JULY/AUGUST 2017
y a l P & n r a e L Children’s Museum
The Free Press MEDIA
Cover s t n onte kids
C
6 Peeps
Christina Sankey
7
Say What
What’s In Your Picnic Basket
8 Pleasant Grove 12 Dare to Follow
Lolo (5)
and almost Max (4)
Your Dreams
16 Money
7 Money Saving Tips for Teens
17 How Do You Do It?
Styled by:
Heather Fisher
18 Be Healthy
Validating
22 Nosh
Fresh & Fun Flatbread Pizza
24 Historical Feature
WWI: 100 Year Later
26 Kid Writer
Summer With Aunt Janis
28 hOMie
Inspired Portrait Photography
Physical Benefits of Play
18 Mental Health
Photography by:
Cat & Cow Pose Bow Pose Cobra Pose
2 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
30 Flicks
Under The Sea Adventure
31 Healthy Kids
4 Important Questions About Measles
32 The Children’s Museum
38 4th of July Slime
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JULY/AUGUST 2017 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4
Hello!
I
t’s officially SUMMER! How are your Kid-ohs doing so far? I think that summer really brings out the personalities of my kids. It allows them to not be distracted by school and just be themselves. That being said, it means that my daughter is NEVER home (always running, running-either at a babysitting job, pulling weeds for a friend in need, swimming, shopping, eating and all of that with her boyfriend…that’s another story all together…so weird…I am not ready!) And my son is home. Always home. Doesn’t really feel the need to not be at home. How many more days until they go back to school? Don’t you just love the cover this issue? That’s what a childhood summer should be; playing outside, pretending, creating, enjoying the sunshine. I hope your Kid-ohs get plenty of that while the season lasts! More sun, less screens. Did you know that one of our local Kid-ohs was on Project Runway? For reals! She is a local high school student at West and she is so cool! Check out the story on her in this issue and her a-ma-zing gummy bear dress. What an inspirational kid! We are bring back the craft pages here in Kid-oh! with the help of Heather Fisher from Salvage Sisters. Thank you Heather for lending a hand! (And a special thanks to Margot Weyhe at The Design Center for letting us show up and make slime in her drop-dead gorgeous show room!) You can also learn a little bit more about Heather in this issue because she also wrote the How Do You Do It page. Thanks again! Good luck surviving summer vacation! I hope your days are filled with beaches and picnics and climbing in trees and you nights are filled with campfires and lightning bugs and stars.
PUBLISHER Steve Jameson EDITOR/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jordan Greer 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 E. Madelyn James Heather Fisher Hazel Fisher Samson Fisher lolo & max 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 Justin Niles
Jordan Greer
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! | July/August 2017
Does your child need specialized care?
When certain health issues arise, a medical specialist is often the best option to help manage your child’s care. That’s why Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato offers an array of pediatric and adolescent specialty services, including: • Allergy • Audiology • Cardiology
• Ear, Nose and Throat • Gastroenterology • General Surgery
• Neurology • Orthopedics • Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
• Clinical Nutrition
• Infectious Diseases
• Urology
Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment.
mayoclinichealthsystem.org
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 5 7.875”x10.375”
Kid Oh July 2017
L to R: Arthur-13, Fl
ora-11, Anna-10 an d
a n i t s i r Ch y e k n a S Occupation: Graphic Designer and Layout Specialist
What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is just being creative. I usually take hundreds of images, ads and various copy to make everything come together in one big finished product.
Where I work:
Harrison-16
How long have you lived in the Mankato Area?
My family and I reside in Winnebago for the last 8 years, orginally from Blue Earth.
What is your favorite thing to do in Mankato Area?
Fishing!!
Getting the boat out or enjoying a relaxing time on the dock. Sibley Park is always a family favorite.
What did you want to be when you grew up? By the age of five, I know what I wanted to be. Whenever people asked, I always responded an Artist. It was about 17 when I knew, I wanted to be a Graphic Designer.
I work at The Free Press in Mankato. I am a Graphic designer that loves being creative. I work with a great bunch of people around the building and in the public. You may find me at my desk working on many different projects. Sometimes it just looks like I'm coloring. I work on several magazines at one time. Keeping me busy with magazines is one thing. Advertising, flyers, editorial graphics and helping with other tasks fills the rest of my day. I love the rush of getting everything done on a deadline. 6 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
W ha
t's in aysokeud some Knidi-coh basket? r pic We
’s
Liliana
Age: 6 Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and apple juice.
Amelia
Age: 6 Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apples, brownies, cookies, apple juice, Gatorade and lemonade.
Jaxson
Macey
Age: 11 I would bring my Copic Markers and sketchbook and a Lip Smacker Tsum Tsum lip balm.
Hayden
Age: 7 I would bring my whole family including my dog Goblin, a bag of Fruit Loops, a cheeseburger, chocolate milk, chocolate covered blueberries and American Girl Dolls to play with.
Breckyn Age: 5 Just snacks.
Age: 9 Sandwiches, chips, drinks and chocolate.
Flora
Age: 11 Money and snacks.
Anna
Age: 10 Sub sandwich and string cheese.
Adam
Age: 6 Brownies, cake, cupcakes, cookies and Gatorade.
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 7
PLEASANT GROVE Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
8 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Y
Bee Balm Fields, a local band, plays a set during the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farms season opener on Mother’s Day. ou’ve heard of a corn farm, you’ve heard of a cow farm, but have you ever heard of a pizza farm? I know what you’re thinking. A farm that grows pizza?! But no, that isn’t quite what a pizza farm is, no matter how amazing that would be. But if you want to find out what a pizza farm is, all you have to do is drive just north of Waseca and go see for yourself. Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm is a hobby farm located on 50 acres north of Waseca, Minnesota where the owners, Bill Bartz and Emily Knudsen, make homemade Italian style brick oven pizzas. Visitors to the farm are encouraged to bring their own table, chairs, beverage, salad, snacks and desserts. They are also a clean farm, so what you bring in you take out, including your trash, so make sure to bring a trash bag. They also have a donkey, a goat, and two alpacas. They also have about a mile of walking paths through prairies and oak groves. And to really make it a place that you want to hang out, they have a stage set up and have live music when they are open. The pizza farm is open Thursdays beginning June 1st from 4pm to 8pm and every Sunday from 1pm to 7pm. The property was originally a working farm less than a decade ago, but the owners retired it and turned it into a Wetlands Reserve Program area. “That’s what makes this cool,” said Bill. “It’s an agricultural program and it’s trying to restore Minnesota to what it used to look like. That’s why we have the trails out there, so people can see the oak groves, and the natural land.” When he bought the place, Bill was originally thinking they could do weddings or things like that. Bill and Emily
were dating at the time, and were talking about different things that they could do with the place. “I was thinking of turning it into a wedding venue, and Emily didn’t like the idea a ton,” said Bill. “Emily was born and raised in the Red Wing area and she asked me if I had ever heard of a Pizza Farm before. And I had never heard of it, but we went to one just a few days after she said that, because I had looked into it because when we had the conversation about them I just didn’t get it. She took me to one called A to Z Pizza Farm, it was kind of like the original one. Same deal as us, they have a farm place and raise a lot of their own products that go on to the pizzas. I totally fell in love with the idea.” With the help of his dad and some friends of theirs, Bill and Emily soon got to work molding the property into what it is today. “Emily was really good about that, keeping it really simple,” said Bill. “Cleaning it up and not using knickknacks and gimmicks, just the woods, the prairie, accenting the building like we have. It all started with taking the pasture fence downs, cutting smaller brush down, start seeding, and the first year we really shaped the property into what it is. Thanks to my dad, some other friends, and Emily and I, we remodeled this building into what it is.” As they were building and getting the property ready, Bill and Emily spent the extra time they had making pizzas, lots of pizzas. They wanted to make as much from scratch as they could, so they started making recipes and testing them out to see which ones they liked the best. “We are working and tweaking all of that,” said Bill. “In 2014 and 2015 we were constantly making pizza in our own oven. Probably somewhere in spring of 2015 we had July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 9
Kason Morris, age 7, son of Michelle Schlaak of North Mankato, kicks a soccer ball around the grounds of the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm during their season opener on Mother’s Day.
