Bay Area Kids April 2011

EAST BAY EDITION April 2011 Sug ret $3.95

t fa m i ly m a g a z i n e

INSIDE » Essential Checklists Spring Fashions Family Recipes Livermore’s Famous Light Bulb Audrey Hepburn

lisa quinn

tv Host, designer, wife, mom

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Pre K -

5 th

GRADES

• Have a blast exploring art, science & outdoor activities • Learn teamwork, creative thinking & problem solving skills

• Immerse yourself in exciting topics like Fashion Design, Go-Karts & Claymation • Learn from mentors who do what you love

LOCATIONS INCLUDE:

Berkeley, Danville, Fremont, Lafayette, Oakland

AV I O D T H E WA IT L I ST - E N RO L L NOW !

W W W.G A L I L EO - L E A RN I N G .CO M/ BA KI D S P H : 1 . 8 0 0 . 8 54. 36 84

Kids

BayArea

Volume 3, Number 3 April 2011 www.BAKidsMagazine.com Publisher/Editor/Father Everard G. Strong estrong@bakidsmagazine.com

the good stuff

the regular

4 small talk

22

the karma of why

» Sales General Inquiries sales@bakidsmagazine.com

6 play dates

Kathryn Sibley ksibley@bakidsmagazine.com

reviews 8 product

books, food, and music

Ayiko Konopaski ayiko@bakidsmagazine.com

fun 10 family

the adventure of

» Editorial General Editorial Inquiries editor@bakidsmagazine.com

bookcrossing

Calendar calendar@bakidsmagazine.com Contributing Writers Kelly Pollard, Patricia Kutza,

march events

19 ask the trainer

counting calories

22 designer mama

Lisa Quinn

» Submissions Send photos, events, news, and story requests to editor@bakidsmagazine.com.

Send all products to address below.

Include return postage.

25 road trip

the light bulb of livermore lighter airs 26

spring fashions

29 family fun in the

Bay Area Kids magazine is printed on 10 percent recycled paper using only soy based inks. Our printer meets or exceeds all Federal Resource Conservation Act (RCRA) Standards and is a certified member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Small Print 2010 Big E Productions (DBA Bay Area Kids magazine). No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Big E Productions assumes no liability or responsibility for any claims made by advertisers in the magazine.

what’s inside

the power of checklists

» Accounting Mike Harrar, The Tax Pros

Doing our Part

3

20 an organized life

kitchen

crisped rice easter egg treats

30 suburban queen discipline

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12-17 special section Summer Camp & Activity Guide, Part II Six pages of camps and activities to keep your child busy these summer months.

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BAY AREA KIDS magazine P.O. Box 30442 Walnut Creek, CA 94598 www.BAKidsMagazine.com

April 2011

GO ONLINE To experience our interactive summer camp guide, separated by county and including maps and other information!

Bay Area Kids

3

editor’s letter

the karma of Why?

M

4 small talk

Connect With bay area kids

y son is going through the Why? stage, and at times, he’s relentless in his questioning, downright probing. Usually I don’t mind answering him, even offering playfully obtuse answers that quiet him down while his little gears slowly turn, trying to figure out what exactly I was talking about.

Sometimes, his questions border on the philosophical, and I get frustrated, not because of his questions, but because it’s hard to explain some universal truths about human behavior and natural phenomenon (devastating or not) to a 3 year-old.

Sometimes, he just wears me down, and I have to distract him with a toy (hello Dollar Store), or movie, or something shiny.

When I tell my mother, she laughs, and reminds me that she once knew a little boy who would barrage her with a continuous stream of Whys, and she being the Saint of Patience, tried as much as she could to answer all my questions.

So what goes around comes around after all. And in truth, I don’t mind his inquisitiveness — in fact, I welcome it. (My daughter went through this stage as well, but she is starting to read for herself, and is starting to find answers on her own.

Though I am there for her with any further explanations.)

I like it because I recognize the same need to question in my own personality. I have never stopped asking questions, from the mundane to the scholarly, sometimes to the annoyance of my friends and spouse. There are very few trips to a museum or gallery, social event or even a birthday party where I’m not asking a docent, volunteer, worker, or parent a question (or two or three, or four). Tell me more, please. In the process, I have also found that people like to talk about what they know, that they don’t mind sharing their answers with you.

I fully believe in the adage that information is power, and the only way to really gather information is by asking questions. So I am encourage both of my children to ask Mommy and Daddy about anything they have questions on, and we will do our best to either provide an answer, or find the answer for them.

“Daddy? Do kitties go to heaven?”

Oh boy …

Sincerely

Click on the button to take you directly to our Facebook or Twitter page.

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Everard G Strong Editor/Publisher/Father estrong@bakidsmagazine.com

Effective Affective

Visual Communication Solutions

e

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Publication Design Advertising and Marketing Services Business Identity Dynamic Media Online Communications

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

April 2011

Bay Area Kids

5

very important dates

april 2011 Photo courtesy Chabot Space and Science Center

6 play dates

April 22 Slumber with the Stars Fri, 6:00 pm — Sat, April 23, 10:00 am. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, (510) 336-7373, www.chabotspace.org. For ages 5 and up, one adult for every five kids. Tickets $75/ members, $85/guests. Reservations required. Spend a night under the stars or with some really cool exhibits. Join Slumber with the Stars, Chabot’s newest family night out. An overnight in Chabot’s Center includes games, exhibit exploration, hike in the Redwoods (weather permitting), a live planetarium show, and viewing through our renowned, large telescopes (weather permitting). An experience your family will remember for a lifetime.

These listings are provided as a free service to our readers.

Submit your event to us (include place, date, and description) online at calendar@ BAKidsMagazine.com

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April 9 Bedtime with the Beasts Sat, 7:00 pm — Sun, April 10, 10:00 am.

Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, (510) 632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org. For ages 6 to 18 and chaperone. Tickets $60. Preregistration required. Save the date now for an unforgettable night at the zoo. A Zoo education specialist will lead your group on an evening hike where you’ll get a look at what the zoo is like after all the guests leave. Afterward, everyone will enjoy

snacks and participate in a fun activity and get the chance to meet one of our animals up close. And then it’s night-night time, followed by a tasty continental breakfast and a private tour to see some of the animals as they awake and start their day.

April 10 Dia Del Nino Sun, 9:30-6:00 pm, Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Rd., Monterey, www.monterey bayaquarium.org, (831) 648-4800.

