Idaho Family Mar/April 2023

Volume 11, Number 2

Publisher

J.J. Plew

Associate Publisher

Adrianne Goff

Adrianne@globalpsd.com

Cover Photo

Jessica Felkel

Editor Gaye Bunderson editorgaye@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing

J.J. Plew

jj@idahofamilymagazine.com 208-697-2043

Contributors

Luke Erickson, Cara Johnson-Bader, Dennis Lopez, Sarah Lyons, Sandy McDaniel, Jenna Shaver

Graphic Design

Carol Smiley csmileydesign@gmail.com

Distribution Shauna Howard, Doris Evans

Idaho Family Magazine, published monthly by Gem Production Co., LLC, is committed to providing readers with informative and entertaining information to help them in maintaining healthy families and positive lifestyles. It is distributed throughout the valley as a free publication. Idaho Family Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. Idaho Family Magazine does not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. Idaho Family Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 by Gem Production Co., LLC.

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Children’s Photos Wanted

Idaho Family Magazine would love to put your child or children on our cover. All photos should be high quality, sharp and clear, and high resolution of around 300 ppi. Color photos are preferred, and all photos need to be vertical not horizontal. Please identify the children in the photos, the children’s ages, and what Treasure Valley community they reside in. (If chosen for the cover, their last names will not be used without permission.) Send the photos to editorgaye@gmail.com.

SEASONS There are 4 in all – choose your favorite

By Gaye Bunderson

Once again, I’ve tapped a number of contributors, advertisers, interviewees, and friends about a family-related topic, soliciting their views on a subject we all have an opinion about: What is your family’s favorite season, and why? The idea was to stoke the fires of enthusiasm for events and vacations to come.

Our favorite season here in Idaho is spring. Not only because it means the long winter is over, but because we can start gardening as a family. We love gardening, spending time in the sunshine and planting our own food. There is nothing like harvesting a fruit or vegetable that you planted from a tiny seed. And eating it is even better! It’s also very educational for our 5-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome. She has her own little gardening tools and absolutely loves to garden herself.

We also love to camp in late spring. The camping opportunities here in Idaho are endless, and some of the locations that we’ve found are stunning. We love camping as a family and plan to do much more this year as soon as the weather permits.

Steffanie Larriba Idaho advocate for children with Down syndrome

We have all four seasons covered in our family of four. One son loves winter because he loves playing in the snow, the other loves summer because he doesn’t have to go to school. My husband prefers fall because of the colors, and my favorite is spring because of the joyous relief from darkness and cold!

Dani Grigg Attorney, Foley Freeman – Meridian

My family’s favorite season is what we call “Fummer.” This is the time period when most of the summer activities have died down but the weather is still nice enough to enjoy the outdoors before fall fully sets in. We created the term when we lived in McCall and celebrated Fummer when all the summer tourists were gone but we could still recreate in the outdoors before the snow fell.

Alex Brooks

Education Manager and Boise Urban Gardens Executive Director

Fall, for us, is the time we spend doing our activities we enjoy: hunting, fishing, outdoor hiking. There’s beautiful scenery, and the trees changing colors. We spend the most time out-of-doors in the fall – and the weather in Idaho at that time of year is beautiful.

Shawna Billington Hairstylist, Looks Unlimited-Boise

Our family focuses on blessing others who are not family members. We enjoy Christmas the best as the season of giving. However, we continue to consistently give throughout the year. Since I am a Spanish Basque we have been decorating the Christmas tree at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center lobby for all to enjoy for the last six years. We have also donated tabletop trees, wreaths and home décor to the Festival of Trees for the last 12 years. We make various seasonal cards for our neighbors, friends, and family across the country. We have invested our lives doing volunteer work serving our communities. Our outreaches have included three churches we have started and served as pastors, reaching out in innovative ways to encourage and strengthen our communities.

When the recession hit a few years ago we decided to give although we did not have any work for our Redesign Boise business. Just before Christmas we ended up giving away $100K of goods and services by doing three large painting and redesign projects for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Other organizations where we have served include the Assistance League of Boise and Toastmasters in the Treasure Valley.

