August 2016

Toddler adoption Page 42

August 2016

BACK To SCH00L

Party time!

READY FOR K? WHAT YOUR KID NEEDS TO START SCHOOL Page 30

HOW TO HOST A MEMORABLE, FUN MERMAID BASH

WHY I’M WAITING TO SEND MY SON TO KINDERGARTEN

Page 50

Page 16

CREATURE POWER: A WILD KRATTS BIRTHDAY PARTY

HOW TO HEAD OFF HOMEWORK HELL

Page 48

Page 24

DON’T LET YOUR TODDLER’S PARTY DRIVE YOU INSANE Page 14

MORE THAN 30 LOCAL PARTY RESOURCES

BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD!

Page 52

Page 28

Benjamin, 1, St. Paul

VOLUME 31

ISSUE 8

36

30 Ready or not?

Here are the questions you need to ask to figure out if your child is really ready to tackle kindergarten.

8 FROM THE EDITOR

Get the kids outside: Tamarack Nature Center, north of St. Paul, is a must-see for families!

24 ON BEHAVIOR

School bells

Not starting now

Homework hell

Don’t cry: You’ll survive Kindergarten Round Up.

There are good reasons (even beyond your own child’s needs) to delay school.

Follow these simple steps to ease the daily pain of this dreaded hassle.

10 CHATTER

Cool backpack

18 TEENS AND TWEENS

Only two years left!

26 BOOKSHELF

U of M students have created a sensory-friendly school bag for kids.

My son is entering his junior year.

Here’s how I’m settling myself down.

Put yourself in a back-to-school mindset with these new titles and old classics.

12 BABY ON BOARD

20 GROWS ON TREES

28 IN THE KITCHEN

Read up

Don’t move yet

Life and limb

Dragon-slime bread

Having a baby? Don’t panic if your house isn’t ready for your future teenager.

What if a tree falls on your house? Here’s how to save for such emergencies.

You’ll love this easy quick bread made with summer squash and blueberries.

14 TODDLER TIME

22 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

66 FROM OUR READERS

Why do we do this to ourselves and our littles? Because we need this!

How much is too much added sugar for the average 5-year-old?

Check out the best family-friendly places in the metro to find tons of pokestops.

Big parties?

6

16 SCHOOL DAYS

Summer isn’t over

August 2016 • mnparent.com

Sugar rush

Pokemon Go!

WATER RENTALS

AUGUST 2016

42

Lake Nokomis 612-729-1127

Lake Harriet 612-922-9226

Lake Como 651-487-8046

BIKE RENTALS

Toddler adoption Special challenges come with starting parenting well after infanthood.

Lake Calhoun 612-823-5765

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Minnehaha Falls 612-729-2660

Duluth – Canal Park 218-722-1180

Lake Nokomis 612-729-1127

Lake Como 651-487-8046

5/18/16 12:22 PM

48 Party ideas Wild Kratts! Mermaids!

Get your ideas here.

52 PARTY RESOURCES

58 Out & About About our cover kid Name: Benjamin Age: 1 City: St. Paul Parents: Joe and Ann Matuella Siblings: 3 furry-faced wiener-dog sisters: Lily, Ruby and Rosie Personality: Spunky, inquisitive, happy and always BUSY Favorite toy: Daddy’s TV remote control Favorite foods: Raspberries, Cheerios, spinach, turkey and hummus Photos by Kelly Greenwalt / Silver Blossom Photography Studio mnparent.com • August 2016

7

FROM THE EDITOR mnparent.com

PUBLISHER Janis Hall jhall@mnparent.com SALES MANAGER AND CO-PUBLISHER Terry Gahan tgahan@mnparent.com EDITOR Sarah Jackson 612-436-4385 • editor@mnparent.com CONTRIBUTORS Eric Braun, Dr. Gigi Chawla, Jamie Crowson, Dr. Peter Dehnel, Megan Devine, Jessica Flannigan, Kelly Greenwalt, Shannon Keough, Tina Mortimer, The PACER Center, Christina Ries, Jen Wittes, Jennifer Wizbowski CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dana Croatt dcroatt@mnparent.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Valerie Moe GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Wadeson CLIENT SERVICES Delaney Patterson 612-436-5070 • dpatterson@mnpubs.com CIRCULATION Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnparent.com mnparent.com/find-a-copy ADVERTISING 612-436-4360 • sales@mnparent.com

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A new chapter I

t’s time for back to school!

Oh, wait. Are you just starting school?

I feel you. I remember my son’s first days of kindergarten (a big topic in this issue, as you will see).

It all started the winter before his 5th birthday.

His school hosted a Kindergarten Round Up, an afternoon event at which preschoolers and their parents were promptly separated — with parents going to a meeting and all the kids rounded up for a bus ride and other activities. ↑↑He was ready for kindergarten, After this unsettling, unexpected division, we parents even if Mama wasn’t! sat agitated in plastic folding chairs before a giant projector screen. Lights were dimmed and a slideshow of darling children from the previous year of kindergarten began. Its soundtrack was the acoustic, sob-including We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes: Fall is here, hear the yell Back to school, ring the bell Brand new shoes, walking blues Climb the fence, books and pens I can tell that we are gonna be friends I can tell that we are gonna be friends.

Well. I’d never been one to mourn the fleeting stages of childhood.

Babyhood? Pfft. Good riddance to colic, constant nursing and shrieking.

Toddlerhood. It was dang cute, but — eh — we’re good here.

But this? Oh, no. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my boy’s preschool days — full of hugs and kisses from teachers, detailed daily reports and schoolwork that seemed quaint.

Public elementary school, only by comparison, looked like The System. There were expectations. And 600 children in one building, including sixth graders.

And why weren’t there fences all the way around the gigantic playground? Where was the daily schedule to account for every second of my boy’s day? And why wasn’t his teacher more, you know, huggy?

I wept only a couple tears during the video, but even that was a feat.

When I came up for air, I learned about the amazing curriculum, the fabulous culture of caring (“Kind. Safe. Ready.”) and the house-made muffins.

And then, my May-born boy — who had found a current preschool buddy on the bus ride! — came back to me, beaming, proud and ready, even if I wasn’t.

Welcome aboard!

Sarah Jackson, Editor

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

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CHATTER

COOL KID’S CLOTHING One Posh Closet, a Minnesota boutique featuring new and previously worn designer women’s clothing, is now offering children’s clothes.

Founded by Nicole Jennings — wife of Super Bowl Champion NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings — the Minnesota-based business started online in 2013, built around high-end pieces contributed by the wives and girlfriends of professional athletes.

In 2015, Jennings opened a bricks and mortar store in Bloomington, including personal-styling services — and now kids’ clothes.

New and previously worn One Posh Kid items range in price from $4.99 for gold sparkle shoes to $200 for high-end items from Burberry, Gucci and Armani.

Up to 20 percent of proceeds from sales go to a local Charity of the Month. Past charities have included Tubman, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Moyer Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Foundation and others.

Boutique hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturdays and Sundays at 7800 Metro Parkway, Suite 104, Bloomington (about a mile east of IKEA).

Learn more at oneposhcloset.com.

A sensory-friendly backpack for school!

Students at the University of Minnesota have designed the “world’s first sensory-friendly backpack.”

The Nesel Pack (a play on the word “nestle”) is a backpack for kids with sensory-processing issues, including children on the autism spectrum.

It features specially designed straps with chest clips that create the feeling of a hug, plus hooks for attaching fidgets and chews, a hip belt to give a sense of snugness, an ID-card slot and special pockets that can accommodate weights to simulate the sensation of a weighted vest.

Students, who started their project as part of an entrepreneurship class at the U, developed the pack in partnership with Minnesota-based Fraser, a nationally recognized provider of autism services with locations throughout the Twin Cities.

You can order packs for ages 6–12 for $115 at neselpacks.com.

A size for ages 13 and older is also in the works. Follow the startup at facebook.com/neselpacks.

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

Sovereign Code button-down with stripe tie, $19.99; Diesel graphic tee, $19.99; Hudson jeans, $24.99; Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Lo green sneakers, $19.99.

mnparent.com • August 2016

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empty. Plus, it featured many of the architectural details that have long seduced me — original, ornate woodwork, leaded glass windows, a lovely built-in buffet.

And it was so close to everything! We could walk to Lake Calhoun and the Bryant-Lake Bowl! Pizza Luce was just around the corner!

Sure, it had its downsides — there was no garage; the bedrooms were miniscule and each one had only one window; the bathroom featured a grimy old shower stall in lieu of a tub and would need to be completely redone in order to not be disgusting.

But whatever, it felt right and that’s all that mattered!

⊲⊲Closing the deal

Moving before Baby I

was about six months pregnant with our first child when my husband and I got around to discussing where the baby was going to sleep.

“Well, I suppose we could just keep the bassinet in our room,” I said as we paced our cozy, 800-square-foot one-bedroom house.

But was that a forever solution? Were we on board with sharing a bedroom with our daughter for the foreseeable future?

“Or I suppose this could be her ‘room,’” I said, gesturing at the tiny alcove that was then functioning as a small office directly outside our bedroom.

As we say here in Minnesota, the look on my husband’s face following this suggestion was “interesting.” By which I mean, I think the reality of our situation — the full catastrophe, you might say — was finally sinking in.

I could tell he was visualizing a lifetime spent with one’s child essentially living in one’s walk-in closet. Need to hit the bathroom in the middle of the night? No problem, just take a quick stroll through your teenage daughter’s bedroom!

⊲⊲Head versus heart We contacted a real state agent right away and started checking out houses within a few days of this revelation.

As far as I can remember, our criteria were vague.

What we wanted was along the lines of “bigger than 800 square feet, at least two bedrooms, somewhere in Minneapolis.”

We visited a ton of dumps before coming across “the one” — a Dutch colonial in the Lyn/ Lake area of Minneapolis. It was huge — or at least it felt that way, because it was completely

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

So we put in an offer, it was accepted, and we scheduled Oct. 5 for the closing date — a good three weeks before my due date. Plenty of time to pack up, move everything and settle in to our new place before our little bundle of love came on the scene, right?

I’m sure it’s obvious that wasn’t the case at all.

On Oct. 4, I was meeting with a client in a coffee shop when I started sweating profusely and feeling generally out of sorts.

But as a true professional, I kept my arms locked to my sides, wrapped things up quickly and staggered off to my car ASAP. I was in labor, of course.

The morning of Oct. 5 found me reclining in my hospital bed, floating on morphine in the aftermath of an unplanned C-section.

My husband made the necessary calls and it was determined that we could close on the house in the hospital.

Pro tip: As long as general anesthesia isn’t a factor, you can totally sign important paperwork mere hours after major surgery!

⊲⊲Keep it simple If someone had suggested to me that buying a house in late pregnancy might not be the best idea, I would’ve rolled my eyes and tuned them out.

