December 2011

December 2011

Toy Guide 2011 holiday

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10 tips for holiday spending {Page 10}

Our picks for video game gifts

CK -A-BLO K C O CH BER DECEMTS! N EVE

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Stop the post-holiday doldrums窶馬ow

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We talked to Steven Spielberg! {Page 14}

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A WINTER BREAK THAT WOWS! Join Us this Dec. 19th – 30th!

Have a camper that goes bonkers for beakers?

Try Radical Reactions for some scientific fun.

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December 2011 3

December Features Lake Street & 10th Avenue S

MIDTOWNGLOBALMARKET.ORG Best “Mom-tested” Baby Gifts Most Amazing Hair Bow Selection Designer Clothing • Plus More!

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We asked the th experts.

Toys for every child, from baby to age 12

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Departments

My home. My sanctuary.

That’s why I depend on NARI.

{8}

Visit narimn.org or call 612-332-6274 to find a NARI-certified professional for your next remodeling project or to become a NARI member.

Chatter

{9} Hot stuff

The NARI logo is a registered trademark of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. ©2008 NARI of Minnesota.

4 December 2011

NARI NewMNP 2011 NR6 V6.indd 1

By Kathleen Stoehr

6/28/11 1:07 PM

{12} Tween scene

Book shelf

Home, safer home

Holiday reading

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Stocking stuffers

Discs we dig

{10}

Video game roundup

Grows on trees Great tips for holiday spending

{26} {28} It’s my Party Pancakes & pajamas

{38} Real life Real mom Wanda Jarchow

{14} Spielberg on The Adventures of Tintin The legendary director discusses his return to family films

By Jeremy Zoss

{24} Putting the kibosh on post-holiday funk

Š NOAA Photo Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

r

Exhibition WARninG Exhibition noW ACtiVE WA

Stop being so hard on yourself

By Kelly Jo McDonnell

Calendar {30}

Out & about

Free with museum admission! smm.org | (651) 221-9444 National Tour Sponsor:

On the cover • Two-year-old Mila

tests out the Bounce Cycle featured on page 20. She is the daughter of Michael and Tricia Heagle of Minneapolis.

This exhibition and its national tour were developed by The Field Museum, Chicago.

Premier Partners:

Media Partner:

Photo by Tricia Heagle.

December 2011 5

from the editor

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Toy testing, year two

I

f you recall from my December 2010 editor’s note, I talked about how I sent toys home with my co-workers, to have their children test them for our holiday gift guide.

The downside was that, upon completion, they had to bring the toys back to the office so I could write about them effectively, perhaps get the best ones photographed. It worked pretty well, but ultimately some kids didn’t want to give up the toys and made their parents’ lives miserable (Oh, Baby Alive, we know you were loved); some toys were never returned; and some were destroyed or stuffed into the original packaging in such a state that not even a trip to the Island of Misfit Toys could save them.

This year—a seemingly brilliant idea: To wit, we’ll just bring all of the kids here to the office, put them in the conference room with the toys and see what they gravitate toward. We will sit them in front of our lovely lit area with white backdrop and photograph each of them with their favorite toy. Wow. I have such a crazy imagination!

Truly, I have never seen one conference room go from neat to chaotic, so quickly. And what was it with that plastic chicken leg from the kitchen play set? I think every kid in the room wanted to gnaw on it for at least a few minutes. Every time I blinked, a different kid had it halfway into his or her mouth. But I think my favorite moment was three-year-old Makayla pulling the favored Hot Wheels tracks off the wall. One moment, six feet of track assembled by one of our patient staffers was hanging there perfectly like a good little toy; the next moment, it was like Godzilla went sideways and destroyed the city. Good times. That kid is fast.

But in the end, we got our photographs, we figured out the best toys, and it all begins on page 18. Season’s Greetings from all of us here at Minnesota Parent.

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Kathleen Stoehr Editor

Vol. 26, Issue 12 Co-Publishers Janis Hall jhall@mnpubs.com Terry Gahan tgahan@mnpubs.com General Manager Chris Damlo 612-436-4376 • cdamlo@mnpubs.com

foR moms. bY moms.

Editor Kathleen Stoehr kstoehr@mnpubs.com Contributing Writers/Photographers Jayme Halbritter Joe Johnson David Kelly Julie Kendrick Kelly Jo McDonnell Kara McGuire Joy Riggs Jeremy Zoss

Leading Daily Deal website geared towards smart, savvy moms.

Production Manager Dana Croatt dcroatt@mnpubs.com Senior Graphic Designer Valerie Moe Sales Manager Melissa Ungerman Levy 612-436-4382 • mungermanlevy@mnpubs.com

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Circulation Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnpubs.com Classified Advertising 612-825-9205 • sales@mnpubs.com Printing Brown Printing

52,500 copies of Minnesota Parent printed monthly, available at news stands statewide.

Get Minnesota Parent mailed to your home for just $12 a year. Call 612-825-9205 for more information.

Minnesota Parent (ISSN 0740 3437) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications.

POSTMASTER send address changes to: MINNESOTA PARENT, 1115 Hennepin Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55403.

Minnesota Parent is copyright 2011 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Address all material to address above.

December 2011 7

Birthstones Thinking about giving a gift that celebrates a birthday?

Here’s a handy guide to birthstones.

January Garnet

May Emerald

September Sapphire

February Amethyst

June Pearl

October Opal

March Aquamarine

July Ruby

November Citrine, Topaz

April Diamond

August Peridot

December Turquoise, Tanzanite

CELEBRATE A DECEMBER BIRTHDAY IN STYLE Win a pair of Silpada earrings One lucky Minnesota Parent Facebook fan will win this pair of .925 sterling silver and turquoise earrings.

Be our “fan” on Facebook

by December 15th for a chance to win. A $69 value. Go to facebook.com/ Mnparentmag today!

Earrings courtesy of Silpada.com.

Want Wassail?

Slow cookers (that is, Crock Pots) are making a huge comeback. Did you know you can use it to make traditional Wassail? For your next holiday gathering, rock the pot in a new way and make beverage serving a snap. Here’s a recipe guaranteed to make your house smell wonderful and your guests coo:

You can take the boy out of Minnesota…

Nashwauk-raised and Bemidji State University-educated author Jon T. Bergstrom decamped to Florida to escape the cold, but his first book, Denali’s Dream, is all about lots of snow, sled dogs, and dreaming big. This sun-loving guy took a vacation to snowy Alaska, where he was inspired to write the book after a joyous encounter with a sled dog puppy.

Denali’s Dream is for young kids who need to learn about believing in themselves, and comes with a bonus audio download.

You can find it online at Amazon or through Tate Publishing.

8 December 2011

Give a goat?

Most people think holiday gifts are meant to be wrapped with a bow but the charity, World Vision, takes gift giving quite a few steps further: offering the ability for you to order a goat or dairy cow, or medicine or water, for a family in need either here in the U.S. or in faraway places such as Zimbabwe. Last year, more than 20,000 goats were purchased, a popular item as its milk provides protein for the family, its surplus milk can be sold, and even better —the gift is self-sustainable. For example, goats given to communities in Africa are purchased in Africa, thus helping with community development. For more information, visit worldvisiongifts.org.

Wassail 5 cups apple juice 5 cups cranberry juice 5 cups orange juice 5 cups lemonade 1 cup brown sugar 2 cups water 4 sticks cinnamon 1 orange, sliced 1 teaspoon whole cloves 1 teaspoon Angostura bitters 2 cups rum, optional Directions: Combine apple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemonade, sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and Angostura bitters in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Add rum just before serving. Remove cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices before serving.

Chew-WOW

g n i k c o St s r e ff stu

Chuao Chocolatier, a U.S. based Venezuelan Chocolatier, has put together some unique combinations: Firecracker, a combo of caramel fudge with chipotle chile and salt, rolled in popping candy and then covered with dark chocolate; and Potato chips in chocolate: milk chocolate with kettle cooked chips, among others. chuaochocolatier.com, also available at France 44 Cheese Shop & Deli in Minneapolis; about $6

There’s a plethora of great stuff that comes in a smallish package. Here’s a look at a few products certain to please both young and old.

Bubble blowing

Mineral makeup

Orange you glad…

Skip the silver spoon and decide on this adorable bubble wand. Hand-cast in pewter, it will dip perfectly into a traditional bottle of bubbles. Put a name on one side and say something different on the other if you wish—it’s up to you.

Organic, vegan, and eco-friendly, Austin, Texas-based Everyday Minerals’ founder Carina Menzies believes that all-natural makeup products should not cost a fortune. Combined in a lovely all cotton makeup bag printed with eco-friendly inks, this cute kit is a perfect fit for even the smallest of stockings.