These days we continue to make and give out handmade bookmarks to encourage others wherever we meet them. We have donated over 15,000 of them to disadvantaged children, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club and discouraged strangers that we meet wherever we go.

Irene Woodworth Business owner, Redesign Boise

Our favorite season would be fall, because of all the beautiful fall colors and all the fun fall activities and the family gatherings.

Mira Sebyakin Photographer in the Treasure Valley

TRIALS

No motorcycle risky speeds required

By Dennis Lopez

Contrary to its formal name, Observed Trials, it’s a challenging motorcycle competition that, unfortunately, most people in the United States have never seen.

Unlike most competitive motorcycle events, trials – not trails – riding doesn’t involve speed but rather is focused upon balance, riding skills and motorcycle control.

A trials event is split into sections where a competitor rides through a fiendish obstacle course while attempting to avoid touching the ground with their feet. The obstacles can be of natural or constructed elements. Stuff like boulders, fallen logs, stacks of earth-filled tires or nearly vertical concrete walls. Not the kind of thing motorcyclists regularly meet on the street. And most modern Trials bikes don’t have a seat…reduces weight and allows riders more freedom of movement.

Every section has a designated route to test the skill of the rider. In local events, the sections often are divided into separate courses to allow the different skill level of riders, who compete in skill-rated classes.

Riders are scored by an eagle-eyed observer – thus the sport’s name – who counts how many times the competitor touches the ground with their foot. Each time a competitor touches the ground with their foot they are assessed a one-point penalty.

The possible scores in each section are between zero and five. If a rider makes it through a section without touching the ground with a foot, bike or other body parts, their score for that section is zero. Touch the ground once, they receive a score of one. If they touch down twice, they receive a score of two. Should they touch the ground three or more times, they receive three points, providing they make it without

stalling the engine, getting off their motorcycle, going out of bounds or going backward. Failing to complete the section results in being awarded five points. The overall winners are the riders with the fewest cumulative points after riding through, on or over all sections.

Challenging as riding trial events are, it is a motor sport that Emmett resident and motorcycle shop owner Johnny Murphree sees as one of the fundamental and critical building blocks for making better, and safer, motorcyclists. In fact, he believes in it enough to not only ride in trials events himself, but to coach his 10-year-old daughter to ride Trials as well. And he says it provides valuable family time.

Murphree knows of the inherent dangers of riding motorcycles. He is a former national flat-track motorcycle racing champion who was dominant in his sport from 1996 until 2009. He also has ridden in the rough and tumble world of professional motocross and has competed in the extreme sports X-games motocross series.

“For kids, it’s really about doing something potentially dangerous with care and close supervision,” he says. “Trials riding allows everyone who does it a chance to fail at small things. This kind of riding really is the best kind of training because you learn the fundamentals.”

The primary fundamental, he says, is learning balance, something best taught at low speeds.

“It’s a way to learn and grow,” he says, “because you can slow down and do things right.

“Skills learned while riding Trials can be transferred to other kinds of riding. You learn to apply all the basic skills without an emphasis on speed.”

Murphree is quick to point out that hands-on learning and even the occasional mishap are a part of

Marlee Murphree, age 10, rides a motorcycle during an Observed Trial. Marlee and her dad came in third in the event.

(Photo by Dennis Lopez)

“For kids, it’s really about doing something potentially dangerous with care and close supervision.”

mastering those skills.

“We don’t live in a video game world,” he says. “There is cause and effect. Real world consequences for our actions. Riding a motorcycle is no different. If you fall over, there is the very real chance of a bruise or scrape, but it all is a part of real world living. Training can reduce your chances of having serious issues on a motorcycle.”

He sees the time he spends training and practicing with his family to be quality time. An opportunity for what he believes also is an opportunity for family closeness. Riding is something he, his wife and three children use as family time.

“We also ride trails and spend time together just enjoying where we live.”

As owner of Gem County Motor Sports in Emmett, he says part of his job in introducing new riders to the sport of Trials is try to match them to the right machine.

