Kid oh by Free Press Media

MAY/JUNE 2018

The Free Press MEDIA

Do your FRIENDS have HEART? What kinds of things does your friend do to encourage you?

How does your friend help you?

Does your friend really listen to you?

Does your friend accept you just the way you are?

H elps you Encourages you Accepts you R eally listens to you Treats you with kindness Introduc

ing

Girls will enjoy building friendships in a fun and inclusive setting that includes interactive lessons, being physically active, and expressing creativity through arts and crafts and storytelling.

mankatoywca.org/CampGOTR

How is your friend kind?

Reverse it - are you a friend with HEART?

he Take t

r e v o C s kid

s t n e t n o

L to R Katrina Creel, hel Quist Shannie R ao and R ac Photography by:

Inspired Portrait Photography

6 Peeps

Austin Link

Say What

What Is Your Favorite Thing To Do At The Carnival or Fair?

8 The Outtakes 10 Changing

Perceptions – Technology Education From Classroom To Workforce

16 Money

Simplfy Your Finanaces

17 Be Healthy

Establishing Healthy Behaviors That Stick

18 How Do You Do It?

Heather Johnston

20 Mental Health

Helping Kids Get a Good Night Sleep

22 Nosh

Porcupine Meatballs

24 Historical Feature

32 hOMie

Reverse Plank Crow Pose

34 Healthy Kids Is Your Child Struggling with Anxiety?

36 The Children’s Museum

42 DIY Craft

May Day Seed Bombs

52 Meet the Author

A Storybook Tour

2018 APRIL MARCH/

Public Schools

Follow Request

2 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Kid-Oh! magazine

26 Mankato Area 30 Kid Writer

Hazel & Samso

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Student Calendar 2018-2019/2019-2020

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May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 3

MAY/JUNE 2018 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson

Hello!

or those of you who don’t know me, I’m Steve Jameson, publisher of Kid-Oh! magazine. Publisher is just a fancy name for manager or company president. Besides Kid-Oh!, I also manage The Free Press, MN Valley Business magazine, The Land and Mankato Magazine. We’re a group of people that like to tell stories. As I’m writing this on April 17, the area is digging out after 15” or more of snow and we have another snowfall heading our way. But if you’re reading this, it’s May and hopefully by now, the snow is all melted and we are enjoying spring. It also means that school is almost over for another year. This issue of Kid-Oh! is all about finding out who you are and what you’d like to do as a career. For me, when I was a Kid-Oh!, I wanted to be a writer. So I can relate to the girls in our cover story, “The Outtakes.” Rachel Quist, Katrina Creel and Shannie Rao, three high school friends, discovered they had a passion for writing and decided to create a support group for other creative kids who were looking for a safe place to pursue what they love. Maybe their story will inspire you to start or join a group of people who are practicing the thing that you love to do. Speaking of writing, you can help our resident creative writer, E. M. James finish this month’s story and you’ll maybe even win a gift card to Target. Check out her story on page 30 for the details. This issue also has a story on the opportunities available for careers in skilled trade jobs like carpentry, electrical, computer and other skills that don’t require four years of college but could pay you as much, or more than you could make getting a college degree. If college is not your thing, consider learning one of the skills featured in the story. Thank you for reading our stories! All of the folks that have contributed to the making of this month’s magazine are glad you did.

EDITOR/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jordan Greer-Friesz CONTRIBUTORS Mayo Clinic Health System The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Gena Heminover Blue Earth County Historical Society MN Valley Federal Credit Union Cliff Coy Marianne Carlson E. Madelyn James Heather Fisher Mankato Clinic Health System Friesen's Bakery & Bistro District #77 Julie Schrader Austin Link Heather Johnston PHOTOGRAPHERS Inspired Portrait Photography Cliff Coy PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING SALES Joan Streit Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Marianne Carlson Theresa Haefner ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Christina Sankey Sue Hammar CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles

Steve Jameson

Kid-Oh! Magazine is published by The Free Press Media bi-monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001. For editorial and advertising inquiries, call Jordan Greer-Friesz 507-344-6337, jgreer@mankatofreepress.com To be included in future Kid-Oh! mailings, call 507-625-4451, ext. 7

4 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;¢ 5

k n i L n i t s u A Occupation: General Manager with the Mankato MoonDogs

What is your favorite part of your job?

How long have you lived in Mankato?

My favorite part about my job is that half of my day is spent at a baseball field. Whether it is working the game or meeting with vendors, being outside has its perks. You can’t beat having a baseball field be your office!

I have been in Mankato ever since I started going to college here in 2011. I graduated in 2014 and haven’t left!

What did you want to be when you grew up? I think I wanted to be what every sports fan wants to be, a professional athlete. Working in sports is the next best thing!

About Me:

What is your favorite thing to do in Mankato for fun? My favorite thing to do for fun in Mankato is definitely MoonDogs games! In addition to that, I would say attend other sporting events like Maverick Hockey and Basketball. Pretty much anything with sports and friends/family.

I’m not sure if there are many people that love going to work more than I do. Ever since I started with the MoonDogs, I can’t say that I have ever really gone to work. Every day is unique and brings on new and exciting challenges. The days can get long working an 8:00am-11:00pm day and then doing it all over again during a homestand, but the best part about it is that you are outside enjoying it with hundreds of other people. We get to see some of the top talent out there come to Mankato each summer and follow them along their journey to potentially the professional level. I played baseball growing up, so having a passion for something that I get to call my job is even better. With the community support along with ownership/front office, coaching staff, host families, sponsors and season ticket holders, there are so many great people that we connect with on a day-to-day basis that I would say this is one of the most rewarding jobs in the community! 6 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

We Asked some Kid-ohâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s..... What is your favorite thing to do at the carnival or fair?

Breckyn

Age: 6 Going on some rides but mostly the cotton candy.

Jaxson

Age: 9 Going on all the rides and playing the games.

Adam

Age: 7 The roller coaster.

Macey

Age: 12 My favorite ride is the Scrambler/ Tornado.

Liliana

Age: 7 Ride the rides and eat cotton candy.

Anna

Age: 11 Ride the rides and see the animals.

Amelia Age: 7 Cotton candy.

Nora Age: 4 The rides.

Hayden

Age: 8 My favorite ride is the motorcycles and I love the mini donuts.

Lake

Age: 4 All the animals.

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 7

THE OUTTAKES

L to R: Katrina Creel, Shannie Rao, Rachel Quist

8 â&#x20AC;¢ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Story & Photos by Cliff Coy

nce upon a time, there was a drawing hanging on a refrigerator. It doesn’t matter whose refrigerator it was, whether it was your parents or grandparents. It was hanging there proudly, on top of all of the coupons and grocery lists. It was art, maybe not the best art, maybe not something you would see hanging in a museum or gallery, but it was a start. Unfortunately for many kids out there, that is where it ended, stuck to a magnet. In our society today, art is not really viewed as something that can sustain a living, put food in your cabinets, or pay your bills. So along the road to adulthood, the drawing, painting, and writing stops in favor of other noble educational paths like math, science, and history. Imagine that you are a teenager. Somehow you have held onto art as something important to you, but with so few people that take interest in it with you, you find yourself with nowhere to go. Nobody that understands you or that you can go to in order to talk about your art or show it to. Enter The Outtakes. The Outtakes are a group of three high school girls who met one another in their 10th grade biology class while working on a project about seed dispersal in the rain forest. After the project was complete they then took it upon themselves to support one another in their art, and to start bringing other people in to help promote the arts in the River Valley Area. “We had to do a group project, so we joined up and we wrote a project called "Eat Me" about seed dispersal in the rain forest,” said Rachel Quist, a founding member of The Outtakes. “We filmed it with two camera angles and wrote this really long script for it. But by doing this project and talking to one another, we realized that we all had a similar interest in writing and being creative. So that formed The Outtakes and we started doing projects together.” “It just started as us writing and doing stuff and we needed a name,” said Katrina Creel, a founding member of The Outtakes. “So we became The Outtakes because it was a label for our 10th grade angsty selves, we are the outtakes from society. Our main goal is to promote the arts within younger communities and for The Outtakes to be a community that really fosters talent in writing and all of that other stuff in younger people.” A large part of anyone’s success in life is in finding a community that supports and nurtures your talents. But when it comes to teenagers, those can be hard to find especially when they live in some of the smaller towns in the area. “If you are interested in the arts and interested in writing, a lot of times it gets pushed to the back burner,” said Rachel. “That's something that you do in your free time and that's something you do as a hobby. It's really easy when it keeps getting diminished like that for it to just go away. I know I personally stopped writing until I met these two, and that is when I started again. And so, it's important for kids to understand that it may just end up being a hobby someday but at least giving them the opportunity to excel in that field and to really feel like they have talent and their art has worth in the community.”

