Kid-Ho May/June 2017

MAY/JUNE 2017

y a l P & n r a e L Children’s Museum

Making

Strides

UNDERSTANDING

CULTURE The Free Press MEDIA

SMILE Smile with us…we care!

Mankato 507-387-4078

New Ulm 507-354-8943

SPECIALIZED Care For Your Child

www.kidswillsmile.com

C

s t n e t n o

Cover kid

6 Peeps

Phil Seibel

7

Say What

What are you looking forward to the most this summer?

8 Making Strides 12 Understanding Culture

16 Money

Teaching your kids about money

18 Be Healthy

12 Healthy Habits for Families

20 How Do You Do It?

Bushar Abdullahi 31 Healthy Kids

Photography by:

24 Historical Feature

32 The Children’s

26 Kid Writer

38 Powder’s Pages

Do you want to continue to receive Kid-Oh magazine in the mail?

Michelle Muggli

22 Nosh

Sugaar Digaag Cubed Chicken

From Wagon Trains to Four Lanes Letterin’

28 hOMie

Garland Pose Standing Forward Fold Reverse Table Top

30 Flicks

Horse Movies

2 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

The importance of a regular sleep schedule even in the summer

Museum

Cliff Coy

Are you not getting Kid-oh and you want to?

Please visit our Facebook page or stop into The Free Press to fill out a subscription card.

Facebook.com/kidohmag

» G R E AT G OL F,

great meetings.

GOLF DIGEST EXECUTIVES KNOW GREAT GOLF and have named Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort

»» Play where the champions play

& Spa and Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel at Grand National two of their newest Editors' Choice Winners, along

on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones

with Pebble Beach, The Greenbrier, Pinehurst and 65 other North American locations. When you need to step

Golf Trail. To book your next outing,

away from the office for a great golf getaway or an off-site meeting, plan your visit to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The best part about the Trail is you don’t have to break the bank to play world-class golf. »»

call 800.949.4444 today and visit rtjgolf.com to learn more.

MAY/JUNE 2017 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PUBLISHER Steve Jameson

Hello!

EDITOR/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jordan Greer

I

did it! This issue came off without a hitch and everything fell into place and after the last issue, that’s a relief!

Speaking of the last issue, I got so much feedback, support and “You go girl” comments about my column that it just reinforced the idea that we are all, as parents, too hard on ourselves. So, give it a try. I dare you….go out and feel free to fail. It’s a little bit liberating.

I love this issue! I have wanted to do this story for a while and we finally made it work. Please check out our interview with a local Somali mother, Abdiyo Aben. Did you know that Minnesota has the largest Somali community in North America? I hope you read this story and come away with a greater understanding of some of the traditions and cultural aspects of our Muslim neighbors. A huge Thank You to Abdiyo and the A-DORABLE girls!

Keeping with that theme, the wonderful Chef Sarah and Natasha from Friesen’s Bakery are showing us how to make Sugaar Digaag Cubed Chicken, a Somali dish. It looks amazing! Thank you Chef Sarah for learning something new and sharing it with us!

Have an amazing Spring everyone!

I did it!

CONTRIBUTORS Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato Clinic, Children’s Health Center The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Gena Heminover Blue Earth County Historical Society MN Valley Federal Credit Union Cliff Coy E. Madelyn James Michelle Muggli Phil Seibel Becca Seibel Emma Seibel PHOTOGRAPHERS Inspired Portrait Photography Cliff Coy PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING MANAGER Phil Siebel ADVERTISING SALES Jordan Greer Marianne Carlson Josh Zimmerman Theresa Haefner Thomas Frank ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Christina Sankey Sue Hammar CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles

Jordan Greer

Kid-Oh! Magazine is published by The Free Press Media bi-monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001.

For editorial and advertising inquiries, call Jordan Greer 507-344-6337, jgreer@mankatofreepress.com To be included in future Kid-Oh! mailings, call 507-625-4451, ext. 7

4 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Does your child need specialized care?

When certain health issues arise, a medical specialist is often the best option to help manage your child’s care. That’s why Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato offers an array of pediatric and adolescent specialty services, including: • • • • • •

Allergy Audiology Cardiology Clinical Nutrition Ear, Nose and Throat Gastroenterology

• • • • • •

General Surgery Infectious Diseases Orthopedics Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Neurology Urology

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato 1025 Marsh Street | mayoclinichealthsystem.org Call 1-877-412-7575 (toll-free) to schedule an appointment.

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 5

Phil, Becca, Emm a, Kari and Noa h Seibel

Phil Seibel

Occupation:

Advertising Director at The Free Press

How long have you lived in Mankato?

Just over 1 year

What is your favorite part of your job?

What is your favorite thing to do in Mankato?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I work with a great group of people, and working with them and meeting new people in the community are both highlights of my job. I also enjoy the opportunity to work with other businesses and organizations in the community.

My family and I enjoy getting out and enjoying the parks, trails and hiking areas around Mankato. We all really enjoy being outside and whether it’s walking, hiking or biking, we love being active.

When I was really young I wanted to be all the standards - police officer, firefighter, astronaut and so on. As I got older I discovered how much I enjoyed cooking and wanted to be a chef and run my own restaurant.

Where I work: I work at The Free Press in Mankato, my primary job is to work with other businesses to help their business grow. We have a number of different ways that we help do this, different products and plans that help our local business community thrive. The most important of these, though, is planning. It takes a lot of planning to help build success and that is something I really enjoy about my work. There are more options than ever in ways to promote a business, and it’s our job to help business owners understand them and which options might be best for them.

6 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Adam Age: 6 Going to New Ulm.

Breckyn

Age: 5 Playing at the park and fishing.

Macey

Age: 11 I am excited for swimming and family trips.

Jaxson

Age: 9 I look forward to not having school and swimming.

Flora

Age: 11 My Birthday!

Anna

Age: 10 Going to summer camp and riding my bike.

We asked some Kid-oh’s

“What are you looking foward to the most this summer?”

Amelia

Hayden

Age: 7 I can't wait to take gymnastics this summer because I want to be the best gymnast in the world. And I like being on the boat, but we have to bring bug spray.

Age: 6 Looking forward to summer camps.

Liliana

Age: 6 Riding my bike and playing with friends outside.

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 7

Jayden Kitu, the secretary of the Making Strides 4-H club, takes care of her horse Cole after an afternoon of riding at the arena.

