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Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch
Kearney, Missouri U-PICK STRAWBERRY PATCH, APPLE ORCHARD & PUMPKIN PATCH Over 300 acres of farm fun! Visit the biggest farm - out in the country! ---------------
U-Pick Pumpkins, Apples, Strawberries Farm Animals and Outdoor Games
Corn Maze, Carousel, Cow-Train Country Store, Mums and Decor Live Music, Pig Races Tipsy Cow Shack- Wine & Beer
Fresh Honey, Farm Foods & Gift Baskets New Outdoor Attractions!
Sweets & Farm Treats: Pumpkin Donuts, Caramel Apples, Kettle Corn,
Apple Cider, Fresh Fudge, Pies, & Plenty More Seasonal Favorites!
U-Pick Strawberry Patch, Apple Orchard, Mums & Flowers, and Pumpkin Patch Follow us @FunFarmPumpkinPatch
MAY
2021
GARDENING WITH KIDS, PG. 36
FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE
10 Craft Corner 12 Date Night 14 Media Mix 16 Dear Teachers 17 Word from Dad 18 5 Things 20 Ask the Experts 55 Tasty Treats
26
Consistent Discipline
Why being consistent when disciplining kids matters.
42
Camp Guide
Find tons of great summer camp options for your kids.
56
New in KC
10 new things to enjoy in KC this summer.
SPECIAL SECTIONS
30 Party Guide 42 Camp Guide 58 Calendar of Events
Our cover features Kellan from Olathe. Photo by Melissa Rieke Photography. MelissaRiekePhotography.com
ON THE COVER
Discipline Like You Mean It 26 Celebrate Mother’s Day 28 Help Kids Face Fears 34 Benefits of Imaginary Play 40
FREE | MAY 2021 | KCPARENT.COM
YEARSKC PARENT MAGAZIN E 1985–2020 53 HELPING KIDS FACE
FEARS
BENEFITS
OF IMAGINARY PLAY
SPECIAL WAYS TO
CELEBRATE
Mother’s Day
DISCIPLINE
LIKE YOU MEAN IT
KC Parent is giving away 10 FAMILY 4-PACKS
to Sea Life Aquarium or Legoland Discovery Center.
Details and to enter, visit KCParent.com. I ’ve always viewed my mom as a strong person. She’s dealt with a lot in her life, including the sudden loss of her mother when I was just six weeks old, a child with a chronic health condition, the sudden loss of her husband, and all the other everyday things that life throws your way. But this past year I feel like she’s really been given more than her share to deal with. She lost her son unexpectedly and, a few weeks later, received a cancer diagnosis. This month finds her thick into her chemo journey, and as anyone who’s been through chemo knows, it’s a doozy. But in the midst of it all, she’s remained the positive, strong and upbeat woman that I am proud to call Mom. She continues to amaze me with her strength, spirit and joie de vivre! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! I hope your day is full of peace and relaxation—you deserve it!
In addition to Mother’s Day, May brings the end of the school year and the start of my most favorite time of all—summer! In case it has snuck up on you and you are scrambling for what to do with the kids all season, never fear. We’ve got you covered! Our Summer Camp Guide has so many great options for kids of all ages. In it you’ll find everything from day camps to specialty camps and more! Grab your calendar and a cup of coffee and page through the guide, starting on pg. 42, to help you get your summer planned in no time at all! And be sure to check out pg. 56 for a list of great new things coming to KC this summer. I can’t wait to visit the koalas at the zoo and see the Union Station exhibit Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.
Happy Mother’s Day, KC mommas!
Margaret Sarver, Editor
MAY 2021
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 Kim Antisdel (Liberty), Bill Bartlett (Belton), Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Julie Collett (Overland Park), Janelle Cumro-Sultzer (Overland Park), Sandy Foster (Grain Valley), Allison Gibeson (Lee’s Summit ), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Gina Klein (Kansas City), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Sarah Lyons (Olathe), Julie McKinley (Lee’s Summit), Emily Morrison (Independence), Jessica Samuel (Kansas City) Mailing Address 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax
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YEARSKC PARENT MAGAZIN E 1985–2020 53 HELPING KIDS FACE
FEARS
BENEFITS
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SPECIAL WAYS TO
CELEBRATE
Mother’s Day
DISCIPLINE
LIKE YOU MEAN IT
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SPOTLIGHT
FARMERS MARKETS
Kansas City is home to more than 30 farmers markets. They range from small markets to the City Market with more than 140 local vendors. You can purchase fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, homemade soaps, baked goods and more. Check out the Farmers Market Guide at KCParent.com to find a market near you!
