MARCH/APRIL 2018
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r e v o C s kid
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Elea & Ava Photography by:
Inspired Portrait Photography
6 Peeps
Cate DeBates
7
Say What
What Would You Plant in Your Garden?
8
A Different Approach To Education
12 Robotics –
A Varsity Sport for the Mind
16 Money
A Teens Guide To Buying Your First Car
17 Be Healthy
Setting a healthy eating example for your family
18 How Do You Do It?
Jordan Greer-Friesz
20 Mental Health
12 Ways to Improve Your Family Mental Wellbeing
22 Nosh
Chicken Taco Bake
24 Historical Feature
Are you a family reporter?
26 Mankato Area
Public Schools VEX Robotics & Family Academy
2 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
30 Kid Writer
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Special Thanks
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32 hOMie
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34 Healthy Kids
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36 The Children’s
Kid-Oh magazine
2018 EBRUARY JANUARY/F
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42 DIY Craft
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54 Meet the Author
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58 Girls on the Run
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MARCH/APRIL 2018 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson
Hello!
O
h man. Thank you so much for all of your awesome feedback on our last issue. It was a little intense and thought provoking but it all needed to be said. And, from your comments, it seems like it really hit a nerve and many of you used it to start some really hard but needed conversations with your kids. Thank you again to Sesa for telling her story and for standing up for all kids every where. So many women told me how inspiring you were to them! You really have the whole world in front of you and we can't wait to see where you go! Recognize our super cute cover girls? It has been so cool to watch Elea and Ava grow up on the pages of Kid-oh helping out with our yoga pages. When we started Ava was just a peanut in a car seat! Much to my dismay, our little yoga ladies are moving out of state this summer, good luck to the Heminover family on the next step in your adventure (and thank goodness for Facebook so I will be able to keep up with them!) Thank you too to Gena for getting on board with my crazy project back in the beginning and helping share her knowledge and talent with us! If you know me you know that I absolutely hate having my picture taken. So, thankfully my friend Macey did a sketch of me that I am going to use on this page. Macey loves drawing and wants to be an artist when she grows up, I think she's got a good chance of making that happen! You can also check out some of her other drawings on the coloring pages. If you kids would like to have their drawings used for coloring pages, would like to answer our questions on the Say What? page or if you would like to contribute the How Do You Do It page, please let me know! You can contact me at jgreer@mankatofreepress.com. Thanks again for taking the time out of your busy day to read our magazine. I hope it makes your day! It makes mine!
Jordan Greer-Friesz
EDITOR/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jordan Greer-Friesz CONTRIBUTORS Mayo Clinic Health System The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Gena Heminover Blue Earth County Historical Society MN Valley Federal Credit Union Cliff Coy Marianne Carlson E. Madelyn James Heather Fisher Mankato Clinic Health System Friesen's Bakery & Bistro District #77 Julie Schrader YMCA Macy C. Hayden C. PHOTOGRAPHERS Inspired Portrait Photography Cliff Coy PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING SALES Joan Streit Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Marianne Carlson Theresa Haefner ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Christina Sankey Sue Hammar CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles Kid-Oh! Magazine is published by The Free Press Media bi-monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001. For editorial and advertising inquiries, call Jordan Greer-Friesz 507-344-6337, jgreer@mankatofreepress.com To be included in future Kid-Oh! mailings, call 507-625-4451, ext. 7
4 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
SWAN LAKE
Saturday March 10, 2018 at West High School Auditorium
SATURDAY, MAY 19 & SUNDAY, MAY 20 | 1 P.M. & 5 P.M. ST. PETER HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
VISIT MANKATOBALLET.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 5
Cate s e t a DeB Occupation:
Donor Relations Manager
What is your favorite part of your job? Meeting new people and learning stories about how they came to be involved with our organization.
How long have you lived in Mankato? 10 years What is your favorite thing to do in Mankato for fun?
As much as I love going to concerts, events and being out in the community -- I'm actually quite a homebody! I love to cook, craft and create new things for my home. My husband, Greg, and I can also be found cheering on the Mavericks at a Football or Hockey game!
What did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a professional dancer or actress. I took dance lessons for more than 20 years before hanging up my tap shoes!
About Me:
I work at YWCA Mankato and love every minute. Our mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. As the Donor Relations Manager, I help raise money for our programs and events while building lasting relationships. I always work to make sure our volunteers, donors and friends feel like their contributions are meaningful and important! At YWCA Mankato, I learn something new every day and continue to grow personally and professionally. I love working at YWCA Mankato because I believe all women and girls should feel empowered to make a difference in their community!
6 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
It’s almost Spring and time to plant a garden.... what would you plant in your garden?
Liliana
Age: 7 Roses because they are my favorite.
Adam
Age: 7 Organic carrots, peas, potatoes and flowers to attract pollinators.
Anna
Age: 11 Tulips & roses.
Jaxson
Age: 9 I would plant candy so I never run out.
Macey
Age: 12 I would plant an avocado tree.
Amelia
Age: 7 Carrots, squash, zucchini, cupcakes and brownies.
Nora
Age: 4 Tomatoes, cucumbers and olives.
Breckyn
Hayden
Age: 6 I would plant flowers to give to Peach (Paige).
Age: 7
I love Spring! It it my favorite season because it is all the seasons at once! I would like to plant an oak tree and tomatoes in my garden. March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 7
Preston, Charlie, and Spencer Kelley, play a table top game at the St. Peter Public Library with their mother Betsy Kelley.
A Different Approach To
EDUCATI N
W
Story & Photos by Cliff Coy
hen you think of homeschooling you might think that is something you would never do. Either because you work full time, because you feel like you don’t have the time or energy for it, or because you think that your children need public school. But according to https://a2zhomeschooling.com, homeschooling has grown steadily in the past few years, from about 1,300 in 2012 to about 1,700 in 2017. Betsy Kelley, mother of five, is one such mom that decided, along with her husband, that homeschooling was the route that they wanted to take with their children. “Before we started I loved public school. I was very involved in different activities and actually home schooling was my husband’s idea,” said Betsy. “With me, my preconceived notion of it was that I had to have everything together all of the time. Because when you
8 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
start researching home schooling you can find all of these blogs about moms who have all these busy bags for toddlers and activity sets for every single hour of every single day, and that's just not me.” Most parents don’t even know that you can home school your children part-time as well as fulltime. Such is the case for Lisa Gross, mother of her daughter Emmy, and a part-time homeschooling mother from Le Sueur who also works part-time at her family’s baby and kid boutique as well as the library in St. Peter. “For us, like I said we do a mix of education, so Emmy goes to public school in the mornings and then we do home school in the afternoons,” said Lisa. She does have tutors that we rotate in as well. So it's not just me, but then I have the full support of my family as well.” If the school is open enrollment like it is in the Mankato
Left: Spencer Kelley plays a table top game with his mother and brothers at the St. Peter Public Library. Middle: Parker Kelley, a homeschooled child, reads one of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Right: Allison Kelley, daughter of Betsy Kelley, a homeschooling parent, plays around on one of the St. Peter Public Library's computers.
