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Oh My Aching Back; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Case For Kids’ Athletics

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3

Oh, My Aching Back!

The physical changes your body undergoes during pregnancy can take a toll on your back. Loose ligaments, overstretched abdominal muscles, an increasingly heavy uterus and changes to both your posture and the curvature of your spine all put an added strain on the muscles in your back. What’s truly surprising about back pain during pregnancy is the fact that approximately half of moms-to-be manage to get off scot-free!

Back pain tends to be at its worst during the second and third trimesters. It’s more likely to be a problem if you have a history of back problems or you happen to be carrying more than one baby. Contrary to popular belief, your age, height, weight and the weight of your baby have little bearing on the amount of back pain. But assuming you’re one of the unlucky ones hit with back pain during pregnancy, here are some tips on minimizing the amount of discomfort you experience.

GOOD SHOES — Ditch the high heels in favor of a more back-friendly pair of shoes. Pregnancy and high heels tend to make a rather deadly combination. Not only are you more likely to take a tumble (the result of changes to your center of gravity): wearing high heels tends to place added strain on your lower back and sacrum (the solid flat area at the bottom of the spine that forms the back of the pelvis). And given that a pregnant woman’s feet tend to swell during pregnancy, the last thing you want to be doing is squeezing your poor feet into a too-small pair of shoes.

ASK FOR HELP — If you need to lift a heavy object, ask for help. If you insist on playing the pregnant martyr, your back will pay the price! So skip the heavy objects entirely and be sure to use proper form when you bend down to lift light objects: instead of bending from the waist, you should bend your knees and squat, keeping your back straight.

TAKE A SEAT — Keep a stool or chair handy if you know you’re going to be standing for an extended period of time. This will help to reduce some of the strain on your back.

USE A PILLOW — Make sure that the chair you use most at home or at work provides plenty of back support. If it doesn’t, you’ll either want to purchase a special chair form or get in the habit of tucking a small pillow behind your lower back while you’re sitting down.

Get in the habit of tucking a pillow between your knees when you’re sleeping on your side. You won’t strain your back quite as much. And make sure that the mattress that you’re sleeping on is firm enough to keep you comfortable.

HOT AND COLD — Apply heat or cold to the area that’s causing you pain, or have your partner massage your back. If that doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, ask your doctor or midwife to recommend a good chiropractor.

KEEP YOUR CHIN UP — Finally, try not to get too discouraged. You’ll notice a dramatic improvement in the amount of back pain you’re experiencing after you give birth. With any luck, your back pain will be a thing of the past by the time you take your baby home.

Ann Douglas is the author of “The Mother of all Pregnancy Books,” “The Mother of All Baby Books” and “The Mother of All Toddler Books.”

4 Valley Parent, January 2014

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Baby & Learning

The Case For Kids’ Athletics Linking Physical Fitness With Learning

Parents do it: powerwalk during their lunch break; take a Pilates or spin class at the gym before the day begins; even run a mile at the end of the workday.

And parents know it: Maintaining an exercise program or fitness routine reduces stress while rejuvenating the parenting battery – not to mention the countless health benefits. As a positive outlet, physical movement motivates problem-solving, creative and critical thinking skills.

So don’t children need and deserve the same outlet during their school day? Don’t they need to run, jump, skip, spin, chase and be chased, catch and be caught, and just move around to relieve stress and recharge their learning battery?

Brain research indicates they do.

“Physical activity benefits the brain,” says Eric Jensen, a neuroscience consultant and educator.

Jensen cites a specific example: The physical movement of stopping and starting, like running at recess, from first base to second or on the cross-country team, strengthens the brain’s response system to stress. And responding to stress is an inevitable part of every child’s school day. Those stressors in the classroom may include taking a test, reading a paragraph aloud in class, answering a teacher’s question or managing peer pressure, including bullying.

Physical exercise not only improves the brain’s response system, Jensen says, but it also increases the development and production of new neurons to process and transmit information.

“When there is an increase in gross motor physical activity there is an increase in memory,” he says. “While conversely, stress, particularly chronic stress, reduces the development of new brain cells. At the end of the day, there’s either a net gain or net loss of brain cells.”

A child’s stress-response system needs to stay fit and in shape. And it needs regular practice. Physical movement for our children is no longer an option in this age of high stakes curriculum, accountability testing and the demand for higher education.

If physical activity enhances stress management while stimulating the growth of new brain cells, then it begs the question: Why aren’t our children in elementary school afforded regular and

consistent physical activity throughout their school day?

Asking such questions of school districts isn’t out of order given the educational community – especially teachers – know kids need to move and they do better in school when they can. In fact, two recent studies conducted by the Department of Education acknowledge that link.

Comparing standardized test scores (from grades five, seven and nine) with FITNESSGRAM (a test assessing six different fitness areas), the department found “higher achievement was associated with higher levels of fitness at each of the grade levels measured.”

The department repeated the study in 2004 with similar findings: “This cumulative evidence indicates that conditions that improve general health promote both a healthy body and improved intellectual capacity.”

In fact, American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend children and adolescents should be physically active at least one hour a day.

Funding is a problem, says Karen Maynard, a physical education teacher.

“Schools, teachers and principals aren’t held accountable for their students’ fitness. But they are for their reading and math skills. So that’s where the money goes.”

The No Child Left Behind laws contain accountability primarily for reading and

math. So, schools are reducing, and even eliminating, class time spent on other subjects, including P.E. Jensen finds that narrow focus misdirected. “Schools are afraid they won’t make the grade,” he says, “so they do more of the same even though it isn’t working. They need to shift their thinking to the whole student.”

Sixteen-year-old Evan feels more whole and balanced when she exercises, she says, “Too much focus on school gives me tunnel vision. Swimming keeps me fresh.

It keeps me balanced. I get to compete in a different way with myself and other swimmers.”

As recipient of the 2006 Champion of Student Fitness award, Evan is a strong proponent of being a good student with the help of exercise. She feels staying physically active encourages better eating habits – fuel for the brain and the body – as well as better sleeping patterns.

Exercise helps with a good’s night sleep.

“There’s no need to stay up late studying, because you learn better in class when you exercise regularly. Plus, there are no test scores with exercise.” Evan says.

Deirdre Kleske, a mother of two girls, agrees that exercise makes for a better school day: “When I used to drive my daughters to school, we would run late. They’d have to get a late pass and their school day didn’t go so well. Now we walk the five blocks to school. We’re never late and we get a chance to just talk about everyday stuff. My daughters have a better start to their day.’’

Many parents try to compensate for the lack of physical activity at school with extracurricular sports or activities for their kids. AYSO, Little League and local community parks and recreation programs often provide the exercise that P.E. class at school used to fulfill.

If wellness and health determine the quality of life, then that quality of life includes the opportunity for all kids to just be kids – to run and learn, all in the same school day.

Susie A. Schwarz is a writer and mother.

Findings

VP

by Nathaniel Brodie

Too Much Praise for Toddlers Playing with Food Leads to Fast Learning According to a new study out of the University of Iowa, kids who play with their food are not only learning as they play, but may be better and faster learners in the long run. The study looked at how a group of toddlers learned to identify nonsolid objects like oatmeal, applesauce and milk.

Researchers found that the children who interacted most with the foods by poking, throwing, feeling or eating them were most likely to correctly name and identify them by their texture.

Researchers said that the study shows how context and behavior are both important factors in the acquisition of early vocabulary. This sort of early learning may be linked to improved cognitive development later in the child’s life. “Children may be doing more than just making a mess in the moment: they are forever changing their attentional biases and the way they will learn over development,” the researchers concluded in their paper.

AAP Advises Pregnant Women and Children Not to Consume Raw Milk Products

Kids’ View What is your New Year’s resolution?

In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises pregnant women, infants and children to consume only pasteurized milk, cheese and other milk products.

Raw milk and milk products from cows, goats, and sheep can transmit lifethreatening bacterial infections, including Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Brucella. Sales of raw milk products are still legal in at least 30 states; efforts to limit the sale have been opposed by people who claim there are health benefits from natural factors in milk that are inactivated by pasteurization.

However, the benefits of these natural elements have not been clearly demonstrated in scientific research. Numerous data show pasteurized milk provides the same nutritional benefits as raw milk. “Consumption of raw milk or milk products can result in severe and life-threatening illnesses…in both young infants and pregnant women,” said Yvonne Maldonado, the lead author of the policy statement.

Jackson 12 years old “I will try to fight with my sisters less.”

Teenagers are Still Developing Empathy Skills New research shows that in adolescence, the critical social skills that are needed to feel concern for other people and understand how they think are undergoing major changes. According to a six-year study published recently in Developmental Psychology, “cognitive empathy,” or the mental ability to take others’ perspective, begins rising steadily in girls at age 13, although most boys don’t begin until age 15 to show gains in perspective-taking. Adolescent males actually show a temporary decline, between ages 13 and 16, in a related skill—affective empathy, or the ability to recognize and respond to others’ feelings. Fortunately, the boys’ sensitivity recovers in the late teens.