LABOR & DELIVERY GUIDE
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Mother’s Day is around the corner. She will love this little flower vase with pictures.
Photo Vases
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and what mom doesn’t love flowers? Make her day extra special by making her a homemade vase with some of her favorite photos! Step one: Take each photo and completely cover it with packing tape. I found a standard photo took me 3 pieces of tape to cover the whole photo. Use the old credit card to smooth out tape and air bubbles as you lay the tape onto the photo. Cut away excess tape from the sides of your picture. Repeat for as many photos as you would like. Step two: Place photos covered in tape into warm water and allow to sit for around 5-7 minutes until the back of the photo starts to pull off. Leave the photos in longer if needed. Rub the paper off the back of the photos using your fingers. The photo image should remain on the tape. Step three: Air dry photos face up on your workspace for around 30 minutes. Photos must be completely dry before they will attach to the vase. Use a blow dryer on a cool, low setting if desired. Step four: Once photos are dry, lay out your photos to make a collage of them. You can trim your photos if you would like some to be smaller. Step five: One at a time, apply Mod Podge to the back of a photo, placing the photos onto the vase as you go. You may need to hold the photo down for a few seconds to get it to stick to the vase. Use the old credit card to smooth the photos onto the vase. Please note Mod Podge will dry clear. Step six: Once all photos have been applied to the vase, cover the whole vase with a layer of Mod Podge. Allow the vase to dry for 24 hours and then apply another layer of Mod Podge. Step seven: Add flowers on Mother’s Day and watch Mom’s face light up when she receives this awesome gift!
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.
Materials needed:
• Clean vase with smooth sides • Clear packing tape • Large bowl with warm water • Mod Podge • Old credit card or similar sized card • Paintbrush • Scissors • Assortment of favorite photos
Optional Items:
• Blow dryer • Towel • Newspaper or other old paper to protect your workspace
I used to walk my dog all the time, but I have not in a while because we have a new baby. My dog is starting to get frustrated easily and misses his walks. How can I train my dog to walk next to me with the baby in a stroller?
– Amelia Garcia
Start out by teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash without the stroller. This is important and will keep you safe so that your dog does not pull when you have the baby in a stroller. After the dog has learned how to walk on a loose leash, start working on other commands such as “Wait,” “Easy,” and “Leave It.” Once your dog knows these commands reliably, introduce the dog to the stroller slowly and let him check it out on his own. Put treats near the stroller on the ground to entice him to check it out, but not in the stroller. We do not want to associate food with where the baby will be. Next step is to start loose leash walking next to the stroller without the baby. Once your dog is comfortable with walking with the stroller, you can add your little babe and enjoy your walks.
– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
We got a new dog the dog loves me, but he is absolutely scared of my husband. What can I do to help my dog get used to my husband?
– Juanita Johnson
My first recommendation is for your husband to hand feed your dog for the next 30 days. This means all meals come from his hands and his hands only, including treats. This association builds trust and teaches your dog that good things come from him. Create positive experiences for your husband and the dog to build trust. Have your husband take the dog on long walks and do training sessions with delicious treats. Please have your husband avoid forcing interaction. Forcing interactions like petting will only cause the dog to take longer to trust him. Take it slowly and go at the dog’s pace to ensure a successful relationship is being built. If it gets worse, please seek out a professional dog trainer for guidance to protect
We just adopted a kitten and learned that declawing is not humane and causes many issues for cats long-term. Our cat is doing great for the most part, but there is a part of the couch she keeps scratching. How can I get her to stop scratching the couch?