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That said, I wish I could go back five years and tell my pregnant self that waiting was totally an option.

Babies are small and they don’t immediately need their own nurseries, playrooms, massive backyards with swings and more.

Plus, being pregnant can be stressful, delivery can be stressful, the newborn stage can be stressful — and moving can be stressful, too.

So do what you need to do, of course, but while you do it — try to keep things simple and feel free to embrace a “wait and see” attitude.

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

Send questions or comments to skeough@mnparent.com.

Help Me Grow MNP 0816 S3.indd 1

7/14/16 11:24 AM

mnparent.com • August 2016

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Party on, Toddler!

T

here are so many rites of passage to behold as we guide our littles through childhood: skinned knees and bad dreams. Barf and birthday parties.

Toddler Parent, you may find it curious — even alarming — that your favorite toddler columnist would loosely equate the joy of a birthday party with barf.

Oh, but be certain, that choice was intentional.

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE to celebrate. And I love to have fun with my kids.

I like to blow out the candles on my birthdays — and I have every hope and intention of making my kids’ yearly milestones happy and memorable.

And, so far, I have happy memories of the various parties I’ve planned and overseen for my children.

However, I must admit that the experience of throwing a party for very young children is indeed somewhat nauseating.

⊲⊲Just keep swimming One of my most creative endeavors was in honor of my son’s third birthday.

“He has a lot of toys,” I thought.

“He doesn’t even really know he’s supposed to get presents,” I told myself.

“He LOVES sea animals!”

Bingo.

I would host an Under the Sea party with shark hats and goldfish crackers and a fish-shaped cake (yum) and seaweed streamers. We would play Fish, Fish, Shark and Pin the Bubble on the Clownfish and other such “clever” takes on classic games. AND we would start an aquarium for my fish-loving toddler.

Every guest would bring a fish or fun underwater decoration — castles, caves, mermen, coral reefs and the like. (The only guest who brought a tank decoration brought a statue of a blue motorcycle. Bygones.)

⊲⊲Don’t sweat it Of course it was cool. Of course we had fun. BUT — although I’m not a perfectionist mom who needs everything just so — I found myself sweating and

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

fussing and worrying throughout the entire party.

We played through all the oceanic games — like 11 of them — within the first half hour of action!

Now what was I supposed to do with all the kids, who were young, quasi-verbal and precariously attempting Pull-Ups? They were all so new to the mere idea of being at a friend’s house that they were just sitting there staring at one another. And was I imagining it? Or were they kind of scared of me?

Because — you know — I was, oddly, dressed up, but also wearing fuzzy socks, plus a shark hat that looked like it was eating my skull.

And sweating. Oh, the sweating. Marathon runners have nothing on Jen in Command of a Toddler Birthday Party.

And so I ask you, Toddler Parent, because no doubt you’ve asked yourself: Does this matter? Will they remember? How do I find balance between celebration and spoiling?

And what if I set the bar too high NOW, with years of parties still ahead?

⊲⊲Why do we do this?

It’s my sincerest belief that a child’s first three birthday parties are for the PARENTS. Yes, a party is a celebration of your child.

Yes, your child will have fun and giggle and eat too much cake and quite possibly meltdown.

JEN’S TOP 5 ‘NOT IN THIS HOUSE’ PARTY LOCATIONS ⊲⊲Choo Choo Bob’s, St. Paul ⊲⊲Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley ⊲⊲Firefighter’s Hall and Museum, Minneapolis ⊲⊲The Little Gym, Edina ⊲⊲Kiddywampus, Hopkins

Now what was I supposed to do with all the kids, who were young, quasi-verbal and precariously attempting Pull-Ups? But this is all you — the need to dye your frosting with all-natural cherry juice while wearing a crazy hat.

Why do we insist on doing this? Because the baby years are hard.

Because — for many of us — the toddler years are even harder. Because it’s joyful and sad and inspiring and crazy to watch them grow up.

As parents, we deserve this. We need this.

⊲⊲Maybe mix it up?

If these early parties are just for us, why don’t we just play Cards Against Humanity, drink martinis and make a cake-shaped cheese platter alongside a crusty baguette?

Some parents do! If that’s you, I bow in utter respect.

For those of you (ahem) who write an original fairytale starring your little heroine’s fairytale-themed party (and hide a handmade golden dragon as the final piece of the story’s scavenger hunt), I bow to you, too.

Does it matter? Yes. Will they remember? Sort of.

Only because there are a million pictures and because you talk about that fish party all the damn time.

Do what you will, do what you want.

Passage on through those rites — and please remember that cherry-frosted glitter fairy cupcakes go GREAT with martinis.

Best of both worlds.

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Jen Wittes is a freelance writer and mother of two who lives in St. Paul. Learn more about her work at jenwittes.com. Send questions or comments to jwittes@mnparent.com.

mnparent.com • August 2016

15

Not ready for all-day K T

his school year my daughter will be starting sixth grade and my two middle boys will be entering third and first grades.

Our youngest son could start kindergarten this year (he turned 5 in July), but based on his development — social, emotional, academic and physical — we made the decision to delay his entry into kindergarten until he’s 6.

That means we’ll be paying weekly child-care expenses and tuition at a part-time private preschool for another school year. Ugh! But it’s a decision I know is in his best interest — and I know there’s a good chance it could boost his academic confidence throughout his entire educational career.

⊲⊲Conflicting opinions Deciding whether your child is ready for kindergarten isn’t always easy, but it’s a decision that — from my perspective as a kindergarten teacher and mother of four — demands thoughtful consideration.

It’s important to reflect on your individual child’s needs and development, not just how many birthdays your child has had. Just as every child isn’t ready to walk on his or her first birthday, not every child is ready for kindergarten at age 5.

I’m aware of books, articles, research, reports and studies that share conflicting opinions either criticizing or advocating a delayed entry to kindergarten in various situations.

In my own classroom, I’ve seen some young 5-year-olds experience success. Others struggle.

⊲⊲Downsides to delaying I understand that delayed entry to kindergarten isn’t always the best answer.

Some young 5-year-olds are just ready, similar to those toddlers who start walking at 9 months.

But for those who simply aren’t, there are other factors to consider:

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

⊲⊲ The cost of childcare or preschool can be prohibitive for families. ⊲⊲ Though there are some excellent programs designed to fill a gap year for young 5-yearolds, not all families have access to those options. ⊲⊲ Not all preschools offer programming for children who meet kindergarten age eligibility, such as Head Start. (In Minnesota children who are age 5 by Sept. 1 are eligible for kindergarten.)

⊲⊲Academic, social demands Parents who send their 5-year-olds to kindergarten can rest assured knowing that schools and teachers are expected to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of each individual learner in their classrooms.

Every fall, I start the school year with a kindergarten classroom full of kids with unique needs, strengths and abilities. I’m committed to do my best to help every child learn and grow, both socially and academically.

But the reality is that some kids struggle with the intensity full-day kindergarten and, as a result, have to work extra hard to keep up with academic and social demands. These little ones end up expending a lot of energy working to stay on task. This can cause some children to become tired and frustrated — and they may act out with negative behaviors and/or emotions, which can affect the child’s own learning and the learning of others.

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⊲⊲Taking more time Delayed entry to kindergarten can be the best choice for some children. Some kids, like my 5-year-old son, just need more time, and will benefit from an additional year to grow and develop before their little bodies and minds are ready for the pace, standards and objectives that accompany all-day, every-day kindergarten.

Waiting a year to start school can be a good decision — especially if the child’s alternative will be immersion in an enriching environment that promotes school readiness, independence and positive social skills, whether that’s at home, in a preschool setting, at a transitional kindergarten or as part of early-5 programming.

Megan Devine is an elementary school teacher who lives with her husband and four children in Northeastern Minnesota. Follow her on Instagram @megtdevine. Write her at mdevine@mnparent.com.

Only two years left!

I

’ve been thinking a lot lately about some tangible motto or quip that I might share with my eldest son as he enters his last two years of high school.

As a mom of a boy, I’ve learned how important it is to economize my words.

In his elementary years, I realized my ranting and long-winded explanations to him about making his bed and brushing his teeth — all in the scurry of the morning rush — were only making me frustrated.

I figured out all those words in one clump were overwhelming him so much, he couldn’t pick out the important ones.

And, therefore, he just stopped listening.

So I simplified: “Bed? Teeth? Clothes?”

This trick worked marvelously.

⊲⊲Mom babble Over the years, I’ve adapted this streamlined communication with him in his different stages.

Now that he’s a teenager, I say the same thing to him when I pick him up from school: How’d it go today?

He then proceeds to tell me the highlights of his day and what he’s learning in his classes. (He’s a verbal processor.)

Then I ask: Whatcha got tonight?

In my mother’s head, this translates roughly to: Have you made a list of all of your classes and what homework you’ve been assigned today that will be due

tomorrow? Do you have any upcoming tests or projects for the week — and do you have a study plan to incorporate them into your day? And, by the way, did you get your grade for that history test you took last week?

⊲⊲Communicating calm This fall, he’s beginning his junior year.

And we’re both conscious of the same things: Only TWO more years?!

Will his grades be high enough for his college aspirations?

Is he ready for the SAT? What college will he/we choose in two years (when he won’t be under my roof anymore)?

I’ve told myself I can’t let my worries for every stage on the road to his adulthood get the best of me.

By doing so, and letting them fall out of my mouth uncontrollably, I end up inadvertently doing two things — totally stressing him out and accidentally telling him, I’m worried you can’t do it.

I don’t want either of these messages to come from me. The cause of my concern is really just my profound hope that he does well in life.

I’m hoping these mom mantras — that have evolved of out everyday parenting — actually stick.

⊲⊲The reality of the workload The beginning of a school year is exciting, but also daunting.

Two years of high school have shown him he’s not in Kansas (middle school) anymore.

TEEN STUFF

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

He knows high school is hard.

He’s seen what happens when you decide to skip a big project (or not turn it in on time). He’s learned that 10 percent of a homework grade can make or break your final outcome.

And he’s discovered that cramming for a test the night before isn’t all that effective.

If he decides not to take these lessons into account — or has weeks when he doesn’t — he’ll face some potentially steep consequences.

Of course, he’s expected to balance this workload with daily football practices, twice-weekly choir practices outside of school, social stuff like dances and bonfires, and, oh yeah, time with us, his family.

So I’m back to where I started: How do I honestly tell him how to do all of this?

⊲⊲Mom mantras Last year, I found myself advising him during those especially tiring and commitment-filled weeks: Work hard. Take the three hours of work you have and be diligent and honest with yourself about your focus.

And: Take breaks. If its 30 minutes of TV with your feet up, or 30 minutes tinkering on your guitar, enjoy it. Fully engage in your rest. Play hard.

