Portland Parent Magazine Nov+Dec 2018 by Rob Williams

November+December 2018

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Think globally and learn locally!

Creating and Inspiring Champions of Sustainable Forestry www.worldforestry.org

Th e Ear ly L e ar n in g Co alitio n o f th e Emer ald Coast's mi ssi on i s to su ppo rt th e su cce ss o f e ve r y ch ild an d th e ir fami l y thr ough qu ality ear ly edu catio n an d car e.

Enroll in Florida’s FREE VoluntaryCWhei lpdr Co vairdee Qf rueees trieosnosu? r c e a n d r e f e r r a l s e r v i c e s t o l o c a l f a m i l i e s regarding childcare. Prekindergarten Parent Line: (850) 833-9333 Edu ation Progra Ear ly L e ar n in g Co alition of the Eme r al d Coast 113 0 N Eglin P ar kway, Shal i mar , FL 32579 (8 5 0 ) 8 3 3 -3 6 2 7 www.el c-ec.o rg

Get ready, set a time and read!

Voluntary Prekindergarten

Fl o rida o ffers fre e pr eki n der gar ten fo r all 4 -ye ar-o lds re gardle ss o f family income. Children must live i n Fl o r i da an d be 4 ye ars o ld o n o r be fo re Se ptember 1 of the cu r r en t year to be e ligible . If th e ir birth day falls from February 2 th r o u gh S eptember 1, yo u may wait to e n ro ll yo u r ch ild the following year wh en th ey are 5 .

Support the success of every child and his or her family through quality early education and care. Enjoy these books andbythe chosen for this edition to support your child’s early literacy skills. Apply online vi si tiactivities n g: www.familyservice s.fl o r i daear l yl ear nin g.co m

LOVE YOU, HUG YOU, READ TO YOU!

Re se ar ch sh o ws that c hildren who parti ci pate i n hi gh-qu al i ty Tish Rabe, ISBN-13: 978-1101936566 pr e kin de rgarten pro grams ar e be tte r pr e pareBy d fo r scho ol an d de ve lo p l i fe l o n g so ci al an d e mo ti o n al ski l l s.

There are three things I will always do: Love you, Hug you, Read to you! From the moment a child takes their first breath, they are starting to build relationships and learn. This sturdy dual language book uses rhyme, colorful illustrations, and questions to foster relationships and enhance learning while you read with your child.

Th e Early Le arn in g Co alitio n o f the Eme r al d Coast's mi ssi on i s to su ppo rt th e su cce ss o f e ve ry ch i l d and the i r fami l y thr ough Model language use with your child. As you qu ality e arly e du catio n an d car e .

ACTIVITY: read this book, ask a question, pause (even if your child does not respond), and then answer the question. By doing this you are modeling how a conversation occurs. By pausing a moment, you are allowing your child time to think, problem solve, and respond.

Child Care Questions? We provide free resource and referral services to local families regarding childcare.

HAPPY HIPPO, ANGRY DUCK

By Sandra Boynton, ISBN-13: 978-1442417311

PAre a r e nyou t L i nas e : (happy 8 5 0 ) 8 3as 3 - 9a3 hippo, 33 content

as a frog, or as angry as a duck? Young children have all sorts of feelings inside. They need to know what their feelings are called before they can control them. This sturdy book about moods gives emotional vocabulary you can share and wonderful illustrations you can explain Le ar ni nghow Coalthey i ti on feel. of the Eme r al d Coast to assist your childEarly in naming 113 0 N Egl i n P ar kway, S hal i mar , FL 32579

(8 5 0 ) 8 3 3 -3627 ACT I V I TY: Create an emotions book. Take pictures of different members of your family as they share www.elc-ec.o rg

what their face looks like when they are angry, happy, sad, or even frustrated. Print these pictures out and place them in a simple photo album; then label the name of each feeling under the picture. This is a fun and creative activity for the entire family. Once you have completed your book, read and reread it to your child. Have your child look in the mirror and mimic the faces as you name the emotion and describe how he or she may be feeling. The next time your child is having a difficult moment, bring out the emotions book and ask your child what he or she is feeling.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE?

By Kobi Yamada, ISBN-13: 978-1943200733

A chance is a gift to explore and learn from. Trying something new can be a scary thing for children and even adults. However, even though it may seem scary, taking a chance can lead to a new experience that can help you discover more about yourself. A chance is something you may like or may not like but if you do not try you will never know. Kobi Yamada does a wonderful job of giving new vocabulary and understanding to young learners with his What Do You Do With series of books.

ACTIVITY: As a family, create a chance chart. Think of things together that you can try as a family. Let everyone be involved by sharing their ideas, decorating the chart, and even practicing their writing skills. After your family tries one of the activities, return to the chart and reflect: Did everyone enjoy themselves? Should you try the activity again? What could you change? Problem solve as a family.

2 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

November+December 2018

contents

5 8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FAMILY BUILDERS

More Meaning, Less Stress: 8 MemoryMaking Christmas Traditions that Discourage Materialism

How We Helped Our Sons Learn the Value of Giving Back: A Three-pronged Approach to Giving

9 10

Family Chatter......................................................................20 That’s Good to Know!........................................................22 Show Her You Care, Show Him You Care.........23-24 Teach Your Kids Something New!............................... 26 Snacks—Recipes for Tasty Get-togethers............... 28 Crafts—Get Creative with Your Kids.............................31

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

Do Naps Make Kids Smarter? The Science of Napping

Get to know the people, places, and things that make the Emerald Coast special!

Take the Stress out of Family Holiday Photos: T he key to a stress-free photo is flexibility, preparedness, and just being yourselves.

Seasonal.................................................................................45 The Arts | Runs, Walks, & More | Sounds Fun........ 46 Reoccurring Local | Volunteer........................................ 47

Teen Talk Helpful Advice from One Teen to Another

YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH

Living life to its fullest begins with staying healthy, fit, and safe.

Spark up some lively conversation with your kids. Take the FamilyChatter Challenge.

22 FamilyChatter

Editorial Director Tasha Williams info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Editorial Snacks & Crafts Coordinator Carol Eide info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Snacks and Crafts Contributing Authors Christa Melnyk Hines Lara Krupicka Jessica Fisher Cindy Hudson Heidi Smith Luedtke Gayla Grace Shannon Dean Calendar of Events and Resource Guide Suzanne Bratton info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Calendar Proofreader Jennifer Cullis

In everything we do, we believe in inspiring families to live, laugh, love and enjoy life—TOGETHER! Director of Sales Nathan Wilson nathanwilson@itsyourmagazine.com Phone: 503-710-1720

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LLIAMS TA S H A W I

Creative Director Rob Williams robwilliams@itsyourmagazine.com

Would you like to write for It’s Your Magazine? Please contact our editorial director with your request. A submission does not guarantee publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. © 2018 It’s Your Magazine. All rights reserved. Emerald Coast Parent content may not be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, without the express written permission of the publisher. Emerald Coast Parent is not responsible for the loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. It’s Your Magazine and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, publisher and designers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. It’s Your Magazine’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. It’s Your Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by the advertisers.

4 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

By Shannon Dean

MORE MEANING, LESS STRESS 8 Memory-Making Christmas Traditions that Discourage Materialism If Christmas is the backdrop for some of your fondest childhood memories, you are not alone. Many people cherry-pick their very best holiday recollections and carry them into adulthood. A recent poll found that Christmas is overwhelmingly the most popular and widely practiced of all holidays. Regardless of religious affiliation, 9 out of 10 people celebrate some form of Christmas. MORE MONEY, LESS JOY: Since most people cite simply spending time with loved ones as their favorite holiday activity, it’s surprising that we’re increasingly allocating precious resources on activities that we don’t actually enjoy. Statistics show that, year over year, we’re actually spending more money and time on stressful obligations that don’t contribute to our holiday bliss.

Ironically, experts tell us that keeping Christmas simple makes it more magical. Our pleasant childhood memories come not from gifts, but from warm feelings or pleasant experiences. A reassuring study out of Knox College confirms that most people feel the greatest holiday joy participating in soothing activities with loved ones. Conversely, when the focus is about gift giving, joy plummets and stress increases. The researchers concluded, “Simply said, a focus on materialism, while perhaps beneficial for the economy, distracts people from the true meaning of the season.” Parents who want to tame modern holiday consumerism face the not-so-subtle message that only substantial amounts of money and effort bring substantial holiday satisfaction. To counter these assumptions, here are 8 inexpensive suggestions for creating a meaningful holiday that your kids will hopefully pass on to their own children.