– Irene Long
Get some scratching posts for your kitten. Put a few in different places around the house, specifically in places that your kitten likes to scratch: next to the couch in your case. Make sure they are tall enough that she can stretch up and scratch since cats like to do a lot of vertical stretching when they use their nails. You can put cat attractants on the scratching post to lure her to it. I also recommend trimming her nails routinely. To deter her from scratching, place sticky tape in areas she is scratching. Scratching and sharpening her nails are normal feline behavior, so we just need to make sure she has the tools she needs to do it safely and nondestructively.
– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
FEATURED FEATURED PET PET
Scarlett
Scarlett is sweet and a ectionate and would like nothing more than to settle into a comfy home with a quiet family. She is a two-year-old American Bulldog mix who loves to play with other dogs at the shelter. She can be a little shy around strangers and will need people to take things slow with her, so she’s looking for a home without young kids. Scarlett has several skills under her belt and is ready to show o for her forever family.
Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered here in KC Parent magazine.
Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Director of Animal Behavior & Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.
Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501(c)(3) no-kill shelter serving approximately 4,000 animals annually in the Johnson County community. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities with which we are contracted including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Shawnee, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks and Recreation and unincorporated Johnson County.
DATES WITH LETTER S
Here are some “s”uper fun date night ideas!
SILO MODERN FARMHOUSE
Silo Modern Farmhouse is located at Canyon Farms Golf Club in Lenexa and boasts amazing views of the golf course. But that’s not all they can boast about. Their menu is full of locally-sourced and fresh, made-fromscratch dishes with everything ranging from baked brie en croute and quinoa salad to a bison burger and lamb chops. It’s modern farmhouse fine dining at its best. We went for dinner recently, and everything we had was excellent. A standout choice was the spinach salad with grilled salmon. Seems like such a simple, ordinary thing, but their chipotle honey vinaigrette set it apart from all others. It was delicious! The big thing Silo Modern Farmhouse is known for—and I do mean big—is the 32-layer chocolate cake. Chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, cherry chocolate sauce and vanilla whipped cream—wow!
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Something unique my husband and I recently did was have a science experiment date night. I hated science in school, so these were all things I’d definitely never done before. We did six different experiments, and three of them were especially fun. The first one I like to call “kaleidoscope.” You pour milk onto a plate and add food coloring. Then, using a cotton swab dipped in dish soap, touch the milk mixture. It results in some colorful and unusual interactions. Another one we liked was the floating dry erase stick man. Just draw a stick man—or woman— onto a glass or porcelain dish using a dry erase marker. Then, slowly add water; your stick person will float around. I have to admit—this one was awesome! The final one was homemade lava lamps. You pour one part water into a glass, followed by two parts vegetable oil and some food coloring. Then, you drop in an Alka Seltzer tablet and let the show begin!
SULLY
Sully is an excellent movie about Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who became a hero after successfully landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009. Shortly after takeoff, US Airways Flight 1549 hit a flock of geese, and Sully was forced to make some quick decisions. Starring the ever-talented Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood, the story of the “Miracle on the Hudson” is really two stories in one. It tells of the media and the public’s love of Sully for his heroic feat that saved the lives of all 155 people on board. But it also tells of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) going on simultaneously that threatened to end his career and destroy his reputation. The tension ebbs and flows, and, in the end, Hanks—and his tidy moustache—delivers an enjoyable performance not to be missed.
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-R, HEAD TO KCPARENT.COM!
We Are Water Protectors
Written by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
“Water is the first medicine,” Nokomis (‘Grandmother’ in Ojibwe) told me. We come from water.” So begins We Are Water Protectors.
Within the Ojibwe culture, men are responsible for protecting the fire, and women are responsible for protecting the water. This story follows a Native American girl as she learns about the sacredness of water and its importance to the earth and all creatures therein.
But there are stories. Stories of a black snake that will ruin everything in its path: the water, plants, animals, everything! It must be stopped! Every living thing is interconnected. The girl must fight for those who cannot fight for themselves!
