KC Parent Magazine September 2019

FREE | September 2019 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

FALL

FUN

CUTE CRAFTS APPLE PICKING

Amazing Arts!

SURPRISING

BENEFITS OF ARTS EDUCATION

FESTIVAL GUIDE

PLANNING FAMILY

DOWNTIME DISCOVER THE

UPSIDE OF

ANGER

IS A MUST!

LEARN HOW

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SEPTEMBER 2019

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 Craft Corner 12 Date Night 14 Mojo for Moms 16 Five Things We Love

THE AMAZING ARTS PG. 22

18 Tasty Treats 19 Word from Dad

SPECIAL SECTIONS

FEATURES

38 Party Guide 52 Calendar of Events

10

36

42

Apple Tree

Life Skills

Teen Drivers

Celebrate fall by making a handprint apple tree

Practical life skills that all kids should know

Tips for keeping kids safe behind the wheel

Our cover features Ryder from Overland Park.

Photo by BondurantStudios.com.

FREE | September 2019 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

ON THE COVER Craft Corner Apple Picking Upside of Anger Benefits of Arts Family Downtime Festival Guide

6

kcparent.com september 2019

10 11 14 22 24 44

FALL

FUN

CUTE CRAFTS APPLE PICKING

Amazing Arts!

SURPRISING

BENEFITS OF ARTS EDUCATION

FESTIVAL GUIDE

PLANNING FAMILY

DOWNTIME DISCOVER THE

UPSIDE OF

ANGER

IS A MUST!

LEARN HOW

EDITOR’SLETTER SEPTEMBER 2019

S

DO YOU HAVE

KC’S CUTEST PET? ENTER THE

CUTEST PET CONTEST

Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Editor Margaret Sarver Margaret@KCParent.com Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design Kim@KCParent.com Advertising Sales Debbie Clark Debbie@KCParent.com Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Digital Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Event Calendar Susan Lynn Calendar@KCParent.com Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com Distribution To be added to our distribution list, e-mail Distribution@KCParent.com Local Contributing Writers Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Bill Bartlett (Belton), Melissa Bellach (Overland Park), Megan Coffey (Overland Park), Julie Collett (Overland Park), Wendy Connelly (Overland Park), Allison Gibeson (Lee’s Summit), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Christa Melnyk Hines (Olathe), Amy Hundley (Olathe), Gina Klein (Kansas City), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Regan Lyons (St. Joseph), Sarah Lyons (Olathe), Kerrie McLoughlin (Peculiar)

Mailing Address 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax OUR PRODUCTS FREE | September 2019 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

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LOCAL CONTENT

.com

ome of my fondest memories from childhood involve my grandparents, specifically, my grandma on my dad’s side. When I was in early elementary school, we lived close to my grandparents’ home.

After dinner on summer evenings, we’d stroll to Ted Drewes for frozen custard, and then on to their home. We’d eat our treats on the porch and then walk back home. Every Easter season, on Holy Thursday, my cousin and I would ice lamb cakes my grandma had baked, attend church services and have a sleepover.

Often when we’d visit her house, she’d have a “poor man’s pie” waiting for me—extra pie crust dough topped with cinnamon sugar.

On family vacation, we’d always stop by my grandma’s cabin for a piece of candy. And if you rode in the car with her on the way to vacation, you were guaranteed to get homemade cookies from a coffee can and to start the journey by saying the rosary. I feel very lucky to have had my grandma in my life for 26 years! I’m thankful my girls have grandparents on both sides that are a part of their lives. We set aside a day in September to honor these grand folk! Check out just some of the benefits kids receive from a close relationship with grandparents on pg. 32.

Has the dust settled in your home from the back-to-school busyness? Or are you now full swing into fall busyness? If you’re still mired in a whirlwind of events and activities, you’re probably in need of some downtime! We recently took a day off in our home. It was a holiday, and we had several nice invitations but decided instead to stay home and do nothing. And that’s just what we did. It was lovely! If you are in desperate need of downtime, check out pg. 24 for tips on planning a much-needed break.

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Margaret Sarver, Editor

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

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

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

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KCPARENTWEBSITE

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

SEARCH KCPARENT.COM FOR MORE AFFORDABLE FUN IDEAS: 1. Fall Festival Guide 2. Coupons and Giveaways 3. Carmel Apples in KC

4. Kids Eat Free Guide 5. Best of September 6. Best Picnic Spots

SPOTLIGHT

LEAF PEEPING

The start of fall brings changing leaves to Kansas City! Find a list of great places to see colorful autumn leaves at KCParent.com.

7. Day Trips 8. Pumpkin Patch Guide

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

9. Fall Fun Under $5 10. Leaf Peeping

4 MORE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED

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

kcparent.com september 2019

9

CRAFTCORNER

Materials needed:

• Apple • Paint colors of your choice • Plate • Pencil • Scissors • Glue • Piece of white and brown paper

f

handprint apple tree all is coming! This simple craft combines the sweetness of a handprint with the fun of apple printing for your child.

Step one: Trace your child’s arm and hand on the brown paper to create your trunk and branches.

Step two: Cut out the tree and glue onto your white paper.

Step three: Cut the apple in half (great time to talk about the parts of an apple!).

Step four: Use the apple to create prints around the branches.

Step five: If using more than one color, let the first color dry before adding a second one.

Step six: Hang in a special place to admire and decorate your home for fall!

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

Fall Fruit & Veggie Stamps

Fall Frames Three Ways

Matisse Inspired Garlands

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

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kcparent.com september 2019

i

apple picking in kc

t’s apple picking season! Each of the u-pick apple orchards on our list is a locally-owned family operation designed to provide the best in healthy produce and a great family outing.

Apple picking season is typically mid-August through early October, but you’ll want to call farms or check their Facebook status for current hours and information.

Apple Picking Tips: • Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

• Bring bottled water and snacks for the kids.

• Wear sunscreen and bug repellant.

• Many of these farms have additional attractions to enjoy. Read about them in advance to plan your day.

DID YOU KNOW? NEARLY 1 IN 4 COLLEGE STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS NON-DRINKERS.

Check out KC Going Places for fun places to visit near the orchard of your choice!

• Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins, 17701 S. State Rte. D, Belton, 816.331.1067 • Weston Orchard & Vineyard, 18545 Co. Rd. H, Weston, MO, 402.209.4117 • Alldredge Orchards, 10455 Hwy. N, Platte City, MO, 816.330.3448 • Bettie’s Orchard at Turner Farm, 19805 S. Moonlight Rd., Gardner, KS • Cider Hill Family Orchard, 3341 N. 139th St., Kansas City, KS, 913.721.2507 • Fieldstone Orchard, 7049 E. 149th St., Overbrook, KS, 785.665.7643 • Peter’s Orchard, 32615 Hwy. 65 S., Waverly, MO, 660.493.2368 • Pome on the Range, 2050 Idaho Rd., Williamsburg, KS, 785.746.5492 • Rock Creek Apple Orchard, 619 W. Lone Jack Lee’s Summit Rd., Lone Jack, MO, 816.286.6262​ • Schweizer Orchards, South Highway 169 & FF, St. Joseph, MO, 816.232.3999 • Sunflower Orchards, 16905 W. 311th St., Paola, KS, 913.244.4034 • Wagon Wheel Orchard, 15380 Edgerton Rd., Gardner, KS, 913.893.6050

THE REALITY IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT YOU THINK. Know the facts.

Stay true to yourself and act responsibly.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COLLEGE HEALTH ASSESSMENT, FALL 2016 FINDINGS. AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH ASSOCIATION. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2018 Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO

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11

INTERESTING FUN IN KC

DATENIGHT

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kcparent.com september 2019

Has it been a while since you’ve been on a good date?

Are you tired of the same old dinner-and-a-movie idea?

Get “enlightened” with these fun and different date ideas.

GOTTLIEB PLANETARIUM On certain Fridays, the Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station hosts laser light shows set to the music of a famous band or artist. On the night we went, they had four shows featuring the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Queen and Pink Floyd. We opted to check out the Beatles show. Inside the planetarium, you sit in theater-style seats that lean back slightly so you can look up. The show itself is a little bit like a psychedelic fireworks show. It has everything from various types of geometric shapes to firework-type bursts to characters telling a story, as well as strobe effects and smoke. All set to music by the Beatles! About 10 songs were featured, and the show lasted around 45 minutes. It was such a unique and different thing to do. We were glad we went!

JOHNSON COUNTY MUSEUM Another fun option is the 1950s All-Electric House. Originally built in 1954 as a model home in Prairie Village, the abode was stocked with all of the latest gadgets available to homeowners at that time. The model was open for tours for seven months and then owned and lived in by five different couples. In 1994, the home was opened to tourists and then relocated to the Johnson County Museum in 2016. It features a modern floor plan and innovative electric features, such as a remote-controlled lighting system, electric heat pump and electric curtain openers. It also features a painting above the mantel that slides back to reveal a TV. The museum itself is also very good and gives the history of JoCo, including explaining what the “border war” with Missouri was really about and where the term Jayhawk originated. The museum displays many nostalgic items, from an old rotary phone, TV and Chevrolet Bel-Air to memorabilia from King Louie, Sambo’s, Annie’s Santa Fe and White Haven Motor Lodge. For $5, this place was well worth a visit.

POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT TOUR If you are looking for a little “light” exercise, why not go on a walking tour of the Power & Light District? We found a well-written, self-guided tour online that took us to 15 different places downtown. A majority of them are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Muehlebach Hotel (which is named after a brewmeister) and the Kansas City Power & Light Building. Many of the places we visited previously sat vacant for a period of time. Some for more than 20 years. We learned that the Midland was once a bowling alley and that the Folly Theater originally showcased vaudeville, burlesque and striptease performances. The tour offered so much great history on our city that we both highly recommend it. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Visit KCParent.com for a link to the tour.

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

IN YOUR Neighborhood

Looking to prepare your little one for Kindergarten?

KCPT KIDS has educational resources connected to all the shows your kids love to watch!

REGISTER ONLINE for free learning materials, activity suggestions and ideas to make learning fun for you and them. kcpt.org/InYourNeighborhood kcparent.com september 2019

13

MOJOFORMOMS mōjō: 1. influence, especially magic power 2. mom joy

ANGER

Anger has its upside, just as any emotion does. I’ve heard that anger is an emotional immune response. It signals when something in our lives might be wrong or amiss. It cues us to injustice, and its intense energy can be directed for the good, inspiring us to speak up, confront what’s wrong and instigate change. This is anger turned tonic, setting in motion a healing response.

But anger has a downside when its energy gets stuck. When we try to stuff it, anger festers and stews in the form of grudges and resentment. When we direct it outward, anger erupts into aggression, causing physical and emotional harm. This is anger turned toxic, creating disorder within us and the world around us.

Some of us have learned that we’re supposed to “vent” anger, trying to force its energy outward by going off on a loud rant, punching a pillow or verbally complaining. Studies now show this only ratchets it up and has detrimental effects on our physical health. So what can we do with anger that feels toxic and wears us down? Here are a few tips to get a grip on anger before you lose your grip.

1

2

3

WELCOME ANGER

MOVE FAST OR SLOW

HAVE A TRIGGER PLAN

When’s the last time you felt angry?

Recall the situation. Now, notice the sensations that this memory creates inside your body, and describe them in detail: “My cheeks are hot, my lungs feel tight, my jaw is clenched, my heart is pumping fast … ” Notice these sensations without judgment or resistance, and breathe into these areas of your body. Spend a minute welcoming the sensations of anger. This simple exercise begins to release it.

Exercise is one of the healthiest means of getting anger unstuck and flowing through your body. Move fast to increase your heart rate and burn off some of anger’s pent-up energy. Or conversely, slow your anger down by deep breathing, yoga or meditation. I like to breathe in for three, and out for four, and repeat this three times. When the energy of anger is stagnant, or when you feel triggered, remember to move fast or slow.

Become more aware of specific moments when you feel angry. Often, there’s something that sparks it, called a “trigger.” Common triggers include certain people and places, times of the day (or month!), even sensations like being tired, hot or hungry. Write your triggers down on paper and, next to each one, write a plan for how you want to show up in that situation. Decide ahead of time on a conscious response, rather than an unconscious reaction.

Wendy Connelly, M.Div., is a podcaster (MoJo For Moms podcast), life coach and mother of two from Overland Park.

You can find Wendy’s latest podcasts, TV appearances, retreats and more at MoJoForMoms.com.

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kcparent.com september 2019

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Pumpkin Treats

FIVETHINGS

Confession: I don’t love fall. Mostly because it brings school (boo!) and is followed by winter (BOO!). But I do love all things pumpkin. Two of my faves are pumpkin ravioli at Jasper’s (YUM!) and a pumpkin flavored coffee from Starbucks— but not your typical pumpkin spice latte. Here’s how to make it better: Order a flat white and add two (or the number of your choosing) pumps of pumpkin syrup. You’re welcome!

Passports My sister was recently in the market for passports for her family and was bemoaning the time needed to accomplish the task. I mentioned the fact that one can make an appointment at the post office in order to get a passport and boom! She scheduled the appointment, filled out paperwork prior to arrival and, just like that, what had been a daunting task turned into an easier one (still not how you want to spend a day off, but better). Check out USA.gov/ passport for details.

5

THINGS WE

LOVE RIGHT NOW

Compiled by Margaret Sarver

Small Sweets Ok, if I’m being honest, I don’t love these right now. I love these ALL of the time. After a meal I want just a bite of something sweet, and one piece of Dove dark chocolate fits the bill. Alright, if I must be honest again, I prefer two instead of one.

But you get the point. If you, like I, crave just a touch of something sweet after a meal, grab a Dove chocolate. They come in lots of different iterations so you’re sure to find one that you love!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz Over the summer I visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial, and years back when traveling Europe, I toured the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. I feel fortunate to have had those experiences to help me learn about WWII. In addition, I’ve done a lot of reading on the subject. I recently read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris and I recommend it as a good way to learn more from the perspective of the man who gave the prisoners at Auschwitz their number tattoos. A powerful story.