“Sometimes people don't know the potential or the things that they are capable of until they try or someone gives them some encouragement to try something,” said Shannie Rao. “I know that at least for me that applies and probably for a lot of other people as well.” “One of the biggest things when you are young is finding a community that you can be yourself in,” said Katrina. “For a lot of people that might be theater, or choir, and especially with small towns those might be your only options. And if you are a little bit more shy, or you just like writing, there really isn't an outlet. So having a community of people who you can talk to about writing, it's important for kids to feel like they matter to some section.” As it is with a lot of things in life, in order to be successful you need to garner a following. For these girls, that includes anyone who feels they have an artistic talent and would like help nurturing it. In order find people who may be interested in the group, the girls have taken to contacting schools directly and having Lan informational meeting on what the group is about. “Our focus is towards people our age or younger,” said Katrina. “We are their age and so we can show them that they can do stuff with it too. We are looking for people who are as old as us or younger and people who just aren't really sure where they are at.” All three of the girls are about to graduate high school, and the group’s consensus is that they don’t want everything they have worked so hard for to just fizzle away and be forgotten. So the girls are taking steps to ensure the long lasting survival of The Outtakes as they go forth into their adult lives. “In terms of continuing what is going on here, we don't want it to fade, we don't want all the work and passion that we put into it to be forgotten and left behind,” said Katrina. “One of our main goals right now is to find young students to replace us as the liaisons for the high schools. We have a few people in mind and that we will be asking if they want to fill this roll.” “We are obviously going to work with whoever we choose,” said Shannie. “We aren't just going to throw them into it and tell them that it's their turn and offer them no support. We are going to keep talking to these people and work with them.” If you are an artist, whether it is with writing, photography, drawing, cinematography, or anything else, look around and search out individuals who can help you grow, prosper, and feed your creativity and love for the arts. "The opportunities are out there,” said Shannie. “Maybe you are a little afraid of them at first and you are unsure whether you will fit in or if it will work out. I was a little nervous in 10th grade and didn't know if we could do this. But you will fit in, you will find people, and it will be the greatest thing ever." “It's 100% achievable, and it's the work you put into it,” said Katrina. “I am sure without these two I wouldn't have written half of things I have the past two years. It's having that community and it helps more than you can imagine.”

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 9

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS – TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION FROM CLASSROOM TO WORKFORCE

Leif Johnson, Tech Ed teacher at West High School, talks to his class about the next phase of building the two playhouses that will be auctioned off for the MRBA Raw Fusion fashion show on May 11.

he smell of sawdust and the sound of staple guns fill the air. Students climb on miniature roofs laying down tar paper before placing the first row of shingles on two children’s playhouses. The materials for these two playhouses were donated by Lloyd Lumber, a member of the Minnesota River Builder’s Association (MRBA).

10 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Story & Photos by Marianne Carlson Once completed, the playhouses will be auctioned off at MRBA’s annual Raw Fusion abstract fashion show on May 11. The money raised from the auction and the entire event will go to Educare Foundation which provides financial support to the Mankato Area Public Schools. These funds will be earmarked to help support and grow the

Technology Education classes, also known as Industrial Arts or shop classes, in the district. MRBA members have teamed up with district administration and teachers to create the Work Force Initiative Committee. “Basically, our goal is to promote and support area shop classes, so kids have as many opportunities as possible,” said MRBA Executive

Johnson required all of his students to build models of the playhouses before any actual construction began.

Director Amy Kolb. “They need to know that a career in the trades is a terrific option. For a generation now, kids have been led to believe that without a four-year college degree they are not going to succeed in life. That is simply not true. These skills are in high demand and right now, the building industry is in crisis mode.

Skilled Workforce Shortage

The Manufacturing Institute predicts that as many as 2 million future jobs could go unfilled from the lack of workers with the right technology, computer and technical skills by the end of 2020. “There is so much need for skilled labor,” said Leif Johnson teacher at West High School. “We are desperate right now and I think in five years it is going to be even worse.”

Why Are These Jobs Going Unfilled?

“I always tell my kids, ‘Love what you do and like what you do and do the very best at it,’” Schwamberger said.

Over the past 25 to 30 years, as manufacturing jobs moved overseas, companies eliminated their apprenticeship programs and high schools and colleges reduced or eliminated many of their vocational and technical programs. “We are considered Tech Ed now, but once upon a time there was an industrial arts experience at the Middle School level,” Dave Evans, teacher at East High School said. “That is no longer the case. Most of the kids that sign up for my classes

have never run a band saw.” Evans said his primary responsibility is to expose kids to these career fields and make sure that they have a safe, fun experience. “I believe that four-year degrees are very important,” Evans said. “I knew that if I wanted to teach, I needed a four-year degree, but not everyone does. There are wonderful apprenticeships, two-year degrees and certification opportunities out there for students. And these kids can always go back and get more education if that is where their career path takes them.” Evans said that there are training programs in the welding and construction fields and if students complete their certification they can make over $20 per hour early on in their careers. The Mankato School District offers a wide variety of different Tech Ed classes. Evans said they offer four to five Introduction to Woodworking sections and one cabinet making section at East High School. They also offer a small engines class and power mechanics along with a class called Wheels and Walls which is an introduction to cars and home repair at its more basic level. “We have a pretty strong woodworking program, with Introduction to Woodworking but we are really trying to build on that construction and cabinet making component,” Evans said. “That is something they do a really good job May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 11

After Johnson explains how to safely cut the shingles that will adorn the top of the playhouses, student take turns actually cutting the shingles themselves.

of at West. They also have a Vocation Automotive class that we do not currently offer.” Evans said that the 2018/2019 school year will be the first time since he’s been in the district that they have offered two sections of Welding II and three sections of Welding I. “We are seeing a lot of growth so that is promising,” Evans said. Shelley Schwamberger has two sons who both take Tech Ed classes at East High School from Evans. “I have two different kids on two different paths, but they both benefit from these hands-on classes,” Schwamberger said. “They are a huge confidence booster, especially if you struggle in classes like math and English. Walking out of a class and feeling like you are good at something makes those other classes that you might struggle with a little more bearable.” Are math and English important, yes, Schwamberger said, but not every kid excels at math or writing English papers. Standardized testing and graduation requirements can really restrict opportunities that are available for some students, she said. “There are only so many hours in the day and even if there are openings available in certain classes, kids can’t take them because they conflict with required classes,” Schwamberger said. Right now, kids have to take three years of math in high school. But why? There should be a point at the high school level where if you have an idea of your career path you should be allowed to 12 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

take classes that help you focus and excel on that path. If you know you are not going to be a writer, an English major or a teacher, maybe you don’t need to take English literature.” Schwamberger said she would like to see more flexibility with scheduling and see more sections of the same classes offered at different times so more kids have the opportunity to fit them into their schedules. Beyond class offerings in any particular community, Carrick said, the continued negative perceptions that jobs in the trade industry are dirty, dangerous, and have low job security – are also major reasons why the talent pool remains small. “The general public is very supportive of manufacturing – in the abstract,” Carrick said. “[People] understand the multiplier effect that comes with manufacturing and want the jobs in their backyard – just not for them or their families.”

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Jobs in the trades are in high demand and there is a lot of opportunity for people who are willing to learn and grow in these fields, Kolb said. “It is a nice way to provide for your family,” she said. “There are so many great apprenticeships out there and wonderful opportunities to move up through the ranks. There is something to be said about building homes for people. They are literally building our communities. What a satisfying career.” For some reason, there is a stigma around the trades, Kolb said. “Parents have big dreams for their kids and many of them have misconceptions of what makes them successful,” Schwamberger said. “You don’t need that four-year degree to be someone important and successful. I have two older children that don’t have college degrees and they make a great living, contribute

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While a group of students continue to work on the playhouses, Johnson helps other students finish ongoing class projects.

to our community and are productive adults. We need to break this stereotype.” She has learned a lot about being a parent by simply treating her children as individuals and supporting each of their specific talents and passions, Schwamberger said. “I always tell my kids, ‘Love what you do and like what you do and do the very best at it,’” Schwamberger said. The Manufacturing Institute’s study, revealed the average wage of manufacturing workers in 2013 was $77,506, and most manufacturing jobs now require some sort of postsecondary credential. In comparison, the most recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that for 10 broad degree categories ranging from engineering to communications, 2016 graduates were projected to have an average salary of $50,556.

Changing public perception is not going to happen overnight, Carrick said. But they are beginning to see some changes. “One of the most interesting things we found this year is that individuals who self-identify as being familiar with manufacturing were twice as likely to encourage their child to pursue a career in the industry,” Carrick said.

Rebuilding the Workforce – Reaching Millennials

“If you’re looking for a career that has upward mobility, offers competitive starting wages and really excellent wages across your entire career span, then manufacturing is for you,” Carrick said. “Oftentimes you see the press focusing on entrylevel wages in manufacturing and saying those aren’t competitive, but manufacturing offers an array of career paths – many of which lead to six-figure salaries.”

Looking beyond money, Johnson said the pride that comes along with creating something from nothing and the satisfaction you feel building furniture or repairing a car is priceless. “Learning to use tools properly under guided supervision is empowering,” Johnson said. “If you are good with your hands, you are smart – plain and simple.” For decades, four-year institutions have done a tremendous job of marketing themselves to students. Evans said, he would like to see tech schools and area businesses follow suit. Along those same lines, Schwamberger said she wishes there was a way to get the word out better and promote classes that could be available if there was enough interest.