school district's case, you are allowed to bring your kids in for parts of it. If your kids want to go for just band and physics for example, they can go too and get the best of both worlds. This way your kids can play in school sports, or participate in classes you don’t feel qualified to teach them. Lisa’s approach to home school is also a family affair. With the help of her sister, brothers, and mother, as well as a tutor here and there, she gets it done in a fashion that fits her lifestyle. “My older brothers will take a role by taking Emmy to the animal shelter and she will volunteer there, or my other brother, they do a lot of projects together like building things together,” said Lisa. “My mom does lifestyle classes with Emmy, they cook and things like that. So she learns fractions and baking and sewing. I don't even know how to sew, so she will probably be able to sew better than I will. Then my sister actually lives out of state, so we were lucky enough to be able to spend the whole month of May out in California. So we did a unit on the ocean and just California in general. We kind of do it a little different than normal, but it's kind of nice because with homeschooling you can do what you want. It's not just one
definition of what you have to do. It's really nice and it works for us.” For many parents, the thought of homeschooling their kids is a daunting task, whether you don’t know if you could even teach your kids the necessary things to be successful, or if you don’t know if you have the time. “I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know what subjects we should cover and I didn't know if we should go off of the public schools' curriculum and then come back, I didn't know anything,” said Lisa. “I was never home schooled, I was in the public school. I knew there were some veteran home-schooling moms, but I was just kind of freaking out because I didn't want to be the sole person responsible for her education. I just needed to get out of my head and now I know that I can do it, and that it's not that big of a deal.” One of the biggest hurdles for home-schooling families to figure out is how to make the material relatable to their children. “My 8 year old, he loves Greek mythology, so I try to find a way to incorporate math, art and other subjects into that. The same goes for my other son, who loves deer,” said Betsy. “We definitely work that way. Some kids learn better by moving or
by learning about things they love, and I want to give my kids every opportunity to thrive. So if that means that I have to find five different ways that I am going to have to teach, then so be it.” Whether it’s that you want a greater hand in your child’s education, or if you don’t like the schools in your child’s area, the reasons to home school your children are different for every parent out there. “I really wanted to have a say in Emmy's' education, her and I have a really close relationship,” said Lisa. “So I just wanted to keep nurturing that before she gets to the point where she is like 'Mom I want to do my own thing.' "It's cool that we get to do together what she isn't necessarily learning in 1st Grade right now. Whether you are a homeschooler, a public educator, or college professor, you can't deny that one-on-one is super beneficial for children learning, and I think that's another reason why I like to do it, because I know that when you cater to your child and do things that interest them, it can take them very far. ” But if you still think that home school is an intimidating task and that you may not be up for it, there are many different resources March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 9
Lisa Gross reads to her daughter Emmy during a visit to the St. Peter Public Library. available to you, mostly in the home schooling community itself. “We belong to a Facebook Group called the Mankato Area Homeschooler's, so if I have any questions I can just ask them,” said Lisa. “We really like that we get to meet all these different people and there are so many resources where everyone is so helpful and it's just a big home school community.” Another resource for families who home school is to get the materials directly from the school systems themselves, and then they can tailor the classes to fit the needs of their children. “With families who are kind of thinking about this and don't know where to start,” said Betsy. “There are some really great charter public school systems where you get all of the learning materials from the school and then you can tailor it to fit your daily schedule and routine. I think that's what people don't realize either. Is that there are so many different ways that you can do it, it doesn't just have to be one curriculum.” So if home schooling your children is something that has been 10 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
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Emmy Gross, a part-time home school child, shows her mom Lisa, some of the drawings and puzzles she has recently completed. on your mind, or if you’ve never thought about it before, there are many avenues and routes to take, and many resources out there for you to utilize. “Try it for a year, if you don't like it and it isn't for you, then you can always go back to public school,� said Lisa. “But ask questions and you just have to remember that you are in charge of your child's education and you can decide what route you want to go on. I'd say ask away, find some of the veteran moms. There is a lot of information out there, so have at it.� “I really truly think that home schooling is for everyone, and every parent could do it. It's just not going to look the same across the board. It's going to look your way,� said Betsy. “I truly believe in my heart of hearts, that it's the best thing for every kid.�
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Team 9457X. X.X. posed for a quick photo in the robotics lab. The team is made up of members Lexi Attenberger, Kendyl Stueber, Tessa Machado, Amber Marrs, Grace Morgan, Hannah Cafilisch, Kezia Kim, Lauren Reuter, Abbie Bentson and Ethan Dempster.
ROBOTICS – A VARSITY SPORT FOR THE MIND Story & Photos by Marianne Carlson
I
t is a Thursday night the last week in January. There is no school on Friday and the state competition is only one week away. The robotics lab at East High School is buzzing with meticulous, thoughtful activity. Every table in the room has at least two students working diligently to make any last-minute changes that might give them an edge at state. “These kids begged me to stay until 9 p.m. tonight,” said David Stahl, Engineering Teacher and Robotics Coach. “They are problem solvers. If there is something wrong, they are going to fix it. If there is something that can be improved upon. They are going to make it better.” Although the room appears to be packed full of robotics students, Senior Tessa Machado said this is only half of their team. This year they have 68 kids making up seven teams and six of the seven teams qualified for the state tournament in St. Cloud February 2 & 3.
12 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
What Is Robotics Team?
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, ‘You guys do Battle Bots?’” Junior Anthony Mansfield said with a laugh. “Umm no – we don’t use saws and flamethrowers to destroy other robots.” The question remains - what is robotics team? All the teams use the same Vex brand parts including chassis, plates, bars, angles c-channels, gussets, gears, rollers, clutches, motors, tools, batteries as well as sensors and controllers that must be programed. Every robotics team starts out with the same kit to build their robots. It’s how the teams use these tools and parts to build their robots that sets them apart, said Machado. Machado was a member of the team that went to the World Competition last year and has earned the unofficial title of student coach. “The game is different every year,” Machado said. “Last year there was a ton of programming involved and some of us had to learn calculus just to make our robots function, but this year was a lot easier as far as programming.”
This year the object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by stacking cones on goals, by scoring mobile goals in zones, by having the highest stacks and for parking robots. This robot is moving a mobile goal into a different zone.
The game is different every year and according to Stahl that is what keeps these kids coming back year after year. And students who make it to state and meet all of the necessary criteria will receive a Varsity letter." The fact that the game is different every year is what keeps these kids coming back year after year, Stahl said. And students who make it to state and meet all the necessary criteria will receive a Varsity letter.
In the Zone
The 2017-2018 game In the Zone is played on a 12’x12’ field by two alliances - one red and one blue, each made up of two teams. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by stacking cones on goals, by scoring mobile goals in zones, by having the highest stacks and for parking robots. Each match only lasts two minutes and the game begins with a 15 second autonomous period where robots score without help from their drivers. The alliance that scores more points during the autonomous period will be awarded 10 bonus points at the end of the match. During the remaining 1:45 second driver control period, teams try to stack as many cones on the goals and move as many mobile goals into the highest scoring zones as possible.
Everyone Has A Role To Play
Everyone has a special job to do, said Machado. Every team has one or more designers, builders, drivers, programmers and scouts. Some member even have more than one job to do. “It’s like setting up a company,” Mansfield explained. “We all have our jobs to do and if we do them well, we will be successful. The longer you work together as a team, the better you will be. We have all really grown into our roles.” Students can start dabbling in robotics as young as second grade in a class taught through Mankato Community Education and Recreation. “That is a lot more exploratory,” Stahl said. “High school competition includes grades 7 through 12. This level is much more competitive. When they get to this level, a lot of these kids have already decided this is what they want to do with their lives.” For example, Machado is attending the School of Mines
and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota next fall. Although, students do not use their robots to tear other robots apart like Battle Bots, some pretty exciting things happen on the playing field, according to Junior Amber Marrs. “We had trouble with our Y-cables and motor controls,” Marrs said with laugh. “We had one smoke on us. We had to go find a fire extinguisher, just in case. In order to fix it, we had to run it again to figure out where the smoke was coming from.” Marrs is the driver for her team. She said, when students are first getting started in robotics a lot of it is simply trial and error. “This year we learned to improve on our original design, but not completely recreate it,” Marrs said. “Last year we completely ripped it apart and realized it is way easier to tear it down but putting it back together is never an easy fix. One problem always leads to another.” All the teams use engineering notebooks to keep track of their designs from start to finish. These notebooks show every change they have made to their robot over the past four months. As part of an online challenge, Junior Ethan Dempster created a new Vex part designed to benefit all Vex robotics students in the future. “I designed a latching mechanism,” Dempster said. “It’s kind of like a door latch. There are several different applications that it can be used for.” Marrs said that this new latching mechanism can be used to keep parts from sliding around. “That has been a problem every year,” Marrs said. “No matter what the game is, it seems like parts slide that we don’t to and this will keep stuff in place. We are the only team that submitted an online challenge so that is pretty cool and we give him (Dempster) all the credit for that.”
Not Just For Boys
The robotics team at East High School has grown tremendously over the past five years since its inception. And just since last year, the number of girls has doubled. Last year the team had 50 students and four teams. This year the team has 68 students and 7 teams. Marrs was a big advocate to get more girls on the team. Last year she was on a team with all boys. They all got to be close friends and did very well at state. They even got to March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 13
Student Coach Tessa Machado is building a second test bed before the state competition. The test bed is designed to automatically test the gear sets that are in the motors. There are three different kinds of motors and the only way to tell which is which is by taking them apart. This process was time consuming and stripped the screws. The test bed saves precious time and equipment.
go to the World Competition, but Marrs said she felt the program was lacking by simply not having more girls involved. “It’s the fear factor,” Marrs explained. “They say they want to do it, but they are too scared they will be judged by other people. They don’t want to be seen as the nerd in the group or be stereo typed. I always just tell them to come and see what it is all about.” This year Marrs’ team is made up of almost all female students. Sophomore Lexi Attenberger is interested in mechanics and coding. She was recommended to the program by one of her teachers. Attenberger is a scout for her team which means she watches other teams during competition and keeps tracks of their strengths and weaknesses in order to see who will form the best alliance with her team. “I am super excited for state,” Attenberger said. “I’ve never made it to state in anything before.” Freshman Kendyl Stueber is the programmer for her team so she spends most of her time on a laptop computer. “The entire robot gets programmed,” Stueber said with a smile. “Each motor and every sensor have to have something telling it what to do. All the buttons on the controllers need to be programmed. Nothing comes preprogrammed.” According to Marrs, Stueber is really good at figuring out timing and what direction the motors need to go. “She doesn’t give herself enough credit” Marrs said. “She is very good.” This is sophomore Carina Whalen’s first year in the robotics program at East High School and she said she understands that trying something new can be a little intimidating. “They come in thinking they need know this and that, 14 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
but in reality there are a lot of people who have never taken a robotics class who do great,” Whalen said. “We had a freshman team that knew nothing going into the season and their robot made it to state. It’s all about team work.” Whalen said there are lots of ways that students learn. There is always trial and error but they learn from each other and she said a lot of the teams get help online from other students using the Vex Forum. Carina said not to let the idea of having to learn a bunch of math keep you from joining robotics. “There are lots of other things you can do,” Whalen said. Whalen used computer-aided design (CAD) software to help engineer her robot. “Basically, that means I built our entire robot on the computer,” Whalen said. “You use very little math to do this. I did it almost all by myself and taught another person how to CAD. And now he is really good at it.” When asked what she would say to middle school students and girls in particular to help encourage them to join robotics, Whalen said, “Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. You will learn. Having robotics on your resume is amazing. Everyone is friendly and accepting. They will help you. It’s great to be part of a team, but to me it’s more than that. It’s not just a team. It’s a family.”