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

Celebrate children and families with a craft room, live music, prize drawings and Latin American musical performances throughout the Aquarium. Children 12 and under will be admitted free all day.

April 16 2011 Egg Hunt Sat, 10:00 and 11:00 AM, Moraga Commons Park, corner of Moraga Rd., and St. Mary’s Rd., Moraga. Children 1-6. $10 all inclusive wristband. Bring your own basket. (925) 888-7045, www. moragajuniors.org. Hosted by the Moraga Juniors and Moraga Parks and Recreation Department, this year’s Egg Hunt will feature crafts, bounce houses, pictures with the bunny, and more. Admission price includes one hunt, unlimited games, crafts, bounce houses, and a reusable tote bag.

Activities start at 9:00 AM. Tickets sell out for this fun event, so order yours online today.

April 16 Berkeley Bay Festival Sat, 11:00 am-5:00 pm, 201 University Ave., Berkeley Marina, Berkeley. Free admission. Spend a day by the Bay listening to music,taking free sailboat and Dragon boat rides, eating tasty food, and exploring the Berkeley Marina.

Visit booths sponsored by fun and educational organizations from throughout the Bay Area to learn about exciting things you and your family can do locally. Pick up a passport to the Bay and get it stamped as you move from activity to activity in each booth. The day starts with a shoreline clean-up and continues with education, entertainment, and fun for all ages.

Events include free sailboat rides, paddling lessons from the Berkeley Dragon Boat, live street theater and circus acts, and more live music and food. Throughout the day the unique Adventure Playground will be open to the public; kids are encouraged to build, paint, climb, and ride the zip lines. Children must be supervised while in the Park.

April 17 Earth Day at Wente Vineyards Sun, 1-5:00 pm, 5050 Arroyo Rd., Livermore, www.wentevineyards.com. Come out to Wente on Sunday for a full day celebration of Earth Day featuring great food, wine, special activities for children including ards and crafts, a tour of the recently reawarded Audubon Sanctuary, wine tasting (extra charge), and lots more.

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things our children love Just Being Audrey

By Margaret Cardillo, Illustrated by Julia Deno (Harper Collins) My daughter’s world is inundated with certain princesses and their vapid lifestyles and aspirations, so when Just Being Audrey arrived, I viewed it as a very welcome interruption and addition to her literary leanings.

The biography of actress Audrey Hepburn, Just Being Audrey tells a story — accompanied by lively illustrations — of her early days in Nazioccupied Europe, her aspirations of being a ballerina, her involvement in acting, and her work with UNICEF in shining a light on the less-fortunate children of the world. One of the lessons her mother taught her was that true kindness is the greatest measure of a person, and Audrey embodied this in the most gracious manner. Beyond her trend-setting fashions, this is Audrey Hepburn as a little girl, an actress, an icon, and an inspiration to future generations. This is fast becoming my daughter’s favorite book — I am adding to her learning by watching My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, and Sabrina (I don’t think she’s ready for Breakfast at Tiffany’s quite yet).

Here’s hoping for more books like this to come.

8 product reviews

Chobani Champions Greek Yogurt (www.chobani.com) If your children (or even your family) are yogurt lovers, you should be taking a serious look at Greek-style yogurt. During its processing, Greek yogurt has the whey removed, leaving a healthier, denser product that features less carbs and sugars, and more protein than regular-style yogurt.

A favorite of low-carb lifestyle followers, Greek-style yogurt has gone from being a rare, exotic product in the grocer’s dairy shelves to a larger industry featuring several manufacturers, one of the leaders of which is Chobani. They have introduced a new line of child-friendly flavors that will appeal to your youngsters without adding to their sugar or carb intake.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery Maryrose Wood (Balzer and Bray) Thanks to the efforts of their plucky governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are less like wild animals and more like almost-proper children now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees. But a trip to London provides a slew of new challenges, and as clues to the children’s—and Penelope’s—past come to light, they find themselves swept up in an unexpected mystery.

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Moona Luna: Pinata Party (Luchadora Records, www. moonalunamusic.com) This bilingual party album (party as in jump-on-the-bed party) offers a dozen chunks of latin-infused ear candy that will appeal to music lovers of all ages. Piñata Party is bursting at the seams with sweet, delicious and satisfying rhythms that will find you heeding the invitation of the opening track – “Quieres Bailar?” – and heading for the dance floor. “Brinca, Jump!” perfectly captures the delight we feel in simply putting our bodies in motion; while “Hay Que Trabajar (We All Have To Work)” explains to young children what mom and dad are doing all day even though they would rather be staying home with them, dancing to this CD.

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

Lark Creek Walnut Creek 1360 Locust Street, Walnut Creek (925) 256-1234 • www.larkcreek.com

We Specialize in the Treatments of Infants, Children, and Young Adults Let Dr. Chang and his caring team provide expert treatment for your child in our new state-of-the-art office

sedations • hospital dentistry traumatic injuries • Preventive sealants special needs patients • comprehensive and preventive dental care • orthodontic (braces) referrals • Digital X-rays (70-90% less radiation exposure)

Serving seasonal farm-fresh American fare for the whole family since 1995

Randall E Chang, DDS, Inc. Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry

Mention Bay Area Kids and Get a FREE Initial Exam for New Patients.

3050 Citrus Circle, #110, Walnut Creek (925) 938-2392 • www.cd-wc.com

• Kids menu includes fresh fruit plate, hand-breaded fresh crispy chicken fingers with house cut fries, peanut butter and housemade jelly sandwich • Award winning all-American wine list for Mom and Dad Lark Creek Walnut Creek serves lunch daily, brunch Sunday, cocktails, and dinner nightly, and private parties.

April 2011

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children see their dentist by their first birthday.

Bay Area Kids

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bookcrossing

by Juliann Wetz

bringing books to life

10 family fun

About the Author Juliann Wetz’ work has appeared in national magazines such as Highlights for Children, Boys’ Life, German Life, Good Old Days, Daughters Newsletter, Dog Fancy, and Personal Journaling.

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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

After months of planning our family trip to San Francisco, we started packing. The first thing to go into our suitcases?

Books.

W

e tossed a couple of Full House and Amy Tan books into the bag. A book about ghosts at Alcatraz and Speak Softly, She Can Hear, which is set in the Haight district were packed beneath our clothes.

We’d been reading books set in San Francisco ever since we decided that we’d travel there this summer. The whole family got involved and we left Cincinnati with books that whet our adventuresome appetites and helped us build the itinerary for our trip.

