April 2015

SPRING FAMILY FUN IN OUR CALENDAR! PAGE 60

April 2015

The

WHERE TO

BIRTH PAGE 26

HOW TO

DETOX BABY’S ROOM

issue Plus!

A real mo guide to m’s a better pregnanc y PAGE 1 2

PAGE 38

BABY

REGISTRY TIPS PAGE 33

CHOOSING THE

BREAST PUMP FOR YOU PAGE 42

THERE’S STILL TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT CAMP FOR YOUR KID PAGE 48

Sarah Longacre Ehlers, founder of Blooma, when she was 37 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Metta

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 30

Maternity

The

10 CHATTER

issue

26 FEATURE

Where to birth?

The Twin Cities is an amazing place to have a baby. But which location is best of you?

38 FEATURE

Nursery detox 101 You don’t have to tolerate high levels of chemicals in your baby’s room.

33 FEATURE

42 FEATURE

Beyond cute

Pumped up Do you need a breast pump?

Which kind and when?

Here’s what you really need on your baby registry.

60 Out & About

+

ISSUE 4

Eat and run

Get the scoop on a new play cafe in Minnetonka.

12 BABY ON BOARD

Bump it up You’re pregnant. That doesn’t mean everyone gets to rub your belly.

14 TODDLER TIME

Still nursing?

Yes, it’s OK. In fact, in the rest of the world, it’s the norm.

16 SCHOOL DAYS

Mindful mom Learn how to find moments of thoughtful listening, gratitude and deep breathing.

18 TEENS AND TWEENS

Letting go Sometimes parenting teens means helping them find outside mentors.

20 GROWS ON TREES

CAMP RESOURCES 48

Making amends If your kid breaks something, how do you handle payback?

On the cover

22 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

Sarah Longacre Ehlers of Minneapolis founded Blooma, a local yoga, education and wellness studio, in 2007, with the belief that all women, no matter how they choose to birth or parent, deserve to be empowered, inspired and nurtured through the transformative times of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. She birthed her daughter, Metta, on Sept. 26, 2013. Metta means “loving kindness.”

At what age is it safe for Baby to fly on an airplane?

She birthed at her father’s 150-year-old farm house in Stillwater, supported by three midwives, a doula, her husband, two step children and her sister.

Cover photo by Megan Crown Photography / megancrown.com Inside photo of Metta by Sara Montour / saramontour.com

Airborne?

24 IN THE KITCHEN

Dinner’s done!

Need an easy Easter menu at the last minute? This is it.

mnparent.com • April 2015

7

FROM THE EDITOR

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ou’re pregnant! For the first time!

Or, maybe, again! Again? With twins! Twins!?

Yep: You’re about to experience something awesome, dare I say, miraculous.

And, yet … a pregnancy can also leave you wondering: What was I thinking?

Never are the sublime and mundane so tightly intertwined as when you contemplate bringing a new life into the world — while throwing up in a garbage can under your desk at work.

Then, add in hormone-hijacked emotions, backaches, stretch marks and worrying.

Ah, yes, the worrying. I loved being pregnant (really!), Sarah and Matt Dorison but I worried almost constantly about what to eat (kale?) welcomed their son, and what to avoid (lunch meat! soft cheeses! listeria!).

Sam, in 2008.

I also worried, honestly, if my baby and I would survive our journey unscathed: What makes people delight in telling pregnant women their most harrowing labor stories?

When your baby arrives, the complexities continue: You’ve literally created life, but you’re elbow deep in diapers and sleep deprivation. And you’re never sure you’re doing the whole parenting thing “right.” And, as the years go by, it goes on just like that.

Today, now the proud mama of a 7-year-old, I’m still a mix of overjoyed, amazed and terrified — though slightly less terrified, thank goodness. And I’m way more in love. (That love they say you’ll “instantly” fall into? It takes a while for some moms to get there, me included.)

With this month’s magazine — our annual Maternity Issue — I hope we can ease your worries a little with some awesome stories, brought to you by local moms and dads.

Wondering what you really need to put on your registry or where to birth in the Twin Cities? We’ve got you covered with insights from a local postpartum doula (turned journalist).

Do you really need a breast pump? Are you worried about chemicals in your baby’s nursery?

We have some ideas on those, too.

Finally, don’t forget to check out our Baby on Board columnist’s pregnancy pointers.

She says it’s OK to set boundaries when folks try to share prenatal horror stories, preach against epidurals or grope your belly.

Simply say: “I’m trying to reduce my stress levels, so I’d really rather not discuss birth stories,” or “Please, don’t touch me.” Yes. It’s OK to do that. (You’re not public property.)

Whatever your situation, be this your first child or your sixth, we wish you well and thank you for taking Minnesota Parent along for the ride.

To learn more: Sarah Dorison, Editor

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Blooma MNP 0415 V3.indd 2

3/17/15 3:35 PM

mnparent.com

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 • 612-436-4385 editor@mnparent.com CONTRIBUTORS Eric Braun, Megan Devine, Jessica Fisher, Kimara Gustufson, Shannon Keough, Tina Mortimer, Jen Wittes, Jennifer Wizbowski CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dana Croatt dcroatt@mnparent.com

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

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Valerie Moe GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Wadeson CLIENT SERVICES Zoe Gahan zgahan@mnpubs.com • 612 436-4375 Mattie Eslinger meslinger@mnpubs.com • 612-436-4386

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

11/15/12 2:37 PM

CIRCULATION Marlo Johnson • mnparent.com/find-a-copy 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnparent.com ADVERTISING 612-825-9205 • sales@mnparent.com 55,000 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.

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

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

Minnesota Parent is copyright 2015 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Address all material to address above.

mnparent.com • April 2015

9

CHATTER

Baby-decor bliss Bambino Decor, a new child furnishing, decor and design studio, has joined the 50th & France neighborhood at 3812 W. 51st St., Minneapolis.

It’s a hot spot for stylish gifts, bedding, room decor and furniture, plus design services ranging from room designs to hourly consultations from Trina Eibon of St. Louis Park, a local designer turned mama.

Learn more at bambinodecor.com.

Photo by Simply Viewed / simplyviewed.com

Now open: Play & Learn Cafe Going out to eat with young kids can be a nightmare. And, yet, you want a tasty meal (or even a coffee) made by someone else.

Your kids, meanwhile, just want to run around and play.

Enter the Play & Learn Cafe at 10982 Cedar Lake Road in Minnetonka, a newly opened restaurant featuring a large play space for kids younger than 6.

Drop-in play is $5 per child. Annual memberships are $130 per family, plus $10 per additional child. Gripper socks are required for play: “Eighty percent of the child’s foot must be covered in non-slip grippers.” Socks are sold on site.

Menu items for adults include things like cranberry-pecan Brie crostini with maple-sugar glaze. But you can also order simple grilled cheese sandwiches for tikes with less-experienced taste buds.

Parties and classes — including Brighter Minds Music, Curious Minds Science and Behave Your Best classes — are in the works for the venue as well.

Now, why don’t we have these on every block?

Learn more at playandlearncafe.com.

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

TELL YOUR BIRTH STORY If you have a child (of any age), then you have a birth story: And that story should be told in your own words. (And, no, you don’t have to be a writer to do it.)

So says local mama Jill Yablonski Kresse.

Kresse, who has worked as a writer, editor, translator and teacher, is offering birth story writing workshops, encouraging mothers to “slow down and tell their tales.”

Kresse is no stranger to the difficulties and challenges of becoming a new mother. She delivered her daughter three and a half months prematurely and endured an alienating period of postpartum anxiety.

With her story workshops, she aims to give moms a treasured memento and a sense of accomplishment, whether their stories are “traumatic, triumphant or somewhere in between.”

Her next workshop will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 30 at Heartfelt in the Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis. Cost is $35. Register at yellowlightwrite.com.

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A better pregnancy I

am by no means an expert on pregnancy, and I am most certainly not an obstetrician, midwife or lactation consultant. I am, however, a mother who’s been through two very different pregnancies and postpartum periods, and there are certain bits of wisdom I’ve picked up along the way. So — for those of you who are pregnant right now — what follows are a few of my suggestions for having a better pregnancy.

⊲⊲Honesty: Not always best We all know being honest is a desirable quality, but when you’re pregnant (or really, any time), you’re under no obligation to tell the whole truth to all and sundry.

Know the sex of your baby but don’t want a bunch of relentlessly gendered shower gifts? You can simply tell people you’re looking

forward to the “surprise.” This goes for any and all things you’d rather not discuss, including genetic testing, epidurals, water birth, breastfeeding, circumcision, parenting styles … you get the idea.

As my midwife during my second pregnancy told me, “You have my permission to lie.”

⊲⊲Set some boundaries When you’re pregnant, certain people out in the world will decide that your body is public property.

Un-asked-for guesses about your baby’s sex (based on the way you’re “carrying”) and strangers in the grocery store wanting to stroke your abdomen may come at you daily. And you don’t have to stand for it.

Also be aware of another phenomenon — the practice of sharing (frequently unwanted) advice and information with pregnant women. During my pregnancies, I had complete strangers approach me to offer up their scary birth stories, nutritional advice and suggestions for achieving a “natural” childbirth.

You can practice deflecting these unwanted advances.

“I will definitely take that under consideration,” you could say as you turn tail and run.

“I’m trying to reduce my stress levels, so I’d really rather not discuss birth stories,” is another approach.

Or simply: “Please don’t touch me.”

⊲⊲Be a little selfish You’re growing a whole human inside you: That’s a big deal! In many ways, having a child is one of the most selfless things you can do. But it’s easy to get caught up

BABY STUFF

Milestone stickers ⊲⊲It’s incredibly fun to celebrate the many milestones of your baby’s first year. Sticky Bellies stickers make it easy. Each set includes 13 stickers with themes like Sporty Shorty (at right), Little Trooper (far right), Garden Party, Painted Pixie and Aloe Tree (adorable animals).

We love these as a baby shower gift! stickybellies.com • $14

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

It’s easy to get caught up in ‘what’s best for the baby’ while neglecting your own needs. If anything you’re doing for the baby is making you miserable, consider another way.

in “what’s best for the baby” while neglecting your own needs.

If anything you’re doing for the baby is making you miserable, consider another way.

For example, let’s say you’ve been going to prenatal yoga, but you secretly find it boring and could do without the “empowered mama” rhetoric.

Remember, there are many ways to exercise and they don’t all have to carry a prenatal label.

In a similar vein, notice the “shoulds” in your life and work to banish them.

Instead of thinking, “I should take an eight-week class about childbirth,” think, “I could take an eight-week class, or I could take a one-day crash-course and spend the time I save sleeping and shopping for night nurses.”

⊲⊲Pay attention Pregnancy can come with a variety of side effects, some of them rather unpleasant.

But don’t assume that every single complaint must be endured stoically.

Heartburn, lower-back pain, insomnia, depression and many other issues can come up.

Notice how you’re feeling and talk to your doctor or midwife about what’s going on. There are a variety of medications and interventions that are safe during pregnancy and might make you a lot more comfortable.

⊲⊲Take it or leave it As with all things in life, I encourage you to take the information that works for you and ignore the rest — and that goes for my suggestions, too. You know your body, your life and your baby better than anyone, and you get to make the decisions that work best for you. That’s the truth during pregnancy, and for the rest of your life, too.

Shannon Keough lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children.

Send questions or comments to skeough@mnparent.com.

STILL nursing?

(You’re not alone) T

hough the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding to a minimum age of 2 and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 1 year and beyond, as is mutually desired by mother and child, only 27 percent of U.S. mothers — of the 76.5 percent who breastfed to begin with — are still nursing at 12 months, according to the AAP’s 2013 Breastfeeding Report Card.

If you’re nursing a toddler, you might feel selfconscious, doubtful, unsupported, fierce or defiant — maybe all of these things on any given day.

Perhaps you’ve fielded questions from uncomfortable friends and family members: You’re STILL nursing?! Don’t you feel like a PACIFIER? Aren’t you worried about creating some sort of oral fixation? AN OEDIPAL COMPLEX? What do you think your breasts are going to look like after all THIS? Though the questions aren’t always verbalized, they’re there — you imagine — in the averted gaze, in the enthusiastically offered Sippy cup.

⊲⊲No-judge nursing, please I speak from experience. My children were 2½ and 3 at their very last nursing sessions. That doesn’t mean I have a “my way or the highway” view of breastfeeding.

Hardly.

As a postpartum doula, I’ve worked with families who weaned at 3 weeks, 3 months, 1 year, 2. I’ve worked with families who supplemented breastfeeding with formula, and those who used nothing but formula.

I loved nursing personally — yes — but I’m not a militant lactivist. I’m pro-breastfeeding for every mama who wants to, for as long as she wants to.

One thing all parents seem to have in common in terms of feeding is fear of judgment — too little, too long, never tried, gave up. There’s always an opinion.

Though we have these lofty recommendations and

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the ubiquitous “Breast is Best” slogan (happily adopted by a formula companies, by the way), we’re not, as a country, completely comfortable with the breastfeeding relationship.

A nursing toddler takes that discomfort to the next level.

⊲⊲‘Boooooob!’

And a toddler will ask for it — usually a name chosen by the family, either intentionally or very much accidentally.

Case in point: My daughter called it “Boooooob!”

Yes, shouted loudly and gleefully, particularly in the Target bra aisle. You live, you learn. And my son — her little brother — called it “Nigh Nigh.”

Another thing that’s unique to toddler breastfeeding is the level of activity and engagement.

They smile while nursing, break to play or chat, stroke Mama’s hair.

This is a real, fully formed human at the breast, not a teeny sleeping baby hiding under a blanket.

With such a small percentage of mamas nursing toddlers, to come across this intimate exchange between mother and child is a shock to the system — even for me, a toddler-nursing veteran.

⊲⊲Celebrating the benefits To all who stopped nursing eons ago or never even started, I support you and your decision — 100 percent — but bear with me as I cheerlead the mamas who are going against the grain RIGHT NOW, with Aunt Polly looking down her nose: Breastfeeding Toddler Parent, way to go! Keep up the good work!

The WHO reports that, worldwide, the average age of weaning is between 4 and 7. So, you’re normal — if not behind the curve — nearly everywhere else on the planet.

Joanna Carrane, a professional liaison for La Leche

We’re not, as a country, completely comfortable with the breastfeeding relationship.

A nursing toddler takes that discomfort to the next level.

TODDLER STUFF

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League (LLL) of Minnesota and the Dakotas and an Eden Prairie LLL leader, said: “The physical benefits of nursing a toddler are numerous — possible reduced risk of breast cancer for Mom and a tailor-made nutritional boost for the child. Human milk adapts as the child grows and nutritional needs change.”

There are, of course, emotional benefits as well. Carrane said: “It supports a natural physical closeness with a child who is only starting to explore the world outside the immediate orbit of his or her caregivers. Being able to trust and regularly come back to that place of comfort is invaluable.”

My personal favorite benefit of toddler nursing is a bit selfish: They remember.

My kids express a sweet fondness and gratitude for breastfeeding.

And it’s nice to know that the nursing relationship meant something to them, as it did to me.

Jen Wittes lives in St. Paul and has helped many Twin Cities families in her work as a postpartum doula. Send questions or comments to jwittes@mnparent.com.

