Weld County Parents July-August 2017

JULY/AUGUST 2017

MOTHER LODE

Losing the anxious back to school feeling

KIDS

Life skills beyond the classroom can boost children’s school performance

Navigating the education seas

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

How to save on school supplies

CONTROLLING TANTRUMS Managing the temper tantrum monster

T B O A S C IS C H K SU O E OL

SMART

CHARTER SCHOOLS

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 1

Operating Hours: Vary from 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Open year round including snow days and days out of school!

Child Care Assistance and United Way Assistance Accepted

Operating Hours: Vary from 5:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Operating Varysnow from 5:30 6:15 p.m.

Open year roundHours: including daysa.m. and to days out of school!

Open year round includingandsnow daysAccepted out of school!

Child Care Assistance Uniteddays Way and Assistance Program

4

Child Care Assistance and United Way Assistance Accepted

Quality Rating

Program Program Quality Quality Rating Rating

44 Before and After School-Age Center Enroll now for Summer Camp!

Before and Before andAfter AfterSchool-Age School-AgeCenters: Centers: (970) 352-2222 Ext. 3 Enroll now for Camp!

Enroll now forSummer Summer Camp!

On-site at 9 locations, transportation to/from 18 schools a (970) 352-2222 Ext. 33 (970) 352-2222 Ext. Greeley/Evans, Windsor/Severance, and Johnstown/Millik

On-site at to/from 18 18 schools across On-site at 99 locations, locations,transportation transportation to/from schools across Greeley/Evans, Windsor/Severance, and Johnstown/Milliken.

Greeley/Evans, Windsor/Severance, and Johnstown/Milliken.

We are excited to offer a variety of specialty/sports camps We are excited to offer a variety of specialty/sports camps this We are excited to offer a variety of specialty/sports camps this summer: summer: summer: 6/6-6/9 Swim Lessons 6/6-6/9 Swim Lessons

6/13-6/16 Lego Robotics 6/13-6/16

Lego Robotics

6/6-6/9 6/13-6/16 LegoCamp Robotics 6/20-623Swim VBS Lessons 6/27-6/30 Tennis 6/20-623 VBS 6/27-6/30 6/20-623 VBS 6/27-6/30 Tennis Camp Tennis Camp 7/5-7/7 JR Golf 7/11-7/14 Soccer Camp 7/5-7/7 JR Golf 7/11-7/14 7/5-7/7 JR Art GolfCamp 7/11-7/14 SoccerCamp Camp Soccer Camp 7/18-7/21 7/25-7/28 Football 7/25-7/28 Cheer Camp 8/1-8/4 Cooking Club Camp 7/18-7/21 Art Art Camp 7/25-7/28 Football 7/18-7/21 Camp 7/25-7/28 Football Camp 7/25-7/28 Cheer Camp 8/1-8/4 Cooking Club Sign up for five days a week and get a sports camp for free!

7/25-7/28 Cheer Camp 8/1-8/4 Cooking Club Sign up for five days a week sports camp for free!

(Must sign up by and May get 19tha, 2017.)

Sign up for five days a week and get a sports camp th , 2017.)

(Must sign up

by May Refer a friend and both families get 19 a free week of care!

(Must sign up by May 19th, 2017.)

Refer a friend and both families get a free week

Refer a friend and both get a free week of care!

Our professionally trained staff is dedicated to providing thefamilies most comfortable and happy environment for yourtrained children.

An environment not only stimulates educational growth, but Our professionally staff is dedicated that to providing the most comfortable and happy most importantly, provides love and care. We wantthat yournot child’s day with us toeducational be filled withgrowth, fun, love, environment for your children.

An environment only stimulates but growth, and safety, your day to beto filled with peacethe of mind.

Our professionally trained staffand is dedicated providing most comfortable and hap

most importantly, provides love and care. We want your child’s day with us to be filled with fun, love, growth, and safety, your day to be fillednot withonly peace of mind. educational growt environment for your children.

An and environment that stimulates

Center Locations:

40 Years oflove Excellence most importantly, provides and care. We want your child’s day us to be filled ABC West: 5000 W. with 11th Street, Greeley, CO with f Center Locations: 352-2222 Ext. peace 1 40 Years ofand Excellence growth, safety, and your day to(970) be filled with of mind. th

40 Years of Excellence 2 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

ABC West: 5000 W.1-6, 11 including Street, Greeley, CO Serving children ages (970) 352-2222 Ext. 1 transportation to kindergarten.

Center Locations:

Serving children ages 1-6, including th Avenue, Greeley, CO transportation ABC Central: 1511to12kindergarten. th

ABC West: 5000 W. 11 Street, G

(970) 352-2222 Ext. 2 (970)1511 352-2222 Ext.Greeley, 1 Serving children ages 1-12, including ABC Central: 12th Avenue, CO transportation to kindergarten.

Serving children ages 1-6, includ (970) 352-2222 Ext. 2

Serving transportation children ages 1-12, to including kindergarten. transportation to kindergarten.

F E AT U R E S

Are Charters For You?

pg. 6

Charter or home schooling: Navigating the education seas

Smart Kids

pg. 8

Life skills beyond the classroom can boost children’s school performance

Mother Lode: I’ve lost that anxious feeling about back to school pg. 4

School Supplies School supplies lists growth through the years to meet varying needs pg. 16

Upcoming Events July/Augst Calendar pg. 12

Controlling Tantrums How to manage the temper tantrum monster pg. 19

FREE Food Greeley children can get free food this summer at area parks pg. 22

ON THE COVER: Christa McAuliffe Elementary 4th grader Ethan Johnson, 10, thinks about his next move during a after school chess club.

PUBLISHER Bryce Jacobson

CREATIVE SERVICES SUPERVISOR Amy Mayer

EDITOR Randy Bangert

LEAD DESIGNER Joshua Aho

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bruce Dennis CREATIVE MANAGER Kyle Knoop

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Myers Nikki Work Emily Kemme Kathleen Duff

Send editorial-related comments and story ideas to: rbangert@greeleytribune.com

BUSINESS MANAGER Doug Binder

SALES MANAGER Stephanie Mighell

For advertising inquiries, contact: bdennis@greeleytribune.com

MANAGING EDITOR Sharon Dunn

WELD COUNTY PARENTS MAGAZINE 501 8th Ave. P.O. Box 1690 Greeley, CO 80632 For all editorial, advertising, subscription and circulation inquiries, call (970) 352-0211.

July/August 2017, Volume 1, Issue 3.

Published by: Greeley Publishing Co., publisher of The Greeley Tribune, Windsor Now, the Fence Post, Tri-State Livestock News, Prime, Premier, Explore Weld County, and Energy Pipeline July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 3

Mother Lode:

I’ve lost that anxious feeling about

BY THERESA MYERS FOR WELD COUNTY PARENTS

bittersweet. I used to get this nervous, anxious feeling in my stomach when the beginning of school approached, both when I was a student myself and when my girls were getting ready to start school.

W

hen you are a parent, the approaching start of the school year is a different beast. It can be exciting and invigorating, but it can also be

4 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

I don’t know what caused it. Sometimes I think it had a lot to do with the new school year marking the passage of time, bringing change and transition. When you are in school, you both have things you look forward to and a few things you dread.

