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Family Time
November 2015
Timely information for today’s busy local families
Family Time – pg. 1-2 & 10 Classifieds – pg. 4-8 Going Out – pg. 8-9
Get The Job Done Right! • Complete Plumbing Services • Whole House Remodels • New Construction • HVAC Replacement • Infloor Heating • Geothermal Systems • Drain Cleaning • Maintenance Agreements Aiden Kauffman, 10, the son of Andy and Anji Kauffman of Montrose, studies caterpillars during a home-schooled science class. Anji has a quilting business at home, while Andy, a release manager for OptumHealth (part of UnitedHealth Group), works from home a few days each week. The other days, he commutes to Eden Prairie.
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Working from home while raising a family Local parents share what works for them BY STARRLA CRAY Associate Editor
Some parents commute to the office each day, while others are “stay-athome” moms and dads. But, for a growing number of families, there’s a third option – work from home while keeping an eye on the kids. Forbes reported that one in five Americans work from home at least once a week, an arrangement that about 90 percent say gives them a better life/ work balance. “I feel really lucky,” said Hope Koosman of Howard Lake, who chose to stay home after her daughter, Eden, was born in March 2014. “I was able to be there the first time she rolled over, and the first time she walked. I think it was worth it; it goes by so fast.” For the first year, Koosman spent an average of 15 hours per week doing data entry research from home. “I would just find little hours through the day,” she said, adding that she had the flexibility to punch out when her daughter needed attention. Now, Koosman works from home as a nanny, watching her 3-year-old niece and 2-year-old nephew. “I have them about 35 hours a week,” she said. “They nap two to two-and-ahalf hours a day, so that’s nice.”
evenings per week, while her husband, Brad, watches Eden. “It’s nice to have time with other grown ups,” Koosman laughed. “With adults, I don’t have to constantly correct their behavior. It’s kind of like a little break.”
‘It becomes less of a job and more of a lifestyle.’ – Andy Kauffman
Alicia Boltz of Howard Lake, who has an 9-month-old son, Ezra, and a 6year-old son, Luke, agrees that working from home often means less adult interaction. “I’m more of a social person, so that part I do miss,” she said, adding that sometimes she gets “stir crazy” and calls a friend or family member so they can have lunch together. Boltz, who works 20-25 hours per week as a designer for Herald Journal, noted that a home-based job has definite advantages, too.
Making the transition
“It takes a little bit of getting used to, but now we have a system down,” Time for social breaks she said. Koosman also works in the Herald In the mornings, she feeds the boys Journal print shop in Winsted a few breakfast, and gets her oldest on the
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bus for school. Then she heads to her desk, while Ezra either naps or plays nearby. “He’s pretty happy,” Boltz said. “When he gets fussy, I can feed him his bottle with one hand while I’m working. There are certain things I can do when I’m with Ezra, like emails, and other things I try to do while he’s napping.”
Using technology to work independently
The freedom to telecommute is an arrangement companies aren’t able to offer to everyone. “You have to be reliable and able to work independently,” Boltz said. “You also have to be trustworthy, still meet your deadlines, and be willing to communicate.” Technology has made it easier for employees to keep in touch with bosses, coworkers, and clients. Release manager Andy Kauffman, for example, uses WebEx meeting software to work from his home in Montrose a few days each week. The other days, he commutes to the OptumHealth office (part of UnitedHealth Group) in Eden Prairie. “From my perspective, it works out great,” Kauffman said, but added that his family might say his job tends to creep into home life. Due to the nature of his position, Kauffman often works into the eve-
Hope Koosman stays at home with her daughter, Eden, while working as a nanny for her niece and nephew.
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Alicia Boltz works as a designer for Herald Journal from her home in Howard Lake. She has an 9-month-old son, Ezra, and a 6-year-old son, SUBMITTED PHOTO Luke. nings, taking breaks between meet- agencies, and tech support, to name a ings to help with laundry, tutoring, or few. dishes. “The world has changed so much “It kind of all blends together,” he now,” Kauffman noted. said. “It becomes less of a job and more of a lifestyle.” Why people work Kauffman’s wife, Anji, also works at home, homeschooling their two chilfrom home dren (ages 10 and 16) and operating a quilting business. According to articles from Forbes
Family connectedness
Kauffman noted that it’s nice to be able to build relationships with his family throughout the day. For families who work/study at home together, Kauffman recommends trying to be “considerate, empathetic, and flexible.” Having separate working areas also helps. “School is generally downstairs, right by my wife’s quilting area, which is a separate room,” Kauffman said. “Typically, I work upstairs.” He also suggests investing in a wide bandwidth if multiple people need the Internet at one time. According to articles in Family Circle and BankRate.com, examples of fields/jobs that have the potential for telecommuting include customer service, social media marketing, medical billing/coding, online tutoring, web content writing, web developing/designing, medical transcribing, travel
and BankRate.com, employees often want to work from home in order to:
• spend more time with their children, • accommodate a spouse’s traveling job, • avoid a long commute, • have more flexibility, • gain productivity, or • supplement their income. Forbes noted that people who work from home are more likely to be able to work while they’re sick, and can return to work earlier after a pregnancy or surgery. Home-based workers also have the flexibility to deal with personal appointments for themselves or family members, and have fewer interruptions from colleagues. Parents with little ones at home, however, will likely have other interruptions throughout the workday.