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14 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Working Together

Throughout his career Evans has worked in a couple of different districts and he said that the Mankato district, not only by the administration, but by the community itself, does an exceptional job of supporting the teachers and programs. “Almost all of these programs have some sort of steering or advisory board,” Evans said. “Those companies and industry partners make these opportunities possible for the students by providing internships and resources. For instance, almost all of the practice materials for the welding classes are donated. I feel like that is something this district does really, really well. We have a lot of support. Face it, these classes are expensive to run and require a lot of resources and without that support we wouldn’t be able to provide these opportunities for the students.” Evans and Johnson are both members of the Work Force Initiative Committee, who are working with MRBA to help educate and create more real-life work experience for students. The playhouses that will be auctioned off at Raw Fusion are one example of this partnership. “We would love to get kids out on an actual job site but OSHA requirements state that workers must be 18 to be on a work site which unfortunately restricts so many high school students,” Kolb said. “Then there is the issue of 50-minute classes. That is just not enough time to get students out there and back. Right now, we are looking at more opportunities like the playhouses where we bring the projects to them.” Schwamberger wondered if there might be a way to have other community members or business owners from somewhere like Mankato Motors teach a class. Area businesses along with the Greater Mankato Growth work together every October to facilitate The South Central Tour of Manufacturing. Last year, they were able to expand the experience to two days. The event is similar to a “Parade of Homes” that is FREE to students, job seekers and the general public. Community members are encouraged to stop by throughout the day for a self-guided tour or a

guided tour of any of the participating manufacturers. The Tour of Manufacturing is designed to demystify manufacturing. It shows that manufacturers have a very advanced, clean and safe workplace, and offers a very desirable career. As a mother, Kolb said she feels it is important to reach parents and ask them to encourage their children to consider a career in the trades. “Tuition to four-year colleges has increased leaps and bounds over the past decade and everyone seems to think that huge student loans are just a part of life,” Kolb said. “I’m not sure where that message comes from, but the truth is that not every kid is wired for a four-year college. Who is going to build your house? Who is going to fix your appliances when they break down?” Schwamberger wanted to remind parents to encourage their kids to chase their dreams, no matter what they are. “Over the years, I’ve learned that success looks different for everybody and people achieve in different ways,” Schwamberger said. “Our kids need to do what they like if they are going to be the best possible people they can be.” Johnson is retiring from West High School after this school year and he said he hopes that teachers continue to partner with area businesses to help bring awareness to the problems plaguing the industry. After retirement Johnson said he will build furniture and help people with their home remodeling projects. “I am a skilled laborer and I am proud of it,” Johnson said with a smile. “I am proud to be a teacher, but I am just as proud to be a carpenter. Junior Riley Larsen holds up part of what will be a computer desk when it is all finished.

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BlueEarthCountyHistory.com | 507.345.5566 May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 15

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Simplify Your Finances I

t’s easier to get balance in your life when you simplify things. When it comes to your finances, there are a few steps you can take to make them more streamline. 1. Consolidate Your Accounts If you have multiple checking or savings accounts, consolidate them to one of each – and do the same with retirement accounts. This will reduce paperwork and time spent checking different accounts. With only one account, you’re less likely to miss a statement or payment. If you have several retirement accounts from job changes, you can roll these plans into an IRA or other employer-sponsored plan.

2. Stop the Paper Flow If you’re still receiving statements in the mail, enroll in e-statements so you can manage your accounts at your convenience – 24/7. For loans, you can get reminders of when payments are due, or set up automated payments to your account (and likely save money with a better rate). 3. Only Use One Credit Card If you have multiple credit cards, try to pay each of them off starting with the card with the highest interest rate. Get your stack of cards down to two if possible: one for emergencies (such as an unexpected medical bill or car repair) and one you use regularly. This way, you only have to keep track of your everyday purchases and expenses associated with one account.

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4. Work to Become Debt-Free Budget your spending so your income is more than your outgoing expenses. If you buy less “stuff,” you’ll have more to pay your bills, save, and even splurge on things. Work to become debtfree and try to increase your savings as well. Living this way can reduce a lot of unnecessary stress. This can be easier said than done, however by working towards these 4 steps to simplify your finances, you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy life.

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16 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Establishing

healthy behaviors that stick

iving healthy is an excellent goal to aim for. So why do we still break our healthy promises when we know staying healthy helps us feel better? Popular reasons why people give up their healthy behaviors include: • Staying healthy is complicated. Whether a life-long goal or a temporary objective, staying motivated requires complex planning and follow-through. Establishing healthy behaviors that stick takes a different mindset and should not be undervalued. • Our toxic eating environment. We face constant pressures from a multi-billion dollar marketing industry that bombards us with quick, cheap and tempting food options. No matter the medium, these highly targeted psychological messages leave us wondering if we are in charge of our own eating behaviors or, instead, simply being conditioned. • Our dislike of exercise. Studies show that we overestimate how difficult exercise is. Often, we think physical exercise will be much worse than it really ends up being. As a result, we tend to give up before we even begin.

Tips to stay motivated If you want to make your habits permanent, you need to: • Practice. • Anticipate lapses. • Recover quickly. • Practice positive self-talk. • Create changes that are easy to continue over the long term.

Consider using the following path to help motivate your healthy behaviors: Getting started: • List the behaviors you feel are unhealthy. • Develop positive and realistic goals for yourself. • Identify why you want to meet this goal. What have you tried before? • Select one of your identified behaviors you would like to change. • Find multiple ways to remind yourself of your goal. • Stay motivated! Creating your plan of action: • Brainstorm ways to change this behavior. • Devise a plan to promote this strategy. • Identify potential obstacles that could interfere with your goal. • Set a date for when you want to achieve your goal. • Identify your options for support. • Stay motivated!

Don’t let a lapse keep you from your goal A lapse is a slight error, slip or discrete event most of us will face at some point during the journey. It’s important to anticipate that a lapse will happen and that a lapse is normal. Try to figure out what your trigger or triggers are for lapses. Common triggers include: • • • • • •

The people in our lives The time of day Our emotions A difficult life event Social events Certain foods and visual cues

Remember the danger is not the slip but how you react to it.

Reaching your goal: • Throughout the journey, counter destructive thoughts with more constructive ones. • When you reach the goal date, evaluate your success. • Don’t expect perfection. • With your goal completed, consider what you need to do to maintain your change. • When ready, select another goal and restart process. • Stay motivated!

Lisa Hardesty, Ph.D., is a Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato clinical psychologist. May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 17

HOW DO YOU DO IT By Heather Johnston

have a mom uniform. Black leggings, black tank, and yep several of them. I usually have on a headband thingy, or my wool crochet hat. That's me! I am the mom that forgets, the mom that is embarrassing, loud, always walking around aimlessly searching 80 projects to stay busy. I clean when I am anxious, and feel like a hamster on a wheel most days. My brain is wired to be busy, set in my mode of things I need to do and I need to keep moving or my body hurts worse. In my adult years I did not expect some postpartum depression, anxiety, maybe a lil’ OCD and ADD. I threw in an eating disorder for a few years too. Stress, working long hours, not wearing good shoes while standing all day, over-booking myself with clients, overloading on caffeine some days and not taking care of myself very well caused me to burn out. Some people get a signal (and I probably had several) but I pushed that signal aside like a bill I didn’t want to look at. All of the sudden I hurt, like all over, every single day. I can stay pretty active, but if I stop I get stiff, not to mention just pushing on my skin anywhere hurts.

18 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Fibromyalgia, leaky gut and a bad back have caused me to not be able to do what I thought was my biggest success. Since I was young I always loved doing hair. I worked hard at accomplishing my dream. I enjoyed making others feel good about something I could do for them and having people tell me that I make their day by doing this thing that I loved to do so much. I was honored. Until standing too long became more and more painful. My anxiety got worse because I was fearing pain. I felt like the one thing I was able to be and do had died. Then I think I was grieving along with being depressed about my unfulfilled career. Then being a mom, wife, everything got harder too. What was this, why now? The person I became was on fire trying to keep everyone warm. I was literally burning out. So who am I

now? What can I do at 36 as a career? Who do I wanna be? I have no idea, but I can tell those who seem to be on the same street as mine and feeling the burn, STOP, DROP and breathe. Take the time to take care of YOU. Be with your kids more, look at their freckled faces up close. Ask their favorite things, laugh with them. Be home with them for supper. I used to say that my kids will see me dedicated to my job and career and a hard working mom working long hours, but that got me here: jobless, in pain and looking for my new niche. I started to create a brand called ECHO love back in August, to spread self-love awareness, to help people see ahead of time things that are not the healthiest. We all have our struggles, not everyone likes to talk about their depression or anxiety, that's ok, but be open minded to the ones that

may be struggling around you. We all have our things we need to work on. No one is walking on water or perfect. Don't be afraid to embrace your uniqueness. Don't let a mental health condition or struggle define you. There are so many ways you can use it for good. If you ask my boys, I am a good mom, I love them all. I would do anything for them, but momma needs to take care of herself and love herself too. Just like they need to make the right choices for themselves. I don't wish for the pain, but I am glad it brought me to this place. I was able to become a Girls on the Run coach and what an impact that was for me. I am home with my family more and chase after my fence hopping dog daily. Dietary changes, exercise, WATER have been relieving at times, but healing is still a daily constant. I am realizing now that I am alive in other ways. A fire was lit inside me now and I will help those who are also struggling. In the meantime, I am recognizing when I am overwhelmed, stopping to rest my body and taking time to just be the person I have become inside. Some canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see it yet, but I have new goals. A whole new perspective on life. Time to ECHO love.

