KC Parent magazine September 2020

FREE | September 2020 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

Arts & Enrichment

FALL FUN A-Z

Routines Matter!

HOW TO SET AND STICK TO ONE TODAY

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST ACTIVITIES

CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS

Safe beginnings

We know the safety of you and your child is your biggest concern when having a baby. It’s ours, too. At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, we exceed strict national standards for the health of moms and babies.

And by caring for 5,000 families each year, our experience ensuring the safest delivery possible is clear. We’re here to do everything in our power to empower you on your journey to parenthood.

AdventHealthKC.com/BirthCenter AdventHealth Shawnee Mission earned Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care Certification by The Joint Commission.

Birth Center

A Private Club Experience that the whole family can enjoy

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Located on 200 acres in the heart of Overland Park at 435 & Antioch.

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Award Winning Junior Golf Program and Family Golf Activities.

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Indoor Golf Studio and Simulator – Practice in the off season.

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A true fitness center with a dedicated aerobic room offering 35 small-size group classes each week.

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Workout distancing with a spacious 10,000-square-foot fitness center.

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Focused on cleanliness – enhanced procedures and selfcleaning stations throughout the fitness center.

Experience Social Distancing at Brookridge Golf & Fitness this fall.

We would love to show you around the club!

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SEPTEMBER 2020

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 Craft Corner 12 Tasty Treats 14 Dear Teachers 16 Date Night

CHOOSING THE BEST EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, PG. 26

17 Word from Dad 18 5 Things 20 Ask the Experts

SPECIAL SECTIONS 34 Party Guide

FEATURES

58 Calendar of Events

30

32

54

Unique Qualities

Listen Up

Fall Fun

How to recognize unique qualities in each child.

Ways to improve your child’s listening skills.

The ABCs of everythng fall in Kansas City.

Our cover features Sophia from Kansas City. Photo by Melissa Rieke Photography.

MelissaRiekePhotography.com FREE | September 2020 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

Arts & Enrichment

ON THE COVER Best Extracurricular Activities Setting and Sticking to Routines Celebrate Grandparents Fall Fun A-Z

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26 40 42 54

FALL FUN A-Z

Routines Matter!

HOW TO SET AND STICK TO ONE TODAY

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST ACTIVITIES

CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS

EDITOR’SLETTER SEPTEMBER 2020

M

Happy September and happy start of fall, KC!

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

LOCAL CONTENT

Local Contributing Writers Kim Antisdel (Liberty), Christian Barnes (Kansas City), Bill Bartlett (Belton), Melissa Bellach (Overland Park), Hannah Berry (Kansas City), Julie Collett (Overland Park), Janelle Cumro-Sultzer (Overland Park), Lauren Dreher (Stillwell), Allison Gibeson (Lee’s Summit), Judy Goppert (Lee’s Summit), Lauren Greenlee (Olathe), Anna Hiestand (Kansas City), 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), Emily Morrison (Independence), Jessica Samuel (Kansas City)

Mailing Address 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax OUR PRODUCTS FREE | September 2020 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

kansas city’s #1 travel guide since 2010

baby&

spring/summer 2020

SINCE 2002

kcgoingplaces.com

Arts & Enrichment

FALL FUN A-Z

maternity

JULY- SEPTEMBER 2020 | KCPARENT.COM

TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING AN

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST ACTIVITIES

OB/GYN

CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS

LOCAL GIFTS FOR MOM AND BABY

Routines Matter!

HOW TO SET AND STICK TO ONE TODAY

637

UNFORGETTABLE ATTRACTIONS

5 THINGS I’D TELL MY NEW MOM SELF

49 INSIDER TIPS FAVORITE HIDDEN GEMS

BEYOND BBQ UNIQUELY KC SITES

ALL-NEW KC ELEPHANTS, GO-KARTS AND MORE

C-Sections

WHAT NURSES WANT YOU TO KNOW

toddler transitions

.com

y mom thought it was important for us to take piano lessons. (She also thought we should each have at least one experience with joining a sports team. After my disastrous go with the swim team, she changed her mind.)

As a child, she took lessons and enjoyed learning to play and wanted us to learn as well. As kids, we did NOT enjoy these piano lessons. I’m pretty sure I didn’t practice very much or do my homework. Poor Mom! Now that I’m an adult, I sure wish I would have actually tried, as I think knowing how to play the piano would be a lovely skill to possess.

Kids can benefit so much from music lessons!

Head to pg. 24 for not only a great article on the benefits of music lessons, but also a guide on the best instrument for your child.

Are you a routine person or more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants individual? I am the former, and it’s safe to say 2020 has been a doozy for a person like I—one who likes to keep a routine and to plan ahead.

Even though so many of our usual routines have gone out the window, I’ve worked hard to create new daily and weekly routines. I find it so helpful and think the kids benefit from the routine and knowing what to expect. If you’d like to establish a routine but aren’t sure where to start, check out Lauren Dreher’s article on pg. 40. Lauren is a new contributing writer, and I think you’ll love her article and writing style. If you enjoy writing and would like to join our group of local freelance writers, reach out at Margaret@KCParent. com. I’d love to hear from you!

