KC Parent January 2021

FREE | January 2021 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

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Offering whole-person care for every age at every stage Our whole-person approach to health and wellness ensures you have the tools and support you need. From preventative care and routine screenings to disease management and illness, we’re here to serve your health needs.

Schedule a Video Visit Download the AdventHealth app to talk to a medical specialist via live video chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No appointment is necessary and prescriptions are sent to your preferred pharmacy.

Learn more at AdventHealth.com/eCare.

To find a primary care physician who’s just right for you, visit MyHealthKC.com.

Locations throughout Johnson County

AdventHealthKC.com

KEEP MOVING FORWARD wit h Sylvan!

SYLVAN HAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED Services offered in person and online: • Personal Tutoring • Academic Coaching • Advancement and College Prep And, we’ve adapted to the new ways kids are learning.

SYLVAN OF KANSAS CITY NORTH 8409 N Main St., Kansas City, Missouri 64155 (816) 468-7900 • WWW.LOCATIONS.SYLVANLEARNING.COM/US/KANSASCITY-MO (816) 468-7900 • WWW.KANSASCITYSYLVAN.COM

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JANUARY

2021

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 Tasty Treats 12 Dear Teachers 14 5 Things WINTER FUN GUIDE, PGS. 44-59

16 Date Night 18 Ask the Experts 47 Word from Dad 52 Craft Corner

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTIONS 44 Winter Fun Guide 60 Calendar of Events

22

38

44

Establish Rules

Embrace Quiet

Have Fun

Ways to set family rules that everyone can follow.

Seven ways to help calm the chatter in your home.

31 activities for family fun all January long.

Our cover features MacKenzie from Basehor. Photo by Melissa Rieke Photography.

MelissaRiekePhotography.com FREE | January 2021 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

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SOLUTIONS TO

sibling strife

winter fun guide GET

REAL

RESOLUTIONS

WAYS TO

calm

THE CHATTER

EDITOR’SLETTER JANUARY 2021

A

Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Editor Margaret Sarver Margaret@KCParent.com Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design Kim@KCParent.com Advertising Sales Debbie Clark Debbie@KCParent.com Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Digital Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Digital Media Intern Anna Hiestand Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com Distribution To be added to our distribution list, e-mail Distribution@KCParent.com

LOCAL CONTENT

Local Contributing Writers Bill Bartlett (Belton), Christian Barnes (Kansas City), Melissa Bellach (Overland Park), Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Emily Cline (Lenexa), Julie Collett (Overland Park), Janelle Cumro-Sultzer (Overland Park), Lauren Dreher (Stillwell), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Christa Melnyk Hines (Olathe), Amy Hundley (Olathe), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Sarah Lyons (Olathe), Emily Morrison (Independence)

Mailing Address 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax OUR PRODUCTS FREE | January 2021 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

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QUIRKY KC THE UNUSUAL & UNIQUE

JANUARY- MARCH 2021 | KCPARENT.COM

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Editor Margaret Sarver and her brother, Bud, at the start of their lifelong friendship.

t the start of each new year, so many people’s thoughts turn to resolutions and fresh starts. This year, in honor of my younger brother, Bud Clever, who passed away Oct. 27, 2020, my New Year’s resolution is to lead a “Bud Clever” life in 2021.

Bud was born in 1972 with many different heart issues. He endured multiple surgeries and hospitalizations throughout his life, with the last being a heart transplant on Aug. 13, 1999. He lived 21 years after his own heart had given out thanks to the generosity of another family we’ve never met. Because of all that he went through, he had a different perspective than most. The doctors didn’t really know how much time he had, so from an early age, Bud saw each day as a gift. His outlook was, “You can’t help the hand you’ve been dealt, but you can control how you play that hand.”

To say he lived life to the fullest would be an understatement. Every day for Bud was an adventure. That might mean seeing him cheering on team USA dressed as Uncle Sam or the Statue of Liberty. Or celebrating a Chiefs Super Bowl win with fireworks because he just happened to have some in his car. Or sending his niece a homemade graduation card, affixed with a wax seal and filled with confetti.

It would also be an understatement to say I miss him. He was my first friend and my lifelong friend. I have so many memories and we have shared so many adventures during his time here. As my younger daughter wisely said, “Mom, as long as we live the ‘Bud Clever’ life, he will never be forgotten.” So, here’s to 2021. May we all strive to lead a Bud Clever life.

Facebook.com/KansasCityParent Pinterest.com/KCParent @KCParent

Member of:

Circulation verified by:

Happy New Year, Kansas City!

Margaret Sarver, Editor

Kansas City Parent Magazine is published 12 times a year by Family Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout the Kansas City area. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect KC Parent’s opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Kansas City Parent Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

All photography and letters sent to KC Parent will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. KC Parent often includes websites that may be helpful to our readers. We verify each site prior to publication. However, content changes frequently. We encourage you to use caution and discretion when visiting a website.

Postmaster, please send changes to KC Parent, 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213

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KCPARENTWEBSITE

KCPARENT.COM Even More Local Parenting Information, Articles, Events and Surprises

SEARCH KCPARENT.COM FOR MORE AFFORDABLE FUN IDEAS: 1. Best of January 2. Cabin Fever Busters 3. Hot Cocoa Recipes

4. Summer Fun in Winter 5. Kids Eat FREE 6. Family Game Night Ideas

SPOTLIGHT

SLEDDING HILLS

Will January bring a lot of snow to Kansas City this year or just a little? When we do get some snow, check out KCParent.com for a list of great sledding hills all over KC!

7. KC Going Places Guide 8. Winter Sports

LABOR & DELIVERY GUIDE Choosing the best hospital for the arrival of your baby is an important decision. Use the KCParent.com Labor & Delivery Hospital Guide to find the perfect location for you and your child.

9. Coupons and Giveaways 10. Giving Back in KC

4 MORE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/KansasCityParent Repin us on Pinterest // Follow us on Twitter @KCParent // Subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter at KCParent.com

kcparent.com january 2021

9

TASTYTREATS

to milk or it’s variation

I

s milk your kiddo’s friend or foe? Either way, Jan. 11 is National Milk Day, the perfect time to celebrate the naturally creamy concoction or one of its modern alternatives.

Milk, hands down, has been the champion of the dairy aisle for decades. And with an innovative food industry addressing health concerns and environmental issues, modern times have brought forth other variations. Check out the table below to see which version of milk may benefit your kid’s needs the most. Who knows? Perhaps you and your KC family could venture out and incorporate another iteration into your menu. Variety is the spice of life!

MILK

CASHEW

PEA

Taste: Smooth and classic.

Pros: Contains three simple ingredients:

Taste: Very creamy because of the

Taste: Rich and creamy.

Pros: Good source of plant-based

special creaminess of cashews

milk and vitamins A and D. It’s a high biological beverage, meaning it has all the essential amino acids needed for kids’ bone and muscle health. Classic white, chocolate and strawberry are all available options.

Pros: Contains vitamin E, which helps your child’s immune system.

Can purchase different flavors like chocolate.

protein. Nice overall option with a balance of macronutrients: protein, fat and carbohydrates.

Cons: Low in protein.

Cons: Contains lactose, a sugar

COCONUT

incomplete protein, which means they don’t contain all the essential amino acids the body needs to build protein.

found in milk that some kiddos can’t tolerate.

SOY Taste: Creamy consistency with a slight bean-like taste.

Pros: Good all-around source of

Cons: Plant-based proteins are an

Taste: Dense, creamy and rich.

Pros: Naturally contains healthy fats.

Cons: Low in good carbohydrates

ALMOND

needed for kids’ energy levels.

nutty tang

Taste: Subtly smooth with a slight

sweetness.

Pros: Low in sugar and can be made at home. Chocolate and vanilla options are available for buying.

Pros: Very nice option for multiple

Cons: Contains nut allergens. Also,

RICE

protein, calcium and vitamin D. Also heart healthy, because it’s made from plants. Flavor options are also available, which include vanilla and chocolate.

Taste: Refreshing flavor with a hint of

Cons: Contains soy allergens that

Cons: Low in protein.

allergies. Is dairy-, nut- and soy-free.

low in protein.

some kiddos cannot tolerate.

EMBRACE MILK Your child needs at least three servings of milk or its variation per day. Here are ways you can embrace it:

• As a nutritious, refreshing drink—splash it down by the glass!

• In cereal, muesli or oats.

• In hot chocolate.

• In smoothies.

• In cooking and baking.

• In soups, sauces or dressings.

Find your family’s favorite ways to make the most of milk’s merits!

Amy Hundley is a registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and a published freelance nutrition writer. She is currently practicing as a clinical RD and has been a resident of Olathe since early childhood. Amy can be contacted at AmyHundley05@gmail.com.

Sources: Institute of Medicine, USDA

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The starting point for a healthy smile.

We specialize in giving kids the care and special consideration they need for successful dental care.

Locations:

OVERLAND PARK 913-553-2492

LEGENDS 913-948-8688

LEAWOOD 913-491-5044

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StartingPointDental.com Owner John P. Roth DDS and family Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry Specialist in Orthodontics

kcparent.com january 2021

11

Q&A DEARTEACHERS

SUCCESS SECRETS IN CONTENT AREA SUBJECTS

QUESTION: My son is only in third grade and is having difficulty understanding math, science and social studies. What can I do to help him handle these classes? – Help

ANSWER: The first thing you need to do is to determine with his teacher’s help exactly why he is having problems with these three subjects. Is it a reading problem? Is it possibly a learning disability? If it is one of these two problems, testing will need to be done to find the way to help him.

On the other hand, the problem could be that your son does not know the meaning of the new words that are being introduced in these content areas. Content area vocabulary begins to emerge in third grade and is the unique technical vocabulary used to teach the ideas, facts and skills of each content area subject. For example, understanding words like “fraction,” “numerator” and “denominator” is necessary to succeed in math.

The essential vocabulary of each content area is not easy to identify. These words are not usually found in basal readers nor on general vocabulary lists.

Most science and social studies and even math textbooks and e-books do give students obvious clues about the words needed to master these subjects. Typically, they are found in a list at the start of a chapter or in the end material of the chapter.

When your son starts a new chapter, look over the important chapter words with him. Choose a few each day and help him pronounce them and have him look up their meaning in the book’s glossary if there is one. Then to reinforce the learning of these words, you may wish to have him read assignments with you and look up again any words he cannot define for you.

It will further help him learn these words if he does all the exercises at the end of science and social studies chapters—even if they are not assigned. For further reinforcement and understanding of this new vocabulary, make it a point to discuss what he has learned in school every day while trying to use the new vocabulary words.

If learning the content words does not help him, then it’s time for another chat with his teacher.

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

CUTTING CHILDREN’S TIME ON MOBILE DEVICES QUESTION: After their school closed last year, my children spent most of their day online doing classwork, playing games and visiting with friends. Now that they are actually back in school, they still are spending a lot of time online.

Why is it so difficult to get kids off computers and devices? – Any Suggestions

ANSWER: Right now, it is difficult to get children off computers and mobile devices because time on them was essential for schoolwork, communicating with their friends and amusing themselves during the height of the pandemic.

This is no longer true.

Since your children have returned to school, it is important for you to wean them from the computer and mobile devices. They will, of course, have some schoolwork that must be done on the computer. This is fine. You can be sure that they are not playing games or visiting with friends if their schoolwork is done in a location where you can observe them.

Your children need to return now to doing activities outside the home like they did before quarantining at home: playing on sports teams, visiting friends and taking lessons in dancing, art or music. Living online is no longer necessary or particularly helpful to their development.

Decide with your children what a reasonable amount of time should be for them to spend online or with their mobile devices every day.

Because being on phones and other devices is particularly addicting, it may be necessary for them to give you these devices after they have used them for the agreed upon amount of time.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns. © Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2020

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“Our dog, Holly, barks to ask to go outside, but often, she vocalizes excessively. What would you recommend for curbing the extra vocalizations?”

– Jennifer Prentice “This will sound counterintuitive, but for this behavior I recommend teaching Holly the ‘speak’ command. When you teach a dog the ‘speak’ command, you also teach her the ‘quiet’ command in the process. Use the ‘quiet’ command when you need her to be quiet and use the ‘speak’ command during play. ” – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

“Why does my cat bite me? ” – Rebecca Griffiths “In most cases, cats bite when they are trying to communicate something to you such as not enjoying the interaction they are having with you or becoming overly stimulated due to the interaction. To make it more complicated, there are love bites. Love bites are when a cat is licking and gradually begins to nip. This is mimicked from their mothers when they are kittens. These bites normally do not draw blood. There are different kinds of biting and understanding what type your cat is doing is key to curbing unwanted mouthiness behavior from your feline.”

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

“My dog, Remus, is constantly barking at delivery people. His hackles go up, he has a vicious bark, and will not stop, no matter how I try to calm him. He is normally very sweet and friendly with people he knows. I have tried taking him outside on a leash when a delivery person is present, but he reacts the same each time, even if he has seen the person several times and they give him treats. How do I get my sweet boy to stop being so reactive to new people both inside and outside our home?”

– Kevin McCoy “It sounds like Remus has a combination of fear aggression and possibly territorial aggression. These behaviors are not abnormal but can be difficult for owners to work with. This behavior is easy to reinforce because dogs bark at the delivery person, the delivery person leaves once they drop off the package, and the dog believes the person left because of the barking. Dogs repeat this behavior thinking that the barking is scaring people off and often the barking becomes more severe over time.

I recommend redirecting Remus’ behavior with high value treats by asking him to sit, and rewarding whenever Remus gives the attention to you. If Remus is over his threshold, meaning you cannot break his attention, you should practice at a further distance away. You can ask neighbors to practice this at different distances from your house so you can practice without him going over threshold. You can also teach Remus the ‘place’ command which involves teaching him to go to his ‘place’ when visitors and mail carriers come to the home.”

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Does your dog need help with the basics?

New classes are starting soon, please visit our website to sign up or learn more!

Scan the QR Code to sign up!

FIVETHINGS Ticonderoga Pencils

White Noise When I sleep, I like to have a fan running for the noise. My husband doesn’t like how it dries out his mouth, so he finally convinced me to look into a white noise machine.

Seriously, why didn’t I do this sooner? Spoiler alert: because I’m stubborn. After much research, I settled on the Vanzon White Noise Machine, and it’s perfect.

I found just the right sound out of the more than 30 to choose from. The machine is the smallest thing ever and will be so easy to take with me on my next trip.

Now, we both sleep better!

Amazon.com

5

I love office supplies, specifically writing instruments. I like the feel of certain brands, the way they write and how the lead or ink shows up on paper. Yes, I am a nerd. Years ago I received the absolutely best pencils as a gift.

Although I haven’t found those exact pencils since, I have found the Ticonderoga black pencils (not yellow) are pretty awesome. In fact, I hide them in my office so that they don’t mysteriously walk away. If you like to write with a pencil, give them a whirl!

THINGS WE

LOVE RIGHT NOW

Compiled by Margaret Sarver

Zum Lip Balm If your house is like mine, you have a plethora of random lip balms scattered throughout.

So when my husband recently gifted me with a couple more, I figured I’d just add them to the collection. Whoa, baby, was I wrong! I fell in love with the Zum Kiss lip balms he brought home. I’ve got wild tangerine and grapefruit, and not only do they smell tropical, but they make your lips super smooth. My girls love them as well! IndigoWild.com

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Lessons from Lucy I am a big fan of humorist Dave Barry. My very favorite piece of his is “Bang the Tupperware Drum Slowly.”

Stop now, Google it and enjoy. One of his most recent books, Lessons from Lucy, not only features that Dave Barry wit and humor I love, but also includes touching stories and life lessons he’s learned from his dog, Lucy. It’s an easy read, a touching read, and contains such simple lessons we all need to be reminded of. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy today.

DaveBarry.com

Jumble Word Game I love words, so I’m guessing it’s no coincidence that both my career and my free time activity of choice revolve around words. When I have a few minutes of downtime, I love to play Jumble word games. In fact, I keep a copy in my car, one in my bedroom, one in the family room and one in the kitchen so I can pick up and solve a few scrambled word problems any time! Great for when you are pool- or oceanside!