EXCHANGE STOCKING LETTERS OF APPRECIATION: To place the focus on connections rather than on

gifts, fill stockings with letters of appreciation. The letters might

Continued on page 6 ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 5

RESOURCES: Here are some free or inexpensive resources that you can use to make Christmas more meaningful. Stationery for Stocking Letters: This website offers Christmas-themed paper that you can print out for your stocking appreciation letters. There are many free patterns from which to choose. https://www. freeprintablestationery.net/category/christmas Local Holiday Displays: Type in your address to find Christmas light displays near you. https:// www.christmaslightfinder.com To Volunteer Your Time to Help Others: VolunteerMatch allows you to enter your location and interests to then be matched with organizations that could use your help. You can limit your search to opportunities that include children. https://www. volunteermatch.org/

APPS AND WEBSITES TO CREATE A SENSE OF WONDER: Santa on NORAD: The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) allows your child to track Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve. http:// www.noradsanta.org Santa’s Magic Phone Call App: This app allows children to receive phone calls and texts from Santa. Parents choose the content of the messages. On Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.pelkinsoft.magicSanta App&hl=en_US On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ santas-magic-phone-call-text/id478267541?mt=8 Catch a Character App: Parents can take a picture of their home or Christmas tree and the app will insert Santa into the photo, making it appear that Santa has been caught in the act of delivering presents. https://catchacharacter.com/ Reroute Santa: If your family travels for the holiday, use this website to reassure worried children that Santa will still be able to find them. http:// www.reroutesanta.com Kids’ Christmas Tree: Here is an example of a children’s felt Christmas tree with removable ornaments. You could easily customize this to meet your family’s needs. https://www.joann.com/makersguide-playtime-childrens-tree/3565881P89.html

Continued from page 5

outline what makes each family member special. You might also mention any enjoyable memories from the previous year or what made you proud of the recipient. Even small children can draw a picture that expresses their appreciation. Many people keep these letters forever.

ENJOY A COZY NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS MOVIES AND BOOKS: A fun way to encourage both the activities and the togetherness

that researchers found important is to host a Christmas movie and book night. Invite extended family. Make popcorn, s’mores, and hot chocolate. Snuggle up in cozy blankets or matching pajamas. (Don’t forget to take photos for next year’s holiday mantel.)

SENSORY DETAILS HELP CEMENT FOND MEMORIES. TAKE IN SENSORY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Sensory details help cement fond memories. Pile into the car, crank up the Christmas music, and take in the sights and sounds of the holiday. Some families visit the same destinations every year, while others like to explore new locations. Many communities, schools, and organizations host holiday-themed plays, events, or shows that are either free or inexpensive. Some families attend annual religious services. ENJOY A STRESS-FREE MEAL TOGETHER: Many families work hard to prepare a feast on Christmas day, so it’s fun to enjoy a labor-free meal before the big day. Visit your family’s favorite restaurant, order in, or share a simple dinner. (This tradition is also beneficial for blended families who may have multiple homes to visit.) With your family at the table, use this opportunity to tell your kids about your own holiday memories and to talk about what Christmas truly means to each member of your family. The conversation may surprise, touch, and reassure you. GIVE TO OTHERS: Whether it’s choosing an angel from an angel tree, making a meal for others, or visiting someone who could use a lift, allow your kids to feel the spirit of giving. The winter holidays are the perfect time to remind children that it can be more meaningful and lasting to give than to receive. Even better, giving feels good and will instill lasting values and memories that can broaden your family’s definition of the true meaning of Christmas.

6 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

CREATE A SENSE OF WONDER: Barbara Kilikevich, author of A Mindful Christmas: How to Create a Meaningful, Peaceful Holiday, assures families that Santa can be an important part of Christmas, since he “represents wonder, imagination, and maybe most importantly, belief.” Many families will limit Santa’s contribution to one special gift. Some suggestions for enhancing a child’s sense of awe: leave ink-smudged “coal” fingerprints as proof of Santa’s snack; spray-paint red “sleigh” landing strips on the lawn; ring sleigh bells at bedtime; use apps to track and communicate with Santa. (Older siblings love setting up these experiences for younger kids.) MAKE DECORATING A GROUP EFFORT: It may seem more efficient to leave holiday decorating to the adults, but joint family decorating offers a unique opportunity to create a festive environment as a team. Some families use a children’s tree or

wreath to safely include kids in the process. Others string popcorn or make paper snowflakes. Another idea is to allow kids to choose or make an ornament that reflects their accomplishments or experiences for that year.

GET CREATIVE WITH GIFT GIVING: To demonstrate that the thought behind a gift is more important than the price tag, many families find inexpensive but creative ways to limit spending and to maximize meaning. Examples include drawing names and mandating that all gifts for adults be either handmade, contributions to charity, or under $10. These limitations mean that thoughtful effort goes into gift giving, which makes the exchange much more meaningful. Most of us want a holiday that is about “connections, family, and caring for others,” says Kilikevich. “We have to stop buying into the notion that more is better and that extravagant, expensive gifts are equal to how much we care for and love one another.” Very few of us still have the possessions of Christmases past. Instead, we have lasting memories that will always warm us. With a little creativity, we can provide the same for our own families. Author Shannon Dean’s favorite Christmas gift last year was a $10 pair of vintage bobby pins that were similar to a pair owned by her grandmother. v Shannon Dean is the mother of two sons. She enjoys writing about the health and well-being of families.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

By Lisa A. Beach

How We Helped Our Sons Learn the Value of Giving Back Giving back to others tops the list of life lessons we’ve tried to teach our two boys since they were little. To drive this point home over the years, we adopted a three-pronged approach to giving: we donated our money, gave away our things, and offered up our time. Sometimes we did this as a family, while other times, it was a solo effort. But the net result? We infused our family with the spirit of giving.

Giving Our Money When my boys (now 15 and 18) first started receiving an allowance, my husband and I made them divvy it up into three jars: spending, saving, and giving. Their giving jar coins would

accumulate for months until we found a worthy cause to help. Then, we’d match them dollar for dollar and donate the money outright or purchase items and then donate them. Over the years, our family has given money in a variety of ways, usually tying into something that will benefit other kids.

•

We bought backpacks, school clothes, and school supplies every August and donated them to organizations conducting back-to-school campaigns to help needy kids in our community. Every Christmas, the boys would each pick a name off of the Angel Tree at our church and then we’d all shop for gifts. Another year, we pooled money with several families to help out a boy on my son’s soccer team whose family was really struggling financially. We bought coats, clothes, toys, books and new bicycles for the soccer buddy and his three brothers, plus food and even a few presents for his parents.

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Continued on page 14 8 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

By Sandi Schwartz

Do Naps Make Kids Smarter? When my children were infants and toddlers, nap time was a sacred part of the day—mainly because it gave me a much-needed break. I scheduled meals, play dates, mommy and me classes, and errands around their naps. I dealt with plenty of pushback from friends and relatives for sticking to this schedule. They didn’t understand why I had to leave early or arrive late to some events. Deep down I knew that it was best for my children—they needed that nap

or they’d be cranky, which would ultimately lead to chaos later in the day. But another secret to my napping obsession was that I had read how naps can actually make kids smarter. What parent doesn’t want to do everything possible to help their kid get ahead in life, right?

The Science of Napping The study that caught my attention was released in 2010 by the University of Arizona. It found that babies who nap are more likely Continued on page 16

ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 9

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF FAMILY HOLIDAY PHOTOS By Pam Molnar

The holiday season is right around the corner and with it comes the stress of the perfect family photo. This is the photo we post on social media, include in our holiday cards, and share as gifts for the grandparents. It is understandable that you would want to capture your family at their very best. The key to a stress-free photo is flexibility, preparedness, and just being yourselves.

What should we wear? You are a family, so you want to show some form of connection, but let your different personalities shine through. Don’t force your tomboy daughter to wear a dress like her sisters if it makes her uncomfortable. If you want her to bring that smile you love, help her to pick out something more her style. For a cohesive picture, choose a color theme but don’t make everyone wear the same blue shirt. Let your individuality show by wearing slightly different shades of blue in patterns or solids mixed in with neutral colors like black or khaki.

10 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Setting Choose a place that defines who you are as a family. Shabby-chic barn scenes are very popular right now, but if your family prefers the beach, the mountains or a baseball field, capture your holiday picture in those settings. You may also consider using your home as your setting. Choose your front porch, favorite tree or in front of the fireplace. Don’t discount photo studio backgrounds. The benefit of taking the photo indoors means no rainouts and better control of the lighting.