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

Member of:

Circulation verified by:

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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kcparent.com september 2020

KCPARENTWEBSITE

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

SEARCH KCPARENT.COM FOR MORE AFFORDABLE FUN IDEAS: 1. Best of September 2. Coupons & Giveaways 3. Camping in KS & MO

4. Great Picnic Spots 5. Day Trips 6. KC’s Coolest Parks in KS & MO

SPOTLIGHT

LEAF PEEPING

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

7. Fall Fun Under $5 8. Caramel Apples

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. KC Going Places Guide 10. Date Night Ideas

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 2020

9

CRAFTCORNER

Materials needed:

g

randparents Day is Sept. 13, and what better way to help celebrate your little one’s grandparents than some homemade artwork?

Step one: Paint one kid hand with red paint and place onto the white paper. Clean paint off the hand immediately!

Step two: With a clean paintbrush, paint stem of the flower green.

Step three: With the marker add, “My grandparents help me grow!”

Step four: Once the paint has dried, have your kiddo sign his name or add it on for him.

Optional add-ons: Option one: For younger kids, consider having them sit in their highchair or in the bathtub without water for easier cleanup!

Option two: Consider using an additional set of hands to help hold your child’s arm while painting her hand.

Option three: To go along with this card, consider adding some plant seeds, a plant or a flowerpot. If you have the time, encourage your little ones to paint the flowerpot as well!

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

Fruit and Veggie Stamps

Fall Frames Three Ways

Painted Twig Bouquet

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

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• White paper • Red paint • Paintbrush • Paint dish • Black marker • Optional: an extra set of hands

TASTYTREATS

nutritious mood mentality Mental health is a vital component of your child’s overall health. No matter kids’ ages, they can be affected by depression and other mental health disorders. National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 6-12, and incorporating nutritious food into your family’s diet empowers everyone on the road to wholeness.

FOCUS ON THESE FOODS

Fish

Flaxseeds

Whole grain cereal

Researchers now know that omega3s can improve mood problems by influencing the brain’s “happymaking” neurotransmitters. Implement eating 3-oz. servings of fish two to three times per week.

If your kiddos don’t get enough vitamin B6, their mood might not be all it could be. Furthermore, vitamin B6 deficiencies are linked to depression.

Boost vitamin B6 with flaxseeds.

Nearly 40 percent of people diagnosed with depression have folic acid deficiencies. The good news is research indicates when they start increasing their folic acid intake, they begin to feel better. Aim to consume wholegrain breakfast cereals because they are fortified with a daily supply in just 1 cup. “Eating cereal before going off to school is a part of our routine that my kids rely on and have even started initiating without my morning reminder,” says Riley, a mother of two, from Kansas City, MO.

Dinner: Salmon or tuna burgers or bitesized portions served on skewers with various veggies.

Breakfast: Smoothie mixed with ground flaxseeds, milk, yogurt, berries and bananas.

Lunch: Vegetable soup with flaxseeds

Lunch: Fish tacos made with tilapia,

sprinkled over.

cabbage, tomatoes, onions and sauce.

Snack: Vanilla yogurt with flaxseeds and granola.

Snack: Tuna salad with whole grain crackers.

Breakfast: A cup of folic acid-fortified cereal with a cup of milk Snack: Whole grain cereal mixed with nuts, dried fruit and pretzels.

Snack: Whole grain cereal bars baked together with brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nuts and cranberries.

Lifestyle mental health tips Before school, give your kids some good happy words of encouragement to propel them toward a great day. You and your kiddos could also come up with a creative pledge of positivity and encouragement for them to recite out loud.

Eat regularly. Help your kids with scheduling their meals at regular intervals by implementing three meals a day with snacks in between. Having too much time between meals may stir up cranky moods. Most importantly, eating regularly is the best way to ensure kids get a steady supply of mood enhancing nutrients throughout the day.

All KC kids have hard work ahead of them as they grow and learn. Build them up with good nutrition, as well as your sincere love and support.

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: Eat Right, NCIB.org, National Institutes of Health

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kcparent.com september 2020

Here for You With

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kcparent.com september 2020

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Q&A DEARTEACHERS

BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EBERTS

DECIDING WHETHER A CHILD MIGHT HAVE ADHD

BEGINNING READING PROGRAM

QUESTION: My second-grade daughter has very poor

trouble recognizing words that have short vowels.

For example, she might confuse let, lot and lit.

She is in first grade. Is this a common problem?

– Reading Problem

concentration. Her teacher commented on this several times last year. Does that mean my child has ADHD? – Wondering

ANSWER: When children have trouble concentrating in school and are overly active, disruptive and inattentive, many teachers and parents jump to the conclusion that a child has ADHD. However, to find the answer to your question, you need to start with a routine visit to your daughter’s primary care doctor. Tell the doctor about the teacher’s observation of your daughter. You might even want to bring the child’s report card along to the appointment. Ask the doctor to test her for ADHD. Some doctors will do the evaluation.

However, others will give you a referral to an ADHD expert because testing for ADHD takes several hours and analyzing the test takes a significant amount of time too.

If your doctor does not give you a referral and you still want testing, seek out a referral from the special education teacher, a psychologist or guidance counselor at your child’s school.

Here are the areas that will be used in helping to make the diagnosis of your daughter: Social history: a typical day in your daughter’s life.

Medical history: any medical concerns your daughter might have.