The illustrations in We Are Water Protectors are as beautiful as the story is powerful. Michaela Goade is the first Native American to win the Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children. Peace
Written by Baptiste and Miranda Paul, illustrated by Esteli Meza
“Peace is old like the stars and new as a birth.
And if we embrace it peace cradles the earth.”
This beautifully illustrated concept book looks at many ways we can bring peace into our own lives and the lives of others. Some suggestions are simple, like waving hello, pronouncing your friend’s name correctly, and sharing a smile and hug with others. Some touch on forgiveness and giving more than you take and might be more challenging for children, but they are wonderful concepts to introduce to the smallest of readers.
The lovely rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations are sure to capture the attention of children of all ages.
Husband and wife team Baptiste and Miranda Paul are award-winning authors. Illustrator Esteli Meza was awarded the A la Orilla del Viento in 2018, Mexico’s most important award for picture books. Animals Brag About Their Bottoms
Written and illustrated by Maki Saito.
This cute book begins with a darling little bunny exclaiming, “Look at my bottom!” on the title page. The bunny goes on to say, “My bottom is such a round bottom—and so cute, don’t you think?”
The bunny’s question is answered by a hippopotamus. He makes a comparison between the two bottoms, and on it goes with various animals of all shapes and sizes commenting on the uniqueness and beauty of each of their own bottoms! This is a fun book for everyone.
Several concepts are introduced such as color and pattern, and the book provides a great lesson on body positivity. The playful illustrations were created using paper collage, stenciled paintings, and a Japanese dyeing technique known as bingata. Saito has written several books in Japanese. This is her first book in English.
Sandy Foster lives in Grain Valley and is a Bookstagrammer (@picturebookapotamus), freelance writer and mother of two. You can find children’s book reviews and resources at HappyBeingMom.com.
IN KANSAS CITY
May is National Hamburger Month. Celebrate the American classic with a trip to one of our favorite diners, driveins or dives.
Smitty’s Garage Burger and Beer (EatAtTheGarage.com) The newest restaurant on our list, Smitty’s isn’t your typical burger joint. This restaurant specializes in specialty burgers—and we’re talking specialty! The Garage offers everything from bison to turkey to angus beef burgers and vegan patties. And their fries? The house cut fries served with a variety of dipping sauces and homemade chips are favorites. Town Topic, Kansas City’s original greasy spoon with three locations (TownTopic.com), has been open for more than 75 years as a local landmark. In 1937, Claude Sparks opened the original location at 24th & Broadway, where he sold hamburgers for 5 cents each. At the end of his first day, he pocketed a whopping $21.00, and now the diner is a favorite for greasy home-style breakfasts, diner-style burgers, hand-dipped malts and fresh pie. Johnny Ray’s Drive-In (816.524.1910), since 1956, has been serving steakburgers with “all the fixin’s,” homemade malts and see-through-the-bag fries and rings at a drive-in that feels as though it is straight from the screen of a ’50s car classic. Celebrating the vibe, they host cruise-ins every third Saturday of the month, 3:00-10:00, all summer long. Enjoy the classic cars on display … with a side of fries. Tara’s Cafe & Malt Shop (816.331.0156) is the perfect lunch spot after a day riding the rails on the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad. The café, a neighborhood hangout and local favorite, is your classic greasy spoon, serving tenderloins, burgers, chili dogs, a variety of desserts and ice cream dishes. The chocolate Coke, as found only in the finest of diners and dives, is a must! Christy’s Tasty Queen (913.287.2800) has been serving customers for more than 40 years. When you feast at this authentic drive-in, you eat in your car or at a picnic table. Christy’s is best known for their amazing tenderloin, but the juicy, thick burgers are another classic that can’t be missed.
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HELPING CHILDREN BECOME RESPONSIBLE
QUESTION: My parents never reminded me to do schoolwork. I somehow had a built-in desire to handle it myself. How can I get my children to have the same attitude? – Lacking Responsibility
ANSWER: It is not just schoolwork that your children need to be responsible for as they grow up. It is a lot of other things, from making their beds and cleaning their rooms to putting dirty dishes in the sink and dishwasher. So what you have to do is teach them to be responsible people from early childhood, and it will extend over to handling their schoolwork with some special help from you.