One of our must see destinations: Alcatraz. Not just because we wanted to see the famous “Rock” for ourselves, but because my nine-year-old daughter read Eve Bunting’s middle-grade novel, Someone is Hiding On Alcatraz Island, about a boy named Danny who is chased around Alcatraz Island by a gang of revengeseeking teenagers. When our tour guide shut us in so that we could imagine what it was like for the prisoners, the clanking of the heavy steel doors was just as Bunting described in the book. We shivered.

Our plan was simple. We’d visit Alcatraz and see how it compared to the book we’d read, and then my daughter would leave her paperback copy there for someone else to stumble upon, accidentally or on purpose. This scavenger hunt/book club was a hobby of ours, and hundreds of thousands of other people who participate in Bookcrossing.

Bookcrossing.com was designed by a man named Ron Hornbaker who had the idea to create a worldwide library. His vision was that a person might find a book at any time, anywhere for free. You may be sipping coffee at your favorite coffee shop and suddenly stumble upon a book that someone else left there. Or you may be in a doctor’s waiting room, or sitting on a park bench, or flying on an airplane. And there it will be — a free book that someone registered on the website and left behind for others to read.

It may surprise readers to learn that 2,392 San Franciscans are registered Bookcrossers as of this writing.

These book aficionados have left novels all over their fair city in places such as The Stinking Rose, the Cartoon Art Museum, and Chase Bank. Other books have been released in and around San Francisco by travelers from around the world. Finnish, German and Australian tourists have left books at Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, and of course, Alcatraz.

Alcatraz was only one of our stops. My daughter, known simply as MommysGirl on the site, left her book there, tucked away just inside the prison as we began our audio tour. When she registered her book on

April 2011

Bookcrossing, she made a journal entry that shared her thoughts about the book and what she liked most about it. For her, Bookcrossing is a fun way of writing a book report that we hoped would be read and elaborated on by future readers. Would someone pick it up and log on to let us know they found it? That remained to be seen.

Sometimes journal entries happen quickly. Other times, it takes years before a curious reader logs on and gives an update of the book’s journey. This time we were lucky. We received an e-mail alert three weeks later that the book was now in the hands of a 9-yearold boy from Oregon who had been at Alcatraz the same night we were. His grandmother spotted the book and saw the “Free Book!” Post-it note. Curious, she picked it up, gave it to her grandson, and he registered as a free Bookcrossing member and journaled the find. We were thrilled. And it gave us an excuse to pull out the atlas and show MommysGirl how far her book had traveled so far.

Besides Alcatraz, we visited other literary mentionables such as the Asian Art Museum, where we left Amy Tan’s Saving Fish From Drowning. The museum is referenced heavily in the prologue of Tan’s book and I half expected to see a plaque honoring Bibi Chen, the narrator in Amy Tan’s story.

We had to leave Eleventh Hour at Golden Gate Bridge.

The bridge is pictured right on the cover of this book by Catherine Coulter. We perched the book on a bench where groups of tourists stood and had their pictures taken with that magnificent orange structure in the background. By the time we walked halfway across the bridge and back, the book was gone. With all the foreign and US visitors wandering on the bridge, this book could end up anywhere. We can’t wait to hear of its travels.

What my husband and I enjoyed about this family-trip project was not just the great books that we read, but the way Bookcrossing and releasing books enabled us to bring the stories to life. Now when our daughter reads her Full House chapter books, she can picture Alamo Park and the Painted Ladies shown in the opening credits of the television show. As Michelle, DJ, and Stephanie wander through the streets of San Francisco in the chapter books, MommysGirl can walk along with them in her mind. The setting of the stories has been brought to life.

Incorporating Bookcrossing into our family vacation added adventure and education that greatly enhanced our visit to San Francisco. We add Bookcrossing activities to all our excursions, in our own neighborhoods and any we travel to. We read the stories and then we live them.

San Francisco was as fantastic as the stories set there.

Now it’s time to start reading books about New Orleans for our next trip.

Books featured in this story that use San Francisco as a literary backdrop.

FOR MORE INFORMATION www.bookcrossing.com

Bay Area Kids

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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE Rising 5th – 8th graders, this is your camp! At Galileo Summer Quest, you can try your hand at a variety of topics, experiencing one Major and two exciting Minors every day during your 2-week session. Work with mentors who do what you love, along with the latest tools and technology, to complete a final project you can show off to your friends and family.

Galileo Summer Quest

Six Bay Area locations, including Oakland, San Francisco, Corte Madera, Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Saratoga (800) 854-3684 www.galileo-learning.com/BAKIDS

2011 Major and Minor offerings include brand-new unique curriculum especially created for our 7th-8th graders! Major options include Go-Kart Makers, Fashion Design, Chefology, Video Game Design and Digital Photography. Minor options include Hip-Hop Dance, Sports and Cartooning.

To enroll or learn more, visit www.galileo-learning.com or call 800-854-3684.

Welcome to Camp Galileo, where Pre-K –rising 5th graders bring their ideas to life! Engage in hands-on art, science and outdoor activities every day, plus have tons of fun with camp traditions like dress up days, water day and the rubber chicken cheer. Each of our four unique 1-week sessions at Camp Galileo revolves around an engaging story or theme that sparks campers’ imaginations in exciting new ways.

Camp Galileo

21 Bay Area locations, including Berkeley, Danville, Fremont, Lafayette, Oakland (800) 854-3684 www.galileo-learning.com/BAKIDS

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Check out our 4 brand-new themes at Camp Galileo in Summer 2011: • Lost in The Forbidden City: Chinese Art & Building Design • Inventor’s Workshop: The Art & Science of Toy Design • Detective in Paris: Impressionism & The Science of Sleuthing • We Built This City: Urban Art &

Environmental Engineering To enroll or learn more, visit www.galileolearning.com or call 800-854-3684.

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE

Oakland Zoo 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland (510) 632-9525 x280 | info@oaklandzoo.org The Oakland Zoo invites campers for a week filled with animal adventures, nature discovery, and excitement. Camp includes up-close animal presentations, games, stories, science activities, and crafts. The Oakland Zoo takes great pride in creating age-appropriate options for campers age four through high school.

Partial Payment Option we understand a summer filled with kid-friendly activities can get expensive. Make your budget easier by paying a 50 percent deposit upfront, with the balance due one month before camp.

ZooCamp Registration Opens Mid-March: Detailed program descriptions, schedules, fees, and camp policies are available on our website. Please visit www.oaklandzoo.org/zoocamp.