State Championship – Triumphs & Tribulations
Sixty-four teams from across the state competed in over 100 qualification matches throughout the two-day period February 2-3. “It’s an all-day affair,” Senior Nick Thielsen said. “For those qualification matches you are randomly paired with other robots as ‘alliances.’ Before elimination begins, the
Junior Leif Stout is raising his robot. He explained that at the beginning of each competition, the robots are measured and must fit in a 18"x18"x18" box, but they can extend as high as a team wants to build them. The only trick is making sure they fold up to the required dimensions, he said.
Team 9457B Betaversion 2.0 are testing the improvements they made to their robot before heading into the state competition.
top-ranking teams in qualification get to pick other teams and then you have three robots in each alliance. For the elimination round, the teams will pick the best two out of the three robots to compete.” Going into the state tournament Thielsen’s team was 39 & 1, meaning they only lost one match all season. They were ranked number 1 in the state in the skills category and 34th in the entire world. Thielsen and his team have been together since 7th grade. Each member of their team has a different job and they do their jobs well, Thielsen said. Thielsen is one of the drivers for his team. Jayden Siegle is the other. This is unique because both drivers are operating the robot at the same time. “We found that we can maximize speed if one of us is operating the drive base while the other is controlling the lift and manipulation. So the other person is picking up the cones,” Thielsen said. It worked. In the end, Thielsen and his team members won the state championship. Theilsen and teammates Leif Stout, Jayden Siegle, Kenny Yu, Dylan Moore, Michael Nguyen, Ryan Swanson, Cole Himmer, Alex Huynh and Justtin Hoeper will attend the World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky at the end of April. Junior Leif Stout said it’s been a long road getting their robot the point where they were all happy with it. He said the robot they used to win the state competition is completely different than the robot they had at the beginning of the season. “Even though we did so well with that one, we could see past it,” Stout said. “We could see the potential of what it could be. It can always be better.” “It’s kind of a disease,” Machado said with a laugh.
“At this point in the season, a lot of the designs are the same” said Stout. “So it really comes down to small things. We did everything we could to be as fast and efficient as possible.” Stout said his favorite moment at State was when his team hit an epic milestone. “We had the highest stack in Minnesota,” Stout said with a smile. “It was 15 cones high. The crowd actually gasped when we moved it into another zone.” While Thielsen’s team was celebrating a victory, sophomore Carina Whalen and her team were mourning a hard-fought loss. “We lost by one point,” Whalen said. The team from East High School shared their victory with two teams from West High School. All three teams will heading to the World Competition together. “There will be around 500 teams and over 30 counties represented,” Stahl said. “It is the largest competitive robotics event in the world. New Zealand, China and Canada all have really good teams. At this point, in order to win, every match has to be almost perfect. We’ve got some stiff competition, but we will be ready.” Whalen said her team was hoping to form an alliance with Thielsen’s team at state but because of their high ranking another team picked them first. “I’m actually excited to take our robot apart and talk about what we did wrong and what we want to do better next year,” Whalen said. Stout said his favorite moment at State was when his team hit an epic milestone. “We had the highest stack in Minnesota,” Stout said with a smile. “It was 15 cones high. The crowd actually gasped when we moved it into another zone.” March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 15
Submitted by Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
A Teens Guide to Buying Your First Car.
B
uying your first car is exciting! But with all the makes and models available today, picking out the perfect car can be a little daunting. Here are a few tips to help you prepare to purchase your first car. 1. Set up a realistic budget. How much can you afford to spend on a car? An easy way to learn what you can afford is to get preapproved at your local Credit Union or Bank. Once you know what you can afford, stick to that amount. Also prepare for additional expenses like gas, insurance, registration, title fees, taxes, maintenance and repair costs. 2. Do your research. Sure, that sports car looks fun, but how much money will it take to keep it running? Make a list of things
16 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
you need in a car and research reliability, safety features and gas economy for different makes and models of vehicles. 3. Only buy what you can afford. If you’re financing a car, make sure you can put down at least 20 percent of the car’s price or you’ll probably end up owing more than it’s worth. If you can’t afford to put down the 20 percent or pay off the car in 48 months, don’t buy the car. Instead, purchase a less expensive vehicle or wait until you’ve saved more money. 4. Read the fine print. If you finance a car, know what you’re committing to. Dealerships love to convince people they can afford a monthly payment, but sometimes the cost is higher than you think.
5. Take someone with you to the dealership. Do you know anyone who has a knack for making a deal? Or who knows cars inside and out? Get them to go with you for the test drive and take them out to lunch as a thank you. Having someone with some insight on your side at the dealership can help you make a wiser decision and possibly negotiate a great deal. Buying your first car is a step toward financial independence. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to make the right choice at the right time.
Setting a
healthy eating
example for your family
E
ven if you don’t struggle with any type of addictive tendencies related to food, you still may face many triggers throughout the year. Thinking back, how did this past holiday season treat you when it came to eating and making healthy choices? Did you resolve to make healthier choices this year for both you and your family? How’s it going?
Triggers and challenges around food for families
Healthy eating for families presents a challenge for a number of reasons: • Pre-packaged and convenience food is everywhere. • Convenience food is often viewed as helpful for busy families. • Many activities for kids and adults tend to focus around food. • Food items at events are often unique when compared to our everyday meals. • Holidays, such as Easter, usually celebrate candy and traditionally feature larger meals that are high in fat and calories. • Family time is often structured around food and the act of eating.
Unfortunately, the more available food is, the more you and your family can become exposed to these triggers. The good news is there are behaviors and thoughts you can adopt to help lessen your responsiveness to food triggers and alter the way you approach eating, especially during holidays and events.
Healthy eating habits for all occasions
• Adopting a healthy eating mindset starts with identifying the reasons you want to eat healthier. What reasons come up when you consider this question? • Having a plan is one of the most important things you can do. Anticipate when making healthy choices is more difficult, and create a solid plan for those times. • Try talking to your family and friends about having healthier options available during a gathering. • Savoring your food and being present will help you make better choices rather than approaching eating mindlessly. • Instead of moving from food dish to food dish, first survey the options and decide which ones you really want and how much before adding food to your plate. • It’s also important to allow yourself a few unhealthy food options, but decide when and where you will make those choices.
Additional techniques to help modify improve healthy eating habits
• Bring fruit and vegetables to holiday gatherings to create more options for you and others. • Eat a light snack before attending events to lessen the likelihood of overeating. • Measure and portion your food. • Increase your level of activity and exercise. • Commit to making changes with someone close to you. • Bank your calories if you know you’ll attend an event with more food options available.
Lisa Hardesty, Ph.D., is a Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato clinical psychologist. March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 17
How do You do it By Jordan Greer-Friesz
P
Farm Direct Beef & Pork
Original Chip Steaks
Easter Celebrations
Graduation & Family Reunions
Customer Favorites
Easter Holiday Ham Bunny Cut Out Cookies • Burgers • Hot Dogs • Sloppy Joes
OTHER OPTIONS: • BBQ Chicken • Cheesy Turkey • Potato Salad
• Cole Slaw • Pasta Salad • Cookie Dough
Taco In A Bag & Taco Bar and SO MUCH MORE!!
