KC Parent magazine June 2024

UsecodeFATHER

Restrictions,exclusions,andchargesapply

director alice scott

music director kelsie clark massey

starring choreographer tiffany best

gregory williams as lefou

starring haley knudsen as belle

featuring marshall lovelace as maurice

matt richardson as beast

featuring

featuring everett o’rourke as chip

featuring

starring michael scahill as gaston

aidan bauer as lumiere

featuring yianni perahoritis as cogsworth featuring michelle harper as mrs. potts featuring

michaela sewalson as madame de la grande bouche

featuring melanie grantham as babette

Welcome, June! Summertime is here and comes with unrushed, unscheduled no-school days, warm temperatures and longer days, and loads of local events. We are ready for the respite that summer brings! KC Parent and KCParent.com have plenty of ideas for your summer fun! Whether you need some bucket list items to start your adventures and keep you busy or some fun crafts and free fun, our Summer Fun Guide has you covered, starting on pg. 40. And, in case you still need a last-minute camp for your kids, check our Camp Guide on pg. 30.

June also brings us Father’s Day. Dads are valuable and deserve being spoiled and celebrated. Check out Lauren Greenlee’s and Kailyn Rhinehart’s insights, beginning on pg. 24, on things they are “Still Learning from Dad,” as well as Kim Antisdel’s take on fabulous “Dad Fashion” on pg. 26. For some great ideas to celebrate dads, see pg. 56.

Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com

Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com

Editor Lauri Clapper Lauri@FamilyMediaGroup.com

Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design TappanDesign@Gmail.com

Advertising Sales Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com

Digital Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com

Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com

Intern Iris Enna

Distribution

To be added to our distribution list, email Distribution@KCParent.com

Local Contributing Writers

Thanks to everyone who submitted Parade of Hearts photos! We had tons of entries, and you’ll find several of them on pgs. 50-51. Stay tuned to KCParent.com

Lauri Clapper, Editor

Kim Antisdel (Liberty), Bill Bartlett (Kansas City), Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Janelle Cumro-Sultzer (Manhattan), Gretchen Fontanini (Manhattan), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Regan Lyons (St. Joseph), Kailyn Rhinehart (Warrensburg), Joleen Sams (Shawnee). Margaret Sarver (Lenexa)

Mailing Address 11937 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax

KCPARENT.COM

SPOTLIGHT KICK OFF SUMMER IN KC

Backyard cookouts, sandcastles, movie nights and lazy days at the park, nature walks and hunts for butterflies and bugs … this is the stuff of summer. Make even more memories this summer with local traditions and ideas found at KCParent.com.

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

KCParent.com has a geo-based, searchable Camp Guide with maps, descriptions, photos and videos. Take a look and finalize your summer camp plans!

4 MORE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED Like us on Facebook facebook.com/KansasCityParent Repin us on Pinterest // Follow us on X @KCParent // Subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter at KCParent.com

DATES GOING LOCAL

If you think a museum date sounds boring, think again! Check out the options below and see whether one of them is up your alley.

JOHNSON COUNTY MUSEUM

One Kansas City museum that we’ve enjoyed more than once now is the Johnson County Museum on Metcalf in the old King Louie building. It is so well done! The 1950s All-Electric House is interesting, and the old Bel-Air they have on exhibit is a beauty. Equally fascinating is learning about how the Border War between Kansas and Missouri really started. Hint: It has nothing to do with sports. My favorite exhibit piece is the White Haven Motor Lodge sign, which is an iconic piece of Johnson County history. If you want to bring the kiddos, there’s a 3,500-square-foot Kidscape area that takes kids on a journey through three different time periods: 1870s, 1900s and 1950s. At $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and college students, and $4 for kids up to age 17, this is an affordable outing for everyone.

KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

If you and your significant other find yourselves near the Plaza one day with some time to kill, stop by the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Art is not everyone’s cup of tea. I personally have never been a big fan of it, but I have often enjoyed contemporary pieces that I’ve seen out and about, so I figured it was high time we paid a visit. I have to say that we were both pleasantly surprised! Housed at the museum is a permanent collection of art—both indoors and out—along with special, temporary exhibits. When we visited, there were several art pieces made from textiles, buttons and other items not typically used to create art. The museum is also home to Café Sebastienne. We didn’t eat when we were there, but we will certainly go back to try the food. Besides, a meal or snack is a great way to extend your date day. Parking and admission at the museum are always free, so you can’t go wrong with choosing this place for a date.

HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Recently, the hubby and I visited the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, which honors the life of our 33rd president. We learned so much about Truman at this museum. He led our nation during one of the most tumultuous times in our history— punctuated by WWII and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, along with an assassination attempt on his life. He had many different jobs, including senator, bank clerk, farmer, county judge, haberdashery owner and captain in the National Guard, not to mention vice president and president. In high school, he worked at Clinton’s Drug Store on Independence Square, which is now Clinton’s Soda Fountain. One of the most interesting facts we learned is that Truman’s middle name is just the letter S. His parents couldn’t decide which of his grandfathers to honor—Shipp or Solomon—so they compromised and shortened it to S. Truman, his wife, Bess, and his daughter, Margaret, are all buried in the courtyard at the museum. Pro tip: You can check out four free passes to the museum at your nearby Mid-Continent Public Library at a savings of up to $12/person!

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities. Check out her Facebook page, Out & About in KC.

CROSSING KC

JUNE IN KANSAS CITY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

2 June 9 is the birthday of this beloved Disney bird who was voiced by KC native Clarence Nash (two words).

3 This holiday is celebrated on the third Sunday in June (two words).

4 National Bald Eagle Day is June 20. This is the name for the rescued eagle at home at Deanna Rose.

5 Photo Clue: Style of boat raced during an annual June festival on Brush Creek.

7 June is National Rose Month. Kansas City’s oldest and most beloved rose garden is located at ________ Park.

10 June 20 is Ice Cream Soda Day. Winstead’s serves the beverage in tall glasses and refers to the drink by this name.

12 National Fudge Day is June 16. You can watch as fudge is made at this shop in Crown Center.

13 June 20 is officially the first day of this season.

DOWN

1 June is the beginning of the picking season for this summer fruit.

6 Celebrate Dairy Month at Shatto, home to 350 of these milk-producing mammals.

8 The tallest roller coaster at Worlds of Fun.

9 Warm June nights are a perfect time to look to the skies for ____ showers.

11 World Ocean Day is June 8. Celebrate by visiting this aquarium at the KC Zoo & Aquarium.

Photo by Linda Hanley

DIY KINETIC SAND

Do your kids love to play with kinetic sand, but you don’t love the price tag? Then this is the perfect project for you to make with your crew! This is definitely an outside craft! We started outside but moved inside because of the wind only to end up back outside!

SUPPLIES:

• 1 c. play sand (check Amazon or the dollar store)

• 1/2 T. cornstarch

• 1 t. dish soap

• 1 c. water

• Large bowl or container

• Smaller bowl or container

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Two or more forks

• Old towels

• Optional: cookie cutters, cups/small buckets, shovels or additional toys for playing in the sand! My kids enjoyed playing with plastic reusable forks, spoons and knives.

DIRECTIONS FOR EVERY 1 CUP OF SAND:

Step one: Add 1 c. of sand to bowl.

Step two: Add 1/2 T. cornstarch to the same bowl.

Step three: Mix the sand and cornstarch with the fork. Set aside.

Step four: In the smaller bowl, mix 1 t. dish soap with 1 c. water until the mixture has become bubbly.

Step five: Very slowly add the water/soap mixture into the sand/cornstarch mixture, mixing as you add. Our sand came wet, so we only used about half of the water/soap mixture.

Step six: Keep mixing and adding in water/soap until you have reached your desired consistency! If your sand is finer or coarser, you may need more or less water. If your sand becomes too wet, add in additional cornstarch.

Pro tip: We chose to make 5 pounds of kinetic sand! The larger batch gave my children more sand to play with and made it easier for them to share as they played! We also saw a 25-pound bag of play sand for only a few dollars more and will probably get that the next time! If using 5 pounds of sand, multiply the above numbers by 5.

Janelle Cumro-Sultzer lives in Manhattan, Kansas, with her husband, three children (1, 3 and 5) and two senior dogs. Janelle is mainly a stay-at-home mom in addition to being a mediator at a local counseling center. Janelle loves to focus on learning through play and getting messy with crafts.

WORD FROM DAD

“Dad, what are you doing?” Patrick, my oldest son, sat next to me as I parked the car in an unusual manner, but he wasn’t done. “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”

We lived in an older neighborhood in Overland Park, and the three blocks of our street had no curbs. Instead, we had ditches to divert the rainwater that kept our lawns green and growing. This time, rather than going straight into our driveway, I pulled in parallel to the road and straddled our ditch while keeping the rear wheels on my paved drive.

The path from boyhood to grownup includes a period when we’re no longer children but not adults either. As youngsters, we’re convinced that our dads are the biggest, smartest and best men in

FALLEN APPLES

the world. The manlings we become are mildly surprised that Dad can remember to breathe.

I remembered when I thought my father was stupid. Like the time we ran out of gas in his pickup truck, and he refused help. I didn’t know he’d installed an extra gas tank. Or when he piled coals on top of a Dutch

oven during a camping trip. Ovens need heat from the top, too. By the time he helped me diagnose engine problems in my car, I’d come to respect his methods, no matter how odd they seemed.

Now, I had to teach Patrick. “Just for that, you get to come out with me and see how ignorant I was.”

After the engine had cooled, we crawled into the ditch under the car, carrying a wrench and pushing a drain pan before us. “We don’t have a set of ramps, so I improvised. The ditch gives us plenty of room and we’re safe while we work. Am I still stupid?”

He sighed. “No.”

William R. Bartlett lives in Kansas City with his family.

&

Q A

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP THEIR CHILDREN LEARN TO READ

PARENTS: No skill leads to children’s success in school more than being able to read. And all the reading experts generally acknowledge that children need to be good readers by the end of third grade. Of course, all of you want to help your children learn to read. The question is: How do you do this?

Helping Children Learn to Read Should Start Early

You can start reading to newborns; however, you definitely must be reading every day to children by the time they are 9 months old. Keep reading time short and fun at first. Choose books with nonsense words, rhyming words, texturized illustrations and even pop-ups. If children mimic a sound, respond to it. Even if very young children may look like they are not paying attention, they are hearing a variety of words and the rhythm of your reading voice. The cuddles and sound of your voice will make these early reading sessions enjoyable for them. You cannot delegate this task to the television or audio books — it is just not as effective.

As your children become toddlers, they will begin to take in all kinds of useful information from your reading to them. Their vocabulary will increase, and they will be learning about numbers, colors, animals and so much more. Some may want to hear the same story repeatedly. Even if it drives you crazy, humor their requests. However, it is certainly acceptable to steer them toward similar stories. At this point in time, don’t ignore children’s interruptions while you are reading. Respond to them as it shows their interest in a story.

4- and 5-Year-Olds Are Pre-Readers

These are the years that children are picking up clues about reading, learning that letters are put together to form words, knowing the sounds of some letters and even recognizing a few sight words. By the time they’re 4, read and teach nursery rhymes to children, as it will teach them to recognize ending sounds. In fact, rhyming is another approach to learning to read along with phonics. And when you are reading to kids, ask questions and talk with them about

what has been read. It is also the time to expand reading beyond the reading of books. While you are on the go, point out signs (the stop sign) and business names (McDonald’s). Plus, let your children see you reading and build a library of books for them to read with you and by themselves. At these ages, children who are in preschool are typically receiving some instruction in the identification and sounds of letters. You can strengthen this instruction by reading alphabet books to them, having alphabet blocks and puzzles available and possibly putting alphabet programs on computers and apps for them to play with. What you do at home to enhance prereading skills depends so much on your child. You may decide to select an early-to-read instruction program to help your child gain reading skills. This is a tricky thing to do. Some children savor a slightly more formal approach to learning to read while others just aren’t ready and could even be turned away from wanting to read. Like so many others, we have developed apps with stories

and games as well as books to help children learn to read. You can learn about our rhyming and fun Skinny Books and apps on the Dear Teacher website. Whatever you do, keep reading fun and limit any teaching time to five or 10 minutes. And don’t forget to keep reading to your children.

The Pre-Reading Skills Your Children Must Have

Do not be afraid to help your children acquire pre-reading skills. Have confidence in your ability to teach them. After all, you have taught them so many things already, from how to go potty to how to dress themselves. Most reading educators list the following five pre-reading skills as the ones needed for children to

1. Motivation to read: Children must want to start understanding what the words in a story say.

2. Letter knowledge: They need awareness that the alphabet letters have different names and sounds.

3. Phonological awareness: Youngsters need to be able to hear the different sounds in words (beginning, middle, ending and rhyming sounds).

4. Language skills: Kids require the ability to ask and answer questions, describe things, share their knowledge about things and have solid listening skills.