Still have questions? Call the ZooCamp Hotline at 510-632-9525 ext 280 or email info@oaklandzoo.org.

Park’N It Summer Day Camp

Saint Mary’s College of California Athletic Summer Camps

East Bay Regional Parks (888) EBPARKS | www.ebparks.org

1928 Saint Mary’s Rd., Moraga (925) 631-4386 | www.smcgaels.com

Explore the Regional Parks through field trips, art, swimming and play. Recreation Leaders, Naturalists, Rangers and Lifeguards will take you behind the scenes to discover nature’s secrets. (Ages 6-10)

42 years ago, Saint Mary’s College was the first institution in Northern Calif. to offer overnight and day camps specializing in athletics. Today, our camps still offer the same outstanding camps to children 4-18 years old. Our campers use the same courts, diamonds, and playing fields that the Saint Mary’s athletes (NCAA Division 1) use throughout the year. Camps offered include baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

June 20-24 Contra Loma-Antioch, Castle Rock-Walnut Creek Jun 27-Jul 1 Don Castro-Castro Valley, Lake Temescal-Oakland Aug 1-5 Ardenwood-Fremont* ages 5-12 9 am – 4 pm, Mon-Fri; extended care available.

Financial assistance is available.

Camps fill up fast, register today!

April 2011

Registration Register now at “CAMPS” at www.smcgaels.com. Camps fill up early so reserve a spot today!

Bay Area Kids

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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE

Camp Arroyo 5555 Arroyo Rd., Livermore (925) 455-5119 | www.ttff.org | ttff@ttff.org Over the past two decades, The Taylor Family Foundation has helped more than 40,000 children and 70,000 parents by providing respite and unique camp opportunities for children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and youth at-risk.

Nestled in the foothills of the Livermore Valley, The Taylor Family Foundation at Camp Arroyo, allows children to do what they do best - be themselves. No one is singled out for being different, there’s just lots of fun in a safe, nurturing, camp environment.

During their stay at Camp Arroyo, children enjoy water activities, a high and low ropes course, rock wall climbing, campfires, healthy meals and snacks, and much more.

Memories at Camp Arroyo Are Made By Children Living With:

To learn more about The Taylor Family Foundation, to make a donation, or to volunteer at camp, visit us online at www. ttff.org or find us on Facebook.

Hemophilia Diabetes Pediatric Brain Tumors Bereavement Skin Disease Crohn’s, Colitis and IBD Autism and Developmental Disabilities

HIV/AIDS Bi-Polar Disorder Congenital Heart Disease Celiac Disease Asthma Congenital Hand Deformities Pediatric Cancers Preschool Burn Survivors

Tax ID 94-3262932

Sherman Swim School 1075 Carol Ln. (off Mt. Diablo), Lafayette (925) 283-2100 www.shermanswim.com Private Swim Lessons T-Th or M-W-F Hours 2-7 pm, March-May 10 am-7pm, May-Aug

Town of Danville Summer Camps Recreation Services, 420 Front Street, Danville (925) 314-3400 | www.danville.ca.gov/Recreation Traditional Day Camps Campers rotate through activities planned around a central theme, such as arts, crafts, outdoor games, sports, free play, and more.

Some camps include an off-site field trip and extended care.

Enrichment Camps Choose from camps in: Academics, Art/Crafts, Cooking, Foreign Language, Performing Arts, Science/Technology, and Sports.

Registration Easy online registration at www.danvillerecguide.com.

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Sessions begin every few weeks: March 7-April 1 April 4-29 May 2-20 May 23-June 10 June 13-July 1 July 6-22 July 25-Aug 12 Aug 15-Sept 2 Registration Call or download registration information.

We do our best to accommodate each person’s needs.

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE

Bladium Camp 800 West Tower Ave., Bldg 40, Alameda (510) 814-4999| www.bladium.com camp overview Bladium Sports and Fitness Club provides a variety of specialty and theme-based camps for the summer of 2011. Our camps provide the best value in the Bay Area, nutritious and healthy lunches provided by Kid Chow, and extended care from 7:30a - 6:00p. Kids can experience a wide variety of sports and activities, including soccer, flag football, rock climbing, basketball, dodge ball, kickball, arts and crafts and much more.

With our energetic staff leading the way, campers will learn teamwork, positive social interaction, and making new friends.

We hope to see you this summer at Bladium!

Activities Bladium’s facility offers opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering, volleyball, sneaker and inline hockey, skill-building basketball, and intensified soccer camps. We also offer a variety of inflatables and a youth entertainment zone for recreation.

REGISTRATION Camp starts June 13, 2011. Registration is now open. For more information, including fees and registration contact alamedasales@bladium.com

Oakland Feather River Camp Located in Quincy, CA Operated by Camps in Common (510) 336-2267 www.featherrivercamp.com Kids and families can create skits, laugh out loud, discover the great outdoors, and have a blast together!

Registration

Family Camp: June 19 - August 14 Camp Kidd & Camp Sierra: July 6 - 10

April 2011

Camp Kee Tov 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley (510) 848-2372 www.campkeetov.com With a focus on sports, dance, arts and crafts, singing and performing arts, our programming and traditions have inspired thousands of campers from a diverse cross-section of our community. Camp Kee Tov is the premier Jewish day camp in the Bay Area!

Session 1: June 27-July 22 Session 2: August 1-26 Register now at www.campkeetov.org�

Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek (925) 935-1978

www.wildlife-museum.org Wild times abound at our Summer Science Camps! Enjoy a week full of adventures with live animals, science experiments and crafts. Camper to counselor ratio is 3:1 in camps for ages 4-9. All camps are held at the museum and adjacent Larkey Park. Register online for fantastic summer fun!

Bay Area Kids

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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE

Camp Winnarainbow (510) 525-4304, www.campwinnarainbow.org Camp Winnarainbow, California’s Premiere Circus and Performing Arts Sleepaway Camp was founded by cultural icon Wavy Gravy more than 35 years ago. Located 3 hours north in beautiful Mendocino County, Camp Winnarainbow offers one and two week sessions during the summer for children ages 7-14. Classes include circus arts, drama, multi-cultural dance and martial arts, play production, trapeze & aerials, tightrope, juggling, unicycling, stilt-walking, gymnastics, magic, music, clowning, art, and environmental awareness. All sessions end with a fabulous show for families & friends. Our mission is to create a living environment of love, safety and harmony by building a diverse community of children and adults, where all can learn to appreciate one another through the performing arts.

