May 2014

May 2014

Anika, 3, Maple Grove

Spring!

Finally

MINNESOTA’S WATERFALLS ARE WORTH CHASING Page 26

SIMPLE AND FUN GARDENING PROJECTS FOR CHILDREN Page 32

WATER SAFETY Page 20

IS YOUR CHILD A HOARDER? Page 38

May 2014 5

CONTENTS

Minnesota Parent May 2014

Departments

Features

10 CHATTER 12 BABY ON BOARD How to let go of ‘mother’s guilt.’

14 TODDLER TIME

Talking stranger-danger with toddlers: Is it the right message?

16 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

26 38 32

DIG IN THE DIRT Try one of four gardening projects.

They’re ideal for busy parents, curious kids and even picky eaters.

By Meleah Maynard

ABOUT OUR COVER KID Name: Anika Age: 3

SUPER-COOL CASCADES Get outside and explore Minnesota’s waterfalls with your kids.

How can I help my kids avoid deer ticks and Lyme disease?

18 IN THE KITCHEN

By Emily Mongan

You need to try it. Really!

Mayo Magic Chicken Strips.

HOARDING CONCERNS?

20 TWEENS & TEENS

How to tell if your kid’s collections are a serious problem — and learn what you can do about it.

Beyond swimming lessons: Need-to-know water-safety tips.

By Kelly Jo McDonnell

Watch for signs of child identity theft (even though it’s rare).

22 GROWS ON TREES

24 BOOK SHELF Read all about dinosaurs after you visit all the fossils in St. Paul.

50 FROM OUR READERS It’s your turn: Photos and quotes from Minnesota Parent fans.

City: Maple Grove

Parents: Matt and Mandy Kasowicz Siblings: Brother, Harper, age 1 Favorite movie: Frozen Favorite activities: Playing dress up, singing and doing performances (such as Frozen re-enactments).

Favorite foods: Peanut butter sandwiches, cheese and ice cream.

PHOTOS BY HEIDI DERNER • WONDERLAND CREATIVE WONDERLAND-CREATIVE.COM

6 May 2014

Out&About PAGE 42

Want to see your kid on the cover?

Send high-resolution images to editor@mnparent.com.

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From the editor

happy babies. happy moms.

Spring is here! Right?

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W

ell, time will only tell just when spring will arrive for good. But, when it does, you’ll be ready with this latest issue of Minnesota Parent!

This May we’re taking you to five different waterfalls across the state — perfect outings with young kids who really need a goal, such as a gorgeous destination, to get motivated. Then we’ll help you get busy gardening with a fantastic menu of easy container projects, designed just for busy parents with kids, young or old. Come August, we hope you’ll be basking in the golden glow of your child’s very own sunflower pot while chomping on freshly grown pea pods and cherry tomatoes.

I’ll definitely be gardening with my 5-year-old son, who delights in exploring our gardens every day after school. We check to see which seeds have sprouted and if any plants have new flowers. We plant sugar snap peas every year. And, as they grow into vines and produce their pretty white flowers, I encourage him to discover the first pea pod of spring.

He always finds it before me, of course. (And if he didn’t, I’d let him find it anyway.)

Then, even though he’s not much of a veggie man, he always chomps down on the fresh, green crunchy pod with pride. I think he can taste spring in every bite.

But, of course, there’s more to life than gardening. With this issue, we’re also here to help you play it safe this spring — with Joy Riggs’ column on water safety and with Jen Wittes’ piece on personal safety. I was encouraged to learn from Jen that parents needn’t get bogged down in the complexities of stranger danger to talk about personal safety with toddlers. (Jen’s even found a cool book you can try!)

Parents also needn’t beat themselves up over not doing enough for their kids, according to our Baby on Board columnist Shannon Keough. I was thrilled to hear her embrace the idea of “good enough” parenting — the concept that every moment can’t be Pinterest-perfect, that we need to tell ourselves, as parents, that we can’t do it all, and we shouldn’t.

Whatever you find yourself doing this spring — it might just be nursing a newborn child, and I mean “just” ironically — be sure to stop and take a moment to enjoy the fresh new life that the season brings. As we all know, it will go, as childhood does, way too fast.

Sarah Dorison Editor

8 May 2014

Vol. 29 • Issue 5

Co-Publishers Janis Hall jhall@mnparent.com Terry Gahan tgahan@mnparent.com General Manager Chris Damlo 612-436-4376 cdamlo@mnparent.com Editor Sarah Dorison 612-436-5079 sdorison@mnparent.com Contributing Writers/Photographers Shannon Keough Jen Wittes Peter Dehnel Joy Riggs Kara McGuire Meleah Maynard Emily Mongan Kelly Jo McDonnell Zoe Gahan Creative Director Dana Croatt dcroatt@mnparent.com Senior Graphic Designer Valerie Moe Graphic Designer Amanda Wadeson

Are you currently pregnant or had a baby during the previous month and interested in participating in a telephone-based health and wellness program?

The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently pregnant or less than 6 weeks postpartum to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth • Participants receive a motivational exercise program or a health and wellness program, which begins after the birth of your baby (participants can sign up for the program during pregnancy) • Program delivered to you via the mail and phone • Must be 18 years of age or older; must not currently exercise regularly • Must not take antidepressants • Must have a history of depression • You will receive $100 for your time

Call 612-625-9753 or email mompro@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study U of M - Kinesiology Dept MNP 1212 S3.indd 1

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Sales Administrator Kate Manson 612-436-5085 kmanson@mnparent.com Circulation Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 distribution@mnparent.com Advertising 612-825-9205 sales@mnparent.com 60,000 copies of Minnesota Parent are 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.

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Minnesota Parent is copyright 2014 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Address all material to address above.

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Children’s rock band The Okee Dokee Brothers will release their latest CD/DVD set — “Through The Woods” — nationwide on May 20. Having grown up exploring the great outdoors of Denver, the now-Minneapolis-based band members (not actually brothers) Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing write music to inspire children to explore nature. The 2013 Grammy Award winners hope to increase kids’ knowledge and respect of the natural world through their family-friendly take on Americana folk music.

Minnesota Parent’s resident 5-year-old music critic gives the new CD two thumbs up. Songs to check out right away include “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” “Walking With Spring” and “Riddle and Rhyme.”

Learn more about the new CD and upcoming gigs — including a CD-release party May 17 in St. Paul and a June 15/Father’s Day show at the Minnesota Zoo — at okeedokee.org.

Win an autographed copy of the new CD! Send us a fun photo of your kid — with his/her first name, age and city — and we’ll put your name in the hat to win! (And your cute kid might make it into a future magazine, too!)

Email pictures and info to editor@mnparent.com.

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The Science Museum of Minnesota’s Big Back Yard will open for the season on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26! With a wide variety of hands-on exhibits, this outdoor gallery is a great destination for these upcoming warmer months.

Use the camera obscura (Latin for “dark room”) and see how the earliest cameras were constructed. Wind your way through a maze of native Minnesota Prairie plants. Build your knowledge of ecology and the interaction of land and water with the back yard’s 9-hole 30,000-square-foot EarthScapes miniature golf course. Learn more at smm.org/bigbackyard or call 651-221-9444.

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The popular book series “Who Was...?” is approaching a milestone — its 100th book!

And the publisher, Penguin, wants kids to help decide who, living or dead, should get the honor of being profiled next.

Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison have all been the subject of these whimsically illustrated books for young readers. Children are invited to submit their favorite artists, musicians, politicians, explorers and more to help make the big decision.

Kids can vote online, in bookstores, at libraries and even at schools. Some of the front-runners, last time we checked the leaderboard, included Mother Teresa, Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift. Visit whowasbookseries.com for voting locations and to play trivia and explore past books. Polls close June 1.

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was my fault!)

Shannon

• Not making homemade baby food (I’m lazy!)

