Growing Up Chico Fall 2021

Cover Photography by:

Betsy Andersen Welsh

Since 1997, Betsy Andersen Welsh has been an award winning photographer specializing in portrait, family, special needs, special events, and commercial real estate photography. Living in Chico, California, Betsy’s artistic approach and creative style are evident in her work, showcasing joyful memories through photography.

Betsy is a mother of four, with eight grandchildren whom she adores. She loves children, family, photography, and many other hobbies that allow her to express her creativity and love of life.

Email: banders1056 @gmail.com

Website: betsyandersenzoom.com

Facebook: Photography by Betsy Andersen

On The Cover: The Willard Family

After attending college here in Chico in the early 2000’s, it became clear to us that Chico would be our forever home. Many things attracted us to this family friendly town, including Bidwell Park and Bidwell Presbyterian Church. We also fell in love with the amazing dining and entertainment options, as well as the dynamic amount of outdoor recreation that existed at our fingertips. Our top priority was to raise our kids in a town we felt had a lot to offer its youth. As teachers and parents in this community, our sense of pride in this town has only grown stronger. Whether it’s Oktoberfest, Slice of Chico, Kite Day, Farmer’s Markets, or just walks in Lower Bidwell, you can always find us out enjoying this town we call home.

Darci Frank

Darci is proud to be a part of a family of five, and a part-time free lance graphic designer. She is grateful to be a Mom, working with clients, and volunteering with organizations who put family first. The happiest place you will find Darci is in the outdoors!

Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

Tanni is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at The City University of New YorkBrooklyn College. He is the author or editor of three books and many articles.

Bonnie Chapman

Bonnie is a local freelance writer and has volunteered for Girls on the Run in several capacities over the past seven years. She is a proud supporter of this very FUN and impactful program.

Sandi Schwartz

Sandi is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com.

Kimberly Blaker

Kimberly is a mother of two and has two grandchildren. She is a freelance family and lifestyle writer, and owner of KB Creative Digital Services, a digital marketing company specializing in content and SEO.

Step By Step, Girls on the Run Helps with Return to Normalcy

By Bonnie Chapman

As families of the North State delight in the step-by-step return to normal, anticipating full school days and schedules, smiles abound. Kids will be back with their friends, teachers - fully resuming activities that were stunted or halted due to the pandemic. This is awesome. At the same time, it is critical to be mindful of helping children reengage. Kids weathered the pandemic doing school in all variations, from fulltime at home, part time at school, or some hybrid combination. Focus on getting the academics right under these circumstances was paramount, and social-emotional learning (SEL) had to take a back seat. Lots of research has been done, and it is indisputable that SEL is key to successful student performance, especially during elementary school. Providing students with skills and tools that will help them transition and set them up for success this fall is essential. For girls entering grades 3-8, Girls on the Run offers all of the above and much more.

For a decade, Girls on the Run of the North State has provided girls in eleven northern California counties with its evidence-based curriculum that nurtures the development and growth of young girls’ minds. It is a transformational, positive youth development after-school program that teaches life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while simultaneously teaching participants to establish a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Girls on the Run’s program is perfectly poised to assist in the return to normal.

The seasonal program serves girls with two different age-appropriate models for elementary and middle school students. Molly Barker founded Girls on the Run in 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina, after an epiphany of how running helped her to overcome hard things in her past. She designed the non-profit to encourage girls to learn about themselves through lessons covering pertinent topics, partnered with healthy practices around exercise

and running. “Girls face a lot of challenges in today’s world! Girls on the Run helps them find their voices, build their confidence, and teach them their potential is limitless,” explained Girls on the Run of the North State Executive Director, Claire Johnson.

Three years ago, a national independent study confirmed that the program is making a significant difference in girls physically, mentally, and emotionally. Research shows girls’ confidence peaks at age nine and then plummets. Ninety-seven percent of Girls on the Run participants build confidence by learning specific life skills like managing emotions, resolving conflict, and helping others. More than one million girls nationwide have now taken part. It is a movement, changing the lives of young girls everywhere.

One of the life changing skills that girls embrace during GOTR is goal setting. Girls set lap goals during every session of GOTR as they train for the ultimate goal of completing the celebration 5K at the season’s end. They learn to assess how their body feels and gauge the number of laps run before they decide on the goal for each practice. Girls are taught to run their “happy pace,” tuning in to their bodies and making an individual decision for movement based on how they feel each day. They are encouraged to keep moving forward no matter what –whether walking, running, skipping, or hopping. These lessons are easily applied to other aspects of their school and home lives, using the same step-bystep method of self-assessment and making their way toward a goal. This skill is certainly one of many that will be helpful to girls as they return to school, group activities, their social lives, and other extra-curricular activities. Amy Griffin, who teaches in the Business School at Chico State and is a volunteer GOTR coach, reflected on this, “In a world that has been so repressed in the past year, GOTR gives our girls hope for tomorrow.”

Many North State schools offer Girls on the Run after school in fall, spring, or both. Teams are coached by trained volunteers who lead the twice a week sessions. Parents, teachers, and community volunteers become program coaches and most find that GOTR inspires them as they lead their teams. “It’s so nice to help girls be their best selves. Girls on the Run has a well thought out curriculum that really teaches the girls well. I’m inspired by the positive energy and spunk of my team,” said Griffin. There is always room for more volunteer coaches, so please get in contact if this is something you would like to try. Every girl should have the chance to be a Girl on the Run. For more information or to register a girl, visit www.gotrnorthstate.org.

A Picture Really Is Worth

A Thousand Words: How Wordless Books Can Improve Your Toddler’s Language Skills

By Tanni Haas, Ph.D

Like most parents, you probably remember fondly the first time you had your toddler in your lap, reading a children’s book with big, beautiful illustrations and simple words like Goodnight Moon or Brown Bear, Brown Bear: Where Are You? I remember how exciting it was to trace the words on the page with my toddler’s little, stubby fingers and showing him how those words were connected to the illustrations.

But here’s the thing: Strangely enough, researchers have discovered that when it comes to improving your toddler’s language skills, you are better off reading illustrated books without words than books with pictures and text. The reason is when you read a picture book with only a few words, you probably do what I and most other people do: you describe how those words relate to the illustrations, like saying “This is a house,” and then asking your toddler, “Show me where the house is.”

When parents read wordless books, they create rich, complex stories from those illustrations and end up talking with their toddlers about all kinds of things. For example, instead of asking their kids to “show me the house,” they ask,“What does our house look like? Who lives there? What can you see when you look out the window?” As a result, researchers have found, toddlers end up with a broader vocabulary, better word comprehension, and they learn how to use language to describe events in their lives.