Learning to surf I

’ve recently developed a strong interest in researching and applying mindfulness strategies in both my personal life and in my teaching profession.

There’s strong evidence that mindfulness practices can help children and adults build emotional resilience. Mindfulness can also be an empowering method of developing daily self-regulation and stress-management strategies.

Practicing mindfulness is also a way to spend meaningful, undistracted time connecting with the ones you love.

As a mother of four young children who’s also a kindergarten teacher, I feel like I’ve jumped into the deep end of the pool — in terms of my commitments and responsibility. And I’m not getting out for a very long time.

Most of the time, this deep end is a wonderful place to be, as I have so many blessings in my life.

But there are waves. Waves, that we, as parents, all experience — not-so-pleasant moments involving our children, our careers, our family and home lives — can be overwhelmingly stressful.

⊲⊲Kids and stress Children can feel this way, too.

Many children deal with stressors that are beyond

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their control. Not all my students walk through my classroom doors ready to learn. They aren’t all equipped with the tools they need to effectively control their behaviors and emotions. My children, too, have their own needs, perceptions and realities when it comes to dealing with the expectations and pressures in their daily lives.

What can we all do?

As Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the mindfulness-based stress-reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, said: “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

⊲⊲What’s mindfulness?

If you’re acting mindfully, you’re simply paying attention, conscious and aware of the present moment without judgment.

Modern-day living is fast-paced and technology driven.

As parents, we have a lot on our plate and it’s natural to multitask. I know my mind wanders constantly — whether I’m mentally making lists, processing a previous conversation, worrying about things that aren’t necessarily in my control or distracted by the ever-present pull to check my phone for messages.

When our minds wander away from the present moment, we’re pulled away from the task that’s at hand, or the person who’s in front of us.

When we practice mindfulness, we make an effort to focus our attention on the people we’re with or what we’re doing in the present moment. Being mindful means turning off our screens, slowing down, looking our loved ones in the eyes, actively listening, practicing gratitude and working to react to situations with calmness and clarity.

Our minds will wander and sometimes our emotions will get the best of us.

HOW TO BE MINDFUL Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids and Their Parents

by Eline Snel Mindful Parenting: Simple and Powerful Solutions for Raising Creative, Engaged, Happy Kids in Today’s Hectic World

by Kristen Race Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom

by Patricia Jennings

Resources ⊲⊲Watch a 14-minute TED talk on mindfulness

by Kristen Race at tinyurl.com/mindful-talk. ⊲⊲Read a Children’s Hospital blog post on mindfulness at tinyurl.com/childrens-mn-mindful.

But when we make an effort to recognize this and redirect our thoughts, we’re putting mindfulness into practice.

⊲⊲Finding awareness, calm One excellent resource I recently came across is Mindful Parenting: Simple and Powerful Solutions for Raising Creative, Engaged, Happy Kids in Today’s Hectic World by Kristen Race. In her book, Race offers practical advice, insight and knowledge for families. She explains how to recognize the harmful effects of stress on the body, how to minimize hidden stressors and how to practice mindfulness as a family.

In her work, Race emphasizes simple yet powerful activities, including mindful breathing, mindful listening and practicing gratitude. Her strategies are geared toward strengthening healthy brain functions and developing a strong sense of wellbeing.

⊲⊲Getting grounded I’m finding that incorporating mindfulness practices into my daily life is helping me be present and grounded as a mother, wife, teacher and friend.

Parenting and teaching with a mindful approach is an effective way to help children develop essential self-regulation skills, including quieting their own minds.

As I work to keep my head afloat, riding these waves as they come and go, I have claimed my own mindfulness surfboard, working to make mindfulness a habit in my daily life.

Megan Devine is a mother of four who lives in Northeastern Minnesota. Write her at mdevine@mnparent.com and check out her blog at kidsandeggs.com.

You’re OK, kid Y

ears ago, when my kids were climbing out of their toddler years and starting school, I came across a fascinating theory about childhood development.

It went something like this: A child’s trust belongs to his mom until about age 7.

After that, the child transfers that same trust to his father to carry him into his tween years. As the child grows into a younger teen, that trust is passed onto other adults outside the home before, eventually, in the middle- and late-teens years, they hand it off to their peers.

I’ve done so much reading about teens, trying to understand the changes my teen in particular might be going through now.

And, recently, it struck me: I’m also dealing with big changes, too.

I had a certain rhythm down, a certain confidence in the way I parented and communicated with my kids.

But now I’m trying to learn how to parent a teen, and it’s different than parenting a child.

⊲⊲Parent ‘puberty’ It’s like everything I’d known or felt confident in is being challenged by testosterone and my son’s growing sense of identity.

And he’s facing new challenges I want to help with, but can’t because of this changing mother-son, parent-child landscape. He’s grappling with the heavier responsibilities of high school work, his ability to organize and manage his workload, plus the added stress of his extracurricular activities.

As I’ve tried to understand his challenges and changes, I’ve taken full advantage of my trusted friends, who have allowed me to complain and whine about this new phase of life.

So, I figure, it’s only fair that my teen should be allowed his own opportunities to whine and complain through his growing pains — and that the person he may need to complain to right now may not be me.

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⊲⊲How to let it go?

Our son is at a stage where my husband and I just have to trust that everything we’ve poured in will stick with him and be an indirect form of guidance.

My place of authority is starting to take a back seat. It’s up to my son to see how he can do things for himself. My attempts to interfere with this so I can be comfortable will, I believe, only send him a message that he can’t manage life without me or that he isn’t capable on his own.

Although my inner struggle to let go is great, the desire I have as his mom to see him be successful wins out.

⊲⊲Permission to grow I’m also trying to remember that I’ve always been fortunate to have people around me who have listened, spoken the truth and given me advice regarding my parenting, relationships and career.

My teen may not need only me anymore, but he does need a community of people around him to help him be successful in life. And that starts now.

I want him to know it’s OK not to need only me.

My teen may not need only me anymore, but he does need a community of people around him to help him be successful in life.

And that starts now.

TEEN STUFF

College-prep book ⊲⊲Minnetonka mother of two and parenting educator Beverly Gillen has published the ultimate get-goingearly guide for kids and parents who have their sights set on college. Get Connected for College: The Savvy Student’s Guide to College Prep covers the top 100 college competencies, 250 make-it-happen-ideas, checklists for grades 6 to 12, scholarship strategies and much more. partnersinparentingconsulting.com • $19.95

⊲⊲Making new connections But how?

I’ve challenged my son to seek out a teacher or coach at school to help him improve in his daily work accountability.

I’ve also asked three dads I know and trust — and who my son knows well — to be ready and open to communication by phone anytime. I had my son put their contact information on his phone, and I told him he could call any of these men if he found himself in a predicament that we weren’t available to discuss or that he might not be ready to share with us.

I’m realizing that giving him permission to trust is yet another skill we need to teach him. Learning to identify and seek out worthy mentors strengthens his potential.

He’s going to need this skill throughout his life.

So far, letting go a bit has made me feel closer to him. It’s like he knows I’m telling him: It’s OK, you’ve got this thing.

I trust you.

Jennifer Wizbowski lives in Excelsior with her husband, and daughter and son, ages 11 and 14. Send comments, questions and story ideas to jwizbowski@mnparent.com.

mnparent.com • April 2015

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You break it, you buy it?

P

icture this: You call your 7-year-old for dinner, and she comes running into the dining room, even though she knows your house rule is no running inside — and drops your iPhone on the floor.

Boom, cracked screen.

Or how about this: While emptying the dishwasher, your 10-year-old gets a little hyper and puts all his weight on the open silverware drawer, warping the rails so it won’t shut right any more.

“Sorry,” your son says sheepishly and slinks out of the room, leaving you to not only fuss with the drawer, but also finish putting away dishes.

Accidents happen. No one knows that better than parents. But when should our kids take responsibility for accidents they cause that cost money to fix? Your first-grader probably isn’t buying you a new iPhone, but does that mean she has no stake in what she did?

⊲⊲Learning from mistakes What matters most to my wife and me isn’t the money, but that our kids learn something from the experience. Actions have consequences. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

Every situation is different, and so is every kid.

How you hold your kids accountable for their mistakes is up to you. But here are some questions to help you think about it.

• What’s your child ready for emotionally?

• What happened? (Was it a total accident? Was your child doing something he shouldn’t have been?)

• How expensive or important was the item?

• How do you handle chores and allowance?

⊲⊲Allowance and chores In the case of the 7-year-old who cracks your phone, it was an honest mistake, even though she knows better than to run inside if that’s your house rule.

That item surely is expensive, but even if she does

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earn an allowance, you’ll be garnishing her wages until she’s dating if she pays it off on her own.

You might have a talk about the rule she broke and show her exactly how much you’ll end up paying for the repair or new purchase.

I wouldn’t want to guilt-trip her, but I’d want her to know it was a serious thing. In this case, you might consider withholding allowance for a week or two.

In the case of the tweaked drawer, I’m a softy — I like that the 10-year-old was helping with a chore. But in my book, he’s old enough to play a part in making it better.

Take him to the hardware store to buy the necessary parts, and consider splitting the cost with him.

Then the two of you can sit down and fix it together.

As with the iPhone, his financial contribution is mostly symbolic, but important. And that little mistake can turn into a bonding moment!

If your kids do chores to earn money, you can have them do extra work to pay their share. If they get an allowance regardless of chores, you can still have them do extra work: Call it paying for their deed with their time.

⊲⊲Making amends to others What if your kid does damage at someone else’s house?

You pick up your boy from a play date and learn that he

What matters most to my wife and me isn’t the money, but that our kids learn something from the experience. Actions have consequences. Money doesn’t grow on trees. punched a hole in the wall with a claw hammer.

Save your questions about why he was playing with a claw hammer for later, and immediately offer to pay for the repair.

Probably your friend will refuse, saying it’s no big deal.

Protest as much as you feel you should, but for smaller things it’s probably OK to let the financial part go. More important is your relationship with the other parent and, again, what your child learns.

No matter what the cost of the damage, or who ends up paying, have your little Bob the Builder write (or dictate to you) a note of apology to the other parent.

If your child does more substantial damage at a friend’s house, it’s probably more important for you to insist the friend let you pay.

Get the payment settled as quickly as possible, even if your child is paying you back some or all of it later. (Don’t make the other family wait for him to sell his LEGOs in order to scrape up the cash.)

When these things happen, my hope is that I remember to keep my cool and treat my kids thoughtfully and respectfully.

If I do, they’re likely to learn thoughtfulness and respect — as well as a little financial responsibility.

Eric Braun is a Minneapolis-based writer, editor and dad of two boys. He’s currently working on a financial literacy book for young readers.

Learn more about his other published works at heyericbraun.com. Send comments or questions to ebraun@mnparent.com.

You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call Chris McLeod 952-830-3127

Kimara Gustafson

ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

At what age is it safe to take our baby on an airplane?

Our 1-year-old has red patches of skin on his cheeks.

It is eczema?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition. Since it’s chronic, the symptoms can fluctuate in severity. At times the skin can look completely normal. When it’s exacerbated or triggered, it can appear quite dry, red or irritated and can be quite itchy or painful.

In infants, the rash usually occurs on the face or scalp, similar to what you describe for your son.

In toddlers and young children, the rash often appears in the folds of the elbows and knees. Each episode of eczema can vary in duration. Some may resolve without treatment.

Treatment is usually tailored to how severe the

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The best thing you can do is discuss this with your baby’s doctor. In general, healthy newborns may be able to handle airplane travel without any issues.

However, there are certain health conditions or other factors you may

want to consider. These might include if your baby was born early, or born with certain health conditions (specifically conditions involving the heart or lungs).

Also remember that newborns and young infants have immature immune systems, so they can get very sick even from seemingly mild illnesses. Traveling in an airplane, in close proximity to many other passengers may increase their risk of catching an infectious illness.

Along those lines, it may be a good idea to try to identify a doctor or medical center you could access at your destination.

There’s likely nothing more stressful than trying to take care of a sick infant in a different location than your hometown, so you can feel a little more comfortable if you have the contact information for one or two medical centers on hand — and not have to search for them in the middle of the night.

eczema is. It can be topical (applied to the skin) or oral.

With all kids, parents can take measures to try to minimize the eczema being triggered. Measures can include keeping the skin well moisturized (by applying lotion at least daily), avoiding certain irritants (such as scratchy fabrics and soaps/lotions that have dyes/perfumes or harsh chemicals) and encouraging children to not scratch the rash (if they’re old enough to take direction).

A little over half of the patients who develop this condition, develop it before they’re 1 year old.

Nearly 90 percent of patients who develop eczema will have symptoms before they’re 5 years old. It can run in families, and can be associated with other allergic conditions such as environmental allergies and asthma.

Many infants can outgrow eczema by the time they’re in kindergarten; those who don’t may still outgrow it by the time they’re adults. There’s a small percentage of patients who may have eczema throughout their lifetime.

My 7-year-old’s loose tooth won’t fall out. Is it safe to do the stringto-door technique?

No, I wouldn’t recommend the string-to-door technique to remove a stubborn baby tooth. If your child wants to try to remove a tooth on her own, she could try that. For this method, it is recommended to firmly grasp the loose tooth with a tissue or dry gauze and quickly try to remove it with a twisting motion. If the tooth is ready to come out on its own, removal should be relatively easy.

The reason it’s best to have your child do it is she can tell how attached the loose tooth still is and how painful the pulling is — and then stop if it doesn’t feel right.

If you’re trying to pull the tooth, your child may inadvertently flinch and bite down on your fingers or hand. If you use an external method, such as the string-to-door technique, you may be extracting the tooth before it’s fully ready, resulting in more bleeding from the gum than anticipated.

If self-extraction isn’t working, especially if adult teeth are already erupting, it would be best to seek evaluation by a pediatric dentist.

Often he or she can easily remove the stubborn baby tooth, which will allow the adult teeth to have enough room to emerge.

This may help to minimize the appearance of crooked or crowded teeth later in life, which oftentimes results in the need for orthodontic correction.

Dr. Kimara Gustafson is a Minneapolis mother who works as a pediatrician at HealthEast Care System in Maplewood. Send questions or comments to kgustafson@mnparent.com.

IN THE KITCHEN

Easter dinner? Done!

By Jessica Fisher HONEY-MUSTARD BAKED HAM 1 (8- to 12-pound) bone-in shank-half ham 1 cup pineapple juice ½ cup light brown sugar ½ cup honey 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper Serves 12 to 14 Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove any wrappings from the ham as well as the plastic disk on the bone.

Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan, cut side down.

Pour the pineapple juice over the ham. Cover with aluminum foil, sealing it around the lip of the pan.

Bake for 2 to 3 hours (15 minutes per pound).

Prepare the glaze: When the ham has about 30 minutes left to cook, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, mustard, cayenne and enough juices from the roasting pan to make a thick paste.

Spread the glaze: When the ham has about 20 minutes left to cook, uncover it and spread the glaze over the top.

Continue cooking, uncovered, for the last 20 minutes.

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SEASONED CAULIFLOWER 1 head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon minced garlic ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ½ teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dried dill ½ teaspoon paprika ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Serves 4 Place the cauliflower in a steamer basket in a medium-size stockpot with 1 inch of water.