Laura Karels, lead singer of Bee Balm Fields, helps out in the kitchen during the season opener on Mother’s Day.
Dorothea Maria, one of the animals at the Pizza Farms petting zoo, wanders around the pasture.
Karlan Scruggs, age 5, blows bubbles at the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farms season opener on Mother’s Day.
Lincoln Thomez, age 2, plays bags at the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farms season opener on Mother’s Day. 10 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
our oven up and running. So we took all of our recipes from our house and just started implementing them out there. Just kind of got the ball rolling that way and finally got confident enough to where we put four or maybe five pizzas on the menu the first time we opened.” They are planning on putting more gardens out and growing more of their own ingredients at the farm that will go on the pizzas. Right now they are using a lot of the local growers within a ten mile radius, whether it’s their pork products or a lot of the vegetables and other ingredients that go on top of their pizzas. “They get a lot of their produce for their pizza sauce and toppings by sourcing them locally from farmers in the area,” said Alex Schlaak, a recurring customer of Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm. “I think it’s important and vital to keep that stuff local because without that then your neighbor is not selling his vegetables or not getting good money for his vegetables and it effects everybody in the community.” But Pleasant Grove Pizza Farms real niche is the fact that Bill and
Ava Morris and Jae Widboom, ages 10 and 11, play Frisbee at the Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm during their season opener on Mother’s Day.
Emily love music and have incorporated it into their business. Every night that they are open they have live music playing that is mostly from local bands. “I think that’s what makes our little farm really unique,” said Bill. “We concentrate on music and really the arts as a whole.” “Our community is very important to us,” said Emily. “It’s what we believe in, whether you are from here or somewhere else. Home is where it is and we believe in the development of the area and bringing other people in to experience Waseca County. I just think it’s important and we seem to be growing. I would consider us starting to become successful and I credit that with making so many friends and a lot of our success is that we use our local farmers and local musicians and they support us in return. They bring their friends and families to check the place out and the word spreads about us. If you take care of your own, it comes back full circle, it always does.”
Making a difference... one child at a time. Main Clinic
150 St. Andrews Ct, Suite 310 Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507-388-KIDS (5437) Fax: (507) 388-2108 General E-Mail: ptskids@kidtherapy.com
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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. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, please call 507-388-KIDS (5437)
Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. Making a difference... one child at a time
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 11
Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
DARE TO FOLLOW YOUR
Dreams
A
Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
rt, it comes in many different varieties and outlets. But when someone thinks of art, they might typically think of painting, drawing, sculpting, or something along those lines. What you might not think of right off the bat as art, is the designing of clothes. But make no mistake, clothes are art, and Mankato has its very own artist. Hawwaa Ibrahim got her first sewing machine when she was twelve years old after she started watching a lot of Do It Yourself (DIY) videos on YouTube. “I used to watch all of these DIY videos and eventually it led to sewing because it’s all connected when you make your own stuff,” said Hawwaa. “I would watch all these YouTubers who were making all these jackets and skirts and all that and I was like hey I want to do that, I don’t have to go to the stores and buy all these clothes I can just waste my money on fabric instead. So that’s how I got interested. Even on social media you see all these celebrities with clothes on that you can’t buy in stores, so I thought maybe I could make them.” As well as watching a lot of YouTube videos on the subject of Fashion Design, Hawwaa also started watching Project Runway and Project Runway Junior. And with the help of her parents, at the age of 16, she applied to be on the show. “I used to watch the adult Project Runway a lot when I was younger and even now I watch it all the time,” said Hawwaa. “I used to say that all the people on the show were cool and wonder how they could make up that stuff that quick. Then I found out they had a junior version, which was amazing, so my mom was like if you want to be a fashion designer we could sign you up for this and maybe you can do it. So we signed up and it just went from there.” To start being on Project Runway Junior there is an online application from the casting and production company, Mystic Arts. Hawwaa filled out the application telling them about herself and then after a little while a casting director called her and told what she needed to know about the show. After that they sent her to a face to face interview in July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 13
“I was super nervous before I met the other designers, it was so crazy because I was thinking things like what if they are better than me,” said Hawwaa.