507-387-2467 M-F 9-6, Sat. 9-3 232 Dewey St. • Next to Cub West
18 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
lease Be Nice A few weeks ago I had a meltdown. A full-fledged nauseous, kind of barfy, crying meltdown. Everyone is entitled to them. Not everyone has it in them to have one. But if you are one of the ones, you know what I mean. Life isn't ending. No one had died. Your children are safe and the dog hasn't been kidnapped. But, none the less, in the moment something pushes you up and over the top edge of sanity and you go full-on Halle Berry. The reason for my meltdown, and the reason for me hijacking the How Do You Do It? page this issue, is simple. It is not profound or deeply rooted in any long-standing societal wrong doing. In fact, it is so basic. So dang basic and I think that is why it hit me so hard: Why can't people think before they type? Why is it that people feel at liberty to say things to you over a screen that they would never say to your face? How personally disengaged as a society have we become when people can critique, criticize and comment on anything and everything without a split second of thought before they hit the Send button? I manage several Facebook pages for the projects I work on here at the Free Press and in the course of 2 weeks I got so many negative comments about things I was doing or posting that I had the above said meltdown. Some were direct comments from people and some
were horribly negative and insensitive responses to other people's comments. How do you teach "Internet Nice?" We try to teach our kids to be kind to others, to respect people's opinions and to be a good person. But, what happens when it's the parents who are the ones who aren't obeying their own rules? What are we as parents not taking away from what we are trying to instill in our kids? How can some people justify behavior that, if perpetrated upon our own children, we would feel outraged at? It is not just a problem with me, in Mankato, at the Free Press. Go on any internet site and read through the comments. People say the most horrendous things. Strike that... People TYPE the most horrendous things. Is that the key? Is that the reason? Does sitting behind a screen make people feel invincible? Or is it untouchable? Or is it anonymous? But you aren't. That is the part I don't understand. Guess what? The same people that carried on a foot long thread about my insensitivity on Facebook are the same people who said ‘hi’ to me at meetings. The same people that sit behind me at soccer games. The same people that ask if they can pet my dog. When did the internet make us forget one of the basic rules we try to teach our children, “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.” Every post does not need a comment. Some photos can go unliked. You can leave a reply unanswered. Not all battles need to be won and not all battles are really battles. There is someone else on the other end of the connection, getting an alert that might break their day. Your comments do not fall on deaf ears. Quite the opposite. More often than not, your words on the screen sometimes carry more weight and are felt more deeply because they come from nowhere. Parents, please, please remember that the next time you comment on a post, the next time you reply to a comment, the next time you see something in your feed that makes you react. Stop. Let the cursor blink for a minute. And then think, “What would I do if someone made this comment on my child’s post?”
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.
TheHISTORIANS Saint John’s Bible Traveling Exhibition YOUNG : Explore History Through the Decades
at the History Center September 1, 2017 Hands-on History Workshops for Kids through 2nd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. FREE.
Growing up amidst revolutionary social change and political turmoil had a lasting impact on teens in the late 1960s. This special interactive exhibit from the Minnesota Historical Society is on display at the History Center now-June 15. Free.
BlueEarthCountyHistory.com | 507.345.5566
! n e p O Now
Book your Birthday Party online!
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 19
12 Ways to Improve Your Family’s Mental Wellbeing By Sarah Sifers, PhD, LP | Five Rivers Mental Health Clinic
E
veryone wants to have a happy, healthy family. Here are some proven tips for helping your family thrive.
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! | March/April 2018
Eat Nutrient Heavy, Minimally Processed Food
Bodies and brains work better when given the proper fuel. Nutrient heavy, minimally processed foods provide the fuel we need. Think vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats and avoiding fried, fast, and prepackaged foods. Eating this food together brings additional benefits of family meal time.
Be Physically Active
Physical activity is good for our physical health and it boosts mood and decreases stress and anxiety. Physical activity can be fun and social as well, increasing its benefits. So, take a family walk, play with your kids, or enjoy a sport together. Just make sure to leave time to relax before bedtime.
Get Sunlight
Sunlight and being in nature improve mood and decrease stress, so spend some time outside. This can be combined with physical activity and connecting with loved ones to increase the benefits. Remember to use sunscreen and avoid sunlight for two hours before bedtime.
Connect with Loved Ones
Social connections can be the bright spot of our days. Taking time to focus our attention on talking and listening with loved ones also can improve our sense of wellbeing. Try to avoid negative conversations and have fun trying to understand each other’s unique perspective. Great conversation starters can be found online, in books, or even through playing games.
Practice Health Sleep Habits
Everyone gets irritable without enough sleep and many people struggle with getting enough sleep. If you need to use an alarm clock to wake up on time, chances are you are shortchanging yourself on sleep. Use your bed only for sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, allowing for enough time based on age and individual needs. Create a dark, quiet, cool, and relaxed environment for sleep. Avoid caffeine for six hours and screens for two hours before bed (both interfere with sleep).
Gratitude
Spacesare arefilling filling fast! Spaces fast! Call now for a tour!
Practice Relaxation or Mindfulness Strategies
Relaxation and mindfulness strategies reduce the physical and psychological effects of stress and improve wellbeing. This includes deep breathing, stretching, meditation, and other activities that allow your mind to be present and your body to relax.
Slow Down and Reduce Stimulation
Acknowledging the things we are grateful for boosts happiness. Even practicing trying to recognize those things can change our mindset to focus on the positive. Noticing and sharing the little positive moments each day can bring us together and improve our outlook.
In a fast-paced world, taking time to slow down and enjoy the peace and quiet is not just a luxury, it is a necessity. Limiting distractions and doing just one thing at a time (or even nothing!) allows us to relax. Besides, multitasking decreases productivity while taking breaks increases productivity.
Practice Compassion or Be of Service
Learn Something New Together
Thinking of others kindly and being helpful helps us feel better about ourselves and the world we live in. Plus, it makes the world a kinder, better place. Showing compassion and helping within and outside of the family can improve relationships, build self-esteem, and foster a positive worldview.
Limit Social Media and Smart Phones
Smart phones are not just a distraction when we are driving, they can lead us to miss out on those small, precious moments in life. Additionally, teens who use social media more are unhappier and those
CALL FOR ENROLLMENT
Now Enrolling for Now Enrolling for Pre-School 2018 Pre-School
who use it less are happier. Setting the phone down for face-to-face time is a fantastic way to make memories and improve wellbeing.
Not only is learning great for our brains, it gives our self-esteem a boost as we master something new. Learning something together can be a fun bonding opportunity for families, and who knows when those new skills or information will come in handy.
Ask for Help
If you or one of your family members is struggling after trying these strategies, please talk to a medical or mental health provider. Early intervention is key to preventing and treating mental health concerns. Information online can be helpful, just make sure you turn to a reliable source such as The American Academy of Pediatrics (www.healthychildren.org), The American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org/helpcenter), or The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (http:// www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_ and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFFGuide/FFF-Guide-View-by-Topic. aspx).
625-2141
300 Madison Ave. mankatolittlestars.com March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 21
Chef Sarah
Nosh
Chicken Taco Bake, GF Getting kids to eat healthy can be a struggle. Friesen’s has a role in helping develop healthy bodies, minds and habits for future generations through its healthy catering services, including for children in child care. Friesen’s wants to share our kid tested and kid approved recipes, so parents and children can cook and enjoy a healthy meal together. Makes approximately 12 cups
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups diced cooked chicken 2 cups cooked brown rice 1 can (about 2 cups) petite diced tomatoes 1 can kidney beans – drained 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup diced bell peppers ½ cup sliced green onion ½ cup diced roasted red pepper 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon oregano 1 cup crushed tortilla chips ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt
22 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Steps: Pre-heat oven 350 degrees Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl (adjust spices to your liking!) Scoop ingredients into a greased 9” by 13” casserole dish Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour until brown on top and bubbly Serve with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, avocados, radishes, tortillas or anything else that you like! Feel free to substitute cooked turkey or beef or tofu, any other beans or chesses, or just use different vegetables. The sky is the limit. Make this your own family favorite and ENJOY! For more information on healthy catering options, contact natasha@friesensfood.com or visit http://friesensfood.com/child-care-catering/.
515 N Riverfront Drive • 507-345-4114 • info@friesensfood.com March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 23
Are You a Family Reporter?
Discover family news at the Blue Earth County History Center!
Do you wear a hat like this? Called a Fedora, it was a hat news reporters wore in the past.
Reporters make sure we get the news. Family Reporters can be anyone in your family that records your family's news and stories – including you! Why is it important to record your family’s news? Because your family story is your story too! To get started, you can interview family members, look at photographs and keepsakes, or study historical documents for information. Then use what you’ve uncovered to make a family newspaper or scrapbook. You can become a Family Reporter and write a story about your family!
You be the Family Reporter! Find your story... What are the objects and documents you see below? What can they tell us about our family? After you look at the pictures below and discover how to use them, write your answers below each picture.
Do you know what this object is? Hint: This book is where people keep special mementos of events that happened in their lives. It is a called a scrapbook. What would you include in a scrapbook about your life?
What are these objects? Hint: People use these tools to learn about events, people and stories that have happened. Has your family ever been named in the newspaper? Why do you think your family’s name might be in a newspaper?
What is this? Hint: In the past people used tools like these to collect memories of family vacations or special family events. It’s a camera! What do you use today to take pictures?
______________________
______________________________
___________________
Blue Earth County History Center is located at 424 Warren Street, Mankato
What’s Your Story?
Be a Family Reporter and ask questions about what makes you, well, you! Your goal is to uncover previously unknown facts and fun family stories. Start by asking your parents or grandparents about their stories. Ask some of the following questions to help get the conversation started.
DID YOU KNOW? Family Reporters get the scoop (the story) by asking questions about their families.
Family Reporter List What is your full name? When and where were you born? Where did you grow up? What did you like best in school? Did you have a favorite pet? How did you meet Grandma/Grandpa? Tell me about your first date. Tell me about the day my mom/dad was born. Do you have old pictures I can see?
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Visit the Blue Earth County History Center. Join Young Historians— a free, monthly, hands-on history workshop for school age kids the 2nd Saturday of each month, September through May, 10 a.m. to Noon.