“Sometimes people come in with one thing in mind and after spending time listening and learning about them, we can guide them to a bike that is more in line with their abilities and skill levels. I hope to develop a relationship with them that evolves from being my customer to being a lifelong motorcyclist.”

Part of that is having an inventory of proper motorcycles for all ages and skills.

“My daughter rides an electric motorcycle,” he says. “No engine or transmission to deal with. She can just concentrate on learning to ride better without distractions like a clutch.”

Apparently having the right training and the right motorcycle pays off. Despite it being Marlee’s first competitive ride, she and her dad Johnny were part of a team that finished in third place overall.

For more information about Trials riding in the Treasure Valley, contact the Treasure Valley Trials riders at www.treasurevalleytrials.com.

What makes a kids’ book worth reading?

By Jenna Shaver

Not all children’s books are created equally.

Most likely we’ve all heard from all corners of our world how important it is to read to children. We’ve browsed our local bookstore or received books as gifts that we’ve later seen our children thumbing through at quiet times. Special moments, indeed.

As a Montessori teacher, children’s books hold a special place in my heart. Few things bring me as much satisfaction as finding a new favorite book to read to my students. When I do, I feel as though I’ve struck gold. In my opinion, there are key traits that distinguish quality children’s books from, well, let’s call them “other.” Over the years of reading to children and watching them grow and learn before my eyes, I think there are four main traits that make up good children’s books. I think the first trait that distinguishes quality from other is authentic storytelling. Children’s books do not always have to teach a lesson or have a point. Rather, they should be real, authentic and relatable. Stories that reflect our own human lives and span generations and cultures, to me, are the most

beloved by children and adults.

In addition to real, authentic stories being told, these stories should be told by those who know them best. When reading a book from a specific cultural or ethnic perspective, I find it imperative that stories be written by those most familiar with that experience. Allowing those who belong to a particular culture to tell the stories of their lives and culture can help teach children that, not only do their voices matter in telling their own stories, but there is value in hearing others and making space for them to speak for and about themselves.

I also believe that the use of diverse language elevates a book exponentially. Children are competent and capable beings, able to learn and understand complex and diverse language. Telling a story using elevated language is not only more interesting for children to hear and for us to read, it also sets the foundation for greater social-emotional regulation. The more words a child knows, the more completely they can describe, using specific language, how they’re feeling.

The last trait I’ll touch on is accessibility. I find stories

that provide windows into the lives of others or mirror our own lives are the most captivating. Children have a human tendency, an innate, universal drive, to create order in their world. In order to bring order to their world, they must know their world: the people, animals, modes of transportation, flora, types of food, the list goes on and on. The more a child experiences about their world, the more they can make sense of it. Books are a captivating and accessible medium to bring the world home.

My hope for this column is two-fold: I hope this column brings to you some book suggestions. Books I find valuable or interesting may differ from your own interests, but I hope the more suggestions I make, the more honed your definition of quality children’s books can become. I hope it inspires you to read more with your child. To take a few minutes, choose something special to read, and experience that joyous, quiet moment alongside them.

I look forward to sharing with you my favorites, and hopefully you and your family will discover favorites along the way.

Jenna Shaver is an accredited teacher, developing and educating young minds as a Certified Lead Guide. She is a graduate of Montessori Northwest, an Association Internationale training center and one of a small cadre of AMI-certified teachers in Idaho. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees from Boise State University; one in Early Childhood Intervention/ Early Childhood Education and the second in Elementary Education.

“I hope the more suggestions I make, the more honed your definition of quality children’s books can become. I hope it inspires you to read more with your child.”

REAL MONEY, REAL FAMILIES Want semi-retirement? Try 1-degree turns

By Luke Erickson

Betty White said, “Retirement is not in my vocabulary. They aren’t going to get rid of me that way.” Betty worked as a professional actress for 76 years, lived to be 99 years old and was working until age 97. What gives, Betty? That’s not the plan most of us Americans buy into.

Retirement is part of the American dream. It’s a long-standing ideal. A carrot. A light at the end of the tunnel, if you will. And most of us will, because there’s nothing more American than the idea of being rewarded for showing up for 40+ years of hard work.