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14 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
New York. “What I had to do was take some clothing that I wanted to show to them that I had recently designed and made myself,” said Hawwaa. “I was going to some designs of things that I already had and pulled out of my closet but I had never made a collection before so I tried to make it cohesive, the designs that I wanted to show so it kind of seemed like I knew what I was doing but I really didn’t. So I took those to New York and tried to explain what my inspiration and design style was and they like it I guess.” After the face to face interview, Hawwaa got the news that she would be on the show. “I was super nervous before I met the other designers, it was so crazy because I was thinking things like what if they are better than me,” said Hawwaa. “I only started sowing when I was 12 and everyone else was saying that they were sowing since they were like three, so I was all over the place but I was excited because I watched Project Runway for so long and it was in New York. New York is amazing and just to be on the show is so crazy, especially because they told us that
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more than a thousand people had applied and us twelve had been chosen, it was just such an honor.” Although Hawwaa did not win the entire season, she did make it with three other designers, to the final show. “For me it was a good experience because I find living here in this small town in Minnesota that there isn’t much to do,” said Hawwaa. “So when you go to the city you have all of these opportunities and you can go all over the place. Before I got on the show I would make relatively simple things like simple skirts, and I don’t know if other people would say it, but I would say boring clothes. I think Project Runway Junior would make me think outside the box, especially with the certain challenges we had. We had to think about crazy things and I think after experiencing that, now that is all I can think about. Now I can do something different or I can make this or that and have it crazy. It has definitely enhanced my whole design style.” After learning a lot and experiencing lots of new things, Hawwaa came back to Minnesota to finish off High School. She has
enrolled in to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York for the fall. “I wish I could jump into working in fashion to be honest, but I got accepted to Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, so I will be going there for fashion design in the fall,” said Hawwaa. “I’m excited. I have wanted to go there since I was twelve actually because when I was researching fashion schools after I read about it and I thought it was pretty cool. I even researched the other schools in New York and they just didn’t really speak to me. I feel like FIT focuses more on the student and are actually trying to prepare you for a job after you have graduated. So, I just liked the whole vibe that it gave off and I ended up taking a summer class there just for High School credit and while I was there I thought that this is definitely the school that I want to go to.” There are still a few months in between graduating high school and fall semester starting, so in the meantime she has set up two fashion shows to keep her busy. “One is in St. Paul at Can Can Wonderland and that is my little
own showing that I have with Culture Piece Magazine there,” said Hawwaa. “I’m showing six pieces, maybe more, so I am working on that right now. Immediately after that I have to start on a seventeen piece collection for New York Fashion Week. That’s in September, so I will be busy.” With the help of her family and friends, Hawwaa has dared to follow her dreams. And in that, she has found happiness and success. “I think that it’s actually really important to follow your passion, because time and time again people have told me that I won’t be able to get a job, that it’s too hard,” said Hawwaa. “When people say that to you, it kind of hurts. But you have to realize that if you want to do something then you can’t let what others say about it get in your way. You should just go for it. With art it is definitely kind of nerve-racking because you are not guaranteed a job in the industry and it takes a lot of hard work, but if you are willing to do it then you should definitely go for it. Everyone is going to fail sometime in their life, but you just have to get right back up.”
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 15
Submitted by Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
7 MONEY-SAVING TIPS FOR TEENS
M
ost teenagers probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leap at the prospect of learning about personal finance on their own. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to take the time to teach them smart money management. To get the conversation started, here are seven topics worth discussing to help your teen avoid costly financial missteps in the future. ENCOURAGE YOUR TEEN TO GET A JOB: Preaching about the value of a hard-earned dollar isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite as effective as encouraging your child to get a job. By working for their money, teenagers are likely to begin thinking critically about how they spend it, which is a good habit to pick up at an early age. If your child is too young for a job, you could provide a weekly allowance for helping around the house. HELP YOUR TEEN SET A BUDGET: Once your teen starts earning money, explain how to set a budget. Consider explaining the difference between essential and nonessential expenses, providing examples from your own life. SET FINANCIAL GOALS TOGETHER: Since creating a budget isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the most exciting activity, introducing the idea of saving up for a fun purchase might reinvigorate your teen. Putting away money every month requires discipline and is a great skill to practice at an early age by regularly stashing away some cash for a new smartphone, for example. Crunch the numbers with your child to determine how much needs to be saved each month to hit the savings goal by a certain date. HELP YOUR TEEN SIGN UP FOR A CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNT: So money doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be stashed under their mattress, sign your teenager up for a checking 16 â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
and savings account. Although youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to co-own the account if your child is under 18, your teen can have an active role in managing it. Just know that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to foot the bill if any fees, such as overdrafts, are incurred. ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE CREDIT CARD USE Although your child wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to get a credit card before turning 21, anyone can be set up as an authorized user on your plastic at any age. Make sure to implement rules regarding when your teen can use the card, and make it abundantly clear that your credit score will take a hit if your card is maxed out.
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HOW DO YOU DO IT?
Finding Work - Life Balance By Heather Fisher
I
t wasn’t until attending MSU earning my Interior Design degree that I finally discovered my ambition. I was a nontraditional student, graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors while 7 months pregnant with my first child Hazel who is now 9. After Hazel was born I continued to go, go, go, bringing my 3-week-old baby to work at my then husband’s business. I had no idea what “work life balance” was. Once I found my ambition, I just couldn’t stop. I am an opportunist and couldn’t say no to opportunities that kept presenting themselves to me whether they were volunteering, social invitations, kid sleepovers, or even getting a dog! Saying Yes has allowed me to have some amazing experiences including: Operating Salvage Sisters which is celebrating its 5th year in business, filming a Television pilot, “Minnesota Salvage” for HGTV (there are still things in the works), traveling to inspiring places, and being a Mom to Hazel and Samson. It wasn’t until last year that I just couldn’t keep all the balls in the air any longer. After being separated from my then husband, I took on a full-time career, ran my shop while my kids were asleep, filmed a tv show on the weekends and I was a single mom. Naturally some things needed to take a back seat to my ambitious career goals unfortunately it was my kids who I put off. I justified it by telling myself that everything I was building, I was doing for us as a family and that someday, when I could, I would slow down. At one point, I remember being frustrated that I had to read multiple stories and sing multiple songs all by myself at bedtime! Didn’t they know that I had ads to create, social media to update and furniture to select?! Then it hit me. I wasn’t doing anyone around me any favors by being consistently under pressure, that these little humans
that I take so much pride in would soon be indifferent to whether they had my attention. It was just a matter of time before they won’t seek me out to read them stories or sing songs. The opportunity that I needed to say yes to was the chance to be a present parent Photo by Jennife during r Raines at Littl e Rascal Studio their childhood before it’s gone. My littles are hitting growth spurt Through Salvage Sisters, I’ve been after growth spurt and their interests fortunate to work with so many are changing so fast. I’m able to be small business women and I am home with my children during finding that many of them are much of the summer, we have plans having the same realization at this to swim, craft and explore. They are point in their careers. A few of watching me run my business AND them have completely shut down be a mom while we navigate the production of their successful and days together. I may not get any growing handmade businesses to be public accolades for choosing to be more present for their kids and I present in their childhood, the hugs found it to be commendable. That’s I give or the songs I sing but I’ve when I began to scale back my noticed a difference in my kids. outside responsibilities and replace Parenthood is a learning curve for them with time for my kids. It was all of us and everyone is just trying and still is a very difficult change for to do the best they can day to day, me because so much of my selfI’m still trying to understand what worth was tied up in how much I work-life balance is and I’m learning did in the community, at work and to allow myself a little Grace at my store. I thrived on my through the process. accomplishments and of course, I needed the money! The decision to scale back my store was difficult but it instantly allowed me to realign my focus to the things that feed my soul. July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 17
Physical Benefits of Play Play! It’s good for your family’s health!
With summer in full swing and seemingly unlimited opportunities for kids to play, it’s a good time to remember that play isn’t just fun— it’s the foundation for healthy growth. Hilary Kent, a physical therapist with Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, says play strengthens bones, muscles, lungs and the heart, and can help reduce obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. In addition to the positive physical benefits of play, Kent says play is also important for emotional and mental development. Play helps build confidence — think of the boost kids get when they go down the “big slide” or learn to pump on a swing — and can teach them how to problem solve. “Children learn how to work in a community through play,” Kent says. “It teaches them to explore the relationships they see adults modeling, helps them become aware of their surroundings, and allows them the opportunity to control their environment.” Kent says play is also a great way for kids to release energy, something most parents already know. “Play is a great way for kids to work through their emotions. Getting that energy out also allows them to focus on other tasks and sleep better.”