When it comes to football, hit hard. At choir, sing intently. At bonfires with your friends, laugh loudly.

I’m not a philosopher.

But I’m hoping these mom mantras — that have evolved out of everyday parenting — actually stick.

I also hope they tamp down my mom babble.

Work hard. Play hard.

Now it’s time I follow my own advice!

Jennifer Wizbowski lives in Excelsior. Send comments, questions and story ideas to jwizbowski@mnparent.com.

How to actually save more A

recent morning after a harsh storm, I came outside to find a huge branch had fallen out of a tree and into our yard.

By “huge branch,” I mean it was thicker than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s thigh and longer than a minivan. Somehow, we’d all slept through the massive snap and crash it surely made. (Those sounds must’ve blended in with all the lightning cracks.)

Somehow, too, it had missed our roof and fence, all windows and all living things — including plants — and dropped harmlessly into the grass.

It dug an annoying divot, and it forced me to spend time I didn’t want to spend cutting it up, but really, “dropped harmlessly” is the absolute best a guy can hope for in a situation like that.

And the average amount of that difference is about $9,000.

Experts say any family should have somewhere between three and eight months of salary in savings they can access in case of emergency. (This is a big range, but it all depends on your family: If you have two working adults, you can probably get by with closer to three months, but if you’re single or have a partner who isn’t working stably, you should aim for the higher side).

⊲⊲What if?

As I was hacking that log apart, my mind wandered to all the costs it could have entailed. What if it had crushed an eave and ripped off the gutter? What if it had smashed a car? What if the whole tree had come down and we had to have someone come out to remove it?

Needless to say, these aren’t costs that anyone relishes — or anticipates.

My wife and I understand the importance of savings, of course, even if we don’t actually save as much as we believe we should.

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Survey of American Family Finances, we’re like the majority of people in that regard.

Most everyone agrees that families should keep a certain amount of “liquid” (easy-to-tap-into) savings on hand. And, in fact, most of those surveyed said they do have a savings cushion.

But here’s the catch: There’s a difference between the amount of money people say they should save and the amount they do save.

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⊲⊲So what about your family?

Do you have any savings you can rely on in case of an emergency like a job loss, a serious illness or even an unexpected car repair or appliance purchase?

Hopefully you do. And hopefully the difference between your savings and a three-to-eight-month cushion is smaller than $9,000. But in case it’s not, here are a few tips for increasing your savings.

⊲⊲Have a separate savings account and keep it separate.

The Pew Survey found that most people don’t think about their savings and checking accounts as purely distinct. Actually, half of the survey takers who said they had no

Setting up an automatic deposit into your savings account saves you from your own worst enemy.

savings actually did have one — they probably just thought of it as another bucket for spending money.

They forgot it was a savings account.

When you open a savings account and use that money only for emergencies or another intended purpose, guess what?

You’re much more likely to actually have the money there when you need it.

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⊲⊲Make your savings automatic.

If we leave it up to ourselves to remember to add money to our savings account, we’re going to get around to that around the time The Rock wins his next Academy Award.

But setting up an automatic deposit into your savings account saves you from your own worst enemy (we all know who that is), and makes saving a sure thing.

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⊲⊲Save at least a little more.

It sounds like a no-brainer: To beef up your savings account, you need to save more! But simple or not, lots of us don’t do it.

Financial experts say that every time you add even a few extra dollars to your weekly or monthly savings, you’re doing yourself two favors: You’re boosting your savings, but you’re also forcing yourself to get used to spending less.

Which makes it easier to save more.

Which makes it more likely that when you need money for an emergency, it will be there.

Eric Braun is a Minneapolis dad of two boys and the co-author of the forthcoming book for young readers, The Survival Guide for Money Smarts: Earn, Save, Spend, Give (Free Spirit Publishing, September 2016). Send comments or questions to ebraun@mnparent.com.

GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM THEIR BIGGEST DREAMS.

START SAVING NOW. If you’re interested in giving your child the opportunity to go to college in the future, it’s time to start saving now.

Contact me for free planning session.

(952) 806-9606 • mark.e.skubic@nm.com markeskubic.nm.com

Mark E. Skubic | Financial Representative ©2016 Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, and member of FINRA and SIPC. Mark Edward Skubic, Insurance Agent(s) of NM. Mark Edward Skubic, Registered Representative(s) of NMIS.

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How much sugar is too much?

How many grams of sugar a day is OK for a kindergartener?

Appropriate sugar intake is an important topic for kids, teens and grown-ups.

Americans are, by far, some of the most obese and unhealthiest people in the world, despite our amazing health-care systems.

Excessive sugar intake puts kids on a path to struggle with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Being savvy with what you’re serving kids and what they have access to eating is a proactive way to maintain their good health.

The American Heart Association has set strong guidelines that say children should be limited to 3 to 4 teaspoons of added sugar per day. (Added sugar doesn’t occur naturally in foods, but rather, is added during the making of processed foods.)

Since each teaspoon is about 4 grams, this means limiting kids to 12 to 16 grams of added sugar daily. Added sugar doesn’t include the sugar content of milk, whole fruits or even 100 percent fruit-juice beverages.

However, fruit juice is a large source of sugar that kids simply don’t need. Therefore, I recommend limiting juice to 4 to 6 ounces daily.

It’s challenging to understand what added sugar is in our foods because labels can be deceiving. But looking for words like glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed

Our daughter, 3, is waking up terrified in the middle of the night. Help!

Night terrors are sleep disruptions that typically occur a few hours after kids fall asleep during transitions between sleep phases. This is different than nightmares, which arise during the dream stages of sleep, late into the night or in the early morning hours.

These episodes of night terrors can look and sound very frightening for parents, but kids don’t have any recollection of these events.

At the time, children can look truly distressed with elevated heart rates and breathing rates.

Kids may be kicking, screaming and even hysterically crying. Generally, during night terrors, kids are difficult to console. They may not seem to recognize parents or calm down when held.

Eventually, after several minutes of the night terror, kids will fall back asleep. Just like

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starch and corn syrup — and recognizing how much is in each serving offered to kids — is a good place to start.

Beverages such as soda — and even some seemingly healthy veggie smoothies — can have 10 or 11 teaspoons of added sugar per 12-ounce serving or, sometimes more than 40 grams.

That can be as much as three times the daily added-sugar limit recommended for kids!

Recognizing the added sugar intake in the foods you’re offering can help you make choices about lower-sugar options and can help you keep your kids on track for staying healthy into adulthood.

children who sleepwalk, keeping kids safe during their sleep disruption and guiding them back to sleep — without purposefully waking them up — is the most successful strategy.

Night terrors affect about 5 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 12.

Stress and being overtired may predispose kids to night terrors, so helping kids gracefully manage stress — and helping them stick to bedtime routines that offer sufficient rest — can help decrease the risk of night terrors.

My 2-year-old likes to play alone when other kids are around. Why? It’s normal for a 2-year-old to engage in solitary play. Solitary play is the first stage of play development.

Children will explore learning and interacting with toys on their own or with caregivers, and at their own pace. They’re like little scientists at this stage, truly trying to understand the world around them.

The next stage of play development is parallel play. In parallel play, kids are still playing and learning about the world on their own, but often near other kids doing the same activity.

Though they don’t cooperatively play together, they’re definitely learning from one another. They’ll watch each other and mimic skills.

The next stage, associative play, is an extension beyond parallel play in which there’s more engagement in the other child’s activity, such as sharing toys and ideas. This sharing, however, is yet another way kids advance their own individual playing.

The final stage of play development is cooperative play in which kids truly have one joint focus such as a toy, or a game, or an imaginary idea, that they’re sharing or contributing toward together.

This developmental progress for play isn’t bound by specific ages.

Challenges between kids, and subsequently angst for parents, can arise when kids are at different stages of development.

But be patient, recognize the normal developmental pattern, and continue to expose your children to other kids to promote their development over time.

Dr. Gigi Chawla is a board-certified pediatrician and the senior medical director of primary care at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. mnparent.com • August 2016

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The dreaded homework hassle T

imothy practically ran through the front door, just like he did almost every day when arriving home from school. Tossing his backpack in the corner, he announced to his mom, Wendy, that he had no homework and promptly headed for the family room to watch TV. Wendy was skeptical, but she was in the middle of making dinner and made a mental note to follow up later.

For the past few months, homework had been an ongoing battle in the Johnson house.

Sure enough, after she and her son were done eating, Wendy retrieved his backpack and found three assignments inside his homework folder.

“Timothy!” she hollered in an irritated tone. “Come into the kitchen right now and do your homework!”

Timothy ignored his mother, turning the TV volume even louder. Wendy strode into the other room and shut the TV off.

Timothy stomped into the kitchen and angrily tore the homework sheets into little pieces.

“I told you I don’t have any homework. Are you happy now?!” he said.

If you’ve ever found yourself locked in battle, trying to drag your child through another day of homework, you know exactly how Wendy was feeling — powerless.

What can you do?

You can provide a home environment that encourages school success, using Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

⊲⊲What’s PBIS? PBIS is a process that helps children learn how to behave appropriately by focusing on teaching, practicing and rewarding preferred behavior. For PBIS to work well, it’s important to understand the meaning of your child’s behavior.

Is Timothy just tired after a long day — or does he need help with schoolwork?

Once you know the answer to that question, you can come up with an effective plan. Keep in mind, supporting positive behavior doesn’t mean you’re going to change your child.

It simply means you’re changing the environment to support what the child needs, and teaching, reinforcing and rewarding the preferred behavior.

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Here’s a starter plan for parents who want to make the homework hassle a little more manageable:

⊲⊲1. Empty your child’s backpack.

To help your child stay on top of his or her homework, you need to know what the assignments are. When your child arrives home from school, spend a few minutes emptying the backpack. This is something you can do together, while talking through that day’s homework requirements.

If you have an older child, this may mean jumping onto your child’s school website or looking in a virtual backpack.

⊲⊲2. Pick a regular place to do homework.

Children often have difficulty staying focused on homework and are easily distracted by whatever else is going on around them. It helps to pick a spot where your child always does homework — the kitchen table for example. By using the same location each day, it will be easier for your child to stay on task.

⊲⊲3. Agree on a time to do homework.

You know your child’s behavior patterns. Some kids need time to transition back home after a long day at school. Perhaps they need to eat or burn off a little energy before doing homework.

Others might be more successful doing homework immediately before other things get in the way. The key is to pick a specific time when homework should be done each day. This will help avoid the verbal tug-of-war between parents and their children.

HELP FOR PARENTS The PACER Center offers resources on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), including ways to encourage positive behavior and examples of workable strategies. See PACER.org/cmh.

⊲⊲4. Develop an incentive plan.

