FREE
Jul/Aug 2022
FLC & BUGS Acronyms for eco-education
POSITIVE PARENTING Say this, not that
TRAVELING WITH BABY Meeting the challenge
PURPOSEFUL PURSES A handbag of hope
Now more environmentally friendly!
Mateo, 12, of Boise, marks the Fourth with a patriotic hat
Contents Features
Volume 10, Number 4 Publisher J.J. Plew Associate Publisher Adrianne Goff Adrianne@globalpsd.com Cover Photo
Janice Clark-Wallace
Editor Gaye Bunderson editorgaye@gmail.com Sales & Marketing J.J. Plew jj@idahofamilymagazine.com 208-697-2043 Contributors Heidi Christianson, Macaile Hutt, Cara Johnson-Bader, Dennis Lopez, Sarah Lyons, Sandy McDaniel, Melanie Nelson 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 2022 by Gem Production Co., LLC. Follow us on Facebook
July/August 2022
Summer fun ‘Messy play’
FLC & BUGS Acronyms for eco-education
3
7 Wednesday’s Child
Meet Aliana
4
Your newborn
6
Purses with a Purpose
8
Traveling with baby
Columns
In Each Edition 10 Family Events Calendar
For women in need
Chores for kids
12
Why they matter
Throw a party 14 Don’t go broke
Positive parenting
15
Try saying this
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.
2 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
FREE
Jul/Aug 2022
FLC & BU GS s
Acronym
for eco-e duca
tion
POSITIVE PARENT ING Say this, not that
20 POSI TIVE AFFIRM ATIONS
TRAVEL IN WITH BA G BY
Meeting
the challeng
Just for kids
e
PURPOSE
FUL PURSES
Now more
A handbag environme
ntally frien
dly!
of hope
Mateo, 12, of Boise, the Fourth with a patri marks otic hat
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SUMMER FUN
‘Messy play’ and its many benefits By Macaile Hutt
S
ummer is now here after what felt like an endless cold season, so I thought it would be fitting to share some fun and easy summer activities to get outside, promote messy play, and stimulate the sensory systems of our kiddos. It’s important to encourage messy play anytime we can to help children learn cause and effect, desensitize tactile insecurities (avoidance to touching certain textures, temperatures, or new things) and allow for imaginative and abstract play to occur. Most people have a ton of activities right at their fingertips and don’t even realize it! I’ve broken the activities into smaller categories to address specific skills.
Oral Motor
There are lots of fun ways to address oral motor skills at home. Oral motor skill development can be impacted by high or low muscle tone, sensory concerns leading to picky eating, excess drooling, and aversion to being touched in or near the child’s mouth. I’ve listed a few fun ways to address oral motor skill development and encourage sensory exploration below: • Bubble mountain: Create big bubble mountains with dish soap, water, and a straw. Add food coloring for colored mountains and make the task more challenging by completing it on all fours, racing to create the biggest tower, or adding it as part of a larger obstacle course. This task should only be completed by children who are able to “blow” and will not suck the soapy water into their mouths. • Mouth races: Create a path or track and race one another by blowing an item up the path while crawling on all fours or lying on your tummy and wiggling forward. • Create a path with Cheerios or another small food item and crawl on all fours while picking up and eating each piece. • Bring Saran Wrap, a cookie sheet, or another viable surface outside and use yogurt, whipped cream, and other food items to “paint” with. Cereal, crackers, pretzel sticks, and other food items can also be used to stick to the “paint” or draw within the slimy textures if the child avoids touching them directly. Playing with non-preferred food items can decrease sensory aversion and often results in the child interacting with the food orally over time. If the child does not have aversions to the food or wants to “paint” with his or her mouth or tongue, it can be a silly and fun way to engage oral motor muscles and promote increased coordination.
