Indy Grands 2020

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Indy’s Child

grand GETAWAY tips for planning a vacation with the grandkids

17 INDY

OUTINGS your grandchildren will love

THE GIF T

OF FUN

Why you should consider paying for your grandkids' summer activities A MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG, MODERN GRANDPARENTS

CONTENTS 14

20

16 departments

features

IN EVERY ISSUE

08

On the Cover: Kelly Bodner

14

Test Your Baby Knowledge

16

Have a Grand Time in Indy

18

Grands to the Rescue: Summer Camps & Programs

20

The Ultimate Skip-Gen Vacation

24

Keys, Please

06 Letter from the Publisher 10 Grandparents by the #'s 12 Say Cheese! Indy's Grandparents

SPONSORED CONTENT

22

Museums are a Grand Place to Bond

26

Kids' Voice of Indiana Serving and protecting Indiana's abused and neglected children for 35 years.

ON THE COVER Kelly Bodner with granddaughter Ella Hair — Christine Cassady Fuhrman Makeup — Barbie Nefouse Photographer — Mary Kissel

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

Get to know this Indy "Mimi" with two grandchildren

Take our fun (and informative) quiz to see where you stand.

Our top picks for Indy outings that we think you'll love during the warmer months.

Why you should consider paying for your grandchild's summer experiences.

Create lasting memories with your grandchildren with a special vacation that emphasizes multi-generational bonding time.

How to know when it's time for your aging parent to give up driving.

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

WORDS BY MARY WYNNE COX

Our original business plan was to provide an annual magazine for Indy Grands. The first issue was so well received that we decided to make it a bi-annual magazine: spring/summer and fall/winter.

The spring/summer issue features Kelly Bodner on the cover, who has been a major philanthropic figure in Central Indiana. She has given so much of her time and support to many worthy organizations and has also become a new grandmother. You can read more about Kelly on page 8. She is most proud of her family and ranks that as her most important accomplishment.

Golden Grands

We are thrilled to let our readers know that Indy Grands won the GOLD award for the best ancillary publication in the country at our recent Parenting Media Association awards ceremony in Tampa, Florida. This is an honor that I share with you as a new reader of Indy Grands. I'm delighted that so many of you embraced the new concept and that our advertisers are finding that the young grandparent demographic is one they want to reach.

Without loyal readers and advertisers who support the magazine, Indy Grands would not be possible.

We will also be highlighting summer camps for the Grands, summer vacation getaways, a hilarious grandparent quiz, and of course, summer fun in Indy. We hope you will enjoy this issue of Indy Grands, and we welcome your feedback and comments so we can continue building and improving Indy Grands in the future.

On a personal note, as we deliver the second issue of Indy Grands, we welcomed our second grandchild, Mary Elizabeth (Ellie) into the world. She joins her red-headed brother JJ who is 2 1/2 (and rambunctious, adventurous and funny).

I am amazed at how quickly JJ has grown in such a short time and I look forward to watching Ellie blossom into the person she will become.

It's all a wonderful journey and there are so many stages to enjoy along the way.

Here is to all of our Grand journeys!

Have a wonderful spring and summer!

MARY@INDYSCHILD.COM

Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

Marketing + Sales Development Trisha Brand trisha@indyschild.com

Editor Nicole Sipe nicolesipe@indyschild.com

Production Manager Karen Ring karen@indyschild..com

Creative Director Katie Clark katie@indyschild.com

Digital Publisher + Events Wendy Hasser wendy@indyschild.com

Business Development Brooke Litherland brooke@indyschild.com

Editorial + Audience Development Tessa Judge tessa@indyschild.com

Billing billing@indyschild.com

Contributing Writers Rachael Dupree, Kimberly Harms Robinson, Sarah McCosham, Susan Strange

Calendar of Events calendar@indyschild.com

MARY WYNNE COX, Publisher

06

Publisher Mary Wynne Cox mary@indyschild.com

Indy Grands is published yearly. Copyright 2020 by Midwest Parenting Publications, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of products, commentary or services herein.

Indy Grands

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WORDS BY TESSA JUDGE

on the cover:

Kelly Bodner Get to know this Indy “Mimi” with two grandchildren.

Are you from Indianapolis originally?

Yes, born and raised. I grew up here, graduated from North Central High School, went to Ball State University, and then moved back.

My first job was actually at Indy’s Child Magazine!

How many grandkids do you have and how old are they?

I have two grandchildren. One will be four on April 4th, that’s Ella.

Rory will be two on June 28th.

What’s your favorite thing to do around Indy with your grandkids?