Keough

• Not understanding how to care for two kids at once (I’m pathetic and weak!)

• Letting Felix cry in his bouncy seat while I did a conference call in the next room (I’m a money-grubbing hack, too disorganized to hire a sitter!)

The list could go on to epic-poem lengths, but I’ll spare you the rest of the neurotic details. What’s the deal with all this guilt?

Maybe it has something to do with the way our parenting decisions (and perceived failures) seem to carry so much weight. Fail to breastfeed exclusively and you’ve doomed your child to a life of sickness and mediocrity. Give your toddler some mac and cheese and she’ll never touch vegetables again.

Relax, at least little.

Letting go of ‘mother’s guilt’ “I always imagine good parents teaching their children Spanish, or how to play the flute as soon as little Bri or Megan can sit up. I’ve taught mine how to consume pasta without silverware and zone out in front of the tube.”

— Jerry Stahl, “Bad Moments in Parenting,” therumpus.net

I

wasn’t prepared for the guilt.

Even though I’d heard of “mother’s guilt,” even though friends with children had mentioned it to me, the power of the guilt I would feel as a parent just didn’t sink in until I had my own child.

12 May 2014

Here are some of the things I’ve felt guilty about so far: • Having a C-section (Lydia was breech.)

• Having a vacuum-assisted birth (Felix was stuck.)

• Probably not “bonding” properly due to the C-section/vacuum-assisted birth (I was a childbirthing failure!)

• Supplementing feedings with formula (I was a breastfeeding failure!)

• Not supplementing my baby sooner with formula (She was starving and it

Lori Gottlieb writes about this phenomenon in her article for The Atlantic, “How to Land Your Kid in Therapy.”

While studying for a degree in clinical psychology, she was bombarded with literature that suggested that “proper” parenting practices are hugely important.

“In everything we studied … the research was clear: Fail to ‘mirror’ your children or miss their ‘cues’ or lavish too little affection on them, and a few decades later, if they had the funds and a referral, they would likely end up in one of our psychotherapy offices, on the couch next to a box of tissues — recounting the time Mom did this or Dad didn’t do that — for 50 minutes weekly, sometimes for years.”

Gottlieb argues that the hyper-vigilant parenting that so many of us take part in — and the guilt that frequently attends it — is actually bad for kids.

Instead she advocates an approach to parenting that allows our children to experience some frustration and hardship and de-emphasizes the importance of our role as parents in “shaping” our children’s lives.

‘Coulds,’ not ‘shoulds’ I like some of the advice from Margie Warrell in her article for Forbes, “Letter to Working Mothers: Stop Feeling So Guilty.”

One of her best suggestions, and an easy one to implement, is to quit thinking about what you “should” do.

For example, “I really should make some homemade educational baby toys right now instead of plopping the baby on a blanket while I shop online for easily washable dresses.”

“Our shoulds are shaped by our environment, which has seen them skyrocket in recent decades with the rise of the so-called ‘parenting police’ — experts that bombard us with advice on what a ‘good’ parent should, and should not, do,” she writes.

She suggests we replace “should” with “could,” and then offer an alternative.

Maybe like this: “I could make some educational baby toys, or I could just buy some from Amazon after placing my latest Athleta order.”

Good-enough mother Another excellent idea is to let go of perfectionism and embrace the concept of the “good enough” mother.

“There is no one ‘right’ way to raise a child,” says Minneapolis psychotherapist Jenny Adams Salmela. “Being a good enough parent, providing love, support and safety, but still making mistakes, is all that is necessary for a child to thrive.”

All of this sounds good to me.

So, fellow parents: Do your best to let go of the guilt and actually enjoy parenting. And when you spend an afternoon watching Breaking Bad with your infant instead of walking him around the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, remember the wise words of my friend Anne: “Give yourself a break.”

Shannon Keough lives in south Minneapolis with her husband, Nick, and two children. Send questions or comments to editor@mnparent.com.

Jen

Wittes

‘No!’ and ‘Uh-oh’: Talking safety

D

uring the toddler years, you move from baby to big kid, from baby-wearing to holding hands, from “Ah goo” to “No!” complete with foot stomping.

This new independence is breathtaking, in every sense of the word. You clap, hoot and holler as your child jumps into the pool — your loving arms outstretched and waiting, heart beating fast. You laugh as you fight to keep up.

You thrill: “Look at what you can do!” You fear: “How do I keep you safe?”

During these years, you watch your child start charming the ladies at the grocery store. Perhaps he gets his first invitation to an independent play-date.

As your toddler starts stepping out into the world-atlarge, two things occur to you simultaneously: The world is beautiful and it is a joy to explore it with your child.

The world — with its unsettling dark corners — is not good enough for your child.

You think back to your own youth — afterschool specials featuring a mysterious blue van, the neighbor your mom told you to stay away from and the older boys who used to chase you and your friends home from school.

You think to present day — overexploited Hollywood sex scandals, the ubiquitous and often unsavory Internet, every darn episode of CSI.

Sidestepping ‘stranger danger’ Abduction and sexual abuse top the list of parental fears and, yet, the idea that someone would harm your child is so crippling that many parents immediately push the thought away and simply hope for the best.

Maybe you’ve already tried to start the conversa-

14 May 2014

tion with your toddler and, in the process, unwittingly cracked open a can of worms.

With all their curiosity, toddlers are bound to take the conversation into areas that you hadn’t thought of. What about the nice man at the bookstore? He helps us pick out stories, but he was a stranger. You try to explain that it’s not just strangers, but that people we know can hurt us, too. But Caroline’s mommy is nice, right? Uncle Will is nice, right?

You quickly realize that there are no right answers to these questions. Caroline’s mommy is nice, sure, but so are the people who mess with kids. Can you say that? Would you dare say that to a 3-year-old? Do you want to burden your amazingly free-spirited 2-yearold with a murky heap of paranoia? And how much is she capable of understanding?

So. How do you teach your toddler to be safe in the big, bad, beautiful world without confusing or frightening her?

Better strategies Enter Alison Feigh, program coordinator at the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, an organization dedicated to providing crisis relief for families dealing with child exploitation or abduction. The JWRC doesn’t stop with victim assistance. They provide education to communities to prevent these scenarios from happening in the first place.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Feigh and was completely blown away by her wealth of knowledge, as well as her calm and efficient way of answering the tough questions. She’s also written a pretty cool children’s book about personal safety that reads like any normal story. It’s called I Can Play It Safe and it’s now in my family’s nightly rotation.

TODDLER TIP

Helpful reading I Can Play It Safe

by Alison Feigh and Laura Logan teaches young children seven important rules of personal safety in a nonthreatening way.

It covers topics such as safe versus harmful secrets, safe versus harmful touches, and the importance of having a community of trusted adults to turn to for help.

Emphasizing the “check-in” rule and teaching kids to trust their gut instincts, this book gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart choices about their personal safety every day.

As we talked, one of the first things she emphasized was the misconception of “stranger danger.” As we all sort of know — but maybe have a hard time wrapping our head around — most cases of sexual abuse and abduction involve someone the child already knows.

In recent times, this has brought about a movement to avoid the word “stranger” and replace it with “tricky person.” That’s not the best approach, according to Feign.

“It’s a kid’s job to be a kid,” she says. “It is our job as adults to keep them safe. If we give them age-appropriate rules and guidelines, they are not burdened with figuring out who is tricky.”

Empowered explorers The JWRC favors encouraging your children to explore the world, empowered with the safety tools you’ve given them.

In the toddler years, the JWRC suggests starting with the basics: Teach your child their name and their guardian’s name.

Ask that they stay within sight.

Teach correct names for body parts.

Explain that private parts are different.

Start explaining the “uh-oh” feeling.

Your child should know to tell a caregiver if they are feeling scared or confused.

“No means no, when it comes to your body.” Of course, “No” might be your toddler’s favorite word. Explain the difference between saying no to feel safe and saying no in defiance.