PennyDellPuzzles.com

ADVERTORIAL

Mid-Continent Public Library

Six New Year’s Resolutions for the Family

The New Year has finally arrived! If your family is drafting its resolutions for 2021, here are six goals that Mid-Continent Public Library can help you check off the list!

Fine Tune Your Healthy Habits

Money Management for the Family

Find family-friendly resources for physical and emotional wellness through MCPL’s video streaming services, or search the MCPL catalog for books or DVDs like Yoga for Kids: Mind and Body. You can even create a family workout playlist with MCPL’s free music streaming service, Freegal. For healthy recipes that even the pickiest eaters will love, check out the latest cookbooks in the Library’s collection, and digital issues of culinary magazines from RBdigital.

Money management skills are an important part of life, and it’s never too early to start learning! Use the Library’s TumbleMath online resource to teach young children about “money math” or resources like Morningstar Investment Research Center for older kids (and even a refresher for yourself!). Visit mymcpl.org/PersonalFinance for a full list of resources. And don’t forget, a great way to save money is by using the free resources at your local Library!

Find Your Roots!

Get Along Better with the Family

Show the kids where they come from this New Year by tracing your family history with help from MCPL’s Midwest Genealogy Center. Start by downloading free, kid-friendly family tree forms at mymcpl.org/Genealogy, and use the wide range of online and in-person resources to fill them in!

After a stressful past year, many families are feeling the strain. If you and the kids are looking for ways to be more supportive of one another and improve your communications, consider checking out a self-help book, or take a free online class, such as Positive Parenting Techniques through MCPL’s Universal Class. For fun family time, explore books, movies, and music everyone will enjoy at mymcpl.org.

Rock that Report Card

Explore Different Cultures

If your kiddos’ resolutions include improving their grades, the Library offers a variety of online resources that can help, including Live Homework Help from Tutor.com, which connects students to a live tutor who can help with nearly any subject. Visit mymcpl.org/ Homework for a full list of resources.

While traveling abroad is still out of the question for many families, you can bring cultural experiences to your home with help from the Library! Find books and movies about different cultures in the Library’s collection and additional information through online resources like CultureGrams. Find recipe books or free online cooking classes through the Library to try making different foods, and learn a new language with Mango Languages and Muzzy Online.

Resolve to make 2021 your family’s best year yet with help from Mid-Continent Public Library! Learn more about how the Library can support your resolutions at

mymcpl.org/NewYears

DATES WITH LETTER O

DATENIGHT

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kcparent.com january 2021

“O”h boy! It’s time to plan your monthly date night!

OSTERIA IL CENTRO For almost 25 years now, Osteria il Centro has been serving up some of Kansas City’s finest Italian food. Being that their sister restaurants are Eggtc. and Minsky’s, we just knew it had to be good. It’s a small place with comfortable, intimate seating and Italian artwork adorning the walls.

Their weeknight happy hour features half-price appetizers and select glasses of wine for $8. The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. We enjoyed kicking off our meal with salads, wine and focaccia bread, which is to die for! For his entree, my husband had salmon with cilantro beurre blanc, saffron risotto and almond green beans. The green beans were absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. I opted for the spaghettini della casa with chicken, of which I savored every bite. I am not a big meat eater, but I really loved the chicken. And because of the portion size, I was able to enjoy leftovers twice!

OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM Open year-round and boasting of 300 acres to be explored, the Overland Park Arboretum entertains explorers, both young and old. I had been wanting to go check it out for the past several years, so we finally made it happen when we attended their ever-popular Luminary Walk this past December. We enjoyed the lights, the candle-lit walk through the winter woods and the large model train exhibit (plus the heat lamps and campfires!). There were also several “selfie spots” which were fun.

But the Luminary Walk is just one of many events held at the Arboretum each year. They have everything from light and sound shows to lawn and garden events, as well as yoga, candlelight strolls and wine tastings. Plus, they have hiking trails for those looking for some serious exercise. It’s a long drive for us from north of the river, but it was definitely worth a visit.

OUTLAW JIM & THE WHISKEY BENDERS Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders is an outlaw country band with sounds that beckon to Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. They also have been influenced by southern rock and New Orleans funk. The band travels extensively in the Midwest and South, but they call Kansas City home. You can see them play at various venues around the area, both indoors and out. Most recently, they were at Knuckleheads, a very popular music venue in town. Their complex houses four different stages and is a fantastic place to see a show! Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders play original songs and sing-a-long favorites. If you like country music, especially the older stuff, then you will definitely like them. It makes for a great date night, and their music is guaranteed to get your toes tappin’.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in Kansas City. They enjoy regular date nights and love trying new restaurants and activities.

FOR GREAT DATE NIGHT IDEAS STARTING WITH A-N, HEAD TO KCPARENT.COM!

Free (or cheap) Ideas IN KC

Want More in Life?

Looking for KC family fun on the cheap? Celebrate the winter season with these free and cheap Kansas City area ideas!

4,000 Kansas City area children are in crisis due to child abuse, neglect or other family challenges. The need for new foster and adoptive parents is greater than ever.

THIS WINTER

1 Watch fish in the aquariums at

Cabela’s (913.328.0322) or Bass Pro (816.795.4300).

2 Visit Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop

& Farm that is especially fun on snowy Saturdays when horse-drawn sleigh rides are offered—weather permitting.

Here’s a way to experience the joy of parenthood and help children

Whether you are single or married, own or rent your home, have children already or don’t, work full-time or stay home, you may qualify.

We provide free training, 24/7 support, and monthly reimbursement to meet the child’s needs.

3 Tour the Roasterie and learn about coffee. Learn the history, take a walk along our Green Coffee Mile, sample our coffee and watch a brewing demonstration. It’s all things coffee in one place.

4 Appreciate art at free first Fridays in the Crossroads.

5 Explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

6 Visit the animals indoors at Lakeside Nature Center.

Contact us to learn more. (888) 655-5500 | www.kvckansas.org

Let our family take care of your family!

7 Step back in time at the Lanesfield

School Historic Site. The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays and tells the story of a typical 20thcentury school day.

8 Marvel at modern art at the

Nerman Museum, where admission is free.

9 Take a winter hike at Ernie Miller Nature Center.

10 Visit the National Archives of Kansas City and explore their free exhibits.

11 Build a no-cost project at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Both offer free workshops on select Saturdays.

12 Get free money at the Money Museum.

Kid friendly environment serving infants through adults

13 Learn about nature at the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary.

14 And remember to search Free Events on our Kansas City calendar, where you’ll find free (and cheap) things to enjoy every day.

Providing Family & Pediatric Dentistry

6004 N. State Route 9, Parkville, Missouri 64152 (816) 746-KIDS (5437) www.parkvillepediatricdentistry.com

Dr. Rachael Graue Dr. J. Reese Graue Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

General Dentist

kcparent.com january 2021

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ASK THE EXPERTS

MEET THE

EXPERTS We have a wide range of experts on hand to answer your questions on everything from dental visits and playdates to dance lessons, lawns and so much more!

If you have a question that needs answering, get in touch.

Dr. Jeremy Fry

Megan Maciel

FRY ORTHODONTICS

KVC KANSAS

At Fry Orthodontics, we have been providing superior service to patients of all ages for more than 40 years while helping them achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.

913.469.9191, FryOrthodontics.com

KVC Kansas provides heart-centered services to children and families through in-home family support, foster care, adoption, behavioral health care and children’s psychiatric hospitals.

913.499.8100, Kansas.kvc.org

Barbara Nickless

Ram Chettiar, DO

SYLVAN OF KANSAS CITY

CHILDREN’S MERCY HOSPITAL

Sylvan offers a wide range of tutoring for every age and grade from pre-K through college, to meet your child’s individual needs and goals. 816.468.7900, locations.sylvanlearning.com/us/kansascity-mo

Children’s Mercy is one of the nation’s top pediatric medical centers. With hospitals and specialty clinics in Missouri and Kansas, we provide the highest level of care for children.

816.234.3000, ChildrensMercy.org

ASK THE EXPERTS...If you have a question, send it our way and we’ll ask one of our experts to answer.

Email editor@kcparent.com and put “Ask the Experts” in the subject line.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any medical questions or concerns.

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kcparent.com january 2021

ASK THE EXPERTS

Q

Q

What’s the best age for my daughter to get braces?

What is the main goal of foster care?

It is best to have an evaluation with an orthodontist by the age of 7. At age 7, most patients don’t need treatment, but we ensure all of the teeth are growing correctly and build a relationship. At Fry Orthodontics, we aim to have the orthodontic experience take the shortest time possible. This goal means that most patients have braces only once when all of the adult teeth are grown. For girls, that age is usually between 11 and 12, and for boys it is between 12 and 13.

There are different philosophies among orthodontists about doing braces or “expanders” or “spreaders” earlier than 11-13 years old. We believe that these options usually are unnecessary to get a beautiful healthy smile in the end.

Dr. Jeremy Fry

Foster care is a temporary arrangement for children and teens when their parents or caregivers are going through crisis. When youth cannot remain safely in the home, child welfare agencies work diligently with the family to resolve the conflicts or disruptions that resulted in the child entering foster care through intensive family-centered services. The primary goal is to return the child to their home with additional supports in place for the family. Foster families come alongside the biological family to provide support while the family is in crisis, provide a stable home environment for the children and teens, and model appropriate parenting.

Megan Maciel Director of Recruitment and Communication, KVC Kansas

Fry Orthodontics

Q

Q

My child is always procrastinating when it comes to getting homework completed. What can I do to help?

How much screen time is okay for kids?

We aren’t born master jugglers (homework, practice, etc.), but time management and organization are teachable. At Sylvan, we say goodbye to procrastination with: 1) Academic Planners–Track homework, tests, and extracurriculars (paperbased/electronic); 2) Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Calendars–Plot big events monthly, commit time weekly for complex tasks, and make daily to-do lists; 3) Uncovering Teacher Expectations–Ask about homework, tests/quizzes, grades, and participation; 4) Real-Time Grades–Record scores in academic planner or grade tracker; and 5) Project Planning–Divide tasks, assign deadlines. Be involved. Encourage. Don’t give up; start with one tool at a time. You may find your child learns better from another person–Sylvan teachers can help your child develop life-long skills.

Barbara Nickless

With kids’ virtual learning and activities, we find ourselves overwhelmed with screen time. Data shows that kids are spending about 50 percent more time in front of screens than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Typical age-appropriate limits: • Under 18 months: no screen time except video chatting with loved ones • 18 months to 2 years old: 1 hour per day of high quality educational content, co-watching with adult • 3 to 5 years old: 1 hour per day • 6 to 10 years old: 1.5 hours per day • 11+ years old: 2 hours per day But during these unprecedented times, screen time guidelines are not always possible or reasonable to follow. Instead of focusing on the amount of time spent, focus on how to make screen time more meaningful.

Ram Chettiar Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Children’s Mercy

Center Director, Sylvan of Kansas City North kcparent.com january 2021

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SPEED UP THE DAWDLER

day, start talking about what you will do in the morning and what your child’s responsibilities are. Discussing the morning routine before heading to bed means fewer last-minute surprises for your children and more time for them to process what the morning will look like.

Explicitly teach and model your expectations. Adults often forget that children, especially younger ones, may not know exactly what we mean when we make a request or understand exactly how we want something done. Simply taking the time to clearly describe and do a task yourself will clarify your expectations. For example, model getting socks and shoes out and putting them on. Then, have your child practice following your example while you provide praise. Remind him that this is what you expect to see in the morning when you ask him again.

Practicing often makes perfect!

Timing is everything. Especially as you first begin teaching and practicing expectations, be sure to start getting ready to go a few minutes early. It’s not always possible, but if you can do it, it’s worth it.

Keep consistent routines. This

D

uring my time as an elementary teacher, I’ve worked with my share of dawdling kids. You know the ones: Nothing seems to get those little feet moving any faster no matter how many times you say, “Hurry up!” Because I tend to be an impatient person, the experience can be utterly frustrating. So imagine my surprise when my firstborn came along and seemed to have no sense of urgency; rather, he seems to embrace the concept of stopping to smell the roses a little too much!

I’ve noticed that all my last-minute, harried prompts to rush a child don’t really help much. In fact, the more a person does it, the less kids seem to notice or respond to it! Getting your crew out the door—and

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fully dressed and fed—can be tricky, so here are some tips to get everyone where they need to be on time:

takes away any confusion about your expectations. Once the getting-ready-togo steps are done regularly, they become an automatic routine for your child!

Children thrive on a consistent schedule.

You want to avoid your routine being a harried morning with constant nagging; replace it with a calm routine where everyone knows what is expected.

Plan ahead. Getting to bed on time the

Provide your child with choices.

night before; prepping clothes, lunches and other supplies; and getting up on time are must-do’s when hoping to get out the door the next morning on time. If you find yourself stuck in a pattern of late a.m. departures, see what you can do the night before to set you and your family up for success!

Some days they don’t want to eat the breakfast you prepared or wear their jackets when it’s chilly. When I’m in a hurry, I tend to just grab something, and if my child doesn’t want my choice, a power struggle is likely to ensue.

Instead, provide a choice between two options: “Which jacket do you want to wear today, the gray or blue one? Giving your children a voice and choice in the routine gives them some control and can eliminate arguing.

Set clear expectations. Take the time to discuss expectations with your children before you are in the heat of the moment.

For example, the night before a school

Praise, encourage and prompt.

Be specific with your praise and let your children know what they are doing well!

“Good job getting your socks and shoes on!

Now you need to go get your backpack.”

Prompting with direct cues rather than nonspecific “hurry up” phrases sends a clearer, calmer message that your little ones are more likely to respond to.

Create a checklist or visual prompts.

Younger children may especially benefit from seeing and tracking the steps to get ready to go somewhere. Teach them how to use a checklist or create other visuals that outline the steps needed to get ready to go to school, church or practice.

Putting these steps in action can go a long way toward getting your family out the door on time and with less stress! Just remember, everyone has off days. When things aren’t going your way, remain calm, take a deep breath and refocus.

Emily Cline lives in Lenexa with her husband, 4-year-old son and new baby girl.

She is an instructor of education at a local university and blogs about motherhood at EmilysLittleLoves.com.

Get organized to save time!

Good organizational systems at home can support your routines. Set aside certain spots where your child can expect to do a task when leaving or arriving home. Use this short checklist to see whether you have common household areas set up to use with your child when practicing expectations:

• A place to keep shoes and put them on and take them off

• A place to hang jackets and coats • A place to keep school backpacks, folders and books

• A place to store sports, dance, music or other practice gear

• Seasonal items: A place to keep

swimwear, towels and pool bag, and a place for cold weather items, such as snow boots and hats

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21

family rules everyone can follow

A

nyone else have a love/hate relationship with rules? Just about everything seems to have a set of rules or at least guidelines to live by, some type of parameters that can be enforced. We parents set rules to keep our families safe, secure, healthy and kind in particular ways. But let’s be real, the times for enforcing those rules seem to crop up most inconveniently. Of course, we already know parenting isn’t easy and there’s no simple instruction manual for how to raise good kids, so we do our best. And that means rules.

But rules are tricky. Even though we all have them, only a few seem to overlap.

Every family upholds different rules. It’s hard enough at home when you have to enforce your standards, frequently dropping everything to do so. It’s harder still when

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you’re outside your home and you must enforce someone else’s rules. Kids wonder why they, all of a sudden, can do something they weren’t allowed to do before and vice versa.

Teaching rules to our children is a monumental challenge. Tots are learning so much, but they don’t always have the understanding to grasp why they can or cannot do something. Babies and toddlers test every rule as much as they can because they think it’s a game. That constant testing often wears us down or winds us up so tight we lose our tempers. And as kids get older, they sometimes choose to disobey the rules even though they know better. I’ve heard multiple kids tell me, “I don’t care if I get in trouble. I want to do this anyway.” Sound familiar to anyone? Certainly, there are exceptions, but it seems that the older kids

get, the more they like to push, bend and manipulate the limits.