How should we pose? If you look at the first family pictures taken in the late 1800s, everyone is seated around the eldest family members and looking into the camera. This formal pose is classic but limiting. Why not get on the floor, climb a tree, or hold up signs. Pinterest is a great source for finding family photo poses with and without props.

Pets or not?

Pets are very much a part of our family but don’t always cooperate as we would like them to. A few years ago, we chose to include our two black labs in our family photo taken in a forest preserve. There were so many distractions for our dogs, including other people, animals and smells, that we chose to only include them in one pose. The picture shows our human family all smiling for the camera while our dogs looked in opposite directions, unable to understand our pleas to look at the photographer.

Have fun with it! Find a way to tell your family’s story in a picture. Family friends of ours are St. Louis Cardinal fans and decided to take a Continued on page 12 Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 11

Want to retire like a champ? Get on track with tips at

Continued from page 11

studio-style family picture in their jerseys. Their youngest daughter, a Cubs fan, chose to wear her team’s jersey. In the picture, the Cubs fan stood in the middle with a big smile on her face while her family of Cardinal fans stood around her frowning with their arms crossed.

How to limit meltdowns 7.0 in.

7.0 in.

Give yourself plenty of time to take the photographs you want and schedule them around your family’s best time of the day. Make sure everyone has eaten before picture time and bring snacks for unexpected delays. When my kids were younger, I was not ashamed to bring bribes—candy or a small toy as a reward for keeping it together. Allow your child’s favorite toy or blanket to be included in the picture, even if it is not picture worthy. You are capturing a moment and, at that moment, that is part of your child.

Bring a friend No, I am not suggesting that everyone brings a friend to your photo session. What I am suggesting is that you have a trusted friend who can make you all laugh, get the attention of a distracted baby or pet, and see the picture through the eyes of someone who knows your family. A professional photographer might not know it annoys you that your son clenches his teeth when he smiles, but your friend can help to make him relax and show his natural smile.

Professional or Amateur We have taken our family pictures ourselves, allowed a friend to take them, used a mall photographer, and used a professional photographer both offsite and in our home. I have honestly liked them all for different reasons. Choose the one that fits your budget and the best way to tell your family’s story today—not what you think your story should look like in 10 years. v

Take time to

be a dad today.

Pam Molnar is a writer, mother of three, and amateur photographer. This year’s holiday card will include a simple iPhone picture showing the family making memories on a sunny day.

C a l l 8 7 7- 4 D A D 4 11 o r v i s i t w w w . f a t h e r h o o d . g o v

12 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

Think globally and learn locally!

Creating and Inspiring Champions of Sustainable Forestry

Visit www.worldforestry.org

Continued from page 8

•

Through Children International, we sponsored a boy named Spencer from Zambia for 10 years, helping to provide food, clothing, medical care, and other necessities. The boys would chip in from their giving jar when we sent in our monthly sponsorship gift.

Volunteering your time to organizations in need models a giving heart in action. Giving Our Time Sometimes we volunteered as a family. Other times, my husband and I did our own volunteering gigs, partly out of our passion for the cause and partly just to model a giving heart in action.

• Over the years, we’ve donated hundreds of things that our family no longer needed.

As a family, we volunteered with Give Kids the World, a wish-granting organization that provides a free vacation to kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. This magical 70-acre resort allows “wish” families to take a break from medical tests, doctor visits, and therapy appointments and just have fun together.

Giving Our Things When we donated the very things we owned and loved, it was almost like we were sharing a part of ourselves with others. Over the years, we’ve donated hundreds of things that our family no longer needed.

• •

As our growing boys regularly outgrew their clothing and toys, we donated them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, and various community organizations. We literally raided our sons’ closets one chilly night when we found out that the previously mentioned soccer buddy and his older brother didn’t have any long pants to wear. As a homeschooling family, we accumulated a lot of books and magazines. After we finished reading them, we’d often donate them to local schools and our public library. When my boys outgrew their beloved wooden train set, they donated it (along with the wooden train table my husband built) to Boys Town for the young residents to enjoy.

• •

We served ice cream, made milkshakes, distributed pool towels, handed out games, and even served as “engineer” for the train ride around the resort. Our boys have volunteered more than 150 hours on their own over the last few years. They painted murals for the library’s puppet shows, doled out food at a

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14 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

food pantry, refereed soccer games at the YMCA, distributed school supplies at a back-to-school fair, worked as a summer camp counselor for the Down Syndrome Association, and provided social media marketing for a non-profit’s fundraiser.

Volunteer in a way that works for your family! Make it unique and meaningful.

•

My husband served as a volunteer coach for my son’s soccer team (first through the YMCA and then through other youth soccer leagues) for almost 10 years, teaching soccer skills right alongside good sportsmanship.

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When the boys were in public school, I volunteered in their classrooms and served on various PTA committees. When the boys were homeschooled, I volunteered to help lead, coordinate, teach or participate in various projects, events, classes and activities for our homeschool support group.

Over the last decade or so, our three-pronged approach definitely infused the spirit of giving into our family. But the key is to simply do whatever works for your family. v

Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist and copywriter. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Eating Well, USA Today Pet Guide, and dozens more. Check out her website at www.LisaBeachWrites.com

EVEN TEXTERS AND DRIVERS HATE TEXTERS AND DRIVERS. STOPTEXTSSTOPWRECKS.ORG ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 15

Continued from page 9

to show an advanced level of learning known as “abstraction.” This is the ability to identify a pattern in information. Naps actually help the brain retain new information more effectively, allowing infants to learn more about their surroundings. During this study, researchers played the same phrase from a made-up language to 48 15-month-olds over and over again until they were familiar with it. Testing showed that toddlers who slept within four to eight hours of hearing the phrase displayed more abstract learning. This was not the case for children who did not take a nap within the same time frame. Why does this happen? Infants have mostly REM sleep, which involves intense dreaming as a result of heightened brain activity. Children need to experience REM sleep within a reasonable amount of time after learning new information in order to process it. If they don’t sleep within four to eight hours, they will not be able to retain as much information. Over the last several years, additional studies have continued to link napping with better memory and other learning skills. In 2012, scientists at the University of Colorado, Boulder investigated the effects of naps on cognitive responses in two- and three-year-olds. They found that children who did not nap consistently did not learn and solve problems as well as those who napped.

Children who did not nap consistently did not learn and solve problems as well. Next, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst released findings in 2013 that showed how a midday nap plays a crucial role in improving memory and learning in preschoolers. This boost was not found after a night of sleep if kids did not have a daytime nap. The researchers studied more than 40 preschoolers at six different schools. They conducted two different experiments: the first one focused on a memory game, and the second one involved observing brain activity of children during nap time. In the first experiment, children played a memory matching game using various pictures very similar to the Memory board game we play with our kids. Every child learned the game at the same time in the morning. Researchers then split the children into two groups. One group took naps lasting an average of 75 minutes and the other group stayed awake. Then the children were asked to play the memory game again. They found that daytime naps were associated with significantly greater memory recall. Skipping the nap led to a 10 percent decrease in the children’s accuracy in the memory game. Also, the children who performed best on the memory game had consistent daytime naps. Scientists believe that memories are processed during sleep in a way that makes it easier for the brain to access and retrieve information later. In order to make room for new memories, the brain continues to work while we sleep, processing what we learn into long-term storage to free up space for new information. To confirm the findings from the first experiment, researchers then observed the brain activity 16 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

of a different group of preschool children while they napped. They found an increase in the density of sleep spindles, which are bursts of electrical activity in the brain believed to play a role in long-term memory. Researchers determined that an increase in sleep spindle density of kids who napped was linked to better memory skills. Finally, in 2015 researchers from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom reported a link between infant napping and memory skills. After studying over 200 young children, they concluded that daytime naps of 30 minutes or more help infants retain and remember new behaviors. They tested whether daytime sleep after learning helped babies remember new skills more effectively. The study focused on 216 healthy 6- to 12-month-old infants. The children were shown how to remove and manipulate a mitten from a hand puppet and were given the opportunity to demonstrate these actions after 4 and 24 hours. Half of the babies slept within 4 hours of learning, while the rest either had no sleep or napped for fewer than 30 minutes. Only the infants who napped after the learning activity remembered what they had learned, while those who did not nap showed no evidence of remembering the new behavior. In a nutshell, they found that those who sleep after learning are able to grasp the information better. Therefore, the researchers suggest that the best time to learn may be just before kids go to sleep.

What Parents Can Do Now that we know from several studies that naps enhance our children’s ability to learn and retain information, what changes can we make in how we parent?