Visual Motor
• Visual motor skills play a crucial role in daily task completion and also come into play for pre-writing skills, www.idahofamilymagazine.com
handwriting, tracing, and being able to copy from the board or engage in scholastic tasks. There are many fun ways to disguise visual motor tasks into play: • Go on a scavenger hunt outside and try to find specific colors, numbers, letters, or items that are similar or different from one another. This task can also be graded up by placing items outside, sort of like an Easter egg hunt, and encouraging children to find the items in a specific order, by following a list, or writing down the items they find to promote writing practice. • Play “I spy” to promote visual tracking and scanning. • Bring the outdoors inside by filling a bucket with grass clippings and hiding small items in the box for a seek and find task. • Play a memory game by sitting outside and giving the child a list of items to remember or an order in which they can run and touch certain objects (example: tree, Continued on Page 13
PAR EN T S GUI DE
GUÍA DE PADR E S
TIPS FOR CHOOSING A SCHOOL IN IDAHO LOS CONSEJOS PARA ELEGIR UNA ESCUELA EN IDAHO
BLUUM.ORG
@BluumOrg
Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 3
FLC & BUGS
Teaching kids a love of the natural world By Gaye Bunderson
N
ature surrounds us and, yet, we frequently fail to experience it to the fullest. Helping people of all ages get the most from nature’s bounty and beauty is Alex Brooks, newly named education manager of both the Foothills Learning Center and Boise Urban Garden School. Brooks, who has worked with the City of Boise Parks & Recreation Department for five years, received her new title in April and said of the Foothills Learning Center and BUGS, as it is known, “They work as sister organizations, and their emphasis is on environmental education, focusing on being outdoors, and nature.” She continued, “Basically our goal is to teach children and adults to be stewards of the ecosystem, to understand their surroundings and appreciate them, with hopes that they would conserve and protect their environment.” Foothills Learning Center (full name: Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center; acronym: FLC) is located at 3188 Sunset Peak Rd. in Boise. BUGS is at 2995 N. Five Mile Rd. in Boise. Though both facilities are located in Boise, people from throughout the valley are welcome to participate in their programs – and there Children in the Outdoor Preschool are a variety of programs to choose from. For the purposes program enjoy playing and learning in of this article, the focus is on fall and winter and yearnature at the Foothills Learning Center. round programs, and how they are imparting a love of the (Photo provided by FLC) environment to participants. Culinary instructor Pohley Richey teaches students how “I see the most hope in our Outdoor Preschool program to cook healthy meals in the for 3- to 5-year-olds. There are kids who don’t get outside outdoors at the Boise Urban very often, and they come to Foothills Learning Center, and Garden School. (Photo provided it becomes ‘their place’. Through their time with us, they by BUGS) start to observe changes in their surroundings and become them) to be outside and play.” critical thinkers,” Brooks said, explaining the youngsters For the Smith family, it’s not just strictly about recreation experience changes in the seasons, the environment, and but also respect for nature. Smith said the children are being in themselves. “We are involved in emotional and social exposed to environmental care, and that, “Our children are learning, too, teaching kids to respect others, themselves, and little environmental activists. We have a strong desire for their environment.” them to learn.” Outdoor Preschool takes place from August to May. Eco-topics are explored at both sites in various programs One huge fan of Outdoor Preschool is local mother Emily and include climate change education. “We try to make it less Smith, who homeschools her two oldest children, Felix, 7, scary and easier to understand,” Brooks said. and Luella, 5. “There’s no elementary homeschool version Programs for adults include a monthly birding class and a of Outdoor Preschool,” she said, explaining it’s good to have monthly hiking tour. access to a program like that through FLC. Smith takes her oldest child to the birding classes as part Smith stated her family – including dad Justin – is of his homeschooling. The other participants are happy to intentional about getting outside, and FLC and BUGS are see Felix, a young birder. “He’ll sit quietly through a lecture,” two resources they’ve found valuable. “We love to be outside said his mom. and want to instill a love of the outdoors in our kids, (for 4 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
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Her son loves his time at both FLC and BUGS; at FLC, he’s learned about winter ecology, birds of prey, and wildflowers; at BUGS, he enjoys how the kids get to pick and choose from various activities, such as planting strawberries and/or composting. As for Luella, she loves her teachers, she told her mom. BUGS also holds adult culinary classes, where people can learn to grow their own products and make environmentally friendly meals. These kinds of activities are catching on with the public. “We have seen a huge increase in interest from people in growing their own food, in growing a garden at home or in growing a community garden,” Brooks said. “People think they have to have a green thumb, but we encourage them to just get out there and try it. It’s good for them: physically, mentally, and environmentally. “I believe everyone could be a gardener, and BUGS is a great resource. We teach people to be realistic – don’t attempt a large garden all at once for the first time. Start with a few herbs and go from there.” BUGS’ property includes a quarter-acre farm that is frequently in need of people to help out, and there are volunteer learning opportunities. Also, a BUGS Community Day is free and open to the public (see contact information in this article). Fall/winter programs at Foothill Learning Center include
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Storytrail Adventure, Homeschool Days, Foothill Family Days, and a Parent/Child Nature Class aimed at parents who work full-time all week and are not able to take their children to programs Monday-Friday. Parents and their children go on a short hike and participate together in nature-related activities. More fall programs include school field trips, as well as inclass presentations that align with schools’ science standards. Both Foothills Learning Center and the Boise Urban Garden School are open year-round. Summer camps are held each year and registration starts early, so check websites for more information and to register. The online calendar is at https://bee.cityofboise.org/learn/calendar; activity registration is at https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/ parks-and-recreation/activity-registration/. Brooks, 31, is the parent of a little boy who turned 1 this past May. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a Master’s in education. The Smith family moved to Idaho three years ago when Justin’s job was transferred here. Though Emily Smith admits the family never previously considered moving to the Gem State, she said that, once here, they realized it’s a good fit for them – “Idaho has all the activities we love to do.” For more information on these and other programs, visit https:// bee.cityofboise.org/visit/foothills-learning-center/ or https://www. boiseurbangardenschool.org; or contact
Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 5
YOUR NEWBORN & YOU
Meet the challenges of traveling with baby By Heidi Christianson
A
s parents start feeling more comfortable getting out and about with baby, it may be stressful to think about travel, especially when it comes to keeping little ones on their nap and sleep schedules. Don’t let the prospect of baby getting off schedule worry you, though; here are our Top 5 tips to keep the little ones happy and calm when away from home:
Practice at home.
