Idaho Family September/October 2021

FREE

Sept/Oct 2021

HALLOWEEN CONTESTS

SWIMMING LESSONS

NIP IT NOW

VISIT THE PAST

Some wicked ideas

Stop kids’ biting

Not just for summer

to come a drive-in New photo Go info to from JJ

Contents

Features

Volume 9, Number 5 Publisher J.J. Plew Associate Publisher Adrianne Goff Adrianne@globalpsd.com Cover Photo Creative Outlet Editor Gaye Bunderson editorgaye@gmail.com Sales & Marketing J.J. Plew jj@idahofamilymagazine.com 208-697-2043 Contributors Kimberly Blaker, Luke Erickson, Macaile Hutt, Cara Johnson-Bader, Dennis Lopez Graphic Design Carol Smiley csmileydesign@gmail.com Distribution Shauna Howard, Doris Evans

Idaho Family Magazine, published monthly

by Gem Production Co., LLC, is committed to providing readers with informative and entertaining information to help them in maintaining healthy families and positive lifestyles. It is distributed throughout the valley as a free publication. Idaho Family Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. Idaho Family Magazine does not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. Idaho Family Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2021 by Gem Production Co., LLC. Follow us on Facebook

September/October 2021

These atypical times

4

Swimming lessons

6

Finding the normal

Water safety

8 Real Money,

Real Families Financial health

14 Wednesday’s Child

Not just for summer

Protect kids

Columns

Meet Kahli

7

Drive-in theaters

12

Halloween contests

13

Nip it now

15

In Each Edition

Old-time family movie night

10 Family Events Calendar

Some wicked ideas

Stop kids’ biting

Children’s Photos Wanted Idaho Family Magazine would love to put your child or children on our cover. All photos should be high quality, sharp and clear, and high resolution of around 300 ppi.

Color photos are preferred, and all photos need to be vertical not horizontal. Please identify the children in the photos, the children’s ages, and what Treasure Valley community they reside in. (If chosen for the cover, their last names will not be used without permission.) Send the photos to editorgaye@gmail.com.

FREE

Sept/Oct 2021

HALLOW EEN CONTES TS

Some wick ed ideas

NIP IT NO W

Stop kids ’ biting

SWIMM ING LESSONS Not just for summ er

VISIT THE PAST Go

New photo

info to come to a from

drive-in JJ

Bracing yourself for another school year for your

bright

yet

struggling

student?

We've been there.

Does your child...

Have difficulty getting started & staying focused on necessary tasks?

Lose concentration & comprehension when listening?

Misplace papers and assignments?

Struggle with reading and sounding out unfamiliar words?

Demonstrate poor spelling, letter formation, & spacing?

Have difficulty with letter or number reversals after age of 7?

Hate to write or avoid writing?

Perform well in some areas, but really struggle with others?

Perform inconsistently- knows it one day, forgets it the next?

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FINDING NORMAL

Abnormal times require new strategies

By Macaile Hutt

A

s a pediatric occupational therapist, fears, feelings, and how we learn to navigate I help children find success and changes with our little ones. This also provides independence in any of their safety by letting them know it’s okay to feel “occupations” – the things they do their own feelings and learn to express them in every day. Occupations could be as simple as a productive way. Narrating our feelings can bathing, using the bathroom, feeding ourselves, feel silly at first, but as the whole family begins or dressing ourselves. They can also be more to catch on, it can really start to serve everyone complex, such as the way we interact with those involved. Beginning a sentence with “I feel…” around us socially, the way we regulate our can be disarming to those around us and help nervous systems when we are overwhelmed, or the people feel less of a need to be defensive and way we express our emotions, needs, and feelings. Macaile Hutt more inclined to listen and become part of our The past year and a half has really taken a toll on the team. This also helps children start to identify what each of way we engage in all of our occupations, as we have been his or her own feelings feels like and how to identify it by the surrounded by so much fear and uncertainty and it’s been appropriate name. difficult to find a good routine. I wanted to share some things Another example of what this narration might look like we have found to be helpful in our clinic to navigate these would be saying to the child: “Hey, buddy, it looks like you are crazy times and find some sort of “normal” in these very feeling overwhelmed in this loud store. I can tell because your body is unprecedented times. What’s NORMAL anyway?! getting really wiggly and you’re having a hard time listening. Would Talk about it – In an attempt to protect our children, we it help if I gave you a big hug or do you want to help me push the often try to shelter them from our feelings or fears. This can cart to get some of those wiggles out?” Offering suggestions also be helpful to some degree, but learning to loosen the reigns helps children begin to learn what their body needs in these on our need to protect and let our kids in on how we are moments so they can eventually begin to ask for it or seek it feeling can actually serve as a really great lesson in identifying out themselves. feelings and emotions. While we don’t have to go into crazy Make time for heavy work – “Heavy work” is a term details about all of our fears and concerns, saying something often used for activities that increase our proprioceptive as simple as, “I feel nervous sometimes when we are in public now input. Proprioception is our body’s ability to recognize because it’s been so long since we have been in the same room with so where it’s at in space. Oftentimes, if a child is seeking many people. It kind of makes my ears hurt to hear so much talking! Do proprioceptive input, he or she will press their body into you ever feel the same way?” yours, quite literally bounce off the walls, or play really This can open the door for a great conversation about rough in an attempt to get this need met. We can increase

