North State Parent April 2020

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NORTH STATE

SINCE 1993 APRIL 2020

VOLUME 27 NO. 6

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.NORTHSTATEPARENT.COM - FREE COPIES FOR SCHOOLS: 1.800.500.6747

FOR PARENTS • FOR COMMUNITY • FOR HEALTH

Tips For Learning During COVID-19 ay d h t r i B Party s Detail

Wha is a t Doul a?

SE R V ING FAMI L I ES I N BUTTE, GLENN, SHASTA, SISK IY OU & TE H A MA C O U N TIE S

Speech and Language Therapy Pediatric Feeding Evaluation/Treatment Sensory Integration Evaluation/Treatment Elizabeth Vichi M.A CCC-SLP Medical Speech-Language Pathologist Specialization in Speech, Cognition and Swallowing/Feeding Disorders

643 W. East Ave., Chico • 530-892-9127 • www.fullcirclespeechtherapy.com • fullcirclest@gmail.com

Do You Have Concerns About Your Baby?

Most Babies At…

Far Northern Regional Center provides services and support that allow persons with developmental 3 Months Look from one object to another. disabilities to live valued and productive lives.

Hold up their heads. Give eye contact.

6 Months Reach and grasp objects.

Look when their name is called. Roll over.

9 Months Sit alone. Imitate gestures.

Wave bye-bye.

12 Months Take their first steps. Play with a variety of toys. Begin to say “mama.”

18 Months Walk alone. Build a tower of three blocks. Use up to 15 words.

Enjoy interacting with caregivers.

24 Months Begin to use two-word phrases to communicate. Eat and drink independently. Walk up and down stairs.

Far Northern Regional Center

WE CAN HELP. If you have concerns and would like to make a referral for an assessment, contact Far Northern Regional Center at (530) 222-4791. We provide Early Intervention Services to qualifying children under age three who have or are at risk for having a developmental delay.Evaluation services are provided at no cost.

See www.farnorthernrc.org for more information 2

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

NORTH STATE

CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY by practicing social distancing

North State Parent is committed to providing our monthly print issue and in this unusual time we want to assure our readers also know about our digital platforms.

Just a click away 24/7

Instagram.com/ northstateparent

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facebook.com/ NorthStateParent

Pick up your copy today. Find us throughout the North State: northstateparent.com/locations/ Please say you saw it in North State Parent magazine. This helps us grow!

www.northstateparent.com • April 2020

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North State Parent Volume 27 - Issue 6 April 2020

NORTH STATE

CONTENTS

6 Be the Change Vici Miranda - Making a Big Splash on Behalf of North State Kids

By Jenna Christophersen 8 Childcare & Preschool Directory 10 Everything You Need to Know to Get Rid of Unwanted Stuff - Host a Successful Yard Sale this Summer

By Kimberly Blaker

15 Secrets to Throwing an Epic Birthday Party on a Dime

By Cheryl Maguire

18 This is Tehama The Comfort and Care of Welcoming Babies with St. Elizabeth’s Midwives

By Kate Hiller 20 The Fourth Trimester – How a Postpartum Doula Can Help

By Pamela Llano and Christa Melynk Hines

21 Uniquely Us Autism Awareness Month: Spotlight on Autism Lifespan

By Jennifer Arnold 24 How to Choose the Best Diapers for Your Baby and the Environment

By Sandi Schwartz

26 Localicious First Foods for Baby

By Erin Bianchi

28 How to Make A “Five Senses” Stress-Busting Toolkit for Your Kids

By Sandi Schwartz 31 Fast, Delicious Ways to Help Kids Get Their Fruits & Veggies

By Carolyn Patten

33 A More Adventurous Approach to Education – Exploring Learning Styles to Enrich Your Child’s Life as Well as Your Own

By Christina Katz

THANK YOU FOR PICKING UP A COPY OF NORTH STATE PARENT MAGAZINE

T

On the Cover: Siblings Violet, Henry and Haven Keck create a warm embrace filled with love and family and the promise of the future. Welcoming a new baby is a family milestone!

Photography: Photography is about relationship.

“When the people, their expressions, and their joy all come together in an image, I know why I am a photographer. There is something magical about catching a glimpse of the best in someone,” says photographer Betsey Walton. For more of her images go to: www.bwaltonphotography.com

hese past few weeks have been an unprecedented time as we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

At the time of publishing, the content in this issue was shifting and changing daily. As events were postponed or canceled, for the first time in our 27-year history, we had to make the hard decision to remove our Going Places family calendar. The world is buzzing with the uncertainty of jobs, places of business and how our economy will handle it all.

Yet spring has arrived with its infinite wisdom and splendor. “April showers bring May flowers.”

Without the rain, flowers cannot grow and bloom.

Through the rain of a heath pandemic, positive

parenting is something we share, learning when to ask for help from others, to seek guidance, to offer our wisdom and experience to each other. As community members, we are working diligently to live wholesome, healthy lives that nurture our children and our planet. We are all family, and there is no time like right now for family love.

Love for one another – its what keeps us going!

and the North State Parent magazine team

At home with kids?

Looking for something fun to do? Our website at northstateparent.com and our social media channels give creative and educational suggestions.

OUR SUPPORTIVE DISPLAY ADVERTISERS INCLUDE: About Trees..................................... 19 All Fired Up..................................... 17 Allstate, Juli Foster.......................... 13 Amber Healthcare For Women...... 36 Apple Blossom Baby....................... 36 Athletic Horizons............................ 17 Azads Martial Arts.......................... 24 B Fit.................................................. 36 Bill's Wonder Show......................... 17 Brande Moffatt,MPT...................... 22 Butte College Foster Kinship......... 13 California Census.............................. 9 Capturing The Essence Salt Cave & Massage.............................. 36 Creekside Counseling..................... 12 Dandy Lions Children's Shop......... 36 Debbie Pierce RN, IBCLC for

Loeta Robles DDS............................ 36 Dr. Suk Ahn DDS............................... 5 Earthbound Skills............................ 15 Fairchild Medical Center................ 27 Far Northern Regional Center......... 2 First 5 Shasta................................... 25 Full Circle Speech Therapy............... 2 Grant Preschool.............................. 28 Healthy Shasta................................ 22 Help Me Grow Shasta..................... 36 In Motion Fitness............................ 33 Kevin Shearer, DDS......................... 27 Kids Day Festival............................. 27 Lake View Charter School.............. 30 Lifenet.............................................. 36 Lincoln Street School...................... 19 Little Sprouts Preschool.................. 24

McCloud Chamber Of Commerce....27 Mercy Oceans Midwifery............... 36 Munchkin University Preschool..... 13 North Cow Creek Elementary........ 30 North Valley Tree Service............... 31 Northern Valley Catholic Social Services............................................ 28 Northern Valley Indian Health.............................................. 36 Oak Run Elementary....................... 32 Party Town...................................... 16 PG&E................................................ 35 Phoenix Charter Academy............. 13 Raven Tree Wild Bird & Nature Shop.................................... 27 Redding Midwifery Group............. 36 Redding School District.................. 32

Rocky Point Charter School............ 29 Shasta Community Maternity Center.............................................. 20 Shasta County Health and Human Services............................... 28 Shasta Family YMCA....................... 24 Shasta Gymnastics Academy.......... 16 Shasta Head Start............................. 5 Shasta Midwives Birth Center........ 36 Simpson University......................... 10 Stellar Charter School..................... 12 Sunny Garden Chico....................... 12 Sweet Chico Confections................ 15 Tehama County Department of Social Services............................. 19 Tehama County Health Services Agency............................................. 19

Tehama eLearning Academy......... 19 The Big Splash Project Red Bluff.... 19 The McConnell Foundation............. 5 The Redding Arts Project............... 29 Travis Baldwin Tree Care................ 30 Turtle Bay Exploration Park............. 7 US Airsoft World............................. 17 Valley Oak Children's Services....... 11 Walden Academy............................ 31 Waterworks Park............................ 16 Web Made Local............................. 23 West Redding Preschool................. 29 Whittenberg Country School......... 19

SERVING FAMILIES IN BUTTE, GLENN, SHASTA, TEHAMA & SISKIYOU COUNTIES Publisher: Pamela Newman, pn@northstateparent.com Calendar: Rosalyn Duran calendar@northstateparent.com

North State Parent magazine provides inspiring resources with new publications out 11 months per year. Call for details!

NORTH STATE

Managing Editorial: Deborah Peel and Lisa Vegvary

Production: Marc Schrievers, graphics@northstateparent.com Photography: Betsey Walton, Francesca Murgia, Marjie Kennedy For Billing Questions: billing@northstateparent.com

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Main office: (530) 926-1287 310 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

Mt. Shasta, CA 96067

Mailing address: PO Box 1602 Mt. Shasta, CA 96067

North State Parent magazine is available at more than 600 North State locations. Copyright ©2020; All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission in writing are strictly prohibited. Articles, listings and advertisements in NSP do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management, employees or writers.

