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A quarterly resource celebrating family life in Roseville and beyond Spring Issue 2021 February - March - April
DIG THIS!
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Benefits of Gardening With Kids
Kids and Cell Phones Ways to Keep Kids Safe
Springtime
Arts and crafts, recipes, activities, and more
Cover Photo By: Candice Glazer Photography (916) 717-9043 candiceglazerphotography@yahoo.com Happy New Year from all of us at Growing Up Roseville. Without the help of our advertisers, contributors, readers, and staff, we could not produce this magazine. We want to send out a heartfelt thank you for your support and for making this magazine possible. Happy reading! Marne Larsen Publisher marne@growinguproseville.com (530) 518-6154 DeAnna Holman Layout Design/Editor
For advertising information, please contact: Lindsay Trenz, Advertising Executive: Lindsay@growinguproseville.com (916) 698-5467 Advertising Deadline: To advertise in our upcoming Summer Issue, please contact us by March 31st. Our Summer and Summer Camp Issue will be on stands May, June, and July. Article and Photo Submission Deadline: Please submit family-friendly and seasonallyappropriate photos and informative articles for the Summer Issue by March 20th. Send to marne@growinguproseville.com. Growing Up Roseville Magazine is published quarterly and available, free, at over 200 family-friendly locations throughout Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Loomis, and Granite Bay. We are also available online at www.growinguproseville.com. Copyright © 2021 by Growing Up Roseville Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are prohibited. Articles and advertisements found in Growing Up Roseville Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management. We reserve the right to edit. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake.
Allison Hopkins Allison is a freelance writer who loves to interview people and tell their stories. Her goal is to use her writing to help others. She enjoys traveling with her husband and their 12-year-old son. You can find her at www.editsbyalli.com.
Kelly McGinnis Kelly is a “Certified Bring Baby Home Educator” and “Certified Incredible Coach.” She has been helping parents for the past 14 years. She enjoys helping parents move from frustration to fascination and restore joy and peace to homes across the country. She is married and has the privilege to be called Mom by her three beautiful girls. To find out more about all that Kelly offers, please visit www.shineonfamily.com.
Sumiti Mehta Sumiti is the author of the book “A Campaign That Won Hearts and Not Votes” She serves on Sacramento city’s Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, and several Natomas Unified School District committees. She was a Guest Contributor for ABC 10 digital series “Moms Explain All” and “Three Moms and a Dad.” Sumiti has been nominated for the N Factor Community awards.
Rob Baquera Rob Baquera is the Public Information Officer for the City of Roseville Police Department. Rob has years of experience working in public safety and specializes in crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and crisis communications. Rob has three young kids and knows first-hand that there is nothing more important than the safety of children.
Kerrie McLoughlin Kerrie is a writer, wife, and homeschooling mom to her five kids. She likes podcasts, traveling with her family, and walking while listening to music. She also likes to swim in her backyard pool, go on dates with her husband, and go on impromptu field trips with the kids. You can find her at TheKerrieShow.com.
Janeen Lewis Janeen is a nationally published writer, teacher, and mom to Andrew and Gracie. Gardening with kids is one of her favorite pastimes.
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School and Home
06 When In Drought -
Rain Barrels for Water Collection
08 Consider Psychiatry for Your Child
Kids and Cell Phones
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10 Ways to Eat Organic on a Budget
11 Kids and Cellphones: Safety Advice 12 GUR’s Writing Contest Winner 13 Kids Art Contest Winners!
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14 Benefits of Gardening With Kids
Parenting
16 Discover the Magic of a Family Meeting
18 Worries of a Stay-At-Home-Mom
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Arts and Crafts
20 Paper Bead Making
Spring Fun
21 Matching Game
22 Spring Puzzles and Games
24 At-Home Spring Break Schedule 25 Kids Can Cook Recipe Winners
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In Every Issue... 02 Contributors 26 Local Resources 27 Preschool Directory 27 Advertiser Directory
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school and home
When in Drought
Using Rain Barrels for Water Collection By Pete Holman This year has been a very dry year, and with the lack of rain, there has been water rationing in several areas of the state. Many farmers in the central valley are concerned that they will not have enough water to bring their crops to a successful harvest. It is estimated that some crops will have reduced yields and/or quality due to the lack of water. When I was growing up in the east, many of my friends who lived in the country had big wooden water barrels on their downspouts. They used them to collect rainwater, which people used to wash their hair. The rainwater was much softer than the spring water that supplied most of the household uses. We now have better ways to get water to wash our hair, but there are plenty of uses for water that we can collect from a system like this. In countries like Australia, it is common for every house to have a rain barrel or other means of rainwater collection. At the Evergreen Six School in Paradise, they have installed four rain barrels with the intent of using the water as the primary source for moisture to maintain their worm bins to produce compost. Many people use the water from a system like this to provide water for their gardens or landscapes. These systems can be as simple as having your downspout dump into a container so that the water can be bucketed out for your use. Or they can be as technical as a system I saw described on “This Old House” a while ago. The water was directed from all of the downspouts to a sump, and then pumped into a 1200-gallon tank on the property. The tank was then connected to the irrigation system for the landscape. This system used drip or soaker irrigation so that it would work on low pressure. Some cities are limiting the amount of water that you can put into the storm systems because of the cost of treating that water. A rain barrel can help offset water run-off. Hopefully, I have sparked your interest in doing something to use the rainwater from your roof. There are several things that you need to consider before you start to put together your system. First, you need to decide on the amount of water that you want to have to deal with. Second, you will need to determine what kind of container you want to use. Finally, you will need to determine how you are going to divert the water to your storage system. There are a number of possibilities for containing the water. One option is a 30-gallon plastic barrel. These barrels are very common and are available in this area at most of the stores that sell surplus goods. I have seen them in the $20 range. They can be connected in a series to increase the capacity of the system. These barrels work well since they are light to move around, easy to keep clean, and they can be cut to handle the plumbing quite easily. If you make your own barrel, a hose bib can be put into the barrel a couple of inches from the bottom. This is easy to do with a polypropylene tank adapter used to plumb agricultural spray and injector tanks. They are available at most agricultural supply dealers and come in most standard pipe sizes. There are several ways to divert the water. The simplest way is to take a plastic downspout adapter, connect it to some flexible drainpipe and run it directly into the container. You may want to use
some screen to keep leaves and sticks out, and you should make some kind of provision for when the container is full. The second one is a commercial diverter that replaces a section of the downspout and has a section that you pull out when you want the water. The “Water saver” is another commercial diverter, but the big advantage is that it will automatically send the water into the downspout when your container is full. Since it uses a tube of about ¾ of an inch, it is easy to plumb into the barrel so that no outside trash can get in. I hope that you are now thinking, “Maybe I can begin to do something with rainwater to benefit my lifestyle.” There is a lot of information available on this subject. One good place to start is the DIY Network at /www.diynetwork.com. Very simply, go to their web site and search for “rain barrels.” If you do not wish to build your own system, there are many gardening web sites, such as hayneedle. com and greatamericanrainbarrel.com, that have a complete water barrel kit for around $120. One last word of warning, NEVER use the water collected in rain barrels for drinking. There could be things in the water from the roof or the barrel, that would not be healthy. The warm, damp environment in the barrels is perfect for the growth of many organisms. It is good practice to mark your barrels with a warning that the water is not potable (drinkable).