Keep in mind that this is the beginning of a life-long dialogue with your child about personal safety.

It’s ridiculously scary to go there, I know. The flipside is that you will feel less scared once you start empowering yourself and your child with simple safety rules.

Find more information on keeping kids safe at every age jwrc.org.

Jen Wittes lives in St. Paul and is the mother of two young children. She’s helped many Twin Cities families in her work as a postpartum doula.

Send questions or comments to editor@mnparent.com.

May 2014 15

Peter

Dehnel, MD

How can I protect my kids from ticks and Lyme disease this summer?

Think small. The kind of tick bites you should be most concerned about come from deer ticks, which are smaller than the larger and more common wood ticks, also known as dog ticks.

Many parents mistakenly think wood ticks can transmit Lyme disease. They can’t. (Be aware, though, if you remove a wood tick, but the head doesn’t come out, it can cause a local infection.)

Deer ticks will typically look like a new, small freckle on your child’s skin. To transmit Lyme disease — or a handful of other diseases — ticks really need to be attached to the skin for 24 hours or more.

A daily inspection of your children’s skin right before bed on days that they’ve been playing outside, for example, will usually eliminate the possibility of them getting infected with Lyme disease.

Insect repellents are also helpful, but be careful to note the concentration of DEET in many of these products for younger children. (See epa.gov/pesticides/ insect/safe.htm for information on children and DEET.) Also, please note that the area extending north

from the Twin Cities metro area to northern Wisconsin seems to have a particularly high concentrations of deer ticks. (See health.state.mn.us for more information on high-risk areas in the state.)

If your child or teen does get bitten by a tick that stays attached long enough to possibly transmit an infection, he or she will likely develop a large, red, circular rash that will remain for three weeks or more if left untreated.

If it’s a small rash — less than 2 inches in diameter — or goes away without treatment within a week, then it’s unlikely that it’s Lyme disease. If you see a bull’s-eye type rash, however, you should take your child to the doctor. He or she will need antibiotics to treat the infection.

My 10-year-old daughter is highly allergic to bee stings and has been prescribed an Epi-Pen to use if she ever gets stung. How can I help her overcome her fear of having to use this shot?

Practice, practice, practice. If it’s been a while since you received this prescription for your child, you may want to check with the office that prescribed it to review the proper technique of injecting — and self-injecting — for your daughter’s sake.

Practicing on a regular basis with a mock Epi-Pen is a good way to help minimize the fear.

As her parent, you definitely want to know how to give her an injection correctly because many times this responsibility will end up falling on a nearby adult.

Severe life-threatening allergic reactions to bee stings thankfully are uncommon, but do need to be taken seriously.

Fortunately, there are now ways to help some children and adults become desensitized to bee stings

LYME DISEASE: THE BASICS What is it?

Lyme disease, named for the Connecticut town where the disease was first discovered in the 1970s, is an infection caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash. If the infection is left untreated, it can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

16 May 2014

How’s it transmitted?

In the U.S., bacteria transmitted to people and animals by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, commonly called the deer tick.

Where is it found in the U.S.?

In 2012, 95 percent of of Lyme disease cases were reported from 13 states — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.

Wood tick

Deer tick Actual size

Detail

through a series of allergy shots. This may be something that you want to check with your allergist, if you’ve not already done so. If necessary, ask for a referral for an allergist from your primary care provider and confirm that the allergist is covered under your health benefits plan.

We’re past the stage of baby-and-me swimming classes. When is a good time to enroll my twin sons in swimming lessons?

Helping children be safe and comfortable in and near the water can start at a very young age, as you’ve already learned.

Once a child is about 3 years old, families can usually find places in their community that hold swimming classes for young children ready to go in the water without their parents.

Even if your child is in swimming lessons, consider spending additional time doing water activities as a family.

Your kids will be very excited to show off their new swimming skills, and there’s no better place to see these achievements than right in the water with them.

Time in the water combined with the right amount of safety measures will end up with the best experience for children and parents alike.

This column is intended to provide general information only and not medical advice.

Contact your health care provider with questions about your child.

Dr. Peter Dehnel is a board-certified pediatrician and medical director with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Send questions to editor@mnparent.com.

GRILLING SEASON IS HERE. Hurray! And this recipe is so simple, you’ll find it becomes a go-to weeknight dinner.

Wait! We know what you’re thinking: A mayo marinade? Ew. But trust us, it works. Fat from the mayo fries the chicken, and it disappears on the grill, keeping the strips moist, tender and delicious. Even if your kids hate mayo, don’t worry: They’ll love these strips! Bonus: This recipe doubles easily.

Mayo-magic chicken strips 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into long, thin strips (about ½ inch wide) ⅓ cup full-fat mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Colman’s Original English Mustard* Serves 2 to 4

Preheat your outdoor grill for high heat.

Coat the chicken strips on all sides with mayonnaise and mustard. (Don’t let the mixture marinate or sit for more than 15 minutes.)

Grill the strips for 5 to 7 minutes over high heat. Turn the strips and grill 2 to 4 more minutes or until completely cooked.

Variations: Mix 2 tablespoons of your favorite sauce (Sriracha, barbecue or ranch) or dry seasonings (taco, fajita, steak or herb) into the mayo marinade.

Minnesota Parent Test Kitchen

18 May 2014

*Substitutions: You can use any mustard (or none) for this recipe, but we recommend Colman’s for its strong, spicy kick.

Mustard with kick!

Colman’s Original English Mustard is one of the oldest food brands in the world with 200 years under the Colman name.

In 1814, Jeremiah Colman first advertised his spicy-hot mustard in the Norwich Chronicle. He made his mustard at a water mill just south of Norwich, and his business was family-run. Made from a blend of high-quality brown and white mustard seeds, it’s still produced in Norwich today under the ownership of Unilever. See colmansusa.com for more details and recipes.

Kuhn Rikon Peeler

This handy little tool is ideal for all your peeling needs. (We’ve used it for butternut squash, apples, carrots, turnips, potatoes, mangos and more). Easy to grip, its Y-shape handle offers more flexibility and it’s easy for lefties to use, too! us.kuhnrikon.com • $3.99

May 2014 19

Joy

Riggs

Playing it safe in the water

I

learned the hard way, when my kids were little, how quickly fun in the water can turn to danger.

My father-in-law and I were seated at the poolside entertaining Elias, then a toddler, while my two older kids took a quick swim before lunch.

As 7-year-old Louisa and 5-year-old Sebastian laughed and splashed in the shallow end, joyously demonstrating the skills they’d acquired in swimming lessons, they slowly drifted closer to the edge of the deeper water.

Then, as I watched from across the pool, Seb began to tire.

He grabbed onto Louisa’s shoulders for support, dragging her down. Her smile turned to an expression of fear as she struggled to keep her head above water.

An older man who was swimming laps nearby glanced at them, but kept on going.

I realized I had to act, so I kicked off my shoes and jumped in, fully clothed, to pull them to safety.

Although it happened 10 years ago, and all three of my kids are strong swimmers

now, the scene still plays clearly in my mind whenever the topic of water safety comes up. It’s a good reminder for me to never underestimate the inherent risks of water activities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of death by unintentional injury in the U.S. The highest risk for drowning for both males and females is between the ages of 1 and 4. It decreases for both sexes from ages 5 to 14, but then it increases substantially

RESOURCES American Red Cross Water safety tips: redcross.org/prepare/disaster/water-safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: tinyurl.com/cdcdrowningfactsheet The Red Cross Swim App: Track swimming-lesson progress, earn badges and learn about water safety through the new American Red Cross Swim App. Text SWIM to 90999 to receive a link to download the app; or search the iTunes app store or Google Play for American Red Cross or see redcross.org/mobile-apps.

20 May 2014

at age 15 and remains elevated throughout adulthood.