Tips for encouraging play
Play doesn’t have to be structured, complicated or require expensive equipment. Providing ideas can be helpful, but kids should direct their own play when possible. Kent says she hopes parents will join in, noting children are more likely to be playful when they see their parents participating. 18 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Low cost and simple play ideas: Outdoor play ideas:
• Teach kids games from your childhood, such as hop scotch, “Mother May I” or “Simon Says” • At a playground, pretend the ground is lava with the goal to move across the playground without touching the ground • Ride bikes • Run around the block or down the street as fast as you can • Make dirt soup • Create a nature collection • Go on a color or shape walk by choosing a color or shape and trying to find it along the walking path
Indoor play ideas:
• Use pillows or cushions to create an obstacle course • Have an indoor snowball fight with soft balled socks • Secure colored paper to the floor and race from color to color • Have a treasure hunt in your home by hiding small objects and giving your child directions to find them • Check out indoor play areas that encourage play as well as largemuscle activity, such as the play area at River Hills Mall in Mankato or the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Kent also reminds parents that no matter where play happens, it’s important for children as well as grown-ups. “Play can lower stress hormones and provide many of the same physical benefits for you as it does for kids. So, play along with the kids; it’s good for you.”
Hilary Kent is a physical therapist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
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July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 19
Validation Y Submitted by Sarah K. Sifers | Five Rivers Mental Health Clinic
outh who struggle with intense emotions tend to respond well when caregivers use validation. Validation acknowledges thoughts and feelings regardless of whether they are logical or accurate. By acknowledging these feelings while still requiring children to act appropriately, youth learn the difference between what they feel and what they do. It helps them learn to identify, appropriately express, and effectively deal with emotions. This leads to selfconfidence, better relationships, and better behavior. When caregivers use validation, youth are more likely to open up to and accept guidance from the caregiver. Emotions become less intense because the youth feels heard without having to escalate the emotional intensity. Validating is when
caregivers let youth share their thoughts and feelings and the caregiver acknowledges those thoughts and feelings without criticism, judgement, or rejection. It is not comforting or praising the youth, although those can be helpful, too. It is not agreeing with the youth or like the youth’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. It also is not letting the youth do whatever he or she wants. It simply is letting the youth know you understand what he or she is feeling is real to him or her in that moment. That helps the youth learn that emotions and behavior are separate and that emotions are not wrong, but actions can be wrong and thoughts can inaccurate even though they feel very real. It is essential to teach youth how to appropriately express and cope with those emotions, regardless of the caregiver’s perception of their accuracy. Validation can be difficult, particularly in the heat of the moment. It can be an effective way to support youth and to model effective interpersonal skills for them to learn. When caregivers validate youths’ feelings, it opens the door to teaching children how to effectively cope with feelings without having to change the situation or fix the “problem.” This is important because many times in life upsetting situations cannot be changed or fixed. Validation does not involve talking children out of feelings because denying feelings tends to cause them to come out in other, unhelpful, ways rather than effectively dealing with them head on. Validating and then letting youth work things out teaches them that we have faith in their coping abilities so they grow in their confidence. Validation requires giving your full attention. This includes removing distractions, making eye contact, nodding your head, and other ways of showing that you are really listening. Validation involves reflecting back what you see and hear. That is, commenting on what you are hearing and observing such as through saying, “It sounds like …” “It seems...” “What I’m hearing…” Validation also involves trying to state what the child is feeling and wanting. Really try to put yourself in the youth’s shoes and observe what the child is saying and doing in light of what you know about the youth. Putting
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! | July/August 2017
a name to feelings and needs or talking about what the youth wants even if it is impossible shows you understand and provides a foundation for possible future problem solving. It is okay to ask questions to make sure caregivers understand the youth’s perspective or to allow the youth to provide correction when the caregiver misunderstands. That is how communication is learned. Caregivers can let the youth know that the emotions are okay and make sense in that situation. This is acceptance that allows the youth to begin to deal with the emotions in a healthy, effective way. Validation also involves showing your concern and that you are empathizing or experiencing the emotion along with them. It is okay to even mention having felt similarly or dealt with similar situations, although the focus should stay on the youth. Validation is most effective when done with genuineness and realness. Emotions do not always resolve quickly and youth pick up on adults being fake, which is not validating.
Examples of Validating Statements • It’s okay to feel…
• Given your experience with …, it makes sense that you feel… • Most people would feel the same way. • I’ve felt like that before. • I see that… • You sure do… • You seem… • It looks like you’re feeling… • From what I’m hearing, it sounds like… • I wonder if… • Wow, you really feel… • What would it be like if… • What was that like for you? • What do you need that you’re not getting? • This is really hard for you. • Can you tell me more? • I’m sorry to hear that. • I believe you. • It makes sense that you feel…
• That’s a common reaction.
• That really bothered you.
• I get why you feel that way.
• You did?
• Gosh, this is really rough for you.
• I hear you.
• This must be difficult for you.
• That hurts.
• It appears…
• That’s not good.
• I’m sensing that…
• That’s no fun.
• Let me know if I have this right…
• Wow, that’s a lot to deal with.
• Aww
• I would feel the same way.
• Oh
• That sounds...
• Yeah
• I can understand how you feel.
• I can see why…
• This is really important to you.
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B l u e E a r t h C o u n t y ’s
HOME to HISTORY Blue Earth County History Center 424 Warren Street, Mankato History Center Hours Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The History Center Museum is filled with hands-on history fun in the Discovery Lab, 1880s Mankato diorama and an interactive pioneer cabin and barn. Admission charged.
The Saint John’s Bible Traveling Exhibition at the History Center through September 1, 2017
Historic R.D. Hubbard House Experience Early 1900s Mankato
606 S. Broad Street, Mankato
Hours: Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. 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. Free living history events throughout summer.
BlueEarthCountyHistory.com | 507.345.5566 July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 21
Chef Sarah
Step 1: Get what you need:
Nosh
Fresh & Fun Flatbread Pizza
Step 3:
Step 2: Preheat oven to 400°
Make Pesto:
Combine the following ingredients and blend in food processer (makes one cup) • 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves • 2 cloves garlic • ¼ cup pine nuts or sunflower seeds • ½ cup parmesan cheese • Salt & pepper to taste • ½ cup olive oil
• 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves • 2 cloves garlic • ¼ cup pine nuts or sunflower seeds • ½ cup parmesan cheese • Salt & pepper to taste • ½ cup olive oil • Pitas or flat bread • Cheese of choice • Sliced or dried tomatoes • Veggies of choice: peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, or other veggies from the garden • Fresh oregano • Fresh marjoram • Fresh thyme With help from Friesen’s
22 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Step 4: Make
• Spread pesto on purchased pizzas pitas or flat bread • Top pizza with cheese of choice– Chef Sarah used Monterey Jack • Top pizza with sliced or dried tomatoes • Top pizza with veggies of choice
Bake for 20-30 minutes – until flatbread is crispy and veggies and Pizzas cheese look yummy.