Below are some rules that seem to apply to many families. See which ones you have in common—and maybe get some fresh ideas, too.

SAFETY FIRST. No matter what ages your kids are, they are physically clumsy but intent on testing some type of boundary. Learning to walk, climbing stairs, riding bikes, scaling heights, going fast on something—these are just a few of their adventures. Their explorations naturally require some safety rules, guidelines about crossing streets and parking lots, following speed limits (if you have teen drivers) and getting adult supervision around sharp objects or fire.

I laugh a little as I write this safety part, because I think this is common sense stuff.

Rules are easy to break and frustrating to enforce but so necessary. One thing I’ve learned is rules work better, and kids follow them better, if everyone follows them—including the adults.

But the more I observe people—myself included—the more I see that basic safety isn’t always foremost in people’s minds. I too often find myself running after my own kids, friends’ kids or my nieces and nephews because I was distracted by general busyness.

And every parent feels like a broken record at times, shouting warnings to kids who start to dart into the street after a ball or fail to watch for cars while they’re riding bikes.

PICKING UP AFTER THEMSELVES. When I was a kid, I was terrible at this. My room was never clean. It’s been a life lesson for me that keeping things picked up is a good rule of thumb—but it’s easier said than done. With all their activities and the general distractions of childhood, kids move rapidly from one thing to the next, and so do we parents! We all function better, though, when we operate in a reasonably tidy environment.

The earlier you can get kids into the habit of picking up after themselves the better. The family will step on fewer sharp

edges and be able to find things quickly when they’re needed. Recognize that you’ll have exceptionally long days and weeks—or returns from trips—that will just overwhelm your home with clutter. That’s life. But work at chipping away at the chaos and cultivate little habits of tidiness in your family. You’ll create a semblance of order, and everyone will appreciate the peace and relief that brings.

RESPECTING OTHERS. Whether we are in public or behind closed doors, respecting others and their things is always a good rule to follow. From an early age, our children need to see us honoring the humanity of others, respecting their beliefs and treating their possessions with care. We also have to actively teach those attitudes and behaviors.

We teach kids at a young age to share their toys or snacks. We teach them to try not to break things. (Kids are hard on everything, so that’s a real feat.) We teach them to speak kindly and respectfully and listen empathetically, no matter who the other

person is—just like they’d want to be treated.

Following the old Golden Rule doesn’t come naturally, but the effort we spend teaching it is worth it.

Rules are easy to break and frustrating to enforce but so necessary. One thing I’ve learned is rules work better, and kids follow them better, if everyone follows them—including the adults. Kids learn by example and by consistent instruction and enforcement. They may not always understand rules are there for their own good and protection, but we parents need to give them the boundaries and structure they need to thrive as growing humans and, someday, independent adults. Think through the rules and values you want to teach your kids, then be purposeful as a family about building those habits. You’ll be laying a solid foundation.

Lauren Dreher lives in Stilwell with her husband and two toddlers.

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kcparent.com january 2021

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get real RESOLUTIONS Maybe 2021 will be the year to try making goals together as a family or involving your children in the process if they are old enough.

What a great way to boost each other up and have specific things to encourage each other over. I think after 2020 we all could use a bit of that now, couldn’t we?

W

ouldn’t it be great if we could set New Year’s resolutions and actually stick to them? Just imagine if, by July, we were all rocking our resolutions! Although this might be true for some of you, the reality is, by February, most people have ditched their resolutions or their motivation has petered out. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, the failure rate for New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent. So just what can you do to ensure success for your resolutions? Read on!

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Start small.

Excitement about your resolutions is great, but rein in your gung-ho attitude ever so slightly and consider setting only one or two goals instead of a laundry list. Having too many will make staying focused and motivated hard and losing track easy. Susan of Overland Park says, “The only resolution I’ve ever kept all year is making my bed.

We’ve made our bed every day, except five days of not feeling well, so that’s a record for me for sure. I decided I needed to feel successful with one thing in my life in 2020!”

Be specific.

“Being more specific has helped me,” says Amy of Leawood. “I can say ‘work out more,’ but what does that look like? So instead of reading more, working out more, being on my phone less, etc., I phrase it as ‘read one book a month, run 30 miles each month, put my phone away by 9:00 each night, don’t open apps or email until after school dropoff.’ This feels more manageable and also puts a name to it.”

Set measurable goals.

More specific goals are important for you to maintain success but also make it easier to measure progress. If your resolution is to “get healthy,” how are you going to know when you have achieved that? Ask yourself what “get healthy” means for you. Do you want to drink more water? Eat more vegetables?

Exercise more? As mentioned above, making your resolutions specific will break them down into measurable tasks to accomplish.

Perhaps “get healthy” will turn into going for a walk over your lunch break three or four times a week. Maybe you will decide to drink 64 ounces of water every day or, as Rebecca shares, “Drink one glass of water before coffee every morning.” Well ... maybe we don’t need to go that far....

Don’t skip the rewards!

I don’t know about you, but I love to be rewarded for a job well done. Who doesn’t?

So when it comes to setting a resolution for

yourself, remember to build in a reward too!

Go out and buy a new pair of leggings when you’ve run your 30 miles, or treat yourself to a special drink once you’ve hit your water goal for the week.

GRACE!

You will have setbacks and moments you feel like giving up on your resolution, especially if this is a new experience for you. Give yourself grace for those moments!

You may not be feeling well one day and be unable to get your walk or miles in. Perhaps you had dinner late with a friend and missed getting to bed by your goal time. Whatever the slip up is, realize this happens. Accept it, move on and then get yourself back in the game—don’t give up!

Here are a few great examples for resolutions that fit the bill for being small, specific and measurable: Try one new food a month. “I am a creature of habit and stick to my tried and true items. Many things I just pass on,” Michelle of Overland Park says, “but last year I tried blueberries (yes, I know it’s crazy) because my son went blueberry picking and brought some home special for me. Now, if anyone offers me something, I will at least try a bite!” Along those same lines, Tracy and her husband, who live in Kansas City, tried one new restaurant a month in 2019. “Date night plus discovering our city was so fun!” she says.

Try meditation practices once, twice or maybe even three times a week. “I find when I meditate regularly, I am much more focused, and my stress level is significantly reduced,” says Mandy of Overland Park. “I use a popular app called Calm. Each session is only about 10-15 minutes, so easy to fit in during your day.”

Implement technology-free dinners or a technology-free night. “Absolutely no electronics at the dinner table for children and adults. It’s harder than you think

but so worth it. Makes humans actually communicate!” says Stephanie of Olathe.

My husband and I used to do one night a week technology free. This meant no phone, no television, no laptop, nada. Those nights eventually went by the wayside, but I often find myself missing them. We would actually go to bed at a decent time, play games together, read or get projects done.

Maybe 2021 will be our year to bring those nights back!

Set a new goal for sleep! It seems we can never get enough of it and are always tired, so set your resolution for 2021 to be in bed by 10:00 every night (or whatever time you decide for yourself). On the opposite end, perhaps waking up 15 minutes earlier than you have been would be of great benefit to you to get your day started right. Or bring two resolutions together and set a goal to read or meditate before your early bedtime instead of watching TV or using your phone.

I hope as you have read this you have been encouraged to make your resolutions!

Maybe 2021 will be the year to try making goals together as a family or involving your children in the process if they are old enough.

What a great way to boost each other up and have specific things to encourage each other over. I think after 2020 we all could use a bit of that now, couldn’t we?

Julie Collett is typically not a New Year’s resolution maker herself but is going to try these strategies for 2021 and see what happens!

What’s your resolution category this year?

• Fitness/health • Finances • Technology • Relationships • Work/job • Faith

kcparent.com january 2021

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tips to boost your child’s

reading skills

A,B,Cs

and 1, 2, 3s are the basics of early education. But did you know that reading and arithmetic ability in childhood are actually huge predictors of a child’s future success? Studies have shown that young students with higher reading and math skills end up earning more income, having better homes and enjoying more professional careers later in life. How children are reading in third grade can influence the rest of their education because, at that point, kids stop learning to read and are expected to read to learn.

It’s a staggering thought, but instead of stressing over your child’s current skills, use this information as a reminder of the importance of keeping reading a priority in your child’s life. Some educators would even say the most important predictor of reading success is time spent reading with a parent.

Jacklynn Walters is a Kansas City mom with four children. She has a little bit of experience under her belt as a homeschooling mom, but she says her involvement with her kids seems to have a bigger impact than her curriculum. “I don't do formal lessons at a young age,” says Walters. “I want them to fall in love with the

“It’s important to encourage, not criticize. Children learn to read in certain ways. Let them enjoy it instead of making it an arduous activity.”

Jacklynn Walters

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idea of reading.” Walters' children are ages 10, 7, 5 and 2. She says the youngest may not catch on to everything she reads, but as long as she keeps her occupied with other activities, she listens.

The importance of this practice is echoed

by Allison Nelson, an elementary reading specialist for a local Kansas City area school district. She says to “make sure they are read to as young children. Having adults model reading is essential. They are exposed to rich language and learning what a fluent reader sounds like.”

Although there is no substitute for a parent or grandparent reading to a child, there are other ways to support the practice.

You can have an older child read to a younger child, go to story time at the local library or use online resources like StoryLineOnline.net or YouTube to find people reading children’s books aloud. You can choose which book, who’s reading, grade level and even see the length of the story.

Nelson says that while you want to offer books that capture a child’s interest, it’s also important to read nonfiction, too. “This will be the majority of texts they will be reading as they go through school and beyond. Help them to cultivate a love of reading and not focus on using it as a punishment or ‘have to do’ before doing something fun.”

Reading aloud introduces vocabulary to your child. Walters says she recently read the Golden Book The Little Engine That Could to her children and was reminded once again of the depth. “It’s not long, but it’s a beautiful story and vocabulary rich.

When new words pop up, my kids begin to ask what it means. I explain and use it in a different context, and now it’s been introduced into their minds.”

Nelson says it’s also vital that kids use phonics as they are learning to read or in improving their reading skills. Phonics, in its simplest form, is sounding out letters and words. This means kids will need to know the sounds each letter makes and how they come together. In reading terms, this is known as “decoding.” As children progress in their reading abilities, you can sit with them and have them read aloud to you. If your child comes to a word he doesn’t know, the first step is to try sounding it out. If that doesn’t work, you can skip it or replace it with a word that makes sense.

When you are allowing your children to read to you, patience is of utmost importance. Set aside a specific amount of time just for reading and don’t rush.

Learning to read can be a slow and challenging process, but the skill is critical to their education. Reading out loud increases comprehension and builds fluidity.

And when children can share their victories with you, such as getting through a whole book, reading a difficult word or increasing their speed, their self-confidence blossoms.

As their confidence grows, so does their ability. It’s a beautiful cycle, but it can be undermined if you are impatient or critical.

“It’s important to encourage, not criticize. Children learn to read in certain ways. Let them enjoy it instead of making it an arduous activity,” Walters says. “You need to be consistent. Not drilling it in, just taking little bites off, allowing kids to grow and learn at their own pace within reason. It’s good to challenge them, but you can’t compare kids. Kids have different personalities and different styles.”

Finally, Nelson says you want to have a wide variety of books at home, in the car or in your on-the-go bag if you are running errands. “Make it a part of your everyday life. Less screen time and more reading, no matter what the level.”

An excursion to the library is a great field trip. The books are free, there are lots of options to look at, it gets kids out of the house and they can choose as many books as they want. Then, when they start to get bored with what they have, you can exchange them for something new.

Reading is not a natural process, but it is a foundational skill that can grow into a love of learning with a parent’s or grandparent’s involvement. It’s an incredible thought that you can participate now in your child’s future success with a little time, a little patience and a little consistency.

Christian Barnes lives in Kansas City with her husband and two nearly grown sons.

She's fascinated by how children think and learn and enjoys sharing any information she's gathered with others.

Although all children learn at their own pace, Nelson says there are times when they might need extra help. This is not a cause for worry, but the sooner you get the support your child needs, the less chance she has to fall behind in her reading skills.

Things to look for in kids’ reading journey:

Preschool or kindergarten:

• Having trouble rhyming

• Unable to say the sounds of the letters

• Can’t hear the beginning and ending sounds of a word

First or second grade:

• Unable to read basic words or sound out intermediary words

• Relying more on pictures to tell a story instead of reading

• Don’t know how to put phonics rules into practice.

Upper elementary school:

• Has trouble retelling about what he just read

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Priority

MOMS, MAKE YOUR HEALTH A

S

elf-care, today’s buzzword, is actually the most important way to stay positive, healthy and happy every day of the year. We moms make sure to prioritize our children’s health, scheduling regular checkups, immunizations, and dental and eye appointments. And packing their healthy lunch is a no brainer, but we often neglect our own needs. It’s simply what we do!

As this new year begins, why not try a little harder to be kind to yourself? This does not necessarily mean making those pesky resolutions, but it means reminding yourself that you are a valuable part of your family, and the better you feel, the better a mom you’ll be.

No matter how tired you are, try to make the effort to wash your face before bed. A warm washcloth applied to your face for even a few minutes will do wonders. Always apply moisturizer, whether your favorite is from Clinique or Olea or Estee Lauder.

And at least a few times a week, take that extra five or 10 minutes to exfoliate with a Clarisonic brush and cleanser.

For another treat, many facial masks can be applied for just 10 minutes and then

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washed away with warm water. Trader Joe’s has a variety, including rose gel, clay detox, pineapple papaya enzyme and more, all online.

A number of years ago, my mother made me a satin pillowcase, and it is my go-to for a soft end to the day. The silky fabric keeps your hair smoother and doesn’t dry off those facial moisturizers. My mom swears by it, and her mother and grandmother did too, making them on their sewing machines

for the girls in the family. If you’re not a seamstress, you can find them online.

Now that your face is pampered, pay attention to your frame. An exercise ball is truly a simple way to stretch your back, ease tension and prepare you for a quick batch of sit-ups. Whether you do it after morning coffee, at midday or before settling in for the evening, enlist your kids in your workout routine. Have one sit on your feet as you recline on that exercise ball to add weight to your leg lifts!

Some quick, free ways to care for yourself!

• Go for a walk, either alone or after dinner with the kiddos.

• Work out or practice yoga to release endorphins.

• Schedule a playdate and enjoy quality adult time with a friend while the kids play.

• Reading, whether fluff or quality, is a great escape.

• Go to the park and swing with your kids!

• Take a bubble bath.

• Phone a friend and actually talk. Hearing another’s voice is a great boost apart from social media.

• Cuddle a pet or go to a pet shelter and walk the dogs. You can’t help but smile when they wag those tails!

• Volunteer at a homeless shelter, Hope House or your church. Give and you shall receive.

• Take a nap!

When you make a doctor’s appointment for your child, make one for yourself at the same time. If hers is on Tuesday, make yours for Thursday. Stack dentist appointments and go when your kids go, so everyone gets healthy teeth.

Do breast self-checks in the shower and

keep current on your mammograms. This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your children. Visit a dermatologist once a year to check for any skin changes. And visit your gynecologist at least once a year, even when you’re not pregnant. It’s important to keep yourself in good working order.

Lastly, grab sleep when you can.

Nothing does a body more good than getting enough rest. A groggy mind makes for irritability and can even make you more susceptible to illness. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help either. If you feel overwhelmed, you might be surprised how happy that older neighbor would be to watch little Jenny while you take a shower or a nap, or just put on your makeup.

Mommyhood is not an easy job.

During pregnancy most moms find it easy to take great care of themselves. They don’t smoke and they try to eat healthfully, sleep regularly and exercise faithfully. After all, they’re growing new lives within. That resolve trickles away for most of us when we hear that first newborn cry and we shift

to spending every moment caring for that little human. Remember, that child will learn from your example. If you drink eight glasses of water a day, so will she. If you lead by example and go running, he won’t forget that throughout his life.