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

Printed using soy ink, low-VOC solvents & 100% recycled paper. All waste & water is treated or recycled for low environmental impact.

For advertising inquiries or other information please contact us at: (530) 926-1287 / 1-800-500-6747 or pn@northstateparent.com

LIFE CHANGING

“Getting the opportunity to see Yosemite for the first time, not as a typical tourist, but as a student on a guided trip, learning along the way, was truly a gift that I will never forget! Great memories, students, chaperones, instructors, facilities and program!” North State student The McConnell Foundation is celebrating 30 years of its NatureBridge in Yosemite Program. Each spring, the Foundation sends more than 100 students from North State high schools to spend a transformative week in Yosemite National Park exploring, learning and connecting to the natural world, as well as strengthening interpersonal relationships and skills.

The Foundation provides full funding for student tuition, transportation, administration and adult chaperones. Students complete eight hours of community service related to the environment prior to their trip. Students have volunteered at organizations such as the Shasta County Wildlife Refuge, Whiskeytown Environmental School, Turtle Bay Exploration Park and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They have also cleaned roadways and established recycling programs in their schools. The goal of the community service requirement is to connect students to their community and the earth.

Suk young Ahn, DDS

General Dentistry for Children, Teens & Young Adults

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“This was the most fun, best, life changing experience of my entire life. Thank you so much for the amazing experience. Keep changing people’s lives!!” North State student

The McConnell Foundation To learn more visit www.mcconnellfoundation.org

Celebrating

20 years

of the Children, Youth & Education Program

grantmaking partnering investing Please say you saw it in North State Parent magazine. This helps us grow!

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be the change By Jenna Christophersen

Vici Miranda Making a Big Splash on Behalf of North State Kids

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North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

“but by doing this, she has brought so many people together to work toward a common goal, which is pretty miraculous.”

The word miraculous does seem to describe Vici’s unique ability to unify and mobilize diverse groups of people. Kate, who owns Cedar Crest Brewing, recalls the decision she and fellow downtown business owners made to donate all proceeds from their downtown events toward the splash park. “One of Vici’s greatest strengths is that she has zero ego,” says Kate. “She is so determined and disciplined and brings people together, but she doesn’t try to control the outcome.

She’s been able to cast vision of the heart.”

Much of that heart-level vision comes from Vici’s family. Spending time with her husband and son motivates her to persevere toward creating a safe play space for kids of all abilities. The family enjoys traveling to other splash parks, visiting aquariums and bowling.

Vici can’t help but smile when Preston exuberantly roars “Strike!”

However, it’s not all fun and games. Undertaking the splash park has drawn Vici into the unfamiliar and challenging worlds of city council meetings, grant writing and the City of Red Bluff’s Parks and Recreation Commission. She says, “It’s been a real personal development story for me.” Vici’s personal development translates into community development, promising benefits to Red Bluff and the North State for years to come. Ó

Jenna Christophersen is a Chico native who fell in love with writing when she wrote her first words as a student at McManus Elementary School.

Photo by Marjie Kennedy, Six Rivers Photography

V

ici Miranda possesses what Kate Grissom describes as a “blend of grit and grin.” Since 2018, Vici’s kind and cheerful determination has rallied the community, including business owners like Kate, to raise over $200,000 toward the building of a splash park in Red Bluff, CA (redbluffsplash.com). “I’ve seen a lot of community development,” says Kate, “but Vici has attracted and cultivated momentum for the splash park like I’ve never seen before.”

The Big Splash City River Park is designed to be a safe and inclusive space for children of all ages and abilities. Splash parks, characterized by fountains and jets that sprinkle cool water over visitors, offer summer fun to all kids by eliminating the dangers posed by the deeper pools found at water parks. They even accommodate water access for those with medical equipment.

Vici became the spearhead for building a splash park, thanks to her son Preston. Over the past several summers, Vici and her husband Tyler have sojourned to splash parks because their active eight-year-old lacks height and depth perception due to suffering a stroke at birth. This condition makes pools and playground equipment dangerous for him. At other water parks, Vici must be overly cautious and protective, but at splash parks, Preston can enjoy playtime independence.

What began as something of a side venture has essentially grown into a second job. Vici has expanded her vision to include a comprehensive park and playground. As a real estate agent, Vici finds project management second nature, but the splash park has become an especially hefty project.

Thankfully, Vici finds the work invigorating and rewarding. She enjoys engaging with the community toward a worthy goal. She credits the momentum of the project to “people supporting and believing in me.” Her biggest supporters have been Tyler, her parents and grandparents, her office staff and the Soroptimists group she has been part of since 2005. “It’s become an entire community project. That’s what I love—how everyone has embraced it and accepted the project and really wants to have a part of it,” she says.

Over the past year and a half, Vici has orchestrated multiple successful fundraisers, including school coin drives, Mimosas on Main, and Chocolate Fantasia, all of which encourage supporters to enjoy themselves while simultaneously benefitting the splash park.

Heather Smith, who met Vici through a professional group, says Vici invents many engaging fundraisers, but also reaches out to others, listens to their ideas and then makes those ideas happen.

Heather, for example, dreamed up a Princess Ball fundraiser, then found Vici empowering her to lead the charge. “Any time I had a question,” Heather says, “she was there. She is such a great problem-solver; I would team up with her on anything!” Their team also included about 15 businesses volunteering together to make the day magical for small children, such as hair salons that styled royal ringlets for little princesses. “Not only does Vici have the motivation and heart to do this for the community,” Heather reflects,

The mission of our be the change column is to feature community members from the North State who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to pn@northstateparent.com.

ai1583950876106_TBMK-ad-2Ex-AquaAdv-MEM-9.5x10.75-April2020-NSP-FR2.pdf

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3/11/20

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www.northstateparent.com • April 2020

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Learn About Local Preschools

CHILDCARE & PRESCHOOL DIRECTORY

Trinity Lutheran Early Learning Center in Redding

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION. LIST YOUR CENTER BY CALLING 1-800-500-6747.

CHICO Chico Country Day School Preschool

102 W. 11th St. • (530) 895-2650 #110 chicocountryday.org Ages: 3-5 yrs • Times: M-T 8:30am-3:00pm, Fridays 8:30am-12pm We offer small, individualized class sizes with a low teacher-to-student ratio. Our program encourages children to discover their environment, learn new skills and concepts, and engage in activities that help gain independence. Lic# 045404389

Chico Montessori Children's House

814 Glenn St. • (530) 342-5518 chicomontessori.com S Ages: 2.9-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 8:30am-4pm or 5:30pm Montessori-trained teachers for the development of the whole child. Emphasis on inner motivation, using the child's natural curiosity and delight in discovery.

Sessions offered a.m., p.m. and full day. Offering summer program signs ups soon! Lic# 045406630

Little Sprouts Preschool

15 Overland Ct. • (530) 345-0123 DSM Ages: 2-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 7am5:30pm ECO Green certified, offering gardening, nature walks, outdoor exploration, kindergarten readiness program, Zoo-phonics®, introduction to Spanish, French and sign language, and fun! Lic# 045405784

Growing Oaks Preschool

115 Oak St. • (530) 809-1334 DSM Ages: 0-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 6:30am-6pm Providing a fun, safe environment where children are encouraged to explore their world through play, arts, and instruction. Lic# 045407629/045407628

D = Diapers Accepted S =Snacks Served M = Meals Served 8

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27635 Oak Run to Fern Rd. • (530) 472-3241 SM Ages: 3-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 8:30am-noon Oak Seed State Preschool provides enriching, developmentally appropriate experiences in a high-quality program. Oak Seed Preschool guides children in the use of traditional and Montessori learning materials. We are happy to welcome your family to our small,country school where your child will thrive, learn, and become an active participant in our school community.Lic# 455405184

Kids and Me Preschool

Shasta County Office of Education State Preschools

Oak Seed Preschool

OROVILLE

Feather River Recreation & Park District Preschool

1875 Feather River Blvd. • 530.533.2011 frrpd.com DSM Ages: 18mos-5yrs • Times: M-F, 7am5:30pm Play, play, play lots of unstructured indoor/outdoor play time, music/movement and a lot of hands-on activities. This is achieved through a variety of fun, age appropriate curriculum including Zoo Phonics. We are divided into five different groups with a structured daily routine. We encourage children to be independent thinkers, have compassion and build confidence. Lic# 045405901

PALO CEDRO

Redding Christian Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten

8835 Swasey Drive • (530) 243-2773 grantpreschool.com S Ages: 2-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 7am - 6pm Located on Grant School Campus. We encourage students to maximize growth cognitively, emotionally, socially and physically. Kindergarten readiness curriculum includes Open Court Math & Language Arts, Sparks P.E., Music, Handwriting Without Tears® and Brain Gym®.

