Tag Magazine - October 2012 by Moscow-Pullman Daily News

A Kids-Eye View of the Palouse

GETTING KIDS TO VOLUNTEER

Spending quality time with elderly relatives is one way for children to learn the value of giving their time.

magazine

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FRISBEE GOLF

Flights of Fancy Advertising Supplement |

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October 31, 2012 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News

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Tag | A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse

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| Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | 3

Frisbee golf: Soaring, sinking UNPLUGGED bY JudY sobeloff

“Our favorite games are the ones we don’t understand!”

Judy Sobeloff

(Left) Benji Sobeloff-Gittes, the author’s 8-year-old son, prepares to throw his disc from the riskiest tee on the course at Sunnyside Park in Pullman. (Right) Washington State University student Ryan Jeska fishes Benji’s disc out of the pond.

– Calvin, to go for a walk and have a really fun time in “The Indispensible Calvin and and not take it seriously.” Hobbes” by Bill Masterson That all sounded good to me, so on a

bandon all rule-following, ye who enter here. I mean, abandon all the rules you want to abandon. “We don’t care, we don’t keep score,” my friend Marilyn said, explaining what her family likes about Frisbee golf, more officially known as disc golf. “Half the time, Jackson (her younger child) takes my Frisbee and walks off with it. It’s just a good excuse

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and aim for a metal pole basket typically hundreds of feet away, and not necessarily in one’s line of sight. Thus, although we had a map, it was not recent Friday after school I rounded up my immediately obvious to us which tee was asfriend, Kim, and an assortment of kids and sociated with which pole basket. discs and headed over to the University of “This is confusing,” one influential group Idaho’s nine-hole disc golf course. Like Marilyn, who enjoys playing with free member said as we tried to locate the second tee and basket. And a few minutes later, the discs from pizza places, we were glad to use dreaded words rang out: “I hate Frisbee golf!” whatever round potentially flying objects we And so, the group’s debut round of Frisbee could get our hands on. I was thrilled when, golf soon came to a halt. along with cloth Frisbees and plastic plates, And yet, friends, I still consider our foray this happened to include two official disc golf into Frisbee golf a success. The five kids – 11discs, courtesy of my friend, Kirsten. Thus equipped, our merry band set off, the year-olds John and Lee, 10-year-olds Jonna and Lena, and 8-year-old Benji – proceeded children immediately running and throwing to amuse themselves for the next two hours their selected discs in the opposite direction playing and inventing a wide array of Frisbeeof the actual course. using games: a Freeze Tag variation, in which The kids had a few questions before we got started, for example: “Is it like you throw players hold up their Frisbee when tagged; a Duck, Duck, Goose variation in which a Frisbee at a golf ball and hope the Frisbee Frisbees sit in the center stew pot rather than knocks the golf ball into a hole?” actual players; tea party; Capture the Frisbee Upon reaching the course, I noticed that (like Capture the Flag, except that the capwe were not alone. tured Frisbee can than be thrown back over “Is it polite to bean other players on the head?” I asked the kids, thereby imparting to the line); and bomb making, an activity in which the three boys stacked various Frisbees them via the Socratic method the full extent in various ways and flung them into the air of my knowledge of disc golf. and watched them fall, adding pine needles We soon made several discoveries, not and pine cones to the stack for variety. all of which were pleasant. Golf discs are Considering the possibility that Friday smaller than regular Frisbees, with harder afternoon after a week of school was perhaps rims, which makes them fun to throw, but not much fun to catch. As my younger child, not the optimal time for structured activity, I brought Benji with me to the 18-hole course Benji, said after catching one, “They hurt at Sunnyside Park in Pullman on Sunday your hands big-time.” We also learned that players stand on a tee afternoon. While I felt that our having two actual (at the UI course, large flat rectangular slabs)

golf discs was a huge coup, we learned here that more advanced players often carry disc golf bags that typically hold a dozen or more discs, each particularly suited for different types of throws. Afterwards, Benji and I both agreed we’d had a lot of fun, and I wondered aloud about why. Was it the fact that this time we each got to use an actual golf disc? Was it the beautiful and varied setting of the park? Was it the way the game could go much faster with only two of us? What was the crucial factor? “The obstacles,” Benji said. Ah, yes. More than once, I found myself attempting to fling my disc between the branches of a large tree. But the obstacle to which Benji referred was far grander than any tree branch, an obstacle I remembered only too late, as his disc was already rolling downhill toward it: the water feature! In my memory, Benji and I are standing high on the hill in the sunshine, aiming our discs at a pole basket far below. He lets his fly, and as it hits the ground and veers dramatically to the left, only then do I remember the fearsome pond that lies in wait below. By the time I too fling my disc toward the pond and run to the bottom of the hill, Benji is kneeling at the edge of the water. Kneeling near him with his arm submerged is Washington State University student Ryan Jeska, kindly fishing around for Benji’s yellow disc. Soon I notice that Ryan’s two friends, Kimo Kainoa and Logan Hill, are also kneeling and trying to coax a disc to shore.