Looking after yourself is not selfish. In the long run, you will be a better person for it. More energy is one of the best things you can give your child, and that comes from taking small steps through each day to feel better.

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

Sources: OurFamilyWorld.com, HealthyChildren.org, VeryWellFamily.com

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29

Spruce Up Your Kitchen in 2021 Five colorful, on-trend cabinet stylings

FAMILY FEATURES

A Sea of Blue

he kitchen is the heart of many homes, and careful planning is a necessity when it comes to redesigning this essential living space. Picking out cabinetry–and a color for those cabinets, in particular–can be a challenging process.

Everything from the style of your cabinets to the amount of natural light your space receives are key factors to consider when choosing an updated hue. Although white cabinets are an everlasting choice, and wood-stained cabinetry once held 70 percent of the market, painted cabinets now account for 70 percent of sales, signaling a significant shift among homeowners and their preferences.

Even though you’ll encounter virtually no limitations when it comes to the paint, stain and glaze options available to complement your overall kitchen design, the current stylings reflected in Wellborn Cabinet’s annual color trends provide an opening to a range of impactful colors, such as grays, blues, blacks and wood tones, and a mixture of these on-trend hues.

One of today’s hottest trends in kitchen cabinetry is the use of shades of blue, which provide calming and restful effects and the feeling of harmony and serenity. Pops of blue can be used as an accent color on islands or on either upper or base cabinets. To balance out these dramatic darks, many homeowners are opting to pair a bold color choice like a navy hue–such as bleu–with neutral to warm whites, such as wool and bone white, to create a crisp, clean look. Gold hardware can be used on navy cabinetry for an upscale and regal look, while silver-tone hardware provides a contemporary finishing touch.

While lighter shades of blue, like aqua, are perfect for keeping spaces light and airy, one of the latest colors to emerge is a midtone classic blue. A balanced option like sapphire from Wellborn Cabinet, which is a classic, mid-tone royal blue available in the Premier and Estate Series framed cabinetry, as well as the full-access, frameless Aspire Series, can help create energy and inspiration for dining or cooking.

T

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A Gray for Every Mood While gray cabinets have been a popular design choice for several years, much like shades of white, no two grays are exactly alike. Cabinet colors live on a color spectrum that ranges from warm to neutral to dark; warm grays have yellow or brown undertones while cool grays have hushed hues of blue.

Neutral gray, or Ash, is a true black and white mixture of colors. However, many homeowners are opting for warmer or cooler shades instead.

For example, light gray cabinets can create a chic, modern motif for homeowners looking to liven up their space while avoiding completely white cabinetry. One of the latest gray trends is a warmer gray that can look almost beige, earning the nickname “greige.” Shades of dark gray–whether painted or stained–are also options for making a luxurious, traditional statement that can span everchanging color trends.

Mixed Wood Tones Even with the rise in painted woods, stains are seeing a surge in popularity. The application of stain to natural wood can enhance the character of the cabinetry. Neutral color, dimension, texture and soft luxury can be layered into nearly any space to create a blended balance.

Wood grains typically pair well with whites, grays, blues and brass tones – all of which are popular colors in modern kitchens and other localized entertaining areas such as in-home refreshment areas or bars.

Dark Drama Often regarded as more of an accent color, black has become livable, luxe and inviting with textured woods adding rustic, homely charm. For example, Wellborn Cabinet offers a decorative laminate veneer option in matte black. Edgy but classic, black cabinets can pair perfectly with nearly any design element still in its natural wooden state to create a distinct style that is all your own.

Multi-Tones and Unexpected Pops of Color While all-white palettes have long reigned supreme in the kitchen for their timelessness and versatility, straying from neutral tones can add an energetic and welcoming feel to nearly any space. Smaller kitchens that once had an all-white look are getting a facelift by adding a burst of bright, bold color on either the upper or base cabinets.

Adding colorful retro appliances or using the island as a canvas for an energetic and welcoming pop of color can also make a similar statement and help create a space unique to your style and personality.

Many homeowners are even pairing two or more complementary colors to create two- and three-toned looks. For example, lighter gray, shale or blue can be used for the upper cabinets with darker shades used below for the base cabinetry, or a neutral hue can be used on the uppers with a contrast color on the bottom. In three-toned kitchens, an additional color or material is introduced to create asymmetry in the palette to help define zones or functions and keep the eye moving.

Find more on-trend kitchen inspiration and color options at Wellborn.com. kcparent.com january 2021

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a r t e of h t

happiness

Merriam-Webster defines happiness as: (a) a state of well-being and contentment : joy (b) a pleasurable or satisfying experience.

Happiness is something we strive for in our everyday lives and want for our families. How do we get and keep it? Where can it be found? Read on to find out about happiness and how families in Kansas City keep that happy feeling day in and day out.

getting happy by giving back

By Margaret Sarver

f

eeling down and need a pick-me-up?

Volunteering not only helps you feel good, but people who volunteer have lower rates of heart disease and live longer than those who don’t volunteer, according to a recent report in the Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource newsletter. Volunteering can boost mental health, too. It’s a great way to stay connected socially—and those social connections can help buffer stress and get a person through hard times. Volunteering also can help provide a sense of purpose. To realize the health benefits of volunteering, you’ll need a commitment of 40 to 100 hours a year, studies have shown. That equates to a couple of hours a week. To get started:

• determine your interests. Think

about what’s enjoyable and what makes you happy. Or focus on an issue you care deeply about. Consider skills you’ve developed over the years and can share or skills you’d like to learn.

• find organizations and opportunities.

Do online research, check community bulletin boards or visit the local library.

Kansas City has many worthwhile opportunities: hospitals, schools, libraries, food banks, religious organizations, parks, environmental programs, youth groups, humane societies, historic sites and arts organizations. You might even consider reaching beyond the metro area.

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• decide how much time you can offer.

Opportunities range from getting involved in short-term events such as fundraising walks or bicycle rides to longer-term, ongoing activities such as tutoring.

• make your move. Phone or visit the

organization you’re interested in to determine whether the mutual fit is a good one. If it’s not, keep looking. Many organizations would welcome the skills and wisdom you can share.

Commit Random Acts of Kindness If at this stage of life you don’t have time to commit to a weekly volunteer project, then think about committing a random act of kindness! One good deed each day can help up the happiness factor in your daily life. And it’s easy to include the kids. Challenge family members to do a random act each day and then discuss your results over dinner. Not only will you make someone else happy, you’ll make yourself happier as well.

Need some inspiration?

Here are some ideas to get you started: • Buy a flower and leave it on a friend’s doorstep.

• While running errands, give a stranger a compliment.

• Hold the door open for someone.

• Write a letter to a friend letting her know how special she is to you.

• Bake cookies and bring to the local police or fire station.

• Send a text wishing someone a good day.

• Bring in a neighbor’s trash cans.

• Complete a household chore without being asked.

happiness by the numbers We asked readers to take a happiness survey, and here’s what they had to say:

top activities that make parents happy

• Seeing kids happy • Spending quality time

with family • Socializing with friends • Date night/adult-only time • Playing games

top activities that make kids happy • Hanging out with friends • Playing games • Being outside • Outings (park, zoo, amusement park) • Doing well in school

things that bring you down:

58% Children arguing 35% Stresses over current events 32% Money worries 24% Not enough time daily happiness habits: • Daily devotions • Coffee in the morning • Me time • Exercise • Talking to family/friends • Listening to music

we asked: “Which activities would make your family happier?”

you answered: Dining out (45%) OR Eating a meal together at home (55%) Taking a vacay (92%) OR Getting a new car (8%) Having more money (32%) OR Having more time (68%) Hiring a house cleaner (89%) OR Hiring a cook (11%)

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t

here’s no such thing as a perfect family.

Everyone experiences challenges and frustrations with their familial situation and the members of it. But despite imperfect circumstances, some families seem to live a fuller, happier life and genuinely enjoy the time they spend together. What is the secret to a (mostly) happy family?

family meals “It is so important to fix meals and have dinner together,” says Lauren Johnson, Olathe mom of three. Today’s families are busy in the evenings. Balancing work, school and extracurricular activities can make it difficult for families to find time to sit down and share a meal together. According to Gallup, the number of families who dine together on a regular basis is down 37 percent since the 1990s. Happy families are part of each other’s lives and care about what is going on with each other day-to-day. Olathe mom of three Amy Branton says, “There is so much fun and relationship building that happens around the dinner table.” Dinnertime is a great opportunity to bond with each other and check in on how things are going. It may not be possible to sit down for a family meal every day of the week, but even taking the time to turn off electronics and share a meal two or three times a week will make a big impact on your family dynamics.

work together Working on a project together not only teaches your children the value of hard work and a sense of accomplishment but will also help your family build their relationships as they work as a team to accomplish the same goal. Similarly, chore charts or giving each child a job helps the whole gang feel like they are important and contributing to the family household, which gives them a sense of purpose.

play together

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A family shouldn't have all work and no play. “I think we have more fun and are closer when we play together,” says Shawnee mom Kara Thomas. “We routinely have game nights.” Find something your family enjoys doing together, such as playing games, doing puzzles, watching movies, hiking, bicycling or

traveling. Be intentional about spending that enjoyable downtime together. This will help build memories and relationships, and the whole family will feel happier.

your family know you will always be there for them, no matter what happens.” This assurance gives kids confidence they always have someone to turn to in any situation.

extended family

be flexible

Spending time with extended family, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, demonstrates the importance of family to your kids. Kids who have strong relationships with their extended family will feel like they have a support system behind them, giving them confidence and assurance as they grow. They will also look to how their parents interact with their siblings and parents and model their relationships similarly. This is a great way to promote good relationships with your children as they grow into adults. Regular extended family interactions also help model important skills like resolving conflict, lending a helping hand when someone is in need, and simply relaxing and enjoying each other.

Having clear rules for your children and consistent discipline is crucial—it gives kids a sense of security. Many families, however, also find that flexibility is just as important. Being willing to adjust the rules if something isn’t working, and admitting when you are wrong are great ways to teach your kids healthy communication. Working with your kids to find a set of rules that everyone can happily live with creates better balance and fewer fights.

communication Everyone’s thoughts and opinions are important in a family. Model healthy communication with your spouse and children by avoiding yelling, listening attentively, asking questions and following up on previously shared concerns. Kids who feel valued will be happier and more confident. Lisa Meyers, Olathe mother and grandmother, says, “It’s important to let

family traditions Traditions often are created around holidays, like baking cookies on Christmas Eve, carving pumpkins on Halloween or camping on Labor Day weekend. They can also be just for fun! Olathe mom Mary Berg says her family regularly observes a unique tradition: “We have Unhealthy Donut Day every week.” Traditions help kids know what to expect and give them something to look forward to. They also create happy memories.

show some affection Loving families give affection freely.

Physical touch is a great way to show your kids you love them. A hug, back scratch or

snuggle on the couch can make your child feel safe and loved. Giving family members positive verbal feedback is also great. Let them know you care by saying it. Tell them how great you think they are, say I love you, acknowledge their hard work, thank them and give positive feedback when possible. We often find it easier to criticize those closest to us, but it’s important to be intentional about building up those we care about.

There is no such thing as a perfectly happy family. Everyone faces hardships, and we get annoyed with the people in our household. We face financial difficulty, sickness, stress at work and school, and a number of other challenges. Through all this, though, your family is constant and present to share the burdens. Parents can set an example of how to respond positively and be loving and caring. The real secret is that even when the circumstances aren’t perfect, you can still be a happy family.

Sarah Lyons is a part-time freelance writer and full-time mom. She lives in Olathe with her family.

Sources: News.gallup.com/poll/10336/Empty-SeatsFewer-Families-Eat-Together.aspx TheFamilyDinnerProject.org

additional benefits of family dinner ommunication – Family dinner is a great time to talk about your day and listen to other family members’ highs and •C lows. It also gives parents a chance to offer support and encouragement.

• Healthier – Home-cooked meals are healthier than quick prep and fast food meals. Eating at home also means you control the size of the portions, leading to less waste and encouraging healthy eating habits.

• Cost savings – Going out to eat, even fast food, can become very costly for families. Eating at home and cooking your own meals is almost always cheaper.

• Long-term positive benefits for kids – Kids who eat dinner with their families are more likely to stay out of trouble and do better in school. TheFamilyDinnerProject.org

a t he rt of

happiness

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solutions to sibling

Strife

e

ven on the best of days, sibling rivalry is bound to rear its head. Children may fight for any number of reasons, whether it’s over possessions, a desire for attention, a need for control, pure boredom, a competitive nature or simply because

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they are tired or hungry. As a result, it can be easy for Mom and Dad to feel angry, exasperated and, maybe—if we’re honest— a bit amused when the bickering gets so creative! Sibling rivalry takes its toll on everyone it seems!

Here are some reasons why sibling rivalry may occur:

birth order. Just as your children’s birth order has bearing on how they treat one another, so you or your spouse’s birth

order will have impact on how you parent.

Birth order isn’t hard science, but knowing about it can help you empathize with the relationship dynamics of your own home more intuitively. The Birth Order Book

by Dr. Kevin Lehman is a good starting point for parents wanting to know more on this topic.

spacing. Children born close together have more in common, more contact with each other and more reason for comparison. All of this access can make for the best of friends or the worst of enemies—sometimes both, depending on the time of day! Likewise, children spaced further apart spend less time together, have different sets of friends and less need for comparison. gender. If one sex is given special treatment over another, it will be a recipe for dysfunction not only between parents and a child, but also between siblings. In many events, sexism doesn’t just happen because of cultural preferences but also because of family makeup. For instance, if a family has three boys and a girl, the girl may be favored simply for being different than the other three. family circumstances.

Living in close quarters, be it a small house or an apartment, can ramp up squabbles simply because individuals have less personal space. Going through a big transition, such as adding a new baby to the mix, losing a loved one, dealing with remarriage or divorce, making a move, or facing financial hardship can shake things up in big ways, too.

Tired parents often scratch their heads and wonder just why kids fight so much.

It may seem nonsensical to us adults, but a number of factors are at play, many of which are actually beneficial. First, it’s helpful to acknowledge that not getting along is just part of doing life together and it shows a degree of trust. It’s said that you argue with those that you love because it’s a safe place to express your feelings without fear of rejection. So don’t

beat yourself up if your kids argue. It’s not a sign that you’re poorly parenting or doing something wrong. If anything, it’s a sign your kids feel comfortable with each other (though they may feel a little too comfortable!). Second, learning to get along is an advanced skill set that takes a lifetime to refine. The goal shouldn’t be to avoid conflict altogether but to use those situations as learning opportunities for resolving conflict and respectfully and confidently standing up for yourself, while also mastering the art of negotiation and compromise. These are skills all children need as they grow and mature, and it will prepare them to have healthier interpersonal relationships outside your home. Viewing conflict as a training ground—not just a battleground—can be a paradigm shift that helps parents navigate the next tussle between their children.

tools for managing sibling rivalry ditch the labels.

Our nature is to categorize people and things, but when we communicate that we value our children for how they perform, we pit them against each other.

Labeling kids “the smart one,” “the musical prodigy” or “the star athlete” can inadvertently peg our kids into holes they don’t want to stay in long term, while preventing another child from trying something for which his sibling might be known for. Focus on affirming character qualities over talents—virtues such as grit, tenacity, kindness or compassion—so that everyone in the family can root for each other and not feel pressure to compete for Mom and Dad’s approval.

give positive attention.

Some kids are so hungry for parental attention they’ll seek it even if it’s in all the wrong ways. Be on the offensive and seek to fill your kids “love tanks” by spending time with them individually. It can be as simple as running errands together or as

lavish as a whole weekend getaway just for the two of you. Be a student of your child and learn the things that make him tick.

What are his interests and hobbies? What’s one food he couldn’t live without? What’s the best book he read this year? Delving into the things that your children love is one of the most meaningful ways for them to feel valued.

add calm, not chaos.