Camp EdTech

Camp Edmo

8 Bay Area Locations: Alameda, Moraga, Oakland, San Francisco, & more www.campedtech.org

9 Bay Area Locations: Alameda, Moraga, Oakland, San Francisco, & more www.campedmo.org

Camp EdTech teaches preteens and teens entering 5th–9th grade how to create their own digital movies, photographs, sound-tracks, graphic designs, and animations. Every week includes a specialized digital media theme, camper contests, art show or movie screening.

Camp Edmo – Voted “#1 Summer Day Camp” two consecutive years – is for kids pre-K—entering 4th grade to explore, create, have fun and grow. Our Arts & Science and Animation themes are designed in partnership with the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, Zeum and MOCHA.

Registration Camp EdTech runs the weeks of June 6 — July 25.

Registration Camp Edmo runs the weeks of June 6 — August 15.

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ID Tech Camps Held at Stanford, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s College, and 60 Universities Nationwide (888) 709-8324 • www.internalDrive.com Ages 7-18 create video games, websites, C++/Java programs, iPhone apps, robots and more. Weeklong, day and overnight programs at 60 universities nationwide including Stanford, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s, Harvard, NYU and others. Also, iD Teen Academies at Stanford in Gaming, Programming and Visual Arts. Free year-round learning. Save with code CAU38L.

Berkeley Playhouse Julia Morgan Center 2640 College Ave., Berkeley (510) 845-8542 x376 www.berkeleyplayhouse.org Berkeley Playhouse offers fun, 1-3 week, half and full day performance-based camps with developmentally appropriate focus on singing, acting, dancing, choreography and vocal performance techniques. Summer 2011 will be inspired by stories of Dr Seuss and the Ahrens/Flaherty musical, Seussical, the Musical playing on our summer stage!

Escuela Bilingue Internacional

410 Alcatraz Ave., Oakland (510) 653-3324 www.ebinternacional.org Join us at EBI, the Bay Area’s first Spanish-English dualimmersion, independent school, for a summer of adventures in the Spanish language. Guided by our experienced teachers, your child will explore art, music, science, gardening, movement and dozens of other enriching and dynamic themes.

Registration First camp starts June 20 Registration begins February 7

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE

Sienna Ranch

3232 Deer Hill Road, Lafayette www.siennaranch.net Offering inspiring, unique, and fun week-long nature immersion and animal experiences for campers 4-14. Full-day or Half-Day Camps Available.

Day camps (9:00-1:00): • Farm Hands: farm life, animal care, old fashioned arts & crafts • Survival in the Wild: A Wilderness Skill Adventure • Keepers of the Lost Arts: A Primitive Experience • Natural Adventures: Challenges in Nature • Horse Ranchers: Riding and Groundwork Afternoon Special Interest Camps (2:00-5:00): • Fun with Horses: Just “Horsing” Around • Experiential Building: Tree Forts and More • Archery: Real Bows and Arrows • Art and Animals: Two Favorite Hobbies, One Fantastic Camp

Growing Light Montessori of Moraga

1450 Moraga Rd., Moraga (925) 377-0404 www.growinglight montessori.com Summertime fun includes water play, field trips and weekly/biweekly activity themes such as: Zoo Week, Jungle Safari and Ocean Exploration.

Registration Openings for 18 mos.PreK/K available. Download application online or visit campus for details.

April 2011

Town of Danville Summer Aquatics Program Recreation Services 420 Front St., Danville (925) 314-3400

www.danville.ca.gov/Recreation

• • • • • • •

Recreation & Lap Swim Aquatots (Parent-Child) Preschool & Elementary Swim Lessons (3-12) Private Lessons (3-Adult) Adult Fitness Swimming Junior Lifeguarding Lifeguard Training

Registration Easy online registration at www.danvillerecguide.com.

Viva El Espanol Spanish Immersion Camps

3451 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette Camps in Piedmont and Pleasanton too!

(925) 962-9177 | www.vivaelespanol.org A unique opportunity for children to learn or improve their Spanish language skills! During each week-long camp, students participate in interactive games, music and movement activities, and art projects that center around a specific kid-friendly theme. Students learn useful vocabulary and phrases related to each theme. Each week culminates with a sing-along and presentation, where the kids get to show off what they learned.

Registration For specific dates, themes and registration information please visit www.vivaelespanol.org or call (925) 962-9177.

The Academy 2722 Benvenue Ave., Berkeley (510) 549-0605 | www.theacademyk-8.com The Academy offers academic and recreational summer classes and a full daycare service. You may sign-up for any one or more classes and for as much daycare as you need. Classes run June 20 - July 22. Morning academics include Pre- Kindergarten, Lower School and Upper School programs.

Afternoon recreation includes swimming lessons, recreational swimming, drama, Arts&Crafts, Friday Adventures and more.

Come join the fun!.

Registration Registration is now open. Visit our website for details.

Bay Area Kids

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Spanish for Kids and adults too!

• Immersion program • Small class sizes • Experienced teachers • Classes for toddlers to teens • Day camps too!

(925) 962-9177 www.vivaelespanol.org Alameda • Lafayette • Pleasanton

more design,photography,movies, animation,recreation...and value.

• Affordable Prices • Latest Technology

& Software • Professional Instructors • Zeum Museum Partnership • Outdoor Activities Daily EnTEr PrOMO CODE BAKTMA11 SAvE $10/WEEK! (Expires 4/15/11)

Ask about Early Bird & Multi-Week Discounts

Just for kids entering 5th-9th grade

Enroll at campedtech.org or call 877-993-MORE (6673) SF • EAST BAy • MArIn • SOuTh BAy • PEnInSuLA 18

Bay Area Kids bakidsmagazine.com

CO-OP BENEFITS Precious time with your child • Acclaimed play-based models • Integral parent participation • Low cost • Close-knit community • Rewarding teaching and learning for all involved • Parenting skill education • Summer programming in some schools (see websites)

Making Camp Last Extending the Benefits of Camp

W

hen children go to camp, there is a strong likelihood that they’ll come home gushing about the lifelong friends they’ve made, the excitement of learning to swim or ride a horse, their favorite new hobbies, and the anticipation of returning to camp next summer. What they probably won’t tell you about are the more subtle life lessons camp has given them — those skills that, if nurtured at home after camp, translate into a lasting selfconfidence, an awareness of the importance of kindness, a greater comfort in voicing their opinions, and even a willingness to do household chores with a smile! The American Camp Association offers these tips to help families keep the spirit — and lessons — of camp alive long after the campfire embers cool:

Be actively Involved in your child’s first school experience …

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ALAMEDA

Kiddie Kampus 510-582-1218 kiddiekampusalameda.org CASTRO VALLEY

Castro Valley Co-op 510-582-7731 cvpns.org EL CERRITO

Peter Pan Nursery 510-234-5918 peterpanelcerrito.com

JOIN A CO-OPERATIVE PRESCHOOL!

