MANKATO BALLET COMPANY MANKATO BALLET COMPANY FALL CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 7TH for Dancers Ages 4 to adult Open Enrollment All Year Long To Register go to: www.mankatoballet.org Mankato Ballet Company offers classes in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern, World Fusion and Itty Bitty Classes for dancers 2-3 years.
MBC is thrilled to offer classes for dancers 2 to 3 years old. Itty Bitty Dance Classes are offered for these little dancers to attend with a parent or caregiver. Classes are 4 weeks long for 30 minutes each time. Dancers will learn dance concepts, rhythm and coordination Try out our Bitty Ballet and Teeny Tappers classes. First session begins September 12th.
REGISTER ONLINE
register for all these classes online through our website at
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
C
s t n e t n o
6
Peeps
7
Say What
8
BMX - A Sport for All Ages
Cover kidS Matt Peterson #4, a 9 year old expert rider and Brayden Welckle “Bob” #64, a 10 year old intermediate rider, ride next to one another during a practice run at the Mankato Area BMX track.
Eric Lennartson What are you going to be for Halloween?
14 Towing the Line 16 Money
Smart Ways to Cut Back-To-School Costs
18 Kids On the Run
Ages and Stages of Running With Your Kids
20 How Do You Do It?
Kelly Kroeker
21 Be Healthy
Eating Breakfast goes a long way for your child’s health
22 Historical Feature
Long Ago Dakota Life
24 Fancy Pants
Look Cool For School
30 hOMie
Foot to Head Partner Down Dog Wheel Pose Cobra Pose
Animal Adventures
32 Flicks 33 Nosh
10 Under 10
2 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
Photo by Cliff Coy
34 The Children’s Museum
40 Powder’s Pages
Hey Kids!! Do you like telling stories? Do you want to be a part of Kid-Oh? Do you want to be a Kid-Oh writer? We are looking for some kid writers. If you’re interested in writing for Kid-Oh, please let us know! Please send us a writing sample- tell us a story! Have a parent email it to us at jgreer@mankatofreepress.com. Thank you thank you! We can’t wait to hear your stories!
High School Drama Club
Varsity, JV, Grade School Volleyball
Varsity and grade school soccer
Fall at Immanuel
Immanuelmankato.org/school • 507.345.3027
September/October 2016 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 PUBLISHER John Elchert EDITOR/Artistic Director Jordan Greer
Hello! It’s that time again! School supplies, gym shoes, registration fees and countless “meetings” with teachers and coaches, half of which I will forget about and either miss them all together or show up late and try to sneak in the back nonchalantly (and in my book nonchalantly usually means tripping over a chair, falling on my face and swearing in front of a room full of strangers.) Back to school also means First Day of School Facebook posts! I am not ashamed to admit that I love these! Bring on the posts! Fall also means the Mankato Marathon is coming! With that in mind, check out our article on kids who run, maybe there will be some future marathoners in there! If running isn’t your thing (like me!) we also have a great story on BMXers, boys and girls and all ages. Some of these kids are barely out of training wheels! I hope you enjoy this issue, I feel that they are getting better and better. If you have a comment, or a compliment (because we LOVE to hear those!) please feel free to contact me. Just not on the First Day of School, I will be a little busy scrolling through my feed! Jordan Greer
CONTRIBUTORS Mayo Clinic Health Systems Mankato Clinic, Children’s Health Center The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Once Upon A Child Gena Heminover Blue Earth County Historical Society MN Valley Federal Credit Union Hy-Vee Kelly Kroeker Eric Lennartson Gus & Lukas Lennartson Flora Mwangi PHOTOGRAPHERS Inspired Portrait Photography Cliff Coy PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey Advertising Manager Phil Siebel ADVERTISING Sales Jordan Greer Marianne Carlson Josh Zimmerman Theresa Haefner Thomas Frank ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Christina Sankey Sue Hammar CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Denise Zernechel
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 507-344-6337, jgreer@mankatofreepress.com To be included in future Kid-Oh! mailings, call 507-625-4451, ext. 7
4 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
SMILE
Smile with us…we care!
Mankato 507-387-4078
New Ulm 507-354-8943
Extraordinary Care For Your Child
www.kidswillsmile.com
September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 5
c i r E
n o s t r Lenna
Occupation? Artist and designer.
How long have you lived in Mankato? Just over 10 years.
What is your favorite part of your job? Eric, Amy Jo, Gus, Lukas
Every day is different. Either I’m planning new exhibit for a museum, designing materials for a firm, or running kids around. I love the variety that each day brings.
What is your favorite thing to do in Mankato for fun? Right now I love to bike the Red Jacket Trail with my boys. It’s so much more fun now that they are able to go further and ride faster. I can’t wait to find out when they will pass me and hope they won’t leave me too far back in the dust.
See page 45 and 47 for Gus and Lukas’s coloring page.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Either an architect or a designer for LEGO. I ended up studying architecture in Europe, and one of the highlights of my studies was a side trip to LEGOLAND in Billund, Denmark. I loved all the LEGO versions of the famous architecture from around the world. I guess I’ve always been a kid at heart, because I spent the whole day at the amusement park, exploring every corner even though I was 25 years old.
When I joined the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota in 2007 as a founding board member, I never thought it would lead to bringing the TapeScape exhibit to so many other museums around the world. I love that my family has been able to travel with me and experience other cities and museums though my work. Since my kids go to Minnesota New Country School, my projects and our family travel can sometimes become projects for them too, learning about the places we visit. This fall, I’ll be doing two international TapeScape installations — one in Ipswich (near Brisbane), Australia and another in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I’ll also be traveling to San Jose, California for a repeat installation there. For those wanting a TapeScape closer to home though, there is a tunnel up at the new Wheel and Cog Museum in Hutchinson. 6 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
We asked some Kid-Oh’s... What are you going to be for
Halloween? Hayden
Macey
Age: 10 I am going to be Stuart and my friends are going to be Bob, Kevin, and Scarlet Overkill from Minions. We want to all go trick or treating as a group.