It can be easy to get wound up when you hear yelling from the other room, but kids need to be taught how to navigate conflict by example. Don’t match their volume level or fixate on who did what at the onset. Finding someone to blame is seldom helpful, especially if both were at fault in one way or another. Have everyone take a deep breath and then tell their side of things without interruption, starting with “I felt” statements (“I felt frustrated when you took my doll out of my hands!”).

Then ask the kids whether they can find a solution. If they can’t come up with any on their own, offer a few ideas until they can reach an agreement.

don’t apologize. ask forgiveness.

Making a child apologize when she’s not sorry can be counterproductive because it can feign reconciliation without any true peace being made. Instead of focusing on feeling apologetic, have your child focus on his actions. He doesn’t have to be repentant to acknowledge that he was wrong toward his brother.

“I was wrong to push you when I was angry. Will you forgive me?” goes much farther than a trite or insincere, “I’m sorry, okay!” Encourage your children to take responsibility for their actions toward one another and remind them of the importance of being quick to forgive so as not to harbor any bitterness.

Lauren Greenlee is a freelance writer and boymom of three hailing from Olathe.

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7 gentle ways to calm the chatter

w

help your chatterbox manage the compulsion to talk hile some kids will barely utter a word, their talkative brethren are more than happy to fill the silence. How do you know when talking has crossed from socially acceptable to problematic?

why kids talk and talk and talk... A child’s talking varies according to the situation. What parent doesn’t delight in the way her child’s face beams when he

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talks enthusiastically about something that was particularly interesting or rewarding at school?

Often nonstop talking is age-appropriate, such as when a toddler is excitedly developing her language skills. Some kids may talk your ear off at home but are quiet and shy at school.

On the other hand, you may have a social butterfly who finds it difficult to restrain herself from visiting with her neighbors during quiet time and classroom instruction.

“The important determining factor has to do with whether others are adversely affected,” says Dr. Richard Newman, a child psychologist. Newman specializes in working with school-aged children and adolescents who have problems that manifest in the classroom, including compulsive talking and disruption.

“I think it’s important to be tolerant about talking, to carefully listen to and watch for red flags for when talking creates problems and to discuss potential problems with children,” he says.

A youngster’s gift for gab becomes a concern if she constantly interrupts conversation, speaks in lengthy monologues and frequently gets into trouble at school for her talking. Worse, nonstop talking can cripple your child’s social relationships, leading to lower self-esteem and social isolation.

To help your Chatty Cathy learn to moderate her talking, try a few of these gentle methods to model appropriate conversation skills:

1 help your child feel heard.

Julie Hanks, a family psychotherapist, says to reflect to make your child feel listened to and more aware of his behavior. For example: “Hmmm ... you’ve told me that story about what you did at recess three times. It must have been really important to you.”

2 make eye contact.

When people don’t look at us when we address them, we aren’t sure whether they’re truly listening, and that can compel us to repeat ourselves. Put aside your phone, magazine or tablet and give your child your full attention when he talks to you.

“Sometimes kids repeat themselves because a parent is multitasking,” Hanks says.

3 notice your habits.

Ever heard your preschooler pretending to be you talking on the phone? Then you know that kids learn how to communicate with others by watching how their parents handle social situations. Model reciprocal communication, which occurs through body language like gestures and nods, eye contact and through dialogue in which one person speaks while the other listens and then responds.

4 establish boundaries.

Teach your child selfcontrol and self-regulation by setting boundaries. Point out times when it’s disruptive to talk, like in the quiet space at the library or while others want to listen to a speaker or a favorite song on the radio.

If you need a break from your child’s chattering, tell her you need some quiet time. Set the timer for 15 minutes and suggest that she play in her room quietly, look at a book or color.

5 make listening fun.

If your child’s talking interferes with other family members’ opportunities to speak, set a limit on how long she can talk before it’s the next person’s turn.

One way to practice turn-taking is to go around the table with an item like a pepper mill or an honorary spoon, which can symbolize a mic. Whoever holds the designated “mic” holds the floor, which means it’s his turn to share his news, quip or story. No interruptions, but others can ask questions of the person doing the talking to learn more about what he shared.

6 nurture social signal recognition.

Some children struggle to recognize social cues like body language and tone of voice. Play charades to practice different facial expressions and body language.

Acknowledge your child’s nonverbal signals and label emotions: “You’re smiling from ear to ear. Something good must have just happened!”

Look at picture books and ask your child what the character is feeling.

Make note of other people’s body language. For example, “That lady has her arms crossed and she’s talking loudly to the clerk. How do you think she’s feeling?”

Read dialogue in books with inflection to help your child discern how the characters must be feeling based on how the dialogue is spoken. One sentence spoken in different ways can carry a variety of connotations like anger, sarcasm or gentle teasing.

7 seek professional help.

If you’re concerned about your child’s constant chattering, consult with his pediatrician or a mental health professional. An assessment can determine whether your child’s talking is within the normal range of behavior or compulsive, i.e., he refuses to be interrupted, focuses on worries or fears, or gets extremely agitated when he can’t finish a story.

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines lives in Olathe and is the mom of two boys who love to talk.

Factors that can contribute to compulsive talking in kids: • High intellectual functioning • Personality and home environment • ADD/ADHD • Medications • Anxiety • Mood disorders

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C

hildren instinctively gravitate toward sensory play. Have you ever seen a child walk around a mud puddle? No. Kids automatically feel the need to explore that puddle, that sand, that layer of ice on top of the puddle.

And there is a good reason for that desire to engage in sensory play: It’s one of the best ways kids learn.

Children enjoy using all five senses as they play. They focus their sight on everything around them. They listen to the sounds, enjoy touching objects and smelling them and, when appropriate, tasting them. In addition to the five senses, children also learn body awareness and a sense of balance as they engage in hand-on activities.

As kids do simple sensory play activities, they gain cognitive skills, learn new language, learn social skills, problem solving skills and both fine and gross motor skills. Something as simple as playing in sand can help kids think about what sand is made of and where it came from, learn words such as smooth and rough, figure out ways to form the sand into shapes and problem solve that adding a bit of water aids in making that sand castle. Forming the sand into shapes builds motor skills, and waiting for a turn with a certain tool aids in social awareness.

Sensory play is fun. It has a calming effect on children, especially those who are nervous or anxious. Simple sensory activities can engage children for much longer periods of time than an adult-led activity because they are both fun and satisfying. Be aware that while it looks like kids are “just playing,” in reality they’re building new neural pathways in the brain, which sets the stage for deeper learning later on.

Here are some simple sensory activities, many of them using items you already have around the house.

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Play dough, slime, cloud dough and kinetic sand. These materials invite lots of squishing, shaping and creating.

Cloud dough is made simply with two parts cornstarch to one part hair conditioner.

Or you can use eight parts flour to one part baby oil. Kids love to play with these dough products and will find new ways to play with them each and every time. Lots of kinetic satisfaction here.

Musical activities. Kids love to move to the sounds of music. They like to play games such as musical chairs or freeze tag.

They also love to create sounds to go along with music. Homemade or purchased rhythm instruments, such as shakers, drums, maracas, and tambourines, will keep kids busy for long periods of time.

Simple scarves allow children to respond to music in dramatic ways, and making up dance moves is another way to hear and respond to the rhythms of music.

Listening games. Take your kids on a sound walk or simply stop all activity indoors and listen for a period of time.

Then ask your children to report on what

tickle their senses simple sensory play activities for your kids

BY JAN PIERCE

they heard. Another way to play this game is to have a checklist and search for various sounds, such as sirens, birdsong, shuffling of feet, etc. You can also play auditory processing games in which you give simple verbal directions and have the children follow them in order. Have children identify various animal sounds or random sounds, such as the noise a zipper makes or tearing a piece of paper.

Edible sensory play. Tasting fun can sometimes be the goal, such as tasting a variety of melons and identifying them. Or the fun can be in using items that, if tasted, are safe for children. Some edible ideas for sensory fun are playing with rainbow Jell-o, making cereal necklaces, finger painting with Cool Whip, yogurt or instant pudding, or playing in cooked pasta.

Painting, drawing and coloring. Using various art supplies is always a great way for children to express themselves and explore new learning. Keep a variety of pencils, markers, paints and coloring tools on hand. Bring out new ones periodically to keep the activities fresh and interesting. Invite your children to share their thoughts about their drawings or paintings or ask them to tell you a story about them.

Sensory tubs. Fill containers with a wide variety of substances, including sand, rice, cornmeal, oatmeal, dry beans, cooked spaghetti, seeds, water, tapioca or ice cubes. Kids love to sift, scoop, pour, sort, hunt for and organize objects found in the tubs.

You might try small sea creatures in

sand, pieces of sponge in water, or small animal and people figures in rice. Yes, these activities are sometimes messy, but they offer tons of sensory play experience.

By now you’ve probably thought of several sensory activities you can do with your kids without even leaving home. For more ideas and information on sensory play go to: CreativeConnectionsForKids.com HandsOnAsWeGrow.com Learning4Kids.net

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kids collections

a great way to boost learning and processing skills A great thing about collecting is that it naturally provides some fun teaching opportunities, without your kids’ realizing they’re learning.

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i

remember having collections as a child, don’t you? I remember the joy I felt when I added a new, sparkly rock to my rock collection. I recall my Hello Kitty sticker album where I not only collected, but arranged and categorized my stickers. I remember collecting these small fuzzy bears, which are now called “vintage” on eBay (Google it and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about!) and miniature Trolls before they were a blockbuster hit.

Guess I have kind of dated myself a bit! At any rate, while collections to us as adults

might seem trivial or useless, children can benefit greatly from starting and managing their own collections.

If your children are anything like mine, they are always collecting what I think are random items. I am always emptying out pockets before laundry, cup holders in the car, as well as finding more random items around their bedrooms and the house. Often I’m tempted to gather up these random items and pitch them into the nearest trash can. In fact, not too long ago, we lived in an apartment. At one point

there, our son’s stick collection was so big, we could have had a bonfire! Every time I left the apartment alone, I took a couple of sticks with me to find a new home for them!

I think sometimes we parents have difficulty not squelching a child’s desire to collect, because we just see clutter and space-takers that have no value. We often forget that many of us did this same type of collecting as children, and we also forget what children can learn from having sentimental collections.

A great thing about collecting is that it naturally provides some fun teaching opportunities, without your kids’ realizing they’re learning. Anna, whose 19-monthold collects different versions of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters (stuffed animals, bath toys, chunky puzzle pieces,

small figurines, stickers, etc.), highlights a great example of this exact situation. “At first it was just for fun, but then she started using them to draw comparisons,” Anna says. “She tells us which ones are bigger and smaller, softer and harder, matching in color, etc.

She’s also started using them to practice prepositions such as ‘Big Minnie is on small Minnie’ or ‘Goofy is next to Daisy.’ So not only does she just love them, but also they’ve become an easy, fun teaching tool too!”

Creativity is another benefit of children’s collections. “My oldest three kids are constantly collecting random things wherever we are (think Tinkerbell and her lost things). The middle two call themselves ‘junkers’ and they animatedly discuss what they can turn each new find into (e.g., this spring can be the neck of a robot, that part can be added to something else to create an airplane or rocket ship). It makes laundry day interesting for us with full pockets, but I love the creativity it engenders!” says Katrina.

Nora also shares how her son’s collection of stuffed animals fosters his imaginative play: “He will sit in his room for ages talking to and creating imaginative situations with his animals.”

Beginning a collection also can instill a passion in children, as well as introduce them to things they might not normally be interested in. For example, if your child’s grandparent shares a coin or stamp collection, or an older sibling has a baseball card collection, your child may take up an interest in one of those or decide she’d like to learn more about it. This might lead to a trip to the library so she can pick out some books on her newfound interest, which in turn can lead to a renewed love of reading by finding a topic to be passionate about. Bonus!

At the same time, collections can foster relationships among people. Collections can bridge the generation gap, bring siblings closer together and encourage new friendships. “While your child is negotiating a card trade or informing a classmate about the new addition to his dinosaur collection, he’s inspired to interact with other children.

A collection can be a great way to boost self-esteem, as well as serve as a smooth entry into friendships. If your child is new to a school or neighborhood, discussing his trading card collecting can be a great icebreaker. Meeting kids who share a similar interest could mean he’s also found new buddies,” according to BabyCenter.com.

Collecting can teach children the fine art of patience and responsibility as well. True collecting is slow. Anyone can go outside and find a load of sticks or rocks to add to their collection in no time at all. However, if your child is collecting coins, stamps, sports cards, etc., he will need patience in trying to find just the right item to complete his collection. Likewise, children learn that these same items require special care and attention, as some are quite delicate and need preserving.

I love the quote from Pyschology Today that says, “Sometimes a collection is not just a collection, but a spur to the imagination, to learning and creating. And that’s what makes collecting in childhood a worthy pursuit.” We don’t hear much about collections these days, but maybe we should.

Julie Collett writes from Overland Park. She is constantly finding acorns, sticks, leaves, rings, coins, etc., around the house that her children are “collecting.”

Top 10 things kids collect (according to TheTopTens.com)

• Legos • Toy cars • Barbies/dolls • Stuffed animals • Movies • Happy Meal toys • Coins/cash • Pokemon memorabilia • Nintendo memorabilia • Rocks/stones kcparent.com january 2021

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Get creative at the

Nerman Museum!

Contemporary Creations classes (ages 8-11) and Early Explorations classes (ages 5-7) combine engaging, interactive tours with hands-on studio projects, and students explore different topics each week.

Pre-registration is required.

Saturdays, March 6-May 22 $15 / $10 for Museum Members Register today! jccc.edu/NermanYouth 913-469-2323 FREE general admission, schedule tours online.

Free NMOCA KIDS family guide features outdoor sculpture activity cards.

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Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art Johnson County Community College

Continued on page 57

Open Year Round kansascityzoo.org | 816.595.1234

WINTERFUNGUIDE

Best Soups in Kansas City

A

warm bowl of soup on a cold day is a perfect winter meal! Treat your family to a delicious steaming bowl from Kansas City’s own eateries where local chefs know how to create tasty, filling and nutritious soups for every palate! TIP: Most of the restaurants below change their soup offerings frequently with new choices throughout the week.

Happy Gillis 549 Gillis St., Kansas City, MO, 816.471.3663, HappyGillis.com Happy Gillis, in Old Columbus Park, was founded by Todd Schulte who started his culinary career in the soup business. His expertise at creating delicious recipes with healthy all-natural ingredients makes Happy Gillis an absolute must on a KC soup tour.

• Most Popular Soups: White bean soup and tomato soup are both super popular among reviewers. Truly, though, at Happy Gillis, where the soup changes seasonally, you can’t go wrong with any choice!

• Great for Kids Because … Happy Gillis is committed to using all-natural, healthy ingredients, and they offer a super fun vintage atmosphere with white paper and crayons on the tables.

Best Regards Bakery & Café 6759 W. 119th St., Overland Park, 913.782.1505, MakeThemSmile.com At Best Regards Bakery & Café, everything is made from scratch. In addition to great soups, the grilled cheese is something that has everyone talking.

• Most Popular Soups: It’s hard to choose a favorite, but the San Marzano tomato basil soup and oven roasted potato soup are two that top the list.

• Great for Kids Because … BRB&C uses healthy ingredients and the finest products they can find. They use no corn syrup, no preservatives, no artificial flavors and as little salt and sugar as possible.

Big Biscuit Big Biscuit offers numerous locations across the metro. The restaurant started in Independence in 2000, adding three more locations over the years. They live up to their “big” name with famously large portions.

The neighborhood diner-style restaurant offers homestyle cooking and friendly service in a cozy atmosphere.

• Most Popular Soups: Potato soup and pinto bean soup.

• Great for Kids Because … The Big Biscuit offers a terrific family atmosphere where guests of all ages will find something on the menu to enjoy, whether it is soup and a sandwich or breakfast all day long.

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kcparent.com january 2021

WORDFROMDAD

WINTER CAMPING FOR WIMPS “Boys,” Sandi said, “get your coats on.

We’re building a fire in the chimenea.”

I lifted my head and stared at her.

Normally, harebrained ideas are my bailiwick.