Making Strides Story & Photos by Cliff Coy

8 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Grace Fuller & Spanky, Samantha Fuller, Maya Ndjarakana & Grant, Ser Jayden Kitu & Cole are rena Snustad, Kayla Snust most of the members of ad & Annie, and Making Strides 4-H clu keeping 4-H a youth led b. Making Strides focuse club. s on horsemanship and

I

f you grew up in the Midwest then you have no doubt attended a county fair or two in your time and you probably have wandered into one of the barns that house a variety of farm animals. Whether it was so that you could go and pet the bunnies, or the newly hatched chickens, or if you just passed by and noticed a distinctive odor emanating from the barns, you knew they were there, and you knew the purpose of them. These barns housed all the 4-H projects from the kids in the area.

4-H is a global network of youth organizations whose mission is “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development”. Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times in the organization’s original motto which is ‘Head, Heart, Hands, and Health’.

The organization is typically associated with county and state fairs, but so much more goes on behind the scenes to make the kids who participate more responsible, motivated, aware, and just generally better. Kayla Snustad, who is the owner and operator of KS Riding in Mankato, started up a local 4-H club with the help of her daughter Serrena.

“We tried other 4H clubs but they were run by adults, so there was a lot of drama and a lot of problems with that and so we wanted to be in a 4H where the kid does it, not the adult,” said Serrena Snustad, the President of the Making Strides 4-H club. “The adult helps, because that is what 4-H is meant to be about. Children learning to be adults and that’s why we made our own club.”

Horses can teach you how to be calm, collective and respectful, and that is why a lot of these kids are involved in this particular 4-H club, but the benefits of being around a horse don’t stop there.

“I think that horses have special characteristics about them. When I was little horses were a big part of my life.

They are 1200 pound animals and them giving you that trust to get up on their backs and letting you do all the different things with them,” said Samantha Fuller, one of the adult leaders of the Making Strides 4-H Club. “I think a lot of kids are able to connect because they have that source of comfort in them that some kids need. Every day you go through something in your life, it can be something like having a bad day and being able to come out and be around horses is so comforting and healing.

My horses have always been able to turn that bad day around for me.”

Not only are there emotional and psychological reasons why interacting with horses is beneficial, but a horse is a lot of work and working with them teaches kids responsibility and patience.

“It’s a lot of fun and it teaches you responsibility because some animals are a lot of work,” said Glory Fuller, the Vice president of the Making Strides 4-H club. “It also makes you more confident and feel smarter because you know how to take care of them.”

“A lot of youth grow up saying that they want a horse.

They can come to one of my camps and by the end of camp they realize how much work is put into having a horse,” said Kayla. “We go through cleaning, taking care May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 9

1

4

5

2

3

1. Maya Ndjarakana, the treasurer of the Making Strides 4-H club, rides her horse Grant around the arena during a practice day.

2. Maya Ndjarakana, the Treasurer of the Making Strides 4-H club, practices barrels with her horse Grant.

3. Serrena Snustad, the President of the Making Strides 4-H club, practices barrels with her horse Annie.

4. Grace Fuller, the Vice President of the Making Strides 4-H club, stands next to her horse Spanky during a practice day at the arena.

5. Jayden Kitu, the Secretary of the Making Strides 4-H club, rides her horse Cole into the arena during a practice day.

10 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

of, as well as riding the horses and that really shows them what goes into taking care of a horse.”

Right now it is currently in its first year of operation and only has six members, but they are hoping it can grow and become a much bigger club in the future. But 4-H isn’t about the amount of people you have in your club, it’s about learning new things and growing as a person.

“It is a confidence booster, you are able to make friends who have similarities. These girls don’t go to school together and a lot of them struggle socially,” said Kayla.

“Through the horses, they build that confidence and understanding that it is okay to make a mistake, it is okay to communicate. Us as adults, we sometimes forget that our body language is louder than any words that come out of our mouths and the horses remind you of that.”

“I am so proud of all of my students and all the hard work they put in it. I do not have low expectations, I am very hard to impress and every one of these kids in this program have blown my socks off,” said Kayla. “It blows me away how these kids and the horses can change and mirror each other for the better. I’m so impressed to be standing here surrounded by such talented youth who I know are going to keep this going.”

Farm Direct Beef & Pork

Original Chip Steaks

Graduation Headquarters Family Reunions Spring & Summer Parties

Customer Favorites

Taco In A Bag & Taco Bar Pulled Pork & Shredded Beef • Burgers • Hot Dogs • Sloppy Joes

OTHER OPTIONS: • BBQ Chicken • Cheesy Turkey • Potato Salad and SO MUCH MORE!

• Cole Slaw • Pasta Salad • Cookie Dough

507-387-2467 M-F 9-6, Sat. 9-4 232 Dewey St. • Next to Cub West

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 11

Above: Sisters, Bushar Abdullahi and Aisha Abdullahi and cousins Sabiriin Muhamud and Salma Maxamed all make funny faces for the camera.

Bushar Abdullahi 12 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Aisha Abdullahi

Sabiriin Muhamud

UNDERSTANDING

CULTURE Story & Photos by Cliff Coy

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

- Emma Lazarus “New Colossus” 1883

T

Salma Maxamed

hese words are written at the base of the Statue of Liberty located in New York. Now, maybe more than ever, these words are tested.

We as Americans are a mix of many different nationalities and cultures. Sometimes it is difficult to understand one another and why we act or dress in certain ways. But as Americans we must keep these words alive in our hearts and our ideals. With everything that is going on in the world today, we the people of this great nation must strive to understand one another and hold each other close like brothers and sisters.

Our entire history is made up of trying times, but we have come forth victorious from these struggles better people and a better nation. We must continue this trend and look to each other for understanding and acceptance. And although we may not always understand the vast amount of cultural differences that weave their way through our country, there is something that we can do as individuals to better understand our neighbors, no matter where in the world they have come from, and that is to have a conversation.

Abdiyo Aben came to this country nine years ago to have a better life with her family. Originally from Somalia and a devout Muslim, she wished to talk about her culture and create a better understanding for the people that live around her.

“We are different in a few ways, when you look in our culture we speak different languages, but as a good human being, as a good Muslim,” said Abdiyo. “What our religion teaches us is to be kind to one another, to know about our neighbors, to care for one another in the society that we live in, in the community that we live in. Being in peace and harmony with each other, the only difference is we wear different clothes and we speak a different language but we have the same likes and the same dreams.”

Within the religion of Islam there are 5 Pillars that every Muslim must adhere to and accomplish in their life.

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 13

These are Shahada: Faith – Which is a declaration of faith and trust that professes that there is only one God (Allah) and that Muhammad is God’s messenger.

Salat: Prayer – Which is the Islamic prayer. Salat consists of five daily prayers which are done at various times of the day: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), ‘Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and ‘Ishā’ (night). All of these prayers are recited while facing in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.

