Kid's Play; Tri-City Family Magazine Winter 2015/16

In This Issue

6 8

Quick Quips

11

Feed the Birds

12 14

The Musings of my Heart

Advent Activities

Winter 2015

December Fun

Kitchen Science

One Mom talks photo obsessions

Soccer as Preschool?

Development with Purpose

Diaries 16 Daycare Five parents talk seven different options Hope 22 Sharing A local company’s mission

24

Tri-City Family Events Calendar Seven pages of Winter activities!

33

Kid’s Play

In another life I was adamant that I would be a working mom/ career woman. I had it all planned out. We had the daycare lined up, I had all the ducks in a row, I even had an amazing boss who agreed to let me work two days from home each week for my daughter’s first year. I loved my job and where it was taking me.

Then we had a major issue with our daycare provider (which required reporting her to the stateshe “forgot” to feed the baby one day) and I knew that I couldn’t continue down that road. Fast forward one year later: the stock market had collapsed, I stepped forward for a layoff option, we moved back “home” to Tri-Cities, I started this magazine, and here we are.

Where I’m going with this is that I’ve lived both sides of the coin: the stay at home with the kids/ desperate for adult interaction side, and the dressing up/dropping off at daycare/trying to cram all the mom stuff into after hours and weekends. Both sides have their perks, and both sides have their drawbacks. And both sides have the potential for crying in the bathroom: one because the kids won’t let you have two seconds to think, one because you miss your tiny baby so badly it hurts.

One thing I’ve learned is that people will give you grief no matter which path you choose. I wish parents, and especially moms, were more supporting of each other. It always hurts my heart to see moms attacking each other for the choices they are making to support their families.

I also know that most working moms have had at least one moment where they weren’t sure if they were doing the right thing. No matter how much you love your job, you can still have doubts (that sometimes never even get said out loud) where you wonder if this is really what you should be doing. And stay at home moms have the same thoughts- sometimes when the finances are tight, sometimes when they crave interaction with a human who can carry on a full conversation (about something other than transformers or fairies)- where they think that maybe a paying job would be better. What I’m trying to say is that we, as mothers, beat ourselves up enough already- we don’t need anyone else to join in. And it’s completely ok to not have it all together. Nobody truly has it all together.

Or maybe I’ll just speak for myself- I don’t have it all together. Not even close. And I’m not too proud to say I’ve cried in the bathroom (both at an office and at home). I’m just doing the best I can. And so many other parents are right here with me, just trying to do right by their family. Let’s all support each other. Let’s give each other grace and understanding.

I hope you’re encouraged by the stories of the parents in this issue of Kid’s Play. is was our attempt at tak Have a magical Christmas and a happy New Year, Th ing Christmas card photos with

Jennifer Tomasino,

three kids and our very old Pyrenees- It was kin Great d of a disaster. And I lov e it:)

Owner/Editor

PO Box 4013 West Richland, WA. 99353 509-528-3891 www.KidsPlayTC.com Owner/ Editor Jennifer Tomasino Editor@KidsPlayTC.com (509) 528-3891 Assistant Jennifer Parks Info@KidsPlayTC.com Advertising Ads@KidsPlayTC.com (509)528-3891 All Photos Copyright Jenna Boogerd Photography (509)942-4604

Want more Kid’s Play Magazine?

Check out our website: www.KidsPlayTC.com Story Archives, email list signup “Like” us on Facebook Model searches, photo competitions, local events & info FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM @KIDSPLAYTC Please remember all articles are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Kid’s Play Magazine.

Please support our advertisers!

They are the ones who make Kid’s Play Magazine possible:

Dentistry for Kids, p2 Swanky Babies, p2 Heaston Thompson Vision, p5 Sylvan Learning, p5 Imagination Studios, p5 St Patrick’s Catholic School, p7 Lourdes Health Network, p9

Shriner’s Hospital, p10 Advanced Pediatric Dentistry, p10 LifeQuest Fitness, p12 YMCA, p13 Columbia Basin Pediatric Dentistry, p15 Signature Orthodontics, p23

Teacher’s World, p24 Dance Connection, p26 Jenna Boogerd Photography, p 29 Family Expo, p 29 Mid-Columbia Gymnastics, p31 Trios, p32 (back)

Tips for Parents

Know the teachers: Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child’s teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.

Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there’s an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child to break up the work into manageable chunks.

Take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.

Be a motivator and monitor: Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.

6

Quick Quips YMCA Healthy Tips Corner

Let’s admit it. Homework is not our favorite time of the day. Here are a few tips to keep homework hassle-free.

-Create a routine: Set a regular time and place for homework. A desk or kitchen table can be a great place to focus.

-Keep it quiet: Soft music helps some students concentrate, but loud music or TV can be distracting. Turn cell phones to off or vibrate. Keep conversation to a minimum.

-Keep supplies handy: An old shoe box or even a gallonsized Ziploc bag can hold supplies pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener, markers, crayons, scissors, glue stick or a ruler.

-Take breaks: Stand, stretch, do some jumping jacks or even set the table for dinner. Adults need breaks from their work, so do students.

-Avoid Snacks: Have a glass of water, but avoid snacking while doing homework.

-Communicate with your teacher: Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the homework.

It’s okay to say you don’t understand the assignment.

Ever wondered what your kids are learning from board games?

Besides being a great way to spend a couple of hours on a wintery afternoon, board games can teach your kids many different skills. Here are the benefits of some classic games: Monopoly- helps kids understand banks and percentages. Can introduce the concepts of investing.

Chess- teaches strategy, planning ahead, helps kids learn to detect patterns, and strengthens cause and effect reasoning.

Clue- teaches and strengthens deductive logic skills. Some college professors have even used the game of Clue to teach basic computer programming skills!

Chutes and Ladders- Helps kids grasp the concept of a number line.

There are more games than we can mention- but if you’re looking for more game options, check out Teacher’s World in Kennewick (There’s even a coupon off your game purchase on pg 24 of this magazine) Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

The Advent activities calendar is one of our family’s most anticipated holiday traditions. I fill the pockets of our calendar with these little activity strips, then every day the kids get to pull one out and we do that activity.

When we put our family’s activities together I try to make sure that we capture the true spirit of the season; little things my kids can do to give back and understand why we do “this Christmas thing.” I also know that doing something extravagant every day is completely unrealistic for our house- that’s why some nights we just make paper snowflakes, or have pancakes for dinner. Easy is good! : ) The Polar Express Pajama Party is one of the kids’ favorites. A bunch of friends show up at our house (after school), fill the living room floor with pillows and blankets, and eat popcorn while watching the Polar Express movie. And what are “Grinch snacks?” Anything green: mint milkshakes, lime sherbet floats, green Christmas cookies, green grapes, etc.

Your own activities calendar can be as busy or simple as you want it to be. It can be as easy as just cutting these out and using our ideas. Or come up with something completely your own! ~Jen T.

8

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Birdseed Ornaments For Christmas, Valentines, or Just Because!

These little birdseed ornaments are easy and fun to make and don’t require any special ingredients!

Our tips: -Don’t forget to grease your molds! (especially if you use muffin tins) -Really PRESS the birdseed mixture into the molds. This helps your ornaments hold up better as the birds start eating them.

-Make sure the straw gets pushed all the way through the ornament- otherwise you won’t have a hole to string your ribbon.

You’ll need:

3/4 cup flour 1/2 cup water 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 3 tbsp. corn syrup 4 cups birdseed molds (muffin tin, cookie cutters, etc.) nonstick spray drinking straws cut into 2-3” pieces waxed paper ribbon Mix the flour and birdseed together in a big bowl. In a small bowl dissolve the gelatin in ½ cup lukewarm water. Once gelatin is dissolved, mix in the corn syrup. Pour the gelatin mixture into the birdseed mixture. Stir well, make sure that all the birdseed is moistened.

Cover your working surface with a sheet of wax paper and spray your molds with cooking spray. Press the birdseed mixture into the molds. Once the mold is filled, level off the top and press a piece of drinking straw into the ornament where you want your ribbon to be placed (see note above).

Let your ornaments sit overnight before removing them from the molds. Push a piece of ribbon through the hole, tie the ends, and hang outside for the birds to enjoy!