QUESTION: When my child reads, she has

ANSWER: Having problems with short vowel sounds is not unusual for beginning readers. Not knowing the short vowel sounds can make spelling difficult too. Here’s why. Consonant sounds are generally sounded out easily as they are largely crisp clear sounds. On the other hand, the differences are small in how short vowels are pronounced.

The word family approach can make learning the short vowel sounds easier. For example, the “an” family teaches the short “a” sound as different consonants are placed in front of it to produce van, man, tan, and can.

We have developed 126 short word family stories with games called Skinny Books that will help your child learn short vowel sounds and read hundreds of words. You can find out more about them on our Dear Teacher website: DEARTEACHER.COM

Family history: ADHD runs in families.

Strengths and weaknesses: activities the child can and can’t focus on.

Education: how your daughter is doing academically.

By the time the clinical interview is over, most experts who diagnose and treat people with ADHD will have a good idea of whether your daughter has ADHD.

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

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kcparent.com september 2020

FREE Online Music Lessons

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15

DATES WITH LETTER K

DATENIGHT

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kcparent.com september 2020

For this month’s date, how about “k”nocking it out of the park with one of these “k”een ideas?

KONRAD’S KITCHEN If you enjoy a good burger, we highly suggest a visit to Konrad’s Kitchen.

Located in an old building in downtown Lee’s Summit, Konrad’s is a casual, comfortable place for lunch or dinner. With its old wood floors, open wood rafter ceilings and exposed brick on some of the walls, this restaurant begs you to kick back and relax. Trivia on Tuesdays and live music on the weekends make you want to stick around for a while. And when it comes to the food, their burgers are the bomb! My husband had the barbecue burger, topped with pulled pork and an onion ring, with fries on the side. I had their locally sourced, grass-fed, hormone-free bison burger, with wedge potatoes on the side. We left pleasantly full and raving about the burgers. Downtown Lee’s Summit is such a neat place to visit, and Konrad’s is a great restaurant choice!

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS One of the most fun—and certainly most rewarding—dates we’ve done so far is a kindness date. As in random acts of kindness! We began our day by delivering some gently-used pillows to the animal shelter by our house, for use in the animal cages. After that, we moseyed over to WalMart, where we handed out seven $5 Wal-Mart gift cards to people.

From there, we went to Dollar Tree and left $1 bills in various places around the store. Next up was a late lunch where we left a nearly 100 percent tip for our waitress. She was truly grateful, and we were happy to make her day extra special. Our next stop was a nearby laundromat where we left coins for a free wash for two lucky patrons to find. Our last stop was an assisted living facility, where we dropped off cards of encouragement for some of the loneliest residents. Just thinking of the joy that those will bring made my whole day.

KING’S SPEECH The King’s Speech is a remarkable film that came out in 2010 and is based on the true story of King George VI. After the death of King George V in 1936, his son Albert—played by Colin Firth—is suddenly crowned king when his brother, Edward, renounces the throne. Firth’s character suffers from a debilitating speech impediment, so his wife arranges for him to see a speech therapist, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. While things between Logue and “Bertie” start out rough, the two delve into an unorthodox treatment and in the process establish an unbreakable bond. In the end, the king is able to overcome his stammer and deliver a radio address that unites and inspires his people.

The original version of the film is rated R due to some strong vulgarity in one scene, but it is absolutely comical the way it is used. My husband and I would highly recommend this movie. It is simply excellent.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in Kansas City.

They enjoy regular date nights and love trying new restaurants and activities.

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

WORDFROMDAD

The Car Barn My stepdad looked up from the morning newspaper, spread across the table. “Bill, come here. Did you tell them your name was ‘Thompson?’” He pointed at my picture and the caption.

The image brought me back to that dry, cloudy day a few weeks earlier. I trod the footpath homeward past Turkey Creek from a visit to downtown Merriam, when a young couple approached me.

The lady gestured to the remains of a stone building. “Do you know what this is?”

“I believe it’s the old Strang Line car barn.”

“Do you know anything about it?”

I guided them through the freshly fallen leaves, inside the roofless walls where trees grew through the pavement. “Not much.”

I pointed to a low, concrete structure. “I think that was a well.”

The young man waved toward a window opening, long devoid of frame and glass. “Could you stand up there with a rock? Like you’re throwing it? I’d like to get a picture.”

“Sure.”

“Hold it… Perfect.” He lowered the camera, and I threw the rock.

“What’s your name?”

“Billy Thompson.”

The couple bantered as they left and I never saw them again.

Dad’s voice brought me back. “I’m proud that you want to use my name, but yours is Bartlett. When your dad asks about this in the paper, tell him it was a mistake.”

Divorce wasn’t as common then as it is now, and I had no one and nothing to guide me. I knew the mother and children shared the name of the father. Since I was in the house of my stepfather and Mom was a Thompson, I reasoned I was a Thompson, too. So many things had changed in such a short time. Why should my name be any different? But, I couldn’t articulate my confusion.

“OK.” William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.

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FIVETHINGS

Cooling Towels Even though we’re edging toward the end of summer, we may still have some hot days here in Kansas City.