I remember being so nervous to start high school that I nearly made myself sick. (My sister did throw up the first day of high school, and I certainly didn’t want to follow in those footsteps.) I created anxiety in myself based on my perceptions of how it was going to be. Of course, reality wasn’t anything like the images I created in my mind, and the transition was pretty smooth.

I remember also being excited for my senior year but a little sad and anxious, as well. An even bigger transition to college was on the horizon. There was a lot of

pressure to make the most of my last year of high school, to enjoy my friends who would soon scatter to different colleges and jobs and experience everything I could that one last time.

As a parent, I think that nervous feeling was induced by the unknown. I always worried how my girls would do at school. Would their friendships still be OK? Would they make new friends? Would they do well in their classes? Would they struggle or would they be challenged enough? Would someone be mean to them or hurt their feelings? Would they be OK without me?

A new school year also meant my kids were one year older, one year closer to not being kids anymore. When my girls started school, it seemed as if time moved so much quicker. It felt like I was just taking the first-day-of-school pictures, and then the year was over and it was summer break and then just in the blink of an eye, a new school year again.

Now that my older daughter has graduated and my younger daughter is entering her senior year at high school, that anxiety is nearly gone. I feel a shadow of it now and then, but mostly the transitions are smooth. My younger daughter pretty much gets herself ready to start school, including doing homework over the summer for some of her classes and buying her own school supplies.

As a parent, I have mostly been taken out of the school year preparations. And really, I’m OK with that.

Our empty nest is looming. One more year of high school and my younger daughter will be off to start new adventures. And then, the start of a new school year will have a whole new meaning in our

household.

For now, I will enjoy taking that first-day-of-school picture. I will make sure to mark each milestone, each choir concert and play,

In a blink of an eye it will be over and a new phase of parenthood will begin. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt. homecoming and prom, helping with essays and listening to the laments over homework and friend troubles.

In a blink of an eye it will be over and a new phase of parenthood will begin. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt. Just a little..

— Theresa Myers is the director of communications for GreeleyEvans School District 6 and lives in Greeley with her husband and two teenage daughters. She can be reached at myersfreelance@msn.com.

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Rate may vary based on loan amount, term, credit score and loan-to-value ratio. **Qualifying vehicle loans will include auto, motorcycle, recreational equipment, and motor home loans. Promotion applies to new loans or by adding $5,000 to a current WSCU loan. Share and CD secured loans, unsecured loans, and all mortgage loans are excluded. Interest rate Floor is 0.99% APR. All credit underwriting standards will apply, including Loan-To-Value financing and evaluation of income, credit, and debt ratio. Term of loan will follow normal guidelines. If member brings an offer for a rate with a longer-term repayment from another institution, WSCU may be able to beat the interest rate, but it may not be able to match the term. The member must provide proof of the offer such as an agreement from a dealer (on dealer letterhead) that states the interest rate & financing detail. In the case of a refinance, a copy of a periodic statement or promissory note listing the loan & rate terms will need to be submitted.

*** Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Colorado; apply for membership or loans online at www.WeldSchoolsCU.com.

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 5

Are Charters For You? Charter or home schooling: Navigating the education seas

BY EMILY KEMME FOR WELD COUNTY PARENTS

P

arents want their children to be prepared for life as adults and education is a key piece of that formula. But when faced with choices of delivery methods — charter school, public school or the home school model — often parents are uncertain which will be the best fit for their child’s personality, will 6 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

assure college or life preparedness, ensure high-ranked performance on standardized college entrance exams or enable their student to navigate the higher education seas with longterm success.

Dr. Tobias Guzmán, assistant vice president for enrollment management and student access at the University of Northern

Colorado in Greeley, believes families need to take a holistic approach at the outset. He recommends looking “at various factors, including academic, financial, lifestyle or co-curricular behaviors — often called ‘book smarts’ — as well as a student’s emotional stability.”

If your student has college plans on the horizon, they must be prepared for

acceptance according to state public curriculum standards set in place by the Colorado Department of Education that determine admission eligibility. This is also true for Nonpublic Home School Programs in Colorado, a state that does not regulate this model or provide accreditation by either the CDE or the home-schooled student’s local school district.

Those state standards level the playing field in the college admissions game so it’s up to individual students and their families to decide what model works best for them. It’s also important to understand that admission qualifications only take a student so far. Dr. Eugene Sheehan, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at UNC, notes, “Once kids come into college and if they’re successful, by their junior or senior year those lines are blurred. College prep predicts the first year or possibly only the first semester of how kids will perform.”

Both Guzmán and Dr. Angela Vaughan, who teaches a science of learning course at UNC called University 101, lean toward home schooling when it comes to that preparedness. They agree that home schooled students are generally taught a higher volume of material at a faster pace that mirrors the rigorous learning regimen found at the college level. Vaughan, who earned her doctorate in educational psychology with a focus on learning, cognition and instruction, finds homeschooled students are more often introduced to a self-regulatory process which helps develop growth, enabling them to adapt life skills as they continue forward in their education. She finds the model also has greater variation in coursework and the levels of challenge are more flexible with an increased focus on absorbing materials to the best of the student’s ability rather than simply to pass a test. Guzmán sees increased success in freshman students at UNC who have been home-schooled because they have received greater individualized attention, the classroom environment is smaller and there are positive ecological and well-being aspects of receiving an education in the home. These students show higher academic sophistication, higher ACT composite test score outcomes and higher grade-point averages upon graduation from high school.

Vaughan believes the home school method can be helpful based on the life

plan the student has selected, whether he intends to pursue trade school or a course of collegiate education. There also are benefits when family religious beliefs determine what information a child is exposed to or if a student is not being challenged in other models.

She notes that socialization skills — a worry that parents may have when children aren’t consistently with their age peers — can be attained through participation in extra-curricular activities with local high schools or by connecting with other families who home school. Parents must be willing to pursue these experiences and opportunities; if not, their student could be overwhelmed by social aspects once matriculating into college.

This is not to say that the charter or public school methods should be disregarded, Guzmán and Vaughan agree.

“Parents should ask any school how their curriculum differentiates for students who can handle a higher volume of material or coursework that is more challenging to master objectives. If the school can differentiate, that’s helpful,” says Vaughan.

Additionally, students with high selfawareness, motivation, resiliency and old-fashioned grit and determination can also succeed in other models, particularly if they seek out resources and professors to answer questions, get tutoring help or simply receive coaching to change up what they’re doing, both in secondary and higher education programs. Guzmán says that focused students have better success rates overall, regardless of the high school model. And some kids are just more resilient because their home environment has taught them life skills that don’t come with written instructions.

“It’s a personality trait that either a kid has or they don’t,” Vaughan finds. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t be taught.”

Which is why Vaughan encourages enrollment in University 101, a transition course for incoming freshman and transfer students who are struggling academically.

“Ninety-five percent of universities nationally have this program because entering freshmen have to transition their skills as they enter college. Regardless of the high school model, all freshman are at risk across the board because the majority have only approached learning created by their teachers which are specifically directed to an

exam. In college, students are responsible for creating their own learning opportunities,” she explains. “A college student must figure out what is required from the materials and be ready to move forward on their own.