Babies are often not used to sleeping in a travel bed or packn-play. So put baby in a travel bed or pack-n-play for naptime at home in weeks leading up to the trip.
Keep a sleep routine as close to home as possible to help baby feel safe and secure.
If weather permits, dress baby in pajamas/sleepsack/swaddle blanket that they are accustomed to. If renting a full-sized travel crib from a hotel, bring bedsheets and a breathable bumper from baby’s crib at home to recreate a familiar sleep
environment. Sing the same bedtime songs you sing at home and read favorite books.
Try to stay on baby’s time.
If possible, try to keep naptimes and bedtimes close to the same schedule as at home. When traveling across time zones, gradually adjust baby’s bedtime. Some parents like to travel at night so baby can sleep and wake up in the new destination refreshed. But this can lead to the parents’ exhausting first day of the trip. Traveling at night could be possible if you can “tag-team” with your partner by alternating napping and caring for baby during the first day.
Once at the destination, do not rely on car seats for safe sleep.
While it is tempting to let a sleeping baby spend the night in a car seat or stroller, car seats can sometimes cause breathing problems in babies. Instead, follow the recommendations of the American Association of Pediatrics and the “Back to Sleep” campaign by creating a safe sleep environment and putting baby on their back to sleep.
Slow it down – you’re on baby’s time.
Our Registered Nurses (RN) and Newborn Care Providers (NCP) support families with single babies, twins, and triplets by providing gentle care through the night. We use evidence-based practice to help parents feel confident and healthy in the family home. Idaho’s Most Trusted Overnight Care
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle and the surrounding areas.
Don’t expect to have a jam-packed sightseeing schedule. All the new sights, sounds, and experiences are stimulating and exciting for baby. However, baby could get fussy if overstimulated and too exhausted. Remember that sleep begets sleep. Keeping baby awake longer than their bodies may need may work for one night or one nap, but fighting against baby’s natural rhythms leads to a meltdown. While it is nice to have alone time with your partner, caring for a baby can be even more exhausting than usual when traveling. We like to remind parents not to stay up too late too! Heidi Christianson, RRT, NPS, is a respiratory therapist, mom, and owner of Let Mommy Sleep of Idaho. If you’d like to connect with Heidi, visit her website, letmommysleep.com, or email her at heidi@ letmommysleep.com.
208.647.5337
www. letmommysleep. com/idaho
6 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
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WEDNESDAY’S CHILD
The following information is provided by Wednesday’s Child, an organization that helps Idaho foster children find permanent homes.
Aliana: someone others can rely on
A
liana, 14, is a one-of-a-kind teen who truly embodies the definitions of fortitude and resilience. Wise beyond her years, she is very skilled for her age at communicating her needs and has already put a tremendous amount of thought into what she wants for her future and the qualities she hopes to find in her adoptive family. Aliana has been blessed with a magnetic personality and the ability to get through the difficult times in her life by focusing on the positive things around her. She has a wide range of interests, with a few of her current favorites being sports and shopping. She works hard in school and already has big plans for her future, with a goal in place to become an anesthesiologist. This kind and compassionate girl prides herself on being a good friend and someone others can rely on when they are struggling. Throughout all the hard things she has been through, Aliana has kept a great sense of humor and hopes to find a
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family that enjoys laughing and doesn’t sweat the small stuff. Her ideal family will love to travel and explore new places, and she can’t wait for those adventures to begin. A Spanish-speaking family who resides in the Treasure Valley area and has other children in the home would be Aliana’s idea of the perfect fit for her; however, she is really open to any kind of family makeup. Idaho Wednesday’s Child hopes that reading about Aliana has given you a glimpse into all that this special young woman has to offer. If you believe that you can provide this deserving teen with what she wants in a family, inquire about her at www. idahowednesdayschild.org. For more information on the Idaho Wednesday’s Child Program, visit www.idahowednesdayschild.org, or contact Recruitment Coordinator Shawn White at swhite52@ewu.edu or cell 208-488-8989 if you have specific questions.
Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 7
PURSES WITH A PURPOSE
Bringing hope (and items) to women in need By Dennis Lopez
I
guess I can blame my mother. I was never allowed to touch my mom’s purse, let alone plumb the depths of its many pockets, nooks and crannies. Today, I still am conflicted when my wife asks me to get something from her handbag. That inner squeamishness has made me understand the importance of a person’s purse. It is perhaps that odd perspective that brought me to realize just how beneficial Launee Wolverton’s work is to women. You see, over the past three years, Wolverton, an area realtor, has given away an estimated 12,000 purses to women in need. And not simply purses, but purses filled with items that make sense to those with little or nothing to their names. “We initially included things that a woman who was homeless, the victim of domestic violence or even recently out of prison, might need immediately,” she says. “Things like a toothbrush, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, soap, shampoo – things needed to make someone more confident in themselves. Over the course of the years, we also have been able to provide things like make-up.” A woman driven by her faith and her conviction to help others, Wolverton believes the decision to launch “Purses with a Purpose” was through divine intervention as much as from her vision of the project. “I literally woke up one morning with the belief that this was something I should do. It has been a blessing ever since.”
That blessing has not come without a cost in both time and money. She estimates that over the time she has been committed to the project, she and her husband have spent nearly $20,000 of their own money to ensure Purses with a Purpose is successful. “It costs between $15 and $18 to fill a purse,” she says. “We receive generous donations of gently-used purses from the community. Finding the donations to fill the 300 we donate each month is the challenge.” Early on she says she was able to keep purses and the items with which she, her husband and three grandchildren used to fill them. “It was not an ideal situation because we needed to ensure the important items used to fill the purses were kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer [to ensure their quality],” she explains. “That drove our home heating and air conditioning costs up to the point we eventually opened an inexpensive office in Eagle which proved more economical in the long run.” She now has a small team of volunteers who, once a month, assist with filling the purses – empty purses she says now arrive at her doorstep thanks to the generosity of families here in the Treasure Valley. “My front door looks a little like Christmas every morning,” she says.
“...over the past three years, Wolverton, an area realtor, has given away an estimated 12,000 purses to women in need. And not simply purses, but purses filled with items that make sense to those with little or nothing to their names.” Launee Wolverton’s grandchildren sit with an array of purses donated to their grandmother’s ongoing project for women: Purses with a Purpose. (Courtesy photo)
8 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
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But in spite of the number of empty donated purses, the struggle to obtain the needed items to fill them is a daily thing. Currently she receives sporadic help in the form of products from some companies, and local civic groups are generous with donations, but the material and cash outflow seem to be greater than the inflow. “Our biggest challenge is financial,” she explains. “We are a 501(c)(3) charity so donations made to us are tax deductible. We are hoping that we can attract some help from local and national corporations.” She sites occasional donations of items from Amazon as a sign that perhaps even large corporations have taken some interest in Purses with a Purpose. The distribution of the filled purses also has evolved, going from randomly asking homeless women on the street if they would like a purse to a system that now provides the bags to women through local organizations that assist women in distress. “In the beginning I was not certain of the best mechanism to deliver the purses,” she recalls. “Ultimately, with rising fuel prices, about a dozen organizations pick up the purses and handle the direct distribution.”
The system seems to be working. She recounts a story about being at an event to pass out cards and make the public aware of her organization. During the event she asked a random passerby if she would like a card, and the woman responded that she already had one of her cards. It had been in the purse she received when she had absolutely nothing else. She explained what having something of her own…a purse…meant to her after being incarcerated and then released. “To me,” Wolverton says, “the importance of a purse to a woman is mind-blowing. It is deeply personal.” The need for Purses with a Purpose is growing. Wolverton says she now sees women in the refugee community as a group needing her help – and a new phenomenon, homeless high school students, means she must find new ways to help. “I have been blessed to help so many women and teens,” she says. “I just want to continue to being able to say ‘yes’ to the increasing demand.” For more information, or to help out Purses with a Purpose, contact Wolverton at launeewolverton@gmail.com.
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Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 9
CALENDAR Please send family-related calendar items to editorgaye@gmail.com
JULY National Parks & Recreation Month
Take the family and enjoy some free or lowcost activities at your local Parks & Recreation departments. July is National Parks & Recreation Month – a good time to get in some fun familyactivity time, while checking out your local Parks & Rec.
Area farmers markets
• Farmers markets in the area are open. For more information, go to: • Boise Farmers Market: theboisefarmersmarket.com • Capital City Public Market in Boise: www. capitalcitypublicmarket.com • Eagle Saturday Market: https://www.cityofeagle. org/170/Eagle-Saturday-Market • Farm to Fork Farmers Market in Caldwell: https://www.indiancreekplaza.com/farm-to-forkfarmers-market-1 • Meridian Main Street Market: https://www. facebook.com/MeridianMainStreetMarket • Nampa Farmers Market: www. nampafarmersmarket.com • 34th Street Market, Garden City: https://www. facebook.com/34thStreetMarket/
Foster care informational meetings
Foster parents are needed to provide a safe, temporary home for children and youth who are in foster care. Attending an informational meeting will give potential foster parents a basic understanding of who the children in foster care are, the roles and responsibilities of foster parents, and what’s needed to become licensed to foster. The meetings are being held through Zoom, so anyone can join from the comfort of their own home. Meetings are sponsored by Fostering Idaho through the EWU-Family Resource and Training Center. Visit their website at https://familyrtc.org/fosteringidaho/events for the full calendar of upcoming meetings. If you have questions, contact Monique Layton, recruitment coordinator, at (208) 249-0180 or mlayton4@ewu.edu.