We love the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, first and foremost. We also love going to parks, West Park in Carmel in particular. We really like walking along the Monon Trail, playing outside, using chalk. A creek runs through my yard and we enjoy looking at the little minnows. We also go to the Indianapolis Zoo whenever we can, and we love Newfields. The Christmas lights are a ton of fun.

What’s the best part about being a grandparent?

That you can spoil them and not really get in trouble for it. They can do whatever they want at Mimi and Popi’s house, and then I can give

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer

them back when I’m tired. We love to travel together. We’ve been to Florida and Disney World. They love to play on the beach and swim.

We love Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana. We love to do anything outdoors. We like to play pretend and play tea parties, taking out all the toys and pretend food in the kitchen to set out like we’re having breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Oh, and dress up — that’s huge. I just love being with them and love being their Mimi.

Anything you’ve learned as a grandparent?

Everything today is different than it was. I personally think you need a Harvard degree to install a car seat.

Really, the hardest part of being a grandparent is getting them in and out of the car seat. They’re nothing like they used to be where they just popped and clicked in. It’s very difficult. I’ve also learned my daughter has an app that keeps track of everything, and we never had an app. Things feel a lot more careful.

It sounds like you have a pretty tight-knit family.

Yes, we have a really close family.

We love family gatherings. I always say, a family that plays together, stays together. My grandkids are from my daughter Molly and her husband Andy. The grandkids’ Aunt Brooke graduated from IU

and now lives in New York. They got to visit Aunt Brooke and she took them to a slime museum in New York where they got slimed.

They loved it.

Their Uncle Austin graduated from DePauw and just took the LSATs. He’s working now and planning to go to law school. He’s a big soccer player, so when Ella was in Lil’ Kickers at Off the Wall Sports, Austin gave her some private lessons.

It must be so nice to have so much family so close!

It’s so nice. Actually, a mass was discovered in Ella’s brain last year and she had to have two surgeries and spent a lot of time at Riley (Children’s Hospital). I took care of Rory a lot during that time, which was fun in a weird way. Ella is totally fine now, but it was difficult.

I’m sure your daughter really appreciates having you nearby to help.

Oh, yeah. All of my children are five years apart. When my youngest went to college, Molly had a baby, so I never really experienced that full empty nest. But it’s so fun to have grandchildren, so fulfilling and exciting. I give them Oreos. I don’t discipline. I’m always Mimi, and what happens at Mimi’s house, stays at Mimi’s house.

IN EVERY ISSUE

GRANDPARENTS

BY THE

s #

1.7 million THAT’S THE NUMBER OF GRANDPARENTS ADDED TO THE RANKS EACH YEAR.

15

percent of grandparents care for their grandchildren while the parents are at work.

70 million

THE NUMBER OF GRANDPARENTS IN THE U.S. ALONE.

10

percent of grandparents sport a tattoo.

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

37 percent of grandparents say that spoiling is part of the grandparenting role.

2030

By this year, one in eight kids will have a great grandparent!

SOURCES

GRANDPARENTS.COM, CENSUS.GOV, AARP.ORG

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IN EVERY ISSUE

say cheese!

INDY'S GRANDPARENTS

The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren can be a magical one.

Here are some photos of Indy grands with their grandchildren that warmed our heart!

Graham (3) Claire (5) with Papa Tom and Grandma Sue

Elijah (4) and Grandma

Monroe (2) and Grammie Remy (18mos) and Nanee

Sawyer (3) with Nani

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

Olivia (5mos) with Nana and Papa

Eloise (2.5mos) with Grandma

Indy Grands

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WORDS BY KAREN RING

test your BABY knowledge Whether you are new to the role of grandparent or are welcoming a fresh addition to your growing brood of grandbabies, it is important to stay up-to-date on the ever-changing trends in child rearing.

TAKE OUR FUN (AND INFORMATIVE) QUIZ BELOW TO SEE WHERE YOU STAND. 1. The sea creature that inspired the viral music sensation that delights kids of all ages while driving parents to the brink of insanity is:

b. a newfangled type of pacifier c. a nursing pillow that supports baby while he is feeding d. the latest dance craze

a. octopus b. eel c. minnow d. shark

2. A Boppy is: a. a miniature punching bag to promote baby's hand-eye coordination

3. Baby Bjorn is: a. a baby who makes her first trip to Sweden before her first birthday b. a Swedish, family-owned business that produces high- quality baby carriers and infant gear c. the offspring of world-renowned tennis star Bjorn Borg d. the latest trend in labor and delivery