Step 5: Bake
Step 6:
Prepare herbs by stemming and chopping Prepare herbs fresh oregano, pick fresh (while pizza thyme off the is baking) stems, and pick and chip fresh marjoram.
Step 7: Top pizzas and enjoy!
When your delicious pizzas are done, top with fresh, chopped herbs and
Enjoy!!!
TIPS FOR USING
Herbs and Spices (Instead of Salt)
In Sarah’s Recipe: • • • •
Basil: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, fish, and meats. Marjoram: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, beef, fish, and chicken. Oregano: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, meats, and chicken. Thyme: Use in salads, vegetables, fish, and chicken.
Other Herbs and Spices to use: • Cinnamon: Use in salads, vegetables, breads, and snacks. • Chili Powder: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, and fish. • Cloves: Use in soups, salads, and vegetables. • Dill Weed and Dill Seed: Use in fish, soups, salads, and vegetables. • Ginger: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, and meats. • Nutmeg: Use in vegetables, meats, and snacks. • Parsley: Use in salads, vegetables, fish, and meats. • Rosemary: Use in salads, vegetables, fish, and meats. • Sage: Use in soups, salads, vegetables, meats, and chicken. Note: To start, use small amounts of these herbs and spices to see whether you like them. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/pdf/ tips_herbs_spices.pdf
Gardens increase access to fresh vegetables, provide opportunities for physical activity, teach both adults and children about the origins of their food, and promote healthier eating behaviors. Growing herbs is a great way for kids to learn about gardening. Most herbs are easy to grow and make terrific first plants for a child.
Growing Herbs with a Garden
What’s the difference between a spice and an herb? Here are definitions of various seasonings from Ann A. Hertzler, PhD, RD, “Herbs and Spices,” Virginia Cooperative Extension: • Herbs are leaves of low-growing shrubs. Examples are parsley, chives, marjoram, thyme, basil, caraway, dill, oregano, rosemary, savory, sage and celery leaves. These can be used fresh or dried. Dried forms may be whole, crushed, or ground. • Spices come from the bark (cinnamon), root (ginger, onion, garlic), buds (cloves, saffron), seeds (yellow mustard, poppy, sesame), berry (black pepper), or the fruit (allspice, paprika) of tropical plants and trees. • Many dehydrated vegetable seasonings are available. These include onion, garlic … and shallots. • Seasoning blends are mixtures of spices and herbs
Fat, Sugar And Salt Reduction Tips Spices and herbs can help retain flavor in your foods while cutting back on dietary fat, sugar and sodium/salt. Reducing Fat. “ ... removing a tablespoon of fat removes about 10 grams of fat and 100 calories — an amount which could represent a 10 pound weight loss in a year. The calories in herbs and spices are far less than in breadings, batters, gravies, sauces and fried foods,” according to Hertzler. Reducing Sugar. Reduce or eliminate sugar by using these sweet-tasting spices recommended by Hertzler: • Allspice • Cloves • Anise • Ginger • Cardamom • Mace • Cinnamon • Nutmeg Reducing Salt. Here are some tips when using spices and herbs to help you reduce the salt in foods: • Savory flavors, and flavors with “bite,” such as black pepper, garlic powder, curry powder, cumin, dill seeds, basil, ginger, coriander and onion, are the most effective in replacing the taste of salt, according to ASTA. • Omit the salt when cooking pasta and flavor with basil, oregano, parsley and pepper or use an Italian seasoning blend. • Use powdered garlic and onion rather than their salt form. Use half as much of the powdered form. • Check labels to see if “salt” or “sodium” are listed among the ingredients.
515 N Riverfront Drive • 507-345-4114 • info@friesensfood.com July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 23
WWI: 100 Years Later Remembering World War One
World War I (WWI) took place from 1914-1918 and shaped our history through some very big changes. Check out a few big things here.
World War I was the
first war to take place on land, sea and in the air. It is also considered the first modern war. WWI began in Europe in Blue Earth County High School Cadets 1914 and spread to the borders of Russia, The League of Nations Asia, the Middle East and The League of Nations was Africa, involving 32 different started in 1920 and was a result counties. In 1917, three years of WWI. It was the first after the war began, the United international organization States joined the war. More whose main goal was to U.S. soldiers were involved and maintain world peace. The died in WWI than any other war League lasted for 26 years and before. Over 1,300 young men was replaced by the United from Blue Earth County enlisted Nations after WWII. as soldiers.
New Technology
Many new inventions were used in the war. In the air there were Zeppelins (giant gas filled balloons), airplanes and parachutes. On the water there were U-boats (submarines) and aircraft carriers. On land there were tanks and machine guns. Mustard gas (a chemical weapon), gas masks, steel helmets, grenades and flame throwers were also invented.
Working Together
During WWI, many men left home to help in the military and other jobs. This meant the responsibilities of mothers, wives, grandparents and children needed to change. Here are a few ways everyone worked together.
Jr. Red Cross members sewing at Mankato High School
“Food will win the war,”
said by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917. With so much fighting around the world, food production on farms struggled. In 1917 the U.S. Food Administration urged people grow home “Victory Gardens” to increase the amount of food available in the U.S.
Junior American Red Cross helped soldiers and
citizens in Europe and the U.S. during the war. The Junior American Red Cross was created in 1917. In Blue Earth County students of all ages helped by sewing bandages, socks and clothing for soldiers and civilians overseas.
Women Workers
During the war, many men became soldiers and had to leave their jobs. Women helped keep the country going by doing the jobs men had done. After WWI, the 19th Amendment which became law in 1920 gave women the right to vote.
Blue Earth County History Center is located at 424 Warren Street, Mankato
DID YOU KNOW?
Crack the Code and Decipher the Message! Complete the number pattern, then use the numbers and letters to decipher the message at the bottom. A
B
C
3
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
12
N
O
P
Q
K
Pigeons carried
L
M
Y
Z
33
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
57
World War I is known by many names including: The War to End All Wars, The War of the Nations and The Great War.
75
secret messages during the war. In 1918 a pigeon called Cher Ami save over 500 U.S. soldiers by delivering an important message. She was wounded in battle and was awarded a Medal of Honor for bravery!
D 69 45 54 36 12
69
3
54
45 42 15
27 57
A 9 60 45
3 36 36 15 12 15 42 12
60 24 15 3
36 36
69 69
3
3
54
54 57 Posters were used to spread information during the war. This famous poster of Uncle Sam was used to recruit soldiers.
You are a Master Decoder!
The End
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, WWI ended. Today, this is remembered as Armistice Day or Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day.
IN THIS ISSUE... Learn more about at the Blue Earth County History Center and the Historic R.D. Hubbard House!