Jaxson Age: 8 A Zombie.
Adam
Age: 5 I want to be a bat with wings that wrap all the way around like a real bat.
Anna Age: 9 Cupcake Superhero.
Age: 5 I am going to be girl vampire because I want to be something scary. I’ve been watching makeup videos and I am going make it look like my fingers are cut off. But it’s just pretend.
Amelia
Age: 5 I want to be Wonder Woman.
Breckyn
Arty
Age: 5 Thor cause he’s awesome!
Age: 12 Michael Jackson.
Flora
Age: 11 Ice cream cone with sprinkles.
September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 7
BMX Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
A Sport For All Ages 8 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
S
Kids of all ages and expertise line up at the starting gate to do a practice run at the Mankato Area BMX track.
ince 1982 there has been a little known sport in the Mankato Area, one that allows athletes of all ages and abilities to participate and doesn’t let anyone sit out on the bench. BMX, an abbreviation for Bicycle Motocross, has been around since the early 1970’s when kids began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California. These days the tracks are a little bit different and so are the bikes themselves. But one thing hasn’t changed, the love of the sport for all ages. “Personally I think it’s better than watching kids in football,” said Kristi LaFreniere, mother of two BMX riders. “Because nobody ever sits out, here they can go at their own pace and they can play. There is no sitting on the bench.” Riders of all ages go there every Tuesday and Wednesday during the season to practice and to race each other. Multiple age ranges and skill levels split up the riders into different classes, but everybody that comes out can race no matter how good they are or how new they are at the sport. “It’s a friendly competition on the track and when the race is done so is the competition,” said Cody Spiess, the current Mankato Area BMX track operator. “These kids are all really good friends off the track, they help each other out and give each other tips on how to increase their speed. It’s really like a big family here.” “I love the fact that winning isn’t your only priority,” said Alexander Weitzel, a BMX rider that comes to the races in Mankato every Wednesday from Byron, MN. “You want to win, but at the same time it’s just having fun. Being out on the track and being able to race with some of the best people that you’ve ever met.” The Mankato Area BMX track is 100% volunteer run. Participants and their parents volunteer their time to help mow the lawn, pick weeds, do general track maintenance and organizing the races themselves. “I am track operator and I put a lot of time and hours down here but I don’t get paid a single penny,” said Cody Spiess. “We get these riders to want to come and help and be apart of the track. They really feel like it’s their track. This is their home because they have had a hand in maintaining it, building it. There’s a lot of maintenance that goes into the track every spring because the winter is hard on it and these kids are here to help do that. It makes them take ownership of the facilities and that’s awesome.” In the long run it makes people feel the need to be involved in their community. Whether it be the BMX community or their local city, the people involved in the Mankato Area BMX track try to instill that in the younger generations. “It’s great to want to just come out and ride but you should want a little more than that,” said Mike Spiess, the former Mankato Area BMX track operator. “You should want the facility to be better and the way to get that is if you get involved and help out. Then they learn that here and they go home and get involved and try to make their community better as well.” “I think that it doesn’t just help out the kids but it helps out the communities they live in,” said Cody Spiess. “When I grew up me and my dad started racing and slowly we started working on the track and doing stuff and coming to help out. Then all of the sudden he stepped in and volunteered to be track operator, now I am doing it. Without being involved in this track I doubt that I would have as much sense of community as I do. We always try September/ October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 9
to help kids see that and become better people.” If someone is interested in learning more about BMX racing, the track has Tuesday practices and Wednesday races that run from 6pm-8pm May through August. Normally the practice fee is $4 and the race entry fee is $11, but these fee’s are waived for first timers. “They can come down on any of our practice nights or race nights and we do allow any first time riders to try it out,” said Mike Spiess. “We give them their first practice and race free. You don’t have to sign up for anything, you just have to show up. We have a little liability form for
them to fill out but that is it and they can ride and race.” Of course safety is a concern for parents and riders alike, that is why it is required for every racer to be wearing long sleeve shirts, pants and a helmet during practices and races. And if the rider is interested in pursuing this sport they must acquire a USA BMX membership, which get’s them access to any USA BMX event in the nation, Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico. USA BMX has over 400 tracks, there are around twelve in Minnesota alone and you can go to any of them and race at those tracks with that membership.
Kids line up at the starting gate to practice before a race at the Mankato Area BMX track.
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.
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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 10 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
“What’s great about this sport is that you can be any age and any skill level to compete in it,” said Lorlee Peterson, a volunteer and mother of a BMX rider. “You have kids as young as two years old trying it out and adults that are in their sixties still competing. They are out there enjoying themselves and it’s almost like having an extension to your family out here.”
Starting Clockwise: 1) Colten Landwer, a 13 year old expert rider from Mankato, flies over a jump during a practice run at the Mankato Area BMX track. 2) Sebi Gomez, a 5 year old novice rider, gives a thumbs up while Chiara Austin, a 9 year old, pulls her bike up to the start point before a race at the Mankato Area BMX track. 3) Gavin Weitzel, a 14 year old intermediate rider from Byron, Minn., vaults his bike over a jump on the Mankato Area BMX track. Gavin and his family drive over an hour most Wednesday nights to attend race days at the track in Mankato. 4) Kyle Johnson, a 16 year old expert rider from Mankato, sails over a jump during a practice run at the Mankato Area BMX track. 5) Riders pedal through the first few jumps of the Mankato Area BMX track during a race. In order to keep their momentum, riders are encouraged not to actually jump over obstacles but to keep their tires on the ground in order to maximize their speed potential. 6) Chiara Austin, a 5 year old novice rider from Mankato, pedals over the top of a jump, careful to keep her tires down to maximize her speed, at the Mankato Area BMX track.