5. Concepts of print: They understand how books work — how to hold a book, turn pages and read from left

The Development of Reading Skills

Most children learn to read by 6 or 7 when they are in first or second grade. Be aware that the trend to push first grade curriculum down into kindergarten means that more and more children are starting to read earlier. Do understand that when it comes down to it, children learn to read at their own personal pace. There are always the children who are reading independently at 3 and 4. Surprisingly, such an early start does not necessarily mean that they will stay ahead. Others will usually catch up. So have fun with your children as you help prepare them to read. They will let you know when they are ready to learn

When I find an interesting topic, I can sit for hours and read—and read some more. My husband rolls his eyes at me when I say, “Guess what I just found out?” because he knows it means we will be trying a new supplement or super food. One of those supplements I’ve learned a great deal about that has helped my family is magnesium. Here’s my story:

I am a pediatric occupational therapist with many years of experience working with children, teens and adults with a variety of concerns. As an occupational therapist, I tend to think about a person as a whole rather than focusing exclusively on a person’s problem area. As such, I need to bring some knowledge of nutrition to my clients. Also, I am a mom of two adult children, each of whom had specific allergies and nutritional needs. I personally struggle with a limiting gluten sensitivity.

When my children were young, we often lived paycheck to paycheck, so I became quite the cheapskate. In addition, as I have gotten older, I now live by the “less is more” philosophy. These experiences, as well as a desire to be focused and effective, have shaped me as I work to help parents navigate how to best help their children. As parents, we can feel overwhelmed when we consider all the things we are supposed to do for the betterment of our children—and simply decide to give up. Rather than dumping every possible treatment, food or supplement on a parent, I take the approach of starting with small, easy steps, beginning with “Have you considered …?”

Most often, my first step in the nutritional arena is to try magnesium. I often start here because most of the children I see in my OT practice have dysregulated sleep. I do other things to address this in OT as well; however, I like to layer on the nutritional piece because sleep issues are typically not an easy fix.

In addition, magnesium comes in many forms: powder (often lemon flavored), pill or tablet. Epsom salt baths are another way to increase magnesium (I prefer the plain kind with no added fragrance) and can work better for younger children that might not try the other options.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED … MAGNESIUM?

Over the last 15 years, I have found the following online nutritional doctors profoundly helpful. They have impeccable credentials, and they have staying power. They offer insightful free information on their websites, as well as sales and discounts. I have listed them in order from easiest to read to more technical in information.

SOURCES:

Dr. Axe

DrAxe.com/nutrition/magnesium-supplements/ Dr. Jockers

DrJockers.com/10-signs-magnesium-deficiency/ Dr. Peter Osborne

DrPeterOsborne.com/vitamins-minerals-and-nutrients/magnesium/

What Is Magnesium?

Magnesium is an essential mineral and also an electrolyte. What is magnesium used for in the human body? Some of the main functions of magnesium include:

• Regulating blood pressure

• Keeping bones strong

• Balancing nitric oxide in the body

• Supporting growth and development in babies and children

• Supporting proper function of nerves, muscles and tissue

• Neutralizing stomach acid

• Moving stools through the intestine and preventing constipation

Gretchen Fontanini works as a pediatric occupational therapist in Manhattan, Kansas. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends or listening to biohacking podcasts.

In November, we rescued Zelda, our golden retriever/husky mix. She’s roughly two years old. Zelda’s biggest issue is harassing our nine- and tenyear-old cats in an attempt to play. She is never aggressive, but this consistent behavior overwhelms the cats. We have tried redirecting Zelda, giving the cats more “safe” spaces, putting up a gate, etc. but nothing seems to hinder her persistent desire to play with them. The cats will hiss and swat at her, but she only takes this as another “fun” cue that they want to play. Any advice? – Joy

You are doing a good job by working on redirection and giving your cats plenty of safe places and breaks from Zelda. I recommend working on recall training and getting a high response for the commands “sit” and “lay down” so that you can use them when she’s being overly playful with the cats. Having a strong recall will help in these instances so she will come back to you when she’s being inappropriate with the cats. You can also teach Zelda “stay” and have her stay and watch the cats without interacting. With consistency and time, it will get better if done appropriately.

- Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

How can you tell if your dog has Alzheimer’s? My dog is getting older and seems to be displaying some odd behaviors and not remembering where she is or how she got there. She will also stand and stare at the wall for a long time. It’s a little weird. – Max

Yes, dogs can get dementia. It’s called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), and it is not curable. However, the symptoms can be treated. If you think your dog may have “doggy dementia,” I recommend visiting your veterinarian to learn more since it affects memory, learning, and comprehension. Some symptoms of CDS are anxiety, failing to remember routines, slowness in learning new things, staring blankly at walls or nothing, lethargy, lack of selfgrooming, not responding when called, and aimless wandering. Early detection can help with symptom treatment so please get your pet checked out by your veterinarian soon.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I found a stray cat about six months ago and she is a little thin in my opinion. I noticed she seems more petite than other cats in my neighborhood. I leave food out for her and give her treats frequently. She eats less than the recommended amount of food suggested on the bag, but she doesn’t seem to be going hungry or anything.

She seems quite content and happy. Please help this first-time cat owner.

– Evelyn

Like humans, some cats are naturally thin and may not want to eat as much as others. If she is content and able to eat whenever she wants, I would not be too concerned. However, if you feel she is underweight or you can easily see her ribs, I recommend visiting a veterinarian so they can check her body index score and treat her if necessary. They can prescribe food that can help cats get to a healthy weight if needed.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

FEATURED PET

Hi, I’m Destiny, and I’m a friendly and social young lady who likes attention and affection. One of my very best attributes is my skill at walking on leash. When we walk, if you stop, I stop. I’m a very good girl. I am also smart and talented. I know “come”, “sit”, and “down”. I love to play with toys, and the plush ones are my favorites -- I like to shake them all about. When I play, I can get enthusiastic, so I’m learning how to play and then calm down if I’m overexcited. Hey, everybody has something to work on, right? I had a meetand-greet just the other day, and while I was nervous, I showed everyone how much I love laps and just how very sweet I am! Email adoptions@greatplainsspca.org for more info!

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in KC Parent magazine. Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior and Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.

COR Surf Bag

Need to keep stuff dry near the water—I mean completely dry? Have I found the bag for you! When I’m at the pool, I can easily keep things dry by keeping them away from the water. When I am playing on watercraft at the lake, though, I’ve sometimes needed to have things with me but struggled to keep them truly dry—until now. You, too, may need this COR surf bag in your life! Or try another one of their neat products. CORSurf.com

Heirloom Video Book

Kiddietotes Scooter Luggage

Luggage plus scooter equal a kid’s travel dream! This is a brilliant concept and so winsome when you’re headed for adventure and asking kiddos to navigate their own luggage. What is not to love about being responsible for your own things and independently scootering along? This luggage on wheels is sturdy, adorable, fun and easy to maneuver. Adventure awaits! KiddieTotes.com

5THINGS WE RIGHT NOW

I love this concept! It’s a customizable video-playing book. What a special way to separate out the videos we capture. Share your special moments and memories with people you love— and truly connect. We captured videos of our family reading board books to my sister’s firstborn who lives in Seattle, so he can experience my kids’ and my reading to him. The ideas are unlimited! SendHeirloom.com

LOVE

Compiled by Lauri Clapper

Smart Dreams Pajamas

First-Aid Kit

Is there ever a season you don’t need to have a first-aid kit nearby? Especially in summer with knees and elbows always exposed, our family goes through bandages like water. Keep>Going has kits of better quality than anything you’ll find in a store. They have everything you need to be prepared and feature some of the most beguiling patterns ever put on a first-aid kit! Keep having fun—prepared! KeepGoingFirstAid.com

Turn bedtime into a fun and educational experience. What a fabulous idea to combine whimsy and comfort and apply to fundamental learning concepts. Each pair of pajamas arrives with coordinating flash cards and lets you give bedtime an upgrade by slipping in some learning and development reinforcement. Hand-me-down quality means multiple kids can love and learn from them. HaveSmartDreams.com

the benefits of asking open-ended questions

We’ve all done it: Our child gets in the car after school and we immediately start peppering him with questions. Did you have fun? Who was there?

Are you tired? Did you eat lunch?

Each of these questions has a limited number of answers. These are not bad questions to ask your child; however, they are the opposite of open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are questions that require a more lengthy response. These types of questions offer more than just a static, one-word response.

The Importance of Open-Ended Questions

Questions that have one or even a few options for answers don’t keep children talking. They don’t open the conversation for more communication. In contrast, openended questions keep our kids talking. They provide opportunities for insight and new information.

Open-ended questions develop children’s critical thinking skills and can enhance communication and emotional skills. Open-ended questions can also strengthen the bond between parent and child. Openended questions are crucial to development. Open-ended questions can:

• Promote problem-solving skills.

• Foster a positive and supportive learning environment.

• Encourage intrapersonal skills such as self-reflection and self-awareness.

We want to encourage deep conversations with our children. One-word answers often have the potential to shut down a conversation entirely. Strengthen

daily conversation by including open-ended questions with your child. Well-thought-out questions encourage further conversation, especially in older children.

Critical Thinking Skills

We can encourage children’s critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions. Asking and answering these types of openended questions is extremely beneficial for development. Open-ended questions encourage thoughtfulness, rather than automated responses. These questions allow children to pause and consider their answers instead of spouting off the first answer they think of.

Parents want to foster independent skills in early childhood. Open-ended questions allow children to think for themselves, form answers and create conversation.

Now, imagine how these critical thinking skills can set them up for success later in life!

Communication Skills

Parents want their children to be able to communicate well. Whether with adults or peers, communication skills are an

important part of life. We want our children to grow up to be functioning and competent adults. This includes expressing emotions, asking questions and forming relationships. We can enhance communication skills by asking open-ended questions.

Building strong communication skills from a young age sets children up for future success. This applies to social situations, life opportunities and a greater sense of selfawareness. Communication skills contribute to emotional awareness too.

Emotional Awareness and Development Skills

Children develop emotional awareness in many ways. Intentional conversation is just another way children can develop emotional awareness. Through open-ended questions, children learn to identify and express emotions.

Open-ended questions encourage reflection, especially for kids who are external processors. These questions can also help children understand and empathize with others. Children learn how to process emotions by hearing and answering openended questions.

The Parent-Child Bond

Finally, open-ended questions can strengthen the bond between parent and child. Parents want to build trust in their children from a young age. This is so that as they age, children maintain a relationship and bond with their parents. A parent can do this by asking open-ended questions that encourage continuous conversation. Examples of open-ended questions to ask your child:

• What made you happy today?

• How were you a friend to someone today?

• What did that remind you of?

• Why do you think that happened?

• Can you tell me about that picture?

• What made you feel proud today?

• What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Kailyn Rhinehart writes from Warrensburg, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two small children.

fun and frugal summer birthday ideas

By Margaret Sarver

If you have kids’ parties this summer, there is no reason that you have to break your bank to throw a great party that kids will never forget!

Make your cake (and eat it, too) Try hosting a make-yourcupcake/cake party. Guests can help design and bake their own sweet treats. It acts as both the activity and the dessert for the kids and adults!

Location, location Have the party in your backyard. If it’s hot, bring out the sprinklers and enjoy frozen summer treats like ice cream and cool drinks. Cute idea: Set up a makeyour-own-sundae station.

Hire some help Hire a couple of local teens/babysitters to help with the party. While you are keeping the kids entertained, the teens can help with cleanup! If you have games, ask the teens to teach the younger kids how to play.

Games Games are an integral part of the party! Instead of going out and purchasing all new games, try setting up “game stations” with board games that you already own. Invite parents of the kids over to help supervise. Rotate stations once each game is complete. Cute idea: Make a version of “Guess Who” using photos of kids attending the party.

Make your own piñata A popular birthday item for kids’ parties is often a piñata. Instead of spending money on a storemade piñata, have the kids at the party make their own piñata using balloons or paper bags and help them stuff it themselves. It’s cost effective for you and more fun for them!

Arts and crafts Set up an arts and crafts station for the guests. You can stock it with leftover items from craft projects and supplement with a few dollar store buys. From paper bag puppets to clay creations and bead jewelry, crafting is fun for all ages and allows for guests to take home their masterpieces at the end of the party.

Passing down your family stories

When your children are born, they inherit your family’s eye color, hair color, smile and even temperament. They are also emotional sponges when you talk to them, absorbing your voice, your body movements and the love you show when discussing stories you yourself heard as a child from your parents and grandparents.

The story my sisters and I loved hearing was how our parents met. Mom said Dad was in the service and came to church in his uniform and she was smitten! So much so that she dropped the collection plate when handing it to him. That union lasted more than 50 years. Another is how my great-grandmother moved from Germany to Texas with a service member she met, and they lived out in the country. She would stand on the back porch and bang a metal pan to scare the coyotes away from her chicken

coop! She stood at just four-foot-10 or so, and I’m sure she was a sight to behold.

I have shared those stories with my own children and many others. The value of knowing who you are and details about your family give youngsters a sense of belonging. If you are lucky enough to live near your parents and grandparents, this is something they definitely know how to do. I learned so much about life from my Mamau while I tagged along as she baked her homemade bread and mayonnaise, crafted cheesecakes no one can emulate and grew the best tomatoes I’ve ever tasted. Her ever-present bent spoon would offer bites to her “chirren,” as she called us.

Some mental health providers have found that more knowledge of family history can increase kids’ likelihood of overcoming psychological and educational challenges. Personal family stories allow your children to better understand themselves. Sharing family stories, quite simply, helps build strong families and connects family members of different ages.

So how do you begin sharing family stories? Taking a walk is the perfect time to talk as things come to mind. Our lives are so busy with activities, sometimes we need to make a conscious effort to quietly tell a story. Pictures are great storytellers too: Grandma’s wedding portrait, a snapshot of her dog, the photo of her on her bike. When my own mother turned 70, I collected photos of her family for a special scrapbook, and my kids loved seeing those black-andwhites!