Special Thanks to:

See ad page 24

11

By Jennifer Parks In July 2012 my husband and I had airline miles that were set to expire and rather than lose them, we decided to use them. And what better place to take our children than Disneyland! My biggest was 5 and my littlest was only 3 months at the time. Many people expressed their concern at our decision to take a 3 month old to Disneyland, but I must say, other than the fact that he won’t remember any of it, it was surprisingly easy. He slept and nursed on the plane, we discovered the baby care centers located in the parks, and believe it or not, he was even able to ride along with me on a few of the rides.

But there is one thing that causes me serious regret to think about. I don’t have any great pictures from our trip. Nothing truly worthy of a Shutterfly book, collage frame on the wall, or Instagram upload.

I had my memories, and they were wonderful, but my heart wanted that beautiful photo book, to place on the coffee table, that my family could look at for years and remember our vacation by.

When we came home, I made a conscious decision to not miss any moment of their childhood, and just like that, the “mamarazzi” was born. I began taking photos of every single thing my family did. I wanted to remember all of it, and if I am being honest, I wanted to keep up with the Insta-Joneses. I wanted picture perfect memories of my kids, after all, if we didn’t have a picture to document it, did it really happen?

My oldest son got so good at posing that when he saw my camera he would stop, pose and smile. He would even tell his little brother to stand still and smile for mommy. But oh, that little brother. He didn’t like posing for the camera and I often found myself telling him, if he stood still and let me take his picture then he would get to (fill-in-the-blank). Maybe it was a sucker, maybe it was pushing the button to open the garage, and maybe it was watching a favorite cartoon when we got home, but no matter which way you look at it, it was bribery!

I had resorted to bribery, all in the name of loving my kids and wanting to remember their childhood.

My lowest moment came on Christmas Day 2014. I spent my morning trying to get great photos of my kids opening their presents, only to be disappointed when they ran to show me their gifts, because they were too close for me to get a clear photo. That night as I crawled in to bed I was sad that we had all been dressed up for Christmas dinner and I had failed to get a photo of all four of us together. The next morning, I woke and uploaded my photos to my computer. I had taken 2,367 that holiday season. That’s right. In a season of only 25 days, I had taken 2,367 pictures. That means that I roughly took 94 pictures per day.

I know that in this digital age, it is easy to click away and that number may not seem like a lot to you, but it was a lot to me. It was enough to get me thinking. My motive behind wanting all the pictures wasn’t a bad thing. Being a mom and having the privilege to raise my children on this earth is such a gift. Wanting to make 12

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

memories is a good thing. Wanting pictures to remember their childhood is a good thing. But me not being physically or mentally present with them during their childhood isn’t.

Do I want my kids to remember how I splashed in the waves and built sandcastles with them at the beach and how we went on nature hikes and collected leaves & acorns and inspected ladybugs & snails? Or do I want them to remember me with my camera out the entire time, searching for the perfect shot, and uploading it to social media to be sure my friends can “like” and validate our family fun without actually having the family fun?

I realized that when I am fretting about capturing every single moment, I miss the joy and the connection that comes with being present and engaged in the moment together.

To me, there is nothing better than meeting my child’s smile through my own. My kids are the best thing that ever happened to me and I have spent 2015 making the conscious decision to be present with them and put my camera down.

Now when we are out, living our one and beautiful life, I will take my camera out and snap a few photos, but then put it away and enjoy the time I have with the most precious people on the planet. This area of my life finally has balance and it is incredibly freeing. I am happy to report that over this year there have even been moments that I didn’t take the camera out at all! And you know what; the world kept turning.

My boys’ childhood is what I make it out to be. I want it to be beautiful and I want to be in it. I want my kids to remember me as a mom who finds joy in the everyday with them and I want myself to be a mom who doesn’t need 2,367 photos to prove it.

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

13

Soccer Preschool?

By Jennifer Tomasino

“We’ve got this new soccer program, you should come check it out! It’s like a preschool class, but with soccer skills.”

I met Sarah, Director of the Lil’ Kickers program at Lifequest, while working on a completely unrelated magazine article this past summer. She told me the basic info on a new program they had introduced at her gym in Pasco. My curiosity was piqued, so my four year old son and I went in to check it out.

I’m a huge advocate for learning through sports (as you probably have guessed, given some of the articles we’ve featured here in Kid’s Play).

And my husband will talk your ear off about all the ways sports can help developmentally- everything from hand-eye coordination to working through conflict. All of our kids have participated in different sports programs with various organizations. We’ve had great experiences and we’ve had less than great ones as well.

I went into our experience with the Lil’ Kickers program with a pretty solid understanding of how youth sports can be used to teach life skills and what types of activities are developmentally appropriate for each age group.

And I was still pleasantly surprised.

The caliber of coaches was the first thing I noticed. All high school/college aged staff, but all very engaged and personal. Our coach, Micaela, kept almost constant eye contact with the kids. And if you’ve ever tried keeping eye contact and giving instructions to 3 and 4 year olds, you’ll understand why this was significant.

14

Many of the skills that kids learn in a classroom style preschool are easily taught in a properly structured sporting environment. It really takes an understanding of what you need to teach the kids, and where on the developmental spectrum each kid falls. Lil’ Kickers does a very good job of explaining this to parents: Here are the average skills set of a 3 or 4 year old, and these are the developmental pieces the program is teaching/fostering.

If we go back to the buzzword of Kindergarten readiness (that we talked about last Spring here in Kid’s Play)- some of the biggest skill sets kids need to learn are: working together/sharing, waiting their turn, standing in line, following 2-3 step instructions, plus taking turns in conversation, counting to 10, understanding size/order/ texture and sorting, and basic body control.

(The article we are referencing here can be found at www.kidsplaytc.com/issue-archives/ spring-2015) If this list is the master goal then it makes perfect sense that you could teach these skills in a sporting environment. I saw evidence of every single item on this list during our hour at Lil’ Kickers.

The hour was broken into about eight sections.

First were introductions: what’s your name, favorite color, favorite sport, etc (i.e. a chance to be the only kid talking). Then the kids played a short game to learn the rules of the class and a few for soccer too.There were massive amounts of noise, then whispering; running, then tiptoeing. The kids put on pretend space suits and flew around counting soccer balls; then

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

sorted dodgeballs by color, then kicked different types of balls to compare resistance. Plus lots and lots of running.

What blew me away was the team building. You don’t see team building taught to toddlers and preschoolers. Yes, we tell them to share and get along, but there isn’t any actual instruction on how to really work together. I used to teach teambuilding to college students and corporate new hires (in my pre-kid life: ), and my jaw dropped when I saw the coach do a classic teambuilding exercise with these kids! Along with the hand-eye skills, the hand-foot skills, the foot-eye coordination you expect from a soccer class, here was an instructor actually TEACHING kids how to work together as a team. I’ve never seen that before in any preschool program, it made my day.

Like I mentioned earlier, the Lil’ Kickers program is divided into different age/skill categories. This shows up on the class schedule as well. There are Mommy/Daddy and me classes for the littlest toddlers (which is unbelievably cute to see).

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Classes are targeted differently to preschoolers than Kindergarteners. Once you get into the elementary age classes they have different options for varying skills levels: Beginner 6-9 year old, Intermediate 6-9, specific skills for each grade, etc.

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and has a structure basic enough to captivate even the youngest enthusiasts. It’s pretty cool to see how Lil’ Kickers have taken the concepts of soccer and used them to purposefully develop learning and life skills. Most of the times the benefits of sports are realized as a byproduct of learning and playing the game; with this approach the skills and benefits ARE the purpose of the program, the sporting is an added bonus.

The Lil’ Kickers program is offered by Lifequest Fitness at 4215 Convention Place in Pasco. If you want to check it out, your first class is free.

There are currently classes on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Tuesday morning classes will begin the first week in January. For more info contact 509-545-5191 or http://lifequestfitness.net.

15

Finding Childcare

That works for YOUR family

Whether both parents work because they want to, or because they have to, once you have kids, childcare becomes a huge part of the employment equation.

Regardless of the particulars surrounding anyone’s decision, we believe that this is a situation which deserves respect all around. Every. Single. Family. Is. Different. Plus, even within the same family, not every season of life has the same childcare solution. Here at Kid’s Play, just with the parents we have on staff, every single one of us has worked full time away from home and needed childcare, we’ve all had a period of time where we were stay-at-home moms, and now all of us work from home with kids in tow. There are perks and challenges to each of the options we’ve experienced.