Bring the water to a boil, cover and steam the cauliflower until tender, about 10 minutes.

Drain the cauliflower and transfer it to a serving dish.

Combine the butter, garlic, salt, thyme, dill, paprika and pepper in a small bowl.

Drizzle the spiced butter over the cauliflower and toss gently.

TASTIEST-EVER SCALLOPED POTATOES 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper ½ cups half-and-half 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces ½ cup heavy cream Serves 4 Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Overlap the potato slices in the prepared dish, seasoning with salt and pepper every few layers.

Pour the half-and-half over the potatoes and dot the surface with the butter.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Pour the heavy cream over the potatoes and continue baking until golden brown on top and very tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes more.

Jessica Fisher is the creator of two popular blogs, Life as Mom and Good Cheap Eats. Her latest book is Good Cheap Eats: Everyday Dinners and Fantastic Feasts for $10 or Less. These recipes and photos were published with permission from The Harvard Common Press.

Rhiana Halverson of Rogers gave birth to her son, Hudson, at Maple Grove Hospital.

Tara Schmidt gave birth to her daughter, Norah, at her home in Crystal.

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Jessica Frantz of Shakopee gave birth to her daughter, Cora, at Health Foundations Birth Center in St. Paul.

WHERE TO BIRTH?

T h e Tw i n C i t i e s i s a n a m a z i n g p l a c e t o h a v e a b a b y !

The hard part is deciding which location — home? hospital? independent birth center? — is best for you.

Story By Jen Wittes Photos by Jennifer Liv Photography mnparent.com • April 2015

27

WHERE TO BIRTH?

THE TWIN CITIES

president of The Childbirth Collective, a non-profit group of supports a uniquely vibrant birthing community. birth professionals aiming to provide education and resources There are dozens of seasoned home-birth midwives, a handful of free-standing birth centers during the childbearing years.

“With so many options in the metro and surrounding areas and several between facilities, providers hospitals striving to be more mom-baby friendly and doulas, it requires more of families to find the best fit,” every day.

Marshall said.

Add to that an unusually concentrated pocket of Though the options are wonderful and plenty, an maternity and postpartum businesses and non-profit expectant mother must prioritize the search for the organizations — Blooma Yoga, The Childbirth birth scenario that best suits her family’s needs.

Collective, Welcome Baby Care, Amma Parenting “Any two women can have the same medical needs Center, The Postpartum Counseling Center, ECFE and and receive the exact same medical care,” Marshall Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota. said, adding that it doesn’t matter if their pregnancies Minnesota also boasts a large number of birth are uncomplicated or if they have normal births or doulas and medical professionals such as chiropraccomplicated ones. It’s about each woman’s quality of tors and massage therapists specializing in perinatal care on a personal level. “If she does not feel wellhealth, making Minnesota a wonderful and progrescared for, it can result in an unpleasant experience sive state in which to give birth. and even a traumatic one.”

Unfortunately, the benefits of this extensive birth Birth trauma and regret can put women at higher risk community also present a challenge for parents, said for post-birth complications such as low milk supply, Sarah Marshall, an Eden Prairie birth doula and infection and postpartum mood disorders.

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←←Matt and Jessica Frantz’s calm, 6-pound, 2.5-ounce, little bundle of joy was born into the water after three hours of labor at a birth center.

The choice of where and how to birth is the first step toward a healthy and happy start for both mother and child.

HOSPITAL BIRTH Mothers who choose a hospital birth usually want to know that every medical opportunity is readily available. The flip side of this advantage, is that hospital births sometimes come with unwanted or perhaps unnecessary medical intervention, which, in turn, can lead to further intervention.

Of course, there are thousands of wonderful hospital births every year and, in general, hospitals are trying to offer choices to new moms aimed at an optimal birth experience.

Women opting for a hospital birth should consider the following: • The hospital’s Cesarean rate. This information can be found at The International Cesarean Awareness Network of the Twin Cities at icantwincitiesblog. blogspot.com. In 2012, local hospital rates ranged from 33 percent to 15 percent.

Minnesota’s overall rate is 27 percent, while the national rate is 33 percent, according to the site.

• Is a tub available for pain management and possible water birth?

• Are you allowed to move freely during labor?

• Are doulas welcome? Your care provider’s stance on doula support should be clear. Anything other than, “I support the use of a doula 100 percent,” shows some level of unease.

Even if you aren’t planning on hiring a birth doula, this question is important. If your OB doesn’t support the use of a doula, will he or she be comfortable with your mother or partner having a significant role in the delivery room?

Will he or she honor your own instinctive choices or need for support measures?

• Reputation. What do your friends say? Your family doctor? Ask around.

INDEPENDENT BIRTH CENTER

↑↑Adam and Rhiana Halverson decided to birth at Maple Grove Hospital because it was where Rhiana had “a lovely midwifeassisted birth” with her second child. “It is also the closest hospital and — knowing my past history of quick labors — was the only hospital I had a fighting chance at making it to on time,” Rhiana said.

You might choose to have your baby at a birth center if you want an experience somewhere between a home birth and a hospital birth, and if you appreciate the midwifery model of care.

“The birth center setting is one that was created to feel like a home, but, of course, is not,” said Kerry Dixon, a certified nurse midwife at the Minnesota Birth Center in Minneapolis.

Birth centers are usually beautifully decorated and aim to offer a peaceful, uncomplicated environment for labor and birth. Recovery stay is usually brief.

Water birth is often an option.

“Interestingly, birth center midwives and most home-birth midwives have the same emergency equipment available, but for some families, the fact that the birth center is responsible for set-up and cleanup makes them feel more comfortable with the setting,” Dixon said.

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WHERE TO BIRTH? Sometimes a family will choose a birth center because of proximity to or affiliation with a hospital.

Not too long ago, the downside to independent birth centers was discontinuation of care in the event of a pregnancy becoming high risk or in the event of an emergency transfer.

Birth centers are now making an effort to bridge that gap: Dr. Steve Calvin, M.D., privately owns the Minnesota Birth Center. He and his staff of midwives have hospital privileges at Abbot Northwestern Hospital, which is right across the street from their Minneapolis location, making transfers seamless.

Likewise, Health Foundations Birth Center in St. Paul recently welcomed Dr. Dennis Hartung, M.D., to their team. Hartung is somewhat of a legend in the Midwest birthing community.

He specializes in — and is an advocate for — natural birth. He’s also skilled at breech delivery.

Though the midwives at Health Foundations don’t have hospital privileges, a continuum of care is possible with Hartung.

HOME BIRTH Families choose to birth at home for a variety of reasons, most commonly because it’s where they feel the most comfortable. They’re seeking an intervention-free birth on their own terms and immediate postpartum recovery in their own bed.

Emme Corbeil, a certified professional midwife with Twin Cities-based Trillium Midwifery Care, said, “Birth is amazingly normal. If you are healthy and have a low-risk pregnancy, there are very few things that will get in the way of a completely normal yet amazingly transformative birth experience. Birth works!”

Home birth can be an empowering experience for a woman. The main drawbacks of birth at home are a bit of DIY work with insurance coverage, as well as a tendency to do too much too soon.

In your own home, without a staff of nurses, it’s tempting to just run a quick load of laundry or fix a meal when you should be resting.

Both parents-to-be should be comfortable with the idea of home birthing, if that’s their chosen path.

“It is not ideal if one part of the team — be it birthing mother or partner — is not comfortable birthing at home,” Corbeil said. “That sets up fear and anxiety which are not conducive to the hormonal

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↑↑Tara Schmidt gave birth at home processes of a normal physioin Crystal in August 2013. Her logical birth.” daughter, Norah, was born after There are many home-birth only a few hours of active labor midwives in the Twin Cities and 15 minutes of pushing. and surrounding area. Most of them would encourage an expectant family to interview at least three midwifery teams before choosing.

A complete directory can be found at Minnesota Families for Midwifery at www.mfmidwifery.org.

Will you end up in a hospital anyway?

There’s a chance.

“The statistics nationwide are pretty clear that about 10 to 14 percent of birth center or home birth-planning mothers will transfer care to the hospital,” Dixon said. “Fortunately, it is usually for labor augmentation or pain relief and rarely for a true emergency.”

Asking questions of midwives during the interview

RESOURCES TWIN CITIES BIRTHING E-BOOK BabyLove, an independent birth and baby education center in Eagan, recently published its second edition of A Guide to Twin Cities Birth Place Options, covering birthing places in the ninecountry metro area, including hospitals and independent birthing centers, plus midwife and home-birth resources.

Learn more at babylovemn.com.

BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY? Are you looking for a birth photographer? Check out the directory at mnbirthphotographers.com, including photographers who serve various geographic areas and specialize in a variety of birth settings, including home, hospital and birth centers.

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.

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www.ivfminnesota.com process often quiets any fears mothers may hold about a non-hospital birth and many are surprised at how much medical equipment is available on site — including Pitocin, oxygen and suturing materials.

Accredited by: Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, American College of OB/GYNs and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

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TRUST YOURSELF, TRUST BIRTH In selecting your birth team and birth location, ask 100 questions — of your peers, your practitioners, your partner — and then ask 100 more.

Do your research and exhaust all options, until the decision becomes obvious. Trust yourself! When you feel secure in your choice, you’ll feel secure in your body’s ability to give birth.

Jen Wittes, a St. Paul mother of two, has helped many Twin Cities families in her work as a postpartum doula.

Send questions or comments to jwittes@mnparent.com.

Photgrapher Jennifer Olson of Golden Valley is a mother of three and a longtime birth and family photographer. Learn more about Jennifer Liv Photography at jenniferlivphotography.com.

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Breaking down the baby registry Cut through the cute and useless, and bring on the brilliant.

Here’s what to splurge on, what to skip, plus a few outsidethe-box ideas.

By Jen Wittes

↑↑Splurge: Britax’s Affinity stroller includes a base frame ($600) and a color pack ($100). It’s compatible with other major infant car seat brands — such as Chicco Key Fit, Graco Snugride 32 and 35 and others — when used with an adapter frame ($50).

mnparent.com • April 2015

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Breaking down the baby registry

BLOOMIN G BATH

YOU MIGHT NOT NEED IT, BUT YOU’LL LOVE IT.

This soft, colorful flo wer-shape pad turns d your kitch en sink in a baby ba to th. It later serves as bathtub c a ushion for b ig ger babie — a simple s solution to the slippery, a wkward p lastic baby bath .

BOPPY This is the granddaddy of nursing pillows.

Your friends may prefer other brands, but the Boppy seems to be the most versatile — good for both bottle and breastfeeding and also an ideal support for tummy time.

Don’t forget to stock up on covers and consider a travel Boppy as well.

SKIP HOP VERSA DIAPER BAG Your diaper bag will be your purse for the next two years, at least.

It might as well look like one! This bag is not only stylish, but it’s also extremely well organized with insulated pockets for bottles, sippies and snacks.

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WHITE NOISE MACHINE There’s been a bit of controversy over the safety of white noise machines lately. As long as you’re not placing it right against baby’s head with the volume maxed out, you should be fine. The womb is incredibly noisy. This helps Baby transition to the world beyond.

CALIFORNIA BABY DIAPER AREA WASH This natural spray uses tea tree oil as an antifungal. This goes beyond the thick, greasy barrier method of diaper-rash care by healing the affected area. The spray enables you to take care of the job one-handed, without getting cream everywhere as you handle your baby.

MOBY WRAP While there are many baby carriers to choose from, the Moby Wrap (and carriers like it) is perfect for the newborn. It’s soft, stretchy, swaddle-like and one size fits all. You pick it up and put it on without worrying about your partner’s perfectly set straps and clips. Many parents are intimidated by the DIY tie-on nature of this product. Don’t be scared! There are TONS of YouTube videos showing how it’s done and once you’ve got it down, you’ve got it down.

Enroll Now — Summer and Fall Programs

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Breaking down the baby registry

ECFE —

because they don’t come with

instructions.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOPPY

Parent-Child Classes • Birth–5 Years Old www.ECFE.info

EASY EATS

Early Childhood Family Education

This ad was made possible by the generosity of the Minnesota College Savings Plan. For more information, please visit www.MN529today.com

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Ask for a CobornsDelivers gift card, a trip to Let’s Dish, meal-delivery service, take-out menus and gift cards to your favorite restaurants.

3/18/15 11:41 AM

CABIN-FEVER RELIEVERS You might request a Blooma Yoga class pass, a Minnesota Zoo membership or parent-child swim class — anything that gives you a chance to get out and connect.

May 2nd 9 am–1pm Methodist Hospital

Bloom: A Baby Fair presented by Twin Cities Moms Blog in partnership with Park Nicollet.

Join us for a morning of education, vendors, giveaways and more. Tour two amazing new facilities at Methodist Hospital, learn from experts, relax with your baby in our Nursing Room and experience some of the best businesses serving growing families.

↑↑Ask for cabin-fever relievers, like a pass to a yoga center or gym.

Blooma, for example, offers BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) yoga (pictured), postnatal yoga, new mama and infant massage classes at their Minneapolis, St. Paul and Plymouth locations.

Photo by Tanya Villano

BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM SUPPORT Spring for post-partum doulas, a night nurse, a lactation specialist or childbirth and parenting education classes.

HELP WANTED Ask for housecleaning, a gardener or a diaper service.

These things can make a huge difference in your daily grind.

Learn more at www.citymomsblog.com/twincities/bloom

Don’t bother.

Between your own trips through the Target baby section, your neighbor’s hand-medowns and “easy” gifts from acquaintances and co-workers, you’ll get plenty of the following without requesting it on your registry:

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⊲⊲Onesies

⊲⊲Soft, fluffy blankets

⊲⊲Sophie the Giraffe (who is, admittedly, awesome)

⊲⊲Cute, impractical outfits that will make your baby squirm with discomfort.

DON’T SKIMP ...

YOUR BREAST PUMP Avoid nipple chafing, carpal tunnel and inefficient pumping sessions by going deluxe, double pump and high tech. (See Shannon Keough’s story on pumps on Page 40 of this issue for more tips.)

STROLLER/TRAVEL SYSTEM Go handy, sleek, manageable and versatile.

Remember that all car seats pass the same rigorous safety tests, so they’re all on par in that department. Follow recalls and choose what works best for your family.

Convenience is a must when out and about with Baby! Check out the Graco LiteRider Classic Connect, the Britax Affinity, the Britax B-Agile Double (for twins) and the stand-on tandem strollers by Joovy (accommodates Baby and a toddler big brother or sister).

RECEIVING BLANKETS You’ll get plenty, but the slightly stretchy muslin blankets are best: Think breathable, big and easy to swaddle. Swaddle Designs and Aden + Anais are two excellent brands.

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Finally, don’t stress. There’s truly nothing that you can’t live without for an hour — or that you can’t get last minute. Every parent has his or her own set of must-haves and, in time, you’ll develop your own set of personal faves, too.

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A freshly painted and furnished nursery can contain a cocktail of chemicals. Here’s what you can do to protect your baby (and your peace of mind).