Catch a Show To know me is to know I love to attend live shows, more specifically, concerts and music acts and festivals. We are fortunate to have a lot of great venues in KC—indoors and out—that bring in a wide variety of performers. If you haven’t caught a show at the Carlsen Center at JCCC, you are missing out. Last year my hubby and I saw Don Felder (of the Eagles) perform and so enjoyed hearing Eagles hits in an intimate setting. The Ok-Go show was such a blast.

Check out the full lineup at JCCC.edu/theseries.

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kcparent.com september 2019

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FOOD SAFETY 101

ecause September is National Food Safety Month and school is officially in session, the time is here for a quick lesson on food and kitchen safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year one in six Americans gets sick from eating contaminated food. Keep the following info in mind to prevent your KC kiddo’s being one of those sobering statistics.

Best Practice Recommendations Get your kids involved in the food safety process by encouraging them with the following tips:

Wash hands. Teach your child early on to always wash his hands well with soap and warm water, both before and after handing food. According to the CDC, wash for at least 20 seconds—about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

Keep your kitchen scene clean. This includes countertops, microwaves and the refrigerator. By cleaning these surfaces often and regularly, you will prevent crosscontamination.

Rinse produce. Because fruits and vegetables are grown outside, they are more likely to come in contact with a wide range of bacteria. Make sure to rinse and, when appropriate, scrub before eating.

Food Safety Fast Facts • Everyone is at risk for food poisoning, an illness that comes from eating contaminated food.

• Kids especially are at higher risk for this illness because their immune system (crucial for fighting off pathogens) is not yet fully developed.

• Most of food poisoning is caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses and parasites, as well as harmful toxins and chemicals.

• Symptoms of food poisoning are upset stomach, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and even death.

• Foods most likely to cause danger include meat and poultry, seafood and raw shellfish, fruits and vegetables, sprouts, raw milk and raw eggs.

Separate in the refrigerator. Harmful bacteria can spread to other foods if they are not properly separated. Be sure to separate raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs from other foods in the refrigerator. Place them in containers or sealed plastic bags on the bottom shelf.

Separate on the counter. Use separate cutting boards for fresh produce and also for raw meats, poultry and seafood. Use separate plates and silverware with cooked and raw foods.

Cook thoroughly. Invest in a food thermometer to make sure all foods are cooked thoroughly.

Steak & Roasts

145°

Poultry

Ground Meat

Fish

Eggs

Leftovers

165°

160°

145°

Until the yolk & white are firm, not loose.

165°

Keep hot foods hot. If a food is cooked and put out to serve, make sure to keep the food hot if it isn’t going to be eaten right away. The “temperature danger zone” is between 40° and 140°F for more than two hours since bacteria can grow quite well at these temperatures.

Keep cold foods cold. Dairy products, lunchmeats and cold salads which require refrigeration should always be kept cold (below 40°F).

Thaw appropriately. Never thaw food at room temperature because bacteria can easily multiply at room temperature. Thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave.

Leftovers. The best guideline to use is two. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of use.

When in doubt, toss it out. Don’t risk taste-testing if you suspect the food may be spoiled. If you question the food’s safety, just toss it out.

Amy Hundley is a registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and a published freelance nutrition writer.

She is currently practicing as a clinical RD and has been a resident of Olathe since early childhood.

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

Sources: EatRight.org, CDC.gov, USDA.gov

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kcparent.com september 2019

WORDFROMDAD

THE HAZARD OF AUTUMN “Dave, I gotta go. Mom’s whistling.” She had a piercing whistle that penetrated every nook and cranny in my neighborhood, and I knew it couldn’t be ignored. He waved, and I ran up the hill.

But, I didn’t go home alone. September meant the beginning of fall, along with harvest time, and the wild plants that grew in the undeveloped areas near the creek that ran through my home turf obeyed the same natural laws.

When I walked in the door, Mom ran an appraising eye up and down my pants legs.

“After dinner, clean your clothes.”

Although she didn’t say it, I knew she meant the little seeds we called “stick-tights” that covered my pants.

The absolute worst of these was tiny and seemed designed to catch in the ribbing of a sock. Shaped like a seashell, it burrowed into the fabric and elastic, determined to hang on until spring.

“But, there are too many. Can you help?”

“You got them. You clean them up.”

After dinner, I sat in my room with a trash can and tedium for company while I plucked off those stubborn seeds. With all of the stick-tights gone except the ones in my socks, I had an inspiration. I’ll bet they’ll wash out.

I snuck my socks into the next load and went upstairs to catch a little TV. After school the next day, I pulled my socks out of the dryer and examined them. The socks were clean, but none of those blasted, little seeds had washed out. Not one. Rats!

I’d just finished removing the last one when my sister called down the stairs. “Bill, Dave’s here.”

I greeted him on the porch. “What do you wanna do?”

“Let’s go down to the creek.”

And all those wretched stick-tights.

“Beat you there.”

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William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family. kcparent.com september 2019

19

collections

what kids learn from

My kids love to collect everything from rocks to stickers. These objects bring my kids joy and entertainment, but they also seem to take up space and collect dust. Are there benefits to encouraging the kids to collect items? Although what the kids treasure seems like garbage to me, a collection can be a great opportunity for kids to research and learn about things that interest them and experience the world around them. Here are some great reasons to encourage your child’s collection.

LEARN RESPONSIBILITY Kids who collect items must learn to be responsible for them. They will sort, maintain and find creative ways to display the things they are interested in. They will need to make sure items are well cared for and stored correctly so they don’t get lost or broken.

These tasks help them learn responsibility and organization.

EXPERIENCE THE WORLD AROUND THEM Kids who collect items are more likely to spend time reading about, sorting and discussing their collections. As kids learn about and research their collections they will experience the world around them. While collecting rocks, kids will learn about science.

While researching stamps or coins, they will learn about history. A leaf or shell collection will teach them about nature, and a baseball card collection teaches them about sports and math as they study and compare statistics.

BUILD SHARED EXPERIENCE Kids who collect items can bond with others who share similar interests. Friendships can blossom because the collectors are already building on common ground. Conventions may even offer kids the opportunity to explore, purchase treasures and meet others who are interested in the same collector’s items they are. Collecting will help them build social skills, meet new people and build new relationships.

CREATE A STORY Collections can also help kids create a story. As they look through the items in their collection, they can recall where they found the item—at a family trip to the zoo or on a hike with a friend—and they can remember, share the experience and learn to tell a story about how they acquired the item.

BUDGET Kids who collect items that need to be purchased have the opportunity to learn budgeting skills. They will need to research how much the item costs, find a way to earn money and save until they can purchase the item. Collectors must research and compare items and often compromise on which items they can afford. If the item can be traded, they will practice their negotiation skills as they bargain with friends.

FIND JOY Your child’s collection may look like a dust collector to you, but it likely brings your child happiness. When I really think about it, I have my own collections that bring me joy. A stack of books by my nightstand, my grandmother’s china, more lipsticks and nail polish than I truly need and enough kitchen gadgets to fill two kitchens.

I don’t need these things but I have collected them over the years, and they bring me joy. Your child’s collection brings a similar happiness, something important for us parents to remember.

A child’s treasured collection may seem like a trash collection to a parent, but try to foster his interests and encourage what is important to him. Provide a shelf to display items or a special box in which to store the items. Many valuable lessons can be learned from collecting, and human nature seems to have quite a drive to gather, sort and share items of a collection.

Sarah Lyons and her husband reside in Olathe with their six children.

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM COLLECTIONS SCIENCE AND NATURE: Rocks, shells, leaves, bird nests, bugs. For items that you don’t want to keep in the house, encourage your child to take photos and give her a place to collect and display her nature photos.

HISTORY: Coins, stamps, fossils, arrowheads or artifacts.

BARGAINING: Card collecting is a common childhood hobby and encourages trades and bargains.

MATH: Sports cards, counting items, sorting, and saving money to purchase desired items.

CREATIVITY: Kids will need to use creativity to display their items.

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arts AMAZING

ith the shift toward Common Core studies in school, parents also need to understand the benefits of art education. “I know that art, music, dance—those things are so important for our kids. And with less focus on it at school, we work on doing things at home,” says Tamika Green, Kansas City, MO, mom. The developmental benefits of the arts are many:

Improved motor skills. Motions required to move a paintbrush or hold a crayon are key in the development of fine motor skills in young children.

According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental milestones around age 3 should include drawing a circle and beginning to use safety scissors. Near age 4, children may be able to draw a square and begin cutting straight lines with scissors.

Enhanced language development.

Improved academic performance.

The more words children speak and hear during the day, the faster their brains grow in language development. Dramatic play gives children the opportunity to use their language, listen to language and try out new scenarios for words they have learned.

Americans for the Arts reports that children who participate in arts at least three hours per day, three days per week are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement!

Faster decision-making. According

to a report by Americans for the Arts, art education strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in children. When kids make decisions and choices while creating art, they are actually developing skills that carry over into other parts of life.

Cultural awareness. Teaching children

about the choices made by artists, the origins of art and the meaning behind art creates learning opportunities to discover things about other cultures. In our increasingly diverse society, this understanding is more important than ever.

Few would argue against the benefits to children of participating in the arts, but knowing how to get involved and identifying which activity might be right for your child can be daunting.

“We keep talking about signing our daughter up for something—but we don’t know where, what or how! It is a lot to dive into,” says Kim Wilson, Overland Park. Here are some different types of arts-focused activities and some tips on how to make them timeand budget-friendly!

DRAMA

What is it?

The musical arts include singing, rapping, playing and writing music.

How can it work for you?

Your child can get acclimated to the musical arts through many avenues. Borrowing an instrument or purchasing one at a consignment sale is a great way to save money before your child commits to learning that instrument. Taking part in choir at church or at school is an excellent way to learn the ropes of singing before investing in voice lessons.

What is it?

The art of drama includes anything that is performed on a stage in front of an audience. Activities can include readings or acting.

How can it work for you?

If your child is interested in pursuing dramatic arts, many community theater programs are worth investigating. In addition to classes, many of the programs offer camps throughout the year for your child to try drama. You can also encourage your child to participate in the theater program at school or try out for the talent show to make sure he or she is comfortable performing for an audience.

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MUSIC

What is it?

DANCE

What is it?

The art of dance is the art of movement and it includes many genres: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballroom and many more.

Visual arts include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture.

Get Arty at Home!

How can it work for you?

Create an arts and crafts station. Kids feel the safest being

Families can explore many ways to try out these arts at home before making the commitment to a class or a program.

Crafting, painting or drawing at home will give your child the opportunity to explore his or her interest. Many online drawing tutorials are great for fine motor development and can give your child a taste of what instruction in drawing would be like. Purchasing a second-hand camera would give your child the opportunity to explore photography, and many free apps offer a look at filmmaking.

How can it work for you?

WRITING

Many dance studios offer a free class before you commit to enrolling. Many extra costs accompany participating in dance, including special shoes, clothing and costumes. Different studios have different polices and price points on these things, so be sure to explore the options.

Different studios also take different approaches to instruction, and you’ll want to have a good understanding of what you want your child to gain from the experience before you enter the relationship. Dance costumes, leotards, shoes, etc., are often available for sale at consignment sales and on swap-and-shop pages at discounted prices.

VISUAL ARTS

You can share the fun of the arts with your children in many ways at home.

Here are a few ideas to get you started!

creative in spaces that are familiar. A table at home, a small desk or even a corner filled with supplies can give your children a space to let their minds wander free. Depending on the ages of your children, be smart by keeping craft items, like scissors and glue, in a place handy but out of reach. Easy access to crayons, pencils and washable markers can provide hours of inspired crafting.

Make instruments available. The

ability to make noise, create songs and learn how sounds are generated helps children grow and develop in multiple ways. You can even find drums and noisemakers at many of Kansas City’s newest outdoor place spaces. Consignments sales, garage sales and swap-and-shop pages are great places to acquire kidfriendly, gently used instruments for your home. And Pinterest is loaded with ideas for how to make them yourself! A bottle full of popcorn seeds can make an excellent shaker!

Play creatively together. Games that let your mind to wander will help artistically inspire the whole family.

Charades is an old favorite and allows each player to take a turn planning and performing!

Writing can include anything from storytelling to songwriting to poetry.

The art of the written word covers fiction, nonfiction and everything in between.

Dress up for the win. Dressing up in costumes gives children the freedom to make believe. Dress up clothes do not need to be fancy or expensive. Even clothes mom and dad no longer want, or hand-me-downs from the grandparents, can be used for exciting, creative play.

How can it work for you?

Turn up the tunes. Playing music in

What is it?

The best way to explore an interest in writing is to write! “One of my favorite things as a child was to create stories. I would write them, illustrate them and read them to my family,” says Gloria Stephens, Olathe mom. “I want that for my kids—I feel like it opens up a lifetime interest in storytelling.”

your home regularly gives children an early education in the beauty of different types of instruments and different voices.

Exposing them to a variety also allows them to learn for themselves what fits their own taste. Turning on the music and playing lip-sync games or having a dance party can get the whole family involved in some rhythmic fun!

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three living in Overland Park. kcparent.com september 2019

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PLANNING FAMILY

e m i t n Dow

(No Matter How Busy You Are!)

I

s your life filled to the brim with activity? Life is busy and crazy! You would love to have some downtime, but it sounds impossible, right?

In a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 83 percent of respondents said they spent no time during the day relaxing or thinking. We tend to overschedule and overwork ourselves, while forgetting the importance of taking time to relax. Follow these steps to help your family soak in some much-needed downtime and feel refreshed and recharged.

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Prioritize

Tune Out the World

To make sure family time happens, you must make it a priority. Don’t think of downtime as a great idea for when the right day comes. Otherwise, that day might never come. With school back in session, days are filled with soccer practice, homework and school programs. Every minute of the week seems to be scheduled, which is why you must schedule family downtime every week. Don’t mark it in pencil and erase it when something else comes along. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment for the entire family—no cancellations, unless an emergency arises. If you absolutely have to cancel your downtime, reschedule it for another time that week. If possible, schedule the same block of time each week to make a habit of winding down with the family.