Find the story in the little things. If you are at a loss, just talk about everyday life and how it’s changed—explain what a phone booth was and cassettes! Visit the Disciple Mama Blog for more ideas.

For fun, have your children “interview” their grandmother. Ask what her favorite foods were when she was a little girl, her favorite subject in school, what she did when she played outside, whether she fought with her brother, what she wore to her first prom and more. Then, compile the answers in a notebook. Grandma will love reading it! And your family will have created a history book of sorts.

Family stories are not fairy tales or the latest superhero movie, but kids still need to hear them. Stories are a way of preserving family history, but more importantly, they help create a sense of continuity and resilience while building a framework to understand painful experiences and celebrate happy times. Parents who share stories about their childhood give their children the knowledge that they are part of something bigger.

As your children get older, entice them with some of those family secrets, like the time their aunt wrecked your car when she hit a deer, or the time your favorite uncle brought to a Christmas party the drugs he’d become hooked on in the Korean War. (Those are a few of my family sagas!) It’s not healthy or useful to turn away from difficult situations that happened, because truth is truth. Once the situations see the light of day, they can have more effect. Once you talk about them, they simply become part of the larger patchwork quilt that is a family’s life.

With FaceTime, your children are already used to listening to your family members. Why not change it up a bit. After your son tells his grandparents he hit a home run, why not ask Grandpa if he ever hit a home run? That will be a story!

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.

Sources: AmericanaSteeples.com, WashingtonPost.com

Still Learning from

Learning isn’t reduced to school assignments or simply getting a degree. It’s following your passions and seeking to know more just for the sake of it.

Do Hard Things

Dad

Thomas Edison was once quoted as saying, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” I saw this play out firsthand with only a slight deviation in clothing (my dad wore Dickies work slacks). When he began his own business, my dad was willing to do whatever it took to get his start-up off the ground and provide for his family well. I never heard him complain but remember him saying the same refrain amply: A hardworking man can always rest easy. Actions are a language, and his strong work ethic, both past and present, have spoken volumes to me without his ever saying a word.

Learn New Things

There’s never a visit I have with my dad where he isn’t sharing something new he recently learned with utter excitement. Newfound skills and knowledge are something he’s too excited to keep to himself. This has been yet another life skill he’s taught through example and not a lecture: Learning isn’t reduced to school assignments or simply getting a degree. It’s following your passions and seeking to know more just for the sake of it.

Try Different Things

My dad was a recreational runner his whole life, but he didn’t start long-distance running until he was in his fifties. For over a decade now, we’ve run a slew of 5K’s, 10K’s and half-marathons together. It’s been a rewarding way to bond. Living in different states, we can’t always train together but look forward to running side by side on race day. I’m thankful he took the initiative and invited me to join him for the first race because it’s brought us together like no other activity.

Laugh … a lot!

There’s a point in your life when you think you know better than your parents. Then life humbles you and you realize they knew more than you gave credit for. I’m so appreciative this information wasn’t met with critique but with humor and, yes, dad jokes! Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously. My dad still shows me that being teachable and curious means realizing that making mistakes is just a learning opportunity, not a death sentence.

Forgive and Ask for Forgiveness

My dad’s own relationship with his father left much to be desired. Without a road map for what being a good dad looked like, he did a remarkable job navigating life’s challenges and leading by example. He was authoritative when I was under the roof but willing to admit mistakes and ask for forgiveness as well. Better still, he released me with full confidence into adulthood. I can only hope to launch my own children into the world with the same degree of humility and confidence.

Lauren Greenlee is a boymom of four hailing from Olathe.

The

role

of Father

never

ends.

Our writers share lessons they’re still learning.

Make People Feel Seen

It didn’t matter where we were in our small town, someone seemed to know my dad. In parking lots and on soccer fields, a shout of “Hey, Rich!” would bring a pause and a conversation. My dad embraced others with his kindness and sincerity, sending them on their way feeling seen.

When my introverted self wants to shrink back, I remember the years of watching my dad and I’m inspired to listen and engage in conversation wherever we are, with whomever would give a shout.

Work Hard

My dad worked at the same company my entire life. I have watched him work hard his entire life, and I see the sacrifices he made for our family. He spent long hours working and commuting. He spent weeks and months traveling to provide for us and prove himself. He retired having demonstrated commitment and determination, for which he was rewarded, and to which I aspire.

Show Up for People

Twenty-hour drive across the country to help you move? No problem. Spend all day landscaping your yard in the sweltering heat of summer? Absolutely. My dad shows up for those he cares about. His compassion for others is something I’ve always admired. He will stop what he’s doing and help anyone who needs it, especially those close to him. Admittedly, this is something I know I can work on.

Value Movement

Even on the days he worked long hours, I’d hear the creak of my dad’s metal exercise bike from our basement before sunrise. Years ago, I asked him why he would wake up so early to be on his bike before work. “Because it makes me feel good!” he told me simply. Today, well into his sixties, my dad still bikes, swims and runs. When I’m well into my sixties, I sure hope I’m able to hop on a bike or go for a run as he still so often does.

Pursue Balance

My dad is a creature of habit and has always liked routines. We’re similar in that way. As I’ve grown, I’ve seen my dad’s grasp on routine loosen, and I’ve watched him allow himself to rest.

I’ve often seen my dad brush off concerns with an “It’s OK!” in an attempt to reconcile his need for structure and relinquishing control. I’m still learning this critical balance from my dad—how to maintain structure but ease up on rigid routines. I long to anchor myself in life’s predictability but take my foot off the gas every once in a while and just enjoy the ride.

My dad shows up for those he cares about. His compassion for others is something I’ve always admired. He will stop what he’s doing and help anyone who needs it, especially those close to him.

Kailyn Rhinehart writes from Warrensburg, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two small children.

Dad Fashion BACK AND READY TO GRILL

GEN X AND GEN Y—OK, Millennials if you want to get technical—grew up with Super Dads who knew how to do everything well with seemingly no training or experience. But their fashion? Yikes! All collectively cringed as their fathers pulled up to the soccer game in denim shorts and long tube socks. We sighed heavily as they donned their best Hawaiian shirts for our eighth grade graduations. What were they thinking? Didn’t they care about how they looked?

The answer was no, they really didn’t. And in a strange twist of irony, we all want to be just like them, because dad fashion is back

Gone are elevated and out-of-touch trends like expertly tailored pants, crisp button-down dress shirts and 24-karat cuff links. No, sir, not in this economy. Fashion these days is all about comfort over classism and dad jokes over deadlines. We tip our misshapen baseball caps to the pioneers of the dad fashion era and welcome this resurgence with an open bear hug. Here are six dad fashion trends you can rock right now. The best news? They’re likely already in your father’s closet, and that will save you money—a total dad move.

DAD FASHION TREND: GRILLING SHOES

Having a tough time getting that steak to a perfect medium-rare? My friend, you are probably grilling in flip flops. Get yourself to the local Dick’s (K-Mart is long gone) and grab a pair of Nike Monarchs or New Balance 608s. Throw on a pair of jorts (that’s jean shorts and, yes, they’re back) and some extra-tall white tube socks and watch as your barbecue stats within the neighborhood improve drastically.

DAD FASHION TREND: THE MUSTACHE

Still sporting a goatee? You’re officially out of style. Dad fashion requires a full upper lip of hair, trimmed to perfection. The hair should cover the upper lip but not hang into your mouth. The bushier, the better. And in a new twist from the original dad-stache, this time you can buy specialized products to keep it looking healthy and clean.

PRO TIP: Handlebars belong on a bike, not on your mustache.

DAD FASHION TREND: ELEVATED LISTENING EXPERIENCES

If eight-tracks were available they’d be on this list. Because they’re obsolete, vinyl will have to do. Dad fashion insists on investing in vinyl records for your collection because streaming compresses the audio, making the sound less authentic and ruining the artist’s true expression and intention.

PRO TIP: Dad fashionistas do not use ear buds. They find high quality, absurdly large headphones to complete the true audio experience. Need a good starter band? Grab a Fleetwood Mac album or try the soundtrack to Dazed and Confused

DAD FASHION TREND: RELAXED JEANS

Skinny jeans be gone! Whether you’re male or female, the dad jean is truly for everyone. These dapper denims boast a baggy fit, wider leg and high rise. Bonus points if you can get them in a stonewash and add in an extra-long braided leather belt. Want to fully commit? Find a way to carry your iPhone on your waistband.

PRO TIP: Dad jeans are not boyfriend jeans. Boyfriend denim is a lower rise and straight leg. If you want to pull off the dad vibe, make sure your rise is high and your sneakers are pristine white.

DAD FASHION TREND: YARD BEERS

Put down that overpriced IPA. You can’t be a beer snob and be in dad fashion. Dad beers are all about nostalgia over purity of taste and quality ingredients. We are talking salt of the earth here. These beers pair well with fireworks on the fourth of July, mowing the grass and criticizing your neighbor’s house paint color. Consider trying Coors, Busch Light (or Latte), Miller High Life, Bud Light, Pabst Blue Ribbon or Yuengling’s.

PRO TIP: When drinking these beers, consider starting your stories with, “Back in my college days …”

DAD FASHION TREND: BEING PRESENT

Dad fashion extends well beyond clothing, food and accessories; it’s a true lifestyle. Dad life is centered on being present with family and friends and taking time to care for those in the community. Dads are the first to help in a crisis and the last to leave a party when there’s cleanup to be done. True dads believe in working on a project well past midnight to get it just right. They put their family first and their career at a far distant second. Dads believe that slow is the preferred speed, and love is the language to lead with.

After all this time, being a dad is finally cool, and that works just fine for us.

Kim Antisdel is a freelance writer and interior design sales rep for KC. She lives in Liberty with her husband, stepdaughters and son.

Keeping kids’ minds engaged over the summer

We all know the last day of school arrives with shouts, cheers and a feeling of freedom. No more getting up early, no more homework and plenty of time to eat breakfast and play with friends. While many children are involved with all sorts of summer activities, from baseball to swimming to theater, the season still offers a sense of freedom and the chance to enjoy life.

Despite that sweet promise of liberation, we parents want to make sure the learning doesn’t end with the school bell. Many themed summer camp programs that tie into any interest, from sports to science to animals and more, can fill some time, but what about those downtimes at home? It’s important to keep children of all ages prospering and thriving during the summer months.

THE CULINARY CENTER OF KANSAS CITY can help you learn to cook or learn to be a better cook. As the tag line goes, “Magic happens in the kitchen.” Find an extensive list of magic-making classes online at KCCulinary.com.

OLATHE’S ERNIE MILLER NATURE CENTER gives kids a chance to learn, understand and admire nature. They offer cultural, historical and environmental programs and other activities. JCPRD.com

MISSOURI TOWN LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM in Lee’s Summit shows kids what a progressive mid-1800s farming community was like. On some 30 sloping acres, you can explore 25 buildings showcasing living history with original

structures, furnishings and equipment. Interpreters in period attire demonstrate authentic field and garden crops and rare livestock breeds. MakeYourDayHere.com

If you have animal-lovers, visit WAYSIDE WAIFS in Kansas City, Missouri. Teens are able to volunteer (solo or with a parent, depending on age), or your family could apply to become part of the pet foster care program. WaysideWaifs.org

KALEIDOSCOPE is another local favorite, free and full of endless creativity. HallmarkKaleidoscope.com

YAYA’S ALPACA FARM in Garden City, Missouri, is a fun excursion, offering tours year-round. YayasAlpacaFarm.com

Begin by making learning a family fun experience. Read to your children and read with them. Local libraries have fun reading competitions that reward kiddos for how many books they read over the summer. They also have fun reading lists to stoke their curiosity. Or see whether your child’s teacher has put reading lists online. Take advantage of local museums such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and different children’s museums. If you think about it, your grocery store is a math lesson in itself. Have your children help make out a list. Then add approximate prices for such items as milk, bread and eggs. Add these together, then after your shopping trip, see how far off you were! When going on drives, ask your kids to look for certain shapes, colors, letters or words on billboards and signs.

Although online educational programs are great, try turning off the TV, computer and video games or set limits for screen time. My daughter sets a timer for my 3- and 5-yearold grandsons so they know when it’s time to get up and move, look out the window or go outside and swing on the swing set.

Scavenger hunts are a fun idea to play with neighborhood friends. Involve your children in every step. List how many items you want to find, for example, a beach ball, a pinecone, a leaf and a golf ball. Decide whether you want to knock on doors of trusted neighbors who would enjoy the fun. Count out how many items are found and talk about each one then award prizes. The dollar store is a

great resource for these, with fun hats, sidewalk chalk, beach balls and more.

Cooking together may seem mundane, but this can be a nutrition and math activity. Place all the ingredients for your child’s favorite dish out on the counter, then have him measure out how much water or milk goes into the dish. Show him the measuring cup and decide what half of a half-cup is and so on.

Some other hands-on ideas to make sure learning loss doesn’t happen during the summer months can be to catch fireflies. Read a book about them, then find an empty jar and go hunting in the nighttime. Learn what fireflies eat, where they live and why they light up. Wow, you’ve just completed a science project!

When you are planting your vegetable garden or flowers, involve your kids. Have them choose what to plant, then water, weed and feel proud of what they grow, be it flowers or tomatoes. Gardening not only keeps kids physically active but also gives them responsibility. Discuss how plants produce food for us to eat and, using carrots, peppers and such, what the life cycle is of vegetables from seed to food. As you dig, point out worms and other critters you find and talk about those and how they help the plants grow and thrive. An added bonus is that when children help grow their vegetables, the chances of their munching on them are much better!