BlueEarthCountyHistory.com
507-345-5566
Make your own family newspaper! Cut out the Press Pass below. Show it to someone you want to learn more about and ask to interview them. Use the questions listed on the notepad along with any others you can think of. Use what you learn to write a newspaper story about them, add some photos and you will be a Family Reporter!
This year, in a great show of teamwork, Mankato East and West joined forces to win the State VEX Robotics Championship. Robotics is a very unique competition in that opposing schools often have to work together to accomplish their goals.
STATE CHAMPIONS: Betaversion 2.0 (East), 9 teams from Minnesota can advance on to the World Championship in Louisville, KY on April 25th-28th. We are proud to say that we have 6 of those teams! Additional State Tournament Results: • State Tournament Finalists: Steel Phoenixes • Robot Skills winner: The Ribbits • Excellence Award winner: The Ribbits • Design Award winner: Team KaBuum • Middle School Design Award winner: Solid Steel 26 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
507-387-1868 • maps@isd77.k12.mn.us Facebook Twitter
The Ribbits (West), and Team Sierra (West). Communication, teamwork, resilience, and passion are just a few of the skills needed to be successful in robotics.The skills these students have developed through VEX will hopefully carry through to their professional lives. Mankato Public Schools is very proud of these students and our robotics programming.
Congratulations to these teams! March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 27
Family Academy Mankato Area Public Schools
The Office of Family and Community Engagement will strive to build the capacity for student learning by engaging families, schools and the community. We will do this by establishing international collaborative partnerships and resources to help students achieve academic proficiency and college and career readiness, Committed to Creating a District Culture of: Collaborations, Connections , Community
Rosa Parks Elementary, 1001 Heron Drive March 5, 2018 • 5:00-6:00 pm March 5, 2018 • 6:30-7:30 pm ACT Test & College Preparation:
Rosa Parks room 200 Families will learn more about the ACT and what FREE resources are available to help students prepare for this important test.
Difference Between Sadness and Depression:
Rosa Parks room 210 What is the difference between sadness and depression and when should parents be concerned?
Perfectionism:
New Apps/Technology: Rosa Parks room 220/media center Attend this session to learn how our district reviews and approves the apps and extensions on student devices.
Helping Students Cope With Stress: Rosa Parks room 210 This session will provide students and parents with tools and strategies to help manage the stress and anxiety facing teens
Rosa Parks room 220/Media Center We will look at the causes and effects of perfectionism and how it impacts students in and out of school.
Meal provided at 6:00 pm. Childcare will be available for ages 4-12. Registration is required for both, Register online or call Laura at 507-387-5501 for assistance. 28 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
507-387-1868 • maps@isd77.k12.mn.us Facebook Twitter
K-12 SPRING CONFERENCES 2018 Bridges
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 - 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Eagle Lake
Roosevelt
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Rosa Parks
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 - 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Franklin
Washington Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hoover
Central HS
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 - 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2018 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jefferson
Monday, February 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Kennedy
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018– 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
DMMS PWMS
Monday, February 26, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018 – 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Monroe
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2018 – 3:20 p.m. to 8:00 p.m . March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 29
mIsSPeLleD
By E. M. James
G
ia looked out the iceskinned window at the shear nothingness that lay behind her. Good-bye, nowhere… “Hello, big city!” Gia jerked her hand toward her lips and giggled. “Don’t be blurting like that on your first day of school, Gia. Make a good first impression.” Her mother snapped. “Yeah, yeah, okay, okay!” Gia moved her chin underneath her hand. She already was happy to get away from her old town. She only had a few close friends. Her learning disorder had
30 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
prevented her from getting good grades and a few odd looks. She was very smart, just didn’t know how to recognize it. *** “Gia, c’mon, get up… mom is mad. She wants us to get up for school. NOW, GIA!” Gia’s brother, Skye, looked drowsy. She wondered how long he’d been up. “Fine, fine… gosh what time is it?” She looked at her phone, “HOLY NUTMILK! 5:37?! Mom is truly crazy now!” Skye laughed at his sister’s remark. “C’mon. Don’t want mom getting madder than she is.” Gia hopped into the Toyota and buckled up. Skye looked near tears. “Kids, don’t make too many mistakes if you can
help it.” Gia heard her mother cough her name under her breath. She tried as hard as she could to choke back tears. “Mom, I heard that! It’s not my fault, you know! It’s technically yours! You ARE my mom!” With these words, the tears started raining from her eyes. She rubbed her face. Skye leaned over and hugged his sister, tears walking down his own nose. Gia leaned out the car window and looked at the passing buildings and cars. She could see her own reflection in the large windows that the car passed. She wished her reflection didn’t have tear stains on her cheeks. “Gia, get out. We’re here.” Gia looked over at the other
window. She was excited that she knew nobody. Nobody would know she couldn’t write. She sat down in the bright red desk right next to a purple one with a boy sitting in it. She tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, a frightened look on his face. He relaxed and moved his right hand from his forehead out, like a salute. I did the same. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant. He moved his hand with palms turned up in-ward and out-ward, then, he pointed at Gia. He put two fingers together on both hands and tapped them twice together. Gia looked confused. A small, plump woman walked up behind the boy. “I’m so sorry if you were confused, dearie. Jonathan here is deaf and is just using sign language, since his hearing aids are in his binder. Here, let me take them out so he can talk to you…” The woman took a curved piece of plastic out of the boy’s binder and stuck it behind his ear. He jerked up and waved. He made a blowing-a-kiss signal to the woman, and turned back to me. “Hey. I’m Jonathan. What’s up with you?” “I’m Gia. I’ve got a learning disorder, or as I like to call it, slurred writing syndrome!” Jonathan laughed. “I think this is a lot better than my last school. At least I know SOMEBODY!” Jonathan said, a little water in the bottom lip of his eyes. “I have the exact same problem. I couldn’t even spell this conversation!” “I can help you learn ASL, If you want. I can ‘speak’ it fluently.” “I guess I could help you learn how to read better.” “Friends?” “Friends!”
Deep Valley Young Writer & Artist Competitions Open to all young writers and artists between the ages 7 – 18. Awards will be given to the winner of each age category.
Deadline for entry – April 30, 2018 RULES & TR EN Y FORM
Competition rules and entry form can be found onlineat www.deepvalleybookfestival.com or pick up a copy at these Mankato locations:
Blue Earth County Historical Society, 424 Warren St. Carnegie Art Center, 120 South Braod St. The Free Press, 418 South 2nd St. Drop off entries at any of these location or mail to the address on the entry form.
Deep Valley Book Festival – www.deepvalleybookfestival For more information, email: rhanel@hickorytech.net Sponsored by Minnesota Heritage Publishing and The Free Press
OLD TOWN MANKATO 615 N. RIVERFRONT DR. TUES—FRI. 10-6 SAT. 10-4 SOMETIMES SUN. 12-4 SALVAGESISTERSMERCANTILE
SALVAGESISTERSMANKATO
keepsake gifts for your little SALVAGESISTERSMERCANTILE.COM
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 31
Yoga
Happy Baby Lie flat on your back and start by bending your knees and bring the thighs to the belly. Grab the sides of the feet bringing the soles of the feet up toward the ceiling. Separate the feet and knees wider than the body and bring the knees toward the armpits. Try to get ankles should be above the knees and shins perpendicular to the floor. Use the hands to pull down on the feet.
Gena Heminover:
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and mother of two girls, Elea age 6 (pictured) and Ava age 3 (pictured). Teaches yoga at Fitness For $10, private lessons and at other places in Mankato. Specializing in Kids Yoga, Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Advanced Yoga. Find me on Instagram at ‘Gena Heminover Yoga’ and Facebook at ‘Gena Heminover Wellness’ https://www.facebook.com/ genaheminoverwellness Website: GenaHeminover.com Or email: heminoveryoga@yahoo.com
Tips for Kids: • Kids naturally have a short attention span so keep each pose under 30 seconds. • 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!
32 32 •• Kid-oh! Kid-oh! || March/April March/April2018 2018
Reverse Table Top Start by sitting on the floor with your feet hip distance apart. Place your hands behind you on the floor. Lean back onto your hands and lift your hips up off the floor. Try to get the hips as high as you can and keep the ankles under the knees.
Benefits of Happy Baby Pose:
• Opens and stretches the hips • Stretches the inner groins • Lengthens and helps to realign the spine • Calms the mind and relieves stress • Strengthens the arms and shoulders
Low Lunge Start this pose on your hands and knees. Then step one foot forward, up by your hands. Get your balance and slowly bring your hands off the floor and reach for the ceiling. Depending on your balance and flexibility, try lunging forward into the front leg. Make sure the front knee doesn’t go past the front ankle. You may have to scooch up that front foot to keep that alignment.
Benefits of Low Lunge pose:
• Stretches the hips and hip flexors. • Opens up shoulders, lungs, and chest. • Stretches the gluteus maximus and the quadriceps. • Regular practice of this pose leads to greater strength and flexibility in your legs, knees, hips, arms, shoulders, and abdomen. • It helps to improve balance.