September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 11
Towing the Line
W
Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
hen most people think of running, they think of something that they don’t particularly enjoy. Something that if you do it at all, you do it because you need to shake off the extra weight you have been gaining from your sedentary job and lifestyle. “I think in the past or when I was growing up, people had such a negative perception of running because it was used for punishment so often,” said Amy Jordan, the Girls Program Manager for the YWCA Mankato. “Think of all the times you heard coaches to tell you to go run and referred to running as a punishment. All those negative things that are brought to it so we thought of it as a punishment. I think it’s important for people to not see it as a punishment and that it can be enjoyable and pushing yourself is beneficial. Like they say nothing builds confidence like accomplishment.” It’s no surprise that with the rise in technology, we as people seem to have morphed into couch potatoes. We go to work and sit, we come home and sit in front of the television, we sit playing on our phones and tablets and then we go to bed. So how do we fix this epidemic, how do we teach ourselves to enjoy more physical activity? The answer is simple, ingrain a love of running into our kids. “It’s something that they can do, it’s a part of our nature,” said Joe Broze, the Mankato West Cross Country Coach. “Kids love to run and that’s part of what we are as human creatures, we are runners.
Along the way we have lost that, we have lost the fun of it I think. Those kids that stay with it and have some fun with it, they’re in it for the long haul as a lifelong activity.” “I grew up out on a farm and you were active every day whether you wanted to be or not,” said Nik Proehl, a member of a running family. “We didn’t have all of the electronic entertainment, we didn’t have all of these other distractions that do keep you firmly planted inside sitting down and now their generation that’s what there is. Especially if you live in town, your day to day activities are going to be very limited. So getting into the habit of being active every day, it can only help in the long term.” There are currently two programs in Mankato that focus on getting kid’s active and giving them a love for the sport of running. They are called Stride and Girls on the Run and they are put on by the YMCA and YWCA. These programs aim to teach kids that running is not a chore but something you can enjoy, as well as teaching them valuable life lessons and skills at the same time. “It’s cliché to say but it’s true,” said Amy Luethmers, the Stride Director for the YMCA Mankato. “Kids today are playing video games and they have their own phones, there is so much opportunity for kids not to be active, so the fact that they are running and staying active is good for them health wise. And it teaches them that to be healthy is important in life.” “In the beginning the first third of the program is about working on personal development, the middle
12 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
The Mankato West Summer Running Camp Athletes run along the Minnesota river in Mankato to prepare for the upcoming cross country season. ties in with building a team and in the end they develop a sense of community and doing something for the community,” said Amy Jordan. “They do different running activities and are learning life lessons like dealing with bullying, choosing the right friends and building selfesteem.” “I think for kids, when they start running a lot of the kids come to Stride they say I hate running, I don’t want to run, my mom is making me do this, something like that and they end up meeting a lot of kids here who they become friends with,” said Amy Luethmers. “They meet goals that they thought they could never do. I think it just teaches them that
they can do more than they thought they can do. They kind of just open up and share a lot about themselves in the moment. The biggest thing is that kids need to realize that even if they think they can’t do something, they can and that they just need to work for it.” “I think there is more knowledge about running in general,” said Nik Proehl. “How to train properly and effectively. Especially for them at their age, for kids. When I ran as a kid it was just adults telling me to go run. Today in my sons cross country program, the coach changes it up and does different activities and it allows them to have a more comprehensive development. We
didn’t have that growing up.” Running for kids isn’t just a way to help them stay in physical shape either, it also helps with their mental health as well. Running is an individual sport where you have to push yourself to attain your goals, you can’t rely on teammates to do it for you. It has to come from inside of you, sure you can always use some cheering on from friends, family and sometimes complete strangers, but in the end it is you pushing yourself towards that finish line. “In Stride we have a lesson every day, its ten minutes because these kids have been in school all day,” said Amy Luethmers. “A few of them are about how to run mentally
strong and we teach them that there will be times during your run that it will be hard and when it’s hard you need to tell yourself that you can do this.” At the end of each season, both the Stride and Girls on the Run programs team up and put on a 5k for their students to compete in and reach the goals that they had been making all season long. “During the race we teach them that they have been trained for this,” said Amy Luethmers. “That they are ready for this and then during their end of season race they run with a Strider, or running buddy, that runs with them during the entire race and encourages them to get to the finish
September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 13
line. So that’s a big part of Stride, to ensure that every boy reaches the finish line. We tell each of them their strengths, they get a lot of encouragement throughout the whole race.” This is why some local physicians have begun recommending the Stride and Girls on the Run programs to families in the area who have children that might be experiencing any one of the vast amount of issues a kid growing up can encounter. “We were dealing with behavior issues and meeting with a physician in Mankato and he actually recommended it for some of the hyperactivity behaviors we were seeing,” said Rebecca Grassmann, mother of Stride runner Caleb Grassmann. “Caleb has been able to identify his emotions and been able to use some of the strategies that he has learned in Stride to help in his friendships in school and everyday life. We have seen a lot of maturity in him since he has attended.” This makes running a double edged sword for health and when
Top Right: Mankato West Seniors Tyler Rogers and Sheamus Westermann run past the Vetter Stone Amphitheater to prepare for the upcoming cross country season. Middle Right: Junior Ian Sandry (Blurred), Freshman Thomas Zellmer and Junior Aaron Erdman head back to the Mankato West school after a long run along the banks of the Minnesota River in Mankato.