! n e p O Now

Book your Birthday Party online!

Luke, Chase, Heather, Hayes, Kayden.

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 19

Helping Kids Get a Good Night Sleep T

By: Mindy Kimmel, MSE, LMFT | Five Rivers Mental Health Clinic

he changing seasons and daylight savings often lead to sleep difficulties for kids and families. Each day the sun sets later in the evening and many kids would rather stay up later. Children who do not get enough restful sleep are at risk for increased emotional outbursts, distractibility, and falling asleep at school. Many children have difficulty waking in the morning and sometimes an extra hour of sleep can help. The Sleep Foundation recommends children ages 3-5 get 10 to 13 hours of sleep, ages 6-13 get 9 to 11 hours, and ages 14-17 get 8 to 10 hours. These ranges can vary slightly but a good rule of thumb is “How much sleep does it take to wake rested?” It’s a good time to review healthy sleep habits.

The following tips will help children get a good night sleep: n Exercise

60 minutes per day. Often recess and physical education at school are not enough. n Develop a bedtime routine. Having the same bedtime each night can help get on a rhythm for sleep and wake cycles. n Turn off electronics 30 minutes before bedtime. The light produced by a television, computer, and/or cell phone activate the brain into thinking its daylight. Turning off electronics and engaging in relaxing

activities can get the mind ready for rest. activities before bed like reading a story, taking a bath, using either of the relaxation examples below, and listening to soft music can help the body relax. n Essential oils such as Gentle Baby and Lavender can be used to promote rest. n Reduce or avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Caffeine can stay in the system for 4 to 6 hours. Even pop with dinner can keep them awake at bedtime. n Warm liquids such as tea or milk can also encourage calmness. Avoid this tip if your child struggles with nighttime bed wetting. n Calming

Practice tensing and relaxing muscle groups to promote calmness.

Take a deep breath in. Squeeze your hands into fists while holding your breath for 3 seconds. Relax your hands and exhale. Repeat three times. Then say to yourself, “My hands are relaxed”. Take a deep breath. Raise your arms over your head while holding your breath for 3 seconds. Release your arm back down. Repeat three times. Say to yourself, “My arms are relaxed.” Take a deep breath in. Squeeze your shoulders up to your ears while holding your breath for 3 seconds. Relax your shoulders and exhale. Repeat three times and say to

Five Rivers

Mental Health Clinic

, LLC

507-345-7012

Care & Compassion Providing Individual, Family & Group Therapy info@FiveRiversMHC.com www.FiveRiversMHC.com 103 N. Broad Street, Mankato, Minnesota 56001

20 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

yourself “My shoulders are relaxed”. Take a deep breath in. Tighten the muscles of your belly. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Relax your belly and exhale. Repeat three times. Then say to yourself “My belly is relaxed”. Take a deep breath in. Tense the muscles of your legs and bottom while holding your breath for 3 seconds. Release your legs and exhale. Repeat three times. Then say to yourself “My legs are relaxed”. Take a deep breath in. Squeeze and curl your toes and hold your breath for 3 seconds. Relax your feet and exhale. Repeat three times. Then say to yourself “My feet are relaxed”. Take a deep breath in. Squeeze all the muscles of your body while holding your breath for 3 seconds. Relax your body and exhale. Repeat three times. Then say to yourself “My body is relaxed”.

Use imagery like this to foster relaxation.

Lie down or find a comfortable place to sit. Breathe in deeply and out even more slowly. Close your eyes. Imagine you are floating on a soft fluffy cloud. You feel very safe on the cloud as it softly cradles your body. Your whole body feels heavy resting on the cloud. Notice your feet. Your feet feel very relaxed. Your feet feel so heavy that it would be hard to lift them even if you tried. Notice your legs. Your legs feel very loose and comfortable nestled into the cloud. There is a nice warm feeling traveling up your body, filling it with peace. Notice your stomach. It feels calm and filled with warmth. Be aware of your chest. Your chest is relaxed as it moved up and down slowly with each breath. Next notice your neck and shoulders. They feel soft and heavy. Feel the backs of your shoulders resting on the cloud, sinking in gently. Feel how relaxed your head is right now. Your head feels warm, pleasant, and heavy. Your head and face are very relaxed. Your mouth and eyes are free from stress. Allow your thoughts to come and go without worrying about anything. Everything is okay and you are feeling very calm and good. Enjoy the warm sensation calming you as it travels all around your body filling you with peace and relaxation. If you continue to have concerns with your child’s sleep you can always contact your pediatrician or a mental health therapist.

CALL FOR ENROLLMENT Now Enrolling for Pre-School Openings! Also Accepting Registration for Fall Preschool Openings!

625-2141 300 Madison Ave. mankatolittlestars.com

CONCORDIA CLASSICAL ACADEMY

Early Childhood to Grade 8 • Christ centered education • Strong classical academic curriculum • Small classes, personal attention • Affordable Tuition & District 77 busing 2101 Lor Ray Drive, North Mankato CCAMankato.org • 507-388-4336 Call for a personal tour

Adult, Child & Family Services.

Adult, Child & Family Services is here to walk with you and your loved ones through the journey towards emotional health. We offer: • individual therapy • couples counseling • family therapy • therapeutic skills support for children and adults of all ages. • rehabilitative group therapy for individuals in the legal system.

1400 MADISON AVE SUITE 610, MADISON EAST CENTER , MANKATO (507)387-3777 • WWW.ACFSMANKATO.ORG May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 21

Chef Sarah

Nosh

Porcupine Meatballs Getting kids to eat healthy can be a struggle. Friesen’s has a role in helping develop healthy bodies, minds and habits for future generations through its healthy catering services, including for children in child care. Friesen’s wants to share our kid-tested and kid-approved recipes, so parents and children can cook and enjoy a healthy meal together. Serves a family of 6

Ingredients: 1 pound of thawed, raw lean ground beef 1 ½ c of cooked brown rice 1 ½ tablespoons of salt 1 tablespoon of black pepper A splash of water 1-2 eggs

22 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018

Steps:

Place lean ground beef into a bowl Add cooked rice, salt, pepper, and a splash of water, mix until combined

Form into 1.5 oz balls – about an inch across. Add in eggs Add in one at a time as you may not need the second egg. Only add the second egg if the mixture seems to dry. For more information on healthy catering options, contact natasha@friesensfood.com or visit http://friesensfood.com/ child-care-catering/.

Bake at 350 for 15-30 mins or until they reach 155°.

Enjoy!

515 N Riverfront Drive • 507-345-4114 • info@friesensfood.com March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 23

You Can Be a History Writer!

Discover written history at the Blue Earth County History Center!

Many people wrote history stories in Minnesota’s 6th grade textbook, Northern Lights.

What is a History Writer? History writers study, collect and write down the stories of our past. They use many types of objects and stories to help them with the story. They read history books, diaries, letters and speeches, look at photographs, drawings, and artifacts (or objects made by a human) like toys, furniture and buildings. They try to imagine themselves in the past. History writers become experts in what they study. They use their collected information to write a History Story—fictional or non-fictional. History stories are used to teach us about the past!

You can be a History Writer! Find Your Story…. What are the objects and documents you see below? What can they tell us about a story? After you look at the pictures below and discover how to use them, write your answers below each picture.

Do you know what this is? Hint: This is a desk used for writing important letters and stories. What kinds of stories do you think are important?

What is this object? Hint: People use these as tools to learn about and remember events, people and stories that have happened. It’s a photograph! Do you have photos of family events?

______________________

What is this? Hint: Before there were computers, people used tools like these to write about events in history. It’s a typewriter! What tools could you use today to write your story?

______________________________

___________________

Blue Earth County History Center is located at 424 Warren Street, Mankato

Have Fun Finding Facts Do you want to be a History writer? History writers ask a lot of questions about life in the past that they are interested in. Their questions use words like “who, what, when, where and why?”. To find the facts, History writers use many sources of information including artifacts (or objects made by a human), documents, maps, spoken stories and photographs to learn about that time period. History is full of stories waiting for a writer. The writer could be you! Write a story about a past event in your family here. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Find three artifacts (objects) like this list to go with your family story. - a photograph - a drawing - a dress or hat

- a newspaper article - a scrapbook - a letter or card

- a quilt - a stuffed animal or toy - a special ring

Draw a sketch of your three items to go with your story. Under each item write a sentence telling about your artifact.

____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

____________________ ____________________ ____________________

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Visit the Blue Earth County History Center. Have fun in the Discovery Lab, Museum or view the current traveling exhibition. Tuesday through Friday 9 am.to 5 pm. Saturday 10 am. to 4 pm.