• Train your kids to nap from the very beginning. In

order to get your children used to napping, set a routine for them from a very young age. Make naps a priority. Don’t succumb to peer pressure when friends and family give you a hard time about your children’s naps. Build naps into your family’s schedule and gently explain to people the importance of your children taking that break during the day to recharge their batteries. Choose daycares and preschools that include nap time. In order for young children to function and learn at the optimal level, they really need a nap, even while at school. Many schools are eliminating naps to make room for more curriculum. If your school doesn’t include a time for napping, consider sharing the science with them about the educational benefits of naps. Read before nap time. The research shows that children grasp material better just before they fall asleep, so try to make a habit of reading to them before nap time as long as they aren’t too cranky.v

•

Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com and www.sandischwartz.com Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 17

Parents,

LEND an EAR

Caring for an Ear Infection

Anyone can develop an ear infection—an Hear the Good News

inflammation of the middle ear—but they occur much more often in children than in adults. In fact, more than 80 percent of children will experience at least one ear infection by the time they are 3 years old, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Furthermore, ear infections in children are one of the most common reasons to visit the doctor. Children get more ear infections than adults do because their Eustachian tubes—the tubes that connect the inner ear to the throat—are smaller and get blocked easily, which can allow fluid to pool in the tube. Because children’s immune systems are still developing, they’re more prone to infections. Any time your little one has a cold, sore throat or an upper-respiratory infection, you should always be on the lookout for a bacterial or viral ear infection that can sometimes accompany these illnesses. Your child’s risk for ear infections is increased if she is in group childcare or is exposed to secondhand smoke.

Spotting the Signs Because most ear infections occur before children are old enough to tell their parents their ear hurts, parents have a harder task in detecting an ear infection in their little ones. Clues to look for include the following: • Balance problems or clumsiness

While bothersome, ear infections fortunately aren’t difficult to treat. Many doctors will prescribe an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin, if the culprit is a bacterial infection. However, if a virus caused the ear infection, your doctor will probably suggest a waitand-see approach to see if the infection clears up on its own. Your doctor may also recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help reduce your little one’s fever and ease his ear pain. Your tiny tot should start to feel better within a few days so that he can get back to doing what he does best: exploring and absorbing the world.

The Path to Prevention There are steps you can take to help prevent your child from developing an ear infection. Make sure your child: • Gets the flu and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines • Washes hands frequently to curb the spread of germs • Has limited or no exposure to smoke • Isn’t put to bed with a bottle • Isn’t allowed to play with sick children, including sick siblings The key to ear infection prevention lies in reducing your child’s risk factors, like the ones listed above. v

• Crying and/or fussiness • Difficulty sleeping • Fever • Fluid drainage from the ear • Pulling or tugging at the ear

PROVIDED BY

• Trouble hearing

18 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

FAMILY

BUILDERS Strong Families Don’t Just Happen

Spend a little time talking to each other every day—take our Family Chatter challenge. Have some messy fun in the kitchen or at a craft table making some of our featured Snacks & Crafts. Teach your children what to do with leftover Halloween candy with our Teach Your Kids Something New. Learn all about good dental hygiene in That’s Good to Know. ENJOY LIFE—TOGETHER!

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Our FamilyChatter Challenge is simple— just do your best. Here are some simple questions that will hopefully inspire your family to enjoy great conversations whenever, however, you can. Enjoy!

Live, Laugh, Love, and TALK TOGETHER! What is a gift you would like to give this holiday? What’s special about this gift?

What are some events in history that offer lessons relevant today? Why?

Have you seen recent examples of the following: love, hate, joy, fear, revenge, ignorance?

If you could make one Christmas wish, what would you wish for? Explain why.

What are you most thankful for? How do you show your appreciation daily to others?

What do you look forward to doing in your own town during your holiday vacation?

What type of things do your mother or father do that model responsibility?

If you were given one million dollars to give away, what would you do with the money and why?

What are your favorite holiday food dishes? What dishes do you dislike the most?

What are some of your favorite memories? What makes these memories special?

What are some advantages and disadvantages of learning a trade in school vs. real-life experiences?

How old should children be before being given a pet? What are some lessons they can learn by owning a pet?

What have been some highlights and lowlights of your school experience so far this year?

Have we become too attached to our moble devices? If yes, why, and what needs to change?

What is your favorite Christmas present of all time? Explain why.

Do you feel your schooling is too easy, just right, slightly challenging, or too challenging?

Keep the Conversation Going with Follow-up Questions: Interesting. What else can you tell me about that? o Now what are you going to do? o No way! Can you tell me more? o Seriously? Then what happened? o How do feel about what happened? o How does this make you feel? o What’s your next step? o

Tips for Efficient Packing By Sarah Lyons

Family vacations are a great way to enjoy time away from the daily routine and to create lasting memories. But if you are anything like me, packing for a family trip can be overwhelming, especially if you have multiple kids to pack for. As a mom of six I’ve learned the hard way how to make our vacation packing more efficient. Start by making a master list. If you don’t have a list, you are bound to forget things. I have a list on my computer that I can copy, paste, edit, and print each time we go out of town. I have additional lists for the type of trip. For example, we need to bring different items if we are camping versus staying in a hotel. If you edit this list after each trip, then it will become perfectly tuned to your family.

Once you have a list, begin to delegate. My older kids receive a copy of their list and are told to pack their own bag. “Everyone gets a master checklist of items for the trip. We go over the bag they pack together to make sure they have everything,” says Jenny McKeever, mom of two. “This gives kids choices selecting items along with becoming responsible for packing, with just a little guidance from you.” This helps to reduce the amount of packing the parent has to do because it puts the older kids in charge of packing themselves and allows parents to spend more time with children who are too young to pack their own items. For the most efficient packing, items can be packed by outfit. One option is to place shirt, pants, underwear, and socks together in a zip-top bag and seal. When you arrive at your destination, kids can grab a bag for the day. Dirty clothes can be placed back in the bag afterward. “I am a roller,” says Holly Searles, mom of four. “I take an outfit, pants, shirt, underwear, and socks, and then tightly Continued on page 25

22 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Cut out this page. Then cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

Let’s face it, most of us could use a little jump start now and then when it comes to relationships. That’s why we’ve included this section. Simple acts of kindness are a great way to say, “I care about you.” Date nights are great, but when life gets busy, sometimes all that’s necessary are little reminders!

10 WAYS to sh w

R E H y u care Listen intently—especially when she shares her concerns or feelings. Be polite, courteous, and mannerly with her—don’t take her for granted. Go on a holiday walk together, enjoy the lights and treats of the season. Blessed with a quick wit? Be careful not to be hurtful with snide remarks or clever sarcasm. Pamper her and make a fuss over her accomplishments—she deserves the praise. Don’t lose sight of everyday romance—end each day by giving her a kiss and telling her “I love you.”

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Reminisce about the early days of your marriage. Be on time to planned events. Find out what makes her insecure and be there for her when necessary. Be thoughtful to your in-laws—even when doing so is difficult. Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 23

Cut out this page. Then cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

10 WAYS to sh w

M I H y u care Make decisions about big plans and purchases together. Be a student of his ways so you show your love in ways he best comprehends. When things go wrong, instead of assessing blame, focus on fixing the problem together. Give him time to be alone. Foster an atmosphere of laughter in your home—laugh together. Don’t pester him or argue about “the small stuff.” Focus on his accomplishments instead of negatives.

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Reminisce about the early days of your marriage. Show your appreciation for his ability to fix and maintain the house. Remind him why he’s your best friend and that you appreciate him. 24 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

Continued from page 22

roll. I often use a hair tie to secure the girls’ outfits.” Whether you decide to roll or use the zip-top bag method, remember to place the outfits needed first on the top of the suitcase. Another way to make packing more efficient is to bring fewer items. Make sure you only bring what you absolutely need or you may find that the family vehicle is bursting at the seams. “I do not bring a lot of stuff for the car ride. My kids do very well with a small toy, coloring book, small activity book, reading book, or the DVD player going,” says Sarah Imbierowiz, mother of seven. Remember that most items that are forgotten can be bought, borrowed, or gone without for a short time while you enjoy

your vacation. The most important thing to remember is to plan ahead. If you have a complete list and you start working on packing well in advance, it should go smoothly and you will be able to enjoy your vacation without dreading the packing that goes along with it. v

Sarah Lyons is a mother of six children, including three-year-old triplets. She will test her efficient packing skills (and patience) when her family travels 13 hours in the car for vacation next summer.

ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 25

Teach Your Kids Something New!