Spring Bucket Spring List Fun
CHECKLIST This Spring, see how many things your family can cross off this list 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Fly a kite Look for a rainbow Make a birdfeeder Splash in puddles Make a mud pie Find a ladybug Play a game outside Notice the trees or flowers budding 9. Go for a hike 10. Plant a garden 11. Visit a farmer’s market 12. Go bird spotting 13. Make a happy music playlist 14. Play with sidewalk chalk
15. Have a family picnic 16. Look for four-leaf clovers 17. Watch bumblebees at work in the garden 18. Listen to the birds singing 19. Read about the life cycle of a butterfly 20. Eat Jellybeans
school and home
Love Your Child Enough to Consider Psychiatry Dr. Ramirez-Moya shares the importance of an early diagnosis and psychiatry treatment in adolescents
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By Allison Hopkins
Dr. Lorerky Ramirez-Moya is devoting her life to diagnosing and treating mental health issues in children and in adults who have developmental disabilities and need psychiatric care. She is also a wife and mother of two kids, who is making sure her 11-year-old autistic son is getting the one-on-one education he needs. I can sense her energy and passion for her job, and it is very apparent that hard work is nothing new to this woman, who is a native of Costa Rica, and the first generation of her family to go to college. It is unfortunate that so many families are continuing to choose her service as a last resort, and often not at all. “When a child comes to me, the first thing the parent says is ‘I am here because I’ve tried everything you can imagine…I am here because I have no choice,’” says Ramirez-Moya. “We have a lot of work to do in this fight against the stigma of seeking psychiatry treatment.” Most of Ramirez-Moya’s patients are 4 to 17-year-olds, and she is working tirelessly to educate their parents that depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are diseases that need to be treated, just like every other disease. Once they understand, then she can teach them about the right steps to take at home (if your child is panicking, help them to breathe versus telling them they are fine). “The more we know, the better we will be at advocating for our children,” she says. It’s time that we listen. Ten Take-Aways From My Meeting with Dr. Ramirez-Moya at Community Psychiatry, California’s Largest Outpatient Mental Health Organization: 1. There are three major things to watch for in your child regarding their mental health: Insomnia (taking 2-4 hours to fall asleep at night), a change in grades/failing class, and isolating themselves.
2. Children need 9-10 hours of sleep and it needs to be at night. The pandemic has resulted in a lack of schedule for many kids, who are staying up late on social media and sleeping during the day. Some of her patients who were stable have regressed. 3. Anxiety can become noticeable starting around age 11; depression around ages 16-17. “Before 11, it’s all tantrums,” says Ramirez-Moya. “There’s not enough language skills, and it’s ‘I’m afraid to go outside, and I’m afraid something bad is going to happen to my family.’ Something happens at 11…parents start seeing more clear symptoms of anxiety, like social anxiety. Around 16 years old, parents can start seeing the first symptoms of depression, such as low motivation, insomnia, and irritability.” 4. You might think your child’s attitude is just who they are. Your child may believe that as well. “I explain to them that their symptoms are making them feel sick,” says RamirezMoya. “Parents think he is just a miserable guy. I explain that he is miserable because he has a disease.” 5. Adolescents don’t like to be alone in the house. Her patients say that they feel better around other people. 6. Parents have a lot of fear about the FDA’s black box warning on antidepressants which states that the medication can cause suicides. Ramirez-Moya encourages parents to use National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org) as a resource and mentions that we need more research to understand this side effect. “How many children are we losing by suicide because the parents were so concerned about the black box warning?” she questions. “If we educate parents about the efficacy of early treatment of mental illness, we will be able to reach more children and change the prognosis, helping more kids become future productive adults.”