To get the most out of this time with your family, tune out phones. Invest in an unplug box to hide away all the electronic devices during family time. This way, the family will interact just with each other, and no one will be tempted to text friends or answer work emails.

Tuning out the world also includes doing no chores or homework. If you have laundry to catch up on, schedule it around family downtime. It’s also important to let friends know your family’s tradition, so they will be less likely to tempt your kids to skip out on family time.

Involve the Kids The only way family downtime will work is if the kids enjoy it. Let every family member take turns deciding the week’s activity.

Whether it’s a game of mini golf, a hike, game night or simply a few hours to veg out on the couch watching TV, the decision is that of the designated family member.

Also, make a rule of no complaining. If the entire family shares common interests, doing the same activity each week becomes a possibility. Sunday strolls, Friday game nights or movie marathons are all fun ideas and will give kids something to look forward to each week. For more free and cheap fun ideas in Kansas City, visit KCParent.com.

Say No There are so many choices regarding what our kids are involved in that sometimes it can be hard to turn down opportunities. However, we have to remember that downtime is just as important as extracurricular activities. Saying yes to making family downtime a priority also means saying no to other activities. There will be missed birthday parties, neighborhood barbecues and baby showers, but just remember your family is your priority.

Be open with your friends about your ritual. Once your friends understand your reasoning for unwinding with your family, they won’t have any trouble with you missing out on their party. In fact, when they see how refreshed your family feels, they might ask you for pointers on how to schedule downtime with their family.

Fun Family Downtime Activities • Bake each family member’s favorite dessert.

• Go for a long walk and explore a new park.

• Go fishing.

• Have a themed movie marathon.

Take a Road Trip The best way to bond with family is to spend hours together in a car and break away from your normal routine. Take a weekend road trip with the family to go sightseeing and, most importantly, to spend quality time together. Maintain the same rule about tuning out the world and putting away the electronics for the car ride as much of the trip as possible. Sometimes vacations can leave you more tired than you were before, so throw away the trip itinerary. Stay up late and sleep in every morning. Let the day guide you instead of a tour guide. Once the trip is over, you and your kids will have created lifelong memories and may even come home feeling fully rested.

• Take a painting class.

• Go to a drive-in movie.

• Learn to play an instrument together.

• Play touch football in the backyard.

• Learn a new card game.

• Have a water balloon fight.

• Drive down country roads.

• Act out a play.

• Camp out in the backyard.

• Let the kids cook dinner.

Regan Lyons is a freelance writer who lives in St. Joseph, MO, with her husband and 4-yearold daughter.

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the new face of

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HOMESCHOOLING

hat do Davy Crockett, Frank Lloyd Wright and Hilary Duff have in common? They were all homeschooled, an educational option that is on the rise in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The NCES estimated that the number of children homeschooled doubled in size from 1999 to 2012, growing from 850,000 to roughly 1.8 million. Although the U.S. Department of Education found that 3.4 percent of students are homeschooled, Ed Choice’s 2017 Schooling in America survey discovered 7 percent would choose to homeschool if it were an option. With numbers on the rise, homeschooling has a new look, a broader demographic, as well as new opportunities for families opting out of the conventional school system.

Because families find themselves homeschooling for so many different reasons, it’s only natural that how they homeschool looks different, too. Three local families took the time to share what a day in their homeschool life looks like.

The Enderby Family

H

omeschooling was not a very unconventional choice for Seth and Noelle Enderby, who both were homeschooled themselves.

But the couple figured they would eventually send their three daughters, Ariel, 14, Lana, 12, and Camille, 10, to school one day. That day hasn’t yet come.

Instead, the family chose to transition from homeschooling to virtual schooling, an option where students are considered public schoolers but do so from the comfort of home via online instruction and personal tutoring. Noelle says homeschooling the girls when they were young was a natural extension of parenting itself, but homeschooling the upper grades seemed

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daunting. Seeing other homeschoolers graduate students successfully gave the couple the confidence to continue to school from home, but with the help of an outside network of support.

Last year, the family enrolled in Leavenworth Virtual School. On any given day, the girls would grab their Chromebooks (each student is given one) to see what their day’s assignments were. After all independent work was done, the girls would reconvene with Noelle, who proctored tests and quizzes and asked comprehension questions.

“I was afraid we might lose some of the flexibility we came to love with homeschooling when we enrolled in LVS,”

Noelle says. “I was amazed at how flexible it really, truly was. I feel like we’ve gained support but maintained freedom. It’s been amazing.”

This year the family plans on transitioning to Maize, another Kansas virtual school, where Ariel will begin high school. For the first time, she will have online classes at set times.

“It’s a stepping stone to get her to that college level ... she’ll be accountable to someone else but she still has me right there,” Noelle says. “Virtual school gives us the security that the girls are where they need to be. I have a sense of freedom in being able to partner with another teacher.”

The Werner Family

E

very weekday morning, Maureen Werner, a single mom of seven, tiptoes downstairs to begin her work as a CPA before her children wake. For Werner, whose family consists of one grown biological son, four daughters ranging in age from 11 to 19 she fostered-to-adopt, and twin 7-yearold boys that came via private adoption, homeschooling was not something she fell into. She strategically planned.

“When my oldest three were in elementary school at the local public school, I was looking toward middle school and dreading it. I thought those years would be so much sweeter if we just did school at home and then they could go off to high school,” Werner says.

Over the course of the next three years, she pulled each of her daughters from school until eventually all six were being homeschooled exclusively. Werner, a business owner, found herself very purposefully balancing work, home and school life, all under the same roof.

“I gave myself the opt-out each year for the first three,” Werner says, adding by then she was all in. “You don’t move into a house or a marriage and say, ‘Well, let’s see how this works.’ Being all in is what makes it work. That’s not to say we haven’t changed curriculums or co-ops. I still have to advocate for each of my children.”

For five years, Werner utilized Sonlight, a literature-based curriculum that lined everything up in a way her accounting background found assuring. As she gained confidence, she began exploring other curriculum options. The family also has participated in co-ops such as Mighty Oaks (a two-day-a-week option) and LCA, where Werner teaches sewing and a cooking class called “What’s for Breakfast?”

During a typical school day, Werner and her children enjoy poring over history, science, poetry and read-alouds while simultaneously eating breakfast together.

In the cooler seasons, this typically takes place with cider or hot chocolate in hand, but if the weather is nice, they may take

their morning time outdoors. Afterward, Werner focuses her efforts on her twins in their school room while her girls go off to work on their independent studies. Katy, the oldest daughter, now works full time, while Mackenzie, 15, takes classes at Johnson County Community College. The school day wraps up at lunchtime. Afterward, Werner attends to work, taking phone calls and doing business meetings.

The Werner kids’ education continues while she works through a host of extracurriculars. For years, all four girls danced at Miller Marley. At one point, Katy, 19, and Mackenzie, 15, were dancing more than 20 hours a week and teaching beginner classes. Mackenzie has sung at Starlight and with the Lyric Opera twice. Ava, 11, currently plays competitive soccer, and the boys will begin playing in a rec league this fall.

“I always want them to be active but I never want them to be pushed too hard,” Werner says. “Our end game has never been a scholarship or being a professional but being the best that you can be.” kcparent.com september 2019

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KC homeschooling parents chimed in with some of their reasons for choosing to homeschool. Here’s what some of them have to say: I love being able to give one-on-one attention; to individually tailor their education and work at whatever level they are capable of in each subject. I am so thankful that we can encourage delight in what we do. I appreciate the time as a family and the ability to focus on our relationships. ~ JESSICA W.

The Peterson Family

A

s a young adult, Jessica Peterson knew three things with absolute certainty: She would never get married, she would never have children and she would never teach. Peterson, a busy wife and a mom of four children, Adelynn, 7, Cole, 4, and 2-year-old twins, Bella and Pax, now laughs at this notion.

“Never say never!” she advises.

Peterson and her husband, Jeff, say homeschooling wasn’t on their radar until they attended a church that had several homeschooled high schoolers.

“There was something about them … their maturity, how they interacted with others, and their work ethic. It was just really inspiring,” she says A typical school day starts early in the Peterson home. Both Adelynn and Cole wake up before the twins, and Peterson capitalizes on it as an opportunity for morning time, a time where they eat breakfast, read together and do crafts or activities.

“I always have a million ideas about how I wish to make each day special, but I try to hold to three top priorities for each day, which is far more feasible with little ones underfoot.”

Indeed, schooling with babies requires a lot of creativity. When Bella and Pax are

awake, the whole family dynamic shifts.

“I might normally curl up on the couch and read a chapter book with Adalynn and Cole if the twins are napping,” she says, “but if they’re awake, we have to accommodate so that my hands are free.”

Peterson’s found there has never been a book they’ve read for which she hasn’t found an online audiobook version. When the twins take their afternoon naps, she sits down with Adalynn to offer instruction in core subjects like math and reading.

The family attends a local Classical Conversations community throughout their school year. Unlike a co-op where parents drop their kids off to take elective classes, CC requires parents be on site, and families engage together in core study that they then implement at home. Students participate in science experiments, fine arts study, and give weekly speech presentations, while parents can seek support and encouragement from one another.

“Our primary motivation for joining CC wasn’t the rigorous education they offered but the robust community we sensed amongst families,” Peterson, a self-described super-extrovert, explains. “I love that we are a part of a community that is all doing the same thing together.”

Lauren Greenlee is an Olathe boy mom, second generation homeschooler and a writer.

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It was a way to preserve our family.

My husband worked second shift six days a week. Sundays were our only day, but being ministers, we were busy then too. The kids never spent time with their dad! Nine years later, it is still a good fit. ~ NATASHA D. I feel like our years together are short. The thought of them being away at school every day saddened me. I love learning with them. ~ STEPHANIE M. I want to pursue excellence in learning, not just excellence in education. I want my boys to have time to pursue their own interests. I also want our family to have margin in our lives and to not be overwhelmed with activities. ~ CARODY K. It’s been my desire to preserve my child’s childhood. ~ KAYDEE K. As a fourth grade teacher, I knew I wanted different for my own kids. I didn’t want them to hate learning like many of my “behind” fourth graders (especially boys) did. I wanted them to have more freedom of movement, time in nature, music, art, etc. ~ SHANNON C. We were living in Germany (military), and knew we had several short moves coming up back-to-back.

I was concerned about my sweet kindergartner moving schools three times in four years. We started in January and never looked back. That was seven years ago. ~ AUDREY B.

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DISCOVERING WHEN IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON Establishing balance with extracurricular activities is important for every family

N

atasha Gleason’s daughter started out loving music and piano lessons. It was fun, and she learned valuable lessons such as hand-eye coordination, confidence and academic skills.

Yet Gleason eventually found herself having to remind her daughter to practice, and the excitement surrounding the piano waned.

At the same time, she was always excited for soccer practice and games. Slowly, piano lessons had become just another activity on the calendar, while soccer had become more meaningful to Gleason’s daughter. The family decided to stop piano lessons.

“It was the best thing we could’ve done for her and our family,” says Gleason, a Lee’s Summit mom. “She was able to focus on soccer and developing her skills without piano practice lurking in the background. As a family, we had more quality downtime to spend together doing fun things that deepened our relationships with one another, instead of rushing from one activity to the next.”

As Gleason discovered, many families struggle with balancing various extracurricular activities. Determining how many activities a child should be involved in can be difficult, as can discerning when the time has come to move on from an activity.

First and foremost, if the child simply isn’t enjoying the activity anymore, consider that it’s likely time to move on.

Extracurricular activities are designed to be fun and educational, but if they become a burden, they are no good to anyone in the family.

Sometimes, as Lee’s Summit mom Jennifer Campbell discovered, a child might enjoy an activity but find his grades slipping.

Campbell’s teenage son was in football when his grades began to decline. Although they didn’t drop enough to force him off the team, the decline was enough to concern Jennifer. The family decided he needed to

Reasons to reconsider Many reasons can indicate a child might need to step back from an activity. If you are wondering whether it’s time for your child to quit an activity, ask the following: • Is this activity creating scheduling and logistical conflicts for the family?

• Is the child beginning to lose interest and passion in the activity?

• Is the activity progressing beyond the child’s abilities?

• Is the activity interfering with grades and academics?

• Is the child simply overscheduled?

• Are too many activities preventing quality family time?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it might be time to step back and consider the pros and cons of withdrawing from the activity at least temporarily.

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quit the team mid-season in order to focus on his grades.

Scheduling and logistics can also become reasons a child needs to quit an activity.

It’s not always practical to chauffeur three children to three different activities on the same night. Instead, children in a family might need to take turns with activities.

For example, one child might play soccer in the fall but sit out during the spring so a younger sibling can have the opportunity to play at that time.

Other times, a child might enjoy an activity, but the activity might begin progressing beyond his ability level. A child might have a passion for the game of baseball. But if after coaching, practice and experience on a team he finds he simply isn’t hitting the ball accurately enough to keep up with his peers as the game becomes more competitive, he might need to step back and find other less demanding recreational opportunities to enjoy the sport.

Although many worthwhile activities are available, a child can only participate in so many at one time before experiencing burnout. All kids need time for homework and downtime to simply enjoy childhood.

There is value in a child’s learning to come up with creative ways to spend unstructured time. Additionally, having downtime as a family to simply enjoy an afternoon or evening together is very important to making memories and building relationships. If activities fill every waking hour, families miss these opportunities.

Although Gleason withdrew her daughter from piano lessons, the family kept in mind she could resume lessons in the future if she missed music and it became feasible again. Turns out Gleason’s daughter didn’t miss the piano lessons—but sometimes leaving behind an activity is only for a season, not a permanent change.

Extracurricular activities teach children many important skills, but they are most effective when balanced with the other needs of the family and student.

Allison Gibeson is a Lee’s Summit writer and mom taking these tips into consideration as she signs her kindergarten son up for activities.