…you aren’t going to put an apple in the toe of the holiday stocking? Surprise your recipient with Appletters, a strategic game of lettered tiles, packed in an apple pouch. Originally designed with younger players in mind, the game now features three levels of play to amuse kids and challenge adults.

everydayminerals.com; about $16

bananagrams.com; about $15

lisaleonardonline.com; about $32

Text tapping The Edina-based Style-iT 2-in-1 stylus + ballpoint pen keeps any touchscreen device smudgefree. Great for anytime you need a bit more control than your fingertip. One side is clearly for tapping on your screen; turn it around, remove the cap and you have a working ballpoint. bracketron.com; about $25

December 2011 9

10 tips for holiday spending

$704.18.

By Kara McGuire

That’s the average amount that holiday shoppers say they’ll spend on gifts and seasonal items, according to the annual holiday survey from the National Retail Federation.

That’s slightly less than the amount shoppers forked over last year to celebrate the season, but still a sizable sum, especially in this economy. The survey also found that price will be a main focus for many customers. Here are 10 tips for savvy gift spending, as we all try to stretch our dollars farther.

1. Make a list and check it twice What would happen on Christmas Eve if Santa didn’t plan ahead? Heading to the mall without a thoughtful list of who to buy for and how much to spend is a recipe for post-holiday debt. Map out your holiday spending plan—from tips for the newspaper deliveryman to stocking stuffers for your kids.

2. Use cash this Christmas Cash is king this season, especially now that some banks are imposing debit card fees. Behavioral finance experts say that the tactile nature of cash forces consumers to think twice before parting with their money. Not only that, but when the wad of bills is gone, it’s gone. No worry about overdraft fees. No concern about January credit card bills.

10 December 2011

3. If you plan to pay using a credit card, don’t go overboard Only use 30 percent of your available credit limits. Charge much more and it could affect your credit score, even if you do pay the balance in full, since the amount of available credit you use is a key puzzle piece in the credit score calculation. If you know the holidays will put you in the red, don’t charge more than you can safely pay off in 60 days. For a reality check, use LSS Financial Counseling’s Scrooge-O-Meter to calculate how much those gifts will end up costing you after interest (lssmn.org/scrooge/).

4. Create a giving plan that fits your budget This is the fifth holiday season since the recession started in late 2007. While the

recession has officially been over for years, this economic slowdown clearly has staying power. Many families have been paying down debt and building up their rainy day fund, and understand the importance of prudent financial choices.

Use this to your advantage. If your holiday budget is lean this year, be honest. Instead of buying gifts for a dozen cousins, institute a gift exchange, where you draw a name out of a hat and only purchase a single gift. Or get crafty and make or bake your gifts. Jeff Yeager, the Ultimate Cheapskate, has several clever suggestions for gift giving on a tight budget at: aarp. org/money/budgeting-saving/info-11-2009/ holiday_spending_under_control.html.

5. Pick stores with generous policies Walmart recently announced that it will match competitor prices on items purchased between now and December 25, even after you make the purchase.

Sears is offering to beat competitors’ best price by 10 percent. Bed Bath & Beyond is one of the brick and mortar stores that says it will match Amazon’s price this year. By shopping at stores with flexible policies, you can be sure to get the most for your money without having to hit the mall every weekend. Just keep your eyes peeled for better deals.

6. Watch for retail gotchas Marketers understand our shopping behaviors better than we do. They know we’ll spend more to trigger free shipping, and are more likely to buy an item when

“If you know the holidays will put you in the red, don’t charge more than you can safely pay off in 60 days.”

it’s supposedly on sale, even if the price seems a bit high. Before you bite, think through an awesome deal. Ask yourself, what’s the catch?

7. Add your name to your holiday gift list Most consumers buy a treat for themselves while out gift hunting. The National Retail Federation survey says shoppers admit they’ll spend about $130 on themselves when out shopping for gifts. Rather than convincing yourself that this is the year you won’t be tempted, factor some “me money” into your holiday budget.

8. Trade trinkets for taking up a cause When money is tight, it can be hard to give away. But charities are feeling the pinch, too. Before buying yet another scarf for a distant relative, or wracking your brain to come up with the best gift for the person who has everything, consider the impact you could make by donating that money to a good cause in that person’s name instead.

Odds of a child becoming a professional athlete: 1 in 16,000 Odds of a child being diagnosed with autism: 1 in 110

Some signs to look for: No big smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months.

No babbling by 12 months.

No words by 16 months.

To learn more of the signs of autism, visit autismspeaks.org © 2010 Autism Speaks Inc. “Autism Speaks” and “It’s time to listen” & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved. The person depicted is a model and is used for illustrative purposes only.

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9. Support local merchants It can be easy to fixate on price in tough times, especially when you have a long list of gifts to buy. Hitting the nearest big box discounter is a natural reflex. But imagine your neighborhood without the small “mom and pop” shops. Pledge to spend $50 at three locally owned small businesses.

Learn more about the movement to shop local at 350project.net.

10. Don’t wait until the last minute If there’s a surefire way to ruin your budget, it’s rushing to the mall two hours before closing time on Christmas Eve. Be mindful. Be planful. Your pocketbook will thank you.

December 2011 11

Home, safer home

I

By Joy Riggs

’d never given much thought to toilet bowl cleaners until about five years ago, when my youngest child, Elias, entered his “willing helper” phase. Scrubbing the toilet with a brush looked like fun to him, and I was eager to encourage his interest in cleaning. But warnings on the labels of the cleaning products—which I’d always stored out of reach of curious fingers—gave me pause. Instead of exposing my children, and

myself, to a cabinet full of caustic, corrosive household chemicals, I started looking for more environmentally friendly products.

I would have benefited from one of Tara Roffler’s workshops. Roffler is a health educator with the Ramsey County Department of Public Health, and she teaches free workshops for parents, daycare providers, and other interested community members about reducing toxins in the home.

“We go through how to properly protect

ResouRces Healthy House Institute healthyhouseinstitute.com

consumeR infoRmation about gReen cleaning Ramsey County Department of Health A to Z Disposal Guide co.ramsey.mn.us/PH Toxics Use Reduction Institute Alternative cleaning products turi.org

12 December 2011

yourself while using chemical products, how to read the label, and how to tell which is more toxic,” she says.

How do you know if a product contains toxic chemicals? Look for signal words on the label: “caution” means it’s a mild hazard, “warning” means a moderate hazard, and “danger” or “poison” means it’s extremely flammable, corrosive, or highly toxic.

Roffler says some furniture polishes contain amyl acetate, a neurotoxin; laundry detergents can contain alkyl phenoxy ethanols, which are thought to be hormone disrupters; window cleaners can contain dioxane, an immunosuppressant carcinogen; and many tub and tile cleaners contain phosphoric acid, a corrosive skin toxicant. Manufacturers aren’t required to list every ingredient, so if you are looking for a safer product, look for those that are biodegradable and plant-based and are certified by a credible third party, like the Green Seal organization. Be wary of those that say they’re safe “when used as directed” because this could mean they’re dangerous when stored or in concentrated form.

Photo by Jayme halbritter

Tara Roffler teaches free workshops for those interested in reducing toxins in the home.

Natural alternatives You also can use natural alternatives you might already have in your home. Roffler says olive oil or vegetable oil can be used as a wood furniture polish; baking soda is good for deodorizing and scouring without abrasion; hydrogen peroxide is an alternative to bleach; white paste toothpaste (not gel) can polish metal; white distilled vinegar cleans the film that builds up on bathroom walls and glassware; and lemon juice deodorizes, kills mold, and kills some germs.

Instead of using air fresheners, Roffler recommends decorating with air-purifying, kid- and pet-friendly houseplants such as Boston ferns, rubber plants, Schleffera, and spider plants.

Children and the elderly are most susceptible to toxic chemicals. If you must use the chemicals, choose the least toxic product, and make sure children are not present during its use. Follow the directions carefully and take appropriate safety precautions, such as wearing a face

Earn your high school diploma online. mask, goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and close-toed shoes. Ventilate the house by opening windows or turning on a fan, and use warm water—not hot— when diluting a cleaner.

“The hot water makes the molecules bounce against each other more. The cleaner goes into a gaseous state, and you get more of those fumes,” she says.

Roffler says edible and non-edible products should be stored in separate locations because their packaging can look similar and they can easily be mistaken for each other. It’s best to store cleaning items in their original containers, away from children and pets. If you must put a substance in a different container, make sure you label it, she says.

“Even if at the time you remember, weeks or months could go by and you or others might not know what’s inside,” she says.

She illustrates this point in her presentations by placing an unlabeled, clear container of Lysol next to one containing Mountain Dew—the yellow liquids look very similar. Roffler says she’s also heard of incidences when people confused Pine-Sol with vegetable oil, and windshield washer fluid with Kool-Aid.

Enroll anytime!

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THE BEAR IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Nov. 18 - Dec. 26

Safer products, safe disposal If you want to dispose of leftover toxic chemicals, take them to a county hazardous waste collection site. Ramsey County residents can call 651-633-3279 or visit RamseyAtoZ.com for more information. If you live in Hennepin County, call 612-348-3777 or visit hennepinatoz.org.