Flexible rates and scheduling. Lic# 455401675 3695 Churn Creek Rd. • (530) 222-3525 DSM Ages: 2-6 yrs • Times: M-F, 7am-5:30pm reddingpreschools.com Quality preschool program in a happy, caring environment. Stimulating and comprehensive curriculum will prepare your child for kindergarten. Clean facility with large outdoor play area in a park-like setting. Lic# 455406526

Munchkin University Infant Center & Preschool

2620 Railroad Ave. • (530) 241-8666 munchkinuniversity.com DSM Ages: Infant Center: 8 wks-2 yrs; Preschool: 2-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 6:30am5:30pm At Munchkin University we believe that children need as many positive experiences as possible.

Our amazing staff provides a great environment where each child is appropriately challenged and encouraged daily. Lic # 451374 213/451374 214

21945 Old 44 Drive • (530) 547-5600 Ages: 3-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 7:30am-5:30pm mid-August through May reddingchristian.com Located just east of Redding in Palo Cedro, our private Christian preschool and pre-kindergarten programs offer a variety of hands-on learning, sensory/motor integration and academic skill building that focus on spiritual, academic, social and physical development. Our comprehensive pre-kindergarten curriculum challenges students in language arts, number sense, science and social studies, all while instilling a Biblical world view and a life-long love of learning. Lic# 455406244

Montessori Children's House of Shady Oaks

REDDING

658 Mary St. • (530) 241-4355 reddingcooppreschool.org S Ages:2 yr.9 months- 5 yrs • Times: 2 days a week or 3 days a week, 9am-12pm Providing a unique learning environment as a parent-participation preschool with a teacher/director planned curriculum. Children experience learning through guided play. Activities include music and movement, arts and crafts, science and math, literature and language arts, as well as outdoor exploration. Lic# 455401222

Columbia's Lion Cubs Preschool

10142 Old Oregon Trail • (530) 223-4070 x315 SM Ages: 2-5 yrs • Times: M-F, 7:30am-6pm Our experienced, qualified and nurturing teachers provide for every aspect of your child’s preschool experience. We offer full, extended and half-day programs with small class sizes, hands-on learning, kindergarten readiness and activities in all areas of learning. There is no residency requirement to live in the Columbia District for your child to attend the preschool. Lic# 455403185

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

1410 Victor Ave. • (530) 222-0355 shadyoaksmontessori.com DS Ages: 2 yrs-K • Times: M-F, 7:30am5:30pm Education begins at birth, building skills that last a lifetime. Montessori helps children become life-long independent learners through purposeful play. We provide engaging hands-on activities that facilitate all aspects of development. Lic # 455405949/451373317

Redding Co-op Preschool

118 Churn Creek Rd. • (530) 244-1891 secretgardenredding.com DSM Ages: 2-K • Times: M-F, 7:30am-6pm We offer excellent pre-K phonics, Kindergarten Readiness with assessments. A full curriculum with cultural appreciation, farm animals, natural foods, plenty of time for reading books, empathy building, respect for others and a huge outdoor play area including a giant sandbox. Lic# 455405638

Our State Preschool classrooms are certified high quality and offer young children an opportunity to learn the social, emotional, and academic skills necessary for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Our inclusive and diverse environments encourage children to learn and grow through hands-on experiences. Preschool staff are qualified through California Teacher Credentialing and participate in ongoing professional development to ensure children receive the most up to date research-based programming.

Tuition assistance is available for eligible families.

Contact us for more information (530) 225-2999.

Trinity Lutheran Early Learning Center

2440 Hilltop Dr. • (530) 221-6686 DSM Ages: 2yrs-Pre-K Times: M-F, 7:30am - 5:45pm We at Trinity Lutheran Early Learning Center strongly believe that nothing is more important in the life of a young child than a thorough and meaningful Christian education, an education that teaches the young person about the love of Christ, and how to share that love in all responsibilities and relationships. Lic# 451373105

West Redding Preschool

3490 Placer St. • (530) 243-2225 westreddingpreschool.webs.com DSM Ages: 6 wks-12 yrs • Times: M-F, 6:30am-6pm A private accredited academic learning environment.

Our goal is to prepare each child today for the educational challenges that they may face tomorrow.

Our curriculum focuses on developing each child’s academic growth & uniqueness. Lic# 455401406

TEHAMA COUNTY

Childcare Referral and Education

Red Bluff. shastacoe.org.

409 Walnut St. • (530) 529-3131 Our subsidized assistance programs support families who are working, seeking work, going to school, or meet other qualifying criteria.

Contact us for assistance in locating a licensed childcare provider in your area.

In California, all kids count.

Children should be included on your 2020 Census form—and not just children related to you, but any kids that live at your address. That means your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and the children of any friends or relatives staying with you. Babies count, too!

Even if they’re still in the hospital, as long as they were born on or before April 1, 2020, make sure the person completing the Census for your address includes them on the form.

For more information about the 2020 Census, visit CaliforniaCensus.org

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for community By Kimberly Blaker

Everything You Need to Know to Get Rid of Unwanted Stuff

Host a Successful Yard Sale this Summer I s your garage, basement or closet overflowing from the heaps of stuff you’ve been saving?

Do you rationalize this hoarding with a just-incase scenario? If so, these times of self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic may offer the ideal chance to prepare to put those languishing piles to good use

PageState Ad.indd 1 North Parent 10NSP Half

• Serving Upper California Since 1993

in someone else’s home. Yard sales are a great way to clear out, recycle and make some extra cash. Plan now for a summer yard sale and have fun bringing the whole family into the process.

Follow these suggestions for a successful sale and a clutter-free home.

The Storefront

A garage is usually the best place to hold a sale. It offers shelter and requires little setup and tear down.

If your garage is hard to access, hidden from view or contains valuables that can’t be easily concealed, use a covered porch, patio or your yard instead.

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3/12/20 1:04 PM

Host a Successful Yard Sale this Summer

Be sure to have tarps available to protect your goods from rain and for covering up at the end of the day.

All in the Timing

Plan your sale when temperatures are between 60 to 90 degrees outdoors. Typically, the best days to hold sales are Thursdays through Sundays, with Fridays and Saturdays providing the most traffic. Mornings bring the most significant flow of shoppers, and the earlier you’re ready, the better. If you open by 7:30 or 8 a.m., early birds will flock.

Displaying Your Wares

Don’t pile your merchandise on tables or leave it in boxes to be rummaged in. While some don’t mind digging through messy stacks, most people won’t bother.

Hang as much clothing as possible. Use a laundry pole, portable closet or install two support brackets and a closet rod. If you only have a few clothing items, a clothesline will do.

Plenty of table space is also a must. Borrow folding tables, and if you run out, make a table by resting a sheet of plywood over sawhorses, or prop spare planks of wood between chairs. Keep all but big items off the floor for better visibility.

Neatly fold and stack clothing that you can’t hang on tables, and label stacks according to clothing size.

Organize good toys and complete sets where parents and grandparents will easily spot them.

Set up a table for the guys with hand tools, gadgets, electronics and home repair items.

Place small articles such as jewelry in easy-to-view divider containers or egg cartons.

One exception to the disorderly rule is for small toys. Stick all these little goodies in boxes on the ground where young children can dig for treasures to take home. Label boxes according to the price per item or allow kids to choose one as a prize.

Finally, make sure batteries and electricity are available so you can show shoppers that items are in working condition.

Like New Sells

Appearance plays a big role in the sale of used goods. Wash and dry all clothing and linens, then fold or hang immediately to prevent wrinkles.

Wash dust, dirt and grime from toys, tools and household items. Also, repair broken merchandise when feasible.

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Everything You Need to Know to Get Rid of Unwanted Stuff – Host a Successful Yard Sale this Summer Price to Sell

Don’t overprice or, at the end of your sale, you’ll pack up nearly as much as you started with. For big items, look through Craigslist or eBay for average resale prices. Keep in mind that online pricing often isn’t comparable to what people will pay at a garage sale. Some quality items in like-new condition can bring 25-35% of the replacement cost at rummage sales. Occasionally, tools, equipment and other things in small supply can be priced higher and sell for 50-60% of replacement cost, depending on age and condition. Most used merchandise will bring 5-10% of replacement cost at best.

Advertising

Facebook and Craigslist, as well as the more popular online garage sale locator websites, usually bring

the best results. The exception is if you live on a main street or a heavily traveled highway. In your ad, be sure to include your address and main cross streets, dates and time of your sale, and items you’ll be selling. List big items individually as well as the categories of things you’re selling, such as tools or toddler clothing.

Also, post fliers on the grocery store or laundromat bulletin boards. If there are no regulations against doing so, posting signs on nearby corners is a must. Get busy now, or get the kids busy, making the flyer and a bright sign for the front of your house.

Tips for Success

The bigger the sale, the more traffic you’ll get. Go in with family, friends and neighbors and hold one big sale rather than several small ones. Move large items

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such as furniture or appliances into the driveway to attract passersby.

Finally, have your items priced. Many people will walk away from a sale when items aren’t priced. They don’t want to make an offer that’s too low and risk offending you. They also don’t want the hassle of having to ask the price for every little thing they might consider buying. Ó

Kimberly Blaker is an avid garage-saler and has held many successful sales herself. Her experience as both a buyer and seller has helped her develop the best strategies for a successful sale.