BlueEarthCountyHistory.com
507-345-5566
Summer
Aunt Janis
With
T
he thing I look forward to the least was summer. Now, you might think I’m crazy for not looking forward to summer. Picnics, the pool, sleepovers, icecream, no school. But, when you spend your whole summer with a cranky old woman who makes you get up at 5:30 in the morning by blowing her kazoo in your ear, and makes you feed all her goats and sheep and pigs while she sits on the porch and drinks lemonade reading fashion magazines, you pretty much dread the summer.
By E. Madelyn James
But this year, things were even worse. My younger brother Denis and I were riding on the smelly, rickety city bus to Aunt Janis’. I was reading the last romance comedy novel I would probably read for the rest of the summer. Denis was leaning over a bag, puking. “You okay, there, buddy?” I asked, not even bothering to look up. “Sure.” He said. The bus lurched and I heard Denis puking into his bag again. “687 Samuel Highway. Anyone gettin’ off?” The bus driver screeched. “Hey, c’mon dude. That’s us!” The driver pushed me and Denis off the bus. We fell on the gravel, and scraped ourselves in many places. The bus rumbled, and sped away.
26 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
GOE AWAE,
AND DOO NUT CUM BAK!
The door to Aunt Janis’ house is always locked. There’s a big sign on a pole next to the garden, if you could call it a garden, that says, GOE AWAE, AND DOO NUT CUM BAK! The sign is very pleasing to look at. I knocked on the door. No answer. I rang the doorbell. Nothing. I pressed my face against the window. I saw Aunt Janis in the kitchen, making something in an abnormally large pot that was a redish-brown color. “Aunt Janis! It’s your niece and nephew! We’re here now!” I banged on the window. Aunt Janis looked out. “Hey you kids! Come in and don’t trudge mud on the floor!” “Grab some bowls from the cupboard! And don’t drop them, you brats!” Aunt Janis said. I went to the dirty cupboard, and got three bowls. “Get silverware!” She snapped. Denis and I set the table, and were sitting down, waiting to see the soup. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go ladle yourself some soup! Go on now, we haven’t got all night!” Aunt Janis yelled. We poured some soup into the bowls, and ate. The rule at Aunt Janis’ house is to always eat every last crumb of your food, or else no meals the next day. “Get your pajamas on, brush your teeth, and your hair, and get into bed! No excuses!” Aunt Janis always said ‘no excuses’, even though we never had any. We couldn’t sleep. At all. We never could at Aunt Janis’. I tried to sneak a chapter or two of my romance comedy ‘Mitch is the One’, but got caught. In the morning, Aunt Janis didn’t wake us up with her kazoo, but woke us up with her alarm clock that seemed to never stop ringing! We lazily got up and made our beds, which the whole time were inviting us to come back in and snooze for just one more hour, but something told me that Aunt Janis would find out. Denis and I had almost nothing to wear. All we’d brought was one pair of underwear for each day of the week, two or three shirts, and four pairs of pants. See, almost nothing. Aunt Janis always said not to ask her anything, but I’d made the mistake of asking her if I could borrow a jacket. “No! What do you think I am, and
clothes rack? I’m not going to just give you, a bratty rich kid, one of my good fleece jackets!” “I’m not asking you to give me one of your jackets Aunt Janis, I just didn’t bring any and it’s really cold outside-“ “I don’t want to hear it! Just go do the farm work, and come back when you’re done! No excuses!” She screamed. When I got outside, I shivered. I was so cold! Denis had brought a jacket, but it was too small for him, so he was trying to stretch out his arms while looking like a T-rex! I giggled at the sight of him. “Hey, what’s so funny, goose bump?” He asked. “You look like a T-rex! Sorry, but it’s true!” I laughed. “Alright. But when you’re done cackling like a witch, would you hand me a bucket?” I wiped my eyes, and handed him a bucket. I went and followed him to the goat pen and helped him milk the small goats, after which I milked the bigger goats myself. After we were finished with the goats, I went to shear the sheep. The shearers that Aunt Janis had were rusty and they made it down-right impossible to slice any wool, even the thinnest strands. We did that for three months. When Denis and I were free from Aunt Janis for the remaining three weeks of summer, we spent all our time having lemonade stands, going to the pool, and eating all the frozen treats we could get! We persuaded mom and dad to let us stay with them next summer, and we now never have to go back to the dreaded Aunt Janis’ house with the sign in the front yard, the soup, and the garden of weeds and nettles! Now, we look forward to summer. Now, we can be the ones drinking lemonade reading magazines on the front porch while somebody else mows the lawn, shears the sheep, and milks the goats. Now we’re the ones using the same stern tone, and saying, NO EXCUSES. July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 27
Cat & Cow Pose Start on hands and knees with hands under shoulders and knees under hips. Move into Cat Pose by arching your back up. Drop your head down, letting it hang and pull the tummy in to help round the back up. Switch directions with your back and move it into Cow pose by letting your tummy hang to the floor. Bring your head up an bring your butt up like your trying to stick your butt in the air
Benefits of Cat and Cow Pose:
• Warms the body • Brings flexibility to the spine • Stretches the back torso and neck • Stimulates and strengthens the abdominal organs • Opens the chest, encouraging the breath to become slow and deep • The spinal movement of the two poses stimulates the kidneys and adrenal glands • Coordinating this movement with your breathing relieves stress and calms the mind • Helps to develop postural awareness and balance throughout the body
Bow Pose
Benefits of Bow Pose:
• Stretches the entire front of the body, ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen and chest, and throat, and deep hip flexors (psoas) • Strengthens the back muscles • Improves posture • Stimulates the organs of the abdomen and neck 28 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Start by laying down on your tummy. Bend your right leg reach back with your right hand to grab your right foot or ankle, do the same on the left side. Then lift your head and chest up off the floor as much as you can while you kick your feet into your hands and your hands pull up on the feet. Slowly lower back down, letting the feet go.
Gena Heminover:
Yoga
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and mother of two girls, Elea age 5 (pictured) and Ava age 2 (pictured). Teaching yoga at the Mankato Family YMCA, Community Education and various 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. • 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!
Cobra Pose Start laying down on your tummy and place your hands, palms down, underneath your shoulders. Slowly push your head, shoulders and chest up off the floor. Only go as far as comfortable for your back. Keep shoulders down from the ears (don’t shrug the shoulders up). Slowly bend the elbows back lowering your chest back down.
Benefits of Cobra Pose:
• Strengthens the spine • Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen • Firms the buttocks • Stimulates abdominal organs • Helps relieve stress and fatigue • Opens the heart and lungs • Soothes sciatica • Therapeutic for asthma July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 29
Under the Sea
Adventures The Little Mermaid 1989
Aquamarine 2006
Two teenage girls discover a mermaid in their beach club’s swimming pool.
Finding Nemo 2003
After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.