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our proprioceptive input through both “pushing” or joint compression and “pulling” or joint traction tasks.

Some examples of pushing/compression tasks would be hopping, wheelbarrow walk, chair push-ups while seated (great for school or mealtime) or pressing arms against a wall and trying to “push” the building an inch. If children get overstimulated easily in stores or public spaces I will recommend the whole family tries to “push the store” to try and move it from the outside for 30 seconds or so before entering. This small task can give a little body enough input to regulate and ground itself before entering a busy store with lots of sensory input. I will also suggest bunny hopping to and from the car or wheelbarrow walking between errands if appropriate and safe to do so.

Some examples of pulling/traction tasks include hanging from a tree branch or gymnastics/pull-up bar, pulling a laundry basket filled with books or other weight-appropriate items with a belt attached while walking backward, or swinging from a trapeze bar or other suspended object.

Everybody is different and it can take some trial and error to determine the approach to heavy work that is best received by your child. Adding these tasks into the day can help regulate big feelings and emotions and allow for successful and positive interactions in the midst of a lot of uncertainty and unknowns.

Separate from your worry – I am a Certified Clinical

www.idahofamilymagazine.com

Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents (CCATP-CA) and I studied from Lynn Lyon’s approach, which I love and highly recommend. This approach allows us to separate ourselves from the big feelings we experience, giving them a name and helping us predict not only when these feelings might show up, but also help us learn what we can do in these situations to recover and feel safe and successful. An example of this applied to real life might be a child who struggles a lot with separating from caregivers, worries significantly when parents or siblings aren’t within direct sight, or struggles with falling asleep alone at night.

The first step in separating from our worry is naming the worry. Children are AMAZING and so creative at this!

Some names my clients have come up with include Shadow, Invader-Force, Darkness, and Angry Alien. Any name that helps the child separate and identify this feeling within him or her is suitable. Once we have named this part, whether it be the angry part, the worry part, the scared part, or the anxious part, we can start to recognize when it shows up within ourselves and within others. This is a great family activity to help everyone learn more about themselves and their feelings.

We learn that these feelings show up in a predictable way, and that we can face them with strength and fearlessness, and we can defeat them. I ask parents to start writing down or celebrating all the times someone defeats this force.

Continued on Page 14

Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 5

SWIMMING LESSONS

Four siblings learn to swim like (gold)fish

By Gaye Bunderson

W

hen asked if her kids wanted to take swim lessons, mom Hilary Baird replied, “They wanted to learn to swim, but they’ve always been afraid of the water.” That’s all changing now that the kids take swimming lessons together at Goldfish Swim School in Boise. The foursome of siblings go to class together, but each is placed in his or her own skill level with teachers who understand that children learning to navigate water safely need patient instruction.

“This place inspires confidence, and the swim instructors are encouraging. They’re so good about working with the kids where they’re at,” said Baird, who had taken her kids to other swim schools, where she felt they were pushed to perform faster than they were ready for.

“I’ve had to step up and tell [the other] instructors that my kids were scared and not to do that,” she said.

Her kids started their lessons at Goldfish in February.

They are: Gabriel, 12; Calvin, 9; Hazel, 7; and Tosh, 5. The three older kids can swim already, while the youngest can dog paddle and keep himself above water. Not only are they preparing for next summer, but they have found their swim

classes helped them this past summer as well.

“Last summer, in 2020, they were all scared; but this year, we’ve gone to rivers and lakes, and they all jump right in,” said their mother.

They’re not as nervous around water and neither is their mom, who no longer felt anxious when her youngsters got too close to water’s edge.

The swim lessons met the family’s goals for water safety but also provided benefits beyond that. “They learn basic skills, get exercise, and gain confidence to know they can learn things that once scared them. They also know their limits,” Baird said.

But swimming is just a summer thing, right? Not necessarily. Many places offer swimming year-round.

Kids may swim at the Y or at places such as the Nampa Recreation Center when the weather starts to get too cool, and though autumn and winter are making their way toward the Valley, it’s still a good time for swim lessons.