Taking responsibility is an action that brings pride to children as they do things by themselves and not have their parents do things for them. It starts when parents invite their children to help with indoor or outdoor chores. You begin by showing them how to handle a small task, such as matching pairs of socks, and then give them this responsibility.
One thing parents often forget to give children is the responsibility of monitoring their own work. By this, we mean looking at tests, homework and assignments and seeing what they have done right or wrong. When they have been successful, they need to think about why this happened so it can be repeated. Parents can foster this responsibility by giving their approval for a job well done.
On the other hand, when students do poorly, they need to evaluate why it happened. Did they work too fast? Did they fail to get needed help?
Finally, handling homework successfully depends a lot on having strategies to handle it effectively. This involves parental involvement in helping children learn which assignment they should handle first (easiest or most difficult) and what to do when they run into work that they can’t do. The answer is usually to study examples of similar work that they have done at school.
KEEPING SCHOOL SKILLS SHARP
QUESTION: How can I keep learning alive
for two fairly good students in the summer? I don’t want them to lose basic skills. – Building Skills
ANSWER: Most parents realize the secret to continued academic success for their children is to keep them reading during the summer. If you are running short of ideas, go online to ReadWriteThink.org and search for summer reading. Here you’ll find activities to help children from ages 4 to 18 explore reading and writing all summer long.
And don’t forget to bolster your children’s math skills. Most lose more ground in math than reading. Try to play games with them that require math. If your children like to use the computer, have them search online for “summer math activities.” For lots of fun with math, have them work with “Learning Activities – Math” on our Dear Teacher website.
Beyond bolstering their basic skills, remember that summer is a wonderful time to help your children expand their horizons. They also could take art or music lessons. Many would probably enjoy throwing clay on a pottery wheel and then painting the unique creation. Start researching now for what safe opportunities are available in your community.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.
cherry preserves
“Bill, don’t eat that. It’s for your mother. She does a lot around here and she deserves a little something, just for herself.”
I put the jar of cherry preserves back into the refrigerator. In my late teens, I could recognize how right my stepdad was. Mom had more than earned a little treat for herself.
When I was very young, the budget could handle an occasional luxury like cherry preserves, but each dollar had a destination. When the price of a jar could also buy two or more gallons of gas, this indulgence was frequently ignored.
The seasons turned into years and, one by one, my siblings left to start their own homes, freeing up some of the budget for my parents to pamper themselves. Dad bought a fishing boat, and the whole family went camping at the lake. Mom satisfied herself with something much more simple, and it became common to see her enjoy a cup of coffee with a slice of toast, covered with cherry preserves.
After my own marriage, I dropped by Mom’s for a solo visit every now and then, usually the evening before a holiday. We sat at the table and chatted over a cup of coffee and some toast. She always offered some of her precious cherry preserves, but I usually declined. I got more pleasure by watching her enjoy this little treat.
Some fifteen years or so after my mother’s passing, I thought I’d become accustomed to this void in my life. But, one day, I had an idea, and I bought a jar of cherry preserves on the way home from work.
Later that night when the house was quiet, I sat with a cup of coffee and a slice of toast, covered with cherry preserves. And I remembered my mom.