FREMONT

Fremont Parent Nursery School 510-793-8531 fpns.org

OAKLAND

Montclair Community Play Center 510-339-7213 mcpckids.org Peter Pan Co-op Nursery School 510-261-5210 peterpancoop.com Sequoia Nursery School 510-531-8853 sequoiakids.org Sheffield Village Preschool 510-638-7190 sheffieldvillage.org SAN LEANDRO

Broadmoor Preschool 510-569-6327 broadmoorpreschool.org

East Bay Council Preschools admit students of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origins.

Reinforcing the positive behaviors they’ve already learned at camp will help you continue to reap the rewards and satisfaction of a more self-assured, responsible, mature child. When families embrace the spirit of camp they not only extend the benefits of camp throughout the year, but also throughout the family unit — ultimately providing positive experiences for all!

April 2011

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS!

Skills for

Life

Since 1961

our Visit ite webs sion s for setes da

d Protecte rm Wa ment Environ in e s Clas s ter wa 90°-92°

Private Lessons, Year-Round Swimming: Infants-Adults Diving: Beginning-Advanced

underwater photography provided by Swimages

• Remember to Remind When campers come home, they often keep the spirit of camp alive for a week or two, and then things trail off. Use positive reinforcement to remind campers that you appreciate the positive attitude and willingness to help that they developed at camp.

• Become Camp-Like Families can set the example by demonstrating a willingness to change something at home in order to sustain some of the changes campers have made. Bob Ditter, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, suggests: “Parents have to make a decision. Are they willing to change something in their practice at home in order to sustain some of the changes their kids have made, such as having a job wheel that you put up on the wall outlining chores?”

• Everyone Gets a Say At camp, children help determine how their day is spent. Their advice is actively sought, and they feel like equal players. Emulating this environment at home allows them to continue to stand up for themselves and feel like a contributing member of the household.

• Avoid the Negative Compliment Don’t inadvertently sabotage efforts by pointing out differences in behavior. Instead of saying, “you never did this before,” praise the behaviors in a genuine way. For example, “I noticed how patient you were with your little brother.”

PRESCHOOLS: WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE COUNCIL? GO TO WWW.EBCOUNCIL.ORG

voted favorite by

Parties that make a splash!

Sherman SWIM SCHOOL (925) 283-2100 Convenient Lafayette location (Just off Mt. Diablo Blvd.)

www.ShermanSwim.com Bay Area Kids

19

an organized life

by Patricia Kutza

the power of checklists Use memory joggers to free your mind so you can get on with the job of living.

E

very one of us knows parents who seem to manage their busy schedules with grace and ease, not to mention a big dose of humor. Don’t envy them- study them instead. More than likely they think strategically, and use checklists that help keep their priorities on track. Acquiring the powerful habit of using memory joggers is a skill that’s easy to learn. And once you start reaping the benefits, it’s a habit that you will want to keep on doing.

Here are some lists that can start you on your way:

20 Neat and Tidy

Five Things To Do Now to get ready for the newest member of your family

six important topics to share with your babysitter

1. Pack your mommy bag: comfortable pajamas and robe, socks, return-home change of clothes, nursing bras, toiletries, makeup, favorite music and music-player, reading material, extra pillow, family and friends’ telephone numbers.

2. Pack your new baby’s take-home bag: blanket, newborn outfit, cap, socks 3. Pack a bag for your support team (daddy/coach): change of clothes, camera/camcorder, snacks, bathing suit, toiletries, copy of the birth plan, important phone numbers, health insurance information, cash or debit card 4. Install your car seat: California state law states that children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat) in the back seat of a vehicle until they are at least 6 years old or until they weigh at least 60 pounds.

Many hospitals will not let you leave until they make sure the car seat has been installed correctly.

5. Reconfirm birth plan with your hospital provider: Make sure you and your partner are aware of how they handle any possible emergency situations (breach, C-section, and so on).

1. Contact list: phone number and address where parents will be, emergency contacts, neighbors, doctor, police, home address, directions to the house.

2. Expectations: bed time for each child, snacks, how much leeway is allowed 3. Each child’s responsibilities: pick up toys, do their homework, practice an instrument, art project 4. Each child’s limitations: what they can’t watch, games they can play on the Nintendo, activities not allowed before bedtime 5. Diet considerations: any food allergies (peanut butter, dairy), how many and types of sweets or snacks 6. Babysitter’s limitations: phone calls allowed, Internet access, no friends over, food access

Five signs in your newborn that warrant a call to your doctor* : 1. Baby’s not eating: According to Dr. Karen Sadler of Babyzone.com, during the first month of life, babies should be fed at least every four hours. If they don’t eat, babies will be subject to fatigue, weakness, and dehydration.

2. Rashes: Such rashes as heat rashes, cradle cap (seborrhea) eczema, and infantile acne are common.

What should signal that doctor’s call are signs of an allergic reaction or infection.

3. Diarrhea and dehydration: Stools that are more

watery or more frequent are signs of diarrhea. This condition can trigger dehydration which happens much faster in babies than older children.

4. Fever: Does your baby feel warmer than usual?

Or seem out of sorts? Take her temperature rectally.

Any temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C should be shared with your doctor.

5. Vomiting: Forceful vomiting or vomit that contains bile or any blood is cause for concern. It also can trigger dehydration.

*Culled from Dr. Karen Sadler’s advice at www.babyzone.com

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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

April 2011

Bay Area Kids

21

designer mama

by Kelly Pollard

hey parents, get real A behind-the-scenes look at Lisa Quinn’s [not so] perfect home life Lisa Quinn calls herself a recovering Martha Stewart junkie.

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Feature Story

click for more The online version of this article includes a slideshow, movie excerpts, and more

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Boasting a full career as a Home and Garden Television host, author and columnist on all things decorating, cleaning and crafting, Quinn is hired to sweep up other people’s household disasters.

In the opening of her latest book, Life is Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets, Quinn owns up to her dirty secret.