Kites are another fun activity on windy days. Make your own kite … you can find instructions online. Then discuss how the

wind keeps the kite in the air. Discuss what direction it will fly and how high it can go! You’re teaching your child about physical science and meteorology.

For a foray into geology and art, gather your own rock collection as you take walks. Discuss the textures, colors and shapes. Painting rocks is a great way to keep your kiddos interested. Then, display the rocks so your family can see.

One of the best parts of summer is eating outside! Whether you are simply eating at the picnic table in your yard or visiting the lake or beach, make sure your children help pack the picnic lunch and imagine what will be best to eat outside. Explain how their bodies need energy to move and play and think and that muscles grow healthier with fruits and vegetables.

Consider creating a list of activities you hope to do during the summer. Cut the list into strips and place them in a box or jar. Make an event of picking an activity. Ideas may include the following: Spend the day at the zoo, visit the nursing home to read to residents, create a chalk drawing on the driveway and make homemade milkshakes. Involve your kids. There are no bad ideas! Then at the end of the summer, look back at all you did.

With a little time, planning and creativity, you can play a valuable part in making sure summertime fun keeps your children’s minds sharp and enriches their health and well-being.

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.

Sources: Utopia.org, SanfordHealth.org

KC Parent’s

Camp Guide

The Coterie Theatre School Classes and Performance Camps

The Coterie offers summer acting and drama classes to students entering Grades K-12 at five sites: Crown Center (at the Coterie), The Plaza (Pembroke Hill), Overland Park (Miller-Marley), Liberty (Liberty Community Center), and Kansas City, KS (KCKCC). Led by professional, trained teaching artists, Summer 2024 week-long, halfday classes include creative drama, acting, and audition skills; and full-day performance camps for Grades 6-12 will be held at the Plaza, Liberty, and KCK locations. Get class schedules & descriptions or enroll online now at TheCoterie.org. See display ad pg. 31.

Culture House

A summer of fun your kids will always remember happens at The Culture House, where performing and fine arts camps fill the building with creativity, inspiration and friendship. There are all kinds of camps for your children: theater, musical theater, dance, music and art. Parents will love how smoothly all aspects of registration and logistics are handled, making it easy for all to enjoy a summer filled with great memories and new friendships. Sign up today before camps are full at CultureHouse.com. See display ad on pg. 37.

Kansas City Young Audiences Sing, dance, act, make and play in KCYA summer camps! Join professional teaching artists for week-long performing and visual arts camps designed to help children discover and develop their own unique talents. From Broadway Bound to Puppet Play, Dance Camp to Musical Theatre, there is a camp to engage and inspire every child! Scholarships and multi-camp discounts are available. Summer camps begin June 3! Learn more here: KCYA.org. See display ad on pg. 34.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium  Go wild this summer with summer break camps at the zoo! Camp runs June 5 through Aug. 18. Day camp curriculums are age-appropriate and are properly chaperoned at all times. Activities may include but are not limited to educational games, crafts, shows, rides, science experiments and educational movies. Full-day camps are available for ages 5-17, MondayThursday, 8:30-3:30. COST: $260 or $234 for FOTZ members. Single-day camps also available. Learn more at KansasCityZoo.org. See display ad on pg. 34.

Continued on page 35

59,540 unique page views at KCParent.com’s ’23 Virtual Camp Guide

104,000 readers each issue of KC Parent Magazine

DID YOU KNOW?

KCParent.com has a geo-based, searchable Camp Guide with maps, descriptions, photos and videos. With these stats, it’s easy to see how KC Parent has camps covered!

five reasons your child needs camp

There’s no doubt that summer camp is fun. Kids get to sing silly songs, play funny games, swim in lakes and tell spooky stories around a campfire. This is the image of camp that has been captured and memorialized in films, books and television programs for the past 50 years. But there’s much more to camp than just a good time. In addition to the fun, parents should be aware of these five reasons their child needs camp.

1

Camp forever changes your child … for the better – American Camp Association (ACA) research has confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Campers said that camp helped them make new friends (96%), get to know kids who are different from them (93%), feel good about themselves (92%) and try things they were afraid to do at first (74%).

2

Camp teaches your child to “move it, move it” – Camp provides children the opportunity to try new things and participate in human powered activities. An estimated 22 million of the world’s children under the age of 5 are already considered obese. According to research conducted by ACA, 63% of children who learn new activities at camp tend to continue engaging in these activities after they return home.

3

Camp keeps all that hard work from going to waste – Camps understand the critical role they play in helping young people learn and grow. Many offer programs that help reduce summer learning loss, bolster academic enrichment and socialization, provide opportunities for leadership development and ensure that campers achieve their full potential.

4

Camp allows kids to take a deep breath and feel the nature –Camp is a great way for your child to unplug from electronics and plug into the world around them. According to a study by two Cornell University environmental psychologists, being close to nature can help boost a child’s attention span.

5

Camp is fun – It’s true; kids do sing silly songs and play funny games at camp. Children are allowed to play in a safe and nurturing environment and are allowed to just be kids. Play is a powerful form of learning that contributes mightily to the child’s healthy physical, emotional, social and intellectual development..

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association; ©2009 American Camping Association Inc.

July 15-19 July 15-19

59,540

104,000

Oakhill Day School

Every day is a blast at Oakhill Fully Charged! Our dynamic weekly themed day camps, for ages 2 through middle school, blend play and creativity. Experience the essence of summer with field trips, camp-wide water balloon fights, pool days, and more led by our amazing Fully Charged counselors!

Enroll online: OakhillDaySchool.org. See display ad on pg. 35.

Nexus Prep Summer Adventure Club

Looking for a fun, safe, and Bible focused day camp for your children this summer? Look no further! Enroll your K-5th graders in Nexus Prep’s Summer Adventure Club, spanning May 28th to August 9th. Choose from flexible plans: Full Time at $225/wk, 3 Days (M/W/F) at $185/wk, or 2 Days (T/TH) at $150/ wk. Dive into daily adventures, Bible studies, and four off-site field trips weekly! Limited spots – enroll now for an unforgettable summer! Contact us at nexusprep@gmail.com or visit NexusPrep.org. See display ad on pg. 34.

Resurrection, A United Methodist Church

We know your summer schedule fills up fast, so sign up now for Vacation Bible Camp: The Jesus Tour, this summer, July 15 – 19 at all 6 Resurrection locations across the KC Metro. Register at cor.org/vbc! Kids who are currently in grades K- 5 (school year 2023/24) can join us at VBC for games, snacks, crafts, FUN, and most importantly, learning about Jesus! Invite your friends and neighbors to join you! See display ad pg. 33.

Campers receive a free T-shirt and 3 hours everyday

CAMP

Summer at Barstow

Have you heard the buzz? Summer at Barstow is Kansas City’s favorite summer camp program for kids ages 3 and up. Campers love Summer at Barstow’s action-packed adventures in creative arts, athletics and—new this year— STEAM campus for grades 1-12 at the Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space just down the road in Leawood. Kids love exclusive camps and adventures; parents love our experienced instructors, 4-to-1 camper-to-staff ratio and extended care options. Check out camps for every budget, age, interest and schedule at BarstowSchool.org/Summer or call 816.277.0445 for more information. See display ad pg. 32.

Tiger Rock

Unleash the potential within your child this summer at Tiger Rock’s Martial Arts Summer Camp! For just $189, dive into a world of excitement and growth at our studio. Your fee covers a sleek summer training uniform and endless martial arts lessons. Act fast! Our classes are in high demand every summer, so don’t miss out—register today! Call or text 913.851.5050 (Overland Park) or 605.595.5284 (North Overland Park) to reserve your spot. Don’t forget to check out our display ad on pg. 36 and visit KCTigerRock.com for more details. Let the adventure begin!

Victory Soccer

Victory Soccer Camp provides quality soccer instruction in a fun and exciting environment. Children learn to combine excellence in sports with a focus on the fundamentals of the game, skills and understanding of the game. Our curriculum is designed for every player to be challenged according to their age level. Our camp is for students with all levels of athletic ability. Every camper is encouraged to live with good character qualities through our daily Bible Halftime. See display ad on pg. 35. VictoryInSoccer.org

■ Train from June 14 to August 15, 2024 for $189!

W 135th St.

Park, KS 66223 (913) 851-5050 optigerrock@gmail.com

595-5284 tigerrocknorthop@gmail.com

THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR KIDS’ COACHES?

LET THEM COACH

I’ve been a coach’s wife for the past 12 seasons, and I’ve seen firsthand the struggles and triumphs coaches go through. It takes a special person to be a coach, which makes good coaches extremely hard to find and even harder to keep. I’ve seen coaches come and go in just one season due to the long hours, low pay, pressure to win, time away from their families and the stress parents created during the season. If you’re looking for ways to support your kids’ coaches, do your best to just let them coach.

KEEP QUIET AT GAMES

When I asked my husband, he said staying quiet during games is the best way to support your coaches. Yelling at your children during the game takes away their focus and keeps them from hearing what their coach is telling them. Focus on cheering on the team and let the coaches coach. My husband says, “Parents should be the best fans they can be at games.” And whatever you do, please refrain from yelling hateful things at a coach, referees or the other team during a game.

It’s also important to keep quiet at home. Don’t go home and bad-mouth the coaches to your child. Second-guessing their decisions or complaining about the coaches to your children takes away the trust the coach has built with them.

FOLLOW THE 24-HOUR RULE

If you have an issue with something the coach has done during a game, follow the 24-hour rule. Waiting 24 hours before reaching out to the coach allows everyone to cool off from a rough game and takes the emotion out of it. After 24 hours, schedule a time to talk with the coach. Don’t approach the coach directly after a game or a practice.

STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

If you’re upset with a coach, steer clear of social media. If you have issues with a coach, reach out directly to him or her. Most coaches would be happy to explain their reasoning. Airing your grievances on social media makes not only you and the coach look bad, but also the team, school and district. It can also be extremely embarrassing for your child.

TRUST YOUR COACH

Coaches are not in the coaching business to make money. They’re in it because they are passionate about the game and want to share that passion with other children and build young men and women of character. Trust that they have the team’s best interest at heart. Coaching is their job, and they want a winning record like you do, probably even more so. It’s their names and reputations on the line when they lose. Take that to heart. If your child isn’t playing, remember the coach is looking at the team as a whole and will play the best players. Perhaps your child has had a bad attitude at practice and the coach is trying to help build character. Perhaps your child could use another year of development before he can thrive on the varsity team. When in question, give your coach the benefit of the doubt and do your best to support his decisions.

Coaches really do want what’s best for your child. If you need to ask more questions, reach out in a respectful manner.

HAVE YOUR CHILD SPEAK UP

If your child isn’t playing as much as she would like, empower your child to ask her coach what she can do to improve. A coach would be happy to give constructive criticism to help her improve her skills. This question means much more coming from the player instead of the parent.

VOLUNTEER

Most parents only see what goes on during a game. They have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. They don’t see the weekends watching hours of film, hundreds of hours spent in the weight room, two-a-day summer practices, late nights waiting for kids’ rides, middle-ofthe-night phone calls from their players who need advice or support, summer days spent planning for next season or the many phone calls from disgruntled parents. The job is truly 24/7.

A great way to support your coach is to volunteer to help. Some ideas would be organizing team dinners, helping set up and tear down the field on game days, uploading film, helping with team laundry or organizing the team fundraisers, banquets and senior night.

INVOLVE THEIR FAMILY

As a coach’s wife, I know how important it is for a coach to have a family that supports him and can handle things at home while he is coaching. During football and baseball season, my husband sees his players more than his own children. He misses his daughter’s games, weddings, reunions and more. Do your best to involve your coach’s family in the team dynamic. When they attend a game, say hi, talk to the kids, invite them to team tailgates or offer them a seat next to you. Small gestures can go a long way to help them embrace the season, and a happy wife equals a happy coach!

TELL THEM THANK YOU

Coaching can be a thankless job. Let your child’s coaches know how much you appreciate them. A simple email or text about how your coach has helped your child can make a world of difference. Knowing the work of coaching made a difference in your child’s life is what it’s all about.

Regan Lyons is a proud baseball and football coach’s wife. She lives with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley, 9, and Ensley, 3, in St. Joseph.

JUNE festivals ACROSS KANSAS CITY

Future Stages Festival

Summer is festival season in Kansas City! Visit KCParent.com and use our Festival Guide for a complete guide to fests and fairs all season long!

