February 2019

How

February 2019

Fun winter

books

daycare apps have changed everything Page 26

Page 24

Coming to terms with

TWINS

5 local

date-night deals!

Page 38

Page 32

Treysen, 4, Otsego

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FEBRUARY

VOLUME 34 /// ISSUE 2

26

32

Real-time updates

Doubling down

Mobile apps designed for childcare centers are keeping parents, kids, and staff super connected.

After having one child, we decided we wanted a second baby (badly).

But then we found ourselves preparing for twins!

ALSO INSIDE 40 Camp 51 Out & About L ISTIN G S

CA L E N DA R

CORRECTION

38 Cheap dates!

Skip that pricey Valentine’s night out and enjoy these fun local meals on a regular basis instead.

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

A heading in the Ask the Pediatrician article in the January issue of Minnesota Parent incorrectly stated that parents could “try medicine” when dealing with sick kids. What the author originally stated was that parents should actually avoid overusing pain relievers such as Motrin and Tylenol. Many parents, the doctor said, overuse medicines out of fear of fevers. As the article stated: “Fevers are the body’s natural way to fight infection and will not harm your child.”

6 FROM THE EDITOR

Off ramping

There are real career costs to staying home with Baby.

8 CHATTER

Eco Easter Go green this year with plant-based reusable eggs.

10 BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

Not so ‘weird’

Postpartum doulas help you at home after Baby is born.

12 THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

Childcare broke

The only real daycare ‘solution’ is kindergarten.

14 SCHOOL DAYS

Hang in there Boost your resilience and manage stress with these tips.

16 WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

About our cover kid Name: Treysen Age: 4

Love letter

Our daycare provider is helping us raise our children right.

18 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

Better together

City: Otsego

Make the most of TV time by watching shows with your kids.

Parents: Jeremy and Jana Donner

20 ON BEHAVIOR

Personality: Goofy, compassionate and kind Favorite toys: Anything sports

Sports hero Corey Koskie talks candidly about the trials of youth sports.

Favorite books: Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems

22 IN THE KITCHEN

Favorite activities: Soccer and swimming

Guess the secret ingredient in this mac-and-cheese recipe!

Sneaky veggies

Favorite foods: Enchiladas and pizza

24 BOOKSHELF

Photos by Orange Fox Photography / Heather Carlson and Leann Manning / orangefoxphoto.com

Remind yourself and your kids why our winters are so special.

Snow love 58 FROM OUR READERS

Block heads

Your kids love to get creative with LEGOs! mnparent.com • February 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR

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mnparent.com

PUBLISHER

Janis Hall • jhall@mnparent.com

SALES MANAGER AND CO-PUBLISHER Terry Gahan • tgahan@mnparent.com

GENERAL MANAGER

Zoe Gahan • zgahan@mnparent.com

EDITOR

Sarah Jackson • editor@mnparent.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Marissa Bader, Dr. Gigi Chawla Megan Devine, Katie Dohman, Ed Dykhuizen Rachel Guyah, Shannon Keough, Corey Koskie Olivia Volkman-Johnson, Jen Wittes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Valerie Moe • vmoe@mnparent.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Micah Edel

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Brenda Taylor

CLIENT SERVICES

Delaney Patterson 612-436-5070 • dpatterson@mnparent.com

CIRCULATION

Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnparent.com

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A costly decision C

hoosing someone to care for your child is one of the biggest decisions you can make as a parent.

It’s a step in the parenting journey that creates the very beginning of your for-hire village.

For me, choosing childcare wasn’t just about the excruciating decision to choose long stretches of time away from my child, which I knew would distance me from the daily act of child-rearing.

It was also about my career: Did I want to fully quit my job only to have to scratch and claw my way back after spending years off the market?

No. Though the decision wasn’t easy, I felt ready to return to work after 4½ months of maternity leave, some of which was partially covered by FMLA and Photo by Delaney Patterson vacation. During leave, I learned I was happier and better suited to parent in smaller doses. (Think somewhere between the parenting styles of the laughably checked-out Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and her helicopter mother, Rose.)

What I didn’t realize at the time was how much was at stake in terms of finances.

We’ve often talked in this magazine about the crazy cost of childcare. (In fact, you can read about that bleak picture in The Uncensored Toddler in the pages ahead, our annual Childcare Issue.)

But you know what’s even more insane?

The cost of leaving a job for kids — something more men and women are doing these days, according to Forbes — includes a lot more than lost wages.

You might ask: “Is it really worth it to keep working when childcare is eating up my entire paycheck?”

The answer, if money matters long term in your household, might be yes.

According to the Center for American Progress, which calls out our country’s “failing” childcare system, a parent who leaves the workforce loses up to four times his or her annual salary per year.

For example, a 26-year-old female making $44,148 (the median pay in the U.S.) who takes five years to stay home with the kids will experience (if she lives to be 82) a total lifetime income loss of $706,778 — $220,000 in lost wages, $264,599 in lost salary growth and $222,179 in lost retirement assets and federal benefits. (You can calculate your own losses at interactives.americanprogress.org/childcarecosts.)

So, wow, a lot more than those years of daycare payments!

Then again, it can be a priceless experience to stay home with the kids.

Finally, there’s also the middle ground of freelancing or working from home.

(Nothing like doing two jobs at the same time, right?)

Whatever route you choose, I wish you the best of luck, enduring grace and the freedom to change your mind, too.

Sarah Jackson, Editor

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

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CHATTER

New music classes Music education has been proven to be beneficial for child development. Plus, it’s fun!

And now, adding to the wide array of classes available locally, three different music-learning centers in the Twin Cities are offering two new programs — Canta y Baila Conmigo (a Spanish-immersion music class for ages birth to 5) and Rhythm Kids (a drumming class for ages 4 to 8).

These new nationally launched Music Together programs will be offered by Let’s Play! Music Together in Eagan and Savage; Ensemble Music in Minneapolis and

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

Roseville; and the Purple Crayon Lab in Minneapolis.

Maddie Welch, a bilingual educator, musician, native Spanish speaker and creator of Canta y Baila Conmigo (Sing and Dance With Me), said kids and their parents will experience the sounds and rhythms of Spanish-speaking countries.

“Young brains are incredibly flexible, so children usually catch on much more quickly than their grown-ups,” Welch said.

“Age birth through 5 is the perfect time to expose your child to a second language.”

Meanwhile, in the Rhythm Kids program, children will learn singing, drumming, dancing and conducting along with musical traditions from around the world, including Bali, Ghana and Ireland.

Both programs include songbooks, CDs and online elements to help families continue the music at home.

Free trial classes are available now.

Prices for a series of 10 weekly classes (45 minutes each) range from $165 to $183.

Learn more at lpmusictogether.com, ensemblemusic.net and purplecrayonlab.com.

A greener Easter When you’re a parent, it’s hard to avoid the copious amounts of plastic that come into your life, especially during holidays.

This year for Easter, however, we’ve found a way to help you green things up a bit.

Meet Eco Eggs! These reusable eggs are made from 100 percent renewable plant-based ingredients — not petroleum, like traditional plastics. Of course, you can reuse the eggs every year, but they also can be composted in commercial composting facilities, since they’re made of BPA-free plastic derived from corn starch.

Eco Eggs is a new sustainable division of Maud Borup, a Minnesota-based wholesale candy and gourmet-food gift company under the ownership of Christine Lantinen, whose kids, Bishop, 10, and Miia, 8, serve as taste testers for the company.

Lantinen, of Plymouth, an Army veteran and award-winning entrepreneur, created the line of eggs when she couldn’t find one on the market.

“We saw an opportunity to make a difference and are proud to bring the business home,” she said.

Look for made-in-the-USA Eco Eggs in two sizes (suggested retail price is $8.99 for 18- and 24-count bags) and eco-friendly recycled/recyclable Eco Grass at Mississippi Market and Creative Kidstuff locations (among other retailers) or at ecoeggs.com, where you can buy eggs by the case.

Jen Wittes

BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

Doula is not a dirty word W

hile many families and care providers are now accustomed to the presence of a birth doula during labor, the general public is still warming to the idea of a postpartum doula.

Although today’s new parents appear to be more comfortable asking for (and accepting) help, there’s also a belief that such help should come from neighbors and grandparents.

A postpartum doula, to some, is a luxury or an oddity. A stranger in the house?

With the baby? Folding your underwear?

Take it from someone who has been on both the receiving and giving end of postpartum doula care: It is a just a little bit weird to welcome someone new into your home during your most vulnerable time. It’s also a bit weird at first, actually, to serve as a doula in a postpartum home — fly on the wall, personal chef, handler of breasts and breast milk, expert on (of all things) the mighty perineum.

So, yes, although the doula-mamafamily-baby dynamic can be a little outside the average person’s comfort level, it’s also enormously powerful — and effective.

BABY STUFF

Why we’ve grown to accept birth doulas as “normal” while holding their postpartum counterparts at arms’ length is beyond me.

Although I have profound respect for birth doulas and the positive effect they have on families, I am — by virtue of my background — a tad biased toward in-home postpartum care.

Think about it: Can a million little things impact childbirth and, as it would follow, the mother’s perception of her

Must-read book

If you’re going to have a baby, especially your first (but also subsequent children), we highly recommend this incredibly smart book — What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions From Pregnancy to Motherhood — coming out on April 23. It’s authored by two reproductive psychiatrists (medical doctors who specialize in helping women navigate emotions before, during and after pregnancy). And they both totally, totally get it. $11.99 (preorder paperback) • amazon.com

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

experience? Absolutely. But the end game is written in stone. Baby is coming out, one way or another. He’s not allowed to set up camp in the uterus, ignoring his eviction notice. Birth is involuntary — and it usually lasts no longer than 24 hours.

Moms, dads, OBs and midwives often joke — especially after the longest, trickiest births — that “birth is the easy part.”

Bringing Baby home on the other hand?

Terrifying, exhausting, isolating, identityshifting — alien, even.

The moments are sweet, the sleep is rare, the hormones are rampant and the bodily fluids are disgusting. The picture of each day looks, on the surface, to be mundane. But the outcome, the end game, is unwritten.

Will Mom be happy? Will she be sad?

Will Baby sleep well? Will a good, comfortable breastfeeding latch be achieved? Is that thrush? Is that mastitis? What caused that diaper rash? Are these cleaning products non-toxic?

How will we ever go back to work? Are we sure we like that nanny, you know, now that we know our baby? How will I eat?

Shower? Leave the house? Why am I having these scary thoughts? Is it OK if I don’t really love being a mom?

For those who think of postpartum doulas as either luxurious or peculiar, but are just a little bit curious, I’d like to let them in on a secret: The best postpartum doulas approach each day with a general goal of overall emotional and physical wellbeing, but also a playbook that’s entirely open, unwritten.

Each new family needs a different kind of help every day, to be sure. But there’s also no doubt that this is the period of time when they need help the most.

Yes, help might come in the form of folding underwear — even Dad’s ratty boxers, his lucky ones, the ones he’s had since the frat house. Help might be a white-knuckled, heart-pounding drive to an emergency therapy session, due to probable postpartum OCD in an unstable mother, rattled with guilt over invasive dark thoughts. Help might be baby care through the night/overnight so the parents can get a solid night of sleep and wake — yes, it will feel like luxury — to warm muffins and a clean kitchen.

And you can be discreet about it, too, if you like. In the height of my doula days, I once, gladly, let a woman introduce me as a friend or colleague when accompanying her out and about. If hiring postpartum care felt private to her, I was there to honor her feelings.