“I was no domestic diva,” she writes. “Instead I was an overwhelmed working mother of two and I felt like a complete fraud.”

A string of a-ha moments led her to believe her home decor idol Martha Stewart really is crazy.

“I’d built this career as an expert in design and I’d come into people’s homes and they’d constantly be apologizing for the mess and disorganization,” she says.

“Here I was not even living up to my own expectations at home. Something had to change.”

Quinn, a mother of two school age children in Alameda, whose career has included stints as an HGTV set designer and plenty of screen time on View from the Bay, had to admit to herself that she was no Martha Stewart and that she didn’t want to be.

“Martha set the standard for what women are supposed to be. Everything needs to be homemade and cooked from scratch. Then we see celebrities pose in magazines in meticulous kitchens with clean kids and designer clothes. There is no way real people can meet those expectations.”

A major a-ha moment hit during her annual Dia de los Muertos party, where her pursuit of perfection landed her with a broken toe moments before her 185 guests streamed through her candlelit and decked out threshold.

“It was a moment of sure panic. I wasn’t able to refill drinks and bus tables. But then as I sat there with my guests, I realized that for once I was actually enjoying one of my own parties. Before, I’d crash after hosting and be exhausted and bitter.”

Her epiphany that fall evening: parties are supposed to fun, not excruciating.

Quinn’s book, targeted to the mom crowd, is more

than a rant. She uses her lengthy experience as an interior designer to show moms shortcuts in decorating their house so it’s good enough, including advice on organization, purging clutter and the best fabrics and colors to camouflage kid grime. She also offers an entire chapter on ‘half-assed hosting’, complete with easy recipes, including a handy section on seventeen ways to turn a deli chicken into a meal, low key themes for kid and adult parties and statements like: “You want easy entertaining, I say order a bunch of pizza and pop open a beer!”

Perhaps why her book is so accessible is because she gives moms permission to knock off the obsessive perfectionism that often dictates our lives, where children’s parties blow up to a carnival atmosphere with out of control budgets or where our houses turn into status symbols we kill ourselves to maintain, instead of getting down on a less than sparkling floors to play with our kids.

To Quinn, lowering expectations eases the pressure off us tired parents.

“The media bombards us with images of Supermom: this chic Amazon in Jimmy Choos, a baby in one arm, a frying pan full of money in the other,” she writes.

“Honest to God, if I hear the words balance or quick and easy one more time, I’m going to hang myself.”

Although Quinn balks at the idea of balance, it appears she really has come as close as it gets. Now hosting “Home with Lisa Quinn” on the HD Live Well cable network, Quinn can shuttle the kids to school, prep her house for the camera crews to arrive two times a week to film her segments and spend the rest of her work day researching new designs or shopping IKEA for props.

“It’s been a real testament of me living what I preach.

At first, when these designers were coming into my home and crews were shooting in HD, I’d obsess about the crumbs I missed on the counter and feel defensive and insecure,” Quinn says. “It’s a day by day thing for me. I fight that desire for perfection all the time, and I feel like I get better at it every day.”

With a positive response to her book, Quinn hopes that more parents will get over their guilt and get real.

“My mission is to try to get parents not to take

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

“My mission is to try to get parents not to take themselves so seriously. We have so much we are trying to juggle and way too much guilt.�

April 2011

Bay Area Kids

23

Just Say No! Bringing children into the world often means more obligations and jobs than we bargain for.

Requests start flowing in for classroom parents, sports coaches, fundraising chairs and PTA board members.

Not to mention the parent across the street that always assumes you are available to babysit or drive her daughter to ballet. Yes, as parents, we should put in our time. It’s only fair. It’s even required if you want to sign your child up for that elite baseball team.

To us stretched parents, Lisa Quinn has some more words of wisdom.

“Take care of the ones you love and shamelessly deny the rest,” she writes in her book.

Of course, sometimes we need to say yes. Quinn asks that we verify what exactly the task will be and put a time limit on it. As she writes in a blog post, commit fully to the yes with a cheerful attitude and total focus.

“No one likes a baby,” she continues. “If you have given a half-assed yes and now you’re acting out that way, you are being passiveaggressive and not only pissing off yourself but everyone around you.”

themselves so seriously. We have so much we are trying to juggle and way too much guilt, whether we work out of the home or don’t work at all, or bake the cookies or buy them at the store. It’s time to silence that inner critic. You would never talk to anyone else that way, so why do you criticize yourself?”

Quinn believes that if more people embrace the ‘good enough’ and ‘half ass’ approach, attitudes will begin to shift and there will be no need for competition between families to have the perfect house, birthday party or designer clothes.

“It’s a group mentality. If we all change our attitude about perfection, then we would have no one to compete with.”

Find more of Lisa Quinn at www.lisaquinninc.com Life is Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets available wherever books are sold.

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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

25 road trip

still burning after all these years Livermore Centennial Light Bulb A Guinness World Record and Ripley’s Believe It or Not icon glows in your own backyard. Fire Station #6 in South Livermore boasts the longest burning light bulb. This four watt wonder has burned for 109 years and shines over the resting fire trucks in the station where it has lived since 1976. This incandescent light was first installed at a Livermore firehouse in 1901. Since then it moved twice to finally rest at its permanent home on East Avenue.

The bulb also boasts its very own website, overflowing with footage of news stories and archived articles, fun facts and a live web cam where viewers can watch it burn. The bulb has been turned off a handful of times during power outages and when it was moved from the police station to its new home in the fire station.

Named the Shelby Bulb after the company that created it in 1901, physicists from around the world have taken interest in the light’s longevity.

The light has appeared on numerous news shows,

April 2011

By Kelly Pollard

documentaries and even on the popular TLC show Mythbusters. When the light was installed in its permanent home at Fire Station #6 in the 1970’s, Captain Kirby connected it to a separate power source and it has stayed lit since 1976.

When the firefighters aren’t out keeping the city safe, they are happy to show visitors the bulb. Ring the bell at the back of the station and they’ll let you in. If not, you can still view the bulb through a back window. Clue your child into the magic of the bulb.

Read your child the children’s book “The Little Light Shines Bright” by Juliette Goodrich, which is the story of the famed light bulb.

Though scientists tout its low wattage and the durable build that has since gone out of style for the reason the bulb stays lit, the Shelby bulb still has an air of mystery about it. When (or if) the bulb ever goes out, Ripley’s is eager to include it in their famed museum. Seize the opportunity now to make a daytrip to see a piece of Tri-Valley history.