The goal in college is there is very applied learning specific to the training. It’s more important not to cram for a test but rather to learn the information, designing learning opportunities to ultimately pursue a career.”

With that in mind, courses like University 101 look at information processing and strategic learning strategies, teach effective research skills to retrieve and evaluate information from different sources and hone written and oral communication methods. Students learn about motivation, time management and goal-setting and work on memory enhancement and comprehension. The course also includes segments on personal and financial wellness, and counsels students on how to develop professional styles of communication.

Freshman year is tough. Kids are on their own for the first time in a new environment, juggling a demanding lifestyle, where things as seemingly straightforward as doing laundry and maintaining a healthy eating schedule can be enough to knock even the highestscoring entrance test-taker off course. The University 101 curriculum teaches selfawareness and how to establish a growth mindset.

It’s hard to predict whether an A-plus high school student will be successful based on grades alone. Ultimately, it’s the individual that will determine success. As a parent, the greatest benefit you can provide your student is to ask in what way your child will be challenged and learn the best method to get to the next destination.

GET INFORMED For information about Home School Law in Colorado, go to the Colorado Department of Education website, www.cde.state.co.us/choice/ homeschool or C.R.S. 22-33-104.5 governing School Attendance Laws. Guidelines for curriculum specifics are available on that site.

Of a total 2,300 students in the incoming freshman class at UNC in academic year 2016-17, 18-20 graduated from area home school programs, 68 from charter schools in the Greeley area and over 200 graduated from Greeley/Weld public schools.

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 7

Students in chess master Brad Lundstrom’s chess club are shown here practicing their craft. Lundstrom swears by the power of the chessboard to improve students’ smarts.

Smart Kids

Life skills beyond the classroom can boost children’s school performance

BY KATHLEEN DUFF FOR WELD COUNTY PARENTS 8 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

P

laying an instrument, pulling out the chess board or practicing martial arts may not directly make children smarter, but such activities — all fun on their own — can enhance a child’s academic and longterm social success.

For decades, some developmental theorists have claimed that children can become better at core subjects, such as math or reading, by mastering other activities such as performing music, playing chess and studying martial arts. Remember the Mozart Effect of the 1970s, in which a study concluded that the IQs of even unborn infants would increase just by listening to Mozart’s music in utero?

Eventually that study was debunked. But subsequent research has both galvanized and deconstructed what is now called the “Transfer Effect,” which links such additional pursuits to improved academic

performance.

It’s a discussion that continues to play out, even here in Weld County. Do these activities make children smarter? And is it really about being smarter or is it learning how to cope with an increasingly sophisticated world?

Kerri Ruschival, owner of Flourish Music Academy in Greeley, believes that playing musical instruments boosts children’s math skills.

She said she believes children improve in math by playing music because so much of music is related to concepts such as fractions, ratios and patterns. Leaning on her own experience when in high school, Ruschival said, “I didn’t think of myself as good at math, but I scored high in math on the ACTs.” Brad Lundstrom, who has taught chess to hundreds of children in July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 9

northern Colorado, strongly believes that kids who learn to play the game will raise their IQs as well as math and literacy skills.

“Kids gain a feel and understanding of spatial relations” through chess, he said.

“And it also has a lot to do with memory and understanding patterns,” which are mathematical concepts.

Still, Michael Alexander, director of the School of Music at the University of Northern Colorado, emphatically disagrees that playing or listening to music is directly connected to improving children’s math or reading abilities. “There is no proof that if you play Mozart that you suddenly are good at math. If that were true, I would be great at math, and I am not,” he said with a laugh.

But Alexander does believe music brings numerous benefits to young people. And that is where most experts appear to agree that such pursuits beyond core academics are beneficial for children on a number of levels beyond boosting specific grades.

Amaya Arevalo plays the tenor saxophone during a practice session with the Jazz Fest’s Honor Band at Fraiser Hall on the University of Northern Colorado campus in Greeley. Photo by Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com

the world, help them learn to collaborate and communicate and also increase their ability to focus.

As far as broadening a child’s world, consider what Alexander described. “It’s one thing to explain what sadness feels like. It’s another to hear it. You can get to that emotion so much quicker.”

Ruschival calls that benefit emotional intelligence. “Music sounds like emotions feel,” she said, echoing Alexander’s comments. Playing instruments allows kids the freedom to express themselves and interpret music on their own, lending to a sense of confidence. At the same time, it is still fun,” she reminded.

Camille Arnold-Mages, 11, plays one of her songs during the Weld County Fair’s 4th annual Fiddle contest at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. Photo by Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com

“When you are playing, there are a lot of things going on at once.

I can see my students’ brains growing. They are strengthening their neuropathways and improving their gross motor skills and fine motor skills,” said Ruschival, who has a master’s degree in piano pedagogy.

“There are inherent benefits well beyond academics,” Alexander concurred. He believes music can improve a child’s understanding of

Jonathan Lomeli, 10, tries out one of the unique drums during Sarah Pentzer’s music class at Winograd K-8 school, 320 71st Ave., in Greeley. Photo by Joshua Polson/ jpolson@greeleytribune.com 10 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

PHYSICAL ENHANCES MENTAL For many, the martial arts are defined by maneuvers that emanate from combat and the need for survival. But for all the required physicality, the martial arts is just as much about the mind.

Nathanial Blaine Smith, assistant manager and one of three instructors at Mountain States International Black Belt Academy in Greeley, said he is certain there is a link between improved grades and martial arts. In fact, his approach is to reinforce the connection to school during his own classes.

Mountain States has an academic achievement program in which students identify school-based goals with the approval of their parents and teachers. Those who achieve their goal earn a badge for their uniforms. Subsequent goals bring stars attached to the uniform.

“We teach that school comes first,” he said. While problemsolving is a large part of martial arts and can be applied directly to math and science, it is the emphasis on character, which he refers to as “good character words,” that Smith said he believes can bring the most academic success to students.

Fostering qualities such as patience, respect, humility and selfconfidence in the martial arts is intentional to help other parts of a child’s life.

“Kids have unlimited potential as long as they work at it, but you need to look for the things that they do right and build on it,” Smith said. His approach, called transformational vocabulary, applies to school, as well, where young people can focus on improving their grades step by step by building strong character.

Self-control is a key part of martial arts. “We hope the kids never had to use these (self-defense) skills that we are teaching them. They have to exercise the body and exercise self-control,” he said. And that

ability can serve children well, particularly in developing leadership roles during their school years.

Jon Moore, sensei of Moore Martial Arts in Windsor, said his school helps kids boost their academic skills directly by weaving in history lessons, teaching Japanese and demonstrating the laws of physics with their movements. “We incorporate what they learn at school to what we are doing here,” he said.

Much like Smith, though, he said positive character traits are the most important when it comes to achievement at school and in life.

become more self-reliant, broadening their minds well beyond just winning a single match over their parent. “(Chess) absolutely helps my girls,” said Carolyn Yalin. Her two daughters, Julia, age 9, and Lauren, 6, have been taking chess lessons and competing in tournaments for a couple years.

“This is about logical problem solving, and that has helped in situations outside of chess,” she said.

Yalin said her children’s math and reading skills are higher than average, and she believes chess is a part of that achievement.