But discretion shouldn’t be necessary.

As we continue to talk about child care — and that talk turns to mama care and family care — I’m daring us, as a community, to embrace the “weirdness” that is a wholly supported family.

Doula is not a dirty word. Doula care is kindness, knowledge, guidance and warm muffins — when you need it all the most.

EXERCISE PREGNANCY STUDY The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently less than 20 weeks pregnant to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth.

ESTUDIO SOBRE EL EJERCICIO DURANTE EL EMBARAZO La Universidad de Minnesota está buscando mujeres con menos de 20 semanas de embarazo para participar en el estudio de investigación que examina los efectos del ejercicio y la salud del estado de ánimo posterior al parto

• Program delivered to you via the mail and phone

• Programa ejecutado vía correo o teléfono

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Debe ser mayor o igual a 18 años de edad

• Must not currently exercise regularly

• No debe hacer ejercicio regularmente

• Must not take antidepressants

• No debe tomar antidepresivos

• You will receive $100 & a FitBit for your time (you will be allowed to keep the FitBit after the study is over)

• Usted recibirá $100 y un FitBit por su tiempo (será permitido quedarse con el FitBit después de la culminación del estudio)

• Program can be delivered in English or Spanish

• Debe considerarse de bajos ingresos, lo cual se define como:

• Must be considered low-income, defined as: - Enrollment in any government assisted program (e.g., WIC, SNAP) AND/OR - Annual income that is considered low (less than $45,510 for a family of four, less than $30,044 for a family of two, and less than $22,311 if single).

English: Call or TEXT to 612-345-0325 or mompro@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study.

U of M - Kinesiology Dept MNP 0318 S3.indd 2

- Inscripta en cualquier programa asistencial del gobierno (por ejemplo, WIC, SNAP) Y/O - Ingresos anuales considerados como bajos (menos de $ 45,510 para una familia de cuatro, menos de $ 30,044 para una familia de dos y menos de $ 22,311 si es soltera).

Español: Llamada o TEXTO 612-237-1004 o mompro@umn.edu para ver si califica para éste estudio.

2/14/18 11:13 AM

Jen Wittes is a marketing director, writer, certified postpartum doula and mom of two who lives in St. Paul. mnparent.com • February 2019

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Shannon Keough

THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

A lack of childcare solutions I

think it’s fair to say that childcare concerns have impacted every major decision I’ve made since my children were born. For example, consider the first big question after my daughter joined the family: Do I return to my job?

The job was a pretty good one. It provided luxuries such as health insurance and paid time off, at a company where my writing skills were generally put to good use.

But there were downsides. Flexible scheduling was definitively not on the table. And despite my best efforts of leading through example, HR had not yet implemented the “Unshowered Tuesdays” program I desired.

Add to that the complete lack of affordable — or even available — childcare.

Returning to work as I’d known it was basically impossible.

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

The paradox

The freelance compromise

A quick Google search will reveal the depressing reality — childcare costs in America are out of control and pushing families to the brink of financial ruin. As cited in numerous articles on the subject, average childcare costs in the U.S. exceed the average cost of in-state tuition at a state university.

Parents across the country are faced with a variety of impossible choices. In a two-parent household, do both parents continue working, only to have the entirety of one paycheck funneled directly to the daycare center?

With bleak realities like this being the norm, some parents (let’s be honest, it’s often the mother) decide to quit their jobs to stay home with the kids, since there’s no clear financial benefit to working.

Weighing these considerations in my head after the birth of my daughter, I opted for what I thought was a reasonable compromise: I “went freelance.”

My first client was my former employer, for whom I did the same work I’d done before but this time from home, without benefits and at an hourly rate. I hired a friend to babysit a few times a week for short blocks of time. I would rush across the street to the neighborhood coffee shop the minute she walked in the door where I would bash out a day’s work in a few hours’ time.

I was killing it! The freelancer’s life was the life for me.

Daycare realities Right around Lydia’s first birthday, I started getting quite busy. I knew my slapdash setup wasn’t going to work any longer; I would need to find legitimate childcare.

My husband found a great place — an in-home French immersion daycare with a provider who my usually suspicious baby took an immediate liking to.

As always, there were downsides: For example, it was in St. Paul (we lived in Minneapolis) and it was closed on Mondays.

But since my job wasn’t “real,” I could surely figure something out if I ever had to do actual work on Mondays.

The childcare situation with Baby No. 1 actually worked quite well. I made enough money to cover the daycare expenses and even saved some money to finance my upcoming DIY maternity leave. (Baby No. 2 was on the way.)

But things didn’t go so swimmingly when little Felix arrived. With massive hospital bills piled on top of the usual expenses, piled

TODDLER STUFF

Bath toys

This Bright Basics Slide & Splash Spouts set brings the fun of marble tracks into the tub! Kids can create customized courses — not just for water but also an Itsy Bitsy Spider ball — using suction-cup pipes and a spinner, a sprinkler cloud and a sun cup.

And all the pieces store easily and dry quickly in the included mesh bag. $19.99 • educationalinsights.com

on top of the fact that I didn’t do much work in the first couple months of his life, I blew through my $7,000 in savings in about six weeks. (And I swear I wasn’t purchasing Stokke cribs or plane tickets to Bali.)

Waiting it out?

The years to come were defined by constant trial and error as we groped around for workable childcare solutions — solutions that never presented themselves. We pulled Lydia out of the inconvenient daycare she loved in St. Paul and sent her to a new one (that she hated) close to home. Then we pulled her out of that one and sent her back to the original place. Somewhere in there we lost our chance to claim a spot for Felix.

I wish I could end this on a positive note, with some possible solutions. But as far as I can tell, the only real solution to the childcare dilemma is … kindergarten.

And that’s assuming you opt for public school.

Shannon Keough lives in St. Paul with her husband and two children. Send questions or comments to skeough@mnparent.com. mnparent.com • February 2019

13

Finding resilience I

want to begin this column by expressing my gratitude for the richness and fullness of my life.

I have so many blessings — four healthy children, a comfortable home, a secure job, a loving husband and strong network of great friends. Compared to so many others in this world, I live an abundant and privileged life.

But, as good as I have it, I’ll be the first to admit, my life isn’t exactly easy either.

It’s no small task to parent and keep up with the responsibilities of home and work, while also maintaining strong relationships and staying healthy and balanced as an individual.

I’m sure you can relate.

Some days are certainly better than others, but I know I’m definitely a work in progress when it comes to my capacity for resilience when navigating day-to-day life.

As adults we’re exposed to stressors all the time. We need to work through challenges relating to our children, work, home, time, money, health, you name it.

We have a lot of responsibilities.

So how can we boost our resilience as parents?

Resilience — defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulty — is a skill that can be developed and strengthened.

Take note of these important reminders that can help you boost your resilience and manage stress: ⊲ Tap into your support systems.

Talk to other parents and friends to get ideas and insight on challenges you’re facing. Even if you don’t get all of the answers to your problems, just talking can help normalize common issues and make you feel less isolated in your struggles.

Ask for help when you need it and accept help when it’s offered. This sounds like it should be easy, but it can be incredibly hard. It can take courage to ask for help. It isn’t uncommon to feel vulnerable, ashamed and guilty, or to think: “If I need help with this I must not be a good enough,” or “I’ll be a burden to someone else if I ask for help.”

But it’s important to know and understand you aren’t weak or a bad parent when you ask for help. Admitting to ourselves that we can’t do everything all the time — and tapping into support systems — is extremely important for stress management and a mark of true strength and wisdom.

You can find avenues for support

SCHOOL-AGE STUFF

Happiness guide

with your family and friends, parent support groups, childcare providers, your pediatrician, teachers and/or counselors/therapists. ⊲ Take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well and exercise. This sometimes can feel like another “thing” we need to add to our daily list of to-do’s, but the reality is that when we neglect to take care of ourselves, it can have negative effects on both our mental and physical health. Not only are these practices important for our own well-being, but they’re also important habits to model for our children. Win-win! ⊲ Stay grounded. Work to stay spiritually anchored by devoting even just a few minutes of quiet time each day for prayer, meditation or gratitude practices. ⊲ Control what you can. Think about ways you can make some small changes that may alleviate some stresses. For example, try to keep your home environment organized and uncluttered. Do your best to keep routines such as mealtimes and bedtimes. Be mindful of commitments — and say “no” when you need to.

Self-help guru Gretchen Rubin — in Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness, coming out March 5 — shares the tale of her year spent searching for satisfaction and then translates her findings into more than 150 short, clutter-clearing ideas you can use a la carte to conquer concrete challenges, such as the ability to “Make Choices,” “Create Order,” “Know Yourself and Others,” “Cultivate Helpful Habits” and even “Add Beauty.” $16.99 • amazon.com

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

French Immersion Early Childhood Center

Enrolling now for 2019-2020 Ages 16 months – Kindergarten

Call to schedule a personal visit (952) 944-1930

www.TheFrenchAcademie.org Minnetonka, MN

⊲ Have fun as a family. This winter our family bought season passes at nearby ski hill. Whenever we can, we load up the car and a picnic lunch and spend one full weekend day on the slopes away from the house (where we can’t be pulled away from each other by household chores or temptations to veg out in front of screens).

It’s a refreshing break from daily responsibilities. It’s how we schedule time for fun. I’ve also had many cozy escapes from the responsibilities of day-to-day life with my children, by reading books, watching movies and playing board games together.

Making experiences like these habits has provided opportunities to strengthen our relationship as a family through conversation and play.

French American School MNP 0119 H6.indd 1

12/13/18 4:30 PM

Tracy Walsh Photography MNP 1118 H6.indd 1

10/24/18 10:28 AM

⊲ Reframe. Studies show people handle stress better when they reconsider the situation from a new angle. When I reframe my situation from one full of stress to one that’s rich with abundance, my perspective of the experience shifts from negative to positive. It might not be easy, but it’s certainly possible to parent from a grateful heart even when it feels difficult.

Megan Devine is an elementary school teacher who lives with her husband and four school-age children in Northeastern Minnesota. She blogs at kidsandeggs.com. mnparent.com • February 2019

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Katie Dohman

WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

A love letter to our daycare provider I

n an ideal world, I would soak up every magical moment with my kids — and all the moments would be magical. And I’d stay home with them at least until they were all in school full time.

Mama knows best, right?

There’s a real part of me that will always feel that way. But the truth is, there ARE some mornings where I see them out the door and then I take a shower, reveling in absolute silence, save for the water beating down. Or I listen to my favorite podcast, complete with swears that no little ears will overhear, while I actually 100 percent complete a task on my to-do list.

Or I eat breakfast. Sitting down. With both hands.

Spending all day, every day with the kids over holiday breaks reminded me how hard it is to keep three tiny tyrants entertained, in a goodish enough mood, and meet all their needs — and mine. Some days there’s a lot of deep breathing — or frustration and eye-rolling — and I think, Man, maybe I really am not the mother I want to be.

I’ve done every configuration of working motherhood — full-time work away from the

house; part-time work; staying home, side jobs in the evening; full-time freelancing without full-time daycare — you name it.

And so I literally, every single day, feel grateful for our fearless childcare leader, who does things I probably never would, with my own kids.