7. There are four FDA-approved mental illness medications for children: Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac. “We have been using antidepressants for 60 years in children and we have not found any significant long-term side effects,” says Ramirez-Moya. “Sometimes, they [parents] are not concerned to start anti-psychotic or ADHD medications for their child when the medication is prescribed by other providers. I have more concerns for short and long-term side effects with those medications.” She explains that antipsychotics are being used to treat children who are easily agitated or experience extreme anxiety. 8. If you can treat a mental illness earlier, the outcome is always going to be the best. 90% of the families who come to her office have no other options. They have tried supplements, diets, and possibly psychotherapy, but they are embarrassed to go to a psychiatrist, or they might have a cultural belief against it. “What we see now is those kids who were not diagnosed found alcohol and marijuana,” she says. “Then they self-medicate themselves. That’s what we want to prevent.” 9. Kids are afraid to see a psychiatrist because they will have to tell their story again. Ramirez-Moya explains to the child that she is a doctor who follows protocols and treats diseases the same way their pediatrician does. “Children are very concrete thinkers and as psychiatrists we have to be very straightforward with how to ask children questions,” she explains. A conversation might start as follows: Doctor: Are you depressed? Child: No. Doctor: Tell me from 1 to 10 how much energy you have every day. Think about kindergarten when you woke up so happy. Child: Okay, that was a 10. Doctor: Think about the worst day when you didn’t want to get out of bed. Child: Okay, that was a 0. 10. The best part of her job is if she can wean a patient off medication and they have been off for six months without any symptoms. “The best day of my life is when I discharge them [patients] from the office and I say bye,” she says, explaining that this is the ultimate goal.
I’m honored to have met Dr. Ramirez-Moya, who is caring for the kids in our community and working each day to fight the stigma against psychiatry care associated with mental illness. If it reaches one parent and benefits one kid, this is a success. For more information about Community Psychiatry, please visit communitypsychiatry.com or call (855) 427-2778.
school and home www.growinguproseville.com
10 Ways to Eat Organic on a Budget By Kerrie McLoughlin
Do you wish you could feed your family organic foods, but when you see some of the price tags, your eyes pop out of your head? Yeah, me, too. I recently set out to find ways to feed my large family organic foods on a tight budget. Here’s what I found out: 1. Local Produce. Hit the farmer’s market to help out some local farmers while you save money on organic items. You can also try Local Harvest to search for farms, farmer’s markets, CSA (community supported agriculture), and more. 2. Grow Your Own Organic Garden. Sounds hard, doesn’t it? Trust me, if I can do it with my two non-green thumbs, so can you. My husband is usually the gardener in our family, but one summer he was traveling for work and the responsibility fell on me! I found out how easy it is to pull weeds and water tomatoes, carrots, and green beans. One day, I realized we had never bought any weedkiller or pesticides, which meant we basically had an organic garden. Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow herbs in a pot, have a patio garden, or even consider renting space out from a local gardener. Renting space is still cheaper than buying organic fruits and veggies from the leading natural foods market.
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3. Coupons and Sales, Baby! Watch, wait, then POUNCE on those items your family loves when they go on sale, or when you have a sweet coupon. Combine coupons with sales for some extreme couponing and you’ll be dancing in the aisles! Pro tip: buy store brands instead of name brands if you don’t have a coupon. 4. Seasonal Items. Why pay $5/carton for organic strawberries when they can get as low as $1.50/carton in the good old summertime? It’s easy to find out which fruits and vegetables are in season by visiting fromfieldtoplate.com. 5. Stock Up. When you find a good deal, stock up! You can get a good deal at a farmer’s market or find a sale at the natural foods market. It’s easy to freeze certain items while
you make jellies, jams, etc. with the rest. Can your own spaghetti sauce, carrots, beets, green beans, and more from what you grow yourself (sometimes you have way more than you can eat coming in all at once). Canning is easier than it sounds, and you can find a used pressure cooker or borrow one for a weekend. Simply Canning has a wonderful site with many great resources, then hit YouTube for how-to videos. 6. Buy in Bulk. Because you’re not paying for packaging and name brands, some organic basics like cereal, grains, and beans are much cheaper when dispensed from a bulk container. 7. Skip the “Junk.” Organic graham crackers and fruit snacks cost a fortune, so try some carrots and hummus, or make your own yummy granola bars to save a bunch of green. 8. Eat Less Meat. Grass-fed beef and cage-free chicken can be quite costly! My kids don’t even notice when we don’t include meat in our meals for several days in a row. Consider a fancy grilled cheese, refried bean quesadillas, a Mexican quinoa salad, and so much more! 9. Make a Plan. A meal plan can make or break your budget. If you are running to the store several times a week without any idea of what you are going to make, it is easy to spend too much on other impulse purchases. Sit down once a week and write out a plan to include the three basic meals of the day, plus snacks. Don’t forget to consider on-the-go items such as granola bars that you might need to bake, or organic juice boxes you have a coupon for. 10. Bake Your Own. We all need a good carb fix now and then. Rather than pay crazy baked-good prices, find a used bread machine for a steal and make your own. It is so easy these days to get the dough ready, pop it in the machine, and just wait while your house fills up with the intoxicating aroma of baking bread. AllRecipes.com has tons of wonderful bread machine recipes that will impress your friends and family. Likewise, bake your own organic treats (think loaded muffins, energy balls, and granola bars) using organic flour, cocoa, oatmeal, etc. that you find for cheap using my tips above!