Make Housework a Family Affair By Kerrie McLoughlin

Parents, trust me here: Society will not be pleased with you if you set your kid loose at age 18 with zero life skills (like how to do laundry without turning it all pink, or how you should take out an overflowing bag of trash without being asked). It’s never too early to get your child to start helping out around the house. But where to start? What can a teeny two-yearold do? Check out these ideas to turn the chore of housework into a fun family affair.

Tots Toddlers might surprise you with their mad cleaning skills. They can fold napkins and towels or pick up their own toys, even if that just means tossing them into a catch-all, such as a toy ottoman or set of colorful bins. They can also water

plants, feed animals, dry pots and pans, toss wet laundry into the dryer, throw things away, recycle, and help put away groceries.

Little Kids Preschoolers can do all the things a toddler can do, plus empty smaller trashcans into a big one, put away silverware, match socks, dust, “mop” and “vacuum,” and even put away their laundry (hang a wooden rod in their closet low enough for them to be able to hang up their clothes). Jayna Ely said of her now 7-year-old son, “When my son was a preschooler, we started a game called ‘clean-up hide and go seek.’ While one person counts, the other people go hide. Once a person is found we pick up 2, 3, 4 or 5 (depending on how messy the house is) things in the room they hid in.” Set up a chart with simple pictures so that your child knows the chores you would like her to do.

26 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Continued on page 29

TEEN TALK dvice from Helpful A Another! to n One Tee

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS As the temperature begins to drop and the end of the first semester draws near, teenagers are already planning exciting things to do over the upcoming breaks. However, it’s important for us to balance the time we spend with our families and friends—and possibly even set some new traditions. One good Thanksgiving day tradition could be for everyone to put their phones away for a few hours in order to truly connect to family members. Another fun tradition could be to

play music in the kitchen to lessen the stress of all the cooking, or to play a fun game outside together. My family and I like to skip Black Friday to spend even more quality time together, playing board games or binge-watching TV/ movies. This is also a good thing to do at Christmas by having a Christmas-movie marathon with family and friends. We also like to bake holiday-themed treats and dance to music together. My favorite tradition for this holiday is to give and get new pajamas on Christmas eve. For New Year’s eve, it’s fun to invite friends over for a sleepover and have a small New

Year’s eve party. One tradition my family has for New Year’s eve is to create a list of some of the negative things we want to let go of, and at midnight on New Year’s, we burn the lists to symbolize moving forward. This is always something I look forward to because it’s a fun thing to do with my family and it helps me to understand that we’re always going to experience some negative things in our life, but as long as we move forward, we’ll be able to experience so many more positive ones. Overall, the holidays are a perfect time to take a break from school and focus on the people in our lives. v

Nia

S ENIOR, AGE 17

ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 27

Christmas Bread YOU NEED 1 pound loaf of frozen white bread dough, defrosted 1½ tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. cardamom Flour for hands and surface. Pillsbury vanilla frosting in a bag

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• Green decorating sugar • Whole dried apricots, additional dried cranberries, and raisins • Waxed paper • Vegetable oil spray • Baking sheet • Scissors

DIRECTIONS Place sugar, cinnamon, and 3/4 cup chopped dried fruit in the mixing bowl and stir until fruit is coated. Add the defrosted dough to the white sugar and fruit mixture and, using floured hands, knead until well blended. Lightly spray the mixing bowl with oil, place the dough inside and let rise until double. Knead again to remove air bubbles. Line the baking sheet with waxed paper and spray the paper with oil. Divide the dough into three different sized balls, each one slightly bigger than the other. Roll each ball into a rope (about 1 inch thick). Shape the longest rope into a “V” and curve the two ends up (see picture). Repeat with each smaller rope allowing the centers to touch. Bake the tree at 350* for 30-40 mins. Let cool. With frosting bag, pipe along the baked tree. Sprinkle with green sugar and decorate with apricots, cranberries and raisins.

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Fall Ornament Cookies YOU NEED 16.5 ounce roll of premade Pillsbury sugar cookie dough at room temperature ½ cup flour 2 tbsp. molasses ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg Mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, or other fall cookie decorations

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• Wilton cookie icing in fall color • Mixing bowl and spoon • Baking sheet • 3-4 inch cookie cutters in fall shapes: pumpkin, leaf • Rolling pin and floured surface • Drinking straw • Wire rack • Spatula • Wire ornament hangers

DIRECTIONS Crumble the cookie dough into the mixing bowl. Add the flour, molasses, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir thoroughly. Chill one hour. On a floured surface, roll out the cookie dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on baking sheet. Use the end of the drinking straw to cut a small hole at one end of the cookie (for hanging when done). Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Using the cookie icing, outline the cookie shape ¼ inch inside the edge of the cookie. Fill in the outline with icing. Sprinkle the iced cookie with chocolate chips or sprinkles. Let the icing harden completely. Insert a wire ornament hanger into the hole of the cookie and hang the cookie on a wreath, a length of garland, or around the top edge of a decorative vase. Use as a decoration until time to eat.

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28 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

Tip: use scissors to snip the edges of the whole apricots into star shapes

Continued from page 26

Big Kids School-age kids can do dishes, empty the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, take out the trash, help with bathrooms, vacuum (for real!), and put away their own laundry. A great way to connect with your child as he gets older is to dump the laundry out on the bed and then fold it together as you chat. When things get really messy, I like to write tasks on pieces of paper, fold them up and put them in a bowl. I have one kid pick a task and then choose the person they want to help them. For harder tasks, create an instruction sheet, put it in a sheet protector, then do the task with them until they get the hang of it. Whether or not you use an incentive system is up to you. Some parents pay out cash per chore to older kids, while some may pay with a sticker or the promise of a small toy for a preschooler. Some parents simply use the promise of an outing (park, pool, play date) as incentive to clean up. Remember that these are kids and that the job doesn’t have to be done perfectly. They will learn it well in their own time. The point is, they are learning a life skill, so be patient. And don’t forget to put on some upbeat cleaning music! v

Kerrie McLoughlin, mom of 5, (TheKerrieShow.com) still can’t get used to the fact that her 17-year-old son does his own laundry without being asked!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls INGREDIENTS 6 cups crispy rice cereal 40 ounces or 5 cups chunky peanut butter 2 pounds powdered sugar 1 cup melted butter 4 teaspoons vanilla extract

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• 60 ounces chocolate chips • 1 cup grated paraffin wax (food grade) • Plastic tablecloth • Tongs

DIRECTIONS Mix all ingredients (except chocolate and wax) together, with hands if necessary, and roll into Ping-Pong sized balls. Shred paraffin wax (sold near the canning products in the grocery store) in a food processor or by hand. Mix chocolate chips and wax together in a large microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave for only 1 or 2 minutes at a time, mixing often until thoroughly melted. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate or it will clump and burn. With tongs, dip balls into melted chocolate and place them on a plastic tablecloth to dry. Reheat chocolate if it becomes too thick to work with. Let the balls cool and dry for several hours before handling.

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Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 29

Snowman Cookies INGREDIENTS 10 Nabisco Nutter Butter cookies 1 cup vanilla melts candy one candy corn, one sour belt candy, 5 mini chocolate chips for each cookie

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• Microwaveable 2 cup measuring cup • Wire rack • Microwave • Scissors • Small clean paintbrush

DIRECTIONS Place vanilla melts in the measuring cup and follow package instructions for melting the candy. Use the fork to dip a cookie in the melted candy until coated and place the cookie on the wire rack. (See picture.) To make a nose on the cookie snowman, immediately place candy corn on one end of the cookie and hold for several seconds until it stands on its own. Place mini chocolate chips around the nose to make eyes and a mouth. Let candy cool completely. Carefully remove the cookies from the wire rack and, one at a time, wrap a sour belt scarf around the center of the cookie below the face. Use the paint brush to apply a dot of melted candy inside where the scarf overlaps to hold it in place. Trim the scarf with scissors as needed.

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Turkey Snack Bag YOU NEED Disposable food handler glove 1 ½ cups caramel corn Small red, yellow, and orange candies, 2 tbsp. for each finger/thumb Large wiggle eye

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• Clear or white thread • Double-stick tape • 4-inch square of both orange and yellow cardstock Scissors

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DIRECTIONS Fill the thumb with red candies (rolling and taping a piece of paper into a funnel makes this easier). Tie string around the base of the thumb to hold candies in place. Fill the fingers with yellow and orange candies, alternating colors between fingers. Tie string around the base of each finger to hold candies in place. Loosely fill the palm of the glove with caramel corn. Tie the wrist of the glove closed. Cut a beak out of orange cardstock square. Use double-stick tape to attach the beak just above the base of the thumb (the thumb should hang down toward the wrist). Cut a shape out of yellow cardstock square to outline the wiggle eye. Use double-stick tape to attach the wiggle eye to the yellow shape and then to attach the yellow shape and eye to the palm of the glove. To eat, tear the glove open at the fingertips and wrist and pour into a bowl.