Girls’ affective empathy remains relatively high and stable through adolescence. Researchers used to believe that both forms of empathy were fully formed during childhood. Now, it’s clear that “the brain regions that support social cognition, which helps us understand and interact with others successfully, continue to change dramatically” in the teens, says Jennifer Pfeifer, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Oregon.

Twitter Reveals Adderall Use Among College Students A recent study performed at Brigham Young University examined the tweets of college students across the USA for mentions of the pharmaceutical drug Adderall. The drug has become increasingly common among students looking to increase concentration and production during “crunch times” such as midterms and finals week. A total of 213,633 tweets from 132,099 unique users mentioned the drug between November 2011 and May 2012. In a survey, 95% of students said they “were able to obtain a false diagnosis of ADHD by faking symptoms on one of the most commonly used self-reporting scales.” 40% of teenagers think abusing prescription drugs is acceptable, because they’re “safer” than recreational drugs.

Father’s Diet Influences Future Child’s Health A study from McGill University has discovered that a father’s diet prior to conception is just as important as the mother’s when it comes to influencing their child’s health. The study examines vitamin B9, also known as folate, which is known to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage and birth defects. The study revealed that sperm are able to carry a memory of the father’s environment, including his diet and lifestyle choices.

Research was conducted using mice. One group had fathers with insufficient folate in their diet, the other group had sufficient levels of folate. The offspring whose fathers had insufficient folate had an almost 30 percent increase in the number of birth defects compared to the group with sufficient paternal folate. According to lead researcher Sarah Kimmins, “Fathers need to think about what they put in their mouths, what they smoke and what they drink and remember they are caretakers of generations to come.”

Paige 6 years old “I want to read a chapter book all by myself.”

Alice 8 years old “I want to help my mom take care of my new baby brother. I can get her stuff she needs for him.”

Homework Doesn’t Work?

Recent evidence suggests that children’s after-school assignments are not advancing learning, even though the amount of time our children spend on homework has risen over the past three decades. A recent study, published in the Economics of Education Review, reports that homework in science, English and history has “little to no impact” on students’ test scores. Another study, published this past summer, asserts that current homework practices in privileged, high-performing high schools “sustain students’ advantage in competitive climates yet hinder learning, full engagement, and well-being.”

Mollie Galloway, assistant professor of educational leadership at Lewis & Clark College’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling, told The Oregonian “There is no evidence that homework at the elementary level enhances student achievement, [but] at the middle and high school level, our study suggests that too much homework can, in fact, have detrimental physical, mental, and social impacts.”

Eli 7 years old “I have no idea.”

Skylar 12 years old “I want to work hard at practice so I can swim personal bests on all of my races at the next swim meet.”

January 2014, Valley Parent

5

VP

Being Mom

Skipping the

MOMPETITION

According to UrbanDictionary.com, mompetition is “the one-up rivalry that moms play making their child seem better, smarter, and/or more advanced than yours. May involve two or more moms and any number of children, even full-grown.� I like the “even full-grown� part of that because it is so true. Ever see a couple of 60-something women comparing number of grandchildren or what jobs their children hold?

I’ve never really been competitive. I just don’t really care what other people are doing and don’t have the desire to one-up them. But I always know when I’m dealing with mompetition. At a random outing, a mom will start by asking me a lot of questions about my life. Not normal questions in a normal manner, but lots of POKING questions— ones that will find your weak spots and illuminate the areas of life in which she is a “better mother� than you.

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HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MOMPETITION: s h7E HOMESCHOOL USING 89: curriculum, which costs $8,000 per year, and we homeschool for about 8 hours a day. You guys don’t seem to do a lot of homeschooling; what curriculum do you use?� s h)N THE LAST SCHOOL FUNDRAISER MY KID sold $10,000 of wrapping paper and $5,000 of cookie dough. Thanks for writing the check and opting out. You must be really busy.� s h3HOOT ) HAVE TO GO )T S TIME for 2-year-old Mitzy to go to her gymnastics competition, 5-year-old MooMoo to go to National Cheer Competition and 7-year-old Marky to go to his National LEGO Robotics competition. What are you guys doing later?� s h!RE YOU REALLY GOING TO LET YOUR KID eat that sucker full of red dye #3,729?

You know he will be bouncing off the walls later, right? We only eat organic, even though it’s more expensive. My husband and I decide we wanted the

My child is a better athlete than

Ladies...

My children Students!

BEST for our kids so we don’t feed them junk.�

Folks, I’m just happy being me. Maybe that’s because I’m 40-something and I’ve lived long enough to know what’s really important. I realize that happiness is not contingent on what school my kid goes to—for pre-school or college, how much I weigh, what I drive, or what I do for work or fun.

NOW LET’S DISCUSS SOME WAYS TO HANDLE THESE OBVIOUSLY INSECURE PEOPLE: 1. Smile and ignore the offender.

2. Answer any questions openly and honestly, being as real as possible. The other mom might learn how to behave from you and possibly someday form

real friendships not based on mutual competition.

3. Play along. This can be quite fun if you are able to keep a straight face. If a mom is griping about her daughter’s birthday Birkin bag being the wrong color, you could offer that your son has three similar bags available for loan anytime. Wait for the look on her face, which will be priceless.

Happy parenting! And remember, being a mom doesn’t have to be a competitive sport.

Kerrie McLoughlin is probably the least competitive mommy you will find.

Check out her daily controlled chaos as the homeschooling mom of five at TheKerrieShow.com.

Health

VP

Twelve Ways to Work Your Workout Did you indulge a little more than you would have liked at the end of 2013? If so, you’re not alone. Those extra dollops of whipped cream and smidges of fudge have many of us promising to lose weight and eat healthier food in the upcoming year.

Although we all know that maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, and eating well are good ways to prevent chronic health problems, only 8% of resolution-makers meet their goals.

Take heart! There are ways to beat the odds and ensure your personal success.

Make a commitment to becoming fit, stick to a plan, and most importantly, take a long-term view of your health.

Think about what you’re modeling for your kids.

Start slowly and don’t expect a miracle in three weeks. Follow these twelve surefire tips to start and maintain your workout routine, and maybe you won’t be making the same resolutions next year.

Baby steps first. Promise yourself a brisk 15-minute walk on your lunch hour each day, or a 20-minute yoga DVD while the baby’s napping. Start with something you know you can manage, and grow from there.

Beware the Shortcut Charlatan.

No, you can’t use “vibration technology” to jiggle flab into a beach-ready bikini body. The quicker you’re able to develop immunity to such outlandish claims, the quicker you can get to the real business of getting fit. Exercising can be fun, but it’s not effortless. View your health and fitness as a creative lifelong endeavor, rather than just a phase.

Know yourself, be yourself. Not a rooster? Don’t schedule your workouts at 5 am. Enjoy camaraderie? Join a

fitness class. Nothing burns you out quicker than hating every minute of your workout. Use the equipment and techniques that motivate you.

Precision counts. It’s easier to work toward a goal that’s detailed and specific. So “I’ll exercise more,” becomes “I’ll bike five miles, three times a week.”

Amy Carroll, full-time insurance agent and mother of two, has been going to the gym regularly for almost four months. She says, “My long-term goal is to be the weight that is on my driver’s license and I have mini goals to shoot for along the way.”

Personalize it. One-on-one time with a personal trainer can help demystify the vast array of techniques and equipment.

Personal trainer Brandon Senn claims that many people don’t stick with a fitness program because they’ve chosen a “cookie cutter routine, one in which they don’t understand what they’re doing and why.”

A personal trainer can help you create a flexible and diversified program.

Most can also provide advice regarding nutrition and weight management.

Scale back. Resist the urge to weigh yourself every day. For most people, losing more than 1 to 1½ pounds per week is unrealistic. Senn recommends keeping an accurate log of your workouts as “a great way to see where you’re making progress, and where you might need to modify what you’re doing.”

Hop on the scale only weekly (or even monthly) to get a better sense of weight loss and avoid discouragement.

Buddy up. A workout partner

with similar goals can foster some healthy competition. You don’t need to coordinate every workout, but check in with your buddy regularly to compare notes. Choose a person who won’t let you off the hook too easily if you miss your workout.

Use bribery and blackmail.

Reward yourself in some small way for completing your workout. Sometimes all it takes is the thought of a post-workout shower at the gym, uninterrupted by small children pounding on the door. If you’re more motivated by penalty than reward, agree to buy your workout buddy

lunch if you miss more than two sessions in a row. Post your intentions on Facebook.

Remember your physics.

A body at rest tends to stay at rest, while a body in motion tends to keep moving.

This goes for your body too.