Kids & Cell Phones By Rob Baquera, Public Information Officer, Roseville Police Department
If you have a pre-teen, you may have already heard them ask the question, “May I have a cell phone?” Your child may be pestering you about getting a phone, and you may be wondering what age is the most appropriate for them to get one. Many parents give their child a cell phone for safety reasons and the peace of mind of knowing their child can call them at any time. However, parents also need to realize the potential dangers that exist with a cell phone. Cyberbullying, predators, and scams are just a few. When is the right time for your child to get their first cell phone? That’s the big question, and there’s no clear cut answer. If your child is always with you or a trusted adult, he/she should not need a cell phone. When kids start to walk to school by themselves or are without supervision, then they may need a cell phone. Many parents consider a phone when a child is in middle school. At this age, kids are becoming more independent and are often involved in after school activities. According to a Nielsen report released in February 2017, approximately 45 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 1012 had their own smartphone with a service plan. Keeping Kids Safe on Their cell Phones Fortunately, there are things parents can do to keep their child safe. One effective tool is to set-up parental controls. This will allow parents to monitor their kid’s phone use, determine which sites and apps their child can access, and set time limits on their child’s device. A cell phone can be a great safety tool, but like any tool it is important to teach children how to use it safely. Here are some tips from Scholastic.com to help you get started: 1. Start Simple: Show your child how to use their phone, pointing out valuable features like the key lock, vibrate, and alarm. Program the speed dial with your contact information and other emergency numbers. For extra security, consider buying one of several models designed just for kids. Some require parents to enter all phone numbers, so kids can only send and receive calls from approved individuals. 2. Limit Usage: Designate time slots for talking or texting— perhaps after homework and chores are completed or before dinner. 3. Teach Responsibility: Make sure your child understands a cell phone is not a toy. Explain the fees associated with text messages, data use, games, apps, and sharing photos. 4. Keep it Private: Instruct your child to use caution when giving out their number. Phones should only be used to communicate with people they know in the real world. 5. Assess Before Answering: Teach your child not to answer calls or text messages from unrecognized numbers. Explain how to block calls from unwanted numbers. 6. Exercise Etiquette: In addition to enforcing your own rules, make sure your child respects the rules of other establishments. Phones should be turned off or silenced at hospitals, movie theaters, and restaurants, for example. Restrict use during after-school activities or on the bus. Know what your child’s school permits for students’ use of cell phones. When you finally decide to give your child a cell phone, sit down and talk with him/ her about your expectations. Establish specific and clear guidelines for acceptable phone usage and consequences if the rules are not followed. Know what your child is doing on their device, and keep the lines of communication open. By doing so, your child will feel comfortable coming to you with questions and problems that may arise.
school and home www.growinguproseville.com
All Along By Avett, Age 5
Nature is good Nature is strong Nature keeps growing All Along Trees are big Trees are strong Trees are making leaves All Along Bushes are big Bushes are strong Bushes are making berries All Along Bears are big Bears are strong Bears are scratching trees All Along
Creative Writing Contest
Winner! Fishes are big Fishes are strong Fishes are swimming All Along Deer are big Deer are strong Deer are making antlers All Along Racoons are big Raccoons are strong Racoons are drinking water All Along
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Wolves are big Wolves are strong Wolves are hooooowling All Along Owls are big Owls are strong Owls are hunting All Along Nature is good Nature is strong Nature keeps growing All Along!
Congratulations
to the Growing Up Chico & Growing Up Roseville Kids Art Contest Winners!
Jai, Age 9
Adi, Age 15
Chole, Age 8
Genesis, Age 7
Daisy, Age 8
Olya, Age 11
Josh, Age 9
Ember, Age 9
Cedra, Age 11
Madalynn, Age 11
Elena, Age 7
Adamaris, Age 4
Henry, Age 4
Rylan, Age 7
Hailey, Age 6
school and home
Dig This:
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Big Benefits of Gardening With Kids
growing up up chico roseville magazine 1414 growing magazine
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By Janeen Lewis
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ost parents want their children to get outside away from phones, TV, and video games. Gardening is a great way to achieve this goal. However, recent research shows that there are several other reasons to start a garden with kids. The benefits range from making kids smarter to making them healthier. Here are 10 great reasons to get kids gardening: 1. Students who garden score higher on science tests. Gardening is full of science. Children learn about plant classification, weather, soil, and plant pests, and disease. They are introduced to botany in a natural, handson way, and recent research shows that students who had gardening experiences as part of their school curriculum did better on standardized science tests than students who were not exposed to gardening in school. 2. If they grow it, they will eat it. As a teacher, I’ve taught STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and have served as a Junior Master Garden club leader. In these roles, I witnessed the “if they grow it, they will eat it” phenomenon. Students love to dig up what they have grown, and then curiosity gets the better of them – they want to taste it. Master Gardener Beth Tovi has volunteered to mentor students in the
garden for eight years at the elementary school where she has served as a media specialist. She sees the nutritional and health benefits children gain from gardening. “With the growing concerns about obesity, diabetes, and even high blood pressure in children, gardening gets them physically active and outdoors. And children will eat anything they grow – even if it’s green.” 3. Digging in the dirt can make kids healthier. Several studies show that children who were raised on farms don’t have as many respiratory allergies, asthma, or autoimmune disorders as children who were raised in urban areas because children who live on farms are exposed to more microbes and fungi in the dirt. Letting children get outside and get in the dirt may actually make them healthier than keeping them tidy, clean, and inside. 4. Gardening strengthens emotional and interpersonal skills. Children who garden learn responsibility, patience, perseverance, and how to deal with disappointment if the garden doesn’t grow the way they expected. How do they collaborate with other siblings, friends, or school mates to get the garden work done? These are character-building skills that research shows children reap in the garden.
I witnessed this one year at a school garden when we had a drought. Watering the plants and trying to keep them healthy was an arduous task, and the students and I learned about perseverance and teamwork. 5. Gardening connects children with nature. When children garden, they gain ownership in what they are cultivating. I have seen my own children grow “attached” to the plants in the containers on our patio garden. As children become more knowledgeable about all the living things in the garden, they are less likely to be afraid of touching the plants, getting soil on their hands, or being near bugs. They are no longer afraid of the unknown when they become familiar with what is in the garden. 6. Gardening helps relieve stress for the whole family. A garden can be therapeutic. Not that your fourth grader is battling traffic, raising children, and feeling the demands of a pressure-ridden job, but even kids can feel stress, and the garden is good for eliminating it. In fact, a study in the Netherlands showed that after 30 minutes of gardening, subjects who had shown stress before they gardened had a “fully restored” positive mood. And if the adults in the family are feeling stressed, and they garden with their children, it can help the whole family feel more harmonious.