By Tina Mortimer

NURSERY DETOX 101 most likely formaldehyde — a volatile organic compound (VOC) used to cure particleboard, plywood and other composite wood products — and it can be toxic.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health ne of the most exciting times of a Organization, formaldehyde is a woman’s pregnancy is decorating her carcinogen that can trigger health baby’s nursery. Like so many new mothers-to-be, I spent hours researching problems such as asthma, even at low the safest car seats, cribs and toys. levels.

I baby-proofed everything in the house. When it came The closet system we had purchased time to convert our spare bedroom into a nursery for our was made of a combination of lamisoon-to-be-born daughter, I knew not to use conventional nated hard wood and particleboard. paint, but to buy low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

Our new changing table had particleI knew to avoid BPA (bisphenol-A), which wasn’t hard, board shelves. Both most certainly considering almost everything is marketed as “BPA free.” contained formaldehyde.

O

What I didn’t know was that a hidden threat lurked in our baby’s nursery furniture.

THAT ‘NEW FURNITURE SMELL’ Determined to make the most of a small bedroom, my husband and I decided to forgo a full-size dresser for one of those faux wood closet systems, complete with cubbies and drawers, from a big-box homeimprovement store.

My poor hubby spent the better part of a Sunday installing the closet, which we soon noticed was emitting a strong smell.

I’d heard that new furniture, much like a new car, could emit an odor. When the smell didn’t dissipate after leaving the windows open for a week, I decided to conduct a little online research by Googling “new furniture smell.”

What I learned made the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. The source of the odor was

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HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

I wondered: How high was the formaldehyde concentration in our baby’s room? Was it high enough to be a health risk? There was only one way to know for sure: I ordered a home formaldehyde test.

Yes, they make those. I got mine online for around $30, including results, from Advanced Chemical Sensors at acsbadge.com.

The test itself was relatively simple. I clipped a small test badge to the bedroom closet door. After 48 hours, I placed the badge in the return envelope and mailed it back to the lab.

A week later, I received the results. My daughter’s nursery had a formaldehyde concentration of .08 parts per million (ppm). To put this in context, the EPA and American Lung Association recommend a maximum level of 0.1 ppm for indoor air. Although our test result was two points below the maximum

level for indoor air, it was eight points above our comfort level.

We returned the closet and changing table the next morning.

HEALTH EFFECTS VARY According to David Bell, a research scientist with Minnesota Department of Health’s Environmental Surveillance and Assessment Division, formaldehyde can be found in everything from synthetic fabrics to cosmetics.

It’s used in composite wood products and is present in trace amounts in real wood.

Health effects from formaldehyde and other VOCs vary by individual, but can include headaches, dizziness and nausea.

“Generally speaking, these symptoms can occur at indoor-air concentrations greater than 0.1 ppm,” Bell said. “However, there is evidence that certain individuals can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde and experience symptoms at lower concentrations.”

To be on the safe side, Bell recommends airing-out products suspected of containing formaldehyde before bringing them into your home — or, better yet, avoiding formaldehyde-containing products altogether.

“The problem is that, in the United States, there is no one formaldehyde-emission standard by which all manufacturers must abide,” Bell said. “California has the most stringent standards, and while many manufacturers adhere to those standards — so they can sell their products in all 50 states — not all do.”

The EPA is currently in the process of setting a national standard similar to

mnparent.com • April 2015

39

NURSERY DETOX 101

←←The Mortimers’ solid wood glider was purchased secondhand. Since foam cushioning is often treated with flame retardants, they replaced the foam with 100 percent polyester fiber fill from a local fabric store. The Oeuf changing table pad is made from renewable plantbased foam that’s free of chemical flame retardants.

Creating a nontoxic nursery

Resources

A freshly painted and furnished nursery can contain up to 300 toxic chemicals, according to Healthy Child Healthy World, a California-based, nonprofit organization working to protect children from harmful chemicals.

The result?

The air in your home may be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and, in some cases, as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

So what’s a parent to do? First, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to improve the air you breathe and reduce the amount of chemicals you bring into your home:

Our Healthy Homes Minnesota For more tips on how to improve the air in your home, visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s website at tinyurl.com/mn-air-help.

⊲⊲Avoid smoking inside your home. Children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke, which can trigger asthma and other respiratory illnesses. ⊲⊲Allow products that may contain formaldehyde to off-gas. Leave the products in your garage or ask the manufacturer to leave the unsealed products in their warehouse for a few days. ⊲⊲When possible, purchase real-wood furniture or gently used furniture that’s already had time to off-gas. ⊲⊲Make fresh air your best friend. Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a central ventilation system. Be sure to conduct home renovations (which often involve chemicals and dust) when the weather is mild — such as late spring or early fall — when windows can be opened. ⊲⊲Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or invest in a central vacuum system. Staying on top of dust and dust mites can dramatically improve indoor air quality. ⊲⊲Invest in a safe crib mattress. Look for one made from untreated natural fibers and that isn’t wrapped in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — a source of phthalates (another set of questionable chemicals) — and that hasn’t been treated with traditional chemical flame retardants. ⊲⊲When buying products, avoid polyurethane foam, which is often treated with chemical flame retardants. If the label says: “This article meets the flammability requirements of California Technical Bulletin 117,” it likely contains added flame retardants to meet low-flammability standards. ⊲⊲Choose no- or low-VOC paint. Traditional paints contain harmful VOCs.

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

Healthy Legacy This Minnesota-based coalition of local organizations has been working since 2006 to reshape chemical policy in Minnesota to protect public health. See healthylegacy.org.

Call 612-627-1513 to schedule a Healthy Home presentation for your parenting or community group to learn more about how to find safe products and avoid unnecessary chemicals in consumer products.

Flame Retardants Learn the history (and the problems) with flame retardants in the U.S. at tinyurl.com/flameretardants-kids.

California’s. The standard doesn’t ban the use of formaldehyde, but sets limits on the amount that can be emitted from wood products.

MINNESOTA TAKING ACTION Minnesota legislators have been working to reduce formaldehyde in children’s products.

In 2011, formaldehyde was named to Minnesota’s Priority Chemical List through the Toxic-Free Kids Act. Then, in 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill banning formaldehyde in kids’ body products. The first phase of that bill went into effect in August 2014.

“Minnesota has really been a leader in protecting kids,” said Kim Labo, an organizer with Healthy Legacy, a coalition working to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products in Minnesota. “We were the first state in the nation to prohibit formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in children’s body products.”

Flame retardants in upholstered furniture and other products are next on the agenda for Healthy Legacy.

Labo said the coalition would also like to see laws change at the federal level, where there are chemical-control regulations that haven’t been updated since 1975, when 60,000 chemicals were “grandfathered in” and another 17,000 were approved without investigation because they involved “trade secrets,” Labo said.

“State action in Minnesota and other states has really pushed this issue,” Labo said. “It’s putting pressure on the federal government to act.”

Since 1970

Dentistry for

family members of all ages

Dr. Tanya S. Peterson, mother of 2 and Dr. Heidi Smith, mother of 1

Did you know that your child should see the Dentist for the first time at age 1 or within 6 months of their 1st tooth coming in?

550 W. Burnsville Parkway, Suite 200, Burnsville, MN 952-890-2791 www.heartofthecitydental.com Like us on Facebook Heart of the City Dental MNP 0415 S3.indd 1

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Tina Mortimer is an essayist and a contributing writer for many local publications.

She lives in White Bear Lake with her husband and two young children. Follow her work at tinamortimer.contently.com.

mnparent.com • April 2015

41

Pump it up!

Do you need a breast pump?

Will insurance cover it?

Read our tips before you buy.

By Shannon Keough

A

h, the joy of preparing for a new baby! Stockpiling tiny sleepers, making lists of names, picking out adorable crib sheets and … researching breast pumps!

OK, so maybe contemplating breast pumps isn’t at the top of your list of fun things to do during your third trimester. Maybe you don’t know if you really need one.

Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the options. Here’s what you need to know, now.

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

Do I really need a pump?

Keep your child safe.

“Not all breastfeeding mothers need a More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because pump,” said Brielle Stoyke, certified nurse they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking. midwife (CNM) and international boardAlways put every medicine and vitamin certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). up and away every time you use it. Also, “However, a breast pump can be helpful if program your poison control center’s number in your phone: 800.222.1222. a baby is having trouble nursing, to keep To learn more, visit UpandAway.org up or improve milk supply, to help treat engorgement, or if mother and Baby are In partnership with the Centers for separated for work, medical situations or Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just date night.”

Sara Pearce, the founder of Amma Parenting Center (and a CNM and IBCLC), Up and Away MNP 2012 Filler 12.indd 1 3/27/12 said any working mother who’s away from her baby for more than about 20 hours a week should consider a doubleelectric pump.

“Even if you are working less than that, a double-electric pump will most often get out the most milk the fastest, which is important when you only have a short break for pumping,” she said.

•

Lights or power out

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Troubleshooting

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Storm damage

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Emergency service

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Fuse to circuit breaker panel upgrades

•

Bath exhaust fan installations & servicing

763-544-3300 • Harrison-Electric.com

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Popular pumps Breast pumps come in a few basic styles — single or double-sided, and electric, manual or battery powered. As Pearce said, many mothers will likely be in the market for a double-electric breast pump, and there are a variety of available options that have come a long way in recent years in terms of portability and power.

One of the best-selling breast pumps on the market today is the Medela Pump In Style. It’s easy to find and comes highly recommended by the folks at workandpump.com, a website that provides breastfeeding information for working mothers. It typically costs $200 to $300.

There are benefits to owning such a popular pump: Replacement parts are widely available at stores such as Target, Walgreens and CVS. Another good double-electric pump is the Ameda Purely Yours. It’s similar to the Pump In Style in durability and overall performance, but it’s usually less expensive (available for as little as $150). One downside to owning this

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mnparent.com • April 2015

43

Pump it up! lesser-known pump is the fact that replacement parts can be harder to find, so you might need to order them online.

Mothers who opt for electric pumps may also want to keep a manual pump on hand for long car trips and air travel. Some working women opt to leave their electric pump at work and keep their manual pump at home.

Hospital-grade pumps There are also high-end hospital-grade breast pumps designed to accommodate multiple users over a number of years. Mothers purchase their own pump kits, which cost about $50.

You’re likely to encounter one of these pumps — such as the Medela Symphony or the Ameda Elite — if you deliver in a hospital and start pumping before you check out.

Hospital-grade pumps cost $1,000 to more than $2,000 and are available to rent from medical supply companies, lactation consultants and other sources, typically for about $50 a month.

You might want to rent one if you’re not sure how long you’ll need to use a breast pump. Check with your health insurance company to see about coverage for rental fees.

Insurance matters Even if you decide to conduct hours of research into breast pumps, your insurance carrier might have their own thoughts about which pump they’ll cover.

So before you spend too much time finding a favorite, be sure to contact your insurance company and ask about breast pump coverage. (See the sidebar with this story for more step-by-step information about getting a breast pump.)

Pumps to avoid • Single-sided electric pumps are generally overpriced for what you get. They tend to be of lower quality and aren’t meant to be used full time.

• Battery-powered pumps: Pumps designed to run solely on batteries don’t generate enough suction to extract enough milk or maintain your milk supply. (However, this isn’t the case with electric pumps that have the option of running on batteries.)

• Plunger-style manual pumps: These are okay for emergencies, but are awkward and tiring to use and don’t generate enough suction to maintain your milk supply.

When to start pumping Every mother’s experience with pumping is different. Some will start pumping shortly after birth if they’re away from their babies (during stays in the neonatal intensive care unit, for example).

Some will start pumping a few weeks after giving birth when they’re preparing to introduce a bottle. Some will pump to increase their milk supply.

But what about going back to work?

“If you are pumping in preparation for a return to work, in most cases, you will want to start pumping approximately two weeks before you plan to return,” Stoyke said. “I recommend pumping after the baby eats so you aren’t using milk the baby needs. Then you slowly increase pumping day by day so you don’t give your breasts the message to make too much milk.”

And don’t pump too many times throughout the day and night, she said. You still need to get enough sleep!

Other tips?

LEARN MORE ⊲⊲Consumer Reports: Read a detailed breast-pump primer, including pros and cons for each type, at tinyurl.com/cr-pumps. ⊲⊲Kelly Mom Parenting and Breastfeeding (kellymom.com) offers evidence-based information. ⊲⊲La Leche League: This organization is dedicated to providing education and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed, including support via email, phone and regular meetings. See lllofmndas.org to find a group in your area. ⊲⊲Ask around: Talk to your midwife, obstetrician or pediatrician for referrals to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

“Studies show that breast compression and massage can increase milk output by 40 to 70 percent,” said Pearce. “I suggest massaging and compressing the breasts right before and during pumping. This is easiest if you have a hands-free bustier.”

Medela and other pump makers sell pump-compatible bustiers and bras for $30 or $40, allowing moms to pump hands free.

Stoyke emphasizes the importance of asking for help if you have questions.

“The tough thing about giving breastfeeding advice is you can’t give universal advice — every woman is different,” she said.

“Contact an international board-certified lactation consultant if you have any questions.”

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

How and when to get a pump 1

Call your insurance company.

In most cases, insurance will pay for at least some of the cost of a pump.

Some providers require patients to use specific medical-supply companies.

Some require families to buy a pump from a retail store and submit a receipt.

Providers have different rules, so be sure to ask before taking any action.

2

Wait for Baby to arrive.

Every new mother wants to be prepared for her baby, and you might be tempted to run out and buy your pump during your second trimester. But there are a few good reasons to wait.

“I suggest waiting until the baby is born before you get your pump,” said Pearce. “You want to match the pump with your needs, and if you don’t know your needs yet, you can’t make the most accurate selection.”

If you purchase a basic model, but then end up with a low milk supply — and need a hospital-grade model — you’ll have wasted money.

“Under typical circumstances, a new mother won’t need to pump for a few weeks — when she introduces a bottle — so you’ll usually have time postpartum to figure it out,” Pearce said.

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Find the right physical fit.

In addition to learning how to set up and use your new pump, you’ll also want to make sure the equipment fits your new, unique, postpartum anatomy.

In other words, make sure the flanges fit correctly.

“The flanges are the flare-shaped plastic parts that fit over the breast, and the tubes that fit the nipple come in different diameters,” said Pearce. “You can’t tell by looking at your breast, or your cup size, what your flange size should be — you just have to try it out. If it’s too tight or too large it can result in pain or decreased milk output.”

mnparent.com • April 2015

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R E M M U S R E V O DISC YMCA SUMMER BLAST OFF FRIDAY, APRIL 10 – SUNDAY, APRIL 12

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Grades K-5

at ymcadiscoversummer.org

Summer Power is your answer to quality care and exciting adventures. We offer flexible 3-, 4-, and 5-day options. Kids enjoy their day in small age appropriate groups and participate in activities such as rafts, group games, sports and weekly field trips.

SUMMER SPORTS Grades 1-6 Youth will have the opportunity to learn new skills, practice and play new sports.