Like teachers and coaches, she believes that chess has fostered her children’s focus and concentration.

“They also play soccer and piano, and I have noticed a difference in how they look at everything around them. I think that is part of what chess gave them,” she said.

Chess is a mental sport, Lundstrom said, that pits one person’s mind against another’s. But unlike some other sports, kids can learn as much from losing as they do from winning. After a match, his students submit their games for a thorough analysis that shows them how their decisions and actions impacted the outcome. He said such analysis can make kids better students.

“You have to be completely honest with yourself. You break everything down,” Lundstrom said. “Half of it is how to compete with the right point of view and how to deal with a loss. Those are life skills.”

Gia Sharma, 8, practices a few moves with her partner Jon Turk, 7, during Karate class at the Windsor Rec Center. Photo by Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com

In his classes, “You can see kids doing different forms at the same time others are doing their movements. They have to focus through controlled chaos ... and through distractions,” he said. The same attributes can be used in school, where kids are often met with distractions from their studies.

Martial arts also prompt kids to use both their creative (left brain) and analytical (right brain) sides at the same time, he said, which is useful in the contemporary classroom.

Self-confidence and self-discipline also are essential, he added.

“Kids need to learn to discipline themselves and work through the struggles and trials of life,” Moore said. “We help them press through and have those little victories, which are so important here and at school.”

Moore said he asks young people to hold themselves in high regard, thus, holding others, including teachers and parents in equal regard. Developing this self-confidence can help children avoid negative influences.

IT’S YOUR MOVE Lundstrom of Fort Collins “absolutely” believes that kids improve their math and reading skills by playing the game of chess.

Lundstrom has spent decades teaching hundreds of children and adults in northern Colorado to play. He also works with the company Chessmatesfc.com. He cited spatial relationships, sharpening logic and the understanding of patterns that particularly apply to mathematics.

Just as noted with music and the martial arts, chess promotes selfconfidence as well as the ability to communicate, he said.

“When I teach chess, nine times out of 10, kids want to beat their dads,” he said, with a laugh. But as they grow into the sport, they

Clockwise from left: Chase Daly, 9, Braden Freier, 9, Peja Hurtado, 10 play a round of chess at the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School after school chess club.

LOCAL RESOURCES • Flourish Music Academy (www.flourishmusicacademy.com) offers private lessons in piano, voice, winds, brass or strings. Located at 1640 25th Ave., Greeley; (970) 573-5856.

• Chessmates is a Colorado Chess Club located in Fort Collins that (www.Chessmatesfc.com) offers lessons and tournaments for children and adults throughout northern Colorado.

• Moore Martial Arts (www.MooreMartialArts.com) is located at 514 Main St., Windsor; (970) 686-1247.

• Mountain States International Black Belt Academy is located at 3091 W. 29th St., Greeley; (970) 339-5425.

• The University of Northern Colorado is hosting the UNC String Project at the Rodarte Center in Greeley this fall to increase fourth- and fifthgraders’ access to playing music. For information, visit arts.unco.edu/music.

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 11

2017 EVENTS C July • SENSORY STORY TIME, for children with special needs, 10:3011:30 a.m., July 1, Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., Greeley.

Sensory story time is designed specifically for children who have a hard time in large groups, are on the autism spectrum, or are sensitive to sensory overload. We will use preschool-level books, songs and movement. Sensory will be held on the first Saturday of the month. Registration is required and limited to 12 families. Call Audrey at (970) 506-8534 or email adrake@highplains.us.

• GREELEY STAMPEDE, daily, July 1-4, Island Grove Regional Park, 1475 A St., Greeley.

Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM)! Create delectable dishes like Rocket Ravioli and Orange Italian Sodas!

Registration required; Grades 6-8. Details and registration: 1-888861-7323.

• FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, 3 p.m., July 4, Community Park, Fort Lupton. Kids activities, including ziplines, pony carousel,

Tribune file photos.

• COOKING CAMP, 2-3 p.m., July 3, Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., Greeley. Combining and experiment with Science, 12 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

petting zoo, water slide, train rides, magic show, face painting.

Fireworks begin at dusk.

• SQUISHY SOAP, 9-10:30 a.m., July 5, Stoneham Post Office, 41621 Mable Ave, Stoneham. Make your own usable, squishy soap balls at this fun program. Learn about measuring and mixing, as well as the importance of keeping clean in a fun easy way. Details and registration: 1-888-861-7323.

• YOU ARE A WORK OF ART, 1-2 p.m., July 7, Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St, Greeley. Paint something you know a lot about! You! Learn how to paint a self-portrait on canvas and have lots of fun along the way. Registration required; Grades K-2. Details and registration: 1-888-861-7323.

• NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS, “Secret Life of Pets,” 7 p.m., July 7, Bittersweet Park, 3501 16th St., Greeley. Rocky Mountain Raptors will present a program with some of their amazing birds from 7-8pm!

CALENDAR Free. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy a wonderful movie shot on an inflatable screen.

• MOVIES IN THE PARK, “Storks,” 8:3010:30 p.m., July 7, Boardwalk Park, Windsor.

Free. Concessions are available, no registration necessary.

• SQUISHY SOAP, 4-5:30 p.m., July 10, Cave Creek Homes, 3400 Sagebrush Blvd, Evans. Make your own usable, squishy soap balls at this fun program. Learn about measuring and mixing, as well as the importance of keeping clean in a fun easy way. Details and registration: 1-888-8617323.

• FAMILY BIKE NIGHT, 6:30 p.m., July 11, Poudre Ponds, 35th Avenue between F and O streets.

Family Bike Nights are fun and casual 3-5 mile

band, dancing, fireworks at Community Center; Sunday, July 16: Adult softball tournament at baseball fields.

• GREELEY MUSEUMS, Nathan Meeker’s 200th birthday celebration, July 15, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Meeker Home Museum, 1324 9th Ave., Greeley.

Join the city of Greeley Museums for a celebration of historic note. Our founder’s 200th birthday!

Enjoy games, cake, tea and cookies in celebration of Nathan Meeker. Free.

• GEEK OUT THEATRE, 2-4 p.m., July 15, Riverside Library and Cultural Center, 3700 Golden St., Evans. Join Grey Haves YA for Geek Out Theatre! Have fun playing in geek culture by acting out scripts from classic fandoms like Star Wars, Doctor Who, Supernatural, marvel and DC, Harry Potter and more! You’ll also have the chance to practice your nerdy tongue twisters, show off your geeky impressions, and participate in guided improv with characters from your favorite fandoms. Registration required; Grades 9-12. Details and registration: 1-888-861-7323.

• WELD COUNTY FAIR, Island Grove Regional Park, July 18-31, 1475 A St., Greeley.

Enroll now for

Summer Camp!  STEAM Activities  Fun and Educational Field Trips  Specialty/Sports Camps  Swimming  Vacation Bible School  Summer Reading Program  And much more!!

Call 970-352-2222 x3 For More Details

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The Children’s Workshop Toddler/ Preschool/ School-Age

Programs for Children 6700 29th St. Road, Greeley 330.2233 Visit us online at www.childrens-workshop.com

rides for the whole family. Staff will be on-hand to provide bicycle education and tips. Helmets are strongly encouraged and be sure to dress appropriately. This is a free ride and there is no fee to participate.