you start running at an early age not only will it keep you at the top of your physical peak but it will also keep you on the top of your mental one as well. And if kids learn to love the sport early enough they are prone to keeping with it and staying healthy through their lives. “The big difference is that when we were growing up we were made to do the mile and now it’s everywhere,” said Angi Proehl, a member of a running family. “There are fun runs, mud runs, obstacle courses, there are all of these different ways where you can actually get in a physical activity. It’s getting people out and I think that running is now looked at as more fun where you can just go out and do it. Before we did it for track and field day or you did it because you
14 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
had to but that was it unless you grew up with it.” Running is a sport that isn’t like many others. Each individual is in essence, playing for themselves, beating their own times and their own goals at their own pace. “It’s tough, I always tell the kids that I don’t know how they feel,” said Joe Broze. “They’re the only ones that know how they feel physically and mentally. They’re the ones that are going to decide how far they go each day, I’m not going so sit there and force them to do anything. The more you force someone to do something the more it takes the fun out of it. Towing the line is difficult, but the finish line is the best feeling ever.”
Express Care Now Open Mayo Clinic Health System Express Care is now open inside the Hilltop Hy-Vee store. This convenient walk-in clinic treats minor medical conditions seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Services include: • Allergies • Bladder infections • Cold sores • Ear and eye infections
• • • •
Insect bites Minor burns Sore throats Vaccines
Mayo Clinic Health System Express Care 2010 Adams Street, Mankato (inside Hy-Vee grocery store) Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
4.95”x4.95”
Kid Oh June 2016
It Pays to Bank Where You're Part Owner! ®
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September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 15
T SMART WAYS TO CUT
BACK-TOSCHOOL COSTS
Submitted by Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
16 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
he end of summer inevitably means a mailbox overflowing with back-to-school sale advertisements. But before you fill your shopping cart, ask yourself these five questions to keep more money in your pockets as you kick off the school year.
DO I HAVE A BUDGET?
The answer, if you want to save money, should be yes. Check your bank account balance and decide how much you can spend on new items, and how much you want to spend. This will be especially important if you need big purchases like a computer. Aim to come in under budget. If you have a couple bucks left over, reward yourself with a latte — or save them for a rainy day.
DO I REALLY NEED THIS?
The best way to save is to not spend at all. Restrict your list to items that you’ve run out of or need more of, not those you want. It’s a good philosophy for all shopping, not just back-to-school.
HOW DO I BALANCE DISCOUNT VS. FULL PRICE?
Basic school supplies — such as pens and pencils, folders and three-ring binders — are simple and largely the same; it’s not worth paying more for a brand or a pop star’s face on the front. The same goes for clothes (better to wait for when the season changes) and textbooks (there are so many avenues to buy used, rent or go electronic). But with other items, you’ll be rewarded later for spending more now. Computers and calculators bought new will last longer and likely require less upkeep than used models.
CAN I PACK LUNCH MORE OFTEN THIS YEAR?
The biggest savings don’t come in once-a-year sales — saving is a habit that follows you through every season. Cut back on the everyday expenses that could be costing you hundreds of dollars a year. If you send your kid off with lunch money, consider packing her meals instead. Invest in some Tupperware that you can stuff with sandwiches, fruit or leftovers. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save, even in just a month.
WHAT ABOUT NEXT YEAR — AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT?
Looking ahead can help save you some extra dollars. Find an unbeatable deal on notebooks? Stash a couple away for next year. For big-ticket items, discounts are your friend — but again, getting the cheapest on the market might mean you’ll have to buy a new computer in two years, or that backpack will snap in six months. Keep your sights focused on the long term to avoid having to shell out more money before you have to.
. FALL YOUTH PROGRAMS . BECOME A MEMBER AND SAVE . . ON YMCA YOUTH PROGRAMS Y PRESCHOOL . . AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES . 3RD-6TH GRADE SOCIALS . . SWIMMING LESSONS . . MARLINS SWIM TEAM . . FLOOR HOCKEY . . VOLLEYBALL . . PRESCHOOL SPORTS . . SKATEBOARD LESSONS . . STRIDE AND STRIDE TOO . . NON-SCHOOL DAY CAMPS . . REGISTER TODAY! . For more information, view our program . guide online at www.mankatoymca.org . or pick up a copy at the Y front desk. . . . . Youth Memberships . only $14/month . . 1401 S. Riverfont Drive . TRANSPORTATION Mankato MN 56001 . AVAILABLE . 507.387.8255 . mankatoymca.org . . September/ October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 17 . .
BE COOL AFTER SCHOOL
Kids create memories, learn skills and build confidence as they explore new interests and passions at the Mankato Family YMCA. We’re committed to helping all kids and teens be their best selves—through programs focused on sports, arts, leadership and family fun.