Learning through lessons One of the most important protective factors for anyone who’s going to be in or around water is to learn how to swim, says Mary Barber-Schmitz, an aquatics specialist with the American Red Cross Northern Minnesota region.

“It sounds obvious, but there are a lot of people who haven’t had the chance to take swimming lessons, or who took them a while ago and their skills aren’t as strong as they could be,” she says.

“Everyone should consider taking formal instruction to improve their swimming ability and to learn safety skills.”

Barber-Schmitz says many aquatics centers offer beginner classes specifically for tweens and teens, so they don’t have to feel uncomfortable learning alongside much younger swimmers.

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Lifeguards, buddies, rescuers Another important protective factor is to swim at a location that has a lifeguard on duty — whether it’s a pool, beach or water park. Certified lifeguards are trained to scan the water for people who are weaker swimmers or who appear to be getting tired, and, if an emergency occurs, they can provide lifesaving CPR. Swimming with a buddy adds a third layer of protection. A friend might notice if you’re not feeling well or are having trouble in the water, and can call for help.

“We use the phrase, ‘Swim as a pair near a lifeguard’s chair,’” Barber-Schmitz says.

When someone’s in trouble in the water, jumping in and attempting to assist can be dangerous for people not trained in lifesaving. Barber-Schmitz says the Red Cross instead encourages rescuers to “Reach or Throw, Don’t Go”.

Reach out with something that the person can grab onto, like a stick, a pole or a towel; or throw a floatation device with a rope into

the water that the person can grab onto while you pull him or her to safety.

Coast Guard-approved life jackets are recommended for anyone in the water who isn’t a strong swimmer, and for everyone in a boat, regardless of their swimming skills.

Males most at risk CDC statistics also show that 80 percent of the people who die from drowning are male.

Knowing that, I’m proud and relieved to report that my son Sebastian, who could’ve drowned that day in the pool 10 years ago, earned his lifesaving badge at Boy Scout camp last summer.

He may never need to use it, but it’s comforting to know that he recognizes the line between fun and danger and is prepared to help others stay on the side of safety.

Joy Riggs is a mother of three teenagers.

She lives in Northfield. Send comments or questions to editor@mnparent.com.

4/17/142014 3:11 PM May 21

Kara

McGuire

whisked away by thieves and the time she applies for credit. It’s a terrifying thought that leaves me feeling pretty helpless.

1 in 40 households

Watching for signs of child identity theft

P

arenting philosophies abound.

But one aspect of parenting we can all agree on is that protecting our kids is a big job.

A hot stove, the neighborhood bully, crossing the street — parents are forever looking out for things in life that could hurt our precious kiddos.

For this mom, the unseen threats are even more frightening, which is why child identity theft is so worrisome. Just imagine the damage that can be done to your baby’s financial profile between the time her Social Security number is

Still, I can’t help but wonder: Is child identity theft a big enough worry to add to the list of keep-me-up-at-night concerns?

According to the 2012 Child Identity Fraud Report conducted by the Identity Theft Assistance Center and Javelin Strategy & Research, 2.5 percent of households with kids younger than 18 experienced child identity theft.

Put another way, one in every 40 U.S. households have dealt with the nightmare of a minor’s stolen identity.

Typical identity theft tales that make headlines feature nefarious hackers hiding in far-away countries behind sophisticated computers.

With child identity theft, the real risk lies much closer to home. The vast majority of incidents involve relatives, family friends or neighbors stealing Social Security numbers to apply for jobs, file taxes, receive government benefits or open financial accounts.

It takes almost a year before anyone notices the theft, according to the aforementioned report, nearly four times longer than when an adult’s personal information is taken.

Signs of theft, steps to take Signs that your child’s identity may have been stolen include: • Receiving credit offers in your child’s name • Getting turned down for a first credit card or cell phone because of poor credit • Being denied government benefits • Receiving information from the IRS about a job the child has never had.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to safeguard your child’s personal information. These are steps you can use to keep your own sensitive numbers and documents safe, too:

22 May 2014

• Only give out a Social Security number when absolutely necessary.

• Keep important documents such as Social Security cards and birth certificates in a locked safe or bank security deposit box.

• Shred any documents that list critical information.

• Be prudent when sharing birthdays, photos and other sensitive information on social media sites.

Credit bureaus and beyond Consumer experts recommend adults check their credit reports for suspicious accounts every few months using the free service annualcreditreport.com. That method doesn’t work so well for kids since children shouldn’t have a credit file.

If you have concerns, the Federal Trade Commission suggests contacting the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Ask them to conduct a manual search for your child’s file rather than going through the free site.

The Federal Trade Commission (ftc. gov), Identity Theft Resource Center (idtheftcenter.org) and the Identity Theft Assistance Center (identitytheftassistance. org) also have a wealth of information on the issue and can guide your next steps.

Bottom line: While the idea of child identity theft is terrifying, the good news is that it’s rare.

Take the simple steps outlined above to protect your child, and yourself. If your kids are older, talk to them about privacy and prudent information sharing, especially if they’re online and use social media.

Throw in a couple of lessons about how credit works, too.

Not fully understanding how to properly use debt is a greater risk for the majority of America’s kids than identity theft.

Kara McGuire is a personal finance expert and St. Paul mother of three.

Send comments and column ideas to editor@mnparent.com.

You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call 1-877-338-4646

DINO OBSESSED In honor of St. Paul’s two dinosaur exhibits going on now — Ultimate Dinosaurs through Aug. 24 at the Science Museum of Minnesota and Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice through May 26 at the Minnesota Children’s Museum — we’re got dinos on the brain.

Immerse yourself in fossil trivia and more with these new books.

Dinosaurs 3D: An Incredible Journey Through Time Don’t just read about dinosaurs — become immersed in their world with this 3D book. Two pairs of 3D glasses are included. Spectacular images pop from the pages to illustrate the lives of dinosaurs, categorized by type for easy browsing and identification.

Dinosaur fact files give the details on all the creatures in these pages, but you might be too busy staring at the stunning pictures to read them!

By Dougal Dixon $19.95

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!

This rhyming, call-and-response picture book follows the antics of a mischievous Tyrannosaurus Rex. Watch as a classroom full of young dinosaurs plays with toys, makes art and reads books. Bright and bold illustrations, plus a pronunciation guide, will help educate young dino fans.

By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Illustrated by Zachariah Ohora $14.95

Plesiosaur Peril: Tales of Prehistoric Life An award-winning author and illustrator showcase realistic and detailed computer illustrations to re-create the underwater world of the Jurassic period. Follow plesiosaurs throughout their daily lives and watch how they fed, swam and escaped predators — a personal and touching story from a distant past.

By Daniel Loxton Illustrated by Daniel Loxton and Jim W. W. Smith $16.95

24 May 2014

Jake’s Bones: World’s Youngest Bone Collector Discover the secrets of dinosaur bones, mysteries of snake skeletons, reasons why ducks quack and more in this full-color guide to animal bones from your own backyard and beyond. Learn about the function and purpose of various bones from Jake, who’s been photographing and blogging about bones since he was 7 years old.

By Jake McGowan-Lowe $12.99

The Big Book of Dinosaurs Explore the myths and facts of dinosaurs, from their ancient times to their depictions in the present. Learn how filmmakers re-create dinosaurs today and investigate dinosaurs’ diets and everything in between in this fun, yet comprehensive, book. $12.99

Celebrate warmer weather with a family trip to one of Minnesota’s stunning cascades!

The High Falls of the Baptism River, near Silver Bay

26 May 2014

Mongan

By Emily

M

innesota may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but the North Star State is also home to several stunning waterfalls that are roaring right now, thanks to the big spring melt made all the more powerful by an especially snowy winter.

Plus, waterfalls provide a key ingredient for family-friendly outings — a final destination with a special view — the perfect motivation for young ones, especially if a bit of hiking is required to reach your goal.