Fun Indoor Play Space Music Classes “We know that children find security and comfort in routines. Keep the routines that you can, and create new ones for extra stability. We hope to see you soon.”

Kristy Cowell, owner, teacher, parent, grandmother.

530-343-3101 • musictogetherchico.com • sunnygardenchico.com

Now Accepting Applications!

Stellar is a Free TK-12th Grade California Public School

Flexible - Onsite and Homeschool Options Safe & Engaging - Partnership between School and Family Electives - Music, Art, Drama, Science, Robotics plus more!

530.245.7730 • Stellar.ReddingSchools.net • 5885 East Bonnyview Rd., Redding, CA 96001 12

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

Phoenix Charter Academy is a no tuition, WASC accredited leading provider in K-12 education.

We facilitate a blended independent study model based on a personalized learning platform.

Butte College Foster Kinship Care Education Program

Now enrolling!

Phoenix Charter Academy Let us partner with YOU to personalize YOUR child’s education.

• Quality Independent Study Program • Personalized Innovative Education • Enriching Blended Model • Tutoring, Including Math & Writing • Shasta College Courses, ROP • A-G Courses Available • Computer-Based Instruction & Tutorials • Vendor Course Electives Available

• Digital Media Course • Robotics • LEGO® Creative Design • Environmental Education • Turtle Bay Docent Program • A Personalized Learning K-12 Charter School

We provide family enrichment, training and support for those who work with or care for children. Everyone is welcome!

All Workshops Are Free & Open To Everyone!

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Birthday Party Planning

Plan your child’s birthday using our birthday guide.

Make it special with an activity-based or educational theme!

Find creative ways to build a memorable at-home celebration.

Want to wait? Find venues that host parties; reserve for a future date!

northstateparent.com/birthdays NORTH STATE

14

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

for community By Cheryl Maguire

Secrets to Throwing an

EPIC BIRTHDAY PARTY on a Dime with Cardboard, Creativity and a Little Planning Ahead

W

hen I received the invite to my nephew’s pirate party, I was worried. The event was taking place at his house during the wintertime. The five-year-old kids would be cooped up indoors. How would more than 20 kids be entertained inside? Would I hear so many chaotic screams of “Arrr” and “Ahoy” that I would want to walk the plank?

My fears subsided when I beheld the enormous cardboard pirate ship moored in the living room. If the boat hadn’t been so crowded with kids, I would have

Photo by Francesca Murgia, Chico

jumped onboard myself. When I noticed organized activity stations set up throughout the house, I knew all the kids would have a blast. The party was a huge success! My kids still talk about it four years later.

The pirate party isn’t the only impressive at-home event my sister, Tara, and her husband Mike Stull have hosted. They have thrown other equally successful events for their children. Knights and princesses, cowboys and cowgirls, fairies and gnomes, Star Wars and pirates. For each party this couple has created a thematic cardboard

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Planning in Advance

The Stull Family is already planning the next theme party for June—unicorns! They get ideas from Pinterest. com and other crafting websites. Sometimes 16

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play area. A castle, an Old West town, that pirate ship.

There are also games centered around the theme and a favor to take home.

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Secrets to Throwing an Epic Birthday Party on a Dime they brainstorm ideas on their own. Planning helps them to have enough time to create all the activities and the cardboard centerpiece, shop for deals and utilize coupons.

Potential Savings: $25-$50 from advanced planning that allows for using coupons and buying sale items.

Homemade

Almost everything at creative birthday parties can be improvised from the cardboard centerpieces to the games, food and favors. This significantly cuts down on the cost of the party.

Potential Savings: $50-$75 by not buying a store-bought cake, games or favors.

Teamwork

Tara and Mike work together to make the centerpiece, games, favors and homemade baking for their parties. They also include their kids in the process of creative brainstorming and creating the items. By working together, they don’t become too overwhelmed with the planning and building that is involved. It makes the process more fun for the entire family.

Potential Savings: $25-$50 by working together.

Old School Games with A Theme At their parties, the Stulls offer simple games that everyone loves, and they incorporate the theme into the game. Instead of a typical water gunfight, they created a water gun shooting range for the Western 17 theme party. Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, it was pin

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North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

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the lightsaber on Yoda for the Star Wars theme party. Some other games they’ve devised are a pirate scavenger hunt for gold coins, relay cowboy horse races, and beware of the shark toss bean bag game.

Potential Savings: $100-$200 by not hosting the party at an outside venue such as a play gym, bowling alley or laser tag place.

Finding Free or Discounted Items

Tara and Mike asked local appliance stores for free cardboard boxes to create the centerpiece, games, and favors. They also have procured deeply discounted paint for a quarter of the original price that people had returned to home stores because they didn’t like the color.

Potential Savings: $25-$50 by not purchasing cardboard, games and favors as well as buying mistake paint, which is then used for crafts, games or painting the cardboard centerpieces.

Using Coupons and Purchasing Sale Items

They purchase some of the items at craft stores using coupons. They also use coupons at the grocery store to buy the food for the party. Coupons can be found at the store’s website or app or by signing up for the store’s emails, and online coupon websites like Coupons.com.

Potential Savings: $50-$100 by using coupons and purchasing sale items.

Selling on Craigslist

After the last party, they sold some games they created for $30. They plan to do this for future parties.

Potential Savings: $50-$100 depending on the items created and sold. You could also sell your household items before the event to help fund it.

Who’s Ready to Party?

These parties are a lot of work, but the whole family loves creating a memorable event. I know that we are anxiously awaiting the unicorn party. Who knows, maybe we will even spy a real one? Ó

Cheryl Maguire holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessing and Your Teen Magazine.

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this is tehama By Kate Hiller

THIS IS TEHAMA

The ancient word “Tehama” once meant a place where rivers could be crossed.

With our county’s rich currents of history, happenings and hope, this is our crossing place today — where we meet to celebrate our beautiful Tehama County.

A

The Comfort and Care of Welcoming Babies with St. Elizabeth’s Midwives

s St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff, CA, welcomes this year’s spring babies, the goal remains the same—healthy outcomes for each mother and baby. A highly trained team of doctors, midwives and nurses are eager to help each family have the best birth experience possible. Two members of that team, Sally Cox and Pamela Stuart, certified nurse midwives, have been sharing their passion for the overall health and well-being of local families for decades.

I met both midwives 15 years ago when we had our daughter, and it was great to reconnect more recently.

We share many common interests, including a desire to educate families on the importance of physical activity and nutrition. Health problems such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are linked to surprisingly high infant mortality rates in the United States, currently 5.9 deaths per 1,000 live infant births. The obstetric and midwifery team at St. Elizabeth’s is dedicated to helping women access all the resources available to beat those odds.

St. Elizabeth Family Birth Center has a wide range of tools to help with labor and birth. Laboring in the shower or water tub can relax the mother, and devices such as the peanut ball can help open the pelvic outlet, all helping the labor to progress as naturally as possible. Sally and Pamela like to encourage mothers to reach down and catch their babies or offer for the fathers to do so. They also like to facilitate immediate skin-to-skin contact. Both women spend so much quality time at the bedside that parents build trust and relationships with their delivery team.

Both midwives shared that the most rewarding part of their careers is impacting lives beyond the birth room. Addressing the needs of the whole person, and even the whole family, brings benefits that go far beyond pregnancy and birth.

The entire staff of the Family Birth Center is proud of the continuity of care they offer at St. Elizabeth. For example, Dr. Meghan Leininger is a certified lactation consultant and is available to help address nursing concerns that often arise postpartum.

Sally has been a nurse-midwife for almost 35 years, attending births at St Elizabeth’s for 16 years and working with Women’s Health and Obstetrics in the office for 26 years. She refers to birthing as an athletic event and encourages women to eat healthily

18

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

and stay active throughout their pregnancies. Sally prescribes lunges, squats, walking and even dancing to keep moms fit and flexible. She enjoys continuing her education with programs such as Spinning Babies (spinningbabies.com) so that she can continue to bring benefits to her patients.

Pamela, who just retired in March, has worked in a hospital setting since 1998 and at St. Elizabeth’s since 2002. After learning midwifery through apprenticeship and facilitating home births for many years, she feels she has been able to empower more women by bringing the midwifery model into the hospital setting. According to Pamela, “The midwifery model improves psychosocial outcomes and reduces intervention, infection rates, medical costs, preterm birth rates and the number of c-sections.” Working as a team with like-minded doctors and nurses has improved those statistics at St. Elizabeth’s.

Their biggest frustrations have come with increased demands for productivity. Neither midwife likes to spend time charting at their computers. They would much rather be talking face-to-face with their patients, addressing everyone’s needs. They are talking to women, not products, and each woman represents a future family. The overall well-being of a woman can affect the well-being of an entire family Advocating for active lifestyles is only natural for these midwives who stay very active in their private lives. Pamela hopes to do a lot more backpacking with her husband in her retirement and will perhaps find a way to teach and work with some aspect of women’s

health. Sally and her husband just finished painting their 103-year-old ranch house, and she is enjoying spring calving on her remote ranch. Technological advances such as Wi-Fi on the ranch and apps have helped, allowing her to monitor patients and be bedside as soon as necessary.