MANKATO FAMILY YMCA
Kids
on the
run: Ages and stages of running with your kids
W
ith an increasing number of kids involved in running events, many parents wonder when the right time is to introduce their kids to running. Kate Cox, a licensed social worker at Mayo Clinic Health System, says first and foremost, you should absolutely encourage your kids to run. In fact, she and her husband Chaun Cox, M.D, a family physician also with Mayo Clinic Health System, have participated in several running events with their own children. “As professionals, we know the benefits of having our kids involved in running, and as parents, it’s really fun to have something we can all do together.” Kate says some of the benefits of running for kids include increased self-esteem and confidence, improved peer interactions, and decreased anxiety and depression. She also notes running helps reinforce healthy lifestyle choices and reduces screen time. As for when to get kids involved in running events, Kate says that guidelines are just that — a rough idea of what might be developmentally appropriate. “The age kids should start running very much depends on the intensity of the event, as well as each child’s unique physical and emotional readiness,” Kate says. “As long as the event is fun and the child is enjoying it, encourage it.” 18 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
Age and stage guidelines for getting kids running • 5 years old and under: At this age, it’s best to model healthy habits, encourage active play and bring kids to watch running events. Even “diaper dashes” and “toddler trots” are a great way to get the littlest ones involved. An ideal distance for kids to run at this age is around 400 meters, or ¼ of a mile. • 5 to 11 years old: Depending on the child, they may be able to run ½ to 1 mile at this age. This is a good time to register kids for events like the Mankato Marathon KidsK or look at programs such as Girls on the Run or STRIDE, a running program for boys. • 12 to 14 years old: Many kids in this age range are ready for a 5K. • 14 years old and up: If your child is physically and emotionally ready, this is a good age for them to try a 10K or even a half marathon. • 18 years old and up: By this point, your child could run a marathon or even an ultra-marathon. • Kids with special needs: Even kids who aren’t able to run can participate in some events. This year, the Mankato Marathon will host “My Bold Walk,” a 0.6-mile walk for those who may not be able to participate in races because of inactivity, chronic disease or disability.
Tips for running as family — safely! Even though running is generally safe for kids, Dr. Cox says the bulk of injuries he sees usually involve overuse of joints and muscles, or increasing mileage too quickly. He reminds parents to have kids start slow and watch how they are responding both physically and emotionally, noting too much too fast can turn kids off to running. His other tips for running as a family include: • Gradually increase speed and distance, keeping in mind most kids have don’t know how to pace themselves. • Wear proper footwear. • Run together. • Talk positively about running, and model healthy habits. • Change routes. • Turn running into a game, and make it fun. • Register for running events, and set goals — there is nothing like seeing your kids achieve a goal or cross a finish line!
Kate Cox is a licensed social worker, and Chaun Cox, M.D., is a family medicine physician, both with Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. Kate and Dr. Cox are runners themselves and have participated with their children in the Mankato Marathon, Girls on the Run and STRIDE. For more information, visit mayoclinichealthsystem.org.
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September/October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 19
How do You do it By Kelly Kroeker
A
s a mom, I tend to live by the idea that I should “lead by example.” In theory this is great, because I am a gleaming beacon of perfection and will thusly raise perfect little angel children, right? Ahhhh… yes. Of course no one is perfect, and it has taken me a long time to accept that – especially in motherhood. Now with my second daughter out of my body and breathing real air, it’s challenging to see how much has changed between the two children. Between accidents, divorce, birth, changing and quitting jobs, losing pets, adapting to life in general – I have been forced to accept that I am not perfect. And that is totally ok. It’s difficult to adjust to most life changes; especially when they happen fast or close together – or both. We mothers put a lot of pressure on ourselves to keep it all together for the sake of those around us, especially our children. “Go with the flow.” But I think it’s important to let them see us shake a little. Maybe even fail. Because what they need to see is how we get back up – how we recover. If you know me, you know that I wear many hats. Instead of feeling like I’m on a merry-go-round, it often feels like I am a merry-go-round… this sensation of being in a constant state of movement, but not wavering from my post. I have had friends say before that “you make it look so easy” … but to tell you the truth, it’s hard. It’s really really hard. Impossible sometimes. There have been so many of those days where you’re double-booked or over-scheduled – when you’re nipples are raw from nursing all night long, but you get up early and squeeze your giant sad boobs into a sports bra (that’s probably a couple sizes too small) and head out to teach dance aerobics to your loyal and devoted group of seniors – do a quick change/sink bath in the bathroom of the Y and literally speed downtown to perform with one of your bands for a lunchtime community park show – get child #1 to a doctor appointment while wrangling a screaming child #2 …and blah-dy blah-dy blah it’s bedtime and you still haven’t touched your laundry. It is busy … and frenzied …and crazy. But even after all that, I always feel like the final payout is great. Because at the end of those 20 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
days, you can look back and say, “Yeah. I got this. It wasn’t perfect, and it was a little scary – but I survived. I’m stronger now.” And you know what? You’ve got this too. We all do. Many of us just don’t know it yet. We don’t give ourselves enough credit - holding ourselves to these ridiculous and unrealistic Pinterestmom standards. Our kids need love, affection, and structure – not necessarily bento box cold lunches, designer jeans, or screentime (though if that’s your jam, you do you). In the end here, what I’m trying to say is that you are enough. I am enough. And I finally believe myself. This is where that whole “leading-by-example” thing actually plays in. I want my daughters to know that it’s ok to do what you want if it makes you happy, and to ignore the thoughts of blending for the sake of blending. We are our own selves – we are flawed and beautiful and powerful. I want them to reach out with both hands – their tiny fingers stretched wide - and grab for the stuff on the high shelves, knowing that if they don’t get it the first time that it’s still there, waiting to be grabbed. That it’s totally ok to shine and stand out as a truly awesome individual. I am pretty sure that many of my mom-friends (you know who you are) feel the same way – trying to raise strong, free-thinkers that will take this Play-doh blob of a world and mold it into fantastic things… and we worry about whether or not we’re “doing it wrong.” I say “Nah.”
That’s just how you do it.