Eagle Gazebo Concert Series
The Gazebo Concert Series is a free music concert at Heritage Park in downtown Eagle. The event is brought to the public by Eagle Parks & Rec and the Eagle Art Commission and is held on the last Thursday of the month through September. Those who attend should bring a chair, a blanket, and a picnic, or enjoy food from local businesses.
Silver Screen on the Green
Nampa Parks & Recreation offers free familyfriendly movie nights on Fridays throughout the summer months at Optimist Park. Bring a blanket or chair; movies begin at dusk. For a full schedule, go to nampaparksandrecreation.org.
Sparklight Movie Night
Meridian Parks & Recreation presents free movie nights for the whole family Friday evenings through August 19 in Settlers Park, 3245 N. Meridian Rd. All movies start at dusk, and those who attend should bring lawn chairs or blankets. For a full schedule, go to https://www. meridiancityspecialevents.org/2022-movie-schedule. html.
Fourth of July
The City of Meridian will mark Independence Day from 4 to 11 p.m. (ending with fireworks) Monday, July 4, at Storey Park, 205 E. Franklin Rd. Fun on the Fourth will be held from noon to 3 p.m. July 4 at Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave. in Caldwell. Prior to that, a Passion for Patriotism program that includes fun runs, a parade, and more is set for 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., also in and around the plaza.
Boise Birding
A field trip to Bogus Basin is planned, and participants will be meet at the Foothills Learning Center at 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, to carpool. Beginner to expert birders are welcome. Classes are free, but pre-registration is required. Go to https:// bee.cityofboise.org/visit/foothills-learning-center/.
10 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
Eagle Fun Days
Eagle Fun Days 2022 are set for Friday and Saturday, July 8-9, at Heritage Park, 185 E. State St. Events include a Family Fun Night, fireworks, fun run, pancake breakfast, vendors, live music, and a car show. Read more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
St. Puptricks
This St. Patrick’s Day-themed event is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Nampa Civic Center. It is for people who have dogs and like to take them places, as well as people who may not have dogs but who enjoy dog tricks, talent contests, costume contests, and more. Go to nampaciviccenter.com for more information
Parent/Child Explore Nature
Parents and their children may explore nature together from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 10, at Foothills Learning Center, 3188 Sunset Peak Rd. in Boise. There will be a short hike and then a craft project, game, or other activity at the outdoor facility. A similar program will be held August 7. Fees include child and parent/guardian.
Story Time at the Fountain
Pages from stories will come to life with the help of Treasure Valley Children’s Theater narrators and characters from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays, July 11, 18, and 25, near the fountain at The Village in Meridian. Story topics include: July 11, “Mistakes – Everybody Makes Them”; July 18, “Family”; and July 25, “The Best of the Best Award Winners.” Go to thevillage meridian.com.
Storytrail Adventure
A Storytrail Adventure is offered the second Tuesday of each month at Foothills Learning Center. Parents and their preschoolers are invited to walk a quarter-mile trail to read a story together. Following that, children may make a story-related craft and participate in an activity. Experience the fun from 10 to 11:30 a.m. July 12 or August 9.
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of Events Vintage Market Days of South Idaho Summer 2022
Enjoy a fun day of shopping with vendors, artisans, and makers from nearly 20 other states from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 14-16, at Expo Idaho. Read more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ events/1603375216675930/?_rdr.
WaterShed Weekend – Water Festival
The Boise WaterShed offers free family fun every third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No pre-registration is required. The topic on July 16 will be “Water Festival.” Engineers from Carollo Engineers will launch rockets, and kids may race their friends through a hydraulic maze, build their own filter, and win prizes – all while learning about the water cycle. Those who attend will be given tips for home water conservation. The topic on August 20 will be “Eating from Boise’s Backyard.” Go to https://bee.cityofboise.org to learn more.
Snake River Stampede
The Snake River Stampede 2022 is set to take place July 19-23 at Ford Idaho Center. Go to https:// www.fordidahocenter.com/events/detail/srs2022.
Run Wild at Zoo Boise
Run Wild at Zoo Boise is set to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23. This fun run through the zoo is for kids ages 1-10. For more information, go to zooboise.org.
Canyon County Fair
The Canyon County Fair 2022 is set for July 2831 at the Canyon County fairgrounds. For more information, go to canyoncountyfair.org.
Beginning July, 2022
AUGUST Summer Splash concert
Western Idaho Fair
A Summer Splash concert sponsored by Project 88.7 is scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday, August 4, on the Wave Pool Stage at Roaring Springs. Christian artists Kurtis Hoppie, Sarah Reeves, Peabod, and Tedahli will perform, and those who attend may enjoy unlimited access to waterpark attractions. Buy tickets at www. roaringsprings.com/plan/general-info/events.