BlueEarthCountyHistory.com

507-345-5566

DID YOU KNOW? Maud Hart Lovelace was a History Writer from Blue Earth County. Maud loved history and wrote many stories about Minnesota’s past. She started writing when she was a child. Beginning in 1940, Maud wrote history stories for her daughter Merian about growing up in Mankato. You can read these stories today in the BetsyTacy series of books. The last story Maud wrote about Betsy was called “Betsy’s Wedding”. You can see a full-size Paper Mache model of Betsy on her wedding day at the Blue Earth County History Center Museum.

MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS • INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #77

2018 - 2019 Student Calendar JULY 2018

AUGUST 2018

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2 9 16 23 30

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5 12 19 26

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OCTOBER 2018

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MARCH 2019

2 9 16 23

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2 9 16 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JUNE 2019

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

Classes Begin for Grades 9- 12/ End for Grades K-12

Classes Begin for Grades K-8 Two-Hour Late Start

DECEMBER 2018

MAY 2019

26 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

24 25 26 27 28

Adopted 3/19/18

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22

APRIL 2019

10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite Two P.O. Box 8741 Mankato, MN 56002-8741 www.isd777.org

FEBRUARY 2019

MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NOVEMBER 2018 S

JANUARY 2019 S

SEPTEMBER 2018

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

No School K-5 No School K-8 No School K-12

Bold Date End of Quarter 11/1, 1/18, 3/22, 6/5

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

507-387-1868 • maps@isd77.k12.mn.us Facebook Twitter MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS • INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #77

2019 - 2020 Student Calendar JULY 2019

AUGUST 2019

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

4 11 18 25

OCTOBER 2019 S

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

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MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite Two P.O. Box 8741 Mankato, MN 56002-8741 www.isd777.org

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

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5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

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MARCH 2020 T

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

1 8 15 22

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23 24 25 26 27 28 29

29 30 31

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

5 6 7 12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28

JUNE 2020

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

Classes Begin for Grades 9- 12/ End for Grades K-12

Classes Begin for Grades K-8 Two-Hour Late Start

44 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28

DECEMBER 2019

MAY 2020

Adopted 3/19/18

6 13 20 27

FEBRUARY 2020

APRIL 2020 S

NOVEMBER 2019

JANUARY 2020 S

SEPTEMBER 2019

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

No School K-5 No School K-8 No School K-12

Bold Date End of Quarter 11/7, 1/24, 3/26, 6/5

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 27

INTERACTIVE CAREER Career exploration takes place in many forms in Mankato Public Schools. From interest inventories, to job shadows, to career days and tours, students have the ability to learn about options for their future. Check out some of the unique experiences below! 6th Grade - BizTown

Mankato Public Schools partners with Junior Achievement (JA) to give students an experience to be adults for a day. 6th grade students visit a 10,000 square foot kid-sized city in Maplewood, MN, where they work in one of 15 JA BizTown shops. Students learn what it takes to run a successful business, manage a checking account, and work as a team. Through daily lessons, hands-on activities, and active participation in this simulated community, students develop a strong understanding of the relationship between what they learn in school and their successful participation in a global economy.

7th Grade - STEAM Pathways

All 7th grade students explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) careers on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. From civil engineering, to theater, to automotive, students explore and ask questions of students and professors to learn more about how a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths and interests can culminate into a career. Students use a strengthsfinder interest inventory to learn a bit more about themselves and use this information to build questions and learn about career opportunities.

28 â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

507-387-1868 • maps@isd77.k12.mn.us Facebook Twitter

EXPLORATION 8th Grade - Career Tours

Through an interest inventory called “Career Cluster Finder”, students are able to highlight where their interests might lie. The school district collects this data and creates 3 industry tours for every student that matches those interests. Students are informed that their ideas can change often, so they are encouraged to think of these tours as time to explore what they like and what they don’t like. Over 60 tours take place in the Greater Mankato Area every spring!

10th Grade - Career Expo

The Career Expo exposes 10th grade students in our region to over 100 career/job possibilities. The mission of the Career Expo is to provide students with the opportunity to interact with area business and industry experts and participate in hands-on experiences that demonstrate the skills, strengths, tools, tasks, and traits used in specific careers. This opportunity helps to foster an awareness of the variety of career options in Greater Mankato and the region and understand what each involves. It is held at the Verizon Center in spring and hosts over 1,400 students in our region from over 13 school districts. Students work through a pre-lesson on career interests and are encouraged to visit booths and talk with individuals of similar interests.

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 29

Follow Request By E. M. James

AHEED WAS THIRTEEN when she posted her first PictoLife photo. She knew her dad wouldn’t approve of the picture she took, (her and her friend Alizah at the public pool), especially without her hijab! She knew she couldn’t swim with her hijab, obviously, but she was so excited that her over-protective parents had finally let her go on social media!

30 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

That afternoon, she got home from the pool and was prepared to face her parents, and she did… “This is a disrespect to Allah! You must wear your hijab at all times, young lady!” Naheed’s dad said to her over dinner. “You’re pop is right, Naheed. It’s very disrespectful to go in public without your hijab. But, she was at the pool, Aadam. She’s only thirteen.” “I will not have that kind of behavior in my house, Naheed! And that’s final!” With that, Naheed’s father stood up, and walked away. “Oh, Jaabid, will you clean that up for me, please?” Mother asked. Naheed’s brother, Jaabid, (big, fat), was nothing short of his name! He was not too fat, but he was ‘as big as Allah’s fist’ momma would say. “Yes, Jaabid! Clean it up for me!” Naheed handed her brother her dirty dishes and drank her water. “Why did you go to the pool with Alizah? And why did you make your username on PictoLife.. ehem… bruh_itzzz_naheed?” Naheed’s mother was never angry, never. But she would get confused and upset sometimes, and this time, it was both. “Everyone’s using that as their username nowadays, momma! They

use the, bruh_itz_... but I just added two extra z’s and my name in lowercase letters.” •• “Nori?” Naheed asked her older sister when they were sitting in front of the T.V. set watching ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ for the third time in a row that week. “Mmm?” Nori answered. “Have you ever been ashamed of your hijab?” Nori looked at Naheed and said. “Naheed—“ PAUSE!! A note from the author…

Hey Kid-Ohs!

So glad you’ve been sticking with me this whole time! If you’re just joining the family, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve got a little surprise for all of you! You get to finish my story for me! Here’s how it works: 1. Imagine you’re Nori, and Naheed just asked you that question. 2. Write what you would say on the lines I’ve left for you. 3. Use your imagination! I want to see what you guys come up with! 4. When you’re done, you have the option to cut the ending out of the magazine and mail it to Kid-Oh to get featured!!! Thanks, once again! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to the writing. I’ve got a comfy couch and a PB&J sandwich calling my name! Happy writing! “Naheed,

Write your ending here

Enter for your chance to win a Gift Card from Target 1st Place • $20 Gift Card | 2nd Place • $10 Gift Card

Name_______________________________________________ School_______________________________ Age____________ Phone____________email______________________________ Send your story ending to Kid-oh! • 418 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001 or email sjameson@mankatofreepress.com Deadline is 11:59 pm, May 25, 2018. Winner will be notified by June 8th. The winning entries will be printed in the July/August issue.

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 31

Mankato 2018 Summer Dance Camps Celebrating Our 35th Year Teaching the Art of Dance as a Non-profit organization

Super Hero Camp for Boys & Girls

Moana’s Beach Party

Free Frozen Camp ages 3-6

**Featuring Moana

ages 5+ June 11-14 5:00-5:55 pm $40

To all new students or students who bring a friend June 25-28 3:00-3:55 pm $40

ages 3-5 July 23-26 4-4:55 pm $40

Princess Dance Camp ages 3-5 August 13-16 4:00-4:55 pm $40

**Featuring Ana and Elsa and Olaf

**Featuring Cinderella, Snow White,

Beauty & The Beast Camp ages 4-6

Yoga

and other Princesses

July 16-19 4:00-4:55 pm $40 **Featuring Belle

**Any Frozen Camper may take a Princess Camp or Moana Beach Party for $35 per session!**

Boys Tap/Jazz Camp

Ages 8+ August 6-9 5:00-5:55 pm $20

Boys Hip Hop Camp

Ages 6+ August 14-17 6:00-6:55 $20

Hip Hop Try It Ages 6+ *FREE for NEW students or if you bring a friend July 30-Aug 2 4:00-4:55 pm $40

For the full summer schedule, please visit our website: www.dcsmdance.com Completed Registration forms may be emailed to: dcdance002@gmail.com

1400 Madison Ave Suite 318 Mankato, MN 56001

507-625-2005

Gena Heminover:

Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and mother of two girls, Elea age 6 (pictured) and Ava age 3 (pictured). Teaches yoga at Fitness For $10, private lessons and at other places in Mankato. Specializing in Kids Yoga, Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Advanced Yoga. Find me on Instagram at ‘Gena Heminover Yoga’ and Facebook at ‘Gena Heminover Wellness’ https://www.facebook.com/ genaheminoverwellness Website: GenaHeminover.com Or email: heminoveryoga@ yahoo.com

Tips for Kids: • Kids naturally have a short attention span so keep each pose under 30 seconds. OLD TOWN MANKATO 615 N. RIVERFRONT DR. TUES—FRI. 10-6 SAT. 10-4 SOMETIMES SUN. 12-4 SALVAGESISTERSMERCANTILE

SALVAGESISTERSMANKATO

keepsake gifts for your little SALVAGESISTERSMERCANTILE.COM

32 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

• If they are old enough have them help you count to 10 while holding the pose. • Allow your child to play around with their body positioning in each pose. It doesn’t have to be perfect but it should be FUN!