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30 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

Pinecone Christmas Tree MATERIALS 4-6 inch pine cone Small terra cotta pot to fit on the bottom of the pine cone 1/8-1/4 inch beads in holiday colors Glitter paper or a small star ornament Green craft paint for the tree

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and a holiday color for the pot

• 1/8 inch wide holiday ribbon • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Small sponge brushes • Scissors • 1 ½ inch star pattern • School glue stick

INSTRUCTIONS Use the star pattern to cut two stars from glitter paper. Use school glue stick to glue the top three points of the stars together, glitter side out. Set aside. Optional, use a small star ornament with the hanger removed. Use a sponge brush and holiday craft paint to paint the pot (you may want to paint a primer coat of white first, or more than one coat will be needed to cover the pot). Let dry. Use a sponge brush and green paint to paint the tips of the pinecone. Let dry. Use hot glue to glue the pinecone onto the top of the pot. Then hot glue beads onto the pinecone as Christmas ornaments. Squeeze hot glue between the two glitter paper stars and attach it over the top of the pinecone. Cut a length of trim or ribbon to wrap around the top rim of the pot and hot glue the ends to the pot.

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Thankful Napkin Holder MATERIALS Miniature chalkboard (about 3-4 inches) 2 artificial fall leaves Wooden spring-type clothes pin

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• Chalkboard chalk or marker • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Scissors • Thanksgiving napkin

INSTRUCTIONS Trim any stems off of the fall leaves. Hot glue the top side of the leaves to the back of the chalkboard so that the leaves extend beyond the edge of the board. Hot glue one flat side of the clothespin to the back of the chalkboard so that the clip end of the pin is at the top. Use the chalk or chalkboard marker to write on the board something for which your family members are thankful. Clip the napkin into the clothespin and place on your Thanksgiving table. Make one napkin holder for each person attending.

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These Thanksgiving napkin holders are a functional way to declare your thankfulness.

Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 31

Turkey Placemat MATERIALS Plain, solid colored placemat (white or light fall color) Fabric paint writers in fall colors including red, black, and white

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• Small sponge brushes—one for each color of paint • Plastic or waxed paper covered work surface, and water and paper towels for cleanup

INSTRUCTIONS Put the placemat on the covered work surface. Squeeze paint onto the end of a sponge brush, beginning with the color you want to use for the turkey’s feathers. Have someone help you paint the palm side of the fingers of both hands with the turkey feather color. Paint the palms of both hands with the color you want for the turkey’s body. Holding your hands thumb to thumb, stamp your hands in the center of the placemat. Wash paint from your hands. Use the sponge brushes to fill in the stamped hand prints with color. Where the thumbs meet, paint a long neck and head shape using red paint. Let dry completely (at least a day). Use the paint writers to add eyes, a beak, and any other details to the handprint turkey, and write your name on the placemat.

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These placemats are simple to make and will be cherishd holiday decorations in the years to come.

Cinnamon Tree Ornament MATERIALS Cinnamon stick Metallic chenille wire (any color but green) 3/16 inch wide holiday ribbon Hot glue gun and glue sticks

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• Scissors • Wire snippers • Artificial evergreen sprigs of different lengths (snipped from a wreath, garland, or floral stem)

INSTRUCTIONS Hot glue one short sprig of evergreen along the cinnamon stick at one end to make the top branch of the tree. Tip: use the point of the scissors to press the sprig into the hot glue and hold until the glue sets. Hot glue sprigs of evergreen across the cinnamon stick to form 2-3 rows of branches for the tree—longer branches at the bottom. For each cross branch, snip a length of metallic wire ½ inch longer than the branch. Hot glue the center of the wire to the center of the branch over the cinnamon stick. Bend the ends of the wire over each end of the branch to hold in place. Repeat for each cross branch. Tie a small bow from a length of ribbon and trim the ends. Hot glue the bow to the top branch of the tree. Cut an 8-inch length of ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half and knot the ends together. Hot glue the knot to the cinnamon stick on the back of the ornament. When the glue is cool, the ornament is ready to hang!

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32 • November+December 2018 • Portland Parent Magazine

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FUN GUIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Making the Most of Life on the Coast! We live on a beautiful coast that has so much to offer, and we’re here to make sure you know what’s going on in your own backyard. Enjoy!

Christmas Lights Trail

Sat, Nov 17 – Portland (4:00p.m.) Join the Friends of Maddax Woods at the 15th annual Lighting of Maddax Woods! Follow the lighted gardens and walkways throughout Maddox Woods to celebrate the holiday season. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

booths of commercial holiday products at the Portland Expo Center. The bazaar is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Christmas at Pittock Mansion

Mon, Nov 19–Mon, Dec 31 – Portland If you are looking for an interesting way to celebrate the holiday season, look no further than a visit to Pittock Mansion! Walk through the mansion to see its decorations by professional designers and listen to musicians play holiday music in the music room. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

ZooLights

Seasonal Portland Veterans Day Parade

Mon, Nov 12 – Portland (9:30a.m.) Portland’s only Veterans Day parade was established in 1974. Vernon E. Ross, proprietor of Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel, founded the parade to honor all veterans, past and present, living and deceased. For more information, visit www. events12.com.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Sat, Nov 17 – Portland

Cranksgiving is a scavenger hunt via bicycle for Thanksgiving food that you donate to a food bank, with prizes! It is recommended to bring $10, a bag/pack, a camera, and a bike lock to Velo Cult. For more information, visit www. events12.com.

Wed, Nov 21–Sat, Jan 5 – Portland Head to the Oregon Zoo and watch it transform into a magical winter wonderland! ZooLights uses over 1.5 million LED lights to transform the zoo into a mystical place with lighted trees, animal silhouettes, and moving sculptures. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland

Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree is a 300-voice choir singing holiday songs, joined by dancers, a cinematic Nativity, and Santa at Keller Auditorium. It is sure to get you in the Christmas Spirit! For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Christmas Bazaar

Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland Get ready for Christmas shopping at its finest. America’s largest Christmas bazaar has 400 booths of juried handcrafted items plus 500

Christmas Train

Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 16 – Portland Join Santa Claus and his elves for a magical ride behind Portland’s famous steam locomotives. Vintage rail cars transport you through wilderness in the heart of the city. Round-trip rides run from Oaks Park Station through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge to the Springwater Trail gateway on the Oregon Pacific Railroad. For tickets and more information, visit www.orhf.org.

Drive-through Light Show

Fri, Nov 23–Wed, Dec 26 – Portland Head to the Portland International Raceway for this year’s Winter Wonderland! Billed as the largest light show in the Northwest, you can expect

ItsYourMagazine.com • Portland Parent Magazine • November+December 2018 • 33

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will benefit Providence Children’s Health. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Christmas Ship Parade

Sat, Dec 1–Thurs, Dec 20 – Portland If you are looking for a parade that is different from the rest, this is the parade for you! During the Christmas Ship Parade, watch 50 boats with Christmas lights cruise the Columbia River and the Willamette River. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.events12.com.

New Year’s Eve Comedy Mon, Dec 31 – Portland

If you are looking for a unique way to spend your New Year’s Eve, look no further! The New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at Curious Comedy Theater promises an evening full of laughs! This event includes four hours of sketch, stand-up, improv, aerial arts, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and a midnight champagne toast. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition Fri, Dec 7 – Portland (5:30p.m.)

to see at least 250 colorful displays. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Christmas in the Garden

Fri, Nov 23–Mon, Dec 31 – Portland Christmas in the Garden is a charming Europeaninspired outdoor event featuring ice skating, snowless tubing, an artisan vendor market, photos with Santa, fire pits, live music, and more. Bring the family and enjoy the beautiful views! For more information, visit www.oregongarden.org.

Lights at the Grotto

Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 30 – Portland (5:00p.m.) The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights features more than 170 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. There will also be outdoor caroling, puppet shows, and a live petting zoo. For information, visit www.events12.com.

Pioneer Courthouse Square and Portland Mall Management, Inc. are hosting the 5th annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition that was originally held throughout downtown in the early ’90s! This competition is a fun and festive event that will bring caroling groups of all ages to the heart of downtown, competing for a $1,000 grand prize!This event is free to the public. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Hood River Parade

Fri, Dec 7 – Portland (6:00p.m.) Hood River Holidays is kicking off the holiday season with a parade on Oak Street at 6:00p.m. The parade will be followed by carolers and a tree lighting at Overlook Memorial Park at 7:00p.m. For information, visit www.events12.com.