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the grand relationship Grandparents are the best at giving warm hugs, loving advice, homecooked meals and the yummiest sweet treats. They are the true extension of familial love. In fact, allowing children to form a close bond with their grandparents not only benefits your child, but also Grandma and Grandpa. And these benefits will last a lifetime. When your children grow up with a deep affinity for their grandparents, studies say you can expect any of the following:

Fosters a positive view of aging. Children who spend more time with their grandparents are more accepting of the elderly in general. What’s more, researchers say that girls in particular tend to view their own aging more favorably.

Eases separation anxiety. What better place than Grandma’s and Grandpa’s home to show your children they can be loved, safe and secure in other homes?

Experiencing this demonstrates to kids how other families work and how other relationships succeed.

Increases happiness. Both the children and the grandparents are happier when they have a close, loving relationship.

One study shows that kids who grow up having a close and loving relationship with their grandparents are less likely to be depressed as

adults. A 2014 study from Boston University found that the affection adult grandchildren and their grandparents have for one another reduces depressive symptoms on both sides.

Improves behavior. A study of children ages 11 to 16 years of age echoed the 2014 Boston University findings and found that the close bonds between grandparents and grandkids are associated with benefits that include fewer emotional and behavioral problems and fewer difficulties with peers. The close relationships also helped lessen the adverse impacts of stressful experiences, such as parental divorces and being bullied.

Clearer mental health.

Grandparents serve as mental health safety nets by providing consistent unconditional love when kids are dealing with parents’ divorcing, bullying at school, etc. An Oxford study showed that the involvement of grandparents is strongly associated with reduced adjustment difficulties, especially among adolescents who are from divorced or separated families. Having a close relationship with a grandparent is associated with fewer depressive symptoms because grandparents are a security blanket. Kids know they can trust them.

Children aren’t the only ones who reap benefits! Grandparents glean rewards from these close-knit relationships, too. Here are just a few ways they benefit:

Mentally sharper. Relationships with their grandchildren may help keep grandparents’ minds sharper, especially the grandmother’s. An Australian study found that grandmothers who spent time taking care of their grandchildren performed better on cognitive tests than grandmothers who didn’t. In fact, watching their grandchildren only one day per week was linked to higher test results than watching them multiple days!

Live longer. Recent research shows that grandparents who babysit grandkids live longer than same-age adults who don’t have child-rearing responsibilities. Grandparents who babysit regularly have a 37 percent lower mortality risk than adults who do not.

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Researchers suspect this has something do with staying mentally active and having a purpose.

Reduced Alzheimer’s risk. As another study revealed, when grandmothers spend one day a week caring for children, they reduce their Alzheimer’s risk.

However, if they care for children five or more days a week, they increase their risk of neurodegenerative disorders. So, it’s important to get the right balance for everyone involved.

Makes them feel worthy. Not only can grandparenting help grandparents think better, but it can help them feel better, too! Being involved with their grandchildren improves their family ties and their sense of worthiness, because they feel valued in that role.

Increases confidence.

Grandparents feel more confident when they realize they are physically able to play with their grandchildren. It also helps them feel more socially engaged, and with this increase in a social and active lifestyle comes an added benefit of improving thinking skills, such as memory.

For families where grandparents live in the same house or nearby, nurturing grandparentgrandchild experiences is easy. However, for others, more effort is required. Here are some ways to bring everyone together. n Plan regular family get-togethers or

reunions. Don’t just get together on holidays. Instead, make it a regular family event. n Schedule some one-on-one time for

grandchildren to spend quality time with their grandparents in intimate settings.

The alone time is good for both because it offers them undivided attention. n If Grandma and Grandpa live out of

town, use Skype or FaceTime to allow them to stay in touch and speak oneon-one with their grandchildren. Send photos, letters and emails/texts on a regular basis. n Bring them together with something

they can do together. Maybe Grandma can teach her grandkids how to bake cookies, sew a pillow, garden or put together a puzzle. Grandpa may want

to play board games, teach them how to craft with wood, play with a train set or hit a golf ball. On the flip side, children can show their grandparents how to play video games or show off how amazing they are at playing an instrument, doing gymnastics or throwing a ball.

Grandparents are important in a child’s life. They provide the extra love and nurturing a child needs, and they serve as wonderful storytellers, play partners and sources of knowledge, values and unconditional love. These are all things your children will grow to remember as adults.

And as a bonus, grandparents learn quite a lot from their grandkids, making them feel years younger than they are. This is a winwin for everyone involved!

Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein loves the relationships her two daughters have with both sets of grandparents. While one set lives in town, the other lives several hours away and keeps in touch with the girls regularly through email and by phone.

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Motivation and Encouragement for Spending More Time Outdoors

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g

rowing up, my family didn’t own a TV. Well, that’s not entirely true. Every time a friend or family member heard we didn’t own one, they grew sympathetic and we somehow ended up inheriting one of their old ones (we received units that ranged from antique black-and-white models, to handheld units that could be seen from only a few feet away, to upgraded color editions that required walking to the unit to change the channels).

Playing with a “new” gadget for a while was a thrill. But as time went by, the TV somehow found a new home (or eternal resting place, as the case may be), and life moved on screen-free.

At the time, not having a TV didn’t seem like a radical notion. After all, our lack of electronic entertainment wasn’t motivated by a stringent conviction, nor was it a means to buck the system for the sake of being unconventional. For a while, it just was what it was. My parents were busy, and my brother and I were relatively content to play with one another and the neighbor kids—so, as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Later, a TV would take up permanent residence in our home. But by then, a lot of habits had been established, one for which I’m hugely grateful: a childhood rich in time spent outdoors.

Most of my childhood memories are from outside. I spent countless hours in my mom’s huge garden. My brother and I eventually “earned” our own rows in which we were allowed to plant whatever we wanted, so long as we cared for it—watering, fertilizing and picking out each pesky weed.

We felt like big stuff, but I’m sure my mom considered it a win on her end as we were so busy picking “buried treasure” (root vegetables) we had no time to accidentally trample on her own harvest.

Then there were all of the neighborhood escapades. Many a summer, my dad would break out a box of industrial trash bags, a bottle of Dawn dish soap and the hose, making what he referred to as his hillbilly rendition of the Slip ’N Slide. Yards of black plastic lay in wait, lathered in soapy foam

and a steady stream of ice cold hose water. It wasn’t long before a gaggle of children stood in line, eagerly awaiting their turn to glide from our front yard into the next one.

In spring and fall with windows cracked open, my mom would cook supper to the steady cadence of bikes furiously zipping around the driveway, with the occasional kerplunk of a child biker brave enough to whizz off the homemade ramp at the end.

And despite winter’s icy chill, my siblings and I would inevitably break out in a sweat as we industriously packed snow in an effort to make an even better snow fort than we had attempted the previous year.

Interestingly, my parents wouldn’t call themselves outdoorsy people. As a family, we never camped. We never went to national parks or hiked local trails. We lived on a standard sized lot plopped in the middle of suburbia, so with the exception of my mom’s garden, no homesteading or animal husbandry took place. Yet, looking back, most of the ways we bonded were through time in nature (even if much of that nature was enjoyed from within the boundary lines of our own yard!).

Prioritizing adventures outside has not gotten any easier for families living in a digital age. As any modern parent can tell you, a TV isn’t the only thing that beckons for a kid’s attention. The chime of a phone at every notification, a ping on the tablet or computer for every update, and the alluring soundtrack underscoring a video game quest are siren calls of the virtual world. The figurative and literal noise from screens can easily drown out the quiet calls of nature’s invitation if we’re not careful. It’s almost ironic that creating a simple and carefree environment can be hard work in a world that’s so stimulated and complex.

We often scoff at how tech-dependent kids are these days, but getting outside and refusing to be tethered to an internet connection is often every bit as hard for adults as it is for kids. One of the best ways to initiate getting out into nature more starts by setting healthy parameters on screen usage within your own four walls.

By turning notifications off, taking regular

breaks and hiding the phone away during dinnertime or family conversations, parents proclaim with our actions that what’s in front of us is more important that what’s going on elsewhere.

Getting out in nature offers a myriad of benefits for mental, emotional and physical health. But, unlike taking a vitamin, being outdoors is fun. If you’re wondering how to prioritize time outside as a family, start with this: Treat it as something you get to do, not have to do. Here’s what local moms say helps them prioritize getting out in nature as a family more: Jess Reyes, a mom from Independence, says for her family it is all about taking baby steps. “I started small.” she says. “With a toddler and an infant, it was hard to find the motivation, but I knew we needed to get out. Five minutes one day, 15 the next; in no time we were spending HOURS outside having picnics, reading books, swinging, exploring, creating mud pits and going on walks around our own block. We now get antsy if only a day or two goes by without some part of the day spent outside!”

For Pleasant Hill mom Emily Olomiye, it’s all about remembering to keep it simple.

“You don’t have to plan anything or go anywhere or do anything special,” she says.

“If you take children outside and just go sit in the grass, nature exploration will just come!” KC mom Brenda Rader agrees: “Sometimes it’s as easy as just eating your breakfast or lunch outside somewhere, even if in your own backyard!”

Lisa Scheker of Lee’s Summit finds just the ticket for helping her husband value time outdoors as much as she does. “I always ask for camping or hikes with my husband and kids on my birthday and Mother’s Day. Then he sees how fun they can be, and now we are outside a lot more often than we used to be!”

Lauren Greenlee is a mom of three hailing from Olathe. Her favorite outdoor activities include hitting the local trails, scouting out the best new parks and geocaching with her motley crew.

kcparent.com september 2019

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practical life skills all kids should know

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orried about how your children will fare on their own when the time comes to step into adulthood? Sweep that worry away by simply involving them in daily activities to provide a nice, basic foundation for the rest of their lives. For example, remember when your mom showed you how to boil water and pour the macaroni in? Or how to cook chicken nuggets, make cookies or grilled cheese? A few of the first things my mom showed me how to make were salmon patties, sausage balls, spinach dip and mashed potatoes. To this day, I don’t use a recipe for those! I’m sure you have such memories from your childhood. Your children will carry your memories forward to their own children.

Here are some skills you can fit into their young lives:

Simple Meal Preparation

Laundry

As I mentioned, foods your family loves are the foods they will want to cook. No matter whether you are vegan, paleo or something else, indoctrinate this lifestyle into your kids, and they will adopt it as they grow older—or at least keep facets of it in their cooking.

Even before they are able to run the washing machine themselves, kids can certainly begin helping. Show them how to fold towels, put their own clothes away and learn not to litter their bedroom floors with their dirty clothes. Around 11 or 12, they should be able to wash clothes—especially if they want to wear a favorite outfit all the time. Try labeling the washer and dryer so the kids know which settings to use.

Swimming Whether you live near a shore or not, learning to swim is an essential for your child—for both safety and fun! Kids can learn at any age, but the American Association of Pediatrics recommends parents wait until kids are at least a year old before taking formal swimming lessons. This doesn’t mean you can’t get them comfortable around water at any age though.

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Basic Car Maintenance Girls and boys should know how to take care of any car or truck they drive. They can even learn this before they are old enough to drive. Changing a tire, checking and changing the oil, rotating the tires, checking

the antifreeze and washer fluid and keeping an eye on the windshield wiper blades and noticing anything abnormal are important skills. One local dad says, “I wanted my son to learn how to wash and wax and detail his truck himself. I wanted him to know that his vehicle was something to take pride in.”

How to Manage Money As soon as your child is old enough to earn an allowance and understand how money works, she’s old enough to start picking up financial skills. It’s a good time to teach her to wait before she buys something and distinguish between wants and needs. Kids ages 6 to 10 can learn about comparison shopping when you’re at the mall or shopping online together, and log onto a savings account you open with them to track their money.

Basic Hygiene Parents can instill this in kiddos from an early age. The American Dental Association recommends parents brush their children’s teeth when the kids are younger than 3, and supervise children’s brushing from ages 3 to 6. After that,

your child can brush his or her own teeth.

Children will watch their daddy shave, their mom pluck her eyebrows and know the difference between shampoo and conditioner. As they get older, place a checklist on the mirror with reminders of how long to brush teeth, to put deodorant on and how long to shower. Remind them that if it smells, clean it!

Taking Care of a Living Thing Another lifelong learning skill is helping children stay involved with the care of the family dog, cat, gerbil, fish or bearded dragon. Show them how to make sure the animal is fed and the cage or litterbox is clean. And have your child accompany you when you take the animal to the vet.

Taking care of plants is another valuable learning tool. Children should not babysit other children until they are at least 14; check applicable state laws.

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Navigating In today’s high-tech world, most children learn at an early age how to use a GPS. How about showing them how to use a map—either a paper one or on the phone? Try hiding toys in your yard then draw a sketch to mark the location. Zoos, museums and theme parks have those colorful maps, and you can hand one to your child and have him or her lead the way. Or, try geocaching. This outdoor treasure hunting game uses GPS tracking to find trinkets. It also teaches young people to notice their surroundings.

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birthday parties on a budget

This year, consider giving your child the Ultimate Birthday Party, one where he can play, have fun and just be a kid. The added bonus is that you get to keep your sanity and money. Follow these steps (some of which go against everything you’ve ever read about birthday parties!), and you’ll have a stressfree celebration everyone can enjoy.

Either call or E-vite.com family and friends to save the cost of invitations and stamps. Invite them to your home or maybe even to a park shelter that you reserve in advance. Set the party time for 1:00 so guests know lunch won’t be served (think of the cost plus setup and cleanup!). Make the pickup time clear; a couple of hours is usually plenty of time for a good shindig.

The night before the party, bake the cake (from a box, of course!) or cupcakes. Feel free to get fancy on the cake if you have that talent; otherwise, most kids are just thrilled to have sugar

in any form. You could even bake a special small cake (maybe heartshaped!) just for the birthday kid and let him decorate it himself.

To kill some time, consider a piñata (filled with something quickly disposed of like candy or fruit snacks instead of junky toys).

On party day, don’t worry about setting up a craft or handing out costly goodie bags for the kids.