Reverse Plank STEP 1:

Sit with feet out in front and flat on the floor, toes are down and pointed. The knees have a little bit of a bend in them and place your hands behind you a bit so that you are leaning back on them.

STEP 2:

Push into the toes to keep them down and lift your butt up off the floor. Try to straighten your knees and make a straight line from your toes up to your shoulders. If you need to readjust your arms to get your legs straight, come down and move your hands back away from your butt a little further and try again.

Benefits of Reverse Plank pose

Strengthens and stretches your shoulders Strengthens the arms, upper back, legs, glutes, and wrists Stretches the chest, abdomen, tops of the feet, and ankles Builds core strength

Crow Pose STEP 1:

Place both hands on the floor shoulder distance apart and palms flat down. With feet on the floor, bend the elbows a little to make a shelf to put your knees on. Place the knees on the back of your upper arm (your triceps).

STEP 2:

Contract your core by pulling in your tummy and lean forward putting your body weight on your arms. Practice getting the balance and lifting one foot off the floor at a time. When you are ready, try lifting both feet off the floor, pointing the toes and balancing on your arms.

Benefits of Crow Pose:

Strengthens arms and wrists Stretches the upper back Strengthens the abdominal muscles

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 33

Is your child struggling with anxiety? Know the signs W

ith a lot of new experience like • Frequently complains of headaches or school, sports and making friends, stomachaches, even if there is no medical childhood can be scary to young reason for them kids. It’s common for kids to show some signs of • Won’t use restrooms except at home anxiety, but it’s important • Starts to shake or sweat in for parents and caregivers intimidating situations to realize when a child is • Can become restless, fidgety, Crystal Dubbelde, suffering more anxiety hyperactive or distracted MSW, LICSW than is expected at their • Cries often and/or easily Mankato Clinic age. • Has panic attacks child and adult Anxiety is a form • Worries about things that are far in the future psychologist of stress that can be • Becomes grouchy or angry without any experienced physically clear reason or emotionally and • Is worried or afraid during drop-offs at often times relates to worry daycare, school, relatives’ homes, etc. about what might happen • Asks “what if?” constantly or about something that • Refuses to go to school has happened. Common • Remains silent or preoccupied when thoughts for people with expected to work with others anxiety are worrying about things • Says “I can’t do it!” without a real reason going wrong or feeling like you’re • Constantly seeks approval from parents, in some kind of danger. teachers and friends Anxiety disorders are among • Becomes emotional or angry when separating from the most common mental health parents or loved ones conditions and are treatable. According to the Anxiety and If you suspect your child is suffering from anxiety, there Depression Association of are a number of things you can do to help your him or her America, affects 25.1 percent of manager their anxiety, which include: children between 13 and 18 years • Paying attention to your child’s feelings old. When left untreated, children • Stay calm when your child becomes anxious with anxiety disorders are at about a situation or event higher risk to perform poorly in • Recognize and praise small accomplishments school, miss out on important • Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress social experiences and engage in • Be flexible but try to maintain a normal routine substance abuse. • Modify expectations during stressful periods Do you think your child may be • Plan for transitions, like allowing extra time in the struggling with anxiety? If so, the morning if getting to school is difficult following are some signs you might • Encourage physical activity like riding bike, see. If these ring true to your child, walking, yoga consider sharing these signs with • Practice being in the moment (mindfulness) your child’s pediatrician. • Find relaxation tips that work for your child (ex: baths, reading a book, taking deep breaths, listening to music)

34 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;¢ 35

Enjoy the

Great Museum Outdoors 224 Lamm Street, Mankato www.cmsouthernmn.org info@cmsouthernmn.org

507.386.0279

Daily admission: $8 per person; free for children 12 months and under

Membership packages start at $9 a month

Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm Closed on Mondays. 36 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Farmyard

Farmyard is a seasonal exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota where visitors can explore how soil, sun, and water work together to help plants, animals, and people thrive. If offers an opportunity for children to learn where our food comes from and a hands-on chance to connect with farming in Minnesota.

The Alltech Farm Animal Experience provides Museum visitors with an insight into why farm animals are raised and how to care for them. Beginning Memorial weekend, the Children’s Museum will become a home to a variety of farm animals—watch for calves, sheep, and goats, which will rotate in and out throughout the summer, as well as chickens in the small coop. Weanling pigs will arrive first and stay until they reach market weight in the fall. Did you meet the Museum’s pigs last year? Do you remember how quickly they grew? They came to the Museum in May at about 35 pounds each and, during their stay through September, they consumed about 1,250 pounds of feed and grew up to the weights of 255 and 300 pounds.

Tips and tricks for visiting farm animals: • Farm animals frighten easily when in new surroundings. Speak softly and move with care. • Don’t feed farm animals. They eat a special diet in order to stay healthy. Outside food, rocks, sticks, or other objects could make them sick. • Pigs are very curious and have sharp teeth. To stay safe, make sure to keep your hands or fingers out of their pens. • A fall into an animal pen can be dangerous, scary, and messy. Always be careful around fencing and do not climb to lean over the top fence rail or to sit on it. • The barn has fans and a misting system in use to keep animals cool in warm weather. Try to stay away from these devices as they are set for specific conditions and can cause injuries. • After your visit to the Farmyard, remember to wash up at the hand-washing station!

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 37

Gardens

Anyone can garden! You may not have the room or time for a fullsized garden bed, but container gardens, vertical wall gardens, and small raised beds are perfect for beginner or weekend gardeners. At the Children’s Museum, there are several different garden areas that may inspire you to begin your own growing projects at home! Pick a green bean, pop a cherry tomato in your mouth, or water the marigolds. Explore raised garden beds that offer Museum visitors a chance to see how a variety of fruits and vegetables are raised organically. Each garden bed is different with labels on the sides that will help you identify what is being grown in them. Young Museum visitors can grab a watering can to help water the gardens, or snap a bean off of the bean arch as they browse the area. As plants grow and mature, sampling is encouraged! Closer to Museum Courtyard, the herb bed is a delight to the senses! Herbs add tasty flavors to favorite meals, while rubbing a few leaves from a herb plant between your finger releases wonderful fragrance. Also, in this area, the Museum has a wheelchair accessible garden bed that will hold a variety of greens that chance throughout the season. Take a break in the Courtyard and relax in the shade of a big linden tree as you enjoy the sight of a vertical garden, raised against the Museum wall. It will be planted with herbs, vegetables, and annual flowers and vines. Vertical gardens can be made to fit spaces of any size and are getting more and more popular as people become urban gardeners.

Located just outside the Museum’s Farmyard door is the Sensory Garden, a wonderful place for a relaxing stroll. Can you spot a pollinator, find a plant with soft, fuzzy leaves, or one with spiky, purple blooms? The beautiful, new garden sign will encourage you to look for different sensory experiences as you walk the woodchip path.

Three Sisters Garden

The Museum’s Three Sisters Garden uses heirloom seeds and planting methods based on Native American gardening. According to a Native American legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive when they are planted together. This sustainable system provides long-term soil fertility, lessens the need for watering and pest control, provides a healthy diet, and is a wonderful way for Museum visitors to feel more connected to the history of gardening. Look for the Three Sister’s Garden in its new spot this year

38 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Did you know that some of the crops grown at the Children’s Museum are used to make feed that pigs and other farm animals might eat? The Crystal Valley Field Fun fenced-in area showcases crops grown in our region: field corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, and alfalfa. Among the many uses of these crops is feed and bedding for livestock. Which of our crops produce hay and straw? Do you know the difference between the two? There is a popcorn patch, too, where popcorn is grown much like field corn, but with some differences. Both are tall, green plants with long leaves and tassels. Their seeds are attached to a cob and they all have husks around the corn ears. Field corn is taller and will have larger, rectangular, dented kernels that are bright yellow. Popcorn is shorter and has smaller, rounder kernels that may vary in color. Popcorn is only grown for popping, while field corn has a variety of uses. Go on a green treasure hunt and look for other special plants grown at the Children’s Museum! Can you find an apple tree, grape vines, sunflowers, and small gourds or pumpkins?

The Dotson Back 40 is an open space, waiting to be

filled with the sights and sounds of play. Everything a child needs for imaginative nature play is there: tree stumps and hollows, a climbing log and rock, knolls to climb up and roll down… A loose parts bin, filled with sticks, log pieces, rope, and burlap will inspire building, design, and stories. The Back 40 area is an imaginative playground that readily offers fenced-in freedom in downtown Mankato.

What’s in a Pond?