Benefits of Reverse Table Top Pose:
• Stretches shoulders, chest, abdomen, and spine • Strengthens core muscles and the muscles surrounding the spine • Improves balance and posture • Strengthen the wrists, arms, buttocks, legs, and back • Can relieve fatigue and stress
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 33
Well-child visits are important for children of I
every age, not just newborns
t’s second nature for parents to bring their the best chance for proper and successful children to the doctor when they’re sick. But, treatment. Well-child visits also give parents in reality, annual well-child visits are just as the opportunity to discuss any concerns they important for your child’s health as appointments may have regarding their children’s health or are when they’re feeling under the weather. development. Children are unique in that their minds, By scheduling the appropriate well-child visit, bodies and brains continue to develop over the providers are able to take extra time to examine Lon Knudson, MD course of a year. Each change is an important their patient’s in ways they normally don’t Pediatrics, sign of health, which is why it’s imperative for during visits where the child is sick. Daniels Health Center children to have a complete physical once per Whether your child is 6-months-old, 6-yearsyear. old or 16-years-old, the annual physical During annual well-child visits, your child’s provider gives providers a chance to give the child a more inwill assess their physical and emotional development, depth physical exam that will address any emotional, provide guidance, administer any immunizations – which development or social concerns. In older adolescents, it are important to prevent illness – and perform any also is a good opportunity to address issues like drinking, necessary tests including hearing and vision screenings. drugs, smoking, depression and sexual activity. Providers use these visits to see how much children The annual well-child visits provide a great team or adolescents have grown since their last visit and to approach to a child’s healthcare. The regular visits help recognize if a child may have a developmental delay. create strong, trustworthy relationships among the Finding possible problems early on gives children provider, parent and child.
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
Satellite Clinic
Pediatric Therapy Services Children’s Health Center 1421 Premier Drive, Mankato, MN 56001 Therapy sessions at Satellite office are by appointment only.
www.kidtherapy.com Pediatric Therapy Services
has been making a difference in the lives of children for the past 27 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) 34 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. Making a difference... one child at a time
Chase Away the Winter Chills! We pay $$$ on the spot for gently used clothing, toys, & equipment your kids have outgrown. No appointment necessary. Plus, low prices on everything they need NOW! Located conveniently across from Cub Foods 464 Raintree Road, Mankato 507-344-8799 Mon.-Sat. 10-8 Sun. 12-5 www.onceuponachildmankato.com March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 35
224 Lamm Street, Mankato www.cmsouthernmn.org info@cmsouthernmn.org
507.386.0279
Admission: $8 per person; free for children 12 months and under Annual family and grandparent memberships are available!
Hours:
36 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm Closed on Mondays.
Happy Birthday to You!
Is your birthday this spring? Did you know that you can celebrate at the Children’s Museum and invite your family and friends for a wonderful day of play? Starting at $125, the Museum offers a variety of options for any age, group size, or interests! Also, Museum Members get a 20% discount on parties! Visit www.cmsouthernmn.org to explore the parties and reserve your date.
Are you a member?
Did you know that membership to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota includes unlimited access to galleries and exhibits during open hours, discounts to birthday parties and special events? You can get all this, and more, when you choose a membership package that best fits your family. Browse the selection at www.cmsouthernmn.org and become a member today. Membership packages start at $108 for the whole year. This is only $9 a month!
Spring 2018 Member Special:
Membership Mondays: From April 9 through May 21, the Museum will be open to members only every Monday, 3:00 – 7:00 pm.
Mayo Clinic at the Museum
Join Mayo Clinic Health System at the Museum this spring for a series of programs focused on wellness, especially for toddlers. These programs include fun activities for kids, but also provide an opportunity for caregivers to receive new ideas on how to show care, get active though a nature walk, and learn about the “eat a rainbow” concept. Come to the Museum to learn more about physical and emotional health, nutrition, and sensory play! March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 37
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in the manufacturing industry? A new exhibit is coming to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and it will provide an opportunity for children to get hands-on experience that is engaging, fun, and inspiring! Automation Station is developed in partnership with the South Central College Mechatronics and Graphics Departments and sponsored by Dotson Iron Castings, EI Microcircuits, and Big Ideas, LLC.
NEW
EXHIBIT!
Children can, through role-playing, immerse themselves into the manufacturing experience, with the exhibit components in Automation Station that are designed to simulate a work environment in which hard hats, vests, safety glasses, and ear protection are worn.
Mark your calendars for the Automation Station Grand Opening on Thursday, April 12, at 10:30 am!
Giant Etch-a-Sketch
Have you ever drawn with a joystick? This station provides an opportunity to manipulate a pen on the x-y axis to create an image to take home. 38 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Pick-and-Place
Check out tabletop robots in action! Control switches and sensors powered by pressurized air to manipulate blocks.
Jr. Strength Tester
How strong are you? Test each of your hands, or invite a friend to compare! Squeeze a bicycle brake and light up an LED light display. How many lights will you turn on?
Ball Blaster & Air in Action
Can you make air work for you? In these interactive exhibit components, you can blast balls with different levels of air pressure, and learn how electronic and mechanical switches control movement.
Robot
A 6-axis robot will demonstrate the articulated motion of a robotic arm. How cool is that?
Assemble It
Put your gear on and build a circuit board! Get your work order, carefully put your pieces together, run them through quality control, then send them to shipping. Later on, they may return for recycling. Can you sort all the manufacturing waste?
Crane
With a 14-foot tall chain hoist, children can lift and pour “molten metal” just like they do on the factory floor.
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 39
Spring is Coming!
Visit the Children’s Museum AgLab in March to learn more about wool! Explore the Sheep to Sweater exhibit component to learn about processing wool and to handle a fleece from a locally raised sheep. Wool is removed from a sheep through a process known as shearing— clipping the wool from the sheep’s body. Skirting the fleece removes ragged edges, as well as dirt, straw, and organic matter that collects in the sheep’s wool throughout the year. After that, the fleece is ready to be washed to remove lanolin and the remainder of dirt and other organic matter. Come visit the exhibit to learn where the process goes from here: explore both commercial and do-it-yourself processes.
Thursday, March 8, 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Joe Domeier from Pehling Bay Farm is coming to the Museum to demonstrate wool-spinning! Come see a variety of wool products and engage in wool-carding activities.
Saturday, March 17, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join the Pioneer Spinners and Fiber Arts Guild as they card, spin, and weave wool! Participate in these hands-on activities and learn about different types of fibers produced by a variety of animals. In April, the Museum’s AgLab will feature an exhibit that takes you into an underground world to explore roots, bugs, and soil, as well as the difference in root systems of trees and grass. What’s Underfoot? turns Museum visitors into backyard explorers as they find bugs and burrowing animals that may live in their back yards, too. Do you know how many days it takes for a chicken egg to hatch? Have you ever watched a chick peck its way out of its shell? Check out the incubation station in April and see what’s happening! 40 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Wool and Sheep Fun Facts
• Clothing and other wool items date back to the Stone Age. • Wool can come in many natural colors: white, shades of gray or brown, and black. • Wool is biodegradable, fire and wrinkle resistant. • A sheep’s wool never stops growing. They need to be sheared every year or their wool would get very heavy. • A sheep’s fleece can weigh anywhere from 2 – 30 pounds. • The record set for the fastest shearing of wool is 39.31 seconds and it was done by an Australian sheep shearer. • Lanolin is the natural oil in wool. It causes the greasy feeling of a raw fleece and helps shed rain when sheep are outdoors. • There are almost 1,000 breeds of sheep in the world. • Sheep are herbivores, eating vegetation such as grass. They are also ruminants, which means they have 4 food-digesting chambers to their stomachs. • In 1996, a sheep named Dolly was the first animal to be cloned. • Sheep have good memories and remember both sheep and human faces. • Sheep are social animals and live in herds. • Sheep have excellent hearing and sense of smell. • Sheep have their eyes set on the side of their head and have excellent peripheral vision: it is nearly 300 degrees, and they can see behind them without turning their heads. Despite this good vision, they have no depth perception.
Experiencing Psychology Day Friday, March 16, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Have you ever wondered what a human brain looks like or how you could improve your memory skills? Check out a series of demos by Minnesota State University, Mankato Psychology students and see exciting ways to explore how psychological science shapes our lives. Museum visitors will have an opportunity to create a brain with PlayDoh, build neurons with fun, colorful supplies, construct a human memory board with giant stuffed toys, and more. With the help of night vision and perceptual shift goggles, children will be able to try throwing squish balls, picking up bean bags, or explore the changes in vision in different environments. The Museum’s guests from the Psychology Department will demonstrate the work of a real EEG, a machine that measures brain and body activity.
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychologists study the individual, social, psychological, developmental, and environmental effects on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Because psychology is considered a science, psychologists are experienced with statistics and research methodology.
Getting Ready to Grow
Spend your Spring Break at the Children’s Museum! March 28 through April 2*
*The Museum will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 1, but open on Monday, April 2 On Wednesday and Thursday, participate in Digging in the Dirt and take a close look at what all can be found in the soil. Friday and Saturday, learn about rain chemistry, and on Monday, come explore plants and 3D printing. These no-school day programs will be available from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Activating the Potential of STEM-Powered Play Outside of the School Day is a project that provides opportunities for Museum visitors to engage in hands-on STEM learning activities on days when there is no school. This project is funded through the Consolidated Communications Community Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.