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Nail Polish Strips
Let me say off the bat, I don’t sell Color Street nail polish strips. Now you know this is unsolicited and something I just really love right now! I got invited to an online party and decided to give them a try. Well, I am hooked. I love a nice manicured nail, but both dip and gel manicures just wreck my nails (and I’m not good about making appointments to get them done regularly). The Color Street strips are easy to apply, and I get a full week of nicely painted nails. I take them off after a week to give my nails a few days’ break before applying the next set. So many fun colors and designs to choose from! ColorStreet.com My older and I went out for coffee recently and decided to venture off our beaten path and try someplace new. I’m so glad we did! Summer Moon opened recently in Overland Park, and it is well worth the time to make a visit. The company, based in Texas, recently expanded to outside the Lone Star State, and I’m glad they chose Kansas! I don’t have a clue what’s in their secret moon milk, but I do know that it’s creamy and delicious! It’s only been a week since our first visit, and we’re already planning our next! SummerMoonCoffee.com
Fuzzy Slides
5THINGS WE RIGHT NOW LOVE Document Scanner With a child in high school and another traveling hither and yon on her gap year, Compiled by Margaret Sarver I find myself almost weekly having to scan and send a document. My scanner recently stopped working, so it was kind of getting to be a pain to scan and email or text something. Enter the “Notes” app on your iPhone. A friend shared I’d wear flip flops or sandals that it has a scanner all year if I could. I love feature and it has made being able to slip on a things so much easier! shoe before heading out. Open notes, choose to A few years back, my older write a new note and in daughter found these fuzzy the new note choose the slides by Qupid, and they camera icon and voila! are totes cute and totes You’ll see an option to comfortable. Perfect for scan. You’re welcome! when I need to run out to the store or when I’m heading to the pool! Side note: Naturally, a pedicure is needed before slide and Potted Flowers flip flop season. Currently I don’t have a green thumb, and I don’t really enjoy gardening, yard sporting Japanese Rose work or anything along those lines. What I do like is pretty plants and Garden. Side, side note: flowers and having a yard that looks nice. Enter Family Tree Nursery. Who gets to name nail For the past few years, I’ve gotten the loveliest pots filled with polish? I think that would beautiful flowers for the front of our house at Family Tree Nursery. The be a fun job! Qupid.com arrangements are spectacular, and I receive many compliments. And although I don’t love working in the yard, I do manage to keep them alive all season! FamilyTreeNursery.com
WAYS TO FEEL
BetterAFTER A BAD DAY
We all have tough days. Bills add up, and the kids need shoes or clothes. Dinner has to be cooked. Your boss was a little harder on you today than usual. You are definitely not alone. So how do you manage your life, the responsibilities you have as a parent and not completely lose your mind after having a bad day? Take a deep breath—we have you covered. Keep reading and you’ll be fine.
EXERCISE
Exercising is great way to cope with a bad day. A half-hour at the gym not only stimulates great blood flow, but it also clears your thoughts—and it makes you even more proactive. Yoga is a great form of exercise that motivates your body while it clears your thoughts. The best part of exercise is that it comes in more than one form. If the gym is really not your thing, consider breathing exercises. So many of them relieve stress, reduce anxiety and, over all, just plain old make you feel better.
TURN UP THE JAMS
One of the best ways to turn off a bad day is to turn up the music. Happy music makes everyone feel better and will certainly change your mood. Challenge yourself to create a playlist designed for tough days. Think of songs like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams—start with tunes like that and go from there. It’s hard enough having a hard day, so change your day by changing the music. Jump around a few times, and I promise you’ll feel better.
A NIGHT OUT
Take some time to appreciate you. We can be our own worst critics sometimes, magnifying our shortcomings and our difficult situations. Have you ever had a terrible day you just couldn’t let go of—all you could think about was everything you did wrong and how things gradually just got worse? First things first: Let it go. Second thing is to take a night off. Self-love is not selfish! We all deserve a night off, and if you have a close friend you can take out with you, you can really make it a night. You and I both know you deserve a break.
COOK WITH YOUR KIDS
Your job as a parent is never over, so why not take out the frustrations of a bad day by working in the kitchen? When I was younger, some of the best memories I made were between me, my mom and our kitchen. We would craft full course meals and laugh when we made mistakes that no one noticed later at the dinner table. When you’re having a bad day, keep the recipes simple, fun and creative. One great idea for killing two birds with one stone is to punch the dough around for a scratch-made pizza. You get to knock around something and spend time with your kids. You also settle any questions about dinner—so maybe three birds with one stone.
Jessica Samuel lives in Kansas City and is a freelance writer and photographer.
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
FRY ORTHODONTICS 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
Rochelle Harris, PhD
CHILDREN’S MERCY 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
Rebecca Tusken, MD, FAAP
ADVENTHEALTH AdventHealth Shawnee Mission’s pediatricians and primary care providers offer compassionate, expert care for children of all ages. Find a provider at AdventHealthKC.com.