When unforeseen schedule challenges arise, do a brisk 20-minute walk or jog rather than ditch your workout completely. Adopt a “something is better than nothing” attitude.

Missed workouts pile up quickly, while your feet get more comfortable on the ottoman.

Avoid the blame game.

You ate a huge piece of cake after your daughter’s birthday party, and now you feel like your workout was all for naught. Allow yourself a specific amount of time to indulge in guilt (no more than 15 minutes!) and move on.

Emphasis on move. Forget the “sugar debt” mentality and keep moving.

Mix it up. Try something new when you feel stuck in your routine. Carroll says SHE LOVES HER :UMBA CLASS BUT ALSO USES the elliptical, some weight machines, and some free weights. She adds, “I just started doing some basic kick boxing stuff at home and I have enjoyed that too.”

Get inspired. Look for someone who makes you think, “If she can do it, so can I.” Whether it’s the restaurant blogger who shed 90 pounds, or the 90-year-old who still walks 3 miles a day, let your “hero” spur you on.

— Ashley Talmadge

January 2014, Valley Parent

7

VP

Strategies

STOP FOOD BATTLES And Gradually Expand Your Picky Eater’s Palate When I was a kid, I would eat just about anything. I was always hungry at mealtime and would devour whatever my mother put in front of me. So imagine my surprise when my daughter turned out just the opposite—a picky eater, who always regarded unfamiliar foods with suspicion, rejecting most of the choices placed in front of her.

For parents of picky eaters, finding strategies to employ in the short run that help you child become a better eater in the long run is the name of the game. Our daughter actually has a healthy appetite, thank goodness. She is just more eager to eat certain foods than others.

My husband and I have learned to halt the food wars and work with Samantha to

expand her palate instead. Today, at the age of eleven, she eats a variety of healthy foods, is trying new foods all the time, and is continually adding new foods to her diet of her own volition.

More importantly, she has a healthy relationship with food, not a contentious one. She is learning how to exercise the power of choice, as it affects her person, in alignment with her own instincts.

If you are the parent of a picky eater, here are some helpful tips for creating a better meal environment: s Stick to family mealtimes and prepare foods your child will eat at mealtime. So much of a happy mealtime comes from the attitude the

people at the table. Your goal is to create a harmonious relationship with mealtime for life. s Honor the foods your child prefers.

Instead of becoming frustrated because your child prefers fewer foods than you, put all the foods your child likes together. Can you find a healthy, wellbalanced diet in there? Once your child is getting her nutritional needs met, you’ll have one less thing to worry about. s Opt for the best quality food you can afford. If your child goes through a phase where she will only eat hot dogs, get the highest quality hot dogs you can find. If she eats lots of apples, make them organic, if you can afford

it. Bulk shop for items you know your picky eater will consume in quantity. s Offer choices starting at a young age. While it might be tempting to only offer what you know your picky eater will consume, get in the habit of offering a tiny taste of other foods when your child is hungry, but not so hungry as to be prone to upsets.

Even if most offers are rejected, trust that curiosity will catch up with your child’s appetite eventually, so long as tastes are offered in a non-pushy, nonshaming manner. s Make a date to try new foods. My husband once cajoled my daughter to expect to try a new food on her birthday. When the date came, we put

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Strategies the food in front of her, and she just went with it. Why not try setting a date to try a new food and then making the sampling just a little ceremonious. This works well for “missing foods” in your child’s diet like proteins or vegetables.

You can introduce lots of new foods this way, one at a time, over time. s Provide balanced choices. Chances are good that there are certain food groups your child would skip altogether if you let him. Don’t let him. Tell him that he can have the ripe, juicy

all day if I let her. I start offering her protein first, then veggies, then pasta, and finally fruit to make sure her diet stays balanced. If your child is overly enthusiastic for sugar, try adding more fruit choices as snacks. Dried fruit is remarkably sweet. If junk food is a problem, go to your local whole food store and opt for the healthy snack foods, in measured quantities, instead. s Don’t take any flack. There are plenty of parents out there who have no tolerance for or interest in your child’s

Spark your child’s interest in food in general by checking out over-sized cookbooks from the library. Leave them lying around for your child to find or look at the pictures together. This is a great way create curiosity about the foods themselves and how to prepare them. Tell her you’ll be happy to try some simple recipes, so long as she is willing to taste the results. s Consider the upside of picky eating.

Samantha prefers fresh fruit and water over other more sugary choices. She is

watermelon he really loves after he eats the hot dog or pasta he is not as interested in. Go ahead and cut the watermelon and put it in sight. This should be motivation enough. s Grow your own food. If you can possibly have your child help you grow food outdoors this may open foodchoice doors. Be sure to plant foods you know your picky eater will enjoy.

It doesn’t matter if your begin plants from seed or buy starts at your local garden supply. Sharon Lovejoy writes wonderful illustrated gardening books that are sure to delight kids and adults alike. s Watch out for carbs, sugar, and junk food. My daughter would eat pasta

eating habits. Don’t try their patience by asking for special treatment for your child when she is a guest in their homes. Just send along prepared snacks or meals in a lunch box like you would do for school. This allows your child and the other family to keep the focus on a fun time. s Let another parent or family member offer new foods. Have a friend that your child is inclined to listen to offer your child some new foods they already eat at mealtime. My daughter started eating broccoli and chicken at our family friend’s house before she was ever interested in these items at home. s Expose your child to visual variety.

also extra-loyal to wholesome, healthy foods in their simplest forms. I could stand to take a lesson or two from her in this department. s Here is the bottom line: I am not a perfect parent and my daughter is not a perfect kid. I have an adventurous palate and she has a picky palate. By working together, we can still create a happy, healthy home, where, these days, my daughter is inclined to step up and serve us a simple, wholesome dinner her way.

HELP KIDS WORK UP AN APPETITE! Your picky eater needs lots of fresh air and exercise to work up an appetite.

Outdoor pets, like dogs, can be good

VP

active playmates for a picky eater.

Sandboxes, swings, scooters and bikes will lure your child outside to channel his energy in healthy ways that will make mealtimes more cheerfully anticipated.

Encourage games like Red Rover, Red-Light Green-light, Freeze Tag, or just take for a pre-dinner walk.

BREAK OUT INGREDIENTS FROM COMPLEX RECIPES Picky eaters may not like casseroles

because they can’t tell what’s in there.

So, when you are preparing a onedish meal, leave out a portion of each primary ingredient for your picky eater.

Chances are good that she likes many of the ingredients, but prefers not to eat them all squished together. Offer a taste at mealtime anyway, and don’t be too surprised if she bites.

Christina Katz loves International cuisine, the more flavors, the better. Her daughter, on the other hand, will just take the rice or the noodles or maybe a good, old-fashioned hamburger and fries, instead. Her latest book is Permission Granted, 45 Reasons to Micro-publish.

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For Information Call Albany Golf & Event Center at (541) 926-6059 or visit www.albany-golf.com January 2014, Valley Parent

9

Know Your Locals!

VP

Strategies

Ending the Chore Wars

Getting Kids to Help Around the House www.sustainablecorvallis.org | www.corvallisiba.org

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10 Valley Parent, January 2014

In theory, giving kids household chores seems like a winning scenario for everyone involved—kids gain responsibility, and parents finally get some extra help with the dishes, the dog, and the neverending piles of laundry. But kids aren’t always willing participants and parents find that getting a child to finish a job proves to be more work than the actual chore itself.

Letting kids off the hook can seem like the easy way out, but it’s a mistake, says Judy H. Wright, parent educator and author of 77 Ways to Get Your Kids to Help At Home. Household chores breed confidence, competence, and success. “I’ve had teachers tell me that they can spot the students who do chores at home,� she says. “It gives children confidence when they’re allowed and expected to contribute to the family.�

If you could use a little more help around the house, read on for ways to get kids to pitch in, from the pokiest preschooler to the most petulant pre-teen.

TODDLER/PRESCHOOL 2-5: Little Helpers Parents often aren’t sure whether tots can or should do household chores, says Uschi Wells of Imprints, a parenteducation organization in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. But household chores can be a developmental boon to young kids. “We try to help parents see how chores can fit in to a child’s healthy development,� she says. “Giving a two-year-old a task like filling the cat’s water dish or carrying a pile of laundry builds their fine motor and gross motor skills.�

Young kids often enjoy helping their parents, making early childhood is an excellent time to start with a few small chores, says Wells. The key to soliciting cooperation from young children is to make it fun. Find jobs a young child enjoys, like dusting baseboards, sorting laundry, or unloading silverware from the dishwasher.

ELEMENTARY YEARS 6-11: Loving Limits The late elementary years are a time

of social and emotional growth, and children become more concerned with independence than with pleasing their parents. Add a spurt of physical growth and hormonal changes toward the end of elementary school, and kids justifiably are tired at the end of the day.