Free Family Fun Night at the Museum Thursday, March 15, 4:30 – 7:30 Come to the Children’s Museum and explore the galleries and exhibits, as well as participate in a variety of activities at no cost. This event is sponsored by Wells Fargo and their support helps to provide a Gateway to Play for families that experience barriers to Museum participation. These events are funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Museum access opportunities are especially intended for families that may experience barriers to Museum participation, but everyone is welcome to attend these events.
Spring into the Museum Saturday, March 31, 7 - 9 am
Visit the Museum website to purchase tickets for a fun morning that includes breakfast, egg decorating, and spring animals.
Music in the Museum Saturday, March 31, 10 am – 12 pm
Minnesota State University, Mankato students from all across the Department of Music will visit and perform in the Museum! They will bring African drums, steel drums, an instrument petting zoo, as well as provide a special visit from Dr. David Gadberry, a music ed faculty member.
Special Needs Accessibility Playtime Friday, April 27, 4:30 – 7:30 pm Children with special needs or sensory challenges and their families are invited to a playdate at the Museum on Friday, January 19, during a time when fewer visitors will be present. Explore the Museum from 4:30 - 7:30 pm at no cost thanks to the sponsorship by the Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition. March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 41
DIY
No Sew Bunny Sleep Mask
This No Sew sleep mask is the perfect DIY craft for kids or adults! It is customizable to be any animal or theme you would like, just get creative and change the ear shape or add embellishments!
TOOLS & MATERIALS: • 3 sheets of 8x11 felt in 3 colors. 1 for the body, 1 for the eyelashes and 1 for the nose • Hot glue gun • Thin elastic band • Scissors • Template see page 45
Brought to you by
• Pink Marker • Black Marker 42 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Instructions:
Step 2
Select the color of felt you would like for the body of the mask. Fold it in half. Place the template of the eye mask and the ears on the folded felt and trace with a black marker. Cut out both pieces of the folded felt.
Step 1
Cut out the template. Hint, you can cut inside or outside the template line to make the mask larger or smaller. If you would like to do something other than bunny ears, you can simply draw a triangle for a cat ear or a teardrop for a puppy ear.
Step 3
Wrap the elastic band around the child’s head to gauge the length from temple to temple and cut. Lay the elastic band straight, separate the eye mask pieces, lay piece 1 on top of the elastic band and place a 2” strip of hot glue on either side of the mask to glue the ends of the elastic band to the mask.
Step 5
Trace the parameter of eye mask 1 with the hot glue leaving about ¼” around the edge. Quickly place eye mask two on top of eye mask one.
Step 4
Step 7
Next, take the ears, place a bead of glue along the bottom of the ear and pinch the pieces together creating a fold. Then glue the ears to eye piece number 1 in a spot that makes sense for the ear you’ve selected.
With the pink marker, color cheeks and ears and rub with your finger to blend.
Step 6
For the nose, cut a heart shape out of the felt you have chosen for the nose and glue it to eye piece 2, for the eyelashes, cut a half moon shape about an inch long from the felt you have chosen, clip eyelashes along the bottom and glue to eye piece 2.
Step 8
Enjoy your sleep mask during slumber parties, on weekends when your parents want to sleep in, or while traveling. March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 43
44 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Ar E y n Bun ern Patt
Sleeping Mask Pattern
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 45
Paper Dolls
Carefully Cut-Out Paper Dolls
46 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
To make your paper dolls more durable: First look in the recycle for an old cereal box and glue the page of paper dolls on the cereal box. Next, when the glue is dry, carefully cut out dolls and outfits. Now you should be ready to play!
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 47
Jokes Q:
Q: What’s the worst thing about throwing a party in space? A: You have to planet.
What runs around a yard without actually moving?
Q:
Q:
A: A fence.
What kind of dinosaur loves to sleep?
Why can’t you trust atoms? A: They make up everything!
A: A stega-snore-us.
Q: When do doctors get mad?
Q:
A: When they run out of patients.
Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
Q: What do you call a group of disorganized cats? A: cat-tastrophe.
A: It was feeling crumb-y.
Q: What did the judge say to the dentist?
Q:
A: Ten-tickles.
Q: Where do cows go for entertainment? A: The mooooo-vies! 48 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Q: Where do sheep go to get their hair cut? A: The baa-baa shop.
A: Do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth?
How many tickles does it take to get an octopus to laugh?
Macy, age 12
March is ADAGIO ALLEGRO ALTO BASS BEAT CADENCE CANON CHORD
CHORUS CLEF CONTRALTO DUET ENCORE ENSEMBLE FALSETTO HARMONY
50 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
KEY MAJOR MINOR MODULATION MUSIC OCTIVE
PITCH REPRISE RHYTHEM SCALE SINGING SOLO SPEED STAFF
SYMBOLS TEMPO TENOR TUNING VIBRATO VOCALS
See Solution on Page 60
Hayden, age 7
LET’S DRAW
Use the grids to help you draw the animals below.
52 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
Macy, age 12
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 53
Meet EILEEN BEHA By Julie Schrader
Tell us about yourself, Eileen:
Beha: My name is Eileen Beha and I live in Minneapolis with my husband Ralph and our dog Daisy. We have four grown children and five grandchildren. Earlier in life I was a teacher and a middle school principal. I’m the author of two novels for middle-grade readers, ages 8 to 12, in grades 3 to 7. My first book, Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog was published in 2009 and my second book, The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea was published in 2015.
What were your favorite books as a child? Beha: When I was a child, my favorite books were The Call of the Wild and Anne of Green Gables.
What was your inspiration for the story about Throckmorton and Annaliese?
Beha: The idea first came to me when my son-in-law Martin Dosh, a percussionist and keyboardist, was touring with an indie-rock band. A fan had given the band members sock monkeys made out of a gray, white and red men’s work socks. One of these monkeys went on tour with the band and appeared on stage during every live or TV performance. I was captivated by the little sock monkey and wondered “What if I wrote a story about a sock monkey who goes on tour with a rock band? This proved to be more difficult than I could have imagined. After spending more than a year working on the story and attending a writer’s workshop, I realized that this was not my story to tell. I decided that my story would take place in the past, not the present. My sock monkey would be created by the matriarch of a large, wealthy family, not a fan. My sock monkey would belong to a young girl named Annaliese whose heart’s desire was stronger than
Sarah Jane Wright, illustrator of The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea.
54 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
any dreams of stardom. My sock monkey would experience a brief and shining moment in the spotlight for reasons that brought neither fame or fortune.
Is Eastcliff-by-the-Sea a real place?
Beha: Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, the manor house and estate where Annaliese Easterling’s family lived, was inspired by an operating inn with a similar name—Dalvay-by-the-Sea, which is located on Prince Edward Island. I have spent 25 summer vacations on the island.
Can you share a few of your writing tips?
Beha: When you’re writing a story, it’s important to have a problem that your characters can solve. In The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, one of the problems I introduce is “no monkey, no money.” The family believes they are due to inherit money from their Grandmamma … but only if they’ve taken good care of the sock monkey she made for each person when they were born. And some members of the family can’t find their sock monkeys! When you need to describe a setting so thoroughly that your readers feel as though they’re walking inside that space, it’s helpful to have a “model.” The family gathering in the ballroom at Eastcliff-by-the-Sea is pivotal for the book, so I wanted to get everything just right. I used my impressions of the ballroom at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to create the description for the grand birthday party held in Eastcliff ’s ballroom.
Are there any incidents from your personal life experiences that you used in this book?
Beha: I can see now that there are many threads of my own life woven into the story both consciously and subconsciously. Annaliese’s yearning for the mother she never knew, is one such thread, a yearning that was passed down to me from my own mother. When my mother, Marcella, was five years old, her mother died during the 1918 influenza epidemic. Rejected by her father and his new wife, Marcella and her two sisters were raised by their mother’s sister Aunt Ida. I understood how much my mother grieved the loss of her own. Before she died in 2007, my mother pinned a scrap of paper, edges trimmed by a pinking shears, to the white muslin dress of a brown-eyed doll with a bisque head. The note reads: My name is Ida Mae. Aunt Ida Hohensee was my caregiver at one time. Love her (the doll) as I did love Aunt Ida.
About the Book: The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea By Julie Schrader hrockmorton S. Monkey (the “S.” stands for “Sock.”) charmingly relates the story of his owner, 9-year-old Annaliese Easterling, her twin brothers Evan and Teddy, and their sad father. The family lives in an old mansion that sits on a cliff high above the frozen sea, called Eastcliff. Annaliese does not remember her long-gone mother, and her father has forbidden the subject. Annaliese has also long forgotten Throckmorton S. Monkey and he seems doomed to live out his days lost and lonely among other abandoned stuffed animals. As the story opens, Annaliese is excited about party invitations that have arrived for her family’s sock monkeys and their keepers. As Annaliese’s father explains to the latest governess: “Whenever a baby is born into the family, GreatGrandmamma Easterling makes a sock monkey.” The arrival of Throckmorton’s invitation brings him back together with Annaliese and he is thrilled! As Annaliese and her brothers search for the Easterling family’s
T Do you get fan mail from readers?