7. Gardening teaches kids to problem-solve. “When they garden, children learn problemsolving skills,” Tovi says. “They say ‘This trellis doesn’t work very well. How can we make one that will better support this kind of plant?’” In a garden, children ask questions like “What is eating this plant?” or “Is this tree dying?” Once children become absorbed in solving the problems in a garden, they want to research to find the best answers. “They become sleuths, starting in the garden and heading into the computers,” Tovi says. 8. Gardening is a good work out. Gardening is good physical labor involving muscles that don’t always get a workout. Even the most seasoned gym-goer may admit to being sore the day after working in a garden. Gardening involves stretching, bending, digging, lifting, pulling, and raking. Gross and fine motor skills are used, and even the youngest gardener with simple tasks gets physical activity. 9. Gardening helps children become environmental stewards. When children start reaping the food and flowers that come from a garden, they realize a garden’s impact on them and their impact on the garden. Once they have this tangible experience, it is much easier to teach them to care for the environment. 10. Gardening can lead to a longer life. Studies show that adults who garden in their later years live longer. Instead of living a sedentary life, gardeners get off the couch and are active in nature. Teaching children good habits when they are young will make them more likely to follow them through life. Sow the seeds of a garden with your child today, and see them reap the benefits for a lifetime.
Creative Theme Gardens to Grow with Kids These interesting themes are a great way to inspire children to garden. Pizza Garden - Grow all the herbs to add to a pizza. For an extra touch, make the garden round like a pizza. Fairy Garden - This garden includes both plants and miniature structures and is a great place for your child’s imagination to grow. Pollinator Garden - Build a garden that attracts butterflies, bees, birds, bats, and other insects and animals that will help pollinate plants. Try planting milkweed, zinnias, and snapdragons. Herb Garden - Herb gardens are a great way to foray into the world of gardening. They can be grown inside or outside and include plants such as basil, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, and many more. Art Garden - Students can grow flowers and plants that can be used to make art, or grow a garden of plants for kids to sketch. Maze Garden - Create a maze with hedges, grasses, or corn. In the middle of the maze, put something interesting like a sculpture, fountain, or another special garden bed. Peter Rabbit Garden - Grow the vegetables found in Mr. McGregor’s garden. The great thing about this garden is that you can grow some of the vegetables – carrots, lettuce, radishes, and cabbage – in cool weather, so you could continue to garden into fall.
Salsa Garden - Grow tomatoes, peppers, and onions to make a delicious salsa. Wildflower Garden - Visit a nature preserve to discover the native wildflower plants in your area. Then, build a garden with those flowers. Three Sister’s Garden - Teach children about plants that grow well together, like corn, beans, and squash, by cultivating the three in one mound.
No Yard? No Problem! When your backyard is a concrete patio or an apartment balcony, it is hard to imagine growing a bountiful garden. But it can be done in containers. Choose some eco-friendly containers with drainage holes in the bottom, fill them with a potting mix, and choose seeds or seedlings to plant. Another option is to grow an herb garden inside on a sunny window ledge. A great resource for starting a container garden is The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible: How to Grow a Bounty of Food in Pots, Tubs, and Other Containers by Edward C. Smith. This book teaches even beginning gardeners how to grow organic food in small spaces. The book covers container and tool selection, caring for plants, and controlling pests without chemicals. With a little research and tender care, you can grow flowers and vegetables that flourish.
Discover the Magic of a Family Meeting
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parenting
By Kelly McGinnis
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any clients have admired family meetings from a distance, but they do not know how to implement them in their own families. Other clients have questioned this idea of sitting down as a family wondering, “Why in the world would we do that?” The research is strong regarding the benefits of family meetings, especially in this fast-paced hectic world. Some of the benefits include taking time to really connect, building a child’s self-esteem, learning compromise and cooperation, understanding other people’s perspectives, and giving children value and purpose. By including children in decision-making and problem solving, they feel like they have a voice and are more connected to the family. They learn to consider more than just their own perspective and they feel they have a responsibility to the group, not just their own well-being. This is one of the largest predictors of success in later years. Here are 5 simple steps to creating a great family meeting in your home. I strongly encourage you to make time and space in your family schedule to incorporate this beneficial parenting tool.
1. Choose a natural time and place. So often, when we think about family meetings, we think that it must be formal both in location and process. The exact opposite is true. Family meetings should be casual and comfortable for both parents and kids. Take into consideration the time that most of the family will be engaged. Try to avoid times when your family is hungry, tired, or there are added stressors happening. The more natural it feels, the more natural the conversation will feel. Some great places to hold your family meeting include around the dinner table, sitting on the couch, outdoors or away at a special family location. 2. Decide on the purpose in advance. It is important to establish an objective before you schedule the family meeting. Is this meeting to discuss an on-going family conflict, or is this meeting to do some family goal planning? Determining a purpose ahead of time gives everyone a chance to think about their role in the meeting and what they hope to expect from the discussion. Some kids do not like being put on the spot, so the advanced planning allows for children to prepare and feel like they are not being rushed or pressured. Family meetings can be held for a variety of reasons including deciding on upcoming vacations, family
goal planning, awards, allowance, family financial talks/ decisions, as well as problem solving. 3. Give everyone time to share. Yes, this means even the littlest family member will get to weigh in on the family discussion! One of the biggest needs of children is to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. What better way to show them that they belong than giving them a voice at the table. We as parents need to make a huge effort to listen to what our kids are sharing during this time and find ways that we can validate our children’s needs. This does not mean give them what they want. It simply means that we can empathize and acknowledge how they are feeling. This setting provides a safe place for our kids to express scary negative emotions. 4. Assign responsibility and discuss the means of measurement. Have you ever left a meeting and said to yourself, “Well that was a waste of time!”? Time is such an important commodity, and we want to be sure to honor each family member. When your family meeting is over, each person should have one action item and a way that they will be held accountable for that action item. An example of this might be a family meeting to discuss an upcoming trip. One child might be assigned the task of researching places to visit, and the other child can create a family packing list. Place a time-frame on the task and come back together to share. Remember the assignment does not always have to be correction based. Do not fall into the pits of negativity and always be looking for what is going wrong. Find what is going well! 5. Celebrate! Family meetings should not be 100% focused on fixing problems or discussing tough topics, although those items are important. Each family meeting should have time scheduled to build one another up. Some great ideas to try include: sharing how you saw one another use their strengths since the last family meeting, award humorous prizes that can be voted on by all family members, play fun music and have a 5 minute dance party, dress up when attending the family meeting, or serve a special treat during the family meeting. Anything that encourages connection and joy within the family will make the overall experience more enjoyable for all. This will also motivate you to consistently schedule family meetings; it is a time to have fun as well as motivate our kids and align the family goals. Family meetings are a powerful tool for both parents and children. If you are interested in incorporating your parenting strengths or the strengths of your children into your next family meeting, please visit my website www.shineonfamily.com and click on the button that says “Take the Incredible Parent Assessment.” Kelly McGinnis is a “Certified Bring Baby Home Educator” and “Certified Incredible Coach.” She has been helping parents for the past 14 years. She enjoys helping parents move from frustration to fascination and restore joy and peace to homes across the country. She is married and has the privilege to be called Mom by her three beautiful girls. To find out more about all that Kelly offers, please visit www.shineonfamily.com.