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

SUMMER UPROAR Grades 6-8

Register Online

And over YMC A Blai sdel l YM CA YMC A in Burn svill YMC e A in Eag a n Elk R iver YMC A Emm a B. How e No YMC rtht A in own Has YMC ting YMC A s A in Hud s on, YMC WI A in Lino L akes Mpl s Do wnt own Har YMC old A Mez ile N YMC o r t h Co A in mmu New nity Hop Ridg YMC e eda A le Y MCA Rive r Va lley YMC YMC A in A in Prio r La Sho ke r e view Sou thda le Y MCA St. P in E dina aul East side St. P Y M aul CA Mid way YMC YMC A in A Wes t St Whi . Pa te B u l ear Area YMC YMC A in A Woo dbu ry

Uproar provides an exciting combination of spirited adventure and growth. Participants get their first taste of leadership as they help to plan their summer activities.

Participate in weekly field trips.

ymcadiscoversummer.org Membership not required.

Financial assistance available.

Summer Preschool SP Kindergarten Summer Power Summer Sports Summer Uproar 15-SP20_MP_Apr

Specialty Programs

YMCA CAMPS YMCA OVERNIGHT CAMPS CAMP ST. CROIX

Ages 7-17. Located on Lake St. Croix, two miles south of Hudson, WI. Campers participate in a wide variety of traditional camp activities or select a specialty camp such as horseback riding, rock climbing, sailing and canoeing. Three-day, one-week or two-week sessions.

CAMP ICAGHOWAN Ages 7-16. Located on Lake Wapogasset near Amery, WI. Icaghowan offers traditional camp and a variety of unique specialty camps focused on activities such as horseback riding, river canoeing and skateboard camp.

Three-day, one-week or two-week sessions.

CAMP IHDUHAPI Ages 7-16. Located on Lake Independence just 22 miles west of Minneapolis, MN, Ihduhapi offers youth a traditional experience or sailing and horseback riding specialty camps. Three-day, one-week or two-week sessions. Leadership development programs for grades 8-11.

CAMP WARREN Ages 7-16. Camp Warren, located in the north woods on Half Moon Lake near Eveleth, MN, offers girls-only sessions the first part of the summer and boys-only sessions later in the summer. Camp Warren has a strong tradition of progressive activities including sailing, archery, tennis, photography and horseback riding.

YMCA FAMILY CAMP CAMP DU NORD

612-230-9622

ymcadiscoversummer.org YMCA TEEN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES CAMP MENOGYN Ages 12-18. Camp Menogyn is located on the Gunflint Trail 30 miles north of Grand Marais, MN. There are no roads leading to Menogyn, so all campers cross West Bearskin Lake by boat to arrive at this beautiful, intimate wilderness setting. Our focus is on the small group, DAY CAMPS compassionate guided wilderness canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing trips that are Camp Christmas Tree 6365 Game Farm safe, fun and enriching.

Rd., Minnetrista, MN 55364, 952-544-7708.

Traditional day camp is located on 45 acres at CAMP WIDJIWAGAN Dutch Lake near Mound, MN. Ages 12-18. Located on Burntside Lake near Ely, MN, Widji offers high-quality canoe and backpacking adventures in the BWCA and throughout North America. Widji wilderness trips are focused on respect and values that build skills for life, and a relationship with the environment that is unparalleled.

YMCA DAY CAMP AGES 4 - 14 YMCA Day Camp provides a week full of exciting camp activities like canoeing, archery, fishing, camp crafts, cookouts, swimming and more! Day camps facilitate a great introduction to camping in a safe environment. Kids are home each night. Bus transportation is available at most locations.

YMCA DAY CAMPS: SPECIALTY CAMPS Develop a greater passion for the things you love, or try out something new at one of our YMCA specialty camps! Campers spend approximately 2 hours each day in their specialized activity. The remainder of the day is spent enjoying traditional camp activities.

TWIN CITIES DAY CAMPS

We eBa ckp ack ers (a

ges 4-5 )

All Ages. Located on the edge of the BWCA on Burntside Lake, Camp du Nord offers a totally unique week-long camping experience for families. Cozy woodland cabins with kitchens range from rustic to upscale. Tent camping sites, full/partial food service also available. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming, nature and arts programs are offered as family activities and for children’s age groups. Relax at days end with an authentic Finnish sauna.

For more information:

YMCA Camp St. Croix – DayCroix 532 County Rd. F, Hudson, WI, 612-465-0560.

Traditional day camp is located on 400 acre site overlooking St. Croix River.

Camp Guy Robinson 3100 217th Ave NW, Oak Grove, MN, 763-785-7882. Traditional day camp is located at Lake George Regional Park.

Camp Heritage 7732 Main Street, Lino Lakes, MN; Traditional day camp held across from Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes.

YMCA Day Camp Ihduhapi 3425 Ihduhapi Rd., Loretto, MN 55357, 763-479-1146. Located on Lake Independence. Day Camp Ihduhapi offers the beautiful, north woods feel of camp.

Camp Kici Yapi 13220 Pike Lake Trail NE, Prior Lake, MN 55372, 952-835-2567. Traditional day camp is located on 80 acre site in Prior Lake.

Camp Kumalya 1515 Keats Ave. N., Lake Elmo, MN, 651-731-9507. Traditional day camp held at Lake Elmo Park Reserve in Lake Elmo.

Camp Manitou 9910 Briarwood Ave NE, Monticello, MN 55362, 763-535-4800.

Traditional day camp is located on 1200 acre site on Lake Bertram and Long Lake in Monticello, MN. Camp Spring Lake 13690 Pine Bend Trail Rosemount, MN 55068, 651-456-9622.

Traditional day camp held at Dakota County Spring Lake Park Reserve in Rosemount.

Camp Streefland 11490 Klamath Trail, Lakeville, MN 55044, 952-898-9622. Traditional day camp is located on Lake Kingsley in Lakeville.

Christmas Tree DayCroix @ Camp St. Croix Guy Robinson Heritage Ihduhapi Kici Yapi Kumalya Manitou Spring Lake Streefland

Membership not required.

Financial assistance available.

CAMP RESOURCES Advertiser listings mnparent.com/camp

Academic 191 Community Ed Summer Programs ISD 191 Community Education offers activities and camps for your K–6 student. Art, sports, swimming, dance, theater, and technology classes are offered throughout the summer at an affordable cost. #191community Burnsville-Eagan-Savage 200 W Burnsville Pkwy, Ste 100 Burnsville 952-707-4150 communityed191.org

Bell Museum Science Discovery Day Camps Unearth unforgettable camp experiences at the Bell Museum. Weeklong Science Discovery camps include outdoor adventure, space exploration, lab activities, real scientific specimens, University research, and lots of fun!

June 8–August 28, grades K–6, and half-day preschool camps!

Minneapolis 612-626-9660 bellmuseum.org

Camp Invention Camp Invention is where BIG ideas become the next BIG thing! Local educators lead a week of hands-on activities created especially for rising 1st–6th grade students. Boys and girls spend time taking apart electronics to assemble something new, pushing the limits during high-energy games, and so much more.

Lessons explore connections between science, technology, engineering, and innovation.

Discounts are available, so secure a spot soon!

Locations throughout Minnesota 800-968-4332 campinvention.org

Gifted & Talented Institute (GTI) Find Your Challenge South of the River. A partnership of south metro school districts, managed by ISD 191 Community Education.

GTI provides gifted and talented youth in grades K–9 opportunities for challenge and exploration. Classes run late June through July.

Half- and full-day, weeklong course options in a

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April 2015 • mnparent.com

variety of core disciplines.

952-707-4150 giftedtalented.org

Groves Academy Summer Programs Groves Academy Summer Programs are for students with learning and attention challenges. The programs are open to students from any school. There are small class sizes and personalized instruction. Grades 2–8, June 15–July 10: Reading, writing, and math, optional enrichment classes. Grades 9–12, July 27– August 7: Algebra, study skills, and writing.

3200 Hwy 100 S St. Louis Park 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

ICC Summer Engineering Camp Explore the world of engineering through project work, industry tours, and design challenges; live and work at Wenger Engineering Center, Itasca Community College. Sr. High Camp Session 1: grades 10–12, July 6–11; Jr. High Camp: grades 7–9, July 15–18; Sr. High Camp Session 2: grades 11–12, July 20–25.

Itasca Community College Grand Rapids 218-322-2370 engineering.itascacc.edu

Junior Achievement Summer Camp JA BizTown Summer Camp takes place at Junior Achievement’s fully interactive, simulated city. This camp teaches 4th–8th graders how to run a successful business through fun, hands-on activities. June session focuses on STEM careers; July session will appeal to the young entrepreneur.

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest 1800 White Bear Ave N Maplewood 651-255-0037 jaum.org

Minnetonka Community Education Minnetonka Community Education offers more than 300 summer enrichment, recreation, and academic summer camps for children ages 18

months–18 years. From art to archery, STEM to soccer, and everything in between — there’s a camp that appeals to every child’s interests and passions.

5621 Cty Rd 101 Minnetonka 952-401-6800 minnetonkacommunityed.org

Providence Academy Summer Activities Building on academic excellence and strong Christian values, Providence Academy offers a variety of academic, enriching, and fun summer experiences! We offer activities from architect design and driver’s education, to sewing and basketball, as well as a full-day camp.

15100 Schmidt Lake Rd Plymouth 763-258-2500 providenceacademy.org/summer

School Chess Association Summer Day Chess Camp All levels of chess instruction, professional educators tailored to the student’s individual needs. Fun activities include swimming, water slides, field ball, Magic the Gathering, soccer, tennis, roller skating, bowling, fishing, sign language, and role-playing games. Program Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. June 22–25, July 6–9, 13–16, 20–23, 27–30, August 3–6, 10–13. Registration forms online or call Lorene 763-593-1168.

St. Louis Park Recreation Center 3700 Monterey Dr St. Louis Park schoolchess.org

Science & Engineering Camps at The Works Museum Creative camps for girls and boys, ages 5–12, who love to explore, design, and build! Kids experience how things work through fun, hands-on science and engineering projects.

Discover code camp, Lego robotics, electricity, architecture, and more! Camps run June– August 2015.

9740 Grand Ave S Bloomington 952-888-4262 theworks.org

Summer at Blake Love of learning and courage are central to Blake’s mission and summer offerings, spanning pre-K–12, are open to students throughout the Twin Cities. Students investigate topics and skills with time to delve deeply and take risks. No grades, just growth.

Hopkins, Minneapolis, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Arts Adventures in Cardboard Summer Arts & Creative Play, Outdoors Build your own arms and armor, create giant castles to defend, battle along trails, fields, and shorelines. Plan invasions from land and sea.

Bows, swords, catapults, magic, and monsters!

Full days spent in beautiful parks across the metro region.

Arden Hills, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis & Plymouth 612-532-6764 julianmcfaul.com

Art Academy, The City Pages Winner: Best of the Twin Cities!

Year-round traditional drawing and painting classes and camps for students ages 5–18.

Exceptional student/teacher ratio. Homeschool Program. A Renaissance program for adults also offered. See samples of student artwork; visit our website. Call for a brochure.

651 Snelling Ave S St. Paul 651-699-1573 theartacademy.net

Art Camps at Studio Seven One week painting and drawing camps for students ages 7–18. Compositional elements will be explored through landscape and figure studies. Students will paint and draw both in the studio and outside. Trips to galleries and museums included. Camps are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. $495 per week, all materials are included. kahlowcurtis@gmail.com.

708 N 1st St Minneapolis 612-376-0381 studio7artmn.com

Hamline Young Writers Workshop This creative writing day camp is a chance for high school students, ages 15–18, who are passionate about creative writing to explore the craft, connect with other young writers, and work closely with Hamline’s Creative Writing faculty and published authors.

Hamline University

St. Paul 651-523-2479 hamline.edu/youngwriters

Kidcreate Studio Kidcreate Studio’s art camps are designed to inspire and educate young artists, ages 3–12, in an environment where giggles and grins are encouraged. Camps focus on art principles and introduce students to many types of art materials. Campers get to explore, make a mess, and have fun. This year’s camps include: Frozen, Lego Dino World, Happily Ever After, Marvelously Messy, Fabulously Fancy Art, Simply Silly Stuff, Candy Crafts, Art-tastic, Masters on Canvas, Let’s Draw, Star Wars, and many more. At Kidcreate, making a mess is the best!

GYMNASTICS TUMBLING TRAMPOLINE

7918 Mitchell Rd Eden Prairie 952-974-3438 kidcreatestudio.com/eden-prairie; 1785 Radio Dr, Ste F Woodbury 651-735-0880 kidcreatestudio.com/woodbury

Loft’s Young Writers’ Program, The The Loft’s Young Writers’ Program offers more than 100 classes this summer that foster creativity, enrich talents, and create friendships. Classes run all summer for ages 6–17 at all skill levels.

Open Book 1011 Washington Ave S Minneapolis 612-215-2575 loft.org

Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD) Join us at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design for a series of innovative, handson, and engaging visual art and design camps and classes for kids and teens ages 5–18! Weeklong and multi-week options.

Scholarships available.

2501 Stevens Ave Minneapolis 612-874-3765 mcad.edu/youth

Summer at Blake Blake’s visual and performing arts challenge students to creatively express themselves in an array of disciplines and materials from the kiln to the stage! These programs, spanning pre-K–12, are open to students throughout the greater Twin Cities area.

Hopkins, Minneapolis, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Gleason’s Gymnastics School Strengthening children in mind and body through successful gymnastics experiences

www.gleasons.com Maple Grove 763.493.2526 9778 85th Ave. N Eagan 651.454.6203 2015 Silver Bell Rd. mnparent.com • April 2015

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CAMP RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

Urban Arts Academy

Circus Juventas

We believe everyone is an artist. Write and record your own song, paint like Pollock, build a fort, and create glow-in-the-dark sculptures!

Runs June 8–August 6 for ages 3–14. Half-day ($100) or full-day ($200) options.

Travel the globe without ever leaving our Big Top! Our full-day, weeklong camps explore a vast array of circus arts from Morocco to Mongolia, China to Russia. Reserve your spot now to be a part of one of the most talked-about and unique summer camps in the Twin Cities.

3901 Chicago Ave S Minneapolis 612-827-1641 urbanartsacademy.org

Dance/Music/ Performance Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs Summer Day Camp Calling all boys and girls who love to sing! Join us for a week (July 20–24) filled with singing, music games, and arts activities. Singers will explore their vocal potential and increase their confidence in singing. Grades 2–5. Cost: $88.

9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. angelicayouthchoirs@gmail. com.

Bloomington Center for the Arts 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington 952-563-8572 angelicacantanti.org

Center for Irish Music, The (CIM) All ages and abilities will explore and grow musically within the context of the Irish tradition. CIM offers half-day camps, private and group lessons on whistle, song, fiddle, harp, and drumming as well children and teen programs at the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, June 12–14.

836 Prior Ave N St. Paul 651-815-0083 centerforirishmusic.org

Chan DT Musical Theatre Camp Chanhassen Dinner Theatres offers summertime theater camps for kids and teens (ages 5–18). It’s a fantastic week of half-day sessions focusing on musical theater fundamentals taught by Chanhassen professionals throughout the summer. Register now!

PO Box 100 Chanhassen 952-934-1525 chanhassendt.com

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1270 Montreal Ave St. Paul 651-699-8229 circusjuventas.org

Creo Arts & Dance Conservatory Wholesome, creative, joyful dancing for all ages and stages. June 15–August 15. Our noncompetitive dance studio provides expert instruction in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. Summer classes include: Frozen ballet, God’s Little Prince & Princess, and the Dance Blitz Intensive.