Eating Breakfast goes a long way for your child’s health By Dr. Lon Knudson Pediatrics
Y
ou’ve heard it before: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But when it comes to your children, there’s a lot of truth behind the statement. In fact, a good quality breakfast helps provide kids with the energy they need for the day and the nutrients they need to continue to grow and develop. Much as it does for adults, eating a nutritious breakfast actually increases feelings of alertness and motivation to learn, which is key for young students. Because of children’s high metabolic turnover and increased growth rates, they need optimal nutrition. A longer night’s rest for kids also means that their bodies are being withheld from food for a longer period of time, which is why eating a nutritious breakfast is especially important. By making sure your kids eat breakfast, you’re helping lead them to better academic performance and improved energy. Often times, children who don’t eat a good breakfast are more tired in school and have shorter attention spans, especially late in the morning. By adding breakfast to their daily routine, kids are more likely to get the vitamins and minerals they need to excel during the day. Mornings can be hectic and it may seem difficult to ensure your child eats a well-balanced breakfast, or maybe your child is a picky eater and you find yourself preparing the same breakfast cereal day after day. Check out the following tips to help make your morning, and breakfast, a little easier.
• If you don’t have time to make your child breakfast, don’t worry! Instead, keep convenient and healthy foods on hand like yogurt, fruit, cheese, instant oatmeal, hard boiled eggs and whole grain bread. Your child can eat their breakfast on the go while on the bus, in the car, or walking to school. • Prepare breakfast the night before my putting breakfast cereal and bowls on the table or peanut butter and bread on the counter to make breakfast easy to prepare. You can even make overnight Crock Pot breakfasts that will be ready by the time you wake up. • Plan the breakfast menu for the week together and then go grocery shopping so your child feels included in decision making. • Make breakfast convenient for them by washing and slicing up fruits so they are ready to grab and go. • Blend milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for 30 seconds for a quick and tasty smoothie. • Make breakfast wraps by using whole-wheat tortillas filled with cheese and apple or banana slices and peanut butter. • Add a handful of chopped or dried fruit to your children’s cereal or oatmeal. • Top a banana with yogurt and sprinkle with your favorite whole-grain cereal to make a spin on a banana split • Top mini-rice cakes with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese and fruit. September/ October 2016 | Kid-oh! • 21
Long Ago Dakota Life The seasons were changing, the bison were on the move and it was time for the Dakota people to move too. The Dakota were hunters who followed the bison (called Tatanka in the Dakota language) as they moved through This is a Parfleche, a box Minnesota. They made from Bison rawhide. moved with the bison The Dakota put their because the bison homes in painted boxes provided food and like these to store them shelter for the people. while they were moving. What did they use to pack their belongings? How did they pack and carry their house? What did they use to rebuild their house? Dakota girls helped take apart and rebuild their homes (called tipis) and gathered food while Dakota boys helped If you “grocery shop” by hunting owned a bison, deer and small game dog or a and by fishing. Although horse they being mainly hunters, the could help Dakota were also farmers you move and your home gatherers on a special who grew sled called and ate a travois or many of drag sled. the foods we buy at the grocery store today— but they had to Dinner! The Dakota grew corn and squash move to get their food! Who might they meet in their travels? Before settlers came to Minnesota, the Dakota might have met visiting people from France and England called Fur Traders. The Dakota may have sold animal furs to these men. The Fur Traders then took the furs to their home countries to be made into clothes and hats. Learn more about the Dakota and the Fur Trade by visiting the Blue Earth County History Center to view some of the items shown on the next page!
in gardens. The foods they gathered included eggs, honey, maple syrup, salt, wild rice, nuts (including peanuts, pine nuts, cashews, hickory nuts and acorns) fruit (such as cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, chokecherries, wild plums and persimmons) and a wide variety of beans, roots and greens.
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The Dakota used bison hides to keep track of the stories of the tribe as they moved. This type of calendar is called a Winter Count. On a hide each tribe kept a history of their people and events.
Tipis or Tepees are houses used by Dakota tribes. A tipi uses a wooden frame of poles made from trees. Tipis were about 12 feet high and covered by 13 to 14 bison hides! Once the Dakota had horses, the tipis became easier to move and even larger! They also had an interior liner to keep out rain and snow. Tipis are carefully designed to be set up and taken down easily. As a tribe moved to new camps, each family would bring their tipi along with them. Dugout canoes were made from a single felled tree. Dugouts were created by burning and scraping out the inside of a tree. In the spring the hollowed out log canoes were used for fishing. Canoes were also to gather and hold maple sap which was boiled down into maple syrup, sugar and hard candies.
Native Americans and fur traders, also called Voyageurs, would trade each other needed supplies like animal pelts for metal cooking utensils and beads.
By Blue Earth County Historical Society Fancy Hats: This headwear is called a Roach and was worn by men from the Dakota nation. It is made from the guard hairs of a porcupine. This fancy hat is also made of animal fur! Called a Stovepipe or top hat, it was worn by elegant men in many countries. This hat was made of Beaver Fur which the fur traders often bought from Native Americans and sold to hatmakers.
Learn more!
Visit the Blue Earth County History Center to see our Native American objects and 1700s Dugout Canoe! Also opening on October 20, 2016 is our newest traveling exhibit: Fur Trade in Minnesota! Because they moved a long way, the Dakota needed sturdy shoes, clothes and pouches. Most items were made from deer and bison hide. The Dakota traded animal furs for things they could not make, like glass beads for their strike-a-light flint bags and shoes.
Beavers were trapped for their fur.
Color your Tipi and add patterns. Cut it out along the outer edges. Fold the tabs under and glue.