There is nothing wrong with reading picture books with simple words. Clearly, it is smart to introduce your toddler to words at an early age and explain how they can use words to describe themselves, others, and the world around them. But as they get closer to school-age, it is important to expose them to more sophisticated language, and strong wordless books do that. As Professor Daniele O’Neill, the author of one recent study, puts it, “Reading picture storybooks with kids exposes them to the kind of talk that’s

really important for children to hear, especially as they transition to school.”

What are some great wordless books you should consider reading with your toddler? Here are three modern classics that will inspire great conversations:

Hank Finds an Egg

By Rebecca Dudley

This book has beautiful photographs of dioramas and tells the story of a stuffed animal named Frank, who finds the egg of a hummingbird, takes care of it at home, and then returns it to its nest to hatch. Your kids will relate to how vulnerable the small hummingbird is, and you will find yourself speaking with them about taking care of others.

Inside Outside

By Lizi Boyd

This wonderfully illustrated book will stimulate many conversations about the fun things to do inside and outside your home, and during the changing seasons. It features a kid who plays with various animals (bird, cat, dog, mouse, and a turtle), and allows you to talk about those animals, where they live, and more.

Where’s Walrus?

By Stephen Savage

This is the story about the adventures of an adorable walrus who has escaped a zoo, with the zoo keeper hot on its trails. Along the way, the walrus meets different people including artists, firemen, and shopkeepers. This fun book can lead to conversations about the different jobs people have and what your kids would like to do when they grow up.

Paradise Chocolate Fest Plans September Celebration in Paradise

“SWEETENING KIDS LIVES”

Celebrating 16 years of “Sweetening Kids Lives,” Youth on the Ridge Community Foundation presents the Paradise Chocolate Fest on Saturday, September 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the beautiful Terry Ashe Park on the Skyway in Paradise.

The annual festival features Chocolate Candy Land where you can dip into decadence at the huge chocolate fountain or visit chocolatier booths filled with countless artisanal delicacies, desserts, confections and scrumptious ice cream for sale.

Fest attendees will also enjoy “Art in the Park,” “All About Books,” “Green Scene Outdoor Classroom,” “ReDiscover the Ridge” community exhibits, craft and commercial booths, and a wide range of delicious food selections.

Young Fest goers will have great fun visiting the Kidz-Zone, including giant inflatables, carnival games, costumed characters, arts & craft projects, contests, and much more!

Special events throughout the day include a Chocolate Chase 5K Run, Chocolate Cuisine Challenge, Chocolate Pie and Super Sensational Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contests, and Cookie Stacking Contest.

Highlights include all-day Musical Concerts on two Stages and, the “Chocolate, Wine & Beer Garden,” featuring Guittard Chocolate tastings and the North Valley’s premiere Wine & Craft Beer selections.

Admission to the fest is $5.00 with children 4 & under, free. Admission includes: Free Chocolate Samples! Free Chocolate Pie & Ice Cream Eating Contests! Free Kidz-Zone Bounce House & Super Slide, Carnival Games, Crafts & Prizes! Musical Concerts & Demonstrations! Free Raffle Prizes! And Free Parking!

Best of all - the Paradise Chocolate Fest delivers vital support to non-profit organizations that provide educational, enrichment, recreational, and leadership opportunities to youth on the Paradise Ridge.

Since its inception in 2006, the Paradise Chocolate Fest has contributed over $350,000.00 to Ridge youth programs and services. From scholarships to upgraded computers, sports uniforms, musical instruments, summer camp, swim & dance lessons, leadership programs, vision screening, food banks and more, revenues ultimately reach out to impact the lives of thousands of youth, their families and our community.

A complete event schedule will be announced on August 1st. For all of the delicious details, follow the Paradise Chocolate Fest Facebook site; visit the Paradise Chocolate Fest website www.chocolatefest.us, or contact 530-342-4896, and Join the Fun!

Parenting Resources

Adoptive Parent Support Group

Join us in sharing, learning, and supporting each other with the joys & challenges of adoption. 895-6143

Butte Baby Steps

The Butte Baby Steps program is a national program model designed to help expectant and new parents get their children off to a healthy start. The program serves Butte County families. Butte Baby Steps is open to parents of all ages that are either expecting or have a child under the age of 3 months. 345-1600, nvcss.org/ programs/butte-baby-steps/,

Butte College Foster/Kinship Education

For more info and a current workshop schedule, call 897-6235.

Butte County Library 891-2762, www.buttecounty.net/bclibrary.

Butte County Mothers of Multiples 899-1538 or www.buttecountymoms.com.

Chico Area Park & Recreation District (CARD)

Recreational activities and programs year-round include programs for children, adults, and seniors. Sports, camps, after-school program, preschool program, and leisure activities are offered. 895-4711, 545 Vallombrosa Ave., www. chicorec.com.

Chico Mothers Club

Find them on Facebook or go to www.chicomothersclub.org for more info.

Durham Recreation & Park District

Offering many sports, classes/lessons, and programs for all ages. 345-1921, durhamrecreation.recdesk.com.

Enloe Mother & Baby Outreach Program 332-5520 or online at www.enloe.org/baby.

HelpCentral.org

You can find services such as emergency food, parenting classes, recreational programs, support groups, drug treatment, tax assistance, in-home help, after school programs, hospice, counseling, and subsidized daycare at www.helpcentral.org.

Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow gives parents, caregivers, child care providers, early educators, and healthcare providers an easy way to get connected with services for children under the age of five living in Butte County. Connects young children and their families to developmental and behavioral services and promotes regular developmental screening for children living in Butte County. Call 211 or visit www.helpmegrowbutte.org.

Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, Inc.

Provides low-cost or free mental health, housing, vocational, and support services to individuals and families in California’s Northern Sacramento Valley. (800) 846-1451, www.nvcss.org.

Paradise Recreation & Park District

PRPD offers a wide range of recreation programming, including after school programming, summer camp, preschool activities, youth and adult sports, senior services, aquatics, teen programs, and numerous special events. 872-6393, www.paradiseprpd.com

Valley Oak Children’s Services

A Resource and Referral Program that provides free referrals to child care and other familyrelated services. Low-Income parents can call and get on the Centralized Eligibility List for preschool and subsidized child care in Butte County. Call 895-3572 or 1-800-345-8627 or visit valleyoakchildren.org for more information.