Tweens should still help, but parents may need to enlist a little creativity to get them off the couch. Wright recommends giving jobs with a time limit attached: a child must feed the dog before he eats dinner, for example. Take on bigger jobs like bedroom cleaning on Saturday mornings before the weekend rush begins. Try a regular one-hour “work party�—complete with tween-approved tunes.

TEEN YEARS 12-18: Time Crunch Between 6 a.m. swim practices, afterschool jobs, and burgeoning homework loads, it may seem like teens are too

busy for chores; they’re either constantly on the go or sleeping. During the busy teenage years, some parents relax rules about household chores to allow teens to focus on schoolwork. That’s fine, says Wright, but the teens still benefit from contributing to the household. “Chores help teens build skills like planning, time management, and creativity that they’ll use in the working world,� she says. Teens who are short on time can trade tasks with siblings. “A busy teen can trade jobs with her sibling, maybe by telling her younger brother that if he vacuums, she’ll drive him to soccer practice,� says Wright.

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, and Tirades.

VP

Calendar

January 2014 Ongoing Events

Albany Historic Carousel and Museum. 503 First Ave. W, Albany. 10a.m.-4 p.m. MondaySaturday; 10a.m.-9p.m. Wednesday. Free. Come see the creative processes taking place every Monday through Saturday on this hand-carved carousel project. In the lobby, view finished animals and watch the painters work on a number of animals and other hand-crafted projects. In the carving studio, see and touch over two dozen carvings in progress. For information visit albanycarousel.com.

Cool Tools! Exhibition. Benton County Museum, 1101 Main St., Philomath. 10a.m.4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through 2014.

Free. Tools for agriculture, engineering, robotics, textiles, distilling, lumbering, surveying, and woodworking are all represented. Visitors can see the surveying tools used by Oregon pioneer Joseph C. Avery to lay out the town of Marysville (later Corvallis) in 1851, as well as a theodolite used to survey Lake Superior in 1869. This exhibition contains a chain saw that might be the largest you’ve ever seen!

The HP35 calculator and the Hewlett-Packard ThinkJet printer had profound effects on American life—and the museum has the objects and shares their stories. For information call (541) 929-6230 or visit http://www.bentoncountymuseum.org.

Drop N Shop. Wacky Indoor Bounce, 202 NW 3rd St., Corvallis. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Thursdays. $12 per child. It’s parent time to shop or run errands, have a lunch date with a friend or spouse, or workout. Reservations are required one week in advance and are for a two-hour time slot. Child must be out of diapers. Snack crackers and beverages are provided. Call (541) 757-6512 or visit www.wackybounce.com to reserve your spot. &AMILY #LIMB 4IME Indoor Climbing Center, 425 SW 26th St., Corvallis. 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $3 per child, $6 per adult with a two-kids-per-parent limit. Parents who are RecSports members bring only their current OSU ID to get in. Parents/guardians must sponsor and belay the child at all times. Visit http:// oregonstate.edu/recsports/node/58#Family%20 Climb or call (541) 737-1595 for information. &AMILY -OVIE 3WIM AT /SBORN !QUATIC Center. 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. 7-9 p.m. every third Friday. $4.75/adult, $3.75/ youth 7-17, $2.50/child 0-6. Enjoy a swim-in movie with the family. There will be a different family-friendly movie projected pool-side each month. Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/pool or call (541) 766-7946 for information.

Hoolyeh International Dance. 1180 25th Ave., SW, Albany. 7-9 p.m. every Monday. $4.

For information call (541) 967-8017 or grholcomb96@gmail.com.

La Leche League of Corvallis and Lebanon.

Free services. La Leche League provides breastfeeding information and encouragement for families by phone, e-mail, group meetings, and online. We serve expectant and/or breastfeeding mothers and their families. We offer information and resources on the normal course of breastfeeding, help with overcoming breastfeeding challenges, and encouragement and peer group support for parents of infants and toddlers. For information about local meetings and programs call (541) 766-0055 or visit http://www.parentingsuccessnetwork.org/com-

munity-resources/community-resources/1185-2.

Lil’ Kickers Winter Classes. Corvallis Sports Park, 175 Southwest Twin Oaks Circle, Corvallis. $10/membership. Class fees vary.

Days and times depend on age group. Ages 18 mos.-9yrs. Lil’ Kickers is a child development program with an emphasis on soccer! Classes are fun, high energy, and are a great place to get to know new families! For information call (541) 757-0776 or visit www.corvallissportspark.com.

Mommy and Me Dance. Dance Corvallis, 1898 SW 3rd St., Corvallis.1:30 p.m.

Thursdays. First class is free. $40/month plus registration fee. Ages 24 months-3 ½ yrs. with an adult. This 40-minute class focuses on teaching young children coordination and the fundamentals of a dance class. They will sing and dance along to their favorite songs, while having fun with new friends. Visit www.dancecorvallis.com for details or call (541) 556-2470.

MOPS–Mothers of PreSchoolers. First Baptist Church. 125 NW 10th St., Corvallis.

9-11 a.m. First and third Friday. $45/year. It is a great opportunity for mothers of preschoolers to get to know each other in an accepting, small-group atmosphere. At every meeting there will be a speaker or video that gives practical tools and insight into the specific things that are important to you. Childcare is provided during this time. If you would like more information about MOPS please contact Sarah MacClary at sarah.macclary@gmail.com. Find us on Facebook or visit www.mops.org.

Music a la Carte. OSU Memorial Union Lounge, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis.

Noon-12:45 p.m. most Fridays during the fall, winter, and spring terms. Free. These “brown bag� concerts showcase a wide variety of musicians and performance ensembles. Bring your lunch or purchase something from one of several restaurants in the MU. Call (541) 737-4061 or visit http://mu.oregonstate.edu/events-ampentertainment/music for details. /PEN 2ECREATION 3WIM AT /SBORN !QUATIC Center. 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. 1-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, 1-9 p.m. Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $4.75/Adults, $3.75/youth 7-17, $2.50/children 0-6. Visits www.corvallisoregon.gov/pool or call (541) 766-7946 for information.

OSUsed Store Sale. 644 SW 13th St., Corvallis. Noon-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Free admission. Items for sale include computers and computer accessories, furniture (desks, file cabinets, tables, chairs, bookcases, etc), office supplies, sporting goods, household items, bicycles and much more. See www.surplus.oregonstate. edu for information.

Parent/Child Swim Class. Albany Community Pool, 2150 36th Ave. SE, Albany. 6-6:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. $4/child, free/parents or $37/10 class punch card. Drop in class, no registration required. Visit www.cityofalbany. net/departments/parks-and-recreation/aquatics/ albany-community-pool for details or call (541) 967-4521.

PEACE Parent Support Group. Osborn Aquatic Center Meeting Room, 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. 6:45-8:45 p.m. Wednesdays.

Suggested donation: $5/adult/evening. Parents deserve a little PEACE. Join this fun, relaxed, ongoing Parent Enrichment and Continuing Education (PEACE) group. Different topic each night. Children swim for free while parents grow in their parenting skills! For more information contact Dave Jackson at (541) 760-9637 or familyconnectionsnight@gmail.com.

Story Time with Puppets. Downtown Carnegie Albany Public Library, 302 Ferry St. SW, Albany. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Free.

Kids and YA. For information call (541) 9177585.

4ODDLER 4IME 3WIM AT /SBORN !QUATIC Center. 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. $4.75/ Adults, $3.75/youth 7-17, $2.50/children 0-6.

Children 6 and under are invited to enjoy a fun, mellow time in the pool. Siblings 8-andunder welcome. The relaxed experience during this special session is designed to help infants and toddlers grow comfortable in the water. A parent or guardian needs to accompany their children. Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/pool or call (541) 766-7946 for information.

Whiteside Theatre Tour. Whiteside Theatre, 361 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis. Noon-1p.m. first Mondays. Free/members; $5/non-members. All tours of the Whiteside Theatre start promptly on time. Once a tour enters the building the doors are closed and joining the tour is not permitted. Videography of any kind is not permitted. To reserve your space simply e-mail reservations@whitesidetheatre.org with your name, any special arrangements, and the number in your group. Admission will be paid at the door on the day of the tour.

&RIDAY

#HILDREN S &RIDAY !RT #LASSES 155 Main St., Brownsville. 9:30-11 a.m. Jr. High and High Schoolers; 1-2:30 p.m. Grades 1-6. $20. 2D Animation: Drawing and Flip Books. Register at Art Center or Central Linn Schools. For information call (541) 466-5782. &AMILY 3WIM Albany Community Pool, 2150 36th Ave. SE, Albany. 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. $3/youth, $3.50/adult, $3.25/ senior, $10/family. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Visit www.cityofalbany.net/parks/facilities/acp.php for details or call (541) 967-4521.