Most children respond well when you provide them rewards for engaging in positive behavior. Come up with a way to reward your child when he or she is following the homework plan you’ve worked out together.

The two of you can develop a menu of incentives that might include time to play a favorite video game or a chance to spend time with you doing a special activity.

Perhaps there’s a movie your child really wants to see or a special meal he’d like you to make.

Use these desires to offer a positive incentive. Keep in mind that these incentives should be time-limited and offer immediate recognition.

It took some time, but Wendy was eventually able to establish a plan that works for Timothy. She now checks his backpack daily and stays in touch with his teachers.

By supporting her son with a plan that encourages success, Wendy has seen the homework hassle diminish. Using daily treats and weekly incentives, she’s found ways to reward Timothy’s positive behavior.

For Wendy, the turnaround in her son’s behavior has been all the incentive she’s needed to continue with the new routine.

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© Disney. Reprinted with permission from Disney Online. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Babble.com and was published in partnership with The PACER Center, a nonprofit organization based in the Twin Cities that helps families with children with disabilities and also runs the National Bullying Prevention Center.

Learn more at pacer.org.

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BOOKSHELF

School supplies

By Sarah Jackson It’s August. And that means — egads — it’s time to start thinking about getting back into a school-year rhythm and mindset. Help your child prepare with these stories and books that cater to early learners!

The Lockdown Drill School children today don’t just take part in fire drills. Because of numerous attacks on schools in recent years, kids as young as preschool-age are required to participate in lockdown drills that involve preparing for intruders, typically by hiding. And that can be scary. That’s why Tennessee native Becky Coyle — a deputy sheriff and school resource officer — has penned a new children’s book trilogy: Police In Our School, The Lockdown Drill and Who Let the Dog In? Coyle hopes to reinforce safety rules, but also lessen fear about drills and even school-based police officers. She said: “It is our job to figure out how to train children without compromising their innocence.” Learn more at cops4schools.com.

Ages 3 and up $12.99

The Night Before Preschool In this back-to-school classic — now available as a board book — Billy is so nervous about starting preschool he can’t sleep. He even gets a tummy ache the first day of school. But, lo and behold, the boy has a blast as he discovers his new world, including naptime on special mats, boys and girls bathrooms, group snack times, the dress-up box, the playground and even games with friends. Natasha Wing’s popular series also includes similar books on kindergarten and first grade.

Ages 0–3 $6.99

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Princess Cupcake Jones Won’t Go to School This second book in the Cupcake series follows the modernday princess as she tries everything in her power to avoid going to the first day school, including pretending to being sick, hiding and more. In the end — thanks to her mom, who is always one step ahead of her — Cupcake goes to school, makes new friends and actually has fun!

Ages 5–7 $15.95

First Grade, Here I Come!

Get ready for another school year with an exploration of first-grade adventures (and misadventures), including a school field trip, pajama day and recess, plus scenes of what it’s like to tackle spelling and math problems, library day, Halloween parties, trouble with friends, lost teeth and more.

Ages 4–6 $3.99

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s ABC Brush up on the ABCs with this gorgeous new board book, featuring Eric Carle’s classic illustrations. Each colorful letter introduces a beloved animal.

Ages 1–3 $8.99

IN THE KITCHEN

‘DRAGON SLIME’ BREAD! We love this recipe for a few reasons.

It’s an easy and surprisingly delicious back-to-school snack (or breakfast). It helps you incorporate veggies (zucchini), fruit (blueberries) and whole wheat flour into your kid’s diet. Local and organic blueberries and zucchini are easy to find in Minnesota this time of year. And the batter looks a bit like dragon slime because of the shredded green zucchini.

BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD (DRAGON SLIME BREAD) INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups white flour 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 eggs 2 cups white sugar

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1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon orange zest 2 cups grated zucchini (or any other summer squash) 1 1/4 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You will need two loaf pans. Because of all the oil in this recipe, there’s no need to grease them. We used a single Bundt pan (greased with olive oil) for a little made-inMinnesota touch.

Whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

Beat the eggs with an electric mixer in a second, larger bowl until the mixture is a pale yellow.

Add the sugar and beat until well combined.

Mix in the vegetable oil, vanilla extract and orange zest, beating until well combined.

Stir in the zucchini and mix thoroughly.

Add half of the flour mixture to the wet mixture and beat until combined. Then add the second half, beating again.

Fold the blueberries into the batter using a spoon or rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into loaf pans (or a Bundt pan). (It will look like dragon slime. Yum!) Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Start checking the bread after 45 minutes. When it’s done, the bread will be medium brown.

When you test the bread with a toothpick or sharp knife, the toothpick or knife will come out clean with no wet batter sticking to it.

Let the bread cool for about 10 minutes and transfer it to a wire rack.

Slice the bread while it’s still warm, if desired, and serve.

Source: See grist.org/article/zucchini_bread for the full blog post about this recipe.

Preschoolers at St. David’s Center in Minnetonka take part in circle time.

Photos courtesy of St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development.

K THE

ally e r s kid e o d ckl at a h t W od to en? o g d t nee ergar rt and a o d nd ss kin supp a r — ce You ment to ac s g jud gnes f you n i i will urces . o res them d nee

QUESTION

BY CAMIE CHRISTENSEN

mnparent.com • August 2016

31

THE K QUESTION

M

Y SON ENTERED THIS WORLD WITH HIS OWN AGENDA. It was Oct. 31, 2014, and I was just barely 34 weeks pregnant.

I was at work at St. David’s Center, going about the regular busyness of my day as an education coordinator in our early childhood education program, when I went into labor. Being a natural life planner, I’d done everything I could possibly do to prepare for this baby: I read the books, set up the nursery and signed my husband and me up for all the relevant prenatal classes. I followed the app on my phone that told me what size fruit the baby was each week. In addition, working with children was my profession.

In short, I was ready.

But then, on that day, my water broke, my face paled and I said, “No. Not now. I’m not ready. He’s not ready.

We’re not ready!”

Did he listen to me? No, he did not. And three hours later, he came into this world — ready or not.

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FACING THE FEAR

Though I’m early on in my parenting journey, I can imagine this is what kindergarten will feel like. As a former pre-kindergarten teacher, I’ve worked with parents to help their children prepare for kindergarten, supporting them through typical and atypical development.

I’ve hugged parents and assured them amidst tears and fear that their children would grow and thrive in the next steps of their educational journeys.

I’d go through the checklist on my assessment tool, highlighting each child’s strengths in the classroom (one-to-one correspondence or following multi-step directions). We’d discuss goals (letter identification or problem-solving in social situations).

But even when everything looked great on paper, the fear was always there. I’d see it in the faces of many parents.

No. Not now. I’m not ready. He’s not ready.

We’re not ready.

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TRENDING

So, why not just put it off? Wait another year, and my child will be ready then?

“Red-shirting” — a term used for delaying an athlete’s participation in college competition for a year — is now being used to describe the decision to delay enrollment into kindergarten.

In Minnesota children who are age 5 by Sept. 1 are eligible for kindergarten.

Parents with kids whose fifth birthdays fall shortly before September are often terribly torn. They can’t help but compare their 5-year-olds to some of the others, who are almost a year older — especially those born shortly after Sept. 1 — and wonder what to do.

Other parents consider red-shirting even when their kids birthdays aren’t near the borderline.

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mnparent.com • August 2016

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THE K QUESTION academic or behavioral). Some say they want their children to have an edge in athletics.

Researchers have conducted surveys and studies to discover the short-term and long-term effects of holding children back another year.

But the jury’s still out. No one really knows the right answer. As an early childhood professional, I maintain that, when it comes to development, you can’t have a one-size-fits-all answer.

The only definite answer I have is that if it becomes a trend — and more and more children are held back — there will be serious implications to consider for preschool classrooms (already working hard to explore new and more challenging curriculums) as well as kindergarten classrooms (facing ever-widening gaps in skills among students).

Don’t get me wrong; it’s not the issue of just one or two children being held back, it’s the “trend” term that troubles me.

If an increasing number of kids are held back, it will change the academic landscape — a landscape that’s already being scrutinized for accelerating too quickly: “Kindergarten is the new first grade. Preschool is the new kindergarten.”

At St. David’s Center, our preschool teachers use assessment tools with extensive checklists to monitor children’s development.

But even with checklists, the choice to enter kindergarten comes down to parents making their own judgment calls.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

So what do you really need to look for when it comes to your child being ready for kindergarten?

1. My child can perform basic skills independently. ⊲⊲ Can your child use the bathroom, including wiping? ⊲⊲ Can your child get dressed? Put a jacket on to go outside? ⊲⊲ Is your child able to follow a daily routine, with or without picture reminders?

2. My child follows directions and safety rules. ⊲⊲ Does your child pick up toys and put them away independently or when asked? ⊲⊲ Does your child transition from place to place and from one activity to another safely with you or with a group?

3. My child communicates with adults when he or she needs help.

5. My child makes friends and plays cooperatively. ⊲⊲ Does your child recognize emotions in others? ⊲⊲ Is your child able to work through a social problem independently or with your assistance?

6. My child is able to regulate his or her emotions appropriately. ⊲⊲ Does your child use words and phrases like “I don’t like that,” or “Can I play?” ⊲⊲ If your child is upset about something, does he or she respond without using physical aggression or self-harm?

These skills need to be modeled and taught.

Yes, your child will have more of an opportunity to practice these skills he or she waits another year to enter kindergarten. But there’s the other side of the coin to consider: Many children have already built the foundation for these skills and they’re now ready for new opportunities to practice them.

And kindergarten provides that chance.

At St. David’s Center, we work with children with a variety of abilities. Your child may not be showing the above skills, and that’s OK. Development is a wide, wide range.

But when it comes to making important decisions that will impact your child’s education, I believe, it’s necessary to open all the doors.

In fact, I believe there’s a seventh item missing from the above list above:

⊲⊲ Does your child communicate with familiar adults?

4. My child successfully functions as part of a group. ⊲⊲ Does your child join other children in play?

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7. My child has access to resources.

A parent and a child with access to resources is a child who is going to be beyond prepared for kindergarten.

3 EARLY LEARNING RESOURCES TO EXPLORE Minnesota Department of Education education.state.mn.us Find a wealth of information about many early learning topics, including: ⊲⊲ Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) ⊲⊲ Early Childhood Screening Requirements ⊲⊲ Early Learning Scholarships Programs ⊲⊲ Head Start ⊲⊲ Infant and Toddler Intervention/Preschool Special Education ⊲⊲ School Readiness/Kindergarten ⊲⊲ Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge

ANOTHER WAY

Utilizing local resources, I think, could be an alternative to red-shirting for many families.

If you’ve identified a few areas of concern for your child, that’s Step 1. Consulting with your child’s doctor, teacher or school district could be Step 2. Utilizing resources can be Step 3.