WIC

A program that provides supplemental food vouchers and nutrition education to pregnant and breastfeeding women and infants and children up through age five who qualify in Butte County. The WIC staff provides parent education about nutrition, breastfeeding, child safety, growth/ development, and other child-appropriate topics. 891-2767, www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/ Programs/WIC

Special Needs

ARC Support Group

Families who experience the challenges that come along with raising a child with a special need are invited to this support group hosted by ARC of Butte County. Tuesdays. 891-8157.

Far Northern Regional Center

A fixed point of referral for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. FNRC also provides services to infants and toddlers (from birth to three years old) who are showing a delay in their development or who are at substantially high risk for a developmental disability. FNRC coordinates community resources such as education, recreation, health, rehabilitation, and welfare for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Hydrocephalus Association Support Group

An opportunity to meet others connected to hydrocephalus. All ages are welcome! Meets on the last Saturday of every other month at 3:30pm, Chico, contact 591-9512, nethertonhydro@ hotmail.com.

Little Red Hen LifeSpan Center

This nonprofit organization offers year-round socialization training programs for children, teens, and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Unique and exciting programs teach children the skills needed to integrate into the community successfully. Programs target communication, play skills, group participation, and positive peer interactions. Provides sensory exploration & behavioral support in a fun & engaging environment. www.littleredhen.org/ lifespan-center.html. 897-0300.

Work Training Center

WTC is dedicated to meeting the training, vocational, and recreational needs of people ages 18 & up with disabilities. 2255 Fair St. www. wtcinc.org. 343-7994.

Parent Infant Programs

A developmental program designed for children diagnosed at birth with a regional center qualifying condition or children at risk of developing those qualifying conditions. 343-8106, www.parentinfantprograms.com.

Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California

We provide support, education, and advocacy services to families with children ages birth to 26 with special education needs living in Northern California. For information on trainings and support groups, please call the Chico office at (530)899-8801 and toll-free 888-263-1311 or www.rfenc.org. Hablamos Español.

The Enloe Health Learning Center

A community library. We invite you to browse a broad array of health and medical information. Learn more about a disease or disorder affecting a family member, research a medical diagnosis, or find wellness information. A free library card gives you access to health care information through books and periodicals, www.enloe.org/ library.

Wings of Eagles

Emotional and financial assistance to all families in the four-county areas of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, and Colusa who have children with a pediatric cancer or a life-threatening illness diagnosis. The Joseph Alvarez Organization for Seriously Ill Children. 893-9231.

Have a resource for us?

Do you know of a resource you would like to see listed, or does a listing need to be updated? Let us know! Email us: marne@growingupchico.com.

How did we get to a point in which our method of communication has gotten progressively shorter and shorter over time? The other day on Twitter, there was a hashtag asking people to tell a story in three words. Just. Three. Words. When we are limited to only 140 characters (characters, not words), how can anyone expect to really understand what others mean? And when pre-teens and teens only “talk” to their friends using brief phrases and emojis, what are we left with?

Here are five aspects of communication that are being sacrificed when our children grow up speaking and writing in phrases, which can only hinder their development over time:

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND EXPRESSION

We use words to express our feelings to others about our observations, concerns, and hopes. How will our children learn to do this if they are cutting out an enormous opportunity for verbal and written expression by dumbing down messages?

Researchers are assessing whether emoticons help us communicate better or hinder self-expression. They have found that on one hand it is nice to

Tweets, Texts, and Emojis: WHY COMMUNICATING IN BRIEF SNIPPETS IS HURTING OUR KIDS

By Sandi Schwartz

have an international symbol for certain emotions that we can easily click on to communicate how we feel about a Facebook post. However, emoticons convey a limited choice of emotions, reducing ways to truly express our full range of feelings we have on an issue. It also cuts out the opportunity for people to use descriptive words to say how they feel because they are given a shorthand option to simply click on one image that is supposed to capture their thoughts and feelings. This is, unfortunately, limiting opportunities for expression, and if our children grow up with this quick option, it will impact how they express their emotions as they grow.

Additionally, when we hide behind our devices instead of talking face-toface with those who we love, we miss out on a major chance for emotional connections. According to Psychology Today, this kind of communication interferes with actual conversation and undermines our ability to connect with others. Social media actually becomes a barrier to connecting with others. As children are constantly exposed to these quick, impersonal ways of “expressing” themselves, they miss out on learning how to accurately convey their thoughts and feelings- both in writing and out loud.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Nothing beats looking into someone’s eyes to truly understand what they mean and how they feel. A huge part of our daily communication depends on visual cues like facial expressions, body language, posture, and tone of voice. In fact, studies show that only seven percent of communication is based on the written or verbal word, while 93 percent is based on nonverbal body language. Sitting behind a screen, sending a few words or images is not going to help you really understand how the person on the other end thinks and feels. As children spend more time in this world of snippets, they are losing the ability to pick up on these non-verbal expressions that can be so important in understanding others. UCLA scientists found that sixth graders who went five days without using a smartphone, television, or other digital screen did much better at understanding human emotions than those who spent several hours a day looking at their electronic devices. Patricia Greenfield, the author of the study, explained that decreased sensitivity to emotional cues is lost when in-person social interaction is replaced with screen interaction. Learning how to read other people’s

moods is a skill that takes a lot of practice. Sadly, children today are missing out on developing that skill.

SOCIAL SKILLS

Children and teens lose out on a whole slew of social skills when they only communicate in short statements online. Learning how to interact in person with others and to speak in public are critical skills for future success. Our kids need to practice these skills throughout their childhood to get ready for critical moments in their lives like school presentations, college and job interviews, and making an announcement at a social event.

In addition, other basic social skills are also being affected. In an article on Huffington Post, Melissa Ortega, a child psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, pointed out how children are struggling to deal with face-to-face conflict because they are used to hiding behind their screens to communicate. They are not getting enough interpersonal exposure, and Ortega said that conversations take practice. Experts are also seeing how this type of limited communication is influencing the dating world. Teens raised to just text and not hold a personal conversation are limited in how they can express their feelings to their peers. The lack of direct communication is impacting their ability to build trust and develop an emotional connection with others.

CREATIVE LANGUAGE, GRAMMAR, AND SPELLING

Another way that brief communication is changing our children’s lives is in the classroom. The way kids are communicating online is creeping into their school work, leading to sloppy grammar, spelling mistakes, and reduced creativity. The best literature throughout history is filled with embellished language and imaginative stories. If our children limit the number of words they use to tell a story or to debate an issue, the entire premise of communications changes.