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

4. If you are looking for a NoseFrida, you’d find it in: a. art galleries around the world where works by this avant-garde artist are prominently displayed b. the snack aisle of the grocery store c. the health & wellness section of your local pharmacy d. the “now trending” section of Netflix

5. The Baby Shusher is the name of: a. a professional toddler negotiator skilled in the art of teaching children not to talk back to their parents

b. a device that uses a real human voice to lull your baby to sleep with a calming shush

c. the latest dramatic series on the TNT network

d. the current nickname for a pacifier

6. If your grandbaby is watching a cartoon featuring six rescue pups that work together to protect the community, they are watching: a. Paw Patrol b. Super Dogs c. Mutt Brigade d. Hero Pups

3. b. Baby Bjorn is the Swedish company best-known for their ultra comfortable and supportive baby carriers, but they also make baby bouncers, potty chairs and more.

4. c. NoseFrida, aka the Snotsucker, can indeed be found in the health & wellness section of your local pharmacy and other retailers and is the hygienic way to keep baby booger-free.

5. b. Yes, there is a device that will lull

ANSWERS:

your baby to sleep with a calming shush that uses a real human voice. And, yes, it is called the Baby Shusher.

1. d. If you haven’t heard “Baby Shark”

6. a. Paw Patrol. If that is the first time

by PINKFONG yet, you can easily find the tune on YouTube so you can sing along with your grandchild.

you are hearing this, be prepared to hear that name one million times more (and for good reason — it’s a great show).

2. c. The Boppy is one of the best inventions since sliced bread. It’s the perfect pillow to offer mom and baby support while breastfeeding.

Indy Grands

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WORDS BY TESSA JUDGE

have a

GRAND TIME IN INDY

Our top picks for Indy outings that we think you’ll love during the warmer months.

Spring and summer mean getting back outside and enjoying another side of Indianapolis again, and we think doing this with grandchildren is particularly enjoyable. We’ve narrowed down some of the best places, events and things to do around town with the grandkids in tow! Mom and dad will appreciate the help while you and the grandkids create lifelong memories together.

SPLASH PADS, POOLS AND WATERPARKS Throw on your suits and sandals, get out the sunscreen and cool down at any of these spots around town.

The Waterpark at the Monon Community Center 1235 Central Park Dr. East, Carmel

carmelclayparks.com/thewaterpark 317-848-7275

Cost: Ages 16-64, $11; ages 3-15 and 65+, $8

This family-friendly waterpark will keep you busy all day long!

With a kiddie pool, lazy river, water slides and so much more, you won’t regret a day at The Waterpark.

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

Eagle Creek Park & Earth Discovery Center 5901 Delong Rd., Indianapolis

eaglecreekpark.org/earthdiscovery-center 317-327-7148

Cost: $5 per car daily for Indiana residents

Wes Montgomery Park 3501 N Hawthorne Ln., Indianapolis Cost: Free

Designed in the shape of a guitar in honor of its namesake, jazz musician Wes Montgomery, this splash pad is sweet relief on those hot summer days.

NATURE PARKS & CENTERS Lace up your walking shoes for a stroll through any of these great local nature parks. When you’ve worked up a sweat, head inside for a cool down and a little nature education.

With 3900 acres of woods, meadows and hiking trails, plus 1300 acres of reservoir, Eagle Creek is one of Indy’s best resources for outdoor recreation.

Plus, explore the toad and tree frog exhibits, plant and leaf displays, a beehive, nature-based artwork, and more inside the Earth Discovery Center.

Zion Nature Sanctuary and Nature Center 690 Beech St., Zionsville

zionsville-in.gov/Zion-NatureCenter 317-873-8950

Ellenberger Park 5301 East St. Clair St, Indianapolis

Holliday Park & Nature Center

Cost: Ages 18-54, $4; ages 3-17 and 55+, $3

hollidaypark.org

Just need a day at the pool? The large public pool at Ellenberger Park has a diving board, a climbing rock wall (yes, at the pool!), concessions and plenty of shade if you need it.

6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis

317-327-7180 Cost: Free

Hit the playground and hike through the woods down to the water before exploring the wildlife observation area and other interactive displays inside the Nature Center.

Cost: Free

Enjoy a hike through the sanctuary’s wooded 10 acres before popping into the adjacent Zion Nature Center for interactive exhibits. Note that the sanctuary is open daily and the nature center is open primarily on weekends and select weekdays throughout the summer.

PARKS Need to let the grandkids burn some energy? No better place to do so than the park!