That means, we hope, less whining and more exercise for your children, and less heavy kid-carrying for you!

May 2014 27

THE HIGH FALLS OF THE BAPTISM RIVER Where: Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, 55 miles northeast of Duluth Why: Tettegouche State Park is home to three waterfalls, including the High Falls, the tallest waterfall entirely within Minnesota’s state lines, falling more than 60 feet. (It’s second only to the 120-foot High Falls of the Pigeon River at the Ontario boarder in Grand Portage State Park.)

The Tettegouche High Falls can be reached by either a 1-mile or 3-mile roundtrip hike from the park’s visitor center, the longer of which winds past the smaller Two Step Falls.

For more ambitious hikers, the park offers more than 20 miles of hiking trails with views of lakes, scenic overlooks and the shores of Lake Superior, along with mountain bike and ATV trails. The park also offers opportunities for fishing, bird watching and rock climbing, plus campsites and cabins.

Learn more: dnr.state.mn.us or 218-226-6365

28 May 2014

DEVIL’S KETTLE FALLS Where: Judge C.R. Magney State Park, 20 miles from Grand Marais Why: Something strange is happening in this far-flung state park. Minnesota’s Brule River splits dramatically into two waterfalls — one plunges 50 feet into a pool below and continues downstream, while the other shoots into a large pothole that has stumped geologists for decades: Where does the water go once it disappears into the “Devil’s Kettle?”

Some believe the water empties into Lake Superior via an underground river.

Others aren’t so sure. Dyes, logs, ping-pong balls and other objects thrown into the kettle have disappeared, never to be seen again, according to legend. Come up with your own theory, and awe at this natural wonder, by visiting the falls for yourself.

Hike about a mile — a strenuous one with 200 stairs added to assist you — to view Devil’s Kettle Falls as well as the park’s Upper Falls. The park is home to campgrounds, picnic areas, a self-guided nature walk and nine miles of challenging hiking trails along the Brule.

Learn more: dnr.state.mn.us or 218-387-3039

May 2014 29

GOOSEBERRY FALLS Where: Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, 40 miles northeast of Duluth Why: This beloved state park on the shores of Lake Superior contains four separate waterfalls — Upper, Middle (pictured) and Lower Gooseberry falls, all located near the park’s visitor center on Highway 61, plus a more secluded Fifth Falls about a mile up the river.

You can wade through the falls in warmer months, or view the falls from above on a catwalk bridge. This state park also offers self-guided nature walks, hiking and biking trails, campsites and historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Be sure to pack a lunch and visit the park’s ancient lava flow, aptly named Picnic Flow, where you can explore the rock formations and enjoy stunning views of Lake Superior while you eat.

It’s been quite a spring for the Gooseberry River near Two Harbors, Minn.

Watch a video of the April 11 “ice out” captured at the river’s Middle Falls by the Duluth News Tribune. Large chunks of ice, logs and other debris came over the falls quickly in a flurry of activity caught on film.

See tinyurl.com/gooseberryiceout.

Learn more: dnr.state.mn.us or 218-834-3855

RESOURCES

MINNEHAHA FALLS Where: Minnehaha Park, 15 minutes south of downtown Minneapolis

Minnesota’s finest: Check out the Top 10 waterfalls in Minnesota at dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ starter_kit/waterfalls.html Explore Minnesota offers a long list of local parks with waterfalls tinyurl.com/exploremnwaterfalls

Why: Enjoy a sweet slice of nature without ever having to leave the city. This impressive 53-foot waterfall is easily accessible by a short, paved walk from the parking lot at Minnehaha Park.

Go Waterfalling: Learn about more than two dozen spectacular waterfalls in Minnesota and Wisconsin (and beyond) at gowaterfalling.com.

Observe the falls from one of the many viewing areas. Then follow Minnehaha Creek less than half a mile through the park to see where it meets up with the Mississippi River. Minnehaha Park is also home to the seafood cafe Sea Salt Eatery, plus a snack bar, wading pool and dog park. You’ll also find seasonal bike rentals and concerts in the city park bandstand.

Before you go

Learn more: minneapolisparks.org or 612-230-6400

30 May 2014

While waterfalls are more powerful and exciting to view following a heavy rain, washouts and flooding can force parks to close damaged hiking trails.

Check with the park you plan to visit before heading out to make sure paths are open and clear.

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MINNEOPA FALLS Where: Minneopa State Park, 6 miles west of Mankato Minneopa translates roughly from the Dakota language to mean “water falling twice,” a nod to Minneopa Creek’s double waterfalls outside Mankato, about 90 miles from the Twin Cities. You can walk along the creek to the gorge at the bottom of the second waterfall, or view the action from a bridge between the first and second drops.

This park is broken into two parts: Waterfalls cascade in the southern portion of the park near a parking lot, picnic areas and the park’s office, where GPS units, birding and fishing supplies, sports equipment and activity kits for kids are available for rent. In the northern section of the park, which can be reached by a quick drive, you’ll find campgrounds, hiking trails and the historic Seppman Mill, a Germanstyle stone windmill dating back to the 1860s.

Learn more: dnr.state.mn.us or 507-389-5464

Emily Mongan is a journalism student at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities. She lives in the Como neighborhood of Minneapolis.

May 2014 31

n for u f , r you our fab o f y Eas ese f ening h t , them ner gard et lg ai cont jects wil ked pro ids hoo nd a k your ening — d! foo ard on g egrown hom eleah Maynard

By M

Get

growing 32 May 2014

g

here’s something magical about spring, especially in Minnesota when bitterly cold winters keep us cooped up for long stretches. If you’re looking for something the whole family can enjoy doing outdoors this year, here are four container gardening projects we promise your kids will love.

They’ll be delighted to find they can grow not just plants, but also food.

Encourage children of all ages to check on their plants daily to observe their growth, pour a bit of water on and, eventually, enjoy a satisfying harvest all their own. If you have picky eaters, you’ll find they’re more likely to eat their veggies right off the plants than from their dinner plates.

How did we choose these four projects?

Bright colors, big flowers, interesting textures and dramatic green growth are key for kids. And for you? None of these projects require green-thumb experience.

Just follow each project recipe and get ready, get set … grow!

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May 2014 33

PROJECT ONE

Dwarf Sunflowers Late spring is the perfect time to plant sunflower seeds. While many varieties reach heights of 6 feet, dwarf varieties usually grow only 1 to 3 feet tall, so they can easily be grown in pots. Dwarf sunflower seed varieties can be purchased at local garden centers and online through mailorder seed companies. Burpee.com, for example, offers several tried-and-true dwarf varieties such as Teddy Bear (pictured, right), which has fluffy-looking bright yellow flowers, and Little Becka, a stunner with big, red flowers edged in yellow. Other shorter varieties include Elf and Bashful, but any variety under 3 feet will do.

Sources: Renee’s Garden, reneesgarden. com; Territorial Seed Co.: territorialseed. com; W. Atlee Burpee & Co., burpee.com Containers: It’s better for a container to be slightly larger than necessary, rather than so small it cramps growing roots or dries out too quickly. When growing dwarf sunflowers, chose a container at least 16 inches wide and 16 inches deep.

Soil: Always use potting soil rather than topsoil or soil from garden beds when growing plants in containers to allow for better drainage.* When and how to plant: You’ll find everything you need to know on the back of your seed packets, including how deeply seeds should be planted in the soil, how long it will take for them germinate and when to expect flowers to bloom.

Growing tips: Sunflowers need full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day), so be sure to choose a sunny, bright spot for your containers. Water regularly. It’s fine for the soil to be a little moist between waterings, but it shouldn’t be soggy. Once it gets hot, expect to water containers daily if it doesn’t rain.

A NOTE ON FERTILIZER If possible, avoid bagged potting soils that already include fertilizer. If bags sit around for too long or get wet, fertilizer can release into the soil and, when you use the soil, it can burn your plants with too much fertilizer delivered all at once.