Zakāt: Charity – Which is the practice of charitable giving based on accumulated wealth. Zakāt is obligatory for all Muslims who are able to do so. It is the personal responsibility of each Muslim to ease the economic hardship of others and to strive towards eliminating inequality.

Sisters, Sabiriin Muhamud and Salma Maxamed, excitedly pose for a picture in their aunt Abdiyo’s home.

Sawm: Fasting - The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness and to look for forgiveness from God, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy and the most easily

recognizable fast is the one that takes place during Ramadan.

And the Hajj: – Which is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca. Every ablebodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.

One of the things that might stand out to Midwesterners is that the women of her culture wear a hijab.

Unlike what some people may think, the headscarf is not forced upon the girls of her culture. It is a religious an article of clothing that is required by the women of her religion after a certain age.

“That’s one thing that people think, is that we wear it because we are forced to wear it, that we are being forced to participate in the religion, that’s not true,” said Abdiyo.

“For example, kids my daughter’s age don’t have to wear it, but because the mom wears it the kids like to present what the mom is doing. At the age of 15 and beyond is where it really counts towards fulfilling your religious obligations, and that is one of them.”

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 25 years.

We continue to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language therapy for the children in a kid friendly environment.

As we have grown, our mission remains unchanged: Making a difference…one child at a time.

To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, please call 507-388-KIDS (5437) 14 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. Making a difference... one child at a time

The main point of this is to take away the perceptions of beauty in society. So that you are not judged based on your looks alone.

Sometimes her daughter Bushar will come home and ask why they wear the hijab when a lot of girls don’t wear the hijab. And she tells her that it is their religion and that is why she wears it, and that she can wear it if she wants.

“It is to take away the beauty in society and focus on what we have and what we contribute to it. So let’s say you fell for me, you wouldn’t fall for my beauty, you would fall for my integrity, my personality, my values and my work, is what you would fall in love with,” said Abdiyo. “It’s a part of being modest and taking away all of our beauty and focusing on who we are as an individual and what we have to bring to the table. If you really think about it, everything that is beautiful in this world is hard to get to. When you look at gold, when you look at diamonds, when you look at pearls, you really have to go and look and dig to get those things.

Women, we are those hidden gems, our beauty is hidden so that those who are worthy of seeing it, like our husbands, they are the ones that can

see it. But it is hidden from the rest of the world, because we are gems.”

So often today religion is being used as a way to show a negative light, but that is not who people are and it’s not what they represent, but the public sees it in a different light.

Just because somebody does something wrong, does not mean that you should judge others based off of that.

“My religion teaches me peace, be kind to my neighbor, be kind to my friend, be kind to my family,” said Abdiyo. “My religion doesn’t teach violence. There are people in the world who use my religion in a bad way, but that’s not who I am and it’s not the religion that we practice.

When the outside people look at me, and as good as they are to me, and as loving as they are to me. When they see me, they are sometimes afraid because of what the perception is, and it’s wrong. Our faith teaches us to be strong, kind, and it teaches us to treat our neighbor’s kind and that’s how we would like to be perceived. Get to know me, have a conversation with me, and meet what a real Muslim is like.”

Sisters, Bushar Abdullahi and Aisha Abdullahi, pose for a picture together in their home.

PRINCESS, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, & MORE!

info@musicexpressmankato.com

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 15

Submitted by Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union

Teaching Your Kids

Money about

G

et your children on track to a bright financial future. Here are some fun ways to teach your kids about money: 16 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

1. Shop with your children. Don’t just push them in the cart and tell them not to touch anything. Talk to them about what you’re buying and why. Let them see how you’re selecting the groceries to buy. Compare prices and help them pick out the best deal. Explain it’s not always the least expensive item.

2. Promote the entrepreneurial spirit. Getting your children to start a business can help them become more comfortable and confident with money. Your younger children could sell lemonade on your block and your older children could do yard work for neighbors and friends.

Whatever they try, you can help them decide what to charge – and add a premium for their time and profit.

3. Open a youth account. Go with your children (as young as three years old) to your financial institution and open a youth savings account. Teach them about saving money with this account – maybe using a portion of what they earn from their own business or through an allowance.

As your children mature, open a joint checking account with them and teach them about fees, NSF charges, and how to use a debit card.

4. Plan vacations together.

Children love vacationing! They often ask for this or that during a trip causing you to say “no” more often than you’d like. Talk to them about your budget and ask them to come up with ideas for lodging, activities, food, and souvenirs that will stay within budget. Not only will they learn how to plan using a budget, you’ll have a fantastic vacation as well.

5. Talk about credit with your teens. It’s important for your children to understand what credit is and how it works before they leave for college. A cosign on a credit card with them can give them the opportunity to use credit responsibly under your direction and, at the same time, begin to establish credit.

Start as early as possible to teach your children about financial matters. It’s not as difficult as it may seem and your children may actually enjoy the education.

Summer Session Dates: June 5th– August 31st Students may join at any time for a pro-rated fee!

“Like” Mankato Area Gymnastics School for updates and Summer open gym times!

To register visit www.MAGSGymnastics.com or call 507.625.6260

2 MEDIUM 2 TOPPING PIZZAS

$6.99 each

Limited delivery area. Charges may apply. Carryout or delivery. Expires 5-21-17

order online at: www.papajohns.com

387-2345

Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.

826 South Front St, Mankato (Next to Family Dollar)

It Pays to Bank Where You're Part Owner! ®

YES. YOU. CAN.

Mortgage Auto Savings Checking Small Business 2 Mankato Locations Over 5,000 Locations Nationwide www.mnvalleyfcu.coop 507-387-3055

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 17

12 A

Healthy Habits for Families

s a mother of two toddlers, I often feel like I’m not able to keep up the healthy habits I’d like for myself and my family. I tend to go through a cycle of trying really hard to create a healthy environment for my family to not trying at all, because there are just so many other priorities.

So, rather than completely overhaul my family’s lifestyle, I decided to tap a program that I’ve used as a wellness facilitator with Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato called 12 Habits of Highly Healthy People.

My plan is to adapt the list of habits in a way that works for my family and start small with the hope of making healthy behaviors part of our routine. Here are some of my ideas — I encourage you to choose a few that stand out and give them a try too.

12 Healthy Habit Ideas:

1. Physical Activity

During commercial breaks, or between Netflix episodes, have a friendly competition to see who can do the most pushups, hold a plank the longest or do the most jumping jacks.

2. Forgiveness

Admit mistakes to your children and ask for forgiveness. By modeling this behavior, it can help improve your own health and well-being while teaching kids to let go of grudges and bitterness.