Wayzata Home Center 1250 Wayzata Blvd E Wayzata 612-636-6893 creoartsconservatory.com

Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts Become a triple threat at Lundstrum Center’s musical theater camps! All camp intensives taught by Broadway veterans and include level appropriate training in dance, voice, and drama, which students apply to full musical productions. June 8–19: Camp 1, ages 4–12; June 22–August 2: Camp 2, ages 13 and up.

1617 N 2nd St Minneapolis 612-521-2600 lundstrumcenter.org

Minnesota Youth Symphonies (MYS) Summer Program Develop your musical skills and feed your imagination this summer with MYS! We offer two classes for young orchestral musicians in a fun and relaxed setting. No audition required.

Receive a 10 percent tuition discount if you register by April 24.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 700 S Snelling Ave St Paul 651-699-5811 mnyouthsymphonies.org/summer

O’Shea Irish Dance Camp Director Cormac O’Se original member of Riverdance. Highly skilled technical training for preschoolers through adults; for competition, for fun, and for fitness! Weekly Classes: Mondays–Thursdays. Beginners Spring and

Summer Camps — registering now!

The Celtic Junction 836 Prior Ave N St. Paul 612-722-7000 osheairishdance.com

Shell Lake Arts Center With programs in jazz, rock band, show choir, art, theater, dance, and more, the Shell Lake Arts Center is like nowhere else! Just two hours northeast of the Twin Cities in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. Come join us for the experience of a lifetime!

802 1st St Shell Lake, WI 715-468-2414 shelllakeartscenter.org

Sing Minnesota August 10–14, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sing Minnesota is a weeklong day camp for girls and boys, ages 8–12 sponsored by the Minnesota Boychoir. While focusing on choral singing, campers also participate in other creative arts — drama and movement, visual arts, and outdoor fun and games! $325, scholarships available.

Concordia University Buetow Music Center 300 Hamline Ave N St. Paul 651-292-3219 boychoir.org

Stages Theatre Company Summer Theater Workshops: June 15–August 24. Calling all actors, singers, and dancers: Have fun learning about theater from some of the area’s finest teaching artists. Stages Theatre Company offers a variety of age appropriate workshops for students ranging from ages 4–17.

1111 Mainstreet Hopkins 952-979-1111, option 4 stagestheatre.org

SteppingStone Theatre Camps & Classes SteppingStone Theatre explores creativity year-round with youth grades pre-K–high school. Check out our summer camps as a unique way for students to build confidence, theater skills, and community! Have fun this summer at SteppingStone Theatre!

Scholarship/Membership pricing available.

55 Victoria St N St. Paul 651-225-9265 steppingstonetheatre.org

mnparent.com/camp

Summer at Blake Blake’s performing arts challenge students to creatively express themselves in an array of disciplines! These programs, spanning pre-k–12, are open to students throughout the greater Twin Cities area.

SUMMER FUN!

2015 SUMMER CAMPS, BIRTHDAYS, WEEKEND CLASSES AT OVER 100 LOCATIONS

Northern Minnesota Summer Camp Sessions of 1, 2, 3, or 4 Weeks are Available.

GIRLS ONLY! BOYS ONLY!

Hopkins, Minneapolis, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

CLASSES OFFERED: • Minecraft Mods • iOS Design • Robotics • Java Coding • Engineering • Digital Film Teaching children for over 20 years throughout MN New Center in Roseville!

Theatre Arts Training at Children’s Theatre Company

campbirchwood.com

June 8–August 14, ages 4–18. Theatre Arts Training offers camps for all levels in acting, Camp Birchwood MNP 0313 12.indd musical theater, improv, and more, making it easy to find the perfect fit for the young actor in your life. Be Curious. Be Creative.

Be Confident. Registration now open.

birchwoodforboys.com

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2400 3rd Ave S Minneapolis 612-874-0400 childrenstheatre.org/education/classes-andcamps

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts 345 Washington St St. Paul 651-282-3163 ordway.org/education

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

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Summer Art Camps

2/10/15 11:28 AM

for ages 5 and up

Triple Threat Training An intensive in musical theater connects young people with instructors to hone their vocal, acting, and dance technique, and enhance audition skills! Audition required for admission.

Contact apost@ordway.org for info. August 3–7, $450. NEW! Rising Star, open to all skill levels.

COMPUTEREXPLORERSMN.COM • 651-730-9910

651-699-1573 State Fair Blue Ribbon Winner!

Izzy Wexler-Mann, Age 14

theartacademy.net

Think your child can’t draw like this? Think again.

Chosen by WCCO “2013 Best Places for Summer Art Activities” | Winner: City Pages “Best of the Twin Cities” Art Academy MNP 0415 H4.indd 1

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FREE! Youth of all abilities mix arts with science.

Junior High STEM of Puppetry: Create cell science shadow shows, June 9–11th, 16–18th, 1–4 p.m. Monkey Mind Pirates (ages 7 and up): Dip into puppets, music, yoga, July 13–18, 1–4 p.m.

Stillwater Public Library 224 3rd St N, Stillwater 651-275-4338 stillwaterlibrary.org

Zenon Dance Company & School Summer Camps Weeklong dance camps for ages 6–14. Each day will include technique and choreography classes. Participants will perform for family and friends on the last day! Hip Hop Camps: June 22–26, August 3–7. Youth Dance Sampler Camp: July 20–24.

528 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis 612-338-1101 zenondance.org mnparent.com • April 2015

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CAMP RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

Day American Swedish Institute Have fun exploring a different Swedish or Nordic theme each week including Pippi Longstocking, Vikings, or cooking through dance, studio arts, music, imaginative play, and outdoor games. Perfect for kids entering grades 1–5! Thursdays, July 9–August 13. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $50 per session.

2600 Park Ave S Minneapolis 612-871-4907 asimn.org

Animal Humane Society’s Unleashed Camp Fun, educational animal-themed summer day camp for students entering grades 3–10 at Animal Humane Society. Camp may include special guests, field trips, service projects, interactions with animals, and more. Register online today.

Buffalo, Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, St. Paul & Woodbury 763-489-2220 animalhumanesociety.org/camps

Archaeology for Kids One-Day Camp Ages 10–14. Archeologists and historians help campers do archeological work, including research, digging, and sifting at a re-created dig site, and working with scientific equipment in a lab. July 18 & August 1. $65/$60 MNHS members.

Historic Fort Snelling 200 Tower Ave St. Paul 612-726-1171 mnhs.org/summercamps

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Arts on the River Day Camp Ages 9–11. Children enjoy a new experience each day at four top arts centers, including Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and MacPhail Center for Music. June 29–July 2. $250/$225 MNHS members.

Mill City Museum 704 S 2nd St Minneapolis 612-341-7555 mnhs.org/summercamps

Camp Tanadoona Explore 103 acres of forest and prairie along Lake Minnewashta in the southwest metro.

Campers ages 5–17 enjoy water and nature activities, archery, adventure course, 90-yearold traditions, and more! International and local staff! Day, mini-resident, and resident camps.

Open House: May 2.

3300 Tanadoona Dr Excelsior 612-235-7284 camptanadoona.org

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Como is an experimental learning center that engages visitors in a multitude of encounters with animals, plants and cultures. Home to 9 of the 10 animal species that visitors most want to see, in habitats that allow visitors to observe them at close proximity.

1225 Estabrook Dr St. Paul 651-487-8201 comozooconservatory.org

Crazy for Math and Science Are your kids CRAZY for math and science?

Peace of Mind and Trailblazers’ interactive, fun-filled summer camp engages children ages preschool–9th grade in experiential learning this summer. Field trips, themed weeks, structured curriculum. Come for a day, a week, or the entire summer.

9025 Tamarack Rd Woodbury 651-731-2608 peaceofminddaycare.com

Davy Crockett Day Camp Ages 9–12. Campers will learn the skills Davy Crockett and others like him used on the frontier, including tracking animals, using flint and steel, and 1800s soldiering. Two sessions: July 7–10 & 21–24. $250/$225 MNHS members.

Historic Fort Snelling 200 Tower Ave St. Paul 612-726-1171 mnhs.org/summercamps

Finishing School for Young Ladies Ages 9–12. In this one-of-a kind day camp, young ladies will dress up in Victorian-inspired costumes, enjoy a tea party, and learn popular dances and etiquette. Two sessions: June 22– 24 & July 20–22. $220/$200 MNHS members.

Alexander Ramsey House 265 S Exchange St St. Paul 651-296-8760 mnhs.org/summercamps

History Detective Camp Ages 11–13. Become a super-sleuth. Explore the home and comb through the evidence to solve mysteries of the past in this three-day camp.

mnparent.com/camp

Two sessions: June 22–24 & July 20–22. $220/$200 MNHS members.

Alexander Ramsey House 265 S Exchange St St. Paul 651-296-8760 mnhs.org/summercamps

Hopkins Camp Royal Summer Rocks A camp for youth K–6. Add the sizzle to your child’s summer! Full- and half-day camps—build your own schedule. Art, sports, dance, legos, pottery, cooking, theater, music, chess, STEM, crafts, plus more!

Great minds learn to think...all summer long!

Register today for camps and classes. www.blakeschool.org Blake School MNP 0215 H6.indd 1

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Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Hwy 7 Hopkins 952-988-4070 hopkinssummer.org

Huck Finn Day Camp Ages 9–12. Campers explore the book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and go fishing, hiking, cooking, canoeing, and much more. Three sessions: June 16–19, July 14–17, & August 4–7. $250/$225 MNHS members.

Historic Fort Snelling 200 Tower Ave St. Paul 612-726-1171 mnhs.org/summercamps

Kid Yoga Minnesota Camp Yoga provides “whole child” experiences. Activities include awesome artmaking, free play, theater, and team-building challenges. Yoga is infused through story, dance, and games. We go on field adventures and collaborate on service projects giving back smiles to our world. We create life skills of health and happiness. Ages 5–12.

3628 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis 612-202-5164 kidyogamn.com

2015

Little House in the Big Fort Day Camp Ages 7–11. Campers will sing the songs, play the games, and make the food and crafts that Laura Ingalls Wilder learned while growing up on the western frontier. Six sessions: June 16–19 & 23–26, July 7–10, 14–17, & 28–31, and August 4–7. $250/$225 MNHS members.

Historic Fort Snelling 200 Tower Ave St. Paul 612-726-1171 mnhs.org/summercamps

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CAMP RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

Playworks Summer Camp 2015 Enter our Trail of Dreams! June 8–August 28.

Open to grades 1–6. Children learn through hands-on experiences and interaction in outdoor play, field trips and entertaining educational programs. Daily. Meals included.

2200 Trail of Dreams Prior Lake 952-445-PLAY (7529) playworksfun.com

Shoreview Parks & Recreation Camps Three-day to eight-week, half- and full-day sessions including playground programs, specialized sports, art camps, dance and more.

Ages 3–15. Camps available June 8–September 1. Visit our website or call for more info.

4580 Victoria St N Shoreview 651-490-4750 shoreviewcommunitycenter.com

Soldier One-Day Camp Ages 8–12. “New recruits” will learn about the lives of soldiers during the 1820s at Fort Snelling. Campers will learn to march and drill, watch musket and cannon firings, and more.

June 27, July 11, July 25, & August 8. $50/$45 MNHS members.

Historic Fort Snelling 200 Tower Ave, St. Paul 612-726-1171 mnhs.org/summercamps

St. Croix Lutheran Academic & Sports Camps Art, basketball, bowling, football, golf, science, soccer, softball, volleyball, and wrestling camps led by varsity coaches and professional faculty June, July, and early August. As low as $50/ week. Grades 4–9 for most camps.

1200 Oakdale Ave West St. Paul stcroixlutheran.org/camps

Summer Adventure Camp The International School of Minnesota offers full- and half-day camp from June 15–August 14 for ages 3.5 to those entering grade 8.

Camp activities include Spanish or American Sign Language, swimming, arts & crafts, nature hikes, outside play, and beach Friday.

Options include sports, music, theater, kitchen chemistry, soccer, MN biology, catapults, and trebuchets.

6385 Beach Rd Eden Prairie 952-918-1828 internationalschoolmn.com

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Summer at Blake

Zoo Camp

Looking for adventure, sports, arts and friendships? Blake’s Acoma camp has gathered children from the Twin Cities for 50 years.

Campers develop curiosity, creativity, and positive risk-taking skills. Unique themes provide opportunities for physical, social, and intellectual skills in a friendly, safe environment.

Week-long and single day adventures for toddlers to 12th graders at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Campers will meet animals, make new friends, and have a ton of fun while learning about conservation and the environment. New this summer — Horse Camps! Register today at mnzoo.org/zoocamp.

Hopkins, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Victorian Tea & Tour Designed for generations of girls: grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters alike. You will learn about Victorian ways at this two-hour mini-camp experience.

Savor tea on the farmhouse porch; tour the Gibbs farmhouse and make a Victorian-style calling card. $19 per person. Offered June 23, 24, 25; June 30, July 1 or 2.

Gibbs Museum of Pioneer & Dakota Life 2097 W Larpenteur Ave 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Your pathway to Dakota and Pioneer life: Experience. Understand. Grow.

We’ve created the perfect mix of camps.

Family-friendly pricing, fun for kids ages 3–13.

Choose Pioneer PeeWees for ages 3–5, $19 or one of our $99 three-day camps for ages 6–10 including Pioneer Kid, Gibbs Girl or Say It In Dakota. Digging History, our newest $99 threeday camp, is for ages 11–13.

Gibbs Museum of Pioneer & Dakota Life 2097 W Larpenteur Ave 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Minnesota Zoo 13000 Zoo Blvd Apple Valley 952-431-9320 mnzoo.org

Horseback Riding Golden Ridge Stables Want to hug a horse? Our amazing summer day camps include a daily riding lesson and “handson” horsey fun. Year-round quality lessons for youth and ladies on well-mannered school horses. Conveniently located via Cedar Ave or I-35 South; just 15 minutes south of MOA. Visit our website for details!

8315 W 190th St W Lakeville 952-469-4640 goldenridgestables.com

Little Pines Barnyard Adventures We offer hands-on learning in a clean and safe facility, with well-behaved ponies and horses, and knowledgeable staff. Week-long Horse Camps and Farm Camps for ages 5–15 give campers the opportunity to learn about

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CAMP RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

caring for horses and farm animals.

Afton 612-328-0957 littlepinesadventures.com

Lost Creek Ranch Lost Creek Ranch Camp Confidence is the best overnight camp for horse-crazy kids! Campers get their “own” horse. Ride a minimum of four hours every day! Individual attention. Make new friends and begin a lifelong passion for horses.

Less than one hour from the Twin Cities.

N6842 570th St Beldenville, WI 715-273-6070 lostcreekranch.info

Skyrock Farm Summer Horse Camp Learn basic horsemanship and make new friends! Clean, upscale facility located in Medina provides safe summer horse fun for your horse-crazy child (ages 6 and up).

One hour instructional lesson per fun-filled day. Friday is horse show day – Horse show followed by train rides and root beer floats!

Riding lessons, camp, birthdays.