Megan Maciel
KVC KANSAS 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
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.
Q
What are some good questions to ask when choosing an orthodontist?
What percentage of your patients have braces twice? This number should be very low, 5-10 percent. If that number is higher, there is a chance that there is excessive treatment being offered. At Fry Orthodontics, only 5 percent of patients need braces twice. If the orthodontics is completed prior to the payment plan being completely paid, will the braces be removed or kept on? At Fry Orthodontics, when the treatment is completed, the braces will be removed regardless of the balance on the payment plan. The payment plan can continue to be paid after the braces are off. Dr. Jeremy Fry
Fry Orthodontics
Q
Our nighttime routine takes forever! How can I get my kids to stay in bed at bedtime?
In general, children thrive on routine, and bedtime is no exception. Taking the same steps in the same order at the same time every night can help provide structure and set expectations. Often, toddlers will challenge bedtime, and routine becomes pivotal, as does flexibility. Talk about what happens next, set a timer for the next step, let your child make some choices (which books, in what order, brush teeth or read first, sing or read, etc.). Follow through on the plan calmly, gently redirect your child back to bed if he gets out, and praise him the following morning for staying in his own bed all night. Rebecca Tusken
Johnson County Pediatrics AdventHealth
Q
My kids fight all the time! How can I help them to get along?
Sibling squabbles are normal and teach conflict resolution and forgiveness. But if your kids are fighting too much, here are some tips to help. Over several days, record when they get along, when they fight and what everyone is doing at those times. Provide frequent and specific praise when they play well together. Briefly remove access to objects they fight over (toys, tablets). With physical fighting, separate them immediately and put both in time-out; if there’s crying comfort briefly, saying, “Sorry, you are not getting along.” Wait before asking if they can resolve their arguments; if either says no, separate them briefly. Don’t ask who started it; both are culpable. Rochelle Harris, Child Psychologist
Children’s Mercy
Q
What supports are available to foster families?
KVC is committed to every foster parent’s success and provides personalized support to your family. We encourage our foster parents to develop a support system around them and work with extended family, faith communities, employers, and friends to develop a network of care around the family, as any parent would. KVC provides ongoing training opportunities to address specific behavioral needs, working with birth families and navigating the child welfare system. Additionally, we offer access to a clothing closet, school supplies, holiday gifts and ongoing supports. Megan Maciel
Director of Recruitment and Communication KVC Kansas
play favorite places to in kansas city
It’s time to enjoy playtime with the kids! These are some of our favorite places to play locally:
Legoland Discovery Center
Science City at Union Station
Shoal Creek Living History Museum • Flip for fun at Urban Air–more than a trampoline park.
Experience virtual reality games, sail over the park on the Sky
Rider and enjoy rock wall climbing. • Science City at Union Station overflows with indoor and outdoor fun. The Let’s Play exhibit is specially designed for the youngest children to play and develop gross-motor skills.
Creative Corner blends art and science in an imaginative way.
And the outdoor play space is a favorite for KC kids. • Legoland Discovery Center offers a fun, highly interactive and educational 2- to 3-hour indoor experience. With play areas, rides, a 4D cinema and more, this is an exciting, hands-on outing kids love.
•Legends Outlets recently debuted the Lawn, a greenspace centerpiece of the shopping center that offers live concerts, yoga classes and events throughout the year. In between events, it’s a great place to hang out and enjoy the outdoors with friends. • KidScape at the Johnson County Museum is a whimsical, handson, child-sized city. Children time travel to different periods and communities from the region’s past. They enjoy pretend play as they work on the farm, perform at the theater or the puppet show, teach in the school, deliver the mail, care for patients at the hospital and fry up some burgers at the diner. • Explore Sea Life Aquarium where you get up close and face-toface with amazing underwater creatures such as sharks, octopus, a green sea turtle named Gertrude, stingrays, sea stars, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish! • Paint your own pottery at Ceramic Cafe. Clay building, ceramic painting and glass fusing are all offered at Ceramic Cafe. • The Shoal Creek Living History Museum is a wonderful way to experience history firsthand. On the first Saturday of the month (June-September), they host free family fun days as reenactors bring the 19th-century village to life. • Visit Louisburg and tour Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary, which cares for real big cats. On Saturday evenings, attend one of the big cat feeders and keeper chats to learn more about the facility. • Carousels were once made in Kansas, and now you can visit the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum. Learn about C.W. Parker, the founder of a carousel factory in Leavenworth, and ride an authentic 1913 carousel.