The Arts

Fri, Nov 23 – Portland (5:30p.m.)

Join thousands of Portlanders as they gather at the Pioneer Courthouse Square to celebrate the lighting of the spectacular 75-foot Douglas-fir tree provided by Stimson Lumber Company. With a giant tree, over 14,000 colorful lights, and Portland’s largest community sing-a-long, this is an event you won’t want to miss. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

Tues, Nov 13–Wed, Nov 14 – Portland This is a holiday mash-up for the entire family! The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a contemporary reimagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. For tickets, show times and more information, visit www.portland5.com.

Tango Dance Show

Children’s Christmas Party

Wed, Nov 14 – Portland (7:30p.m.)

Sat, Nov 25 – Wilsonville (10:00a.m.)

Holiday Ale Festival

Wed, Nov 28–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland The 23rd annual Holiday Ale Festival is back! Enjoy over 50 craft beers at this winter event. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Festival of Trees

Wed, Nov 28–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland Kick off this holiday season at the 36th annual Safeway Providence Festival of Trees! Stroll through a magical winter wonderland filled with stunning Christmas trees and displays. Proceeds

Mon, Dec 31 – Portland

This year’s Loud in the Library at Beaverton City Library promises a night of dancing, games, mini golf, ping pong, food, drinks, and a midnight balloon drop! For more information, visit www. events12.com.

34th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Head to the Al Kader Shriners for a children’s Christmas party. This event is free to the public and for children ages 12 and under. There will be gifts from Santa, reindeer, Santa’s Workshop, story time, balloon animals, and more! For more information, visit www.events12.com.

New Year’s Eve Library Party

New Year’s Eve Gala

Mon, Dec 31 – Portland (8:00p.m.) Count down to 2019 at the spectacular Champagne Ball! This event includes three dance floors, food, and 18 bars at the Hilton Portland Downtown. This event is for ages 21 and older. For more information, visit www. events12.com.

New Year’s Eve Governor’s Ball Mon, Dec 31 – Portland

A great way to ring in the New Year would be to attend this year’s Governor’s Ball. This includes reserved seating, a three-course dinner, wine, dancing, live music, and a champagne toast at the Sentinel Hotel. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

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Watch the 16-member ensemble of tango artists, known as Tangueros del Sur, as they demonstrate intricate footwork, partnering, sensuality and drama of the classic tango at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Scrooge the Musical

Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 9 – Portland Head to the Sellwood Playhouse to watch one of your favorite holiday stories come to life! Watch the cast dance, sing and thoroughly entertain as they perform a fun musical based on the story of Scrooge. For more information, visit www. events12.com.

A Christmas Carol

Fri, Nov 23–Sun, Dec 23 – Portland Broadway heavy hitters Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens breathe fantastic new life into the classic

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combination of romantic Latin jazz, bossa nova and R&B. For tickets and more information, visit www.events12.com.

Gospel Christmas 20th Anniversary Fri, Dec 7–Sun, Dec 9 – Portland

Join the region’s premier gospel singers and the Oregon Symphony for an evening that’s sure to have you on your feet, clapping and shouting, celebrating the true spirit of the season. For tickets and more information, visit www.orsymphony.org.

tale of A Christmas Carol. This musical is sure to entertain! For tickets and more information, visit www.stumptownstages.org.

This Rivalry Clash 5K/10K series lets runners add a little good-natured fan-flavor to their run! Ducks and Beavers fans will start in opposing start areas in their team colors, then clash, in a friendly way, of course, at the start line after the gun goes off. Once the race is over, the top times from each side will be totaled up and bragging rights will be officially bestowed by the race director. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Get ready for this 5K run/walk with a relay option that takes place at Portland International Raceway. The course is a fun-themed course marked by holiday lights. There will be a Kids’ Trot as well. Turkey Trotters are encouraged to dress up for this one, as the race organizers usually give out an award for the best holiday outfit. Both runners and walkers are welcome. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Watch the magic of Disney come to life at the Oregon Symphony in this multimedia showpiece featuring music from the scores of Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, The Lion King, and more. For tickets and more information, visit www.orsymphony.org.

Riffing on parodies of A Christmas Carol, this uproarious troupe of improv actors will have you rolling in the aisles! This hilarious show is updated every year, so go and enjoy your favorite jokes and some new surprises. For tickets and more information, visit www.pcs.org.

Sun, Nov 11 – Portland

Wed, Nov 21 – Portland

Sat, Nov 24–Sun, Nov 25 – Portland

Tues, Nov 27–Sun, Dec 23 – Portland

Duck vs. Beaver Rivalry Clash

Hood to Coast Turkey Trot Relay & 5K

Disney in Concert

The Second City’s A Christmas Carol—Twist Your Dickens

hills and mud! The fourth race in this series will take place at Pier Park. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Handel’s Messiah

Fri, Dec 7–Mon, Dec 10 – Portland Messiah is arguably the most-performed work in all of musical history. Guest director and harpsichordist Desmond Earley leads PBO and Cappella Romana in Portland’s only annual production of this holiday tradition on period instruments. Guest soloists include Miriam Allan, soprano; Laura Beckel Thoreson, mezzo-soprano; Nils Neubert, tenor; William Gaunt, bass-baritone. For tickets and more information, visit www.pbo.org.

The Nutcracker

Sat, Dec 8–Wed, Dec 26 – Portland Join Marie and her charming prince as they are swept away by dancing snowflakes to a magical land of sweets ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy—all to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score. For tickets and more information, visit www.obt.org.

Holidays with the Trail Band

Fri, Dec 14– un, Dec 16 – Portland

11th Annual White Album Xmas Thurs, Nov 29 – Portland

The Nowhere Band is a full 15-piece Beatles orchestra that plays The White Album in its entirety, while jugglers, aerialists, clowns and acrobats of the Portland Circus Allstars present their talents. For tickets and more information, visit www.albertarosetheatre.com.

Saxophone Concert

Thurs, Dec 6 – Portland (7:30p.m.) Head to the Nines Hotel and watch Grammywinning saxophonist Chris Mitchell as he plays a

A Portland tradition for 25 years, Holidays with The Trail Band takes its final bow at the Aladdin Theater this year. Let the Trail Band get you into the holiday spirit one last time with special guest and multi-instrumentalist Lex Browning, who completes the original band line-up from when the group started in 1991. For tickets and more information, visit www.friendspdx.org.

Runs, Walks & More Stumptown Cross Race Four Sat, Nov 3 – Portland

Stumptown Cross is a series of fun, competitive cross-country races for runners of all ages and skill levels to truly test their ability. Head outside and test your limits and skills in the grass,

Salem Run’ucopia

Thurs, Nov 22 – Salem With music, cowbells and good times, the Run’ucopia is a Salem tradition. The course will cross the new bridge through the largest interconnected urban park system in the nation. Bring your family and friends and engage in some healthy activity. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Sherwood Give ’n’ Gobble

Thurs, Nov 22 – Sherwood (9:00a.m.) The annual Give ’n’ Gobble is back! The event includes a 5K walk/run, as well as a 10K run. Proceeds and food donations will go to Helping Hands Food Bank. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

ORRC Turkey Trot

Thurs, Nov 22 – Portland The Turkey Trot at the Zoo is a multi-generational family event. Runners and walkers of

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Turkeython

Thurs, Nov 22 – Portland This 5K race happens in multiple locations in and around the PDX area at the same time. Most of the events are chip-timed and provide a location-specific leader board. In addition to the leader board, all timed Turkeythons are combined into an all-locations leader board. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Ridgefield Ugly Christmas Sweater Run Sat, Dec 1 – Ridgefield

all abilities love the 4-mile, untimed outing between the Oregon Zoo and the International Rose Gardens. Participants finish inside the zoo, and costumes are encouraged. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Get ready to run with Santa through the beautiful rural hills of Ridgefield! After the run, there will be cookies to enjoy. Runners will want to bring two cans of food to donate to a local food bank. Awards will be presented, with a special award to the best ugly sweater! For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Reindeer Run

Sat, Dec 1 – St. Helens Get ready for the St. Helens Reindeer Run! All funds raised will be donated to the Columbia County Toy-n-Joy, the Columbia Food Bank, and the St. Helens Police Academy. Runners will have the option of a 5K, 10K or a half-marathon run/walk that heads out of town into the beautiful countryside! For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Jingle Bell Run

Sun, Dec 2 – Portland The Arthritis Foundation’s original Jingle Bell Run is a fun way to get decked out and be festive while racing to raise funds and awareness to cure America’s #1 cause of disability. Put on your favorite holiday costume, tie jingle bells to your shoelaces, bring friends, family and coworkers to run/walk, and spread some holiday cheer! For information, visit www.runguides.com.

