org
Storm Runners Race 8:30am start for 1 mile and 1.5 mile; 9am start for 5K; 9:20am start for 10K. Chip timed. Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School 734.231.2792 sotlstormrun.webs.com
Fri 6 & 7
jyeakey@sotlchurch.com
3 year old class, 4 year old class, and Junior Kindergarten
Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival Live Music and food vendors. Downtown Brighton 6pm-Midnight 810.227.5086 brightoncoc.org
Football Ring Toss Game Hands-on workshop for children ages 5-12. Free workshop apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. Home Depot 9am-Noon 517.548.3742
Curriculum includes early literacy program, science labs and introduction to spanish for all ages.
Mother Daughter Western Adventure Sleepover Wagon ride, candle making, outdoor movie, campfire, horseback riding, petting zoo, and swimming. Northfork Outback Friday at 4pm through Saturday at 3pm $120/person 517.881.9142 northforkoutback.com
Infant Chiropractic Care Dr. Stephan Skalnican, Kor Chiropractic Bloom Baby & Kids 10:30-11:30am FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com
Open Enrollment has already started for the 2013-2014 School Year!
C
12701 Highland Rd., Hartland, MI 48353 • (810)746-0238 email: preschool@myallsaints.com or to Denise Clarey directly: deniseclarey@hotmail.com
www.littlesaintschristian.org
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Saturday 14
Friday 20
Dogfest Dog bounce house and kid’s games, dog themed vendors, and a doggie parade. Arise Church Community Park 10am-3pm 313.613.5643 arisechurch.org/DogPark.php
Calling All Owls Separate fact from fiction and attempt to locate resident screech owls. For ages 6 and older. Kensington 8pm $5 810.227.8910
Sunday 15
Sat & Sun 21 & 22
Kensington Critters See September 8
Zip Line and Climbing Tower see September 7 & 8
Fri-Sun 20-22
Saturday 21
Mother and Daughter Ranch Getaway Trail riding and other camp activities. Camp Copneconic Friday 7pm through Sunday 11am $175/pair, $50 for each additional
Calling All Owls Learn about these nighttime predators, and then step outside to call in our local owls for a personal visit. Hudson Mills Metropark 6:30pm $5 734.426.8211
campcopneconic.org
metroparks.com
metroparks.com
Fri & Sat 20 & 21
Farmer for a Day see September 7
Fall Book Sale Cromaine Library Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat (Bag Sale), 9am4pm 810.632.5200 cromaine.org
Nature Detectives for Kids Search for nature fugitives along the trail with an interpreter. For ages 6 and older. Kensington 2pm $3 810.227.8910
An Evening with Mark Twain Presented by the Livingston Players at the CoBACH Center 7:30pm $5 810.229.2784 LivPlayers.org
metroparks.com
Old Town Throwdown Chili Cookoff and Music Festival Downtown Whitmore Lake Noon-6pm $25 810.227.5086 Pregnancy Helpline’s Run for Their Lives 5C Walk Walk. Eat chocolate. Help women in crisis pregnancies. Downtown Brighton 9:30am-Noon 810.494.5433 pregnancyhelpclinic.com
Texas Adventure Horse and pony rides, pedal tractors, bucking barrel, rodeo games, giant slingshot, Torpedo the trick pony, and the petting zoo. Northfork Outback 1-4pm $10 www.northforkoutback.com/summer.htm
Sunday 22 Kensington Critters See September 8
Monday 23 CPR for Caregivers and Parents Jerry Buffman of Dummies on the Run provides training and two-year certification in CPR, as well as AED or defibrillator instruction. Hartland Library 6:30pm $10 810.632.5200 cromaine.org
~ ÛÝÛLivingston Parent Journal ÝÛ¨ ©Û ¤~ ÛÝÛooo Canaf_klgfGYj]flAgmjfYd [geÛ
Tuesday 24
Sat & Sun 28 & 29
Bring Your Own Tools Tear things apart. Put them back together. Build robots. Cromaine Library 6:30-8:00 pm FREE 810.632.5200
Zip Line and Climbing Tower see September 7 & 8
cromaine.org
Babysitting Skills and Fun Etiquette, entertainment and real experiences. For teens and tweens grades 5 and up. Hartland Library 1-3pm 810.632.5200
September 26 Making Timeout Work Learn the ins and outs of appropriately using timeout from Katelyn Reed, Thriving Minds Behavioral Health. Bloom Baby & Kids 7-8pm FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com
Fri & Sat 27 & 28 Astronomy at the Beach View sunspots, prominences, and other features of the sun through safe white-light and hydrogen-alpha solar telescopes. Observe dozens of celestial objects through the high-powered telescopes provided. Dean Regas will use simulation software during his talk, “Tour of the Universe: You Are Here,” at 9pm. There will also be a comet making demonstration, a portable planetarium, and a Children’s Sky Tour Treasure Hunt. Kensington 6pm-Midnight 248.685.1561 metroparks.com Car entry fee.