Like the time we forgot to replenish the diapers, so I stopped by on a midsummer morning to drop off a supply, and all the kids were contentedly waiting their turn to TIE-DYE T-SHIRTS. I don’t know what witchery our daycare provider — Heidi The Great — practices, but I need in on those spells ASAP. Or how about the most wonderful thing she does, which is to fill a spiral-bound notebook over the course of a year with my children’s handiwork — letter practice, glitter, seasonal construction-paper art projects, translations of outlandish stories they tell

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her, dried leaves from fall and whatever other things capture their imaginations.

I’ve leafed through these journals and cried my face off more than once or twice.

One, because there is just nothing more precious to me than kid artwork and watching milestones unfold in front of my eyes — the ones I missed while I was busy hustling to pay the bills and wishing I could be with them, fully present. And two,

I’m vain, and haven’t slept in years, so I’m constantly trying to preserve what unlined skin I have left — without needles or lasers. My new fave is Little Barn Apothecary’s Calendula + Lycopene Hydration Mask and Mild Exfoliant — one of the few I can tolerate with dry, sensitive skin.

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

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because of the love and devotion that goes into something like that — something that extends far beyond professionalism and her merely doing her job.

The truth is, no matter why you need childcare — because of economic necessity or a desire to work while raising your children or just for a break once in a while — the good providers can enrich your children’s lives in countless ways.

It is said that children need something like six stable, good adults in their lives to be well-rounded people. In other words, we literally cannot be everything to our children, no matter how desperately we want to be or convince ourselves we need to be or how much guilt we heap upon ourselves.

Our daycare provider is just one in a village of people helping me and my husband raise our children right. And did we ever hit the jackpot. Thank you, Heidi. You are worth your weight in gold and then some.

Katie Dohman is currently living in the midst of a total full-house renovation with her one husband, three kids, two dogs and one kitten. She is tired.

1/31/18 4:39 PM

Healthy development starts at home.

Find fun and easy ideas for infants, toddlers & pre-schoolers.

HelpMeGrowMN.org

mnparent.com • February 2019

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Dr. Gigi Chawla

Screen time truly is a health issue

I

was one of more than 10,000 pediatricians in attendance at the 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) national conference in November.

We spent our days discussing research and new recommendations. This year, I noticed digital media and screen time was a prominent topic.

Here are some of the most important messages from the conference:

Q How much is too much?

A The AAP recommends children between the ages 2 and 5 have less than one hour of screen time per day and also encourages parents to set their own limits for children ages 6 and older.

Of course, in a technology-driven world, it’s difficult for parents to stick to these guidelines, but pediatricians can help families by keeping a running discussion going, including during doctor visits.

The majority of parents have never discussed their child’s screen time with a

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

pediatrician. Well-child visits, especially during the first year of life, provide an ideal venue to start the conversation and begin healthy habits.

Q Why should we limit screen time?

A More than one hour of screen time per day can harm a young child’s development.

New studies have revealed a correlation between childhood obesity and the consumption of more than 90 minutes of screen time per day. (The good news is this effect is reversible.)

Real-world talk and playtime with adults is important, especially for kids younger than 3. Studies have correlated excessive media use in early childhood with language, cognitive and social-emotional delays. Parents should be mindful of their own screen time and should turn the TV off when they’re not actively watching it.

Every hour the television is on, even in the background, can decrease a child’s verbalness by 700 words. Turning it off,

however, can increase interaction with your children and expand their vocabularies.

Parents often offer a screen to calm children during tantrums. This may result in toddlers not learning important skills such as self-regulation and can make transitioning into school environments more challenging, too.

Q How can we cut back?

A One of the most important limits to follow is no screen time for an hour before bed. Half of all children report using screens within an hour of sleep, which can contribute to academic underperformance, obesity and depression.

Another easy way to limit media use in your home is to create screen-free zones, such as bedrooms and the dinner table during mealtimes.

Q What’s co-viewing?

A Regardless of your child’s age, it’s important for kids to watch programming

One of the most important limits to follow is no screen time for an hour before bed. with a fully present adult. This type of co-viewing is especially helpful for children younger than 3 because they learn best from reiteration of the material during face-to-face interactions with adults.

With adolescents and school-age children, co-viewing can give parents the opportunity to discuss moral views, family expectations and the consequences of the sometimes undesirable actions depicted on screen.

For co-viewing to be effective, however, it must be an active activity for parents.

Passively watching media sends kids the message that parents approve of the content they’re watching. Although some forms of media can be educational, they can’t measure up to what parents can teach their children through face-to-face interaction.

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Q How do we enforce limits?

A Creating a media-use plan can help families understand their children’s media consumption and make conscious decisions to reduce screen time.

The AAP’s Healthy Children initiative makes creating media-use plans easy with two online family media planning tools (tinyurl.com/aap-media-use). These help parents calculate their children’s screen time and set limits.

Families should revisit these plans biannually and talk to their pediatricians about them, too.

Plan information is easily printable and can be the perfect place to start a conversation with your pediatrician about digital-media use.

Dr. Gigi Chawla is a board-certified pediatrician and the chief of general pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota.

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mnparent.com • February 2019

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Corey Koskie

ON BEHAVIOR

Tough lessons from team sports T

he world of youth sports can be a wild one if you allow it. Demanding schedules and first-time challenges for kids — and parents — can create a rollercoaster of emotions. There will be joy, but also sometimes feelings of defeat and even loneliness among parents.

I’ve experienced this world from all sides.

I’m a sports parent. After retiring from a nine-year career in Major League Baseball, I became a youth sports administrator and threw myself into coaching. I’ve coached more than 90 youth sports teams.

Recently, I surveyed hundreds of youth hockey players and parents. Kids said the

most important thing to them was having fun. Parents said they wanted their kids to grow in self-confidence. Across the board, the least important thing was “swag” and winning.

This could explain why parents are so emotional about youth sports. Often parents try to bulldoze a path to ensure their kids won’t have to deal with anything they believe could hurt self-confidence.

I’m on a mission to make those tough moments easier by connecting people through shared experiences with a new website at Linklete.com, a place for parents, coaches and players to share their stories.

I hope you’ll join the conversation. In the meantime, here’s a look at some of what I’ve learned so far:

Criticism from a coach Learning how to deal with tough advice and criticism makes our kids stronger.

Former Minnesota Wild player Ryan Carter said he knew he wasn’t perfect, so there would always be opportunities to draw criticism. How he grew in response to that feedback, however, was entirely up to him.

If kids (and parents) can learn to deal with sports criticism, it can actually fuel them as they keep working to get better.

Not making the team Most kids go through this frustration or heartbreak. I know mine have. Justin Morneau has some great advice: “You can feel sorry for yourself — or turn it into a positive.”

In Morneau’s first year on the Twins’ rookie league team, the Elizabethton Twins, he had more home runs and RBIs than entire teams. He was like Babe Ruth!

The next year, he was sent back to the same level and didn’t get moved up to a higher league until there were only three games left in the season. He could have focused on that negative. Instead, he had fun and gave 100 percent in practices and games. He kept getting better until the team had no choice but to move him up.

Wanting to quit I recently talked to a mom who had tearfully struggled through an entire lacrosse season.

It was a bad experience for her and her

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daughter. She was morally opposed to letting her daughter quit, but conflicted because of how tough the experience was.

Reaching out to others gave her the support she needed. This mom told me she realized there was no right answer, but having support made all the difference.

Sport specialization An athlete’s biggest fear is taking time off and losing “it.” I bought into this lie as an athlete. In my second year of professional baseball, I had a phenomenal year. Afterward, however, I didn’t take any time off in the off-season.

When that third season started, I wasn’t as mentally sharp. I got hurt three times.

It was such a frustrating year. The next offseason, I didn’t pick up a bat for four months. I had a great year!

If a pro athlete can’t be “on” all year, how can we expect a kid to be? Playing year round makes it tough to bring the intensity and focus needed to get better.

Dealing with injuries As a sports parent, you can feel upset and helpless when your child gets hurt. Former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway told me he got through tough injuries by remaining positive. He focused on getting a little bit better every day and surrounded himself with people who wouldn’t let him feel sorry for himself. As parents, we can be that support system.

Feeling alone As a youth athlete or parent of an athlete, we experience a lot of firsts — the first tryout, the first time we have a tough coach, the first time we fail.

With Linklete (linklete.com), I hope we can give parents, coaches and players an outlet to connect, and help others by sharing our stories. It can be very reassuring just to know you’re not alone.

Corey Koskie played Major League Baseball for nine years, including seven with the Minnesota Twins. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four sons and is the creator of linklete.com.

Olivia Volkman-Johnson

IN THE KITCHEN

SQUASH-A-RONI Let’s face it: While mac and cheese is a classic, it isn’t always the healthiest option for dinner. Luckily, the addition of butternut squash (a great source of vitamin A) blends beautifully with the rich, creamy cheese of your choice to make this nutty adaptation a new family favorite.

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC & CHEESE INGREDIENTS 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth 4–5 cups cubed butternut squash (many grocery stores sell peeled, cubed, ready-to-use squash) 21⁄2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni 1 tablespoon butter 1 small yellow onion, sliced into rings 3⁄4 cup milk 2⁄3 cup shredded cheese 1 teaspoon paprika (optional) 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional) Parsley for topping Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS Bring the broth to a boil in a small pot. Add the squash and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until fork-tender.

Drain, reserving 1⁄2 cup broth.

Meanwhile, cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onion, cooking until fragrant and golden, about 20 minutes.

Put the onions, squash, reserved broth, milk, salt and pepper and optional spices in a blender and puree until completely smooth and creamy.

Photo by Brenda Taylor

Pour the puree into a small pot and warm slightly. Slowly stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in the cooked noodles, adding water or milk to adjust consistency to taste.

Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Source: Adapted from pinchofyum. com/healthy-mac-and-cheese.

Olivia Volkman-Johnson is a freelance writer who is studying to become a pastry chef.

Ed Dykhuizen

BOOKSHELF

For the love of winter In February, even the hardiest of Minnesotans sometimes need reminders that snow and cold can be fun.

The following books, most of which were written by Minnesotans, celebrate the season our state is famous for!

Written by Cloquet-based author Katherine Johnson, this simple story about a dance-loving bear captures the feeling of Northern Minnesota, as do beautiful illustrations that look like woodcuts.

Ages 3–7 • $16.95

Prolific author and St. Louis Park resident CA Nobens tells the story of a fun day home from school through two dozen poems, ranging from a simple limerick to a complex Shakespearean sonnet.

Budding bards will appreciate the index that breaks down each poetic form.

Ages 7 and up • $19.95

Two owl brothers fly through Paris, puzzling over an appropriate tune for snowfall. They come up with many silly sounds kids will love — especially when grownups try to make them!

Ages 3–5 • $17.99

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

The answer to this book’s question is: Outside! For the people of our state, cold weather just presents new ways to fish, play sports, fly kites, hike and even have a parade (including the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, which receives a fun tribute).

Ages 3–7 • $16.95

Each page of this charmer has a short poem made up of two-word sentences that convey the many special things that happen during a snowstorm. Here’s an example: “Flakes zag.

Flakes zig. Grandpa whistles. We dig.”

Ages 3–5 • $16.99

Ed Dykhuizen is an associate editor at Minnesota Parent and father of three who lives in St. Paul. mnparent.com • February 2019

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C H I L D C A R E C O N N E C Nervous about leaving your little one at daycare? Don’t worry: Mobile apps for childcare centers are keeping parents, kids and staff in close touch.