These Are The Things I Worry About As a SAHM
www.growingupchico.com www.growinguproseville.com
parenting
by Sumiti Mehta
I
made a decision to stay home with my kids because I wanted to be with them, and I was very confident that no one else but only me — their mom — would be able to do a great job of raising them. Now, on the downslope of parenting, there are days where I have reservations about being a stay-at-home mom. 1. I think that I let down my mother. In some way, I do feel that I let down my own mother, who was the first woman to graduate in her family and worked for a reputed bank in India. My mom was the one who always inspired me and let me Dream Big. She had high goals and aspirations for me.
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2. There are days when I feel like people around me think I do nothing. They all see me cooking, cleaning, driving, volunteering, and even writing, but they know what a “job” looks like, and they do not think I have one. 3. I have used my driver’s license for more than my education degrees. After a couple of driving lessons, I got my driver’s license within a month. My Bachelor’s in English Literature and graduate degree in Public Relations and Advertising took four years of persistent hard work, and yet, for more than a decade now, I have used my driver’s license for more than my formal education degrees. 4. I get sucked into piles of volunteer work. Some of this work surely is meaningful and satisfying, and some of it is insignificant in the extreme — whether it is being on
various boards or panels or raising funds for schools. Volunteer activities involve a burst of events, but at the end of the day, those running the show carry on, and my job is over. 5. I hover more. Being around my kids so much of the time gives me the chance to focus on them at a very micro level. Helicoptering takes time, and I have the time. So I am labeled as a “Helicopter Mom.” 6. I slipped into a more traditional marriage. In every way, my husband Sudeep, to whom I have been married for 15 years, does see me as his equal, but in the years that I have been home, our partnership has landed in traditional gender roles. I feel obligated to do more than 50% of the housework, not because he asks me or expects it, but because I actually have more time. 7. I have days when I feel this annoying sense of fading confidence. Far and away, my biggest regret about me staying at home is that I have lowered my sights of capability for myself in my own mind. I have let go of the career ambitions and goals I once held. If I could go back the time and get a do-over, what would I have done differently? Looking now at my two handsome sons, Akshaj (12 years old) and Atiksh (6 years old), I feel so appreciative of the gift of time that I spend with them. Be it in their schools or activities or working with their projects at home. This stage of my life is beautiful, and I know my kids love me the most. This love and my time are helping me raise two smart, kind, and compassionate boys just like my husband, and I always hope ours will be.
arts & crafts
Paper Bead Making
You’ll Need:
growing up up chico roseville magazine 2020 growing magazine
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• • • • •
Junk mail, such as catalogs, or magazinesglossy, colorful pages work best Glue stick White glue Toothpick or other small cylinder, such as an ink pen refill String or wire for creating your beaded jewelry
Instructions:
1. Find some colorful, glossy pages in old magazines, catalogs, or junk mail. 2. Cut one 4-inch by 1-inch triangle out of the paper for each bead you plan to make. Rectangles will work to create a different shape. 3. Apply glue from the glue stick to the narrow end of the triangle. 4. Use your toothpick or small cylinder to roll the triangle from the wide end up to the glued end. 5. Make sure the narrow end is secured well to the bead so it does not come unraveled and then slide it off of your cylinder. 6. “Seal” your bead using one part white glue to three parts water. Painting this solution over your bead will protect it from the elements and keep it from unraveling. 7. Let the beads dry and then string your beads to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry, or combine the paper beads with other beads for more variety. Make necklaces, eye-glass holders, earrings, bracelets, bookmarks, etc. - The sky is the limit!
Matching Game Cut out the cards on this page to play your own matching or memory game!
growing up up chico roseville magazine 2222 growing magazine
Circle
5 differences
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spring fun
Match the correct shadows below
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spring fun
At Home Spring Break
09:00 AM
Storytime/ Reading
Storytime/ Reading
Storytime/ Reading
Storytime/ Reading
Storytime/ Reading
09:15 AM
Arts & Craft/ Sensory Play
Arts & Craft/ Sensory Play
Arts & Craft/ Sensory Play
Arts & Craft/ Sensory Play
Arts & Craft/ Sensory Play
10:00 AM
Snack
Snack
Snack
10:15 AM
Outside Play /Movement
Outside Play /Movement
Outside Play /Movement
Outside Play /Movement
Outside Play /Movement
11:00 AM
Puzzles/Games /Independent Play
Puzzles/Games /Independent Play
Puzzles/Games /Independent Play
Puzzles/Games /Independent Play
Puzzles/Games /Independent Play
12:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Take A Trip Tuesday Visit a park, museum, bike ride, or a fun outing.