• SQUISHY SOAP, 3-5 p.m., July 12, Pines Apartments, 2162 30th Street, Greeley. Make your own usable, squishy soap balls at this fun program. Learn about measuring and mixing, as well as the importance of keeping clean in a fun easy way. Details and registration: 1-888-8617323.

• LASALLE DAYS, July 14-17. Friday night, July 14: Horseshoes in the Park; Saturday morning, July 15: Fun Run, Parade; Saturday afternoon: adult mud volleyball at baseball fields, vendors at main park; Saturday night: Don Juan’s dinner,

FRE E A DM I SS I O

N

8th Annual

Thursday, July 20, 2017 Boardwalk Park 4:00-8:30pm Restaurants Vendor Booths Beer Garden Children Activities Summer Concert

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 13

EVENTS CALENDAR • NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS, “Back to the Future,” 6:30 p.m., July 21, Aims Community College, 5401 20th St., Greeley. Join Greeley Bikes for a bike rodeo starting at 6:30pm (bikes provided) and register to win a bike donated by UNI Design. Also, enjoy performances by young Chautauqua actors from 7:30 – 8:15pm. Free.

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy a wonderful movie shot on an inflatable screen.

• MOVIES IN THE PARK, “Finding Dory,” 8:30-10:30 p.m., July 21, Chimney Park Pool, Windsor. Free. Concessions are available, no registration necessary. Note: $2.25 per person to participate in the Dive-In event.

• KEEP CALM JARS, 2-3 p.m., July 22, Carbon Valley Library, 7 Park Ave, Firestone. Create your own Keep Calm Jar using easyto-find supplies. Use these beautiful and functional jars for fun, meditation, or to help yourself keep calm. Registration required. Call 1-888-861-7323.

• WORM FARMS, 4-5:30 p.m., July 24, Cave Creek Homes, 3400 Sagebrush Blvd, Evans. Create living worm farms you can take home.

Details and registration: 1-888-861-7323.

• WELD COUNTY FAIR, Centennial Village Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 28-30, Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St. Cost: $2/

balloon artists rove through the park. Free.

August • NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Aug. 1, Koshio Park, Fort Lupton Police Station, First Street and McKinley Avenue, Fort Lupton.

• HIGH PLAINS CHAUTAUQUA, various times, Aug. 1-5, Aims Community College, 5401 20th St., and other Greeley venues. High Plains Chautauqua brings 12 notable individuals from history to the

stage in Greeley August 1 through 5. Chautauqua offers a unique blend of theater, history and the humanities under a big tent where audiences meet and engage in conversation with personalities from the past.

person ages 3 and over. Experience the Weld County western frontier with demonstrations, chuck wagon cooking, historic games, and more.

• GREELEY ARTS PICNIC, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 29, Lincoln Park, 802 10th Ave., Greeley.

In addition to more than 100 artists booths, kids can take part in Creation Station, a’ hands-on area to keep the little ones busy with projects that encourage creativity and excite the imagination. Colorado performers entertain on two stages throughout the weekend while clowns, magicians and 14 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entrance into the First World War, the 2017 festival theme is Echoes of World War I. This epic event not only ushered in the age of modern warfare but also gave rise to a new economic, political and cultural world order.

EVENTS CALENDAR • FAMILY BIKE NIGHT, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 8, Homestead Park, 3701 29th St., Greeley. Family Bike Nights are fun and casual 3-5

The program will examine both America’s participation in the war and its continuing impact on the lives of all Americans. Free. For more information, go to http://www.highplainschautauqua.org.

• SENSORY STORY TIME, for children with special needs, 10:3011:30 a.m., Aug. 5, Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., Greeley.

Sensory story time is designed specifically for children who have a hard time in large groups, are on the autism spectrum, or are mile rides for the whole family. Staff will be on-hand to provide bicycle education and tips. Helmets are strongly encouraged and be sure to dress appropriately. This is a free ride and there is no fee to participate.

• KERSEY DAYS, all day, Centennial Park, Kersey. Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m., parade, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., bounce house, equalizer, mechanical surf board and water slide ($5.00 unlimited ride pass).

Car show, circus performances and more. Fireworks at night. $3 general admission.

• BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE, Spaghetti Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Aug. 17, Fort Lupton Recreation Center, multipurpose room. $6 per person.

sensitive to sensory overload. We will use preschool-level books, songs and movement. Sensory will be held on the first Saturday of the month. Registration is required and limited to 12 families. Call Audrey at (970) 506-8534 or email adrake@highplains.us.

• PETS ‘N POPSICLES, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., Aug. 4-13, Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St., Greeley. Enjoy your lunch in the shade and see our baby animals all grown up! Visit includes a Popsicle treat with every paid admission. $2 per person, ages 2 and older.

• NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS, “Jungle Book,” 7 p.m., Aug. 4, Westmoor Park, 3800 6th St., Greeley. It’s healthy family fun night in the park with activities starting at 7 p.m. plus Merry Makers face painting and balloon twisting from 7-8 pm! Free. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy a wonderful movie shot on an inflatable screen.

• MOVIES IN THE PARK, “Grease,” 8:30-10:30 p.m., Aug. 4, Diamond Valley Park, 801 Diamond Valley Drive, Windsor.

Concessions are available, no registration necessary. Free.

All proceeds go to provide school supplies for area children. Put on by Fort Lupton Police Department and the Fort Lupton School District.

• FAMILY FUN SATURDAYS, Puppet Playhouse, 2-4 p.m., Aug. 19, Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., Greeley. Create your very own puppet then put on a show for your family and friends. Supplies provided. Details and registration: (970) 506-8471 July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 15

School Supplies School supplies lists growth through

the years to meet varying needs

BY NIKKI WORK FOR WELD COUNTY PARENTS

W

hen Grace Sierra was going into first grade last year, her mom let her pick out special school supplies — any folder and crayon box she wanted. The little girl picked Godzilla-themed supplies. As her mom, Jaime Sierra says, Grace likes to go against the grain.

Grace is the only one of Sierra’s children old enough to need school supplies. Her younger two are heading into kindergarten and preschool in the fall. While buying supplies is a manageable — even 16 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

fun — experience for the Sierra family now, as the amount multiples, Sierra expects the stress to increase as well.

“It’s a fun time that we get excited for school. We get the list at the end of the previous school year, so we try to keep an eye out for deals over the summer so it’s not all at once,” Sierra said. “(The shopping) will be a lot when it comes to all three (kids). We may have to start ordering online to save from the chaos of getting to locate all the supplies for three separate lists.”

Sierra estimates the family spends at least $50 on Grace’s supplies

each year, and that’s not counting her backpack or any clothing. That number varies from family to family, with some parents reporting as little as $25 spent on supplies and some not wanting to even estimate the price. According to a report from the National Education Association in 2016, the average cost per elementary school student for supplies was about $200.

For many parents, the supply lists themselves seem longer than they remember from their childhoods. In Greeley-Evans School District 6, elementary school supply lists average about 11 items for each grade, not counting requests for multiples of items like notebooks or boxes of tissues. Theresa Myers, director of communications for Greeley-Evans School District 6, said the content of lists haven’t changed much, save the addition of items like tissues or dry-erase markers. Especially over the past few years, the lists have remained standard, she said, because the district aims to keep lists affordable.