Festival of the Arts
The 35th Annual Festival of the Arts is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 13, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 14, at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Go to nampaparksandrecreation.org for more information.
Boise Soul Food Festival
The Boise Soul Food Festival is back and will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, August 13, in Julia Davis Park. Along with food, the event will feature live entertainment and music.
The Great Dolphin Dunk
Watch 10,000 toy dolphins race around Roaring Springs’ Endless River for great prizes in a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, August 14. Waterpark admission required. Adopt dolphins at Roaring Springs’ ticket booth or at www.adaclubs. org/dolphindunk.
Caldwell Night Rodeo
The Caldwell Night Rodeo 2022 will be held August 16-20. For tickets or more information, go to caldwellnightrodeo.com.
After School Splash
There will be after-school fun at Roaring Springs from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, August 17-19, and Monday-Thursday, August 22-25. Admission will be just $19.99 plus tax during those hours and days. Go to roaringsprings.com.
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The Western Idaho Fair 2022 will start off August 19 at the Expo Idaho fairgrounds. For more information, go to idahofair.com.
“The Sound of Music”
Music Theatre of Idaho will present the familyfriendly “The Sound of Music” August 25 through August 27, with matinee and evening performances at the Nampa Civic Center. For tickets or more information, go to https://nampaciviccenter.com/ events/events-tickets/.
Friday & Saturday Night Slides
Save on unlimited access to waterpark attractions as the sun sets on Roaring Springs from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays through August 27. Go to roaringsprings. com.
Pooch Party 2022
The 14th Annual Pooch Party Stroll & Splash is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 27, at Lakeview Park in Nampa. The event features a 1-mile walk, dog swim, raffle, pet-friendly booths, and contests. For costs and other information, go to nampaparksandrecreation.org.
Warbird Roundup
Warbird Roundup 2022 is planned for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 27-28 at Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa. This year, the museum is honoring the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. For tickets or more information, go to https:// warhawkairmuseum.org/event/warbirdroundup/2022-08-28/.
Outdoor Preschool
Outdoor Preschool is held at FLC and BUGS from August 29, 2022 through May 19, 2023. There is a fee for the program. For more information, go to https://www.cityofboise.org/media/14564/2022activityguide-summer-final-web.pdf.
Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 11
TRAINING FOR SUCCESS
Why chores are important for children By Sandy McDaniel
A
parent is training each child to be a for doing such a good job.” successful human being. Success in Children need to learn how to wash, dry, and one’s personal life usually involves put away their clothes. A 3- and 4-year-old can living in a home or apartment, which sort laundry. Put a large blanket on the floor, must be cared for. Beds need changing, dishes dump the clean laundry in the middle, assign need washing, floors need mopping, furniture a corner to each child, and the “youngins” can needs dusting, bathrooms need cleaning, rugs make a pile of their clothes. At 5 years of age, a need vacuuming, etc. If your children, because child can sort, then fold their own clothes and put they were not given chores, neither know how them away. A lesson in how to fold clothes will to do the chores nor know that they exist, their make it unnecessary to create the “dishwasher” Sandy McDaniel living abodes will be atrocious. experience above. Summertime is a great time to train your children to From 9 years old and up, children can wash their own do chores. Make a list of all efforts that need to be made clothes. First a lesson in how much detergent to use, and in order to take care of your home. Initial the chores which fabrics need to be washed separately, is appropriate, appropriate to each child’s age. Create a chart with chores then put a calendar over the washing machine. Encourage and the child whose responsibility it will be to do each chore. your children to sign up to use the machines ahead of time, It is best to have a consequence for failing to do a chore. I mostly to avoid the everyone-remembers-they-need-to-washhad three or four highly undesirable chores on a separate on-Sunday-night drama. list. “Forgot one chore, get two – and you will do both chores A digital timer attached to some yarn makes it less likely a right now,” I told my children when they were young. child who washes a load of clothes will forget to put them in Another consequence is to extend your no-media-time rule the dryer – and then take them out of the dryer to fold and (something every parent needs to create). Chore infractions put away. My son put all his T-shirts on hangers so he didn’t cost a child an hour off his or her allowed media time – and need to fold them. before they get any media time at all, all chores must be A parent might need to interrupt a TV show or video game completed. The point of a consequence is to catch a child’s with, “You signed up for the washing machine so you need to attention, to make “forgetting” to do something simply not use it right now. No arguments. For each minute you argue worth it. with me about this, 10 minutes will be taken off of your Children tend to resist doing anything that gets them media time. It starts now.” criticism or embraces failure. It is therefore best to give a It takes time and patience to teach children to do their lesson on each chore. I remember a time when my then chores. It seems that it would be easier to “do it myself.” It 9-year-old son did a horrible job of loading a dishwasher. might be, but by giving them chores, you are teaching time I asked him to join me in the kitchen, and I said to