Have you ever explored any nearby ponds and seen pond animals? Check out the large tanks in the Museum’s AgLab during the month of May to see what kind of pond life they contain! To compliment this exhibit, Scott Kudelka, Minnesota DNR Minneopa Area Naturalist, will present a program about amphibians on May 15, 10 - 11am. Did you know that 14 different species of toads and frogs, such as the Northern Leopard Frog, American Toad, and Gray Tree Frog, are found in Minnesota? These tailless amphibians are usually associated with wet areas, but become land dwellers later in their lifecycle. Come learn more about amphibians and see live frogs in this exhibit!

June is Dairy Month!

The popular Cow Care Dairy Barn will be exhibited in the AgLab for the month of June. Be a good dairy farmer and care for your cows by feeding and watering them, controlling barn lighting and temperature, taking them out to pasture, and scooping manure to haul to the field. Watch for special programs and a visit from some of the Museum’s dairy friends in the Farmyard! May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 39

Beat the Heat this Summer

The Museum’s outdoor water play area is getting a sun shade system! This attractive and muchneeded addition will be set high overhead and complement the design of the Museum’s building, crop plots, barn, gardens, and Dotson Back 40. Sponsored by Jarraff Industries, the sun shades will allow for a much more comfortable play experience in the Museum’s popular exhibit with a water pump, bamboo chutes, shovels, buckets, and a cascading water table. This summer, the Museum’s outdoor spaces will be the place to play!

Many volunteers contribute to the success of the Children’s Museum’s outdoor spaces. This year, the Museum will welcome Maple River FFA and St. Peter High School Ag students as they plant, weed, and water the crops and gardens. Lucy Lowry will assist with maintaining the Sensory Garden. Many of the Museum’s visiting farm animals are provided by local 4-H and FFA members and their families. Their time, talent, and resources are very much appreciated and make the Museum’s Farmyard a great place to visit!

Automation Station

Come play in this new, interactive exhibit that explores the world of automation, robotics, and assembly from the perspective of a manufacturing environment! Assume the role of design engineer, maintenance technician, or production worker by gearing up with safety equipment and getting to work. Pour molten metal, hoist scrap metal, or assemble a circuit board to get handson experience in a simulated manufacturing environment. Exhibit components include Pick-and-Place, Assemble It!, Pneumatics Ball Blaster, Mech-a-Sketch, 6-axis Robot, 10-foot Hoist and Crane, Air in Action, and Jr. Strength Tester. Automation Station was developed in partnership with the South Central College Mechatronics and Graphics Departments, and sponsored by Dotson Iron Castings, EI Microcircuits, Jones Metal, and Big Ideas, Inc.

40 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Mayo Clinic at the Museum Stop by the Children’s Museum this summer for tips and ideas to keep children healthy all summer long! Families can pick up a calendar of healthy habits, turn in activity cards for a chance to win a healthy cooking kit, and connect with Mayo Clinic Health System experts who will share easy ideas for staying healthy at the Museum, at home, and in the community. Learn about summer snacks, activities for the whole family, and how to keep young minds healthy!

Get More Playtime AND Save?! Did you know that Children’s Museum members get unlimited access to the indoor and outdoor exhibits during regular hours, a 20% discount to birthday party celebrations and events and programs at the Museum? The Museum offers a variety of membership packages to suit the needs of individuals, families, and groups and packages start at only $9 a month! Check out the Museum website for more information and to become a Member today.

Exclusive Member Mondays Did you know that Children’s Museum members get unlimited access to the indoor and outdoor exhibits during regular hours, a 20% discount to birthday party celebrations and events and programs at the Museum? The Museum offers a variety of membership packages to suit the needs of individuals, families, and groups and packages start at only $9 a month! Check out the Museum website for more information and to become a Member today.

No School? No Problem! The Children’s Museum has got you covered! Spend the summer exploring the Museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits and galleries seven days a week! In addition to the Museum’s regular business hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm & Thursday, 9 am – 7:30 pm) doors will be open every Monday, June 4 through August 29, from 9 am – 4 pm.

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 41

DIY

May Day Seed Bombs:

This is a fun gift to celebrate May Day and the kids will love this craft because it’s fun and messy! Give them to friends to “bomb” their yards with wild flowers or enjoy watching the flowers grow in your own yard or neglected area in need of some beautification! Just toss into a pile of dirt and let Mother Nature do the rest!

Materials Needed to make about 15 seed bombs: • 4 Packs of Wild Flower seeds • 2.2 lb Red Air Dry Clay • Garden Soil • Water • Cookie Sheet and parchment paper • Fabric Scraps • Ribbon • Instruction tag – handmade or printed Special Thanks Budding Creations for letting me use their space and supplies 42 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Brought to you by

Instructions: Playing in the dirt can be messy so this is a good project to do outdoors or near a water source for clean up!

Step 1

Start by mixing 5 parts of the air-dry clay to 2 parts of garden soil in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

Pour in the wildflower seeds, about ¼ cup of water and start mixing it together with your hands.

Step 3

The measurements don’t need to be precise. Add more water or dirt if needed to get the consistency of cookie dough.

Step 5

Let them air dry for a day or two.

Step 4

Once your mixture looks like cookie dough, grab small handfuls and roll them into balls. Set them aside to dry on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step6

After they are dry, take scraps of fabric to wrap them up, tie with a ribbon and add a tag with directions.

Step 7

Give to friends, neighbors and teachers to celebrate the flower growing season! May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 43

Paper Dolls

Carefully Cut-Out Paper Dolls

44 â&#x20AC;¢ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

To make your paper dolls more durable: First look in the recycle for an old cereal box and glue the page of paper dolls on the cereal box. Next, when the glue is dry, carefully cut out dolls and outfits. Now you should be ready to play!

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 45

46 â&#x20AC;¢ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

SEEK & FIND Can you find the hidden objects in the picture?

48 â&#x20AC;¢ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Solution on Page 56

TOOLING AROUND Match the name with the right tool.

Air Compressor Flashlight Hammer Hand Saw Level Nail Gun Pipe Wrench Pliers Saw Blade Screwdrivers Screw Gun Sockets Stud Finder Wrench

50 â&#x20AC;¢ Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Solution on Page 56

March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 51

A Storybook Tour A literary journey along Highway 14

By Julie Schrader

id you know that three famous children’s book authors grew up along Highway 14 in Southern Minnesota? Did you know that every year fans travel from all over the United States (and the world) to visit these three literary sites? Let’s take a storybook tour along Highway 14 and discover more about these famous women, where they grew up and later wrote books that are still loved today. This storybook tour begins in Mankato (the fictionalized Deep Valley), the childhood home of Maud Hart Lovelace, author of the classic Betsy-Tacy books. The first stop is Tacy’s House, the childhood home of Frances “Bick” Kenney, who was Maud’s best friend and the storybook character of Tacy. The house is an interpretive center and gift shop. Displays, artifacts (including the original brass bowl from Heaven to Betsy), photographs and original illustrations tell the story of the real and fictional characters and places in the Betsy-Tacy books. Self-guided or docent led tours of Betsy’s House are available. Stepping into Betsy’s House is like stepping into the pages of the Betsy-Tacy books. The house has been restored by the Betsy-Tacy Society and furnished to look just as it did when Betsy (Maud’s character name) lived

here in the early 1900s. You’ll see the kitchen where Betsy, Tacy and Tib made “everything pudding”, the dining room where Betsy had her birthday party, and the front parlor where Mrs. Ray and Julia played the piano and so much more. When you leave be sure to stop at the stone bench at the end of Center Street and have your picture taken where Betsy and Tacy had picnic suppers in the summer. Both houses are designated National Literary Landmarks by the Association of Library Trustees. Other places to visit in Deep Valley (the fictionalized Mankato) are the Lovelace exhibit at the Blue Earth County History Center and Museum that includes the original life-size bride doll that toured the country when Betsy’s Wedding was released. The Maud Hart Lovelace wing of the Blue Earth County Library has on display the original glass pitcher that Tacy (Bick) gave to Betsy (Maud) for her 5th birthday party and original Betsy-Tacy illustrations by Lois Lenski. The Carnegie Art Center, originally the Carnegie Library and many other BetsyTacy related places can be found in Discover Deep Valley: A Guide to Maud Hart Lovelace’s Deep Valley by Julie A. Schrader and is available in the Tacy’s House, BECHS and Carnegie Gift shops.

Who is Maud Hart Lovelace? Born April 25, 1892 on Center Street in Mankato’s historic Lincoln Park neighborhood. Married Delos Wheeler Lovelace in 1917 in Minneapolis and they had a daughter, Merian. Died March 11, 1980 in California and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato.

aud was the second of three daughters born to Thomas and Stella Hart. When Maud was 10 years old, her father had a booklet of her poems printed; and by age eighteen, she had sold her first short story to the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine. She met her life-long best friend, Frances “Bick” Kenney, when she was five years old. Maud and Bick had many adventures growing up on Center Street. Soon there was a trio of friends when Marjorie “Midge” 52 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

Gerlach moved into the neighborhood. The Hart family moved to Minneapolis shortly after Maud’s high school graduation in 1910, and Maud attended the University of Minnesota. After their marriage in 1917, Maud and Delos moved to New York City. The idea for the Betsy-Tacy books came from the bedtime stories Maud told about her childhood to her daughter. Maud wrote these books between the years 1940 to 1955. During her lifetime Maud wrote and sold short stories to many popular magazines, she wrote six historical fiction novels (most set in her home state of Minnesota) and eighteen children’s books.