Brookside Park 3500 Brookside Pkwy. S Dr., Indianapolis

An eastside favorite, Brookside Park consists of 108 acres of wooded green space with hiking trails, a family center for programs and activities, basketball and volleyball courts, a pool and much more!

Please note that it was difficult for us to pick just a few of the amazing parks we have in the area! Visit parks.indy.gov or carmelclay parks.com to find a park near you.

MUSEUMS Indianapolis’ museums are fabulous all year long, but we think they’re a little extra special in the summer.

We have a few ideas listed here, but be sure to check the events calendar at your favorite museums for fun (and sometimes free!) family events all spring and summer long.

Tarkington Park 45 W. 40th St., Indianapolis

Set in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood, this park has everything you and your grandkids could want. With basketball and tennis courts, a splash pad, a rock climbing wall, swings, a cafe, walking paths and more, all are invited for a good time.

Central Park 1235 Central Park Dr. East, Carmel

This park houses the Monon Community Center and Waterpark, as well as 6+ miles of trails; a picnic grove with tables, grills, and restrooms; a skate park; a 2-acre dog park; a splash pad; and more (if you can believe it)!

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis

childrensmuseum.org 317-334-4000

The world’s largest children’s museum, this is an absolute must-do for all ages. We suggest taking advantage of the outdoor Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience on sunny days before popping inside to cool down and explore the museum’s impressive five floors.

Conner Prairie 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers

connerprairie.org 317-776-6000

Just a quick trip up the road in Fishers, Conner Prairie is one of the most visited outdoor museums in the country and Indiana’s first Smithsonian affiliate. Visitors can immerse themselves in 19thcentury village life and interact with the people, animals, objects and routines of a bygone era in 1836 Prairietown; climb to the top of a four-story treehouse and explore the Fort Hoosier play structure at Treetop Outpost; step into Indiana territory in 1816 Lenape Indian Camp; get in touch with nature at the new White River Overlook; head indoors for some hands-on activities in Create.

Connect or the brand new Makesmith Workshop; or fly high above it all on an 1859 Balloon Voyage. With 11 incredible experience areas there is truly something for everyone.

Eiteljorg Museum 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis

eiteljorg.org

317-636-9378 Explore the diversity and complexity of Native Americans in a historical and artistic context inside the museum, but be sure to get their many outdoor events on your calendar as well:

· Summer Under the Sails (free outdoor concert series), every Wednesday evening in June & July · Juneteenth, June 6 (free admission) · Indian Market & Festival, June 27-28

Public Collections We’re huge fans of public libraries at Indy’s Child. While the traditional local libraries certainly are all worth a visit, the Public Collections have a distinct charm.

Visit these works-of-art-turnedlibraries with the grandkids to find your next read! · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 601 E. 17th St. Artist: Atsu Kpotufe · The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. Artists: Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley · Riverside Park, 2420 E. Riverside Dr. Artist: Lashawnda Crowe Storm · CityWay, 220 E. South S. Artists: Project One Studio · Horizon House (intended for use by individuals utilizing Horizon House’s services) Artists: Stuart Hyatt and S+CA

Indy Grands

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WORDS BY SARAH MCCOSHAM

Grands to the Rescue: Summer Camps & Programs Why you should consider paying for your grandchild’s summer experiences. their wish list. (Bonus: Their parents will thank you for getting the kids out of the house — and not contributing to household clutter!)

CAMP IS FUN FOR EVERYONE Is there anything better than summer evenings eating s'mores and telling stories around the campfire at camp? How about sharing in the adventure with your grandkids?

Toys, games, clothing and gear. As grandparents, it’s easy to go overboard with all the stuff! And frankly, most kids don’t need any more stuff. So, here’s a suggestion: Stop gifting “things” and start giving your grandchildren experiences.

Paying for your grandchildren’s summer enrichment opportunities — think summer camps and classes — is a great way to give your grandkids invaluable experiences they’ll cherish forever, instead of stuff that will quickly get lost in the shuffle.

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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020

KIDS ARE EXPENSIVE It’s no secret that kids are expensive to raise — upwards of $230,000 each, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For many parents, providing anything beyond necessities can be difficult. However, as a grandparent, you’ve likely reached a level of financial stability you didn’t have 30 years ago. So, if your grandchild shows interest — and if it’s OK with their parents — you might consider funding all or part of your grandchild’s art classes, music lessons, sports enrollment or summer camps. These extras can provide life-long benefits for kids, and are much more valuable than that toy or video game on

Summer camps for grandparents and grandchildren are totally on trend in 2020, and have exploded in popularity among families looking to combine summer adventure for the kids with bonding opportunities with the grandparents. There are a ton of options available that vary in length, cost and focus. Some have an emphasis on nature, others focus on sports, but all are about strengthening the bond between grandparents and grandkids.