“It is a recommended list. We of course don’t punish any child or call out a child who can’t afford supplies,” Myers said. “No student goes without. If they can’t supply them, we supply them.”

Through programs like the Teacher’s Closet, a stockpile of extra school supplies, children’s clothing and more, the district tries to keep the cost for parents low while ensuring teachers don’t bear the financial burden of stocking their classrooms.

Alison Hamling, director of downtown experience at the Downtown Development Authority and mother of two girls who attended school in Greeley elementary through college, said she remembers when she was a child, school supply lists didn’t exist.

“Parents were not asked to provide anything at all. Teachers would dig into their own pockets,” she said. Both Hamling’s parents were teachers, so she saw them buying classroom supplies for other kids through her whole childhood. When her daughters were in school, she would try to buy a few extra notebooks or pens to donate to the class to lessen the burden on teachers.

At least, that was the goal. Some years, the family couldn’t even afford the items on their own children’s lists, let alone for the classroom. Hamling was working for minimum wage and her husband, Bob, had just been laid off from an oilfield job. The family was looking into food assistance programs, because they struggled to make ends meet. But Hamling’s parents — the teachers — wouldn’t let their grandgirls go without school supplies.

“How lucky was I that I had that back-up in my life?” Hamling said. “I think it definitely puts a strain on young families.”

For Jana Wygal, whose three kids go to school in Severance at

Children need to practice big body movements before they can master the fine motor skills needed for writing. Hang upside down on monkey bars, push and pull wagons, practice yoga and play catch!

TIPS TO SAVE ON SUPPLIES 1. Buy throughout the year – Instead of buying all your students’ supplies at once, pick up one or two staple items during every grocery store trip. Kersey mom Leanne Sigmon watches for supply sales throughout the year and purchases what she can, when she can. “I look at the school website at the next grade to see what’s required,” she said. “Buying a little at a time saves the shock of having to buy so much at once, and avoids the back-to-school crowds, too.”

2. Not every item needs to be personalized – Though some kids go crazy for notebooks with puppies on them and others have their hearts set on a Moana backpack, guiding your children to less expensive, simpler items can lessen the blow of supply shopping. Instead of letting your kids pick five specialty notebooks, ask them to choose one. The others can be plain, and your student still gets a unique item.

3. If you have extra, buy extra – Does the list call for four notebooks, but you can buy a pack of five for a similar price? Is your child expected to bring two highlighters, but you bought a pack of five? Keep the extras and start a stockpile in your closet. Then, next year’s supply shopping is halfway done.

4. Reuse what’s in good shape – Realistically, how many plastic crayon boxes are sitting in a landfill somewhere? If your child’s pencil bag, ruler, backpack or binder is still in good shape and is on the list, it’s worth saving the cash and the hassle of picking up a new one.

5. Name brand, shname brand – Very few items on school supply lists specify name brands. For those that don’t, like pencils, re-sealable plastic bags, tissues, paper and more, check out a local discount store or the off-brand options at the super market. You may save a little on each item, which will really add up on your overall bill.

6. Get excited – If your child is upset because they wanted a specialty item, but got generic instead, let them personalize it themselves. Look for stickers around the house, colorful markers or even scissors and glue, then help your kids create the kinds of school supplies they would have picked out. Plus, these items are even better than those at the grocery store, because they’re one of a kind and made as a family.

7. But not too excited – School supply shopping can be fun, especially if your little one is looking forward to the start of the school year (or you’re looking forward to a little more me-time after the kids go back). Don’t let the sparkle of the back-to-school sections blind you, though. You have a list. Follow it. Buying your kid the coolest protractor around and a fancy trapper-keeper binder when they’re not on the list may feel good at the time, but less so at the checkout stand.

8. Change the back-to-school narrative – Alison Hamling, whose two adult daughters went to school in Greeley from elementary through college, said getting organized was her kids’ favorite part of back-to-school.

Once the supplies were bought, they would spread them all out on the floor, then put their pencils in their supply bag, write their names on their notebooks and put everything into their new backpack. That was where the girls got the joy – not in the spending. Try this with your kids – make organizing for school a tradition, rather than putting the emphasis on shopping.

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Rangeview Elementary, the school shopping experience is both costly and stressful. She said she tried to follow the lists her kids brought home, but was frustrated to realize many of the items she was purchasing went into a classroom stockpile.

“Some requests made you wonder, such as, why each kid needs to bring 24 highlighters?” Wygal said. “Then, your kids want something individual, cool, just for them, so you buy the Star Wars pencil box only to find it went into the pile for general class use.”

Then, two years ago, Range View Elementary changed up the school supply process. Instead of sending home lists, the school asked parents to donate the amount they would usually spend, then purchased the supplies in bulk. “(I) loved it! So easy and convenient,” Wygal said. “Honestly, I see teachers buying so many things on their own, so I don’t mind chipping in.”

Myers said she knows some teachers do still spend money outof-pocket for their classrooms, but she hopes resources like the Teacher’s Closet, the school wellness department and the annual fall fundraiser, the School Kickoff Community Celebration, help alleviate that burden. Every year, the number of teachers utilizing the Teacher’s Closet grows and the wellness department helps them find new ways to reward students without opening their wallets to pay for prizes or parties.

The School Kickoff Community Celebration, which will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 12 at Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 11th Ave. in Greeley, is another source for families in need to get their school supplies. This year, the district will give out an estimated 3,000 backpacks stuffed with supplies.

“There is always a need at our schools with high poverty for extra supplies and backpacks for students who come without those,” Myers said. “I encourage groups to reach out to our schools and offer 18 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

help directly. We can’t reach every student in need through our School Kickoff Community Celebration, although we do get a very good turnout.”

The celebration is a chance to celebrate the upcoming school year, but so is school supply shopping, Myers said. She remembers when her kids were in school, going to the store to check items off the list was always like an outing.

For Leanne Sigmon, whose 4th-and 5th-grader attend school in Kersey, buying backpacks and clothes at the start of the school year is something the family looks forward to every year.

“We take school shopping as one-on-one time, which we strive for in our home. Keeping that bond is always important,” she said. “We use these times as a teaching moment, too, (for) money management and want versus need.”

Myers suggested families make school supply shopping together into a tradition. It increases parent involvement in a student’s education and helps families spend a little time together before the end of summer.

“We appreciate parents’ willingness to invest in their student’s education, and this is just one small way they can do that and help our classroom teachers have what they need throughout the year,” Myer said. “We simply can’t buy everything our students need for their free, public education. We do everything we can to make sure all our students have what they need to be successful, but we also need help.”

GET INVOLVED TO HELP OTHER KIDS • Theresa Myers, director of communications for Greeley-Evans School District 6, said one of the best ways people can help is to donate to the School Kickoff Community Celebration so that the district can provide more supplies to students.

• She also recommends that if you’re interested in starting a school supply drive, you communicate with a teacher or principal to see what the needs are.

Then, you can tailor your efforts to help the maximum number of students.

To donate or learn more about the School Kickoff Community Celebration, go to https://greeley.revtrak.net/2017-School-Kickoff-Community-Event/#/list.