Keep in mind that the leading poisons for children in the U.S. are things that are relatively obvious—household cleaning products and medications, and things that may seem innocuous—deodorant and soap, and cosmetics like perfume and nail polish.

Post the Minnesota Poison Center number, 1-800-222-1222, in a visible place and program it into your cell phone, in case of emergency. The number is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

11/8/11 6:16 PM

Scan the QR Code and join us on Facebook today!

WORLD PREMIERE! PEEF the Christmas Bear was created from scraps of material provided

by Santa’s elves. After a wonderful beginning to his life at the North Pole, Santa asked PEEF to become a special gift to a lonely child. PEEF, of course, said yes. Now Santa visits PEEF to see how things are going for his creation. What he finds is not what he expects: a torn, dirty toy who has lost his voice.

What is Santa to do now?

Perfect for all ages.

WHAT WILL BABY LLAMA DO NEXT? Jan. 13 - Feb. 12

WORLD PREMIERE! When Baby Llama faces bedtime, concerns arise. Is Mama still here? Will she come back if Llama calls? If Llama calls and she doesn’t return, what then? Can this crisis be averted? Based on the first of the extremely popular Llama Llama series written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney, all ages will be delighted.

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— Q&A

TEVEN S

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‘Pure fun’ for Spielberg The legendary director discusses The Adventures of Tintin and his return to family films

By Jeremy Zoss

The comic book series The Adventures of Tintin by Belgian artist Hergé is hugely popular in much of the world, but not particularly well known in the U.S. That will all change on December 21, when a film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg hits theaters. To recognize his return to family-friendly filmmaking after years of making more adult-oriented films, the legendary filmmaker spoke with a group of parenting magazines, including Minnesota Parent. Here’s a taste of that conversation.

who [have] had these kind of things happen to them and they get to rise above the conditions we put them under to achieve something kind of you know, wonderful. I think that’s where it happens with Tintin and that’s what happens in [upcoming movie] War Horse.

It really looks exciting.

It’s probably one of the best experiences in terms of just having pure fun as a filmmaker I ever had. Not since E.T. have I enjoyed myself as much as I enjoyed myself making Tintin.

Q: Many of your movies are about

How did being a father and a grandfather

everyday kids who do extraordinary

fuel your desire to make this movie

things when it’s necessary. Why are you

in particular?

drawn to these types of stories?

Steven Spielberg: I’ve always been drawn,

ever since my own childhood, to the empowerment of young people. I just think it’s so powerful when a young person suddenly has to take the circumstances he finds himself [in] into [his] own control to become a hero.

So it’s really interesting to me that lot of my movies have been about young kids

14 December 2011

As a parent, with a film like Tintin I’m very aware of, you know, the ages of the kids [who] are going to want to see this film. So

… I tried to be responsible not to put any potty humor in a film like this and yet, still keep things mature enough that the kids will feel that we’re not talking down to them. It’s very difficult to make a movie as much fun for adults as it is for kids. I wanted to make a movie that moms and dads and kids could also see and they could measure it from all of their own experiences.

What it was like working with producer Peter Jackson on this project?

Peter and I are certainly two different people. We share a common sense of humor. And I’m the—I’m the energetic kind of, you know, caffeinated director, even though I don’t drink caffeine. And Peter is much more laid back and much more laconic and in a sense, that kind of contrast and energy caused us to have such a great friendship during the making

Not since E.T. have I enjoyed myself as much as I enjoyed myself making Tintin.

of Tintin. I haven’t had a partner like this since George Lucas.

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choose try it for Tintin?

The 3D is very appropriate for Tintin because it’s this grand adventure, it goes a hundred miles an hour. I think that 3D is just another tool, a very large tool kit that filmmakers have available to them. And it was my first 3D movie but the movie is just as good on 2D as it is on 3D. I’m not arguing for parents to just take the kids to 2D movies but I really believe that 3D was a very sweet enhancement—but it doesn’t make the movie. The movie makes the movie.

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Tintin has been described as Indiana Jones for kids in a few reviews.

Is that an accurate statement?

The only similarity between Tintin and Indiana Jones is it’s a non-stop actionadventure story but the characters of Tintin and the characters of Indiana Jones are so different, that they’re two different spirits entirely.

How did the experience of making Tintin compare to your other movies?

Well I have more control over Tintin than I had over any of my other films. Because this is animation, I can do things over again to get them to be better or to get them to meet my, you know, original vision of what they should look like. I can just go back in and do those works again.

What do you think is the main appeal of the Tintin stories?

Well the appeal I think is, this contrast between Tintin, who is a very tenacious, you know, fearless and stops at nothing to get a good story and often puts himself in his own stories because he gets into a lot of trouble, he’s chasing the bad guys, trying to uncover hidden secrets, unearth hidden treasures.

Tintin is really a quite straight-laced character but he’s so surrounded by eccentric bizarre characters ... And yet, everybody has tremendous dimensions and they’re funny and they’re eccentric and they’re bizarre and that contrast alone makes the Tintin adventures really unique. •

December 2011 15

Video game roundup

By Jeremy Zoss

Thinking of gifting a game this season?

Here are a few of our picks.

Ben 10 Triple Pack If you’ve got a young Ben 10 fan in your house, you can get a lot of bang for your buck out of the Ben 10 Triple Pack, a compilation title that includes the first three Ben 10 adventures for Nintendo DS. The three THREDES games follow the series’ WOR Value story, feature different Actionent Ben 10 transformations, m Excite and get progressively slicker as they go on. The side-scrolling beat-em-up games are mildly violent, but no worse than the cartoon itself. Fans of Ben 10 and racing may want to check out Ben 10: Galactic Racing, but most youngsters will prefer the game it clearly imitates, Mario Kart. Recommended for children 10 and up.

D3Publisher. Available for Nintendo DS

Dance Central 2 Kinect, the hit motion-tracking camera for Xbox 360, has multiple dance games. Dance Central 2 is the only one you’ll need. Like the original game, it flawlessly transmits your dance moves to your in-game counterpart and does a great job teaching the THREDES moves you need to get WOR g down. Dance Central 2 Danciny Energ introduces two-player Pop simultaneous dancing, and this new feature alone will make it a smash hit. It also features a mix of classic and contemporary pop songs, some of which have mildly suggestive lyrics.

But if your kids listen to Top 40 radio, there’s nothing they haven’t heard before.

Recommended for children 12 and up.

Microsoft. Available for Xbox 360. Kinect required.

Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure is downright groundbreaking. It’s a video game and a collectable toy line all in one. Here’s how it works. A starter pack comes with the game, a “Portal of THREES Power” base and three WORD le tab Collec ative figures. Plop one of the v o n In sive figures onto the base, and Expen it appears in the game.

Each character earns points and grows more powerful as you play, and data is saved to a chip in the figure’s base.

Players can then take their figures to a friend’s house and play in their version of the game—regardless of which console they own. Here’s the sneaky part: while most kids will be able to finish the action/adventure game with the starter pack figures, certain areas of the game world are only accessible by additional figures. Individual figures cost $8, with triple packs available for $20. There are 32 Skylanders figures in all, and while you don’t need them all to explore the game world, Skylanders has the potential to become expensive quickly. Recommended for children 10 and up.

Activision. Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii,

Frogger 3D Frogger 3D does a nice job translating the classic arcade game into a modern puzzle game. The player must help Frogger jump across busy streets toward a set of goals, but new obstacles and challenges make the stages more complex than hopping in a straight line. The Nintendo 3DS system gives the game a nice feeling of depth, but Nintendo recommends you turn it off for very young gamers. Frogger 3D is perfectly acceptable for gamers of all ages, but parents may actually enjoy it more than their kids. Recommended for children 8 and up.

Konami. Available for Nintendo 3DS

16 December 2011

Fall Concert Series at Landmark Center featuring Red House Records Artists Third Friday of the Month, through December Cocktail Hour @ 7 pm | Concert @ 8 pm

Karaoke Revolution: Glee Volume 2 For fans of the ultra-popular Glee, this game is a no-brainer. Sing along with some of the first season’s most memorable songs and even perform as characters from the show. Many songs support two-player duets, and the clever “Shooting Star” mode lets two players sing while four more shoot falling star targets. Like Dance Central 2, the only THREE WORDS questionable content Glee comes in the form of Music song lyrics (Like a Singing Virgin, for example), but there’s nothing that eclipses the content of the show. The game can be purchased alone or with microphones but make sure you’ve got a Wii mic before you grab the game-only version, as it is required to play. Recommended for children 13 and up.

f ro m

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Landmark Center | 75 W. 5th Street | Saint Paul Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door

December 16, 2011

A Ramsey County Property

Sponsored by:

nter c eWilliams Robin &n dLinda k r ma a l and Their Fine Group f ro m

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To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.landmarkcenter.org/redhouse.html

ATTENTION WOMEN 21-32: Would you like to be an egg donor?

Accredited by: Diplomats of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, American College of OB/GYNs and Association for Reproductive Medicine.

The Center for Reproductive Medicine is seeking women between 21 and 32 years of age to donate eggs for couples who cannot otherwise achieve pregnancy.

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December 2011 17

Toy

2011 holiday

Guide Active? Educational? Creative?

Age-appropriate? These toys will fill the bill for holiday gift giving. Keep in mind that while the manufacturer’s website is most often listed for your reference, many have links that will allow you to find a local retailer.

Always best to shop local when you can, right? Ready? Let’s take a look!

By Kathleen Stoehr

18 December 2011

Babies

0 to 12 months

Toys that show cause and effect (such as open/shut, put in/take out, and stack/knock over) are good choices. Babies will also gravitate to high contrast and brightly colored toys, and things that will move with them as they begin to move.

What’s Inside?

Soft Feely Box Little ones love to put their hands inside this soft box. The soft, machine-washable box is packed with 10 different objects for kids to feel and explore—like a pretty butterfly with crinkly wings, a cute lion with a corduroy coat and more. Age birth to 3; our babies liked it a lot. lakeshorelearning.com, about $40

Soft & Safe Baby Bowling Set You set the dinos up, baby knocks ‘em down. You set the dinos up, baby knocks ‘em down. You set the dinos up... lakeshorelearning.com, about $13

Early Learning Stacking & Nesting Blocks Stack, build, and nest the 10 chunky blocks to discover early-learning concepts on every side. Made of 98% post-consumer recycled materials and with eco-friendly ink. Toy states age 2+, but our tester babies loved it.

Rockabye Baby!

The team at Rockabye Baby has done it again, this time transforming early Van Halen songs like And the Cradle will Rock and Jump into melodic instrumental lullabies. Yes, the cradle will rock…but softly.

Rockabyebabymusic.com, about $17

innovativekids.com, about $20

THE TESTERS Olive

Let’s Go Fishing Play Set Stick the soft pole into the “fishing pond” and the hook and loop, Velcro-like rod tip snags the soft, machine-washable fish. lakeshorelearning.com, about $30

Haba Speedy Horse Rattle Wooden feet threaded on heavy cord make a delightful noise when shaken, encouraging auditory perception and clutching. Natural sustainable beech wood, painted with non-toxic waterbased colors and varnishes. amazon.com, about $14

10.5 months Olive definitely had her favorite toy: the fishing play set from Lakeshore Learning.

She also enjoyed the “What’s Inside” plush box, also from Lakeshore.

Miles 10.5 months Born just four days after Olive, Miles kept a stacking block by Innovative Kids in each hand during much of the playtime, though he also enjoyed the fishing toy— when Olive would actually let him have it.

December 2011 19

Toddlers

THE TESTERS

ages one to three

The active younger toddler (age one to two) needs toys that can keep up with them and love toys that allow them to mimic adult tasks such as cooking, vacuuming, and riding. The older toddler (two to three years) is gaining good hand coordination and loves simple puzzles, blocks for stacking, imaginative play with

Kipton Age 2 Smart kid he is, Kip gravitated to one of the Oppenheim and Tillywig award winning toys: the Anamalz zoo characters, made of organic maple and textiles.

puppets, and basic artistic endeavors.

Puzzles!

Bounce Cycle The assembly of this bicycle-walker was a snap. Bounce up and down to develop coordination and balance skill.

Teaching that whole objects are made up of parts, large-piece puzzles help kids begin to understand concepts such as language and math.

Love Bus, innovativekids.com, about $10; Big Knob puzzle three pack, lakeshorelearning.com, about $30

Brayden Age 2 Brayden liked the Barbie Camper from Mattel the best, but only because he thought it was a bus.

discoverystore.com, about $60

Eleanor Age 2.5 Eleanor concentrated on the ice cream play set, a plastic dog she grabbed from the Barbie camping set—and she loved the wood Love Bus puzzle.

Anamalz Adorable, pose-able critters made from sustainable maple wood and cloth, each is hand-painted with child-friendly waterbased paint. Their heads, arms, and legs can be posed for maximum imaginative playtime fun. Available in farm, wild, prehistoric, and Australian sets. anamalz.com, about $9 each or $20 per set

20 December 2011

Pretend & Play Ice Cream Shop Encouraging cooperation and interactive play, this durable plastic set comes with 18 pieces, including apron, scooper, and a bottle that “squirts” pretend chocolate syrup (actually a brown string). learningresources.com, about $27

Phoenix age 2.5 Despite being younger than the toy’s suggested age range, Phoenix was captivated by the colorful VeggieTales shaker but definitely needed a partner to point out the uncovered objects.

Preschool

ages three to five

At about age three, kids begin to interact together well and also love the world of make believe, to dress up in costume, to make “music.” They can develop attachments to a stuffed animal or doll, enjoy being artistic, and will probably destroy just about anything you put in front of them if it’s not of solid construction.

Veggie Tales “Find it” Game Familiar characters buried and all but “lost” in plastic pellets are sure to bring smiles when they get brought to the surface and “found.” Great for a long car trip, too. finditgames.com, about $25

Comfy Critters

Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Take the iconic, modular track off the ground and place it on the wall, out of the way. Use Command Strips to hang the track pieces without fear of damage. Tester kids of both sexes loved being able to stand and play.

Comfy Critters, a cuddly and snuggly hooded fleece blanket that folds into a pillow and animal friend is similar to a Pillow Pet, but takes it a step further. Great for tagging along to overnights at Grandma’s house, on long road trips to keep your little one warm and toasty, and movie nights at home with the family. mycomfycritters.com, about $25

mattel.com, about $30 for the starter set

THE TESTERS

Dolls of all kinds Beautifully crafted American Girl dolls, all with built in stories, teach about different time periods. Consider Bitty Baby for the younger set, which may be more apt to drag their doll than carry it properly. Madame Alexander dolls (left), enchanting girls since 1923, offers collectibles of every kind. The lovely outfits and fine craftsmanship make these dolls a keepsake for a lifetime. Dolls for play are also available. Also, Disney Animators’ Collection dolls depict the film characters as little girls with great hair. americangirl.com, about $48 to $100, depending upon doll; madamealexander.com, about $20 and up into the hundreds, depending upon the doll; disneystore.com, about $25

Makayla Age 3 Ever the busy bee, Makayla liked the play kitchen from Learning Resources best. We also believe she was the first of the kids to chew on the plastic chicken leg.

Gavin Age 4 Gavin liked the Connect 4 game from Hasbro as well as the wall-mount Matchbox tracks and cars.

December 2011 21

Early elementary ages five to nine

Upper elemen

Kids are becoming aware of what is cool with their peers—and they want it (think action figures and themed dolls). They are also coordinated enough to begin having fun with junior versions of sports equipment, and hand-eye coordination is developed enough that some video games are appropriate, especially those that have quests and mystery solving involved. Board games are also very appropriate.

Gummy Lamp Tetris Link A strategic game of linking and blocking for two to four players, the favored video game is now tabletop. Drop and link colored blocks of the same color to earn points, while blocking your opponents from linking and scoring. tetris.com, about $32

An homage to the iconic candy, the Gummy Lamp looks and feels like an actual Gummy Bear, just 100 times bigger and infinitely more useful.

Squeeze its belly and, instead of getting your fingers sticky, a high-powered LED light switches on. A cool night light for late night trips to the bathroom because it can be carried along.

All-Natural Spa Day Get your girl exploring the natural beauty of science by learning how to make home made beauty products, like bath bombs, sugar scrubs, and face masks.

Enough for four girls to mix, mold, and learn about how common household products combine into something you can’t eat—but can benefit from.

Experiment cards feature science facts and beauty product recipes. mindware.com, about $30

jailbreakcollective.com, about $28

Designable Hair Barbie Design your extensions at Barbie.com, load hair extensions into an inkjet printer, and print it out. Peel the extension from the paper and attach it with enclosed clips to your own hair—or Barbie’s (included).

Barbie.com/designablehair, about $32

THE TESTERS Levi

Louis

Age 5 Levi liked the “Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab.” Though it’s labeled for age eight and up, his quick mind was able to comprehend the more complex workings.

Age 6 Saying, “Mom, I wish we had this at home,” Louis liked the Hot Wheels tracks and Connect 4 game best.

22 December 2011

Junior sized tools & kits Ergonomically designed to fit a child’s grip, these sturdy tools and woodworking project kits will allow parent and child to spend time together, building something useful.

The kits are rated by level with 1 belonging to beginners, up to level 3 for advanced projects. Available at Lowe’s stores. www.red-toolbox.com, about $10 for the five piece tool set

Not quite done with toys yet, tweens have developed hobbies, enjoy complex puzzles,

ntary ages nine to 12

love strategic video and board games, and still play with some dolls—especially those they can role play with. Sporting equipment, magic sets, robotic construction sets, and art continues to be of interest.

450x University Microscope Didn’t you always want one of these when you were a kid? This easy-touse microscope comes with 19 accessories such as slides, a Petri dish, tweezers, collecting vials and more.

Colorku A Sudoku-like game with colored marbles instead of numbers, you choose a puzzle card and then set up the card with the colored balls as shown on the card. Same rules as Sudoku apply—there cannot be more than one of each color in any column.

Intention Box for Girls

A math-based puzzle that will have your pint-sized puzzler happily crunching numbers, it will take focus and strategy to make the puzzle add up. Can be rearranged endlessly. Also consider IcoSoKu (more difficult) for the over 10 crowd.

A self-discovery tool that empowers girls to take action on goals and dreams, users also like the secret compartments and creative process. Parents love how it helps daughters choose positive thoughts and practice goal setting. Its beautiful details, playful graphics, and flexible use fits into a girl’s life like a trusted friend.

Minnesota made.

recenttoysusa.com, about $22

theintentionbox.com; about $48

lakeshorelearning.com, about $50

marblesthebrainstore.com, about $35

IcoSoKu Junior

Snow Day

•

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Kids under five receive a free NESTLE® cookie with the purchase of a “Snow Day Cinema” movie ticket on Toddler Tuesdays!

FREE FAMILY FLICKS Saturday, Dec. 17 Jingle all the Way was filmed at Mall of America® in 1995. Now see it back on the big screen! First 100 kids will receive a Theatres at Mall of America® Santa hat.

11/11/11 10:28 AM

December 2011 23

Putting the kibosh on the post-holiday

funk

By Kelly Jo McDonnell

W

hen the holiday season ends and January rolls around, this month in Minnesota can elicit disparate emotions like none other.

Some of these feelings might be as warm and comforting as a cup of egg nog; and some may border on the … well, the funky.

Parents perform like Olympic athletes during the holidays, yet once January hits and the “race” is over, some of us may sit on the couch and wonder—now what?

And it’s not just parents feeling the effects; kids do, too. For them, the anticipation is over and gifts have been opened; it’s cold outside; and worse yet, school is about to commence.

It’s time to be proactive in December.

Consider some of these preemptive tips, with hopes that when January hits, the doldrums are just a bit less than usual.

24 December 2011

Flex-vision Mothers, especially, can be unnecessarily hard on themselves. Maybe it’s because many focus on what they should have done—or should have done better—rather than just enjoying the season of giving and receiving.

Relax! Cherish the holiday and let the ‘not-so-comforting’ visions melt away. For example, why did our family-decorated gingerbread house look like something out of a Tim Burton film? Not sure. Did the snowman, built during a snowstorm, look like the perfect rendition of Frosty? Not by a long shot—but my eight year-old son and his cousins were proud of that snowman, replete with antlers and a grimace, no less.

The whole family was involved in the creation, which is a gift in itself.

The answer to re-training your holiday ideals is above. Do you see it? Our children answer it for us. My son wasn’t preoccupied with having the perfect snowman, or with having a cookiecutter gingerbread house. Nor should

we. Shift your mindset a bit ... flexvision if you will. The funk we sometimes feel in January can be partly due to those ideals we still hold about the having perfect holiday season. I say, plug in A Christmas Story and watch the Bumpus hounds annihilate the Christmas turkey. That will get your head in gear.

My son talks excitedly about his presents, time with his cousins, and of course, his horned snowman. Hold onto memories like these—they are warm and comforting if you just look closely enough.

Organized funk The daunting task of putting away the holiday decorations is enough to make any parent and child feel the funk. This does not need to be a sad and painful task for all involved. How about throwing an “Un-Decorating” party? Try to make it fun for yourself and your kids. My son used to hide in his room

when this task was set before us. He didn’t want to see his favorite ornament stashed away, or all of the Santa figurines boxed up for another year.

Once we made a party out of it, however, it helped him understand that while the holiday season was over, he didn’t have to be sad about it.

Set a date to un-decorate, and get everyone involved. Make sure your plastic bins and containers are out and ready to be filled up. Extra bubble wrap and tissue paper should be laid out. My son enjoys wrapping up his ornaments and putting them in his “special” bin where they will await him next Christmas. After everything is secured, enjoy some food, music, and games.

Green funk?

No, not the Grinch: “green” living—an important lesson for our kids to practice.

The holidays abound with learning opportunities related to recycling. Trying to keep a little “green” in mind will help you feel responsible and organized at the same time.

Stacking the holiday boxes carefully will help them retain their shape when they are in storage. My son and I like to keep using bows until they literally fall apart. Once they begin to lose their shape, combine them with new and smaller bows to make an arrangement for next year.

Once they are too far-gone, recycle them— they are paper, after all.

Don’t forget all those holiday cards that have stacked up, either. Most can be used in scrapbooks or made into nametags for gifts or even a paper ornament come next December. Our favorite is laminating a captivating image. Then we punch a hole in the corner, and add a colorful ribbon to hang it on the tree.

While it can be hard to grasp in the midst of cold, short days and long, dark nights, January heralds a reason to celebrate. For parents, it can be looked upon as the beginning of a new year, full of possibilities. For children, it’s the anticipation of baseball, bike riding, and the wonderful gifts that the changing seasons offer them. So get into that mindset in December. Before you know it, the New Year will be here! •

Volunteer!

Hennepin County 2012 Citizen Advisory Boards Vacancies available on: – Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC) – Capital Budgeting Task Force – City Planning Commission (Minneapolis) – Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Board

– County Extension Committee (Minnesota Extension Service) – Human Resources Board – Library Board – Mental Commitment Attorney Panel Advisory Board – Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

Application deadline: Saturday, December 31, 2011 For more information and to apply online: www.hennepin.us/volunteering.

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When it’s time to make a decision about your child’s education, look to Minnetonka Schools.

- Outstanding Student Achievement - Small Class Sizes - National Leader in Classroom Technology - Chinese or Spanish Language Immersion Options - New Navigators Program for Exceptionally Gifted - Among the Top High Schools in America (Washington Post)

10/20/11 5:49 PM

2012 Registration Dates Preschooler’s Story Hour December 6, at 9 or 10 am Kindergarten Information Meetings January 10, 12, 24 at 6 pm

You want the best education for your child. So do we.

Minnetonka Preschool Open House January 28, 9-11 am

Compare Minnetonka to any public or private schools.

Kindergarten Registration February 2

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11/21/11 3:17 PM

December 2011 25

Holiday reading Snuggle in on a cold winter’s night and enjoy the holiday season

By Kathleen Stoehr

Ricky’s Christmas Tree

By Guido Van Genechten Clavis Publishing, Inc., $16.95

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown

By Charles M. Schultz Creative Associates

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Their New Skates

Publications International, Ltd, $7.95

By Maj Lindman

It is nearly Christmas, but Ricky’s family doesn’t have a Christmas tree yet. Mom and Dad have both been way too busy to get one. At first dad resists, but thanks to Ricky’s enthusiasm, it doesn’t take long for him to join in the fun. This is a great story about the importance of making time for one another.

Albert Whitman & Company, $14.99

This “Look and Find” book in the tradition of “Where’s Waldo” and others of that ilk have young readers hunting for various Charlie Brown and gang items on the page: decorations, musical instruments, and winter clothing.

This wholesome classic children’s book has been updated with the addition of paperdolls. Longtime fans of this series will delight in revisiting the story, and new readers (ages 5 to 8 is best) will find fun and excitement as the girls save their friend Bertie after an ice skating disaster.

Mrs. Claus & the Batty Christmas

By Jeff Berg Peppermint Books, $16.99

When Minneapolis’-based author Jeff Berg’s seven year-old daughter asked on Christmas morning, “How do vampires get their Christmas presents if they’re up all night?”—the question launched a year of research and a new book. This quirky combination of vampires and Christmas, in which Mrs. Claus stars, is a fun treat.

26 December 2011

Willow and the Snow Day Dance

By Denise Brennan-Nelson Sleeping Bear Press, $16.95

Whether sharing bouquets of flowers and veggies from her garden or enlisting her neighbors’ help in a winter mitten drive, Willows’ energy and thoughfulness have a positive impact on those around her.

KIDS PLAY HERE WHEN SCHOOL’S OUT SCHOOL RELEASE DAY PROGRAM GRADES K – 6 The Y is here to help families juggle daily life, and that includes school release days. Bring your kids to the Y for fun filled days packed with exciting activities.

Your child will enjoy theme-based small group activities geared toward individual interests and ages.

Winter Break Sample Activities: • • • •

Bowling Swimming Museums Indoor Water Parks

• Sledding • Rollerskating & MORE!

Over 40 YMCA School Release Day locations throughout the metro area.

ymcatwincities.org

Membership not required.

Download the School Release Day brochure for your local Y. Or Call: 612-230-9622 for more information.

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December 2011 27

11/21/11 3:14 PM

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11/15/11 12:52 PM

Pancakes and pajamas

By Jennifer Jiovanazzo

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For Mirabella’s second birthday, we knew we wanted to host a house party at the time of day when she would be at her best: in the morning. There are so many creative options for parties right now, but ultimately, the theme was born when the time of day was determined. Mirabella’s “Pancakes and Pajamas” party was a hit! Twenty something people were in attendance, nine of which were children. Decorating for the celebration was a great time, and because most of the decorations were already on hand, the cost was minimal. Pajamas hung from windows and light fixtures, blankets covered table tops, books, stuffed animals and baby dolls—all things that go along with being in jammies—were spread around, decorating every surface. Throw in some balloons and we had ourselves the makings of a fabulous party!

The invitation indicated, “For kids, we desire PJ attire,” so when the party started at 10:00 in the morning, our entryway was

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A Catholic co-ed school in grades pre-K through 6. An all girls, college-prep school in grades 7-12.

Experience the Vis Spirit at one of our Open Houses Lower School (PK-grade 5) January 17, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

Middle School (grades 6-8) January 24, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

Upper School (grades 9-12) January 10, 2012 7:00 p.m.

For information call 651-683-1700 or visit www.visitation.net Breakfast-themed gift bags were handed out at the end of the party.

a sea of pajamas. Blueberry, strawberry, and chocolate banana filled pancakes served as the main course; it was an entire feast fit for the cheeriest morning person.

The money saved from decorations was put into the party favors. The kids ranged from two months to seven years old, so each favor bag was customized and every child left with a new pair of pajamas along with some other age appropriate breakfast themed treats. It was a party that was practical, tons of fun, and over in time for afternoon naps—birthday girl, her sister, mom and dad included!

Do you have a party you threw that you are especially proud of? Let us know about it! Email mnga@mnpubs.com and give us the scoop!

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December 2011 29

Out About

OngOing

A Silent night for Peef ÎÎPeefÎtheÎChristmasÎBearÎwasÎcreatedÎ fromÎscrapsÎofÎmaterialÎprovidedÎbyÎ Santa’sÎelves.ÎAfterÎaÎwonderfulÎbeginningÎ toÎhisÎlifeÎatÎtheÎNorthÎPole,ÎSantaÎaskedÎ PeefÎtoÎbecomeÎaÎspecialÎgiftÎtoÎaÎlonelyÎ child.ÎPeef,ÎofÎcourse,ÎsaidÎyes.ÎNowÎSantaÎ visitsÎPeefÎtoÎseeÎhowÎthingsÎareÎgoingÎforÎ hisÎcreation.ÎWhatÎheÎfindsÎisÎnotÎwhatÎheÎ expects:ÎaÎtorn,ÎdirtyÎtoyÎwhoÎhasÎlostÎhisÎ voice.ÎWhatÎisÎSantaÎtoÎdoÎnow?ÎThisÎworldÎ premiereÎisÎforÎallÎages.

Winter Dreams

When:ÎThroughÎDecemberÎ26 Where:ÎStagesÎTheatre,ÎHopkins Cost:ÎPricesÎvary,ÎfromÎFREEÎlapÎpassesÎ toÎtheÎtopÎpriceÎofÎ$15ÎforÎageÎ18ÎtoÎ59 Info:Îstagestheatre.orgÎorÎ952-979-1111

ÎÎInÎwinter,ÎcoldÎandÎdeep,ÎanimalsÎeverywhereÎburyÎthemselvesÎinÎtheÎearthÎtoÎsleep.Î UnderneathÎblanketsÎofÎsnow,ÎtheÎanimalsÎslumberÎallÎwinter—snoringÎandÎdreamingÎ underÎtheÎvastÎskies.ÎChildrenÎandÎadultsÎofÎallÎagesÎareÎinvitedÎtoÎcomeÎdiscoverÎtheÎ dreamsÎofÎwinter’sÎsecretÎsleepers,ÎandÎtheÎmusicÎofÎtheÎwideÎmysteriousÎskies.ÎLastÎ performedÎinÎ2000,ÎthisÎbeautifulÎandÎeducationalÎpuppetÎshowÎrevealsÎaÎmagicalÎlookÎ intoÎtheÎnaturalÎbeautyÎandÎwonderÎofÎMinnesotaÎwinters.

When:ÎDecemberÎ2ÎtoÎ30ÎatÎvariousÎtimes Where:ÎHeartÎofÎtheÎBeastÎPuppetÎ&ÎMaskÎTheatre,ÎMinneapolis Cost:ÎRangingÎfromÎ$10ÎtoÎ$15ÎdependingÎuponÎage Info:Îhobt.orgÎorÎ612-721-2535

A Reindeer Line ÎÎFresh,ÎcleverÎandÎunlikeÎanyÎholidayÎshowÎ youÎhaveÎseenÎbefore,ÎA Reindeer LineÎwillÎbeÎ givingÎfamiliesÎaÎwittyÎnewÎoptionÎforÎtheaterÎ thisÎseason.ÎTheÎshowÎprovidesÎanÎinsideÎpeekÎ atÎtheÎreindeerÎwhoÎareÎtryingÎoutÎforÎtheÎ ultimateÎextremeÎchallenge—flyingÎforÎSantaÎ ClausÎtoÎdeliverÎtoysÎallÎoverÎtheÎworld.ÎIfÎyouÎ haveÎhadÎmoreÎthanÎenoughÎsugar-plummyÎ sprinklesÎthisÎseason,ÎseeÎthisÎshowÎwithÎitsÎ daringÎexploits,ÎterrificÎmusicalÎnumbers,ÎandÎ plentyÎofÎsensationalΓhoofing.”

When:ÎDecemberÎ2ÎtoÎ18ÎatÎvariousÎtimes Where:ÎHowardÎConnÎFineÎArtsÎCenter,ÎMinneapolis Cost:ÎUnderÎ18ÎandÎoverÎ62Î$10;ÎallÎothersÎ$12 Info:Îyouthperformanceco.comÎorÎ612-623-9080

30 December 2011

A Christmas Carol ÎÎAÎmiserlyÎandÎmiserableÎman,ÎEbenezerÎ ScroogeÎgreetsÎeachÎChristmasÎwithÎaÎ “bahÎhumbug,”ÎuntilÎheÎisÎvisitedÎoneÎ ChristmasÎEveÎbyÎtheÎGhostsÎofÎChristmasÎ Past,ÎChristmasÎPresentÎandÎChristmasÎ Future. Don’tÎmissÎyourÎchanceÎtoÎshareÎ thisÎholidayÎfavoriteÎwithÎyourÎwholeÎ family,ÎanÎexperienceÎtheyÎwillÎrememberÎ forÎyearsÎtoÎcome.

When:ÎThroughÎDecemberÎ30 Where:ÎGuthrieÎTheater,ÎMinneapolis Cost:ÎPricesÎvaryÎdependingÎupon time,ÎseatÎselection Info:Îguthrietheater.orgÎorÎ612-377-2224

Plaid Tidings ÎÎTheÎspecialÎholidayÎeditionÎofÎForever PlaidÎisÎaÎholidayÎmusicalÎgemÎsuitableÎ forÎtheÎentireÎfamily.ÎItÎcontainsÎaÎfewÎ PlaidÎstandards,ÎaÎnewÎvarietyÎofÎ50sÎhitsÎ andÎaÎholidayÎsongbookÎcollectionΗÎallÎ inÎPlaid-styleÎfour-partÎharmonies.ÎTheÎ showÎhasÎaÎclean-cutΑ50sÎsensibilityÎandÎ theÎcontentÎisÎappropriateÎforÎallÎages.Î When:ÎThroughÎDecemberÎ31 Where:ÎChanhassenÎDinnerÎTheatre’sÎ FiresideÎStage,ÎChanhassen Cost:ÎFromÎ$33ÎtoÎ$64ÎdependingÎuponÎ performance/dinnerÎoption Info:Îchanhassentheatres.comÎorÎ 952-934-1525

Discover what makes us the best choice for your child.

Early Childhood Education Open House Tuesday, January 10 9:30-11:00 a.m. & 4:30-6:00 p.m.

IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park ÎÎVisitorsÎwillÎexperienceÎmoreÎthanÎ50Î larger-than-lifeÎholidayÎlightÎsculpturesÎandÎ animatedÎdisplaysÎasÎtheyÎdriveÎthroughÎ St.ÎPaul’sÎbeautifulÎPhalenÎParkÎinÎtheÎ eveningÎhours.

3395 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka 952.939.0396 • www.stdavidscenter.org St. David's Child Devel MNP 1211 H6.indd 1

11/21/11 4:27 PM

When:ÎThroughÎJanuaryÎ1ÎfromÎ5:30Îp.m.Î toÎ10:00Îp.m.Înightly Where:ÎPhalenÎPark,ÎSt.ÎPaul Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îlightsinthepark.orgÎ

Holiday Flower Show ÎÎAÎvisualÎsensationÎtoÎbehold,ÎfeaturingÎ hundredsÎofÎpoinsettias.ÎThisÎyearÎtheÎ SunkenÎGardenÎatÎtheÎComoÎConservatoryÎ willÎtakeÎonÎaÎfrosty,ÎicyÎthemeÎshowcasingÎ two-tonedÎsplashedÎpoinsettiaÎcultivarsÎofÎ RubyÎFrost,ÎIceÎPunch,ÎPremiumÎIceÎCrystalsÎ alongÎwithÎaÎsizzlingÎfloralÎspectrumÎofÎ traditionalÎredsÎsuchÎasÎBravoÎRed,ÎVikingÎ Red,ÎRedÎGlitterÎandÎJubileeÎRed. When:ÎThroughÎJanuaryÎ22 Where:ÎComoÎParkÎZooÎ&Î Conservatory,ÎSt.ÎPaul Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îcomozooconservatory.org/events/Î orÎ651-487-8201ÎÎ

Visit our website for

FREE PREVIEW CLASS DATES www.cyms.ws The

Ya m sical ac aha M u s i c E d u c a t i o n S y s t e m f e a t u re s m u that t y. tap int i l o y o u r c h i l d ’s n a t u r a l l e a r n i n g a b i

yamahamusic@cyms.ws 612-339-2255

tivities

Known Worldwide Classes offered in 40 countries

Composing

Schools in Edina & Roseville

Basic Musicianship & Keyboard Classes for children 31/2 & up Individual lessons offered in piano, voice, percussion, strings & more

CYMS Edina: Edina Community Center 5701 Normandale Rd Edina

CHILDREN’S YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL

CYMS Roseville: Hamline Center 2819 Hamline Ave N Roseville

Ear Training

Singing

Playing

Celebrating Over 35 Musical Years in Minnesota!

Children's Yamaha MNP 0911 H4.indd 1

8/2/11 12:35 PM

The Wizard of Oz ÎÎAÎwonderlandÎofÎmunchkins,ÎflyingÎ monkeys,ÎtheÎwickedestÎofÎwitches,ÎrubyÎ redÎslippers,ÎandÎofÎcourse,ÎDorothyÎandÎ Toto,ÎstormÎtheÎdoorsÎofÎtheÎChildren’sÎ TheaterÎforÎthisÎholidayÎproductionÎ directedÎbyÎPeterÎRothstein.

When:ÎThroughÎJanuaryÎ8 Where:ÎChildren’sÎTheater,ÎMinneapolis Cost:Î$19ÎtoÎ$49ÎdependingÎuponÎage Info:Îchildrenstheater.orgÎorÎ ÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎ612-874-0400

Volunteer with Junior Achievement.

You can empower young people to succeed in the global economy. www.jaum.org

Junior Achievement MNP 2011 H4 filler.indd 1

8/8/11 3:27 PM

December 2011 31

2012-2013 Saint Paul School Options

DISCOVER your school CHOICE Parent Information Fair Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Saint Paul RiverCentre, Grand Ballroom

Meet staff from schools in St. Paul -- public, private and charter.

And it's free!

Questions?

Call 651-632-3760 Visit www.spps.org

Out about 3 Saturday Grand Meander ÎÎEnjoyÎaÎdayÎonÎGrandÎAvenueÎforÎ this leisurely,Îfamily-friendlyÎholidayÎeventÎ featuringÎaÎBreakfastÎwithÎSanta,ÎWinterÎ CarnivalÎbuttonÎunveiling,Îreindeer,Îcarolers,Î trolleyÎrides,ÎaÎsoupÎtasting,ÎcommunityÎtreeÎ lighting,ÎandÎfabulousÎholidayÎshoppingÎatÎ GrandÎAvenue’sÎretailers.Î

INTERPRETERS ARE AVAILABLE

WEIGHT LOSS

When:ÎRegularÎretailersÎhours Where:ÎAlongÎGrandÎAvenueÎinÎSt.ÎPaul Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îgrandave.comÎorÎ651-699-0029

CHALLENGE

earn money, compete, and lose weight!

twinkle Parade

AFTER BEFORE

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Call for dates & times

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ÎÎAÎtraditionalÎcelebrationÎwithÎaÎSantaÎ parade,ÎtreeÎlightingÎceremony,ÎhotÎ chocolate,Îcider,Îcarolers,ÎandÎdecoratedÎMainÎ StreetÎstorefronts.ÎChildrenÎunderÎ12ÎwillÎbeÎ givenÎtwinkleÎnecklacesÎwhileÎsuppliesÎlast.

10/20/11 11:16 AM

Chance to

WIN • 2 Nights Lodging • 2 Days Lifts • Free Ski Rental

— for a family of 4 — Feb. 3-5 during the

FAMILY

Free 1st Saturdays at the Walker art Center ÎÎTheÎWalkerÎArtÎCenterÎisÎaÎcatalystÎforÎ theÎcreativeÎexpressionÎofÎartistsÎandÎtheÎ activeÎengagementÎofÎaudiences.ÎFocusingÎ onÎtheÎvisual,Îperforming,ÎandÎmediaÎartsÎ ofÎourÎtime,ÎtheÎWalkerÎtakesÎaÎglobal,Î multidisciplinary,ÎandÎdiverseÎapproachÎtoÎ theÎcreation,Îpresentation,Îinterpretation,Î collection,ÎandÎpreservationÎofÎart.Î WalkerÎprogramsÎexamineÎtheÎquestionsÎ thatÎshapeÎandÎinspireÎusÎasÎindividuals,Î cultures,ÎandÎcommunities.

FESTIVAL

When:Î10:00Îa.m.ÎtoÎ5:00Îp.m.

Where:ÎWalkerÎArtÎCenter,ÎMinneapolis Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îwalkerart.orgÎorÎ612-375-7600

at

To EnTEr: Like Minnesota Parent on Facebook by January 20th • Facebook.com/MNParentMag

When:Î4:00Îp.m.ÎtoÎ5:30Îp.m.

Where:ÎParadeÎbeginsÎatÎtheÎ DockÎCaféÎandÎendsÎatÎLowellÎPark’sÎ gazebo,ÎStillwater Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îdiscoverstillwater.comÎorÎ 651-493-3029

Saturday Live! the Gingerbread Man, a.k.a. Super Cookie! ÎÎAÎnewÎtwistÎonÎanÎoldÎtale,ÎperformedÎ

32 December 2011

Lutsen Mountains MNP 1111 V6.indd 1

10/18/11 5:55 PM

byÎaÎtalentedÎtroupeÎofÎvolunteerÎandÎ staffÎpuppeteersÎonÎCentralÎLibrary’sÎ historicÎJemneÎpuppetÎstage.ÎBestÎforÎ agesÎ3ÎandÎup.

When:Î11:15Îa.m.ÎtoÎnoon Where:ÎSt.ÎPaulÎPublicÎLibrary,Î CentralÎLibrary Cost:ÎFREE Info:Îsppl.org/kids/parents/saturday-liveÎ orÎ651-266-7034

4 Sunday Sleigh ride! ÎÎEnjoyÎanÎold-fashionedÎhorse-drawnÎ sleighÎrideÎfromÎtheÎMinnesotaÎLandscapeÎ Arboretum’sÎOswaldÎVisitorÎCenterÎtoÎ theÎLearningÎCenterÎandÎback,ÎaboutÎaÎ 15-minuteÎride.

When:ÎEveryÎ15ÎminutesÎfromÎ 1:00ÎtoÎ4:00Îp.m.

Where:ÎMinnesotaÎLandscapeÎ Arboretum,ÎChanhassen Cost:Î$3Î+ÎdailyÎadmissionÎfeesÎ forÎnon-members Info:Îarboretum.umn.eduÎorÎ 952-443-1400

amahl & the night Visitors ÎÎTheÎBurnsvilleÎPerformingÎArtsÎCenterÎ willÎbeÎtransformedÎinÎaÎfullyÎstagedÎ productionÎofÎtheÎAmericanÎClassic:ÎAmahl and the Night Visitors,ÎaÎfamilyÎfavoriteÎ forÎtwoÎgenerations.ÎTheÎconcertÎwillÎalsoÎ includeÎotherÎChristmasÎfavoritesÎandÎaÎ ChristmasÎcarolÎsing-along.

When:Î2:00Îp.m.

Where:ÎBurnsvilleÎPerformingÎArtsÎ Center Cost:ÎStudentsÎ$5;ÎseniorsÎ$12;Î adultsÎ$15 Info:Îburnsvillepac.comÎorÎ 952-895-4676Î

1850s ard Godfrey House Holiday Party ÎÎTheÎhouseÎisÎdecoratedÎforÎtheÎholidaysÎ inÎtheÎmodestÎstyleÎofÎtheÎera,ÎandÎyouÎareÎ invitedÎtoÎseeÎit.ÎEnjoyÎlightÎrefreshments,Î musicalÎentertainment,ÎandÎtourÎtheÎhouseÎ withÎWomen’sÎClubÎguidesÎdressedÎinÎ periodÎcostume.Î

congregate at Bridge Square to listen to carols sung around a majestic Christmas tree. The glow of candlelight illuminates the boulevards for the perfect winter stroll and you’ll hear the grand sound of sleigh bells ringing in the crisp air against the clippity-clop of the horses as they trot down the street.