There are some catches though. First, because of increasing average life spans, you’ll need to save more money, possibly delay retirement a few years. And because we have a Social Security system that is on a fast-track to bankruptcy, retirement age is getting later and later. The carrot keeps moving the closer we get to it. And, of course, there’s never a guarantee that just because you make it to retirement age you’ll have the necessary health or energy to fully enjoy it. The late American humorist, Robert Benchly, said during his retirement, “As for me, except for the occasional heart attack, I feel as young as I ever did.”

Is this really the best plan? To spend your best years doing things that you don’t really want to do, just so you can spend your twilight years wishing you had done more when you were younger and had better health and energy?

A minority of people (probably those who failed the famous Standford Marshmallow experiment which tests delayed gratification) have decided not to wait until retirement to pursue their lifelong goals and to make sure they’re enjoying life fully right now. This is a concept called semi-retirement.

The concept of semi-retirement isn’t new. The definition that most people

think of is someone who retires from their career but still needs a little money to help see them through retirement, so they work part-time, maybe as a Walmart greeter, a school bus driver, etc.

THE OTHER definition of semiretirement is the one I’ll be talking about here. That is working and spending in a way that reflects your life’s purposes, values and goals.

“But the bills still have to be paid!” Indeed they do. But which bills? The ones for the house that is bigger than you really need, and for the car that is more status symbol than transportation? There’s nothing wrong with these types of things in your life – as long as they are what you’re willing to live and work for. But if your life has other priorities, purposes and goals, you might consider making some adjustments, because how you spend your time and money is ultimately who you are and what you value

The concept of semi-retirement is not limited only to aligning spending with our values and priorities, it also involves earning money this way.

Many of us show up every day at jobs that have nothing to do with what we value or prioritize in life. “But it’s solid work and pays the bills!” I agree, and I don’t criticize this. Most of us have to do things we don’t really want to do in life. That’s called being an adult. After all, we can’t all be rock stars and astronauts, can we?

Author, Martha Beck, talks about making 1 degree turns in order to bring our behavior more in line with our values. Let’s say you value music and the idea of being a rock star. And let’s say you’re 50, and you’re a computer engineer with 4 kids. You love your kids and you like your job well-enough and it pays the bills. So why mess with that? No reason, except that you’re completely ignoring a value that is trying to bring joy to your life. Are you a lost cause in this case?

Beck says “no.” All you have to do is start making 1 degree turns. You start by spending 10 minutes every night for a month assessing your musical talent, experience, resources – your first 1 degree turn. The next month you bump it up to 15 minutes and start fiddling with your chosen instrument, another 1 degree turn. The next few months you bump it up to 20 minutes a night (1 degree). You start exploring classes and others with a hobby level musical interest (1 degree). After a year or two you’ve made a series of 1 degree turns, and you may find that your computer skills are really handy for making music. You may discover a new group of friends who like to jam together. You may start working on covers together, then a few originals, then book a couple of small gigs, maybe self-publish an album. A series of 1 degree turns to put your time use more in line with your values. Money may follow from some of these gigs. But even if it only ever amounts to a hobby that pays for itself, you’re still experiencing more of what life has to offer you, and it’s hard to put a price on that. You are getting a reward in life that, if delayed until full retirement at 67, is that much harder to come by.

Aside from this “hobby rock star” example, another area of time use we need to explore is our working hours. You may think, my job is what

Luke Erickson

it is, and I can’t change it. But 1 degree turns, remember? Your first 1 degree turn could include discussing your values and interests with your boss and coworkers. See if there are opportunities for some minor restructuring of projects or responsibilities into something that interests you a little more (1 degree turn). In the end, these types of “asks” usually result in a win-win because you end up flourishing at this particular project area and do a really good job with it because you find it interesting, and your boss looks good for putting you in charge of it. Gradually add some more 1 degree turns and you might see a new position created for you, or even a job change.

The first step to figuring out if you can semi-retire is to figure out w hat you would be doing if you had no responsibilities. How would you be spending your time? How would you fill your day? What are your values, goals, and desires?