“The importance of teaching water safety isn’t something that’s one-and-done,” Emily Wyckoff, Boise owner of Goldfish Swim School, said. “Repetition is key when learning

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Protect your kids

Five water safety tips for youngsters

The three older Baird children take swimming lessons in the same area, while their younger brother is with the smaller kids’ group. Shown here are Calvin, 9; Gabriel, 12; and Hazel, 7.

(Photo by Gaye Bunderson)

Tosh Baird, age 5.

anything, including swimming. By continuing swim lessons all year long, students don’t lose any of what they’ve been learning, and instead they advance even further in what skills they accomplish. Additionally, as colder weather approaches, indoor swim lessons in 90-degree water are a great way to keep children active in a warm environment.”

The four Baird kids will be continuing their swimming lessons through the winter months and will be all the more eager to swim outdoors during summer 2022.

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• Enroll in swim lessons: One of the best ways to protect your children against drowning is to improve comfort level in the water and strengthen swimming capabilities through swim lessons. Lessons help increase muscle memory by practicing basic techniques for kids to use during a water emergency, such as the crab walk, properly getting in and out of the pool, going under water, rolling on their back, treading water, learning different strokes, etc.

As a result of the increased threat in childhood drownings, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids continue to safely participate in organized drowning prevention classes despite the COVID-19 health crisis, as swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that children start taking lessons as young as 1-year-old to learn water safety basics.

• Never swim alone: While many of our young ones think they’re all grown up and don’t need a swim buddy, you can re-enforce this rule by explaining the rule goes for kids and adults alike. Teach your children to always have a buddy in the water – whether it be an adult or peer – at the beach, on vacation, or at home.

• Wear a U.S. Coastguard-approved lifejacket: Having a proper floatation device is one of the easiest ways to increase safety in the water [search for the United States Coast Guard approval on it]. Pay attention to proper fit – the fit matters, because if your head or ears can slip down beneath the life jacket, the device won’t be able to work as designed to keep your head above water and allow for proper breathing. A U.S. Coastguardapproved lifejacket is especially important when swimming in lakes and oceans when water conditions can be uncertain and unpredictable.

• Designate a Water Guardian: Make sure to keep your eyes on your kids at all times – even if lifeguards are present. Kids are as curious as they come and are always willing to push the limits without knowing the true hazards. Designate an adult “Water Guardian” and be sure to change guardians every 30 minutes so he/she is alert and refreshed. A Water Guardian’s sole responsibility needs to be keeping an eye on the swimmers. Vigilance is key – no chatting, no checking your phone, no distractions.

• Play it cool and follow the rules: Sometimes when our little ones are in play-mode, rules fall by the wayside.

Review rules together as a family before letting your kids loose to enjoy the water. If at a public pool or on vacation, pay special attention to pool hours, and always schedule your swims when lifeguards are present, if possible.

Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 7

REAL MONEY, REAL FAMILIES

Good health includes financial health, too

By Luke Erickson

H

ealth has received a lot of attention a tantrum, it is very likely that it is affecting many over the past year and half, what of your other dimensions of health. with the ‘Rona after us and all. Being So can your overall health and happiness suffer healthy is pretty much required if your personal finances are in shambles? Without for a happy life – ask anyone who lacks health a doubt. and you’ll see that pretty clearly. Heck, forget For example, according to research, a person happiness. If you’re at the very bottom end of the who has a large amount of debt is likely to be health spectrum, that actually means that you’re stressed, losing sleep, eating poorly, not exercising, dead, which is not a very happy place to be – or so not taking time to socialize, not using work time I’ve heard. productively, and has degrading mental and Health and happiness go hand in hand. But one Luke Erickson emotional health. Yes, poor financial health of the problems with health is that we all understand it a little can lead to all sorts of negative ramifications on the other differently. A perfect example is how we all dealt with COVID. dimensions of health, overall well-being, and happiness.

Those who opted or were forced to quarantine for long periods Think your finances might be dragging other areas of your of time were clearly less likely to contract COVID-19. But life down? The good news is that you don’t need to have it all many folks quickly realized that there were other health costs figured out in order to make progress in this area of health. A that came with long periods of isolation. The costs for many recent study by O’Neill, et al., out of Rutgers University found included a loss of health in other areas of life like mental, that if you keep a budget, you’re more likely to have better social, spiritual, financial health or, ironically, physical health overall well-being and happiness. due to a lack of exercise and adequate nutrition.