The Association of American Educators indicates that social media has led to students talking in “text-speak,” causing an overall trend of bad grammar, bad punctuation, and bad spelling for the sake of convenience and speed. Abbreviations used on social media are also making it into coursework, which is clearly incorrect language. The Guardian reported that a paper released by the English Spelling Society concludes that the Internet has revolutionized the English language and made spelling mistakes the norm. This is not a surprise since we now rely on crutches like autocorrect that reduce the level of thought required to write.

MEANINGS OF WORDS

How many times have you misinterpreted what someone wrote in an email or text? So much is lost in translation when we are unable to see or hear how the person is communicating specific words to us. If children are primarily communicating with friends and family by typing phrases, that leaves so many opportunities for the message to be misconstrued. This can lead to stressful situations because the reader may jump to the wrong conclusion that the writer intended to be hurtful, when in reality, it was just how the words were interpreted. Brief communication can then lead to negative emotions like anger, depression, or anxiety over how someone thinks they are being treated.

As an example, an article in Forbes discussed how the instances of misinterpretation are growing in the business environment. As people are rushed, stressed, and primarily communicating by quick electronic messages, they are not taking the time to consider the nuances of their writing. This is leading to more conflicts about the tone of emails. It is only worse with our children who are gossiping and making plans with friends in group texts using symbols and acronyms. How does someone really know what it means when the writer uses all capital letters? Are they yelling, joking, or just highlighting an issue? When someone responds to you with a one- or two-

word answer, does that mean they are brushing you off? With this type of communication, we are left to draw conclusions with very little information. If our children do not learn how to tell people exactly what they mean using complete sentences, how will they ever be happy and successful?

What can parents do about it?

A day does not go by without hearing suggestions for limiting our children’s screen time. We are all struggling to implement this in our homes. What else can we do to encourage our children to communicate more thoroughly and effectively?

• Read every day with your children at all ages, but the real key is to also discuss what you are reading. Ask tons of questions and encourage your kids to summarize the stories.

• Create games that involve developing a story together. For example, fill a jar with topics and then ask each family member to write or state three sentences. Keep building the story.

• Teach your children how to debate and encourage them to join a debate team when they get older.

• Ask your kids questions and encourage them to talk about how they feel. It is so important to set aside special times to have these deep conversations.

• Encourage your children to journal so they can practice expressing their thoughts and feelings in writing. Ask them what adjectives they used and challenge them to develop their thoughts even more.

• Have fun analyzing each other’s or a stranger’s body language, in person or on television.

• Eat meals together as a family and include your children in conversations about all types of topics, from how their day at school was to current affairs.

• Provide public speaking opportunities for your children, even if it is something as simple as ordering their meal at a restaurant.

ToddlyTic

Android & iPhone. Free 30-day trial. This app is an excellent way to communicate with your child’s daycare or teachers. It helps you stay on top of your child’s attendance, grades, and more. You can also use the app to manage and make tuition payments to your child’s school.

MMGuardian

Android & iPhone. Free. This pre-teen and teen monitoring app allows parents to monitor and block text messages, apps, calls, and URLs. It also has configurations to limit screen time.

1. 2. 3.

Baby Monitor 3G

Android & iPhone. $3.99. Monitor your baby with both video and audio, and receive alerts when your baby awakens. It is particularly helpful that you can see your baby in the dark with this app. It also tracks how often your baby wakes, and it replays audio. You can also press a button on your phone to talk to your baby.

11 Must-Have Phone Apps to Simplify Parenting

By Kimberly Blaker

Whether you need a solution to help monitor your baby, track and reward your kiddos for chores, or keep your teen from texting while driving, there is a phone app that does it for you. The following useful apps are designed specifically for parents and families. Better yet, most of these parent-tested apps are free for both Android and iPhone.

Life360 Family Locator- GPS Tracker

Android & iPhone. Free. With this app, you can create “circles” of family members and friends. Then, you can view the location of anyone in your circle on a map. The tracker can also send you text alerts when your child or teen arrives at or leaves a destination.

Screen Time Parental Control

Android & iPhone. Free trial. This useful app gives parents a variety of controls to limit their kids’ screen time. It also allows parents to block apps and games from their kids at bedtime or during school hours. Parents can even push a button on their own phone to time-out their kids’ phones when they ignore requests to get off their phones.

6. 8.

7. 4. 9.

DriveSafe.ly

Android. Free or paid upgrade. If you have teen drivers, this app is a must-have. It reads text messages and emails aloud and announces the name of incoming callers without having to touch the phone. The paid version allows for a hands-free response to messages as well.

ChoreMonster

Android & iPhone. Free. This app is a great way to gain kids’ cooperation with chores. Kids can keep track of the points they earn for completing tasks. They can use the points to buy rewards such as extra time for video games, a special treat, or a family outing.

Netspark Parental Control Light

Android. Paid subscription. Get powerful filtering with this app to protect your kids from harmful images, text, and video content. It also allows parents to set time limits for daily or weekly screen time.

Wheel of Chores

10. 5. 11.

Android & iPhone. Free. This app adds fun and excitement to chores. Kids can spin the wheel for a task and earn points toward rewards. At the end of the week, parents can distribute the money or prizes, or kids can bank their points to save up.

KidsPlace Parental Control by Kiddoware

Android. Free or paid upgrade. Block kids from buying or downloading apps and receiving incoming calls with this app. Premium features include a timer that locks apps after a specified period or based on a permanent schedule.

Cozi Family Organizer

Android & iPhone. Free or paid upgrade. Manage and share your family calendar between all devices with this app to keep everyone in the loop. In addition to keeping track of schedules, it manages reminders, to-do lists, shopping lists, and recipes.

As we sat in the hospital OR pediatric waiting room, time seemed to pass painfully slow. Our three-year-old son had been sick for months, and his Gastroenterologist was trying to take another guess as to why and get more clues from biopsies of his stomach. When she walked into the waiting room to tell us how he was doing, our new journey began. I want to say, “Our life turned upside down,” but to anyone with a child suffering from a life-threatening illness, I know it is even worse for them. However, when your child is sick with multiple symptoms, it is a draining experience for any parent, no matter what we tell ourselves to help us cope. When your child is sick, compounded by sleepless nights for you and the child, you are tired. Add doctors’ appointments, blood tests, allergy tests, and surgical procedures, and you are worn out.

Now, add the news the specialist gives you in the waiting room. Although not yet certain of a diagnosis, she recommends we start treating his issues more aggressively with one of two options:

Option one: Our toddler could no longer eat any food, and survive solely on a medical formula - hopefully, without a feeding tube.

Option two: Strip his diet down by removing what they call the “big 7.” No milk, eggs, wheat, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy.