What worked one year doesn’t necessarily mean it will work the next.

We wanted to cover this topic to give Tri-City parents an idea of some of the options available; like asking your friends “how do you do childcare?” We rounded up a cross section of local parents and asked them to share their opinions. Several of the parents we talked to have experience with multiple providers and can tell about the differences between the situations.

Again- we want to stress that this is a question there is no one right answer to. We support each of these parents in the decisions they have made for their families.

For the purposes of this article we covered seven different types of care, from five different perspectives. We have a mom who uses a home style daycare, one who has grandparents watching the kids, one who used a nanny for years but now has kids in a center style daycare and after school programs, another who used to use a part-time unlicensed in home provider but now has a sister in law watch her baby, and a mom who works the night shift and uses a center style daycare so she can sleep. Keep reading to hear their stories.

Elise is a mom of two, a four year old boy and a two year old girl. She’s a nurse working the night shift at one of the local hospitals. Elise and her family use a center style daycare for both their kids.

Elise’s day is winding down about the time most of us are getting up. Her shift runs from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.. Her husband heads to work about 7 and drops both kids off at daycare on his way to the office.

Elise comes home to a quiet house and is able to get some sleep after a long night’s work. She spends most of the day sleeping and picks up the kids mid afternoon. Elise and the kids hang out until daddy gets home, then they do dinner as a family and she heads back to work.

Editor’s Note: All of these stories are happy ones, but sometimes, despite your best planning, things just don’t work out with a care provider. ( I talk a little more about our family’s story on page 4 in my Editor’s Letter) Challenges can range from something as simple as a personality conflict, to a situation serious enough that it needs reported to the proper authorities.

Our family, unfortunately, has lived through a situation where we needed to report our daycare provider to the state. If you are ever faced with that decision, my word of advice is not to hesitate. If the grievance is such that you would never want another parent to have to stand in your shoesreport it. It is then the state’s job to investigate and determine whether the complaint should go on the caregiver’s permanent record.

I hope you never need this information, but if you ever have to file a complaint against a daycare provider you can do so by calling 1-866- ENDHARM. More information is available on the Department of Early Learning website at http://www.del.wa.gov/care/about/complaints.aspx.

Both licensed and unlicensed caregivers can be investigated for abuse or neglect.

You can check to see if your care provider has any founded complaints by visiting https://apps.del.wa.gov/check/CheckSearch.aspx

Working the night shift was the biggest reason Elise and her family chose to use a care center. They needed someplace that would open early and work with her schedule. Several friends and coworkers had recommended this particular center to her based on their own experience scheduling childcare around night shifts; Elise says it has worked really well for them. Before choosing the center they briefly considered hiring a personal nanny, but decided this option would work better for their family.

The center they chose allows kids as young as six weeks old. Elise took three months of maternity leave with each of her kids, but she says she sees younger babies at the center. (keep reading pg 18)

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

17

Photo by Cleo.tography Elise says the only possible drawback she could think of was the expense- this particular center comes with a pretty steep price tag. It’s one she doesn’t mind paying however, besides the fact that the center works with her schedule, “I didn’t hesitate on the expense- these are the people taking care of my kids, the most important things in my life. I would rather put the money into good childcare than anything else.”

Elise says the most important thing to do when looking for childcare is to visit and interview as many places as you can. The more places you visit, the better feel you will get for each center. Get your list of questions ready beforehand so you can see if this is really going to be a fit for your family.

18

Photo by Media Mason Photo graphy

(Continued from pg 16) This particular center does have a waiting list but Elise reserved a space while still pregnant with each child to guarantee care when she went back to work. The second child was easier to get in since she already had a sibling enrolled, this moved her to the top of the infant waiting list.

Elise’s favorite thing about their daycare center is the environment, “I love that it is focused on preschool style learning… there’s a good mixture of structure and play style learning. The kids have learned a lot.” She also appreciates that the kids get to play with other children their own ages, the center is organized into ages with the different ages/ abilities broken into groups throughout the day.

Her kids still get to mingle and play with each other during the outdoor playtime and arts and crafts projects, but they also get to make friends their own age. Another highlight is the teachers: “The teachers are great, I feel comfortable leaving the kids and don’t feel worried about where they are.”

Holly is mom to two little girls, ages 4 ½ and 9 months. She works in Human Resources for a Hanford contractor. Grandma and Grandpa (Holly’s parents) are retired and watch the girls while both parents work.

Four days a week Holly is out the door for work at 5:30a, she tells the girls goodbye but they’re never awake. Her husband’s work shift can vary, he leaves at either 6:30a or 8:30a, depending on which shift he is working that week. Grandpa and Grandma come over before Dad leaves and hang out at the house until the girls wake up, then sometime after breakfast they all head to the grandparents house, which is on a small farm out of town. On days that the 4 year old has preschool , Grandpa drops her off, then after pickup the whole troop heads out to the farm. That afternoon, if Holly’s husband worked the earlier shift he’s there to get the girls at about 3p. If not then Holly picks them up when she gets off work at 5p. Holly has Fridays off work.

Holly said she never really looked into any other childcare options, it was really important to her that the kids be with a family member. “It gives me a peace of mind knowing that the girls are with my parents. I never have to worry about their safety.

And they’re getting one on one interaction all day.

It’s a huge win all the way around.” When Holly first went back to work with her eldest daughter she had her sister in law watching baby, since her parents were both still working; but when they retired “it was kind of a no-brainer that the kids would go with Grandma and Grandpa.” Holly says she pays her parents for childcare, they’ve said she didn’t need to, but “this way they get some spending money, and I don’t feel like a burden. It’s still way cheaper than any other childcare I could ever find.”

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Holly says that if they didn’t have the option of family watching the girls then either her or her husband would probably stay home.

When Holly had her second daughter she had just changed jobs and didn’t have any PTO or qualify for FMLA, so she went back to work after just 6 weeks. “If it hadn’t been my parents watching the girls I would never have gone back to work that quickly. I’m not sure what we would have done, but I never could have left that little a baby with anyone other than my mom.”

Holly says her parents send her pictures throughout the day of the older daughter “working” with Grandpa in his shop, or feeding the animals, or gardening with Grandma. “It really couldn’t be more perfect for our family. My girls get to spend the majority of the day with people who love them (almost) as much as I do, and they get to do all the things I got to do as a kid.” Holly says they’ve never had any challenges, but she sees how it could lead to a potentially awkward conversation if there were ever anything she didn’t agree with. “But we have a really open relationship, so there’s never been a time where I didn’t feel like I couldn’t speak up about something.”

As far as backup plans go; if there were ever a day that the grandparents weren’t available, then Holly’s Sister in Law would take the girls for the day.

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Amie is mom of two boys ages 9 and 2 ½, she works by day as a contractor for the Dept. of Energy. Amie and her family use a home daycare for their youngest son, and creative scheduling for after school care for the oldest son.

Amie’s normal weekday begins at 3:45a.m., and she’s off to work by 4:30.

Her husband gets the kids up, ready, and off to school/daycare. Amie leaves work at 3:30p, meets her oldest son after he walks home from the bus stop, then gets to spend some one on one time with him and work on homework until her husband gets off work and picks up the younger son from daycare.

Amie’s family has used both family as childcare, and now the home daycare. When their eldest son was born Amie was still earning her degree and working an evening job: their childcare options were limited and they relied on a few hours of family babysitting here and there to make schedules work. With their younger son Amie toured and researched 10 different daycares before making a decision. She went back to work when her youngest son was three months old, and after 1 ½ months with their oldest son.

Home style daycare has worked very well for their family. Amie says that one of the reasons she chose this particular daycare was the small environment, only six kids, and the educational aspect. The daycare provider teaches preschool skills to all the kids together, and lets even the youngest kids join in. Their son, at just 2 ½ can recite his alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes, and properly holds a pencil. “He’s so well behaved, and well rounded, and I give most of that credit to our daycare lady, she has taught him so much.” There are also plenty of creative ideas that her daycare provider comes up with for art projects, and messy kid stuff, and Amie gets multiple picture texts throughout the week. She says their daycare provider always keeps her informed of what is going on and she doesn’t get the feeling of “missing out” on the things he’s doing and learning during the day.