3. Portion Size

Offer a fruit and vegetable at every meal. Don’t force kids to eat the fruit and veggies, but rather have them available. Be sure to model healthy eating — our kids are watching!

18 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

4. Preventive Health Care Testing

Stay on top of well-child visits. These appointments track your child’s growth, behavior, sleep, eating and development of social skills.

5. Adequate Sleep

Aim for an early bedtime and a consistent routine of winding down — with no screen time. Remember, sleep-deprived children usually don’t slow down, they wind up!

6. Try Something New

Make a list of activities you’d like to try together and hang it somewhere the whole family can see.

7. Strength and Flexibility

Incorporate strength and flexibility into your family’s physical activity plan. This can be as simple as stretching during commercials or doing calf raises while brushing teeth.

8. Laugh

Find something to laugh about with your family every day.

Laughter reduces stress and anxiety.

9. Family and Friends

Instill the importance of forming strong relationships by being kind to our loved ones. Kids will learn that giving — not receiving — can create real happiness.

10. Address Addictive Behaviors

Make screen time a privilege that is allowed only after chores and homework are completed.

Limit screen time to less than two hours a day, and keep screens out of your child’s bedroom.

11. Quiet Your Mind

Search online for free videos about yoga for children and families, or try incorporating deep breathing into your children’s bedtime routine. Children experience stress and anxiety just like we do.

12. Gratitude

Create a gratitude jar and encourage everyone to put a note in the jar each day with something they are grateful for. When you are all at the dinner table, take time to read them.

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.

Married in Style: Blue Earth County Weddings

New exhibition at the History Center through July 1, 2017

Historic R.D. Hubbard House Experience Early 1900s Mankato

606 S. Broad Street, Mankato Open Weekends May—September Explore the 16-room mansion of local flour mill giant R.D. Hubbard and his family, completed in 1905.

Guided one-hour tours; admission charged.

Free living history events throughout summer.

BlueEarthCountyHistory.com | 507.345.5566

We BUY & SELL used kids’ stuff

If you find yourself struggling to get your family on board, remember that modeling healthy behaviors is a good place to start. You may not be able to make your family change, but you can start on your own wellness journey. Once they see the changes you are making, chances are they will want to jump on board too!

AtAt Once cash on on the thespot spotfor forkids’ kids’clothing, clothing, OnceUpon UponAAChild, Child, we we pay cash shoes,toys toysand andbaby babygear. gear.Plus, Plus,we’ve we’ve got got everything shoes, everything your yourkids kids needat atprices pricesthat thatcan’t can’t be be beat! beat! need

CHECK US OUT TODAY! www.OnceUponAChildCity.com

www.onceuponachildmankato.com 1234 Yourstreet Ave, Yourcity, ST 55555 123-456-7890

Alyssa Baker is a wellness facilitator with Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Located conveniently across from Cub Foods 464 Raintree Road • Mankato Mon. - Sat. 10-8 Sun. 12-5 | 507-344-8799 May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 19

HOW DO YOU DO IT ?

By Michelle Muggli

O

n the day I was asked whether I’d be interested in writing about a parenting topic near and dear to my heart, I had to call the clinic and reschedule my son’s eye exam. Again. We’d missed the original appointment by completely forgetting we’d had one despite carefully logging it in our shared Google calendar app. I had to reschedule a second time when my son let me know he had a math test at the same time as the appointment I’d made. As I updated our calendar one more time, and set extra reminders to see if maybe I could get him in to see his eye doctor this calendar year a familiar thought crossed my mind, “Our schedules are out of control!” Soccer practice, VEX tournaments, orchestra concerts, doctor appointments, fundraisers and… if you have kids you know the drill. But I am not here to lament our busy lives.

Instead I want to tell you why I am grateful.

Before I get into the grateful bit I want to make clear that I am not defending the need to be involved in everything, quite the contrary. As you can see from my opening remarks our loaded schedule has imperfect results. About the time I think I’ve remembered everything

20 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

and that we’re all reasonably on track I’ll realize that we have nothing planned for supper. Or that my daughter has been wearing shoes that don’t fit. Or that I completely missed my son’s eye appointment a week ago. Despite my best efforts there are a lot of things that are being done mediocre. These are all reminders that overcommitting has its hazards and I tend to be in Muggli the camp of those who advocate for a little selfpreservation. I don’t let my kids sign up for every activity and sport that piques their interest. I don’t say yes to every volunteer opportunity. I don’t go to every after hours work event. I have limits. I need limits! And my kids, who are picking up all of my best (and probably worst) traits, need me and my husband to show them how to set those limits.

No, this isn’t about embracing every opportunity to be involved. I don’t even really have advice about how to better

manage a busy schedule other than do your best and try not to over commit?!? (Super helpful, I know.)

The point I am after is that we need perspective. These overwhelming moments are the times when we need a wider view of our situation.

Being grateful for a busy and often stressful schedule might seem like an odd perspective but having two

Family

A NEW APPROACH TO FINANCES. NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

NEW TO NORTH MANKATO.

1800 COMMERCE DRIVE SUITE A, NORTH MANKATO

YOU CAN BECOME A MEMBER TODAY AND GAIN ACCESS TO:

R

COMMERCE DR

D AY

Birthday Party Package

RR

Federally Insured by NCUA / Equal Housing Lender

LO

teenagers in the house who are only a few years away from setting off on their own adventures has me thinking about this situation differently than I did not long ago.

They won’t be here having sleep overs with friends, needing rides to practice and asking me to stock up on their favorite lunch stuff forever.

But they are here now. And, hopefully this won’t sound too corny; I often think of how lucky I am to be a part of this experience with them. I think how amazing it is to have the privilege of seeing the world through the lens of their brand new experiences.

Does this mean I don’t get frustrated ever? Ha! I get frustrated plenty. I am at the point where my family practically has to have a daily briefing each morning to make sure we’ve covered everyone’s activity schedule. However I know this isn’t always going to be my life and am willing to bet that in a few years I’ll look back at all we’re doing and be glad we decided to be a part of all of it. Or I will write another article about how grateful I am for some rest! For now, I am grateful for this.

SouthPoint ROE CREST DR

• Lower and fewer fees • Higher savings rates • Lower loan rates Now is the time to make a change and put your ďŹ nances ďŹ rst.

14

JAMES DR

SOUTHPOINTFINANCIAL.COM 877-794-6712

get your hands

messy

• Over an hour long of hands on fun! • Cake decorating demonstration • Create your own cookies and cupcakes • Get your hands messy making cherry & apple bread Tak

$14 per child

8 children minimum Special dietary requirements available upon request.