Next step is to simply start with a single 1 degree turn. What is the smallest step you can make in the direction of semi-retirement? Don’t buy the lie that you have to wait until retirement to live the life you truly want to live. Start making 1 degree turns in that direction now. And if you need a little inspiration, just ask yourself WWBWD, or, What Would Betty White Do? If you love your job and are living your best life, there’s no need to stop it at 65 or 67, is there? Find it now and enjoy it until you’re 99!

Luke Erickson, Ph.D., AFC®, is an associate professor of personal finance for the University of Idaho. He works and lives in the Treasure Valley. @drlukeerickson (Instagram), erickson@uidaho.edu

CALENDAR

Please send family-related calendar items to editorgaye@gmail.com

M A R C H

Boise Outdoor Preschool

Parents looking for a fun outdoor experience for their 3½- to 5-year-olds are welcome to tour the Foothills Learning Center and the Boise Urban Garden School to learn about preschool programs at each location. To set up a tour at FLC, email FLC-Parks@cityofboise.org or call (208) 608-7810; to tour BUGS, email BUGS@ cityofboise.org or call (208) 972-8630.

New Beginning adoption information

A New Beginning Adoption Agency holds adoption information seminars and webinars, providing a no-pressure environment for families to learn about adopting infants and children in the U.S. foster care system. Anyone interested is welcome to come learn about the differences in programs, needs, requirements and processes. Go to adoptanewbeginning.org for more information.

Morrison Center family programs

World Ballet Series – Cinderella will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, March 3; MC Presents National Geographic Live – Nature Roars Back will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7; and MC Presents National Geographic Live –Improbable Ascent will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4. For more information or for tickets, go to morrisoncenter.com.

Spring Sports Madness for Moms & Sons

This event for moms and their young sons ages 3-13 is set for 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Harward Recreation Center in Nampa. There will be games, pizza, and a photo booth. Cost is $10 for members and $12.50 for non-members. This year marks the event’s 10th anniversary. For more information, go to nampaparksandrecreation.org.

Wild Winter with EverWild Forest School

EverWild Forest School will help parents and caregivers introduce the beauty and wonder of the natural world to little ones in its new Wild Winter Series from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 7 (and other dates), at the Nampa Public Library Square Plaza. Class size is limited, and registration is required. Go to nampalibrary.com.

Baby Stories and Play

Join the Boise Public Library staff at the main branch from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 9, for a time of rhymes, songs and stories for babies and their caregivers. It’s also a great way to meet others in the community. There are many other programs for kids and families at the library. Go to boisepubliclibrary.org for more information.

Monster Jam

Monster Jam will return to the Ford Idaho Center Arena March 10-12. For tickets and more information, go to fordidahocenter.com.

Quaker Village Auction

Attend the 72nd Annual Quaker Village Auction at Greenleaf Friends Academy. The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, with a live auction; and the program picks up again at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, with a pancake breakfast for auction guests. At 10 a.m., there will be food booths, a kids’ carnival, entertainment by students, and more throughout the day for the public. For further information, go to https://gfaschools.org/ quaker-village-auction/.

Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology

The Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology, 2455 Old Penitentiary Rd. in Boise, is seeking volunteers. Help them share their rocks, minerals, meteorites, fossils and mining history with the public. Attend the Volunteer Orientation at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, to learn more. No geology or mining experience required. The museum is preparing to be open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. beginning March 17. Go to volunteer@idahomuseum.org and www.idahomuseum.org for more information, or see Eventbrite for museum special events.

Literature in the Garden

As part of the Junior Master Gardener curriculum of the UI Extension program, the Nampa Public Library will host Literature in the Garden from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 (and other dates). The program aims to engage children in gardening and ecologythemed children’s books and is for kids 6 and up. Go to nampalibrary.com for more details.

Food Truck Rally Goes to the Dogs

Food and drinks will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Nampa dog park, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Lloyd Square Park in downtown Nampa. Admission to the event is free.