Wild Wednesday Research a wild animal you want to learn about.
Thinking Thursday Do a science experiment, check out a learning website, or make a wondering list.
Fun Friday Outdoor games/ activities or indoor obstacle course
growing up up chico roseville magazine 2424 growing magazine
12:30 PM
Make It Monday Try a new recipe, craft, or build something.
Snack
Snack
Apple Pie Pockets By Ruby, age 8
Very Veggie Pockets By Avery, age 10
Ingredients: • 1 tube crescent dough • 1 cup veggies, finely chopped (We used red bell pepper, carrot, broccoli, & celery) • Shredded mozzarella cheese • Marinara sauce Instructions: Heat oven to 375 degrees (or according to instructions on dough). Cover baking sheet with foil and lightly spray surface with nonstick cooking spray. Cut dough into 4 pieces. Finely chop your favorite vegetables. We used red bell pepper, carrot, celery, and broccoli. Place a tablespoon of marinara sauce on dough pieces, add 1/4 cup vegetables, and top with shredded cheese. Fold dough over to cover veggies and seal sides with a fork. Bake 10-13 minutes. Let cool before eating. Serve with more marinara or ranch on the side for dipping.
Ingredients: • 1 tube crescent dough • 1 apple, peeled and sliced thin (We used 1/2 a Granny Smith and 1/2 a Honeycrisp) • 2 Tablespoons butter, melted • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions: Pre heat oven to 375 degrees (or whatever your dough instructions are). Cover a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease pan with nonstick cooking spray. Slice apples thinly (we used a mandolin and a grown up to help). In a bowl, place apples and toss with melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut dough into desired size/shapes. Place a spoonful of apple mixture onto middle of dough. Cover with the top dough piece and pinch sides together to seal. Sprinkle top with cinnamon and sugar. Bake pie pockets for 10-13 minutes, until lightly golden brown on top. Kids 14 and under are encouraged to send in their own healthy recipes. Winning recipes will be featured in our next issue. Winners will be awarded a $25 gift card! DEADLINE: MARCH 15TH Send recipe & photo of prepared recipe to: marne@growinguproseville.com.
Your guide to family resources in Southern Placer County!
www.growinguproseville.com
directories
For New & Expecting Moms Breastfeeding Coalition of Placer County: Promoting and supporting breastfeeding through education, outreach, and increased services in our communities. (916) 276-8016, (916) 780-6454. California Birth Center: A full service birth facility that also offers well-woman exams, prenatal and postpartum care, natural birth support services and a community of care providers and resources. Located in Rocklin, (916) 223-7731, calbirthcenter.com. The Root: Education, yoga, and perinatal wellness studio designed to support families on their paths as they grow through pregnancy, postpartum, and new parenthood. www.sacroot.com, 916-455-6789 La Leche League of Roseville: Any woman who is interested in breastfeeding is welcome at all meetings, as are babies and young children. Pregnant women are strongly encouraged to attend meetings. Meetings are free. You do not have to be a member of La Leche League to participate in the meetings. For questions call, (916) 708-1263, (530) 215-6873, (916) 259-4759, www.lllnorcal.org.
Mothers & Babies First: Offers affordable breastfeeding support, breastfeeding classes, back to work and breastfeeding classes, as well as a course on the “fourth trimester.” To find out more or to register for a class, www.mothersandbabiesfirst. com mamajb@msn.com, or call 916-771-2440.
Parenting Resources A Community for Peace: A trauma-informed social justice center for victims and survivors of domestic violence, family violence. Crisis Line 916-728-7210, office line (916) 728-5613. Adventure Club: City of Roseville: Operates in multiple sites at local schools for school-age childcare and after school care for elementary school-age children in Roseville. (916) 774-5505. Affordable Counseling & Educational Services (ACES): Offers classes in Anger Management/ Domestic Violence and Parenting Programs for Men and Women. Spanish and English classes available. Please contact for more information. Individual, couples, and marriage counseling also available. Please call the office for more information and rates. (916) 630-9188.
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growing up roseville magazine
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Helping children reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth. www.bbbs-sac.org, (916) 646-9300. Child Advocates of Placer County: Helping high risk youth, www.casaplacer.org, 530-887-1006. Club Rocklin: Club Rocklin is a state-licensed, self-supporting before and after school recreation program, which provides supervised activities for children in grades K-6. (916) 625-5200. Compassion Planet: Our mission is to help aged-out foster youth overcome personal obstacles to achieve independence and reach their fullest potential. To find out more please go to: compassionplanet.org or call (916) 672-6599. EXCEL of Roseville: A community center for children of low-income families in the Roseville area. 916-789-7884, www.excelroseville.org. First 5 Placer: Supporting Parents and Children Ages 0 – 5 in Placer County, www.first5placer.org.
FIT4MOM Placer: The nation’s leading prenatal and postnatal fitness program, providing fitness classes and a network of moms to support every stage of motherhood. From pregnancy through postpartum and beyond, our fitness and wellness programs help make moms strong in body, mind, and spirit. 530-863-3298, placer.fit4mom.com, shannonsmith@ fit4mom.com. Heartstrings Counseling: Provides low-cost counseling on a sliding fee scale. In Loomis, 916-6767405, www.heartstringscounseling.org.
Roseville Parks & Recreation: We are dedicated to helping you and your family find the right recreational programs. (916) 772-PLAY (7529), www. roseville.ca.us/parks/. Sierra Mental Wellness Group: Provides professional and affordable individual, couple, and family counseling, crisis services, child and adolescent programs, and mental health assessments. (916)783-5207, www. sierramentalwellness.org.
Kids First: Kids First provides parents and children with the tools they need to thrive through familycentered supports and services. Our vision is that all children live in a safe, healthy, and nurturing home. (916) 774-6802, www.kidsfirstnow.org.