As a family of five, my

Your Child and Food Restrictions: You Are Not Alone

By Darci Frank

husband and I quickly agreed that mealtime, cooking, and baking was a part of our quality of life. We could not imagine sitting at the dinner table and having our youngest watch us eat or help us bake a cake and not get to eat any of it. We quickly decided to tackle option number two and crossed our fingers it would work. The crazy life as we knew it just got harder.

The specialist rattled off the list of foods he could no longer eat. I could not even remember them all since my mind went quickly to thinking no bread, pasta, pancakes, cake, and cookies that we love to bake.

I felt so overwhelmed when we headed out to Whole Foods Market the first time (that same afternoon) to try and shop for anything that would fit this new diet. Luckily, our daughter, age14 at the time, said to me, “We got this!” She was our champion! I likely would have melted down in the store without her. We walked into the store with just the list of foods we could not eat and began to read every lengthy label on every package of cereal, bread, and snacks. Do you know how many foods contain soy?! I had no idea!

I was also fortunate to have a friend who is a fabulous Italian cook who was up for the challenge. After also finding the list of foods challenging, she quickly gave the best advice, “Let’s focus on what he can eat, not what he can’t eat.”

When the results of the biopsy came back, we had our

first diagnosis- sort of. Our son was diagnosed with an Eosinophilic disorder (Eo), a rare disorder, occurring in an estimated 1 in 1,500 children.

As the journey of tests, medications, and biopsies continued, we later learned that he has an even more rare form of Eo, Gastroenteritis. It is so new that the diagnosis had only been created two years earlier, so many of our questions could not be answered. Our son would be a part of the group from which doctors and researchers would learn. At the same time, they assigned a whole team of specialists to his case to explore every possibility, try to more confirm the diagnosis by ruling out other diseases, and figure out how to get him well again.

For families with children diagnosed with diabetes, there are support groups and resources to help them through the big changes in diet, critical food calculations, and effects on the family. Unfortunately, with EoG we had to go it alone with no other parents to help us learn the ropes. We did not know anyone we could contact that understood what this illness was like.

Kids are resilient, and we did all adapt, but that journey was a difficult one. Small things became more exciting for our family, like going out for a treat together. A trip to Baskin Robbins now meant our youngest had no options. Going out for pizza meant I had to make a wheat and dairy-free pizza and pack it to a restaurant.

So, when we discovered Jon & Bon’s Hawaiian Snow, and that Schubert’s always carried a nondairy sorbet, it was a big deal because each of our children could have a treat!

For parents who may be new to dealing with any type of food allergy, know that it does get easier. We will find those discoveries that make life easier when coping with food allergies. Today, stores carry more soyfree and dairy-free substitutes than ever before. If you have a restricted diet, S&S, Chico Natural Foods, and Whole Foods offer many options. The National Organization for Rare Disorders can help you find resources to help you deal with your specific disorder: rarediseases.org. The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders provides tips for personal relationships and coping with digestive disorders: iffgd.org/ tips-daily-living/personalrelationships.

A great new website that offers resources, such as substitutions for common allergens is foodallergy. org. You can even join the #ContainsCourage Movement, an awareness Campaign supporting families living with food allergies, and educating all communities about the different diseases. Finally, if you are a family that is coping with Eo, there is a Facebook support group you can request to join at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/ eosinophilicfamilynetwork). Just know, you are not alone.

From Ghostly Goodies to Petrifying Pumpkins Fun Neighborhood Halloween Contests

By Kimberly Blaker

Are you looking for some fun new ways to celebrate Halloween with your kids this year? How about a neighborhood contest? Costume contests are just one of the many options to get everyone in the spirit. Read on to see if one of these wicked ideas grabs you.

Craziest Costume

Pass out fliers inviting all the neighborhood kids to meet at your house an hour before trick-or-treating begins. Give everyone a name tag when they arrive. Each child and adult can fill out a voting slip. Include best costume, scariest, funniest, and most creative costume. Hand out a special prize to the winners of each category. Do not forget a small consolation prize for all children who participate.

Scariest Scarecrow

Ask your neighbors to participate in the scariest scarecrow contest. To keep the scarecrows safe until voting, set a specific day when the scarecrows should be displayed in everyone’s yards. Have everyone in the neighborhood, whether they participate by making a scarecrow or not, hand-deliver their vote to you by the end of the day that the scarecrows are set out. Then, deliver a fun Halloweenish homemade yard sign to the winning home.

Creepiest Food

Hold a simple neighborhood potluck Halloween party. Each participating family should be instructed to bring a Halloween themed food or dessert. Place a numbered card next to each dish. Have everyone fill out a ballot for the cutest, grossest, funniest, and scariest food. Once the winners are announced, take photos of the families next to their creepy food. Finally, everyone can dig in and eat the yummy dishes and treats.

Most Fun Halloween Game

Hand out fliers to everyone in the neighborhood, or on your street to hold a Halloween game day. Ask each participating house to set up a Halloween kids’ game in their front yard. Participating homes can give out small prizes such as stickers or treats to each kid who plays their game. Kids can wander the neighborhood playing the games for the afternoon. When they are done, have each child fill out a ballot for the most fun Halloween game. Then post a chilling homemade sign in the yard of the winner.

Most Ghoulish Yard

Invite everyone in the neighborhood to join in a decorating contest. You could have a few categories such as scariest, cutest, silliest, and best overall. Set a decorating deadline for October 21st. Provide delivery instructions on the fliers so every house in the neighborhood can vote for the addresses

they like best. Also, mention that neighbors should view all the homes after October 21st and deliver their votes to you by a specified date. Ask some of the participating neighbors to help you make up fun ‘Scariest House’ and other signs. Post the signs in the yards of the winning homes.

Funniest Carved Pumpkin

Ask the neighborhood to join you in a carved pumpkin contest. You can schedule a date and time when everyone will meet with their pumpkins at your home or a neighborhood park. Suggest everyone who participates pitch in $2 per pumpkin for a jackpot. To keep it fair, allow only one pumpkin per child. Prepare numbered cards in advance so each pumpkin will have its own number. Next, have everyone fill out a voting slip. The carver of the winning pumpkin gets the jackpot. You could also pass out small goody bags for all the kids who participate.

These awesome autumn decor projects are both simple, and stunning. Create leaf suncatchers, stuffed fabric pumpkins, and clay leaf bowls. Best of all, the warm fall colors can grace your mantel or entryway in October, then become part of your Thanksgiving

Fabulous Fall Decor

by Tiffany Doerr

those beautiful autumn leaves. Combine this activity with a nature walk to collect the leaves.