Saturday 28
cromaine.org
Texas Adventure see September 21 Body After Baby Personal Trainer Kristin Moore will provide a 60 min. introduction to her cardio class, followed by a healthy eating talk geared towards the needs of busy moms. Dress for a light workout. Bloom Baby & Kids 11am-Noon FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com
MORE EVENT INFORMATION LivingstonParentJournal.com
Sunday 29 Blessing of the Animals Celebration of pets and the families that love them. Howell Nature Center 3-5pm FREE 517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org
Reservations required. Please call ahead.
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Clyde Singer, Barn Dance
September 8
September 8
September 22
Dawn Farm 40th Anniversary Jamboree Live music, children’s tent with activities, hayrides, pony rides, and working farm with animals. Dawn Farm helps hundreds of addicts and alcoholics each year, and this is their only public fundraiser. 1-6pm 734.485.8725 dawnfarm.org
Ford Second Sunday at the DIA Thanks to the Ford Motor Company Fund, the DIA offers special programs and free general admission to all visitors on the second Sunday of each month. Special exhibitions and select programming may carry an additional charge. Detroit Institute of Arts 313.833.7900 dia.org
The Wiggles Taking Off Tour After 21 years of entertaining children around the globe, The Wiggles will introduce three new cast members including the ďŹ rst-ever female member, Emma Watkins. Fox Theatre 2:30pm $18 olympiaentertainment.com
September 27-29 American Sewing Expo The 20th annual show features accessories, embellishments, one of a kind fabrics and supplies, fashion sewing, ďŹ tting, home decorating, machine embroidery, needle arts, quilting, sergers and wearable art. Showgoers will see over 20 exhibits, fashion style shows and sewing challenge competitions. Over 125 exhibitors from 35 states, Australia and Canada will be displaying sewing machines, notions, threads, patterns, yarn, technology, kits, gadgets, embroidery designs, tools and other products. Techniques and tips will be taught at over 200 seminars, hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Suburban Collection Showplace Fri & Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 9am-5pm $14 248.889.3111
Modern Dialect brings together more than 50 American Scene and Modernist paintings from 1920-1940. On display at Flint Institute of Arts through September 22 intarts.org
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American Sewing Expo™ Where Sewing is Fun for Everyone!
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Novi, Michigan – September 27-29, 2013
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Spicer’s Harvest Festival
Save The Wildlife 5K Trail Run/Walk
810.632.7692 spicerorchards.com September 21 & 22, 9am-7pm.
Howell Nature Center 517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org September 21
Antique tractor and machinery exhibit, arts and crafts fair, cider press, and free wagon rides to pick apples and pumpkins
Linden Autumn Festival Linden Millpond 810.629.5447 fentonchamber.com September 21 Noon-6pm Food, entertainment, and children’s activities. Youth fishing contest starts at 10:30am.
Hartland’s Heritage Day
Registration opens at 9am, and the events (including a 5K trail run, 5K trail hike, and 1 mile Wildlife Walk) begin with a staggered start at 11 am. The course winds on trails and roads over nearly 270 acres. $30 for the 5K trail run or walk and $20 for the 1 mile walk.
info@hartlandcommunitycouncil.org hartlandcommunitycouncil.org September 21 9am-4pm
End of Summer Hike Hudson Mills Metropark 734.426.8211 metroparks.com September 7 8am
Quilt/fiber show at Hartland United Methodist Church, Encore Theater activities at the Hartland Music Hall, book sale at the library, barbershop quartet music 10:00-11:30am, birds of prey 1:003:00pm, petting zoo, tractor shows, and cemetery tours.
Join an interpreter and go in search of plants and animals that are ignoring autumn’s approach. Reservations Required $5 + Car Entry Fee
Bestmaze Corn Maze 3803 Noble Road, Williamston (517) 521-2378 bestmaze.com September 14 – October 31 Navigate a 20 acre forest of corn that has wellgroomed trails carefully laid out for your enjoyment, as you enjoy cider, donuts and Mackinaw Fudge. Choose the length of your adventure as you go. Signed optional exits and short cuts every 15 minutes along 3 miles of trails. Patrol towers ensure that anyone who needs help gets help.The petting zoo is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-6, and they also have laser tag. A separate feature, the Haunted trail, for ages 12 and up, opens September 27.
Fall Fairy Gardening Cromaine Library 810.632.5200 cromaine.org September 14 10am-Noon Recycle, reuse, repurpose - fairies are especially environmentally conscientious. One garden per family. $5 Registration required.