Stand Up Placer: Crisis intervention & support. We provide victims of domestic violence and assault in Placer County with a safe, caring, and nurturing environment. 24-hour crisis line staffed by Crisis Counselors – 800-575-5352. 530-823-6224, www. standupplacer.org.
KidZKount: Placer Community Action Council, Inc.: Head Start, Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs. Services to income eligible families and children from pregnancy to 4 years old. (530) 885-5437.
Teen Age Pregnancy & Parenting Program: TAPP is a free program that helps to improve the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting teens and their children. 530-889-7141 or 1-800-829-7199.
Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center: A community-based nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen families and improve the physical and emotional well-being by providing counseling, education, and easy access to community-based resources, with all services offered in both English and Spanish. 427 A St. Ste #400, Lincoln, (916) 645-3300, www.lighthousefrc.org.
Uplift Family Services: We do whatever it takes to strengthen & advocate for children, families, adults, and communities to realize their hopes for behavioral health & well being. upliftfs.org, (916) 779-2455.
Lincoln Parks & Recreation Department: Providing high-quality programs for all ages. www.lincolnca.gov/city-hall/departments-divisions/ parks-recreation, (916) 434-3220. MOMS Club of Rocklin: A non-profit group offering support for both stay at home moms, as well as moms in the workforce. Playgroups, field trips, events, support and more. www.meetup.com/MOMSClub-Rocklin Parent Project: A 10-week skill-building course for parents of strong-willed or defiant youth. There is a fee, but funds are available to cover all or part of the cost for those who cannot afford it. (916) 787-4357 Placer County Mothers of Multiples: Nonprofit organization offering support and services to all mothers of multiples. www.pcmoms.org Placer County Office of Education Child Care Resource and Referral: Helps parents find child care, provides resources and information for parents and child care providers, and assists the Placer County community in finding and supporting quality child care. The Resource and Referral also provides learning opportunities for parents, providers, and the community. (530) 745-1380. Placer County WIC: A nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children under age five eat well, be active, and stay healthy. (916) 784-6447. Rocklin Parks & Recreation Department: Offers a variety of community classes and programs for children and adults. (916) 625-5200, www.rocklin. ca.us/parks. Roseville Babywearers: Come to a meet-up to get hands-on assistance with wearing your baby no matter what kind of baby carrier you use. www. rosevillebabywearers.wordpress.com Roseville Home Start: The only non-profit transitional housing program and shelter exclusively serving homeless children and their families in Placer County. (916) 782-6667 or rosevillehomestart.org
Special Needs Alta California Regional Center: Non-profit that provides services for children with special needs, (916) 978-6400. Building Life’s Moments: Our goal is to raise awareness and promote a united positive community by throwing events for the special needs population and their families. www.buildinglifesmoments.org, 916-380-9459. Down Syndrome Information Alliance: Provides support and resources to empower individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and our community. 24 hour Support Line: 916-842-7175. 916-658-1686, www.downsyndromeinfo.org. Love Olivia: Through donation campaigns, “Love, Olivia” is devoted to providing special needs children with clothing, shoes, books, and financial assistance. Additionally, we strive to provide special needs families with educational and community resources. www.loveolivia.org, (916) 752-9192. NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing: A non-profit community-based organization serving Deaf & Hard of Hearing individuals. www. norcalcenter.org/, 916.349.7500, 916.993.3048 VP, 916.550-9355 P3. Placer County Infant Development Program: A developmental and family support program for children ages birth to three years of age with special needs. 5280 Stirling Street Granite Bay, (916) 774-2795. Ride to Walk: Ride To Walk’s mission is to enhance the lives of children and young adults with neurological disabilities by providing innovative therapeutic horseback riding activities that are recreational in nature and adapted to the individual’s needs and abilities. 1630 Hwy. 193, Lincoln, www. ridetowalk.org. WarmLine Family Resource Center: WarmLine provides free resources, support, training and consultation to families of children with special needs birth to age 26. We are staffed by parents who share the common experience of parenting a child with special needs. No referral is needed, just call us at 916-455-9500 or www.warmlinefrc.org/.
Thank you to our advertisers! Without the support of our advertisers, this magazine would not be possible. If you do business with any of our advertisers, please be sure to let them know you saw their ad in Growing Up Roseville Magazine.
Preschool & Childcare Directory
Center
Ages
Hours
Curriculum
Contact
Centerpoint Christian Preschool License # 313603252
2-5 yrs
9am - 1pm Mon-Fri
We are a blended program of Learning through Play and Academics. For Pre-K, Writing and Phonics is used. We also offer Summer Camps.
www.centerpointroseville.org 916-782-9443 515 Sunrise Ave Roseville
Roseville Community Preschool License # 310300569
2 yrs 9 months6 yrs
9am-2:30pm Mon-Fri
www.rosevillecp.org 916-786-9536 50 Corporation Yard Rd Roseville
Preschool Age, 0-6 yrs
Drop in from 10am-12pm, 2nd Wednesday of the month, September – May, no registration necessary
Roseville Community Preschool believes children are naturally motivated with the desire to make sense of their world, supported by the respectful and responsive caring alliance of their teachers and parents.
Utility Exploration Center Preschool Playgroup
Children in diapers are okay, lunch provided, traditional school year observed, after school program and summer programs available.
Enjoy a creative play space for you and your child. Our hands-on, age-appropriate activities provide an opportunity to socialize with new friends and have fun discovering the utilities of Roseville.
www.roseville.ca.us/explore 916-746-1550 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville
Growing Up Roseville’s Business Directory Thank you to our advertisers for the overwhelming support. We could not produce this magazine without you!
Children’s Choice Dental: Creative Spark Photography: DeAnna Holman, Arbonne: Erica Callfas, Realtor: Gather Studio Marketplace & Events:
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Just Between Friends: Roseville Theater Arts Academy: Steve Wallen Swim School: Winding Creek Roseville:
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