10-year-old Fiona is sent to live with her grandparents in a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland. She soon learns the local legend that an ancestor of hers married a Selkie - a seal who can turn into a human. Fiona takes an active role in uncovering he secret of Roan Inish
When a son of a gangster shark boss is accidentally killed while on the hunt, his wouldbe prey and his vegetarian brother both decide to use the incident to their own advantage
Splash 1984
A behind-the-scenes look at the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship, and its newest participant, up-and-comer Cody Maverick.
The Secret of Roan Inish 1994
Shark Tale 2004
A young man is reunited with a mermaid who saves him from drowning as a boy and falls in love not knowing who/what she is.
Surf ’s Up 2007
Ponyo 2008
A five year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.
Atlantis 2001
A young adventurer named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.
Courtesy of IMBD.com 30 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain with an unscrupulous sea-witch in order to meet a human prince on land.
Big Miracle 2012
In small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend - a Greenpeace volunteer on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.
Dolphin Tale 2011
A story centered on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin whose tail was lost in a crab trap.
4 important questions about
measles M
easles is a serious illness that can lead to significant complications. Understanding signs, symptoms and prevention is important to protect yourself and those around you. Here are four answers to questions regarding measles.
Q. What is measles?
A. Measles is a childhood viral infection that can almost always be prevented by a vaccine. The infection is very contagious and replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. Measles spreads when infected persons cough, sneeze or talk, which produces infected droplets. These droplets are either inhaled by others or live on surfaces for many hours. People with measles are contagious for about eight days — four before a rash appears and four while a rash is present.
Q. What are the symptoms?
A. Measles occurs in stages and progresses over a two- to three-week period. Symptoms are different throughout each stage. Stage one – infection and incubation. The incubation period for measles is 10 to 14 days, during which time you won’t exhibit any symptoms. Stage two – nonspecific signs and symptoms. Common first signs of measles are a fever, dry cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyes) that last for two to three days. Stage three – acute illness and rash. In the third stage, you’ll start to see a rash, which typically begins on your face. Over the next few days, the rash will spread to your arms, torso and then your legs. Accompanying the rash will be a quickly rising fever that may reach more than 105 degrees. Eventually, the fever dips and the rash clears up from bottom to top.
Q. Why is it a big deal?
A. Measles can lead to complications ranging from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Side effects include: • Ear infection • Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup • Pneumonia • Encephalitis (swelling of the brain that can lead to death) • Pregnancy issues • Problems with blood clotting as a result of low platelet count The infection can be deadly in young children. In fact, more than 100,000 people die from measles each year, with most victims being 5 years old or younger.
Q. How do I prevent measles?
A. The single most effective way to avoid measles is to get vaccinated. The rumor that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to autism has been refuted and discredited. The MMR vaccine is safe and necessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective at preventing measles. Receiving two doses is about 97 percent effective. Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about measles.
Julie Pace, a Certified Nurse Practitioner (C.N.P) with Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James, works in family medicine and urgent care. July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 31
Learn About
Farm Animals at and
e r o M
224 Lamm Street, Mankato www.cmsouthernmn.org info@cmsouthernmn.org
507.386.0279
Admission: $8 per person; free for 12 months and under Annual memberships start at $105 for the whole family Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm Closed on Mondays
32 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota’s outdoor exhibits are great places to explore. The gardens are growing and some vegetables might be ready for sampling any day now. Farm animals have arrived to the Ridley Farm, the tractor loves new drivers, and a small chicken coop has been added near the Sensory Garden. The Dotson Back 40 is always ready for fort-building, climbing on logs, and rolling down the hill. On warm days, a very popular area is the outdoor water play, where it’s fun to see and experience cooperation, when children share buckets and maneuver water through bamboo pieces and different water tables. In the Ridley Farm, there are two market barrows, which are male pigs. They were born at the end of March 2017 and are growing leaps and bounds! They are a mix of Large White and Landrace breeds and are expected to grow to market size over the summer. Stop at the Ridley Farm often and see how much they change from visit to visit. During the summer, Thursday nights at 6:30, the Museum hosts the Ridley Farm Animal Program. In this program, Museum staff and special guests will share information and interesting facts about different farm animals and visitors may learn how much water a cow drinks in one day or which farm animals only have teeth on the bottom, or they may get some hands-on experience making butter and carding wool. The barn in the Ridley Farm will house a variety of farm animals during the summer and all the way through Labor Day. There will be dairy calves, goats, sheep, alpacas, and horses. Watch the Museum’s Facebook, website, and newsletters for notifications of new animals coming in. The Museum’s garden beds and crop plots represent our local agriculture with a variety of sample-size vegetables and fruits. As the gardens beds mature, tasty cherry or yellow pear tomatoes will be ripe for picking, beans will be climbing the archway, and “Sugar Baby” watermelons will be growing. Look for the developing ears of popcorn, field corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, and alfalfa in the crop plots, as they grow and change. Compare the hay and straw bales in the barn to wheat, oats, and alfalfa in the crop plots. What do you think, which crop is used for hay and which is used for straw? The Three Sisters Garden has been planted in two garden beds near the Museum’s courtyard. Native American legend tells us the Three Sisters are corn, squash, and beans, which only grow and thrive when they are planted together. This year, the Museum planted Oneida white corn, Hopi Black Turtle beans, and Oneida Hubbard squash. It is always fun to watch these garden beds grow, as the beans vine around the corn, and the squash fills out the empty spaces, acting like a natural mulch. Sommerset table grapes will be in their second year of growth and the Connel Red apple tree has fruit maturing on its branches. Mini pumpkins and decorative gourds have been planted along some of the Back 40’s fence line and will be used as fun ornaments for the Museum’s Harvest Festival in the Fall. When you take a lunch or snack break in the Museum’s courtyard, you can relax in the shade of the big linden tree, see what’s growing in the vertical garden boxes, and listen to the sounds of play around you. Please respect the garden beds and give them a chance to grow: the visitors will reap the rewards at harvest time and remember that everything tastes better fresh from the garden, but only when it’s completely mature! July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 33