Midwife means with-woman. The comforting presence of women at birth is as old as life itself. No phone app or medical chart could adequately measure the impact these two women have had by being that comforting presence in the lives of many of our area’s families. Ó Kate Hiller felt an innate need to gather many women around her while pregnant with her only daughter. Both Sally and Pamela were involved, and local nurse Ruth Ann Rowen joined in for a very memorable birth at St. Elizabeth’s.

All seven of Joey and Karli Hurton’s children were born with the care of St. Elizabeth’s midwives. #7 was a leap year baby and one of the last of Pamela's deliveries at St. E’s

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19

for health By Pamela Llano and Christa Melynk Hines

The Fourth Trimester How a Postpartum Doula Can Help

Photo by Francesca Murgia, Chico

A

s a Siskiyou County licensed midwife, Sue Wolcott has helped many women bring their babies into the world, and she understands firsthand the importance of good support during the fourth trimester—the three months following the birth of a baby. Referring to this period,

Sue notes, “It’s a life-changing time of real transition.

Moms are tired, healing, establishing breastfeeding, and often unsure of how to take care of themselves, this new person and the rest of their family. A postpartum doula can be a good source of support and security during this window.”

What is a postpartum doula?

The first 6-12 weeks after a newborn arrives can be a mixture of happiness and anxiety as moms settle into a new routine. Many of today’s new mothers lack the support network that mothers have relied upon for gen21 erations. Close family and friends are far-flung,

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20

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

{ UNIQUELY US {

The Fourth Trimester – How a Postpartum Doula Can Help and partners return to work within days. A postpartum doula can provide experience and valuable support that a new mother may be missing.

Rose Spagnola is a doula in Siskiyou County who agrees. “In our culture, women get this pressure that we need to be so strong and take care of everything totally by ourselves. Mothers are feeling isolated and alone because we’ve lost track of the fact that this is community work.” Rose continues, “It’s so different for each person, even if you have multiple children, the entire environment changes, and there’s no balance there. Having that helping hand and extra support, both emotionally and around the house, makes it so much easier.”

In addition to support and some basic household help, postpartum doulas are trained to help parents with information on things like breastfeeding, emotional and physical healing, mother-baby bonding and basic newborn care.

Rose notes that while a mom is healing, especially from a difficult or surgical birth, a doula can help with many of the things the mom would normally do herself. The doula can also do this as a non-biased neutral party with services designed for each family and their unique needs.

Mothering the mother

A mom who spends hours alone with her baby can spiral into emotional and physical exhaustion, which can put her at greater risk for postpartum anxiety or depression. During this challenging transition period, a postpartum doula provides calm reassurance and support to a new mother and her family.

“When moms feel supported at home, and they are getting what they need, the rates of postpartum depression are reduced,” says Kate Kripke, LCSW, an expert in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

“There is a lot to be said about the role the postpartum doula plays in simply mothering the mother after she gives birth that can be incredibly preventative for lots of women.”

Kate continues, “When doulas are educated in what to look for, they’re one of the first people to pick up on and identify when something is going on with the mom.”.

To help women and their families recognize the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety, the Mothers Strong collaborative in Butte County offers online and in-person connections to support and education. This collaborative of new mothers, families and agencies works together to support mothers, help them identify when they need help and guide them to critical resources. That includes support groups and therapists with specialized training for working effectively with women and families experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety.

Mothers Strong also offers women an online gathering place with the Mothers Strong Café on Facebook, a group created as a safe place to interact and share mom-to-mom peer support. The general Mothers Strong Facebook page focuses on motherhood wellness, sharing information about local support events, resources and articles.

Anna Bauer is the Director of First 5 Butte County, a dedicated Mothers Strong partner. In the Mothers Strong Building Strong Families video Anna says, “While its wonderful that many mothers do not experience perinatal mood and anxiety, its critical that we understand that 15-20% of new mothers do experience it and they do need help and there is help available for them.”

What is postpartum depression?

According to Postpartum Support International, postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth, and one in eight women will suffer from it. Symptoms include insomnia, severe mood swings, a lack of joy, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue, 22 Please say you saw it in North State Parent magazine. This helps us grow!

REFLECTIONS OF A SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT

BY JENNIFER ARNOLD

Autism Awareness Month: Spotlight on Autism Lifespan

A

pril is Autism Awareness Month, and there are many organizations in the North State that provide valuable services to families of children on the spectrum. One such organization is Autism Lifespan (littleredhen.org/pages/autism-lifespan) in Chico, CA.

Little Red Hen, a non-profit corporation based in Chico which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities, created Autism Services & Lifespan. Funded by Far Northern Regional Center (farnorthernrc.org), Autism Lifespan provides resources, connection and support to families in Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties.

Brooke Burrows, the supervisor of children’s programs at the Autism Lifespan Center, explains that they are often the first point of contact for families after receiving a diagnosis of autism for their child. The Lifespan Center’s resource office provides information that people need to find services. They also offer a lending library of books, CDs, and DVDs relating to all aspects of autism spectrum disorder, along with a variety of literature consisting of pamphlets, brochures and fliers for local services and events.

There is also a small store located in the resource office which sells items for developing play skills, social and language skills, and sensory and fine motor skills, along with autism awareness merchandise. Brooke explains, “Many of the sensory items available such as chewies, fidget spinners and cubes are toys that have worked for us in our programs.”

Along with being an important resource for information and services, the Autism Lifespan Center hosts several children’s programs. Lil’ Sprouts, ages 4 through 8, and Buddin’ Sprouts, for ages 8 to 13, are year-round programs that provide one-on-one support to help develop socialization, behavioral and communication skills. These programs, Brooke says, have two primary goals of play therapy and socialization. She adds, “those will look very different between kids as each child on the spectrum is unique in their own way.”

The Growing Together Teens, ages 13 through 17, is a socialization program for teens with autism and other developmental disabilities. It is a place where teens “can just come and be themselves,” says Brooke. The consistency the year-round programs provide allows the children to form relationships and bonds with their peers.

The Lifespan Center also offers two summer programs: Feeling Like One Common Kid (FLOCK) and the Not Your Garden Variety Theater. FLOCK is a two-week summer socialization therapy program for children ages 6 to 15 and is held at the California State University, Chico. The program consists of supported community outings and uses what Brooke describes as a friendship curriculum, a tool to learn how to handle emotions, addressing topics such as bullying and how to handle certain social situations.

For more information about the Lifespan Center, please call (530) 897-0300. Ó Uniquely Us is a unique opportunity to address special needs issues and concerns and to celebrate life. If you have something in particular you would like to read about, please write to pn@northstateparent.com (please include UU in the subject line).

Shasta County author Jennifer Arnold is the mom of four, two of whom have been diagnosed with multiple special needs. She hopes to raise awareness of many issues that parents of special needs children face on a regular basis.

www.northstateparent.com • April 2020

21

How you can help

Having a sense of community is vital to a new mom’s health and well-being. Here are ways you can help a new mom during those first few weeks home but always text or call ahead first.

• Coordinate an online care train (mealtrain.com) where friends and family can sign up for time slots to deliver meals, take care of siblings, clean house or rock the baby.

• Offer to rock the baby for a couple of hours to give mom a chance to take a shower or a nap.

• Deliver a healthy snack.

• Drop off a fully prepared meal.

• Babysit any older children for an afternoon.

• Offer to walk the dog, clean house or run an errand.

• Give her a gift card to her favorite take-out restaurant.

Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

withdrawal from family and friends and thoughts of suicide. Postpartum depression can also interfere with healthy bonding between a mom and her newborn.

“When a baby is on the inside, a woman takes amazing care of herself. And then the baby is born, and it becomes all about the baby. As soon as that mom starts to

struggle and suffer, she will no longer have what is required to care for her baby the way she wants to. Not because she isn’t a good mom or doesn’t love her child, but simply because she’s human,” Kate explains. “I find that the women who are enjoying motherhood the most and who feel the healthiest are the ones who are receiving help.”

Pamela Llano is a North State educator and mother who has enjoyed working with families for over 20 years. Since her own children have flown the coop, she is now also enjoying an expanded nest and free time.

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START WITH A STROLL...

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

join fun walking challenges, find trail maps and walking group information at healthyshastawalks.org

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hen it comes to a savvy full-service digital marketing agency, you can shop local in Northern California!

Web Made Local is a Red Bluff-based agency owned and operated by Nathan and Heather Smith, a husband and wife team with 25 years of combined experience and a genuine spirit for giving back to their community. With three girls and two boys ranging in age from almost 6 to 12, their daily life is an active, highly organized blend of family and business. Founded in 2010, Web Made Local offers services that include social media management, web design, videography, photography, real estate photography and digital advertising management.