WaterShed Weekends

A P R I L

Eagle Spring Arts & Craft Fair

Celebrate the start of spring from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Bridges at Lakemoor, Colchester Drive and Eagle Road next to the Intuit Building in Eagle. For more details, go to cityofeagle.org.

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

Kids ages 13-17 may hunt for Easter eggs outside the Harward Rec Center in Nampa on Friday, April 7, starting at 9 p.m. sharp. Cost is $5 per person. Call (208) 468-5858 or visit namparecreation.org for more information.

School Age Fun

Kids are invited to experience fun, hands-on activities at the main branch of Boise Public Library from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 13 (and other dates). There are many other programs for kids and families at the library. Go to boisepubliclibrary.org for more information.

Family-friendly prayer walk

The Spring Caldwell Prayer Walk is set for Saturday, April 22, starting at 3 p.m. at the

Caldwell Memorial Park Band Shell, 619 Irving St. All are welcome. A potluck dinner will follow the walk, and those who attend are invited to bring their favorite dish to share. For more information, contact walk organizer Arlene Robinett at (208) 391 8516.

The Experience Idaho Expo is set for Saturday, May 6, at Expo Idaho in Garden City and will feature ideas for recreation, entertainment, outdoor activities and home projects. This is a full-day event. Go to expoidaho.com for more

Idaho Renaissance Faire

Idaho Renaissance Faire, Inc. will present Beltane Fantasy Festival, celebrating the coming of spring, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Expo Idaho. Daylight hours are family-friendly fun. Around 7 p.m. Saturday will begin the witching hour, when all the ghoulies come out to play (not recommended for children). Costumes are always welcome and encouraged, and any fae or mythology is welcome.

ARE YOU READY? Emergency preparedness for families

By Sarah Lyons

Are you prepared if a disaster strikes? It isn’t my favorite question to consider, but with children in the house it is good to ensure that my family is ready if fire, inclement weather, or worse affects our home and safety. How do you begin to prepare for the unexpected? Start with these simple tips:

Prepare a meeting place and procedure

If your house was to catch on fire what would you do? The answer may seem obvious to you, but it might not be to children. Have a family meeting and discuss what the evacuation plan would be in case of an emergency. Have the kids help find exits and come up with options if they are not accessible. Where will your family meet once they are safely outside? Designating a meeting place will help you account for any missing family members in an emergency. It’s also wise to show kids basic fire safety skills like “Stop, drop, and roll” and demonstrate what the fire alarm sounds like.

Prepare a kit

Prepare an emergency kit with extra shoes, clothing, first aid kit, food and water to have on hand in case of an emergency. Include a list of contact information, on paper, in case you cannot get to your electronic contact list.

Prepare communication

Assign a person who lives outside of your area to be the contact you will report to in an emergency. Having someone outside the area lessens your chance that your contact will also be dealing with an emergency. In a natural disaster, phone lines can be down or busy, so plan for other methods of checking in. In case of busy signals, try sending a text as it would be more likely to go through, or check in with others on social media.

Prepare pets

Have pets microchipped in case they get lost in an emergency. Also consider who would temporarily house your pet if you are displaced from your home, as shelters do not accept pets.

Prepare the house

Write a note on the calendar or set an alarm on your phone to remind you to check the batteries in your alarms regularly and review the evacuation plan with your family. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month and batteries should be replaced at least twice a year.

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Salmon Rustica

Grilled Salmon Salad

Get your family ready for the change

By Cara Johnson-Bader

Daylight saving time is just around the corner on March 12. We know that the time change can wreak havoc on the sleep schedule for parents and their children. Use the following tried-and-true tips to help you and your child experience a smooth transition during the time change. The teachers at New Horizon Academy recommend the following tips to reduce sleep, memory, and behavior issues related to daylight saving time.

Transition slowly: To ensure your child’s sleep does not get off track, make a slow transition. Gradually adjust your baby’s, toddler’s, preschooler’s, or school-ager’s bedtime and naptime backward or forward by 15 minutes for at least four nights prior to the time change. This will greatly ease the challenges associated with daylight saving.