Hom e Goo e d Bag y $1 0 Va

lue

515 N Riverfront Drive • 507-345-4114 info@friesensfood.com Monday-Saturday 6am-6pm; Sunday 6am-2pm Supporting our community! Everything we carry is produced onsite!

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 21

Chef Sarah

Nosh

Sugaar Digaag Cubed Chicken

Ingredients 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs cubed ¼ cup oil of your choice 1 onion, sliced 1 medium potato, cut into match sticks 1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks 1 teaspoon Xawaash spice mix ¼ teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup water 1 cup bell pepper, sliced into thin strips ¼ teaspoon black pepper

How to make Xawaash (pronounced hawash)

Spice Mix

1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon 4 teaspoons ground cumin 4 teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons black pepper 2 teaspoons turmeric 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon cloves Mix into a bowl, makes approximately 6 tablespoons

With help from Friesen’s

22 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

“As a kid, I was always fascinated by different cultures. The clothing and jewelry, the traditions, the animals of the area, but especially the food! My mom facilitated this by cooking foods from all over the globe, and I have carried it on with an absolute passion for learning new foods from different areas.

One thing we all have in common as people, is the need to eat. Somali food is new to me, and oh boy, is it DELICIOUS!”

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.

Add onions and sauté a minute or so.

Add potato and carrot sticks.

Sauté a minute or so, then cover and let cook 8-10 minutes.

Add Xawaash, turmeric, paprika, and salt and mix well.

Add chicken and water, mix again.

Cover and cook 5-7 minutes. Add bell pepper strips and black pepper.

Continue to cook until peppers are soft.

Serve with rice or bread. Lahoh would be a traditional bread with Sugaar.

“Culture plays a central role in what, when, and how people eat, and with whom. Dr. Donna Gabaccia, history professor at the University of Minnesota and author of the book, We Are What We Eat, explains that “food and language are the cultural habits humans learn first and the ones they change with the greatest reluctance.” Much like certain sports are part of the fabric in specific cultures (e.g. long-distance running in Kenya and cross-country skiing in Norway), certain foods are also deeply embedded in specific cultures and have greater significance beyond fulfilling basic physiological needs. Foods are “powerful symbols of cultural identity,” often fundamental to religious and social events.”

Quoted from: http://www.foodinsight.org/ Championing_Cultural_Competence

Enjoy!!!

515 N Riverfront Drive • 507-345-4114 • info@friesensfood.com May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 23

Letterin’

M

rs. Kai slipped a Hopefully she didn’t accidentally letter into Skie’s hit his stitches. And it wasn’t that desk. Skie Skie was a bad student, or picked looked on people or anything like that. confused. He He was just always in the wrong pulled the letter place at the wrong time. This time out of his desk and read it, hoping he thought it was the lipstick on his hunch was wrong. To his greatest the girl’s toilets mirror. Some girls disappointment, he was correct. The in the eighth grade had drawn letter stated for him to come to Mrs. tic-tac-toe on the already Kai’s office the following morning. smudged mirror, and he’d He sighed and put the letter back gone to tell them to stop,

By E. Madelyn James into his desk. “Hey! What‘d the letter just at the same moment say? You’ve gotten about a million when an assistant teacher this year, and I’m just dying to put the info on strolled out of the bathroom. One of my blog! Oh, by the way, how’s your hand?” the girls in the group named Daffodil, Xylie said. “Oh, nothing much. Just some freckled and rude looking, yelled out, normal lettering from a teacher, you know? Just “It was him, it was him! We didn’t do showing some appreciation for students! And it! I swear!” And the group ran off, my hand is fine.” Skie had recently gotten hand leaving the pink lipstick on the surgery, and his palm was all stitched up. Skie ground for ‘evidence’. had gotten too many of those letters to count, and they did not show student appreciation. But Thankfully, the day was almost Xylie had never gotten one of those letters, so over, so Skie could go home and she didn’t know that. The letters always said the enjoy a couple of hours of freedom. same thing: Dear __________, See me in He hummed to himself on the ride my office tomorrow morning. Mrs. home, and soon enough, he was on Kai. Skie was used to normal his living room sofa, playing X-Men. Conversation-of-Discipline from Mrs. Kai, and the “Skie! Mom said you have to turn the burning smack on TV off and go brush your teeth, and go the hand with the get into bed!” Said Janis, Skie’s snooty, I’ve-Beengoody-goody older sister. Skie looked at the Naughty Roman numeral clock that hung on the wall. stick.

The clock was nearly always right. VI. “It’s only six! Mom said I don’t have to go to bed ‘til seven!” He yelled back. “Not anymore!” “Oh, and while you’re up, get some mint from out back for my tea, please!” Skie’s Mom, Maya, 26 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

yelled stuffily. Skie groaned. “If you’re not up to it, perhaps you should go help Dad in the chicken coop!” Janis yelled. Skie’s father owned the biggest booth at the farmer’s market, and always made the best eggs, meat, milk and cheese, and wanted it to stay that way. Skie did as he was told and got some mint, and brushed his teeth, and was in bed by six-thirty. His hand hurt immensely afterward. When his Mom came up to say goodnight, he was flipping through an alien-invasion comic. His Mom took it out of his hands, and set on the shelf. “Hey! I was reading that! The evil aliens were just about to lazer the Mutant Guinea Pig’s battleship!” Skie said, a bit annoyed. “No more comics for a week after what you did in the girl’s toilets!” She said. “But I didn’t do it! It was that flower girl who did it!”

Skie argued. “Daffodil? I just recently talked to Daffodil’s mother, and she’s never gotten a letter in her life!” Skie’s Mom replied. “Don’t lie to me!

Now, goodnight, sweet dreams, all that jazz!”

She stomped out of the room. Before she could close the door, she said, “Oh, and tomorrow you can help Dad milk the cows, gather the eggs, churn the butter, and make the cheese! I love you!”

The next day at school for Skie was the same as always. Well, almost always. When Skie made it to the door of Mrs. Kai’s office, she greeted him with a pleasant smile, and a muffin. She told him that she wanted to congratulate him on winning the soccer game for his team, and that the lipstick on the girl’s toilets mirror was obviously not his fault, and sent him away with some butterscotch candy.

“Hey Xylie!” Skie yelled. “You want to finally know what the letters mean?”

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 27

Garland Pose Start by standing with feet slightly wider then hip distance, turn toes outward, bend the knees and squat down. Try to keep the heels down and feet flat on the floor. Sink the hips low, below the knees. Hands can be placed on the floor in front for balance and support.