Hip Hop Dance. The Little Gym of Corvallis, 958 NW Circle Blvd., Ste. A. 3:45 p.m., ages 4-6; 4:50 p.m., ages 6-12. Cost varies. This class is half dance, half gymnastics. Kids will be exposed to jazz and Hip Hop styles, learning specific moves and exploring creative freestyle dance. Call (541) 753-0950 for information and enrollment or see www.TheLittleGym.com/ CorvallisOR. Teens Modern Dance. Oddfellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 4:15-5:35 p.m.

Mondays, 4-5:30 p.m. Fridays. $42/month/1 class per week-$75/month/2 classes per week.

Beginning or continuing students learn a variety of Modern Dance styles. All classes include floor and center work, body swings, balance, footwork, jumps, leaps, turns and choreography.

Notify Donna at ervin95@comcast.net or call (541) 752-6329 if you would like to stop in for a free trial class or to observe. For information visit www.moderndancetechnique.com.

Saturday 4

Clemens Community Pool Open Rec. Philomath High School, 2054 Applegate St., Philomath. 1-3 p.m. Saturdays during the school year. $3.25/adults, $2.50/student/seniors, free/age 5 and under, $8/family (Attendant of at least 14 years old must accompany children under 7).They also offer lessons, lap swim, aqua fitness, and swim team. Visit www. philomath.k12.or.us/pool or call (541) 929-3584 for information.

Kids Workshop. Home Depot, 3500 Spicer

Winter Rod & Speed Show

This family-friendly event features over 100 show cars, hot rods, muscle cars, street rods, race cars, and classics. Featured this year is the “Duedall and Marrs�

Competition Coupe, winner of the Grand National Roadster Show, the 300 MPH Incinerator Jet Dragster, Double Trouble a twin engine 1932 Roadster, Steve Tepper’s new ‘41 Willys Gasser. Event supports food drive to aid local citizens in need of food.

Where: When: Cost:

Info:

Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany.

Saturday, January 4; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. $8/general; Free/kids 10 & under.

(Anyone that brings a can of food or other non-perishable food items to the show will save $3.00 on admission price.) www.capracing.com/winter_show. html

Drive SE, Albany or 1780 NW Four Acre Pl., Corvallis. 9 a.m.-noon, first Saturday of every month. Free. First come, first serve. Hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5-12.

Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety, and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment. All kids get to keep their craft and receive a free Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin, and certificate of achievement. For information, call (541) 812-0808 for Albany or (541) 758-9303 for Corvallis.

Man in the Yellow Hat Storytime: Storytime for Dad and Me. Youth Activity Room, Corvallis Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 11 a.m., first Saturday of the month. Children ages 0-6 and dads or father figures. Age-appropriate books, music, rhymes and early literacy information presented. Call (541) 766-6794 or visit www.thebestlibrary.net for information.

Prenatal Yoga. EcoFusion Fitness, 116 SW 4th St., Corvallis. 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, 11:15 a.m.12:15 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays. $10/class or $70/10 classes. Prenatal yoga is a great way to prepare the body and mind for birth, boost mood, and reduce pregnancy aches and pains. Modifications are available to meet various backgrounds and levels of experience.

This class is open to women in any stage of a complication-free pregnancy. For information, call (541) 740-2516 or visit www.ecofusionfitness.com.

Story Time for Kids. Imagine Coffee, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., Corvallis. 10 a.m. Free.

Story Man, James Warren, reads to children (of all ages). For information visit http://imaginecoffee.net/events-in-corvallis.

Calendar

continued on page 12

January 2014, Valley Parent

11

Calendar

continued from page 11

Winter Rod & Speed Show. Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. $8/general; Free/kids 10 and under. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. This family-friendly event features over 100 show cars, hot rods, muscle cars, street rods, race cars, and classics. Featured this year is the “Duedall and Marrs� Competition Coupe, winner of the Grand National Roadster Show, the 300 MPH Incinerator Jet Dragster, Double Trouble a twin engine 1932 Roadster, Steve Tepper’s new ‘41 Willys Gasser. Event supports food drive to aid local citizens in need of food. Anyone that brings a can of food or other non-perishable food items to the show will save $3.00 on admission price. For information visit www.capracing.com/winter_show. html.

Sunday 5

Hoolyeh International Dance. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 4515 SW West Hills Road, Corvallis. 7-9 p.m. first and third Sundays. $3/admission. The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances. For information call (971) 2372000.

Monday 6

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK Various locations in Albany. Free. Through January 11th Albany Parks and Recreation is offering CORERolling; Muscle Tech; S.E.T.; Step Challenge; Step Explosion; Tone ELEVEN; ZUMBA™ Gold; ZUMBA™; and ZUMBA™ Toning classes. Check out the instructors and find the workout that fits you! Attend any or all. For registration/location information call (541) 9177777 or visit albanyparksandrecreation.org.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. 2150 36th Ave. SE, Albany.

6:30-8 p.m. Mondays; 2-3 p.m. Wednesdays; 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. $3/youth, $3.50/adult, $3.25/senior, $10/family. Special rate $2.75/ person on Wednesdays. Children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water.

Visit www.cityofalbany.net/parks/facilities/acp. php for details or call (541) 967-4521.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. Clemens Community Pool. Philomath High School, 2054 Applegate St., Philomath. 6-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. $40/10 lessons. Ages 6 mos.-6 yrs. Children will learn to become comfortable in the water and practice basic water safety skills depending upon age and level. For information call (541) 929-3584 or visit www. philomath.k12.or.us/resources/clemens_pool. php.

Southtown Performers Spotlight. Fire Works Restaurant, 1115 SW 3rd St., Corvallis.

8-10 p.m. (Formerly Open Mic). Free admission with $2 puchase, $5 entry fee. Enjoy a great new show every Monday at FireWorks!

The Southtown Performers Spotlight is a family-friendly evening of entertainment, featuring music, song, and poetry by local artists. Visit http://southtownlive.com/events.html. Sign up in advance on Facebook by messaging Ă–cean LiffAnderson or call (541) 754-6958 for information.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

Tuesday 7

Baton Twirling Class. Dance Corvallis, 1898 SW 3rd St., Corvallis. 4:30 p.m. $40/month, first class is free. Boys and girls welcome, ages 4+. Baton Twirling classes taught by Kailey McKay, former OSU Feature Twirler.

Private lessons are also available. Please email Kailey at reignbatontwirling@gmail.com if interested or call (541) 556-2470. Like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ ReignBatonTwirling.

Beginning Cuban Salsa Dancing. Impulse Bar & Grill, 1425 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis.

12 Valley Parent, January 2014

Hoolyeh International Dance The first Sunday of the month will be dedicated to Balkan dances.

Where: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 4515 SW West Hills Road, Corvallis.

When: Sunday, January 5 & 19 (first and third Sundays); 7-9 p.m.

Cost: $3/admission Info: (971) 237-2000

6-7:30 p.m. $40/four-week course in December.

Beginner course (16 and older) in Cuban Salsa (Casino) and Rueda de Casino (a fun, group dance from Cuba). Learn the first set of fundamental motions and basics to this amazing dance, and be immediately infused into an incredible community of people who love the music and culture of Cuba. Call (541) 230-1114 or see http://www.rumbanana.org/Classes.html for information.

Celtic Jam. Imagine Coffee, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., Corvallis. 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

See http://imaginecoffee.net/events-in-corvallis/ for information.

Irish Dance/New Beginner. An Daire Academy of Irish Dance, 33900 Eastgate Cir., Corvallis. 4-4:45 p.m. Tuesdays. $50/month.

First class is free to see if you would like to learn Irish Dance. For information visit http:// andairecorvallis.com/schedule.html or e-mail corvalliscelticarts@gmail.com.

Mama Baby Yoga. EcoFusion Fitness, 116 SW 4th St., Corvallis. 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. $70 for 10 sessions or $10 drop in rate. A yoga class for moms and babies 2 weeks to 4 months. For information, call (541) 7402516 or visit www.ecofusionfitness.com.

Nymphs in Nature. Avery House Nature Center, 1200 SW Avery Park Lane, Corvallis.

Noon-1 p.m. $32/four-week session. Ages 2-5 (adult participation optional). January is wet-nwild month. From the sky to the land water is on the go. Travel the Water cycle and get into the clouds. For information/registration e-mail ahnc@corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org or call (541) 758-6198.

Rotary Club of Albany Meeting. Pop’s Branding Iron, 901 Pacific Blvd. SE, Albany.

Noon. Free. Rotary of Albany has purchased and helped install playground equipment, sponsored an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children, provided grants to local service organizations, given scholarships to deserving students, and sponsored recognition programs for outstanding young people. E-mail dale.stowell@linnbenton.edu for information.

Teen Writers Group. Corvallis Public Library, Youth Activity Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 6 p.m. Free. Every Tuesday. Teen Writers Group open to all teens ages 12-18 interested in writing. This group is led by a local YA author, Bryan Bliss. For information call (541) 766-6794.