Medina 612-408-2848 skyrockfarm.com

Sunnyside Stables Horsemanship Summer Camp Sunnyside’s camp is a place to discover horses and new friends. Each day includes riding – rain or shine, as we have an indoor and outdoor arena as well as scenic trails. You will discover the basics of grooming, saddling, body language, posture, contact, and balance to develop independent riding skills.

15400 Emery Ave E Rosemount 651-226-2027 sunnysidestables.org

Language Concordia Language Villages Concordia Language Villages is the premier language and culture immersion program in the United States. For over 50 years, we have provided an authentic experience with programs for all ages and levels of fluency in 15 different languages.

901 8th St S Moorhead 218-299-4544 800-222-4750 concordialanguagevillages.org

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Summer at Blake Join the Blake School for Latin, Greek, Spanish, and Programming camps! Spanning grades 1–12, offerings are open to students throughout the Twin Cities area.

Hopkins, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Other Minnesota Children’s Museum At Minnesota Children’s Museum, handson play builds lifelong learning. Each of our galleries is uniquely designed with a child’s busy brain in mind. Every visit is packed with experiences guaranteed to nurture creative thinking, fuel fun, and cater to the curious at heart.

10 W 7th St St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org

Overnight Audubon Center of the North Woods A wide variety of youth, family, and adult camps and expeditions — something for everyone!

Our camps have a focus on wildlife, nature, challenge, and outdoor skills. Experience the great outdoors and make memories that last a lifetime! June–September. info@auduboncenter.org.

East side of Grindstone Lake near Sandstone 888-404-7743 audubon-center.org/summer-camps

Camp Birchwood for Boys Hike, bike, fish, canoe, kayak, or rock-climb, it’s up to you. Campers choose their own adventures and activities. Between adventures campers choose from archery, riflery, waterpark, crafts, tubing, fishing, and more.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area 218-252-2641 campbirchwoodforboys.com

Camp Birchwood for Girls At Camp Birchwood the experience is about lifelong skills, friendships, and memories.

We provide campers with opportunities for making their own choices, encourage them to challenge themselves and to discover who they are through a long list of available activities.

Northern Minnesota 800-451-5270 campbirchwood.com

Camp Choson Camp Choson is a dynamic, welcoming day and resident camp that offers youth ages 4–17 opportunities to explore Korean arts and culture. A camper’s experience includes Korean language and culture, traditional dance and drum, Taekwondo, music, self-respect, archery, and swimming.

Camp Lakamaga 12300 Lakamaga Tr N Marine on St. Croix campchoson.org

Camp Victory A Christian camp in southeastern Minnesota providing overnight, day and wilderness camps. Get active, connected and inspired to follow Jesus Christ! Nine Specialty Camps added this year including Survivor Camp, Spy Academy and Culinary Camp. Enter to win a week of camp at campvictory.com/index.php/ camps.

Zumbro Falls 20 miles N of Rochester 507-843-2329 campvictory.com

Camp WeHaKee Have fun, build friendships, be yourself! More than 40 activities that each girl chooses.

Campers from around the world. Exceptional staff! At the heart of WeHaKee is relationship.

Just three hours from Minneapolis in Northern Wisconsin!

N8104 Barker Lake Rd Winter, WI 800-582-2267 wehakeecampforgirls.com

Clearwater Camp for Girls The Northwoods of Wisconsin provide a spectacular backdrop for girls ages 8–16 to learn life skills, build confidence, adventurous spirits and make friends for a lifetime. Over 25 activities, including sailing, horseback riding, waterskiing, and camping trips. ACA accredited.

7490 Clearwater Rd Minocqua, WI 715-356-5030 clearwatercamp.org

Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Summer Camps All girls welcome, including non-Girl Scouts.

Residential sessions at four locations, each

mnparent.com/camp

with unique scenery and outdoor opportunities.

Classic camp experiences, with horse and wilderness opportunities, canoeing, kayaking, archery, swimming, biking, arts and crafts, and more. Financial assistance available.

Camp Elk River, Zimmerman Camp Lakamaga, Marine on St. Croix Camp Northwoods, Mason, WI Camp Singing Hills, Waterville 800-845-0787 girlscoutsrv.org/camp

Wolf Ridge Summer Camp Summer campers grades 2–12 will find outdoor adventures to match their curiosity.

At our 2000-acre campus near Lake Superior and in the BWCA, share nature up-close every day with lifelong friends. Learning is the greatest adventure there is. Choose yours at wolf-ridge.org.

Finland, MN 218-353-7414 wolf-ridge.org

YMCA Camp Olson Since 1954, Camp Olson has been providing unforgettable and life-changing experiences for youth and young leaders through quality camping programs. Traditional summer camp available as well as specialty programs in sailing, horseback riding, nature study, and leadership development.

4160 Little Boy Rd NE Longville 218-363-2207 campolson.org

Specialty Academy of Whole Learning: Summer Academy Offers students from any school unique opportunities for enrichment, advancement, and fun in academics, social and life skills.

Although we specialize in educating students with ASD or ID, Summer Academy is open to all students entering grades K–12. June 15– August 6.

9400 Cedar Lake Rd, Ste 7 St. Louis Park 952-737-6900 academyofwholelearning.org

Computer Explorers Technology Summer Camps Nationally recognized technology camps for ages 3–14. With over 300 camps in Minnesota, we offer exciting classes in robotics, video game design, Minecraft modding, Java coding, web design, engineering, movie production

and more. Where learning is fun, innovative, challenging, and hands-on.

Throughout Minnesota 651-730-9910 computerexplorersmn.com

St David’s Center’s Summer Adventure Summer Adventure is a therapeutic recreation program for teens and young adults with special needs. With a focus on recreation and socialization, participants develop positive peer relationships while they have fun! Sky Zone, Valleyfair, Twins Game, MN Zoo, and more!

Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park & Minneapolis 952-548-8700 stdavidscenter.org/adventure

Summer at Blake From robots to rockets, Summer at Blake challenges students to creatively express themselves in an array of disciplines. Sports, academics, arts, and day camp spanning pre-K–12, are open to students throughout the Twin Cities.

Hopkins, Minneapolis, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Swift Nature Camp Let your child’s natural curiosity for nature KidCreate Studio MNP 0415 V6.indd be discovered. Located just two hours from Minneapolis, we are a traditional co-ed camp, with a focus on nature and environment. A First Time Campers Program is available for campers who have not attended camp before.

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W7471 Ernie Swift Rd Minong, WI 630-654-8036 snc.camp

Sports and Fitness Bethel University Overnight & Day Camps Bethel University Christian Sports Camps help athletes develop fundamentals and build confidence in their skills. We provide both challenge and encouragement, allowing campers to develop a positive attitude.

Basketball, volleyball, soccer, x-country, tennis.

All ages.

Bethel University 3900 Bethel Dr St. Paul 651-638-6397 bethelroyals.com

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CAMP RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

Gleason’s Gymnastic School What better way to spend summer than learning something new at Gleason’s Gymnastic School? Our fun facility and our professional instructors combine to make Gleason’s classes a tremendous learning experience for children of all ages and experience levels.

2015 Silver Bell Rd Eagan 9775 85th Ave N, Ste 500 Maple Grove 651-454-6203 gleasons.com

InnerCity Tennis Summer Camps Learn a sport you can play for a lifetime in a fun, group setting! Outdoor lessons at 23 park locations across Minneapolis. Indoor lessons at Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center; now with air conditioning in 2015! Camps open to boys and girls ages 6 and up of all ability levels.

Scholarships available!

4005 Nicollet Ave S Minneapolis 612-825-6844 innercitytennis.org

Joy of the People Soccer Center (JOTP) Soccer Day Camp Innovative, fun, and unique, each JOTP themed camp focuses on different soccer skills.

Designed to attend multiple camps. Morning training and afternoon free play soccer with Splash Court and Inflatable Fields. Lunch and snack provided. Weekly fee of $99–$135.

Now in three locations! St. Paul and NEW this summer in Edina and St. Louis Park!

Joy of the People Soccer Center 890 Cromwell Ave St. Paul 651-252-1775 joyofthepeople.org

Kilickan Summer Soccer Camps A great place for soccer enthusiasts looking to improve their skills, work hard, make friends and have fun! We provide athletes with the tools to improve and enjoy soccer for life! Offering coed, girls, and boys-only programs with a safe, healthy and FUN learning environment for all abilities.

Augsburg College Soccer Field 23rd Ave S Minneapolis 612-594-6648 kilickansummersoccercamps.zapevent.com

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Little Gym of Edina, The Anytime Summertime Camp For kids ages 3–12. The most flexible camp in town lets you pick one day or as many as you want! Each week has a fun new theme with games, art, physical activity, and a whole lot of fun.

8223 Hwy 7 St. Louis Park 952-924-0083 thelittlegym.com/edinamn

Minnesota United FC Minnesota United FC is a professional soccer team playing in the North American Soccer League. Our mission is to make professional soccer an accessible source of pride for people in Minnesota. The club is devoted to being a pillar in the local community. These new camps bring our level of professionalism and GREAT soccer to YOU! Coon Rapids, Maplewood, Rogers, Rosemount & St. Louis Park 763-231-9866 mnunitedfccamps.com

Nike Tennis Camps Come join the fun and get better this summer at the University of Minnesota Nike Tennis Camp. Overnight and day camp options for boys and girls, ages 9–18 of all ability levels.

Special Tournament Training component offered during the second and third session.

University of Minnesota Minneapolis 800-645-3226 ussportscamps.com/tennis

Revolutionary Sports Camp combines learning sports and child development. Over 15 sports offered, multiple pre-selected sports daily. Half-day camps start age 4, half or full-day age 6. 7:30 a.m. drop-off and 5:30 p.m. pick-up. Offered most weekdays kids do not have school! Use code PARMAG

to receive 25 percent off multi-day camp packages.

Metrowide locations 612-234-7782 revsports.org

Summer at Blake Blake sports camps offer opportunities to try new activities, enhance skills and deepen physical fitness. Campers are guided by Blake’s award-winning coaches and championship athletes. These programs, pre-K–12, are open to students throughout the Twin Cities.

Hopkins, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

TAGS Gymnastics Camps Fun, fitness, friends! Gymnastics camps for boys and girls ages 3–17 in June, July, and August. Kids will learn fun, new skills while developing strength, flexibility, and coordination in a safe, positive atmosphere!

TAGS Apple Valley: 5880 149th St W Apple Valley 952-431-6445 TAGS Eden Prairie: 10300 W 70th St Eden Prairie 952-920-5342 tagsgym.com

The Boys in Green High level soccer instructional schools focused on committed soccer players. Coach Quinn alongside national and international coaches will provide exceptional training opportunities in Minneapolis and Eden Prairie. We emphasize decision making and problem solving skills in an intensive setting.

Minneapolis, Eden Prairie 612-670-3870 theboysingreenmn.com

BABY RESOURCES Advertiser listings mnparent.com/baby

Birthing Centers

Childcare

Roseville: 651-481-8069 Woodbury: 651-209-6690 kinderberryhill.com

Especially for Children

Morning Star Women’s Health & Birth Center Morning Star specializes in cost-effective, non-institutional health care, and the Midwives Model of Care! Receive women’s health, early newborn, and comprehensive maternity care from start to finish in our beautiful licensed and accredited free-standing birth center. Our education-rich program is empowering and family-centered. Insurance accepted. Come for a free consultation!

6111 Excelsior Blvd St. Louis Park 612-922-4784; 1730 E Superior St Duluth 218-722-2700 morningstarbirth.com

Parent Aware

For over 38 years, Especially for Children has provided high quality, nurturing childcare for Twin Cities families. Our NAEYC Accredited programs and caring staff foster the development of the whole child.

Parent Aware helps families find the quality care and education their children need to succeed. Parent Aware is a search partner. We work side-by-side with families, offering free resources to help them make informed choices about high-quality care and education.

Bloomington, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Inver Grove Heights 952-857-1100 especiallyforchildren.com

Statewide Locations 888-291-9811 parentaware.org

Kinderberry Hill Give your baby the Berry Best start. Highest rating-parent aware, loving, teacher-qualified staff, NAEYC-accredited, on-site nurse for the safest environment, warm and cozy nurseries, proven curriculum tailored to support and nurture your baby. FT and PT schedules, six weeks to school-age.

Downtown Minneapolis: 612-436-1003 Eden Prairie: 952-345-8012 Edina: 952-925-5881 Plymouth: 763-404-1070

Dentistry for Children & Adolescents “Creating Healthy Teeth & Happy Smiles!”

www.childrensdent.com

Mark E. Greenwood, D.D.S. Sally W. Schuette, D.D.S. Pamela R. Erickson, D.D.S., PhD Gayathri Sambasivan, D.D.S.

Q: A:

When should my child first see a pediatric dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first dental visit should occur shortly after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child’s first birthday.

Thekla K. Swanson, D.D.S. Lisa M. Abadeer, D.D.S. Daniel M. Fallon, D.D.S.

The GREATEST gift you can give your child is the gift of healthy teeth!

SPECIAL OFFER

Incomparable

COMPLIMENTARY NEW PATIENT EXAM Please mention offer code “Baby” when calling to schedule an appointment at our offices. Please note: for all family members 15 and under; first time patients. Offer does NOT include cleaning or x-rays.

St. Louis Park, MN 612-922-4784

Edina 952-831-4400 | Burnsville 952-435-4102 | Minnetonka 952-932-0920 Dentistry for Children MNP 0415 H4.indd 1

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Duluth, MN 218-722-2700

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BABY RESOURCES

Advertiser listings

Dentists Dentistry for Children & Adolescents Our dentists and team members are committed to providing your child with the highest standard of pediatric dental care from birth to age 19. We believe with good home care, regular dental visits, and preventive procedures, your child can grow up cavity free.

7373 France Ave S #402 Edina 952-831-4400; 14050 Nicollet Ave S #100 Burnsville 952-435-4102; 6060 Clearwater Dr #210 Minnetonka 952-932-0920 childrensdent.com

Education Blooma Blooma nurtures the mind, body, heart of women and their families. Blooma offers Childbirth Education in a supportive, small class environment that will leave you educated, empowered, and inspired for your birth. Go to blooma.com and check out our comprehensive schedule of Blooma Birth Classes, Hypnobirthing, and Bradley offerings.

Be Blooma Well!

5315 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis 612-223-8064; 493 Selby Ave St. Paul 651-340-8538 blooma.com

ECFE ISD 191 Early Childhood Family Education A place to learn and grow together. Build family relationships through child led play experiences, parent education, and support from licensed educators and other families. Weekly classes, playtimes, and events offered at sliding fees for parents and children birth–pre-K. Burnsville, Eagan, Savage 952-707-4150 communityed191.org

Minnetonka Early Childhood Family Education Explore new parenting experiences, meet other families, and grow and learn together with your child. ECFE serves all families with children ages birth–kindergarten. Get the

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information, friendship, and support you need parenting a young child.

4584 Vine Hill Rd Excelsior 952-401-6812 minnetonkacommunityed.org

Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion “Giving Children The World.” Serving ages 16 months–8 years. Full-day options and summer camps available. Infant classes available with parent or caregiver. Native Spanish speaking teachers. Call or email to schedule a tour today!