The starting point for a healthy smile.
We specialize in giving kids the care and special consideration they need for successful dental care.
Owner John P. Roth DDS and family Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry Specialist in Orthodontics Locations:
OVERLAND PARK
913-553-2492
LEGENDS
913-948-8688
LEAWOOD NEW
913-491-5044
StartingPointDental.com
Magical Modeling
RAISE A SELFLESS KID
When you turn on the TV news or pull up the latest news on your phone, it’s likely a negative report or story of others’ hardships. Maybe a family lost everything in a tornado, or someone fell victim to a crime. Our basic human instinct tells us to empathize and stress for a moment about those who are having a rough time.
Kids are born with the ability to empathize to an extent, but selflessness and caring for others is a learned, modeled behavior. The best and most important thing parents can do to raise selfless kids is to give them opportunities to help others. Expose them to activities that promote selflessness.
For us adults, putting others before ourselves can sometimes be a hard thing, so teaching our kids may be hard, too. Yet teaching children that the world does not just revolve around them is an important lesson. Here are a few ways to encourage selflessness in your kiddos.
Read about it Don’t be afraid to check out a few books on the subject, like How to Raise Selfless Kids in a Self-Centered World, Raising Uncommon Kids or Here Come the Helpers. Be kind to strangers
Even if you’re just out at the grocery store with your kids, let them see you treat strangers with love and respect. Let someone in front of you in the checkout line. Tell people “excuse me” when you walk past them. Your kids will pick up on these subtle gestures.
Find volunteer opportunities
You don’t necessarily have to take your kids to an open-door food kitchen but try to find little ways to help out in your community. Take them with you to drop off a bag of gently used items at a second-hand store. Pick up pieces of trash at the park (with gloves, of course, and making sure you safely wash and sanitize hands afterwards). Adopt a puppy at the animal shelter together (if a new pet happens to be on your radar).
Do chores together
Have your kids help you load the dishwasher a few times a week. Vacuum the living room floor together. Ask your son or daughter to walk with you to grab the mail. Let kids know their assistance to you is a big help and that you appreciate it. This might motivate them to take initiative later in helping if they know it makes you happy. They’ll want to help others, too. Model selflessness
If you’ve got a full cart of groceries but see an elderly couple standing behind you in the checkout line, let them ahead of you. Tell your kids later that even though it’s hard to wait our turn sometimes, patience is a virtue, and it makes others happy if we can put them first once in a while.
Help them care for others
Teach big brother that little sister is so happy when he invites her to play race cars or dinosaurs with him. Even if he wants to play alone sometimes, she likes to feel included, and including her means he cares for her.
Recognize their selfless acts
Most importantly, if you see your children exhibiting a positive, helpful behavior you’ve modeled, let them know. Tell them you’re so proud and thank them for taking out the trash or helping a sibling with homework or feeding the dog. Acknowledge that you see their actions and appreciate them.
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.
If you want to delve even deeper into this topic with your kids, Scholastic offers a great list of children’s books about helping and empathy. Here are just a few to add to your list.
• Clark the Shark Dares to Share • Llama Llama Time to Share • Bear Feels Sick • Be Fair and Share! • One Love • Little Blue Truck
• How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their
Friends? • The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts • What Does It Mean to Be Kind? • The Story of Ferdinand • Do Unto Otters • Clifford’s Good Deeds • The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade • How Full Is Your Bucket? • Last Stop on Market Street • Kindness and Generosity: It Starts with Me! • A Chair for My Mother • The Three Questions
Want More in Life?
Here’s a way to experience the joy of parenthood and help children
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.
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.