While admittedly expensive, most camps are weeklong, all-inclusive experiences, with small group sizes and lots of different activities. (And compared to the cost of a few video games, these camps are much more valuable!)

Here are three Midwest “grand” adventure camps worth considering: Wolf Ridge Grandparent and Grandchild Grand Adventure wolf-ridge.org/camp/ grandparent-grandchild Located in the beautiful backwoods of Minnesota is Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Their “Grand Summer Adventure” is an intergenerational camp program where grandparents and grandchildren can bond with the natural world — and each other.

This program includes all the typical summer camp experiences, and is designed for grandparents with grandchildren ages 6-11.

Grandparent/ Grandchild Outdoor Adventure in Shawnee National Forest roadscholar.org/find-anadventure/14848/outdooradventure-in-shawnee-nationalforest-with-your-grandchild/ dates Explore the natural beauty of Shawnee National Forest in

Illinois with your grandchild as you canoe, kayak, zipline, hike and rock-climb. Think the classic camp experience you had as a kid.

This camp is best suited for more active grandparent/grandchild duos, and is geared toward grandkids 9-12.

Grandparent/ Grandchild Summer Camp in the Ozarks roadscholar.org/find-anadventure/14633/horsescanoes-summer-camp-in-theozarks-with-your-grandchild Adventure awaits for you and your grandkids in Missouri!

Grandparent-and-grandkid pairs will go horseback riding, canoe and explore the Eastern Foothills of the Ozarks. This camp is for tweens 10-12.

SUMMER OPTIONS FOR INDY KIDS Looking for an adventure closer to home? There are lots of day camps and special opportunities for Indy grandparents to connect with their grandkids.

Conner Prairie From art and archaeology to STEM and adventure, Conner Prairie offers a well-rounded menu of summer camps for Indy kids. This local gem also offers parent-child classes for a variety of age ranges that are perfect for a little extra grandparentgrandchild bonding.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis For Indy grandparents (and kids!), there’s no better resource than The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The Children's

Museum offers engaging programs and special activities designed to get kids excited about learning. For grandparents looking for regular grandparentgrandkid bonding opportunities, consider a Grandparents Club Membership. This worth-thesplurge membership gives grandparents access to special benefits and with their grandchildren all year round.

Indianapolis Zoo Offered during school breaks and in the summer, Zoo camps incorporate age-appropriate activities to encourage discovery and appreciation of wildlife.

Campers have the opportunity to make new friends, explore the Zoo and participate in games, crafts, presentations, animal visits and more. For grandparents looking for some QT with their grandkids, check out the Zoo’s Saturday Science Programs and Overnight Adventures.

Indianapolis State Museum For grandparents of younger kids, the Indianapolis State Museum is everything. Their Small Wonders and Young Explorers programs invite 3-5 and 4-6 year-olds, respectively, along with their parents, grandparents or caregivers to play and learn in the museum. These monthly programs are accessible, affordable and fun!

Indy Grands: adventures await you and your grandkids! This year, give your grandchildren the gift of experience — adventures that will shape their development, strengthen family bonds and open them up to the wide, wonderful world.

Indy Grands

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WORDS BY RACHAEL DUPREE

The Ultimate

SKIP-GEN VACATION Create lasting memories with your grandchildren with a special vacation that emphasizes multi-generational bonding time. Bring on the fun!

As a grandparent, the bond you have with your grandchildren is one of the most cherished. However, many grandparents face the challenge of living far away from their grandchildren, and as a result, don’t get to nourish those relationships as often as they’d like. One way they’re aiming to bridge the distance gap is by going on vacation with their grandkids.

Make a Budget

According to the results of a “Grandparents Today” survey released by AARP in spring 2019, 40% of grandparents took trips with their grandkids in the past 12 months, and that number is expected to rise in the coming year.

Known as skip-gen travel (grandparents and grandchildren traveling without the middle generation) or multi-generational travel (three or more generations traveling together), it’s a trend that Indy grandparents are hopping onto, as well.

Identify Your Goal

“We have noticed an increase in multi-generational travel among family groups,” says Alex Kutin, owner of Travel Leaders Indy (indytravelleaders. com), an Indianapolis-based travel agency. “Families, which are normally headed by the grandparents, are coming to us to book many aspects of travel.

It is always fun and rewarding for our agents to work on these requests because we know that this is building memories for everyone.”