Supplies:

• Paper plate

• Scissors

• Clear contact paper

• Hole punch

• String

• Pen

• Colorful fall leaves, but make sure they aren’t too dry and crumbly.

Instructions: Poke a hole near the inside rim of the paper plate and cut out the center of the plate, leaving the rim intact. If you use a white plate, kids can color or paint the rim. Or, skip that step and simply use a decorative paper plate in a fall color or pattern. Trace around the outside of the plate rim onto the back of the contact paper and then cut out the circle of contact paper. Repeat so that you have two circles. Flip the plate over so that the back is up. Remove the paper backing from the contact paper and center the contact paper over the plate. Adhere the edges

of the contact paper to the rim of the plate. Flip plate right side up again. Allow kids to arrange fall leaves on the contact paper and press down to stick. When the leaves are arranged to everyone’s satisfaction, adhere the other contact paper circle to the front of the suncatcher. Use the hole punch to make a hole in the rim of the plate. Thread a length of yarn, ribbon, or twine through the hole and tie the ends of the string together to make a hanging loop. Hang your creation in a window and enjoy!

No-Sew Fabric Pumpkins

These are not only easy to create, but make fun table centerpieces or decor for any part of the house. Make just one, or several in a variety of fabrics. Choose a black and white palette for an elegant display, cute fall patterns for a whimsical look, or solid warm colors for a neutral arrangement.

Supplies:

• Fabric in fall patterns or colors. Cotton material works best. If buying fabric off of the bolt,

purchase a quarter yard of each. You can also often find bundles of “fat quarters” in the quilting section of fabric stores. Fat quarters are simply a quarter yard of precut fabric.

• Stuffing for your pumpkins. A polyester stuffing such as Poly Fil works well.

• Toilet paper rolls- one per pumpkin

• Scissors

• Green pipe cleaners- one per pumpkin

• 3-4-inch long sticks -just get them from your yard!

Clay Leaves

These pretty leaf trays can be used as decor, to hold tealights, or even for rings or coins.

Supplies:

• Air dry clay

• A shallow bowl, with a diameter about the same size or slightly smaller than your leaf.

• Large leaves- still green, not crunchy! If it is too late for green leaves, you can use artificial leaves from the craft store.

• Butter knife

• Acrylic paints

• Spatula

Optional:

• Rolling pin

• Clear coat varnish such as Krylon

the clay into the bowl gently so that the middle of the clay leaf sits on the bottom of the bowl, and the edges curve up with the sides of the bowl. This will help the leaf hold its bowl shape as it dries. Allow to dry 24 hours, then remove clay leaf from the bowl, flip the bowl upside down, and place leaf (also upside down) on the upside down bowl to allow the back side of the leaf to dry. Allow another 24 hours dry time. Once the clay is completely dry, paint with acrylic paint. If desired, you can spray the completely dry clay leaf with a clear coat of varnish.

No-Carve Pumpkins Made with Dollar Store Supplies

Instructions:

Lay fabric right side down on work surface. Trim fabric into a square shape. For a large pumpkin, you will need approximately 18 x 18 inches. Cut smaller squares for little pumpkins. You can eyeball this, it doesn’t need to be perfectly measured or even have straight edges, as the edges will not show when the project is finished! Place toilet paper roll upright in the center of the fabric square. Place stuffing all the way around the toilet paper tube. Don’t worry about adding too much or too little stuffing, you can adjust the amount if needed later. Holding the toilet paper roll with one hand, bring one corner of the fabric up and tuck it into the inside of the tube. Repeat with the other three corners. Tuck in the rest of the fabric in the same way. If there isn’t enough fabric to tuck into the tube, remove some of your stuffing. Or, if your pumpkin is not plump enough, add some stuffing! Once all of the fabric edges are tucked into the tube and the pumpkin is stuffed to your liking, poke some stuffing into the top of the tube to hold the fabric in place. Put the stick inside the tube for a stem and then push the stuffing down into the tube so that it does not show. To make a vine, wrap a green pipe cleaner around the stick a couple of times, then curl the ends by wrapping the pipe cleaner around a pencil or your finger.

Instructions:

Use the rolling pin or your hands to press clay into ½ inch thickness on your work surface. Place leaf in center of rolled out clay and press leaf gently into the clay. Be sure and make an impression of the outline of the leaf and the veins. You may have to try one or two times before you get it just right. To try again, roll clay into a ball then flatten again. Once you have a good leaf impression, cut around the outline of the leaf with a butter knife. Remove the extra clay from around your cut-out leaf and then pick up the clay leaf with a spatula (Just like making cookies with a cookie cutter). Place inside of the bowl, pressing

If you hate pumpkin guts, or you just don’t want the kids handling knives, try one of these no-carve decorating options. Bedazzle a princess or unicorn pumpkin, dress your pumpkin as a witch or as Batman, make a prickly hedgehog or give your pumpkin the wings of a fairy. All of these supplies can be purchased at a Dollar store, making these projects both fun and inexpensive.

Princess Pumpkin

Supplies

• White pumpkin (or paint an orange one)

• Tiara

• Jewel strips (I used a self adhesive sheet of jewels from the Dollar Store and cut it into strips)

• Butterflies (I found these in the floral section at the Dollar Store; they are on wires to stick into floral arrangements)

Instructions:

Adhere the jewel strips along the lines in between the ridges of the pumpkin, all the way around. Stick the butterflies into the pumpkin. Set the tiara on top.

Unicorn Pumpkin

Supplies:

• White pumpkin

• Pink foam sheet or pink card stock

• Self adhesive jewels

• Fake eyelashes

• Pink tulle ribbon

• Straight pins

• Scissors

• Glue dots

Fabulous Fall Decor

Instructions:

Roll the pink foam or card stock into a cone for the horn. Glue it closed with glue dots. Decorate the horn with jewels. Using straight pins, pin the horn on, just in front of the pumpkin’s stem. To create the mane, cut a 6-inch length of pink tulle. Holding the tulle with the long side against the pumpkin, pin the end of the tulle onto the pumpkin, just behind the horn. Gather the tulle about ½ inch behind the first pin, and pin on, so that the tulle sticks up like a mane. Repeat until the mane goes all the way down the back of the pumpkin. Adhere the fake eyelashes.

Witch Pumpkin

Supplies:

• A Dollar Store witch figure

• Glue dots

• Googly eyes

• Pumpkin

Instructions:

Take apart the witch figure. Adhere the hat on top of the pumpkin with glue dots. Stick the legs on the bottom of the pumpkin with glue dots. Add the googly eyes.

Batman Pumpkin

Supplies:

• Dollar Store bat mask and wings

• Pumpkin

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Googly eyes

• Glue dots

Instructions:

Put the mask on the pumpkin using the elastic mask strap. Put the googly eyes inside the eye holes of the mask. Cut the wings off of the centerpiece of the costume and cut off the elastic straps. Pin the wings on with straight pins

Fall Fairy Pumpkin

Supplies:

• Pumpkin

• Fake eyelashes

• Fall garland

• Gold tulle

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Clear packing tape

Instructions:

Roll the fall garland into a wreath shape

and pin onto pumpkin. Adhere the fake eyelashes. For the wings, cut an approximately 12-inch length of tulle. Lay the tulle length flat on your work surface. Cover the tulle with strips of packing tape until the entire length is covered in tape. (This will both keep the tulle from fraying when cut and make it stiff). Cut out a wing shape. Repeat for the other wing. Pin wings on with straight pins.

Hedgehog Pumpkin

Supplies:

• Toothpicks

• Googly eyes

• Glue dots

• Straight pins

• Brown foam or card stock

• Black button on pom pom

Instructions:

Roll the brown foam or card stock into a small cone and adhere it closed with glue dots. Put the button on the end with a glue dot. Stick the nose on with straight pins over the stem of the pumpkin. Cut two small half circles out of foam and stick on with pins for ears. Adhere the googly eyes with glue dots. Stick toothpicks all over the pumpkin for the quills.

GUC’s Top Playground Picks

Baroni

Hiking & Nature Trails For Kids

Chico Canyon Trailhead, Chico

Chico Creek Nature Center, Chico

Chico Seed Orchard, Chico

Five Mile Recreation Area, Chico

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Gridley

Iron Canyon Trail, Near Red Bluff

Loafer Creek Trail, Oroville

Lower Bidwell Park, Chico

Farmer’s Markets

& U-Pick Farms

Saturday

Chico, 7:30am-1pm Downtown Municipal

Parking Lot at 2nd St. & Wall St., year round.

Oroville, 7am-Noon, Municipal Auditorium

Parking Lot, 1735 Montgomery, through Sept.

Tuesday

Paradise, 7:30am-Noon, Alliance Church on Clark Road, held through Sept.

Gridley, 1st Tuesday of the month, 5pm7:30pm, Vierra Park, held through Aug.

Wednesday

Chico, 8am-1pm, North Valley Plaza Mall

Parking Lot at Pillsbury Rd. Adjacent to Trader Joe’s, year round.

Oroville, 9am-2pm, Dove’s Landing, 2450 Oro Dam Boulevard East, held through Sept.

Chico, 6pm-9pm, Downtown Chico between Broadway and Main, held through Sept.

U-Pick Farms

Hooker

Monkey Face, Upper Bidwell Park

One Mile Recreation Area, Chico

Paradise Lake, Upper Paradise

Phantom Falls, North Table Mountain in Oroville

Potter Point Loop Trail, Lake Oroville Recreation Area

Saddle Dam Day Use Area, Oroville

Table Mountain, Near Oroville

Yahi Trail, Upper Bidwell Park, Chico

Chico State College of Agriculture, 311 Nicholas C. Schouten Lane, Chico.

Hansen’s Blueberry Farm, 3325 Houghton Ave. Corning.

Hillside Poms, 1271 Capay Rd., Corning.

Johnson U Pick Farm, 113 Higgins Ave., Gridley.

Julia’s Fruit Stand, 11475 CA-99, Los Molinos.

L&T Farms, 1005 Liberty Lane, Chico.

S&B Blueberries, 11475 CA-99, Los Molinos.

Sierra Cascade Blueberry Farm, 12753 Doe Mill Rd, Forest Ranch.

Stagecoach Lane Ranch, 11258 Nelson Bar Rd., Oroville.

Wolf Orchard, 5929 Highway 99 W, Corning.

Country Pumpkins:

Country Pumpkins is celebrating over 20 years of family fun for everyone! Located on HWY 32 about 10 miles west of Chico, and 4 miles east of Orland. Explore a five-acre pumpkin patch, a ten-acre corn maze, a petting zoo, and a hay pyramid (with slide), country store, and a haunted maze at night.

7152 CA-32, Orland

www.countrypumpkins.org

Julia’s Fruit Stand:

Julia’s Fruit Stand is a family-owned fruit stand and pumpkin patch that prides itself on growing most of the produce they sell. Their goal is to sell you produce that was picked that very morning, guaranteeing you the freshest, and ripest produce you can get. Over 30 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, heirloom tomatoes, apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots and more.

11475 Hwy 99, Los Molinos

530-354-4775

Patrick Ranch:

Come visit the pumpkin patch in Durham! Cost for admission is $5.00 per person, with children 12 years and under $3.00. They will have hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and much more.

10381 Midway, Durham

530-342-4359

www.patrickranchmuseum.org

The Peterson Sisters

Pumpkin Patch:

The Peterson Sisters Pumpkin Patch has a great selection of pumpkins and decorative gourds. Come out and pick the perfect one! Each weekend they will be hosting family-friendly games. Have fun with children’s activities, kids’ hay maze, and hayrides. Visit their Facebook page for more details on all the activities that will be available. Baked goods and beverages will be available for purchase.

3200 Bell Rd, Chico www.pspumpkinpatch.com

TJ Farms:

Each year, the Moss family opens their lovely home to the public for seasonal festivals - the most popular being the fall Pumpkin Patch. Come pick out a pumpkin on the farm’s lovely grounds! Take the kids for a wagon ride, have them sit on an old tractor, pet the farm animals, climb on the hay bale obstacle course, or visit the country store where they have farm fresh and gourmet products for sale. School and other groups are welcome. Please call ahead to schedule. Free admission & parking!

3600 Chico Avenue, Chico 530-343-2294

www.tjfarmsestates.com

Growing Up Chico’s Annual Pumpkin Patch Guide

The Chico Children’s Museum is excited to be hosting another gala! This year’s event will be a full hoedown, with music, dancing, and more! Save the date for this awesome night to support a local business!

The Chico Children’s Museum is dedicated to being a fun, safe, enriching environment for families to make lifelong memories. Our galas match that energy in every way possible! Put on your best cowboy boots, grab a dance partner, and join us September 11th at The Barn at Pheasant Trail Ranch, a beautiful new venue in town.

Tickets are $100 per person. Reserved tables for $800 for 8 tickets.

We would be honored to have your business become a sponsor for this event. Please reach out to info@ chicochildrensmuseum.org if you’d like to volunteer, sponsor, or be a part of this awesome night!

Please note that dates and times are subject to change. Please check ahead to confirm events.

9th Annual Growing Up Chico Night

Thursday, August 12th Held from 6pm-9pm in the downtown Chico City Plaza. Free activities for kids, resourceful information for parents, giveaways, and much more!

Bless Your Heart Mercantile Turns 2!!

Saturday, August 14th

Join us as we celebrate 2 years in business! The first 50 customers will receive a VIP Birthday Swag Bags! These swag bags will be EPIC!! Amazing sales through the shop!! There will also be complimentary treats and photo booth!! 701 4th St, Orland.

Chico SummerFest 2021

Saturday, August 21st

Live Music with Journey’s Edge, License to Chill, and Chico’s own Off the Record. VIP and General Admission tickets are available to guests of all ages. Drinks, Food Trucks, Attractions, Games, Gambling Tables, Activities, Vendors, and so much more. Please check out www.ChicoSummerFest.com for more info.

Butte County Fair

Thursday, August 26th- Sunday, August 29th

At the Butte County Fairground, 199 E Hazel St, in Gridley. Visit buttecountyfair. org for more details.

12th Annual Pasta on the Plaza

Thursday, September 16th

Join us and imagine the pasta-bilities you can create for local youth by supporting the return of our 12th Annual “Pasta on the Plaza” Spaghetti Dinner presented by

Vicki Sayer, State Farm, and California

Olive Ranch. The event will be held at the Nettleton Gym and Rotary Plaza located at 628 Wall Street. This fundraiser directly supports our Chico Campus, which serves more than 761 youth ages 5-18 each year. Tickets are $12 each or $45 for a family four pack. www.bgcnv. org.

Black Butte Triathlon

Saturday, September 18th

Events will include an Olympic Distance Triathlon, a Sprint Distance Triathlon, a Duathlon, an Olympic Relay, and an Aquathlon. Additional race information can be found at blackbuttetriathlon.org.

Paradise Chocolate Fest

Saturday, September 18th

Held from 9am to 5pm at beautiful Terry Ashe Park on the Skyway in Paradise.

California Nut Festival

Saturday, September 25th

With a focus on locally grown and produced foods and beverages from the North Valley, the 2021 California Nut Festival is scheduled from 11am to 4pm. The popular culinary event will take place outdoors on the historic grounds of the Patrick Ranch Museum in Durham, California. There will be food sampling, vendors, an art show, and live entertainment. For tickets and more info., visit www.californianutfestival.com.

Art Walk & Harvest Sidewalk Sale

Friday, October 8th & Saturday, October 9th

Come RAKE in the savings and celebrate the changing of the season! Harvest Sidewalk Sale is the perfect opportunity to pick up some incredible deals and even get a jump-start on holiday shopping. www.downtownchico.com

Kids’ Spooktacular

Saturday, October 23rd

Come on down to the Red Bluff River Park from 10am-2pm and have a spooky good time! This is a free admission family fun event. BBQ will be available for purchase.

Treat Street

Friday, October 29th

Held from 3-5pm in downtown Chico. Please visit www.downtownchico.com for all the details.

Upcoming Deadline Info! Advertising Deadline:

To advertise in our Winter Issue, please contact us by September 30th. Our Winter Issue will be on stands November, December, and January.

Article Submission Deadline:

Please submit family-friendly and seasonally appropriate photos and informative articles for the Winter Issue by September 20th.

Growing Up Chico Magazine is published quarterly and available, free, at over 200 family-friendly locations throughout Butte County. We are also available online at www.growingupchico. com.

Copyright © 2021 by Growing Up Chico Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are prohibited. Articles and advertisements found in Growing Up Chico Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management. We reserve the right to edit. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake.

Growing Up Chico’s Business Directory

Without the support of our advertisers, this magazine would not be possible. If you do business with any of our advertisers, please be sure to let them know you saw their ad in Growing Up Chico Magazine.

Achieve Charter School: pg 29

Anthem Blue Cross: pg 3

Apollo School of Music: pg 2

Azad’s Martial Arts Center: pg 29

Bless Your Heart Mercantile: pg 14

Blue Oak School: pg 20

Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley: pg 5

Chico Creek Dance Centre: pg 3

Chico Pediatric Dentistry: pg 7

Children’s Choice Dental Care: pg 32

Country Pumpkins: pg 20

Chico Rebels: pg 9

Downtown Chico Business Association: pg 20

Forest Ranch Charter School: pg 29

Girls On The Run: pg 10

Happy Campers RV Rentals: pg 25

Henshaw Farms: pg 20

HYPE Dance Studio: pg 14

In Motion Fitness: pg 13

Inspire School of Arts & Sciences: pg 3

Julia’s Fruit Stand: pg 5

Kinetics Academy of Dance: pg 13

Little Beyoutifull Soul: pg 13

Little Sprouts Preschool: pg 5

My Oven’s Meals: pg 7

North State Ballet: pg 14

Northern Valley Indian Health: pg 10

Paradise Chocolate Fest: pg 14

Paradise Performing Arts: pg 24

Patrick Ranch: pg 27

Peterson Sisters Pumpkin Patch: pg 27

Sherwood Montessori: pg 7

Silver Dollar BMX: pg 29

Step by Step: pg 2, 31

Taming Tangles Hair Salon: pg 10

The Sweet Little Candy Shoppe: pg 24

Thistle and Stitch: pg 29

TJ Farms: pg 7

Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: pg 5

Valley Oak Children’s Services: pg 9

Willow & Birch Realty: pg 7

Youthful Smiles Dentistry: pg 5

Step-by-Step

Child Care of Chico Ca. License # 045407934

Preschool & Childcare Directory

3-10 years 7:30 am – 6:30 pm

Monday – Friday

Little Sprouts Preschool offers organic gardening and recycling. The Kindergarten readiness program has Zoo Phonics, daily circle time, and enrichment activities. Nutritious snacks and lunch included.

Little Wonders is guaranteed to get your little one ready for kindergarten by making learning fun and adventurous! Through interactive play and stimulating hands-on activities, Little Wonders’ curriculum encourages exploration and discovery of both academic and social learning skills. Science experiments, cooking fun, field trips, animal discovery, and more, will cultivate a life-long enthusiasm for wonder and learning in your little one!

Elite education for only 4 children at a time:

• READING, CURSIVE WRITING, MATH.

• PIANO and VIOLIN every day

• FRENCH, SIGN LANGUAGE, SCIENCE, ART … and more beautiful activities for their age.

Dorothy Johnson Center 775 East 16th St. 530-895-4711

www.chicorec.com/preschools

Mihaela Beatrice Harjau-Broughton 530 – 551 – 2124