In Minnesota, we’re so lucky. There are plenty of resources we can access if we feel a child isn’t where he or she should be developmentally.

Birth-to-3 services (sometimes known as early intervention), whether public or private, are available for those who are open to them. I believe we all benefit from early childhood intervention, no matter what developmental journey a child might be taking.

While I maintain that parents always know their child best, I’m a big fan of the “it takes a village” approach. And Minnesota has built a fine village.

As long as you’re willing to look and willing to accept support, you can find it here. (See the sidebar for a list of local resources.)

DIVING IN TOGETHER

My son entered this world with his own agenda and I’m sure he will enter kindergarten with his own schedule as well.

I want what any parent wants; I want him to be ready.

Every parent truly has to check in with everything they know about their children and make decisions that feel right.

No blaming. No shaming.

I do, however, hope there’s some comfort in knowing it might not be as complicated as you thought it would be — and that you

⊲⊲ Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten

Help Me Grow helpmegrowmn.org This new educational program — a collaboration of the Minnesota Department of Education, the Department of Health and Department of Human Services and other local service agencies — was developed to provide resources for parents and other caregivers who have questions or concerns about their child’s growth and development.

Minnesota Department of Health health.state.mn.us Check out the Early Intervention System page for information about birth-to-3 and 3-to-5 services. See the Children and Youth with Special Health Needs page for a list of CYSHN programs in Minnesota.

have access to more resources than you might have realized.

In the end, we’re all the same. We’re all that scared parent. We look into our 5-year-olds’ sun-kissed faces in disbelief.

How did this day come so fast?

It may not be this year, but it will be some year and — just as I held my son’s hand as we waded in Lake Calhoun the other week — I plan to one day take his 5- or 6-year-old little hand and dive in to that thing called kindergarten.

I just know I’ll hear, “We’ve got you. We’re all in this together.”

Camie Christensen is the program director of the Early Childhood Education Program at St. David’s Center in Minnetonka. St. David’s is a preschool, children’s mental health clinic and pediatric therapy clinic. Learn more at stdavidscenter.org.

mnparent.com • August 2016

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Climb, build, craw Tamarack Nature Center — recently expanded to offer more play and preschooler-friendly programming — helps kids immerse themselves in the outdoors. And, yes, it’s free.

wl, splash, grow!

Story and photos

by Tina Mortimer

Climb, build, crawl, splash, grow!

Do your kids like to play in the dirt?

Build tree forts? Climb cliffs and careen through tunnels?

If you’re nodding your head YES right now, you need to plan a trip to the newly updated Tamarack Nature Center, about 20 minutes north of St. Paul.

Operated by Ramsey County Parks and Recreation, the center is located in a 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park in White Bear Township.

More than four miles of turf pathways, paved trails and boardwalks provide year-round access to forests, prairies and ponds in the park.

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↑↑Tamarack Nature Center north of St. Paul features indoor and outdoor learning opportunites for all ages.

And that’s not to mention the Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area, which opened in 2011.

It’s positively packed with nature-play features, including: The Wood: Build a tree fort!

The Overlook: Climb the cliffs and survey the local landscape.

The Stream: Make a dam, learn how water flows and dig in the sand.

The Garden: Pull weeds and water.

Climb, build, crawl, splash, grow!

The Mud Table: Play in the mud.

Get dirty.

The Hobbit House: Crawl in and over the house like a hobbit!

You’ll also find many tree-canopied picnic areas, so you can take a break from the sun and fit in a lunch as part of your visit.

Tamarack Nature Center Indoor activities abound at Tamarack, too.

To accommodate a growing number of

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users — Tamarack had an estimated 117,000 visitors in 2015 — the nature center is working on a 10-year project to upgrade and expand its facilities, programs and exhibits.

Marcie Oltman, director of the nature center, said the most recent phase of the project expanded the main exhibit area, revamped the entrance to allow for strollers and wheelchairs and created an animal-care room for the center’s resident owls, turtles and tree frogs.

The first phase also added a dedicated

←←The Stream at Tamarack helps kids learn how water flows while they dig in the sand.

space for birthday parties and a volunteer room.

This month, a new parking lot will be added closer to the main building to make it more easily accessible to parents and groups.

The expanded main building, which started out decades ago as little more than a trailhead stop with restrooms, now offers a spacious lodge with a distinctly log-cabin feel.

Today’s visitors can congregate and enjoy indoor exhibits. Parents will especially appreciate the sparkly new restrooms and hand-washing station for kids.

Preschool options Two new classrooms also were added as part of Tamarack’s recent improvements to complement its vibrant in-house Nature Preschool program, which includes a partnership with the White Bear Lake Area School District.

School-year programming — September through May — includes a Play and Learn Preschool for ages 3 to 5; an Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) program for ages 2½ to 4 (accompanied by a parent); and homeschooling classes for ages 5 to 10.

Summer programming is offered for kids, adults and groups, too.

“We’ve grown so much since opening in 1989, we really had no choice but to expand,” Oltman said. “We’ll now be able to accommodate more students and visitors — and larger groups to our summer programs.”

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

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

Host an Exchange Student Today! (for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make a lifelong friend from abroad

Enrich your family with another culture. Now you can host a high school exchange student (girl or boy) from France, Germany, Scandinavia, Spain, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Italy or other countries.

Single parents, as well as couples with or without children, may host. Contact us ASAP for more information or to select your student.

Victoria from Australia, 17 yrs.

Enjoys spending time with her family and younger siblings. Victoria plays volleyball and is excited to learn new sports while in America.

Giorgio from Italy, 16 yrs.

If you go Hours Tamarack Nature Center building hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free.

Learn more at ramseycounty.us or tinyurl.com/tamarack-nature.

Find a nature center near you at mnparent.com/nature.

Drop-In Discovery Stations These free, family-friendly, all-ages Tamarack Nature Center programs feature a range of topics, including up-close visits with live animals such as owls, snakes and salamanders.

Participants get hands-on experience with touchable artifacts, such as skulls and skins, and tasty samples from the Discovery Hollow garden.

Stations are open from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday from June to September and the first Saturday of the month from October to May. This month’s classes include: Reps & Phibs on Aug. 6, Seeds & Fall Planting on Aug. 13, Monarchs in Motion on Aug. 20 Honey Harvest on Aug. 27.

Loves to play baseball and spend time with his dogs. Giorgio also plays the guitar, and his dream is to join a drama club at his American high school.

TAMMY 715-497-6696 AMY 1-800-736-1760 (Toll Free) host.asse.com or email info@asse.com

Founded in 1976 ASSE International Student Exchange Program is a Public Benefit, Non-Profit Organization.

For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

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Hitting the ground

running Toddlerhood is hard enough.

Starting parenting in the middle of it — after completing an adoption — presents special challenges.

By Jen Wittes Adoption is a wonderful way to welcome a child into a family, rich with a unique set of joys and challenges.

Though not initiated by pregnancy, labor and birth, the start of the parent-child relationship is a birth of sorts — the birth of a new life together.

Toddler adoption is an entirely different situation — also filled with specific triumphs and struggles — particularly because the child has lived a significant period of time without the parents.

Though no child comes into the world as a completely blank slate, toddlers have racked up their share of experiences. And that can sometimes include trauma, nutritional deficiency or neglect, all in addition to everything both exciting and frustrating inherent to the age.

For some families, adopting a toddler is an intuitive choice.

Maybe the family began by fostering an older infant or toddler, maybe the family felt pulled to care for older children in need of a forever family. mnparent.com • August 2016

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Hitting the ground running For others, toddler adoption is situational, particularly in cases of international adoption. By the time all the paperwork goes through, the travel plans are made and the waiting period in the country of origin takes place, the child is perhaps much older than when the process began.

Meet the Treibers Lori and Mike Treiber of St. Paul brought their family to completion by adopting three boys, all at toddler age — Levi, now 15, Bodie, 11 and Micah, 8.

The choice to commence parenting in the toddler years was part circumstance, part intention and part faith.

Many adoptive families — whether religiously affiliated or not — will tell you there’s a special sort of spirituality at play in adoption. It’s a feeling that a child is 100 percent your child, coming at exactly the right time, in the right way.

Lori Treiber had actually worked for many years in early childhood care and development and had even worked at the children’s home from which her boys came.

Toddlers, in fact, were her area of expertise, but trust and faith played a heavy role in her family’s expansion as well. She described a feeling of “knowing” during the process, particularly when she saw her sons’ photos for the first time.

“We felt led to adopt from the Philippines, so that was our first priority,” she said. “At the time of our adoption process, the youngest Filipino children were most likely to be toddlers by the time all the legal steps were completed. But I believe that God’s timing is perfect: When they come home is when they are supposed to come home. I had to keep reminding myself that during the waiting process.”

That waiting can be loosely likened to pregnancy in that it’s an important part of the emotional development of the family. By the time your child comes, either via birth or adoption, you’ve had time to do quite a bit of mental preparation.

Getting ready Preparation, research and awareness are even more important to a family welcoming home a toddler.

↑↑Bodie, Levi and Adoption counselors, agencies and Micah Treiber of experts all recommend learning as much St. Paul play as possible about a child’s life in advance together in their of him or her joining the family. earlier years. Lori Treiber said she At surface level, this can help the family thinks of her kids honor some of the child’s routines, habits like this: Levi: sun; and favorite foods. On a deeper level, it Bodie: stars; and can help the parents have compassion Micah: moon. when the child acts out, and can help them sort through whether a behavior is a developmental issue, the result of trauma or just a kid being a kid.

“Our toddlers had experienced some of their life without us and we may not know all they have seen or experienced,” Lori Treiber said. “You need to think through the behaviors extra hard, especially so-called negative behaviors. Your adopted toddler will probably experience a loss and grieve, but will most likely not know what to do with the emotions. It can come out in many ways, even hitting or biting the parents.”

Finding the right way to handle things for the Treibers meant understanding the behavior while also expressing — more than

“YOUR ADOPTED TODDLER WILL PROBABLY EXPERIENCE A LOSS AND GRIEVE, BUT WILL MOST LIKELY NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE EMOTIONS. IT CAN COME OUT IN MANY WAYS.” — Lori Treiber, a St. Paul mother of three adopted sons

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Responding to strangers

Responding to strangers What’s the No. 1 challenge faced by parents who have adopted toddlers?

People.

Megan Terry, a mother of four (two adopted from Congo) writes on her blog, Millions of Miles: “People ... are well meaning, but they are dumb.

Complete strangers will say very insensitive things to you when you have a family whose skin doesn’t all match. And our adopted toddlers? They know what people are saying and they are watching how we respond.”

Her solution? A business card with her blog site as well as her email address.

She welcomes people to contact her privately with their curiosities, but doesn’t answer each and every stranger’s question in front of her kids.