James looked up from his tablet, then glanced toward the window. “Mom, it’s snowing.”

“So what? It’ll be like going on a campout.”

Ian rose from the couch and parted the drapes. “It’s coming down hard, Mom. And, it’s not even dark, yet.”

“Let’s take advantage of the snowfall and show that we’re not wimps,” I said. “It’ll be an adventure, just like the pioneers.”

Fifteen minutes later, we sat in lawn chairs around some pitifully small flames.

“Mom,” Ian said, “It’s cold out here. Why can’t we have a big fire?”

“We have to warm the chimenea up slowly, so it doesn’t crack. Be patient, it won’t be long before we have a roaring fire.

Besides, Dad has some cocoa heating up in the coffee maker. It’ll be perfect in a few minutes, too.”

James took off a glove and gave the side a quick touch. “It’s warm, but not too hot.”

“OK, guys, let’s stoke it up.”

Sandi oversaw the boys as they built up the fire while I went inside and filled four insulated mugs with hot cocoa. When I returned, we warmed our hands at a very comfortable blaze and sipped hot drinks.

“See?” I brushed snow off my chair and sat. “This isn’t so bad, is it?”

James drained his mug. “OK, can I go back inside, now?”

Ian tossed another log on the fire. “Yeah, I’m ready, too.”

Sandi gave them a tolerant smile. Oh, all right. Go on in.”

I scooted my chair closer to Sandi’s and took her hand in mine. “We’re still pioneers, aren’t we?”

She squeezed my hand. “You bet we are.”

William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.

NOW OPEN! LIMITED Group Size Morning and Afternoon Sessions Enhanced Cleaning

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8788 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS jocoahc.com

For more info & to book your session: JCPRD.com/Museum

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Both daytime and evening lessons available!

Call Spring Terburgh at 913-636-4472 LOCATED RIGHT OFF I-35 AND 119TH ST IN OLATHE AND IN SOUTH KCMO kcparent.com january 2021

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WINTERFUNGUIDE

C

abin fever seems to be a common winter ailment, but you can ward off the malady by truly enjoying the best of winter. Make this winter a cozy, comfortable, peaceful time and enjoy the best of the season with your family.

Curl Up with a Good Book Screen-free family time is important. Choose a new book to read aloud as a family.

Out & About: In addition to many marvelous libraries, Kansas City is also home to several charming bookshops. For more than 40 years, Rainy Day Books (2706 W. 53rd St, Fairway, 913.384.3126, RainyDayBooks.com) has been the neighborhood bookstore for all ages, instilling a love of reading in the community. The cozy shop is quaint and ideal for scouring shelves on the hunt for the perfect new book to enjoy. In Downtown Lee’s Summit, KD’s Books (241 SE Main St., Lee’s Summit, 816.525.1366) is a locally owned bookshop specializing in children’s volumes. We love the quaint shop’s atmosphere and the staff ’s helpfulness—they’re always ready to guide your family to the perfect book to enjoy together.

At Home: Choose a book to read aloud as a family that also has been shown as a film. Read the book, then watch the movie and compare the two. You can choose from an array of new and classic books to enjoy as a family.

Comfy Cozy Winter

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Toasty Warm Socks

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Warm socks are a comfy winter essential we often take for granted. Brighten your winter mood with a new pair of socks.

Winter can be beautiful. Nature is quiet and serene, and the outdoors is begging to be explored.

Out & About: Learn to knit your own socks. The Studio Knitting & Needlepoint (TheStudioKC.com) offers a range of classes for beginning and experienced needle artists. They also offer video tutorials. Knitting, crochet and needlepoint classes are offered, including classes to knit your very own pair of socks. Not only will you be fashionable, but you can take pride in your newfound skill.

Out & About: Visit one of the city’s many nature centers and explore their paved trails. Listen for birds, look for nests, watch for animal tracks and enjoy the quiet. Some of our favorites include: • Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, 816.228.3766) • Anita Gorman Discovery Center (4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO, 816.759.7300) • George Owens Nature Park (1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence, 816.325.7115) • Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960) • Prairie Oak Nature Center (14701 Mission Rd., Leawood, 913.681.0902) • Overland Park Arboretum (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, 913.685.3604) • Parkville Nature Sanctuary (12th & East streets, Parkville, MO, 816.741.7676)

At Home: Socks are iconic in history, literature, and even in films.

President George H.W. Bush was famous for wearing colorful statement socks, even wearing book-themed socks at the funeral of his beloved Barbara to commemorate her advocacy for literacy.

“I’m a self-proclaimed sock man,” the former president once wrote in an email. “The louder, the brighter, the crazier the pattern— the better.” If you love crazy socks too, you can host an at-home crazy sock party with your own family. Make sock shaped sugar cookies (use that stocking cutter from your Christmas stash) and let everyone decorate their cookies with wild designs. Play Twister, freeze tag, or indoor snowball fight in socks. And, enjoy some family reading time. For younger kids, read Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Socks, The Missing Sock by Jason Thurston, or Sigfried’s Smelly Socks by Len Foley. You could even show a movie where socks are central to the plot. We all teared up a little when a sock set Dobby free in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone remembers the witch’s striped socks in The Wizard of Oz. And many parents recall the retro Tom Cruise flick (for a grown-up home date night) Risky Business when dancing across the floor sock footed made Tom a household name.

Comforting Candles Lighting candles at the dinner table or as you’re reading creates a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

Out & About: Embers Candle Bar (EmbersCandleBar.com) is a pour-yourown candle studio. You choose from their selection of containers to fit any style or budget. They also sell room sprays and diffusers.

Select the scent that makes you think of comfort, relaxation, warm memories or romance from their library of 63 single scents. You’ll find everything from traditional scents like lavender and vanilla to dream fragrances like baked bread or leather. They also offer seasonal selections. If you like tapered candles, we love rolling beeswax candles with the kit from Waxing Moonshine on Etsy. com. The kit comes with your colored or natural beeswax sheets, wicks and instructions for a simple, but elegant candle.

At Home: Turn out the lights and light the candles. Host a tech-free dinner for the family. No screens, no electric light—just enjoy a candlelight dinner together talking and sharing ideas. The meal doesn’t have to be fancy; in fact, the simpler the better. The goal is simply to shut out distractions and spend some time truly together.

At Home: Spend some time bird watching on the deck. View the night sky through a telescope. Light a fire in the firepit and make s’mores. Go sledding, make snowmen and snow angels, and play in the snow. Take a walk in your own neighborhood. Don’t let the cold temps keep you inside. The winter offers so much to enjoy outside all season long.

Warm Drinks Hot tea, cocoa, cider, coffee … sipping warm drinks can warm the soul on a cold winter’s day.

Out & About: Kansas City is home to several tea rooms, each with a distinctive personality. This can be a fun outing for a group of friends.

Heirloom Bakery & Hearth (816.492.7259) in Brookside is beloved for made-from-scratch bakery items, perfectly complemented by a warm drink. Greenwood Country Tea Room (816.537.8434) is housed in a local antique store in the heart of Greenwood’s downtown boutique and antique shopping district. Country Keepsakes Tea Room (816.348.7888) is a charming little restaurant in the heart of downtown Belton.

Make to Enjoy at Home: Enjoy creative family time and take the kids to a paint-your-own pottery shop where they can paint their own personal mug to enjoy cocoa and cider at home. Ceramic Café (CeramicCafeKC.com) hosts family events including story times, pizza and painting, and other specials throughout the year. They also sell at-home art kits so you can pick up projects to paint or make at home and then return to the shop where they will fire them in their kiln. After painting your own personal mug, make some homemade cocoa to enjoy with popcorn and a family game or movie night.

Kristina Light ranks winter as her second favorite season, and she’s hoping for a nice pleasant snowfall and a bit of sledding this year. kcparent.com january 2021

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WINTERFUNGUIDE

TIPS FROM A SAVVY PARTY PLANNER How to make birthday party planning a breeze

Choose a party theme Start by choosing your theme. Maybe your party theme is inspired by your child’s favorite TV show or Disney character. Do your kids favor princesses or superheroes? Dinosaurs or robots? Soccer or ballet? Make a list of ideas before choosing and be sure to run it by your kiddos. They may already have their hearts set on a theme.

Establish your budget Choose your ideal amount to spend on the party and try to stick to that. Decide what you can make and what you can buy. Figure out what you’d like to cook and what you would rather order ahead.

If you have friends and family willing to help out, delegate small financial duties to each of them.

Create your guest list Once you decide which family members and friends to include, you’ll really be able to start crossing off the rest of the tasks on your to-do list. Ask your kiddo (unless he’s only turning 1 or can’t tell you yet), which of his best friends he’d like to see there.

Decide whether you want the celebration to be a kids-only party or with parents too. Invite a few of your own friends, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The size of the party will help determine your venue.

Set a date and choose your venue

Parties:

You either love them or dread them. And not because they’re not a blast—but sometimes the planning process can get overwhelming. If you’re about to embark on your little one’s party-planning journey, have no fear—we’ll help you make it a success.

The best way to ensure low-stress planning is to make a good list. It sounds simple, but a real solid, thorough to-do list goes a long way. If you’re like me, you may have a constant fear of forgetting or letting an important detail fall through the cracks. If you begin this process early, you’ll enjoy, not dread, party day.

You may start your list on your phone (using your notes app, for example), but be sure to have a physical list visibly handy so you can glance at it throughout the day.

Type it up, print it out, maybe even laminate it, so you can write on it with a dry erase marker.

Take a look at our best advice, tips and tricks to kickstart your kiddo’s big day, so you can begin tackling that checklist.

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kcparent.com january 2021

After you’ve brainstormed a guest list, you can begin choosing dates and selecting the perfect venue. If your guest list is short, you may consider hosting the party at your house. If you find your list growing, an outside venue may be a better choice. Your child may want to go to Sky Zone with all his friends, for example. Or the zoo.

Start calling potential venues to see what dates they’d have available and accommodations they can make.

Send invites Your guest list is complete, a venue has been chosen, and you figured out a date that seems to work around almost everyone’s busy schedule. Now you can send out those invitations. You can either make them (including your kiddo in the process) or custom order, depending on what you have the time for.

Shop for supplies and decor Once you have an idea of the theme, number of guests and venue, shopping for supplies and decor should be easy. Remember to stick to your budget as much as you can. If you’re wanting to include party favors or goodie bags, this is the time to shop for those as well.

Order or bake the cake If you’re a star baker or your child has allergies or food sensitivities, you may opt to bake a cake or cupcakes yourself.

Otherwise, go ahead and order a cake from your favorite bakery or local grocery store. Be sure to call a few weeks in advance and schedule a pickup time prior to the party.

Make food arrangements

Tips & tricks:

If you’re having food, drinks and snacks catered, make arrangements with your caterer. Otherwise, go ahead and buy supplies for snacks you’ll be making ahead of time or the day of.

• Open presents after the party. This way, the other kids won’t feel left out, and parents won’t feel guilty for spending too much or too little.

• Ask parents ahead of time whether their children have any

Try not to procrastinate I’ve learned this the hard way many times, but the best way to set yourself up for success is to check as many boxes off your todo list as early as possible. When you’ve picked out an invitation design, order it immediately. When you settle on the perfect venue, book it. Order that cake. You’ll thank yourself later.

Don’t go overboard Finally, remind yourself not to get too carried away with small details. Your child will appreciate the effort you’ve put into her day, and chances are the simplest aspects will make her smile. Commit to what you can, setting realistic goals you can meet without overdoing it. At the end of the day, your birthday boy or girl will feel special and loved, and that’s all that matters.

Emily Morrison is a freelance writer, former copy editor, full-time mommy and Disney fanatic who lives in Independence with her husband, 5-year old son and dog.

food allergies or sensitivities and maybe give them a heads-up about foods you will be serving.

• Forget the goodie bags and have the kids make their own craft to take home (beaded necklaces or keychains).

• Let your kids design the party decorations instead of purchasing them.

• If all of your chosen venue ideas are booked (or over budget), opt to host the party at a public park. Just be sure to have an alternate plan in case of rain.

Pro Tip: Don’t worry about hiring a professional photographer. Instead, designate one of your fellow mom friends to take photos during the party. You’ll have enough on your plate running the party, along with just trying to soak up the time and enjoy every moment. Having someone else shoot photos of your child’s birthday will eliminate any extra pressure.

visit the virtual

rincess at my party guide P Party at KCParent.com

Have your favorite princess at your party!

Parties Include: Story Games Facepaint Music Prizes & More

PAINTING AT HOME AT-HOME BIRTHDAYS

You host the party, Ceramic Café provides the fun!

CREATIVE STORY TIME PACKAGES Purchase the supplies and watch a video of the story at home!

for your guide to throwing an unforgettable party in kc!

Rachel Johnson

rachel@princessatmyparty.com

816.830.4841

www.princessatmyparty.com

CeramicCafeOnlineStore.com Easy ordering for take home pottery fun!

kcparent.com january 2021

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WINTERFUNGUIDE

K Materials needed:

wooden snowman Step one: Paint the piece of wood white with the larger paintbrush. You might need to paint more than one layer of paint. Let dry completely.

Step two: Once paint is dry, add your scarf and/or hat to determine the right spacing.

Step three: With the pencil, mark where you will paint the eyes, carrot nose, mouth, blush on checks and buttons.

Step four: Remove the scarf and hat while you paint on the eyes, nose, mouth and buttons in black with the smaller paintbrush.

Step five: Paint the blush spots on the checks.

Step six: Paint on the carrot nose.

Step seven: Let dry completely.

Step eight: Replace the scarf and hat.

Step nine: Find a spot in your home or outside for your new snowman friend!

Optional: Add handprints and the year to the back of the snowman.

Janelle Cumro-Sultzer lives in Overland Park with her husband, son and two dogs. Janelle is a former health care executive director and is a mediator in Kansas, helping families in conflict. Janelle loves to focus on learning through play and getting messy with crafts.

Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Melted Snowman

Salt Dough Keepsake

For TONS more great craft projects, log onto KCParent.com!

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kcparent.com january 2021

• Old piece of wood • Pencil • White paint • Black paint • Orange paint • Pink paint • Scrap material (for example,

ribbon, an old hat or old scarf) • Paintbrushes (ideally, one small and one large)

I

Best Sled Hills in KC

s there anything more fun in the

Belton

winter than sledding with the

children, then returning home to hot cocoa and popcorn? Enjoy winter fun

• Calvary University’s Mad Dog Hill (on campus on 155th between Hamilton and Fairchild)

Try to sled during the daytime when visibility is better. If you go sledding at night, make sure the hillside is well lit and all potential hazards are visible.

at one of Kansas City’s best sled hills. Our

Kansas City, KS

Leawood

loyal readers shared their favorite KC area

sledding locations with us, so bundle up and head out for a winter adventure your

family won’t soon forget!

Select a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom for you to glide to a stop. Also, avoid hillsides that end near streets, parking lots, ponds, trees, fences or other hazards. Remember, it is best to sled when it is snowy rather than icy for the safest landings, and always wear a helmet for added protection.

Our Favorite Sled Hills in the Kansas City Area:

Blue Springs

• Ward Park (Southwest 22nd off 40 Highway)

Grandview

• Behind High Grove Elementary School (2500 High Grove Rd.) • Meadowmere Park (13610 Byars Rd.) • Belvidere Park (6509 E. 147th St.)

Independence

• Glendale Elementary School (2611 Lee’s Summit Rd.) • McCoy Park (Off of 24 Highway)

• Wyandotte County Lake Park (91st & Leavenworth Road) • Pierson Park (55th Street just south of Metropolitan Avenue)

Remember to ask for permission before sledding on private property.