“But budgets are no fun!” your tantrumming financial-health Well, as they say, hindsight is 2020, ba dum pshh. You’re dimension might be protesting. And it’s true, I don’t even welcome for the bad pun. With 2020 in the rear view mirror, think they’re fun, and I teach, talk about, and use them all the we can now see this a bit more clearly: Physical health can be time. The best budget is going to be the one that works, and protected to a point, but it can’t be done in isolation to other there are a million ways to budget. Just like you can Crossfit, dimensions of overall health. yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, hike, run, or weight-lift to be physically So, want to be happier? Be healthier, and not just physically, active, you can choose a budgeting strategy that fits you. Do it but in all areas of your life. your way, and as long as you stick with it, it is the right way.

And how can you be healthier? Avoid the ‘Rona for starters, What is a budget anyway? but also exercise and eat right. Is that it? Not even close. If In a nutshell, it’s having an intentional plan for saving and we’re really going to find lasting and sustainable well-being spending. Think about it this way. You may accidentally get and health, there are many dimensions of health we need some exercise on a walk into the grocery store to buy ice to pay attention to, such as emotional, spiritual, intellectual, cream, and you may get a few vegetables on a Whopper that physical, environmental, social, occupational, and yes, you comes with fries and a keg of soda. Similarly, some good guessed it, even financial health. financial things might happen to us by accident. But just like Each dimension can be and is influenced by the others. getting six-pack abs doesn’t happen by accident, strong healthy Much like a car finances don’t happen by accident either. full of kids on a The great news is all it takes are a few rules of thumb to Be a legend. long road trip. really up your financial health through budgeting. A good Insure your life.

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stick by using technology to track spending, using automatic deposits to pay off debt, or saving for retirement or other long-term goals before you have a chance to spend it on other things.

Additionally, when teaching your kids about finances it’s good to help them set similar patterns. Encourage them to spend a portion of their own allowance or earned income, say 50%, on lifestyle expenses like toys, games, clothing, eating out, etc. Encourage them to save the rest. This will help them avoid the habit of spending the bulk of their income on lifestyle expenses, a habit that can be hard to break later in life.

Research shows that just over half of working age adults are not financially healthy. Interestingly, obesity rates in the U.S. are similar, about half of U.S. adults. Since we already know the dimensions of health are interconnected, one way to look at financial health is that if you improve this area of your life, it’s likely that other areas will also improve.

In summary, a great way to improve your overall health, well-being, and happiness is to focus on one dimension of health like personal finances and give it your all to improve it.

You may find that other areas of health in your life improve as well. Or, at the very least, if you can quiet a tantrumming dimension, your other dimensions will be, oh, so grateful.

Luke Erickson, Ph.D., AFC®, REALTOR® is an associate professor of personal finance for the University of Idaho. He works and lives in the Treasure Valley with his wife and four energetic children. Contact him at erickson@uidaho.edu.

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Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 9

CALENDAR of Events

Fall Flights

Beginning Sept, 2021

Please send family-related calendar items to editorgaye@gmail.com

Autumn in Boise is a great time to visit the World Center for Birds of Prey to see family-friendly events known as Fall Flights. Every weekend from midSeptember through the end of October, see the birds fly outdoors, where they swoop and soar over the heads of people in the audience to show off their amazing aerial skills. This is your best opportunity to get up-close to a hawk, falcon, or owl as they sometimes glide only inches over your head. For more information, go to peregrinefund.org.

Harvest time for farmers markets

Farmers markets in the area are still open, generally through September and October. For more information, go to: • Capital City Public Market in Boise: www.capitalcitypublicmarket.com • Eagle Saturday Market: https://www.cityofeagle.org/170/Eagle-SaturdayMarket • Nampa Farmers Market: www.nampafarmersmarket.com More information about other farmers markets is listed below.

Farm to Fork Farmers’ Market

Caldwell is home to one of Idaho’s most diverse crop base, and for generations families have produced award-winning fruits, vegetables, grains and spices – and, now, top notch wines. Get the freshest produce to create excellent meals at home or find the perfect gift from local craftsmen or specialty food producers.

The Farm to Fork Farmers’ Market is held in conjunction with the Tuesdays on the Creek Concert Series from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through September 28 at Indian Creek Plaza. Go to indiancreekplaza.com for more information.

Meridian Main Street Market

The Meridian Main Street Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until October 12. It features local vendors, crafters, artists, bakers, youth entrepreneurs, non-profits, musicians, and food trucks. For more information, go to www.meridianmainstreetmarket.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MeridianMainStreetMarket.

Explore the Refuge

The Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to visit for some outdoor fun. People of all ages may utilize their natural curiosity to investigate nature and be outside. Take the whole family. The refuge is located at 13751 Upper Embankment Rd. in Nampa. Call 208-467-9278 or go to to fws.gov for more information.