When: 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Downtown Northfield Cost: FREE Info: visitingnorthfield.com or 1-800-658-2548

9 FridaY The Nutcracker Ballet

When: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Ard Godfrey House, corner of University & Central Avenues SE, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: 612-813-5300

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show Î A cross between Yellow Submarine and Dr. Suess, groovy Gustafer Yellowgold is a small, yellow, cone-headed fellow, who came to Earth from the Sun and has a knack for finding himself neck-deep in absurd situations as he explores his new life in the Minnesota woods. Possessing an unusual crossover appeal, Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show has performed as the support act for Wilco, as well as headlining kids’ venues all around the world.

When: 11:00 a.m.

Where: The Cedar, Minneapolis Cost: Kids two to 12 $7; adults $12 Info: thecedar.org or 612-338-2674

8 ThurSdaY Northfield’s 13th annual Winter Walk Î Experience the warmth of a small town atmosphere, where people young and old

Î Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota presents its annual full-length production of Denise Vogt’s The Nutcracker Ballet.

An artistic collaboration unique in its breadth and scope, its large cast of approximately 120 consists of local and national professional dancers, metro area ballet students from at least eight dance schools, and community members.

This original professional production has become a cherished holiday tradition for many, and is a joy for families and audiences of all ages, long time patrons and novices to ballet alike.

When: 7:00 p.m.

Where: Burnsville Center for the performing Arts, Burnsville Cost: Tickets range from $12 to $26 Info: burnsvillepac.com or 952-895-4680

10 SaTurdaY Saturday Live!

Storyteller Carla Vogel Î Take a few pinches of history. Add heaping spoonfuls of humor. Mix with a healthy sprinkle of chutzpah! Together with Klezmer musician Judith Eisner, each of Carla’s stories dishes up a sumptuous feast of imagination.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: sppl.org/kids/parents/saturday-live or 651-266-7034

The Nutcracker Ballet Î See description, Friday the 9th When: 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Sleigh ride! Î See description, Sunday the 4th When: Every 15 minutes from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

11 SuNdaY The Nutcracker Ballet Î See description, Friday the 9th When: 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Sleigh ride! Î See description, Sunday the 4th When: Every 15 minutes from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

15 ThurSdaY all is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Î All Is Calm relates an astounding moment in history when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together by trading carols, sharing food and drink, playing soccer, and burying each others’ dead.

This dramatic re-telling contains quotes and readings from 30 World War I figures.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis Tickets: Range from $15 for age students and seniors to $35 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org or 800-982-2787

16 FridaY The Classic Nutcracker Î Ballet Minnesota celebrates its 24th year of performing The Classic Nutcracker, with over 130 local and national dancers.

When: 7:30 p.m.

December 2011 33

Out About Where: O’Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University, St. Paul Cost: From $17 to $42 Info: balletminnesota.org or 612-690-6700

charge every third Sunday of each month.

Due to the number of visitors on Target Free 3rd Sundays, MCM suggests leaving strollers at home or in the car.

When: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Minnesota Children’s Museum Cost: FREE Info: mcm.org

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Î See description, Thursday the 15th

The Classic Nutcracker

When: 7:30 p.m.

Î See description, Friday the 16th When: 2:00 p.m.

17 SATurdAy

The Classic Nutcracker

Saturday Live!

Ten Penny Tunes

Î See description, Friday the 16th

Î Ten Penny Tunes introduces their audiences to a wide variety of folk music, from Appalachian Mountain to Zydeco.

The music is performed on an array of fun and unusual instruments, including world’s second loudest instrument and the ever-popular library tie. The audience is encouraged to clap and sing along.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: sppl.org/kids/parents/saturday-live or 651-266-7034

The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose Î A holiday must-do for families with small children this 50-minute Zenon Dance Company show enchants young ones with a real Mother Goose and her entourage of Wee Willie Winkie, Mary Quite Contrary, Little Bo Peep, Jack Be Nimble and other lively characters. Still, the show’s embedded with enough sly winks and nudges to keep the adults entertained. The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose blends nursery rhymes with Tchaikovsky in this witty, madcap holiday romp.

When: 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Where: Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts, Minneapolis Cost: $20 adults; $15 children 12 and under Info: thecowlescenter.org or 612-205-3600

34 December 2011

When: 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose Î See description, Saturday the 17th

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Î See description, Thursday the 15th When: 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

18 SuNdAy Target Free 3rd Sundays at the Minnesota Children’s Museum Î Visitors can roam the Museum free of

About the CAlendAr Minnesota Parent welcomes information about events for families throughout the state of Minnesota.

Calendar listings are FREE and can be submitted online at mnpubs.com; click on Events > Submit an event.

You can submit a listing at any time, but the deadline for possible inclusion in the print publication is six weeks prior to the month of publication. (For example, June 15 for the August issue.)

All events are subject to change.

Be certain to check with the event sponsor either by visiting the website or calling, to ensure the featured event is still viable.

Events taking place for more than one weekend in length will be listed in our “Ongoing” area, space permitting.

When: 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Î See description, Thursday the 15th When: 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

31 SATurdAy Saturday Live! Artstart’s Scrapmobile Î Make some cool crafts perfect to ring in the New Year. This drop in activity is perfect for all ages.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: sppl.org/kids/parents/saturday-live or 651-266-7034

Ar-brrr-etum Î Skiers and snowshoers can enjoy free admission all day, celebrating the new year.

When: All day Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen Cost: FREE Info: arboretum.umn.edu or 952-443-1400

childcare/education 35 • home 36 party pages 37 • retail 37

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• miscellaneous 36 • new & expecting moms 36

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December 2011 35 8/4/11 1:25 PM

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December 2011 37

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“We tested many of the questions on our own children and they loved it. They wanted us to keep asking them more.”

How did you write the questions?

We carried small notebooks with us wherever we went and wrote down questions as they came to mind; while watching movies with the kids, traveling in the car, before the kids got up in the morning, and after they had gone to bed at night.

We wanted to make sure the questions were fun yet educational too. So, we studied developmental standards for preschool age children and designed each question to encourage development in one or more areas. Before we had the book published, we had all the questions critiqued by seasoned professionals in the early childhood education field to make sure all they were suitable.

Were you writing the book with your children in mind?

real mom

We both had preschool age children at the time, and I still do, so we were thinking of our own children, but also wanted to make it an easy educational tool that other parents could also enjoy. We tested many of the questions on our own children and they loved it. They wanted us to keep asking them more.

It’s hard enough to juggle six children, a husband, and a job, let

What went into publishing the book?

alone writing and publishing your own book, but Wanda Jarchow

We self-published the book, so it was a matter of talking to others that we knew who had gone through the publishing process, and picking their brains. As two moms printing this on our own, we had to seek out quotes on the project, because we were new to the process and didn’t know what to expect cost-wise. It was an incremental process, and we made sure our families and work remained the priority. We hope we can inspire other parents who are busy with work and families that by taking one step at a time, they may find themselves realizing a goal or dream they never thought possible.

Wanda Jarchow has done exactly that. Along with co-author Kristi Groth, the Luvernebased mothers wrote and self-published The Pondering Preschooler, a question book aimed at encouraging thought and development in preschool-aged children.

— David Kelly Q&a What inspired The Pondering Preschooler?

Kristi and I both love question books. One day we were in an educational resource store and Kristi was looking for a good question book for her preschool-age son. When she wasn’t able to find what she was looking for, she said, “Maybe we’ll have to write our own.”

That little comment would not leave me alone. I began to research what was available for preschoolers in the form of a question book. I found question books for elementary school children, tweens, teenagers, college students, young and old adults, but nothing for preschoolers. So, we started writing and before we knew it, we had over 200 questions.

38 December 2011

Real Life is an opinion page and not necessarily the opinion of this magazine.

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Give your baby every opportunity to accomplish his or her dreams.

Start with a Minnesota College Savings Plan can help.

Thinking about paying for college now may seem overwhelming. Yet, by starting to save today, you can make financing your child’s future college education more manageable. The Minnesota College Savings Plan makes it easy to start and simple to save.

Affordable to start: A contribution to an account can be made with as little as $25 in any investment option.

Anyone can contribute: Parents, grandparents, family and friends can give to an account on behalf of a child or loved one.

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Children grow up fast. Start saving for their future today.

You can get there. We can help.

To get started, or for more information:

Visit www.MN529Dreams.com

Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Please visit www.MN529Dreams.com for a Disclosure Booklet containing this and other information. Read it carefully. Account value in the investment options is not guaranteed and will fluctuate based upon a number of factors, including general market conditions.

Before investing in a 529 plan, you should consider whether the state you or your designated beneficiary reside in or have taxable income in has a 529 plan offering favorable state income tax or other benefits only available if you invest in that state’s 529 plan.

The tax information contained herein is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. It was written to support the promotion of the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., Plan Manager.

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Find your match

Bridget & her washer, introduced March 2011.

YOU DESERVE TO LOVE YOUR WASHER. WE CAN HELP. Compatibility goes beyond first sight. Our experts get to know people and connect them to appliances that complement how they live.

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