Summer STEM: Lava Lamp Experiment

BRIGHT IDEA Groovy DIY Lava Lamps

There’s something soothing and mesmerizing about lava lamps, the way color is animated seemingly by magic. Here’s how to make your own using simple materials.

Fill one-quarter of a one-liter clear bottle with water, then, using a funnel, add vegetable oil until it’s about an inch and a half from the top. Notice how the oil floats above the water. Wait a few minutes for the bubbles in the oil to dissipate. Then, squeeze five drops of food coloring into the bottle; they’ll sink to the bottom. Plop in two tablets of Alka Seltzer and watch as they dissolve, producing carbon dioxide that rises to the surface and brings water and food coloring with it. When the gas is released at the top, the water and food coloring sink back down. Put a lid on your bottle for use another day!

—Anna Sutterer

More Independence for Kids

This August, a new state law goes into effect that protects parents from being charged with neglect if they decide their children can participate in independent activities, such as playing alone in their neighborhoods or walking to school on their own. The Reasonable Independence for Children Act states that “a child is not neglected when allowed to participate in independent activities that a reasonable and prudent parent, guardian, or legal custodian would consider safe given the child’s maturity, condition, and abilities.” Of course, dangers do exist, but kidnappings by strangers in public spaces remain uncommon, according to Todd Clifford, a Lakewood police officer who retired last year. Reuters reported in 2019 that, on average, fewer than 350 people under the age of 21 had been abducted by strangers in the United States per year since 2010, according to the FBI. What’s more, in his 21 years on the police force, Clifford says he did not have to file actual neglect charges against a parent or guardian after receiving a call of suspected neglect, once he assessed the situation. “We have to look at the maturity of the child and look at what is reasonable,” says Clifford. What is reasonable for parents to do before allowing their kids some independence? Keep these guidelines, approved by Clifford, in mind:

•Make sure your kids memorize their street address and one or both parents’ cell phone numbers.

•Go over what your children should do if a car pulls up near them, or if an unfamiliar adult tries to talk to them. Even if the adult means well and is asking the child to help find a lost pet, tell your child to resist the urge to help. Adults should ask other adults—not children—for help.

•Insist they wear closed-toe athletic shoes, to avoid an injury and be able to come home quickly.

•If they have a phone, teach them to use it as a tool. Encourage them to take pictures or record videos of situations, people, or cars that make them feel uneasy.

In his book, Free To Learn, psychologist Peter Gray, Ph.D., outlines why giving children reasonable independence will help them grow into healthier, wiser adults. “When the fear becomes so great that we don’t allow children to play and explore and take risks on their own, we prevent them from learning how to take care of themselves,” he writes. “That may be the greatest danger of all.”

good neighbors

A Boulder County Resource for LGBTQ Families

By Anna Sutterer

After 25 years of serving the community, Out Boulder County (OBC), a direct service, empowerment, and advocacy group for LGBTQ families, opened the Equality Center of the Rocky Mountains in April 2022. The move to a three-story center meant a boom in programming, according to deputy director Bruce Parker, including casual social gatherings, such as ukulele lessons and morning yoga.

OBC’s weekly youth groups provide a social and educational space for kids and allies ages 11 to 18 to connect over supportive discussions, games, movies, and art. The center also offers gender-affirming clothing and chest binders.

LGBTQ parents gather in a monthly support/community group, which also often meets for family-friendly social activities. The SoFFA group (significant others, friends, families, and allies of trans people) is mainly attended by parents of transgender and gender expansive children. OBC has also recently added a group for Spanish speaking parents of LGBTQ kids, which is facilitated by licensed therapists from the Umbrella Collective.

“Parents, in particular, have an ability to impact legislators and change minds,” Parker says. “Any movement toward justice and equality for LGBTQ people relies on families…to make sure that we as LGBTQ people are healthy enough to face a world that’s not always friendly or accepting.”

COMING UP: For Pride Month, OBC is hosting a series of free events spanning Boulder County starting on June 6 and wrapping up with Boulder Pride on June 12. Youth are also invited to free annual community events including a pool party in July. outboulder.org

HOW YOU CAN HELP:Volunteer for a desk shift, cleaning crew, and event or youth group assistance. New helpers are required to take a training session (Spanish translation provided) that covers the logistics of the center and a basic understanding of LGBTQ concepts and etiquette.