Nampa Parks & Recreation’s

Foster care informational meetings

Foster parents are needed to provide a safe, temporary home for children and youth who are in foster care. Attending an informational meeting will give potential foster parents a basic understanding of who the children in foster care are, the roles and responsibilities of foster parents, and what’s needed to become licensed to foster. During an informational meeting, participants will hear from an experienced foster parent about the rewards and challenges of fostering, and will learn more about the background of some of the children and the length of time it will take to get a placement. The meetings are being held through Zoom, so anyone can join from the comfort of their own home. Meetings are sponsored by Fostering Idaho through the EWU-Family Resource and Training Center. Visit their website at https://familyrtc.org/fosteringidaho/events for the full calendar of upcoming meetings. If you have questions, contact Monique Layton, recruitment coordinator, at (208) 249-0180 or mlayton4@ewu.edu.

Experience Garden City

This free event is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, September 4, on 34th Street in Garden City. The annual one-day event celebrates the Valley’s most upand-coming community and will feature more than 80 vendors as well as food trucks, local artists, and music. Families are welcome, and there will be all sorts of kid-friendly activities for all ages. (The same group holds a bi-weekly farmers market from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays at 303 E. 34th St. Go to https://www.facebook.com/34thStreetMarket/ for more information.)

National Grandparents Day fundraiser

National Grandparents Day will be marked on Sunday, September 12. In honor of that day, and to help out Idaho Relatives as Parents, Papa John’s Pizza in the Treasure Valley will contribute money to IRAP for each pizza sold from September 6-12. Order online, via phone, or in person and use the promo code IRAP to help out the organization. For more information about IRAP, contact secretary and member Charlye Hahn at charlye.hahn@teachers.org.

Meridian Art Week

Meridan Art Week is set for September 9-12, with free art classes, a Chalk Your Walk project, and a peer-to-peer art exchange throughout the week. For more information, go to meridiancity.org.

Open House Arts Workshops and Musical Instrument Exploration

Come try your hand at dozens of instruments and/or jump into performing and visual arts workshops throughout the evening, led by professional, positive instructors. This family-friendly event for all ages will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 10, at Encore Creative Center, 1045 S. Ancona Ave. #140 in Eagle. For more information, go to this link on Facebook: https:// fb.me/e/1D4mrRv9L.

Art in the Park

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The Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park is returning to Julia Davis Park September 10-12. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to http://www.boiseartmuseum.org/art-in-the-park/.

Last Splash Weekends

Roaring Springs will hold Last Splash Weekends (weather permitting) from noon to 7 p.m. September 11-12 and 18-19. For more information, go to roaringsprings.com.

Hyde Park Street Fair Register by September 21 & receive a discounted rate of $30

SIGN UP AT THE NAMPA REC CENTER, ONLINE AT NAMPARECREATION.ORG OR CALL 208-468-5858 FOR MORE INFO.

10 SEP/OCT 2021 | Idaho Family Magazine

The 2021 Hyde Park Street Fair is scheduled for September 17-19 in Camel’s Back Park, 1200 Heron St., Boise. For more information as it becomes available, go to https://northend.org/hyde-park-street-fair/.

“Peter and the Starcatcher”

Treasure Valley Children’s Theater will present performances of “Peter and

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the Starcatcher” September 21-24 at a location to be announced. There will be 7 p.m. performances on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and a 3 p.m. performance on Saturday. For tickets and more information, go to treasurevalleychildrenstheater.com.

Harvest Festival Street Fair

The Harvest Festival Street Fair will celebrate the fall season and everything good about rural small town living Friday and Saturday, September 24-25 on Main Street in Emmett. Vendors will sell arts and crafts, as well as a variety of food. Call 208-365-9569, ext. 17, for more information.

Condor release

Watch the 26th Annual California Condor Release online from the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona on Saturday, September 25. For more information as it becomes available, go to https://www.peregrinefund.org/event/26th-annualcalifornia-condor-release-sep25.

OCTOBER Canyon County Fall Home Show

Enjoy live music, kids’ games, pumpkin decorating, food and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 9. Go to cityofeagle.org.

Nampa Farmers Market Pet Costume Contest

Bring your pet in a costume to the Nampa Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 9, in Lloyd Square. Prizes will be given. Go to https:// nampafarmersmarket.com/event/nampa-farmers-market-pet-costume-contest/ for more information.

Kids Discovery Expo

A Kids Discovery Expo is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 9, at Expo Idaho. Superheroes and princesses will be in attendance, and there will be lots of fun activities for kids. Go to kidsdiscoveryexpo.com.

Pygmy Goat Show

The Rocky Mountain Pygmy Goat Show will be held October 9-10 at Expo Idaho’s barns and arenas. Go to expoidaho.com.

Funtober Fest

The Canyon County Fall Home Show is set for October 1-3 at the Ford Idaho Center. Hours are: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Go to fordidahocenter.com for more information.