Jazzoo June 7, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Party animals from across the metro will gather to enjoy unlimited food and drink, games and live entertainment — all while raising money for the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Funds provide food for the nearly 10,000 animals in the zoo’s care and provide educational opportunities for the children in the KC community. JazzooKC.org

Old Shawnee Days June 6-9, Shawnee Town 1929. Old Shawnee Days offers an exciting array of free weekend-long entertainment your entire family can enjoy. Music all weekend features both nationally known recording artists and great local bands, entertainment for both adults and kids, crafts and vendors, the carnival and parade, games and contests and much more. OldShawneeDays.org

Future Stages June 9, Kauffman Center. This free community event spotlights hundreds of Kansas City-area youth performers as they take the stage throughout the day. Additionally, festival attendees can engage in family-friendly activities and exciting arts experiences for all ages. KauffmanCenter.org

International Dragon Boat Festival June 15, Brush Creek. Experience the annual Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival on the Country Club Plaza. The boats enter the water for practice at 8:00 in the morning, and festivities begin at 9:45 as drum-rollers and dragons march along the banks of Brush Creek to kick off a day of racing. KCParks.org

Great Lenexa BBQ Battle June 21-22, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle started in 1982 with 12 contestants and 12 judges. Prizes and ribbons are awarded to the top 10 contestants in seven categories (brisket, pork, pork ribs, chicken, sausage, beef steak and miscellaneous) and the top three overall winners. Lenexa.com

STEMS: A Garden Soiree June 22, Overland Park Arboretum. An epic evening of all-inclusive fun! Since 2008, the Arts & Recreation Foundation has welcomed thousands to attend and delight in the ambiance of the premier networking event in Johnson County. Enjoy an unforgettable date night — you’re sure to have a wonderful time for a great cause. ArtsAndRec-OP.org

Find our complete summer Festival Guide on KCParent.com!

Old Shawnee Days

Great Lenexa BBQ Battle

Water Parks IN KANSAS CITY

Make a splash this summer at these fabulous water parks

Oceans of Fun

4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. Kansas City, Missouri

Splash into summer fun at Kansas City’s premier outdoor water park. With waves of fun from mild to wild, Oceans of Fun offers amazing attractions for everyone in the family. Extreme waterslides appeal to thrill-seekers, and kiddos love the pintsized slides, geysers and fountains at Crocodile Isle. Float along on the Caribbean Cooler lazy river and catch some waves at the fan favorite Surf City Wave Pool. Riptide Raceway is the world’s longest mat racing waterslide. From five stories high, racers speed down 486 feet in enclosed, winding tubes and around a 360-degree loop before an epic splashdown finish. Admission to Worlds of Fun is included with the ticket price.

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

425 NE Mock Ave., Blue Springs

Opening this summer! This indoor/outdoor water park is truly state-of-the-art. Indoor features include a splash pad, lap pool, NinjaCross course, wellness pool and sauna. Outdoor features include cabanas, lazy river, wave ball pool, social pool, zero-depth entry pool, slide tower and surf simulator.

Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center

8801 Greenway Ln., Lenexa

New this year, the aquatic center offers features for all ages. Little ones will appreciate the zero-depth entry pool with interactive features and the climbable play feature with a dump bucket. Additionally, all ages will enjoy the lazy river, eight-lane 25-meter competition pool, deep water alcove with 3-meter platform and two 1-meter diving boards, two AquaClimb climbing walls (in deep water alcove) and the waterslide complex with an inner tube slide and speed slide.

Black Bob Bay

14570 W. 151st St., Olathe

This water park features raft waterslides, lazy river, shallow water play structures, a dive well including two 1-meter diving boards and two 3-meter diving boards, a 50-meter pool and a baby pool.

Adventure Oasis

2100 S. Hub Dr., Independence

From 700 exhilarating feet of waterslides to a peaceful 900-foot-long lazy river, there’s so much to do at Adventure Oasis! Splash and play in the family pool, dip in the lap pool or visit the Oasis Grill.

Summit Waves

120 SW Blue Pkwy., Lee’s Summit

This fun water park is home to an incredible 904-foot action river. Additional favorite features are one body slide and one tube slide, a six-lane lap pool with diving boards and a water playground area featuring mini slides, dump buckets and more.

25 FREE IDEAS

FOR SUMMER FUN IN KC

Tip: You’ll find many of these free events on the calendar on KCParent.com.

1. Play at Crown Center’s free Daniel Tiger Exhibit

2. Attend a free outdoor concert

3. Watch a free outdoor movie

4. Attend a Kansas City area festival

5. Play at one of the best parks in Kansas City.

6 Visit Kaleidoscope, a free handson art center where children use their imaginations to make art with leftover materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes.

Tip: Reservations required.

7. Ride the KC Streetcar and participate in our Streetcar Scavenger Hunt on KCParent.com.

8. Go fishing

9. In the summer, splash and play at a Kansas City area sprayground.

10. Tour the Truman Home in Independence and learn about President Truman and his wife, Bess.

11. Visit the Kansas City Museum, where admission is free.

12. Stroll through Kauffman Memorial Gardens

13. Visit a new library. Kansas City is rich with exciting local libraries. Try one beyond your neighborhood location.

14. Play I Spy at Lakeside Nature Center.

15. Marvel at modern art at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, where admission is free.

16. Visit bison and elk at the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure at Fleming Park.

17. Watch as marbles are made at Moon Marble

18. Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park

19. Spend First Fridays in the Crossroads

20. Take a tour of the Kansas City, Missouri, City Hall and visit the roof.

21. Hike at Ernie Miller Nature Center

22. Photograph friends in front of one of Kansas City’s 200 fountains

23. Get free money at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Money Museum

24. Enjoy one of KC’s best free hiking trails

25. Bring binoculars for bird watching at Burroughs Audubon Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary

Kansas City Museum

Loose Park

Summer is here! Making memories as a family is important, and documenting the moments can make for a lifetime of memories. Get ready for some of the best ideas to include on your summer bucket list!

Whether you want something for an afternoon, a whole day or even a weekend, we’ve got ideas for you! Read on for some family-friendly activities to add to your KC summer bucket list.

BU CK T L I S T E KANSAS CITY SUMMER PREPARED

FOR FUN

SAFETY FIRST

First things first: safety.

Always pack a first-aid kit, be aware of your surroundings and know what to do if things go awry. Having some extra hands and supplies will help keep you and your children safe.

Here are some tips to be safe while also having fun:

• Dress your kids in brighter colors in crowded places.

• Bring extra adults for help if possible.

• Teach your children your phone numbers, full names and what to do in crowds if they get lost.

Being prepared ahead of time may help you say yes to more adventures.

Consider having some kind of summer kit or supplies in your car. Set routines at the beginning of the day, such as packing lunches (even if you aren’t going far) or applying sunscreen. These small tips can help you more easily say yes to spur-of-the-moment activities.

Already have a towel and a change of clothes in your car? Yes, to last-minute splash pad playdates! Lunches are packed so you don’t have to rush home or spend money eating out? Yes, to staying longer at an activity your kids are having a blast at!

By factoring in simple rhythms ahead of time, you can equip yourself, your kids and your sanity so you can say yes to more fun!

Below are some things you may want to have in a summer car kit:

• Change of clothes

• Bathing suites

• Simple park toys (bug kit, buckets, balls, etc.)

• Pool towels

• Sunscreen/bug spray

LIST OF IDEAS

NEAR AND FAR

Need help to figure out where to start when adding things to your summer bucket list? We’ve

got you!

Ages, attention span, finances, family value and even nap schedules are all things to consider when planning your summer bucket list, so make sure you’ve brainstormed some of those things first.

Parents usually want to mix some educational activities into their summer fun. Whether you’re planning an informative trip to the museum or a scorching afternoon at the splash pad, you can be making memories!

Below are some general activities to consider adding to your summer bucket list.

• Museums

• Parks/spash pads

• Pools

• Outdoor concert/live music

• Hiking

• Farmers markets

• Camping/fishing

• Drive-in movie

• Baseball game

• Theme parks

• Picnics

• Gardening

• Farm, zoo or nature center

• Mini golf

After you’ve talked about some things your kids want to do, you can make a tangible list to display in your home. Kids love crossing things off! Display a big board or list in the main area of your home. This may also help parents in thinking ahead when planning some larger trips for specific days or weekends.

Need something more specific? Add one of these 5 ideas to your KC summer bucket list.

Union Station

Union Station offers more than just trains — but those are pretty cool if you have any transportation-loving kids or adults. Check out Science City and Crown Center for something indoors to do when the weather gets too warm.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

The Kansas City Zoo and its newly built Sobela Aquarium are a must-do for your summer bucket list!

Whether you have just a few hours or a whole day to spend walking around, this incredible zoo houses 1,700 animals representing more than 200 species. Pack a lunch or buy one there. Kids and adults of all ages are sure to stay occupied for hours.

Powell Gardens

Powells Gardens offers an amazing space to complete your summer bucket list. With beautiful grounds, lots of kid-friendly play areas and even a water fountain to cool off in, this is an excursion you’ll want to be sure to add to your list. Check hours and times to plan ahead.

Be sure to check out the annual Butterfly Festival, beginning in July. Give your kids the chance to be up close and personal with unique and stunning butterflies.

Deanna

Rose Children’s Farmstead

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park has it all! Coal mining, carriage rides and animal feeding. For just $5 per person (children 2 and under are free), the whole family can enjoy interacting with animals, learning and walking the beautiful grounds.

Kansas City Public Library

The Kansas City Public Library is a great resource and outing for summer or anytime! You’ll find something for the whole family at KC Public Library. Explore what it has to offer and check out the latest events.

Kailyn Rhinehart writes from Warrensburg, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two small children.

A DAY AT THE LAKE SHORE AND WATER SAFETY

Aday at the lake sure feels different once you have kids. The days of worrying only about yourself are gone. Instead, you must be constantly vigilant about where your kids are, what they’re doing and how to keep them from drowning. Kids require constant supervision, whether they’re swimming, boating or playing by the water’s edge. Water safety requires a layered approach, including education, supervision and establishing clear rules and boundaries for everyone in the family. Whether you plan to cruise out on a boat or just play and splash along the beach, get your family ready for summer safety with practical tips and tricks.

Open Water Risks

Lakes and beaches provide endless entertainment and learning opportunities for youngsters. They also present safety risks and hazards not present at regular swimming pools.

• Murky water that hides submerged obstacles, including rocks, debris and uneven terrain

• Sudden depth changes and dropoffs

• Currents and waves, even in shallow areas

• Boats, jet skis and other watercraft activities

Don’t forget the weather! Check it before you leave and remain alert for sudden changes in wind and temperature.

Constant Supervision

Children should never be left unattended near or in the water — constant supervision is the most fundamental water safety rule. Even strong swimmers can be caught off guard or run into trouble. There should always be a designated adult supervisor whose only responsibility is monitoring the kids. If you’re at the lake with multiple adults, set a schedule to switch supervisors every 15 minutes, so everyone gets a chance to enjoy the day.

Clear Rules and Boundaries

Set clear rules and boundaries even before you leave the house. In ageappropriate terms, explain why the rules are so important.

Essential Kid Water Safety Rules

• Only enter the water with permission from the adult.

• Always enter the water feet first — no diving!

• Wear well-fitting, approved life vests.

• Stay in designated swim areas.

Essential Adult Rules

• Distraction-free supervision is paramount — put down your phone and book and only supervise if you’re sober.

• Keep kids within arm’s reach, regardless of swimming ability and perceived strength.

• Teach kids how to call 911 and contact emergency services.

• Explain consequences and follow through if kids don’t follow the rules.

• Lead by example: Wear your life vest and follow your established rules.

As with most things in life, your actions speak louder than words. Make the rules and expectations the norm, and you’ll influence your children’s water safety attitudes and behaviors.

Teach Water Safety Skills

Water safety is an essential life skill. Enroll kids in swimming lessons from an early age to build their confidence and proficiency in the water. Kids should learn to float on their backs, tread water, perform basic swim strokes and safely enter and exit water. Kids should also learn about the dangers of diving into unknown waters and respecting safety signs and guidelines. All children and adults should wear properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved

life jackets when near, in or on open bodies of water. Many families make it a rule that kids put on life jackets before stepping foot on a dock.

All the rules and expectations make a day at the beach sound like a lot more work than it may be worth. If you do it right, you’ll feel like the bad guy and may even wonder whether it’s worth it to pack the kids up. But 20 years from now, your kids won’t remember your enforcing all the rules. They’ll remember the fun you had. One day, not so far in the future, you’ll once again have a lazy, carefree day at the beach and wonder how time flies so fast.

Joleen Sams lives with her family in Shawnee. She’s a family nurse practitioner who has always loved taking care of kids and their families.

References American Red Cross, “Swimming Safely in Lakes, Rivers, and Streams.”

LOCAL LAKES

BLUE SPRINGS LAKE

1700 NE Bowlin Rd. Lee’s Summit

KILL CREEK PARK MARINA

11670 Homestead Ln. Olathe

LAKE JACOMO

7401 West Park Rd. Blue Springs

LAKE OLATHE

13510 S. Lakeshore Dr. Olathe

LONGVIEW LAKE

9898 Longview Rd. Kansas City

SHAWNEE MISSION PARK

MARINA

7900 Renner Rd. Shawnee

GREAT DEALS ALL MONTH LONG!

I-70 ADVENTURES FOR THE

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

You can experience a fabulous staycation right in your backyard.

A Night on the Wild Side

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium offers both indoor and outdoor overnights for the public. On the overnights, you learn about amazing animals, enjoy educational activities and spend the night at the zoo. Experience an indoor overnight with the penguins or polar bears or an outdoor overnight learning about the African savanna or the Australian Outback. Additionally, the zoo offers overnights for your own group of friends or family in the Penguin Plaza or Sobela Aquarium. Each overnight includes STEM activities, animal experiences and a basic breakfast. More information at KansasCityZoo.org.

A Family Campout

You can enjoy a family campout close to home. These are our favorite local sites:

Lake Jacomo

9200 Beach Rd., Lee’s Summit, 816.503.4805, MakeYourDayHere.com

This Lee’s Summit campground site offers both tent and RV camping. The marina at Lake Jacomo offers pontoon, canoe, pedal boat, fishing boat and kayak rentals. Fleming Park is also home to other attractions: the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure where you can see elk and bison; Missouri Town Living History Museum, a historic village where re-enactors bring Jackson County history to life; an RC flying field where you may watch hobbyists fly remote-controlled aircraft or fly your own (with permit); and numerous hiking and paved bike trails.