Planning a trip to an amusement park for those who don't like rides or a fishing trip for those bothered by mosquitoes could be a bust. Talk to your grandchildren about their interests before getting into the nitty-gritty

details. Parents may also have varying degrees of comfort about

suitable travel for their children, so touching base with them

early about your plans will ensure they’re on board.

Although travel agencies like this are booking

multigenerational trips to places like Disney, Mexico and Hawaii, trips don’t necessarily have to be big or expensive in order to connect with your grandchildren.

While it's possible to plan entire trips on your own online, it can quickly get overwhelming. Travel agents

are skilled at helping you identify trips best suited to you

and your travel partners, often at little extra cost.

“Everyone knows what their grandchildren are really capable of, keeping in mind their interests,” Kutin says. By keeping the basics at the forefront of your mind, trip-planning will be much easier and more fruitful for everyone.

20 Indy Grands

Spring/Summer 2020

According to AARP, grandparents spent an average of $1,746 on travel with grandchildren. This may be above or below what you are able to spend, but knowing your expected budget at the start of planning will help you identify your travel options.

Is your goal to share something special with a certain grandchild or plan a trip the whole family can enjoy? Knowing what you hope to achieve through travel will help you manage your expectations and make the trip as enjoyable as possible for everyone.

Understand Your Limitations

When in Doubt, Seek Help

Embrace Your Travel Style No two travelers are quite alike. By identifying the type of travel that makes you and your grandchildren happy, you can plan a trip full of the special memories you’re seeking. Here are some ideas to get you started:

For Culture Seekers

For the All-Inclusive Experience

Sharing something important to you — whether it be your love of music, art or history — can be deeply meaningful for your grandchild. For a trip with a cultural bend, think of places where you can enjoy that interest together. Maybe you want to take them on a tour of Civil War battle sites, to a museum that highlights your love of modern art, or a city with a beloved jazz festival. Use this destination as the focal point of your trip, and plan the rest of your time together around that.

All-inclusive resorts, where everyone’s lodging and food are covered under one cost, can be ideal for large groups where you want to make sure everyone is taken care of without having to manage a bunch of bills.

Guided tours can also be convenient for those who want to cover a lot of ground without having to plan out an itinerary. Road Scholars, a nonprofit travel company, has 166 trips around the world geared specifically toward skip-gen travel: roadscholar.org/collections/ grandparent

For Outdoor Adventurers If you and your grandchildren love the outdoors, setting your sights on a national or state park could be the driving force of your vacation. The park finder at FindYourPark.com can help you narrow down your national park options based on preferred activities and area of the country you want to visit, and you’ll also want to research best times of year for travel to your selected park, as well as entrance fees and lodging options.

To stay closer to home, seeking out a state park near your grandchildren’s hometown could also provide a valuable experience. State park websites often list activities that each park offers, as well as park lodging options.

For Weekend Warriors An overnight or weekend trip can provide great bonding experiences, particularly for younger children who will be traveling without their parents for the first time. Destinations like water parks, zoos and children’s museums within a three-hour drive make for a short but special getaway. Visitors bureaus (such as Visit Fort Wayne: visitfortwayne.com) put all of the local attractions, events, restaurants and accommodations into one central location, making your travel planning a breeze. Check in with the visitor’s bureau in the area where your grandchildren live for more ideas.

Although distance can be a challenge, it no longer has to be a barrier to spending quality time with your grandchildren. Get started planning a skip-gen vacation, and you’ll be on your way to making memories that will last a lifetime.

The trusted resource for Central Indiana families for 35 years.

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indyschild.com

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WORDS BY KIMBERLY HARMS ROBINSON

Museums are a Grand Place to Bond As more families struggle to find quality childcare with both parents working, grandparents’ roles are becoming even more important in today’s world. The older generation finds themselves helping out by taking or picking the kids up from school or extracurricular activities, spending weekends with them and hosting play dates. Grandma and grandpa can embrace the extra time they have with their little ones by taking them on adventures and showing them many of the possibilities that exist out in the real world.

Toy manufacturer Mattel recently launched the “Dream Gap Project,” an initiative to raise awareness about stereotypes that can limit girls. This is a big deal for little girls between the ages of 6 and 7 who are starting to doubt themselves and their abilities, which can in turn can severely limit their dreams. An upcoming exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Barbie™: You Can Be Anything™ is intended to help children realize that Barbie had more than 200 careers because she was inquisitive, adventurous, creative, liked to nurture and desired to be a leader.