Hopkins: 952-935-5588 Minnetonka: 952-935-5588 St. Paul: 651-728-3261 St. Paul Park: 651-728-3261 misamigosimmersion.com

Fitness Little Gym of Edina, The The Little Gym is a non-competitive gymnastics facility that offers classes for children between the ages of four months and 12 years old.

We offer gymnastics classes, dance classes, parent-child classes, and sports classes. If you have kids, we have options.

8223 Hwy 7 St. Louis Park 952-924-0083 thelittlegym.com/edinamn

Mom & Baby Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Early Childhood Family Education offers highquality parent and early childhood education for families with children between birth and kindergarten age. ECFE works to support parents and to provide the best possible environment for each child’s learning and growth.

Offered by school districts throughout Minnesota ecfe.info

Other Engelmeier & Umanah, P.A. A unique law firm dedicated to legal planning for parents and families through unique systems designed for the well-being and care of your most precious asset — your children.

We design plans that are reflective of your changing lives and assets.

706 Second Ave S Suite 1100 Minneapolis 612-455-7720 e-ulaw.com

Levander, Gillen & Miller, PA Let us help you prepare for your family’s future and take care of your loved ones. We provide all levels of estate planning services from basic wills to naming a guardian for your children to more complicated trust-based tax savings plans. We will work with you to develop a plan that addresses your unique family circumstances. Contact Bridget Nason today.

633 S Concord St, Ste 400 South St. Paul 651-451-1831 levander.com

Retail Let’s Dish!

Make your life easier (and tastier) with Let’s Dish! Our menus are packed with delicious, healthy homemade meals you can serve up in under 30 minutes…without stretching your budget. Prepare these freezer ready meals at Let’s Dish! in less time than it takes to grocery shop, or choose Dish-n-Dash and we’ll make them for you!

15052 Gleason Path #103A, Apple Valley 952-997-2380; 10450 Baltimore St NE, Blaine 763-230-7970; 574 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie 952-941-8401; 12187 Elm Creek Blvd, Maple Grove 763-425-9383; 10150 Hudson Rd, Ste 110, Woodbury 651-730-6600 letsdish.com

One Love Baby We are your natural baby experts! One Love Baby Co. carries products ranging from toys and SoftBums Cloth Diapers, to carriers and nursing gear. Also offering groups for new moms and drop-in playdates, we provide a fun and educational setting for parents to connect.

13720 Lincoln St NE Andover 612-216-4213 1lovebaby.com

Out & About

APRIL

mnparent.com/calendar

Photo by Eamon Coyne

Rock the Cradle ⊲⊲The Current (89.3 FM from Minnesota Public Radio) presents a day of FREE fun with live music, dance, art and story time for ages 8 and younger (and their grown-ups). Highlights include pop-up kid’s band performances, plus hip-hop dance segments, Habsburg-crown crafts and informal acting lessons.

When: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. April 12 Where: Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: FREE

Info: Registration isn’t required, but attendees are encouraged to sign up for event updates and parking information at thecurrent.org.

APRIL 1-30

ONGOING

APRIL 4

Farm Babies

Mary Poppins

Harlem Globetrotters

⊲⊲See babies of all kinds — chicks, piglets, lambs, calves, goat kids and bunnies — at the Wells Fargo Family Farm at the zoo with special activities and exhibits on select days in April, including bees April 18–19.

⊲⊲This musical stage version of the Disney film features all the classic songs and characters viewers know and love.

⊲⊲World-famous basketball stars bring their popular family show to Minnesota — with incredible ball-handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, comedy and fan interaction — when they face off with the infamous Washington Generals.

When: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. April 1–30 Where: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley Cost: Free with zoo admission ($18 for ages 13–64, $12 for ages 3–12 and seniors) Info: mnzoo.org or 952-431-9200

When: Through Aug. 29 Where: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen Cost: $50–$84 Info: chanhassendt.com or 952-934-1525

When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 4 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $27.

Info: harlemglobetrotters.com or 888-929-7849 mnparent.com • April 2015

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Out & About

Disney on Ice: Frozen ⊲⊲Watch dazzling ice dancers tell the story of Anna and Elsa — and Olaf, Kristoff and Sven — while singing along with beloved musical masterpieces such as Let it Go, Do You Want to Build a Snowman? and Fixer Upper.

When: April 8–12 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $20.

Info: AXS.com or 888-929-7849

THROUGH APRIL 5

Annie JOIN US FOR CLASSES & MEET NEW FRIENDS! Cloth Diaper 101 Babywearing for Beginners Breastfeeding Cafe Natural Birth Classes

⊲⊲Experience the timeless story with all the songs, characters and moments viewers have loved for decades.

When: Through April 5 Where: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $49–$99 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org

APRIL 9

The Music of Three Worlds

WWW.1LOVEBABY.COM 13720 LINCOLN ST. NE, ANDOVER, MN

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⊲⊲Hear the music of carnival, sing a Cuban rumba and dance to Latin jazz beats with Tres Mundos, featuring pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado from Cuba, percussionist Eliezer Freites-Santos from Brazil and saxophonist/flutist Douglas Little from U.S.

3/10/15 1:59 PM

When: 6:30 p.m. April 9 Where: Robert Trail Library, Rosemount Cost: FREE Info: compas.org or 651-292-3249

APRIL 9, 16, 23 AND 30

Green Beans ⊲⊲Bring your little sprouts and explore the natural world and arts together. Each class includes activities, story time, and more at this Three Rivers Park District event.

When: 10–11 a.m. or 5:30–6:30 p.m.

April 9, 16, 23 and 30 Where: Silverwood Park, St. Anthony Cost: $30 for all four sessions per adultchild pair Info: Reservations, available by phone only, are required. Call 763-559-6700.

See tinyurl.com/green-beans-morning or tinyurl.com/green-beans-evening.

APRIL 18

Childish Films Finale ⊲⊲Enjoy a live show from Bunny Clogs with songs from their new album, Whales Can’t Whistle, at the Childish Films series finale, a co-presented screening of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. Films are geared toward ages 3 and older, but children of all ages are welcome to attend.

When: Doors open at 10 a.m.

Performances begin at 10:30 a.m.

April 18 Where: Hennepin Central Library, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/bunny-clogs

TRAIN DAY EVENT — MAY 9TH Food trucks • Music • Train rides Vendor tables • Give aways

Shuttles to James J. Hill House, Union Depot, Twin City Model Railroad Museum.

A Fun Way to Spend Your Wednesday Mornings!

Upcoming Dates Apr 1 & 15 • May 6 & 20

COME RIDE THE RAILS! Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway Round trip trains depart from Osceola, WI every Saturday and Sunday, May — October

50 and 90 Minute Trips Available Tickets and More Info Online or Give Us a Call!

651-228-0263

HEAR IT. SEE IT. LEARN ALL ABOUT IT. TRAINRIDE.ORG Jackson Street Roundhouse 193 Pennsylvania Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55130 MN Transportation Museum MNP 0415 H6.indd 2

3/10/15 3:06 PM

Outdoor Family Expo ⊲⊲All ages are invited to learn tips and tricks for enjoying the outdoors in Minnesota. Various stations will let kids set up a tent, try out binoculars, meet a live porcupine, nature play and learn about weather, safety, wildlife watching, hiking, biking and summer camps, along with snacks and freebies.

When: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. April 18 Where: Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood Cost: FREE Info: maplewoodnaturecenter.com or 651-249-2170

APRIL 19

The Big Quack ⊲⊲Do you have a kid with food allergies?

This event provides exclusive use of the water park for family-friendly, foodallergy-safe water activities, organized by the Food Allergy Support Group of Minnesota.

When: 4–8 p.m. April 19 Where: Water Park of America, Bloomington Cost: Tickets are $15 per person in advance. Children 11 months and younger will receive a complimentary child’s admission and must be accompanied by an adult.

Info: foodallergysupportmn.org mnparent.com • April 2015

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Out & About APRIL 21

MAY 2-3

SATURDAYS

Kids and Nature

Moms Rock! Expo

Free Family Flicks

⊲⊲The Theater of Public Policy — a local improvisational comedy group that tackles complex issues — will perform as a part of ISD 191’s community enrichment programming, geared toward high school students and their parents. The topic will be Child-Nature Connection: The Dirt on Kids and Nature.

⊲⊲Expert panels and celebrity keynote speakers will give local moms the scoop on parenting trends. The Kids Corner for ages 4 to 12 will include crafts, a doodle wall, face painting, video games and more.

⊲⊲These free movies are first-come, firstserve until the theater reaches capacity.

In an extension of this series, Free Sensory Flicks, screenings in separate theaters are offered for those affected by autism or other sensory disorders, with lower sound, additional staff and other accommodations.

SPECIAL SIZE: 7.375” WIDE BY 5.6” HIGH When: May 2-3 Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, Hall D Cost: Tickets online start at $10 for adults and $5 for ages 5–17, plus fees.

Info: momsrockexpo.com

When: 7 p.m. April 21 Where: Diamondhead Education Center, Burnsville Cost: FREE Info: communityed191.org

When: 10 a.m. Saturdays Where: Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: See theatresmoa.com/event/freefamily-flicks for featured films.

CHILDCARE/EDUCATION Bring Growing With Music to your child care program or playgroup!

sing. play. learn.

Visit our studios in Maplewood and Rochester

www.growingwithmusic.com ~ info@growingwithmusic.com

Ages 3-Adult

Offering classes for Infants through Preschool Free Mom & Ba by Classes

Call 952-935-5588 and schedule a tour! www.misamigosimmersion.com

Locations in Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Paul, and St. Paul Park

New Book Release 10/14/14 Mis 2:53Amigos PM MNP 0114 2cx2.2.indd

Creative Kids Academy

Your child is a natural...

Growing With Music MNP 1114 3cx2.2.indd 1

Playing

Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion

1

Singing

Imagine the Possibilities...

Composing

Early Education * 6 Weeks–12 Years

Create

Free Preview Classes

H

Learn

H

12/18/13 10:54 AM

Grow

Free Music, Spanish, Yoga, Storytelling and Karate!

CHILDREN’S YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL Celebrating Over 40 Musical Years in Minnesota!

612-339-2255 • www.cyms.ws • Schools in Edina & Roseville

NOW AVAILABLE:

most major bookstores, amazon.com & barnesandnoble.com

thedaycarediaries.com

Anoka * Centerville * Lexington * Maple Grove * Minnetonka Mounds View * Orono (Old Hill School) – 952-473-1225

ckakids.com 844-ckakids email: info@ckakids.com Nationally accredited and Parent Aware 4 star rated

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Children's Yamaha MNP 1214 2cx2.2.indd 1

3/19/15 9:16 AM 11/19/14 12:09 McLaughlin, PM Rebecca MNP 1214 10/23/14 1cx2.2.indd Creative 5:00 PM 1 Kids Academy MNP 0814 2cx2.2.indd 1

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CHILDCARE/EDUCATION

Music Lessons In Your Home

NEW & EXPECTING MOMS

education

In-home Music Lessons All Instruments • All Ages • •

651.204.0929

alongcamemusic.com

Give the Gift of Music Call for details!

Buy Buy Baby MNP 0113&2cx2.2.indd 1 Our Mom Baby Directory

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12/12/12 at mnparent.com/baby

4:41 PM

Our Education Directory at mnparent.com/education

MISCELLANEOUS Education Resources MNP 2014 2cx3 filler.indd

•

Lights or power out, circuit troubleshooting

•

Storm damage repair, 24 hour emergency service

•

Electrical panel upgrades, fuse to circuit breaker panel

•

Ceiling fan and bath exhaust fan installation & servicing

763-544-3300 Harrison-Electric.com

PARTY PAGES

3/19/15 9:14 AM

Theme shows for ALL AGES and BUDGETS!

PARTY PAGES

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11/20/14 9:53 AM

30th Anniversary!

Nationally awarded & recognized by child development experts! www.teddybearband.com (612) 861-3570 richard@teddybearband.com

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Have a Wild Birthday at Como Zoo!

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Lessons * Horse Camp * Birthday Parties Public Guided Trail Rides by Appointment Only

Year Round Riding Lessons Indoor Arena

Not just on for the ride—learn all the basics about horses.

(ALL AGES)

651-226-2027

Fun Birthday Parties for children ages 3 and up!

Call 651-487-8272 for more

information or to schedule your party.

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Sunnyside Stables, Inc. Rosemount, MN www.sunnysidestables.org 3/19/15 9:16 AM

mnparent.com • April 2015

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FROM OUR READERS ←←Miles Weller was born to Elissa and Paul Weller of Fridley in October 2014.

Photo by photographybyemilymarie.com

←←Emlyn Childs was born to Mike and Laura Childs of Hugo in 2013. Dad is a firefighter and EMT for the City of St. Paul. ↑↑Fisher Killins was born to J.J. and Ron Killins of Shoreview in 2008.

Photo by jjkillinsphotography.com

YOUR BABY’S BIRTH STORIES (IN 30 WORDS OR FEWER)!

“Accidental home birth, alone with my 3-year-old ‘doula.’ Husband arrived just eight minutes before baby. Serene girl, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and a full head of dark, wild hair.”

— Martine Kline, Plymouth

“Baby girl born ALIVE after sister was stillborn 16 months prior. Tears of joy and relief flooded us, 7 pounds, 14 ounces of hope we held in our arms.”

— Lindsey Henke, Bloomington

“December 2009: First snow. Broken water flow.

Starving! Bad-waitress burger stop. Leaking on booth!

Hospital: Back labor! Hours upon hours. Vivienne child born. Skin on skin. She. Became. Everything.”

— Libby Marx, Minneapolis

“Second baby. Studied hypnobirthing. Everything going well, no pain meds, pushed for two hours. Still no baby!

He was stuck. C-section. Giant head, 10-pound baby.

Love him to bits.”

— Karen Hanson, Plymouth

“Baby Chris was sideways! Surprise C-section, doctor

forgot to schedule surgery slot, 48 hours of hunger, grumpy me ... all worth it when he latched on — right in the recovery room!”

— Kavitha Bernet, Medina

“Induced for three days, C-section on the fourth: My baby girl came howling into the world with her own signature of independence and joy. Lucky momma, surrendered to love.”

— Nikki Swoboda, St. Louis Park

“Unpredictable, late-night-until-early-morning contractions, 19 hours of heart-wrenching labor and a surprise C-section — and the unstoppable Kinsley Estelle was welcomed into this world with never-ending kisses.”

— Heather Proskey, Savage

Want to see your kid on this page? Send photos with your child’s first/last name, age and city to editor@mnparent.com.

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Being well

from the beginning.

Well Beginnings

Spring Protection

Walgreens Well Beginnings brand diapers have a soft, stretchable waist and side panels, excellent leakage protection day and night, and a soft cotton outer cover.

Spring is here, and that means the sun will be, too. Take advantage of our great prices on sunscreen and water toys for the little ones!

Photos

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Our photo specialists are trained to deliver quality service that will meet your needs. With our expertise, let’s make some photos today!

Receive benefits and points with your purchases.

Enroll online, or in-store, membership is free!

1-800-WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733) • WALGREENS.COM

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You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call Chris McLeod 952-830-3127