Watkins Mill State Park

26600 Park Rd. N., Lawson, Mo., 816.580.3387, MoStateParks.com

One of the most scenic campgrounds in the region, Watkins Mill State Park is home to 96 campsites, 74 with electric hookups. The park also offers fishing, a swim beach, biking, hiking and equestrian trails (bring your own ride). A visit to the park is not complete without touring the Watkins Woolen Mill Historic Site. Watkins Mill is the only 19th-century textile mill in the United States with its original machinery still intact. The site hosts many living history events throughout the year as well.

Lake Perry

5441 W. Lake Rd., Ozawkie, Kan., 785.246.3449, KSOutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Perry

Within a short drive from KC, Lake Perry is a scenic campground with electric and primitive tent sites. They also offer four rental cabins if you’d like a roof over your head and don’t own an RV. The campground offers 15 miles of mountain bike trails, 25 miles of horse trails and a 1-mile nature trail. The marina offers pontoon and ski boat rental, and you may fish the lake.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

St. Louis is an excellent family weekend getaway your entire family will love!

Lodging: St. Louis Historic Union Station

For a luxurious and stylish stay, you can’t beat St. Louis’ Union Station Hotel. This historic hotel offers comfortable rooms, a gym, restaurants and an unforgettable Grand Hall. The Grand Hall features elegant historic touches including a “whispering arch,” one of our girls’ favorite hotel features. Every evening, enjoy magnificent laser light shows choreographed to music on the hour from 5:00 to 10:00 during the Grand Hall Light Show. More information at StLouisUnionStation.com.

Gateway Arch

No trip to St. Louis is complete without a visit to the city’s most iconic landmark, the Gateway Arch. Great monuments inspire you to explore new heights. Precious few take you there. The unique tram will lift you 630 feet up to the top of the tallest monument in the United States. At the free Museum at the Gateway Arch, trace the story of the Native Americans, explorers, pioneers and rebels who made America possible. More information at GatewayArch.com.

City Museum

If there was ever an Olympics for unique attractions, the City Museum would take gold! City Museum is one of our family’s favorite vacation attractions—a sentiment we share with St. Louis natives and visitors alike. This is the most interactive museum you will ever experience, with every nook

and cranny waiting to be explored. Look closely because hidden tunnels and surprises are waiting where you’d least expect them. Admission to the museum grants you access to 11 stories of fun and, for an additional fee, you can explore the rooftop as well. More information at CityMuseum.org.

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in St. Louis is an exquisite and “icky” (in a fun, educational, great-for-kids way) stop. You’ll see a variety of insects on exhibit, including spiders, scorpions and other arachnids. My oldest daughter, who is especially crazy about butterflies, found her favorite exhibit in the Grand Hall: the Butterflies of the World display that showcases butterflies from around the globe. The conservatory flutters with hundreds of beautiful butterflies in a botanical oasis. More information at MissouriBotanicalGarden.org.

Grant’s Farm

A visit to Grant’s Farm begins with a tram ride through Deer Park, where you can see a variety of bovine and other fourlegged friends. Then, you’ll be dropped off at the Tier Garten where you can enjoy the petting zoo area—featuring the famous baby goat bottle-feeding—carousel rides, food and vending in the Bauernhof Courtyard, and of course, free beer tasting. More information at GrantsFarm.com.

St. Louis Wheel

Located in the railyard at Union Station, the St. Louis Wheel is a 200-foot-high observation Ferris wheel that is 49 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty and has 42 fully enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas seating up to eight riders each. More information at TheStLouisWheel.com.

St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo always offers free admission. Guests pay to park and purchase special admission for rides aboard the train and carousel and animal feeding opportunities. Plan to spend an entire day at this zoo, where you can see animals up close and personal. The bear exhibits are favorites for our family. More information at StLZoo.org.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark. The garden offers 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display, including a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, historic architecture and one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered flora. More information at MissouriBotanicalGarden.org.

Amp Up Action Park

Amp Up Action Park is a great place to enjoy a bit of leisure and fun in the evening. This attraction offers a variety of actionpacked fun and dining, including kart racing (our favorite), axe throwing, laser tag, virtual reality, a high-ropes ninja course, arcades and more. More information at AmpUpActionPark.com.

You’ll find even more tips for these attractions, including what to “know before you go,” as well as favorite restaurants when you search “St. Louis” on KCParent.com.

Kristina Light’s family loves making memories in their home state. She writes year-round on KCParent.com.

Tortellini at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos of the Parade of Hearts! It’s fun to see you embracing this quintessentially Kansas City tradition. Stay tuned to KCParent.com for more great contests all summer! 1 2 3 4 5

1. Four generations of heart hunters (from age 3 to 102) visit Takes Heart.

Photo by Laura Crossley.

2. Leo, Olivia, Luka at Briarcliff. Photo by Gina Felzke.

3. Laine Liggins at Fountains in the Outfield in Overland Park. Photo by Wendy Franco.

4. At Parade of Hearts unveiling. Photo by Erika Cortes

5. Dakari at Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Photo by Tara Harwick.

6. Anthony loves finding hearts and taking pictures with them. Photo by Leslie Adkins.

7. Nana visits! Susan, Lincoln, Beau, Ozzy (puppy), Rowan and Casey in Riverside.

Photo by Nikki Russell.

8. Zoey at Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison. Photo by Tanya Hankins.

9. Everlee enjoyed chasing hearts in the rain! This one was in Liberty. Photo by Carolyn Arney.

10. Nataly at Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Photo by Grace Wood.

dance

Take in the free Future Stages Festival on June 9 at Kauffman Center. Enjoy the talents of hundreds of local youth performers as they take the stage. KauffmanCenter.org

enjoy Cinderella comes June 7-8 to JCCC Yardley Hall. Be entertained as the Culture House brings this beloved fairy tale to life. CultureHouse.com

watch

The magical world of Willy Wonka will be live on stage at The Coterie in this summer’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory June 18-Aug. 4. TheCoterie.org

festive

Join in celebrating 60 years of Family Tree Nursery with their Summer Festival, June 8-9. Festivities at all three locations. FamilyTreeNursery.com

dad

Celebrate Father’s Day with a day at the zoo, fun at the lake, a nature hike or a ball game. You’ll find a Father’s Day Guide to Kansas City on KCParent.com

Summer Festival at Family Tree Nursery

1 Saturday

Hospital Hill Run 7:00, Crown Center Square. The grandfather of all Kansas City road races, Hospital Hill Run is nationally recognized by Runner’s World magazine. HospitalHillRun.com

Summer Container Workshops Thru June 2, Family Tree Nursery locations. Create a stunning combo pot. Register at FamilyTreeNursery.com.

KidZfest Weekends thru June 16, Worlds of Fun. Exciting dance parties, live shows, delicious treats, kid-friendly rides and interactive games. WorldsOfFun.com

Little House on the Prairie’s 50th Anniversary Thru June 2, Little House on the Prairie Museum. Meet cast from Little House on the Prairie and enjoy living history. LHOPMuseum.com

Prairie Village Art Show Thru June 2, Prairie Village Shops. Event hosts 100 artists every year and attracts patrons from the entire metro area. PVArtShow.com

Festa Italiana Thru June 2, Zona Rosa. Enjoy an amazing assortment of Italian food favorites and great entertainment on the main stage all weekend. ZonaRosa.com

Art on the Side: Liberty 8:00, Historic Downtown Liberty. Festival with up to 60 fine artists and makers, live musicians and activities. LibertyArtOnTheSide.com

Enchanted Faire 9:00, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Step into a world of wonder. Gnomes, fairies, goblins and sprites are frolicking and making magic. OPABG.org

Strawberry Festival 9:00, Vaile Mansion. Craft and antique booths will share space with the strawberry booth and food booth. Tour the mansion. VaileMansion.org

Grill Gift Card Box 9:00, Home Depot locations. Free in-person kids workshops. Make a gift for Dad this month. HomeDepot.com

Old Frontier Life Festival 9:00, Red Barn Ranch. A family-friendly fundraiser for the new Cass County Museum, with fun activities for all ages. CCHSMO.org

Safety Day 9:00, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Free event with fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and demos from safety organizations. OPKansas.org

Global Neighbors & Flavors Fest 10:00, Lenexa Public Market. Feast on cuisines, performances and experiences from around the world. LenexaPublicMarket.com

Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose and play with penguins. TWPark.com

A Day in the Park: JCPRD 10:00, Shawnee Mission Park. Free activities include fishing, swimming, pedal boats, kayaks, canoes and more. JCPRD.com

Carry Nation Days 10:00, Belton Memorial Park. Free festival with live music, games, kids activities, food trucks and a beer garden. BeltonParks.org

Food, Art and Drink Festival Noon, Linden Square. Enjoy artists, food trucks, makers, live entertainment and drinks. LindenSquare.info

Movie Night on The Lawn: Jungle Cruise 7:00, Legends Outlets. Bring a friend and lawn chairs. Grab carryout from a Legends restaurant and enjoy this free movie. LegendsShopping.com

Hereford cattle have been at the heart and soul of our family for four generations.

We have loved showcasing our Herefords at the Missouri State Fair every summer. Meeting up with friends, competing in showmanship, and enjoying ice cream from Gerken’s after the Hereford show are must-have fair traditions.

Sharing good times and making memories with all of our family and friends at the fair continues to be our summer’s best story!

“ “

—The Reed Family

Want More in Life?

Become a foster parent to experience the joy of parenthood and help children in need.

Thousands of children in the Kansas City area are in crisis due to child abuse, neglect and other family challenges. These children need someone like you to care for them and their future.

People from all walks of life can become foster parents. Whether you’re single or married, own or rent your home, have kids or not, identify as LGBTQ+ or don’t, and work full-time or stay at home — you may qualify!

Bye Bye Birdie Thru June 8, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park. A loving send-up of the 1950s, small-town America, teenagers and rock ’n’ roll. TheatreInThePark.org

Little Shop of Horrors Thru June 9, Sermon Community Center. Favorite musical about meek flower shop assistant Seymour who pines for co-worker Audrey. CityTheatreOfIndependence.org

2 Sunday

Sensory Play 9:00, Urban Air Overland Park. Special event designed for children with autism and special needs. Enjoy a calmer atmosphere without loud music and flashing lights. UrbanAirOP.com

KC Northern Railroad Rides 10:00, KCNRR. Ride a 16-inch gauge train on a near half-mile track. Fare is $1 per ride; 10-ride punch cards are $9. KCNRR.com

Fox Hollow Fest 11:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Free guided hikes and activities. Make bug hotels, nature crowns, fox masks, walking stick handles and more. LakesideNatureCenter.org

Berkley Riverfront Festival 11:00, Berkley Riverfront Park. Free event with over 60 vendors and artists. Enjoy live music, beautiful green space and river views. ArtGardenKC.org

Kaw Valley Farm Tours Noon, Lawrence. Embark on an adventure exploring the hidden gems of Kansas’ wine and cider scene. ZMTwistedWines.com

Rose Day 1:00, Loose Park. Tour the annual Rose Show, Children’s Art Show, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, sweet treats and live entertainment. KansasCityRoseSociety.org

Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series: Joshua Tree 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Pack a picnic and grab a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy live music. Lenexa.com

3 Monday

Sensory-Friendly Days 9:00, Johnson County Museum. This limited-occupancy session is for sensory processing differences in children and families. JCPRD.com

Disney100: The Exhibition 10:00, Union Station. Relive your dreams with 10 imaginatively themed galleries highlighting renowned classics and more. UnionStation.org

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit 10:00, Crown Center. Free exhibit to play, sing, explore and pretend in favorite places from the Neighborhood. CrownCenter.com

4 Tuesday

Grinnin’ & Groovin’ with Dino O’Dell 9:30, The Lodge at Ironwoods Park. Free summer concerts and entertainment for kids. Leawood.org

Discovery Day 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Free admission day and make-andtake project. OPABG.org

Play Unstoppable 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Enjoy creating a Lego flower and see a new 4D Friends movie at the ultimate indoor Lego playground. LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com

Olathe Live! Over Lunch 11:00, Olathe Public Library – Downtown Branch. Grab some lunch and hear some live music on the patio of the library. OlatheKS.gov

Movies in the Park: The Super Mario Bros. Movie 8:30, Shawnee Theatre in the Park. Enjoy an outdoor movie for $1/person. TheatreInThePark.org

5 Wednesday

Day Out with Frank and Ella 10:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Visitors of all ages experience childhood in the 1860s and 1870s. Mahaffie.org

Giggle Time with Mr. Stinky Feet 10:00, Roe Park. Enjoy an unforgettable musical extravaganza that will have your little ones laughing and dancing. OPKansas.org

Reading to the Rooster 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Kids can kick off their summer reading and practice their skills with the very best audience ... our chickens! ShawneeTown.org

Family Night 5:00, Lenexa Public Market. Bring the whole gang for free activities like a balloon artist and classic board games. LenexaPublicMarket.com

6 Thursday

Old Shawnee Days Thru June 9, Shawnee Town 1929. Enjoy carnival rides, vendors, live entertainment, crafts and more. OldShawneeDays.org