Tuesday Tea Community Event. Live Well Studio, 971 NW Spruce Ave., Corvallis. 11 a.m.-Noon. Free. Gather for tea in the studio.

Bring your favorite tea to share, and a mug.

Visit http://www.livewellstudio.com for info.

Yoga in the Gallery. The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis. 6-7 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Explore the world of yoga and enjoy a sense of community in the beautiful setting of The Arts Center’s main gallery. The hour-long session will be led by certified yoga instructor and The Arts Center volunteer Marcy Keuter.

Marcy will lead you through a series of gentle yoga poses inspired by the art in the gallery.

Beginners are welcome. Please bring your own mat if possible. For information visit http:// theartscenter.net/calendar/events.

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK See 1/6.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Wednesday 8

!LBANY &ITWALKERS Villas of Courtyard Villa, 1929 Grand Prairie Road. SE, Albany. 7 p.m.

Second Wednesday. This group sponsors walking events and presents walks around the community. Their motto is “walk for the health of it.� For information, contact Rozy Weatherby at (541) 926-7890 or email her at wrozy@yahoo. com.

All Boys Hip Hop. Dance Corvallis, 1898 SW 3rd St., Corvallis. 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. First class is free. $40/month for returning students.

Boys can benefit from dance and from the concentration and strength that dance builds. These classes are designed to encourage athleticism.

Boys will work on individual skills as well as a group combination. Visit www.dancecorvallis. com for details or call (541) 556-2470.

Baby and Me Storytime. Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St., Lebanon. 10 a.m.

Free. Designed for ages 0-24 months and their caregivers. Enjoy interactive time with your tot through stories, finger plays, and music. Call (541) 258-4926 or visit www.lebanon.plinkit. org for information.

Claire of the Sea Light Book Discussion.

Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave., SE, Albany. 6:30p.m. Free. Claire of the Sea Light is a tightly woven, breathtaking tapestry that explores what it means to be a parent, child, neighbor, lover, and friend, while revealing the mysterious bonds we share with the natural world and with one another. Embracing the magic and heartbreak of ordinary life, it is Edwidge Danticat’s most spellbinding, astonishing book yet. For information visit library. cityofalbany.net.

Creative Movement. Oddfellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 3:30-4:20 p.m. $12/single class, $40/month. Children 4½ to 6 years explore the elements of dance: shapes, rhythm, tempo, pathways, and more. Notify Donna at ervin95@comcast.net or call (541) 752-6329 if you would like to stop in for a free trial class or to observe. For information visit www.moderndancetechnique.com.

Geisel Book Club for Beginning Readers.

Corvallis Public Library Youth Activity Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Second Wednesday. Open to any child in grades K-2 who is beginning to read. Monthly meetings include a discussion about the book, activities, and other stories.

This month’s title is The Bookstore Ghost by Barbara Maitland. A limited number of copies of each title will be available at the Youth Reference Desk. For information call (541) 766-6794 or visit www.thebestlibrary.net/ library-events-kidslinks-119.

Hey! Look us Over Maternity Program.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center,

3600 NW Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. 7-9 p.m.

Second Wednesday. Free. Expectant parents will tour the Center for Women and Families and meet the delivery staff. Call (541) 768-4752 for information.

Introduction to Modern. Oddfellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 3:30-4:20 p.m. $12/ single class, $40/month. Children 4 1/2 to 6 years explore the elements of dance: shapes, rhythm, tempo, pathways, and more. Notify Donna at ervin95@comcast.net or call (541) 752-6329 if you would like to stop in for a free trial class or to observe. For information visit www.moderndancetechnique.com.

LEGO Club. Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St., Lebanon.1:30-2:30 p.m. Second Wednesday. Free. Kids ages 6-13 work independently to create LEGO masterpieces with the LEGOs provided. Call (541) 258-4926 or visit www.lebanon.plinkit.org.

Pre-Natal Yoga. Live Well Studio, 971 NW Spruce Ave., Corvallis. 7-8:15 p.m. $11-12.

Using a carefully chosen set of poses, support your changing body and develop the strength and openness needed for giving birth. Develop the breath and mindfulness skills which are essential to childbirth and motherhood. For information, call (541) 224-6566 or visit www. livewellstudio.com.

Rise and Shine Storytime. Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St., Philomath.10-10:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Free.

Children 2-5 will wake up with reading, singing, movement, and art projects. For information call (541) 929-3016 or visit www.thebestlibrary.net/library-events-kidslinks-119.

Rotary Club of Corvallis Mornings. The Osborne Aquatic Center. 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. 6:45 a.m. Free. Meet every Wednesday for fellowship, breakfast, and an informative and interesting presentation from a guest speaker. Local projects have included stage curtains for Lincoln School, clothing for residents at Jackson Street Youth Shelter, and art supplies for schools. For information visit www.corvallismorningrotary.org.

Teen Makers. Corvallis Public Library, Youth Activity Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 6 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesday.

Free. Arduino and Raspberry Pi are low cost, open-source, physical computing platforms that can be used to learn programming, detect sensor input, blink LEDs, and control motors.

The Library has purchased SparkFun Inventor’s Kits and Raspberry Pi boards for Teen Makers to learn programming and explore electronics.

Bring your own laptop if you would like. For information call (541) 766-6794. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK See 1/6.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Yoga in the Gallery. See 1/7.

Thursday 9

Hearts of the Valley Talent Search Open Mic Entry. Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 7-9 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays. The first and second place winners from this event will be entered into the Next Level, a bi-monthly talent search, where they will compete for a cash prize, a one hour recording session at Wild Rose Studios, and entry into the Hearts of the Valley Talent Search. The first and second place winners of the Next Level go on to compete at the biannual Hearts of the Valley Talent Search. For information contact clay@wildrosestudios.com.

La Leche League of Lebanon Meetings.

Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Hwy., Lebanon. 6 p.m. Second Thursday. Free.

Breastfeeding information and support for expectant and breastfeeding mothers. Fathers and babies welcome. For information call (541) 766-0055 or visit www.llli.org.

Little Bookworms Preschool Storytime.

Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St., Lebanon. 11 a.m. Free. Children ages 3-6 to explore their world interactively through books, songs and finger plays. A craft follows every story time. Call (541) 258-4926 or visit www. lebanon.plinkit.org for information.

Lyrical Jazz. Downtown Dance, 223 NW 2nd St., Corvallis. 7:45-8:45 p.m. $13/session. Teen/Adult, open level. A technique class exploring the expressive and emotional side of contemporary jazz dance choreography. Try a class! For information visit www.

DowntownDanceCorvallis.com or call (541) 829-0070.

Modern Dance I. Oddfellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 3:45-4:45 p.m. $12/single class, $40/month. Children 8-10 years will learn basic ballet and Modern technique in a variety of contemporary dance styles. All classes include floor and center work, body swings, jumps, leaps, turns, and choreography.

Notify Donna at ervin95@comcast.net or call (541) 752-6329 if you would like to stop in for a free trial class or to observe. For information visit www.moderndancetechnique.com.

Teen Yoga. LiveWell Studio, 971 NW Spruce Ave., Ste 101, Corvallis. 4-5 p.m. Free. Yoga just for teens. Get stronger and more flexible, feel easier and happier in your body, relieve stress and relax. Yoga designed just for you!

For information e-mail frontdesk@livewellstudio.com.

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK See 1/6.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

&RIDAY

Creative Dance. Downtown Dance, 223 NW 2nd St., Corvallis. 10:45-11:30 a.m.

Cost varies. Ages 3/12- 5. Introduction to the world of dance through creative movement games, props, and stories. For information call (541) 829-0070 or visit www.

DowntownDanceCorvallis.com.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND Albany Civic Theater, 111 First Ave. NW, Albany. 7:30 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $12/ general; $9/Senior/Junior. Mavis and the other employees of the Lost and Found department of the Paradise Bus Company are used to dealing with all kinds of strange things, from abandoned tubas to missing tiaras. However, their biggest challenge yet may be controlling a runaway rumor that big-shot B.F. Crandall is coming to visit. As they try to keep up the ruse for their by-the-book manager, crazy misunderstandings and confusion ensue, along with a nine-year-old girl who turns up at the bus station alone. For information visit http:// albanycivic.org/actsched.html. #HILDREN S &RIDAY !RT #LASSES See 1/3. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK See 1/6.

Hip Hop Dance. See 1/3.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

Saturday 11

La fiesta de su biblioteca. Corvallis Public Library, Youth Activity Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. Free 11 a.m.-noon, second Saturdays. Come and enjoy a fun bilingual English/Spanish program. Children of all ages welcome. Crafts are made after story time.

Refreshments served. Venga y disfrute de la fiesta de su biblioteca. Un programa bilingĂźe cada mes en la biblioteca. Gratis Refrescos.

Call (541) 766-6794 for information.