Can you find these words in the word find? DAKOTA BONES HUNT BLUE EARTH HERD
BUFFALO HORSE TATANKA DOG MINNESOTA
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Photography by Inspired Portrait Photography Fashions by Once Upon A Child
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NAME
AGE Like Us & Vote on
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Foot to Head This is a preparation pose for Foot Behind Head (Eka Pada Sirsasana) This is a fun pose to do with kids because the younger they are the more flexibility they still have in the hips. To start, sit criss cross and grab one foot with both hands. Touch the toes to the chest, toes to the chin, toes to nose, toes to forehead and finally toes to the top of the head (if they are willing). Then start over with the other foot. This is an advanced pose for most and requires some flexibility so start low with the foot and don’t force the leg up.
Benefits of Foot Behind Head Pose: • Stretches hamstrings, hip flexors, calves, spine • Opens hips • May relieve stress and fatigue • Relaxes the mind Fun Tip: Kids find it funny to smell their feet so go ahead and tell them to smell their feet J This is an advanced pose for most and requires some flexibility so start low with the foot and don’t force the leg up.
Partner Down Dog Kids that have a solid Down Dog pose can play around with stacking their poses. The first child will get in Down Dog pose (girl on the right). The second child will stand up by the head and put their hands on the floor (half their body length away from the other child’s hands) facing the same direction as the first child. Then the second child will step one foot at a time up onto the middle or low back of the first child, who is already in Down Dog position.
Benefits of Down Dog Pose: • Stronger hands, wrists, low-back, hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon • Decrease in back pain by strengthening the entire back and shoulder girdle • Elongated shoulders and shoulder blade area • Decrease in tension and headaches by elongating the cervical spine and neck and relaxing the head • Deepened respiration • Decreased anxiety • Increased full-body circulation Fun Tip: Kids like to climb and climb on others, stacking Down Dogs is a fun and more formal way to let them do that where both kids are having fun. Make sure to be safe while getting in and out of the poses.
Wheel Pose
This is a hard pose for young kids because of the strength required to lift themselves off the floor and the flexibility of the spine. Start by lying flat on your back with the legs bent and the feet on the floor. Place the hands, palms down, flat on the floor up by the ears, fingers pointed toward the feet. Push the hands into the floor to bring the top of the head onto the floor. For some kids this is where they will stay until enough strength is built up to push up further and get their head off the floor. Make sure to come down slowly and cautious of the head and neck.
Benefits Wheel Pose: • Expands your chest and shoulders. • Stretches you hip flexors and core musculature. • Stretches your wrist flexor muscles. • Strengthens the muscles that control your shoulder blades. • Strengthens your gluteus muscles of your hip and hamstrings. • Strengthens your low back musculature. • Relieves some forms of low back pain. • Therapeutic for asthma, opening the accessory muscles of breathing. Fun Tip: Assistance can be given by gently lifting the hips as the child lifts the head off the floor.
*Thank you to Maggie Hardy (pictured above) **Clothing pictured is courtesy of Scheels.
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and mother of two girls, Elea age 5 (pictured) and Ava age 2 (not pictured). Teaching yoga at the Mankato Family YMCA and various places of business in Mankato. Specializing in Kids Yoga, Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Yoga for Athletes. Find me on Instagram and Facebook at ‘Gena Heminover Yoga’ https://www.facebook.com/AthletesYoga Or email: heminoveryoga@yahoo.com 30 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
Tips for Kids:
Kids naturally have a short attention span so keep each pose under 30 seconds.
Allow your child to play around with their body positioning in each pose. They don’t have to be perfect!!
If they are old enough have them help you count to 10 while holding the pose.
Cobra Pose To start, lay down on the stomach and place the hands flat down underneath the shoulders. Then slowly bring the head and chest of the floor. If it is comfortable for the spine, continue bringing the ribcage off the floor by straightening the arms. Roll the shoulders back and relax them down away from the ears.
Benefits Cobra Pose: • Strengthens the muscles in the arms, shoulders and back. • Helps to strengthen the spine. • Firms the buttocks. • Stretches the abdominals, chest and shoulders. • Helps to relieve fatigue and stress. • Helps to relieve sciatica. Fun Tip: Kids can pretend they are a snake and wiggle around and make a hissing snake sound in the pose.
MEET YOUR TRAINER AS THE KIDSFIT™ ONLINE TRAINER, DARA DRIFTMER’S GOAL IS TEACHING AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE ABOUT HEALTH, EXERCISE AND NUTRITION. NEAR THE END OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, SHE VISITED 44 SCHOOLS FROM KANSAS TO WISCONSIN WITH HER MESSAGE. “WE’VE ALMOST DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO HAVE SIGNED ONTO
A lack of exercise combined with poor eating habits has created an epidemic of childhood obesity throughout the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends kids spend a minimum of 60 minutes a day doing physical activities. Unfortunately, far too many kids spend more time in front of screens and go on gadgets, leaving them sedentary. Partnering with youthhealth specialist Dara Driftmer, Hy-Vee created Kidsfit™, an online program designed to encourage kids ages 7 to 17 to get more active at home and have fun doing it. Through videos, blog posts, training guides and more, kids have everything they need to exercise at home - on their own or with their families - without any equipment or a costly gym membership. Visit www.hy-veekidsfit.com to get started!
KIDSFIT™ AND I’VE RECEIVED SO MANY LETTERS, NOTES AND POEMS FROM KIDS ABOUT WORKING OUT.” SHE SAYS, WHICH SHOWS HOW EXCITED KIDS ARE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
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Animal Adventures Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
Three pets escape from a California ranch to find their owners in San Francisco.
The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
The AristoCats
Marley & Me
With the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country.
A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog.
(1970)
The adventures of a young cat and a dog as they find themselves accidentally separated and each swept into a hazardous trek.
(2008)
Flipper
(1996 & 1964)
Air Bud (1997)
A young boy and a talented stray dog with an amazing basketball playing ability become instant friends.