By Rachel Guyah 26

February 2019 • mnparent.com

E : T E D

“Hi, buddy! Mommy’s back!”

I say to my 4-month-old as I scoop him up from the playmat at daycare.

It’s been a solid eight hours since I kissed his rosy cheeks goodbye, but I already know so much about his day: I know he pooped at 10:35 a.m. (whew!), drained three 6-ounce bottles (growing boy!) and took two naps (9:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) — the dreaded catnaps, but hey, at least he slept. I also know he enjoyed an afternoon stroll outside, as evidenced by a snapshot of him smiling in the buggy.

How do I know all this?

Well, fortunately, our childcare center uses a mobile app that enables teachers to give parents real-time updates of their child’s day — and it’s not the only one. All across Minnesota (and the country), childcare centers are diving into the digital age as a way to streamline and simplify communication between parents and staff.

“We were kind of ahead of the curve in using an app, but it was just the right thing to do for families,” said Cara Johnson-Bader, the vice president of marketing and parent experiences for Plymouth-based New Horizon Academy, which operates 74 centers in four states.

mnparent.com • February 2019

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“Our young families want information right away, and this was the route to go,” added New Horizon Academy marketing manager Katie Heruth, who helped roll out the Daily Connect app (screenshots, above) for New Horizon locations in 2013.

Meanwhile, in Bloomington, another childcare center has embraced the digital era — Kinderplatz Childcare & Education Center, which started using the Tadpoles app in 2014.

Switching to electronic reporting has not only eased communication — it’s also given centers an eco-friendly boost, said Kristi McKee, assistant director at Kinderplatz.

“Reducing the amount of paper we use also reduces the amount of ink we need to purchase, which ultimately saves us money that can be used toward improved child programs, staff training and furniture and equipment purchases,” McKee said.

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Bridging the gap For parents, these apps often act as a digital observation deck, inviting them into the classroom throughout the day. In addition to offering a comprehensive daily report sent via text or email at the end of the day, many daycare apps also enable parents to receive real-time updates.

Teachers can grab one of the classroom’s tablet devices to quickly log diaper changes, bottle feedings and nap times, which parents then receive via email or mobile alerts.

“Daily Connect has done a lovely job of bridging the gap from home to school,” Johnson-Bader said. “Obviously, children are the priority, so teachers respond when they can, but it really is a nice bridge for that communication.”

Beyond diaper blowouts and bottle feedings, these apps can also be used to invite parents into their child’s daily

learning, especially for toddlers and preschoolers.

If children are engaged in a STEAM activity, for example, teachers can take photos and send them to families to document the special learning that’s taking place based on the curriculum in the classroom.

Peace of mind — at home and abroad Getting on-the-go messages and photos can ease the mind of anxious parents — especially if their child just entered daycare or is transitioning to the next classroom.

“If a parent drops off their toddler and he’s crying because of separation anxiety, five minutes later the child may be engaged in activity,” Johnson-Bader said. “The teacher can snap a photo and send it to Mom to let her know he’s having a happy day.”

For parents who travel for work, the

real-time updates can make the time away feel less isolating, Johnson-Bader said.

“A mom who was traveling extensively was missing her child, but getting updates on Daily Connect made the trip much easier,” she said. “The teachers were aware she was traveling, so they made sure to send her a lot of updates.”

Convenience for all Whether it’s teachers wrangling squirmy limbs during diaper changes or parents rushing off to a meeting, it can be difficult to step aside for a call every time information needs to be relayed.

Luckily, these apps make it fast and easy to send notes back and forth. Parents can quickly alert teachers about things like an early pickup, late drop-off or that Grandma will be picking up Henry today.

“I’ve used the app to request that they give my little one her inhaler around lunch time if I forgot to ask them at drop off, or to let them know that I was able to make a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon,” said Emily Vonder Haar, whose daughter, Anna, attends Kinderplatz.

Likewise, teachers can quickly send notes to parents — “Ava is running low on diapers.” — or create action items that appear on the parents’ dashboards in red until they’re addressed.

“It’s much easier to communicate about the child’s day through Tadpoles, versus having to write out everything by hand,” said Annalissa Hansen, a teacher in the infant classroom at Kinderplatz.

Another teacher at New Horizon in Bloomington agreed: “I believe this is a far better method for parent

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C H I L D C A R E : C O N N E C T E D

communication versus handwritten daily sheets. It is much easier and more convenient for teachers.”

While many activities are logged in real time, teachers can do even more entries during nap time.

Teachers at Kinderplatz said they like the administrative portal of the Tadpoles app because it allows staff to quickly send urgent, center-wide alerts to all families in the event of an emergency or unexpected closing. Childcare apps also allow teachers to quickly access each child’s medical, allergy and approved-guardian information from one centralized location.

‘How was your day?’

For toddlers and preschoolers, the apps’ daily activity reports can be a great conversation starter — a kickoff to that car-ride talk or dinnertime chat. Instead of asking vague questions (which often result in equally vague answers), parents

It’s much easier to communicate about the child’s day through Tadpoles, versus having to write out everything by hand.

— Annalissa Hansen, a teacher at Kinderplatz Childcare & Education Center in Bloomington

can use the daily report and photos to initiate more meaningful and personalized discussions.

“I feel more engaged in my kid’s day,” Vonder Haar said. “I am able to ask questions and ‘surprise’ her that I know what she has done.”

Both the Tadpoles and Daily Connect apps allow teachers to snap and send photos (or in some cases, even videos) of kids throughout the day — a feature that wins over the hearts of many parents.

“It certainly puts us at ease, seeing his smiling face and knowing he is keeping active and engaged,” one mom said. “It’s easier to leave him when we know we’ll be getting updates each day.”

Some parents download the photos

for personal use, as well as revisit photos from past weeks, months or even years with the app essentially becoming a chronological digital photo album for their child.

“One of my favorite things about the app is that I can go back to October 2015 to see how big my little one was versus October 2016, 2017 and 2018,” Vonder Haar said. “It’s fun to look back, as the time goes so fast.”

Some apps come with additional safety precautions regarding photos.

For example, Tadpoles disables the ability to download a photo if it also features other parents’ kids. Administrators can also opt to approve all photos before they’re shared.

For New Horizon’s Daily Connect app, parents can sign a release allowing (or declining) New Horizon’s authority to take and post photos of their child through the app.

“The teachers are very mindful of that when they take photos,” JohnsonBader said.

Can an app save a life?

↑↑Teachers can capture photos like this and share them with parents through the Tadpoles app.

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

With daycare apps, parents can log their kids’ feeding and naptime data at home, too, to get a better picture of overall trends in eating, sleeping and toileting.

This information — what time a child woke, ate or had a diaper change — can help caregivers know when to give the next meal, nap or fresh diaper. Apps can even be used to track nursing/pumping, doses of medication, vaccinations and data (height and weight, for example) from doctor appointments.

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Other caregivers, such as grandparents and other interested parties, can be added, too.

The Tadpoles app also includes a new Unexpected Absence function that sends an alert if a child hasn’t been checked into daycare yet.

Inspired by the work of mother and advocate Karen Osorio and the Sofia Foundation for Children’s Safety, the feature allows a parent to select a time (such as 9 a.m.) at which they would like to be alerted if their child hasn’t been checked into daycare yet.

The goal? To prevent children from being accidentally left in the car, which can turn into a dangerous situation.

“I really like the new feature about check-in times,” Vonder Haar said. “It’s a great relief to know that is my doublecheck if something is wrong.”

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↑ Teachers can easily document care events for individual children or for the whole class with the Tadpoles childcare app.

Let’s give children 15 minutes of classical every day.

Rachel Guyah is a Bloomington-based writer and mother of two young boys. See more of her work at rachelguyah.com. mnparent.com • February 2019

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Marissa Bader’s twins were delivered at 38 weeks via scheduled C-section. Photo by Elissa Bean of Little Bean Photography

Twins!?

Coming to terms with an exponentially growing family isn’t easy, especially when postpartum depression creeps in. Here’s how we adjusted and coped.

By Marissa Bader

mnparent.com • February 2019

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Carnival of the Animals Mar 10 1pm & 3pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor

Saint-Saëns’ masterpiece for two pianos and orchestra will feature Young People’s Concerto Competition winner Emma Taggart and her brother Jacob Taggart as soloists. Audiences will also enjoy writer Shane Hawley’s original poetry inspired by the magical Carnival of Animals.

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T

wins are a blessing. Double the joy.

Twice the love.

That’s what everyone says, anyhow.

But let me be honest: It took me a while to get to that point.

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a mom. I even daydreamed about the possibility of having twins one day (Ashleigh and Alyssa). My mom used to say, “Twins don’t run in our family, sweetheart. Don’t get your hopes up.”

And then in my early 30s, I had my first, a singleton. But I didn’t experience the “love at first sight” new-mom feelings I was expecting.

I felt disconnected from her, the birthing experience (an unexpected and last-minute C-section), and motherhood in general. Instead of feeling elation, I was terrified.

Though she had spent 42 weeks in my belly, this little being was a stranger to me — a stranger who required my full attention 24/7. And I, a first-time mom, had no idea how to care for her. This made me shake with worry, and also feel like a total failure.

This was the one thing I had truly wanted, but I had no idea how to properly do “motherhood.”

It took time — well, over a year and a half, in fact — for me to actually realize I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety. Once I finally sought help, I realized recovery would be a process — one in which I still need to challenge worrisome and negative thoughts every single day.

The condition took its toll on my sense of self, the way I parented — can you say overbearing helicopter mom? — and my marriage. My husband was incredible through it all, however, and even joined me for several therapy sessions to learn the inner workings of my brain and how he could best support me, us and our family.

This made a huge difference.

Another child?

When it came time to discuss having more kids, we were worried. I actually wanted to have more for a few reasons: I wanted a sibling for our first, and I deeply desired a chance to have the new-motherhood experience I always dreamed of — the one in which I could actually enjoy the moments instead of living in a constant state of fight-or-flight and weepiness.

My husband wasn’t so sure. He’d finally gotten his wife back, and didn’t want to lose her again. He had always wanted more than one child, but he told me having more wasn’t worth the disintegration of myself or our marriage again.

I disagreed. I set out on a mission to prove to him I could do it — that things would be different this time. Eventually, he agreed: It was time to go for it.

Struggling to conceive And then, though it was a cinch to get pregnant with our first, it wasn’t so easy conceiving the second time around.

With each month — and negative pregnancy test — that passed, I felt more defeated. But the struggle made me realize with even greater certainty how badly I wanted this second child.

And then, after almost a year of trying, we finally got pregnant!

My OB’s office wanted me to come in to check my HCG and progesterone levels.

He wanted to make sure this was, indeed, a viable pregnancy.

Sadly, it wasn’t. My HCG hormone and progesterone levels were both incredibly low. I remember his words clearly: “I’m so sorry, Marissa. You are going to miscarry at some point in the next few days.”

Ugh. I was devastated. And the worst part was waiting — waiting for it to happen — knowing I was pregnant, and that soon …

I wouldn’t be.

I barely survived after having one child, how would I ever manage with twins AND a toddler?

↑↑An ultrasound at 6 weeks showed two dark areas, indicating that Marissa Bader would have fraternal twins.

It happened in a Starbucks bathroom.

I looked down, saw the red, and knew for certain I was miscarrying. It was so early in the pregnancy, that if I hadn’t been calculating my cycle so meticulously, I may have mistaken it for my period.