Otherwise, kids don’t need every minute of their day scheduled for them … running wild is what they are best at, especially at a birthday party!

Most parents these days are into decluttering and find their kids have way too much junk. Parents will appreciate not having to take home anything except for their child and won’t feel guilty because you spent more on a goodie bag than they did on your child’s gift.

Make the decorations simple, especially for younger kids who probably don’t watch enough television to even have a favorite cartoon character. Colored paper plates work great, as do regular

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protecting te e n d r i ve r s

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rom the time they are infants, we take the necessary precautions to protect our kids, but how can we keep them safe once they start driving?

Role model. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traffic accidents remain the leading cause of injury and death among teens, but setting a positive example can help nurture an aware, focused driver.

“We as parents have a great deal of influence in how our children are going to drive by how they see us driving,” says Brad Winfrey, manager of the Center for Childhood Safety and Car Seat Program at Children’s Mercy Hospital. “That’s why it’s so important that parents role model driving at safe speeds, wearing seatbelts and not driving distracted.”

Teach the MVPs of driving. After working “in the emergency department at Children’s Mercy for 30 years, I certainly saw the impact of what teen driving, lack of experience and distraction can do to the driver and the passengers,” Winfrey says.

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kcparent.com september 2019

Winfrey teaches young drivers the acronym “MVP”:

M ind – Keep your mind on driving and stay aware of what is happening around you. Pay attention to road signs, traffic lights and construction zones.

Vision – Your eyes should be on the road ahead of you and not

elsewhere in the vehicle, like texting on the phone, posting to social media or fiddling with the radio.

Practice – Practice in a variety of weather conditions, roadways, construction areas and especially at night, when visibility is limited and oncoming headlights can be blinding. With evening school activities and part-time jobs, teens frequently drive at night.

Limit passengers. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that a 16- or 17-year-old’s risk of death per mile rises 44 percent when carrying one passenger younger than 21 and quadruples when transporting three or more passengers under the age of 21.

The potential for risk-taking behavior also increases, including not wearing seatbelts, speeding and drinking alcohol.

Many graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) programs, which have been enacted to some degree in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, restrict the number of passengers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the GDL program has reduced teen crashes by 20 to 40 percent.

Download Life 360. Public Information Officer John Lacy, Overland Park Police Department, recommends the Life 360 app to help you keep track of your teen’s whereabouts. The app also provides crash detection and emergency response and weekly driver reports, highlighting phone usage, acceleration, braking and top speeds.

“Don’t tell your children that they’re being added to Life 360. Just do it,” Lacy says. “Kids are very crafty. If they know that something like that is on their phone, they’ll disable it. Remember, it’s your phone, not your kid’s cell phone.”

If you prefer to be open with your teens about the app, tell them that as a minor on the road, it provides a non-negotiable, additional layer of safety and security.

Educate them about the vehicle. Acquaint your teen with the car’s features, like how to turn on the headlights, where the defrost is located, how to turn on windshield wipers, how to open the gas tank and how to fill it. Also, teach teens how to change a tire.

(Check the spare tire every three months to ensure it is aired up.)

Under the hood, point out the battery and how to check the oil. Store a roadside emergency kit in the trunk with plastic flare reflectors (available at auto shops and online).

Know the do’s and don’ts of roadside assistance.

Your teen should contact you and/or the police if they are in a car accident, become stranded or get lost. If they get lost, which isn’t uncommon for new drivers, tell teens to call you first. “It’s okay to call the police if they’re lost, too,” Lacy says.

If your teen gets a flat tire, instruct him to call the police first and then you. “The reason I like an officer there is because the lights provide protection, especially at night, and reminds people to slow down,” Lacy says.

Unfortunately, we don’t always know whether a stranger offering help is acting as a good Samaritan or has more nefarious intentions.

If your teen is stranded, she should wave on those offering help and tell them that the police will arrive shortly.

Manage a traffic stop. Explain to teens that if they get stopped by the police, they should pull over to the right-hand side of

the road, into a well-lit parking lot or onto private property to keep them and the officer safe from oncoming traffic.

Traffic stops can be stressful, even for adults. Encourage your teen to calmly follow the officer’s instructions. Remind him to keep his hands in plain sight on the steering wheel. Your teen should know where his driver’s license, registration and current insurance card are located inside the vehicle. But, he shouldn’t reach for anything in the car until instructed by the officer.

“The officer will tell you the reason why he stopped you, what he’s looking for and what he wants,” Lacy says.

“

We as parents have a great deal of influence in how our children are going to drive by how they see us driving. ~Brad Winfrey, Children’s Mercy Hospital

”

After that, the officer will return to his vehicle. “Don’t get out of your vehicle!” Lacy says. “That is the last thing we want you to do. Stay inside the vehicle the entire time and let the officer contact you.”

If your teen suspects that the person pulling her over isn’t a bona fide police officer, she can call 9-1-1 with her location and confirm the traffic stop.

Like many police departments, the Overland Park Police Department records traffic stops. “Kids have a right to record the conversation too,” Lacy says.

If an officer is rude or unprofessional, parents can file a complaint with the department.

Remain patient. Your involvement and patient guidance will help your teen become a safe driver.

“A lot of people immediately want to jump on the bandwagon and say that teens are bad drivers. It’s not necessarily true,” Winfrey says. “They just don’t have experience. With experience, come better driving skills and better driving habits.”

Olathe-based freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines is the mom of two sons. She and her husband are on the first leg of the teen driver journey with their older one and wish all fellow parent passengers and their driving teens happy and safe travels!

purchasing a car for your teen?

• Google the safety record of the vehicle you’re interested in.

• Make sure it has airbags.

• Check whether the vehicle has any recalls.

• Bonus points for a car that features driver’s assistance technology like backup cameras, automatic braking systems or lane departure alerts.

• Avoid speedy sports cars or oversized SUVs (which groups of teens love to pile into). kcparent.com september 2019

43

SEPTEMBER

festivals

ACROSS KANSAS CITY

These are some of our favorite fests this fall!

You’ll find a complete Fall Festival Guide at KCParent.com!

Lenexa Spinach Festival Sept. 7 at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa. This festival offers live music, an outdoor food court, numerous kids activities and competitions, antique and craft shopping and, of course, a spinach recipe contest.

Festival Spinach a x e n e L

Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival Sept. 7-8 at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO. Professional, amateur and student artists will come together to create lively and powerful chalk paintings on sponsored brick canvases throughout KC. The Great Pumpkin Fest Weekends Sept. 14-Oct. 27 at Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., Kansas City, MO. This family-friendly event is all treats and no tricks and features special Halloween-themed activities for kids plus Peanutsthemed rides and attractions in Planet Snoopy.

Friends of Shawnee Town Arts & Crafts Fair & Fall Festival Sept. 21 at Shawnee Town 1929, 11600 Johnson Dr., Shawnee. Shop more than 130 vendors, showcasing their handmade items. Food vendors, kids activities, live music and fun.

Library in the Park Sept. 28 at Big Eleven Lake Park, Kansas City, MO. Come celebrate our community with live music, fun activities and the return of the taco contest!

The Great Pu

mplin Fest W eekends

KC Zoo Run for Tree Kangaroos Sept. 21 at Kansas City Zoo. This year’s run is for the tree kangaroos. The event includes a 4-mile timed event starting at 8:30 and a family fun run at 9:45.

Jazz & Food Truck Festival: Topeka Sept. 21 at Downtown Topeka, Ninth & Kansas Avenue, Topeka. CoreFirst Bank & Trust presents the Jazz & Food Truck Festival. Gather in the area of Ninth & Kansas from 3:30. Stay tuned for the music acts!

Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest Sept. 26-28 at Downtown Lee’s Summit, 220 SE Main St. Enjoy German meals, two stages of entertainment, German dancers, carnival, biergarten, free children’s activities, contests, arts and crafts booths and more!

Ciderfest Sept. 28-29, Oct. 5-6 at Louisburg Cider Mill, stival: Topeka

Jazz & Food Truck Fe

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14730 K68 Hwy., Louisburg, KS. Ciderfest features craft booths, gift and collectible vendors and multiple barbecue and food vendors.

FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE... HAVE WE MENTIONED OUR 40-FOOT TV?

LegendsShopping.com/events

FAMILY FUN | YARD GAMES | MOVIE NIGHTS kcparent.com september 2019

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“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good to say ‘yes’ to the best.”

A

~John C. Maxwell

special excitement accompanies the back-toschool time of year, but as the newness of a new grade, new teacher and new classmates wears off and the school year kicks into high gear, the anticipation fades. How do you encourage and motivate your child to keep working hard throughout the year?

Less is more As tempting as it can be to sign up your kids for all of the fun extracurriculars available, remember to determine what your child and family really can handle. A favorite quote of mine, by John C. Maxwell, is “Learn to say ‘no’ to the good to say ‘yes’ to the best.”

Soccer, swimming and debate teams can all be good, but if grades are slipping and family relationships aren’t where you want them to be, taking some things off the list may allow breathing room for what’s best for your daily and weekly lives. You may also implement your own rules, such as grades needing to be at a certain level in order to participate at all in extracurriculars or each child’s being in only one extracurricular at a time. I personally love this idea but still find sticking to it a challenge.

We limit our kids to two activities at a time, one in the arts and one athletics-based, but I’m always aware of trying not to do too much.

Keep It Up tips to encourage and motivate kids all year long

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More is more Kids do need more of some things to keep them healthy and ready for schoolwork all year long. Things such as more sleep, more time with family and friends, and more downtime are positives for kids. According to SleepFoundation.org, children’s sleep needs are:

• Toddlers (1–2 years): 11–14 hours • Preschoolers (3–5): 10–13 hours • School-age children (6–13): 9–11 hours • Teenagers (14–17): 8–10 hours

How do you accomplish this? Limiting nightly activities, enforcing stricter bedtimes, shutting down screens and starting a bedtime routine earlier are all tactics to help.

Institute rewards When I was in school, we received quarterly report cards, and our parents gave my brother and me a dollar for each A and a $5 bonus for straight A’s. If your child’s ears don’t perk up for money, maybe a trip to a favorite restaurant, a new pair of shoes, a gift card to a favorite store, movie theater tickets, or an extended curfew would add that extra motivation to work hard throughout the school year.

Learn along with/show interest in what your child is learning Engage in what your kids are learning about. Read a historical fiction novel about a topic the kids are covering to spark new discussions. Have your kids teach you how to do their math assignments. Creating the idea that we are all lifelong learners can help keep learning in a positive light. In the same vein, head to a museum with an exhibit on something your children are learning about to make what’s happening at school come to life for them.

have many benefits and, according to TheFamilyDinnerProject.org, dinner is “a time to relax, recharge, laugh, tell stories and catch up on the day’s ups and downs, while developing a sense of who we are as a family.”

Praise An encouraging word goes a long way, so try to speak positive encouragement each day. KC Parent Magazine’s own electronic media manager and mother of four, Kristina Light, once spoke at a MOPS meeting I attended a few years ago at Grace Church in Overland Park. She shared a great idea called “Five Things I Love About You,” and my kids love it! The idea is sweet and simple. Begin counting off specific things you love about each child on your hand and end each time with “I love being your mom!” I should make it more of a habit, and even as they get older and roll their eyes, they still light up when it’s their turn to be loved on. Cara Johnson, teacher and mother of three, suggests, “For younger kids, I think it’s important to go through the items they bring home and LISTEN about each one. Maybe they could collect over the week and have a ‘share fair’ on a specific day, especially if you have multiple kids. I also try to plan a day to volunteer or visit their school to eat lunch sometime in October.”

Make family time Take breaks commonplace and accessible Schedule in downtime. Have a Make a point to sit down together for family dinners when you can and create or maintain other family traditions to look forward to together. Connect together for pizza and movie night on Fridays or game night on Tuesdays. Neighborhood walks or bike rides together after dinner are a simple way to be together (and fresh air and nature never hurt), or getting season tickets to a sporting event or even watching a specific show together can make children feel connected and have something to count on. Family dinners

couple days a week that aren’t filled with extracurricular activities or engagements.

Give kids those days to just be kids and have time to do what they want, whether that be playing outside, building with Legos, drawing, reading, etc., and stick to it. Kids need us to set boundaries for them. Then when a friend invites them to some event, your kids will have a built-in excuse that it’s their family’s home day, unfortunately, and they can blame you but secretly thank you for the excuse. On the flip side, accepting the invitation would

actually be a possibility if you and your child agree because you won’t be swamped with your own activities every night of the week. Breaks apply also to phones with older kids. Make it a house rule that phones are put in a basket during dinners and are charged in the parents’ room or downstairs for the night. Relieving kids of the common pressure to be in constant communication or access can be freeing.

My kids enjoy the activities they sign up for, but they especially love a free afternoon and evening after school where they don’t have to be shuttled around and hurried.

Stick to a routine School days can be long days on their own, before adding in any additional meetings, clubs or practices before or after.

Creating a routine to ensure homework gets done and sticking to it can be incredibly helpful. You may need to be flexible, depending on each day, season or even child, but maybe after an afternoon snack, homework needs to be completed before any free time is enjoyed. Or maybe older kids can do homework after dinner and before a set time each night. Also, try to tackle one of your responsibilities during the same time as your child’s activity (such as making dinner, checking end-of-the-day emails, meal planning, etc.) and then do something fun together when the work is complete, like walking the dog, playing at a park or playing catch. Joellyn Nauman, mother of three, says consistency is crucial. “We do our work first before we play. (This is also true in the summer as I give them ‘homework’ such as reading a book, writing a few sentences, doing some math flashcards, etc.) Once you begin to let schoolwork slip, it’s very difficult to get back into it. Routine is a good thing!”

Stephanie Loux is the mother to Layla, 9, Mason, 7, and Slade, 4, and is always on the hunt for the unicorn that is balance as a parent.

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after-school

f

amily time doesn’t have to come to an end as soon as the first school bell rings. With a bit of creativity you can set aside a weekly family night to make memories with your kids.

around town: Planning and carrying out a family night takes some work and energy.

These local attractions make family night easy to implement!