him: management, how to care for a living space, how to take care “I want to apologize to you for not teaching you how to of themselves, and how to be a functioning part of a family properly load our dishwasher. Please take everything out of unit. In learning to take care of themselves, they will then be the dishwasher and put it on the counters.” capable of taking care of others. He told me that he could straighten it out, to which I For more than 55 years, Sandy McDaniel has been an international replied: “Let’s help you do a better job with a lesson. I’ll talk speaker and recognized authority on families and children. Author of to you while you unload it.” five books, columnist, founder of parentingsos.com, she is a resident of Once he unloaded all the dishes and silverware, I totally Meridian and loves spending time with her three Idaho grandchicks. She made up a speech on how they designed a dishwasher. I may be reached at sandy@parentingsos.com; or go to YouTube:Sandy intentionally talked slowly and did so with painful detail. Spurgeon McDaniel to see videos on specific parenting issues. “Now, I will talk to you while you re-load the dishwasher.” He was not happy. His first moves were abrupt, an attempt to broadcast that he was upset. “I recommend you slow down and take it easy on the dishwasher – there’s a consequence for breaking something.” When he finished the whole job, he closed the dishwasher, glared at me, and asked, “Are you happy now?” I smiled... “You’re not in control of my happiness. Thanks 12 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
www.idahofamilymagazine.com
SUMMER FUN Continued from Page 3
chair, back door, table). Have the child name or run and touch the objects in order and add a new item to the list each time to make it harder. • Lay on your backs in the grass and find pictures or shapes within the clouds. • Pop bubbles from a bubble machine or wand and practice motor planning by popping the bubbles with specific body parts such as foot, knee, or elbow.
Gross Motor
• Create balance beams, hopscotch, and other activities using chalk. • Set up obstacle courses using everyday items from the backyard. • Practice moving up and down a pathway as different animals (crab walk, bear crawl, dog, dinosaur, quiet as a mouse, bunny hop, etc.). • Run through the sprinklers or play with water balloons to promote new sensory experiences with wet grass. • Play balloon volleyball and try to get a certain amount of touches before the balloon hits the grass. Promote increased motor planning by encouraging the child to hit the balloon with a specific body part (foot, knee, elbow, etc.).
Fine Motor
• Practice writing letters in wet textures such as mud, shaving cream, or food-based mediums. • Make mud pies and set up a mud pie restaurant to promote pretend play.
• Create a mural on the driveway or sidewalk with chalk. • “Mow the lawn” with your hands or have a race to fill a bowl or bucket with grass to promote intrinsic hand strength and pincer grasp (ability to hold something between the thumb and first finger). • Have a “spray bottle race” by using a spray/squirt bottle to propel small toys or objects forward to promote intrinsic hand strength and endurance. • Spell words and create pictures with sticks and stones. • Allow the kids to help with gardening, landscaping, and other outdoor tasks they can complete safely to promote confidence and teach life skills. There are so many ways to address motor skills while outdoors and make it fun for the whole family. It’s also often easier to allow messy play in an outdoor environment. Here’s to a safe, fun, and adventurous summer filled with lots of wsensory exploration, messy play, and memories made. Macaile Hutt is the Director of Occupational Therapy for Star Speech and Occupational Therapy located in Star, Idaho. Her therapy style takes a holistic and child-directed approach, with the goal of children succeeding across multiple environments. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from A.T. Still University and has received continuing education as a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children and Adolescents (CCATP-CA), Handwriting Without Tears, pediatric kinesiotaping, Interactive Metronome, and Beckman Oral Motor. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, backpacking, and traveling.
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Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 13
THROW A PARTY
Don’t spend a big bundle of cash By Melanie Nelson
W
hy is it that birthday parties always end up costing more time, energy and money than you planned? I think that sometimes, as moms, we get caught up in the “Pinterest-Perfect” mindset, meaning that everything has to look and be perfect in order for anyone to have fun. I, too, get caught up in the “cuteness” when I steal ideas from Google searches and Pinterest posts. I think it is important to remember that birthday parties are parties, and parties are supposed to be fun, especially when it comes to our kids. When my oldest son turned 9, he told me that he wanted an “army party.” I wasn’t sure what to do. All I knew was that I was going to have to get creative if I didn’t want to spend a fortune. So I sat down at my kitchen table with a pen and made a list of categories I would need to cover for the party: invitations, cake and other refreshments, goodie bags for guests, decorations, and activities. Then, I went online and did a Google search for “army birthday” and about a million images popped up. I wrote down what I liked in each category and then went to work on each thing one at a time.
INVITATIONS I designed my invitation in a program I had on my computer by copying ideas and text from other invites I saw online. The total design took me 30 minutes to complete. (I like to do things like this, so that was fine with me. If graphic design is not your hobby, there were lots of ideas online that were ready to print.) I uploaded the image to Costco online and had 10 copies printed. Here’s how they turned out: the invitations cost me $2.53 and 30 minutes of my time.