As for the rest of us, we can act and react with grace and kindness and we can support all families.

And we could probably all brush up on the appropriate language of adoption:

•

Lights or power out

•

Troubleshooting

•

Storm damage

•

Emergency service

Think before you speak. Words matter.

Say

Don’t Say

“Birth Parent”

“Real Parent”

“Birth Child”

“Own Child”

“Your Child”

“Adopted Child”

“Terminated Parental Rights”

“Gave Up”

“To Parent”

“To Keep”

“Was Adopted”

“Is Adopted”

“Make Contact With”

“Reunion”

Fuse to circuit breaker panel upgrades

•

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Hitting the ground running once — that it would not be tolerated.

In many ways, it all sounds like typical toddler parenting — and it is. However, biting, hitting and food strikes in an adopted child might have deeper roots that need to be addressed.

Trusting your gut There are many quirks and “rules” parents of adopted toddlers must manage — things that the outside world doesn’t always understand. These might include upholding and honoring regressive behavior and treating a 2 or 3-year-old child like an infant — rocking, bottle-feeding and being carried, for example.

Adoption experts say this can be important to the attachment process — a sort of reclaiming of the time in which the child was not with his or her forever family. It can also be essential in the healing of a child who received very little nurturing or touch throughout infancy.

One toddler-adoption “rule” the Treibers found to be the hardest — in terms of social scrutiny — was that, at first, only the parents are allowed to hold their child.

“Most people think you are crazy, controlling and over-the-top protective,” Lori Treiber said. “They are personally offended when you won’t let them hold your new child.”

For many children, touch has been minimal and attachment to their parents needs to happen first.

It’s important for the new parent to be knowledgeable about practices like these, which may seem counterintuitive, while at the same time trusting their own parenting instincts.

Bedtime battles, picky eating Of “normal” human functions such as sleeping, eating and elimination, the family of adoptive toddler will face the same challenges that all parents of toddlers face, and likely a few more.

For example, a toddler might be used to sleeping on the floor, or even outdoors. A child might adapt to bedtime routines in the new house, but then become afraid on a family trip. ⊲⊲Adoption.org Dr. Katja Rowell — a St. Paul M.D. known as The Feeding ⊲⊲Millions of Miles millionsofmiles.com Doctor — wrote a book specifically addressing the ⊲⊲SPOON Foundation adoptionnutrition.org nutritional struggles faced by adoptive families, Love Me, Feed ⊲⊲The Feeding Doctor thefeedingdoctor.com Me: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide

Read more

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

↑↑Lori and Mike Treiber’s kids to Ending the Worry About — Levi, 15, Bodie, 11 and Micah, Weight, Picky Eating and Power 8 — were adopted from the Struggles.

Philippines when they were “Soon after I started toddlers. Levi is exceptionally personable, wise beyond his consulting, adoptive parents years and a natural big brother. were reaching out for help Bodie is bright and charismatic, with feeding and growth and loves basketball and struggles, said Rowell, a family reading. Micah is sweet, loyal, smiley, a quick learner and doctor and childhood feeding enjoys being on the swim team specialist. with his brothers.

“They shared that most resources didn’t address the unique issues of attachment and trauma.”

According to the adoption professionals Rowell works with, feeding challenges are the second most common worry postadoption, after sleep.

She said it’s important for parents experiencing both sleep and feeding struggles to be patient, compassionate and to seek support from other families.

“Read what you can in advance,” she said. “Be prepared for a toddler who has some delays and feed them what they are able to handle.”

Rowell said parents might feed their adopted toddlers more like an older infants with finger foods.

↑↑Bodie Treiber, like his brothers, was adopted when he was a toddler.

“Let them explore and make a mess,” she said. “If they enjoy a bottle, don’t go cold turkey. And never force a child to eat.

Withholding food from a child with a food preoccupation is also likely to backfire.”

Mourning the early years Much like the children themselves, parents must also go through a grieving of sorts when they adopt a toddler. They’ve missed the baby years. The parent should allow the feelings to happen and should seek help if they feel “stuck” in feelings of grief.

“There is a natural progression from filling your newborn’s needs to making sure they are safe while crawling around to eventually running after them as they explore their world on two feet.” Lori Treiber said: “As a new dad, Mike did not get the luxury of being eased into fatherhood.”

She had worked for many years in early childhood care, which gave her not just exposure to toddlers’ idiosyncrasies, but also practice in working with them.

“Mike’s kids came to him with all the seemingly irrational toddler emotions and behaviors,” she said: “Plus running!”

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Jen Wittes is a freelance writer and mother of two who lives in St. Paul. Learn more about her work at jenwittes.com.

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IT’S PARTY TIME!

Wild Kratts crazy Bodhi is back ... with another picture-perfect birthday party!

Yes, Maple Grove lifestyle blogger Jessica Flannigan has done it again with another home-based bash for her oldest son.

This year’s theme?

Wild Kratts, complete with Creature Power cupcakes, fun animal facts, “squirmy wormy” donuts (nut free, thanks to YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka), easy-peasy animal prints, customized signs and banners and a visit from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center.

See her full blog post — with links to oodles of online resources for her Wild Kratts accessories and props — at livethefancylife.com.

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mnparent.com • August 2016

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A tail to tell IT’S PARTY TIME!

Meet Christina Ries — Minnesota Parent’s newest blogger (in red, far right)!

The Inver Grove Heights mother of two — Maria, 3, and Jane, 1 — is writing about all kinds of topics, including the art of birthday parties.

In a recent post, Ries’ shares the story of her oldest daughter’s mermaidthemed party.

Held at a local indoor aquatic center, the festivities included a local mermaid for hire, complete with an elaborate, colorful tail and swimming demonstrations! There were crowns decorated with seashells for all ages, mermaid costumes for the kids and a giant mermaid doll for one of the gifts (scored at Goodwill). Decorations were super-simple and the food was fuss-free.

“The thing is, we have a narrow window of time when Maria believes in mermaids,” Ries said. “And I just love being able to nurture that belief, whether we’re listening for Santa’s reindeer on our rooftop or searching for fairies at the conservatory. She believes in magic.”

Read her full blog post at mnparent.com/charmed.

mnparent.com • August 2016

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PARTY RESOURCES

ADVERTISER LISTINGS AirMaxx Trampoline Park & Fun Center AirMaxx offers the most exciting parties on the planet! Our traditional parties have just one focus: your birthday child.

Our party heroes will keep the kids busy with games, activities, food, and funNONSTOP! 7000 Washington Ave S Eden Prairie 952-232-0096 airmaxxtrampolinepark.com

ARTrageous Adventures Have an ARTrageous pARTy with us at our studio or your home as we travel too! Choose a theme and we can tailor the activities to your child, tween or teen's interests. We also can provide face painting, henna and a canvas pARTy favors too!

2121 West 21st St Minneapolis 612-423-7554 artrageousadventures.com

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August 2016 • mnparent.com

Braemar Arena & Field Braemar is the “coolest” place to hold your birthday party or special occasion.

We offer options during open skating, family open dome time or a private party: skating, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, football, or open active play. Our birthday party coordinator will assist you in your planning.

Braemar Arena 7501 Ikola Way 952-833-9506 braemararena.com

offer their own party room with a staff member working with you for 2 hours.

From set up to clean up we’ll provide a fun and creative party for your kids!

3324 Promenade Ave, Eagan 651-454-4099 eagan.colormemine.com 416 Crossroads Dr SW, Rochester 507-258-5436 rochester.colormemine.com Shoppes at Arbor Lakes 763-420-0005 maplegrove.colormemine.com

Bunker Park Stables

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Your GO-TO horse facility for the safest and most fun horse parties. Available for all ages! Make your event unforgettable!

550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW Andover 763-757-9445 bunkerparkstable.com

Have a Birthday Bash to Remember at Como! We offer seven unique party themes for kids age 1 and up. We can even provide pizza and cake. Join us for a party so exciting kids won’t notice how much they’re learning!

1225 Estabrook Dr St. Paul 651-487-8272 comozooconservatory.org

Color Me Mine We are a Paint Your Own Pottery studio with 3 convenient locations. Our parties

mnparent.com/directory

mnparent.com/directory Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies

Edina Art Center

Firefighters Hall & Museum

Locally and family-owned Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies has been serving the Twin Cities since 1975! Every shop, except Uptown, has FREE (with minimum purchase) one to two party and meeting rooms, which comfortably hold between 10 and 60 people.

22 locations in the Metro area davannis.com

Arty Party! Let creativity and fun be the theme of your child’s next birthday party.

The Art Center offers 90-minute art activities for ages 5 and older in drawing, painting and pottery. Celebrate with cake in our wonderful Tea Room after the activity.

4701 W. 64th St Edina 952-903-5780 edinaartcenter.com

Located in NE Minneapolis, our mission is to preserve the history of firefighting and promote home and fire safety education.

Our Museum contains many historical items going back to the 1860’s, as well as hands on exhibits for patrons to see and touch.

664 22nd Ave NE Minneapolis 612-623-3817 firehallmuseum.org

Edinborough Park

GameTruck of Twin Cities

Discover Adventure Peak for your next Birthday Party! The “Peak” is a giant climbing structure full of slides, tubes, climbing events, and a 30 foot tall oak tree. The Great Hall offers hours of fun with scooters and a bounce house!

7700 York Ave S Edina 952-833-9544 edinboroughpark.com

Twin Cities Premier Mobile video game arcade. With 5 large screen televisions, 200-plus video game titles and all of the current gaming systems, 16-20 gamers can play at once. A GameTruck party is truly the easiest party you can host. We Deliver Excitement!

Mobile – we come to you!

612-345-8381 gametruck.com

Eagles Nest Indoor Playground We make planning a birthday party a piece of cake. We offer a wide variety of party packages. Come experience the fun of leaping into a ball pit, zooming down over 75 feet of slides, and much more!

New Brighton Community Center 400 10th St NW New Brighton 651-638-2130 newbrightonmn.gov

AUGUST 15th & 18th 5:30-8pm MAPLE GROVE & EAGAN

STRENGTHENING CHILDREN IN MIND & BODY FOR OVER YEARS! Stop by and say “Hi!” during Gleason’s Open House nights.

Meet instructors ~ tour the gym ~ sign up for Fall classes!

Gymnastics • Trampoline • Tumbling • Birthday Parties Open Gym • Parkour • Adult Classes • and more!!

GLEASON’S GYMNASTIC SCHOOL EAGAN - 651-454-6203 2015 Silver Bell Road

gleasons.com

MAPLE GROVE - 763-493-2526 9775 85th Avenue N

mnparent.com • August 2016

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PARTY RESOURCES

Gleason’s Gymnastic School Looking for a unique and memorable way to celebrate a birthday? Try Gleason’s Gymnastic Birthday parties! You provide the refreshments...WE PROVIDE THE REST! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the CELEBRATION! Call the office to schedule your party today!

2015 Silver Bell Rd Eagan 651-454-6203 9775 85th Ave N, Ste 500 Maple Grove 763-493-2526 gleasons.com

2017 Buford Ave 612-624-4452 sua.umn.edu

Hooperina Hula hoop themed parties are fun for everyone! Hooperina's vibrant entertainment packages add unforgettable memories to any birthday party or event. A variety of inclusive games, activities, and captivating performances will leave you with the desire to join the circus!

Location subject to customer preference facebook.com/hooperina hooperina.com

Gopher Spot Gopher Spot is a great place to host a party. Packages include bowling, bumpers, shoe rental, soda, pizza, gift bags, and more! Contact us to book the ultimate party today.

St. Paul Student Center

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Kidcreate Studio Kidcreate’s birthday parties combine fun art projects with lots of giggles and grins. We have hundreds of party projects to choose from including clay mosaics, painting on canvas, Frozen, Pokémon

and more. Ask about our FREE GIFT BAG OFFER! 7918 Mitchell Rd Eden Prairie 952-974-3438 1785 Radio Drive, Ste F Woodbury 651-735-0880 kidcreatestudio.com

Kiddywampus Kiddywampus is an interactive toy store and art studio that provides a selection of the most unique toys, books and accessories for curious kids. We also host weekly classes, summer camps and lots of birthday parties!

1023 Mainstreet Hopkins 952-926-7871 kiddywampus.com

mnparent.com/directory KidzArt KidzArt offers a fun arternative to traditional birthday parties.

KidzArt works with you to customize a project, provides all the materials, and guides your guests as they create their own masterpiece to treasure!

Minneapolis 763-494-6957 nwmpls.kidzart.com

Maple Grove Community Center Recreational and meeting venue offering meeting rooms, pools, indoor playground, gymnasium, ice arena for open skating, Teen Center with arcade games, concessions, skate park, sand volleyball courts, playground, and a shelter.

12951 Weaver Lake Rd Maple Grove 763-494-6500 maplegrovecommunitycenter.org

Minnetonka Orchards Celebrating 40 years of family fun! Apple season runs from late August to late October. Come enjoy our beautiful rolling hills and apples for picking. ~ PETTING ZOO ~ PLAY AREA ~ FUN FOR KIDS AND ADULTS ~ 6530 Country Rd 26 Minnetrista 763-479-6530 minnetonkaorchards.com

Monkey House The ultimate kids party and play place. Huge 5,000 square foot indoor play center. Giant inflatable bounce houses, obstacle course, 18 foot slide, climbers, foam pit, and more! You get an entire play arena and party room exclusively for your group.

1815 Buerkle Rd White Bear Lake 651-348-8233 monkeyhousemn.com

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PARTY RESOURCES Pinwheel Play

Sunnyside Stables, Inc.

Kids (ages 0-6) will enjoy our art room, wood playsets, obstacle course, sport court, play grocery store, stage, digital playground, and more! Parents love our modern, beautiful space — small enough to keep the kids contained, large enough to keep them entertained for hours!

1256 Park Road Chanhassen 952-300-8070 pinwheelplay.com

Birthday Parties, Lessons, Kids Horse Camp, and Trail Riding!!

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

Playworks Adults are FREE when you party with us! $45 admission for up to five children.

Includes cupcake, five arcade tokens each child, playtime in our fun-filled inside Atrium. Bring your own decorations, no reservations needed.

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

Pump It Up At Pump It Up we love entertaining kids! Our kids’ birthday parties are 100% private, indoors, and the best in the inflatable industry. Let us take all the stress out of fulfilling your child’s dream of inviting the whole class for some amazing jumping fun!

7406 Washington Ave S Eden Prairie 952-943-0052 3500 Holly Ln N Ste 65 Plymouth 763-553-0340 pumpitupparty.com

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The Works Museum At The Works Museum, kids and families use hands-on activities, building tools, and everyday materials to explore engineering and design. Parents love our easy and fun birthday parties, make-your-own favors, free parking, and easy-to-supervise layout.

Kids just love us, period.

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

Tropics Indoor Waterpark & Playground Come experience a TROPICAL GETAWAY while the kids swim in the Tropics Indoor Waterpark and play in our Indoor Playground. We offer a wide variety of party packages including themed parties to make your child’s birthday party a PIECE OF CAKE! Shoreview Community Center 4580 Victoria St N Shoreview 651-490-4790 shoreviewcommunitycenter.com

mnparent.com/directory

USA Inflatables USA Inflatables offers the largest selection of inflatables, moonwalks, bouncehouses, waterslides, obstacle courses, rockwall, euro bungee, concessions, interactives, dunk tanks and more for any occasion.

Free delivery and pickup.

Free Delivery in Metro 763-506-0400 usainflatables.com

Watch Me Draw! Art Studio Have an Art Party created especially for you! Stop in to plan your project & party colors-we will customize our studio for your special event! Enjoy a festive atmosphere & nurturing staff. Ages

3-adult. Paint-Sculpt-Crafts-Fun! 20908 Holyoke Ave Lakeville 952-469-1234 watchmedraw.net

Water Park of America Birthday parties just got bigger and better with Dairy Queen ice cream cakes! Make your party a splash at America’s biggest indoor water park. 403 guestrooms, wave pool, surfing, arcade and more! Adjacent to the Mall of America.

1700 E American Blvd Bloomington 952-229-5731 waterparkofamerica.com

Zero Gravity Trampoline Park & Laser Tag Looking for a new place for your child's birthday party? Check out Zero Gravity.

Shoot hoops, flip into a foam pit, play dodgeball — all on trampolines. We have Laser Tag, an arcade, aerial net course, and climbing wall.

2292 Woodale Dr Mounds View 763-231-3033 zerogravitymn.com

mnparent.com • August 2016

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Out & About

AUGUST

mnparent.com/calendar

AUG. 20

IndiaFest ⊲⊲Organized by the India Association of Minnesota, this 43nd-annual event includes parades, cultural exhibits, Indian cuisine from local restaurants, a bazaar, internationally acclaimed classical dance groups based in Minnesota as well as live Bollywood music. Other familyfriendly activities include henna, face painting, inflatables, kite flying, chess, cricket and yoga.

Photo by TyD Photography

When: Aug. 20 Where: State Capitol Grounds, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: iamn.org

JULY 27 AND AUG. 3

AUG. 4–14

AUG. 5–7

Groovin’ in the Garden

Minnesota Fringe Festival

Uptown Art Fair

⊲⊲This concert series lets grownups rock out with some of the Twin Cities’ best bands while the kids are entertained by a climbing wall, bouncy house and lawn games, all outdoors, all free.

When: Remaining dates are July 27 and Aug. 3.

Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: comozooconservatory.org

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⊲⊲The Midwest’s largest performingarts festival will host hundreds of performances, including a variety of kid-friendly productions.

When: Aug. 4–14 Where: Venues in Minneapolis Cost: This year day passes will be $16 on the weekdays, $22 on the weekends.

Info: fringefestival.org

⊲⊲This popular award-winning three-day fine-arts festival features professional and youth artists, live performances, family-friendly activities, plus festivalstyle food and beverages.

When: Aug. 5–7 Where: Uptown Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: uptownartfair.com

AUG. 5–7, 12–14

Day Out With Thomas ⊲⊲Take a 25-minute train ride on a Thomas the Tank Engine train, explore the railroad museum and take part in a variety of family-friendly activities, including live music by Mr. Billy, magic shows, train tables, art activities, photo opportunities with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt, trolley rides, an inflatable slide, bounce house and obstacle course, temporary-tattoo and facepainting stations, model train displays, games and a gift shop.

When: Trains depart hourly, starting at 9 a.m., Aug. 5–7, 12–14 Where: Duluth’s Lake Superior Railroad Museum at the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, also known as the Depot Cost: $19 per person for age 2 and older. Some trails sell out, so reservations are recommended.

Info: northshorescenicrailroad.org

AUG. 5–20

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ⊲⊲What comes out at night? In this magical experience, geared toward ages 18 months to 4 years, discover the joy and wonder of nighttime sounds and creatures, fireflies and flashlights, blankies and teddy bears and, of course, stars.

When: Aug. 5–20 Where: Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins Cost: $12–$16 Info: stagestheatre.org

AUG. 6

Free First Saturday: Folk Tails ⊲⊲Enjoy free gallery admission and family fun on the first Saturday of every month at The Walker from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a variety of family activities, art-making and gallery tours, designed for ages 6 to 12.

When: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 6. This month’s theme is Folk Tails with local music at 11 a.m. (Brian Laidlaw & the Family Trade) and a family film at 1 p.m. (Belle and Sebastian, a 2013 PG movie about a boy and dog).

Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: Watch the movie trailer and learn more about band at walkerart.org/ free-first-saturdays.

AUG. 11

Children’s Challenging Behavior ⊲⊲Presented by the nonprofit National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this class is for parents and caregivers of school-age children. Learn when and how to seek help, develop parenting strategies, learn the ins and outs of special education (and other educational supports) and discover community and county resources.

When: 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Aug. 11 Where: St. Louis Park Library, St. Louis Park Cost: FREE Info: To register or to find a complete class list, see namimn.org or call 651-645-2948.

AUG. 11 AND 13

Nature Classes ⊲⊲Maplewood Nature Center, about 15 minutes east of downtown St. Paul, is offering a variety of weekday and weekend programs for all ages.

When: 10 a.m.–11:15 Aug. 11 (Chompin’ Caterpillars for ages 3 to 5; prepay $5 per child by Aug. 9); 10 a.m.–11:15 Aug. 13 (Super Spiders for ages 4 and older; prepay $4 per child by Aug. 11).

Where: Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood Cost: $4–$5 per child accompanied by an adult Info: maplewoodnaturecenter.com

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Out & About AUG. 12–14

Twin Cities Polish Festival ⊲⊲Learn about Polish culture and traditions at this family-friendly event with folk-dance exhibitions, live music, food, beverages, arts and crafts, cultural exhibits and a petting area, featuring cuddly Polish sheepdogs.

When: Aug. 12–14 Where: Along the Mississippi River on Old Main Street in northeast Minneapolis, across from St. Anthony Main Cost: FREE Info: tcpolishfestival.org

AUG. 14

Gibbs Farm Ice Cream Sunday ⊲⊲Enjoy ice cream made the oldfashioned way, meet farm animals and take tours at this farm, featuring hands-on programming offered spring, summer and fall by the Ramsey County Historical Society.

When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Aug. 14 Where: St. Paul Cost: Free ice cream is included with farm admission of $8 for adults and $5 for ages 3–16.