Clemens Community Pool Open Rec. See 1/4.

'ET 3TARTED 'ET &IT 7EEK See 1/6.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Science Pub- Living with HIV/AIDS: A Medical Success Story. Old World Deli, 341 2nd St., Corvallis. 6-8 p.m. Free. Dr. Sugat Patel, an Infectious Disease Physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, will discuss trends in HIV/AIDS and how he and his colleagues treat people in the mid-Willamette Valley. He’ll provide an historical overview of the AIDS epidemic and current treatment options. Call (541) 737-4717 or visit http:// oregonstate.edu/terra/science-pub-corvallis for information. :UMBA !DULT &ITNESS Downtown Dance, 223 NW 2nd St., Corvallis. 8:30-9:20 a.m. Mondays and Fridays; 9:30-10:20 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. $7. Punch card available. For information visit www.DowntownDanceCorvallis. com or call (541) 829-0070.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Southtown Performers Spotlight. See 1/6.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

art. Participants need to be able to handle a hammer independently. Parents are welcome to assist their children with this project. Space is limited and those interested in participating need to sign up in advance at the library. For information visit www.lebanon.plinkit.org or call (541) 258-4926.

Movie at Chintimini. Chintimini Senior Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave., Corvallis. 2-4 p.m.Free/Gold Pass, $5/day pass. 18 and over.

Movie enthusiasts, right this way! Each month the theme and movie will change. Popcorn drinks, and other treats available for purchase during the show. Call (541) 766-6959 for information and movie titles.

R.E.A.D. Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St., Philomath. 2:30-4:00 p.m. Free.

Experience reading time with a four-legged friend. R.E.A.D. stands for Reading Education Assistance Dogs. The program’s mission is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors. For information call (541) 929-3016 or visit www.cbcpl.net or www.welcomewagger.org/read.html.

All Boys Hip Hop. See 1/8.

Baby and Me Storytime. See 1/8.

Creative Movement. See 1/8. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Introduction to Modern. See 1/8.

Little Bookworms Preschool Storytime.

Pre-Natal Yoga. See 1/8.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Rise and Shine Storytime. See 1/8.

Rotary Club of Corvallis Mornings. See 1/8.

Yoga in the Gallery. See 1/7. :UMBA !DULT &ITNESS See 1/13.

Tuesday 14

Thursday 16

Story Time for Kids. See 1/4.

Sunday 12

Blazing Paddles with Gray Warriner. Russell Tripp Performance Center, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. 2 p.m. $3-$8. Blazing Paddles packs thrill, spills and a ton of fun into one soggy film. But there’s more than white water.

Discover the half-forgotten history and scenic grandeur of rivers across America, Canada and exotic locations across the globe. For ticket information visit http://www.linnbenton.edu/ current-students/involvement/russell-trippperformance-center/current-season.

-ONDAY

Baton Twirling Class. See 1/7.

Beginning Cuban Salsa Dancing. See 1/7.

Celtic Jam. See 1/7.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Rotary Club of Albany Meeting. See 1/7.

Teen Writers Group. See 1/7.

Tuesday Tea Community Event. See 1/7.

Wednesday 15

Beginner Hip-Hop. Downtown Dance, 223 NW 2nd St., Corvallis. 4-4:55 p.m. Cost varies. Ages 8 and up. A fun, introductory class for young dancers. For information visit www.

DowntownDanceCorvallis.com or call (541) 829-0070.

Crafternoons. Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St., Lebanon. 4-5 p.m. Free. Ages 8-18. An afternoon of arts and crafts for children and teens, with each program featuring a different craft and designed for a specific age group. This first Crafternoon will feature string

Anime Club. Main Library, 2450 14th Ave., SE, Albany. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Third Thursday.

Fans of Japanese animation meet monthly to play Yu-Gi-Oh or other games, share books, practice drawing in the Japanese style, and meet others with similar interests. Participants are encouraged to come in costume and to bring snack foods and drinks to share. For ages 11 to adult. For information about this program, call Young Adult Services Librarian Doris Hicks at (541) 791-0015 or email doris.hicks@cityofalbany.net.

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Annual Meeting. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave. Noon-1:30.

Free. Public is welcome. The meeting will feature presentations on accomplishments of 2013 and plans for 2014. A highlight of the Annual Meeting will be the recognition of those businesses that have been nominated for this year’s “Good Steward of the Planet� award. There will be an opportunity for networking and information sharing by attendees. Refreshments will

Crafternoons An afternoon of arts and crafts for children and teens, with each program featuring a different craft and designed for a specific age group. This first Crafternoon will feature string art. Participants need to be able to handle a hammer independently. Parents are welcome to assist their children with this project. Space is limited and those interested in participating need to sign up in advance at the library.

Where: Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St., Lebanon.

When: Wednesday, January 15; 4-5p.m.

Who: Ages 8-18.

Cost: Free Info: www.lebanon.plinkit.org; (541) 258-4926.

be served. The gathering is being sponsored

by Coalition partner First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op. For information visit http://sustainablecorvallis.org/2012/12/annual-meetingset-for-january-16.

Third Thursday. Downtown Albany. 4-8 p.m.

Free. Third Thursdays is a monthly stay-openlate shopping event. Eat at one of Downtown’s 22 locally owned restaurants and stay for Third Thursday happenings. Contact the Albany Downtown Association at (541) 928-2469 or see www.albanydowntown.com for information.

Adult Beginner/Advanced Beginner HipHop. See 1/9.

Little Bookworms Preschool Storytime. See 1/9.

Lyrical Jazz. See 1/9.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Modern Dance I. See 1/9.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Teen Yoga. See 1/9. :UMBA !DULT &ITNESS See 1/13.

&RIDAY

#HILDREN S &RIDAY !RT #LASSES See 1/3.

Creative Dance. See 1/10. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Hip Hop Dance. See 1/3.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3. :UMBA !DULT &ITNESS See 1/13.

Saturday 18

Children’s Performing Art Series: “Grupo Condor.� 6500 SW Pacific Blvd, Albany.

10 a.m.-Noon. Free. This touring folk music ensemble embodies traditional musical styles of all of Spanish-speaking America. The concerts and school programs focus on the blend of Spanish, African, and Native American influences that comprise this music and create this truly multicultural art form. For more than 20 years, the Albany Parks & Recreation Department has partnered with local businesses to make these performances a reality. For information call (541) 917-7777 or visit http://www. cityofalbany.net.

International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Ray’s Food Place, 621 NW Hickory St., Albany.

10 a.m. third Saturdays. All ages. A social club dedicated to advancing the art of magic performance, interest, and fellowship. Call (541) 7523900 for details or e-mail magictuba@proaxis. com. Also visit www.ring238.org.

Clemens Community Pool Open Rec. See 1/4.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Story Time for Kids. See 1/4.

Sunday 19

Linn Historical Society “East Thornton Lake Nature Area.� Lakeside Center, Mennonite Village, 2180 54th Ave., Albany. 2-3 p.m. Free.

For information call (541) 926-4680.

Hoolyeh International Dance. See 1/5.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Monday 20

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Southtown Performers Spotlight. See 1/6.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3. :UMBA !DULT &ITNESS See 1/13.

Tuesday 21

Dining for Women. Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship Church, 2945 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis. 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays. An organization funding programs fostering good health,

Calendar

continued on page 14

January 2014, Valley Parent

13

Library Story Times

Albany Public Library, Downtown Tues: 10:30 am with puppet show Philomath Public Library Wed: Philomath Story Time, 10 am, 3-5 years old Corvallis Public Library Mon: Bedtime Story Time, 7 pm, all ages Tues: Toddler Story Time, 10 am, 18-36 months old Wed: Infant Story Time, 10 am, Birth-18 months old Thurs: Preschool Story Time, 10 am, 3-5 years old 1st Sat: 11 am, 0-36 months old with dads

Calendar

continued from page 13

education, and economic self-sufficiency through potlucks where the money saved on the meal is donated to international programs.

Bring a potluck dish to share and a donation (any amount, check or credit card preferred).

For visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Dining-for-Women-Corvallis-Chapter/2016792 26520781?sk=info.

Baton Twirling Class. See 1/7.

Beginning Cuban Salsa Dancing. See 1/7.

Celtic Jam. See 1/7.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Rotary Club of Albany Meeting. See 1/7.

Teen Writers Group. See 1/7.

Tuesday Tea Community Event. See 1/7.

Wednesday 22

All Boys Hip Hop. See 1/8.

Baby and Me Storytime. See 1/8.

Beginner Hip-Hop. See 1/15.

Creative Movement. See 1/8. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Introduction to Modern. See 1/8.

Pre-Natal Yoga. See 1/8.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Rise and Shine Storytime. See 1/8.

Rotary Club of Corvallis Mornings. See 1/8.

Teen Makers. See 1/8.