CAKE AND REFRESHMENTS I decided that I wanted cupcakes, and I didn’t want to pay the current rate for a box of chocolate cake mix, so I made the cupcakes and the frosting from scratch. I used simple recipes from Betty Crocker’s cookbook and cooked them in camouflage cupcake wrappers. • Cake: 35¢ • Wrappers: 97¢ • Chocolate sprinkles and frosting: $1 • Army men: $2.25 • Time: 1 hour – 30 minutes to make and bake the cupcakes and make the frosting; 15 minutes to cool the cupcakes; and 15 minutes to decorate them.
Be a legend. Insure your life.
Be a legend. Insure your life.
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GOODIE BAGS FOR GUESTS I like to give the kids who come to a party a little something to take home. With the right life insurance, With the right life insurance, of the army theme, I thought leave for you canyou leavecan a legacy for a legacyBecause your family. here to help. might be fun to pack their sacks full yourI’mfamily. I’m here toit help. LET’S TALK TODAY. LET’S TALK TODAY. of snacks and items that you might With the right life insurance, you can leave a legacy for your family. I’m here to help. LET’S TALK TODAY.
need if you were hiding out in a bunker. So here’s a list of items I used for the goodie bags: • Brown paper lunch sacks ($2 for 100 ct., and I already had some in my pantry) • Star tags for top (free – made from supplies I had) • Handi-Snacks cheese and cracker packs ($0.20 each) • Trail mix ($0.20 each) • Two grenade water balloons (97¢ for 30 ct. package) • Glow stick bracelet ($1 for 5 ct. package) ACTIVITIES This is the fun part. My son and I decided that we should have a water battle. I picked up two recliner boxes from a furniture store nearby. The first box I cut in half to make each team a “home base.” The other box I cut into four pieces and made “bunkers” between the bases so the boys could “duck and cover.” Each base had a bucket/pool to use as a water source, a bowl of grenade water balloons (the same kind I put in the goodie bags) and five water cannons. I borrowed the guns from a couple of friends so that each boy had his own. When the boys arrived, we did refreshments and presents first. Then I explained the rules and boundaries for the water battle. Then the boys took over. They had so much fun. I had planned 30 minutes for the water fight, but they didn’t want to stop. They played for an hour or so. Some of the boys got creative with the bunker boxes and the other resources they were given. For this and other ideas, go to www.maryannscupboards.com.
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14 JUL/AUG 2022 | Idaho Family Magazine
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POSITIVE PARENTING
Try saying this, instead of that … By Cara Johnson-Bader
L
et’s face it, being a parent isn’t always easy. It can be stressful, and at times it can test your patience tremendously. In moments when you are stressed or your child is having a meltdown, temper tantrum, or simply not listening, it can lead to frustration for you. In those instances, you may raise your voice or find yourself saying things that cause the situation to escalate and get worse. Research tells us that how we communicate with our children is especially important. It has a direct impact on their self-esteem and selfworth, and has a meaningful impact on how they will communicate with others. Being thoughtful and intentional in these stressful moments can help deescalate a temper tantrum and bring calm to an otherwise stressful situation. Using positive parenting phrases has proven to help calm meltdowns, help your child to focus and listen, and support your child’s healthy development of self. Try practicing these positive parenting phrases in a calm moment.
Cara Johnson-Bader Instead of Saying This... “Stop crying!” Try Saying This... “I see that you’re feeling sad right now. How about a hug?” Instead of Saying This... “No running in the house!” Try Saying This... “Please use your walking feet, so you don’t fall and get hurt.” Instead of Saying This... “Don’t hit your brother!” Try Saying This... “Hitting hurts our friends. Please use gentle hands.” Instead of Saying This... “Here, just let me do it.”
Try Saying This... “Let’s do it together.” Instead of Saying This... “We do not talk like that.” Try Saying This... “Use kind words, please.” Then share kind word options. Instead of Saying This... “I can’t right now. I’m busy.” Try Saying This... “I want to give you my full attention. How about I help you in five minutes once I’m done with......” Instead of Saying This... “Clean up your toys.” Try Saying This... “Let’s work together to clean up your toys.” The next time you are in a tense situation, focus on using some of the phrases you practiced, and then work them into your daily interactions with your children. This will not only help you diminish a stressful situation but will help your child, too!
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Idaho Family Magazine | JUL/AUG 2022 15
My name is Harrison Beck; I’m
the youngest son of Brent Beck, ‘Chief Executive Grandpa’ of Grandpa Beck’s Games. My
wife Jessica and I live here in
Caldwell, Idaho. We both work
part time for the game business. My wife is the office, project, and inventory manager and I’m the game designer for Antiquity
Quest and our newest title, Reign
of Dragoness. I also help with the development of other games. Designing games around our
own kitchen table is key to how we narrow down and identify
good mechanics that others will
enjoy. Each game has a basic set of rules as well as an advanced set of rules. This makes the
games easy to learn and the
strategies grow with your family. We find so much joy in making games that create lasting
memories for others in their
own homes. As Grandpa Beck
always says, “A family that plays together, stays together.”