I purchased some cooling towels before an outdoor event, and they were perfect for keeping us from getting too overheated on a hot day. I’m not exactly sure of the science behind how they work, but all you need to do is wet, fling out, wrap around your neck and voila, you’ll keep cool! They are small, so easy to take on the go. Amazon.com

Sparkly Stationery

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I used to keep a fair amount of stationery on hand, but as digital communication has supplanted physical letter-writing more and more, I recently found myself out of nice paper and envelopes. I had some letters to write and I found Peter Pauper Press. They have many lovely designs from which to choose, all on nice quality paper—perfect for a quick note or a longer letter. The stationery sets come with envelopes, and I was also impressed with their quality. PeterPauper.com

THINGS WE

LOVE RIGHT NOW

Compiled by Margaret Sarver

Crafts and Milkshakes As a treat after an afternoon of running errands, my younger and I headed to Westport to visit the newly opened Creative Culture. It’s a craft space that offers drop-in DIY projects and a milkshake bar. Let me tell you, those milkshakes are something to behold.

Not only do they arrive looking just like the photo, but they are so yummy and the perfect fun treat to enjoy after errands or any time! We’re looking forward to returning to complete a craft (and, get another milkshake!).

CreativeCultureKC.com

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kcparent.com september 2020

Small Treat After a meal, I like to have just a small taste of something sweet. Well, in actuality, I’d take a big taste of something sweet, but for the sake of my waistline I need to keep it small. Enter Godiva with new signature mini bars and chocolate domes. Although I’m partial to dark chocolate, I won’t turn down any chocolate offered. If you’d like to indulge in a sweet something, give them a try. You won’t be disappointed. Available at Target, CVS and Walgreens.

Shower Heads Several years back we did a remodel on the girls’ bathroom.

The plan was to do our bathroom a bit later, but I’m sure you know how this goes. Time, money and lots of other things have gotten in the way. In the meantime, I’m keeping a running list of ideas and products for when the time comes for our bathroom remodel. A friend recently had the HydroRain shower head installed in her bathroom, and she highly recommends. It’s been added to my list and I’m hopeful I can get it sooner rather than later!

BIRDWATCHING

IN KANSAS CITY B Y A N N A H I E S TA N D With its abundance of woods, prairies and lakes, the Kansas City metropolitan area features many birdwatching hotspots.

BAKER WETLANDS 1365 N. 1250 Rd., Lawrence, 785.594.4700 Named the most beautiful place in Kansas by House Beautiful, Baker Wetlands contains 278 different bird species, including the great blue heron, great egret, yellow-billed cuckoo and killdeer.

HIDDEN VALLEY PARK NE Russell Road & North Bennington Avenue Kansas City, MO, 816.513.7500 This gorgeous park contains a natural area that is home to birds such as the dark-eyed junco, cedar waxwing, mourning dove and eastern bluebird. A 4-mile trail features additional wildlife.

JAMES A. REED MEMORIAL WILDLIFE AREA 12405 SE Ranson Rd., Lee’s Summit, 816.622.0900 This vast area contains a variety of landscapes and more than 200 bird species. Double-crested cormorants and buffleheads are a common sight at the ponds, while orioles and meadowlarks occupy the woods and grasslands.

LAKE JACOMO 7401 W. Park Rd., Blue Springs, 816.795.8888 A boat trip across this lake provides an opportunity to see an assortment of water birds, including gulls, egrets, ducks and pelicans. The surrounding woodlands also feature the occasional bald eagle.

MARTHA LAFITE THOMPSON NATURE SANCTUARY 407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, 816.781.8598 A highlight of this location is its accessible asphalt trail, which allows wheelchair-users to admire the wildlife. Whip-por-wills, flickers, ruby-crowned kinglets and green herons are just a few of the area’s many birds.

DID YOU KNOW? 70% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE FOUR OR FEWER DRINKS WHEN SOCIALIZING.

SMITHVILLE LAKE 17201 Paradesian St., Smithville, MO, 816.407.3400 With lakes, beaches and 25 miles of trails, this area contains a variety of habitats for birds. In addition to being a popular place for great horned owls, yellowlegs and purple finches, the area has had a few bald eagle sightings.

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

kcparent.com september 2020

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ASK THE EXPERTS

MEET THE

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

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

Dr. Jeremy Fry

Barbara Nickless

FRY ORTHODONTICS

SYLVAN OF KANSAS CITY

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

913.469.9191, FryOrthodontics.com

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

Melissa Rieke

Judith Sebestyen VanSickle, MD, MHPE, FAAP, FASN

MELISSA RIEKE PHOTOGRAPHY Hello! I’m Melissa Rieke…wife, mom, Kansas City newborn photographer, blogger and influencer. MRP is a custom photography studio with a focus on newborns, children and family.

913.488.5125, MelissaRiekePhotography.com

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

816.234.3000, ChildrensMercy.org

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

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

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

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kcparent.com september 2020

ASK THE EXPERTS

Q

Q

My son just got braces and I’m worried about cavities. What are some of the best ways to clean his teeth while he has braces?

What are some effective ways I can help my daughter with her homework?

There are two keys to keeping teeth and gums healthy during orthodontic treatment. 1) Time spent brushing teeth. The optimum time is 2 full minutes brushing at least two times per day.

A cell phone timer is a great resource for patients to properly brush for 2 minutes. 2) Brushing ALL the tooth surfaces around the braces.