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Webster Fall Festival Webster United Church of Christ in Dexter 734.426.5115 websterfallfestival1@gmail.com September 28 10am-7pm One-room school class, blacksmith and wool spinning demonstrations, musical entertainment, crafts for children. petting zoo, sheepherding demos, hog calling and hay rides. FREE
St Paul Lutheran Church Fall Festival 810.231.1033 stpaulhamburg.com therevev@gmail.com September 21 Craft show and free family activities from 10am-4pm. Dinner and live music with David Britton (mmme.org) from 4pm-8pm. Tickets required for dinner (can be purchased the day of the event), Adults are $8, children age 6 to 12 are $5, and children under 5 are free.
Harvest Fest Main Street, Downtown Brighton 810.955.1471 brightoncoc.com September 28, 8am-3pm Live entertainment, a chair caning demonstration, petting farm, bounce house, and pumpkin painting for the children
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Fall Festival Kensington Metropark Farm Center 2240 W Buno Road, Brighton 810.227.8910 www.metroparks.com October 5 & 6, noon-4pm Tour the farm and view traditional demonstrations, visit with food and craft vendors, be entertained by Rosco the Clown, and carve a pumpkin. Also, take a hayride to and from the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin. Pumpkins and gourds priced according to size. Most activities are free with a park pass. Standard public hayride rates apply.
SMRS Annual Fall Color Tours South Rail Yard 806 S. Evans St., Tecumseh 517.456.7677 southernmichiganrailroad.com October 17-20 & 24-27 Travel by rail through the countryside along the basin of the River Raisin. Cross over the historic bridge high above the river on the way to our stop over for complimentary cider and donuts. Round trip train ride is 2 hours. Weekday departures 11:00 am and 1:30 pm Weekend departures at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm $15
Focus on Fall: Nature Photography Workshop for Kids Cromaine Library 810.632.5200 cromaine.org November 15 2:00-3:30 pm This class offers students an opportunity to connect with nature through photography, exercise their creative eye, and have fun while capturing the beautiful natural landscape surrounding the library. Kids will learn tips and techniques to grow their skills with a camera, focusing on concepts in composition and how to see creatively through a lens. Please come to class with a fully-charged point-and-shoot or ipod/ipad/iphone along with an empty memory card and a basic working knowledge of the camera. Dress for the weather. For ages 8-12. Registration required.
Hayrides, Bonfires, Climbing Wall, & Zipline Wildwood Ranch 800.969.8090 www.wildwoodranch.org Groups of ten or more can schedule an outing to participate in the 40-foot Climbing Wall, the 600-foot Zip Line, or our dual-level High Ropes Adventure Challenge Course. A petting farm is open daily from 9am-5pm. Tractor-drawn hayrides can be followed followed by a bonfire. Dates and hours may vary. Reservations are required. Open year-round.
Corn Maze | Laser Tag | Petting Zoo | Cider & Donuts
Trail of Terror - see website
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4th Annual Restaurant Crawl
September Stroll: A Taste of Downtown Howell 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 Enjoy menu favorites from some of downtown Howell’s unique restaurants, including: Howell’s MainStreet Winery Mr. B’s Rustic Tavern Cleary’s Pub Diamond’s Steak & Seafood Uptown Coffeehouse Heart of Michigan The Candy Bar Renee Chodkowski, The Great Foodini HOSTED BY:
TICKETS Pre-sale: 2 for $30 or $18 each
Includes food at all participating restaurants AVAILABLE AT: Howell Area Chamber of Commerce 123 E. Washington St. LOC Federal Credit Union 3020 E. Grand River Ave. DAY OF EVENT: 2 for $35 or $20 each available at all participating restaurants STROLL SPONSOR:
Howell Area
Chamber
of Commerce
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‘No!’ or ‘Mine!” It is important to give your child “scripts” of what to say so they know how to handle the situation on their own in the future, without biting. By giving your child the words to communicate their feelings and desires, you are planting much needed seeds of independence in your toddler.
Attention Toddlers crave attention, and to them any attention will do, even negative attention. If they feel they are being short-changed, toddlers may bite to get attention. Yelling at your child is reinforcing the behavior that you want to stop. The child probably does not understand what all the fuss is about, just that you fussed about him. Instead, turn to your child and say firmly, “Don’t bite!” and give all your attention to the child who was bitten. This lets your child know he will not get the attention he craves by biting. Also, give your child lots of positive attention throughout the day, that way they will not feel desperate for any kind of attention.
Biting Toddlers Although scary, frustrating, and stressful for a parent, biting is a natural occurrence in toddlers. If your child is biting, she is most likely not biting because she is mean or wants to inflict harm on another child. The biting period is a phase many toddlers will go through. Here are several reasons why a toddler may bite.
Exploration From the time children are born, they use their senses to explore the world around them. When a young toddler finds a new object, one of the first places that object goes is in his mouth. So, for a toddler to explore another person’s arm by sticking it in his mouth, and perhaps biting down, is not uncommon. Be sure to teach your child that certain objects, such as food, go in the mouth and others do not. Be consistent!