Info: rchs.com/gibbs-farm

AUG. 20–OCT. 2

Renaissance Festival ⊲⊲King Henry and his court invite one and all to his immersive 16th-century European village, featuring 12 stages of musicians, magicians, jugglers and mimes, including more than 500 engaging memorable characters.

More than 250 artisans fill the festival marketplace to create a unique shopping experience, now in its 46th year.

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AUG. 12–14

Irish Fair of Minnesota ⊲⊲The nation’s largest free Irish fair is held outdoors at St. Paul’s Harriet Island. Check out traditional music and music lessons, Irish dance, Gaelic sports, a children’s tent, Irish movies, native Irish dogs, a Best Legs in a Kilt Contest, a tea room, a speaker’s tent, a variety of Irish shopping, and an array of food and beverage options.

When: Aug. 12–14 Where: Harriet Island, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: irishfair.com

Themed weekends include Oktoberfest, Shamrocks & Shenanigans, Highland Fling and more.

When: Weekends Aug. 20–Oct. 2, plus Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day) Where: Seven miles south of Shakopee. The festival will move to a new home in 2020.

Cost: $23.95; $14.95 for ages 5 to 12, $21.95 for ages 62 and older.

Starting Aug. 8, buy tickets online or at local stores to save money and avoid lines at the event.

Info: renaissancefest.com

AUG. 27

Monarch Open House ⊲⊲Find out why and how monarchs are tagged, learn about their magnificent migration and see them in their lifecycle stages at this free, all-ages, drop-in program. There’ll be crafts for kids and butterfly gardening information for adults, too. Discover things you can do to help these beautiful butterflies survive.

When: 1–3 p.m. Aug. 27 Where: Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood Cost: FREE Info: maplewoodnaturecenter.com

AUG. 30

Food Fight! ⊲⊲The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) is offering a workshop to help parents of children with autism navigate food issues. Sensory issues, food refusal and peculiar cravings affect many children with ASD, making it difficult to introduce healthier foods. Presenter Anne Kelly, a pediatrician and researcher, will share information on the use of whole-food powders to make nutrientrich, affordable shakes.

When: 7–9 p.m. Aug. 30 Where: West Metro Learning Connections, Edina Cost: $40 ($25 for AuSM members) Info: ausm.org

ON SALE NOW

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! ⊲⊲Gerald is no good at dancing. But the

pessimistic pachyderm has the help of his pal, Piggie, to help him. Based on The New York Times best-selling book series by Mo Willems, this musical for preschoolers is billed as a “jazzy, jolly, and joyful vaudevillian romp,” complete with nutty back-up singers, The Squirelles.

When: Sept. 13–Oct. 23 Where: Children Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $10.

Info: childrenstheatre.org

Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions ⊲⊲This nationally touring event will showcase gymnasts from the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games plus local gymnasts.

When: 5 p.m. Oct. 9 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $36.

Info: kelloggstour.com

Octonauts Live ⊲⊲The Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure — a new interactive stage show, based on the hit Disney Junior TV show and book series — features fan-favorite songs led by the Octonauts’ eight-member crew, including Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii and Medic Peso.

When: 6 p.m. Oct. 24 Where: Northrop, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Cost: $31–$46 Info: northrop.umn.edu

COMING UP

Minneapolis Monarch Festival ⊲⊲Celebrate the Monarch butterfly’s amazing 2,300-mile migration from Minnesota to the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico, with music, a parade, dance performances, art activities and games, plus

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Out & About Minnesotan and Latin food. Monarch butterflies raised by volunteers will be tagged with small stickers and released.

When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 10 Where: 49th Street and Woodlawn Blvd., Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: monarchfestival.org

CONTINUING

The Lion King ⊲⊲This hugely popular Disney production — based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music

by Elton John — is Broadway’s most successful musical of all time, featuring incredible costumes, rich vocal performances and a dash of slapstick humor. Geared toward ages 6 and older, this touring performance lasts two and a half hours, including an intermission.

When: Through Aug. 7 Where: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $49.

Info: lionking.com

Jungle Book ⊲⊲This adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling story offers messages of sharing, community, trust and responsibility through the tale of a young boy lost in the jungles of India — raised by a pack of wolves, befriended by the lovable Baloo and protected by the noble black panther Bagheera. Recommended for ages 5 and older.

When: Through Aug. 12.

Where: Old Log Theatre, Excelsior Cost: $10–$16 Info: oldlog.com

Pinocchio ⊲⊲Geared toward grades kindergarten and older, this new spin on the classic tale requires only four actors, a stage full

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AUG. 25–SEPT. 5

Minnesota State Fair

⊲⊲The Great Minnesota Get-Together is one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world, attracting nearly 1.8 million visitors every year, showcasing Minnesota’s finest agriculture, horticulture, art and industry, plus carnival rides, games, live music and food vendors aplenty.

When: Aug. 25–Sept. 5. Kids Day is Sept. 5 with gate admission reduced to $8 for ages 5 to 12. Seniors & Kids Day is Aug. 29 with gate admission reduced to $8 for ages 65 and older and ages 5 to 12. Look online for information about library, military and other discount days.

Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul Cost: Advanced tickets start at $10. Daily gate admission is $13 for ages 13–64; $11 for ages 5–12 and 65 and older; and free for ages 4 and younger.

Info: mnstatefair.org

of construction materials and a splash of imagination. Pinocchio dreams of being a real boy, but will the all-too-tempting delights of puppet shows and Playland be too much? When Geppetto is swallowed by a whale, it’s up to this little wooden puppet to show his courage.

When: Through Aug. 14 Where: Children Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: Tickets start at $10.

Info: childrenstheatre.org

Music & Movies in the Parks ⊲⊲Both St. Paul and Minneapolis offer family-friendly outdoor summer concert and film series at local parks. (Many other cities offer similar events, so be sure to check with your local parks and rec department.)

When: Ongoing Where: Como Dockside, Mears Park, Rice Park and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul and Lake Harriet Band Shell, Nicollet Island Park, Father Hennepin Bluffs Park,

Minnehaha Park, Bryant Square Park and Theo Wirth Park in Minneapolis.

Cost: FREE Info: stpaul.gov/musicintheparks and tinyurl.com/music-movies-2016

Beauty and the Beast ⊲⊲A prince harshly turns a beggar woman away from shelter in his castle. She’s secretly an enchantress, who, angered by the prince’s lack of compassion, changes the prince into a hideous beast and all the castles’ human inhabitants into living objects. The enchantress tells the beast that before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose, he must find true love or all will remain forever altered.

When: Through Sept. 3 Where: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen Cost: $49–$85; ages 5 and older are allowed in the theater.

Info: chanhassendt.com or 800-355-6273

Skyline Mini Golf ⊲⊲The Walker’s seasonal mini-golf course has moved to the rooftop, due to the renovation of the museum and sculpture garden campus. The nine-hole course features a giant hot dog, ping-pong paddles and a tricky chicken coop.

When: Through Sept. 4 Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: $12 adults, $9 for ages 7–12, free for ages 6 and younger with a paid adult Info: walkerart.org/minigolf

Dinosaurs ⊲⊲See a lifelike stegosaurus, brachiosaurus, allosaurus and more. You can even snap a selfie with a T-rex. Just watch out for the dilophosaurus — he spits!

When: Through Sept. 5 Where: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley Cost: $5 ($4 for members) in addition to zoo admission; zoo admission is $12 for ages 3–12 and 65 and older, $18 for ages 13–64 Info: mnzoo.org

Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs ⊲⊲Scientific findings once bound in ancient Egyptian and Peruvian remains will be revealed in this first-of-its-kind traveling exhibit from the worldrenowned Field Museum in Chicago.

When: Through Sept. 5 Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul Cost: Exhibit admission is $24 for adults and $15 for ages 4–12 and 60 and older. Ticket prices include admission to the museum’s permanent exhibit galleries. Visitors must choose a specific date and time for their Mummies visit when they purchase tickets.

Info: smm.org

Crayola Experience ⊲⊲This new Mall of America family destination — the third of its kind in the U.S. — brings the magic of Crayola to life. See how crayons are made in a live manufacturing show, name and wrap your own crayon, go on a 4D coloring adventure and be the star of your own coloring page.

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Where: Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: $24.99. Look online for discounts.

Info: crayolaexperience.com

Savage Gardens & Big Bugs ⊲⊲A new exhibit — Savage Gardens: The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants —features live plant specimens, giant sculptures and interactive displays for kids that show how different carnivorous plants lure their prey. Highlights include a 9-foottall Venus flytrap with controls that allow visitors to open and close the its traps.

An insect-themed exhibit — David Rogers’ Big Bugs — will be open at the same time, featuring a 1,200-pound praying mantis, a larger-than-life 7-foothigh bee with a hive and a butterfly

Photo by Jeff Henningsgaard

AUG. 21

Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival ⊲⊲This annual event honors Japanese traditions through music, dance, crafts, martial arts and lanterns, including a traditional lantern-lighting ceremony at dusk.

When: Aug. 21 Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: $5 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3–12 Info: comozooconservatory.org

with a 5½-foot wingspan, all created by a Long Island artist who specializes in rustic designs and natural materials.

When: Through Sept. 18 for Savage Gardens, through September for Big Bugs Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska Cost: Included with gate admission ($12 for ages 13 and older) Info: arboretum.umn.edu

mnparent.com • August 2016

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FROM OUR READERS

Out and about! ←←Two-yearold Krue Logan-Pierce of St. Paul plays in her grandmother’s backyard.

Catch Pikachu!

Can you find the seven hidden Pikachus in this issue?

POKEMON ...

GO!

Where are the best pokestops for families in the Twin Cities? See what our Facebook fans are saying! ↑↑Maj Cisney, 9 months, of Minneapolis shows off her new teeth in a skyway overlooking downtown St. Paul.

“I heard Como is full of Pikachus!”

“Downtown St. Paul and the Mall of America have a ton of pokestops!”

“We were delighted with how many were around CHS Field when we went to the Saints game last night! Coming from the suburbs with very few, it felt like a bonanza of blue pokestops, and we had fun reading all the plaques on the cultural markers they corresponded with. Mears Park was very active also!”

↑↑Peyton Gehring, 2½, of Excelsior, goes fishing on Lake Minnewashta. ↑↑Wyatt and Lorna Johnson, ages 2 and 4, take a break at the Como Zoo.

←←Madilyn Manty, 5 months, of Apple Valley works on crawling and smiling at the same time.

“The Macalester/St. Thomas area is dense with stops, and is not only a safe area, but beautiful, too — close to the river if you want to hike.”

“Handke Center in Elk River.

We’ve got a battle gym!”

“The State Fairgrounds have a ton of stops!”

“The Walker Art Center and Loring Park are HUGE, even though the Walker sculpture garden is under construction.”

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

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