Some patients miss brushing above the braces on the top teeth and below the braces on the lower teeth. Angling the toothbrush to clean under the gums is also important. Other tips: Sonicare toothbrush and a Waterpic are great additions to aid in cleaning teeth.

Dreaded homework! Learning is not one-size fits all. Your daughter’s learning style should guide her homework routine. Sylvan recommends creating a simple, well-lit, distraction-free area because children can become distracted; scheduling breaks to rest to improve focus and retention since school can be exhausting; providing healthy meals and snacks to strengthen body and mind; designating an easily accessible supply caddy, so when it’s time to work, everything’s ready; and just being present to provide support and encouragement, showing your child you’re there to help and her work’s important. Even with preparation, homework challenges may persist. You can contact Sylvan to help your daughter achieve academic success.

Dr. Jeremy Fry

Barbara Nickless

Fry Orthodontics

Center Director, Sylvan of Kansas City North

Q

Q

What are two pro tips you have for taking photos with your phone?

My son is 5 and still wets the bed about once a week. Is that normal?

My #1 tip for phone photography is to CLEAN your lens. Phones are notoriously filthy with finger smudges and film, but you can get a clear shot simply by making sure your camera lens is clean. Next is to pay attention to your light source. It is very hard to get a crisp, clear image with a phone if the light is directly behind the subjects, so try to keep the light to the side or in front of the subjects. Place your subjects close together and raise the camera just slightly above the eye line...click...perfect!

Melissa Rieke

While development of kidney/bladder control takes several years, most children have full bladder control for night by age 7. A healthy 5-year-old child makes about 5-6 oz. of urine over a period of eight hours and has a bladder volume of 7 oz. The amount of fluid before bedtime can influence the ability to hold urine. You can help by making sure your child has a regular potty schedule during the day, limiting fluid before bedtime and by making sure he/she has normal bowel movements. If your child continues to have bedwetting, it is a good idea to see a specialist.

Melissa Rieke Photography

Judith Sebestyen VanSickle Children’s Mercy Hospital

kcparent.com september 2020

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The Best Pizza in KC Sept. 5 is National Cheese Pizza Day, and Sept. 20 is National Pepperoni Pizza Day. Celebrate with some scrumptious pizza from one of our favorite local pizzerias!

MOST FUN: America’s Incredible Pizza Co. (IncrediblePizza.com/kansas-city) This family fun center makes more than 100 varieties of pizza. Your kids will love the go-karts, laser tag and arcades. This is a great place for a family pizza night.

BEST GOURMET: Minsky’s (Minskys.com) Minsky’s has been serving gourmet pizza in Kansas City since 1976. Minsky’s serves fresh pizzas on hand-rolled dough with generous portions of fresh ingredients.

BEST ST. LOUIS STYLE: Waldo Pizza (WaldoPizza.net) Waldo Pizza is one of Kansas City’s best loved restaurants. Whether you’re craving traditional hand-tossed pizza, St. Louis style pizza, or even vegan pizza, Waldo’s fresh-baked pizza is delicious and affordable.

BEST NEW YORK STYLE: D’Bronx Deli and Pizzeria (DBronxKC.com) If you love New York style pizza, this is the place! You can even buy a pizza to take home after a day of fun at Crown Center or Union Station.

BEST CHICAGO STYLE: Rosati’s Pizza (RosatisPizza.com) Rosati’s Pizza was founded in Chicago in 1895 when Fred Rosati opened his first restaurant. They are famous for double-dough deep dish Chicago style pizza and fresh ingredients.

BEST ITALIAN STYLE: Spin! (SpinPizza.com) Spin! is known for gourmet specialty pizza. If you’d love a little bit of Italy right in your own backyard, this is the place. With modern, fun decor, and pizza prepared right before your eyes, Spin! is both fun and delish!

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kcparent.com september 2020

4 Games Your Family will LOVE Tired of Monopoly, Uno and Pictionary? Our family loves trying new board games, and these four are newer games the whole bunch loves. Our kids range from elementary age to teen, and these games are a hit with everyone.

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival n

Time: Approx. 30 minutes per game.

Recommended for ages 8 and up. n 2-4 players. n

I am partial to games with beautiful pieces. In this strategy game, players act as artisans decorating the lake with floating lanterns. Through swapping tokens and strategizing moves, you set up lanterns and earn honor to win. This game is great for fans of Catan who would like a faster game with similar strategy.

Codenames n

Time: Approx. 15-30 minutes per game.

Recommended for ages 8 and up. n 2-8 players (or more if you play as teams). n

Teams compete to guess which cards their team should claim from a five-by-five board of randomly placed picture or word cards. Each team has a captain who offers one-word clues, trying to get them to claim their teams’ cards. The catch is that you don’t want to guess a card for the opposing team, or the special final card. This is a great team game and works well for a group.

Villainous n

Time: Approx. 1 hour or more.

Recommended for ages 10 and up. n 2-6 players (expansion packs available). n

Villainous is a strategy game in which each player takes on the role of a Disney villain. Each villain has a goal to achieve in order to win the game, and each goal is different. Villains may thwart the plans of other villains in the race to win. One of the things we enjoy about this game is that it is truly different every time you play, especially with the expansion packs, which alter the cast of characters each time.

Pyramix n

Time: Approx. 15-30 minutes per game.