Teething Most toddlers are still teething, and experience quite a bit of discomfort from it. Applying pressure to their gums seems to ease their pain, so keep teething rings handy. If
you know those two-year molars are coming in, keep the baby Orajel around. Preventative measures work best.
Frustration This is a big one! Toddlers are still learning to talk and often get frustrated when they can’t say, “Give me back my toy!” For the most part, they do not have the language to express their feelings and desires. The quickest way for them to get that toy back is to bite the child who took it! Although they lack the social and communication skills needed to conquer such a task as getting back a toy, it does not mean you can’t teach them those skills. When you see your toddler becoming frustrated, intervene, and do it quickly! You can say, “Timmy, I see you’re upset that Susie took your toy. Tell her,
Overstimulation and Excitement Sometimes toddlers are overcome by a large group of people, loud noises, or excitement and commotion. Children who have just started going to group care and have never been before may bite the other children in class, or target one specific child who may be crowding their space. Because the child does not understand what he is feeling and is just plain overwhelmed by the situation, he may bite. For some children, biting is a way for them to gain a sense of control in their world. Give your child positive, nurturing support to help them through this nerve-racking situation. So, take a deep breath and be patient with your little one. Although biting is not a behavior we want to reinforce in our children, it is a natural phase most young children go through. By paying close attention to your toddler, some of the situations that may cause a child to bite could be avoided. Try these suggestions and remember to be patient, consistent, and firm. Katrina K. Wilson has a B.S. from Michigan State University in Family Community Services, with a specialty in child development for children from birth to age 3. She has been a teacher for countless children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
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Christina Maria Photo & Design 810.522.8244 christinamariaphotoanddesign.com
Affordable Tutoring Proven Results Improve & Expand Math Skills - All grades 248-939-3765 latlane@me.com
Pet Care When You Leave Town Daily care in your home just $25 per day. Watch, feed, and daily walks, please contact Kandis Kubiak 517.376.2126
Become a Birth or Postpartum Doula! Center for the Childbearing Year is Michigan’s premier doula training center offering Birth and Postpartum Doula Workshops and professional certification through DONA International. center4cby.com
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec. Directed and produced by Luc Besson. Adapted from Jacques Tardi’s French classic comic book 12.93 at Amazon.com Livingston Parent Journal will be giving it away on our Facebook in September
Dragons: Riders of Berk Based on the Academy Award®-nominated movie: How To Train Your Dragon
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12.96 at Amazon.com Watch for a giveaway on Livingston Parent Journal’s Facebook page.
Family Classifieds Homeschooling Open House September 4, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm Cromaine Library. Cromaine.org
Be Happy - Work from Home Partner with Shaklee & the fastest growing industries: Health, Wellness, Anti-Aging, Green Living and Social Marketing. Follow our simple 3 step system to insure success with our online business opportunity. FREE tour @ toolsforsuccess123.com
Music Classes - Private Lessons Early Childhood Music & Movement Ages 4 months - 4 years. Come sing, move, and play with us! ALSO Private vocal & piano lessons for Kindergarten - Adult learners Register now! 810.923.8292 Kaciewoosterstudio.weebly.com
Violin Classes for Children and kids of all ages new Brighton Suzuki program! learn with love through music education Debbie Stanton, certified teacher 734.996.1751 deborahjs2002@yahoo.com
Online Childbirth Preparation Learn at your pace, in the comfort of your home, on your time. Comprehensive, multi-media approach. Center for the Childbearing Year center4cby.com.
Royal Rangers Club & Stars Club Children ages 5 - 11 have fun with games and activities while learning Christian character and earning merit badges Wednesdays 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM FloodGate Renewal Fellowship FloodGateRenewal.org 810.227.2005 Free
K’NEX PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures™
Chug Patrol: Ready to Rescue
Building toys inspired by the animated action comedy series on Disney XD. 5.99 at Knex.com
6 Episodes
Livingston Parent Journal has a few to give away on their Facebook in September
Wilson, Koko & Brewster are back! New Characters: Patrol Chief Jackman & Hanzo. Chug Patrol sticker sheet.
9.99 at Amazon.com Watch for a giveaway on Livingston Parent Journal’s Facebook page.
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness TV series based on the Academy Award®Nominated hit movie Kung Fu Panda s (OURS s %PISODES s #ROC #RACKDOWN ONLINE GAME
10.92 at Amazon.com
$5 Credit at yiftee.com Local Online Shopping Join yiftee, then send your email address or Facebook id (whichever you used to login to Yiftee) to diane@yiftee.com, subject line Livingston Parent. The first 75 respondents will receive a $5 credit.
Watch for a giveaway on Livingston Parent Journal’s Facebook page.
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