Benefits of Garland Pose:

• Strengthens, the legs, ankles, knees, thighs and spine • Stretches the torso and groin • Improves the digestive tract

Standing Forward Fold Start by standing, feet hip distance a part, bend the knees slightly and fold forward from the hips. Relax the back of the neck letting your head hang. Arms can dangle in the air or reach down for the feet.

Benefits of Standing Forward Fold Pose:

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression • Stimulates the liver and kidneys • Stretches the hamstrings, calves, and hips • Strengthens the thighs and knees • Improves digestion • Reduces fatigue and anxiety • Relieves headache and insomnia

28 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Gena Heminover:

Yoga

Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and mother of two girls, Elea age 5 (pictured) and Ava age 2 (pictured).

Teaching yoga at the Mankato Family YMCA, Community Education and various other places in Mankato.

Specializing in Kids Yoga, Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Advanced Yoga.

Find me on Instagram and Facebook at ‘Gena Heminover Yoga’ https://www. facebook.com/AthletesYoga 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!

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.

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 May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 29

Horse Movies The Black Stallion 1979 While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion who is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a desert island.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron 2002

Seabiscuit 2003

Flicka 2006

Young Katy claims a wild horse as her own — an effort to prove to her father that she is capable of one day taking over the family ranch.

Cale Crane catalyzes the rescue and rehabilitation of Sonador, a race horse with a broken leg.

Racing Stripes 2005

War Horse 2011

An abandoned zebra grows up believing he is a racehorse, and, with the help of his barnyard friends and a teenage girl, sets out to achieve his dream of racing with thoroughbreds.

Young Albert enlists to serve in World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry.

Albert’s hopeful journey takes him out of England and to the front lines as the war rages on.

Black Beauty 1994

National Velvet 1944

The fates of horses, and the people who own and command them, are revealed as Black Beauty narrates the circle of his life.

Courtesy of IMBD.com

30 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Thrilled by a performance she sees at a fair, Sonora tries to land a spot as a daredevil who rides horses off of high dives. With the help of Al Carver, whose father runs the show, Sonora works toward her goal.

Dreamer 2005

A wild stallion is captured by humans and slowly loses the will to resist training. Yet throughout his struggles for freedom, the stallion refuses to let go of the hope of one day returning home to his herd.

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken 1994

A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England’s Grand National Sweepstakes.

The importance of a regular sleep schedule even in the summer

B

efore you know it, your kids will be out of school for the summer and ready to enjoy the longer days.

Without the daily structure of school, it’s common for kids to stay up later and not sleep long enough to make up for it.

After a while, the lack of sleep can begin to affect their mood, health and ability to learn. It may seem nice to allow your child to wake up later during the summer, but try to stick to the same bedtime routine they have throughout the rest of the year. This will cause their bodies to become accustomed to a sleep schedule. If they wake up later than normal a few times a week, they can become groggy and jet-lag like, making it hard for their bodies to feel tired at its normal bedtime.

Even though bedtimes tend to be later in the summer, as parents, try to still keep them as consistent as possible.

For instance, if your child has an 8 p.m. bedtime during the school year, allow them to stay up until 9 p.m. during the summer. The consistence of timing is powerful because the internal clock works best under routine.

Studies have shown that elementary-aged children that have a regular bedtime performed better in math, spatial stills and reading. On the other hand, kids whose bedtimes were inconsistent, were more likely to have behavior and mood issues.

To help guide your child back to a regular sleep schedule at the beginning of the school year, it’s important to start changing sleep patterns at least 10-14 days before school. Start by incorporating the earlier bedtime slowly, by putting 15-20 minutes each night toward bedtime with a familiar routine. Additionally, keep regular bedtime and wake-up times on weekends. Without the proper amount of sleep, kids have difficulty focusing and more emotional sensitivity, which can lead to more problems down the road. Sleep guidelines recommend that preschool-age students get 10-13 hours of sleep each night, school age children 9-11 hours and adolescents 8-10 hours.

Follow these tips to help your child get the sleep their body needs. In return, you’ll sleep better, too!

• Children ages 3-6 should typically go to bed between 7-9 p.m., and wake up around 6-8 a.m., just as they did when they were younger. As children get older, naps gradually become shorter. Children ages 7-12 should sleep 10-11 hours per day, as social, school and family activities inhabit their lives more and more. By the time your child is 12, try and have them go to bed by 9 p.m.

The average sleep for your child at this age should be around 9 hours.

• Each night, have the same bedtime routine in place for your child. Doing specific activities before bed – like taking a bath, brushing their teeth and reading – sets the perfect atmosphere, and will have your child’s body automatically start to become sleepy at the beginning of the routine.

• Turn off the electronics and television at least two hours before bedtime. Artificial light from a TV or iPad can interfere with our body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that is an important piece of sleep-wake cycles. Turning off the artificial lights before bedtime will help melatonin levels stay at their highest, when people are most sleepy and ready for bed • If your child has bedtime fears, do your best to help reassure them that they will be safe in their bed. Let the child know that it is the parent’s job to protect them while they are sleeping.

By: Katie Smentek, M.D. Mankato Clinic, Children’s Health Center May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 31

Outdoor Playground and

e r o M

Finally! Warm weather is here and you can play outdoors at

the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, too! Have you seen the Farmyard and Dotson Back 40, the two outdoor exhibits?

Make sure to check them out.

224 Lamm Street, Mankato www.cmsouthernmn.org • info@cmsouthernmn.org 507.386.0279 Admission: $8 per person; free for 12 months and under Annual memberships start at $105 for the whole family Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm Closed on Mondays

32 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

When visiting farm animals, keep these things in mind: Farm animals frighten easily. Loud noises and sudden movements will scare them. Speak softly and move with care.

Farm animals are fed a special diet by Museum staff. This diet is designed to keep them healthy and growing. Outside food, such as bread, fruit, or vegetables, as well as rocks or water dumped in their pens, could make them sick.

Farm Yard

Do you know how butter is made? Do you knit or crochet with yarn made from wool? Maybe you eat eggs and bacon for breakfast? The Ridley Farm Animal Experience hopes to educate visitors about what farm animals are raised for and how to properly care for them.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend, the Children’s Museum will provide a home to a variety of animals this year, too. Weanling pigs will join around that time and stay until they reach market weight in the fall. Do you remember how big the three pigs got last year? A market-weight pig weighs 250 – 280 pounds! Watch for calves, sheep, goats, ponies, and poultry, which will all rotate in and out throughout the summer.

This season, the Museum is excited to introduce something new in its FarmYard: in conjunction with its chick-hatching program that started in April, there will be a small chicken coop installed this spring! The coop will hold a few bantam chickens that should be very fun to watch during the outdoor season.