Another reason Amie chose home style daycare was the socialization aspect: “with our oldest he was with just an adult, no other kids, so there wasn’t anyone to play with, his sitter let him do his own thing. He was cared for, but it wasn’t ideal. Plus they (the sitter) had their own ways of doing things and I didn’t get the input I would have liked.” Now, their youngest loves to read (because his love of reading gets reinforced at home AND at daycare), has excellent verbal and social skills, and loves daycare because all his friends are there.

The only downside she says they’ve experienced from the home style daycare is that there isn’t a back-up option. If the daycare owner gets sick or goes on vacation (there are two contracted weeks off every year), then either Amie or her husband have to take the time off or rely on a friend/relative for help for the day. “Otherwise I can’t think of any negatives.”

Amie says the biggest factor to the success they’ve experienced with their home daycare is doing their research beforehand, and finding a provider their whole family “clicks” with.

Photo by Chele Holden

19

Photo by Daisy Digital Photo graphy

Marisa is a mom of two little girls, ages 4 and 7. She owns her own business and works in software development. Marisa and her family use two different childcare options- a full time preschool/daycare for their youngest, and on-site before/after school care for their oldest daughter. They’ve been using this structure for the past 2 ½ years, before which they employed a full time nanny to work in their home.

Marisa’s schedule starts about 5 o’clock(ish). She gets up and gets her day started, then wakes the girls up at 6:15, the whole family is out the door at 6:45. She drops her daughters off at their respective childcare locations on her way into the office. Her husband picks the girls up about 4 when he gets off work, Marisa joins the family at home about 5:30.

Marisa first went back to work when their oldest daughter was six months old. Her previous job contract had ended on her due date, and while she hadn’t originally planned on taking six months off, that was how long it took her to find another job.

When she was researching childcare for a newborn she was struck with how few options were available “most childcare providers won’t take a baby, and the ones that would had waiting lists a mile long.” Frustration with a lack of options was what eventually led them to hiring their own nanny. The nanny was great, and worked wonderfully for several years until she moved away in 2013.

This led Marisa and her family to research all their options all over again, but this time the youngest daughter was a toddler and the oldest an almost kindergartener.

They had originally signed the girls up for a daycare that would keep both kids together, but Marisa says she never felt fully comfortable with the decision, something seemed “off.” She trusted her gut and cancelled their application.

She re-researched her options again, but as two separate searches- one for each girl.

Surprisingly they were able to get an immediate spot at a daycare known for super long wait lists. Then they discovered another option for after school care for their oldest daughter. It has worked out very well. Both girls love their teachers.

Marisa says the teachers at both locations go so far above and beyond, “you can tell they really love the kids.”

Care and affection are the biggest piece of the puzzle for Marisa. “I want my kids to be at a place where the people really love my kid; with people who treat them the way I would treat them. It’s hard enough to go back to work, making sure my kids are loved while I’m away is what makes working possible.”

20

Marisa says there are pros and cons to both having a nanny, and using a center style daycare. Having the one on one interaction with just one caretaker was great for the girls, and having someone who could drive the eldest daughter to and from preschool allowed them to go with a preschool option that otherwise wouldn’t have been feasible (a 9a-noon preschool program is very difficult/ pretty much impossible for full time working parents). Marisa went back to work 7 ½ weeks after their youngest daughter was bornknowing that she had to save her leave for later that year when their baby needed an essential surgery. Going back to work that soon, and going back to work after the surgery, both would have been impossible if they hadn’t had someone in their own home taking care of the girls. When their eldest child went to a full day kindergarten, Marisa says she was worried about the lack of (child) interaction her youngest daughter would have received if they had hired another nanny.

It’s also hard to scramble to find an alternative if the nanny ever calls in sick- though it is nice to have a nanny if your kid just has minor sniffles and is “too sick” for school, but not really sick enough for a parent to stay home.

The biggest challenge Marisa faces with the current, center-style, daycare are sick days. Both girls’ daycares have pretty strict sickness policies (understandable).

But if a working parent stays home every time a kid has a runny nose that PTO bank will run out pretty quickly. And for Marisa, being self employed “my work schedule is pretty flexible if I need to take a day off, but if I take time off I don’t get paid.” So, catch 22. With no family nearby, Marisa’s husband usually uses his PTO to take the day with the girls if he needs too, but “we don’t have a lot of options.”

So what’s Marisa’s advice on finding childcare? Go with your gut. Make sure you are completely comfortable with your choice. “Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions.” Watch the potential caregivers interact with your kids, if they aren’t head over heels for your children, then keep looking. And hiring a nanny isn’t as complicated and scary as it sounds- time consuming yes, but not necessarily scary. “Do a google search for things like interview questions or how to file your nanny’s tax forms.” Marisa and her husband used Care.com and coupled it with their own driving record check. And “have some flexibility in your search. What we ended up with wasn’t what we originally planned for… but it worked out to be the best. We set aside what we thought was going to happen, and went with what was best for our family.”

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

phy Photo by Aga O’Neil Photogra Sharon is a mom of a baby boy who just turned one.

She and her husband recently announced that baby #2 will be here in May. Sharon works as a Guidance Counselor at one of the local High Schools. Sharon and her family have used an out-of-home babysitter and now have a family member watching their son on the days/times both her and her husband work.

Sharon’s schedule is pretty set, but her husband’s work schedule varies quite a bit. Her husband works as a Youth Pastor for a local church so he works 3 days in the office, and the rest of his schedule is nights and weekends. Sharon’s Sister in Law watches the baby at Sharon’s house for three days and then dad is home with baby the other two days.

Sharon wakes up the baby in the morning and feeds him before she leaves for work at 7. Her husband or Sister in Law brings baby to the school during her lunch break so she can nurse him. Sharon is back home about 3p.m..

Sharon went back to work when her son was 3 months old, and used a sitter for the next four months (until school let out for the summer). They used a caregiver who watched the baby in her own home. The sitter was also watching a (slightly older) baby of a good friend of theirs- which is how they heard of this particular caregiver. The biggest reason they went with this option was their schedule; since they only needed care from 7a-3p, 3 days a week, and just for the school year, a traditional daycare really wasn’t an option. Sharon hadn’t been able to find a local center or home style daycare that would take a part-time/ temporary infant. Even finding a babysitter proved to be a challenge: “What I was originally looking for was a stay at home mom I could trust and could hire to watch him. We had one lined up and it fell through Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

about halfway through my maternity leave.”

When school let out for the year Sharon was home with the baby for the summer.

When the school year began again their sitter was no longer available and Sharon was running out of options- so they worked out a schedule with their Sister in Law to watch baby at Sharon’s house. The Sister in Law had previously worked as a nanny and committed to watching the baby through the current school year. Sharon says the way they made it work was to approach it like any other job and set up expectations beforehand.

“It can be tricky with a relative, but we set this up as a business arrangement from the beginning, and I think that helped. I pay her just like we did the sitter, and she takes care of my son just like she would have any of the kids she nannied before.”

The biggest perk to this arrangement is the level of trust between parents and caregivers, and knowing that the baby is building a bond with a family member. The hardest part is setting up the “work” vs. “non-work” boundary. Sharon says: “I think it’s hard for her (the Sister in Law) in the fact that this nephew is her ‘job.’ Her other nephews she goes and spends time with because she wants to, this nephew she HAS to. I worry that it makes her less likely to want to spend time with him (and us) on her off-time.”

And the back-up plan? Sharon says they really don’t have one. If for some reason their Sister in Law isn’t available, then her husband will have to try to get the day off or see if the baby can tag along to a youth event (the youth kids actually kind of love this). Sharon and her husband haven’t decided what they will do when the new baby arrives- “this whole thing was a bit of a surprise so we’re still figuring that out.”

Sharon’s advice: Don’t be afraid to ask your employer what they’re willing to do to help make your schedule a bit easier. Most employers are profamily and willing to work with you to make the transition back to work a little easier; especially if it means the difference between keeping a good employee or having to hire a replacement.

Thank you to these five families for sharing their stories! All different perspectives, all different options, all making the choice that works best for their family.

We think Marisa put it best when she says: ““have some flexibility in your search. What we ended up with wasn’t what we originally planned for… but it worked out to be the best.”

Keep your options open, and you’ll figure out what works for YOU! 21

Giving Hope

In Richland & throughout the world

In 2013 Ryan Welch was sitting on a commuter flight when his future logo flashed into his head. Ryan and his wife, Crissy, had just begun the legwork of starting a company that they hoped would make a difference in the world. This new logo became the spearhead for that goal. Since then the word HiM, meaning “I am in Him” (a reference to the Welch’s Christian faith), has become a symbol of what they hoped to do, and have accomplished, with their business Hope Outfitters. (Original logo is shown on the wall in the back of the store photo below) Hope Outfitters in a nutshell is a company that sells branded merchandise and invests all of its profits back into the larger community. Their website and local storefront feature items like t-shirts/sweatshirts, kid’s clothes, hats, water bottles, bumper stickers, etc. Every four months Ryan, Crissy, and their team pick a new cause and design a campaign around that mission. In just a few short years Hope Outfitters has made a big difference, both here in the Tri-Cities and around the world! Some of the campaigns they’ve featured are:

“SOLD” – a campaign to offer help and hope to victims of human trafficking. Hope Outfitters first cam-

22

paign raised money to put specially wrapped bars of soap in all the hotel rooms in the Tri-Cities. On those wrappers was a phone number that victims of human trafficking could call for help. The first weekend all the bars of soap were distributed (Boat Race weekend 2013) three young girls called the hotline (rescue specifics are confidential, and we weren’t able to find any more details, but we know that three girls here in the Tri-City area reached out for help).

Heart For The Fatherless - an organization that provides grants to help Tri-City families with adoption expenses (this organization was also featured here in Kid’s Play Magazine last issue). All the money raised from the HFTF Hope campaign stayed right here in the Tri-Cities and helped local families cover the costs of international and domestic adoptions.

Save the Storks- an organization which outfits mobile ultrasound offices around the country in an effort to support high risk pregnancies. This Hope campaign was originally intended to bring an ultrasound bus to the Tri-Cities. After some logistical challenges arose the funds have been earmarked for a traveling bus to benefit the Pacific Northwest.

Royal Family Kids Camp- an organization that provides once in a lifetime summer camp experiences to foster kids who have been severely abused and neglected. (Royal Family was also the subject of a story in Kid’s Play Magazine in Summer 2013- There are two camps organized here in the Tri-Cities). This is the Hope campaign still featured in their store and on the website (Through January). *Coming in February 2016- a campaign to raise funds to build a home in Cambodia for former human trafficking victims. More details about this campaign will be released in February when the fundraising begins.

In addition to the major campaigns and causes Hope Outfitters supports, they’ve also featured smaller, local causes as well. This past summer (2015) they helped raise funds to support the family of Sean McClintock (the Pasco skateboarder who was assaulted and spent over a month in the hospital). A few years ago when a local girl, Cassidy Almquist, was paralyzed in a camp accident Hope Outfitters raised funds for Cassidy’s family as well. Cassidy now works as part of the Hope Outfitters social media team!

To date Hope Outifitters has raised and donated over $150,000.

Social media is an important part of all the Hope campaigns- their new causes are released with a youtube video, promoted on their facebook, instagram, and twitter accounts, and added to pinterest. This helps to drive the global reach of the campaign.

Crissy shared that 90% of their sales come from outside the Tri-Cities through their website www.HopeOutfitters.com. The remaining 10% of their business is supported by the new storefront (opened Fall 2015) in the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland.

Once you recognize the HiM logo you’ll start to see all over the Tri-Cities, there are thousands of local cars sporting the Hope Outfitters logo.

Every logo, every t-shirt, every hat, every water bottle- all of it supports the mission of sharing hope and making the world a better place.

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

The business was originally started with the name “I am in Him” as referenced by the first logo. In summer of 2014 they changed the name to Hope Outfitters to encompass their total mission.

You can visit the Hope Outfitters storefront at 1341 E George Washington Way, Richland.

Or check out the website at www.hopeoutfitters.com

23

Tri- City Family Event Calendar

Want to add an event to our calendar? Email us at Info@KidsPlayTC.com or tell us on facebook.com/kidsplaytc

Recurring Events:

(These events happen every week)

Mondays

-Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-6, MCGA Cheer Gym, 8382 Gage Blvd. Kennewick, $5 -Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11:15a, West Richland Branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) -Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-12, MCGA Gymnastics Gym, 1523 Fowler St. Richland, $5 -Preschool Storytime, 11-11:30a, West Pasco Branch of MCL Home School Skate at Toyota Arena, 2:15-3:45p, $5 for the first 2 children and $2 for each additional child, (double check before heading out, sometimes the rink gets closed for hockey practices) -Storytime, 6-6:30p, Keewaydin Park Branch of MCL

Tuesdays

-Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-6, MCGA Cheer Gym, 8382 Gage Blvd. Kennewick, $5 -Barnes and Noble Story Time, 10-10:30a, Columbia Center Mall -Preschool Story Time, 10a, Ages 3-5, Richland Library -Storytime with Ms. Maryska, 10-10:30a, Kennewick MCL Branch -Storytime, 11-11:30am, Keewaydin Park Branch of MCL -Music Storytime, 11-11:30a, West Pasco Branch of MCL -Bilingual Storytime, 5:30-6:15p, Pasco Branch of MCL

Wednesdays

-Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-6, MCGA Cheer Gym, 8382 Gage Blvd. Kennewick, $5 -Baby Story Time, 10a, Ages 16 mo. & younger, Richland Library -Preschool Storytime, 11-11:30a, West Pasco Branch of MCL -Bilingual Preschool Hour, 10:30-11:15a, Pasco Branch of MCL -Indoor Playground, noon-1:30p, ages 0-12, MCGA Gymnastics Gym, 1523 Fowler St. Richland, $5 -Paws to Read, 3-4p, West Richland Branch of MCL

Thursdays

-Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-6, MCGA Cheer Gym, 8382 Gage Blvd. Kennewick, $5 -Storytime with Ms. Marta, 10-10:30a, Kennewick Branch of MCL -Bilingual Storytime, 5:30-6:15p, Pasco Branch of MCL

24

Fridays

-Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-6, MCGA Cheer Gym, 8382 Gage Blvd. Kennewick, $5 -Indoor Playground, 10-11:30a, ages 0-12, MCGA Gymnastics Gym, 1523 Fowler St. Richland, $5 -Toddler Story Time, 10-10:30a & 11-11:30a, Ages 1 ½-3, Richland Library -Baby/Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11:15a, West Richland Branch of MCL -Carousel of Dreams, 11a-7p, $3 per ride, 2901 Southridge Blvd.

Kennewick -Open Gym, 7-8:30p, Ages 5-12, MCGA Gymnastics Gym, 1523 Fowler St. Richland, $5 per child -Planetarium Show/Movie, 7 & 8p, Planetarium at the Pasco CBC Campus

Saturdays

-Family Storytime, 10-10:30a, Kennewick Branch of MCL -Family Storytime, 11-11:30a, West Pasco Branch of MCL -Carousel of Dreams, 11a-7p, $3 per ride, 2901 Southridge Blvd.

Kennewick -Planetarium Show/Movie, 2 & 3p, Planetarium at the Pasco CBC Campus

Sundays

-Carousel of Dreams, 11a-7p, $3 per ride, 2901 Southridge Blvd.

Kennewick -TRAC Ice Pavilion in Pasco is open for public skates on most Sundays from 4-6p from October through early March. The cost is $5 per person or $10 for families. This cost includes skates, but supplies are limited and are handed out first come-first serve. Visit www.traconline.com/ice-rink.php to confirm the actual public skate dates.

More December Fun:

-Art Exhibit: Departures by Richard Nicksic, free and open to the public from December 1 – December 10, Gallery Hours are Monday-Thursday 8a-8:30p and Friday 8a-noon, CBC Theatre is located at 2600 N. 20th Ave. Pasco -Senske Showcase of Lights, nightly in December from 5pmidnight, about 340,000 lights are synchronized to five classic Christmas songs playing in a continuous loop, be sure to tune your car stereo to 101.7 FM and enjoy the awesome display!

Also, don’t forget that they partner with 2nd Harvest this time of year and have bins set up out front to accept your donations.

Senske Corporate Office at 410 N. Quay St, on the corner of Deschutes and Quay in Kennewick.

-Centennial Flag Plaza in Historic Downtown Kennewick (corner or Benton and Kennewick Ave.) will host Public Ice Skating Rink for the Holiday Season again this year. The rink will be open December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20. Skating sessions will be from 11a-1p, 3p-5p & 6p-8p. Admission will be $2 per session with your own skates, skate rentals will be available for $4.

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

The Rest of the Calendar: Tuesday, December 1 -CBC Choir and Orchestra Concert, 7p, CBC Theatre Wednesday, December 2 -Picture Frame Wreath, 4-6p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $15 and you can pre-register online at scraptri-cities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick Thursday, December 3 -Lego Club, 4-5pm, Kids ages 6-12, Calling all builders!

Drop in and build your own creations based on a monthly theme! Legos are provided by the library, but donations of Legos are always welcomed, West Richland Branch of MCL -WINTERFEST, 5-8p, Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, This will be an old fashioned evening of holiday shopping, participating businesses will be providing treats for their shoppers in addition to sales, specials, and more!

Plus you will be able to enjoy the Central United Protestant Choir and luminaries outside of participating store fronts and at 6p the holiday classic movie White Christmas will be playing free of charge at the Uptown Theater. For info visit www.shopuptown.com -First Thursday Art Walk, 5-9p, Historic Downtown Kennewick, Enjoy art and meet the artists in a family friendly environment. Visit multiple locations marked by colorful balloons - in an 8 city block area from Dayton St. east to Washington St. and from W. Canal Dr. south to W. First Ave. Stay up to date by liking Kennewick Art Walk on Facebook.

-Fall Jazz Night, 7p, CBC Theatre, An evening of great jazz music covering a wide variety of eras and styles, featuring Freeform, under the direction of Dave Cazier, and the CBC Jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Bryant Smith.

Friday, December 4 -Christmas Trees on the Farm at Bill’s Berry Farm, 10a-7p.

Fresh cut Christmas trees, handmade wreaths or garlands.

Caroling hayride, pet the goats Gus and Gertie, enjoy a bonfire with hot cocoa or cider and vanilla sugar donuts. 3674 N. County Line Road, Grandview.

-Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting, 6p, Due to construction in John Dam Plaza, the tree lighting will be held in Howard Amon Park. Join us during this magical time of year and enjoy festivities for all ages. Outside at Howard Amon Park you can enjoy: the Lighted Boat Parade, Warming Fire by the Lee Blvd. Dock, Santa House with Santa, Grinch, Olaf and an elf too! Horse Drawn Carriage Ride Vendor, and Food Vendors. Inside the Richland Community Center you can enjoy: Model Railroad Display, Mid-Columbia Ballet Nutcracker Excerpt & Photo Opportunity, The Rude Mechanicals - Shakespeare Inspired Theatre, Master Singers, Bingo with Santa’s Elf and a Holiday Movie. 500 Amon Park Dr., Richland, for info visit www.richlandparksandrec.com -Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, The parade starts at 6p at Clover Island. It will travel up river on the Kennewick side along Columbia Park. At around 7:30p, they turn around at the far end of Howard Amon Park in Richland and travel back down river on the same course. They arrive back at Clover Island Marina around 9p.

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

-All Ages Snowflake Ornament, 4-6p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $5 and you can pre-register online at scraptri-cities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick -2nd Annual Sunnyside Kids Lighted Christmas Parade, 6p, parade starts across from Fashion Corner, routes down S. 6th St., turns around at Navarro’s and finishes at Centennial Square. Santa, Mrs. Claus, raffle drawings for prizes, cocoa, chili dogs, caroling and more, for more info visit www.sunnysideeventscomittee.org -Forté Christmas Variety Show, 7p, Kamiakin High School Auditorium, 600 N. Arthur St. Kennewick, Admission is $10 Adults, $8 Students/Seniors and can be purchased at the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet & Music or online at www.yourtcyc.com -A Holiday Concert presented by Mid-Columbia Mastersingers Women’s Choir & Mid-Columbia Boys’ Choir, 7:30p, Central United Protestant Church, Richland Saturday, December 5 -Badger Mtn. Elementary 34th Annual Holiday Bazaar, 8a-4p, over 100 crafters with unique handmade items, performances from the Badger’s Kids of Steel band and the school’s choir, fresh baked goodies, mini donuts, coffee and cider. Admission is $3 but if you bring a Coat for Kids donation you will receive $1 off admission, Kids 12 and under are FREE with a paid adult admission, 1515 Elementary Street, Richland -Kid’s Workshop at The Home Depot- 9a-noon, ages 5-12, a “hands on” “how to” craft workshop at the Richland and Kennewick location, All kids get to keep their craft which will be holiday stacking blocks, and they will receive a free Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement -10th Annual Alliance Holiday Bazaar, 9a-4p, over 50 vendors, free admission, a full baked potato bar, bake sale, silent auction, and a fun zone for kids, Richland Alliance Church, 1400 Sanford St., for more information please email allianceholidaybazaar@gmail.com -All Ages Cork Reindeer Class, 3-6p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $5 and you can pre-register online at scraptri-cities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick

25

Saturday, December 5(Continued) -Confection Selection & Gift Emporium, 9:30a-noon, homemade candies, cookies breads, pies, fudge, truffles, and many other delectable treats will be available for sale, “by the pound, not the plate.” Buy one piece or many; you can create platters and gift boxes for family, friends, and holiday parties. Grace United Reformed Church, 2500 W. 4th Ave. Kennewick -Christmas Trees on the Farm at Bill’s Berry Farm (See December 4 for full details) -Merry Little Christmas Village, 10a-5p, Enjoy a hometown nostalgic holiday in Historic Downtown Kennewick with ice skating, hayrides, kids activities, holiday gift sales and more! Start at the JC Penney building (127 W. Kennewick Ave.) to get a map of activities and special attractions. In this enchanting winter wonderland you can enjoy pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Polar Express readings, games and activities, wreath making, giving trees, gift wrapping and Santa’s Gift Shop -- a “store” where kids can buy loved ones gifts for less than $2 (proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties - Music & Arts Center.

26

Saturday, December 5(Continued Again) -Winter Wonderland (Continues), 5p, See December 4 for full details of what’s happening outside in Howard Amon Park, plus tonight you can enjoy the movie The Polar Express on a Giant Outdoor Movie Screen sponsored by Kristian Chavez, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. Inside the Richland Community Center tonight you can enjoy: Bouncy Land, Model Railroad Display, Bingo with Santa’s Elf and Holiday Crafts.

500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, for more information please visit www.richlandparksandrec.com -27th Annual Lighted Farm Implement Parade in Sunnyside, 6p, This is Northwest’s premier lighted parade since 1989 with more than 50 lighted farm implements and vehicles, 6th & Edison - Downtown Sunnyside, for more information please visit www.sunnysidechamber.com -Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (See December 4 for full details) A Holiday Concert presented by MidColumbia Mastersingers Women’s Choir & Mid-Columbia Boys’ Choir, 7:30p, Central United Protestant Church, Richland -The Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas Night Out” Concert, 7:30p, Toyota Center, Kennewick

Sunday, December 6 – First Day of Hanukkah -Pet Over Population Prevention presents Santa Paws, drop by from 1-4p and get your pet’s photo taken with Santa, $20 gets you 2 5x7’s, 524B Warehouse St. Richland, for more information please visit www. popptricities.org -’Twas the Light Before Christmas Advent Play, 6:45-8:30p, there will be Christmas treats, ornament making, games, a photo booth and more, Kennewick First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W. Kennewick Ave. -Caring Santa Photo Event, 8:30-10a, Columbia Center Mall, Caring Santa provides a subdued and welcoming environment for children with special needs and their families to visit Santa Monday, December 7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day -Santa’s Village at Sunset, noon-5p, photos with Santa, vendors available for holiday shopping, gift-wrapping, and refreshments, all proceeds go directly to the charity, 915 Bypass Highway Richland, for more information please visit www.sunsetgardenstricities.com -It’s a Cupcake Decorating Party! 3:304:30p, there will be frosting, sprinkles and candy for you to create your own masterpiece. $2 (Resident) $2.50 (Non-Resident), Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, for more information please call 509-942-7529 Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Wednesday, December 9 -Free Car Seat Inspections, 10a-2p, presented by Safe Kids Benton-Franklin, held at Washington State Patrol 143302 E Law Lane in Kennewick, by appointment only, call 509-734-7034 (option 5) -Ornament Making, 3:30-4:30p, Make simple ornaments that you can take home. $2 (Resident) $2.50 (Non-Resident), Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, for more info call 509-942-7529 -A Celtic Christmas Concert, featuring Affiniti, a women’s trio (soprano, harp, violin) from Dublin, with a special appearance

by Howard Crosby (nephew of Bing Crosby). This concert will benefit the Arts Center Task Force and their mission to bring the Vista Arts Center to our region. Children 8 and up only please, 7p, The Uptown Theatre, Richland, Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and available at www.acelticchristmas.brownpapertickets.com Thursday, December 10 -Polymer Clay Jewelry, 5-7p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $25 and you can pre-register online at scraptricities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick -A Christmas Carol-A Radio Dramatization, 7p, A familiar story told as a radio drama onstage, complete with sound effects and music, admission ranges from $7-$10 depending on age, Pasco High School Auditorium, 1108 North 10th Ave. Friday, December 11 -Christmas Trees on the Farm at Bill’s Berry Farm (See December 4 for full details) -Tri-Cities Steel Band Association Annual Christmas Concert, 6:30p, $5, Steel drum and marimba music featuring Bram Brata, OK 2 Botay, Bahuru, and Baduku playing a mix of classics, modern songs, and Christmas favorites, Caribbean and African style!

Chief Joseph Middle School, 504 Wilson St. Richland -The Nutcracker, 7p, The Mid-Columbia Ballet is happy to present this timeless holiday tradition! Adults $25, Students & Seniors $18, Children $13, Richland High School Auditorium, to purchase tickets please call 509-946-5417, stop by The Dance Boutique, or visit www.midcolumbiaballet.org -A Christmas Carol-A Radio Dramatization, 7pm (See December 10 for full details) Saturday, December 12 -Arc Holiday Bazaar, 9a-4p, Gifts, Goodies, and Fun! Plus, Jessica Hendrickson Photography will be doing holiday photos for a donation to benefit the Arc, 1455 Fowler St. Richland -Christmas Trees on the Farm at Bill’s Berry Farm (See December 4 for full details) -Gingerbread House Workshop for Kids, 1-2:30p, Celebrate the season by making your own Gingerbread House! This class encourages creative little chefs to design and decorate their own pre-baked (pre-made structure) gingerbread house. Everyone loves the endless decorating options, from frosted candy roofs to pretzel picket fences. Bring one bag of candy. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Class# 10299, $10 (Resident) $12.50 (Non-Resident), Richland Community Center, Arts & Crafts Room, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, for more information please call 509-942-7529 -The Nutcracker, 2p & 7p (See December 11 for full details) -A Christmas Carol-A Radio Dramatization, 2pm (See December 10 for full details) Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Saturday, December 12(Continued) -Family Workshop at the REACH, Ornament Making & the Study of Polymer Science, noon-2p, pre-registration is required, you can register by calling 509-943-4100 ext. 114, $8 Adults, $6 Seniors/Students, Children 5 and under and members are free, The REACH, Richland -Benton City 12th Annual Winterfest, Santa Run and Reindeer Trot at 9a, Winterfest Craft bazaar at Ki-Be High school from 9a- 2p, Lighted parade begins at Ki-Be Middle School at 5p, followed by tree lighting ceremony in City Park with cookies and cocoa for all -LIGO Hanford Second-Saturday Public Tours, 1:30-3:30p, enjoy a free, all ages welcomed, drop-in tour of our local gravitational wave observatory, your LIGO host will provide a presentation about LIGO’s research and will conduct a walking tour of the observatory, including a visit to the control room, LIGO Hanford Observatory, 127124 N. Route 10, Richland, for more information please visit www.ligo.caltech.edu/WA -Burbank Library Open House & Silent Auction, 3-5p, there will be potluck appetizers, desserts, hot cider & coffee along with a silent auction, bake sale & activities for the children. Funds raised will be used to sponsor additional children’s & community programs presented by the library. Burbank Library, 130 S. Lake Rd. Burbank, for more information call 509- 545-6549 -Family Bingo, 3-5p, Turn off the electronics and join us for some old fashion family bingo. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each game. $2 per person, Games Room at the Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland -”From a Distant Land” - A Hand Bell Concert, 7p, Bells of the Desert, the Tri-Cities’ premier hand bell ensemble, invites you to enjoy their annual Christmas concert music from around the world, refreshments are provided, admittance is free-but donations are appreciated, West Side Church’s South Chapel, 603 Wright Ave. Richland Sunday, December 13 -The Nutcracker, 2p (See December 11 for full details) -Annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony, 7p, for all who have lost a child or the friends & family of those who have lost a child of any age. Families are encouraged to arrive early (6:30p) and bring a remembrance of their child. There will be light refreshments before and after the service. Events at Sunset, 915 Bypass Highway, the entrance is located off Highway 240 at Swift Blvd. Richland, for info visit www.sunsetgardenstricities.com -Pet Photos with Santa, 7-9p, Columbia Center Mall, Finally your furry family members get a chance to have a commemorative photo with Santa, please use the Sears Mall entrance Monday, December 14 – Hanukkah Ends Wednesday, December 16 -Trios Health Auxiliary Book Sale, 8a-4p, Shop a wide assortment of books for all ages at great prices and just in time for holiday gift giving. Cash or credit cards accepted. Trios Care Center Lobby at Vista Field 521 Young Street, Kennewick Thursday, December 17 -Trios Health Auxiliary Book Sale, 8a-4p, Shop a wide assortment of books for all ages at great prices and just in time for holiday gift giving. Cash or credit cards accepted. Trios Care Center at Southridge in Conference Room A, Lower Level, 3730 Plaza Way, Kennewick

27

Thursday, December 17(Continued) -Elementary Adventures, 4-5p, Join in this month to explore the “Beast Quest” and “Rainbow Fairies” books, Learn more about these fun and popular books through games and activities, Big fans and those new to the series are welcome, West Richland Branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries -Christmas Sing-Along, 7p, Bob and Missy from Sagebrush Sounds will lead us singing favorite Christmas Carols like Rudolph and Frosty and more, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr. Friday, December 18 -Trios Health Auxiliary Book Sale, 8a-4p, Shop a wide assortment of books for all ages at great prices and just in time for holiday gift giving. Cash or credit cards accepted. Trios Family Health Center (Auburn) in the Battelle Rooms, Lower Level, 203 W. 8th, Kennewick -All Ages Snowman Craft, 3-5p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $5 and you can pre-register online at scraptri-cities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick -Winter Ice Magic - Frozen in Time, A Holiday Show On Ice, 6:30p, Local figure skaters and a featured guest skating couple will highlight both classic holiday favorites and some new fun pieces, there will also be a special visit from Elsa and Anna, $10/ adult and $5/child, tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster or at the Toyota Center Box Office, for more information please call 509-737-3718 or 509-737-3737 -A Big Band Christmas, 7p, CBC Theatre, Be prepared for a spectacular evening from one of the few professional big bands in the Northwest! Aside from great big band music, this year’s show will feature talented vocalists from our area singing variety of holiday selections accompanied by the jazz orchestra!

28

Saturday, December 19 -Lampson Cable Bridge Run, A wonderful Tri-Cities Holiday tradition! Dress up in the holiday spirit or just dress warm; either way you can participate in the race option that is bested suited for you, 1 Mile, 5K or 10K. Race starts at 9a, for more information or to register please visit pascoparksandrec.com or call 509-545-3456 -All Ages Clothes Pin Nutcracker Workshop, 3-5p, all materials and basic instruction provided, Cost is $5 and you can pre-register online at scraptri-cities.org, SCRAP Tri-Cities, 323 W 1st Ave, Kennewick -A Big Band Christmas (See December 18 for full details) -Desert Plateau Neighborhood Luminaria, 6p.- The Desert Hills neighborhood(off Rd 44 and Desert Plateau Dr. in Pasco) will light over 25,000 candles to create a walkable winter masterpiece. Parking is available at the east side of Horizon by McGee Elementary.

For more information visit www.desertplateauluminary.com Sunday, December 20 -Miracle on 34th Street, Show times at 2 & 7p, Regal Cinemas at Columbia Center Mall, Kennewick Monday, December 21 -STEAMKids, 1-3p, Drop in to play with LEGOs, foam blocks and other construction toys, there will also be art projects, hands on activities and games for all ages, preschoolers must be accompanied by an adult, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr. Wednesday, December 23 -Miracle on 34th Street, Show times at 2 & 7p, Regal Cinemas at Columbia Center Mall, Kennewick Friday, December 25 –

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 29 -Academy of Children’s Theater Winter Workshop 1, 2nd-5th graders, 10a-3p, play theatre games, do a little improv, and work with your friends on a skit to present at the end of the day. Please bring a sack lunch. Cost is $45. For more information or to register please visit academyofchildrenstheatre.org Wednesday, December 30 -Academy of Children’s Theater Winter Workshop 2, 6th-12th graders, play theatre games, do a little improv, and work with your friends on a skit to present at the end of the day. Please bring a sack lunch. Cost is $45. For more information or to register please visit academyofchildrenstheatre.org Wednesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve -20th Annual First Night Tri-Cities, an all-ages, alcohol-free celebration of our community to ring in the New Year with hands-on activities, stage shows and interactive displays from 5pm-midnight.

Then at midnight the fireworks and ball drop begin outside, Adults (13+) $12, Youth (6-12) $6, and Kids ages 5 and under are free, Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick, for more infoand tickets visit www.firstnighttricities.com Sunday, January 1 – New Year’s Day and State Parks’ First Day Hikes - No Discover Pass necessary to visit any Washington State Park today. So go out there and ENJOY! Saturday, January 2 -Kid’s Workshop at The Home Depot- 9a-noon, ages 5-12, a “hands on” “how to” craft workshop at the Richland and Kennewick location, All kids get to keep their craft and receive a free Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Thursday, January 7 -Winter Fun, 3:45p, Enjoy some wintry stories followed by some snowy crafts to make and take home, preschoolers must be accompanied by adults, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr. -Lego Club, 4-5pm, Kids ages 6-12, Calling all builders! Drop in and build your own creations based on a monthly theme! Legos are provided by the library, but donations of Legos are always welcomed, event takes place at the West Richland Branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries Saturday, January 9 -The Urban Greenbelt Trail Hike, 8:30am, A volunteer led, 4 mile walk will follow Richland’s Urban Greenbelt Trail (UGT), an urban path that encircles the central city. Along the way, you’ll hear about the city’s history and look at pictures of Richland in earlier days. Hikes are weather permitting. Please check the Richland Parks and Recreation website or Facebook page to confirm. Meet in front of the Richland Community Center. Building does not open until 9.

-Family Workshop at the REACH, Intermodal Transportation: Boats, Planes, Cars and Trains, noon-2p, pre-registration is required, you can register by calling 509-943-4100 ext. 114, $8 Adults, $6 Seniors/Students, Children 5 and under and members are free, The REACH, Richland -Encore presentation of “From a Distant Land” - A Hand Bell Concert, 3p (See December 12 for full details) -Family Bingo, 3-5p, Turn off the electronics and join us for some old fashion family bingo. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each game. $2 per person, Games Room at the Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland Wednesday, January 13 -Free Car Seat Inspections, 10a-2p, presented by Safe Kids Benton-Franklin, held at Washington State Patrol 143302 E Law Lane in Kennewick, by appointment only, for an appointment please call 509-734-7034 (option 5)

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16

Monday, January 18 - Martin Luther King Day - No Discover Pass necessary to visit any Washington State Park today.

So go out there and ENJOY! -Disney Junior Live presents Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic, 4p and 7p, Yakima Valley Sundome, for more information on the show or to purchase tickets please visit www. disneyjuniorlive.com Monday, January 25 – Opposite Day! Friday, January 29 -Tri-Cities Family Expo, noon-8p, TRAC, Pasco. Tri-Cities Family Expo presents “When You Wish Upon A Star”. You are invited to come dressed as your favorite Disney character!

Free parking for this retail family event featuring more than 100 vendors with products and services for children and their families. Admittance fee gets you in for both days. $5 Adults, $3 Senior Citizens and Military personnel, $1 Children (ages 3-17), Children 3 and younger are free. For more information please visit www.tcfamilyexpo.com Saturday, January 30 -Tri-Cities Family Expo, 10a-5p (See January 29 for full details) -Mid-Columbia Mastersingers welcomes The Ensemble, 7:30p, St. Joseph’s Chapel, Kennewick Sunday, January 31 – Backward Day! -Mid-Columbia Symphony presents A Season of Symphonies, NATIONALISM, this is the third concert in a series of five, 3p, Richland High School Auditorium, for more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.midcolumbiasymphony.org Thursday, February 4 -Lego Club, 4-5pm, Kids ages 6-12, Calling all builders! Drop in and build your own creations based on a monthly theme! Legos are provided by the library, but donations of Legos are always welcomed, event takes place at the West Richland Branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries Friday, February 5 -20th Annual Father Daughter Ball, “Platinum & Pearls”, presented by Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities, 7-10p, to be held at the TRAC in Pasco, Admission is $35 per father and all daughters are free, Tickets go on sale in January and will be available at TRAC, Calvary Chapel, Tri-City Bible Bookstore, Dawson Richards Tuxedo or online at www.fatherdaughterballcctc.com

29

Saturday, February 6 -Kid’s Workshop at The Home Depot- 9anoon, ages 5-12, a “hands on” “how to” craft workshop at the Richland and Kennewick location, All kids get to keep their craft and receive a free Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement -Block Play, 10a-noon, Celebrate “Take Your Child to the Library Day”, there will be foam blocks and other games and activities for kids of various ages, preschoolers must be accompanied by an adult, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr. -20th Annual Father Daughter Ball (See February 5 for full details) Sunday, February 7 – Send a Card to a Friend Day and Super Bowl 50!

-20th Annual Father Daughter Ball, 3-6p (See February 5 for full details) Monday, February 8 – Kite Flying Day! Wednesday, February 10 -Free Car Seat Inspections, 10a-2p, presented by Safe Kids Benton-Franklin, held at Washington State Patrol 143302 E Law Lane in Kennewick, by appointment only, call 509-734-7034 (option 5) Thursday, February 11 -Valentine Making, 3:45p, Enjoy some lovely stories followed by time to make Valentines cards and decorations to take home and share with the ones you love, preschoolers must be accompanied by an adult, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr.

Friday, February 12 -The Illusionists - Live from Broadway, 7p, this mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of the most incredible Illusionists on earth, Toyota Center, Kennewick Saturday, February 13 -The Urban Greenbelt Trail Hike, 8:30am, A volunteer led, 4 mile walk will follow Richland’s Urban Greenbelt Trail (UGT), an urban path that encircles the central city. Along the way, you’ll hear about the city’s history and look at pictures of Richland in earlier days. Hikes are weather permitting. Please check the Richland Parks and Recreation website or Facebook page to confirm. Meet in front of the Richland Community Center.

Building does not open until 9.

-Family Workshop at the REACH, Ornament Making & the Study of Polymer Science, noon-2p, pre-registration is required, you can register by calling 509-943-4100 ext.

114, $8 Adults, $6 Seniors/Students, Children 5 and under and members are free, The REACH, Richland -Family Bingo, 3-5p, Turn off the electronics and join us for some old fashion family bingo. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each game. $2 per person, Games Room at the Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland Sunday, February 14- Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sunday, February 21 -The Harlem Globetrotters, 3p, Toyota Center, Kennewick Friday, February 19 -Regional Home & Garden Show, 10a-7p, TRAC, Pasco. Admission: $6 Adults, Kids 12 and under free, $1 off admission price with a nonperishable food item for Salvation Army.

For more info please visit www.hbatc.com Saturday, February 20 -Regional Home & Garden Show 10a-7p (See February 19 for full details) Sunday, February 21 -Regional Home & Garden Show, 10am-4pm (See February 19 for full details) Friday, February 26 – Tell A Fairy Tale Day! -Mid-Columbia Mastersingers presents The Rose Concert, 7:30p, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kennewick Saturday, February 27 -Mid-Columbia Mastersingers presents The Rose Concert, 3p, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kennewick Sunday, February 28 -Mid-Columbia Mastersingers presents The Rose Concert, 3p, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kennewick

Special thanks to all our kid models:

Karsen, Sidalee, Nyla, Aubrey, Carter, Zachary, Evan, Liam, Sydney, and Elias And thanks to all the families for sharing their childcare stories!

Join our email list if you want to help with future stories! www.kidsplaytc.com/mailing-list to signup 30

Kid’s Play Magazine, Winter 2015/16