Get outdoors and move: Research tells us that spending time outdoors improves sleep, so plan daily outdoor activities with your child.

Focus on lighting: Dimming the lights in your child’s bedroom before bedtime and using blackout curtains or

shades to ensure the bedroom is not too bright in the morning will help reduce sleep issues related to daylight saving.

Turn off electronics: Studies have shown that using electronic devices prior to bedtime suppresses sleep. By simply turning off electronic devices 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime, you can get a better night of rest and relaxation.

Establish a relaxing bedtime routine: The hour before bed should consist of relaxing activities that promote sleep, such as bath time, story time, and meditation.

Be patient: Adjusting to the new time change is not easy, so give yourself and your child some grace as you become accustomed to the changes.

Implementing these tips will assist both you and your child experience a smooth transition during daylight saving.

Cara Johnson-Bader

Cara Johnson-Bader is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent Experiences at New Horizon Academy and mother of two young boys. Learn more about New Horizon Academy at newhorizonacademy.net.

Reconnect with your children

By Sandy McDaniel

In the past few years, parents have raised their eyebrows as I rant about the negative effects of current-day technology on our children. It’s difficult to see components of a storm when you are in the middle of it. Let’s look, once again, at my top concerns:

1. When children see too much violence, they become numb to the reality of people being harmed, hurt or killed.

2. Empathy is stifled. People stop caring about the feelings/life situations of other people –even family.

3. Elderly parents are put into a leaky boat and cast adrift, invited to grow old without support or love.

4. Two adults choose not to spend time talking to each other, so when their children begin leaving they’ve not built a foundation of friendship on which to continue to live.

5. Social media is destroying the self-esteem, integrity and ambition in our youth.

What I am currently obsessing about is the degree of disconnection that is happening between parents and their children, between peer groups, between siblings, between adults. We can, at the drop of a hat, call or text someone with almost immediate response. That looks connected, and I have had one too many screwed up conversations via texting – where, had there been a conversation instead, we could have managed to clearly communicate our desires or feelings, and fewer misinterpretations would have happened. There is no substitute for talking to someone. A part of connecting to someone is to feel their emotions infused in the words they choose.

Unless drama is introduced, detecting feelings (let alone the intended message) is not possible while texting. Looking into someone’s eyes, touching a person, both add to one’s ability to feel the other person as well as hear them.

Where children are concerned, face a child who is talking to you. If possible, bend down on their size level. Just listen! A teen says, “I want to go to the mall with my friends.” Instead of asking for the details, you erupt in a volcano of judgments about the child, their friends, statistics about what happens to teens who go to the mall. There’s no connection there.

1. Child asks to go to the mall.

2. Mother responds, “I’m not comfortable with that idea, and maybe some details would help. Who (are you going with)? What (time of day are you going and for how long)? When (what day are you going)? How (will you get there, and who is driving)?

The main thing is that you have a conversation about your child’s needs, your concerns, and then the fun part is that you get to decide whether to put another notch in your child’s lame-mom stick and do battle with your child if your answer is no.

Individual family members don’t share their feelings, thoughts, fears and ideas.Too many families don’t sit around the dinner table and talk. I was delighted when my grown son, Scott, told me about a conversation he had with his son when the two of them were in their hot tub. First of all, just the two of them were talking while soaking in a hot tub. Evan, who is 11, looked at the moon and asked, “How long do you think it would take to drive a car to the moon?”

Instead of “I dunno” and changing the subject, Scott asked, “What would we need to know in order to figure that out?” They got out of the hot tub and spent time looking up information on words I neither know how to spell or what they mean. They came up with a list of things they would need to know. What impressed me the most was the time they spent together seeking the answer to a problem they might never solve. That’s connection.

Tuck your young children in at night and sit on their bed to have a conversation. Take your teenager to TCBY for a yogurt treat and sit and talk to each other. Ask a child to help you empty the dishwasher and talk to them. Have a (name) night when that child goes to dinner with both (or one) parent. When your child comes home from school, have a snack prepared and sit down for a chat. Have dinner together with no media. Watch a movie together and talk about it.