But I knew exactly what it was. And I was brokenhearted.

After that experience, my OB suggested we try Clomid, an infertility medication that helps with ovulation.

“But,” he warned, “there’s a 10 percent chance of conceiving multiples on Clomid.”

My husband claims he never heard the caution. I heard it, but dismissed it. I knew tons of people who used Clomid, and still were unable to get pregnant.

So I took it.

An ovulation boost I’m one of those people who, when I ovulate, can literally feel the eggs bursting through the follicles. It hurts badly, a condition known as mittelschmerz.

The pain on Clomid was even more intense. I’ll never forget it: I felt an egg release on my left side around 1 a.m., and then, around 3 a.m., I felt another one release on my right side. I woke my husband in disbelief; this had never happened before.

mnparent.com • February 2019

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“I just ovulated twice!” I cried. “What if we get pregnant with twins??”

He didn’t seem to think it was a possibility and quickly told me to go back to bed.

I did, but the worry didn’t fade. I barely survived after having one child, how would I ever manage with twins AND a toddler?

A few weeks later, after a positive pregnancy test and HCG levels that were through the roof and consistently doubling, I knew in my gut it was multiples.

I was panic-stricken. And then the tumbleweed of anxious thoughts began: What if an egg splits and I end up with three? Or both split and I have four? I can’t do this! I’ll never manage!

I worried myself into a frenzy. My husband still thought I was nuts.

“Relax,” he’d say. “Let’s not get worked up until we know what we are actually dealing with.” (Sheesh. Men are so rational.)

A definitive ultrasound Well. We finally learned what we were facing at my six-week ultrasound.

There they were — our two babies, in two separate sacs.

“It’s twins!” the ultrasound technician cheered. “I love when it’s twins!”

My husband about fell off his chair, and all I could do was turn to him and say, “I told you so!”

After hearing this news, we couldn’t just go back to our regularly scheduled days, so we went to lunch to decompress. I made him order a shot of tequila simply because I couldn’t.

We cried, we laughed, we worried, we smiled. By the end of our lunch, I was still totally scared, but at least I knew I had an amazing teammate and wasn’t in it alone.

Together, we would figure this out.

Tackling the reality It took me a while to fully get on board with the idea of having twins. But then, at some point during my second trimester it finally hit me: This was really happening, and denying or dreading it wasn’t going

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←←Mila, Harper and Grace Bader of Minneapolis.

Photo by Brittany Herman Photography

to help; I needed to start accepting it; and I needed to get prepared.

And so that’s what I did. I accepted the fact that there were two babies in my belly, who would eventually come out and be my second and third children.

I joined a local Facebook group for moms of multiples and learned about all the things I needed for twins: I read books; I went to therapy; I talked in person to other twin moms; I ditched my SUV for a minivan (at first I cried, but now I have a love affair with my van and I’m never giving her up) and so on.

None of this is to say the fears went away. (I still have several!) But what did emerge was confidence. Instead of focusing on “I can’t do this,” I started telling myself, “I can do this.”

The twins are now almost 3 and my oldest is 6, and I can definitely say that this switch of thinking has made all the difference.

Depression — and delight I did suffer from another rough bout of postpartum depression about six months into my twins’ lives. It was a bleak time, and once again I felt helpless and hopeless. But my husband and I recognized the signs much sooner, and I sought help right away.

With therapy, medication and support, I felt better much faster the second time around.

It took quite some time, but now I realize that focusing on the fact that having twins is “scary” and “challenging” just doesn’t do me (or them) any good.

I never envisioned having three kids, but that’s just life: It throws unexpected curveballs. Having my twins has taught me (a Type-A+++ control freak) that not everything can (or should) be planned.

This is where the real learning, confidence-building and growth lies — in rolling with the unexpected and proving to yourself you’re capable of handling it.

They may not have been part of my meticulously drafted game plan (well, Ashleigh and Alyssa were, but I changed my mind about them after I had my singleton!), but I’m so glad these two sassy, silly, sweet little girls are mine.

My twins (and their amazing big sis) are most definitely a blessing.

And their names are Mila and Grace, not Ashleigh and Alyssa.

Marissa Bader — when she’s not kissing owies, playing dress-up or mediating sister squabbles — enjoys dancing (you should see her get down when nobody’s watching!), writing and serving as the Twins Editor at lucieslist.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

THE BIG CANDY APPLE Candy storm transforms NYC landmarks

By WILLIAM W. ONKA NEW YORK — Officials have no explanation for the meteorological anomaly transforming New York City into candy and chocolate.

Speculation continues to run rampant and #BigCandyApple is trending on social media.

Unusual activity was detected by the National Weather Service as early as 7 a.m. EDT yesterday.

Eyewitness accounts described

#BigCandyApple is trending on social media strange clouds raining colorful hailsized objects that were revealed to taste downright delicious. Further analysis has now determined those objects to be gumballs.

One Manhattan resident said, “Candy was bouncing everywhere, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man rush by wearing a purple coat and top hat.” Similar sightings were reported, and one Brooklyn resident captured a blurry cell phone photo. “I only saw him for a moment right as the Brooklyn Bridge turned into graham cracker and its cables became red licorice. Because it’s Brooklyn, I can only assume the licorice is locally sourced.”

The New York Geological Society has been sampling all of the candy

From top, an aerial view of the ongoing candy-fication of New York City; alleged surveillance footage of the mysterious man in purple that many are calling “The Candy Man”; Manhattan resident Dale Roald holds up one of the golden tickets inscribed with: “Marvelous surprises beyond your wildest dreams await.”

confections and is reporting that they are all “delectable beyond description.” The same report included results stating that Rockefeller Center is now rock candy, and Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain is in fact flowing with pure chocolate. Officials from the Mayor’s office have so far identified over 300 city structures that have become candy.

In addition to the city becoming candy-fied, there are unusual incidents that are rumored to be related. City residents are

magically discovering golden tickets in the most surprising places throughout town. And there are reports of mysterious glowing lights from within the factory that formerly housed Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

In the meantime, authorities and New York dentists have issued a recommendation to refrain from eating any city edifices—a warning most New Yorkers are gleefully ignoring. The Mayor’s office has declared a state of pure imagination until further notice.

MINNEAPOLIS’ GOLDEN TICKET MARCH 6 – 17 • ORPHEUM THEATRE

IN PERSON: STATE THEATRE BOX OFFICE (NO SERVICE FEE)

BY PHONE: 800.982.2787 GROUPS 10+ SAVE! 612.373.5665 ONLINE: HENNEPINTHEATRETRUST.ORG

Local date-night steals!

K

ids can take a toll on a marriage.

And that makes time to really connect — and be away from the kids — extremely important.

But is Valentine’s Day the best time to do that? We think … not. Restaurants are busy (if not booked) and menus are often fixed price / prix fixe — and pricier.

We recommend you check out these date nights that won’t leave you dropping a hundo on food and drink in single visit.

These deals are, dare we say, date nights you could actually do on a semiregular basis!

Hungry for more? See also date nights at Kafe 421 (Tuesdays), Rinata (Sundays) and Tracy’s Saloon and Eatery (Fridays!)

— all in Minneapolis.

Coming soon: The Twin Cities best happy hours for couples on a budget (with options in St. Paul, too)!

by Sarah Jackson

FANCY

Where: Lurcat, downtown Minneapolis, across from Loring Park When: 5:30–9 p.m. Sundays What: For $55 per couple, each person gets their choice of starter (yes, including the restaurant’s famed apple, cheese and chive salad), a hearty entree and a desert (yep, two desserts).

Good to know: Reservations are recommended since this is a popular, well-known night. Bottles of wine are half off as long as you choose one that’s under $100. Ahem. This deal is available in the dining room and the bar, which is nice because the dining room is pretty. Meanwhile, the bar (pictured) is gorgeous and offers a daily happy hour (4:30–6:30 p.m.) if you want to get an early start.

Also: you can bring guests or extra friends for $27.50 per person. Finally, if you’re wondering how it’s pronounced, staff answer the phone with “LURR-COT.” Details: 612-486-5500, lurcatminneapolis.com/menus

SEMI-FANCY

Where: Red Stag Supperclub, Northeast Minneapolis When: 5–10 p.m. Tuesdays What: For $36 per couple, each person gets a choice of entree with sides and a dessert (yes, two desserts), plus a bottle of wine or two pints of beer.

Good to know: Here your entree choice is limited to two options (one for meat eaters, the other for vegetarians), so if you don’t like what’s on the menu, you’re out of luck. You can always order the insanely good burger and fries ($14); you just won’t get the full deal. If the fries are an option as a side, always get the fries.

Details: 612-767-7766, redstagsupperclub.com

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

SEMI-CASUAL

Where: Broders’ Pasta Bar, Southwest Minneapolis When: 8–9:30 p.m. Sunday–Thursday; this option is for parents who don’t want to miss bedtime and who don’t mind a later night.

What: For $45 per couple, you get an olive appetizer and a salad to share, two classic pasta dishes and half a bottle of house wine.

Good to know: Broders’ date-night menu (which is listed online) is a pared down version, so you might not find your favorite dishes. (But don’t worry, the Bolognese is there.)

Details: 612-925-9202, broderspastabar.com

CASUAL

Where: The Lowbrow, Southwest Minneapolis When: 6–10 p.m. Tuesdays What: For $35 per couple, you get two dinners, two glasses of wine or two pints of beer and one dessert. If you’re looking for a homey, laid-back date, this is the place. We highly recommend the classic burger (Minnesota-grown and grass-fed, baby)!

Good to know: Though this place is famous for all its homemade desserts — omgoodness, the pies! — don’t miss the chocolate stout cake with ganache and cream cheese frosting.

Details: 612-208-0720, thelowbrowmpls.com

SUPER-CASUAL

Where: Bryant Lake Bowl, Uptown When: 6 p.m.–midnight Mondays What: For $28 per couple, you get a round of bowling (shoes included) — a no-planning-required activity! — plus two entrees, a bottle of wine or (get this) two tap beers each (four beers total).

Good to know: There’s only one choice of entree, though staff can make exceptions if you have dietary restrictions around dairy, gluten or other issues.

Details: 612-825-3737, bryantlakebowl.com

WIN A DATE NIGHT! We’re giving away a $100 gift card to the Broders’ family of restaurants in Southwest Minneapolis — good at Broders’ Pasta Bar; Terzo, a restaurant/wine bar; and Broders’ Cucina Italiana, a deli-style eat-in restaurant and marketplace.

To enter, email a photo — to editor@mnparent.com — of your kid eating pasta, the messier the better! Please use the subject line #pastakids and be sure to include each child’s name, age and city of residence.

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 14. This prize will be awarded by Feb. 28.

Good luck! mnparent.com • February 2019

39

CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

Academic The Bakken Museum

Explore the exciting world of innovation and creativity through hands-on activities like magic tricks and team-building challenges. Campers learn the invention process by designing and building their own take home project using real tools and materials in the museum makerspace. Spaces fill fast, so register early!

Minneapolis • 651-926-3878 thebakken.org

Camp Invention Unmask your child’s creativity this summer in the all-new Camp Invention® program, Supercharged™, where children transform their wild imaginations into epic creations.

Campers in grades K–6 will code robots and use collaboration and creative problem solving during hands-on, STEM activities. Use promo code INNOVATE25L to save $25 (expires 3/22) or PLAY15LISTING to save $15 (expires 5/10).

Multiple locations • 800-968-4332 invent.org/camp

Groves Academy Summer Programs Groves Academy offers summer programs for students entering grades 2–11 from

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

the community with learning and attention challenges. Taught by Groves trained teachers, our small class sizes and specialized instruction build success and confidence. Both academic and enrichment programs are available.

St. Louis Park • 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12!

Samples of our Academic offerings include: Virtual Reality, Intro to Coding, Intro to Aviation, Jump Start & Study Skills, Summer Slide Math & Reading, ACT Prep, Driver’s Ed. Register today—space is limited!

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Junior Achievement Students in grades 4–8 will learn how to run a successful business through a variety of fun, interactive activities. Held at JA BizTown, our unique kid-sized city. June session explores STEM careers; July session will appeal to the young entrepreneur.

St. Paul • 651-255-0455 jaum.org/ja-summer-camps

The Works Engineering & design camps for kids in pre-K–grade 7. Coding, LEGO engineering, robotics, carpentry, design, architecture, and more! Half and full-day options.

June–August 2019. The Works Museum: inspiring the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creative problem solvers.

Bloomington • 952-888-4262 theworks.org

Arts

Adventures in Cardboard Mythic Play in Summer Wildlands! Be initiated into an esteemed House of The Realm and jump into live-action adventure gaming! Build your own armor, create castles to defend your land, battle on trails, fields and shorelines! Swords, bows, catapults, magic and monsters! Full days spent in beautiful parks across the metro region.

Monday–Friday, ages 8–16 and several TEEN ONLY weeks! June 10–August 23.

Minneapolis adventuresincardboard.com

The Art Academy Give your child the opportunity to explore

mnparent.com/camp their creative side and develop their skills by illustrating their own children's book and learning the principles of drawing and painting at the Art Academy's Summer Camp program. Classes and camps, with exceptional student/teacher ratios, are available for students ages 5–18.

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. $595 per week, all materials included.

Minneapolis • 612-376-0381 kahlowcurtis@gmail.com studio7artmn.com

Articulture Art Camps Articulture art camps are a fun and educational way to explore a variety of media that emphasizes personal creativity. Camp themes include art and science, hands-on art history, comics and animation, and more!

Minneapolis • 612-729-5151 articulture.org

Artistry Over 45 week-long arts camps for grades 1–9! Artistry campers will explore art forms including pottery, fused glass, theater arts, drawing, painting, crafting, and more! $135–$165/half-day. Combine for full-day experience. New this year: before and aftercare! Scholarships available.

VIS

Bloomington • 952-563-8575 artistrymn.org/education/camps.html

P BIR H F

Fiber Works MPLS, LLC Fiber Works MPLS is a fiber arts studio in NE Minneapolis. Our project-based Summer Kids Camps offer week-long opportunities to explore the arts of sewing and knitting.

Focus is on fundamental techniques, creativity, and fun.

Minneapolis • 612-720-3657 fiberworksmpls.com

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12!

Samples of our Arts/Activities offerings include: exploring visual arts through Painting, Creative Artwork, or Drawing Bootcamp, explore art through Digital Photography, Film & Visual Storytelling, or Virtual Reality.

Register today—space is limited!

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Learn

TECH FEST FAMILY EVENT Hours of hands-on science and engineering fun for kids and their grown-ups!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $9 pre-registered / $12 at the door Get your tickets today at

theworks.org The Works MNP 0219 S3.indd 1

1/24/19 2:20 PM

mnparent.com • February 2019

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plan a summer

ADVENTURE at Minnesota Parent’s Camp Fair 13th annual

Saturday, March 2nd 10am–2pm

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

meet one-on-one

with dozens of camp representatives

Free admission and children’s activities!

SPONSORED BY

mnparent.com/campfair • 612-825-9205 • events@mnpubs.com

CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

mnparent.com/camp beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. Come join us for the experience of a lifetime!

E

Shell Lake • 715-468-2414 shelllakeartscenter.org

Textile Center Small classes taught by skilled artists. Create a handmade hammock to lounge in, weave on a loom, stitch a quilt to enter in the Fair, or become a fashion designer and machine sew a fabulous outfit! Ages 6–16. Half and full-day options.

Minneapolis • 612-436-0464 textilecentermn.org/sc2019

Dance Music Performance Ballet Co.Laboratory

Ballet Co.Laboratory is a professional ballet School and Company offering ballet classes and performances to the Twin Cities community. Our mission for this organization is to create, develop and inspire artists and communities through collaboration with the art of ballet.

St. Paul • 303-249-1039 balletcolaboratory.org

Chan DT Musical Theatre Camp Chanhassen Dinner Theatres offers summertime theatre camps for kids and teens (ages 5–18). It’s a fantastic week of full and half-day sessions focusing on musical theatre fundamentals taught by Chanhassen professionals throughout the summer. Sessions begin June 10th.

Registration opens Feb. 4th!

Kidcreate Studio

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Kidcreate’s award winning summer camps are designed to inspire and educate young artists, ages 3–12, in an environment where giggles and grins are encouraged. Camps combine art education with an atmosphere full of fun. This summer’s camps include Art Academy, Beyond Pinch Pots, Candy Shop, Fortnite Fanatic, Glow-in-the-Dark Art, I Heart Sparkles, Let's Draw, Magical Unicorns, Marvelous Master on Canvas, Mega Mess Making, Pajama Party, Paw Patrol and more! Making a mess is the best at Kidcreate!

Join 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 6–18! Weeklong and multi-week options.

Scholarships available.

Eden Prairie • 952-974-3438 Savage • 952-226-2200 Woodbury • 651-735-0880 kidcreatestudio.com

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

Minneapolis • 612-215-2575 loft.org

Minneapolis • 612-874-3765 mcad.edu/youth

Potekglass This engaging glass arts camp offers everything a kid wants: fire, color, science, creativity, smushing clay, and melting glass.

With nearly 20 years working with kids, local artist Malcom Potek provides an enriching learning experience that can spark new ways of seeing, new skills, and new friendships.

Minneapolis • 612-281-7243 potekglass.com/classes/youthclasses

Shell Lake Arts Center With programs in jazz, rock band, show choir, art, theater, film, and more, the Shell Lake Arts Center is like nowhere else! Just two hours northeast of the Twin Cities in the

Chanhassen • 952-934-1525 Camp.ChanhassenDT.com

Circus Juventas Travel the globe from Canada to Russia without ever leaving our big top! Explore a vast array of international circus arts in our half- and full-day Sampler, week-long Performance and Teen High Flying Adventure Camps. Reserve your spot today in one of the most unique summer experiences anywhere!

St. Paul • 651-699-8229 circusjuventas.org

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at Hill-Murray School this summer, grades 2–12! Samples of our Arts/Activities offerings include: Summer Pops Orchestra, Summer Band, Theatre Camp, Film & Visual Storytelling, Radio Broadcasting, Digital Photography. Register today — space is limited!

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

mnparent.com • February 2019

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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ®

THINK SUMMER GET SPECIAL DEALS YMCA SUMMER RALLY DAYS

Thursday, February 28 - Tuesday, March 5

SUMMER POWER

SAVE $15 per session

SAVE $50 on registration

SUMMER SPORTS CAMP SUMMER UPROAR

Grades K – 5

Grades 1 – 6

Grades 6 – 8

SAVE $50 on registration

Summer Power is your answer to quality care and exciting adventures. We offer flexible 3-, 4-, and 5-day options. No two weeks are alike! Weekly themes and weekly field trips.

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.

Uproar provides an exciting combination of spirited adventure and growth. Teens get their first taste of leadership as they help to plan their summer activities and participate in weekly field trips.

YMCA Programs & Camps YMCA OVERNIGHT CAMPS CAMP ST. CROIX / Hudson, WI Ages 7-17 Campers participate in a wide variety of traditional camp activities or select a specialty camp such as horseback riding, rock climbing, sailing and canoeing. Threeday, one-week or two-week sessions.

CAMP ICAGHOWAN / Lake Wapogasset Ages 7-17. Icaghowan offers traditional camp and a variety of unique specialty camps focused on activities such as horseback riding, and canoeing. Three-day, one-week or two-week sessions.

CAMP IHDUHAPI / Lake Independence Ages 7-17 Ihduhapi offers youth a traditional experience or specialty camps such as horseback riding and climbing. Threeday, one-week or two-week sessions.

CAMP WARREN / Half Moon Lake Ages 7-17 Camp Warren 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 CAMPS CAMP DU NORD / Ely, Mn CAMP NORTHERN LIGHTS / Babbit, Mn All Ages Our family camps offer a totally unique 3-day, 4-day and week long camping experiences for families. Cozy cabins range from rustic to upscale. Tent camping sites are also available. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, nature and arts programs are offered as family activities and for children’s age groups. Relax at days end with a sauna.

YMCA TEEN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES CAMP MENOGYN / Gunflint Trail Ages 12-18 There are no roads leading to Menogyn, so all campers cross West Bearskin Lake by boat to arrive at this beautiful wilderness setting. Our focus is on the small group guided wilderness canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing trips that are safe, fun and enriching.

CAMP WIDJIWAGAN / Burntside Lake, Ely Ages 11-18 Widji offers high-quality canoe and backpacking adventures in the BWCAW 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 CAMPS: Ages 4 - 14 With camps located at 10 accessible sites throughout the metro area, YMCA Day Camps provide 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.

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.

SAVE $25

PER OVERNIGHT, TEEN WILDERNESS, FAMILY CAMP SESSION

SAVE $15

PER DAY CAMP SESSION

Feb 28 - March 5

Call for more information: 612-230-9622 Membership not required. Financial assistance available.

19-SP02

Register online today: ymcamn.org/summer

CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

Minnesota Dance Theatre & School Minnesota Dance Theatre is a professional dance company and school founded in 1962

by Loyce Houlton. The school has classes for ages 3.5 through adult, and the company presents multiple concerts throughout the year, including Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy.

Minneapolis • 612-338-0627 mndance.org

O’Shea Irish Dance Classes Director Cormac O’Se, original member of Riverdance. Professional Irish Dance training for preschoolers through adults; for competition, for fun, and for fitness! Weekly Classes: Mondays–Saturdays. Beginners Classes registering now! Summer camps June, July, August.

St. Paul • 612-722-7000 osheairishdance.com

St. Paul Ballet Summer is a great time to try dance! This non-profit, community and pre-professional dance school offers Dance Camps for ages 2–8, drop-in Creative Dance for ages 4–6, Intro to Ballet for ages 7–12, and Summer Intensive sessions for the serious ballet student ages 10–22. Gymnasts, skaters and athletes may supplement their training. All income levels and abilities welcome!

St. Paul • 651-690-1588 spballet.org

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Theatre Arts Training at Children’s Theatre Company June 10–August 16, ages 4–18. Theatre Arts Training offers camps for all levels in acting, musical theatre, 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.

Minneapolis • 612-874-0400 childrenstheatre.org/summer

Day

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Awarded "Best Day Camp" by Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Picks. Camp Como enhances your child’s appreciation for the natural world with enthusiastic instructors, zookeepers and gardeners, and behind-the-scenes adventures.

Campers will get closer to plants and animals than ever before. Preschool through 8th grade.

St. Paul • 651-487-8201 comozooconservatory.org

Gibbs Farm Day Camps We’ve created the perfect mix of day camps for your kids! Family-friendly pricing, fun for kids ages 4–15. Choose between Pioneer PeeWees, ages 4–5; one of our three-day camps for ages 6–10 including Pioneer Kid, Life of a Gibbs Girl, and Dakota Day Camp; or our middle school, full-day camps for ages 11–15, Victorian Ladies and Pioneer Survivor.

Camps offered June 12–August 30. Pioneer PeeWees: $19/day. Pioneer Kid, Life of a Gibbs

Girl, Dakota Day Camp: $99/week. Victorian Ladies and Pioneer Survivor: $149/week.

Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12!

Hill-Murray School offers opportunities for you to fill your child’s day throughout the entire summer; June, July & August! We have opportunities to enjoy Academic, Arts/ Activities and Athletic Camps. Our offerings engage students of all ages and skill sets.

Register today—space is limited!

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Life of a Gibbs Girl Three days, three experiences! For children ages 6–10. This craft-rich camp explores the lives of girls in Minnesota during the 1800s: life as a Pioneer girl, Dakota girl, and Victorian girl. Tuesdays–Thursdays, June 25–27, July 23–25, August 20–22 and 27–29, 9am–1pm each day. $99/week.

Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Minnehaha Academy Summer Programs Jump into summer fun with more than 60 halfand full-day athletic, enrichment and academic camps for grades pre-K through 12.

Minneapolis • 612-728-7745 minnehahaacademy.net

mnparent.com/camp Minnesota Waldorf School Summer Day Camp Old fashioned summer fun on our 8 acre campus! A relaxed schedule of crafts, nature play, games, music, gardening, and more. Preschool through 6th grade. Flexible weekly scheduling.

St. Paul • 651-487-6700 x202 mnwaldorf.org/summercamp

Pioneer PeeWees Perfect for younger children ages 4–5.

Each camp covers one pioneer, Dakota, or nature-related topic and includes plenty of hands-on activities and a craft to take home.

A snack is included. This camp is offered Wednesdays and Fridays, June 12–August 30, 9:30am–11:30am. $19/day.

Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Playworks 2019 Summer Camp

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. Programs: June 24–27, July 8–11, July 15–18, July 22–25, July 29–Aug 1, Aug 5–8, Aug 12–15.

St. Louis Park • 763-593-1168 schoolchess.org

Spring Break & Summer at Blake From robots to art projects and the classroom to the athletic field, Blake challenges students to creatively express themselves in an array of disciplines.

Sports, academics, arts and day camps are open to pre-K–12 students throughout the Twin Cities.

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

Tanadoona | Camp Fire Minnesota Explore Tanadoona’s Big Woods and zigzag by canoe across Lake Minnewashta!

With 103 acres, outdoor adventures are endless with new friends and local and international counselors. ACA accredited.

Open Houses: 3/9 & 4/27.

Excelsior • 612-235-7284 tanadoona.org

University of Minnesota Summer Transportation Camp Students in grades 7–9 will explore transportation, engineering, science, and technology in this free day camp at the University of Minnesota from July 17–28. Activities include field trips, lab activities, and presentations designed to help students learn more about all aspects of transportation.

Minneapolis • 612-625-5608 cts.umn.edu/summercamp

Sign up for Playworks Summer Camp, full of learning, adventure, and fun! With loads of field trips, plenty of outdoor activities, and entertaining educational programs, Playworks’ Summer Camp will provide your child with an unforgettable summer. Open to children 6–12 years of age. Daily meals are included. Parttime and full-time options are available.

Prior Lake • 952-445-PLAY (7529) playworksfun.com

Providence Academy Providence Academy’s Summer Activities offer a variety of programs for students age 5 through grade 12. Enjoy activities that promote experiential learning, creative and academic growth, and unique summer experiences. Full-day sessions for students age 5 through grade 6.

Plymouth • 763-258-2500 providenceacademy.org/summer

School Chess Association Summer Day Chess Camp All levels of chess instruction, professional

mnparent.com • February 2019

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CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

Language

Overnight

Spanish Summer Camp — field trips, reading, arts & crafts, sports, dance, science & nature, cultural activities.

Beginners welcome; ages 5–12. June 17–July 26, closed week of July 4th.

Part-time and full-time options.

Youth summer camps with a focus on wildlife, nature, challenge and outdoor skills. Wild About Animals (entering grades 4–6); Outdoor Explorers (entering grades 5–7); Rocks, Ropes & Rafts (entering grades 6–8). June–July.

Bilingual Learning Center (BLC)

Minneapolis • 612-668-3384 info@blcenter.org blcenter.org

German Language Camps Kids explore themes including the environment, STEM, cooking & baking, and arts & crafts, while learning some German. Several weeks of “Intro to German” are also offered. For ages 5 to 13. Half-day, full-day, and extended care are available.

St. Paul • 651-222-2979 gai-mn.org

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

Audubon Center of the North Woods

Sandstone • 888-404-7743 info@audubon-center.org audubon-center.org/summer-camps

Camp Birchwood for Boys Set on the edge of the amazing Boundary Waters Canoe Area, campers choose their own adventures every week. They can pick from hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or rock-climbing. Between adventures, campers choose daily activities including archery, riflery, waterpark, crafts, tubing, fishing, and more.

Boundary Waters • 612-355-0708 info@birchwoodforboys.com campbirchwoodforboys.com

Camp Bovey Play hard, make friends, eat well! Spend a week away from technology in the north woods of Wisconsin. Roll out your sleeping bag in a rustic cabin, swim in a lake, choose activities that interest you, and try something new. Experiences for 2nd–12th grades. ACA accredited and dedicated to making every camper feel included, appreciated, safe, and respected. All are welcome here.

Free transportation. Sliding scale fees.

Northwestern WI • 612-787-4030 esns.org/campbovey

Camp Chippewa for Boys We develop character through adventure, inspired by over 80 years of tradition. Your son will receive individual attention as he learns life skills and makes lifelong friends in our wilderness environment. He will return more confident, self-aware and resilient.

Cass Lake • 218-335-8807 campchippewa.com

mnparent.com/camp

Textile Center

Camp Olson YMCA 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, mountain biking, and leadership development.

Longville • 218-363-2207 campolson.org

Camp Pillsbury Camp Pillsbury, recently named “coolest camp in Minnesota,” is a unique, safe, fun summer camp that offers over 100 exciting activities!

Have fun with trapeze, musical theater, sports, magic, gymnastics, dance, instruments, and watersports — all in the same day!

Join us for a fantastic summer of fashion, stitching, and creativity!

July 8 July - August 23, 8 — August 23, 20192019 6 — 16 Ages 6-16Ages • Half and full day options Textile Center MNP 0219 H6.indd 1

textilecentermn.org/sc2019 612-436-0464 1/14/19 10:01 AM

Owatonna • 507-214-2200 CampPillsbury.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!

Winter • 800-582-2267 wehakeecampforgirls.com

Girl Scouts River Valleys With programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. We offer family, 4, 6, and 13-day resident camps.

Girls explore adventure, leadership, horses, STEM, water sports, and more in a girl-led, all-girl environment.

Multiple locations • 800-845-0787 Camp.GirlScoutsRV.org

Laketrails Base Camp Since 1952, Laketrails has been guiding teens and middle school youth on wilderness canoeing and camping adventures through the islands of Lake of the Woods. Campers are immersed in Nature, learn outdoor skills, learn to care for the environment, and accept and appreciate themselves and others.

Oak Island • 218-223-8281 laketrails.org

Tanadoona | Camp Fire Minnesota Unroll your sleeping bag in a rustic cabin for a week with new friends and local and international counselors. 103 acres along Lake Minnewashta, adventure awaits with activities like archery, canoeing, and agility and high/low ropes courses. ACA accredited. Open Houses: 3/9 & 4/27.

Excelsior • 612-235-7284 tanadoona.org

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CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS Wolf Ridge Summer Camp Kids grades 2–12 will find outdoor adventures to match their curiosity at Wolf Ridge. Share nature up-close every day with lifelong friends at our 2000-acre campus near Lake Superior and the BWCA. Learning is the greatest adventure there is! Choose yours at wolf-ridge.org.

Finland • 218-353-7414 wolf-ridge.org

Special Needs

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) Summer Camps AuSM's summer camps are tailored for youth and adults with autism and feature options including 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 staff to camper ratios.

Parents and caregivers can rest assured knowing that their campers are being cared for by highly trained, experienced staff, while campers make memories that last a lifetime.

Camps for AuSM members include Hand in Hand (residential, 1:1); Wahode (day, 1:2); and Discovery (residential, 1:4).

St. Paul • 651-647-1083 camp@ausm.org ausm.org

Groves Academy Summer Programs Groves Academy offers summer programs for students entering grades 2–11 from the community with learning and attention challenges. Taught by Groves trained teachers, our small class sizes and specialized instruction build success and confidence. Both academic and enrichment programs are available.

St. Louis Park • 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

Specialty

Camp Victory Ministries Camp Victory is a non-affiliated Christian Camp twenty minutes north of Rochester, MN. Choose between day camps and overnight camps; enjoy over 14 different specialty camps such as Drone Camp, Creative Arts Camp, Drama Camp, High Adrenaline Camp, and more.

Zumbro Falls • 507-843-2329 campvictory.com

Sports and Fitness The Alpine Factory

The Alpine Factory offers a variety of day camps for ages 6–18, with offerings for beginners through advanced ability levels.

Learn new skills, get in lots of practice time and have fun sliding on The Alpine Factory’s infinite slopes.

Arden Hills • 651-330-1121 thealpinefactory.com

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12!

Samples of our Sports/Fitness offerings include: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Soccer— opportunities for students of all ages and skills! Register today—space is limited!

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

mnparent.com/camp Mini-Hops Gymnastics Campers get to develop and build gymnastics skills, get crafty, and make new friends with our awesome staff in small and large group activities. All gymnasts are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Save 10% when you register by January 31st.

Plymouth • 952-933-2452 Mini-Hops.com

Revolutionary Sports Instruction programs offered daytime, weeknights, and weekends. Kids, as young as AGE TWO, learn to play sports and improve their skills. The family friendly environment encourages parent involvement. Experienced, professional coaches are great with kids and use active, challenging, and non-competitive curriculum to teach sports and life skills.

Multiple locations • 612-234-7782 RevolutionarySports.org

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

Apple Valley • 952-431-6445 Eden Prairie • 952-920-5342 tagsgym.com

Out & About

FEBRUARY

mnparent.com/calendar

Saint Paul Winter Carnival ⊲ Join a local tradition featuring sledding, ice carving, snow sculpting, skiing, dogsledding, a torchlight parade and more at this multi-faceted festival with more than 75 events and 1,000 volunteers.

When: Jan. 24–Feb. 2 Where: St. Paul and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Cost: Most events are FREE. Info: wintercarnival.com

Photo by KellyK. Photography

ONGOING

Ice Castles ⊲ Walk through a manmade fortress of ice and snow, featuring frozen waterfalls, ice caves, special appearances by the Frozen sisters, fire performances and more.

When: Through mid-February, weather permitting Where: 135 Lake St., Excelsior Cost: $10.95–$15.95 for ages 12 and older, $7.95–$9.95 for ages 4–11, and free for ages 3 and younger Info: icecastles.com/excelsior

Imagine ⊲ Visitors can view impossible worlds in the surreal photography of Erik Johansson, a Swedish photographer/ visual artist who creates dream-like realities through complex nature montages using his own photographs knit digitally together.

When: Jan. 26–April 28

Where: American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis Cost: $12 for adults, $8 for ages 62 and older, $6 for ages 6–18, free for ages 5 and younger Info: asimn.org

JAN. 29–MARCH 4

The Biggest Little House in the Forest ⊲ Meet Bernice the butterfly, who discovers a vacant house and decides it’s the perfect place — just the size for her — until some unexpected visitors arrive. Intended for preschoolers, this production is 35 minutes long.

When: 10:30 a.m. weekdays (except Mondays), 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 29– March 4 Where: Children’s Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $16–$25 Info: childrenstheatre.org mnparent.com • February 2019

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Out & About Loppet Winter Festival ⊲⊲Celebrate the peak of winter with ski games for ages 12 and younger, a variety of races for all ages, skijoring, a snow-sculpting contest, beer gardens, food trucks, vendor booths and more centered for the first time ever at The Trailhead, the Loppet Foundation’s long-awaited headquarters in Theodore Wirth Regional Park with point-to-point races starting at the Chain of Lakes.

When: Jan. 31–Feb. 3 Where: Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: See loppet.org for the best spectator areas.

FEB. 1

A Musical World Tour ⊲⊲The Lumina Women’s Ensemble, including three Twin Cities vocalists and a string player, explore songs from many countries for a multi-cultural experience for all ages.

When: 6 and 7:15 p.m. Feb. 1 Where: Saint Anthony Park Lutheran Church, St. Paul Cost: Choose your own admission of $0–$5 per person.

Info: Reserve tickets at schubert.org.

FEB. 1–24

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters ⊲⊲In this folktale from Zimbabwe — an adaptation of the Caldecott Awardwinning book — Mufaro pays a visit to the king, certain that one of his daughters will be chosen to be queen.

When: Feb. 1–24 Where: SteppingStone Theatre, St. Paul Cost: $12–$16; pay as you’re able on Feb. 3.

Info: steppingstonetheatre.org

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Tropical Beach Party ⊲⊲Bring your pail or favorite sand toy and play in Minnesota’s two biggest indoor sandboxes.

When: Weekends, Feb. 16–March 10 Where: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley Cost: Included with zoo admission of $12 for ages 3–12 and 65 and older, $18 for ages 13–64 Info: mnzoo.org/TBP

FEB. 2

State Cheerleading Competition ⊲⊲Teams of all ages, kindergarten through high school, will compete for the 2019 state cheerleading title.

Minnesota-based special needs teams will also perform.

When: 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Feb. 2 Where: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for grades K–12, free for children not yet in school Info: rivercentre.org

Frosty Fun Festival ⊲⊲Check out winter activities such as sledding, snowshoeing, ice bowling and ice mini-golf. Warm up by the bonfire or with a warm drink.

When: Noon–3 p.m. Feb. 2 Where: Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul Cost: $4, FREE for ages 2 and younger Info: dodgenaturecenter.org

Rock the Slopes ⊲⊲Join in kid-focused adventures including a Koo Koo Kanga Roo performance, dance parties, hula hooping and more in this event hosted

by Children’s Minnesota and Rock the Cradle, The Current’s music stream for kids and their grown-ups.

When: 10 a.m. Feb. 2 Where: Afton Alps, Hastings Cost: FREE Info: thecurrent.org/rock-the-cradle

Luminary Loppet ⊲⊲Stroll around Lake of the Isles to experience luminaries perfectly spaced around the lake, plus an Ice Pyramid, Fire Dancers, Iceformance, Enchanted Forest, Ice-Cropolis, Ice-Henge and Ice-ster Island.

When: Feb. 2 Where: Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis Cost: $16–$32 Info: loppet.org/luminary-loppet

FEB. 8–10

PAW Patrol Live! ⊲⊲In The Great Pirate Adventure, Ryder will need all paws on deck as he and the patrol discover a secret treasure map. This show is 75 minutes long with a 15-minute intermission.

When: Feb. 8–10 Where: State Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $25–$79 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org

the world in time for Valentine’s Day in this hands-on baking class designed for families with children ages 6–14.

When: 10 a.m.–noon Feb. 9 Where: Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River Cost: $15 Info: mnhs.org/event/6828

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! ⊲⊲See a brand-new musical adventure in which Daniel learns what it takes to be king for a day.

When: 2 and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul Cost: $18–$53 Info: ordway.org

Shiver Elk River FEB. 8–24

Periphery ⊲⊲In Jim Crow-era North Carolina, four young African-Americans take the radical step of sitting at a lunch counter and asking for a cup of coffee. This production, depicting the student sit-ins of 1960, is recommended for grades 4 and up.

When: Feb. 8–24 Where: Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, Minneapolis Cost: $12–$15 Info: youthperformanceco.org

FEB. 8–10

North Branch Winter Fest ⊲⊲Celebrate winter with a vintage snowmobile expo, rides, ice sculptures, a family puzzle contest, a medallion hunt, an omelet breakfast and more.

When: Feb. 8–10 Where: North Branch Cost: Most events are FREE. Info: northbranchchamber.com

FEB. 9

Confections: Hearts & Tarts ⊲⊲Bake some delicious treats from around

⊲⊲Celebrate with a variety of family-friendly events, including live music, a beanbag tournament, a medallion hunt, outdoor hockey tournament, a 5K/10K walk/run, food and beverages and a Shiver Plunge.

When: Feb. 9 Where: Lake Orono Park, Elk River Cost: Most events are FREE. Info: shiverelkriver.com

Supercross World Championship ⊲⊲See indoor motorcycle racing at it finest on man-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles in this offshoot of the outdoor sport of motocross.

When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $15.

Info: supercrosslive.com

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FEB. 9, 16, 23

The Supercilious Ways of Walter Wading ⊲⊲Supercilious meets super-silliness when Walter’s usual path through the woods leads to a most unusual surprise.

Before the performance, geared toward ages 3–8, check out a theater and dance workshop designed for ages 5–8.

Valid thru March 31st. Not valid on previous reservations or President’s Day weekend.

Black out days may apply.

Alexandria, Minnesota

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Out & About When: Workshops at 10 a.m., performances at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 16 and 23 Where: Waite Park, Minneapolis (Feb. 9); Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis (Feb. 16); Plymouth Creek Center, Plymouth (Feb. 23) Cost: FREE Info: sparktheater.com

FEB. 10–APRIL 14

Urban Expedition ⊲⊲Experience cultures from around the world through music, dance, food, live animals, crafts and more at this annual international event series.

When: 1 p.m. Feb. 10 (Palestine); March 3 (Romania); March 31 (Great Britain); and April 14 (Vietnam) Where: Landmark Center, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: landmarkcenter.org

FEB. 10

Nature Center Open House ⊲⊲Enjoy music, treats and the celebratory customs of Chinese New Year. Mudonna, the St. Paul Saints’ mascot, will make an appearance from 1:30–2:30 p.m.

When: 12:30–4:30 p.m. Feb. 10 Where: Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville Cost: FREE Info: cityofroseville.com

FEB. 12–MARCH 3

Potted Potter

⊲⊲This show — The Unauthorized Harry Experience: A Parody by Dan & Jeff — features favorite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon and a real-life game of Quidditch, all geared toward ages 6 and up.

When: Feb. 12–March 3 Where: Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

Cost: Tickets start at $40.

Info: hennepintheatretrust.org

FEB. 16

STEM Family Day ⊲⊲History and science come together in a day of family activities focusing on the role of science, technology, engineering and math — in the past and present — on the Minneapolis riverfront.

When: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Feb. 16 Where: Mill City Museum, Minneapolis Cost: Included with museum admission of $6–12 Info: mnhs.org/event/6735

Women in Science and Engineering ⊲⊲Experience hands-on science with female leaders in engineering and related fields with pop-up learning stations, one-on-one interactions with scientists and other activities.

When: Noon–4 p.m. Feb. 16 Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul Cost: Included with admission of $12.95–$18.95 Info: smm.org/wise

Monster Jam ⊲⊲Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks are capable going 100 miles per hour. See them fly up to 35 feet in the air and 130 feet over obstacles.

When: 7 p.m. Feb. 16 Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $17.

Info: usbankstadium.com/events

FEB. 17

Balkan Festival ⊲⊲In partnership with Ethnic Dance Theatre, Landmark Center presents the music, dance, language, foods, costumes, arts, crafts and traditions of several countries in the Balkan region of Eastern Europe.

When: Noon–5 p.m. Feb. 17 Where: Landmark Center, St. Paul Cost: $4–$6 Info: landmarkcenter.org

FEB. 19

Teddy Bear Story Time ⊲⊲Preschool through first grade children are invited to bring their teddy bears to the Hill House in celebration of Presidents’ Day and the beloved toy named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, a friend of the Hill family.

Camp Fair ⊲ This 13th-annual event organized

by Minnesota Parent magazine gives parents a chance to meet with dozens of camp representatives, who will share information about summer adventures for kids. Camps range from all-season sleep-away camps to day camps, including options in art and performance; science, technology and academics; sports, horseback riding and more.

When: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. March 2 Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: mnparent.com/campfair

When: 10:30–11:30 a.m. Feb. 19 Where: James J. Hill House, St. Paul Cost: $6 for ages 2 and older Info: mnhs.org/event/6568

FEB. 21

PBS KIDS Live! ⊲ Designed to support STEAM learning, this theatrical experience features a live-action musical along with a pre-show lobby experience, including augmented-reality games, hands-on activities and meet-and-greets with favorite PBS characters.

When: 6 p.m. Feb. 21 Where: State Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $28.50–$45.50 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org

FEB. 23

90-Second Newbery Film Festival ⊲ See the winning films in an annual contest that asks kids to create short movies that can quickly tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books.

$18!

When: Feb. 23 Where: 3–4:30 p.m. Minneapolis Central Library Cost: FREE; reservations are requested but not required.

Info: 90secondnewbery.com mnparent.com • February 2019

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

Our Education Directory at mnparent.com/education

www.childrensyamaha.com • 612-339-2255 Schools in Edina & Roseville

Creative Kids Academy

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13th annual Saturday, March 2nd: 10am–2pm Como Park Zoo & Conservatory mnparent.com/campfair 612-825-9205 events@mnpubs.com Camp0219 MNP Fair 2019 Classifieds.indd 5cx2.2.indd 12

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

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PARTY PAGES Great times for all ages at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

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Week-long camps June–August Behind-the-scenes experiences • Meet zookeepers and gardeners

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Spanish immersion Page 48

Special needs Page 40

Animal Humane Society Page 32

Private school camps for all Page 56

Snapology Page 52

Chickpea snacks

Volleyball Page 44

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Theater

My good-enough marriage

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K is for Kegels!

INSIDE: 100+ Camp Madelyn of Fairmont

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FROM OUR READERS

Brick masters

Did you have children solely because it would get you back into LEGOs and other connecting blocks?

OK, maybe not. But isn’t it fun to watch kids get creative? Check out these budding snapologists!

↑ Kieran, 6, of Blaine

↑ Maddy, 10, and Jordan, 12, of Hugo

↑ Sebastian, 5, and Tatiana, 8, of Minneapolis

↑ Logan, 10, and Lillian, 6, of Waconia

↑ Roman, 3, of Farmington

Send your snapshots — with your child’s name, city and age in photo — to editor@mnparent.com with the subject line #mnpix

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February 2019 • mnparent.com

Introducing Walgreens Express Pick Up and Delivery Learn more at Walgreens.com/pharmacy or text JoinRx to 21525

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