Beha: Yes, a child, parent, or educator might drop me a nice note or send an email telling me how much they liked the story of Annaliese Easterling and Throckmorton, her simply remarkable sock monkey. These are the kinds of fun experiences that makes a writer want to go back to her desk and create a new story to bring out into the world.
The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea has been nominated for the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award 2017-2018. Can you tell us more about this award nomination?
Beha: I have been fortunate in that both of my novels for middle-grade readers have received some very fine recognition at the national level. But the award that I’m most proud of is the one that I received in my home state of Minnesota: The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea is a Division I nominee for The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award. Knowing that a team of Minnesota teachers, librarians, readers and authors across the state nominated this book is a source of great pride and satisfaction for me. Plus, my book is in good company; the other nine books nominated in Division I are all excellent choices for readers in Grades 3 to 5. The most exciting part of being a 2017-2018 nominee is that many more children across the state are reading the book than would have if my book hadn’t been nominated. To read more about Eileen Beha and her books, visit www.eileenbeha. com.-
missing sock monkeys, clues emerge about the mysterious appearance of the their mother. Before the day of the party, Annaliese and Throckmorton suddenly learn more and more secrets about Annaliese’s mother. Throckmorton survives being buried in a blizzard and is spared from a vicious attacker. But best of all, he’ll find a way to reunite Annaliese with the one person she most longs to know. Not bad for a stuffed toy—if you’re to believe that’s all Throckmorton S. Monkey really is…
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
T
By Julie Schrader
he Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children’s read and vote book award. Its purpose is to encourage recreational reading among school age children. Nominated titles are works of fiction selected by independent regional reading groups. Students in grades 3-5 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division I nominee list and students in grades 6-8 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division II nominee list are eligible to vote for the Maud Hart Lovelace Award.
Students vote for a favorite title and ballots may be submitted to the Minnesota Youth Reading Awards beginning March 1st through the 2nd Friday in April. The MYRA executive board announces the current year’s winners and next year’s nominees on Maud Hart Lovelace’s birthday, April 25. The winning authors are then invited to attend an award presentation in the fall. For more information: http://www. myrahome.org/maud-hart-lovelaceaward.html March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 55
Mankato 2018 Summer Dance Camps Celebrating Our 35th Year Teaching the Art of Dance as a Non-profit organization
Super Hero Camp for Boys & Girls
Moana’s Beach Party
Free Frozen Camp ages 3-6
**Featuring Moana
ages 3-5 July 17-20 4-4:55 pm $40
ages 5+ June 11-14 5:00-5:55 pm $40
Princess Dance Camp ages 3-5
To all new students or students who bring a friend June 19-22 3:00-3:55 pm $40
August 14-17 4:00-4:55 pm $40
**Featuring Ana and Elsa and Olaf
**Featuring Cinderella, Snow White, and other Princesses
Beauty & The Beast Camp ages 4-6 July 10-13 4:00-4:55 pm $40 **Featuring Belle **Any Frozen Camper may take a Princess Camp or Moana Beach Party for $35 per session!**
Boys Tap/Jazz Camp
Ages 8+ August 6-9 5:00-5:55 pm $20
Boys Hip Hop Camp
Ages 6+ August 14-17 6:00-6:55 $20
Hip Hop Try It Ages 6+ *FREE for NEW students or if you bring a friend July 30-Aug 2 4:00-4:55 pm $40
For the full summer schedule, please visit our website: www.dcsmdance.com Completed Registration forms may be emailed to: dcdance002@gmail.com
1400 Madison Ave Suite 318 Mankato, MN 56001
507-625-2005
Adult, Child & Family Services.
Happy Birthday
Maud Hart Lovelace!
M
Adult, Child & Family Services is here to walk with you and your loved ones through the journey towards emotional health. We offer: • individual therapy • couples counseling • family therapy • therapeutic skills support for children and adults of all ages. • rehabilitative group therapy for individuals in the legal system.
1400 MADISON AVE SUITE 610, MADISON EAST CENTER , MANKATO (507)387-3777 • WWW.ACFSMANKATO.ORG 56 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
By Julie Schrader
aud Hart Lovelace, the author of the internationally known Betsy-Tacy series was born in Mankato, Minnesota on April 25, 1892. She grew up in a yellow house on Center Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and attended Mankato schools. The Betsy-Tacy books are based on her childhood days in Mankato, the fictionalized Deep Valley. Her stories of small town life, family traditions and enduring friendships have captured the hearts of her many fans over the years. The stories of children growing up in the early 1900s are as relevant today as they were when written. Maud Hart Lovelace is listed as one of the top 100 children’s book authors, along with Laura Ingalls
Wilder (Little House books), Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables books) and Louisa May Alcott (Little Women). According to the author, even though the BetsyTacy books are fictionalized, many of the characters and places in these books are based on real people and places. This means that you can still visit many of the places you read about in these books! Fans from all over the world have visited Mankato just to seek out the places of Maud’s childhood. Maud’s (Betsy) childhood home on Center Street has been restored as a museum and Frances Kenney’s (Tacy) childhood home is restored as an interpretive center. These houses were designated National Literary Landmarks in 2010. For more information about visiting hours, see www. betsy-tacysociety.org. “To find the Deep Valley of the Betsy-Tacy stories in this hustling, modern Mankato is not easy. You must wipe out the changes time has brought and bring back the horse and buggy days” Maud Hart Lovelace, 1961
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace, illustrated by Lois Lenski. ©HarperCollins
Maud Hart Lovelace’s Deep Valley and Discover Deep Valley by Julie A. Schrader are guidebooks that identify the real people and places in the Betsy-Tacy books. Both are filled with pictures, history and maps. These books and other books by and about Maud Hart Lovelace can be purchased online at www. mnheritage.com or at the Blue Earth County Historical Society Gift Shop or Betsy-Tacy Society Gift Shop. From the pages of the Betsy-Tacy books, we can learn about an important period in Mankato history. It is a precious gift that Maud Hart Lovelace left to her hometown. Thank you Maud Hart Lovelace!
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 57
Girls on the Run of Greater Mankato
celebrates
10 years! Y
Amy Jordan | Director of Programs at YWCA Mankato
WCA Mankato staff, volunteers and parents work together to provide girls ages 8-18 with the confidence and self-esteem they need to achieve great things. Programs such as SURGE!™, Girls Inc., Girls & GEARS, Heart & Sole and Girls on the Run have empowered more than 2,500 girls in our community. Amayra* is one of those girls… Amayra was a first-time participant in Girls on the Run last spring. She was shy and did not know any other girls at the start of the 10-week program. One of the coaches saw the limitless potential in Amayra and helped her to develop friendships throughout the program. When it came time for the practice run, Amayra was nervous… but with the encouragement of her teammates, she was able to finish and was ready to tackle the 5k event! Then, just five days before the end-of-season event, Amayra broke her ankle. She was devastated. Her coach knew she had to do something for Amayra and would not 58 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
let her season end early. The day of the 5k came, and the coach pushed Amayra in a wheelchair for the entire 3.1 miles! We will never forget the smile on Amayra’s face as she crossed the finish line. Nationally, YWCAs have a Generational Imperative; a multi-generational commitment to support young women, helping to create a socially just world for the next generation. Not only are our programs connecting girls to their inner strength, but they are bridging a generational gap by providing opportunities for young women to educate, empower and inspire one another. We hope to see many of our friends and neighbors at our 10th Annual Girls on the Run 5k on Saturday, April 21, 2018! For more information on how to register your girl for a program or to sign up to participate in the 5k visit https://www.mankatoywca.org/girls-run-greatermankato.
the finish line IS JUST THE
beginning
mankatoywca.org/5k All proceeds from this event will support YWCA Mankato Girls Programming. March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 59
Solutions
Spring Into a Good Book Mankato Area Gymnastics School Spring Session: March 5th- May 26th *Gymnasts may join at any time for a pro-rated fee!
MAGSGymnastics.com 507.625.6260
BUYAT REGULAR A LARGE PIZZA MENU PRICE AND GET A MEDIUM 1-2 TOPPING PIZZA
FREE!!
Limited delivery area. Charges may apply. Carryout or delivery. Expires 2-28-18
order online at: www.papajohns.com
387-2345
Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. 60 • Kid-oh! | March/April 2018
826 South Front St, Mankato (Next to Family Dollar)
RENOWNED AND RENEWED: RTJ TURNS 25
Acclaimed as one of the world's great golf destinations, Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail invites you to celebrate its 25th year by offering fantastic deals. Unlimited golf packages are easy on your wallet. All of the original RTJ Golf Trail sites have been renovated and are ready for your arrival. Celebrate our silver anniversary while saving some silver yourself.
» Plan your visit to the RTJ Golf Trail by calling 1.800.949.4444 or visiting rtjgolf.com.
facebook.com/rtjgolf
twitter.com/rtjgolf «
March/April 2018 | Kid-oh! • 61