Grandparents can use exhibits and play opportunities like this as

teachable moments to share their own life experiences with their grandkids, and encourage them to experiment with role play so they may become the men and women they want to be when they grow up.

Educators say it’s important to let grandkids know it is OK to make mistakes, because that’s the way we learn. “Through shared experiences and learning, a young child sees that you are never too old to learn,” says Susan Michal, director of preschool at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “Sharing new experiences and learning alongside grandchildren at museums fosters a strong sense of worth, value and sense of empowerment knowing they are important in the eyes of their grandparent.”

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Children learn that they can be a leader in exploration as an archaeologist at The Children’s Museum in Treasures of the Earth, a leader in paleontology and dinosaur discovery in Dinosphere and a leader in space exploration at Beyond Spaceship Earth. From hundreds of thousands of years ago to the future, all of these experiences and careers that go along with these studies show children that anything is possible if they work hard and believe in themselves. As adults, we can share stories about our first job or how we transitioned to a new job.

Museums are also helpful for grandparents who have a tough time relating to their little ones and need conversation starters.

Grandparents can ask their grandchildren to teach them something about what they see.

Dinosphere is a great example. I brought home a stuffed Brachiosaur for my grandsons and to my astonishment, the 5-yearold said, “That’s a Brachiosaur!” I couldn’t believe he knew what it was and asked him about it. He went on to tell me he knew that because it had a long neck to eat leaves out of trees — just like giraffes. That simple exchange led to a much deeper, richer conversation about dinosaurs and what it was like when they roamed the earth. Now, we chat about dinosaurs from time to time as that became our commonality.

Grandparents may also want to initiate a game if their youngster isn’t communicating. While you are at the park, the store or the museum, ask them “What if?”

What if you were an astronaut, what would you look for in space?

What if you were an archaeologist, where would you want to dig and what kind of treasures do you think you would discover? What if you were a chef: What kind of recipe would you create and who would you feed it to? These kinds of questions get kids thinking about possibilities. As the grownup, you can help share hints about how they can accomplish it.

PHOTO CREDIT

THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS

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WORDS BY SUSAN STRANGE

Keys, Please How to know when it’s time for your aging parent to give up driving.

More Older Drivers are on the Road In 2017, there were almost 44 million drivers over the age of 65 in the United States. According to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), by the year 2030, it is projected that 70 million Americans will be over the age of 65, and that 85% to 90% of them will be licensed to drive.

Henrietta Davis is 94, and while driving, she almost hit a car. Doris Allen is 92 and fell asleep at the wheel, hit a tree and narrowly avoided a pond.

Indianapolis resident Rachel Hanley is 84. She knew that she had to relinquish her keys, so she took stock of alternate transportation after making notes of destinations she frequented during the course of a week.

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“Giving up driving was like giving up my right arm,” Hanley says.

“It was so much a part of my life.

I had worked hard not to have to rely on anyone for anything as I aged, and now I felt as though I was giving up my freedom. And, for the first time, I felt ‘elderly’ — a term I swore I would never use.”

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Christine Meyer, director of communications and public affairs for The Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Indianapolis, says that for drivers under the age of 74, a license is valid for six years. From ages 75 to 84, a license is valid for three years. But at 85 and above, a license has to be renewed every two years. All license renewals include a vision screening, but no additional written exam.

However, Meyer adds: “If an individual appears to possess a mental or physical issue that could possibly cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others, we can refuse to provide licensure until they provide information demonstrating their ability to meet our requirements.” A form must be completed in full before the state will initiate any review of a driver. The Driver Ability Department will not process any

reviews from an anonymous source. However, the name of the individual requesting the review will be kept confidential.

Giving Up Driving: When’s the Right Time?

AAA offers a brochure called “Drivers 65 Plus” that features a 15-question self-rating driving assessment exercise, so that you can examine your loved one’s driving performance. AAA also offers a “professional driving assessment,” which includes a driving skills evaluation and a clinical driving assessment to identify underlying medical causes of driving performance issues. Costs for these evaluations vary, but you can find out more information at seniordriving. aaa.com.

“After a few expletives, I realized that the conversation [about giving up driving] was only going to go downhill from there,” says Fishers resident Jane Denning, about talking to her 76-year-old mother about handing over the keys. “My choices were to proceed… or wrestle her to the ground. Believe me, wrestling would have been easier.”

Seek Driving Alternatives Before asking for your parent to turn over their keys, start with the basics. Investigate the possibilities that are available to help your parent get from point A to point B with as much ease as possible.

Their daily routine will be disrupted and spontaneity will be an issue, but the goal is to help them remain as mobile as possible.