Nathan and Heather work side-by-side developing marketing content for their clients. Operating their own business gives them the flexibility to work from their home office, pursuing creative epiphanies as they strike. They each bring individual strengths, skills and perspective to the table and use them to transform dreams and ideas into attention grabbing marketing product. They

believe in working hard, investing the time and effort it takes to create a product that ultimately translates into revenue for their clients.

“We want every client’s project to be the best it can be, and we treat each one as if it were our own project,” says Heather. “We believe our success is measured by the success we bring to our clients.”

Their family-owned business allows them to integrate family needs and children’s activities into their daily workplan. All five of their children play soccer and are involved in karate, and some are taking piano or guitar lessons. Nathan and Heather tag team the day. While one is working with a client, the other may be driving kids to the soccer field. Sometimes their children get to ride along when they’re out on a photography assignment. Nathan credits Heather’s masterful organization and calendaring for guiding them through their weeks and keeping it all in flow.

Heather and Nathan cemented their early friendship while working at a Yuba City restaurant. Their friendship grew into high school sweethearts and Nathan escorted Heather to

her prom. They’ve now been an “old married couple” for 15 years and say time really does fly when you’re having fun, and for the Smiths that includes working together at Web Made Local.

When Nathan and Heather aren’t developing web sites and helping clients build relationships with social media, they’re engaged in activities that support their community. They enjoy shopping local, coaching youth soccer and getting involved with area events such as The Red Bluff Princess Ball, a fundraiser for a new Splash Park.

Supporting an event can lead to the perfect combination of work and fun as shown in the video they created for the Red Bluff Business Association featuring the annual Downtown Christmas Parade. It’s available for viewing under “Video Production" at webmadelocal.com.

Web Made Local loves to nurture their local clients just like family. But technology allows them to bring that warm touch to clients all over the North State and beyond. Want to learn more about the services offered by this tech-savvy, creative duo? Be sure to visit webmadelocal.com. Ó

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www.northstateparent.com • April 2020

23

for community By Sandi Schwartz

How to Choose the Best Diapers for Your Baby and the Environment

W

Photo by Francesca Murgia, Chico

ith the arrival of a new baby comes many challenging choices—co-sleep or crib, bottle or breast. Cloth or dispos-

able diapers?

Your diaper choice can impact both your family’s health and the environment, so it is important to evaluate the many benefits of choosing organic cloth diapers for your little one. Although each diaper option comes

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with its pros and cons, cloth diapers offer advantages by minimizing environmental harm, reducing health impacts and saving money.

Environmental Impact The top reason to choose cloth diapers is their eco-friendliness compared to disposable diapers. Disposables use more raw materials to make, contain harsh

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chemicals, create more waste and degrade very slowly.

Americans throw away about 20 billion disposable diapers each year, creating 3.5 million tons of waste that can’t be recycled or composted. That translates to more than 2 tons of waste per child! Unfortunately, studies show that diapers in landfills take up to 500 years to degrade.

Chemicals are a big problem for disposable diapers.

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How to Choose the Best Diapers for Your Baby and the Environment

Week of the

that can end up in the ecosystem. The Real Diaper Association (realdiapers.org) explains that disposable diapers contain ingredients that could harm animals, humans and the environment. As the diapers sit for years in the landfill, they can leach dangerous chemicals into the soil and water, while also creating methane and other toxic gasses. There is also concern about the human feces in each diaper as it sits decomposing for years. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, disposable diapers introduce pathogens into the environment from the solid waste they contain that could seep into the water source, potentially polluting drinking water.

We can’t forget about our precious trees. It’s estimated that up to 200,000 trees are lost each year to make disposable diapers in the United States alone.

Health Concerns

Materials used to make disposable diapers have also been found to cause health issues. Many traditional diaper brands contain chlorine, latex, perfumes and dyes that can cause skin irritations and rashes. More seriously, studies have found that being exposed to chlorine for an extended period can cause cancer. Next, the wood pulp core of diapers is bleached with chlorine, a process that contaminates the end-product with dioxins, which are highly toxic and carcinogenic. Finally, disposable diapers generate emissions that your baby can inhale and trigger asthma.

Cost Savings

Another huge benefit of using cloth diapers is the cost savings. Disposable diapers can start to add up. On average, children will require about eight diapers per day from the time they are born until they are potty trained. That is a total of 8,000 to 10,000 diapers! That cost comes out to an average of $4,000 per child over two years.

On the other hand, the cost of using cloth diapers and laundering them yourself is between $800 and $1,100 over three years, which is a huge savings. The other great news is that you only need to purchase the cloth diapering system once because you can reuse it for your next child. Then when you are done, you can donate them to a cloth diaper bank.

Just be cautious when choosing a brand of cloth diapers because there are many choices on the market today, and unfortunately, not all are created equal.

According to Darci Crossin of Apple Blossom Baby in Chico, CA, “There are many cloth diapers on the market that work wonderfully, but with the rise in popularity, we have also seen a rise in cheap brands that don’t hold up or hold in. This can lead to more expense, more frustration, or even a switch back to disposables. It’s important to pick a reputable brand of high quality. Fortunately, there are great options at every price point.”

How to Address the Biggest Con: Energy Consumption

The biggest challenge with cloth diapers is the amount of energy consumption needed to wash and dry them. However, the following tips will help ensure that you stay as eco-friendly as possible when choosing cloth diapers.

1. Choose energy-efficient appliances such as those labeled with the ENERGY STAR logo. Clothes washers with this logo use 25% less energy and approximately 33% less water than standard models, and the dryers use about 20% less energy.

2. Air-dry the diapers with a dehumidifier instead of using the dryer.

3. Purchase a small portable washing machine to wash one day’s worth of cloth diapers. You only need to add 1-2 gallons of water for one load compared to the 50 needed for a full-sized washer.

4. Avoid using a cloth diaper cleaning service since the transportation involved uses large amounts of energy, and you do not have control over the type of washer and dryer units they have. Ó Sandi Schwartz is an avid environmentalist and mom to her two nature-loving children. Together as a family, they enjoy beach cleanups, visiting science museums and nature centers, and driving around in their electric car. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness and environmental issues.

Please say you saw it in North State Parent magazine. This helps us grow!

Young Child April 11 - 18, 2020

T

he Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is an annual celebration of young children that takes place every April in Shasta County and in communities across the nation. WOYC was established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association. This week in April is set aside for communities to develop unique, local celebrations, for the purpose of bringing public attention to the needs of young children and their families, recognizing the early childhood programs, services, and investments that meet those needs.

The early years of childhood form a foundation for children’s success in school and in life.

The Paper Doll Project provides the visual signature to Shasta County’s Week of the Young Child.

Paper dolls are handcrafted by young children and displayed at businesses throughout Shasta County. When displays of paper dolls appear in store fronts and lobbies, it links the generations and recognizes the importance of young children. Each paper doll is unique, decorated by a young child as an image of him/herself.

Each one is a visual representation of a child in Shasta County who is full of promise and potential.

first5shasta.org www.northstateparent.com • April 2020

25

localicious By Erin Bianchi

First Foods for Baby H

i, families with young babies.This one’s for you! Giving someone their first real taste of food can be so daunting. Let’s break it down and make it a process you can cherish and not fear.

When is the best time to begin your baby on solid foods?

Most sources indicate four to six months as a good period to begin solid foods. I lean toward six months because the digestive tract becomes more fully developed at that age and better able to break down solid foods. Six months is also the time that your baby may start needing higher amounts of some nutrients such as iron and zinc.

Adding solid foods at this age can help achieve this.

How do I know my baby is ready for solid foods?

Look to see if your baby is sitting up on their own, starting to use a pincer grasp and if they are showing interest in foods. Both of my daughters showed extreme interest in food and actively tried to grab it when I was eating. So, while my goal was to wait until six months to offer food, I let them take the lead, and we began slightly before that six-month mark.

What food do I start with?

There is no one perfect food. Choose real food and make sure the size and texture are appropriate for your baby. What is appropriate for each baby varies, so observe how your baby maneuvers food.

There are two popular food introduc-

tion techniques, baby-led weaning (BLW) and the more traditional pureed or soft foods on a spoon. I like both and have used a combination of both with my girls. BLW focuses on providing your child with foods they can feed to themselves, typically a steamed vegetable or fruit sliced in a wedge so they can pick it up and take bites. I loved this idea, but it didn’t always work for us. I learned what foods my babies handled well feeding to themselves and which ones went better when I was able to offer a spoon. Most of the recommendations below offer both versions.

Avocado

Bring on the healthy fats for brain development, the fiber for proper gut function and the creamy softness that makes it easily palatable.

• Mash and offer on a spoon or place a slice in front of your baby to encourage them to feed themselves.

Steamed Carrot or any veggies

• Steam until vegetable is easily mashed with the tongue. Offer mashed on a spoon or whole for your child to pick up.

Banana

• Mash and offer on a spoon or slice in half and quarter lengthwise for your child to hold.

Localicious Localicious is a monthly column celebrating food in the North State. If you would like to suggest a food-related business or organization, email us at localicious@northstateparent.com.