Recommended for ages 8 and up (though we have played with younger kids). n 2-4 players. n

This is a Gamewright game, which typically means our entire family will love it. The game involves setting up cubes in a pyramid shape and having players select one per turn. There are four colors of cubes, and each is marked with a different symbol at a different point value. As cubes are taken, they all slide into new positions on the pyramid. Players must strategize to collect the most points as the pieces move.

It’s game night at Kristina Light’s house several times a week. kcparent.com september 2020

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Musical Instrument Guide

P

icking a musical instrument can set your head spinning. How do you decide what instrument to begin and when? Just as athletes have their movements assessed to get a perfect fit in high performance gear, budding musicians need to consider a few critical factors when picking out an instrument.

Initially Focus on Why, Not What Aaron Sizemore, executive director of Music House School of Music (a local program with three locations in Prairie Village, Overland Park and Lenexa) has found that kids who make the greatest gains musically do so because they had a positive initial experience. In other words, don’t stress getting the right instrument right away. Instead, focus more on building positive associations with music in general.

“Music should be presented as the fun, fascinating, universally-communicative medium that it is,” Sizemore suggests. “Let them listen to it, sing to it, dance to it, talk about it, but don’t force it. Consider an early childhood music program that focuses on listening, movement, singing and rhythm.”

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Programs such as Gymboree Play & Music or Let’s Play Music are specifically designed to offer gentle music introduction classes for preschool children. Families can also find affordable (and even free!) musical appreciation classes through community programs such as library toddler hours and parks and rec children’s concert series.

First Music Lessons Sizemore recommends avoiding any rigorous music study until after the age of 6, noting that there are a multitude of reasons why beginning with piano between the ages of 6 and 8 gives students the most bang for their buck.

Why piano?

“This age presents a crucial window of opportunity, from both a psychological and developmental perspective,” Aaron says.

“If your child has a negative experience trying and failing to produce a sound on a physically alienating instrument, that just might close the book on music for them.”

Piano delivers the instant gratification of pushing a key and getting a note, whereas woodwinds or stringed instruments have steeper learning curves for quality of sound.

The layout of the piano keyboard also boasts the added advantage of providing visual representation of how scales, intervals and chords work, paving the way for better understanding of music theory—an essential skill regardless the instrument a child moves on to play.

One other key benefit to piano lessons?

Affordable keyboards can be purchased for less than $200, although there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure it has at least 61 full-sized, touch-sensitive keys. Weighted keys are better, but touchsensitive keys are sufficient for beginners.

Moving On … Now What?

At age 9, it’s important to embrace your child’s source of interest or excitement. Meet kids where they are, not where you want them to be.

Sizemore asserts that keeping the flame ignited is key. “It’s tragically common for students to be the most excited they’ll ever be on the day of their very first lesson. From there, interest begins to wane as reality seeps in until they inevitably quit,” Sizemore says. “Think about how many adults you know who took music lessons at some point

as a kid, eventually quit and now regret it.

A good teacher capitalizes on the initial excitement and builds on it. Teachers and parents often lose sight of this. They become fixated on technique, specific repertoire and obvious benchmarks of improvement instead of building up an investment of excitement, passion and curiosity. If the investment is made, the dividends can last a lifetime.”

Find out what makes your child tick.

What does he love? Pop music? Drum solos?

Broadway musicals? Movie soundtracks?

“That’s your point of entry,” Sizemore affirms. “Start there. All music is connected, and any entry point can lead to any destination, but if you force your child into a door that doesn’t interest her, it isn’t going to lead anywhere. The most important thing is that your kids remain passionate about what they’re doing. Find a teacher or music school that supports and nurtures their interests, and they’ll keep learning in ways that will surprise both you and them.”

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Other Factors for Consideration Cost. Instruments can range broadly in price. Whereas a new midline flute may cost upward of $300, a full-size harp may start at $15,000. Renting an instrument offers a few advantages for any new student: It allows a child the opportunity to explore whether an instrument appeals to him long-term without financial burden. Rental also is an economical option when a child is going through growth spurts. Stringed instruments such as violin and viola, for instance, come in a myriad of sizes. A child who hits a growth spurt might need to size up her instrument within a year’s time. Later, once a child makes strides in her new endeavor, consider purchasing an instrument—a welcome reward.

Size. The size of an instrument may carry unique logistical challenges if your child carpools or drives in a compact car. And tootling through town is only one factor when it comes to instrument size. Can your

child carefully and confidently carry his instrument in and out of the car on his own?

Is the instrument one that comes in various sizes that will require upgrades as your musician grows or is it one-size-fits-all?

Maintenance. Pianos should be tuned annually. Stringed instruments require new strings over time; bows need to be rehaired.

Woodwind instruments require new reeds.

All instruments require general care, though some require more than others. Likewise, some instruments are more delicate than others. A violin, for instance, should not be left in extreme temperatures (like a hot car on a summer day) nor should it be left out unattended if there are pets and younger siblings underfoot. A child that takes on the task of learning a new instrument should be able to manage its care accordingly.

Lauren Greenlee is a KC freelance writer who enjoyed taking voice, piano and violin lessons as a child.

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W

e are fortunate to live in an area where opportunities abound for our children: sports, art activities, classes, camps and more. Although having so many choices and opportunities is nice, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. How exactly do you go about choosing something for your child?