Kansas City, MO

• Suicide Hill, Brookside Park (56th & Brookside) • Loose Park (55th & Wornall) • Kansas City Museum Hill (Gladstone Boulevard) • Blue Valley Park (E. 23rd Street & Topping Avenue) • Swope Memorial Golf Course (6900 Swope Memorial Dr.) • Swope Park Frisbee Golf Course (Elmwood Street & Gregory Boulevard) • Arleta Park (77th Street & Prospect Avenue) • White Oak Park (89th Street & Crescent) • Gillham Park (Gillham Road, 39th to Brush Creek) • Sheffield Park (E. 12th Street & Winchester) • Blue River Park Athletic Field (I-470 & Holmes)

• Leawood Pioneer Library (117th & Roe) • 133rd & Mission Road (northeast corner)

Lee’s Summit

• Across Douglas Road from Lea McKeighan Park (120 NE Chipman Rd.) • Delta Woods Middle School (4401 NE Lakewood Way)

Liberty

• William Jewell College (hill on campus) North Kansas City • Waterworks Park (NE 32nd Street & N. Oak Trafficway)

Olathe

• Next to Lowe’s (13750 S. Blackbob Rd.) • 119th & Kansas City Road

Overland Park

• Jewish Community Center (115th & Nall) • Off I-435 in Corporate Woods complex • Grace Church (159th & Antioch) • Behind the apartment complexes at 110th & Antioch

Prairie Village

• Hill at Meadowbrook Park (91st & Nall)

Shawnee

• Stump Park (47th & Woodland)

And don’t forget

• Tubing at Snow Creek (Weston, MO) kcparent.com january 2021

53

WINTERFUNGUIDE

let it snow or

Not

s

K

now is almost a guarantee in the winter in Kansas City, but the amount of snow, when it will come, how long it will last and the quality of “fun snow” varies. Children typically love snow days: no school, lots of hot cocoa and sledding.

For parents, things aren’t that simple. You don’t have to ask many parents before you discover a trend: Many have a love/hate relationship with snow. You can make the most of the winter and turn a snowy day into a family memory with these ideas.

no snow? no problem!

Set aside a day and create your own snow fun. This can be as elaborate or as low-key as you like. Take a few of these ideas and make them your own.

• Are kids yearning for snow and yet none has fallen (or maybe just

not enough to build Frosty or Olaf)? Then have a no-snow snow day! Make snow-themed snacks. Cut flour tortillas with scissors as you would a paper snowflake, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake until melted. Serve cauliflower and ranch dip as little snow hills. Make snowmen out of giant marshmallows with chocolate frosting eyes and buttons, or use white powdered donuts. Bake sugar cookies and decorate as snowflakes. Let the kids help brainstorm additional menu ideas using white foods.

• F or fun, make fake snow. Simply mix 1-1/4 c. baking soda with ¼ c. of white conditioner. This will create a fun wet snow for tactile play. Older kids enjoy Minute to Win It games with miniature

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marshmallows. You’ll find a lot of ideas on Pinterest, but a few of our favorites include using toothpicks and mini marshmallows to build the tallest structure in under a minute, using chopsticks to pick up marshmallows and drop them into a bottle and using a straw to move marshmallows from one plate to another. Use giant white pom-poms or pillows for an indoor snowball fight.

get into the spirit with snow-themed fun Take the family on an outing to enjoy the best of winter at one of these local attractions:

• The Kansas City Zoo (6700 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO,

816.513.5700, KansasCityZoo.org) is open year-round, and favorite stops are the Polar Bear Passage and the Helzberg Penguin Plaza. Featuring a dozen Humboldt penguins and nearly 40 cold water penguins, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza is a stateof-the-art exhibit with a 100,000-gallon cool pool for cold water penguins and a 25,000-gallon warm wet area laced with sand for warm water penguins. On weekends, watch as the penguins march from the back of the exhibit, outside for guests to see and then back inside the building, weather permitting.

• Brave the cold and enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride (offered only

on snowy weekends) at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm (1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe, Mahaffie.org). Mahaffie is one of our favorite historic sites in the metro, with wonderful interpretive programs throughout the year. On snowy winter weekends, you

may ride in an authentic 19th-century horse-drawn sleigh.

Be sure to call ahead at 913.971.5111 to verify. This is a weather dependent activity.

get active with snow and ice sports Head to Weston for skiing and snowboarding at Snow Creek Ski Resort (816.640.2200, SkiSnowCreek.com). The facility offers snow skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing, as well as lessons for beginners. The most daring experience at Snow Creek is tubing at Tornado Alley. Slide down a 700-foot-long slope and then jump onto a special conveyor carpet “twister” for a ride back up!

If you’re more into spectator sports, catch an ice hockey game in Independence, cheering for the Kansas City Mavericks (19100 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence, 816.252.7825, KCMavericks.com).

Top off the winter family fun with a spin on the ice at one of these indoor or outdoor skating rinks:

kansas city’s indoor ice-skating rinks open year-round:

• Independence Community Ice Rink 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy.,

kansas city’s outdoor ice-skating rinks: The season for the outdoor rinks is typically November through February or March. Please call for hours for each location.

• Crown Center Ice Terrace 2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City,

MO, 816.274.8411. On Tuesdays after 5:00, pay one full-price admission and receive a second for free.

• Summit Ice 120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit, 816.249.2600.

Enjoy skating, pond hockey, curling, broomball and ice-skating lessons at this facility.

• L inden Square Ice Rink 602 NE 70th St., Gladstone, 816.423.4200.

Children 4 and under skate free at this affordable local rink.

• Ice Rink at Bois D’Arc Park in Lenexa West 88th Terrace,

Lenexa. This rink is only open when temps are cold enough for the ice to be solid. The rink is open during daytime hours and is free to use, but you must bring your own skates.

• The Ice at Park Place 11565 Ash St., Leawood. This rink is near many places for shopping and dining.

Independence, 816.795.7577

• Kansas City Ice Center and Pavilion 19900 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, 913.441.3033

• Line Creek Community Center Ice Rink 5940 NW Waukomis

Kristina Light loves snow and reminds her girls of the promise of Isaiah 1:18 every winter.

Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.0760

Where fun

TAKES FLIGHT! With attractions that cater to any level of adventurer, there’s something fun for everyone.

Both locations now open

UrbanAirLenexa.com

8554 Maurer Road • Lenexa, KS 66219 • (913) 359-5800

UrbanAirOverlandPark.com

14401 Metcalf Ave • Overland Park, KS 66223 • (913) 298-0626

kcparent.com january 2021

55

WINTERFUNGUIDE

n

What to Wear: a layer-by-layer guide

o matter where you are on your parenting journey, all parents can agree on one universal truth: Kids do not have less energy simply because it is cold outside! “The winter is really tough for my boys. They have so much energy and what they can do in our house is limited to things that aren’t as active,” Melanie Graff, Lenexa mom, says. “We take them out to play spaces and open gyms as much as we can, but it gets tricky.”

Forecasters are calling for a cold and snowy winter here in Kansas City, leaving many metro parents to wonder how to help their littles get the active time they need. Although some winter conditions do necessitate keeping children indoors (especially young infants), it is possible to take your kids out in the cold and for all of you to have fun. Here are a few tips for dressing for the wintry weather:

• Dress in light layers.

• Remember to keep heads and feet warm and

dry. These are the parts of the body where the most heat can escape.

• Don’t forget your mittens.

• Invest in waterproof gear for snow days. Forgo

the cotton fabrics in favor of waterproof fabrics that do not absorb sweat or the water from playing in the snow.

• Select clothing items that are easy to put on

and easy to remove. With children, there are always reasons to put things on and take them off. Make it easier on you both and avoid too many buttons and zippers!

As a rule, dress young children in one layer more than the adults are wearing. And pay attention to your children as you enjoy your chilly time outdoors. Frostbite starts as red and tingly patches where the skin has been exposed to cold air or snow. If you notice this “frost nip” on cheeks, fingers or anywhere else—or if your child’s teeth start to chatter—it’s time to head inside for hot chocolate!

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three living in Overland Park.

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When you are putting layered outfits together for your little ones, here are a few tips to keep them warm and comfortable:

first layer. Make sure your first layer of clothing is snug-fitting. Look for wool or synthetic fabrics, such as polyester. “For our kids, and ourselves, we purchase long underwear every year. It is a life saver and adds warmth to our clothing without adding bulk,” says Pam Vincent, Olathe mom.

second layer. The next layer goes on top of your first layer and insulates your body, keeping heat inside your clothing.

You want this layer to be fitted, but make sure it does not restrict movement, so your children can still be active and have fun.

For this layer, opt for wool, down or fleece fabrics.

outer layer. The outer layer is the one that protects children from the elements, like wind, rain or snow.

Choose outer layers that are waterproof, but also breathable. Look for items that allow easy movement and make sure the fit allows room for the layers underneath.

“We always go with winter coats and waterproof snow suits for our kids. Staying dry is key when playing outside in the winter!” says Terri Angler, Kansas City, MO, mom.

Winter Fun Write-Ups Continued from page 44

Kansas City Zoo Explore the Kansas City Zoo, with more than 1,700 animals on 202 acres, it’s the most affordable family fun for kids of all ages. Travel all over the world without ever leaving the Kansas City Zoo. Visit Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the Discovery Barn, and Stingray Bay. Stroll down Tiger Trail and through Elephant Expedition. Let your cubs run loose in the Tropics and see the animals of Australia. See display ad on pg. 45. KansasCityZoo.org

friendly virtual programs, or get online tutoring

Anna, Rapunzel, Moana, Elena, Ariel, Belle,

for the kids –- it’s all free with your Library

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Jasmine

card. Make a resolution to visit mymcpl.org/

and Snow White. Also, inquire about

NewYears today! See display ad on pg. 15.

our new Super Girl, Wonder Woman, Batman and Spider-Man parties! Watch

Nerman Museum

the magic unfold as the children go on an

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

adventure that includes a story, games,

(NMOCA) has one of the top internationally

music, a makeover or face painting and a

acclaimed collections of emerging and

treasure hunt. See display ad on pg. 51.

established artists today and has its home on

816.830.4841. PrincessAtMyParty.com

the campus of Johnson County Community College. Visit our website and follow us on

Urban Air

social media for reopening information.

Looking for the best year-round fun? With

Register kids for Contemporary Creations

new adventures behind every corner,

classes (ages 8-11) and Early Explorations

Urban Air Adventure Park is the ultimate

classes (ages 5-7) beginning in March. The

indoor playground. Take birthdays to

Mid-Continent Public Libraries

classes combine engaging, interactive tours

the next level or spend a day of fun with

Whether your goal this year is to find your zen,

with hands-on studio projects, and students

the family and you’ll see why we’re more

get your resume updated or save money on

explore different topics each week. See

than just a trampoline park. Let the kids

ebooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines,

display ad on pg. 44. NermanMuseum.org

fly through the park on our sky rider,

Mid-Continent Public Library has what you

take on our climbing walls, or reach new

need to keep your New Year’s resolutions.

Princess at My Party

heights on our trampolines. Urban Air.

Learn how to take control of your finances,

Have your child’s favorite character come

Let ‘em fly. See display ad on pg. 55.

trace your family history, join in on family-

to the birthday party! Choose from Elsa,

UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

1

6

2

7

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The film captures C.S. Lewis’ classic tale of the Pevensie siblings traveling to the magical land of Narnia.

Smallfoot: Migo is the friendliest Yeti in the world with a big heart. His world is turned upside down when he discovers that the legendary humans actually exist!

3

Mr. Popper’s Penguins: Jim Carrey will have the whole family laughing as he adopts and raises penguins in his New York apartment.

4

Frozen and Frozen II: The modern Disney classic tells the tale of two sisters and their beloved snowman Olaf and a bit of magic.

5

Eight Below: With the help of a team of sled dogs, explorers traverse Antarctica. This film is based on a true story and is a hit for dog lovers.

101 Dalmatians: This Disney classic is a delight for all seasons, but we especially love the snowy scene as the pups try to escape the evil Cruella De Vil.

10 Snowy Films

Snuggle Up with a Snow-Themed Family Film This Winter

Miracle: Based on a true story, this heartfelt film tells of the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team and their journey to victory.

8

Disney Nature’s Penguins: The photography in this film is truly spectacular. Journey with Steve, the penguin, from chick to fatherhood.

9

Snowball Express: This Disney film from the 1970s is a classic screwball comedy about a family operating a ski resort in the mountains.

10

Snow Dogs: This adventure comedy film tells of a Miami dentist who inherits a team of snow dogs from Alaska and must learn how to race them, or he’ll lose the team.

kcparent.com january 2021

57

WINTERFUNGUIDE

J A N U A R Y 20 21 58

kcparent.com january 2020

31 DAYS OF FUN

BY MARGARET SARVER

Don’t let the short days get you down! Below are fun ideas for every day in January.

1

2

Happy New Year! Play a new card or board game with the family.

4

Start a journal.

Have each family member write down three things they are grateful for.

Take down decorations. Enlist the family’s help to take down all of the holiday decorations.

Be sure to organize as you put away.

7

Make a hot cocoa bar. Make hot chocolate and let everyone add in extras.

Ideas include marshmallows, whipped cream, candies and more.

10

Feed the birds!

Spread nut butter on a pinecone and roll in bird seed. Attach yarn and hang from a tree.

5

Go for a walk!

It’s tempting to stay inside where it’s warm, but bundle up and take a stroll around the block

8 Enjoy a dance party! Take turns choosing songs and get up and dance along to the beat.

Have a pizza night!

Make your own at home or pick one up! Try one from a new restaurant and discover a new fave.

11

3 Tell a joke. Challenge the family to each tell their best joke and then vote on the funniest.

6

Go swimming!

Many rec and community centers have an indoor pool. Spend the day splashing and you’ll forget about the cold.

9

Visit a local library. Most have daily programs or special events. While there, find a new title to enjoy.

Write a note.

Choose a few people like neighbors, teachers or friends and write them a note “just because.”

It will brighten someone’s day.

12

13

Stay in your PJs. Clear the calendar and spend the day in jammies. Pop in a movie and spend a relaxing day with the family.

14

Get creative.

Buy a canvas for everyone, get out some paints and let those creative juices flow.

15

Set up a yogurt bar. For a fun after-school snack idea, give kids a bowl of yogurt and set out toppings like granola, coconut, fruit and more.

Learn a magic trick. Have everyone learn one magic trick and then put on a show for each other.

17

18

Explore someplace new. Find somewhere you haven’t been and check it out. Need inspiration? Visit KCGoingPlaces.com.

19

Pop popcorn.

It’s National Popcorn Day. Pop up a batch and get creative by adding toppings.

20

Volunteer at a food bank.

There is always a need. Check out Harvesters.org for opportunities to help all year long.

21

Have a snowball fight. No snow?

No problem. Give everyone a box of tissues, wad them up and launch away! When finished, collect tissues to use as packing material.

Make a list.

Summer will be here before we know it.

Start your family’s summer bucket list and dream of warmer days.

24

Play a word game. Find a crossword puzzle or seek and find (or print one up) and solve as a family.

27

28

Have an indoor picnic. Spread out a blanket and pack yummy foods. Bonus: no insects!

Go on a neighborhood scavenger hunt.

Make a list and head out to look for things like an icicle, smoke from a chimney, a bird, etc.

22

De-clutter. Choose one junk drawer and dump it out.

Ask kids to take what is theirs, keep what you need and pitch the rest.

25

26

Count change.

Empty out the piggy bank or change drawer and add up how much you’ve saved. Take some of the change and get an ice cream treat.

Snack for dinner.

My kids love a small bites meal.

Make everyone’s favorite appetizers and create a fun dinner buffet.

29

30

Do a puzzle.

Dust off a puzzle that you’ve been meaning to start and get everyone together for a puzzle night.

23

Give a compliment.

Challenge each family member to give three compliments throughout the day.

Discuss results at dinner.

16

Play family trivia. Have everyone write down five family trivia questions and then gather together for a trivia contest.

Grow a plant.

Buy a pot, soil and some seeds and plant an indoor plant.

Take turns watering and watch it grow!

31

kcparent.com january 2020

59

january

FOR EVEN

MORE EVENTS, HEAD TO THE ONLINE CALENDAR AT KCPARENT.COM

CALENDAR

Crown Center Ice Terrace

No part of this calendar may be reproduced in print or web format.