Instead, simply add fertilizer granules, liquids or powders to the soil according to the package directions. Slow-release granular fertilizers such as Osmocote Flower and Vegetable Plant Food are some of the easiest to use because they don’t have to be applied as often. Fish emulsion liquid fertilizers, which can be diluted and applied during watering, also work well.

34 May 2014

PROJECT TWO

Potatoes The funnest thing about growing potatoes is harvesting them — and harvesting is easy when you grow potatoes in a bag.

Gardener’s Supply Co. fabric bags work well. Easy-to-follow instructions on how to use them can be found on their website (gardeners.com). Potato grow bags are a great choice because, come harvest time, all you have to do is dump out the bag — and the kids can race around hunting for potato treasures in the upturned soil.

Sources: Purchase “seed potatoes” or “slips” at garden centers or online. Mother Earth Gardens in Minneapolis sells slips, motherearthgarden.com; or see Irish Eyes Garden Seeds, irisheyesgardenseeds.com.

Containers: Gardener’s Supply Co. and other online vendors sell bags in a variety of sizes and colors, including red, blue, purple, green and black.

Soil: Bagged potting soil is okay, but potatoes do better in a mix of 1/3 topsoil and 2/3 compost (sold in bags at independent garden centers). If you go with a standard potting soil, be sure to add fertilizer at planting time.* When and how to plant: Potatoes should be planted after the danger of frost has passed, which is late May, usually, in Minnesota.

Growing tips: Plant potatoes in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day).

After about 10 weeks, you can harvest smaller or “new” potatoes. If you wait a bit longer for the vines to die back, usually by late August, your spuds will have grown even bigger.

May 2014 35

PROJECT THREE

Cherry Tomatoes Colorful, tasty and easy to pop in your mouth, cherry tomatoes are a healthy snack that kids can enjoy straight from the garden.

Sun Gold is popular variety, but Sweet Million (pictured, above) and Supersweet 100 are also local favorites.

Sources: You can start tomatoes from seeds indoors in winter, but we recommend you go with plants sold in various sizes at local farmers markets and garden centers in spring if you’re a beginning gardener.

Containers: Tomatoes can grow 5 tall and wide (or more!) so give them plenty of room to spread out. Containers should be at least 16 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Many gardeners use 5-gallon buckets for tomato growing, and they work well as long as you drill holes in the bottom for drainage. Support your tomatoes with cages or teepees made from bamboo stakes or poles.

Soil: Always use potting soil rather than topsoil or soil from garden beds when growing plants in containers to allow for better drainage.* When and how to plant: Wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 55 degrees (this can be as late as June) to plant tomatoes. Planting early only stunts plants because they don’t do well in the cold. At planting time, pluck the leaves off the lower part of the plant and bury all but the top third of the plant during planting. Doing this helps tomato plants produce lots of strong, new roots all along the plucked stem.

Growing tips: Place tomato containers in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day). Pots will be heavy, so put them where you want them to stay before adding the soil. Keep plants well-watered. Tomatoes produce poorly in dry soil. It’s OK to prune indeterminate tomato plant varieties (such as those mentioned above) throughout the summer to keep them under control. Don’t prune determinate plants (those that usually stop growing at about 5 feet tall). The label should tell you which type you’re buying.

36 May 2014

ATTENTION WOMEN 21-33: Would You Consider Being an Egg Donor?

The Center for Reproductive Medicine is seeking women between 21 and 33 years of age to donate eggs for couples who cannot otherwise achieve pregnancy.

You will be compensated for your time and dedication.

PROJECT FOUR

Sugar Snap Peas Bush peas are fun and easy to grow from seeds, which are easy for even the littlest of fingers to handle and plant. Unlike pole types, which can reach 6 feet tall or more, bush varieties are usually 1 to 3 feet tall, so pods are right at toddler height. Support snap peas by placing a small trellis, teepee or tomato cage inside the pot.

Sources: Buy seeds at garden centers or online. Be sure to shop for bush or dwarf types that will stay compact enough for containers such as Sugar Daddy or Sugar Lace II. See Renee’s Garden, reneesgarden. com; Park Seed, parkseed.com.

Containers: Like tomatoes, sugar snap peas grow well in 5-gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom, or you can choose any container that’s at least 14 inches or more deep and at least 10 inches wide.

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Soil: Peas don’t have a lot of specific soil requirements and don’t need much fertilizer, so it’s fine to go with any bagged potting mix. Fertilize at planting time only.

If you fertilize more often, you’ll get lots of leaves and few pea pods.* When and how to plant: Peas should be planted in early to mid-spring when the soil is cool and moist, usually April or May, depending on the spring temperatures in Minnesota. Seeds can have a tough time germinating in really cold, wet soil, so if you don’t see seedlings coming up within two weeks, plant a few more seeds.

Growing tips: Plant snap peas in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day). Water regularly. Soil should not be allowed to dry out, especially when plants are flowering. Harvest peas regularly to keep plants producing. The more you pick, the more you’ll get!

Meleah Maynard is a Minneapolisbased writer and editor. She blogs at everydaygardener.com.

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2/12/14 4:49 PM May 2014 37

IS YOUR CHILD A HOARDER? How to tell when kid collections become unhealthy

By Kelly Jo McDonnell

38 May 2014

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oss-covered rocks. Dusty LEGO sets. Countless sticks, crammed into a corner. These are the “treasures” of my 11-year-old’s room.

I’m well aware of his love for stuff. It’s a fun ritual when he’ll show me his collection of rocks, cards or erasers. But I’m starting to wonder if his little collections are getting out of control. Desk drawers are chock full of pencils, gum wrappers and toys. Boxes and containers are filled with knickknacks of every kind, including old Christmas decorations he didn’t want to put away.

When I try to get rid of something, he’ll try to grab it out of the garbage, insisting that he still needs it. It got me thinking: Kids don’t hoard like those folks on hoarding TV shows, do they? As I stand in the middle of his room, wondering where to start, I think: Maybe those adults on the TV started out just like this.

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When collecting isn’t really collecting Kids like collecting. In fact, it’s a classic rite of passage for kids and a normal part of child development.

In his book, Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, Randy Frost explains: “Collecting is very important to kids, starting at about age 2, when they learn the meaning of the word ‘mine,’ up until early teenage years.”

But there’s a fine line between creating collections and hoarding, according to the Bio Behavioral Institute. If your child collects and displays treasures — and is proud of his or her collections — that’s a good sign. And the same goes for kids who are happy to talk about their stuff and want others to be interested in it, too.

Healthy collections will be organized (most of the time) and ready for display.

Some kids even enjoy budgeting their allowance so they can add to their collections.

Hoarders are different, according to the institute, a private mental health practice in New York. Hoarders associate their collections with embarrassment, and they tend to feel uncomfortable when others see or touch their things. Collecting is something the child wants to do.

May 2014 39

SYMPTOMS According to the New York-based Child Mind Institute, mental health providers check for three principal characteristics when diagnosing hoarding — persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value; cluttered living spaces from having so many possessions; and significant distress or functional impairment.

While a rock or stamp collector might search out specific items for his collection, a hoarder will acquire items seemingly at random and then struggle when asked to part with them. The most notable sign of hoarding among children, according to the institute, is the emotional reaction to their possessions, according to the institute. Children with a hoarding disorder are constantly worried about their possessions — so much that it interferes with their functioning and becomes a major source of tension between them and their parents.

TREATMENT For children age 8 and younger, psychologists often work with parents to set up a behavioral plan, to first stop a child from acquiring new things and then use incentives to work on gradually getting rid of some of the hoarded objects. For older children, cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful. Children can learn to understand why they feel compelled to hoard and how to decide which possessions are worth keeping and which should be discarded. Medications can also be incorporated into treatment, according to the institute, which offers a mental health symptom checker at childmind.org.