Farm Animal Fun Facts Animals need many of the same things we need–food, shelter, water, cleanliness, and love. Farm animals are no different, but the people who raise them do not keep them for the same reason we keep our pets. They raise them to provide food and other products for themselves, for you, and many other people. That doesn’t mean they don’t care for them, though. Farmers must care for their animals to keep them healthy. Although farmers can’t exactly talk with their animals, they do communicate with them in other ways. Farmers learn to observe animal behavior, and here are some examples: • The squeal of a single baby pig can reach 115 decibels, which is slightly louder than the roar from a jet airliner’s engine. • Sheep make a bleating sound. A baby lamb can identify its mother by her bleat. • Geese threaten intruders by spreading their wings, sticking out their long necks, and hissing loudly. • Turkeys gobble, but only if they are male, or toms. Female, or hen turkeys, make a clicking sound. • Llamas and alpacas communicate their displeasure by spitting. Some people observe animal behavior to predict changes in the weather: • Pigs grow more aggressive when a storm is near. • Cattle congregate at the highest point of their pasture when they expect fair weather, but lie down in a huddle for bad weather. • Horses predict wet weather when they stand with their tails to the wind or graze in close groups. We get much more than food from animals on the farm: • Leather from the hide of a cow is used to make shoes, belts, and baseball gloves. • The cow’s bones and horns are used to make buttons, piano keys, and violin strings. • Gelatin, used to make marshmallows, ice cream, and other desserts, also comes from the cow’s bones and horns. • Chewing gum is made from a part of the cow’s stomach. • The heart valves from pigs are used for transplanting into hearts of humans with heart trouble. • The skin of hogs is sometimes used to replace the skin of people who have been badly burned. • From the pig’s hide, we get soft leather that is good for making gloves and some shoes. • The bristly hair of a pig makes a great hairbrush. • Wool from a sheep’s fleece is spun into yarn, then woven or knitted into sweaters, caps, coats, carpets, and blankets. • Lanolin is a natural oil found on sheep’s wool. It has a smooth and silky feel and is used for making soaps and lotions. • Goose down is used to make pillows, comforters, and coats with goose down filling are the warmest one can get. 34 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Why do Museum members keep coming back? “At the Museum, we can always do our favorite things and discover new ones each time we come. My daughter Sylvie, who is almost four, loves her ginormous pretend kitchen there.” Kylie & Sylvie, members since May 2015 “The Children’s Museum is part of our routine. The kids love to go there to see what’s new, especially the tabletops. In wintertime, we exercise large motor skills in the Tree. In the summer, parks are wet in the morning, so the Museum is a wonderful place to be. We also love Toddler Wednesdays.” Angela, Jillian & Garrison, members since May 2015. “There is always something to do at the Museum, for all three of my kids, ages 6, 5, and 1. They like the Tree of Forts and the one-yearold loves the Play Porch. In summer, we love it there because it’s safe and fenced-in. The kids love the animals and they know the Playworkers.” Stephanie and her family have been members since May 2015. “We have found a safe place, where everything my children do is learning, whether with their eyes, feet, or hands. They’re learning and having fun at the same time.” Joel, Susie, Simon, and Penelope have been members since May 2015. “The Tree of Forts, I love that more than anything at the Museum! Going upstairs, that’s what I like even more than the Tree. We make things there; we even made an ice cream cone out of clay. The pinball game inside the glass, I really super duper like. And I really, really like the food place! The food place that you give pretend food to your parents, that’s actually more fun that the ball.” Markus, age 4. Member since May 2015. July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 35
Exploring Color, a new temporary exhibit, encourages visitors of all ages to experience color through their senses. Children can build, touch, read, smell, arrange, dress up, and create with a variety of components that explore color. Adults are invited to share life experiences with other visitors. What does yellow smell like? What colors do you associate with the smell of a campfire? What memory do you recall when you see the color lavender? How do animals use color?
36 â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Special Needs Accessibility Playtime, July 28
On Friday, July 28, children who experience special needs or sensory challenges are invited to bring their families to the Museum for an evening of family fun, free of charge. Special Needs Accessibility Playtime events take place quarterly. Special thanks to Mayo Clinic Health System for providing sponsorship support for the July 28th and the October 27th SNAP events.
Toddler Wednesdays
Have you ever been to a Toddler Wednesday? For some families, the Museum’s Toddler Wednesday program is a weekly gathering time to meet with friends. Several of them met for the first time at the Museum. Toddler Wednesday brings families with young children to play and explore together. Many ideas shared in these sessions are easy to replicate at home, as they use everyday items and activities in a fun and original way. Come check this out every Wednesday at 10:00 am.
Museum Birthday Parties Celebrating your birthday? Come to the Children’s Museum; they’ll have you covered, rain or shine. The Museum is now offering a special summer theme: Great Outdoors. Come for a scavenger hunt, outdoor games, and exciting fortbuilding activities. Check the website for details.
Do You Travel? Get a Passport Membership! Receive 50% off admission for up to 6 people when you visit over 200 children’s museums in the U.S. and Canada, on top of all the benefits of our regular Family or Grandparent membership. What a wonderful opportunity for only $135. Check out all other membership options at www.cmsouthernmn.org.
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! • 37
4th of July
Y I D
Slime:
DIY slime is all the rage on the playground and it’s a fun, easy and inexpensive project that provides days of entertainment.
Slime is made from glue, water, and the tiniest bit of Borax (NOTE: Borax is soap and it’s toxic, so please use your best judgment if you choose to use this with young children.) This recipe was found on PBSkids.org
Supplies • Airtight container or Ziploc bag • 2 glass bowls • 1 5 oz. bottle of glue can be white or clear • water • food coloring/glitter or other additives (optional) • Borax (buy it at the grocery store) Special Thanks to 38 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Instructions:
2. Add your food coloring/ glitter or other additives (optional) 3. Mix in 1 1/2 glue bottles filled with warm water
1. In the first bowl empty the bottle of glue. Brought to you by
4. In the second bowl Mix 1 teaspoon of Borax into 1/2 cup of water
6. Knead the slime. At first it will be really wet and gooey, then stringy and sloppy, until finally it will hold together.
5. Slowly add the Borax solution until the slime starts to come together. You may not need all of the solution.
When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done using your slime, you can store it in a sealable container or Ziploc bag for about two weeks (when it may start to smell!).
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 39
Paper Dolls Carefully Cut-Out Paper Dolls
40 â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
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!
July/August 2017 | Kid-oh! â&#x20AC;˘ 41
Jokes What do frogs like to drink on a hot summer day?
A. It gets wet.
A. Croak-o-cola.
Q: How do you prevent a Summer cold?
A. Sandy claws.
Q: What do you call a dog on the beach in the Summer?
Q:
Q: Why are gulls named seagulls?
What do you call a french guy in sandals?
A. If they were by the bay, they’d be bagels.
What do you call a cat at the beach?
How do teddy bears keep their den cool in summer?
A. Catch it in the Winter!
Q
:
Q:
A. Phillipe Phloppe.
What happens when you throw a green rock into the Red Sea?
Q:
A. They use bear conditioning.
Q:
Q: What do you call a fish with no eyes?
Q: Which letter is the coolest?
A. hotdog!
A. fsh.
A.Iced t.
When do you go at red and stop at green? A. When you’re eating a watermelon 42 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Q: Why don’t oysters share their pearls?
A. Because they’re shellfish.
Q:
Hazel - 9
Can you spot the differnces?
How many differences did you find? _______
See Solution on Page 48 44 â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
Samson - 6
WHICH ITEM DOESN’T BELONG? Put a X on the item that don’t belong with the group.
46 • Kid-oh! | July/August 2017
See Solution on Page 48
Make Your Own Pizza
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
How many differences did you find? ___11___
WHICH ITEM DOESN’T BELONG? Put a X on the item that don’t belong with the group.
x
x 48 • Kid-oh! | July/August January/February 2017 2017
x
x
x x
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