Creating Better Relationships Between Parents And Their Children

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Jealousy Over Ex’s Indulgence With the Kids

Your ex showers the kids with vacations, gifts, and opportunities you can’t provide—and you resent it. Two parents and a divorce attorney offer guidance on how to cope with your feelings.

Edited by Courtney Drake-McDonough

THE MOM WHO CHANGED HER FOCUS SAYS…

“It took me years to become OK with the ‘Disneyland-style’ parenting my ex and his partner do, while I just try to keep a roof over our heads, afford our son’s sports, and work full time. Over the years, I’ve learned to trust that the bond I’m building with my son is real and comes from a place of grounded, unconditional love. I know he feels strength in our relationship. I still have some rough days where things don’t seem fair, but stripping away the comparison and jealousy, and staying rooted in love helps get me through.”

—M.B., Denver, mother of a 14-year-old son THE ATTORNEY AND PARENT SAYS…

“First, give yourself grace…to be annoyed, to feel the inequity, and to feel torn between the financial benefit to the kids versus the unfairness.

Second, when your kids come home from your ex’s, be positive and supportive. Do your best to control your nonverbal cues like body language and facial reaction to increase the kids’ willingness to share with you in the future. Shielding your children from adult frustrations of divorce and financial disparities is one of the most valuable gifts you can provide—even more than any extravagance your ex showers on them.

Third, this may be an opportunity to revisit child-related expense sharing, such as sports uniforms, lessons, or camps that your ex can help with.

In instances where income is grossly disparate, consult with a matrimonial or family law attorney about child support modification.” THE MOM WHO IS ALSO A STEPMOM SAYS…

“As a stepparent and parent, I get it on both sides and completely empathize. We try to live simply when it comes to the things we have. But we know we’re in a better position to take the kids on vacations or little weekend adventures.

When either of our daughters comes back to us and shares anything they’ve done with their other parent, my husband and I always share in the excitement and tell them how much fun that sounds. There is no competition when it comes to spending quality time with children!

Once we all realized that there are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ things to do with the kids during our allotted times with them, it became easy to appreciate and accept that they are allowed to (and should) enjoy themselves when they’re with the other parents.”

—Kate N., Aurora, mother to a five-yearold daughter and 11-month-old son, and stepmother to a four-year-old daughter

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The World in A City

For nine weeks, children of all ages and their families will “Dive into Reading” with Aurora Public Library’s Summer of Imagination. Participate in a summer of adventure through reading and theme related programs.

Be Global.

Support Local.

GoAurora.org

@AuroraGov

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Nurture a CRITTER LOVER

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Let your little one explore their world with these nature-inspired finds.

By Kara Thompson

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Toddlers will get a kick out of the way this Pull-Along Snail creeps across the floor. Designed for kids 12 months and older, the bright colors and funny movements the toy makes can spark imaginative play and promote gross motor skills. The snail slithers across hard surfaces differently depending on how fast your child pulls it. $25, walmart.com

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Little explorers can treat their backyard buddies to a sweet and summery stay in this Bug Tiki Retreat. The set comes with a magnifying glass and tweezers for scoping out and picking up critters. Plus, it creates a safe and contained space for the creepy crawlers your child might want to bring inside the house. $14, target.com

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Got a kid who’s more into the cuddly kind of bugs? This cheerful Wriggidig Caterpillar might be more their style. It’s a perfect bedtime companion or adorable addition to a nursery or playroom shelf. $23.50, jellycat.com

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The Big Book of Bugsby Yuval Zommer will answer all of your kiddo’s burning bug questions: How slow do snails move? Are bugs afraid of the dark? Why do ants march in a line? Each page is dedicated to a key group of insects ranging from beetles and moths to crickets and earthworms. $18, barnesandnoble.com

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The Nature Adventure Backpack is chock-full with everything a young biologist needs to learn more about bugs. Fourteen hands-on activities will teach them the anatomy of bees, the pollination process, tips for preserving flowers, and how to make their own bug habitat. $20, maisonette.com