If you want your children to talk to you, you must listen! Instead of judging something said, say, “Tell me more about that!” When you don’t understand what a teen is communicating, say, “I am hearing your words and I can’t seem to understand what you are saying; can you paint another picture with your words so I can hear you?” Connect! Connect! Connect!

If we don’t work on connecting to each other, we will become a massive group of islands who will be lost in the storms of life.

For more than 60 years, Sandy McDaniel has been an international speaker and recognized authority on families and children. Author of five books, columnist, founder of parentingsos.com, she is a resident of Meridian and loves spending time with her three Idaho grandchicks. She may be reached at sandy@parentingsos.com; or go to YouTube:Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel to see videos on specific parenting issues.

Sandy McDaniel

Larry, 14, has his sights set on college

The following information is provided by Wednesday’s Child, an organization that helps Idaho foster children find permanent homes.

Larry, 14 is an active teenager who describes himself as smart, silly, funny and a frequent jokester. He thinks that the most important thing for prospective families to know about him is that he’s a good kid whose biggest wish is to be adopted, and that he would do anything just to be a part of a family again

Trips to the zoo, amusement parks, playing football with friends, reading, watching movies, listening to country music, and playing video games are just a few of the things that Larry really enjoys. He’s also always up for bike rides, an epic Nerf Gun battle, and learning to cook something new. Larry isn’t sure yet what he wants to do later in life but is currently working hard in school and definitely has his sights set on attending college.

Larry’s Permanency Team describes the best fit for him as a traditional family

with a mom and a dad and feels that he will truly thrive in an environment where the dad is really positive and spends quality time with him. Larry is hoping for an active family who loves to do things together regularly. He is anxiously counting down the days until he can finally join a Forever Family who truly sees in him value, worth, and all he is capable of achieving. If Larry sounds like he’d fit right in with your family, and you would like to learn more about this deserving young man, submit an inquiry at www.idahowednesdayschild.org today.

For more information on the Idaho Wednesday’s Child Program, visit www. idahowednesdayschild.org, or contact Specialized Recruitment Services Administrator Shawn White at swhite52@ewu.edu or cell (208) 488-8989.

Continued from Page 12

Prepare yourself

Learn CPR and first aid, review how to use a fire extinguisher, know the exact routes of evacuation, and locate area shelters. Preparing yourself for the possibility of an emergency will help you remain calm if you are faced with one of these situations.

Prepare the kids

Make sure your kids know their address, phone number, and their parents’ names, and how and when to dial 911. Take a fire station tour or a first aid class to help them feel more prepared. Continue to discuss and practice what they have learned.

We all hope that the skills and preparation done to prepare for an emergency will never be used, but it is safest to take measures in case they do occur. Preparing for an emergency will help you keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe.

Sarah Lyons is a wife and stay-at-home mom to six children, including triplets. She writes from her home.

CHILDREN DESERVE to be

Preschool of the Arts - Enrollment now open for 23-24

TRICA combines the arts, master teachers and a meaningful curriculum with a profound power to inspire children toward a higher standard of excellence, creativity, and expression that pours over into the rest of their lives.

Enrolling 3-5 year olds 2 day, 3 day and 5 day

Extended day options

Summer Arts Camps - Reserve your child's spot today

Inspire your child this summer with the Treasure Valley’s home for highly imaginative camps that activate body, mind and soul. TRICA’s Summer Arts Camps for ages 3-14 years bring together dance, visual arts, and literature for non-stop engagement in a spectacular setting. Accompanied by live music, students learn a sequence of dance steps, create art, and bring it all together in a presentation to family and friends.

Registering 3-14 year olds 9am-1pm Unique themes each week

Capture the Castle: After School program - Sign-up open

Children will create, dance, perform, entertain and be active in an enthusiastic, loving, indoor & outdoor imaginative and historic environment. Expect yoga, visual arts projects, Dancing Thru the Decades, Breakdance, sports & recreation, hiking, and treasure hunts.

Enrolling K-2 grade

Treasure

for Children's Arts

in Boise's Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood