KC Parent November 2024

FREE | November 2024 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

5 THINGS

FUN G

UIDE

WE LOVE RIGHT NOW

BUILD A

GRATITUDE HABIT

BENEFITS OF

ADHD

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS FINANCIALLY

New Fantastic Photo Ops

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NOV 22 thru JAN 1 • Featuring Holiday VR Ride

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Endless Discovery &

FUN

Expanding young minds and exhausting excess energy. That’s our promise to you and your kids at Union Station’s Science City!

Spend a few hours or an entire day exploring three floors – more than 100,000 square feet – of themed spaces packed with over 300 indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits.

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Christmas Memories Made Here

KANSAS CITY’S HOLIDAY TRADITION • 100-FT TALL MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS TREE • OUTDOOR SKATING AT CROWN CENTER ICE TERRACE • LOCAL & UNIQUE SHOPPING • DINING OPTIONS FOR EVERY TASTE • SANTA’S GINGERBREAD STATION • LEGOLAND® DISCOVERY CENTER AND SEA LIFE AQUARIUM • HOLIDAY MUSIC & LIVE THEATER

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Home of the

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS IN

November means forests of decorated trees, lights, fresh-cut greens, wreaths, garlands, ornaments, holiday picks, and more at Family Tree Nursery. Visit any of our three convenient locations.

OVERLAND PARK, KS | SHAWNEE, KS | LIBERTY, MO

NOVEMBER

2024

IN EVERY ISSUE

THANKSGIVING FUN GUIDE, PG. 34-51

FEATURES

10

Crossing KC

12

Marvelous Museums

14

Dear Teacher

16

5 Things

17

Word from Dad

22

Date Night

25

Craft Corner

26

Park Jaunts

26

Pair & Share

41

Tasty Treats

SPECIAL SECTIONS

24

32

36

Taming the Tattletale

Support a Friend

Science of Gratitude

Tips to redirect tattlers and

Be a blessing when the

Advantages of finding

teach communication

holidays aren’t exactly

the good and reflecting

skills.

happy.

upon it.

20

Party Guide

34

Thanksgiving Fun Guide

52

Calendar of Events

Our cover features Kruz from Overland Park.

Photo by Kevin Ashley Photography.

KevinAshleyPhotography.com FREE | November 2024 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

ON THE COVER Benefits of ADHD 14

5 THINGS

5 Things We Love Right Now 16

Surviving the Holidays Financially 44

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kcparent.com november 2024

UIDE

BUILD A

GRATITUDE HABIT

Thanksgiving Fun Guide 34 Build a Habit of Gratitude 38

FUN G

WE LOVE RIGHT NOW

BENEFITS OF

ADHD

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS FINANCIALLY

"If you buy only one holiday album this season, this is it."

Christianity Today

“Melanie Penn dazzles with her musical gift.”

Huffington Post

with STÖRLING DANCE THEATER and The Culture House School of Dance

H E A RT L AN D C O M M U N I T Y CHU R CH | OL ATH E, K S s

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EDITOR’SLETTER NOVEMBER 2024

W

KC PARENT IS GIVING AWAY

25 TICKETS TO

Have a wonderful November and Happy Thanksgiving, Kansas City!

Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Editor Lauri Clapper Lauri@FamilyMediaGroup.com Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design TappanDesign@Gmail.com Advertising Sales Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Digital Engagement Manager Halley Zitterkopf Halley@KCParent.com Copy Editor Kelsey Beck Kelsey@KCParent.com Intern Iris Enna Distribution To be added to our distribution list, email Distribution@KCParent.com Local Contributing Writers

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William R. Bartlett (Kansas City), Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Janelle Cumro-Sultzer (Manhattan), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Regan Lyons (St. Joseph), Sarah Lyons (Olathe), Kailyn Rhinehart (Warrensburg) Mailing Address 11937 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax OUR PRODUCTS FREE | November 2024 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

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BUILD A

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SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS FINANCIALLY

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.com

hat’s not to love about an entire month that invites you to celebrate thankfulness, culminates in a savory meal shared with family and/or friends and springboards us into the Christmas season? It sounds so idyllic—and it is! But of course, along the way, there are the not-so-grateful moments, the never-ending to-do list and navigating others’ expectations as well as your own!

I’m not sure who first said it, but the quote, “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for,” certainly resonates. I know I have said it to my children (probably with a few more “always” sprinkled in). To be honest, it can be a struggle to choose gratitude in the face of things that simply rub you the wrong way—much less the things that are so devastating they take your breath away.

I encourage you to catch your breath and hold onto hope. As Nyki Mack writes, “Always be thankful for the little things … even the smallest mountains can hide the most breathtaking views!” When my world feels overwhelming, I start with gratitude for the smallest things, and slowly, my perspective changes.

We’ve brought you some wonderful insights this month on the Science of Gratitude (pg. 36), as well as Building a Gratitude Habit (pg. 38), that I hope bring a refreshing perspective to this season of thankfulness.

As the pace picks up, prices tick up and expectations unfold, may you pause to savor the blessings (both tangible and intangible) that truly abound!

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WINTER MAGIC LIGHTS FOR DETAILS AND TO ENTER, HEAD TO KCPARENT.COM

Lauri Clapper, Editor

Kansas City Parent Magazine is published 12 times a year by Family Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout the Kansas City area.

Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect KC Parent’s opinions.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Kansas City Parent Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All photography and letters sent to KC Parent will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. KC Parent often includes websites that may be helpful to our readers. We verify each site prior to publication. However, content changes frequently. We encourage you to use caution and discretion when visiting a website.

Postmaster, please send changes to KC Parent, 11937 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213

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KCPARENTWEBSITE

KCPARENT.COM Even More Local Parenting Information, Articles, Events and Surprises

SEARCH KCPARENT.COM FOR MORE AFFORDABLE, FUN IDEAS: 1. Best of November 2. Great Giveaways 3. KC’s Thanksgiving Fun Guide

4. Holiday Shopping Experiences 5. KC’s Living Nativity Guide

SPOTLIGHT

KC’S BEST LIGHTING CEREMONIES Kansas City sparkles in holiday splendor with magnificent displays across the metro!

See page 50 for a grab-and-go list or head to KCParent.com for our top picks and lighting cermonies.

6. KC’s Christmas Lighting Ceremonies 7. Autumn Camping 8. Kids Eat Free

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES GUIDE Whether your kids are into soccer, dance, art or STEM, find a plethora of extracurricular fun in our After School Activities Guide, which includes programs across the Kansas City metro!

kansas city’s kids eat

FREE

(or cheap) guide

9. 5 Marvelous Museums 10. FREE Holiday Fun

4 MORE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED Like us on Facebook facebook.com/KansasCityParent Repin us on Pinterest // Follow us on X @KCParent // Subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter at KCParent.com

kcparent.com november 2024

9

CROSSINGKC

NOVEMBER

IN KC CROSSWORD PUZZLE

By Kristina Light

ACROSS 2 U.S. President from Independence believed to be the first to pardon a Thanksgiving turkey.

5 Photo Clue: Nov. 18 is the birthday of this iconic character, inspired by a pet mouse Walt Disney kept at his Laugh-O-Gram Studio in KC. (Two words) 6 A statue at 47th & Main commemorates this Native American

DOWN 1 The Kansas City Mayor’s Christmas Tree travels from this

chief, a central figure in Thanksgiving history.

state to be placed in its holiday home at Crown Center.

7 _______ Day marks the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, and

3 Celebrate Model Railroad Month as you explore 8,000 square feet of track in the Grand Hall of _____. (Two words)

is celebrated at the NaGonal WWI Museum and Memorial.

8 November is Aviation History Month. This Kansas naGve is the known as the “first lady of flight.”

10 Nov. 6 celebrates this instrument played by KC’s Charlie “Bird” Parker.

11 Every year, this local landmark is lit in holiday splendor beginning on Thanksgiving.

4 On Nov. 3, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art holds their Dia de los Muertos fesstival honoring this nation’s art and culture.

9 Line Creek Ice Arena in North Kansas City hosts an annual holiday event featuring this sport— turkeys are given as prizes.

DOWN 1 OREGON 3 UNION STATION 4 MEXICO 9 BOWLING ACROSS 2 TRUMAN 5 MICKEY MOUSE 6 MASSASOIT 7 ARMISTICE 8 EARHART 10 SAXOPHONE 11 PLAZA

ANSWER KEY

10 november 2024 kcparent.com

Your family’s story starts here.

At Liberty Hospital Birthing Center, we know when women and babies are healthy, everyone benefits. From our free childbirth and parenting classes to our team of obstetrics and pediatric specialists, lactation experts and more, we’re here to support you through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

Our warm and welcoming facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, comfortable amenities and a neonatal NICU – all to ensure we are ready to meet your needs around the clock. For a birthing center that combines high-quality expertise with a premier experience for you and your family, choose Liberty Hospital.

libertyhospital.org/birthingcenter.

This is where health happens.

MARVELOUSMUSEUMS

VISIT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUMS! NATIONAL WWI MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL

ST. JOSEPH MUSEUMS

2 Memorial Dr., Kansas City, Mo., 816.888.8100

3406 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, 816.232.8471

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is one of Kansas City’s most respected museums. After exploring the galleries, you may take a tour to the top of the tower for views of the city skyline. Their immersive VR experience, War Remains, transports viewers to the Western Front.

The St. Joseph Museums house five separate museums and exhibits in one location. Three have history buffs in mind: the Native American Galleries tell of tribes from across the United States and include an archaeological dig box for children; the Black Archives Museum traces the history Black Americans from slavery to Civil Rights and beyond; and the Doll Museum showcases toys from many generations and cultures.

JOHNSON COUNTY MUSEUM 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 913.826.2787 The Johnson County Museum is home to both long-term and temporary award-winning exhibits. It’s a great place to spend the day learning about the county’s history and experiencing the hands-on exhibit spaces. Young children love KidScape, where they can play pretend in child-sized replicas of different communities from the region’s past.

SHAWNEE TOWN 1929 11501 W. 57th St., Shawnee, 913.248.2360 Shawnee Town 1929 is an interactive living history museum.

Engaging tours, exhibits and programs allow visitors of all ages to experience a typical day in and around the farm town of Shawnee in 1929.

SCIENCE CITY AT UNION STATION 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, Mo., 816.460.2020 Science City is a dynamic, hands-on science center featuring nearly 200 interactive exhibits and daily programming.

Kids of all ages love experiencing the amazing world of science firsthand.

12 november 2024 kcparent.com

kc’s #1 family travel guide since 2010

DISCOVER MORE MUSEUMS

652

UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS

IN THE GOING PLACES GUIDE ON KCPARENT.COM!

thrill-seeking

adventures

what’s new

in 2024

experiences

for every season

september 6 december 29 an enchanting nighttime journey!

Experience a mile-long spectacle of intricate lighted sculptures, crafted by 151 artisans using over 34 tons of steel and 89,000 feet of fabric.

Featuring two distinct areas: fantasy

Enchanted forest, fairy garden, dragons, and more!

Adventure Atlantis, dinosaurs, pirates, and more!

scan for info and tickets

Q&A DEARTEACHERS

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING ADHD

QUESTION: My son has recently been diagnosed with

Conversational Skills

ADHD. I have found it very upsetting to learn of all of the downsides of this neurological disorder. Are there are upsides? — Upset

Those with ADHD may be very talkative, especially if they have an inability to focus. Often, they can have interesting conversations with people they know as well as strangers.

The benefit here is success in social situations. At school, this is perfect for answering questions in class, leading group discussions and later on being on a debate team.

ANSWER: Unfortunately, the latest statistics on the diagnosis of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) show that 11.3 % of children ages 5–17 have ADHD. Of this number, boys, like your son, have a higher prevalence of this disorder than girls. Of this diagnosis, both boys and girls in the 12–17 year age range were more likely to have been diagnosed than younger children between the ages of 5–11.

Those who have been diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty focusing on tasks and have hyperactive tendencies as well as an inability to control their impulses.

The severity of ADHD symptoms varies in how it affects children’s lives at school and at home. While all this sounds quite daunting, it is important for children who have this diagnosis, as well as their parents, to realize that they may have skills that allow them to excel in certain areas. These are skills that children without this diagnosis may not have.

Here are some of these strengths along with their benefits:

High Energy One of the common symptoms of ADHD is hyperactivity.

While this can be disruptive in many situations, it is a strong positive for successful participation in sports and other physical activities, as those diagnosed with ADHD have energy to burn.

14 november 2024 kcparent.com

Impulsive Behavior One of the characteristics of ADHD is spontaneous behavior.

This can lead those diagnosed with ADHD to keep their lives and the lives of the people around them interesting. They are not afraid to tackle what appeals to them at the moment. This can involve seeking out adventure and building lasting memories.

Ability to Bounce Back Unfortunately, living with ADHD is challenging. There are so many difficulties that those with ADHD must overcome.

However, working past these difficulties builds resilience and can lead to stronger character.

Creativity Those with ADHD often approach tasks differently than other people do. This can lead to their being imaginative problem solvers.

Adventuresomeness This characteristic of ADHD encourages risk-taking and leads to not being afraid to jump into something new.

So Much Help Is Now Available for Those With ADHD Fortunately, children with a recent diagnosis of ADHD as well as their parents now have so many avenues to help them handle the challenges they will face. Knowledge of ADHD has grown exponentially in recent years, and due to a wealth of experience, teachers, counselors, doctors and therapists have increased expertise.

One of the first steps parents need to take is to become familiar with the resources available online. Become familiar with the following organizations and what they offer to find the ones that best meet your family’s needs.

CHADD: This organization has chapters all over the country that connect families of children with ADHD together. It has explanations of what ADHD is and offers support. Look at its bi-monthly magazine, Attention, for strategies to deal with ADHD as well as the latest clinical information.

LD OnLine: Here you can find accurate and helpful information about ADHD in articles, expert columns and a resource guide.

ADDitude Magazine: Here you can find answers for any questions that you may have as a parent of a child with ADHD.

Two College Application Secrets

PARENTS: Applying to college has become an angstfilled event for high school juniors and seniors as well as their parents. Between us, we have seen 10 of our children and grandchildren be admitted to their first-choice colleges.

First of all, we have learned that it is wise for children to visit or investigate online the colleges that may interest them. There are numerous websites, such as those of the College Board and ACT, that will guide them in finding colleges that match their abilities and interests. There are also guidebooks that list hundreds of colleges. Doing this during their junior year will eliminate so much indecision when application time rolls around.

Secondarily, if your children have their hearts set on one college and it is highly selective, they will have a higher chance of acceptance if they use the early decision option. A higher percentage of students using this option are accepted than those who apply using the regular decision option.

© Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2024

kcparent.com november 2024

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FIVETHINGS Canine Fresh All-Natural Dental Chews

The Crayons Give Thanks Has your family been following the antics of the crayons? We’ve been fans ever since The Day the Crayons Quit. In this new release, the crayons are thankful for so many things that as you read along, I daresay you will not only giggle, but recount things you are thankful for too.

Perfect year-round and a truly colorful addition to November! Amazon.com

5

Let’s talk dogs for a moment. We have a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier who is simply an oversized teddy bear. At 42 pounds, he believes he’s a lap dog and loves to snuggle.

These dental chews are magical and help remove the buildup on his teeth that makes his breath super stinky! He loves them and we love him more when he has them regularly.

UltimatePetNutrition.com

THINGS WE

LOVE RIGHT NOW

Compiled by Lauri Clapper

Duracell 2000 Tri-Powered Lantern From camping to late-night backyard fun, to road trips, to blanket forts, this lantern has become a go-to in our household. With outstanding features (three light modes; power in and out USB; and built-in rechargeable battery, regular battery, or solar power options), it’s no wonder we reach for it regularly!

Costco.com

Silver Is Money Recently I have felt compelled to dig deeper into what’s going on in the world.

Thanks to social media connections, I stumbled upon the most interesting geopolitical news and stock information from this seasoned commodities industry veteran. Find him on Instagram or TikTok and thank me later! Instagram.com/ RealJohnFPerez

Kansas City Puzzle Our family loved putting this Kansas City map puzzle together.

As we did, we talked about our family heritage, recounted fun family experiences and noted things we have yet to explore around town. This Kansas City puzzle is high-quality and beautiful, and the moments shared putting it together are truly priceless. Check out all their KC options as well as other cities!

KansasCityPuzzleCompany.com

16 november 2024 kcparent.com

WORDFROMDAD

AFTER THE

TURKEY

“Dad, are we going to go watch the Plaza lighting ceremony tonight?” Ian was always more adventurous than the rest of the family.

But crowds have never appealed to me.

“I have a different idea. We’ll toss it around during dinner and see how everyone feels.”

We’d done more than our usual holiday meal planning, so when it came time to put up the leftovers, the afternoon sunlight, afternoon sunlight kept the front yard bright. “Who wants another piece of pie?”

The boys groaned.

Sandi cast a skeptical glance in my direction. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“OK, if we’re done eating, here’s my plan. Why don’t we have our own lighting ceremony here? No crowds, no long drive through heavy traffic and no speeches.

Just us together at the start of the holiday season.”

James and Ian looked at each other, then at their mother.

“I suppose it’s better than a nap with an overstuffed stomach,” Sandi sighed. “I’m good.”

“After we’re done with the outside, we’ll put up the tree and the indoor decorations.

Are we all in? Here’s what we’ll do. James, you get the two little trees for the front deck railing. Ian, you get the ladder and string the lights on the roof. Mom, how about you help James, and I’ll give Ian a hand.”

By dark, we had everything outside set up. I stood in the front yard, surrounded by my little band, and holding two long extension cords. “Are we ready?”

Each of them gave me a nod.

“By the power vested in me by the electrical supplier…” I plugged the two cords together and lit the outdoor decorations. “I now pronounce this the official holiday season.”

Sandi and the boys clapped and cheered.

“Merry Christmas!” I shivered. “Let’s go in and put up the tree.”

William R. Bartlett lives in Kansas City with his family. kcparent.com november 2024

17

Overcoming the Loss of a B eloved Pet THOUGH IT’S DIFFICULT, THERE ARE WAYS TO MOVE ON

I

think the first pets my children had to say goodbye to were hamsters. Then came my son’s beloved bearded dragons. We got those because he wanted a snake, and my veterinarian said the dragons would be less scary for me as a mom! Puff the Magic Dragon and Dudley the Dragon even laid an egg that hatched little Speedy.

Another pet we lost was our cat, Bonnie, who once won a Halloween costume contest at Waldo Pet. She decided

18 november 2024 kcparent.com

to swallow a ribbon from my daughter’s bedroom floor, and I couldn’t remove it from her throat. I was none too happy to carry her big, white, fluffy body downstairs.

My daughter didn’t sleep in her bedroom for days after that. Thankfully, Bonnie’s sister Milkshake lived for over 20 years and even went to live with my daughter when she moved out.

Of course, there were more cats and dogs, all of whom (luckily) lived well into their senior years! So how do we help our

young children overcome the loss of a pet when we ourselves are sobbing?

First, make sure you lovingly explain your own sadness. Your children may express anger that their pet was taken away—this is where you can begin answering questions to help them work through their grief. Take note if your child exhibits serious symptoms such as sleep disturbances, anxiety or depression. Work with your pediatrician or a caring pastor to address these.

Make sure no question is out of the question. Your child may ask about death and what happens after we die.

The answer will depend on your family’s beliefs. The “rainbow bridge”—the idea that an animal friend has crossed over the colorful bridge into the arms of other pets who came before (like a big family reunion!)—is a popular and comforting explanation.

Consider creating a small memorial or ritual which can help your child with the process of saying goodbye. This could involve making a memorial collage or planting a tree in your pet’s memory.

What your child understands about death will depend on their age—for instance, toddlers may ask over and over where their pet is.

You can also search your library website for many more age-appropriate books.

It’s important to resist your natural desire to protect your child from unpleasant emotions. Instead, focus on

acknowledging their feelings of loss, sadness and grief. Remember, the death of a pet is just plain hard. Yet it’s also an opportunity to develop coping skills that will help your children throughout their lives.

Show them healthy ways to manage their sadness or anger—you could suggest drawing, coloring, running, taking a warm bubble bath, listening to music or talking about happy memories of your pet. Share your own feelings about the deceased pet, and discuss your own childhood experiences. This can help your child understand that Mommy and Daddy have these emotions too, and it’s a natural part of life.

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: HealthyChildren.org, PsychCentral.com

TODDLER BOOKS INCLUDE: Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death

by Bonnie Zucker

Bear Island

by Matthew Cordell

Up in Heaven

by Emma Chichester Clark

PRESCHOOLER BOOKS INCLUDE: Goodbye Mousie

by Robie H. Harris

The Forever Dog

by Bill Cochran

The Old Dog

by Charlotte Zolotow

Goodbye, Brecken

by David Lupton

Alfie and the Birthday Surprise

by Shirley Hughes

The Goodbye Book

by Todd Parr

kcparent.com november 2024

19

PARTYGUIDE

birthday party checklist In planning to celebrate, keep the guest of honor in mind. The options are endless. Let the fun begin and lasting memories be made!

THE BASICS Make these decisions first; having them made will help you the most.

H Date and time H Guests H Budget THE AESTHETICS You want to be comfortable with the party parameters, whether that’s dictated by space, age or budget—or all of

Visit www.kansascityzoo.org/birthdays to plan your party today!

them—and any other special considerations.

H Location H Theme H Colors H Activities THE DETAILS Thinking through these things in advance will help your party go as planned.

H Food H Agenda H Paper goods H Decorations H FUN!

20 november 2024 kcparent.com

THE ULTIMATE ALL-NEW

BIRTHDAY PARTY GUIDE FOR KANSAS CITY

Have an Unforgettable Party!

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Where fun

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21

DATES GOING LOCAL

DATENIGHT

22 november 2024 kcparent.com

How about a date night activity that gives you a souvenir from your time together?

Driftwood Ceramics in North Kansas City is a pottery studio that offers classes and open workshops. On Friday and Saturday nights they have a Pots & Pints class. You learn how to make a cup, bowl or plate while sipping a pint of beer (or glass of wine) if you like. My husband and I had never done anything like this before, and it was a lot of fun! I was surprised at how hard—and yet how easy—it was to shape the clay. It takes some getting used to, as does the pottery wheel. Once you’re finished, you leave your pieces there to cure, get fired in the kiln and be glazed in a color of your choice. The whole process takes about three weeks, then you can pick up your finished pieces.

Located in the historic Englewood neighborhood (Independence), just a couple doors down from the old Ben Franklin store, is Englewood Arts Center. This place has got it all: glassblowing, ceramics, woodworking, textiles, painting, performing arts and more. It’s a place for artists to hone their craft. It’s also a place to learn about and engage in the arts through classes, exhibits and arts camps for kids. We tried our hand at glassblowing recently through a MakeYour-Own class, and wow! Such a fun and unique experience. The process takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Kevin, the instructor, has been blowing glass for 18 years, so we were in good hands. He was great at explaining everything and made us feel relaxed. I have to admit I was a little nervous. But as long as you follow Kevin’s instructions, there’s no need to be. It’s all very hands-on, from rolling the hot glass into colored shards, to heating the glass in the furnace, to blowing into a tube to form the bowl. The reward is getting to see your finished product several days later. Beautiful!

Embers Candle Bar in downtown Lee’s Summit offers a pour-your-owncandle experience. We recently tried it, and it couldn’t have been simpler. First, you choose your candle jar—these range in price from $16 to $50+ depending on size. (You can also opt to do a room spray or wax melts.) Next, you choose 2–3 of their 60+ scents, which include fragrances like rain, Meyer lemon, leather and margarita. Once you’ve made your choices, you locate the corresponding oils and concoct your perfect blend. (I used coconut and island sunset, while my husband opted for blackberry suede and sel de mer.) This is added to your jar of hot wax and left to set for 60–150 minutes. We sadly had to leave our candles there overnight as we were one of the last appointments of the day. But we were not at all disappointed when we got them back. They both smell amazing!

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities. Check out her Facebook page, Out & About in KC.

FOR MORE GREAT DATE NIGHT IDEAS, GO TO KCPARENT.COM!

THE COTERIE’s

2024/2025 SEASON OF LIVE THEATRE

LIVE ON STAGE!

2024 2025

SEASON OF LIVE THEATRE

NOV 6 - DEC 30

The Coterie Theatre is located on Level 1 of Crown Center

Join the Conversation

THE COTERIE THEATRE

tattletale TAMING THE

Whether you’ve encountered tattletales at the playground or in your own home, you know tattling is part of childhood.

We want our kids to tell us if something bad or unkind happens to them—we just want them to do so in the right way.

So how do we approach this inevitable part of childhood?

Tattling versus reporting

What’s so bad about tattling?

First, it’s important to teach our kids the difference between tattling and reporting.

Tattling is generally more emotionally charged—there are strong opinions and whining involved. While we should allow our children to express opinions and emotions, escalation is not productive and usually makes the problem worse.

On the other hand, reporting is more constructive—it simply means relaying to an adult the information that’s necessary to solve a problem. It is a statement of facts that takes a lot of the emotions out of the equation.

You may wonder if tattling is such a bad thing—after all, it’s a normal and natural part of child development. However, if tattling persists or intensifies, it can have negative repercussions.

Most importantly, tattling can affect relationships. Few children want to be friends with a tattletale. Constant tattling could also lead an adult to question the validity of the child’s words. Unfortunately, this could put the child in a situation where an adult doesn’t believe him when a real problem occurs.

Depending on the age of the tattler, this behavior can also affect social and emotional development. This in turn can lead the child to feel isolated or frustrated.

Why do kids tattle?

To get to the root of the problem, start by identifying the reason why your child is tattling. It might be an attentionseeking behavior. A child might tattle to shift blame from herself and avoid consequences. Or it might indicate that the tattler lacks empathy or problemsolving skills.

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What to do if your child is constantly tattling First, help your child develop healthy communication skills. Rather than engaging in one-sided tattling, encourage her to communicate with peers using constructive and developmentally appropriate language.

Second, teaching your child empathy and perspective can deter her from tattling.

Encourage your child to put herself in someone else’s shoes. Ask how she thinks her friends feel in a given situation. These social-emotional skills come with time, but by modeling them, we help children understand them.

Promote positive reinforcement The best way to curb tattling is with positive reinforcement. Show your child how to reframe the situation. Encourage open dialogue and talk through different ways he can respond in interactions. Model problemsolving. Acknowledge when your child could have tattled but didn’t, and praise him for the ways he did well.

Though the tattling stage can be exhausting for parents and caregivers, it’s perfectly normal!

If your child has a problem with tattling, try using these methods to guide him through it.

Kailyn Rhinehart writes from Warrensburg, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two small children.

CRAFTCORNER Materials needed: • White paper plates • Crayons or markers • Scissors • Pipe cleaners • Sunflower seeds • Tape • Paintbrush • Tape • Glue sticks (optional)

f

sunflower counting craft all is here, and there’s no better time to get crafty while working on some math! This cute craft encourages fine motor development and is easy to customize based on your child’s math skills.

Step one: Color paper plate on either side.

Step two: Write numbers around the outside of the plate. (We did 1–5, but feel free to adjust to your preference.)

Step three: Create the sunflower petals by making a cut on each side of the numbers (we cut about 1–1.5 inches toward the center).

For younger children, draw lines on the paper plate for them to follow as they cut.

Step four: Fold the extra petals back to create a 3D flower.

Step five: Make the flower stem by taping a piece of pipe cleaner to the plate.

Step six: Pour sunflower seeds onto a clean plate, including some extra for snacking. This is a great time to stop and chat about seeds.

Step seven: Count out enough sunflower seeds to match with the numbers on the petals. This is a great time to focus on counting, adding and subtraction.

Step eight: Optional: Once you’re done working on math, glue the sunflower seeds to the flower.

Step nine: Hang your sunflower as a piece of homemade fall décor.

Janelle Cumro-Sultzer lives in Manhattan, with her husband, three children (1, 3 and 5) and two senior dogs. Janelle is a homeschooling mom who enjoys writing in her spare time. Janelle loves to focus on learning through play and getting messy with crafts. kcparent.com november 2024

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PARKJAUNTS

Outdoor

ICE SKATING RINKS

November means outdoor ice-skating season in Kansas City!

Crown Center Ice Terrace 2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. The Ice Terrace opens for the 2024 season on Nov. 1, with free skating from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. on opening day. Enjoy public skating daily.

During the holiday season, the rink overlooks the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.

A Day of Shopping and Skating The Rink at Zona Rosa 8731 N. Stoddard Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

The Ice at Park Place 11549 Ash St., Leawood Along with ice-skating, enjoy shopping from local and national retailers and dining at an eclectic mix of restaurant options.

Pickleball and Skating Chicken N Pickle Overland Park 5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park Chicken N Pickle offers affordable fun on their Ice Pond all season long. Check their calendar for family skates, character skates and holiday skate parties. Chicken N Pickle is also the place to gather on game day. Check out their Sunday Brunch Buffet & Singo, where parents can watch the game, kids can play in the game yard and everyone can enjoy brunch and bingo.

Two Friendly Neighborhood Hangouts The Rink 214 S. Washington St., Raymore, Mo.

Summit Ice 120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit Raymore’s small outdoor rink is a fun neighborhood gathering space with affordable skate rentals and season passes. Summit Ice is another great hangout offering skating lessons, pond hockey, curling and broomball in addition to ice-skating.

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Crown Center Ice Terrace

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READING THAT SUPPORTS ELECTION DAY Compiled by Lauri Clapper

THE WALK (A STROLL TO THE POLL)

by Winsome Bingham and illustrated by E.B. Lewis (PICTURE BOOK) From award-winning creators Winsome Bingham and E.B. Lewis, The Walk (A Stroll to the Poll) is a powerful, full-color picture book story celebrating a journey crucial to our democracy: the walk to vote. School Library Journal gave it a STARRED review, saying its “gorgeous writing paired with luminous art and combined with an impactful message make this work an essential purchase.”

SOFIA VALDEZ AND THE VANISHING VOTE

by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts (CHAPTER BOOK) Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote is fourth in a unique and exciting series of Questioneers chapter books for children, parents and teachers who want to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fun. “A winning (and timely) addition to the series; sure to delight existing fans and attract new ones as well.” —School Library Journal BALLOTS FOR BELVA

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrated by Courtney A. Martin (PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY) In 1884, when men were the only people allowed to vote in national elections, Belva Lockwood took a bold but legal step: She ran for president! Though her campaign was difficult, Belva never wavered in her commitment to equality, earning the respect of many fellow citizens.

A little-known but richly deserving American historical figure, Belva is an inspiration for modern-day readers.

THE CAMPAIGN

by Leila Sales and illustrated by Kim Balacuit (MIDDLE GRADE) Veep meets Parks and Recreation in Leila Sales’s The Campaign, a hilarious middle-grade political comedy about a 12-year-old who runs her babysitter’s campaign for mayor— featuring black-and-white illustrations by Kim Balacuit. “A highly readable, enjoyable, nonpartisan story meant to encourage civic activism amongst middle schoolers.”

—School Library Journal SOFIA VALDEZ, FUTURE PREZ

by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts (PICTURE BOOK) From Andrea Beaty and David Roberts, the bestselling creators of Iggy Peck, Architect; Rosie Revere, Engineer; and Ada Twist, Scientist—Sofia Valdez, Future Prez is a picture book story about a community leader who stands up for what she believes in! “This rhyming romp reminds readers that one young person can make a difference.” —Kirkus Reviews

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Two Favorite Soup Spots

A

warm bowl of soup on a cold day is a perfect winter meal! Treat your family to a delicious steaming bowl from Kansas City’s own eateries where local chefs know how to create tasty, filling and nutritious soups for every palate! Tip: Most restaurants change their soup offerings frequently with new choices throughout the week.

HAPPY GILLIS 549 Gillis St., Kansas City, Mo., 816.471.3663, HappyGillis.com Happy Gillis, located in Old Columbus Park, was founded by Todd Schulte, who started his culinary career in the soup business. His expertise at creating delicious recipes with healthy, all-natural ingredients makes Happy Gillis an absolute must on a KC soup tour.

Most popular soups: White bean soup and tomato soup are both super popular among reviewers. Truly, though, at Happy Gillis, where the soup changes seasonally, you can’t go wrong with any choice!

Great for kids because: Happy Gillis is committed to using all-natural, healthy ingredients, and they offer a super fun vintage atmosphere with white paper and crayons on the tables.

BEST REGARDS BAKERY & CAFE 6759 W. 119th St., Overland Park, 913.782.1505, MakeThemSmile.com At Best Regards Bakery & Cafe, everything is made from scratch.

In addition to great soups, the grilled cheese is something that has everyone talking.

Most popular soups: It’s hard to choose a favorite, but the San Marzano tomato basil soup and oven roasted potato soup are two that top the list.

Great for kids because: BRB&C uses healthy ingredients and the finest products they can find. They use no corn syrup, no preservatives, no artificial flavors and as little salt and sugar as possible.

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LIFE SKILLS EVERY CHILD NEEDS “Life Skills Every Child Needs” is a seven-part series to help you raise happy and successful kids. Based on the book Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky, the series condenses years of research in children’s brain development and learning for your action as a parent or caregiver. Find more profoundly helpful resources at MindInTheMaking.org.

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Happy and Successful Kids Life Skill 3:

C

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

ommunication is a key skill for kids of all ages. But communicating is more than just understanding speech and being able to read and write. It’s a broader term that includes the skills of determining our intended message, then knowing how to convey it. On the receiving end, it’s all about understanding the intent of the message given. It’s a crucial skill in all social and work environments and is sometimes lacking in our highly technical world.

Preschool and other learning environments such as your own home are great places to work on communication skills. Children learn to listen, respond, speak their mind and begin to write their ideas on paper.

Communication is about understanding, not drill and practice. It’s much better for a child to write a pretend sentence with a few correct sounds or letters than to copy a perfect sentence. Meaning is at the heart of communication.

From the start, babies listen to voices and pay attention to facial expressions that accompany sounds. They detect emotional responses such as fear or calmness. They note tone of voice and begin to understand repeated words such as mama, dada, yes, no, etc. They link certain gestures to word meanings, such as a waving motions with the words “bye-bye.”

By the age of two, children are learning new words and their meanings at an amazing pace, and many are speaking in short sentences. The miracle of communication begins at birth and grows “like a weed” until language is mastered. However, without support, children may not reach their communication potential. Parents can support this process in a number of ways:

How to Promote Communication Skills Build a literate home. Reading, writing and speaking skills should be a normal part of everyday family life.

• Read aloud to children daily. Reading to children is hands-down the best activity you can do to build their language skills.

The earlier you read to your children, the sooner they will learn print concepts such as pages go left to right, words track from top to bottom and there is a beginning and end to a story. These concepts are necessary to comprehend before a child can focus on individual letters, sounds and words to begin the reading process. Reading aloud is also the platform for vocabulary-building and analyzing a storyline (e.g., “Why did Goldilocks go into the three bears’ home?”).

• Encourage children to talk about their ideas. Ask questions to extend their thinking and reply with words to enrich their vocabularies. Encourage discussion that goes beyond the here and now, such as predictions (“What might happen next?”) or reflections (“Why do you think that happened?”).

• Go to the library or buy books as gifts to encourage a love of language and literature. Capitalize on your child’s interests. Extend reading sessions to include art or imaginative play that expresses the feelings, dialogue, storyline or character development in the books.

• Talk with your children—a lot.

Talk about what you’re seeing and doing.

Elaborate on the words your children say.

If they say “car,” you can reply, “You see a car. What color is the car?” Build vocabulary by asking older kids to Google words they don’t know. Ask them to write about their thoughts and observations. Some children like to keep journals to express their ideas.

• Play games with your child. Beginning with peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, then progressing to rhyming games, guessing words that begin with a certain letter, clapping syllables and reciting tongue twisters.

• Encourage storytelling activities. Try giving your child prompts like, “Tell me the story of Goldilocks,” or, “Can you make up a story about a teddy bear?”

• Encourage writing. Keep a supply of paper, envelopes, stickers, crayons, markers, pencils—anything to foster writing skills.

Soon squiggles will become pictures which will then become words and illustrations.

• Choose books that reflect your child’s current interests. Engage with them in discussions about their favorite topics. When children are excited, their enthusiasm will stimulate increased communication and understanding. They’ll ask questions and pursue answers. They’ll want to draw or write about the topic.

Language development is at the heart of clear communication. It’s a process that begins with a baby’s first smile and grows over time until our children are able to share their deepest thoughts and dreams. Kids build effective communication skills over time, in environments that support their growth in expressing their thoughts, feelings and hopes for the future. Language skills expand a child’s learning by allowing giveand-take exchanges with others. The goal is to facilitate the flow of communication and open the doors to learning about anything and everything in the world.

Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and reading specialist. She is the author of Homegrown Readers and Homegrown Family Fun. She specializes in articles on education, family life and parenting. Find Jan at JanPierce.net kcparent.com november 2024

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Five Ways to Support a Friend WHEN THE HOLIDAYS AREN’T SO HAPPY

F

or many people, the holiday season is filled with joy, celebrations and gatherings. For others, however, circumstances like the loss of a family member, financial constraint or divorce can make this an especially difficult time. Memories of past holidays or the absence of a cherished person can amplify feelings of loneliness and sorrow. If you have a friend who is grieving this holiday season, you might wonder how you can best support him. Offering meaningful support is not always easy, but your compassion and understanding can make a world of difference.

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Acknowledge loss and grief It’s tempting to avoid difficult subjects, but it’s important to acknowledge your friend’s feelings. Ignoring the circumstances she’s walking through will only make her feel more isolated.

A simple, heartfelt acknowledgement such as, “I know the holidays can be really hard, and I’m here for you,” can be comforting. Whether she’s sad, angry or experiences moments of joy, let your friend know it’s okay to feel the way she does. Simply sending her a card or texting her when she comes to mind can mean a lot.

Grief is personal, and there’s no one right way to experience it. While some days might be easier than others, certain triggers like holiday traditions or favorite songs may suddenly intensify the pain. Respect her feelings and refrain from giving advice like, “Be strong,” or, “Stay positive.” Instead, offer an empathetic ear and validate her emotions without giving advice.

Be patient and understanding Grief during the holidays can be unpredictable. One day your friend may want to engage in holiday activities, while another day he may prefer not to participate.

Be patient with him as he navigates these emotional ups and downs. Avoid pressuring him into participating in traditions or events if he doesn’t feel ready.

Respecting his boundaries and giving him the space to process his grief at his own pace is key. If he chooses not to attend a holiday party or cancels plans at the last minute, don’t take it personally. Reassure him that it’s okay to opt out of festivities if he’s not up for them and that his well-being is what matters most to you.

Offer specific help “Let me know if you need anything” is a well-meaning expression, but it often goes unanswered. Instead, offer specific ways you can help. Offer to cook a meal, bring groceries over, run a holiday errand, wrap gifts or go out for coffee with your friend.

Practical support can lift a heavy burden off her shoulders, especially when there are additional holiday stressors like shopping,

Vanessa Font, L.AC. POSTPARTUM DOULA

decorating or preparing meals. Even small gestures like sending a thoughtful message or delivering her favorite comfort food can show her she isn’t alone.

Be there after the holidays and beyond While the holiday season may intensify feelings of grief, it’s important to remember that grief doesn’t disappear when the decorations come down. Continue to check in with your friend after the holidays have passed. Even as life begins to settle back into a regular routine for those around him, he may still need support. Send him a text or give him a call to see how he’s doing.

Continue offering your presence, whether through ongoing conversations about his grief or casual meetups that give him a break from the emotional weight he’s carrying.

Consistency in your support shows him that you truly care and that you are committed to being there for the long haul.

Supporting a grieving friend during the holidays can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to provide meaningful and compassionate care. Your continued presence during and after the holidays will be a powerful reminder to your friend that she’s not alone in her grief.

WHAT NOT TO DO • Avoid him while he is grieving • Brush off or minimize her feelings • Tell him how to feel or what to do • Expect her to act “happy” or “normal” • Take it personally if he does not attend a gathering

Sarah Lyons is a wife and mother of six children living in Olathe.

You’re an expert on your kids.

We’re experts on mental health.

Camber has the resources you need to ensure your kids live balanced, healthy and resilient lives.

Visit cambermentalhealth.org/resources for practical tips, info about common mental health disorders and so much more from our mental health experts.

Nighttime baby and mama care. You’ll sleep all night long while I take care of everything.

I have cared for 100’s of babies and high profile clientele in the Bay Area and LA.

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Camber can help.

(913) 890–7468 www.cambermentalhealth.org kcparent.com november 2024

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UID G N FU

E

35 pair & share 36 science of gratitude 38 build a habit of gratitude 40 best pies in kansas city 41 pumpkin pie dip 42 operation christmas child 44 holiday savvy 46 gift ideas 49 november calendar 50 best holiday lights

PAIR &SHARE

Thanksgiving Book & Snack Pairing Pumpkin Jack

by Will Hubbell

T

his charming picture book follows the life cycle of a pumpkin from a decoration by the front door to a decaying pumpkin, eventually transforming into new life as a sprouting pumpkin plant.

It gives all the fall feels—crunching leaves, crisp air – and takes you into the next seasons as we learn what happens to the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Hummus Parents will need to help with the food processor, but kids can help add everything to the bowl.

Serve this pumpkin hummus with crackers and veggies, and include a piece of cucumber at the top of your serving bowl to make a stem.

Ingredients 2 cans chickpeas, drained 1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin 2 T. tahini 2 cloves crushed garlic 1 t. kosher salt 1 1/2 T. lemon juice 1 t. ground cumin 1/4 c. olive oil 1/4 t. paprika

Directions Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. If mixture seems too thick, you can add more olive oil.

Natalie Mikles, a food writer and a library story time reader, loves to combine her two passions and write about good food and good books!

kcparent.com november 2024

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SCIENCE-BACKED BENEFITS OF PRACTICING

We are entering the busy holiday season, and while we may be bombarded with “Thankful” and “Grateful” décor and reminders at every turn, it’s for good reason!

According to Heart.org, “Research has shown that the practice of gratitude is associated with many positive effects in a person’s physical and mental health.

Expressing gratitude can improve sleep, mood and immunity, and can decrease depression, anxiety, chronic pain and disease.” These are amazing benefits, especially during the holiday season, which tends to bring extra stressors.

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FUN GUIDE Practicing gratitude is not only beneficial to our own health—it can change the atmosphere of our homes when our children follow suit. So how do we foster thankfulness in our families?

One simple way is to take turns sharing highs and lows from the day—our family began this practice at the dinner table when our kids were younger. Our highs are usually something we are thankful for. And while our lows aren’t necessarily things we’re thankful for, we can focus on being grateful that we have a loving family with whom we can share our disappointments. Though our family dinners are fewer and farther between these days due to all the kids’ activities, we still touch base every now and again or ask each other about our highs and lows during time spent in the car.

It’s especially powerful when parents model thankfulness. For example, if my husband thanks me for preparing a meal, or if I thank him for filling my van with gas, our kids are more likely to notice and be thankful too. Just the thought of my children being more appreciative on a daily basis makes me happy!

A seasonal family tradition that fosters gratitude is creating a thankful tree or a grateful pumpkin. When my kids were little, they helped me cut out a tree from brown craft paper, then we cut out different colored leaves from construction paper.

Each day, we wrote down something we were thankful for. Sometimes my kids were thankful for Elsa or Spider-Man, but other times they surprised me by giving thanks for food to eat or family time. Now that my older kids have moved past this family craft, we use a permanent marker to write things we’re grateful for on a pumpkin that we leave sitting out on the table. This may not be a favorite activity for teenagers, but it is a grounding tradition that they will remember. Even if they think they’re too cool to participate, it may prompt them to

practice gratitude in their thoughts. Keeping it more informal could help during a busy season of life—for instance, you can keep a chalkboard in the kitchen where family members and friends can jot something down in passing.

• What’s something you’re looking forward to in the future? (Examples: An upcoming concert or holiday.)

• What did you do for your body today? (Examples: Running super fast at recess, using their arms to hug a loved one, relieving some stress through a workout.)

Serving our communities both near and far is another great way to teach thankfulness. Jess Chavez, mother of three, says, “Gratitude is a constant discussion and practice in our house.

For us it’s a completely spiritual practice.

Gratitude and stress can’t exist in the same place. Gratitude ushers in joy so fully and helps us to appreciate what we have during hard times. One way that really helped our kids to gain a real understanding of how much they have to be grateful for was taking them on mission trip to build houses for the less fortunate in Mexico. It had a profound impact on them and really helped them understand how blessed they are and how the things that feel like ‘big deals’ to us are often not in the big picture. We also make it a priority to find time to serve others in need via various ministries. During the rare family dinner when we are all together, we often go around the table to say one thing that we are grateful for.”

Lastly, reflecting together before bedtime is a great way to reset before the next day. Simply counting off their blessings on their fingers is a great tool for kids to keep in their back pocket as they grow older.

As the saying goes, the past is history, the future is a mystery and today is a gift—that’s why it’s called the present!

Each day gives us another 24 hours to reset and refocus on what matters most in this one beautiful life we’ve been given.

• Did you do anything that you really enjoyed today? (Examples: Reading a good book, catching up on their favorite show, hanging out with a friend.)

Stephanie Loux is the mother of Layla (14), Mason (12) and Slade (9) and tries her best to teach thankfulness to her children.

Keeping journals or lists of things we are thankful for is a thoughtful way to spend a few minutes reflecting on the good in our lives rather than the bad or frustrating.

Keeping journals or lists of things we are thankful for is a thoughtful way to spend a few minutes reflecting on the good in our lives rather than the bad or frustrating. A new journal for this purpose might make a nice present this gift-giving season. Also, teaching our children how to write thank you notes for birthday gifts, graduation gifts, fundraising support and more goes a long way.

Reminding each other to look for the good in our days creates an overall happier home. If your children are being obstinate and can’t possibly think of anything they’re thankful for, you can prompt them with questions like these: • How did someone else help you today?

• What was something tasty you ate today?

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W

hen I look back through my life, the people who left the most indelible marks on me were very different from one another, yet they shared a common trait: they exhibited contentment, gratitude and joy. I challenge you to reflect on the people who have shaped you the most—no doubt they also share this trifecta of good character.

I’m convinced that these three attitudes are tied together for a good reason; contentment begets gratitude which begets joy. These qualities aren’t developed in a vacuum, but are pressure-cooked into hearts through our response to hardship, tough times and sticky situations. No doubt they’re the reward for choosing healthy responses to unhealthy situations. And like a muscle, they grow in definition with use and application.

As parents, most of us aim to have happy children. But happiness is fleeting, the race for it can be a fool’s errand, and like a shady salesman, it seldom delivers what it promises. Happiness is fool’s gold—pretty but worthless—compared to the treasure of gratitude. What kids really need is the fulfillment that comes from knowing that while life won’t always be easy, they can grow and become better people through navigating both the highs and the lows of life. Here are some simple ways to bolster a spirit of gratitude in your home this Thanksgiving and beyond.

Live Consistently

BUILD A

GRATITUDE

HABIT IN YOUR HOME

Psychologist John Delony says that our actions are a language. It’s not enough to tell our kids to appreciate what they have; they need to see gratitude modeled in their parents’ lives. Teaching our children gratitude is akin to teaching them a foreign language—don’t expect them to be fluent right out of the gate. Here are some simple ways to model gratitude: n Write thank you cards (it’s every bit

as good for the writer as it is for the recipient!). n Leave sticky notes around the house or

in your kids’ lunchboxes acknowledging their efforts and good character (“I saw how hard you studied for today’s math test. You’ve got this!”).

38 november 2024 kcparent.com

n Keep a gratitude journal and encourage

your children to do the same. n Tell them about lessons learned through

challenges. n When you experience good customer

service, leave a generous tip or fill out a corporate survey to show your appreciation. n Scrapbook through a service like Chatbooks,

which downloads photos from your phone to produce monthly photo books for you (going through them as a family helps remind us of good things in our past).

Articulate Clearly Our actions speak loud and clear, but it’s equally important to point out good and bad examples both in the real world and in media so that our kids develop discernment. One of my favorite low-pressure ways to teach life lessons is through reading aloud to my kids.

Not only is it a shared experience, it’s neutral ground. Stories connect us to characters as we root for the protagonist to beat the odds and scowl at the conniving villains. Upon

reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, our family adopted the catchphrase “Don’t be a Veruca Salt” to mean there’s nothing more disgusting than an entitled attitude that demands its own way (much like the deplorable character in the book displays).

In addition to fiction, biographies and memoirs about heroic people overcoming the odds inspire children to realize how much they’re capable of. As we seek positive examples for our kids, we must also filter out cultural voices that encourage comparison, whining, entitlement and a victim mentality.

Serve Selflessly Helping others feels good and gives us perspective. Even our little ones can join in. Here are some ways to show kindness together: n Clean up litter at a local park or nature

FUN GUIDE

a water bottle, non-perishable snacks or a gift card to a local fast-food restaurant). n Donate stuffed animals or old blankets to

an animal shelter. n Cook meals for family and friends

who are going through big life changes (moving, job loss, hospitalization, welcoming a new baby, etc.). n Deliver a plate of cookies to local

community service workers (firefighters, EMTs, police officers, etc.). n Make simple DIY Christmas gifts for

your neighbors (Pinterest options are endless!) and give your children the honor of helping to distribute them.

trail. n Build kindness bags to hand out from

your car to those who are down on their luck (items can include simple toiletries,

Lauren Greenlee is an Olathe boymom of four who relishes opportunities to grow in gratitude this Thanksgiving season.

Explore Oakhill, an independent private school in Northland Kansas City, where students thrive and potential unfolds. From Pretoddler (18-months) through Grade 12, our community empowers growth, values uniqueness, and inspires excellence in every student.

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Oakhill Day School will seek diversity in its student body and welcome enrollment by students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. It prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of any protected category under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), specifically, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation, gender or sex, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, ancestry, nationality, national origin, religion, color, mental or physical disability, age, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in Oakhill Day School’s educational programs or activities.

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/oakhilldayschool

kcparent.com november 2024

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THE BEST PIE IN KANSAS CITY Buttery, flaky pie crust and delicious filling—mmmm! The cold winter months are our favorite time to savor classic American pies! Be they chocolate, pecan, cherry or something a little more exotic, delicious pies just like Mom used to make (or maybe even better) are served up by masterful local bakeries.

The Upper Crust Pie Bakery (7943 Santa Fe, Overland Park, 913.642.2999, UpperCrustPieBakery.com) is owned and operated by sisters who know the art of a delicious made-from-scratch pie. Their shop specializes in buttery, flaky crusts and delicious flavors. Try Grandma’s apple pie with a hint of nutmeg, blackberry apple, pumpkin pie or French apple with a streusel crumb topping.

A City Market favorite, Bloom Baking Co. (15 E. 3rd St., Kansas City, Mo., 816.283.8437, BloomBakingCo.com) uses only the finest ingredients for their made-from-scratch baked goods— and you can taste the quality! They bake delicious pies, cakes and breads that are perfect for special occasions or a delicious weekday treat.

A Kansas City tradition for more than 35 years, Tippin’s (TippinsPies.com) won the hearts of pie lovers across the metro. The restaurant chain closed in 2004, but Balls Foods purchased the company and sells pies using the original recipes at grocery stores across the metro. Kansas Citians still can enjoy their favorite Tippin’s pies by ordering online or by clicking “Pie Finder” on their website to find grocery store retailers. Traditional holiday flavors, including pumpkin and pecan, are always popular, but we’re partial to the French silk and key lime pies.

Nothing is quite as satisfying as a delicious homemade potpie on a cold winter’s day, and Potpie in Westport (904 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Mo., 816.561.2702, KCPotpie.com) lives up to the name. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, they sell the tastiest potpie in town. Choose from beef, chicken or vegetable varieties.

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TASTYTREATS FUN GUIDE

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Pumpkin Pie Dip raving a sweet, fall-worthy recipe? Try this pumpkin pie dip. Ready in just 10 minutes, this dip has all the flavors you love about the staple pie—no pie crust needed.

Yields: 6 servings

Directions

Prep Time: 10 mins

1. In a stand mixer, beat heavy cream and vanilla pudding mix until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.

Total Time: 10 mins

Ingredients • 2 c. heavy cream • 1 (3.4-oz.) box instant vanilla pudding mix • 1/2 c. canned pumpkin • 2 t. pumpkin pie spice • 3 t. cinnamon • Ginger snaps, graham crackers or vanilla wafers for serving

2. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and stir to combine, then chill if desired. Serve with ginger snaps, graham crackers or vanilla wafers.

How to make the best pumpkin pie dip Think about what you would want a perfect pumpkin pie like dip to be. If you love the flavor of Cool Whip, then feel free to replace the heavy cream. If you’re looking for a more decadent dip, then cream cheese would be a great addition. You could also fold the whipped cream into softened cream cheese to make it nice and fluffy. Keep things a little less “cream” heavy and place in whole fat Greek yogurt. Add in some cinnamon if you want to up the warm and cozy spiced vibes. This dip is extremely versatile, so feel free to experiment with it and get creative!

Storage If you have any leftovers, refrigerate the dip in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Because there is whipped cream in this recipe, it might not stand up great in the freezer, so we don’t recommend freezing.

Recipe courtesy of Delish.com kcparent.com november 2024

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Fernanda

M

FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

any families in La Barra de Coyuca, a small town west of Acapulco, Mexico, lost practically everything they owned to Hurricane Otis this past year. Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief teams responded to this region in partnership with area churches, including several from Mexico City, who tarped damaged roofs and provided access to clean water. Numerous local congregations have partnered with Operation Christmas Child for years, putting them in a unique position to offer the hope of Jesus Christ to suffering families.

A group of children from La Barra de Coyuca heard the Gospel and received shoebox gifts at a gymnasium. Its metal roof lay twisted on the ground from the powerful storm. A girl named Litsea, 11, who had prayed to receive Christ, learned to follow Him through The Greatest Journey discipleship lessons attended by dozens of the children.

In another town outside of Acapulco, the Category 5 hurricane had peeled away Fernanda’s metal roof. Mud filled her one-room home and buried what she and her mother owned, including the 10-yearold’s cherished notebooks and crayons. The shoebox gift Fernanda received contained toys, socks, and most meaningful to her— notebooks, colored paper, crayons, and pencils.

“I was excited because I wanted to draw many things, and a picture of how God took care of us during the storm,” she said.

“Yes, they are small things,” said Pastor Pedro Victorino, an Operation Christmas Child ministry partner, about shoebox items like these. “But to a child who has lost everything, they are a way of introducing them to the love of Jesus Christ.”

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HOW TO PACK A SHOEBOX GIFT

FUN FULL

PERSONALIZED!

Gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are delivered together with the Good News of Jesus Christ as expressions of God’s immense love for a child. So, be sure to make them …

FUN: Include a quality “wow” item (and other new toys) to delight the child. FULL: Add school supplies and personal care items to fill empty spaces. PERSONALIZED: Make sure every shoebox is unique and covered in prayer. Prayerfully packed shoebox gifts lead to evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of believers and churches around the world.

A donation of $10 per shoebox is critical to help cover collecting, processing, shipping, and evangelism training and materials. Give online through Follow Your Box and discover the destination of your gift.

Find packing tips and ways to give:

For local drop-off “Shoebox gifts are information refer to: like snowflakes— noLenexaBaptist.com two are alike!”

ColonialKC.org — Franklin Graham Resurrection.Church President, Samaritan’s Purse

VIEW SOLICITATION DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR SAMARITAN’S PURSE ONLINE AT SAMARITANSPURSE.ORG/DISCLOSURE. Operation Christmas Child® is a project of Samaritan’s Purse®.

Franklin Graham, President | 1-800-353-5949 | samaritanspurse.org © 2024 Samaritan’s Purse. All rights reserved.

08-31-987

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HOLIDAY SAVVY

SURVIVING WITH FINANCES INTACT

T

he holiday season brings joy, family time and lots of gifts, but also an unspoken stressor: money. A 2024 Sleepopolis study of 2,000 participants found that 8 in 10 Americans report increased stress during the holiday season, and 48% of Americans say money is their biggest stressor over the holidays. This could be because 1 in 5 people anticipate spending over $1,000 this holiday season.

Without a clear budgeting strategy, you could find yourself set back financially

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in the new year. Here are a few tips for making it to January without going off the rails with your spending.

Set a Holiday Budget Set a clear budget for your holiday spending. Decide how much you would like to spend on gifts for each family member. Make sure you include other holiday expenses such as food, gift wrapping, decorations, family entertainment and travel.

Cut Spending Try cutting your spending as much as you can. Reach out to your family and see if you can forgo exchanging gifts this year, lower the spending budget or draw names instead of purchasing for everyone. Spend less on gifts for your coworkers, friends, teachers and delivery drivers. To cut back on your food bills, ask to do a potluck-style meal for your holidays gatherings. Save on postage by sending digital holiday cards.

FUN GUIDE

I’m guilty of this—every year, the excitement of the holiday sales gets to me. I go to the store and stock up on wrapping paper, holiday decor and holiday apparel. In reality, I have tons of wrapping paper left from the year before, and I definitely don’t need more holiday decorations or Christmas sweaters.

you’re looking to buy. Do your best to shop sales. You can save hundreds just by shopping during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Prime Days. There are also many budget influencers on social media who can help you track down the best deals for the season’s must-buy items.

Stick to Your Shopping List It can be easy to make impulse purchases while you’re shopping, but do your best to stick to your shopping list. I find when I make an impulse gift purchase for one of my daughters, I end up having to make a purchase for my other daughter so I spend the same amount on both. It can be a slippery slope.

Sinking Funds Prepare for the upcoming expenses by setting up sinking funds. Once you have your budget, divide the amount you need for the holidays by the number of paychecks you have left till then. This is the amount you’ll need to save from each paycheck. When the new year begins, go ahead and start a sinking fund for the next holiday season. You will have the entire year to save up.

Research Before making purchases, do your research! The internet makes it so easy to look up the best prices for items

Give Gifts That Pay Off Instead of purchasing toys that your kids don’t need, think about giving gifts that will save you money in the long run.

Some ideas include memberships or season passes to the zoo, Science City or Worlds of Fun. These will translate into many free trips in the upcoming year.

Get Creative Some of the most heartfelt gifts are handmade and cost very little. If you have a talent, use it! Maybe you’re an artist, a crafter or you’re great at woodworking. Use your skills to create one-of-a-kind gifts. Also, think of things you and your children can make

together. Perhaps they can make baked goods for their teachers or write them letters of appreciation. Usually these items mean much more than a gift card or store-bought present.

Use Cash Leave your credit cards at home and use cold hard cash for your purchases.

You’re less likely to add extra items to your shopping cart when you have a set amount of cash to spend. With your credit cards at home, you won’t be able to add those impulse buys.

Don’t Splurge on Yourself According to a 2023 Shopify survey, 64% of Americans are either likely or certain to use holiday sales to shop for themselves. I’m guilty of this—every year, the excitement of the holiday sales gets to me. I go to the store and stock up on wrapping paper, holiday décor and holiday apparel. In reality, I have tons of wrapping paper left from the year before, and I definitely don’t need more holiday decorations or Christmas sweaters. The temptation can be a struggle, but try not to blow your budget on yourself.

Regan Lyons is a girl mom and freelance writer. She lives with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley, 10, and Ensley, 4, in St. Joseph. kcparent.com november 2024

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the

BEST GIF TS for the holidays

National Geographic Clay Dinosaur Modeling Kit Kids can design colorful figurines by shaping 5 different colors of clay over the 5 dino skeletons (T. Rex, stegosaurus, triceratops, dimetrodon and brachiosaurus). $16.99, ages 4+, Amazon.com

BY ELENA EPSTEIN DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARENTING PRODUCT AWARDS

For more product reviews, visit NAPPAAwards.com.

BFF by Cry Babies The collectible fashion dolls from Cry Babies. Six characters that come dressed in trendy outfits and strike various poses. Unbox the doll and discover seven surprise accessories. $19.99, ages 5-8, Amazon.com

BrainBolt Genius The all-new, mind-melting memory game. Watch the lights flash across the 21 buttons and use your memory to recreate the pattern without missing a beat. Has five different levels and head-tohead and solo modes. $23.99, ages 7+, Amazon.com

Chronicles of Light: Darkness Falls (Disney Edition) Players work together to form dynamic alliances of Disney and Pixar heroines, including Moana (Moana), Violet (The Incredibles), Maid Marian (Robin Hood) and Belle (Beauty and the Beast). $29.99, ages 8+, Target.com

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Flipslide A fast-moving matching electronic handheld game. Can you master the moves to beat the blocks? Flip to find the color and slide to match the lights.

Challenge yourself or play with friends. $19.99, ages 4+, MooseToys.com

Critter Creator Fossil Kit Build, paint and fossilize 10 different little critters with airdry clay. The kit includes molds to create dragonflies, spiders, hornets, scorpions, ladybugs and more. $24.99, ages 7+, Crayola.com

Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Set An all-new, magical, moving, squishable sand space. Open the case that doubles as a storage container and discover six tools, a flat play space, a squish zone and 1 pound of Kinetic Sand in three colors. Layer, load and squish! $19.99, ages 5+, Target.com

Mumaloo Craft Boxes Prepackaged, creative arts and crafts boxes that come with all the necessary materials and easy-to-follow instructions. Great for the whole family to take a break from screens. $29.99, ages 3+, Mumaloo.com

Switcheroo Coding Crew Cat Dig N’ Build Dirt Play Set Little builders can create their own rugged landscapes and construction zones. Equipped with vehicles, premium dirt compound, a crane, molds, accessories and an easy cleanup tray. $14.99, ages 3+, CatToysOfficial.com

Embark on challenge-solving rescue missions using a codable robot with three shells that transform into a police car, fire truck and construction vehicle. Race around the town’s puzzlepiece board to learn coding concepts, logic, problem-solving and critical thinking. $59.99, ages 4+, Amazon.com

Craft-tastic Nature – Make a Bug Hotel

Cool Maker Stitch ’N Style Fashion Studio An all-in-one fashion studio that includes an innovative cartridge thread system and automatic sewing sensors to make sewing safe and easy. Customize your designs with unique prints that are magically applied with water. $34.99, ages 8+, SpinMaster.com

Give bugs and insects a place to rest and nest. Easily snap the wooden panels together and personalize it with fun waterproof hotel-themed stickers. Fill it with leaves, stickers, flowers and other found objects from nature. Includes an identification guide booklet. $19.99, ages 4+, PlayMonster.com

TMNT Turtle Party Cruiser A vintage “Woodie”-style vehicle equipped with longboards on top, featuring the signature colors of your favorite turtles. Press down on each longboard to see Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael pop out of the car. Each turtle also delivers a unique catchphrase. $19.99, ages 6+, TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles.Funrise.com kcparent.com november 2024

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Pickleball Blast Super Blanky A wearable blanket that doubles as a superhero cape. Available in four designs: T-Rex, Starpow, Zapzing and Fairybloom. Each includes a coordinating mask, blending warmth with imaginative play. Ideal for naptime, cozy reading or dress-up. $39.99, ages 3+, Dreamighty.com

A board-game-sized tabletop court that uses thumbaction paddles to send the pickle-shaped game piece soaring. Can you smash your opponents by flipping the pickle lids at the other end of the court? $19.99, ages 6+, MooseToys.com

Koosh Flix Stix Plays like lacrosse—easy to flick, catch and hard to put down.

Perfect for hours of outdoor fun. Families can test their skills and go head-to-head. Each set comes with two Flix Stix and one Koosh Ball. $24.99, ages 6+, PlayMonster.com

LeapFrog LeapPods Max Beyond listening to music, hours of included activities take kids on an audio adventure. Includes a 14-page Adventure Passport for engaging soundscapes and animals sounds with detailed illustrations.

Wirelessly connect to your own devices to listen to favorite music, podcasts and more. $49.99, ages 4+, LeapFrog.com

Letter Tracing Sensory Pad Learn how to form lowercase and uppercase letters with this multisensory pad. Filled with a thick, movable gel, this is a great tool for kids to practice letter formation while strengthening their fine motor skills. $19.99, ages 2+, Hand2Mind.com

Dinosaur Railway Adventure Set Navigate a wooden train through glow-in-the-dark bones, volcanoes and waterways.

Build and steer through a dinosaur’s skull, climb bridges and brave a dark tunnel to avoid an erupting volcano. Set includes dinosaurs, trees, bridges and more. $99.99, ages 3+, Toys.Hape.com

Pluzzles The more you collect, the more you connect! Made of super soft and squishy 3D stuffing with corduroy accents, each lovable character is finished with pellet beads in the bottom “legs” and can be connected with other plushies in this unique line. Starting at $5, ages 3+, YooniqueToys.com

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Celebrate November KC Style

FUN GUIDE

Nov. 3: El Dia de los Muertos Celebration The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art hosts an annual Day of the Dead Celebration on Nov. 3 commemorating the rich and beautiful Mexican culture, including an altar installation that’s a tribute to loved ones who have passed away, hands-on art activities, music and authentic Mexican food.

Nov. 6: Saxophone Day Charlie “Bird” Parker is one of the most famous and celebrated jazz saxophonists of all time, and the Kansas City legend is commemorated with a statue in the 18th & Vine Jazz District. The statue was pieced together rather than cast and features a green patina and inscription stating, “Bird Lives.”

Nov. 11: Veterans Day The National World War I Museum and Memorial (TheWorldWar.org) will offer free admission for active duty military/veterans and half-price admission for the general public all weekend (Nov. 8-11). The museum will host family-friendly activities all weekend too.

Nov. 17: Homemade Bread Day No time to bake your own bread but still want to enjoy the deliciousness? Support Kansas City’s own Farm to Market Bread Co. The company is known for making allnatural, hand-formed, hearth-baked bread delivered fresh to local grocery stores and restaurants daily.

Nov. 29: Black Friday Most Americans have a love-hate relationship with our annual shopping holiday. For great local shopping, our favorite Black Friday destination is Legends Outlets, which offers shopping specials, giveaways and events throughout the day.

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Kansas City’s Best Christmas Lights

K

ansas City sparkles in holiday splendor with magnificent displays across the metro! These are our top picks for the best Christmas lights in KC! Most displays operate from Thanksgiving through Christmas, from sunset

(5:30) to 10:00. However, there are a few exceptions. Check websites to verify times.

Winter Magic Holiday Light Experience (Northland) New in 2024, you can enjoy one carload for one ticket at a brand-new Northland location. Two beloved holiday light traditions have merged into one Mega Holiday Light Spectacular to create the most dazzling and unforgettable holiday light display in town. WinterMagicKC.com

Luminary Walk (Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens) Enjoy illuminated garden paths, gnome and fairy villages, live music, and photos with Santa, perfect for a family luminary walk. On alternate nights, see the Electric Glow, a limited electric lights-only version with low crowds, perfect for low-sensory needs and a quick, peaceful walk through of the glowing gardens and gnome houses.

ArtsAndRec-OP.org/Arboretum/Luminary-Walk

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GloWild: Legends and Lore (Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium) The popular GloWild lantern festival returns with a brand-new theme and displays. Now in its third year, this event features two loops: an adventure loop and a fantasy loop.

Santa will greet guests in his North Pole Village, which features holiday-themed lanterns and activities. Guests will want to visit multiple times to experience all that GloWild has to offer!

KansasCityZoo.org

Holiday Reflections (Union Station) Nov. 22 – Jan.1, experience breathtaking scenes and endless photo ops as this Kansas City icon comes to light for the holidays. Find dozens of new scenic elements and nearly 40,000 square feet of lights. Details, tickets and schedule at UnionStation.org/Holidays.

FUN GUIDE

Mayor’s Christmas Tree (Crown Center) The 100-foot-tall tree is adorned with 7,200 lights. You can also visit Legoland and Sea Life during the day, enjoy Crown Center’s shopping and dining options, catch a show at The Coterie and take a spin at the Ice Terrace this Christmas season. CrownCenter.com

Plaza Holiday Lights (Country Club Plaza) Take in the

Legendary Christmas (Legends Outlets Kansas City)

of the season with the farmstead’s 38-minute, musicsynchronized show. OPKansas.org

Synchronized to music and displayed on a 45-foot-tall Christmas tree, this unique light show was created by a world-renowned, technology-driven holiday lights team. LegendsShopping.com

Festival of Lights (Powell Gardens) Explore more than 20 miles of lights that turn the botanical garden into a winter wonderland. Encounter immersive, festive installations that showcase the gardens’ exceptional architecture and landscapes.

PowellGardens.org

Jingle! (Legends Field) Glide around the twisting ice-skating trail, feel the rush of snow tubing on real snow and enjoy wandering with your friends and family through a dazzling holiday light maze! Find the perfect gift for that special someone amongst the featured local artists and makers.

JingleHoliday.com/KansasCity

Christmas in the Park (Longview Lake Park) With more than 500,000 lights, 175 animated figures and splashes of Christmas color, this enchanting drive-through winter wonderland will delight the entire family. MakeYourDayHere.com

80+ miles of lights on display from Thanksgiving to midJanuary. CountryClubPlaza.com

Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane (Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead) Experience the enchantment

Marriott Light Display (Downtown Marriott) The 20-story hotel provides an animated display of 30,000 bulbs and 16.7 million colors featuring your favorite holiday characters.

ALTA Sciences Animated Lights (Overland Park) The display of 175,000 LED lights is beautifully choreographed to music for an animated light show your children will love!

ParticipantsKC.AltaSciences.com

Sar-Ko-Aglow (Sar-Ko-Trails Park) Take a nighttime stroll around Rose’s Pond to view the beautiful annual lights display. Miles of light strands and thousands of colorful bulbs brighten this favorite park each winter. Lenexa.com

Stagecoach Park Lights (Olathe) The Hometown Holidays light show features 41,000 lights and more than 16 million color combinations. OlatheKS.gov Gardner’s Christmas in the Park (Cornerstone Park)

Magic Tree (Lee’s Summit) This tree is lit with more than 12,000 LED lights in every color of the rainbow! LSMagicTree.com

Thousands of beautiful lights illuminate Cornerstone Park in Gardner’s 33rd annual display. GardnerKansas.gov

kcparent.com november 2024

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november

CALENDAR

No part of this calendar may be reproduced in print or online format.

THE KCPARENT.COM CALENDAR FEATURES OVER 1,000 EVENTS EACH MONTH!

Holiday Reflections at Union Station Photograph by Roy Inman

visit

reminisce

illuminate

immerse

watch

Feel the holiday spirit of Holiday Reflections with brilliant sights and sounds as only Kansas City’s historic home can deliver from Nov. 22 – Jan. 1.

Join Dolly Levi, a charming matchmaker, as she sets out to find a husband for the grumpy millionaire in Hello Dolly thru Nov. 9.

Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premier holiday light show at Winter Magic thru Jan. 5.

Enjoy the first-ever Hallmark Christmas Experience—a free, immersive experience with the charm of a Hallmark movie from Nov. 29 – Dec. 22.

Coterie brings Finding Nemo (Nov. 6–Dec. 30) as this beloved 2003 Pixar movie comes to the live stage.

UnionStation.org

CultureHouse.com

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WinterMagicKC.com

CrownCenter.com

TheCoterie.org

1 Friday Holiday Fine Art & Craft Show thru Nov. 2, John Knox Pavilion. Enjoy the talents of 90+ artists of homemade art and crafts.

IBDPromotions.com Mistletoe Madness thru Nov. 2, Gamber Community Center. Two-day free shopping event. CityofLS.net Goodnight Moon thru Nov. 2, Theatre for Young America. A charming musical that brings the beloved bedtime story to life. TYA.org Electric Poe thru Nov. 3, Union Cemetery Park.

R.H. Wilhoit will once again captivate audiences as the master of the macabre. TheCoterie.org Puffs thru Nov. 3, Avila College Goppert Theater. The story of the Puffs ... who just happened to be at a certain wizarding school too. LeawoodStageCo.org American Royal World Series of Barbecue thru Nov. 3, Kansas Speedway. Savor the world’s largest barbecue competition.

AmericanRoyal.com/BBQ

Opening Day Ice Terrace 6:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Join the excitement of the season at the Ice Terrace with FREE skating and hot chocolate from 6-9 am. CrownCenter.com

Squishmallow Party 10:30, Blue Valley Rec. Enjoy this squish-tastic celebration where kids can choose a mini Squishmallow to adopt. Preregister. BlueValleyRec.org

Jurassic Quest thru Nov. 3, OP Convention Center. See realistic scenes, 80 life-size dinosaurs and lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. VisitOverlandPark.com

A Turkey for Thanksgiving 10:30, Ceramic Cafe.

Read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item and finish with a snack. CeramicCafeKC.com

Dino-Mite Dino Life 9:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn about dinosaur anatomy, paleontology, fossilization and extinction. NatureSanctuary.com Storytime for Families 9:30, North Oak Library.

Hear stories, sing songs, join in movement activities and create memories together.

MyMCPL.org Potion Kitchen Experience 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Lego Monsters take over and throw a Monster Party you don’t want to miss! LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com Arrival of Mayor’s Christmas Tree 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Watch the 100-foottall tree placed on its stand to usher in the holiday season. CrownCenter.com

Homeschool Jump 1:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park Lenexa & Overland Park. Get your PE credits or just take a break. UrbanAirLenexa.com & UrbanAirOP.com Critter Feeding 2:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Captive amphibians, fish and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday.

MDC.MO.gov Club SciKidz Camp Jurassic 4:30, IDEA Space.

Kids learn about a variety of dinosaurs, rocks, minerals and fossils. IdeaSpaceKC.org Crafternoon for Kids 4:30, Indian Creek Library.

Get creative with a fun after-school craft activity.

Pre-register. OlatheLibary.org Family Fun Night 5:00, Powell Community Center. Enjoy this FREE family fun night with our indoor playground, craft room and swimming.

MissionKS.org

create here. thrive everywhere.

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Winter Magic Nightly Nov. 1 – Jan. 5, North Kansas City. Experience the enchantment of drive-thru holiday lights with a car full of your favorite people. WinterMagicKC.com

Cub Scout Night at the Zoo 6:00, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Explore the Zoo after sunset with night hikes, s’mores and sleeping. PreRegister. KansasCityZoo.org 1860s Health & Beauty Workshop 7:00, Mahaffie. Discover all of the 1860s tricks to improve a woman’s health and beauty. Preregister. Mahaffie.org

2 Saturday KC Local Holiday Market 9:00, Thompson Barn.

‘Tis the Season for this free shopping event with 55+ local handmade vendors and giveaway raffles. KCLocalCraftFair.com Free Kids’ Project 9:00, Home Depot Locations.

Free in-person kids’ workshops. This month, make a pumpkin tic-tac-toe game. HomeDepot.com Cub & Scouts BSA Day at the Zoo 9:30, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Scouts in uniform get FREE admission and parent receives $3 off admission.

KansasCityZoo.org

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Pollination Investigation 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Love pollinators? See the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit “Pollination Investigation.” OPKansas.org Little Acorns 10:00, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. Registration required. Join naturalists in making hands-on nature projects.

MDC.MO.gov KS Chocolate Festival 10:00, Downtown Topeka. Bring friends and family for a chocolatefilled adventure. TopekaChocolate.com Hike with a Naturalist 10:30, Lakeside Nature Center. Explore habitats around the nature center on a guided hike. LakesideNatureCenter.org Art with an Exotic Animal 10:30, Camden Point Programming Space. Make are by using an animal from the Exotic Animals Education Institute. MyMCPL.org

Cedar Cove: Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. See these epic animals and learn about their characteristics and behaviors!

SaveOurSiberians.org The Great Pumpkin Patch Express 11:00, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. Train ride for the family that seeks to find that eternally elusive Great Pumpkin! ASVRR.org

Hands-on History Noon, National WWI Museum and Memorial. Guests of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts.

TheWorldWar.org

Knox Classical School Open House 12:30, Providence Community Church. Learn about our Christian, Classical and Collaborative school for grades K-4. KnoxKC.org

Movin’ and Groovin’ Rhyme Time 9:30, Lenexa City Center Library. Songs, classic rhymes and fingerplays for 1–2-year-olds. Pre-register.

JOCOlibrary.com

Dark Forest 7:00, Powell Gardens. An extraordinary outdoor event in collaboration with renowned performance art collective Quixotic. PowellGardens.org

Disaster: The Musical 2:00, Roger T. Sermon Community Center. Enjoy this jukebox musical comedy with many hits of the 70s.

IndependenceMO.gov

Mornings with Mommy: Forest & Friends 10:00, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church & School. Story time and playdate for ages 0–5.

MtOliveLutheranSchool.com

3 Sunday

Winter Magic Lights 6:00, Northland KCMO. Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premiere dazzling 1-mile light show at Winter Magic.

WinterMagicKC.com

Kids STEAM 1:30, North Independence Library.

Learn science, technology, engineering, art, and math while you play STEAM games. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org

4 Monday

LEGO Builders’ Club 6:30, Olathe Downtown Library. Join other LEGO lovers for a builders’ club featuring cooperative projects. Preregister. OlatheLibary.org

American Royal World Series of Barbecue 10:00, Kansas Speedway. Savor the world’s largest barbecue competition. AmericanRoyal.com/BBQ Brunch & Bingo 10:00, Chicken N Pickle: KC & OPKS. Have fun eating brunch and playing Bingo. ChickenNPickle.com Dia de los Muertos Celebration 10:00, Kansas City Museum. Explore the history and cultural traditions of Mexico with live performances and food. KansasCityMuseum.org Back to the 50s Bowling 12:00, Summit Lanes.

Enjoy 50’s prices: 50 cents for games, shoes rentals, hot dogs and sodas with a $5 cover charge. SummitLanes.com

GloWild: Legends & Lore thru Dec. 29, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Immersive nighttime experience with massive artworks on display at the Zoo. KansasCityZoo.org

5 Tuesday

Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center.

Provides kids a place to run, ride and play while making new friends. Lenexa.com

Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Merriam Community Center. Ride and slide with us in our indoor playground. Merriam.org

Sensory-Friendly Days 9:00, Johnson County Museum. This limited-occupancy session is for children and families with sensory processing differences. JCPRD.com

Community Heroes Storytime 10:00, Parkville Library. Hear stories, sing songs, join in movement activities, and create memories with community heroes. MyMCPL.org

EXPLORE A DIFFERENT

PATH

Christ-Centered, Classical, Collaborative Education in Johnson County • Grades K-4, and growing • 6:1 student-teacher ratio • Hybrid model: Two days on campus, three days at home • Member of the Society for Classical Learning

Preview our robust curriculum and start the application process at an upcoming info meeting: Sunday, November 3 | 12:30 pm Sunday, January 5 | 12:30 pm RSVP and learn more at knoxkc.org

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Container Workshops Nov. 14-17, All 3 Family Tree Nursery locations. Create a stunning holiday container.

Registration required; space is limited. FamilyTreeNursery.com

Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists.com Discovery Day at the Arboretum 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Little explorers can enjoy the world of nature plus do a make-andtake project. OPKansas.org Critter Feeding 2:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Captive amphibians, fish and turtles enjoy their feast every Tuesday and Friday.

MDC.MO.gov Little Scientists 3:30, IDEA Space. Your little scientist can make a marshmallow catapult, beeswax candle and edible ocean.

IdeaSpaceKC.org KC Zoo & Aquarium’s Adapt to That! 6:00, Blue Ridge Library. Investigate the differences in living creatures around the world. Preregister. MyMCPL.org

Goldilocks and the Three Dogs 6:30, North Independence Library. Join Martin City Melodrama telling about Goldie and three down-on-their-luck dogs. MyMCPL.org

6 Wednesday Finding Nemo select dates thru Dec. 30, The Coterie. The beloved 2003 Pixar movie comes to the live stage as Nemo explores beyond his anemone home. TheCoterie.org Giggle Time 10:00, Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. Your little ones will giggle, wiggle and have a blast with a fun puppet or music show. OPKansas.org

Child & Parent Craft Program 4:30, Olathe Downtown Library. Get creative with a fun after-school craft activity. Pre-register.

OlatheLibary.org

Tails, Tales, and Trails 10:30, Prairie Oak Nature Center. Enjoy a nature-themed story time and nature walk! Meet an animal and go for a short hike through the park. Leawood.org

Family Night 5:00, Lenexa Public Market.

Bring the whole gang for free activities like a balloon artist and classic board games.

LenexaPublicMarket.com

Kids Create Art: Fall Crafts 4:00, Riverside Library.

It’s fall, y’all! Come to the Library to create fallthemed crafts. Pre-register. MyMCPL.org

Annual Fish Fry 5:30, South KC Colonial Presbyterian Church. The whole family will enjoy our annual fish fry. ColonialKC.org

piano lessons

head to

kcparent.com for the

Learn to play piano and have FUN doing it!

AGES 7+ | ALL SKILL LEVELS | AFFORDABLE | FLEXIBLE VOICE LESSONS | EXPERIENCED TEACHER (12 YRS)

kids eat

FREE

(or cheap) guide

PARTICIPATE IN BI-ANNUAL RECITALS!

Both daytime and evening lessons available!

Call Spring Terburgh at 913-636-4472 LOCATED RIGHT OFF I-35 AND 119TH ST IN OLATHE AND IN SOUTH KCMO

56 november 2024 kcparent.com

the BEST resource for finding places all over kc where kids eat for FREE (or really cheap)!

7 Thursday Hello Dolly thru Nov. 9, Avila’s Goppert Theater.

Join Dolly Levi, a charming matchmaker, as she finds a husband for a grumpy millionaire.

CultureHouse.com Beauty and the Beast thru Nov. 10, Bell Cultural Arts Center. This “tale as old as time” shares the value of love and being loved. FirstActKC.org Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists.com The Great Pumpkin Playdough Activity 10:00, Riverside Library. Children ages 3–5 can make edible playdough using pumpkin puree.

MyMCPL.org Kids Create Puppets 4:00, Edgerton Library.

Create fun puppets! We provide the supplies; you supply the imagination! MyMCPL.org Vitamin String Quartet 7:00, Kauffman Center.

Listen to arrangements performed by the VSQ, including renditions of Taylor Swift and Bridgerton. KauffmanCenter.org

8 Friday GloWild: Legends & Lore thru Dec. 29, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Immersive nighttime experience with massive artworks on display at the Zoo. KansasCityZoo.org Family Storytime 9:30, Lenexa City Center Library. Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement activities foster pre-reading skills.

Pre-register. JOCOlibrary.com Early Literacy Music & Movement 10:00, Blue Springs North Library. Develop early literacy skills through music, instrument play and big body movement. MyMCPL.org Epic Bounce Park 3:00, Independence Center Mall. Bounce and bounce in 25,000 square feet of a bounce park. EpicBouncePark.com Club SciKidz Camp Jurassic 3:30, IDEA Space.

Campers learn about dinosaurs, their habitats, rocks and fossils. IdeaSpaceKC.org The Chamber of Music Society of Lincoln Center 7:00, Midwest Trust Center. A spectacular program centered around music for wind instruments. JCCC.edu

MUSEUM HOURS Monday - Saturday 9am - 4:30pm

9 Saturday Power Wheels Grand Prix 10:00, BVRC Sports Complex East Fields. Bring your personal Power Wheel to compete in this friendly race. Preregister. BlueValleyRec.org

Museum

8788 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS JCPRD.com/Museum kcparent.com november 2024

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ENROLLMENT SPECIAL!

ENROLL NOW SPACE I S LIMITED !

Goldilocks and the Three Dogs 10:00, East Independence Library. Join Martin City Melodrama telling about Goldie and three down-on-their-luck dogs. MyMCPL.org Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park.

Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose and play with penguins. TWPark.com KC Magic Man 10:30, Blue Springs North Library. See the world of illusions with KC Magic Man Brad Lynn using cards, coins, cups and more. Pre-register. MyMCPL.org

FREE DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT ($150 VALUE)

AND

Olathe Grand Prix 11:00, Olathe West High School. Teams of four will enjoy a Mario Kart Tournament. Prizes awarded. Pre-register.

OlatheLibary.org

$100 OFF ENROLLMENT Offer Ends December 1

Pumpkin Smash Noon, Juniper Gardens Training Farm. Help smash pumpkins to divert pumpkins from landfills and turn them into compost. CompostCollectiveKC.com

816.890.0567

211 NE Englewood Rd., Suite 307A, Gladstone, MO www.tutoringcenter.com

Family Game Night 5:30, The KC Improv Comedy Company. Bring the whole family for an hour packed full of improvised games, scenes and characters. KansasCityComedy.com

10 Sunday Finding Nemo select dates thru Dec. 30, The Coterie. The beloved 2003 Pixar movie comes to the live stage as Nemo explores beyond his anemone home. TheCoterie.org

Little smiles can have a BIG impact!

New Patient Special Offer:

$55*

Children’s Dental Visit

Includes exam, cleaning and x-rays *Limited Time Offer

*Services provided by a MO licensed dentist *Not valid with any other offer, discount, program/plan

Most Insurance Plans Accepted

www.TheSmileSpot.com The Smile Spot Waldo 8043 Wornall Road, Suite 203 Kansas City, MO 64114 Phone: 816-363-2900

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The Smile Spot Independence 651 E US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050 Phone: 816-461-0300

Second Sundays in Lexington 11:00, Downtown Lexington, Mo. Discover the history of Lexington with activities for all ages.

HistoricLexington.com Princess Magic Cupcake Designing 2:00, Blue Valley Rec. Channel your inner princess and come decorate dazzling cupcakes. Pre-register.

BlueValleyRec.org Tubby the Tuba and the Toy Symphony 2:00, Kauffman Center. Squeaks, tweets and honks as you enjoy a whimsical, world-travelling sound scientist! KCSymphony.org Youth Symphony of Kansas City 2:00 & 7:30, Midwest Trust Center. Be mesmerized listening to a great repertoire of music plus feature soloists. JCCC.edu Winter Magic Lights 6:00, Northland KCMO. Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premiere dazzling 1-mile light show at Winter Magic.

WinterMagicKC.com

11 Monday

Little Scientists 3:30, IDEA Space. Your little scientist can make a marshmallow catapult, beeswax candle and edible ocean.

IdeaSpaceKC.org

Disney100: The Exhibition thru Nov. 30, Union Station. Relive your dreams with ten imaginatively themed galleries highlighting renowned classics. UnionStation.org Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center.

Provides kids a place to run, ride and play while making new friends. Lenexa.com Gobble Across the USA with Mr. Stinky Feet 6:00, Antioch Library. Join Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove for fun songs about festive foods. Preregister. MyMCPL.org

12 Tuesday

Experience the Guitar 6:30, Grain Valley Library. Watch a professional guitarist at work as Aidan Elwell performs a varied guitar repertoire.

Pre-register. MyMCPL.org

13 Wednesday Barstow: Lower School Open House 9:00, The Barstow School. Meet faculty and staff and see firsthand everything Barstow has to offer.

BarstowSchool.org Retro Storytime: Four Puppies 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Preschoolers love stories from long ago, read by a special guest. JCPRD.com

Splash With Me 10:00, Lenexa Rec Center.

Let your little ones splash, play and build confidence in the water. Lenexa.com Create. Explore. Experiment 10:00, Science City. Experience the amazing world of science first-hand through engaging exhibits.

ScienceCity.UnionStation.org Totally Tots 10:30, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Sing songs, read books, explore art and make your own art at this free program. KemperArt.org

Tails, Tales, and Trails 10:30, Prairie Oak Nature Center. Enjoy a nature-themed story time and nature walk! Leawood.org Snake Feeding 2:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Discover what’s for dinner for the Burr Oak Woods’s snakes. MDC.MO.gov Bee Inspired: Sensory Play 3:30, Raytown Library. “Bee” inspired by a read-aloud of The Honeybee by author Kirsten Hall. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org

14 Thursday Festival of Lights thru Nov. 16, Powell Gardens.

Explore more than 20 miles of lights that transforms KC’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. PowellGardens.org White Christmas thru Nov. 17, Avila College Goppert Theater. This uplifting, wholesome musical will usher the Christmas spirit in for all.

FirstActKC.org Holiday Container Workshops thru Nov. 17, Family Tree Nurseries. Make a stunning holiday container; all supplies provided. Pre-register.

FamilyTreeNursery.com St. Paul’s Open House 9:00, St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School. Meet school leadership, discuss curriculum with teachers and tour school facilities. SPEDS.org Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists. com Thursday Toddler Time at Ceramic Cafe 10:00, Ceramic Cafe. Toddlers 5 and under get to paint one of our selected items for just $12.

CeramicCafeKC.com

lenexa baptist church presents

a

December 7TH | 1:00PM & 5:00PM December 8TH | 5:00PM lenexabaptist.com 15320 W. 87th St. Pkwy | Lenexa, KS

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SIX-STOP TOUR: RED BRIDGE Conveniently located in the heart of Kansas City near to I-435, this neighborhood is known for its charm.

1. WONDERFUL WONDERSCOPE

2. LOVE LOCKS

3. SHOP LOCAL

4. SWEET TOOTH

5. STREET TACOS

6. BEAUTIFUL BRUNCH

Wonderscope, Kansas City’s nonprofit children’s museum focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) for children under 10 and under, is a whimsical and dynamic attraction families love. The museum houses hands-on exhibits and a half-acre of outdoor activities.

Children learn while celebrating Kansas City’s history and legacy.

Inspired by the Love Lock Bridge in Paris, the Old Red Bridge in Minor Park allows Kansas Citians to engrave a lock and secure it to the bridge. Fun fact: The largest lock on the bridge commemorates the anniversary of Kristina Light and her husband, Ron, who handcrafted the lock himself.

Made in KC began as a hub for local shoppers on the search for locallymade Kansas City merch. Now they’ve expanded with multiple locations, one of which is located in Red Bridge Shopping Center.

You’ll find your favorite KC tees, artisan products, foods and drinks here. This is our go-to spot to stock up on Messner Bee Farm’s hot honey.

The Sweet Granada is a locally-owned gourmet chocolate shop offering over 200 handmade chocolates as well as Pop-Choc—the ultimate popcorn/ chocolate combo!

This quaint shop offers something to satisfy every sweet tooth. Their salted caramels and seasonal assortments are personal favorites.

Tacos make everything better, and Barrio KC is the perfect neighborhood hangout for fabulous street tacos. Their fun ambience, terrific hospitality and happy hour specials keep us coming back for more. With locations in Red Bridge, Briarcliff, Midtown and Brookside, this is a local favorite.

Offering homemade omelets, fabulous French toast and a fried chicken salad to die for, Caleb’s Breakfast & Lunch is a favorite local diner. With their delicious food, pleasant atmosphere and warm hospitality, they’ve created a loyal local following that is truly well deserved.

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Operation Wildlife Presents: The Day Shift 4:00, Withers Library. Meet hawks and falcons and learn their hunting habits. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org

Lee’s Summit West Holiday Mart 10:00, LS West High School. Shop 120 local vendors with dazzling goods, holiday décor, stunning jewelry and treats. ExploreLS.com

Dwell 6:30, Lenexa Baptist Church. Make plans to join us for this evening of dinner, worship, fellowship and Bible study. Pre-register.

LenexaBaptist.com

Kids Maker Market 10:00, Blue Valley Activity Center. An opportunity to run your own business and sell your hand-crafted items!

Pre-register. BlueValleyRec.org

15 Friday Holiday Container Workshops thru Nov. 17, Family Tree Nurseries. Make a stunning holiday container; all supplies provided. Pre-register.

FamilyTreeNursery.com Educating the Whole Person: Arts & Athletics 8:00, Whitefield Academy. Join us to learn more about Classical Christian education.

WhitefieldAcademyKC.org Jumperoo 8:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park Overland Park. Children 5 and under and their parent/guardian can jump, bounce and crawl around safely. UrbanAirOP.com Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park.

Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose and play with penguins. TWPark.com Pumpkin Soup Story & Pottery 10:30, Ceramic Cafe. Read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story.

CeramicCafeKC.com Lake Quivira Holiday Bazaar 1:00, Lake Quivira Country Club. Shop FREE with over fifty art, decor, clothing, and holiday vendors.

Facebook.com/lakequiviraholidaybazaar Club SciKidz Camp Jurassic 4:30, IDEA Space.

Kids learn about a variety of dinosaurs, rocks, minerals and fossils. IdeaSpaceKC.org OP Mayor’s Holiday Festival 5:00, Downtown Overland Park. Enjoy the tree lighting ceremony, festive activities and photos with Santa. VisitOverlandPark.com Night at the Arboretum 6:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Observe celestial objects like galaxies and star clusters with telescopes on site. OPKansas.org

16 Saturday Lake Quivira Holiday Bazaar 9:00, Lake Quivira Country Club. Shop FREE with over fifty art, decor, clothing, and holiday vendors.

Facebook.com/lakequiviraholidaybazaar Belton’s Holiday Craft Show 9:00, High Blue Wellness Center. Come shop over 50 vendors with their handmade products. BeltonParks.org

Mistletowne Market 10:00, North KC Parks & Recreation Center. Enjoy this artisan holiday market filled with local fine art and maker goods. NKC.org Mad Science: Brixology Aerospace 11:00, Red Bridge Library. Launch your imagination as you explore aerospace engineering. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org Hands-on History Noon, National WWI Museum and Memorial. Guests of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org Olathe Book Sale 4:30, Indian Creek Library.

Support the library and get books, DVDs, and audiobooks all priced for $1 or less.

OlatheLibary.org Winter Magic Lights 6:00, Northland KCMO. Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premiere dazzling 1-mile light show at Winter Magic.

WinterMagicKC.com Northern Lights Holiday Lighting Ceremony 6:00, Zona Rosa. Watch the 50-foot Christmas tree illuminate plus the arrival of the Fairy Princess & Santa Claus! ZonaRosa.com Women’s Christmas Worship Night 6:30, South KC Colonial Presbyterian Church. Women enjoy a time of worship to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. ColonialKC.org J.S. Bach: St. John Passion 7:00, Atonement Lutheran Church. Listen to J. S. Bach’s most foundational works, the St John Passion, a leading Baroque ensembles. ChamberMusic.org

17 Sunday KC Reptile Show 10:00, Doubletree Hotel. Bring your reptile-loving kids, and explore thousands of reptiles, amphibians, feeders, invertebrates.

VisitOverlandPark.com Ice Skating Ice Terrace 12:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Grab the family and skate at KC’s iconic ice terrace. CrownCenter.com Paragon Ragtime Orchestra: Meet Me At the Fair! 2:00, Midwest Trust Center. Listen to a spectacular musical celebration of the world’s fairs. JCCC.edu

18 Monday R.E.A.D. to a Pet 3:30, Blue Valley Library.

Improve children’s reading skills by reading to a registered therapy dog or cat. Pre-register.

JOCOlibrary.com KC Zoo & Aquarium’s Adapt to That! 6:00, Woodneath Library. Investigate the similarities and differences in living creatures. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org Kid’s Pie Baking 6:00, NKC Parks & Rec Center.

Kids ages 6-12 will learn to make crust, roll, cut, make fillings and bake delicious pies! Preregister. NKC.org

19 Tuesday Create. Explore. Experiment 10:00, Science City. Experience the amazing world of science first-hand through engaging exhibits.

ScienceCity.UnionStation.org R.E.A.D. to a Dog 5:30, Olathe Downtown Library. Read aloud to a friendly Reading Education Assistance Dog. Pre-register.

OlatheLibary.org Operation Wildlife Presents: The Day Shift 6:30, Parkville Library. Meet up to four hawks and falcons and learn their hunting habits and adaptive characteristics. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org

20 Wednesday Finding Nemo select dates thru Dec. 30, The Coterie. The beloved 2003 Pixar movie comes to the live stage as Nemo explores beyond his anemone home. TheCoterie.org Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center.

Provides kids a place to run, ride and play while making new friends. Lenexa.com Pajama Storytime 10:00, North Independence Library. Put on your PJs and enjoy a family storytime. Sing songs, play with bubbles and share a story. MyMCPL.org Chess Night 5:30, Olathe Downtown Library.

Come play chess with a worthy opponent. All ages and playing levels welcome. Pre-register.

OlatheLibary.org

21 Thursday Festival of Lights thru Nov. 23, Powell Gardens.

Explore more than 20 miles of lights that transforms KC’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. PowellGardens.org

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Shrine Circus Nov. 21 – 24, Cable Dahmer Arena. Experience traditional 3-ring circus magic of captivating performances. CableDahmerArena.com

The Last Night of Ballyhoo thru Nov. 23, The Culture House Stage & Studio. This captivating play explores family dynamics and the challenges of love. CultureHouse.com Disney100: The Exhibition thru Nov. 30, Union Station. Relive your dreams with ten imaginatively themed galleries highlighting renowned classics. UnionStation.org Holiday Boutique thru Nov. 24, Overland Park Convention Center. Shop for holiday gifts; see works from local artisans and holiday displays.

VisitOverlandPark.com Pumpkin Yoga 10:30, Excelsior Springs Library.

Learn “the Pumpkin” and other autumn poses while moving and listening to stories. Preregister. MyMCPL.org Resurrection Blood Drive 2:00, Donate today and join COR in their collection of nearly 60,000 units of lifesaving blood products.

Resurrection.Church

Stuffy Sleepover at Shawnee Town 5:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Drop off your favorite stuffie. While you snooze at home, your stuffie travels around the 1920s town. ShawneeTown.org Josh Gates Live! 7:30, Kauffman Center.

Enjoy an evening of legends, mysteries and adventure from the host of the smash-hit Discovery Channel show. KauffmanCenter.org

22 Friday Friday Fish Tales 9:00, Blue Valley Rec. Join us the fourth Friday of the month for an aquaticsthemed storytime and admission to Preschool Splash. BlueValleyRec.org

Gobble Across the USA with Mr. Stinky Feet 10:00, Blue Spring South Library. Join Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove for fun songs about festive foods. Pre-register. MyMCPL.org

Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village 10:00, Union Station. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with brilliant sights and sounds at Kansas City’s historic home. UnionStation.org

How The Grinch Stole Christmas Story & Pottery 10:30, Ceramic Cafe. Read a book, then the kids paint a ceramic item and end with a snack. CeramicCafeKC.com

jccc.edu/MTCArtsEd Box Office: 913–469–4445 Mon. – Fri. / 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

@MidwestTrustCenterJCCC @MidwestTrustCenterJCCC @MTC_JCCC

Shiver Me Paintbrush: A Pirate’s Adventure in Art SCHOOL SHOWS (Tickets start at $5.)

WED. / DEC. 4 / 12:30 PM THUR. / DEC. 5 / 10 AM & 12:30 PM | FRI. / DEC. 6 / 10 AM PUBLIC SHOWS (Tickets start at $10.)

FRI. / DEC. 6 / 6 PM | SAT. / DEC. 7 / 10 AM This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Adams Family Foundation, Brad and Libby Bergman, Brooks and Carol Sherman, Friends of Barton P. Cohen Fund, Hall Family Foundation, JCCC Foundation, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education Program, Kansas Arts Commission, and Yellow Freight System, Inc.

62 november 2024 kcparent.com

Creative Hand 4:00, Old Shawnee Town Hall.

A wide variety of finely crafted artist created fashions, wearable jewelry, home décor and pottery! CreativeHandKC.org

Shrine Circus 10:00, 2:30, 7:00, Cable Dahmer Arena. KC’s only 3-ring circus. Children under 3 are free and 3-12 have kid’s pricing.

CableDahmerArena.com

Independence Square Lighting and Santa’s Village 6:00, Truman Courthouse. Kick off the season with treats, music, games and Santa.

IndependenceMO.gov

Holiday Boutique 10:00, Bernard Campbell Middle School. See Santa and shop 75 local vendors just in time for the holiday season! BCMS.LSR7.org

Glow Bingo 6:30, Blue Valley Rec. Play Bingo with the whole family with prizes awarded for game winners. Pre-register. BlueValleyRec.org

Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park.

Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose and play with penguins. TWPark.com

LS’s Mayor’s Tree Lighting 6:30, Howard Park Station. Celebrate the Miracle on Main Street with musical performances and Santa & Mrs. Claus! CityofLS.net

23 Saturday Holiday Boutique thru Nov. 24, Overland Park Convention Center. Shop for holiday gifts; see works from local artisans and holiday displays.

VisitOverlandPark.com KC Rep: A Christmas Carol thru Dec. 28, Spencer Theatre. Join Ebenezer Scrooge on his redemptive journey as one of Kansas City’s beloved tradition. KCRep.org

Little Acorns 10:00, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. Registration required. Join naturalists in making hands-on nature projects. MDC.MO.gov Best Little Arts & Craft Show 10:00, Roger T. Sermon Community Center. Shop over 100 booths of handmade merchandise for the holiday season. IndependenceMO.gov National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 12:30, 4:00, 7:30, Union Station. Watch this holiday classic as the Griswold family enjoy a big family Christmas. UnionStation.org

24 Sunday Finding Nemo select dates thru Dec. 30, The Coterie. The beloved 2003 Pixar movie comes to the live stage as Nemo explores beyond his anemone home. TheCoterie.org Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village 10:00, Union Station. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with brilliant sights and sounds at Kansas City’s historic home. UnionStation.org Winter Magic Lights 6:00, Northland KCMO. Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premiere dazzling 1-mile light show at Winter Magic.

WinterMagicKC.com

25 Monday Dino-Mite Dino Life 9:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn about dinosaur anatomy, paleontology, fossilization and extinction. NatureSanctuary.com Mom & Me Bumper Bowling 9:30, Summit Lanes. On Mondays and Wednesdays, moms and little ones bowl for $3 per person (one game, shoe rental and drink).

SummitLanes.com

MAKE MEMORIES • HAVE FUN • MAKE A DIFFERENCE December Fun Checklist

!

FUN OH WHAT

9 FA MILY F UN EVENT S

• Sar-Ko Aglow • Candy Cane Hunt • Naughty or Nice Games • Breakfast with Santa • It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play • Holiday Farmers Market • Noon Year’s Eve Pajama Party • Cookies, Sweet Breads & Homemade Gifts class • Warmth Trees

L E N E X A . C O M / H O L I D AY S kcparent.com november 2024

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Electric Glow & Luminary Walk Select nights Nov. 25 – Dec. 30, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Walk through the lights for a unique holiday experience. OPKansas.org

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 12:30, 4:00, 7:30, Union Station. Watch this holiday classic as the Griswold family enjoy a big family Christmas. UnionStation.org

26 Tuesday LEGO Builders’ Club 4:30, Indian Creek Library. Join other LEGO lovers for a builders’ club featuring cooperative projects. Preregister. OlatheLibary.org Electric Glow 5:00, Overland Park Arboretum.

Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the electric gardens during this low-key version of the Luminary Walk. OPKansas.org Kids Make Chinese Food 6:00, NKC Parks & Rec Center. Kids ages 6-12 will learn to make fried rice, wontons, orange chicken and spring rolls! Pre-register. NKC.org

The Puppets of Spelhorst 6:30, Grandview Library. See puppets from this beloved story by Kate DiCamillo with themes of adventure and friendship.

Pre-register. MyMCPL.org

27 Wednesday ‘Twas the Night Before…by Cirque du Soleil thru Dec. 1, Music Hall. Features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters and holiday music. CirqueDuSoleil.com Free Day at KidScape 9:00, JOCO Museum.

Explore KidScape and the newest special exhibit, “Inside the Box: A 1951 Time Capsule.”

VisitOverlandPark.com KC Zoo & Aquarium’s Adapt to That! 10:15, Green Hills Library. Investigate the similarities in living creatures around the world. Pre-register.

MyMCPL.org

Christmas in the Park 5:30, Longview Lake Campground. This magical winter wonderland features more than one million lights and 200 animated displays. JacksonGov.org

28 Thursday Happy Thanksgiving, KC Parent readers! We are thankful for your 39 years of readership and support.

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ALL MONTH LONG! Delivery and Set-up by Specialist Install Team

Visit our Olathe store, website, or Facebook page for more information

2227 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS 66061

913-307-6023

Visit our showroom

64 november 2024 kcparent.com

kc@backyardspecialists.com | www.backyardspecialists.com www.facebook.com/BackyardSpecialistsKC/

Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane 5:00, Deanna Rose. Join the Farmstead for a light show synchronized to your favorite holiday and movie music.VisitOverlandPark.com

See Santa10:00, Crown Center. Santa Claus welcomes the public throughout the holiday season for visits, wish lists and photos.

CrownCenter.com

GloWild: Legends & Lore thru Dec. 29, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Immersive nighttime experience with massive artworks on display at the Zoo. KansasCityZoo.org

Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony 5:00, Country Club Plaza. Celebrate this iconic lighting ceremony that will usher in the holiday season in KC. CountryClubPlaza.com

Holiday Tours at Vaile Mansion 10:00, Vaile Mansion. See a Victorian Winter Wonderland during the holidays this year.

IndependenceMO.gov

Disney100: The Exhibition thru Nov. 30, Union Station. Relive your dreams with ten imaginatively themed galleries highlighting renowned classics. UnionStation.org

29 Friday

The Mitten Story & Pottery 10:30, Ceramic Cafe. Read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story.

CeramicCafeKC.com

Hallmark Christmas Experience 10:00, Crown Center. Right outside of Hallmark’s headquarters, enjoy this immersive experience with the charm of a Hallmark movie.

CrownCenter.com

Home Alone Film & Live Orchestra thru Dec. 1, Kauffman Center. This adored comedy classic features a delightful score performed live. KCSymphony.org

1860s Living History Noon, Mahaffie.

Bring your family and friends to experience the1860s with games, blacksmith demos and a stagecoach ride! Mahaffie.org

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever thru Dec. 24, Theatre for Young America. When the Herdman children show up, disaster ensues but the true meaning of Christmas emerges. TYA.org

Elf 12:30, 4:00, 7:30, Union Station. Watch this holiday classic as a man raised as an elf at the North Pole decides to travel to NYC to locate his real father. UnionStation.org

Festival of Lights thru Nov. 30, Powell Gardens.

Explore more than 20 miles of lights that transforms KC’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. PowellGardens.org

30 Saturday

Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop 9:00, Taste Buds Kitchen. Parent and child work together to design and decorate a gingerbread house. Tastebudskitchen.com

KC Rep: A Christmas Carol thru Dec. 28, Spencer Theatre. Join Ebenezer Scrooge on his redemptive journey in one of KC’s most beloved holiday traditions. KCRep.org

Santa Paws Holiday Mart 10:00, The Dogs’ Spot in NKC. This pet-friendly event is a dog lovers holiday mart to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts plus see Santa! TheDogsSpot.com Luminary Walk 5:00, Overland Park Arboretum.

Enjoy illuminated garden paths, gnome and fairy villages, live music and photos with Santa.

OPKansas.org Winter Magic Lights 6:00, Northland KCMO. Welcome the holiday season with KC’s premiere dazzling 1-mile light show at Winter Magic.

WinterMagicKC.com

PRESENTS

February 7, 2025 | 7:30PM Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Kansas City, MO

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kcparent.com november 2024

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Big adventures start at The Birth Place.

The Birth Place was carefully designed with you and your newborn in mind. That means cozy suites, luxury amenities and a NICU where you can stay in the same room with your baby. It also means we’re going the extra mile to keep newborns and their families safe and healthy.

• Level II NICU, for babies needing extra care

• Repeat winner of KC Parent’s “Favorite Place to Have a Baby”

• Skilled neonatal doctors and nurses

• Comforts like queen beds and large windows

Part of The University of Kansas Health System Neonatal nurse practitioners provide on-site support 24/7.

olathehealth.org/birthplace 913-791-4396