Fun & Games Night: Arcades, laser

Night at the Museum: The Nelson-

tag, ropes courses, billiards, bowling and tasty meal options make Main Event one of the most popular choices for family night in the metro. On Monday nights from 4:00 to close they offer Monday Night Madness, where you may select one of three super specials for just $10.95 each: all-youcan-play activities, unlimited video game play or a $20 FUNcard. Three metro locations (MainEvent.com) let you choose the one nearest you!

Atkins Museum of Art offers free admission daily (and free parking at the Rockhill & 45th lot). On Thursdays and Fridays, the museum is open until 9:00. Pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawn, then explore the sculpture park or the indoor exhibits.

You’ll find family guides and maps at the information desk.

Magic & Pizza Night: On the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, from 6:00 to 8:00, David David the Magician performs tableside magic at Waldo Pizza in Lee’s Summit (1543 NE Douglas St.). Tasty pizza and live entertainment make for the perfect kid-friendly night out.

Creativity Night: On the second

save on tickets and concessions on Tuesday nights.

Friday of the month, Paint, Glaze & Fire offers Family Fun Night from 5:30 to 8:00. Families enjoy painting ceramics and sharing pizza and soda for a creative night together.

Skate Night: Spend the night roller

Stargazing Night: On clear Friday

skating at Landmark Skate in Lee’s Summit, where a family night special of four skaters for $15 is a bargain on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30.

This weekly event is family-friendly and great for younger skaters, as well as tweens and teens.

nights through October, the public is invited to enjoy a free program including a tour of the night sky, viewing through the telescopes (weather permitting), and sometimes an educational presentation on an interesting astronomy topic at

Movie Night: AMC Stubs members

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Warkoczewski Observatory (Warko Observatory, UMKC Volker Campus, Royall Hall Roof, East 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO).

Nature Night: The Overland Park Arboretum hosts Night at the Arboretum on select Friday nights (Sept. 13, Oct. 4, Nov. 8; 7:00 –9:00; $3 admission). Experience the great outdoors at this monthly event as you learn about Native American tribes from Eastern Kansas. Enjoy the gardens at night and gaze at the night sky.

Kids Eat Free: Always check the Kids Eat Free Guide on KCParent.com to find the best meal deal near you every night of the week!

family nights at home: Family nights at home can be the best. Just make sure you have a few simple rules in place for quality time: No screens or interruptions allowed, everyone agrees to follow the golden rule and you all set out to have a great time.

Fun & Games Night: When was the last time you challenged your kids to a classic game of charades or Pictionary? Or played Monopoly? Or tried a new card or board game? We love the classics, but we’re also fans of new games from GameWright and ThinkFun.

family heirlooms or old photographs.

Compare and contrast your interests.

Does your son’s book collection more resemble Mom’s or Dad’s taste in literature? Does your daughter enjoy painting like an aunt or grandparent?

Tell the story of your family on a tour of your own home.

with one she’ll let you borrow) and spend a night stargazing in your own backyard. Or, drive out to the country a bit to get away from the city lights. Enjoy a night of gazing at the heavens. The Google Sky app is useful for identifying stars, constellations and planets.

Movie Night: Experiment with new

Magical Pizza Night: Challenge

flavors of popcorn. Concoct your own creation or try a recipe from the Food Network (FoodNetwork.com/ recipes/articles/50-flavored-popcornrecipes). Then, cuddle up with a classic family film, a personal favorite or something new.

the kids to learn a new magic trick on YouTube and perform it for the family, or dig out the kit they received for a birthday gift. Or, watch clips from a favorite television magician and try to figure out how he made that rabbit appear from a hat. For dinner, make or purchase individual pizza crusts, prepare a selection of toppings and let everyone build a personalized pizza.

Nature Night: Spend the night enjoying your own backyard. Let everyone choose a new fruit or veggie to try on the grill to accompany your favorite backyard barbecue entrée.

Then, pass the evening enjoying your own yard. Play volleyball or catch, work on the garden, relax in the hammock with a book, play on the swing set … but, most of all, enjoy some family time away from screens.

Creativity Night: My girls love

Make Up Your Own Night: Ask all

“to play with our trash.” One of their favorite hobbies is asking to sort through items in the recycling bin (old boxes, egg cartons, newpapers, magazines, etc.) and using these items to make collages, miniature villages and dioramas. With the addition of a bit of paint, glue, washi tape and stickers from the craft collection, they’ve designed some fun and creative pieces for our rec room art gallery.

your family members to come up with their own perfect family night idea and write it out. Toss all the ideas into a bowl at the beginning of the week.

Select one and choose a night to enact the plan. Then, carry it out and make some memories of your own!

Skate Night: So many great skating and biking trails crisscross the metro.

Spend an evening rollerblading as a family. Indian Creek Trail, Turkey Creek Trail, Tomahawk Creek Trail, Little Blue Trace Trail and Howard Park in Lee’s Summit are some of our top picks.

Night at the Museum: Take

Stargazing Night: Pack up your

your kids on a “tour” of your family museum. Tell them the stories behind

telescope or borrow one from a friend (I’m sure you have a Facebook friend

Kristina Light’s girls love to play games and work on jigsaw puzzles as a family, but they also enjoy a night on the town.

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12TH ANNUAL

OCTOBER 11, 12 & 13 “THE WORLD IS BUT A CANVAS TO OUR IMAGINATION.” - HENRY DAVID THOREAU You’re invited to join us for three days of free family fun during the 12th annual Summit Art Festival in historic downtown Lee’s Summit. Come celebrate the power of expression featuring over 100 regional and national artists.

Discover everything the Lee’s Summit arts community has to offer in a unique blend of art, music and delicious food presented by our one-ofa-kind area restaurants as well as local food trucks.

Don’t miss the student art pavilion, showcasing original works by Lee’s Summit middle and high school students, as they start off on their path of creative expression.

The Summit Art Festival is the perfect place to nourish your mind, body and creative spirit.

Hosted By

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VISIT SUMMITARTFEST.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

Cheers to 30 Years

GERMAN MEALS & DANCING • CARNIVAL HOME BREW TASTING • ARTS & CRAFTS KIDS STREET • BIERGARTEN • CONTESTS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • GRAPE STOMP

Live A Better Life

CROSS CREEK AT LEE’S SUMMIT • LEAD BANK • KCP&L • MAZUMA • TINGLE FLOORING • VOLKSWAGEN • ENT ASSOCIATES OF GREATER KC

PRESENTED BY

THE KCPARENT.COM CALENDAR FEATURES OVER 1,000 EVENTS EACH MONTH!

september

CALENDAR

Native American Cultural Celebration

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

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visit

enjoy

learn

eat

celebrate

Head to the Johnson County Museum for the Expanding Oz exhibit on display thru Nov 2. See one-of-a-kind Oz memorabilia.

JoCoMuseum.org

It’s Chiefs Day at the Kansas City Zoo on Sept. 7.

Animals enjoy enrichment items.

Wear Chiefs apparel and receive $3 off admission.

KansasCityZoo.org

Celebrate the vibrant cultural and artistic expressions of American Indians at the Native American Cultural Celebration on Sept. 15.

Nelson-Atkins.org

Choose tasty eats from food trucks at the Jazz & Food Trucks Festival in Downtown Topeka on Sept. 21, then enjoy favorite bands.

VisitTopeka.com

On Sept. 28, enjoy an Evening in the Park at Theatre in the Park. Join for a party in the park as a “thank you” for support of parks.

Free fun!

JCPRD.com

1 Sunday KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com Art Lab Noon, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Experiment with art materials, read books and explore galleries with sketching materials in hand. KemperArt.org

Military Days 10:00, Worlds of Fun. Veterans receive complimentary admission on Labor Day. WorldsOfFun.com SantaCaliGon Days Independence Square.

Features more than 400 crafters and vendors, country western music, food and more.

SantaCaliGon.com

4 Wednesday Toddler Time 9:00 (Shawnee) & 10:00 (Lee’s Summit), Sky Zone. Special time for little ones to enjoy being active without interference from big kids. SkyZone.com

3 Tuesday

Animal Tales Story Time 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Listen to a story and meet a special animal friend. Today’s theme: Monarch Magic. 913.826.2800

art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Irene B French Community Center. Inflatable bouncers, Little Tikes riding toys and more. $2.

913.322.5550

Critter Feeding 3:00, Burr Oak Woods. Discover what’s for dinner as the captive amphibians, fish and turtles enjoy their feast. 816.228.3766

Goat Yoga 1:00, Paradise Park. Basic yoga combined with the fun, playful nature of baby goats in the outdoor pavilion.

Paradise-Park.com

Tot Time 11:00, Excelsior Springs Community Center. Open playtime with an array of toys, including tube tunnels, jump ropes and more.

816.656.2500

Kid Lit: Time Traveler’s Society 6:30, MCPL (Colbern). Use reading to explore world history.

Enjoy games, crafts and experiments. Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

2 Monday

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

5 Thursday

LABOR DAY Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog Thru Sept 22, Crown Center. Visit the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and the residents of Birdwell Island. CrownCenter.com

Expanding Oz Thru Nov 2, Johnson County Museum. See one-of-a-kind Oz memorabilia, from original books to stage productions and pop culture. JoCoMuseum.org

Open Sept. 21-Oct. 31 10:00am-7:00pm 7 days a week

Fall Homeschool Day 10:00 or 1:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Visit the Mahaffie house, see blacksmith demonstrations and more. Mahaffie.org Pay For Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists.

Kids will enjoy our outdoor play sets that are available for open play. $2/cash. 913.307.6023

Fabulous Fun on the Farm!!

• World Famous Pumpkin Donuts • Company Outings and Birthday Parties • The Amazing Jumping Pumpkin • Historic Country Carousel • Pig Races on Weekends • Homemade Fudge, Mouthwatering Kettle Corn and Delicious Roasted Nuts • Traditional Farm Animals • Mammoth Corn Pit • 60 Acres of Pumpkins

Bring in this ad & receive $1 off single admission.

Cannot be combined with other offers.

kcparent.com september 2019

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First Saturday Event Sept. 7, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Enjoy family activities and historical demonstrations. 816.792.2655

Trail Tales Exhibition Thru Oct 31, Powell Gardens. Follow the children’s story Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move through interactive activities. PowellGardens.org

Huff ‘n Puff Balloon Festival Today & tomorrow, Mount Hope Cemetery (Topeka). Vendors, activities, hot air balloons and fun. Huff-n-Puff.org

Barefoot in the Park Thru Sept 15, Roger T Sermon Community Center. Date night! See the romantic comedy that premiered on Broadway in 1963. 816.325.7370

Kansas State Fair Thru Sept 15, Kansas State Fairgrounds. Carnival games, rides, entertainment, tractor pull, demolition derby, food vendors and more! KansasStateFair.com

Old Settlers Days Thru Saturday, Downtown Olathe. Crafts, carnival, live entertainment and more. JohnsonCountyOldSettlers.com

Greek Festival Thru Sunday, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Authentic Greek food, live music, gift shop and more.

GreekFoodFest.org

6 Friday Stonehenge 10:00, Union Station. Worldclass exhibition allows guests to explore the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England.

UnionStation.org Friday in the Park Fridays thru September, 11:30, Macken Park. Enjoy a free summer performance by local bands. NKC.org

7 Saturday

Belton Fall Festival Today & tomorrow, Olde Towne Belton. Family entertainment, food and craft vendors, dances, magic and more.

Belton.org

Parent Summit 8:30, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Enjoy interaction with other parents, encouraging key session and breakout groups.

PleasantValley.org

Sounds on the Square 7:00, Linden Square.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a family-friendly concert. Picnics allowed.

LindenSquare.info

Lenexa Spinach Festival 9:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Join us at the festival for entertainment, food, music, kids activities and so much more!

Lenexa.com

TAKE A little TIME FOR SOME BIG FUN IN SEPTEMBER

MEET THE EXPERTS | 80 STITCHES TO THE INCH: THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD OF ALTEHA CROME / SEPTEMBER 8 | 2PM–3PM The pioneer of micro knitting is coming to KC MINIATURE PAINT & SIP NIGHT FOR GROWN UPS / SEPTEMBER 13 | 6PM–9PM A little wine, a little painting, a big event HOMESCHOOL DAY / SEPTEMBER 20 | 10AM–4PM Discounted admission all day for our homeschool friends!

Details / toyandminiaturemuseum.org

The Nativity, 2017, Althea Crome, American The National Museum of Toys / Miniatures

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Wednesday through Monday, 10am– 4pm / Closed Tuesday / 816.235.8000 toyandminiaturemuseum.org / 5235 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112

Little Acorns 10:00 & 1:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Join volunteer naturalists for a story and enjoy a nature activity. 816.228.3766

Dance in the Park 6:00, Roanoke Park. Gather in a natural setting to enjoy a variety of local dance companies. CItyInMotion.org

Lost Arts Fair Today & tomorrow, 1855 Harris Kearney House Museum. Festival featuring arts, crafts and skills from the 1800s.

WestportHistorical.com

Ballet Nepantla: Valentina 8:00, Carlsen Center. A collection of stories that fuses contemporary ballet with traditional Mexican folklรณrico. JCCC.edu/theseries

Chiefs Day 9:30, Kansas City Zoo. Animals enjoy a sea of enrichment items. Wear Chiefs apparel and receive $3 off admission. KansasCityZoo.org

Chalk & Walk Festival Today & tomorrow, Crown Center. Empty squares of asphalt are transformed into magnificent pieces of artwork.

KCChalkAndWalk.org

8 Sunday

Deaf Cultural Festival 10:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Explore ASL through live entertainment, art activities, storytelling and more! Nelson-Atkins.org

JazzFest 3:00, Harmon Park (Prairie Village).

Enjoy an evening of magical music, fabulous artistry, delectable food and drink, and fun! $5.

PVKansas.com

First Saturday Event 10:00, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Enjoy family activities and historical demonstrations. 816.792.2655

Music on Main 3:00, Main Street (Grandview).