4 | Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS As I watch, a man emerges from the bushes wearing a wetsuit and carrying a large net. “Hey, I’ll get your disc for five bucks!” he offers, to all. This man, I hear from other players, lost five discs in the pond earlier that day and has returned to reclaim them. Moments later we see yet another player swimming — not wading, but swimming — to get a disc. Two things dawn on me: First, the prospect of one’s Frisbee landing in this pond seems not just likely but pretty much inevitable. (Maybe this is the real reason for the disc golf bag?) Second, if you’re not the one entering the water, playing here seems well worth it. A final thought: As the season progresses, Frisbee golf in the snow also seems like it could be fun, if you could avoid the water. And, a demographic observation: Of the thirty or so other people we saw out there playing during our two trips, all of them were male. When we leave the park, the man in the wetsuit is still standing in the water, probing the bottom of the pond with a stick. “That pond is the stinkiest thing ever,” Benji says. “It would have been worth at least eight dollars.”

Judy Sobeloff is a teaching artist and freelance writer who lives with her family in Moscow.

It’s a great time to fall into bowling!

A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse

FRISBEE GOLF 411 SUPPLIES: Golf discs are sold locally at HyperSpud and Tri-State in Moscow and Ricoshay in Pullman, for approximately $9-25 a piece. UI students can borrow discs from the UI Student Recreation Center; community members can pay $6 for a day pass and check out discs from the equipment room. RULES: Rules and information about the history of the game are available from the Professional Disc Golf Association at pdga.com. GETTING THERE: Directions and course maps are available from the Course Directory of www. pdga.com. (See www.pdga.com/course_directory/course/university-of-idaho and www.pdga. com/course_directory/course/sunnyside-park-0.) Information and maps are also available from the UI Campus Recreation Web site and the City of Pullman Web site. Maps of the Sunnyside Park course are available at Ricoshay. PARKING: The UI course is on Poultry Hill near Sixth Street, Perimeter Road, and Stadium Drive, west of the Hartung Theater. Visitors to UI can buy temporary parking permits for $2/day from Parking Services. Some parking is free on evenings and weekends. The first tee is west of a grove of trees near the Aquaculture Institute, across from the Kibbie Dome parking on the north side of the road. For the Sunnyside Park course, use the parking lot off of Old Wawawai Road. The first tee is above the large wooden steps at the far end of the lot.

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Getting kids to volunteer V Metro Editorial

following are a few age-appropriate ideas that can help get kids excited about volunteering and giving back to their neighborhoods.

olunteering is a great way for people to give back to their communities. It’s also a great way Elementary school children for parents to instill character in their children. When kids reach elementary When kids volunteer, they learn school, parents should introduce lessons about responsibility while them to volunteering. Volunteeralso learning how enjoyable it can ing activities for school-aged kids be to help the less fortunate. Kids should be simple, such as acwho volunteer early in life are more companying their parents to food likely to do so throughout their banks where kids can help feed the lives, and that lifetime of service homeless and less fortunate. Kids with grandparents living in assisted can be invaluable. The right volliving facilities can read to residents unteering opportunity for a child often depends on the child’s age, as at the facility or bring them homesome opportunities are better suit- made arts and crafts or even foods ed to younger children while others they helped prepare (just be sure to clear any items with the facility’s are tailor-made for teenagers. The

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Tag | A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse

MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS

| Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | 5

Prevent lost children while holiday shopping

Metro Editorial

he only thing scarier during the holidays than the tally on a credit card bill come January is the idea of a child getting lost or abducted while out shopping. Safety tips can keep children by your side or help caregivers find kids fast should they wander off. These are a busy few months at the mall, with many people packed into stores in search of the perfect gifts. Confusion and the sheer volume of shoppers can increase the chance that a child will get lost. A lost child can create panic parents and caregivers. However, keeping a level head is more beneficial than running off to find the child. Although preventing a child from wandering off is the best method of protection, being prepared for what to do should the child go missing is equally important. l Talk about what to do. Sit children

who are old enough down to help them understand and set up a plan of action if they become separated from you. In familiar stores, you can establish a meeting spot to go to, such as near the cash register. Instruct children to seek a security guard or store employee and ask for help. l Dress boldly. Part of the problem when holiday shopping is being swarmed by different people all dressed similarly. Designate brightly colored clothes that both you and your children can wear to be more visible. Most small children only have the vantage point of seeing from the waist down. Consider wearing flashy shoes or a bandana tied to belt loops to help you stand out. Children can wear a bright shirt or hat so you can see them at all times. l Dress-up strollers, too. Many strollers are identical in appearance. Set yours apart by tying a ribbon or balloon to it. This way you will be able to notice if someone is wandering

medical staff before distributing). These tasks can tutor younger students. Volunteering can are simple, and kids won’t feel nervous when look good on a high school student’s resume when the time comes to apply for college, accompanied by Mom and Dad. but parents should be careful that their high school-aged children don’t stretch themselves Middle school children too thin with extracurricular activities. EnWhen kids reach middle school, they courage volunteering but not at the expense might not feel it’s necessary for Mom and of schoolwork. Dad to tag along as much. This is perfectly Many children embrace volunteering, espealright, and it’s a great time for kids to branch cially when given the chance to choose how out and choose some volunteer activities of they want to give back to their communities their own. Instead of accompanying kids to and the less fortunate. the food bank, let them work a shift on their own. Kids who have been volunteering since early childhood might have some volunteering goals of their own by the time they reach middle school, so don’t insist they continue with current activities if there’s something else sparking their interest. Kids might want to help an elderly neighbor around the house, such as shopping for groceries or taking care of their property. Encourage such ideas, and expect kids to want to exercise some independence when they reach middle school.

High school students High school students tend to have busy schedules, but those who have been volunteering since childhood will likely find a way to continue doing so. Teenagers tend to have more specific interests than younger children, and parents can encourage teens to incorporate those interests into their volunteering. For example, kids who love sports might be able to work with the local sports and recreation center to coach younger athletes. Or kids who excel in the classroom

Metro Editorial

Spending quality time with elderly relatives is one way for kids to learn the value of volunteering.

off with your stroller -- and your child! children within reach. Although many l Carry a recent photo. Take a picture parents frown on the use of a child leash, if it means the difference between a child running of your children with your mobile phone off or staying put, it might be a good idea. before leaving the house so that you will l Reinforce positive behavior. Should know exactly what he or she was wearing and a child wander off and follow safety tips, will have the most recent photo available for reward that behavior with praise when you identification. In addition to taking a head shot, take a photo of the child’s shoes, too. In are reunited. Wait until another time to talk about why he or she got lost and how to events of child abduction, kidnappers may make sure it doesn’t happen again. have a change of clothes ready for children, Children tend to wander off out of curiosbut rarely will they be able to change kids’ ity or by following the wrong person. During shoes because of sizing issues. Those shoes can prove an invaluable method of identifica- the busy holiday season this can happen more frequently. By heeding tips, children can be tion. kept safe whenever the family is in a crowd. l Give children identification. You can create a personal ID card with basic information to help reunite you with your child. This may include only the child’s first name and an “I’m Lost” message with a phone number to “Call Mom.” Because even an ID card can go missing, some inventive parents are using methods like temporary tattoo IDs like those from SafetyTat(R). l Hold hands and stay connected. Metro Editorial Keep your children within reach and do In a sea of legs, it can be easy for a not let them stay in one aisle while you child to follow the wrong person and shop in another. Holding hands keeps become lost.

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6 | Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS

A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse

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The right age to give children mobile phones the Internet, download photos and text, provide GPS positioning, give directions, check adgets often top the list of desired e-mail, and so much more. gifts for the holiday season. Such cell phones can be invaluable, but Adults and children alike fawn their accessibility often makes parents and over the latest technology, and guardians think twice about gifting children giving a loved one a new phone, portable with a mobile phone. Those who are carefully video game console, tablet or e-reader for the considering purchasing a phone as a holiday holidays is sure to please. gift for a tween may want to consider the When providing children the latest tech following. gifts, parents typically ask themselves if l Reliability: How well does the child a child is mature enough to handle the take care of his or her belongings? Are keys responsibility of having his or her own mobile constantly being lost? Are you often replacphone. There is no clear-cut answer to this ing items that were just purchased? If so, question, and it is up to the gift-giver to assess the child may not be ready for a cell phone. the maturity levels of the gift recipient as well Although many mobile phone companies ofas his or her behavior when considering givfer promotional prices on phones this time of ing the gift of a mobile phone. year, buying a phone can still be a considerToday’s cellular phones are much differable expense. Adding insurance to that phone ent from the ones that flooded the market will cost even more. Cell phones may only be 10 to 20 years ago. Although the concept of for children who have a good track record of a mobile phone has been in place since the caring for and keeping important belongings. late 1940s, it wasn’t until 1983 that mobile l Maturity level: Some children seem to phones became commercially available in be born wise beyond their years. Others are North America. Phones once did little more eternal Peter Pans. It is unwise to base a cell than just dial a call, and even then service was phone purchase simply on age alone. Parents spotty. Now phones are mini-computers, able typically have a grasp of their child’s maturity to make and receive calls, take photos, access level, so it should be easy to determine if they

Metro Editorial

When providing children the latest tech gifts, parents typically ask themselves if a child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of having his or her own mobile phone. are mature enough to handle the responsibility of a cell phone.

l Features: Mobile phones, particularly smartphones, offer a bevy of different

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Tag | A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse features. From social networking to mapping physical locations, these phones can make children widely accessible from a communications standpoint. It can be quite easy for a child to take and share a photo with someone inappropriate, and vice-versa. Find out the reasons behind why your son or daughter wants the phone. Is it simply for texting, or is it to have emergency contact with home? Knowing the reasons why a child wants the phone may make the decision easier. l Safety: Cell phones make it easier for parents to monitor their children when they are away from home, providing some peace of mind. l School rules: In many institutions, cell phone use is prohibited during school hours or phones may not even be allowed on school property. This is something to keep in mind before purchasing. l Accessibility: A child does not need a smartphone, so parents should buy a phone that doesn’t offer all of the bells and whistles. Not only will this cut down on the cost, it could help prevent irresponsible behavior as well. Many children want their own cell phone, in part because they see their parents and others on the phone. But it’s wise to consider the pros and cons of giving children cell phones before telling children they can have one.

MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS

| Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | 7

Holiday giving for special needs children

Metro Editorial

veryone wants to get the perfect gifts for people on their holiday shopping lists. Shopping for a child with special needs can make gift-giving a bit more difficult. After all, buyers want to ensure the gift is practical as well as thoughtful. However, there are many great gift ideas for special needs children. Buying gifts for kids with a disability or other special needs make take a little more time, but shoppers who consider a child’s developmental readiness as well as personal interests can still find the perfect gift. l Consult with parents and caregivers. Parents often know best when it comes to their own children and will make the most reliable source as to which gifts to buy for special needs children. Parents may have a list of items a therapist or teacher has suggested, and these learning tools could make good gifts, particularly if parents’ own budgets are stretched. If you’d like to make the gift a surprise for everyone involved, go directly to a therapist or teacher and ask for suggestions. There may be classroom aides that can be bought to continue the learning

It’s more than just bars, mats and trampolines.

experience at home. l Assess developmental level. When it comes to special needs children, age does not always dictate the proper developmental level. A pre-teen with special needs may not be on the same level academically and socially as his or her peers, while some special needs children may be more developed in a particular area than other special needs kids their age. Assess a child’s developmental level to help you select toys that he or she can play with. For example, a nonverbal child with autism who likes marine life may benefit from a colorful picture book where he or she can point to the animals. l Think about interests. Most children gravitate to certain types of toys and have specific interests when it comes to play. A music lover may enjoy a learner’s guitar or keyboard. Those who like to build would probably like a Lego® or Mega Bloks® set that can be transformed into cars, trucks or even space stations. Most children benefit from art sets where they can explore their creativity and also master greater dexterity and imaginative thinking. l Consider making a financial donation. Some children with special needs

require the use of specialized equipment, such as braces or wheelchairs. Such equipment can be expensive, and the child’s family might benefit from a financial gift. A monetary gift to be put toward medical supplies, travel, gear, or even a charitable donation to an association would make fine gifts. Special needs children are just like others in that they look forward to the bounty of holiday gifts. Choosing presents that pertain to their interests, needs and developmental readiness can ensure that this holiday season is a happy one.

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A Kid’s-Eye View of the Palouse

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