Have some harvest fun outdoors at the Nampa Rec Center from 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, October 16. The carnival-style event will include crafts, a costume contest, games, and more. Cost is $5 for members, $6 for non-members, and free for adults with a paid child. Call (208) 468-5858 for more information.

Taste of Caldwell Harvest Festival

Music Theatre of Idaho ‘Tom Sawyer’ production

Fresh-picked corn, vine ripe tomatoes, and big healthy pumpkins will be part of the for-sale fare at the Taste of Caldwell Harvest Festival from 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, October 2, at Indian Creek Plaza in downtown Caldwell. For more information, go to indiancreekplaza.com.

Idaho City Days

Idaho City Days, sponsored by the Idaho City Chamber of Commerce, is set this year for October 2-3. The event will feature live music, a Tall Tales competition, vending booths of all kinds from crafts to food, an Apple Harvest Press Your Own Cider event, and much more. Go to idahocitychamber.org for more details.

Firebird Raceway Halloween Classic

Halloween Classic XXVIII at Firebird Raceway is set to take place October 6-10. No other event all season long matches the sheer volume and quantity of racing that takes place during the last major racing stop of the season. Full of all kinds of surprises, the Halloween Classic has become one of Firebird’s biggest events. Besides racing, there will be trick or treating and lots of family fun. Go to firebirdonline.com for complete times, dates, and other details.

Eagle Harvest Fest

Kick off the fall season at Harvest Festival at Heritage Park in downtown Eagle.

Music Theatre of Idaho has announced that its production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is set for October 21-23 at the Nampa Civic Center. Set in 1840’s Missouri, the production centers on the tale of young Tom Sawyer and the never-ending mischief in which he so often finds himself, whether it’s matching wits with Aunt Polly, tricking his friends into whitewashing a fence for him, or narrowly escaping the clutches of a murderous villain. Along with his best friend, Huckleberry Finn, and his love interest, Becky Thatcher, the greatest Tom Sawyer exploits are plucked from the book and plopped onto the stage for the whole family to enjoy. For tickets and more information, click on broadwaynampa.org.

Trick or Treat the Market

On the final day of the Nampa Farmers Market for 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, October 30, bring the kids and enter a costume contest, take photos in front of a fun backdrop, and trick or treat in a safe, family-friendly environment.

The event takes place in Lloyd Square at 13th and Front in Nampa.

NOVEMBER Show auditions for 2022

Music Theatre of Idaho will hold auditions November 19-20 for the 2022 season. Go to broadwaynampa.org for more information.

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Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 11

VISIT A DRIVE-IN

Share an old-time movie night with family

By Dennis Lopez

T

his will be the last edition of the summer and in that regard, I write this with a sense of loss. Days of shorts and T-shirts are numbered. Soon, hard lace-up shoes will take the place of sandals. Order will be restored to my no-watch, no-worries mindset.

I often wax nostalgically about summer, especially those of my youth because it meant long days, warm evenings that seemed to last forever and, of course, the drive-in theater.

Drive-in movies. Even Fruitland, Idaho had one. Well, more correctly what was then the Gayway Junction had one.

Recalling the old Pay-Ont drive-in theater brings memories long-stored in my fuzzy memory banks into sharp focus.

Some good, others that perhaps should remain buried forever.

The first drive-in was built in 1915 in New Mexico, says the internet know-it-all, Wikipedia. It was a hybrid operation that included a 400-seat auditorium as well as space for 40 cars to park and allowed the occupants to view the movie.

Incidentally, that first movie was “Bags of Gold,” the plot of which involved treachery, deceit, bad guys “getting whacked” and explosions. Sounds a bit like something I would enjoy watching...and reading, since it was a silent movie.

The Gem State’s first drive-in movie was the Motor-Vu Drive-In Theater that opened in Idaho Falls in 1947. It served family moviegoers for 70 years but closed in 2017 because the owner lacked finances to upgrade to a digital projector for the theater’s single screen. New owners revived the Motor-Vu in 2019 and in the spring of 2020 the upgraded theater re-opened and continues to operate.

The 1950s and ‘60s are considered the heyday of drive-in movies, with as many as 4,000 drive-ins scattered in mostly rural parts of America. Their popularity no doubt reflected their affordable prices as well as the opportunity for families to spend time together. They also represented an affordable date night. Today only around 300 remain.

I have long been a fan of outdoor movies, dating back to some of my earliest memories, including attending a couple of Easter sunrise services. In the days when cars had spotlights…okay, for those of you in the back, I will explain cars of the 1940s later…one guy inevitably would, while waiting for the movie to start, point his spotlight on the screen and begin to move it around and others would try to “tag” him. Seeing this as a means of keeping the motoaudience occupied while waiting for it to grow dark enough to project the movie, some theaters would show a little moving target on the screen for the spotlight crowd. Simple entertainment for a simpler time.