Pigs are very curious and have sharp teeth. To stay safe, please don’t stick your hands and fingers into the pig’s pen.

A fall into an animal pen could be messy and scary.

Always be careful around fencing and do not climb to lean over the top fencer rail or to sit on it.

Barns often have fans and misters to keep animals cool in warm weather. Try to stay away from these devices, as they are set for specific conditions and can cause injuries.

Please remember to wash up at a hand-washing station after you visit the FarmYard!

Ridley Farm Animal Program Thursdays, 6:30 pm

Every week, on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm, learn something new about animals and animal care. Ridley Farm Animal Program will cover topics such as feeding, behavior, and animal care, as well as provide fun facts about different breeds of livestock. Sometimes, guests will bring in farm animals for an up-close look.

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 33

Gardens & Outdoor Play Areas

Have you checked out the different garden areas at the Museum? All garden beds are organic and will be planted with “sample-sized” vegetables and fruits this year and some are mulched with straw to lessen the need for watering and weeding. Check out the labels on the garden beds and try to find each plant!

The Three Sisters Garden is a part of the Museum’s Dakota thread and use heirloom seeds and planting methods based on Native American gardening. According to a Native American legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This sustainable system provides long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet and is a wonderful way for Museum visitors to feel more connected to the history of the land.

Two fenced-in areas feature Angie’s Boomchickapop popcorn patch and Crystal Valley Field Fun crop plot of field corn and soybeans. Small beds nearby contain wheat, oats, and alfalfa. Watch these crops grow and mature to harvest time and be ready to pick some corn.

The Sensory Garden, located outside the window of the Infant/Toddler Play Porch, is a wonderful place to relax. Check out all the different colors, textures, and smells as you walk the woodchip path bordered by a woven vine fence. Can you find leaves that are soft and fuzzy or long and spiky? What’s growing in the tree stumps?

Take a break in the Courtyard and see what’s growing in the planter boxes in the vertical wall garden.

Vertical gardens can be made to fit any sized space and might give you some ideas for making the most of a small urban space, like an apartment balcony!

What other things grow in the Museum outdoor spaces? Go on a growing treasure hunt and look for an apple tree, grapes, gourds, and sunflowers. Check out the prairie grasses and flowers outside of the Museum fence.

The Dotson Back 40 is a fun-filled outdoor space that children can make their own! Everything you need for nature play is there: tree stumps and hollows, arching branches, stones to climb on, water to pump, and knolls to climb and roll down. Outdoor seating is available for play, comfort and side-by-side friendship. A loose parts bin is filled with sticks, stones, pinecones, bark, rope, and burlap to inspire building, stories, and design. The outdoor Back 40 area is an imaginative playground that readily offers fenced-in freedom!

Many volunteers help the Museum staff with outdoor (and other!) work. Mankato Clinic Gardeners and the Maple River FFA have helped plant, weed, and water. Their time and talent are very much appreciated!

34 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Artist in Residence 2017 – 2018 Grand Finale is on May 13!

During the past months at the Children’s Museum, have you noticed any artists working with children on a variety of projects? The Museum is lucky to work with four individuals who make different kinds of art: printmaking, dance, poetry, and ceramics. Each artist spent two months in residence at the Museum, observing, interacting with visitors, and creating art with children.

On May 13, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, stop at the Museum and hang out with the four artists. Talk to them about their art, the techniques they use, and find out how much they liked collaborating with children and their families during their residency.

Emily Dzieweczynski, Printmaker

Emily worked with children to make collagraph printing plates inspired by Museum exhibits. Together, they glued materials like sand, representing the Coughlan Quarry, or twisted ropes, that represented the Mankato Clinic Tree of Forts, onto wooden blocks. They covered the plates with paint and made patterns on parchment paper. Emily hung many of these pieces in a window, along with a speaker that played sounds of children asking questions about her work. Did you see Emily’s final installation, “Memories of the Museum?”

What did you think?

McKayla Murphy, Dancer

In her residency, McKayla was curious about how young children move creatively without being told what to do and she wanted to create a choreography based on these moves. On Thursday nights, McKayla hosted the Movement Lab, where she used games and simple prompts to move with children. Together, they explored shapes, letters, animals, and weather effects through creative movement. Later on, McKayla worked with six dancers from Gustavus Adolphus College and created a 12-minute contemporary dance piece that was performed at the Children’s Museum in February. Some of the children who participated in the Movement Labs came to watch the performances and got to see how their movements were translated into a full-length dance. Were you one of them?

Jessica Server, Poet and Creative Writer

Jessica’s residency consisted of the Poet’s Café and Poetry Pod series. In order to share her love for writing poetry and to empower young people, Jessica worked with a group of young writers, ages 7 – 12, in a month-long workshop where they explored a variety of poetry forms. The group made shape poems, food poems, found word poems, acrostics, and group poems, all inspired by different spaces in the Children’s Museum. This artwork was hidden in the exhibits and galleries every week. Did you ever find any of their post-it notes? During the month of March, Jessica hosted the Poetry Pod, a drop-in workshop in which Museum visitors practiced their poetry skills with giant magnetic words, stickers, and read poetry together.

Hannah Newman, Ceramic Artist

In her residency, Hannah worked with children on a ceramic installation, “Merge,” which will hang permanently in the stairwell leading to the Loft. “Merge” invited visitors to collaborate with one another, as well as with Hannah, to create a piece that reflects the impact of a community brought together. Each ceramic finger, cast in ceramics and painted by the visitors, identifies a different individual and celebrates the diversity of our community.

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 35

Adventure Playground: Do This at Home Fun for Everyone, 18 months to 108 years

Adventure Playgrounds are one of the Children’s Museum’s favorite play activities. They promote free exploration and unstructured play as found materials transform into literally anything, from pirate ships and forts to unicorn caves and spaceships. Some cities have parks designated for this kind of fun – they look like giant junkyards for children to play and build things. Did you know you can make your own Adventure Playground in your yard or living room? You already have all the materials you need; just look around your home!

Even though the idea seems like a parent’s messy nightmare, it can be managed really easily if the materials are offered in a tidy kit and children are included in the cleanup process. No matter the mess, the play benefits will definitely outweigh the hassle!

Step One: Search and Collect

Find an empty box or container and scout the house for materials that are safe and look good for building. Almost anything will work, but make sure you have a good variety. Boxes, fabric, and screens can help build your walls, while smaller things, such as laundry bins, tubes, and other found objects, will help decorate your design. Also, don’t forget materials that will help you connect your created pieces: clothespins, yarn, tape, and the like. Check out the recycling bin and garage and see if there are any interesting or surprising objects that may not have been part of your play before!