Please call to verify event details.

60

kcparent.com january 2021

visit

skate

play

dine

celebrate

Head to Polar Bear Passage at the Kansas City Zoo to visit Nuniq, the zoo’s newest polar bear. Reserve a time online at KansasCityZoo.org.

Take a spin on Kansas City’s original outdoor ice skating rink, the Crown Center Ice Terrace. To register for a time, visit CrownCenter.com.

Bring the kids to Urban Air for Jumperoo on select days, a special time when the park is open for children 5 and under with a parent.

UrbanAirTrampoline Park.com

Enjoy an old favorite or explore a newly opened restaurant during KC Restaurant Week Jan 8 thru Jan 17. Specially priced menus.

KCRestaurant Week.com

Bring the family to Happy Birthday Kansas on Jan 23 at the Johnson County Museum.

Explore the museum with hands-on fun with activities.

JCPRD.com/museum

We encourage readers to call ahead or verify online before heading out to events. There may be changes due to weather or government regulations. Most events require advance reservations.

1 Friday The Snowy Day and Other Stories Thru Jan 3, Streaming. The Coterie presents Mesner Puppets’ production of The Snowy Day and Other Stories. TheCoterie.org Winter Magic Thru Jan 2, 5:00, Oakwood Drive (Swope Park). Drive through nearly one mile of a magical holiday light show experience.

Purchase tickets online at WinterMagicKC.com.

2 Saturday Winter Farmers Market 9:00, Independence Uptown Market. Winter plantings and produce available, as well as a wide variety of craft vendors. VisitIndependence.com

Festival of Lights 4:00, Powell Gardens. Walk a mile-long path spread out over 25 acres that features a variety of immersive light displays.

PowellGardens.org

Youth Baking Fruit Breads & Muffins 6:00, North Kansas City Parks & Rec Center. Learn to bake blueberry muffin bread and mango pineapple muffins. Ages 6-15. Pre reg at NKC.org.

3 Sunday

5 Tuesday

Laser Holiday Magic Thru Jan 3, Gottlieb Planetarium. Vibrant animations and gorgeous abstracts dance above your heads, as the music takes you away from the hustle and bustle.

UnionStation.org

Dinosaur Road Trip 9:00, Union Station. A walk-through prehistoric adventure with 26 lifesize animatronic dinosaurs that you and your family won’t want to miss! UnionStation.org

Holiday Lights on the Farmstead Thru Jan 7, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Enjoy a light show synchronized to festive music. OPKansas.org

4 Monday

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air. A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl!

UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

Kids Day Out 7:30, Lenexa Rec Center. Enjoy a day full of fun with pickleball, dodgeball, outdoor interaction, cooking, STEAM and more.

Pre-reg at Lenexa.com/getactive.

Outdoor Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Kansas City’s original outdoor ice skating rink, the Crown Center Ice Terrace is celebrating its 48th season. Pre-reg at CrownCenter.com.

Polar Bear Passage 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Visit Nuniq, the zoo’s newest polar bear at home in the Polar Bear Passage. Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family.

KansasCityZoo.org

Edison’s Workbench 9:00, Roeland Park Community Center. A one-day camp to explore the inventions of others—kids, women, Rube Goldberg, Thomas Edison and more! Pre-reg at 913.826.3160.

Happy New Year! 10:00 AM MCPL360. Join Mr Stinky Feet for celebration songs! To enjoy this virtual program, go to Facebook.com/mcpl360.

6 Wednesday Animal Tales Storytime 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center. For ages 2-6. Join a park naturalist for animal stories and surprises geared for preschool age children. Pre-reg at 913.826.2800.

kcparent.com january 2021

61

Sar-Ko-Aglow Thru Jan 10, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Take a nighttime stroll around Rose’s Pond to view the beautiful annual light display in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park throughout the holiday season. Lenexa.com

7 Thursday Visit Incredible Pizza 11:00, Incredible Pizza.

Bring the family to enjoy the buffet along with indoor rides and lots of games! Visit KCParent. com for a coupon! IncrediblePizza.com Frosty Winter Tales 6:30, MCPL360. Join storyteller Joyce Slater as she delights with some wintry stories that are sure to make you giggle and warm your heart.

Facebook.com/mcpl360

8 Friday Bridging the Gender Divide 10:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Exhibit explores how toys once marketed to boys have evolved over time to encourage all children. 816.235.8000 Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café.

Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafeKC.com

KC Restaurant Week Thru Jan 17, various restaurants. Enjoy an old favorite or explore a newly opened restaurant. Specially priced menus. KCRestaurantWeek.com

9 Saturday Sea of Lights Thru Jan 10, Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium. Guests can explore the Sea of Lights event, the only underwater light spectacular in Kansas City. VisitSeaLife.com Kids in the Kitchen 10:00, North Kansas City Parks & Rec Center. Learn to eat healthier meals and snacks with a hands-on cooking experience. Ages 8-14. Pre-reg at NKC.org.

10 Sunday Sunday Family Series 1:00, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Enjoy programs presented by park naturalists, park police officers, and volunteers.

Pre-reg at 913.826.2800.

11 Monday Mom & Me Bumper Bowling 9:30, Summit Lanes. For just $3 per person, you get a game, shoe rental and drink on Mondays and Wednesdays. SummitLanes.com

Polar Bear Passage 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Visit Nuniq, the zoo’s newest polar bear at home in the Polar Bear Passage. Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family.

KansasCityZoo.org

12 Tuesday Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air. A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl!

UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com Outdoor Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Kansas City’s original outdoor ice skating rink, the Crown Center Ice Terrace is celebrating its 48th season. Pre-reg at CrownCenter.com.

13 Wednesday Retro Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Enjoy stories from long ago, read by a special guest from the 1950s All-Electric House!

Craft after story. Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

Visit Legoland 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Take the kids to the ultimate indoor playground for the biggest fans of Lego.

Purchase tickets at LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com.

On Top of Spaghetti…

Five Favorite Places to Eat Spaghetti in KC January is National Spaghetti Month. This family-friendly favorite is dished up deliciously at these local eateries: Italian Delight: 6522 Martway St., Mission. Italian Delight is a New York-style

pizzeria, locally owned and operated by the Avelluto family. Known for the homey atmosphere, affordable prizes and delicious meatballs, Italian Delight is a consistent favorite in local polls and contests.

Buca di Beppo: Country Club Plaza, 310 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO. Buca serves family portions meant for sharing. With a vibrant, fun atmosphere, this is a favorite for family gatherings. Make reservations ahead and ask to dine in the kitchen where you can watch the cooks in action firsthand.

Cinzetti’s: 7201 W. 91st St., Overland Park. Cinzetti’s is one of the most fun places to dine in town. Chefs prepare food at various stations throughout the restaurant where you choose your Italian cuisine buffet-style. The Tuscan décor and lively atmosphere make this a memorable and delicious restaurant for the family.

Pizza Shoppe: Multiple locations: PizzaShoppe.com. The kids want pizza again.

You want a fun and affordable meal. But, you don’t want pizza…again. Pizza Shoppe serves a variety of pasta dishes in addition to pizza, including classic spaghetti and meatballs. This fun pizzeria is a perfect family hangout with arcade games and specials throughout the week.

Jasper’s Marco Polo’s: 1201 W. 103rd St., Kansas City, MO. Jasper Mirabile is one

of Kansas City’s celebrity chefs, and rightfully so. Known for exquisite Italian dishes, his namesake restaurant is perfect for special occasions and a romantic date night.

However, if you’re wanting to take the kids out for a laid-back dinner, Marco Polo’s, his casual dining restaurant, is the place for you. Serving a variety of classic Italian dishes, the eatery offers a unique take on spaghetti: Spaghetti Aglio Olio E Broccoli, a delicious pasta with fresh broccoli, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

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kcparent.com january 2021

14 Thursday

18 Monday

KC Restaurant Week Thru Jan 17, various restaurants. Enjoy an old favorite or explore a newly opened restaurant. Specially priced menus. KCRestaurantWeek.com

Kids Day Out 7:30, Lenexa Rec Center. Enjoy a day full of fun with pickleball, dodgeball, outdoor interaction, cooking, STEAM and more.

Pre-reg at Lenexa.com/getactive.

The Best of Awesome Birds 7:00, MCPL360.

Be amazed when some of the world’s most awesome birds take the stage to talk, perform tricks, and sing songs. Facebook.com/mcpl360

Visit Legoland 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Take the kids to the ultimate indoor playground for the biggest fans of Lego.

Purchase tickets at LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com.

Bridging the Gender Divide 10:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Exhibit explores how toys once marketed to boys have evolved over time to encourage all children.

816.235.8000

19 Tuesday

22 Friday

Amazing Alphabet 10:00, Olathe Community Center. The Alphabet has never been more fun!

Read a story and enjoy art, singing, movement and dramatic play. Pre-reg at OlatheKS.org.

Polar Bear Passage 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Visit Nuniq, the zoo’s newest polar bear at home in the Polar Bear Passage. Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family.

KansasCityZoo.org

15 Friday Visit Incredible Pizza 11:00, Incredible Pizza.

Bring the family to enjoy the buffet along with indoor rides and lots of games! Visit KCParent. com for a coupon! IncrediblePizza.com

16 Saturday Indoor Snowball Hunt 5:30, Blue Springs Fieldhouse. Hunt for “snow balls” and ear prizes.

Entry fee includes snacks, crafts and snowball hunt. Pre-reg at 816.228.0137.

17 Sunday Sunday Family Series 1:00, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Enjoy programs presented by park naturalists, park police officers, and volunteers.

Pre-reg at 913.826.2800.

Supportive school community

Tots on Tuesday 10:30, Kemper Museum. Tots on Tuesday is now online! Sing songs, read books, explore art and make your own art Prereg at KemperArt.org.

Visit Incredible Pizza 11:00, Incredible Pizza.

Bring the family to enjoy the buffet along with indoor rides and lots of games! Visit KCParent.com for a coupon! IncrediblePizza.com

21 Thursday

Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café. Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafeKC.com

20 Wednesday

23 Saturday

Outdoor Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Kansas City’s original outdoor ice skating rink, the Crown Center Ice Terrace is celebrating its 48th season. Pre-reg at CrownCenter.com.

Women’s Encouragement Day 8:30, City Center Church. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and encouraging speaker sessions. Leave refreshed and reinvigorated. Pre-reg at MidwestHomeschoolers.org.

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kcparent.com january 2021

63

25 Monday Kids Day Out 7:30, Jo Co Arts and Heritage Center. Come have fun when school is out!

Discover history through hands-on activities and play games! Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Super Smash Bros Tournament 10:00, Lenexa Rec Center. Gaming icons clash in the ultimate crossover fighting showdown. Top three finishers will receive an award. Pre-reg at Lenexa.com.

W

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2 weeks to 12 years ChildAges Development Center 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Polar Bear Passage 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Visit Nuniq, the zoo’s newest polar bear at home in the Polar Bear Passage. Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family. KansasCityZoo.org

27 Wednesday Babysitting Basics Virtual Class 10:00, streaming. Students learn how to develop a babysitting business, keep themselves and others safe. More info and pre-reg at Olatheks.org.

Bridging the Gender Divide 10:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Exhibit explores how toys once marketed to boys have evolved over time to encourage all children.

816.235.8000

28 Thursday

31 Sunday

The University of Wonder and Imagination Thru Jan 31, streaming. A virtual event directed by you. The choices you make will shape your unique experience.

JCCC.edu/carlsen-center-presents

Sunday Family Series 1:00, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Enjoy programs presented by park naturalists, park police officers, and volunteers.

Pre-reg at 913.826.2800.

The Great Race 7:00, MCPL360. Based on the Aesop fable, this retelling with a “healthy twist” incorporates rod and shadow puppets.

Facebook.com/mcpl360

29 Friday Outdoor Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. Kansas City’s original outdoor ice skating rink, the Crown Center Ice Terrace is celebrating its 48th season. Pre-reg at CrownCenter.com.

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Lunar New Year 2021 Virtual Festival Noon, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Explore the art of Asian cultures, and connect with videos and activities. Nelson-atkins.org

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air. A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl!

UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

s

24 Sunday

30 Saturday

ea rt

Happy Birthday Kansas 11:00, Johnson County Museum. Bring the whole family to celebrate Kansas’ 160th birthday. Explore the museum with hands-on fun with activities.

JCPRD.com/museum

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Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air. A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl!

UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

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SaveALifeNow.org

Jan. 5: National Bird Day The Kansas City Zoo is home to hundreds of birds from around the world, including penguins, flamingoes, tropical birds and many more. KansasCityZoo.org Jan. 6: Shortbread Day McLain’s Bakery (locations: McLainsKC.com) has been serving delicious baked goods, including cookies, to local customers since 1945. Shortbread cookies are just one of their many specialties.

Jan. 11: Milk Day Head to the grocery store, where you’ll find milk from Shatto Dairy Farm (9406 N. Hwy. 33, Osborn, MO, 816.930.3862), a working dairy farm and milk bottling company selling the best milk in the metro.

Jan. 28: Blueberry Pancake Day The Big Biscuit (locations: BigBiscuitRestaurant.com) offers one of the biggest home-style breakfast menus in town, with an entire section devoted just to pancakes.

Jan. 14: Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day Although d’Bronx (locations: dBronxKC.com) is known for their pizza, the delicatessen serves some of the best sandwiches in town, including a hot pastrami sandwich to die for.

Jan. 3: National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day For a truly decadent gourmet treat, head to Laura Little’s (2100 W 75th St, Prairie Village, 913.722.2226), where you can purchase the best chocolatecovered cherries on town.

Jan. 4: Spaghetti Day Cascone’s (3733 North Oak Trfwy., Kansas city, MO, 816.454.7977), a Kansas City tradition since 1954, has been owned and operated by the Cascone family for four generations.

We can’t think of a better place to enjoy classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Jan. 15: Strawberry Ice Cream Day Sylas & Maddy’s (locations: SylasAndMaddys.com) offers delicious homemade ice cream in classic and unique flavors, making it the perfect spot to enjoy delicious strawberry ice cream.

Jan. 16: Appreciate a Dragon Day The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art houses many beautiful dragons depicted in art, especially in their Chinese Art collection. Nelson-Atkins.org

Jan. 19: National Popcorn Day For more than 50 years, Topsy’s (locations: TopsysPopcorn.com) has been serving delicious popcorn to Kansas Citians!

The Plaza Christmas popcorn tin is a holiday tradition in many homes, challenging families to choose a favorite: cheese, butter, caramel, pecan crisp, popcorn peanut, kettle corn or cinnamon.

Jan. 29: National Puzzle Day SpringBok Puzzles (Springbok-puzzles.com), a nationally recognized jigsaw puzzle company based in Kansas City, has been creating and selling puzzles since 1963. Visit their website to find the perfect puzzle to assemble on a cold winter’s day.

Jan. 24: Peanut Butter Day Anyone can make and NEED COPY

enjoy a pb&j or classic peanut butter cookie, but what about peanut butter pie? Enjoy one of these tasty confections at the Upper Crust Bakery (locations: UpperCrustPieBakery.com).

kcparent.com january 2021

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- A safe environment that promotes leadership - Building character through life skills - Cultivating curiosity that leads to innovation - Developing resilience that lasts a lifetime

Now enrolling students in Grades Pretoddler (age 18-months) - 12th (Fall 2021) Tour one or both of our campuses located in the heart of Gladstone, Missouri.

Learn more at oakhilldayschool.org/explore | 816.436.6228 Oakhill Day School will seek diversity in its student body and welcome enrollment by students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. It prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of any protected category under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), specifically, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation, gender or sex, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, ancestry, nationality, national origin, religion, color, mental or physical disability, age, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in Oakhill Day School’s educational programs or activities.

Audi Shawnee Mission

2021

No looking back.

SHAWNEE MISSION

The all-new Audi Q5 Sportback.

Audi Shawnee Mission 6601 E. Frontage Rd | Merriam, KS 66202 | 913-384-2834 | Audi-ShawneeMission.com