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Family Time
Monday, Nov. 2, 2015
herald-journal.com | Herald Journal
Take back the holidays
Strategies to connect and thrive this season
Should your kids get a flu shot? BY STARRLA CRAY Associate Editor
If your child is older than 6 months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that they be vaccinated against influenza. Children under age 5 are considered “high risk” for developing complications from the flu, and about 20,000 of them are hospitalized each year. According to an NBC article from 2014, the flu killed more than 100 kids in 2013, and 90 percent of them had not been vaccinated. Children who are especially high risk include those who have asthma, lung disease, kidney/liver/blood disorders, or other chronic health problems. However, healthy children can also die from influenza. A HealthDay article reports that about one-third of otherwise healthy children who die from the flu are dead within the first three days of their first reported symptoms. Flu vaccines can be given as a shot or as a nasal spray. The spray is approved for people ages 2 to 50 who are healthy and not pregnant. Many people who receive the shot may notice some soreness at the injection site. On occasion, people have reported muscle aches, headache, or a low-grade fever, according to the Glencoe Regional Health Services website. People who are allergic to eggs should talk to their doctor before being vaccinated. The Mayo Clinic states that some flu vaccines have tiny amounts of egg proteins in them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a person who is allergic can’t be vaccinated. Each year, 5 to 20 percent of Americans typically get the flu. It’s most common in January and February, but it can occur as early as October. The CDC notes that it’s best to get vaccinated early, because it takes about two weeks for antibodies to build up.
Flu vaccine Q&A Q1: Can the flu vaccine cause the flu? A1: No. There is no live flu virus in flu shots. They cannot cause the flu. Q2: I got the flu shot last year. Should I get vaccinated again? A2: Flu viruses change from season to season. Each year, a new flu vaccine is made to protect against three or four viruses that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. Q3: Is the flu vaccine safe for everyone? A3: Although most people have no negative effects from the vaccine, the CDC recommends that certain people should not be vaccinated, including those who have severe, life-threatening allergies, or have had GuillainBarré Syndrome (also called GBS). People who are ill are generally advised to wait until they’re feeling better before being vaccinated. Q4: How many doses of the vaccine are needed? A4: For many people, only one dose is needed. However, children 6 months old to age 8 who are getting vaccinated for the first time, as well as some who have been vaccinated previously, will need two doses. The first dose “primes” the immune system, while the second provides immune protection.
The holiday season is descending upon families once again, and sometimes it feels like an 18-wheeler charging full steam ahead, and it’s either get on board, or get run over. But, there is still time to take control of the holidays for families. After all, one of the best things about the holidays is a break from the everyday grind, and a special opportunity to celebrate with the most important people in our lives. It’s the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate with those closest to us, but to meaningfully reconnect with each other and create space for lasting family memories. But, it’s an opportunity that must be seized, before it is snatched away by all the commercial fanfare. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all the glitter and glam brought to the holiday season by retailers, but the unrelenting consumerism of the holidays and our busy schedules are a dual trap, eager to devour all our energy and money this time of year, leaving little left for the most important “to do” of the season – connecting with our friends, loved ones, and especially our children. Studies show that children who grow up celebrating special occasions and having meaningful traditions have a better sense of identity, are closer to family members, and can better handle stress. I haven’t seen any studies that those who receive the most lavish gifts, or are run the most ragged during the holidays reap any lasting benefits. So, how can one ensure the holidays provide a respite to nurture our most important relationships and our children? In a word – planning. Don’t stop reading . . . some people might be thinking, “Planning, ugh, on top of everything else? I don’t have time for that.” But, the beauty of this planning is it doesn’t have to be complicated, and it will give you back time! And, it can be customized to fit everyone’s specific situation. I’m not talking about planning out and scheduling every minute of time from now until Jan. 2. This is about purposefully carving out time for your family to do something you’ll cherish, or maybe
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start a new family tradition. Starting a new “tradition” may seem daunting, but consider this: it isn’t a tradition until you start doing it every year. Try something this year, and if it works, do it again next year and the year after. If it doesn’t work, simply stop doing it. You don’t have to be committed. Think of trying a new tradition like a family bonding experiment. Since it’s the beginning of November, now is a great time to plan, before the holidays start just “happening” to us, and we feel like we’re being run over by that 18-wheeler.
A simple planning guide
A good place to start is by determining what would most benefit your family. Is it a need for more quality time together to connect? Is it a desire to instill gratitude? Is it an opportunity to cultivate a volunteer spirit and give back to the community? Or, is it a deeper understanding and connection to the meaning behind the holiday you are celebrating? Once you have the goal in mind, the activities can be simple. If the goal is more time together time, then peruse the holiday calendar and carve out a couple blocks of time, maybe one around Thanksgiving and one in December, and dedicate time to just those you want to celebrate with – your children, grandparents, etc. Perhaps pick a special activity, like going to an ice skating rink, or plan a night of board games or cookie baking at home. It’s also a sneaky way to get some things done while spending quality time together. For example, enlist everyone’s help with holiday decorating, but ban all distractions (i.e. cell phones, TV, etc.). Put on some holiday music, have some snacks or hot chocolate out, and enjoy each other’s company while decorating and wrapping presents. One of the keys to this together time is to allow enough time so people don’t feel stressed, and it doesn’t feel like you are squeezing it in. It may take some time for
(Information from www.cdc.gov)
Toddler boredom busters for the holiday season
Vaccination sites Many insurance plans cover 100 percent of the cost of a flu vaccine. Local clinics advise checking with the insurance provider for details. Flu shots can be given during a regular doctor visit, or at a special vaccinationonly appointment. A few nearby clinics that offer the flu vaccine are: • Ridgeview Medical Center (Nearby locations include Winsted, Howard Lake, and Delano.) • Glencoe Regional Health Services (Locations in Lester Prairie, Glencoe, and Stewart.) • Hutchinson Medical Center (No appointment needed. Locations in Hutchinson and Dassel.)
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(StatePoint) For many families, the holiday season means giving, celebrating, and spending time together -- but it also means chilly weather and long hours cooped up inside the house. This year, consider using the downtime to help children tap into their natural creativity. Here are some festive ways to motivate kids to engage in fun and active learning. Family Room Fort If the weather outside is frightful, transform the family room or den into an opportunity for adventure. Kids can use the couch, blankets and all those boxes that seem to amass during the holidays to create a fort, which makes the perfect temporary stand-in for a treehouse or outdoor clubhouse. Let kids get creative by decorating the outside of the boxes with snowflakes, snowmen and other seasonal shapes.
Imaginative Toys Parents can ensure creativity continues long after kids unwrap their presents. Playtime is also learning time: according to Dr. Deborah Libby, Early Childhood Reading and Language Expert and VTech Expert Panel Member, “Play ideally begins early and continues throughout a child’s life, helping them learn, think, socialize, problem solve and ultimately have fun.” One great choice for sparking imaginations and building motor skills is the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate RC Speedway from VTech. With 4.5 feet of track, which incorporates features like a stunt ramp, elevator, track switches, and more, this new set inspires interactive play all year round. Kids take charge by using a remote control to zoom the RC SmartPoint Racer around the brightly-colored course, which
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everyone to relax and step off the spinning hamster wheel that life can become, so carve out more time than you think necessary. If it’s volunteering or cultivating gratitude that is the goal, you could sign up to volunteer at a local food shelf or other organization, adopt a family to buy presents for, visit a nursing home, or make food for a friend or family member who could use it. Sometimes you don’t have to look far for an opportunity. Raking or shoveling an elderly or disabled neighbor’s home is an excellent way to spread holiday cheer. Taking time to volunteer during the holiday can be a springboard for making it a regular part of your family’s life. Find something that works for your family and commit to volunteering regularly throughout the year – once a month or once a week – whatever fits for your family. If it’s important to teach your children about the tradition and meaning behind a holiday that you celebrate, consider reading a book or sharing information about that holiday. For example, if you celebrate Christmas, get a Bible study to read in the weeks leading up to Dec. 25 and make this a part of your family’s daily routine. Like volunteering, this tradition could become a year-round staple in your family’s schedule, and, since the resolution season is just around the corner, you can get a head start and keep it rolling into the new year. Whatever the goal and the tradition or activity that you choose, I challenge you to take a few minutes right now, or this week, and schedule it into your holiday plans. I am going to challenge myself to do the same. My hope is that with a little planning and thoughtful consideration, holidays for my family will make our bonds stronger and be the perfect backdrop to create lasting memories. I also hope this column inspires you as you take the driver’s seat for your family’s trip through the holidays.
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also activates playful music and sounds to further engage little ones. Another option is VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Friends Busy Sounds Discovery Home, cleverly designed to demonstrate cause and effect relationships to toddlers. Each friend comes alive when placed on one of the house’s MagicPoint locations, through the use of talk, song, light and motion. The characters also interact with one another, teaching children how to introduce themselves and build friendships. And the Go! Go! Smart Animals Grow & Learn Farm features an electronic barn that teaches kids about colors, numbers, and plants. When toddlers roll Reggie the Rooster over each of the farm’s SmartPoint locations, they’ll hear new phrases, music and sound effects. Gadgets don’t have to mean
passivity: these toys use interactive technology to occupy kids with the kind of imaginative play and creativity that furthers development and learning, long after the holidays are over. Arts & crafts Making holiday decorations at home is a great way to get children involved in stimulating, hands-on activities. With just a few simple art supplies, they can craft their own greeting cards, create snowflake shapes that double as ornaments, or help design gingerbread houses. Such activities not only enhance fine motor skills, but also inspire kids to use their innate inventiveness. This holiday season and beyond, keep boredom at bay by encouraging kids to be creative and mentally active.
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Family Time
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High school journalists gain valuable skills through partnership CHRISTINA BUSCHE DECA student
You may have noticed, as an avid reader of the DasselCokato Enterprise Dispatch, that there has been a distinct change in the high-school sports section this fall. Whether it was the high-quality photos, well-written articles, or even athlete quotes included in the articles that caught your eye, there is one thing you may have missed. If you had taken a glance at the authors named under the headlines, you might have noticed that the articles were written by the students in the story. Yes, you just read that correctly. High school students have been writing large portions of the sports section in the Enterprise Dispatch for the past two months. These students are members of the Dassel-Cokato High School DECA chapter. Led by Chapter Advisor Neil Schlagel, an agreement was created with the Enterprise Dispatch to provide coverage for the 2015 fall sports season. Newspaper owner Chris Schultz was thrilled with the cooperation, stating: “A local paper is about supporting and informing your community. This is a great opportunity to achieve that, because students gain experience through professional work, and sports and other activities will be covered comprehensively. It also gives us a great local connection to the stories.” This change in writers has made a difference within the Dassel-Cokato community due to its more well-rounded coverage of each fall sport. DECA students credited for the articles have mentioned being approached by community members and being thanked for their work on the game that week or the meet last month. It is the students who are grateful, however, for being able to partner with the Enterprise Dispatch and gain valuable skills in communication,
writing, and marketing. The cooperation was welltimed, as the Enterprise Dispatch was transitioning to a new sports editor. The Enterprise Dispatch’s new sports editor, Brad Salmen was instrumental in working with the students to edit the articles and offer advice on procedures. Salmen had experienced high-school journalism personally, as he had an internship with the Enterprise Dispatch when he was in high school. Many of the students had little to no experience with journalistic writing, so Salmen met with them to discuss the basics of journalism, and to offer his advice on the important role the students undertaking within their community. The idea for this arrangement came from Schlagel after he had noticed an advertisement asking for a new writer at the Enterprise Dispatch had been running for some time. “I am always looking for partnerships in our community for our students,” said Schlagel. “This was the perfect time for this collaboration to happen. It is great to see that so many students were interested in participating.” Schlagel wrote for his hometown paper as a high-schooler, so he decided to inquire at the paper. Soon after, Schlagel and the DECA Executive Committee met to discuss the opportunity and set terms for the partnership. All students in attendance supported the proposition. The students also decided the compensation received for each story would be used to pay for conference trips and competition scholarships. The agreement reached between Schlagel and Schultz was extremely promising for all involved. This partnership has helped prepare students for successful futures as working professionals, and marks progress for journalism in the DasselCokato community.
Monday, Nov. 2, 2015
Park events for families Even with cooler weather, there are still plenty of family activities to go around BY STARRLA CRAY Associate Editor
Wright County Skijoring and dogsledding
What: Dogsleds and dogsledding, offered through the Wright County Parks Department. Where: Robert Ney Regional Park, 5212 73rd St. NW Maple Lake, MN 55358 When: Contact the parks department at (763) 6827693 for details.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
What: Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the nature center at Robert Ney Regional Park in Maple Lake Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. from January through the first part of March. Where: The Wright County Parks Department offers cross-country skiing at the following park locations: • Stanley Eddy Regional Park • Harry Larson Regional Park • Robert Ney Regional Park • Collinwood Regional Park • Otsego Regional Park • Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Details: A State of Minnesota cross-country ski trail pass is not required to use the trails within the Wright County system.
Winter walking trails
What: Wright County Parks Department will remove snow from the paved trails at Clearwater/Pleasant Regional Park, Montissippi Regional Park, and Otsego Regional Park. Details: Information regarding the latest trail maintenance is at www.co.wright.mn.us.
Carver County Geocaching for s’mores
What: This program will provide brief instruction on the history of GPS and how to find hidden caches. Participants will then search for loot. Teams that find enough marshmallow, graham, and chocolate boxes will get a tasty treat. When: Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. Where: Outdoors at Lake Waconia Regional Park. Cost: $20 Details: For ages 8 and over. All necessary equipment provided. For registration info, email RecConnect@waconia.org.
Indoor youth archery in Carver
What: An indoor youth archery event When: Sunday, Nov. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. Where: The City of Carver gym Details: Contact the City of Carver at (952) 4485353. What: An indoor youth archery event When: Nov. 9, Nov. 16, and Nov. 23 Where: Watertown Primary School Details: Contact Watertown-Mayer Community Education at (952) 955-0280.
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What: Explore a different topic each Sunday with hands-on activities everyone can enjoy at their own pace. Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: Free. Location: Events are at the Carl Kroening Interpretive Center or Richardson Nature Center. Details: This month’s topics include: • Nov 8 - Old fashioned games • Nov. 8 - Reptiles and amphibians • Nov. 15 - Furbearing animals • Nov. 15 - Backyard birds • Nov. 22 - River history mystery • Nov. 22 - Coyote conversation • Nov. 29 - Talking turkey • Nov. 29 - Digital scavenger hunt For times and locations of a specific event, go to www. threeriversparks.org.
Puppet escapades for preschoolers
What: Watch a silly puppet show. Ages 2-6. Children must attend with an adult. When: Monday, Nov. 23 Cost: $4 per child; Discount of 20 percent for groups of four or more. Location: Lowry Nature Center Details: Register at www.threeriversparks.org.
Four easy ways for parents to add interactive play throughout the day
(StatePoint) A child’s development at an early age sets the stage for future success, and interactive play can have a big impact. Not only does it expand a child’s imagination and social skills, but it can also help develop gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and hand and finger strength. With success at play, children not only build muscle skills, but also cognitive skills that lay the foundation for aptitude in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And the best part? Parents can easily provide these benefits during daily routines. 1. Mealtime: Allowing your child to be a little helper in the kitchen not only teaches some meal preparation skills, but also helps develop motor skills. Good for hand and arm strengthening, your little chef can help smash potatoes, knead dough, stir foods and more. 2. Playtime: Playtime is as much of a daily activity as bedtime or mealtime, and it’s an important part of your child’s day. Look for toys that are fun and also help children develop the skills they need, such as the Step2 WonderBall Fun House, an interactive playhouse that helps toddlers develop hand-eye coordination with put-and-take play using included colorful balls. Features like tube mazes and an open play concept will enhance your little creative player’s imagination in no time. 3. Bath Time: If you’ve ever had to wrestle your child into the bathtub, you know bath time isn’t always enjoyable. There are all sorts of bath time toys available, but some of the best ones are items you already have in your home. To work on fine motor skills, try including household objects into your child’s bath routine: plastic cups for pouring water back and forth, strainers from your kitchen and any toys that promote a squeezing motion. Even the act of wringing out a wet washcloth can help develop a child’s hand muscles. 4. Bedtime: Many parents can relate to the struggle of getting children to bed. Make bedtime a time of day that your
child looks forward to, by bringing imagination to life with a fun and comfortable bed like the Step2 Hot Wheels Toddler-toTwin Race Car Bed. It provides an easy transition from a crib to a toddler bed and encourages your little race car driver to enjoy when it’s time to go to sleep. Toddlers can tap the car headlights on and off, and use the race car tracks located on each side of the bed to race their favorite Hot
Wheels cars. When incorporated throughout the day, interactive play can be beneficial for both parent and child. Small, but meaningful, everyday tasks can help your child develop and grow. Continue to have fun and encourage your child along the way as you watch his or her confidence and skills increase.