Free, family-friendly outdoor music event with a Kidz Zone, concessions and more. Grandview.org

Mother Nature Reads 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Children listen to a story, make a craft and often see a wildlife interpretation. Free.

816.513.8960

Parkville Cruise Nights 4:00, Downtown Parkville. Bring or find your dream car while you listen to music of yesterday. ParkvilleMo.org

All Abilities Outdoor Adventures 9:00, James A Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. Outdoor sports event for people of all abilities. Pre-reg at TheWholePerson.org.

Grinter Applefest 9:00, Grinter Place. Vendors throughout grounds, food trucks, tours of the Historic Grinter Place house and more.

913.299.0373

Hands-On History 11:00, National WWI Museum and Memorial. History is brought to life. Handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org

VOTED TOP 10 ORCHARDS IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY

Family Fun Night 6:00, Culture House Stage & Studio (Oak Park). Bring the family for Disney trivia. Come in costume for a contest!

CultureHouse.com

Grandparents Day Grandparents Day 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Spend a day at the zoo with the grandkids!

Grandparents receive free admission today.

KansasCityZoo.org Car Show 1:00, Shawnee Civic Centre. Check out vehicles from our past to today! Live music, food trucks, vendors and more!

913.248.2360 Meet the Experts 2:00, the National Museum of Toys/Miniatures. Hear from the pioneer of micro knitting. 816.235.8000

APPLE AND PUMPKIN SEASON PICK AND PLAY INCLUDES:

U-pick Pumpkin Patch | U-pick Apple Orchard Hayrack Rides | Apple Cannons | Bouncing Pillow Low Ropes Course with Zip Line | Concessions Kids Corn Maze | and more!

SEPT. 13 - OCT. 31

Open 7 days a week 9:00-5:00 Admission $7/per person on weekends $5/person Monday-Thursday 18545 Co Rd H | Weston, Missouri 816.253.8240 | WestonOrchardAndVineyard.com kcparent.com september 2019

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9 Monday Open Play 10:00, Jump City. Bring the kids to Jump City—where excitement and laughs are found daily! $8/child; parents are free.

JumpCityKC.com Splash with Me 10:00, Lenexa Rec Center. Kids can swim, play and become more confident in the water at the kiddie pool. $2. 913.477.7100

• 30,000 Garden Mums in 31 Varieties • U Pick Apples and Pumpkins • Friendly Farm Animals • Jumping Pillows and Corn Pit • Pumpkin Donuts and Cider Slushies FAMILY SEASON PASSES AVAILABLE 177th and Holmes • 816.331.1067 www.johnsonfarms.net

Me and My Imagination 10:30, Oak Park Library. Storyteller Jo Ho brings stories and songs to enrich and engage a child’s imagination. JoCoLibrary.org Jazz on the Square 5:30, Corbin Theatre.

The Corbin Theatre presents Jazz on the Square once a month on a Monday. Free.

CorbinTheatre.org

10 Tuesday Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café. Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafe.com Story Time for Families, 11:00 MCPL (Raytown). Bring the family to hear stories, sing songs, join in movement activities and more.

Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

Kids Eat Free Main Event (various locations).

Receive a free kids meal with the purchase of any entrée ($8.99). MainEvent.com Live Music 6:00, Grinter Place State Historical Site. Enjoy food, beverages and great live music on the second Tuesday of the month.

913.481.3527

11 Wednesday Toddle Time 9:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Open playtime with an array of toys, including blocks, balls and puzzles. $1-$2.

913.895.6350 Retro Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Enjoy a story from long ago, read by a special guest, plus a craft activity is included!

Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog Thru Sept 22, Crown Center. Visit the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and the residents of Birdwell Island. CrownCenter.com Critter Feeding 3:00, Burr Oak Woods. Discover what’s for dinner as the captive amphibians, fish and turtles enjoy their feast. 816.228.3766

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2019_KC_Parent_Ad_Sept.pdf

1

8/19/19

4:34 PM

12 Thursday Moms Group 9:30, Indian Heights United Methodist Church. While kids play, moms enjoy coffee, support and friendship. Free.

913.649.9040 Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog Thru Sept 22, Crown Center. Visit the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and the residents of Birdwell Island. CrownCenter.com

C

M Amble into Autumn Guided Hike 5:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Hike trails Y with a knowledgeable staff naturalist. Pre-reg at CM 816.781.8598.

MY

Major League Improv 7:00, Comedy City. A CY comedy sporting event where everything is based on suggestions from the audience. $9-CMY $13. 816.842.2744 K

CELEBRATE THE ART, DANCE & MUSIC OF NATIVE AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

13 Friday Just Between Friends Sale Thru Sunday, Overland Park Convention Center. Shop for name-brand items at 50 to 90 percent off retail.

Save money and time! KC.JBFSale.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. | FREE

Family Farm Opening Day 9:00, Louisburg Cider Mill. The Family Farm opens for the season.

Corn maze, pumpkin patch, jump pillow and lots of fall fun! LouisburgCiderMill.com Scribble Workshop 10:00, Kansas City North Community Center. A child/parent art event with a different theme each month. Dress for mess! 816.513.7741 Opening Day Historic Weston Orchard. Bring the family out for the first day of fun for pumpkin season. WestonOrchardAndVineyard.com Paint Me a Story 10:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire.

Paint a pottery piece that goes along with a favorite story. Snack included. $13-$15. Pre-reg at 913.661.2529 Jesse James Festival Sept 13-14 & 19-22, Jesse James Park (Kearney, MO). Celebrate with delicious food, fun activities and a rodeo!

JesseJamesFestival.com

Save 50-90% + Amazing Selection!

Kids Clothing & Shoes, Newborn to Teen • Toys, Books & Games • Baby Gear & Essentials • and so much MORE!

Shawnee/Kansas City

Overland Park Convention Center 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park 66211

Wyandotte County Fairgrounds 13700 Polfer Rd, Kansas City 66109

*Fri 9a-8p | Sat 9a-5p Sun 9a-4p | 50% Off Sale!

*Thurs + Fri 9a-8p | Sat 9a-5p Sun 9a-4p | 50% Off Sale!

SEPT 13-15

Family Campout 5:00, Black Hoof Park. A relaxing night that includes s’mores and a family program, plus donuts, juice and coffee in the morning. 913.477.7100 Miniature Paint & Sip Night 6:00, the National Museum of Toys/Miniatures. Date night! A little wine, a little painting and a lot of fun!

816.235.8000

Overland Park

OCT 17-20

@JBFOverlandPark | stephaniehyder@jbfsale.com | 816.825.2295

Sell with us & turn kid clutter into CA$H! Details Online:

jbfsale.com

not valid for Prime Time Pre-Sale Shopping

*Admission $2 first day, all other days free!

Shoppers - we accept cash and these cards:

kcparent.com september 2019

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New Dance Partners Sept. 27 & 28, Carlsen Center at JCCC. Watch four companies, four choreographers and four world premieres. JCCC.edu/theseries

Middle School Teen Night 7:00, Paradise Park. For $20 get unlimited play on a variety of adventure attractions, a $5 fun card and a personal pizza. Paradise-Park.com

Kansas Book Festival 9:00, State Capitol Building (Topeka). Vendors, entertainment, children’s activities, book signings and more. KansasBookFestival.com

Night at the Arboretum 7:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Look at the stars, make s’mores and enjoy nocturnal sights and sounds.

913.685.3604

First Responders Weekend Today & tomorrow, Kansas City Zoo. First responders receive free admission to the zoo.

KansasCityZoo.org

Public Stargazing 7:30, Warko Observatory.

Observatory open on clear nights for tours of the night sky and viewings through telescopes.

913.208.0924

The Great Pumpkin Fest Thru Oct 28, Worlds of Fun. Halloween-themed activities plus Peanuts-themed rides and attractions in Planet Snoopy! WorldsOfFun.com

Mamma Mia 8:00, Belton Memorial Park. Bring blankets and chairs to see Mamma Mia under the stars. Concessions available. BeltonParks.org

Birthday Party 10:00, Lakeside Nature Sanctuary. Wilma, the ornate box turtle, is celebrating her birthday. Stop by to wish her a happy birthday. 816.513.8960

14 Saturday Walter Buck Memorial Fishing Derby 8:00, Hawk Ridge Park. Free fishing derby for children 15 and under. Raymore.com

Fall Family Festival 10:00, Kansas City Community Gardens. Enjoy outdoor games, face painting, garden crafts and much more!

KCCG.org

Scavenger Hunt 10:00, Vaile Mansion. A great way for a family to spend an autumn day on the Vaile grounds and learn some history. Pre-reg at 816-797-8711.

Car & Motorcycle Show 10:00, Merriam Marketplace. Show features all classes of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Enjoy music, food vendors and more. Merriam.org Spirit of the Civil War 10:00, Battle of Lexington Historic Site. Flag ceremony, parade, soldier camp viewings and more.

MoStateParks.com

October 12 & 13

HARVEST FEST

OCTOBER 5, 2019 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$5 per person (Age 5 & under FREE)

KID SAFE HALLOWEEN OCTOBER 26, 2019 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SHOAL CREEK LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM 7000 Northeast Barry Road Kansas City, MO 64156

816.792.2655

shoalcreeklivinghistorymuseum.com

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Harvest Container Workshop Today & tomorrow, Family Tree Nursery. Stop by and we’ll help you create a custom fall combo pot.

FamilyTreeNursery.com

Winefest: Independence Uncorked 1:00, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. Day date! Enjoy wineries from all over Missouri! $30-$50.

IndependenceUncorked.com

Raytown Live 7:00, Greenspace in Town Center.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a familyfriendly concert with neighbors and friends.

Raytown.live

Chili Peppers Demonstration 11:00, Shawnee Town 1929. See a chili pepper cooking demonstration on the wood-burning cookstove. Shawneetown.org

Dog ‘n Pony Show 1:00, Abby Road Farm. Dog trainers on hand for demonstrations. Enjoy free horseback rides, learn how to groom a horse, and more. 816.803.0036

15 Sunday

Hands-On History 11:00, National WWI Museum and Memorial. History is brought to life. Handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org Great Topeka Duck Race 11:00, Lake Shawnee.

Watch 10,000 rubber ducks race to the finish line. Lucky winners will receive great prizes.

DuckRace.com Puppets: A to Z 11:00, Puppetry Arts Institute.

Discover the styles of puppet art, learn how to make a puppet and a see puppet show.

PuppetryArtsInstitute.org Country Fair Thru Sept 21, Higginsville, MO. Activities include ice cream social, entertainment, kids playground, car show and more. HigginsvilleCountryFair.com

Oktoberfest Noon, Belton Memorial Park.

Food trucks, a beer garden, kids activities, craft vendors, live music and more. BeltonParks.org Cruise Car Show 3:00, the Ambassador Building at KCI. Hundreds of classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, rat rods, exotics and imports will be on hand. KCICarShow.com Saturday Feeder 4:00, Cedar Cove. Come to see the public feedings of the cats, weather permitting. $5-$7. SaveOurSiberians.org Second Saturdays 4:00, Downtown Weston.

Stroll into unique gift shops and galleries for late-night shopping and in-store specials.

WestonMO.com Fiesta on the Square 7:00, Linden Square.

The evening features food and dancing and music by KC Latin and Jazz Allstars.

LindenSquare.info

Strutt with Your Mutt 7:00, 63rd & Brookside Plaza. Race in the 5K or do the 3K walk for homeless pets in beautiful Brookside.

WaysideWaifs.org/strutt Native American Cultural Celebration 10:00, Nelson-Atkins. Celebrate the vibrant cultural and artistic expressions of American Indians.

Free. Nelson-Atkins.org Park Palooza 11:00, Theatre in the Park. Live music, interactive performers, activities for all ages, concessions and more! Free. JCPRD.com KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com Free Afternoon Program 1:30, Prairie Park Nature Center. Free program for the family may include video, slideshow and going outside to enjoy nature. LawrenceKS.org

HURRY!

Best price on 2020 Gold Season Pass ends on 10/27/19

AMAZING STARTS HERE Get next year’s Gold Pass for the lowest price and get unlimited visits for the rest of 2019 Includes The Great Pumpkin Fest, Halloween Haunt & WinterFest Free Parking Online only at worldsoffun.com © PNTS © Cedar Fair, L.P. WF19-191

The Great Pumpkin Fest

Halloween Haunt®

WinterFest kcparent.com september 2019

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Celebrate September KC Style

Sept. 3: Skyscraper Day One Kansas City Place at 1200 Main has been the tallest building in Kansas City since 1988, soaring to 42 floors. The 624-foot-tall building, with its art deco style mirrored glass exterior, bears a striking resemblance in design to the KCMO City Hall. This is not a coincidence. The architect was inspired to create an ’80s version of the municipal building.

Sept. 9: Teddy Bear Day Steiff Teddy Bears have been delighting children since the company’s founding in 1880. You can enjoy an exhibit showcasing the loveable American-made toy and its history at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. The museum is a favorite destination for families, enchanting all ages with dollhouses filled with miniatures and toys from yesteryear.

Sept. 13: National Peanut Day “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack … ” We can’t think of a better place to enjoy peanuts than Kauffman Stadium as you cheer on the Kansas City Royals. Sept. 13 is Buck Night, which means fans can enjoy hot dogs and peanuts for just $1!

Sept. 21: International Red Panda Day Visit the loveable red panda at Kansas City Zoo. Sometimes known as the “firefox,” the red panda is a proficient climber native to the mountainous Himalayan regions of Myanmar and China. You can find the zoo’s red pandas in the Asian section near the Sumatran tigers.

Sept. 30: National Mulled Cider Day Autumn in KC isn’t complete without a visit to Louisburg Cider Mill, where you can watch cider being processed and bottled.

If you arrive early enough, you’ll have the chance to observe the making of fresh cider donuts—and savor their sweetness!

Buy a jug of cider and heat it on the stove with cinnamon sticks, orange slices and cloves. Strain and serve. Yum!

16 Monday Stonehenge 10:00, Union Station. Worldclass exhibition allows guests to explore the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England.