School Kickoff Community Celebration The School Kickoff Community Celebration will take place 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Aug. 12 at Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 11th Ave. in Greeley. The event is free to the public, and a free lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Free backpacks will be distributed while supplies last to Greeley-Evans School District 6 students.

To learn more, go to http://www.greeleyschools.org/Page/15778.

Get ahead of the game To get ahead on buying school supplies, go to http://www.greeleyschools.org/ site/Default.aspx?PageID=2757 to see the 2016-2017 lists and get an idea of what your student may need.

Controlling Tantrums How to manage the temper tantrum monster

BY EMILY KEMME FOR WELD COUNTY PARENTS

Y

our 2-year-old is having a meltdown while sitting in the toddler’s seat in the grocery store cart.

Back arched, he bucks and rocks, face contorted and red, tears streaming down his cheeks and screaming — all because you told him he couldn’t have a cookie.

It’s an experience most parents and grandparents have endured, one from which both child and adult can emerge embarrassed, frustrated and in some way scarred from the emotional discharge.

Temporary emotional dysregulation — colloquially referred to as “throwing a fit,” as Dr. Gregory Creed with Transitions Psychology Group in Greeley puts it, is a situation that occasionally

happens to everyone. Creed, a licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in counseling, education and supervision, says how tantrums are expressed is age- and situational-dependent, as are the methods for de-escalation.

From ages 2 to 3, often called, “The Terrible Twos,” children are likely to throw themselves on the floor, kick, scream and hold their breath, becoming red-faced. As children mature into the pre-teen and teenage years, venting their emotions may range from actions as mild as pouting, rolling on the floor and stomping, to the more serious — slamming cabinets and doors, running away to their rooms, screaming directly at people around them and even damaging property.

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 19

Creed has heard all of it and notes it’s the parents’ job to figure out the trigger — what happened to push your child out of control?

It may not be anything traumatic: tiredness, low blood sugar leading to hunger, sibling rivalry issues, including sharing of toys or simply

Once you have acheived your own self-control, take time to tell your child you understand their particular emotion, and in that way acknowledge and validate that they are experiencing those feelings. the need for attention can be causes. The grocery store cart incident is a tantrum just waiting to happen, he notes, since often trips to purchase food occur when people are hungry.

While it seems as though there is little to be done once a child

is in tantrum mode, this isn’t the case. And while young children might “lose it” more often once they discover how this method of parental control helps get what they want, in effect “bringing their parents to their knees, because temper tantrums wield a lot of power,” says Creed, previous indulgence of your offspring needn’t lead to a life peppered with frequent, noisy disruptions that leave you feeling helpless and out of control yourself.

If you’re in the moment, there are ways to de-escalate or reduce the severity of the emotional outburst. Keep your child safe and contained so no harm comes to them or anyone nearby.

Because tantrums are, at bottom, emotion-based, it’s first important to get a handle on your own feelings to remain calm before addressing the child’s emotional situation. Once you have achieved your own self-control, take time to tell your child you understand their particular emotion — be it hatred, indignation, anger or the multitude of human emotions that cause personal distress — and in that way acknowledge and validate that they are experiencing those feelings. Creed advises making an attempt to connect with your child through empathy by saying, “I can see you’re angry right now.” Make it an opportunity rather than a task. See it as a chance to connect with your kids and learn what’s bothering them.

For older children, Creed recommends a “cool down protocol.”

Give teens a safe place without screens — including cellphones, computers and TV’s — to cool off for 15 minutes and then reach out and talk to your teen about their emotions, again acknowledging and validating that these emotions exist and that’s OK. Teach them that

July 7 • Secret Life of Pets (PG) Bittersweet Park, 3500 16th St.

July 14 • The Good Dinosaur (PG)

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August 11 • Finding Dory (PG)

Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 14th Ave. PRESENTED BY:

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6700 29th St. Road, Greeley • 330.2233 20 WELD COUNTY July/August 2017 Visit us online atPARENTS www.childrens-workshop.com

Films begin at dusk and are shown and closed captioned in English except The Good Dinosaur shown and closed captioned in Spanish.

Glass containers and dogs (except service dogs) are not allowed in Greeley parks. Call 350-9401 or 350-9451 for information. www.greeleygov.com/festivals

there is no shame in stating, “I had a bad day, I don’t want to talk right now.” Reach out to your child when they are ready to share.

At that age it is essential that there are consequences for any actions they may have taken — yelling, slamming doors, whatever outward demonstration the tantrum takes — because this is how to teach kids the effects of their actions. Keep consequences appropriate and under your supervision: a few nights unloading the dishwasher or helping shovel snow go far toward underscoring that you felt their actions were wrong, while at the same time providing them with positive affirmation that you trust them to complete household chores.

At any age and before a tantrum re-occurs, parents should figure out positive methods of addressing their child’s emotional needs by focusing on creating an atmosphere of positive attention without your child dominating every free minute you might have. Creed recommends a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative experiences. As little as 20 minutes one-on-one quality time can be all it takes to bolster your child’s self-esteem and instill a sense of security in the relationship he has with you.

Time spent walking the dog together, cuddling, playing in the park or playing games can be beneficial positives that create leverage with your children, allowing the parent-child relationship to develop an ongoing positive aspect.

But remember, it’s not a perfect formula: tantrums can occur on the way home from the park because your child is trying to test the reality of how much fun he has just experienced with you. It’s a fine balance.

If you begin this routine when your children are young, it can promote understanding and trust, enabling them to manage their feelings better over time. It’s a way to help them develop solutions to address emotional upsets instead of throwing a fit.

THE TANTRUM GENE Tantrums can occur for very legitimate reasons. They can be the result of being the recipient of unjust actions by others, including parental actions.

But tantrums also occur when children are faced with serious health issues. Kendra Alkire, director of the Ventura Child Life Services Program at Ventura County Medical Center in California, frequently sees tantrums in children hospitalized with chronic illness or those awaiting surgical procedures. “When a child is out of their normal environment and placed in a stressful situation where they feel vulnerable, their emotions and inability to cope are compounded; often a child will act out simply because they cannot control their surroundings,” she says. “A hospital is a scary place — there are a lot of strange people, medicines and equipment.”

Alkire conducts an assessment of each child with her team to determine their ability to cope and understand why they’re in the

hospital. She often finds children are terrified because they don’t understand the fact of a surgery or don’t know why they need blood draws and other painful procedures. She teaches them coping mechanisms such as guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, has kids blow bubbles or walks them through the process so they know what to expect. She has found “a painful procedure may be easier without having to use a sedative if these coping techniques are successful.”

THE MECHANICS OF TANTRUMS As with healthy children, understanding and coping mechanisms are age-dependent. Children ages 2-4 might be old enough to know what’s going on around them but do not want to cooperate. They may refuse to take medications, get out of bed when directed to walk down the hall or even refuse a drink of water. “They find the things they can control and hang on to it.”

School-age children, particularly those with chronic illnesses who are regular patients at a hospital, may worry about what their friends may think. Thoughts such as, “If I don’t take my meds maybe my illness will go away,” are common, with peer pressure to conform playing a large part, says Alkire.