All of which brings me back to my memories of the PayOnt Theater.

12 SEP/OCT 2021 | Idaho Family Magazine

In my high school days, going to the movies there was more than simple entertainment, it was a high-stakes game of cat and mouse; of complex strategies and grand chicanery, all designed to get the maximum number of people into the movie without paying for more than two people.

It actually was pretty easy. I had a ’54 Chevy. It had a huge trunk. I had friends who were contortionists. Load up a few guys, drive close to the theater and then jam them into the trunk. It was probably a good thing the kid selling tickets never paid attention to the fact that my car was unusually low in the back.

The downside to this plan was that the guys in the trunk had to stay in there until it got dark enough for them to get out unseen by the watchful eye of the theater owner or one of his minions. After a few summer minutes in my Chevy mobile air fryer, the body odor was staggering.

Occasionally the theater would offer special deals…a dollar a carload or something like that, regardless how many guys were in the car. It was then that our creativity truly was tested. How many bodies could be stuffed into your average passenger car and still motor up the slight rise to access the post-mounted speaker that attached to the car’s window? As I recall, the answer was 11.

By using our dad’s 1951 Studebaker pickup truck, we found we could haul as many as 20 hooting and shrieking teenagers out in the open and into the theater, all for a buck.

That movement proved to be short-lived. The owner invoked a little known drive-in theater codicil that allowed him to proclaim the passengers in the back ineligible for the special offer because technically they weren’t in the truck, rather they were “on” it.

Ultimately a changing America claimed the drive-in theater, the Pay-Ont and at least five others here in Idaho.

The drive-in movie industry sites the growth of VCR-based in-home movies and the adaptation of Daylight Savings Time (DST) as two of the prime reasons for the decline in outdoor theaters. April through October, DST pushed sundown out to around 10 p.m., too late for most moviegoers to catch a film during the work week. And finally, drive-in theaters’ land became more valuable for shopping centers, industrial parks or housing.

But take heart. Idaho has six remaining drive-ins in operation, two here in the Treasure Valley: the Terrace in Caldwell and the Parma Drive In. Perhaps in these gentle waning days of summer, you should pack up the family and see an outdoor movie…while you still can. www.idahofamilymagazine.com

WICKED IDEAS

Fun neighborhood Halloween contests

By Kimberly Blaker

A

re 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. So 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. Then each child and adult can fill out a voting slip. Include best costume, scariest, funniest, most creative, and more. Hand out a special prize to the winners of each category. And don’t forget a small consolation prize for all children who participate.

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 21. Provide delivery instructions on the flier 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 21 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. Then post them 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 at 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. Then 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.

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 Halloweenthemed food or dessert. Place a numbered card next to each dish. Then 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. Then everyone can dig in and eat the yummy dishes and treats.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, specializing in SEO content writing, at kbcreativedigital.com.

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Funnest 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’re 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.

Idaho Family 1-4.indd For more House information contact J.J. Plew, Publisher Phone

www.idahofamilymagazine.com

208.697.2043

Email JJplew82@gmail.com

Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 13

WEDNESDAY’S CHILD

Kahli wants to be in a faith-filled family The following information is provided by Wednesday’s Child, an organization that helps Idaho foster children find permanent homes.

Kahli, 13, is a quirky teen with an adventurous spirit.

This brave girl recently let us tag along on a trip to a local salon, where she chose to cut off all her long hair for a new style that better matches the transformation she’s working on in herself as she heads towards a new life with her future adoptive family.

A sweet girl who can be just a little shy at first, Kahli quickly warms up and shows off her fun personality. She loves going for long drives, riding bikes or scooters, going camping, swimming, and taking walks. Kahli is in her school choir and enjoys all genres of music, and she also plays the piano. Her favorite school subject is art and she can’t get enough of anything related to anime.

Kahli is SO looking forward to being adopted. She has her sights set on finding her Forever Home with a Christian family, one that will take her to church regularly.

Kahli’s Permanency Team is open to hearing from Idaho families, as well as families who reside out of state, and is particularly looking for parents for her who have formal trauma training or a significant understanding of the needs of children who come from hard places. Kahli has several siblings and will need a family who is committed to supporting and nurturing those ongoing sibling relationships.

If you feel that your family is just what Kahli has been longing for, inquire at www.idahowednesdayschild.org, or contact Recruitment Coordinator Shawn White at swhite52@ewu.edu or cell 208-488-8989 if you have specific questions.

NORMAL Continued from Page 5 “Shadow showed up when we got to the store and we still went in and got everything we needed! I’m so proud of you!”

“Invader-Force tried to ruin dinner but you are so much stronger than your force and you stayed so calm and asked me for a break instead of hitting sister or throwing food. You’re awesome!”