Some found objects to look for:

Ropes, twine, string, masking or painters tape.Scissors and paper.

• Colored markers, crayons, pencils, or watercolors. • Scarves, lengths of fabric, blankets, old sheets, cushions. • Garden mesh and carpet squares. • Small boxes and containers, empty yogurt tubs or cups. • Cardboard tubes, from toilet paper, paper towels, or packaging. • Sticks or leafy branches

Step Two: Make, Build, Experiment, Repeat Explore your found objects and use your imagination to create anything you want. Once you’ve built your marvelous Adventure Playground, give it a name and explain to a grown-up what each space or object is about and why you chose the materials you did. Break things, rebuild them and repurpose. Then do it again! Next time, invite some friends over and work together on a bigger playground.

When it’s time to clean up, return the objects to their original home.

It will be easier to find them next time you want to build!

This is Messy! Why Would We Do It?!

Loose parts and adventure play help children make choices about materials they want to use and help them invent new ways of using them.

Loose parts promote open-ended free play, where children self-regulate the rules and negotiate social interactions.

Free play promotes problem-solving and critical thinking, as children create and edit their work.

Unstructured play promotes leadership skills while children instinctively make decisions about what materials will work best and how to apply them.

Play promotes children’s abilities to determine the levels of risk they want to take physically, emotionally, and socially.

36 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Mayo Clinic at the Museum Mayo Clinic Health System is proud to help you and your family gear up for a summer of healthy habits. Whether you’re at the Children’s Museum, a parade in your hometown, or at Songs on the Lawn in Mankato, watch for opportunities to pick up a bike helmet, sunglasses, or sunscreen. As a reminder, children under six months of age shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight, and everyone else should wear sunscreen and protect their eyes when they are outdoors. This means grown-ups, too!

Gateway to Play: ALL Children Get to Play

The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota believes that all children should have opportunities to experience the joy of learning through the power of play at the Museum! The Museum’s Gateway to Play access program offers several options for families that may experience barriers to participation. These options include: • • • •

FREE Family Fun Nights Special Needs Accessibility Playtime events Military Appreciation events Free or reduced-fee Museum memberships and admission passes

These Gateway to Play opportunities are made possible through generous support provided by sponsors, grant funders, and MN Legacy, along with contributions made by individual, family, and business donors. Many thanks to all that have helped to break down barriers and open a “gateway to play” for hundreds of children in our community to experience hands-on learning and family fun at the Museum.

Summer Camps & Workshops

Are you in? This year’s exciting summer camps and workshops start mid June. Visit the Museum website, if you haven’t already, and reserve your spot in one of the programs. Children ages 3 through 9 will have an opportunity to learn about STEM, gardening, farm animals, or to use their creative skills. Museum members get a discount!

Looking to Celebrate?

Bring your birthday festivities to the Children’s Museum and celebrate in style as you play in the galleries, indoors and outdoors. There are many options for groups of different ages, sizes and interests. All parties include a celebration space, decorations, and a Playworker to help plan and host the event.

If you’d like more than just free play, pick a themed party and enjoy scientific experiments, robots, Legos, or animal puppets.

Visit Museum website to reserve your special date!

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 37

What are you going to do this summer? Draw it here...

38 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Hi! I’m Powder!

Welcome to Kid-oh! magazine, a place for kids and parents. It’s time to have fun!

Come on in, these are Powder’s Pages, full of fun stuff to doodle and do!

Kinds of Horses Word Scramble 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Unscramble these school names.

ricamean terqau shore ______________________ baniraa _________________________________ loopapaals _______________________________ dealcdylse _______________________________ iizzplna _________________________________ gantmsu_________________________________ ptoni ___________________________________ takoon __________________________________ emlu ___________________________________ dtnlahes npyo ____________________________ eerpchrno _______________________________ minoaalp ________________________________

See Solution on Page 49 May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 39

Paper Dolls Carefully Cut-Out Paper Dolls

Be Your Own

Designer

40 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

To make your paper dolls more durable: First look in the recycle for an old cereal box and glue the page of paper dolls on the cereal box.

Next, when the glue is dry, carefully cut out dolls and outfits.

Now you should be ready to play!

Be Your Own

Designer

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 41

Q:

What season is it best Why did the robot go to go on a trampoline? on summer vacation?

A. He needed to recharge his batteries.

A. Spring time.

Q:

Why do mother kangaroos hate rainy days?

A. Because their kids have to play inside!

Q:

Where did your mom go for her summer vacation?

What did the pig say on a hot summer day?

Q:

What did the mother bullet say to the daddy bullet?

Q: Why did the monster’s mother knit him three socks?

A. She heard he grew another foot!

A. Sunbeams.

Q:

Q:

A. “We’re gonna have a BB!”

What holds the sun up in the sky

A. I’m bacon!

Q:

Why did you chop the joke book in half?

A. Mom said to cut the comedy.

Jokes

Q:

A. Alaska.

Never mind, I’ll ask her myself.

Q: Why can’t basketball players go on summer vacation?

What did the summer say to the spring?

A. Help! I’m going to fall.

42 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

What did Dad’s tie say to his neck?

A.Do you mind if I hang around?

A. They’d get called for traveling!

Q:

Q:

Emma - 10

Maze Craze

Help the campers find their way back to camp.

See Solution on Page 49

44 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

Becca - 6

A BUGGY GAME FOR YOU AND A FRIEND

Take turns drawing straight lines between two dots.

If your line completes a box, write your initials inside.

The person with the most points at the end oif the game wins!

Use the key below to keep score.

Empty Box = 1 point • Ladybug = 2 points Leaf w/Ladybug = 3 points

46 • Kid-oh! | May/June 2017

What is this horse doing?

Complete the picture below. Be Creative

Drawing a Cool Dog Use the grid to draw the image below

Draw your Cool Dog here

48 • Kid-oh! | May/June January/February 2017 2017

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Maze Craze

Take the

PLUthNisGE SUMMER

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Kinds of Horses Word Scramble

American Quarter Horse Arabian Appaloosa Clydesdale Lipizzan Mustang Pinto Nokota Mule Shetland Pony Percherona Palamino

FAIRMONT Aquatic Center • Splash Pool • Aqua Climb Wall • Speed Slide • Lazy River Slide • Sweet Shop

OPEN JUN 3 - AUG 26

[Check website for hours and information]

1400 S. Prairie Avenue, Fairmont 507-238-9292 • fairmont.org/aquaticpark

May/June 2017 | Kid-oh! • 49