Bolt
Sandy Ricks is sent by his mom to Coral Key, a rustic island in the Florida Keys, to spend the summer with his uncle Porter Ricks. Sandy dislikes everything about his new environment until a Ratatouille new friend comes into his life, a dolphin named (2007) Flipper, that brings uncle A rat who can cook and nephew together and makes an unusual leads Sandy on the summer alliance with a adventure of a lifetime. young kitchen worker at a famous restaurant.
(2008)
The canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.
Babe
(1995)
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett. 32 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
Beethoven (1992)
A slobbering St. Bernard becomes the center of attention for a loving family, but must contend with a dog-napping veterinarian and his henchmen. Courtesy of IMBD.com
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Two childhood friends find themselves forced to become enemies.
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Paper Dolls Carefully Cut-Out Paper Dolls
Be Your Own
Designer
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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!
Be Your Own
Designer
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Q:
Q:
Why did the policeman ticket the ghost?
Where do ghosts buy their food? A. At the ghost-ery store.
Q: Why are vampires so easy to fool? A. Because they’re suckers.
What treat do eye doctors give out on Halloween?
A. It didn’t have a haunting license.
Q:
A. Candy corneas.
Q:
What do mummies like listening to on Halloween?
Q:
What has webbed feet, feathers, fangs and goes quack-quack? A. Count Duckula.
JOKES
Which ghost is the best dancer? A. The Boogie Man!
Q
:
What is a ghost’s favorite dessert? A. Booberry pie. 44 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
What’s a vampire’s favorite fruit?
Q: What is a goblin’s favorite cheese? A. Monster-ella!
A. The scary-go-round and rollerghoster!
Q:
Q: A. A necktarine!
What are a ghost’s favorite rides at the fair?
Why do vampires need mouthwash? A. Because they have bat breath.
A. Wrap music!
Q:
Q:
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Art by Flora - 11 - Blue Earth Elementary
Design your backpack
By the time you turn 10, you will have worn down approximately 730 crayons and will have spent about 28 minutes per day coloring (on average). In the Color Census of 2000, blue was voted the favorite crayon color. The worst? Tan, tumbleweed and spring green.
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Please join us August 15th from 4:00-8:00 pm for our Annual Open House for lemonade and cookies!
Keep your kids’ minds and bodies in motion even after the school bell rings. This guide is filled with constructive extra-curricular activities for kids to enjoy after school and on weekends.
INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR! Special thanks to:
Auditions for the New Brass & Winds Ensemble will be held on Saturday, October 1. NSS & MAYSO Sept. 10 & 11.
Blue Earth County
LIBRARY
Taylor Corporation Friends of the Deep Valley Libraries Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Traverse des Sioux Noodles & Co. Papa Murphy's Pizza Mankato MoonDogs Chipotle Mexican Grille Experimental Aircraft Association Insomnia Cookies Jersey Mike's TJ and Lisa at Minnesota 93 Country Radio And don't forget to stop down during the school year.
MANKATO’S PREMIER COMMUNITY CHOIR FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES 1 - 12 Rehearsals begin September 12 Register now through August for the 2016-17 season www.mankatochildrenschorus.org • 507-387-9007
YWCA Mankato
Fall Dates Sept. 6th - Oct. 17th, 2016 Monday - Wednesday Afternoons 5:10pm - 5:40pm 5:50pm - 6:20pm
Saturday Mornings 9:00am - 9:30am 9:40am - 10:15am 10:20am - 10:55am
1400 Madison Ave Suite 318 507-625-2005 dcsmdance.com
Calling all student musicians.
CARRY YOUR
SUMMER READING HABITS
Free Registration for new families, $10 off for returning families! Ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, hip hop, belly dancing, and more!
INSPIRING GIRLS to be JOYFUL HEALTHY & CONFIDENT! Serving 3rd-5th grade girls in: Mankato North Mankato Eagle Lake Lake Crystal St. Peter Janesville
mankatoywca.org or (507) 345-4629
Fall Concert Series at Bethany College, Trinity Chapel starts at 3 pm November 13 (MAYSO & NSS) January 14 (YWE) March 12 (MAYSO & NSS) April 29 (YWE)
Signup online at www.mayso.net
Discover Your Story Blue Earth County History Center Do History Here
424 Warren St., Mankato
History Center Hours Tues.-Fri., 9 am-5 pm Sat., 10 am-4 pm The History Center includes a Gift Shop, Marian Anderson Art Gallery, Research Center and Museum.
ENJOY THE GREATEST BIRTH DAY PARTY EXPERIEN CE STAURANT
RE SPORTS BAR &
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BOWLING • LASER TAG MINI GOLF • SPORTS BAR ARCADE • DINING ROOM PRIVATE PARTY ROOMS
T
M
ATO’S ACTION SP K N O A
507-625-2695 • 2030 Adams St. • Mankato www.wowzonefec.com 52 • Kid-oh! | September/October 2016
The Museum features hands-on history fun in the Discovery Lab, a diorama of 1880s Mankato, treasures from local author Maud Hart Lovelace and an interactive Pioneer Cabin and Barn. Admission charged.
YOUNG HISTORIANS Hands-on History Workshops for Kids 2nd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. September - May Explore Blue Earth County’s Natural History starting September 10. Free.
Historic Hubbard House Experience Early 1900s Mankato
606 S. Broad St., Mankato
Hubbard House Hours Open Weekends May-Sept. & Dec. Explore the 16-room mansion of local flour mill giant R.D. Hubbard and his family, completed in 1905. Guided one -hour tours; admission charged.
For more information, visit www.BlueEarthCountyHistory.com 507-345-5566
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