Here are some options:

IndyGo: The Indianapolis area is not as accessible as some big cities with massive transportation systems, but we do have a bus system — IndyGo — that can give those without vehicles a bit more freedom. Find bus schedules, routes and prices at indygo.net.

Aside from city transit, there are county mini buses that can make life easier. Note that reservations should be made in advance (sometimes up to two weeks) and that there is often a minimal fee involved per ride.

IndyGo Open Door: This reservation-based, shared-ride service provides rides for Marion County residents who meet certain criteria. To qualify for IndyGo Open Door, paperwork must be completed by the resident and their doctor. For more information, visit indigo.net/ open-door or call 317-635-3344.

Hamilton County Express: This on-demand, reservation-based public transit system in Hamilton County offers rides to people with disabilities as well as the general public for a small fee. For more information,

visit janus-inc.org/programsservices/hamilton-countyexpress or call 317-773-2688.

Hancock County Senior Services: This system offers door-to-door service to Hancock County residents 60+ on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information, visit hcssi.org/ services or call 317-462-1103.

Of course, there is always local taxi service, as well as Lyft or Uber. These options can become pricey, but are available when a ride is needed on short notice.

Another option is to let the services come to you. Have your parents take advantage of Grubhub and Door Dash, which will allow you to order meals and have them delivered from a myriad of local restaurants. There is also little need to go out to the grocery store when most grocery stores offer delivery. Just log onto the supermarket website and choose the groceries you want delivered. There will be a delivery charge, but sometimes your first delivery is free.

“There is a great difference between being older and old,” quotes author Michelle Franklin about the subject of aging. “The former being desirable and the latter being inevitable.”

At some point, we have to accept our shortcomings.

And when it comes to driving, we have to help our parents accept these changes, readjust and just move on.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Kids’ Voice of Indiana Serving and protecting Indiana’s abused and neglected children for 35 years.

All grandparents hope that their grandchildren have a childhood filled with comfort, joy, safety and growth, and this is reflected in the special relationship that exists between a grandparent and a grandchild. The difference in ages and life experiences offers the grandchild wisdom and a bond that stretches across generations.

However, grandparents don’t often plan to be full-time caregivers for their grandchildren. Sadly, an increasing number of children are experiencing families torn apart by substance abuse, violence, physical abuse and neglect. This has resulted in children living with and being cared for by their grandparents. In fact, in Indiana, 29.9% of children are living with a grandparent with no parent present.

When grandparents are acting as full-time caregivers for their grandchildren, they are often presented with emotional and financial challenges. It can be incredibly difficult to be placed in the center of a conflict where a grandparent feels a duty to protect and help their grandchild, but also feels concern and grief over the problems their own child is experiencing. Children living with grandparents full-time also present additional costs associated with

30,693 Indiana children were in foster care, ranking Indiana 47th in the nation for foster care rates.

Grandparents have become an essential part of children being able to avoid foster care and remain in the care of family. In addition, Kids’ Voice has been successful at preventing approximately 98% of the children we serve in our Guardian ad Litem program from entering foster care. This is accomplished in large part through our volunteers, many of whom are grandparents themselves, who volunteer to help protect a child’s voice and interests in court. school, clothes, food and other care for which a grandparent may not have planned. If a grandparent decides they need to seek legal custody of a child, that can present both an emotional and financial challenge.

Kids’ Voice of Indiana exists to serve children in these situations.

We are a nonprofit prevention organization that helps children avoid experiencing or reexperiencing abuse or neglect, and we accomplish this by providing a range of services for children, their caregivers and families, as well as for other professionals that serve children and families in Indiana.

Our programs are built on three pillars: advocacy, education and protection. We represent children’s

best interests in guardianship and custody cases, and we offer free legal information and guidance by allowing grandparents to call our Law Center and speak with an attorney.

Children in Indiana experience abuse and neglect at a rate of twice the national average; Indiana ranks 48th in the nation for instances of child maltreatment. Many of these children enter foster care. In 2018,

In 2020, Kids’ Voice celebrates its 35th anniversary of serving children and families in Indiana.

With your support, we can continue to serve children for another 35 years and beyond.

Whether you are a grandparent who needs legal assistance regarding a grandchild, or you are a grandparent who wishes to volunteer and help Indiana’s children, we hope to hear from you.

To learn more about the resources available through Kids' Voice of Indiana, as well as volunteer opportunities, visit kidsvoicein.org.

* Data from the 2020 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Indiana Youth Institute

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KIDS' VOICE OF INDIANA