Hoarding is something children feel they need to do.

Hoarding, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is a complex disorder and is characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of the value others may attribute to these possessions.

Different than adult hoarding Hoarding among kids tends to be more contained than adult hoarding, which can spread across an entire home, according to the New York-based Child Mind Institute.

Children, for example, might hoard under their bed or in areas of their

40 May 2014

PREVENTION

If your child isn’t showing signs of obsessive-compulsive hoarding, but you feel overwhelmed by the amount kid collections in your home (and want to discourage any tendencies toward hoarding), try these tips from Jan Lehman, a professional organizer with Can the Clutter (cantheclutter.com), which serves clients in Minnesota and Oregon.

• Create a permanent “donate” bin or space in your home to collect old toys and other unneeded items. Teach kids to put toys and clothes in the bin regularly.

• Be sure all storage containers are easy to use, including open bins versus bins with tight-fitting lids.

• Organize various spaces with your child. Use timers and make it game: “Let’s see how much we can organize in 10 minutes!”

• Let your child create a memorabilia box for some of their precious items. Store it somewhere outside of your child’s room.

• Ask for gifts that provide experiences, rather than toys, such as tickets to a movie or memberships to a museum.

• Give detailed instructions: “Pick up your clothes and put them away,” instead of general commands: “Clean your room.”

RESOURCES American Psychiatric Association, psych.org Bio Behavioral Institute, biobehavioralinstitute.com Child Mind Institute, childmind.org International OCD Foundation, ocfoundation.org

bedroom. And it might not be immediately obvious to an observer because disorganization is so common among children.

Hoarding in kids is more about difficulty letting go, rather than acquisition, according to the Boston-based International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation. Young kids don’t usually have access to money and transportation that would let them shop all the time. For young children, hoarding may look different, because parents control what kids can buy, and the level of clutter in their rooms.

Parents should watch for intense attachments to objects and the tendency

to stockpile items. Stockpiling can include clothing, food, toys, trash (such as gum and candy wrappers), rocks and even cups of sand.

Hoarding can start young Hoarding affects an estimated 2 percent to 5 percent of the adult population, according to the International OCD Foundation. And the disorder can begin early in life. More than 40 percent of adult hoarders first start showing hoarding behavior by the time they’re 15 years old.

Though hoarding behaviors typically start around age 13, children as young as 3 can suffer from the disorder.

Codi Williamson, a third-grade teacher

and mother of two in Pataskala, Ohio, said she and her husband constantly struggle with their 4-year-old son’s stockpiles of stuff.

“As long as I can remember, anything that he could fit into a container and carry around, was always with him. He would be obsessed with it,” Williamson said. “He loves grocery bags with handles.”

Williamson said her son carries around normal items such as toys and cards, but also keeps used flossers and anything else he can find to jam into a box or bag.

“He doesn’t like to get rid of it,” she said. “About once a month, we go through it, sometimes when he’s not looking.”

Williamson and her husband also try to reason with their son to explain why it’s important to let things go.

Panic is a warning sign If a child doesn’t just protest, but panics when asked to get rid of old, unnecessary possessions or clutter, it can be a warning sign, said Katherine Quie, a child psychologist at Psych Recovery in St. Paul.

“A dead give away is when the child can’t tolerate others touching it or cleaning it up. They feel really panicky at the idea of anything happening to it,” Quie said. “The child is putting too much meaning on belongings. It’s so meaningful, that they literally panic if they get rid of it. They might not want to leave their stuff, so they carry it with them.”

Quie stresses that it’s normal for kids to be upset when they have to say goodbye to some toys, like at a garage sale, or donating an old, favorite stuffed animal.

But, she said, parents can usually talk a child through it. “With a child [with hoarding tendencies], all the normal talking through does not work.”

Quie explains that kids will hoard for different reasons. On several occasions, she has worked with young children who hoarded food in large quantities due to food scarcity experiences in their pasts.

“A lot of times,” she said, “the kids don’t understand why they’re doing it.”

Kelly Jo McDonnell lives in Lino Lakes with her son, 11. She is a freelance writer and a producer/writer with Minnesota Bound on KARE 11 TV.

Out About PARENT PICK

Flint Hills International Children’s Festival Î One of the largest events of its kind in the country, this 14th-annual arts extravaganza organized by the Ordway has it all — oodles of free, family-friendly activities, exhibits and performances outside, plus fantastic, 60-minute shows for a steal ($5 each) indoors, featuring local, regional and international artists representing 25 countries. Free outdoor performances include story times and a traveling Cirque Mechanics’ Gantry Bike, “a giant, pedal-powered circus spectacular.”

When: May 31–June 1 Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul Cost: FREE, except for indoor shows ($5 each) Info: ordway.org or 651-224-4222

STEP AFRIKA! PHOTO BY THE NAPOLEON COMPLEX PROJECT

ONGOING Minnesota Museums Month Î Kids can visit the Minnesota History Center and the Mill City Museum for free throughout May with a paid adult.

When: May 1–31 Where: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul and the Mill City Museum, Minneapolis Cost: FREE with adult admission Info: millcitymuseum.org

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Î The story of Jacob’s favorite son, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colors.

Presented by the Youth Performance Co. When: May 2–18 Where: Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, Minneapolis Cost: $12 adults, $10 children/seniors Info: youthperformanceco.com

42 May 2014

The Nightingale

Starry River of the Sky

Î The Hans Christian Andersen story shows audience members how it’s possible to lose track of what’s truly important when we chase after what’s new.

Î In this world premier production of a Chinese tale by Grace Lin, the moon is missing from the remote village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice.

When: Through May 10 Where: SteppingStone Theatre, St. Paul Cost: $15 adults, $12 children/seniors Info: steppingstonetheatre.org or 651-225-9265

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs Î The Big Bad Wolf is on trial for his part in the misadventure of the 3 Little Pigs and the audience decides the verdict!

When: Through May 11 Where: Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins Cost: $15 Info: stagestheatre.org or 952-979-1111

When: Through May 18 Where: Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins Cost: $15 Info: stagestheatre.org or 952-979-1111

Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat Î While he can turn a rainy afternoon into an adventure, the Cat in the Hat also has mischievous tricks up his sleeve. This production is returning after a sold-out extended run.

When: May 22–July 20 Where: Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $10 Info: childrenstheatre.org

Festival of Nations  The largest multicultural event in Minnesota features food, demonstrations, exhibits and performances that demonstrate the immense diversity of human culture.

When: May 1–4 Where: St. Paul RiverCentre Cost: $13.50 adults, $8 for ages 16 to 6, FREE for ages 5 and younger with adult admission Info: festivalofnations.com

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 Inventions presented by Minnesota Inventors Congress, hands-on activities, and workshops.

When: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 2–3 Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, downtown Minneapolis Cost: $8 adults, $5 kids ages 6–12, FREE for kids 5 and younger Info: minnesotainventorscongress.org/ invention-idea-show

(andover)

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Free Family Music: Around the World in 80 Beats  This event for music-loving families features the Minnesota Percussion Trio.

When: 10 and 11 a.m. May 3 Where: MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: macphail.org/events

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When: 4–8 p.m. May 4 Where: Water Park of America, Bloomington Cost: $15 per person, purchase in advance by May 3 Info: foodallergysupportmn.org/events/ calendar

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Out About MAY 18 Daisy Dash 5K Fun Walk/Run

PARENT PICK

Climb a Tree!

Î Presented by Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota, this family-friendly event will include face painting, balloon animals and a raffle and will raise money toward providing training to health providers about postpartum depression.

Î Encourage the joy of just being outside through activities such as the Minnesota State Tree Climbing Championships, tree planting, live musical performances, exhibits and more, all part of the 2014 State Arbor Month Celebration.