“My angry alien tried to show up today when I was in traffic but I thought about how hard you are working on defeating your angry alien and I told the alien to go away! Thank you for helping me learn how to choose my own thoughts more wisely!”

I’ve seen this approach work wonders and really help children and their families find success within their own thoughts, feelings, and fears. These forces will always show up, they are always going to be lurking in the shadows of our minds, but we are strong enough to defeat them every single time.

I wish I had all the answers for navigating the crazy changes we’ve all been facing lately, but I don’t think we will ever have all the answers to anything we face. I have learned that oftentimes the roughest roads create seasoned sailors and no time or trial is ever wasted. We are all learning to build resilience in ways we could not have imagined or fathomed even just two years ago. We are all in this together, and we all deserve grace and patience along the way. Be kind to yourself, love others, forgive yourself and those around you for not always knowing the perfect thing to do or say. Inhale love and hope, exhale fear and hate, and remember that if we don’t get it right today we can always try again tomorrow.

Macaile Hutt is the Director of Occupational Therapy for Star Speech and Occupational Therapy located in Star, Idaho. Her therapy style takes a holistic and child-directed approach, with the goal of children succeeding across multiple environments. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from A.T. Still University and has received continuing education as a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents (CCATP-CA), Handwriting Without Tears, pediatric kinesiotaping, Interactive Metronome, and Beckman Oral Motor. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, backpacking, and traveling.

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TEETHING & OTHER TRIALS

What to do when your little one bites

By Cara Johnson-Bader

C

hildren biting is both the most common – and the most difficult – aspect of child development, especially with infants and toddlers.

When biting incidents occur, it is often scary, frustrating, and stressful for children and their family. Biting is a stage some children go through and is a behavior of a young child who is just learning to manage their emotions and exploring the world. The good news is there is a lot you can do as a parent to reduce and eliminate biting.

No Biting

by Karen Katz This interactive, lift-the-flap book shows children what is appropriate to bite. Your little one will enjoy lifting the flaps in the book and the important lesson on what is okay to bite.

• Provide teething support. Offer your child a Cara Johnson-Bader teether or other safe item to bite.

• Support communication and language development. If your child is biting as an alternative to Why do children bite? using language to express herself, help your child express Here are a few of the most common reasons that her feelings in appropriate ways. For example: “Emma, you children bite. are angry because Henry took the book you were reading.”

• Teething When new teeth are coming in, children find Then suggest an appropriate way to comfort in applying pressure to their deal with being angry. “Let’s talk gums, often using anything that is readily to Henry.” available.

• Be proactive. Help your child • Impulsiveness Children sometimes cope with over-stimulation by trying bite simply because there is something to to avoid shopping trips, playdates, bite. The biting is not intentional nor an and other events if your child is overact of aggression. tired, as being over-tired can be a • Making an Impact Young children trigger for biting. Schedule important like to see the cause and effect of their appointments such as a doctor visit or actions. When they bite, the reaction is dentist appointment for a time when immediate and dramatic. your little one is fed and well-rested.

• Over-Stimulation Even when Hug your child if you sense he is feeling stressed. A hug is a children are happy, a situation where a child is overgreat calming activity for both you and your child. stimulated may cause them to bite.

• Help your child understand the effects of their • Frustration Children may use biting as a form of actions.

After your little one bites, say, “You bit Liam expressing frustration, especially before they are able to and now he is crying.

When you bite, it hurts your friends. express their feelings through words.

You may bite food (insert the name of your child’s favorite What should you do when a child bites? snack) but not your friends. It hurts.”

Rest assured that children outgrow biting, as it is part of • Keep active. Go for a walk, turn on music and let your growing up. Here are a few suggestions to help reduce biting: child dance while you are cooking dinner, have fun with bubbles (chase them, catch them, count them, or pop them), • Read books about biting. As you read the book, talk or engage in any other family-favorite movement activity. about feelings. How do you think Travis felt when he was Keeping your little one active reduces the likelihood of bitten? What could Jasmine do instead of biting? Here are a biting. few of our favorite books: With your loving support, your little one will develop skills Teeth Are Not for Biting to reduce and eliminate biting.

by Elizabeth Verdick The book shares ideas of positive things Cara Johnson-Bader is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent Experiences at New Horizon Academy and mother of two young boys. children can do instead of biting. It also Learn more about New Horizon Academy at newhorizonacademy.net. includes helpful hints for parents on how to reduce the biting habit of their child.

“Biting is a stage some children go through and is a behavior of a young child who is just learning to manage their emotions and exploring the world.”

www.idahofamilymagazine.com

Idaho Family Magazine | SEP/OCT 2021 15