Olathe Kids Bash 10:00, Johnson County Square. Free entertainment and fun for the family. Pack a picnic and bring the kiddos to enjoy the fun on Thursdays. OlatheKS.gov

Play Unstoppable 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Enjoy creating a Lego flower and see a new 4D Lego playground. LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com

Thursday Toddler Time at Ceramic Cafe 10:002:00, Ceramic Cafe. On Thursdays toddlers 5 and under get to paint one of our selected items for just $12. CeramicCafeKC.com

First Thursdays 4:00, Historic Downtown Liberty. Shops and eateries are open late for customers on the first Thursday of each month. HistoricDowntownLiberty.org

7 Friday

Sugar Creek Slavic Fest Thru June 8, Sugar Creek. Enjoy LynnMarie and the Polka Guys, fashion designers, culinary and folk artists, dancers, entertainers and more. SlavicFest.com

Art Fair Thru June 8, Historic West Bottoms. Free event featuring 15-plus local creators and artists. Enjoy food trucks, music and shopping. WestBottoms.com

Cinderella Thru June 8, Midwest Trust Center

Downtown Days Thru June 9, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Live entertainment, carnival, sports zone, festival food, handcrafted goods, beer tents and more. LeesSummitDowntownDays.com

61st Annual Greek Festival Thru June 8, St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Christian Church. Experience Greek culture, food, dancing and music. StDionysios.org

Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose with and play with penguins. TWPark.com

Play Unstoppable 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Enjoy creating a Lego flower and see a new 4D Friends movie at the ultimate indoor Lego playground. LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com

Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Cafe. Read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story and finish with a snack. CeramicCafeKC.com

Collection Tour Noon, The Underground. Come visit Kansas City’s car collection in the subterranean facility featuring an eclectic collection of vehicles. KansasCityAutoMuseum.com

First Fridays in the Crossroads 7:00, Crossroads Art District. Art galleries, retailers and other participating art venues showcase art for free. KCCrossroads.org

Jazzoo 7:30, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Adults invited for our sea otter soirée! Gather to enjoy unlimited food and drink, games and live entertainment. KansasCityZoo.org

Movie Under the Stars: Migration 8:30, Gorman Discovery Center. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs as a naturalist provides a short introductory program before the film. MDC.MO.gov

Sand Cinema Presents Barbie! 9:00, Longview Lake Beach. Enjoy games and complimentary character photos before the movie from This Princess Life. MakeYourDayHere.com

8 Saturday

Old Shawnee Days Thru June 9, Shawnee Town 1929. Enjoy carnival rides, vendors, live entertainment, crafts and more. OldShawneeDays.org

Summer Festival Thru June 9, Family Tree Nursery locations. At this event, you will enjoy live music, food trucks, kids activities, in-store specials and more. FamilyTreeNursery.com

Little Shop of Horrors Thru June 9, Sermon Community Center. Favorite musical about meek flower shop assistant Seymour, who pines for co-worker Audrey. CityTheatreOfIndependence.org

KidZfest Weekends thru June 16, Worlds of Fun. Exciting dance parties, live shows, delicious treats, kid-friendly rides and interactive games. WorldsOfFun.com

Youth Fishing Derby 9:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Share one of America’s great pastimes— fishing! Get out and throw in a line with kids 13 and under. Free. Lenexa.com

Fun on the Bluff 9:00, Fort Osage. Enjoy music, food, storytelling, games and crafts from the early 1800s. Take in the views of the Missouri River from the bluffs. MakeYourDayHere.com

Free Day 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Explore KidScape and our signature exhibition, Becoming Johnson County, for free. JCPRD.com

Free Day Lanesfield School 10:00, Lanesfield School Historic Site. Visit the oldest operating schoolhouse in Johnson County. JCPRD.com

Fun Ideas for Father’s Day

If Dad loves planes and trains … Take a day trip to Atchison, Kansas, and visit the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. The centerpiece of the museum, the Muriel—the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E aircraft—was named for Earhart’s younger sister and is identical to the plane Earhart flew on her final flight. Surrounding Muriel are 14 interactive STEM and history storytelling exhibit areas that take visitors through Earhart’s

extraordinary life. While you’re in town, visit the Atchison Rail Museum. Explore an outdoor collection of rail cars and ride aboard the Atchison & Western Miniature Railroad, a 12-inch gauge railroad open weekends during the summer, Saturdays 10:00-5:00 and Sundays noon-4:00.

If Dad is an animal lover … Every dad who visits the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on Father’s Day will receive a coupon valid for one free

regular sized fountain drink. The zoo is honoring fathers with a day just for them—and their cubs, of course! Explore the Sobela Aquarium and come face to face with sharks, lobsters, jellyfish and hundreds of other sea creatures. Visit the Helzberg Penguin Plaza and learn how important the male penguins are in the nesting and chick rearing process.

If Dad enjoys adventure and fun … Worlds of Fun is the perfect place for family fun. Max out on thrills with flips on Patriot, splashes at Predators’ Plunge and raging waters at Fury of the Nile. To make the day complete, top things off with some Father’s Day barbecue at the park’s Cotton Blossom BBQ. With all this fun and more, you can treat Dad to an amazing day!

Discover even more ideas on our Kansas City calendar at KCParent.com!

Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

Juneteenth 10:00, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. This free event provides an opportunity to honor the history and celebrate with art, music, food and more. JCPRD.com

Cedar Cove: Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. See these epic animals and learn about their characteristics and behaviors! SaveOurSiberians.org

Hands-On History Noon, National WWI Museum and Memorial. Guests of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org

Movie Night on The Lawn: Wonka 7:00, Legends Outlets. Bring a friend and lawn chairs. Grab carryout from a Legends restaurant and enjoy this free movie. LegendsShopping.com

Raytown Live – Summer Family Concert Series 7:00, Greenspace. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and food and kick back and enjoy the tunes. Raytown.live

9 Sunday

Sensory Play 9:00, Urban Air Lenexa. Special event designed for children with special needs. Enjoy a calmer atmosphere without loud music and flashing lights. UrbanAirLenexa.com

Babies & Bumps 11:00, Marriott KC Overland Park. Event features a curated collection of local businesses, info-packed, expert-led seminars and more. Babies-and-Bumps.com

Legends of Lexington 11:00, Downtown Lexington. Discover the talented people who called Lexington home through trolley tours and activities. HistoricalLexington.com

Future Stages Festival Noon, Kauffman Center. Free community event spotlights hundreds of area youth performers as they take the stage. KauffmanCenter.org

KC Northern Railroad Rides Noon, KCNRR. Ride a 16-inch gauge train on a near half-mile track. Fare is $1 per ride; 10-ride punch cards are $9. KCNRR.com

10 Monday

Scuba VBS 2024 9:00, Westbrooke Church. Participants enjoy hands-on science activities, exciting games, kid-friendly songs, engaging Bible verses and stories. WestbrookChurch.org

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit 10:00, Crown Center. Free exhibit to play, sing, explore and pretend in some favorite places from the Neighborhood. CrownCenter.com

Family Fun Night 8:30, Summit Waves. Games, giveaways, concessions and a DJ make this an unforgettable summer pool party. CityOfLS.net

11 Tuesday

Tom Sawyer Thru June 29, Theatre for Young America. This high-spirited musical play has all the great story events of the Mark Twain classic. TYA.org

Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose with and play with penguins. TWPark.com

Acoustic Night 6:00, Garrison Community Center. Enjoy a night of relaxing acoustic music performed by local musicians during this free concert. LibertyMissouri.gov

Popsicles in the Park 6:30, Armstrong Park. Enjoy free story time (geared to ages 2-7) and Popsicles at the park. CityOfGrainValley.org

12 Wednesday

Retro Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Preschoolers love stories from long ago, read by a special guest from the 1950s All-Electric House. Craft activity included. JCPRD.com

Olathe Sip & Shop 5:00, Johnson County Square. Enjoy a family-friendly pop-up market featuring local makers, food trucks, music and more. OlatheKS.gov

13 Thursday

Dino-Mite Dino Life 9:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn about dinosaur anatomy and life history, paleontology, fossilization and extinction. NatureSanctuary.com

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit 10:00, Crown Center. Free exhibit to play, sing, explore and pretend in some favorite places from the Neighborhood. CrownCenter.com

Kids Day at Kenagy 10:00, C. Lee Kenagy Park. This is a free event open to all! Paramount Pony will bring their petting zoo and there will be fun for everyone. Raytown.MO.us

Family Fun Nights 6:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Historic-themed activities for a new experience every Thursday night in June and July. Mahaffie.org

Heritage Philharmonic’s Summer Pops Concert 7:00, Truman Presidential Library. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for an outdoor concert on the south lawn. TrumanLibrary.gov

14 Friday

Smithville Lake Fest Thru June 15, Smithville Lake. Experience a pop-up makers fair, boat races, face-painters, outdoor games, entertainment and fun. SmithvilleChamber.org

Odessa Rodeo Thru June 15, Dyer Park. One of the longest running rodeos in Missouri, this rodeo is an exciting competition for all ages. OdessaMoChamber.com

STOMP Thru June 16, 8:00, Starlight Theatre. STOMP is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience. KCStarlight.com

Movie in the Park: Grain Valley 8:00, Armstrong Park. Join us for a variety of yard games, inflatable obstacle course, bounce house and a family-friendly flick! CityOfGrainValley.org

Music in the Park 6:00, Blue Springs Rotary Park. Spend a relaxing evening outdoors while enjoying live, free music. BlueSpringsGov.com

15 Saturday

KidZfest Weekends thru June 16, Worlds of Fun. Exciting dance parties, live shows, delicious treats, kid-friendly rides and interactive games. WorldsOfFun.com

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park Overland Park. Children 5 and under and their parent/guardian are invited to jump, bounce and crawl around safely. UrbanAirOP.com

Arrow Rock Through the 1800s 10:00, Arrow Rock Historic Site. Living historians will share about 1700s French traders, Lewis and Clark, the trails and Missouri history. ArrowRock.org

Kansas City Dragon Boat Festival 10:00, Brush Creek. Display of Chinese culture from music and martial arts to dragon boats racing on the water. ChinaGardenSociety-KC.org

Sewing Workshop 10:00, Missouri Town Living History Museum. From garment mending to creation, learn the basics of hand-sewing using a mid-1800s pattern. MakeYourDayHere.com

Big Shoal Vintage Auto Show 11:00, AtkinsJohnson Farm. View an array of pre-1980 automobiles. Enjoy food trucks and museum tours. FriendsOfTheAtkinsJohnsonFarm.org

Cedar Cove: Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. See these epic animals and learn about their characteristics and behaviors! SaveOurSiberians.org

Monster Jam 2:30, GEHA Field at Arrowhead. The most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels. Trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions. MonsterJam.com

Twilight Tour 5:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Sip and savor the wild at the biggest event of the season supporting the critically endangered African black-footed penguin. TWPark.com

How toys, scouting and storybooks taught a clear lesson: loyalty and commitment will win the war.

SIX-STOP TOUR: LAWRENCE

Explore the eclectic, quirky, historic and unique city of Lawrence.

1. NATURE PARK

The Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park is the site of the June 2, 1856, Battle of Black Jack, where a Free State militia led by the abolitionist John Brown defeated a pro-slavery militia in what many say was the first battle of the Civil War. Explore the 40-acre park where you can learn history and experience nature.

2. DINE AND SHOP

Downtown

Lawrence is iconic with its eclectic Massachusetts and surrounding streets featuring more than 100 shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes, pubs and more. The downtown focus is fostering a truly unique and wellpreserved district that features locally owned establishments offering one-ofa-kind choices you won’t find anywhere else.

3. KANSAS HISTORY

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) offers exhibits in the Carnegie Building focused on the struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. These diverse, interwoven and nationally important stories grew from a unique physical and cultural landscape. Galleries are available by appointment.

4. MAKE A SPLASH

The Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center is a summer favorite. Features include waterslides, diving boards, an interactive play area, a zero-depth children’s pool and lap swimming. With a playground, concession stand, picnic tables, shaded deck space and rows of lounge chairs, this water park is a local hot spot.

5. ART LOVERS

The free Spencer Museum of Art at KU is home to more than 47,000 works of art. The galleries include contemporary and historic artwork in all mediums from cultures across six continents. Throughout the year, the museum offers free programs, art activities, gallery talks and lectures, performances, films, community events and more.

6. AGRICULTURE TOURS

Lawrence is also home to many local wineries and farms. Wohletz Farm Fresh is a favorite u-pick strawberry farm. Pendleton’s Country Market sells farm-fresh goods and offers u-pick fruits and vegetables throughout the summer. Ad Astra Alpaca Farm offers tours throughout the year. Discover more local farms and information on the annual farm tour website.