UnionStation.org Trail Tales Exhibition Thru Oct 31, Powell Gardens. Follow the children’s story Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move through interactive activities. PowellGardens.org

Meet the Animals 3:00, MCPL (Liberty).

Explore the differences and similarities among the animals that inhabit the world around us.

Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

The Great Pumpkin Fest Thru Oct 28, Worlds of Fun. Halloween-themed activities plus Peanuts-themed rides and attractions in Planet Snoopy! WorldsOfFun.com

Sip and Shop 4:00, Downtown Bonner Springs. Grab your girlfriends for a fun night!

Boutiques offer snacks, drinks and sales.

VisitKansasCityKS.com

Opening Day Carolyn’s Country Cousins.

Bring the family out to the pumpkin patch! First day of fun for the season.

CarolynsCountryCousins.com

20 Friday

Scavenger Saturday 10:00, Kemper Museum.

Pick up a self-guided activity and follow the clues to take an ART-astic adventure.

KemperArt.org

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog Thru Sept 22, Crown Center. Visit the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and the residents of Birdwell Island. CrownCenter.com

Homeschool Day 10:00, The National Museum of Toys/Miniatures. Discounted admission for those who homeschool! 816.235.8000

17 Tuesday

Junior Jaunts 10:15, Nelson-Atkins. Bring your baby in a stroller or carrier for an adult-focused yet infant-friendly tour. Nelson-Atkins.org

Tot Time 11:00, Excelsior Springs Community Center. Open playtime with an array of toys, including tube tunnels, jump ropes and more.

816.656.2500 Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café. Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafe.com Expanding Oz Thru Nov 2, Johnson County Museum. See one-of-a-kind Oz memorabilia, from original books to stage productions and pop culture. JoCoMuseum.org

18 Wednesday Rise Up: The Struggle of the Freedom Riders 9:45, the Coterie. Told from a modern day perspective of four students who make a class project. Ages 11+. TheCoterie.org Splash with Me 10:00, Lenexa Rec Center. Kids can swim, play and become more confident in the water at the kiddie pool. $2. 913.477.7100 Animal Tales Story Time 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Listen to a story and meet a special animal friend. Today’s theme: Johnny Appleseed. 913.826.2800 Festival in the Park Thru Saturday, Memorial Park (Raymore, MO). Carnival, food vendors, live entertainment, family fun and more.

RaymoreFestival.com

19 Thursday Family Yoga Time 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Tell a story through yoga poses while learning about the natural world.

913.685.3604 Playdate Thursdays 11:00, Independence Center. Each playdate includes a craft and reading from Mid-Continent Public Library.

Free. 816.795.8602

The 88 Annual Plaza Art Fair Thru Sunday, Country Club Plaza. Stroll the streets of the Plaza as artists display their work.

CountryClubPlaza.com th

AutumnFest Today & tomorrow, Edwardsville Community Center. Parade, carnival for kids, face painting and more! EDWAutumnFest.com Sounds on the Square 7:00, Linden Square.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a family-friendly concert. Picnics allowed.

LindenSquare.info Summer Dusk 2019 Concert 7:00, the Colonnade in Kessler Park. Enjoy a free sunset concert under the stars. KCParks.org

21 Saturday Run for the Tree Kangaroos 7:00, Kansas City Zoo. A 4-mile run along with a family fun run.

Receive a species t-shirt and finisher’s medal.

KansasCityZooRun.org Craft Fair 9:00, Shawnee Town 1929. More than 130 vendors showcasing handmade, homemade and repurposed items.

ShawneeTown.org Free to Breathe Walk 9:00, Heritage Park Shelters 2 & 3. Walk to honor those impacted by lung cancer. Music, snacks and festivities.

LCRF.org/kansascity

Opening Day Johnson Farms. Today is the first day of pumpkin season! Fun for the whole family! JohnsonFarms.net Little Acorns 10:00 or 1:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Join volunteer naturalists as they read books. Enjoy a hands-on nature activity.

816.228.3766 Meet Curious George 11:00, Paradise Park. A day with fun activities! Bring your camera for a photo with Curious George. KCPT.org Kids Fishing Derby Noon, Gardner Lake. Prizes will be given, along with a hot dog lunch and goodie bags. Poles provided or bring your own. $5. GardnerKansas.gov Hedge Apple Day Noon, Overland Park Arboretum. Play with seeds and seed pods from Kansas’ native plants during Hedge Apple Days.

913.685.3604 Life Fest 2019 Noon, Village at Briarcliff.

Festival with live bands, mental health and child development speakers and free counseling.

LifeFestKC.com Jazz & Food Trucks Festival 3:30, Downtown Topeka. Choose tasty eats from food trucks then claim a spot in front to see favorite bands.

VisitTopeka.com Pickin’ on the Front Porch 7:00, AtkinsJohnson Farm. Bluegrass concert featuring the return of the Hunt Family Band.

Gladstone.mo.us

22 Sunday

Smithsonian Museum Day LIVE! Various locations. Participating museums provide free entry with a Museum Day ticket.

SmithsonianMag.com/museumday

Animal Athletes 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Participate in games and activities that challenge your athleticism. Activities in lobby.

KansasCItyZoo.org

Food & Fun at the Fort 9:00, Fort Osage. Arts, crafts and fun food and drink options are all part of the day. FortOsageNHS.com/events

KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com

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Nieman Fall Festival Sept. 28 & 29, Family Tree Nursery (Shawnee). Live music, food, activities for the kids, workshops and much more! 913.631.6121

Free Afternoon Program 1:30, Prairie Park Nature Center. Free program for the family may include video, slideshow and going outside to enjoy nature. LawrenceKS.org Lenexa Concert Series 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy a variety of live music.

Lenexa.com

23 Monday Free Adult Admission 9:30, Paradise Park. Free adult admission in Discovery Play with a paid child’s admission. 816.246.5224 Splash with Me 10:00, Lenexa Rec Center. Kids can swim, play and become more confident in the water at the kiddie pool. $2. 913.477.7100 Folk Yeah! 7:30, Musical Theater Heritage.

We’re breaking out the banjos, guitars, mandolins and more to sing the best folk tunes. MusicalTheaterHeritage.com

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24 Tuesday Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Irene B French Community Center.

Inflatable bouncers, Little Tikes riding toys and more. $2. 913.322.5550 Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café. Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafe.com Kids Eat Free Main Event (various locations).

Receive a free kids meal with the purchase of any entrée ($8.99). MainEvent.com

25 Wednesday Stonehenge 10:00, Union Station. World-class exhibition allows guests to explore the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England. UnionStation.org Read to a Dog 4:00, Corinth Library. Relaxed environment for kids to practice reading skills with certified therapy dog as audience.

JoCoLibrary.org

26 Thursday Expanding Oz Thru Nov 2, Johnson County Museum. See one-of-a-kind Oz memorabilia, from original books to stage productions and pop culture. JoCoMuseum.org Rise Up: The Struggle of the Freedom Riders 9:45 & 11:45, the Coterie. Told from a modern day perspective of four students who make a class project. Ages 11+. TheCoterie.org

Pay For Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Kids will enjoy our outdoor play sets that are available for open play. $2/cash. 913.307.6023

Family Farm OPEn Sept 13th - Oct 31st

27 Friday

CIDER FEST

Go West! Field Day 9:00, Alexander Majors Home.

A unique field trip that incorporates reenactors, historic experts and hands-on activities.

WornallMajors.org

Sept 28-29 Oct 5-6

Paint Me a Story 10:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire.

Paint a pottery piece that goes along with a favorite story. Snack included. $13-$15. Pre-reg at 913.661.2529.

Oktoberfest Today & tomorrow, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Enjoy live entertainment, a biergarten, German meals, carnival, free kids activities and more. LSOktoberfest.com Smoke on the Trails BBQ Competition Today & tomorrow, Celebration Park. Live bands, kids zone and, of course, barbecue!

GardnerKansas.gov Fall Fest Thru Sun, Downtown Liberty.

Entertainment, parade, carnival, music, dancing and more in this three-day festival.

LibertyFallFest.com

AMENITIES Corn Maze Pumpkin Patch* Hay wagon Rides Corn Crib TEEPEE JUMP PILLOW TricyCLe Track Sunflower Slide Spider Web Climber Tire Tower Learning BarN Bee Hive Exhibit Giant Swing Set Low Challenge elementS Childrens Play Area *All Pumpkins sold separately *Jump Pillow $2

louisburgcidermill.com

1 4 7 3 0 k 6 8 h i g h way l o u i s b u r g k s 6 6 0 5 3 I 9 1 3 . 8 3 7 . 5 2 0 2 c o u n t r y s t o r e o p e n y e a r r o u n d m o n d ay - s a t u r d ay 8 - 6 & s u n d ay 9 - 6

Jamesport Heritage Days Today & tomorrow, Jamesport. Featuring old-time crafters and dancers, delicious food and family fun.

JamesportMissouri.info

KC_Parent_Mag_Ad_4.85x4.85_Printer.indd 1

8/14/19 12:33 PM

Blues and Barbeque Contest Today & tomorrow, Shawnee Town 1929. Great-tasting barbecue and activities for kids and community to enjoy. ShawneeGreatGrillers.com New Dance Partners Today & tomorrow, Carlsen Center at JCCC. Watch four companies, four choreographers and four world premieres.

JCCC.edu/theseries

28 Saturday Grand Festival of Chez Les Canses 9:00, Fort Osage. Reenactors help visitors explore how French settlers lived. Artisans display custommade wares. TheGrandFete.com

Saturday, December 7, 2019 Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Fiorella’s Purchase tickets at www.nutcrackerteaparty.org presented by

Teacher Appreciation Weekend Today & tomorrow, Kansas City Zoo. Teachers, administrators or home school educators receive free admission. KansasCityZoo.org The Great Pumpkin Fest Thru Oct 28, Worlds of Fun. Halloween-themed activities plus Peanuts-themed rides and attractions in Planet Snoopy! WorldsOfFun.com kcparent.com september 2019

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Ciderfest Today & tomorrow, Louisburg Cider Mill. Enjoy good old-fashioned apple cider fun. Free admission; cost for some activities.

LouisburgCiderMill.com Nieman Fall Festival Today & tomorrow, Family Tree Nursery (Shawnee). Live music, food, activities for the kids, workshops and much more! 913.631.6121 Contemporary Creations 10:00 & 2:00, Nerman Museum. Learn about functional vessels and then make a pinch pot. Pre-reg at NermanMuseum.org.

Library in the Park 10:00, Big Eleven Lake (KCK). Activities include face painters, crafts, mobile library, music, food, drink and more!

LibraryInThePark.org Cider Days Today & tomorrow, Stormont Vail Events Center (Topeka). Enjoy craft demonstrations, food vendors, kids rides and more. VisitTopeka.com Hands-On History 11:00, National World War I Museum and Memorial. History is brought to life. Handle Great War artifacts.

TheWorldWar.org

Saturday Feeder 4:00, Cedar Cove. Come see the public feedings of the cats, weather permitting. $5-$7. SaveOurSiberians.org Cruise Night 4:00, Olde Towne Belton Main Street. Historic Main Street comes alive with a wide selection of muscle cars, antique cars and more. OldTownBelton.com Library Lets Loose 6:00, Central Resource Library. Date night! Festive fundraiser features unique experiences, food and drink pairings, and more. 913.826.4740 Evening in the Park 6:00, Theatre in the Park.

Join for a party in the park as a “thank you” for support of parks. Free concert and movie, concessions available. JCPRD.com

29 Sunday

Free Afternoon Program 1:30, Prairie Park Nature Center. Free program for the family may include video, slideshow and going outside to enjoy nature. LawrenceKS.org Fall Public Hayride 2:30, Oak Ridge Parklands (Shawnee Mission Park). Enjoy a one-hour ride followed by a campfire. Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

30 Monday Trail Tales Exhibition Thru Oct 31, Powell Gardens. Follow the children’s story Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move through interactive activities. PowellGardens.org Teen STEAM 7:00, MCPL (Blue Springs South).

Explore, create, learn! Unleash your imagination as we do experiments with apples. Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Look for KC Parent’s

BIG PUMPKIN PATCH GUIDE

in the October issue and online at KCParent.com!

Why not walk to school?

If you’ve ever considered walking to school with your child — now’s a great time to start. Walk for fitness or walk for fun!

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 2.

to

walktoschoolkc.com

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OCT. 19

OCT. 27

Illusionist Rick Thomas Back by demand with an all-new show! Rick Thomas brings the most intriguing, innovative and mind-blowing grand illusions ever seen on the Yardley Hall stage.

Jake Shimabukuro, Ukulele This masterful rock and pop ukulele performance is one of the hottest tickets around. Jake Shimabukuro captures colors and moods never associated with the ukulele before.

NOV. 8

Cirque Mechanics 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels Intelligently created, expertly executed, family-friendly storytelling is the star of this show. “… the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.”

–Spectacle Magazine

E N D L E S S V A R I E T Y , M AT C H L E S S T A L E N T !

Tickets start at $25! Build a season package of 5 SHOWS (or more) and save 10%.

jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter | 913-469-4445 FREE PARKING | WINE & BEER AVAILABLE | NO ONLINE FEES

Food, wine & beer will be on location, so bring your wallet & ID.

Explore

Kansas City Zoo

September 7 Chiefs Day at the Zoo September 8 Grandparents Day (Grandparents receive free admission)

September 14 & 15 First Responders Appreciation Weekend September 21 Run for the Tree Kangaroos (registration required)

September 21 & 22 Animal Athletes September 28 & 29 Teacher Appreciation Weekend

Come Hang Out with our new est resident in t he Discovery B arn!

Humboldt Penguin March

Fall Fun at the Kansas City Zoo! Hoots & Howls

Sponsored by Ford

October 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20

Boo at the Zoo

Sponsored by Ford

October 26 & 27

Check online for more Zoomazing experiences!

kansascityzoo.org | 816.595.1234 | Open Daily The Kansas City Zoo, a private, non-profit organization is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, partially funded by the Zoological District in Jackson and Clay Counties in MO, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.