GETTING THERE Fire Station #6, 4550 East Ave., Livermore (925) 454-2361 www.centennialbulb.org

Bay Area Kids

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Stevie Frocks A.Bird Baby www.abirdbaby.com

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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

Black Swan Dress Dino e Lucia www.boutique-dinoelucia.com (Google to find State-side stores that carry them.)

Shirt, shorts, and shoes Finger in the Nose www.fingerinthenose.com (Google to find State-side stores that carry them.)

April 2011

Dark Grey Blazer and Slacks Appaman www.appaman.com Limited availability at Bellies and Babies in Danville (925) 837-7100, and Monkey Bars in Alameda. (510) 769-6905.

Bay Area Kids

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Dress and Slacks Oshkosh B’ Gosh www.oshkoshbgosh.com

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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

fun family recipes

sweet simplicity

29 fun food finds

crisped rice easter egg treats Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Makes 24 eggs 6 C 1/4 C 8 C 2 C 2 tsp

miniature marshmallows (10.5 oz package) butter (1/2 stick) toasted rice cereal (Rice Krispies) white chocolate chips vegetable shortening assorted sprinkles and/or colored sugar crystals

Spray large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat marshmallows and butter in large, heavy-duty saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes, until smooth. Remove from heat.

Working quickly, stir in cereal and 2/3 cup morsels. Carefully transfer mixture into prepared mixing bowl. Cool for 5 minutes.

Spray hands with nonstick spray. Press marshmallow mixture into a 1/3 cup measure, then form mixture into an egg shape with hands. Repeat with remaining mixture to make a total of 24 eggs.

Microwave remaining 1 1/4 cups morsels and

April 2011

vegetable shortening in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on medium-high (70 percent) power for 45 seconds; stir. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

Dip top of each egg into melted morsels; shake off or scrape excess against side of bowl. Place each upright in muffin pan(s). Immediately sprinkle dipped end of each egg with Toppers, sprinkles or sugars.

Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until set. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Bay Area Kids

29

diary of a suburban queen

by Kelly Pollard

discipline We’ve all been in this place: Kid acts up.

We give a warning.

Kid continues to push buttons. We line up consequences.

Kid defies again. Then it’s time to pick one of the many consequences and dish it out.

D 30 last words

click for more The online version of Bay Area Kids includes direct links to the Web sites featured on this page

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iscipline sometimes feels like a time out for me, one more chore to inconvenience my day.

On an online discussion board recently, moms shared forms of creative discipline they’ve used on their little deviants. Call them creative, call them natural consequences. Your son eggs the neighbor’s car? He has to wash the entire car and wax it to boot. Better yet, have him offer to wash all the cars on your street.

Some parents take it to the extreme: like the mother at the end of her rope who dumped hot sauce down her son’s throat then threw him in a cold shower. Does it even matter what the transgression was? That’s just plain wrong.

If Shane flings the Wii remote across the playroom after Bowser defeats the well- intentioned Super Mario, the remote is in time out the rest of the day.

Perfect symbol of natural consequences: fits over the Wii and throwing remotes (a huge issue in the Pollard household) just led to one broken remote, meaning no more two player games for these guys. And they just can’t believe mom won’t shell out forty bucks to replace that broken remote.

If only they knew the truth: I bought my own hot pink Wii Remote when I borrowed our video games for a girl’s getaway. I hide it in my underwear drawer, though I may allow them to rent it out on a case by case basis until they have enough funds to buy their own. A few spells of playing a bowling game while wielding a pink remote just may be the incentive to allocate some allowance funds to a hipper, more boyish black remote.

But what if it’s the brothers wrestling escalating into meanness? Our house isn’t large enough to separate them. It’s impossible even. I separate the fighters; they drift back together like two magnets intent on landing the last punch before I walk back in the room.

I’ve had the boys hug it out during these epic sibling squabbles, forcing arms around each others’ wiggling bodies to remind them they are hurting each other, that they are human beings just as capable of love and affection as anger and kicking.

I have an arsenal of these so-called consequences to dish out when my boys act up. They’ve had to scrub walls, baseboards and doors. They’ve swept the patio after epic tan bark fights in the back yard. I’ve resorted to sequestering toys in garbage bags for weeks at a time when they refuse to clean up. I’ve donated toys.

I haven’t gone as far as one recent news story like the mom who posted a picture of her crying kids with the toys she decided to sell against their well. But oh, I’ve come so close.

I’ve tried Supernanny’s time out rug and chair. I’ve put the boys in their rooms, reduced their bedtimes to way earlier than normal on especially brutal days, sometimes sending them to bed (fed at least) while the sun was still up in the sky. Trust me; they were better off in bed.

I’m running out of natural consequences, losing steam on my so-called creative punishments. As the boys grow up, I feel like they are outwitting me.

Simple punishments work out for toddlers. School age deviants are a whole other ball game. The most effective punishments, taking away some form of electronics, turns out to be torture for me.

How is it that these taken privileges are losing their effectiveness? If the brothers are fighting and man to man combat ensues, taking away video games won’t eradicate this problem for long. Now they don’t have the distraction. Now I don’t have that electronic babysitter when I need to get the work deadline met, the dinner on the table.

I’ve scoured online forums and drank in articles from parenting experts about how best to discipline children. Bottom line: nothing works unless I actually follow through. Consistency is queen, and though I am the queen of consequences, I sometimes don’t have the discipline to dish it out to the ones that can really need to crash into some limits..

Kelly Pollard is a writer and mother of two living in the East Bay.

Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

We need your help as we launch into our third decade.

Each year, The Taylor Family Foundation hosts over 2,700 children living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and developmental disabilities at Camp Arroyo. At camp, these children have the once in a lifetime opportunity to check their illness at the door and enjoy the wonders childhood and the outdoors have to offer.

In order to keep our camp programs at no cost to these campers or their families, we need YOU! Donate, get involved and reach out to those you know and share TTFF’s mission and the Camp Arroyo experience!

At The Taylor Family Foundation at Camp Arroyo, campers: • Gain independence • Build self-confidence • Become more optimistic about their life circumstances • Take a break from struggles of everyday life • Just be a camper and have Fun!

nd us se p ! p l e H m to c a s d i k

To learn more about The Taylor Family Foundation, to make a donation, or to volunteer at camp, visit us online at www.ttff.org or find us on Facebook.

The Taylor Family Foundation • 5555 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550 925.455.5118 • TTFF@ttff.org • Tax ID 94-3262932