IF YOU GO… Betsy & Tacy House 332 & 333 Center Street Mankato Open: Saturdays from 1- 4 pm April-December or year-round by appointment Admission charged for Betsy House Phone: 507-345-9777 www.betsy-tacysociety.org

Next stop on the storybook tour is New Ulm on Highway 14 west to visit the childhood home of Wanda Gag, author of the classic children’s book, Millions of Cats. The Wanda Gag House Interpretive Center and Museum is dedicated to Wanda Gag and her family. Built in 1893, the two-and-a-half story Queen Anne house was purchased and restored by the Wanda Gag House Association and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is restored to its early

1900s period when the family grew up in this unique home constructed by Anton Gag. Anton Gag was an artist, photographer and painter. His attic studio was filled with paintings, however income from his work barely stretched to support his large family. He is now famous for documenting local history in his paintings. In addition to the Gag House, Anton’s work can be seen at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Turner Hall and Brown County Historical

Society in New Ulm, and the Minnesota State Capitol and Minnesota Historical Society in the twin cities. Self-guided or docent led tours of the Gag House are available. You will see an extensive collection of art, artifacts, and books that relate to the history of the Gag family, including lithographs, paintings, drawings by Wanda Gag, paintings by Anton Gag and Flavia Gag, and books written by Wanda and Flavia Gag.

Who is Wanda Gag? Born March 11, 1893 in New Ulm, Minnesota. Married to Earle Humphreys. Died June 27, 1946 in New York City, New York.

anda was the oldest of seven children born to German immigrant parents Anton and Elisabeth Gag. She grew up in a home where painting, music, drawing, storytelling, gardening and sewing were an important part of everyday life. Wanda and her siblings were encouraged to draw from the time they could hold a pencil. Wanda’s father died when she was 15 years old. To earn a small income for her family, she wrote and illustrated stories and sent them to magazines and sold drawings to local residents.

The last stop on the storybook tour is Walnut Grove, along Highway 14 west, to visit one of the childhood homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the classic Little House on the Prairie books. Walnut Grove, Minnesota is the setting of On The Banks of Plum Creek and the television series, Little House on the Prairie (filmed in California 1974-1983). At the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum you will see Ingalls family exhibits and TV show memorabilia and artifacts, replica buildings including a depot, chapel, little red schoolhouse, early settler house, a covered wagon, a replica of the dug-

She won an art award at a young age and eventually received scholarships for art school. In 1917 she was one of twelve students from the entire U.S. to win a scholarship to study art in New York City. During her lifetime she worked as an artist, writer, and translator. In 1928 Wanda’s first children’s book, Millions of Cats, was published. The book was awarded a John Newbery Honor award. Many now consider this book to be the first modern picture book. The little girl, who was once so poor, held on to her dreams. She became a famous artist with her prints and drawings in many museums, as well as a beloved author and illustrator of children’s books. out house and more. There is also a gift shop and a doll collection of over 250 dolls from the 1870s to modern times. The Ingalls family’s first home in Minnesota was a dugout, built on the banks of Plum Creek. Eventually Charles Ingalls was able to build his family a real house with hinged doors and windows, but unfortunately this house has been lost. All that remains of the dugout is a deep depression along the creek, a sign marks its location. Before leaving the museum, ask for directions to the dugout site, located just 1 mile north of Walnut Grove. There’s a picnic area along

IF YOU GO… 226 North Washington St. New Ulm Open Saturdays and Sundays May-October or year-round by appointment Admission charged Phone: 507-359-2632 www.wandagaghouse.org

Plum Creek where you can sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the prairie or you can dip you toe into Plum Creek!

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 53

Who is Laura Ingalls Wilder? Born February 7, 1867 in the “Little House in the Big Woods” outside of Pepin, Wisconsin. Married Almonzo Wilder in 1885 in DeSmet, South Dakota and they had a daughter named Rose. Died February 10, 1957 and is buried in Mansfield, Missouri.

aura was the second of five children born to Charles and Caroline Ingalls. The family moved from state to state and territory to territory, in search of better farmland and better opportunities. Pa Ingalls said he “had an itchy wandering foot”. The family came to Minnesota in 1874 and their first home was a oneroom dugout built near the banks of Plum Creek. Laura and her sister Mary went to school, helped Ma with chores around the house, and fished

in the creek. There were many happy times, but there was also hard work and deprivation. Pa’s wheat crop was destroyed by storms and grasshopper plagues, and the family survived a terrible winter blizzard. The Ingalls family’s adventures across the Midwest are among the best-known journeys in American history. In all the family trekked more than 2,000 miles, most of it by horsedrawn covered wagon. They spent only two years on the banks of Plum Creek before moving again. During her lifetime, Laura worked as a teacher, farmer, journalist and writer. It wasn’t until Laura was in her sixties that she began to write the memories of her childhood days as a pioneer girl. Laura made her family’s

travels famous in the “Little House on the Prairie” series, written 1932-1943. She wrote the books especially for children, so they could know how the pioneers had lived.

IF YOU GO… Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, 330 – 8th St, Walnut Grove Museum is open April through October Dug out site open May - Oct weather permitting Wilder Pageant July 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2018 Admission charged www.walnutgrove.org

NOTE: A special presentation about this Storybook Tour is available for libraries, civic organizations, book clubs, etc. For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Kathleen Baxter: kathybaxter@gmail.com

Making a difference... one child at a time. Pediatric Therapy Services has been making a difference in the lives of children for the past 25 years. We continue to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language therapy for the children in a kid friendly environment. As we have grown, our mission remains unchanged: Making a difference…one child at a time.

FREE Development Screenings for children from infancy through adolescence.

Call to schedule today

Satellite Clinic Main Clinic 150 St. Andrews Ct, Suite 310 Pediatric Therapy Services Mankato, MN 56001 Children’s Health Center Phone: 507-388-KIDS (5437) 1421 Premier Drive Fax: (507) 388-2108 Mankato, MN 56001 General E-Mail: Therapy sessions at Satellite office ptskids@kidtherapy.com are by appointment only. Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. Making a difference... one child at a time www.kidtherapy.com ptskids@kidtherapy.com 54 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

MANKATO BALLET COMPANY

Mankato Ballet Company Summer Classes Are Open For Registration!! THEME CLASSES FOR DANCERS AGES 3-7 Games, crafts, dancing and snack

ITTY BITTY CLASSES FOR DANCERS AGES 2-3 Parent must accompany Dancer

BALLET SESSIONS FOR DANCERS OF ALL AGES Runs for 4 weeks in July

DANCE CAMPS FOR INTERMEDIATE DANCERS Ballet and Jazz in June, July and August

DANCE CAMPS FOR ADVANCED DANCERS Week long intensive programs in June and August

Join us for our Fall Registration day on August 17th from 2:30-6:30 p.m.

www.mankatoballet.org

for more information or if you have questions email us at: info@mankatoballet.org

phone: 507.625.7716 studio address: 731 South Front Street, Mankato MN May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;¢ 55

S N O

I SEEK T SEEK & FIND & FIND U OL

Can you find Can the you hidden find theobjects hiddeninobjects the picture? in the picture?

FROM PAGE

TOOLING AROUND Match the name with the right tool.

Air Compressor Flashlight Hammer Hand Saw

FROM PAGE

Level Nail Gun Pipe Wrench Pliers Saw Blade Screwdrivers Screw Gun Sockets Stud Finder Wrench

Your Kids are Growing!

We’ll pay $$$ on the spot for your gently used kids clothing, toys & equipment. Sell us the things your kids have outgrown! No appointment necessary. Plus, we’ve got low prices on everything your kids need as they grow! Put a little spring in your step and visit us today!

Located conveniently across from Cub Foods 464 Raintree Road • Mankato • 507-344-8799 Mon.-Sat. 10-8, Sun. 12-5 www.onceuponachildmankato.com 56 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2018

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at Montgomery, the Spa at Ross Bridge in Hoover and the Spa at the Battle

Marriott spa. In North America, five of the top Marriott and Renaissance

House in Mobile are always highly ranked for pampering their guests. All

spas are found on Alabama’s RTJ Spa Trail. For guest satisfaction, the Spa

five of these spas are part of the RTJ Resort Collection and feature innovate

at the Marriott Shoals in Florence and the Spa at the Grand Hotel in Pt. Clear

treatments inspired by Southern Hospitality. Clearly great golf and spas

are consistently ranked in Marriott’s top 10. For Renaissance Hotels, the Spa

work well together in Alabama. Come experience them for yourself.

FLORENCE · HOOVER · MONTGOMERY · MOBILE · POINT CLEAR The

Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail · rtjresorts.com/spacard

May/June 2018 | Kid-oh! • 57

IS THERE A BABY IN YOUR FUTURE?

If you are ready to start or grow your family, we are here to help. Our team of experts provides care from pre-pregnancy planning to delivery, right here in your community.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 507-479-1473 to schedule an appointment. mayoclinichealthsystem.org