Local Life: Overland Park 6:00, Downtown Overland Park. Shop and dine at locally owned businesses and enjoy local activities. DowntownOP.org

Movie Night on The Lawn: How to Train Your Dragon 7:00, Legends Outlets. Bring a friend and lawn chairs. Grab carryout and enjoy this free movie. LegendsShopping.com

Summer Movie Night: Wonka 8:30, Zona Rosa. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and find a spot in North Park (green space south of Dillard’s). ZonaRosa.com

16

Sunday

FATHER’S DAY

Father’s Day at the Zoo 9:30, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Every dad will receive a coupon valid for one free regular sized fountain drink. KansasCityZoo.org

Disney100: The Exhibition 10:00, Union Station. Relive your dreams with 10 imaginatively themed galleries showcasing renowned classics and more. UnionStation.org

Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series: J Love Band 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Pack a picnic and grab a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy live music. Lenexa.com

Julius Caesar Thru June 30, Southmoreland Park. Bring a blanket to enjoy KC Shakespeare Festival’s free production of Julius Caesar KCShakes.org

Overland Park Civic Band Summer Concert No. 3 7:00, Indian Creek Recreation Center. Come hear marches, swing and pop music. OPCivicBand.org

17 Monday

Play Unstoppable 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Enjoy creating a Lego flower and see a new 4D Friends movie at the ultimate indoor Lego playground. LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com

Family Vacation Bible School 5:15, Knox Church. This is a family event, so parents, grandparents and guardians are invited to come along with their children. KnoxChurch.org

18 Tuesday

Tom Sawyer Thru June 29, Theatre for Young America. This high-spirited musical play has all the great story events of the Mark Twain classic. TYA.org

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Thru Aug. 4, Coterie Theatre. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious factory on stage this summer. TheCoterie.org

Kidchella Thru June 20, Nexus Church. Lace up your sneakers and join us for an Olympicsized VBS adventure. Free; registration required. NexusKC.com/Kidchella

Grinnin’ & Groovin’ with What If Puppets 9:30, The Lodge at Ironwoods Park. Free summer concerts and entertainment for kids. Leawood.org

Time Travelers 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Bring your family and enjoy a trip back to 1929 with an interactive day at our historic farm every Tuesday and Thursday. ShawneeTown.org

Movie in the Park: Despicable Me 8:30, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park. Enjoy Despicable Me for just $1. Bring a blanket and picnic for a summer movie in the park. TheatreInThePark.org

19 Wednesday

Juneteenth Olathe 10:00, Olathe Library. Celebratory programming including story times, arts and crafts, films, dance, musical performances and more. OlatheLibrary.com

Reading to the Rooster 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Kids can kick off their summer reading and practice their skills with the very best audience ... our chickens! ShawneeTown.org

Juneteenth Lenexa 11:30, The Commons: Lenexa Civic Campus. The theme of this year’s event is “The Jubilee of Juneteenth: Celebrating a Legacy of Freedom.” JoCoGov.org/Juneteenth

Juneteenth Drop-In History 4:00, Wornall House Museum. Drop-in event includes Black experience audio guide, artifacts relating to enslavement and the past. WornallMajors.org

20 Thursday

Juneteenth 10:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Dance and music performances, art activities and demonstrations celebrating the enduring contributions of Black Americans. Nelson-Atkins.org

Day Out with Frank and Ella 10:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Visitors of all ages experience childhood in the 1860s and 1870s. Mahaffie.org

June Bug Ball 1:00, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Learn about bugs and other garden friends. Connect with nature and discover the various habitats around us. OPKansas.org

Moonlight Market 4:00, Downtown Shawnee. Fresh produce from farmers market vendors, locally crafted goods, food trucks, games and live music. CityOfShawnee.org

21 Friday

Kansas City BBQ Fest Thru June 22, GEHA Field at Arrowhead. Live music, delicious food, topsecret cooking tips from pitmasters and recipes. KCBBQFest.com

Waterfest Thru June 22, Historic Downtown Excelsior Springs. Celebrates the city’s mineral water heritage with a weekend full of music, activities, food and fun! ExSpgChamber.com

Great Lenexa BBQ Battle Thru June 22, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Cooks compete for the coveted title of Grand Champion. Live music, entertainment and bounce houses. Lenexa.com

Art Course Summer Season 10:00, NelsonAtkins Museum of Art. Miniature golf in the Sculpture Garden inspired by masterpieces. Nelson-Atkins.org

Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Cafe. Read a book, then the kids get to paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story and finish with a snack. CeramicCafeKC.com

Third Friday Art Walk KCK 5:00, Downtown KCK. Free, family-friendly celebration of creativity—full of good food, music, art and interactive activities. ThirdFridayKCK.org

Third Friday Art Walk in Englewood 5:30, Englewood District. Art and glass-blowing demonstrations, food trucks, live entertainment and more. EnglewoodStation.com

Night Canoe and Kayak 8:00, Prairie Park Nature Center. Enjoy an evening of paddling on Mary’s Lake, illuminated by the soft light of lanterns and the strawberry moon. LPRD.org

Dive-In Movie Night: Lilo & Stitch 8:30, Merriam Community Center. Enjoy a film while you swim in the outdoor pool. Concessions are available for purchase. Merriam.org

22 Saturday

Brick Fest Live Thru June 23, KCI Expo Center. See life-size models made from tens of thousands of bricks, meet contestants from the Lego Masters TV show and more. BrickFestLive.com

Tour de Lakes 7:00, Longview Lake Marina. Enjoy one of the premier bike rides in the Kansas City metro. Choose four different routes around five different lakes. CityOfLS.net

Be My Neighbor Day 10:00, Kansas City Live! Block. Kids can meet favorite PBS KIDS characters. Event is free; registration is required. KansasCityPBS.org/events.

Flags 4 Freedom

June 29-July 6, Downtown Merriam. Take in this astonishing display that honors our nation. Merriam.org

Visit the Zoo 10:00, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. The zoo is open year-round with thousands of animals to visit. KansasCityZoo.org

KC Northern Railroad Rides 10:00, KCNRR. Ride a 16-inch gauge train on a near half-mile track. Fare is $1 per ride; 10-ride punch cards are $9. KCNRR.com

Saturday Re-Enactment 10:00, Shoal Creek Museum. The Shoal Creek re-enactors bring the village to life with living history for this free event. ShoalCreekLivingHistoryMuseum.com

Cedar Cove: Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. See these epic animals and learn about their characteristics and behaviors! SaveOurSiberians.org

Hands-On History Noon, National WWI Museum and Memorial. Guests of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org

Cruisin’ on Main Car Show Noon, Main Street Belton. Food trucks, live music from The Heat, beer garden and, of course, cars. DowntownBeltonMain.com

Stems: A Garden Soirée 7:00, OP Arboretum. Enjoy fine wine, food, live music and entertainment, a fireworks display and a hand-painted wine glass. StemsSoiree.org

Movie Night on The Lawn: Puss in Boots 7:00, Legends Outlets. Bring a friend and lawn chairs. Grab carryout from a Legends restaurant and enjoy this free movie. LegendsShopping.com

Stargazing 8:00, Powell Observatory. Solar observing, member telescopes and Louisburg Community Telescope presentation. ASKC.org

23 Sunday

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Thru Aug. 4, Coterie Theatre. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious factory on stage this summer. TheCoterie.org

Art on Walnut 8:00, City Market. Each weekend features a new selection of 32 local artists and makers in front of the Steamboat Arabia Museum. TheCityMarketKC.org

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit 10:00, Crown Center. Free exhibit to play, sing, explore and pretend in some favorite places from the Neighborhood. CrownCenter.com

Berkley Riverfront Festival 11:00, Berkley Riverfront Park. Free event with over 60 vendors and artists. Enjoy live music, beautiful green space and river views. ArtGardenKC.org

24 Monday

Paws in the Park 9:00, Blue Springs Dog Park. Fun activities, pet-friendly vendors, treats and more. BlueSpringsGov.com

Art Course Summer Season 10:00, NelsonAtkins Museum of Art. Miniature golf in the Sculpture Garden inspired by masterpieces. Nelson-Atkins.org

Dive-In Movie 8:00, Summit Waves. A fun evening watching a movie chosen by you! Grab your popcorn and we’ll see everyone poolside. CityOfLS.net

25 Tuesday

We, the People: Exhibit 9:00, National Archives at Kansas City. An exhibit focused on how records impact the lives of every American. Archives.gov/Kansas-City

Penguin Swims 10:00, Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Get in the water with a few of our feathered friends as you touch, pose with and play with penguins. TWPark.com

Time Travelers 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Bring your family and enjoy a trip back to 1929 with an interactive day at our historic farm every Tuesday and Thursday. ShawneeTown.org

26 Wednesday

Dino-Mite Dino Life 9:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn about dinosaur anatomy and life history, paleontology, fossilization and extinction. NatureSanctuary.com

Snake Feeding 2:00, Burr Oak Woods. Discover what’s for dinner at Burr Oak Woods as the captive snakes enjoy their feast. MDC.MO.gov

Family Night 5:00, Lenexa Public Market. Bring the whole gang for free activities like a balloon artist and classic board games. LenexaPublicMarket.com

27 Thursday

Olathe Kids Bash 10:00, Johnson County Square. Free entertainment and fun for the family. Pack a picnic and bring the kiddos to enjoy the fun on Thursdays. OlatheKS.gov

Thursday Toddler Time at Ceramic Cafe 10:002:00, Ceramic Cafe. On Thursdays, toddlers 5 and under get to paint one of our selected items for just $12. CeramicCafeKC.com

Julius Caesar Thru June 30, Southmoreland Park. Bring a blanket to enjoy KC Shakespeare Festival’s free production of Julius Caesar KCShakes.org

Family Fun Nights 6:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Historic-themed activities for a new experience every Thursday nights in June and July. Mahaffie.org

28 Friday

Jumperoo 8:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park Overland Park. Children 5 and under and their parent/guardian are invited to jump, bounce and crawl around safely. UrbanAirOP.com

Final Fridays 5:00, Downtown Lawrence. Storefronts convert into flash spaces, and performances and exhibits spill in and out of galleries and businesses. ExploreLawrence.com

Fourth Fridays Art Walk 6:00, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Local artists and live music performances that you can enjoy at participating shops and restaurants. DowntownLS.org

Pippin Thru June 30, Olathe Civic Theatre. Pippin is the story of one young man’s journey to be extraordinary. He is in search of the secret to true happiness. OlatheTheatre.org

Holden Chamber of Commerce Rodeo Thru June 29, Holden City Park Arena. An exciting rodeo for all ages to enjoy. Children may compete in mutton busting. HoldenMo.gov

Parked 5:30, Stump Park. Food trucks, live band, bounce houses, vendors, activities for children, sprinklers in the fields and full fireworks display. CityOfShawnee.org

Fourth Fridays in Olathe 6:00, Downtown Olathe. Food trucks, face painters, balloon artists and other family games near Park & Cherry. FourthFridays.Olathe.org

Anything Goes Thru July 6, Shawnee Theatre in the Park. Music, dance, laughs and the age-old tale of boy meets girl ... this show is delightful, delicious and de-lovely. TheatreInThePark.org

Fiddler on the Roof Thru June 30, Gladstone Amphitheatre. Free outdoor production of the classic musical. Bring a blanket and picnic and enjoy theater under the stars. GladstoneTIP.com

29 Saturday

Flags 4 Freedom Thru July 6, Merriam Marketplace. Enjoy an astonishing flag display that honors our nation. Each flag is dedicated to one of the fallen officers. Merriam.org

Greenwood Freedom Fest 10:00, Hitt Park. Freedom Fest is an outdoor event with live music, local vendors, food trucks, rides and games and a fireworks display. GreenwoodMo.com

KC Northern Railroad Rides 10:00, KCNRR. Ride a 16-inch gauge train on a near halfmile track. Fare is $1 per ride; 10-ride punch cards are $9. KCNRR.com

Cedar Cove: Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. See these epic animals and learn about their characteristics and behaviors! SaveOurSiberians.org

Hands-On History Noon, National WWI Museum and Memorial. Guests of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org

30 Sunday

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Thru Aug. 4, Coterie Theatre. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious factory on stage this summer. TheCoterie.org

Disney100: The Exhibition 10:00, Union Station. Relive your dreams with 10 imaginatively themed galleries showcasing renowned classics and more. UnionStation.org

Visit the Zoo 10:00, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. The zoo is open year-round with thousands of animals to visit at the zoo and aquarium. KansasCityZoo.org

Carnival for CASA Noon, Faulkner’s Ranch. Enjoy Western-themed attractions including a petting farm with goats, corn cannon, zip line and more. CasaKC.org

OP Civic Band Summer Concert No. 5 “A Patriotic Salute” 7:00, Indian Creek Recreation Center. Come hear a salute to America with this free concert. OPCivicBand.org

Celebrate June KC Style

June 4: Cheese Day

Tour Green Dirt Farm in Weston and learn how cheese is made from sheep’s milk. On a tour visitors experience a guided look at the farm, a glimpse inside the milking parlour and a view into the cheese kitchen, followed by a tasting at the retail shop in Weston. You may also eat at their new location in the Crossroads. GreenDirtFarm.com

June 7: National Donut Day

Design your own donut at Donutology in Westport, where you choose your donut, icing, drizzle and custom toppings for your own customized sweet treat. Donutology.com

June 12: Red Rose Day

Stop and smell the roses at the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden at Loose Park (51st & Wornall), home to more than 3,000 roses of more than 150 varieties. KCParks.org

June 21: Go Skate Day

Many local roller-skating rinks participate in Kids Skate Free, a program where children ages 12 and under enjoy free skating and you simply pay for the skate rental. KidsSkateFree.com

June 26: National Canoe Day

Legacy Park in Lee’s Summit offers affordable canoe, stand-up paddle board and bicycle rental. Enjoy paddling around the park’s 22-acre lake. Simply call 816.969.1550 to reserve your rental. CityOfLS.net

family faves

KC Parent is all about being your No. 1 parenting resource, and we want to hear about your favorite places around the metro! Scan to go to KCParent.com and nominate your favorite business in June. Come back to vote in July. Details online. Winning businesses will be featured in our September issue.