4HURSDAY

/35SED 2EPAIR &AIR OSUsed Store, 644 SW 13th St., Corvallis. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Bring your broken items and questions; volunteers will help you learn how to repair your belongings for free! Sponsored by Campus Recycling.

Specific repair skills and DIY demonstrations offered. For information visit http://tiny.cc/ repair-fair or call 541-737-5398.

Adult Beginner/Advanced Beginner HipHop. See 1/9.

Hearts of the Valley Talent Search Open Mic Entry. See 1/9.

Little Bookworms Preschool Storytime. See 1/9.

Lyrical Jazz. See 1/9.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Modern Dance I. See 1/9.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Teen Yoga. See 1/9.

&RIDAY 14 Valley Parent, January 2014

Saturday 25

10 Minute Play in a Day. Majestic Theatre, Main Stage, 115 SW 2nd St., Corvallis. 7:30 p.m. Free. Enjoy a performance based upon ten minute plays that were written, rehearsed and performed within a 24-hour period. For information visit http://www.majestic.org/10-minuteplay-in-a-day.

Author & Illustrator Day. Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave., Albany. 1:30-7 p.m.

Free. Ages 13-19. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a slide show and discussion of author/illustrator Nicole Rubel’s work. From 3-4 p.m., choose from two workshops: “Illustrate Your Characters; Illustrate Your Story,� or “Spreading the Word; Spreading Your Words.� At 4:30p.m. bestselling author April Henry will talk about her books and about being an author of novels for teens and adults. At 6 p.m. teens may participate in Open Mic and read aloud from their original poetry or prose. No registration required. For information contact dorishicks@ cityofalbany.net or call (541) 791-0015.

4ENTH !NNUAL ,UNAFEST &ILM &ESTIVAL LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis.

7-9:30 p.m. $15/general; $12/student/senior.

Tickets available for purchase at Grass Roots Books and Music 1/08/14. LUNAFEST is a traveling film festival of award-winning short films by, for, and about women and filled with stories of reflection, hope, and humor. Benefits the Women’s Cancer Coalition. For information visit http://oregonstate.edu/lasells/events.

Clemens Community Pool Open Rec. See 1/4.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Story Time for Kids. See 1/4.

Sunday 26

Sit and Spin Sunday. Stash Headquarters, 110 SW 3rd St., Corvallis. Noon-3p.m. last Sundays. Free. Get spinning, plying, and chatting with other area fiber enthusiasts. Stash

Corvallis Swing and Blues Weekend Photo credit: Martin & Renee Norred

Albany Public Library, Main Mon: 7 pm with puppet show Wed: 10:30 am with puppet show Thurs: 10:30 am with puppet show

#HILDREN S &RIDAY !RT #LASSES 155 Main St., Brownsville. 9:30-11 a.m. Jr. High and High Schoolers; 1-2:30 p.m. Grades 1-6. $20. 2D Animation: Drawing and Flip Books. Register at Art Center or Central Linn Schools. For information call (541) 466-5782.

Corvallis Swing and Blues Weekend. OSU Women’s Building, 160 SW 26th St., Corvallis.

8:30 p.m.-Midnight Sunday. $50.You are invited to three nights of swing and blues dancing in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Corvallis Swing and OSU Blues are proud to bring together two swing bands, two blues bands, and our award-winning DJs for a weekend of fun, great music, and social dancing. The goal is to create an opportunity for the swing and blues groups of the Willamette Valley to gather as a larger community and promote this incredible area to the rest of the country. Various venues.

For information/RSVP visit http://swingandblues.org/about.

Parents’ Night Out. Osborn Aquatic Center, 1940 NW Highland Dr., Corvallis. 6-10 p.m. $20/child. Drop off the kids for some organized games, fun, and prizes. The swim instructor team will keep the kids safe, and they’ll have a blast. Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/index. aspx?page=271 or call (541) 766-7946 for information and pre-registration.

Schools Out Swim. Albany Community Pool.

2150 36th Ave. SE, Albany. 1-3 p.m. $3/Youth, $3.50/Adult, $10Family. Visit http://www.cityofalbany.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/ classes or call (541) 967-4521 for information.

Creative Dance. See 1/10. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Hip Hop Dance. See 1/3.

0ARADISE ,OST AND &OUND See 1/10.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

You are invited to three nights of swing and blues dancing in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Corvallis Swing and OSU Blues are proud to bring together two swing bands, two blues bands, and our award-winning DJs for a weekend of fun, great music, and social dancing. The goal is to create an opportunity for the swing and blues groups of the Willamette Valley to gather as a larger community and promote this incredible area to the rest of the country. Various venues.

Where: OSU Women’s Building, 160 SW 26th St., Corvallis.

When: Friday, January 24; 8:30 p.m.-Midnight Sunday Cost: $50.

Info/RSVP:

provides water and tea and encourages friends to bring snacks for sharing. Wheels, spindles, and mini spinners welcome! For information call (541) 753-9276 or visit http://stashlocal. com/classes Vietnam Veterans of America Breakfast.

American Legion, 480 Main St., Lebanon, 8-11 a.m. last Sundays. $5. All you can eat breakfast includes Belgian waffles, strawberries, bacon, sausage, eggs to order, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, orange or tomato juice, and coffee. For information call (541) 451-1351.

Monday 27

Schools Out Swim. Albany Community Pool.

2150 36th Ave. SE, Albany. 1-3 p.m. $3/Youth, $3.50/Adult, $10Family. Visit http://www.cityofalbany.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/ classes or call (541) 967-4521 for information.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Southtown Performers Spotlight. See 1/6.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

Tuesday 28

Student Art Show. LaSells Stewart Center, Giustina Gallery, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A non-juried art show featuring the work of Elementary, Middle, and High School students. For information visit http://oregonstate.edu/lasells/gallery or call (541) 737-2402.

Baton Twirling Class. See 1/7.

Beginning Cuban Salsa Dancing. See 1/7.

Celtic Jam. See 1/7.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Rotary Club of Albany Meeting. See 1/7.

Teen Writers Group. See 1/7.

Tuesday Tea Community Event. See 1/7.

Wednesday 29

All Boys Hip Hop. See 1/8.

Baby and Me Storytime. See 1/8.

Creative Movement. See 1/8. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Introduction to Modern. See 1/8.

Pre-Natal Yoga. See 1/8.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Red Cross Learn-To-Swim Lessons. See 1/6.

Rise and Shine Storytime. See 1/8.

Rotary Club of Corvallis Mornings. See 1/8.

Student Art Show. See 1/28.

4HURSDAY

Moyer House and Linn County Historical Museum Tour. 204 N. Main St., Brownsville.

9:40 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $29-$39 (tour and transportation only). Join the Albany Parks and Recreation tour of Brownsville’s original railroad depot and historic Moyer House. Have lunch in the quaint town of Brownsville and browse the shops. For registration/tour depar-

ture times and locations, call (541) 917-7777 or visit www.albanyparksandrecreation.org.

Adult Beginner/Advanced Beginner HipHop. See 1/9.

Little Bookworms Preschool Storytime.

See 1/9.

Mama Baby Yoga. See 1/7.

Modern Dance I. See 1/9.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Student Art Show. See 1/28.

Teen Yoga. See 1/9.

&RIDAY

The Jungle Book. Albany Civic Theater, 111 First Ave., Albany. $7/adult; $5/junior/senior.

Children will adore this wonderfully imaginative and creative play based on the famous stories of Rudyard Kipling. Mowgli is a jungle boy raised by wolves. His mortal enemy is Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger. Shere Khan wants to rule the jungle, and it’s up to Mowgli to defeat him. This is truly a “participation� show as the audiences get to portray silly monkeys, helpful elephants, wolves, reptiles, bees and even a tropical storm. For information visit www.albanycivic.org. #HILDREN S &RIDAY !RT #LASSES See 1/3. &AMILY 3WIM See 1/3.

Hip Hop Dance. See 1/3.

Student Art Show. See 1/28.

Teens Modern Dance. See 1/3.

3ATURDAY &EBRUARY

Children’s Performing Art Series: Oregon Shadow Theater. 6500 SW Pacific Blvd, Albany. The Oregon Shadow Theatre is a Portland, Oregon, based company specializing in the art of shadow puppetry. Their awardwinning shadow plays have toured across the United States and in Canada, including performances at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. OST productions are noted for exquisite, colorful puppets, live music and sound effects, and lively, good humor. For information call (541) 917-7777 or go visit http://www.cityofalbany.net.

Clemens Community Pool Open Rec. See 1/4.

Prenatal Yoga. See 1/4.

Recreation/Open Swim at Albany Community Pool. See 1/6.

Story Time for Kids. See 1/4.

The Jungle Book. See 1/31.

3UNDAY &EBRUARY

Hoolyeh International Dance. See 1/5.

Free: Your event in our Calendar

Deadline 1/31/14

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