Consider your child’s interests and desires.

BrightHorizons.com suggests to “really ‘see’ your child.” What are his natural gifts?

Consider asking your child what he wants to do. Meredith, an Olathe mom, shares, “My child has always had a flair for the dramatic and loves to sing. I don’t know how she gets through the day at school, because she can’t go an hour at home without singing! We decided to build on that and enroll her in musical theater classes at the Culture House.”

Remember, too, that these opportunities are for your child, not for you.

BrightHorizons.com explains, “Parental expectations that don’t match with a child’s true self can cause a lot of grief for both parent and child.” Just because an activity was good for you as a child or is good for your best friend’s child, doesn’t mean it will be for your child.

Look at the big picture.

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kcparent.com september 2020

Think about what you’d like your child to gain from the enrichment activities. Do you want your child to meet and make new friends? Do you want your child to do it because the activity is popular or everyone else is doing it? Would you like for your child to gain cultural awareness? Or do you simply think it might be fun for your child?

Ask yourself these questions—but be ready to answer them honestly!

Try out a class.

Usually the elementary years are a great time to try out various classes and activities in a fairly inexpensive way. Caroline, an Overland Park mom, says, “I do think it is good to try different things when they are young because sometimes you’ll be surprised what really resonates with your

child.” Be prepared to try several activities before finding what your child loves and is willing to stick with. By exploring multiple options together, you can help your child find something he really enjoys!

Summer camps are also an excellent way to check out a class. Many arts camps are only a week long and offer full or half day options. What a great way to test the waters before jumping in long term!

Kimberly, a local music teacher, suggests an instrument “petting zoo,” where your child can see instruments up close and even give them a try. Many local organizations such as the Kansas City Symphony (KCSymphony. org) and the KC Civic Orchestra (KCCivic. org/wordpress/category/kccoed/petting-zoo) offer these opportunities each year. What a fun and unique way to introduce your child to music!

Offer guidance and exposure.

As a parent, you will have the job of exposing your child to the arts, just as you would to sports. “I think it is important to

expose children to the arts and see what they enjoy! Take your child to the Nelson, a play, the ballet. Go to a local concert. The arts are all around us in KC, between all of the options offered through both local rec departments and private theater, dance, music and art studios. Take advantage of it!”

Caroline suggests.

Throughout this process, you also may find your child repeatedly goes back to the same type of activity. Be willing to offer a bit of guidance and push him slightly to try out something different. If you have a sports enthusiast, try guiding him toward an art or music lesson to help him break out of his comfort zone. “Our daughter has loved music since she was a baby, so we also decided to encourage her desire to dance.

She likes to move quickly, so we thought hip hop classes would be a better fit for her than the traditional ballet that many little girls do. Classes usually aren’t available until they are 4, so we enrolled her as soon as she was old enough at Jody Phillips Dance Company,” says Meredith.

Avoid overscheduling.

While trying different activities is great, don’t rush out there and sign up your child for four different classes at once. An overscheduled child probably isn’t going to enjoy much when she feels so tapped out and exhausted. And let’s be honest, neither will you! Just like you plan activities for your child, be cognizant of planning downtime to avoid burnout.

Johnson County offers so many opportunities to pay for a drop-in music class, cooking lesson or art activity, making for great try-it-firsts. Hop on JCPRD.com or BlueValleyRec.org and check out what activities are coming up…and as always, KCParent.com is an excellent resource too!

And remember to have fun exploring the arts with your child!

Julie Collett loves arts enrichment activities and tries to expose her children whenever time, energy and finances allow!

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kcparent.com september 2020

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Time to Move On? HOW TO KNOW WHEN TO QUIT AND WHEN TO STICK WITH IT

Y

ou’ve enrolled your daughter in her first ballet class. You’re pumped. Dance shoes are ordered, you’ve purchased leotards in almost every color, and you’ve watched YouTube tutorial videos to help you practice putting her hair up in a bun. Your dream of becoming a “dance mom” is finally coming true. Your son starts soccer the week after that. You can’t wait to add “soccer mom” to your list of titles.

You pause amid all the excitement. Are these your children’s dreams, or are they yours? What if it doesn’t work out? What if they start to hate it? Should you let them quit or encourage them to power through? If or when these activities don’t turn out to be what you or your kids expected, it’s okay to shift gears. Here’s why.

I chatted with a board certified behavior analyst once, and she shared a bit of her expertise on this subject that stuck with me. Pay attention to your kids’ behaviors. They may not always vocalize how they’re feeling about certain things in life, but they will drop hints whether you notice them or not.

Consider the following behaviors:

• Is attending dance class or soccer practice a struggle each evening, or do your kids light up when they get to see their friends on the field or in the studio?

• Does your child talk about the sport or activity outside of practice?

• Are your kiddos eager to go to their games or dance competitions?

• Do they want to kick the soccer ball around in the yard or practice dance choreography with you to show off their moves?

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These behaviors suggest that the child enjoys the activity. If this is the case, sticking with the activity may be the best choice. Even if your kids experience off days, you’ll know they are passionate about the hobby—despite the occasional grumbling and foot-dragging.