Clark County Turkey Trot Thurs, Nov 22 – Portland

The Clark County Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving tradition. With 100% of the proceeds benefiting Clark County Food Bank, Turkey Trot provides a way for the community to come together and give back on this day of thanks. While all registered racers have the option to track their time via electronic chip, the course is not designed for the fastest race time. Instead, Turkey Trot exists as a celebration of thanks, an opportunity to support the community, and a great way to have fun on a run! For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Tofurky Trot

Thurs, Nov 22 – Portland Tofurky Trot are designed to support both the health and vitality of local communities and raise money for local non-profits supporting a compassionate plant-based lifestyle. The Trot is a 5K run, trot or walk open to all levels of physical fitness. Prizes will be awarded to the top male, female and child finishers, as well as for best costume. Only the top three will be timed, but a running clock will display times at the finish. Expect tasty vegan snacks and drinks at the finish line! For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Ugly Holiday Sweater Dash Sat, Dec 8 – West Linn

Get ready for West Linn’s Ugly Holiday Sweater Dash! Registration is limited to 2,000 entries. Commemorative mugs will be given to the first 300 registered runners/walkers. There will be a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile dash. Baby strollers and 4-legged friends on leashes are welcome. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

Holiday Half Marathon Sun, Dec 9 – Portland

Get in the holiday spirit and treat yourself to the most festive holiday race of the season! With carolers serenading you all along the one-of-akind and flat course, you will be delightfully distracted as you wind your way through the streets of North Portland. Finish the race and treat yourself to a craft beer seasonal brew, hearty holiday soup, hot chocolate, snacks, samples, and more! For information, visit www.runguides.com.

Resolution Relay BYOB (Bring Your Own Baton) Sun, Dec 30 – Portland

Finish the year off with a half marathon on New Year’s Eve! Distance options include a halfmarathon relay done in teams of 4, 3, 2 or 1. For more information, visit www.runguides.com.

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Sounds Fun Literature in Bars

Fri, Nov 9 – Portland (6:00p.m.) Lit Crawl Portland features local authors reading their works in dozens of bars, cafes, bookstores, art galleries, and performance spaces downtown. This is free to the public. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

29th Annual Holiday Food and Gift Festival Fri, Nov 9–Sun, Nov 11 – Portland

With hundreds of exhibitors, the festival will provide shoppers with one-of-a-kind gifts that cannot be found anywhere else. Featuring art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, wood, music, photography, toys, Christmas décor, and much more, this event is a gift buyer’s delight. There is a large gourmet food area where you can sample and purchase a wide range of food items, including tea, chocolates, pasta, soups, dips, meats, coffee, jams, shortbread, salsas, oils & vinegars, honey, sauces, and more! For information, visit www.events12.com.

Science-Fiction Convention

Fri, Nov 9–Sun, Nov 11 – Portland This year’s OryCon is sure to be the best one yet! Meet sci-fi and fantasy authors and artists, attend panels, workshops, dances, games, and vendor exhibits at the Red Lion Hotel. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Literary Festival

Sat, Nov 10 – Portland Get ready for this year’s Portland Book Festival! This festival will bring together independent publishers, booksellers, authors, food vendors, and more! For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Northwest Food and Wine Festival Sat, Nov 10 – Portland

This year’s Northwest Food and Wine Festival is sure to be the best one yet! Sample 600 wines and a variety of gourmet foods from 50 restaurants at the Oregon Convention Center. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

8th Annual BelgianFest

Sat, Nov 11 – Portland (12:00p.m.) Celebrate Belgian styles with Oregon Breweries at the 8th annual BelgianFest! This

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craft fair extravaganza! Experience the sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Nordic holiday season. For more information, visit www. events12.com.

Harlem Globetrotters Sat, Dec 1 – Portland

The talented Harlem Globetrotters are in town and always put on an amazing show! Watch as they perform ball handling wizardry, rimrattling dunks, trick shots and comedy bits at the Moda Center. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

event at Bailey’s Taproom will feature beers from Breakside, Culmination, Fort Geo/Finn, Logsdon, Oakshire, Pelican, pFriem, and Crux. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Beaujolais Wine Festival

Sat, Dec 1 – Portland

This unique event is sure to please! Shop for gifts made from wood, drink beer aged in wood, and eat wood-fired pizza at Baerlic Brewing. This is an all-ages event. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Sat, Dec 22–Sun, Dec 23 – Portland (11:00a.m.) The Renegade Craft Fair is here and offering indie crafts, food trucks and a DJ! For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Whale Watching Week

Thurs, Dec 27–Mon, Dec 31 – Portland (10:00a.m.)

Sat, Dec 1–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland (10:00a.m.) Head to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland’s Rose Quarter for a two-day Nordic

This activity is geared toward children ages 2-5, accompanied by an adult. You will get the chance to look for wildlife, listen to the wind and the creek, touch a thimble-berry leaf, water the Children’s Discovery Garden, and maybe even eat a raspberry right off the vine! The guides will then read a story and help children craft something fun. For more information, visit www.leachgarden.org.

Every Friday – Portland (6:30p.m.)

Beer and Wood Market

Renegade Craft Fair

Scandinavian Fair

Every Wednesday – Portland (10:00a.m.)

Dragon Theater Puppet Show

Sat, Nov 17–Sun, Nov 18 – Portland

The Lewis and Clark LH Specialty Cat Club is hosting a CFA Cat Show at the Double Tree Inn at Lloyd Center. See up to 225 top show cats on display. There will also be purebred kittens for sale, rescue cats for adoption, a household pet competition, a veteran cat competition, and cat supplies, toys and gifts for sale. For more information, visit www.lewisandclarkcatclub.com.

Honeybee Hikes

This experience will be much more relaxed, more interactive, and a more social experience. You can expect to see a pop-up pub, unique tours and games, photo booths, art guides, and more! For information, visit www.portlandartmuseum.org.

Wild Arts Festival

Sat, Dec 1–Sun, Dec 2 – Portland (9:00a.m.)

Head to the library to enjoy story time with your kids! Every Monday at 10:30a.m., there will be story time for toddlers ages 1-3. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30a.m., story time will be for children ages 3-5. For more information, visit www.milwaukieoregon.gov.

Every Friday – Portland (5:00p.m.)

A ticket to Beaujolais Nouveau includes tastes of the latest vintage from Oregon, Washington, and France, plus a gourmet buffet at the Heathman Hotel. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Cat Show

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – Milwaukie (10:30a.m.)

Portland Art Museum

Fri, Nov 16 – Portland (6:00p.m.)

This festival features 70 artists and 30 authors inspired by nature, plus a silent auction to benefit the Audubon Society at Montgomery Park. For more information, visit www.events12.com.

Storytimes in Milwaukie

It is that time of year to see majestic whales swim and play in the wild. People come from all over the world to learn about the gray whales that travel along the Oregon coast each year. The Whale Watching Spoken Here program places volunteers at great whale watching sites to help visitors watch whales along the Pacific Northwest Coast. For a map of viewing locations and more information, visit www.events12.com.

Reoccurring Local Micah & Me

First Monday of each month – Portland (10:00a.m.) Visit Beanstalk, a children’s consignment store, every first Monday for an in-house dance party and music show for kids of all ages! Micah & Me connect with youngsters of all ages while playing live, fun-filled music on the guitar and ukulele. For information, visit www.micahandmerocks.com.

The Dragon Theater will have a free puppet show with paid admission to PlayDate PDX. These shows are fun for all ages and change weekly! For information, visit www.playdatepdx.com

Volunteer Opportunity Place

Contact CC Fearson at 850-659-3190.

Socks

Contact Nikole Wood at 850-863-8999.

PAWS

Contact Alicia Sikes at 850-243-1525.

Salvation Army

Contact Lisa Martinez at 850-243-4531.

Habitat for Humanity

Contact Mark McEnaney at 850-685-0686.

Florosa Fire Department

Contact Tom Peele at 850-581-2900.

VFW

Contact Harvey Eckoff at 850-244-3834.

Goodwill

Contact John at 850-837-8516.

Destin Community Center

Contact Lisa Firth at 850-654-5184.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Contact Tina or Sharron at 850-244-2726.

Destin History & Fishing Museum Contact Kathy Blue at 850-837-6611.

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