Egg Yolk

The yolk of the egg packs most of the nutrients, is a good source of iron and choline and is a good size for your baby's small tummy. Hard boil an egg, eat the white and save the yolk for baby.

• Mash the yolk up and mix in breast milk or water until the texture is no longer dry. Serve on a spoon.

Pureed Meat

For those that choose meat, it is a highly bioavailable source of protein and micronutrients like iron and zinc. It nutritionally beats rice cereal. Rice cereal was traditionally first introduced to replete iron stores with a less absorbable form of fortified iron.

• Use a blender or food processor to puree cooked meat. Add in breast milk or water to achieve a soft texture that will be easier for your baby.

You may be a vegetarian family and The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says, “Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes.”

Does your baby push the food out of her mouth with her tongue? This reflex may indicate that your baby is not quite ready for solid foods. Does your baby cough or have trouble gumming the item you offered? If so, try a different size, make the food softer, or try a different food item next time. If your baby is feeding himself, does he take bites or shove the food item in all at once? Too much food in the mouth can be difficult for your little one to maneuver.

You may want to try different techniques to regulate intake at the beginning, like offering only one bite at a time or offering on a spoon, so that you control the amount. Serving sizes don’t need to be large for your baby to get the benefit of solid foods as most of their nutrition will still be coming from milk.

I love the Nourished Beginnings Baby Food Cookbook by Renee Kohley and BLW Baby Food Cookbook

by Ellen Gipson and Laura Morton. Lily Nichols, Renee Kohley, and Laura Morton have excellent accounts to follow on Instagram as well. Ó Erin Bianchi is a Registered Dietitian with a focus on real food. She does her best to source local, seasonal ingredients and get everyone to the dinner table to enjoy them together. She and her husband have two daughters and live on a small walnut orchard in Northern California.

You can follow their food and adventures on Instagram @ thefarmerandthecook.

26

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

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for health By Sandi Schwartz

How to Make A “Five Senses” Stress-Busting Toolkit for Your Kids

W

e are all facing uncharted waters with the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Everyone’s anxiety is sky high worrying about everything from making sure we have enough food and supplies to how we will keep our children entertained for weeks on end. At the same time, we engage in social distancing to protect our families and neighbors. It’s never been more critical to manage our stress and provide tools to help our children manage their stress.

One helpful technique in addressing stress and anxiety is distraction. If we can interrupt ruminations and overwhelming fear with a diversion, then our children can return to a calmer, more balanced state of mind. 29

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How to Make A “Five Senses” Stress-Busting Toolkit for Your Kids We can teach our kids how to do this by using mindfulness, teach them how to be fully present in the moment. Mindfulness allows our children to understand their mind-body connection better and to stop being so reactive to thoughts, emotions and physical sensations no matter what is happening in their environment.

A commonly used mindfulness tactic is to have tools that trigger all our five senses. To make it easy for your children to calm down when they get panicky, consider putting together a Five Senses Stress-Busting Toolkit based on these ideas:

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Feeling different textures can be an effective distraction tool. One trick is to have your child touch and feel one texture at a time. Have them tell themselves what it feels like so that their full attention is on what they are touching. It is helpful to have several different types of textures to rotate through, such a smooth, rough, slimy, squishy, fuzzy and hard items. Ideas include: • Touch and feel books like Pat the Bunny • Touch and feel cards • Stress balls • Buy a sensory toy kit or put together a bag of items with multiple textures such as tissue, sandpaper, a cotton ball, a squishy ball and a piece 30 of felt.

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As the adage “stop and smell the roses” reminds us, fragrances can help us to relax and be in the moment. There is no scent more relaxing than lavender. The antioxidant components found in lavender can lower the level of stress hormones in our body. There are many methods to use lavender to soothe stress and anxiety. Here a few that you can throw in your stress-busting toolkit: • Lavender spray • Lavender lotion for kids • Aromatherapy diffuser bracelets and necklaces for children

Other soothing scents include ginger, jasmine, pine, rosemary and citruses like lemons, oranges and grapefruit.

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North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

Mindful eating is a popular relaxation technique. It is a good idea to offer a couple of items so that your kids can focus on taste. Teach them how to use focused eating to direct their attention to the flavors in their mouth. Try an eating exercise such as Mindfulness and the Art of Chocolate Eating found at meditationinschools.org.

• Trail mix is a must-have for your kit since it is a slow-perishable snack that has multiple items to taste like granola, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, peanut butter drops and chocolate pieces.

• Dried fruit such as banana chips, mangos, pineapple and apple are always in season and can offer tastes from around the world.

Sight

The sense of sight offers many possibilities for relaxation. Here are a few ideas for your stress-busting toolkit that are easily accessible on the go: • Mindful and creative coloring books have been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels. Coloring can help us become so focused on what we are doing that we reach a state of flow and forget what is going on around us. Your children can use any type of coloring book, but mandalas are very popular in the mindfulness world. You can bring along a coloring book and pack of crayons or markers.

• Amazingly, just looking at pictures of nature scenes can reduce stress because our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us to calm down, is activated.

Bring along a packet of National Park postcards or nature-themed picture book.

• Looking at colorful, mesmerizing patterns can grab anyone’s attention for minutes on end. Kaleidoscopes offer another excellent way for our children to get lost in the moment.

Sound

Music helps move our attention from fear to something pleasurable. It is a healthy distraction, allowing the listener to be mindful. Music can force our brains to shift the thinking process. Consider putting together a special playlist for your kids to listen to when they are stressed. Slow and quiet classical music is known to have a calming effect by lowering pulse and heart rate, reducing blood pressure and decreasing the levels of stress hormones in our body. Still, it is a personal choice to discover which music you find most soothing. Upbeat songs about happiness may work for some while soothing nature sounds may work better for others. Ó

Sandi Schwartz is an avid environmentalist and mom to her two nature-loving children. As a family, they enjoy beach cleanups, visiting science museums and nature centers, and driving around in their electric car.

for health By Carolyn Patten

Fast, Delicious Ways to Help Kids Get Their Fruits & Veggies

F

punch are carrots for Vitamin A, citrus for Vitamin C, and green and leafy vegetables for Vitamin B complex.

Protein-rich nuts and seeds are packed with Vitamin E, omega-3, omega-6 and many vital minerals; and all of these ingredients have lots of antioxidants.

Juicer or Blender?

Your choice is a matter of personal preference and budget. In general, juicers are more expensive and require a bit more of a time commitment to clean and discard the pulp. A juicer separates the fibre from the rest of the fruit or vegetables, leaving only the juice. The remaining fibre pulp is discarded. This means you can pack more fruit or veggies in per cup.

A blender processes the whole fruit or vegetable for a thick smoothie which takes longer to digest. You still get all the nutrients, but they are released more slowly, meaning you feel satisfied longer. The fibre also acts

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or picky kids* who turn up their noses at eating vegetables, using a juicer or blender to whip up yummy smoothies can be the perfect solution to get them into the whole foods habit and to make life easier in the morning. A juice drink or smoothie packed with green and leafy vegetables, powerhouse fruits, protein and healthy fats has everything growing bodies need to zoom through the morning without a sugar crash.

Rosalyn Duran, North State Parent’s Calendar Editor, says, “My entire family started juicing when our youngest son was diagnosed with cancer. At first, juicing was a huge adjustment for our children, but as we found more recipes and included them in the juicing process, they began to love drinking their fruits and veggies in one glass each morning! Besides the goodness in taste, we know that by juicing, we are helping boost our ‘immune-system army,’ as we call it.”

Among the veggies and fruits that pack the most

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like a broom to sweep up toxins in the digestive system and encourage regular elimination.

A few tips before you start: • Don’t add sugar. Fruits and veggies have plenty of natural sugars. Any extra sugar hides the delicious flavors and may contribute to gum and tooth diseases and obesity.

• Make it and eat it fresh. Ingredients lose their potency when exposed to air over a period of time.

• Keep it clean. Thoroughly wash and peel fruits and vegetables and wash the juicer or blender before and after using it.

• Start slow. It’s a good idea to dilute the liquid for children until you are sure their digestion is on track.

• Have just one. One big glass of juiced fruits/veggies or one smoothie a day is great for breakfast or a quick lunch on the go. Balance this with solid food 32 at other meals.

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Fast, Delicious Ways to Help Kids Get Their Fruits & Veggies

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These recipes are a good place to start. Once your children find out how much fun it is to whip up their own creations by choosing ingredients at the store, then combining them in imaginative ways, they’ll be well on their way to eating for super health.

Super X Smoothie Pre-soak and rinse the seeds for several hours to release more of their nutrients.

• 1 cup spinach • 2 leaves collard greens • 1 lime • 1-inch piece fresh ginger root • 1/2-inch piece fresh turmeric root • 1 banana • 2 tablespoons acai powder • 2 each of raw hemp seeds and chia seeds • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries IF YOU HAVE A JUICER Juice the first five ingredients, and then put into the blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A JUICER Put all the ingredients in the blender except for the lime, ginger, and turmeric; blend. Peel the ginger, lime, and turmeric, add and blend until smooth.