With each situation, it’s important to consider how your child is reacting and take steps to normalize the environment. Alkire suggests allowing kids to take control in small ways and taking developmentally appropriate actions.

With young kids, play a game like Candyland and with each move, give them the option to take a sip of water.

For older children, giving them a healthy way to release aggression like punching a pillow or throwing wet paper towels at a target on the wall works wonders. Provide options such as “medical play,” allowing kids to use medical equipment expressively to take the fear out of a situation. Syringe painting and creating bandaid art are several ideas. Other methods of learning to cope are through role play: take kids to Teddy Bear Clinics or use medical dolls to decorate and perform procedures on. Having a kid conduct a pretend MRI exam on a doll is a great way to show them what to expect when they have the same procedure.

All kids have meltdowns. If incidents are frequent and the method you are using isn’t working, it’s important to look for warning signs that could point to developmental or mental health issues. Anxiety, depression or early signs of mood disorders require consultation with a specialist. As a parent, try to emotionally connect and set good emotional limits for your kids’ behavior, but don’t wait it out if you’re not seeing any change, Creed advises.

Much of what both Alkire and Creed counsel are ways to prevent your child’s behaviors from happening by teaching empowerment.

As a parent, you know your child best to help them learn which individual method will achieve a calmer approach to situations that cause emotional distress.

July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 21

22 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

FREE Food

Greeley children can get free food this summer at area parks

BY STAFF REPORTS

G

reeley-Evans School District 6’s Summer Food Service Program started May 30 at schools and parks throughout Greeley and Evans.

The program offers free meals to all kids, ages 1-18, regardless of income eligibility and residence, according to a news release from District 6. Adults can purchase meals at a cost of $1.70 for breakfast and $3.25 for lunch.

Some meals will be served from the El Fuego food truck; others will be served from District 6 food vans under shelters and pop-up tents, according to the release. This year, the program will serve meals at park and public pools sites in addition to schools.

Throughout the summer, the program will also include periodic wellness activities and games at parks.

The program will offer lunch at all location, however, only some locations will over breakfast, according to the release. At breakfast locations, the meal will be served from 7:45 – 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at all locations between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Meals will be served Monday through Friday from May 30 through Aug. 17.

According to the release, federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture fund the Summer Food Service Program.

“We know that some of our families don’t have access to healthy food during the summer months, and we are happy to offer this program to help ensure our students eat well and return to school in August healthy and ready to learn,” said Superintendent Deirdre Pilch in the release.

For more information about the program, go online to www. greeleyschools.org/nutrition.

Greeley 2017

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM SERVING LOCATIONS: Monfort Elementary School, 2101 47th Ave., Greeley — serving breakfast and lunch Centennial Elementary, 1400 37th St., Evans — serving breakfast and lunch Salida del Sol Academy, 111 26th St., Greeley — serving breakfast and lunch Anna Gimmestad Park, 17th Avenue and 31st Street, Evans — serving lunch Farr Park, 13th Avenue and 26th Street, Greeley — serving lunch Sunrise Park, 3rd Avenue and 12th Street, Greeley — serving lunch Monfort Park, 47th Avenue and 20th Street, Greeley — serving lunch Island Grove Splash Park, 14th Avenue and A Street, Greeley — serving lunch

July 29 • 9am-5pm July 30 • 10am-4pm

Over 150 Arts & Craft Booths 2 Entertainment Stages Kid’s Creation Station • Food Court • Beer Garden July/August 2017 WELD COUNTY PARENTS 23

S

• Great B2B programs for your business and your employees • 50 years of specialized commercial/fleet sales • We wil come to you! No need to come to the dealership •IS DieselTO mechaniOUR cOUR sKEEP witOUR hBUSINESS 100 years of combi n ed experi e nce BUSINESS YOUR BUSINESS KEEP YOUR TO BUSINESS KEEP YOUR B IS TOBUSINESS KEEPIS YOUR BUSINESS • Night crews – drop off at night and pick-up the fol owing morning • Mobile service van for minor repairs • Monthly bil ing for approved companies • New facility to be completed in 2017

THE ON ON ROAD. THE THE ROAD. ROAD.ROA SALES HOURS: MON-FRI 9 AM - 8 PM • SAT 9 AM - 7 PM • CLOSED SUNDAY SERVICE HOURS: MON-FRI 7 AM - 7 PM • SAT 7 AM - 4 PM (BY APPOINTMENT) CLOSED SUNDAY We specialize in commercial/fleet financing options

nancing • We • We specialize options specialize in commercial/fleet in commercial/fleet financing options financing options • • We business • We findfind the best the incentives best incentives for your business for your business • We find the best incentives for your business ss and • Great • Great your B2B B2B programs employees programs for your business for your and your business employeesand your employees • Great B2B for commercial/fleet your business andsales your employees sales fleet • 50 •sales 50 years years ofprograms specialized of specialized commercial/fleet • 50 years of specialized commercial/fleet me to • We •the We will will dealership come come to you! No to need you! to come No need to sales the dealership to come to the dealership • We will come to you! No need to come to the dealership combined • Diesel • Diesel mechanics experience mechanics with 100 years withof100 combined years experience of combined experience • Diesel mechanics years ofat combined pick-up • Night • Night the crewscrews following – dropwith off – 100 drop at night morning off and pick-up night theexperience and following pick-up morning the following morning • Night crews – service drop nightrepairs and minor pick-up the following morning • Mobile • Mobile service van off for at minor van for repairs service minor ies • Mobile • Monthly • Monthly billingvan billing for for approved for repairs companies approved companies 7 • New • New facility facility to be completed to be completed in 2017 in 2017 • Monthly billing for approved companies facility toMON-FRI be completed in •9 2017 9 AM• New -SALES SALES 7 PM HOURS: •HOURS: CLOSED MON-FRI 9 AM SUNDAY - 8 PM SAT AM 9 AM -8 - 7PM PM • •CLOSED SAT 9SUNDAY AM - 7 PM • CLOSED SUNDAY

2501 35TH AVE., GREELEY, COLORADO 80634

970-373-4469

T 7 AM SERVICE SERVICE - 4 PM HOURS: HOURS: (BY MON-FRI APPOINTMENT) 7MON-FRI AM 7 PM • SAT 79AM 7 AM 4 PM PM (BY • SAT APPOINTMENT) 7 AM - 4 PM (BY APPOINTMENT) SALES HOURS: MON-FRI 9 AM - 8-PM • SAT AM - -7-7PM • CLOSED SUNDAY CLOSED SUNDAY SERVICE HOURS: MON-FRI 7CLOSED AM - 7 PM SUNDAY • SAT 7 AM - 4 PM (BY APPOINTMENT) O 80634 2501 2501 35TH35TH AVE., GREELEY, AVE., GREELEY, COLORADO 80634 COLORADO 80634 CLOSED SUNDAY

Visit us onl-in4469 e at ElwayChrysler.com -- 373 - 373 -- 4469 69 970 970 970 373 4469 s online at ElwayChrysler.com Visit us onlineVisit at ElwayChrysler.com us online at ElwayChrysler.com 2501 35TH AVE., GREELEY, COLORADO 80634

24 WELD COUNTY PARENTS July/August 2017

Visit us online at ElwayChrysler.com