When: 9 a.m.–noon May 17, with tree climbing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Oak Hill Park, St. Louis Park Cost: FREE Info: dnr.state.mn.us/arbormonth

Stars on Ice Î Witness some of America’s most creative champions performing together in individual and ensemble routines.

When: 4 p.m. May 4 Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul Cost: $27–$82 Info: starsonice.com or 800-745-3000

MAY 11 The Beez Kneez Kids Day Out Î Celebrate warm weather, flowers and bees. Various activities teach children about the importance of honeybees.

When: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. May 11 Where: Beez Kneez Honey House, Minneapolis Cost: $5, please register via email or phone Info: thebeezkneezdelivery.com or 612245-6384

MAY 16–18 Franconia in the City @ Casket Î Franconia sculpture park hosts a familyfriendly event featuring food and drink, sculpture exhibitions and live music as part of the Art-A-Whirl event.

44 May 2014

When: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. May 18 Where: Steve Michaud Park, Lakeville Cost: $12–30 to participate in walk/run Info: ppsupportmn.org or daisydash5k. weebly.com or 612-787-7776

PHOTO BY HEATHER JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

When: 5–10 p.m. May 16 and noon–5 p.m. May 17–18 Where: Behind Casket Arts building, 1781 Jefferson St. NE, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: franconia.org

MAY 17 Arts in the Park Î Browse artwork for sale and enjoy children’s activities, live entertainment, face painting and more.

When: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. May 17 Where: Purgatory Creek Park, Eden Prairie Cost: FREE Info: edenprairie.org or 952-949-8470

MAY 17–18 SpringCon Comic Book Celebration Î Autographs, door prizes, grab bags, costume characters and comic dealers from all over the country come together for this huge event.

When: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 17–18 Where: State Fairgrounds Grandstand, St. Paul Cost: $10, FREE for children 9 and younger Info: midwestcomicbook.com

Urban Expedition Î Visit Brazil without leaving St. Paul.

Hear Brazilian music, see colorful dancers, get a language lesson, build a craft and pet the animals in a Fantasy Corral.

When: 1 to 3 p.m. May 18 Where: Landmark Center, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: landmarkcenter.org or 651-292-3225

Special Imagination Corner with Bato! Bato!

Marimba Band Î Join Breck School’s marimba club for the sounds of Zimbabwean marimbas and African drums.

When: 10:30 a.m. May 18 Where: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul Cost: FREE with museum admission Info: mcm.org or 651-225-6000

MAY 20 ¡Cantaré! Community Concert 2014 Î Prominent Mexican composers work with school choirs, community choruses and VocalEssence to bring the sounds of Mexico to Minnesota.

When: 7 p.m. May 20 Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: vocalessence.org or 612-547-1451

May 2014 45

Out About MAY 31

Info: midtownglobalmarket.org/events or 612-872-4041

Where: Theaters at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

WaterFest 2014 Î A celebration of our lakes and an opportunity for hands-on learning about clean water, wildlife, and land and water conservation. Activities include paddle boarding, pontoon rides and yoga.

When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. May 31 Where: Lake Phalen Park, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: rwmwd.org or 651-647-6816

SATURDAYS Î Ages to 2 to 5 are invited to explore nature themes through crafts, hikes, stories and songs. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

When: 9:30–11 a.m. second Saturdays Where: Tamarack Nature Center, Maplewood Cost: $9.75 adult and child, $6.50 additional child, $3.75 additional adult Info: parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/tamarack or 651-407-5350, pre-registration required

FRIDAYS Family Fridays at the Global Market Î Free live music, a children’s play area and free balloons for the first 50 children.

When: 5–8 p.m. Fridays Where: Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis Cost: FREE

Free Sensory Flicks

Tamarack Tykes

Free Family Flicks Î Enjoy a free movie — first-come, first-serve to theater capacity.

When: 10 a.m. Saturdays

Î Enjoy a free movie, with accommodations for children with developmental disabilities.

Lights are left up, sound is reduced and audience members are welcome to dance, sing and move around during the film — first-come, first-serve to theater capacity.

When: 10 a.m. Saturdays Where: Theaters at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

Free First Saturdays at The Walker Î Families can enjoy live performances, films, adventures and art-making, plus free gallery admission. Activities are recommended for ages 6 to 12.

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Fun activities, special themes, exciting field trips, clubs and more keep kids active, engaged and motivated all summer long! Flexible weekly sessions feature 3-,4- and 5-day sessions.

SUMMER POWER PRESCHOOL Ages 3 – 5 years Making friends, having fun and getting ready for school.

SUMMER POWER Grades K – 5

Your answer to quality care and exciting adventures. Kids enjoy their day in small age-appropriate groups and participate in activities such as group games, sports and weekly field trips.

SUMMER SPORTS Grades 1 – 6

Learn new skills, practice and play new sports. Summer Sports is a safe, fun, non-competitive sports program designed to build teamwork, leadership skills and self-esteem.

SUMMER UPROAR Grades 6 – 8

An exciting combination of spirited adventure and growth. Participants get their first taste of leadership as they help to plan their summer activities. Fun weekly field trips.

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YMCA DAY CAMP AGES 4 - 14

A week full of exciting camp activities like canoeing, archery, fishing, camp crafts, cookouts, swimming and more! Specialty camps, too. Day camps facilitate a great introduction to camping in a safe environment. Kids are home each night. Bus transportation is available at most locations.

REGISTER ONLINE

ymcadiscoversummer.org or call: 612-230-9622

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. first Saturdays Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: walkerart.org/free-first-saturdays or 612-375-7600

Children’s Music Classes Ages 0-7

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Free Second Saturdays at The Bakken  Enjoy science-related programming and activities as well as free admission to the museum.

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When: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. second Saturdays Where: The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: thebakken.org/saturday or 612-926-3878

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Saturday Live!  Events will feature puppets, magicians, wild animals and storytellers.

When: 11:15 a.m. Saturdays Where: St. Paul Public Library Cost: FREE Info: sppl.org or 651-266-7034

SUNDAYS Family Day at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts  Families can make art, go on adventures and meet local musicians, artists and storytellers. This month’s theme: May Flowers: Bundle a beautiful bouquet or play with natural materials.

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When: 11 a.m. second Sundays Where: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Cost: FREE Info: artsmia.org or 612-870-3000

Slöjd (Handcraft) Club  Children ages 7 to 14 can enjoy art-making activities with a Nordic twist.

When: 1–3 p.m. first Sundays Where: American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis Cost: $15 Info: asimn.org or 612-871-4907, register in advance online

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From our readers

Road trip!

PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR KIDS CONTENT IN THE CAR? “We sing! If that fails, we snack!”

— Jackie Hilgers, Arlington

“My kids love the magnetic book sets. They’re quiet and they trade back and forth — also Colorforms to stick on the windows, Magna Doodles, Richard Scarry books, and the little suitcase sets filled with lots of tiny books.”

— Ann Haag, Woodbury PHOTO BY ANGELA KALTHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY, ANGELAKALTHOFF.COM

“Crank up the radio and ‘car dance’ and sing! Find the letter ‘M.’ Count airplanes. Play with sibling. Play with toys.”

Isaac, 11 months old when this photo was taken, is the son of Jennifer Asher and Andhi Michaux of Bloomington.

— Tricia Heagle, Minneapolis

“I keep all of the kids’ magazines, word finds, connect the dots, extra worksheets from school, handwriting worksheets, etc., and we put them all in a binder that we keep in the van.”

— Monica Ridler, Olivia

“We play ‘I Spy’ and practice reading billboards.”

—Julie Nelson, Minneapolis

PHOTO BY ANNE GOLLIHER

Lewis and William Golliher, ages 2 and 4, sons of Joe and Anne Golliher of south Minneapolis, play in their sunny dining room.

Want to see your kid(s) on this page? Send your favorite photos to editor@mnparent.com.

50 May 2014

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