5-Ingredient Smoothie For a tasty, nutrient-dense smoothie, use this formula: a superfood, a protein, greens, a healthy fat, and a liquid. Let your kids mix it up with their favorites for each ingredient. Here’s an example: • 1/2 cup frozen blueberries • 1 scoop whey or plant-based protein powder • 1 cup baby spinach or kale • 1/4 avocado • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Chocolate Almond Greenie This tastes a bit like a chocolate shake and is filled with calcium and vitamin D, antioxidants, and omega-3 fats.

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk • 1 tablespoon almond butter • 1 banana • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 cup kale or spinach leaves • 1 tablespoon chia seeds • 1/2 cup ice Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth. * Pediatricians often recommend that children younger than one should not be given juice of any kind, as it is too difficult to digest. Between the ages of one and three, it’s ok to introduce a bit of highly diluted fresh juice. Children between the ages of 4 and 9 generally can handle undiluted fresh fruit and vegetable juice without the pulp. Once a child reaches nine or older, the fun of juicing and smoothies can really take off. Ó

With degrees in journalism and mass communications, Carolyn Patten has been a professional writer for decades, specializing in features about people and their passions. Writing about families is one of her favorite assignments.

32

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

for community By Christina Katz

A More Adventurous Approach to Education – Exploring Learning Styles to Enrich Your Child’s Life as Well as Your Own

S

chool should be an adventure in learning, and so should life. But if you have not taken the time to observe how your child learns best, your child might be struggling in school unnecessarily.

Identifying prominent learning styles in children is crucial in helping them identify their strengths and overcome their weaknesses as they progress into a more diverse spectrum of courses grade after grade. We often needlessly separate creativity from learning. But when parents help children understand their dominant learning styles, parent and child can both use this knowledge to improve the child’s experiences, not only in school, but also in life.

Most people use a combination of learning styles.

Do you know yours? Generally, there are six types of

learning styles: visual, auditory, verbal, kinesthetic, tactile and logical. As a parent, knowing your own learning styles helps you become a better lifelong learner and a better learning coach for your child.

You might think your children will possess the same proclivities as you. But even though there may be some overlap, each person’s learning style is uniquely their own. For example, my daughter seems more visual than me and more auditory, is likely equally kinesthetic, but maybe not quite as verbal. Logic and tactile probably fall lower on both our lists, whereas her dad, my husband, likely dominates these last two learning categories in our home, as well as being highly visual and auditory.

You don’t have to get tested to find out what kind of learners are living in your house. You simply have to be willing to reflect on what makes each of you tick.

Where do you see a family member leaning in, and where do you see a family member leaning out? This is usually enough information to help you experiment with learning styles and see how they benefit each member of the family.

Under each category, I’ve listed approaches for test-driving each type of learning style. Why not invite the whole family to explore their learning styles and report back on what they discover? You’ll learn things about yourselves and each other that will make your ad34 ventures in life and learning more enjoyable.

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33

A More Adventurous Approach to Education – Exploring Learning Styles to Enrich Your Child’s Life as Well as Your Own

Visual

• Draw pictures, doodle or color.

• List both sides of an argument. sult a chart or a graph.

• Draw the shape of an idea or con • Use flashcards for memorizing. .

• Make a lesson into a comic strip s. blog al visu , fun read and • Search for eye out for colorful an • Research topics on Pinterest with infographics. am of images or drawings.

• Watch videos with a steady stre a video game or flip • Do something visual like playing learning. from k through a magazine as a brea

Verbal

• Read up on topics of interest, highligh ting any points to remember.

• Look up word definitions to spark ideas.

• Write out thoughts and rewrite thou ghts to clarify what you think.

• Talk through your thoughts with another person.

• Build an argument on an opinion you feel strongly about.

• Play with acronyms (make up a stor y using every letter in one word as the first letter in a part of the story).

• Turn written words into spoken words and vice versa to increase memorization.

• Play with verbal forms such as stor ies, poetry, articles, lists, commercials, etc.

• Immerse yourself in reading as a break from learning.

Auditory

• Use music in the background while learning.

• Read work out loud into a recorder or to the dog.

• Listen to lectures or stories in audio format.

• Write down what you notice as you listen or after you listen.

• Listen to yourself read out loud.

• Listen to the opinions of others to help sharpen your point of view.

• Enjoy discussion, dialogue and debating.

• Turn what you are learning into a rhyming poem or song lyrics.

• Listen to some upbeat or moving music while taking a break from learning.

Kinesthetics

rstand. Play all • Physically act out ideas you are trying to unde the parts. r or on a • Draw your ideas out on large sheets of pape whiteboard. on.

• Memorize information while you are in moti . iques • Use storyboarding techn rate thinking.

• Get outside and get your hands dirty to integ tion. ovisa impr or e • Engage in pantomim e or theatre.

• Use your whole body for learning as with danc • Take frequent breaks to stretch or to move. or by doing • Clear your mind by going for a walk or a run chores.

Logical

Tactile

r assignments.

• Incorporate art projects into you y disparate parts into a ingl • Pull together a bunch of seem collage or sculpture. would build a log cabin.

• Build an argument the way you of lessons.

• Create a 3D visual representation ing. oriz • Use flashcards for mem ing while learning.

• Keep your hands and fingers mov study.

• Trace words or images to help you ter understanding. grea for ions trat ons • Watch video dem n stuck or integrating • Work with clay, putty or dough whe ideas. or move when sitting for • Take frequent breaks to stretch long periods. as a break from learning.

• Build a model or bake some cookies

34

North State Parent • Serving Upper California Since 1993

• Notice patterns in whatever you are stud ying.

• Classify or categorize things.

• Break information out into small chun ks.

• Use ‘if/then’ or ‘if/when’ statements.

• Set goals and track your progress.

• Make a to-do list.

• Use examples, stats and research.

• Pose a word problem and solve it.

• Use a spreadsheet to track progress.

• Appreciate timelines, diagrams and flow charts.

• Tidy or organize things as a break from learning.

• Play word games like crossword puzz les or word search puzzles.

• Keep a jigsaw puzzle going for relaxatio n.

Christina Katz loves to take a creative approach to learning and a learning approach to creativity. She can increase her productivity quite a bit by paying better attention to flexing her dominant learning styles.

Is your family prepared for any EMERGENCY? C R E AT E YO U R OW N P L A N TO S TAY S A F E .

Emergency supply kit checklist Drinking water

Flashlight

Children’s activities

Non-perishable food, including baby and pet food

First aid kit

Cash and credit cards

Mobile phone and portable charger

Toiletries

Medication and eyeglasses

Important documents

Tools and utensils Batteries

1

2

3

4

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UPDATE YOUR INFO FOR OUTAGE ALERTS

CONFIRM YOUR EMERGENCY EXITS

PLAN FOR YOUR PETS

CHECK YOUR STANDBY GENERATOR

Update your contact information at pge.com/ mywildfirealerts so we can reach you in an emergency.

from your home and establish a location where your family or roommates can reunite after evacuating.

LEARN HOW TO OPEN YOUR GARAGE DOOR MANUALLY

by including them in practice drills and helping them get comfortable with a leash or carrier during stressful situations.

in the event the door is unable to open automatically during an outage.

and ensure that it is working properly because it can help avoid damage to personal property and keep emergency first responders safe.

To learn more ways to keep you and your community safe, visit safetyactioncenter.pge.com

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101 Raley Blvd., Ste. 104, Chico 530-893-8913 • mychicodentist.com new and quality resale • amazing toys • gift registry

525 Rio Street • Red Bluff 530.727.9888 • LifeNetTehama.org

All Parents Have Questions, Help Me Grow Shasta Has Answers.

blossom baby

appleblossombaby.com 977 East Ave, Ste. 90, Chico

530-345-1617

M-F 10-6 • Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-4

unique gifts • parenting essentials • local treasures

Mercy Oceans Midwifery Dania Shelton, LM, CPM

Compassionate care during your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum Specializing in Home Birth

530-559-0328

1907 Mangrove Ave #D Chico mercyoceansmidwifery.com

FREE!

Developmental Milestones, Behavior, Early Learning, Parenting Support and more!

Family-centered and individualized maternity care for home or birth center deliveries. Care for those who desire a VBAC. We now serve MediCal families.

Call or text HMGShasta to 8-9-8-2-1-1 www.HelpMeGrowShasta.com

1727 South Street, Redding 530-768-5051 www.reddingmidwiferygroup.com

Shasta Midwives Halotherapy Offering Well-woman care, pre-pregnancy counseling, complete prenatal, birth and postpartum care.

Birth Center and Home birth.

Offices in Redding & Mount Shasta

Call for more details: 530-918-3660 ShastaMidwives.com

for KIDS!

TOYS!

heated n eck pillow

weighted blanket

Asthma?, Eczema?

Trouble with sleep?

Capturing The Essence Salt Cave & Massage www.capturingtheessence.com 2051 Hilltop Dr A7, Redding • 530-338-2094