If your child starts dragging her feet every time you head out the door for every practice or meet, makes frequent complaints about the coach or instructor, shrugs his shoulders when you ask whether he’s ready to leave, the activity must not be enjoyable. The time for change may have arrived. Giving up an activity won’t turn your kiddos into quitters. It just means they tried an activity that wasn’t their thing and they’re ready to tackle the next adventure.

If you do ask your kids whether they wish to continue playing a sport or activity, be aware they might agree only to keep the peace or because they assume you expect them to. Interpreting behavior as communication is the key to truly understanding your children. The point is, any activity your children are involved in is meant to be a positive thing, not an added stressor to their lives.

(Note: Maybe your child is passionate about an activity he’s not great at. Let him stick with it anyway, if he chooses. Maybe she’s great at an activity she hates. Let her quit if she’s not passionate about it.)

Talk to your child’s therapist, pediatrician, a teacher or specialist who knows your child almost as well as you do. Gain insight on behaviors and figure out potential hobbies or reasons your kiddo might not enjoy a particular activity.

Let’s say your son loved soccer but suddenly decides he wants to quit, even though he outwardly shows signs he genuinely enjoys the

sport. This might be a time for you to dig deeper to make sure he truly wants to quit and you really should let him throw in the towel. The change in attitude may stem from being bullied by another kid. Or maybe he simply doesn’t get along with that particular coach.

Questions a child’s therapist might ask: • What is a problem or stressor from your point of view?

• How does this problem make you feel?

• If you could wave a magic wand, what positive changes would you make to your life?

• How would you describe your mood?

• What would make you feel more content?

• What is your favorite thing about (dance class, soccer, basketball, etc.)? What is your least favorite? What would make that better?

Try asking your kids these questions if you sense they’re on the verge of quitting. Maybe you’ll find the source of their stress and be able to alleviate the issue. If not, it’s okay to throw in the towel.

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

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How to Recognize Unique Qualities in Your Kids

A

s a mom of multiples, I have noticed my kids tend to get grouped together and referred to as “the triplets.� This comes from people both in our family and outside of it. Many assume that because one likes a certain food, they all do or if one enjoys a particular activity, they all love it. This is simply not the case. It can be hard to remember, especially if you have identical twins, that each child has his own unique personality and tastes.

Recognizing and remembering that truth is even harder for others outside the family unit. So how do you foster individuality in multiples and how do you help others recognize it as well?

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Treat them as individuals

Acknowledge their gifts

The best way to begin to appreciate the unique qualities of multiples is to treat them as individuals. Speak to them one on one about their day, their likes and dislikes, and spend time separately with each child. Help others see twins as two separate people by dressing them differently. Encourage them to pick out their own clothing and choose items they prefer. Avoid referring to them as “the twins” but instead use both their names. Say, “I need to pick up Jack and Josh from school,” rather than, “I need to pick up the twins.” This will help others see them as two separate people. “My twins have separate interests, but they are emotionally different as well, which has led me to parent them differently,” says Jennifer Klindworth, Kansas mother of twins.

Each child has different gifts and natural talents. Take note of these things as you play with your children. Just as any two siblings would have differences in development, interests and talents, so will multiples. One of my triplets is excellent at building blocks, one loves dancing and singing, and the other is a people person and very sensitive to others. On the other hand, they all love to read books and play outside. Taking the time to notice their similarities and differences in daily life, you will begin to see each as an individual and appreciate and embrace those differences.

friendships with others, even making their “own” friends. Some parents may choose to put their multiples in separate classrooms at school for this reason.

Individual friendships between one twin and another child help build confidence and develop unique qualities in multiples who are very much influenced by their siblings.

Being a twin (or triplet) is a unique and special experience in itself. The closeness that multiples have is precious and not to be taken for granted.

However, the wonderful, unique qualities each child possesses should be cherished as well.

Foster friendships As children grow, they begin to form relationships outside of their household.

Encourage your children to develop

Sarah Lyons is a proud mother of six children, including 2-year-old fraternal triplets.

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huh?

ways to sharpen kids’ listening skills

k

“Truly listening, attentively and with care, is one of the simplest and most kind gifts we can give anyone.” ~ JOHN BRUNA

nowing that a lot of what we say to our kids goes in one ear and out the other is not a good feeling. In a perfect world, our little angels would take in every word we speak and understand exactly what we’re saying. The reality, though, is our kids are probably tuning us out more than we think. Maybe it’s because what they’re playing, reading or looking at is much more interesting to them, or perhaps they just don’t always want to hear our voice. As frustrating as it can be, there are ways to teach our kids to actively listen, and not just to us but others as well.

What does it mean to actively listen?

It means your child is giving her full attention to the person speaking, and she’s trying to understand what is being

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said. An active listener shows verbal signs (e.g., remembering and questioning) and nonverbal signs (smiling, nodding head and avoiding distractions) of listening. Active listening is a skill that’s just as important as problem-solving and teamwork, and with time and patience, it’s one that can be acquired and cultivated.

If your child doesn’t show signs of being an active listener, he may have fallen into the trap of passive listening, which is simply hearing what the speaker is saying without trying to understand it. Kids who listen passively don’t retain information because they’re easily distracted. The good news is you can help reverse this habit and help your children improve their listening skills.

Here are some great tips to share with your little listeners.

Maintain eye contact. When people hold eye contact with someone speaking, they’re seen as reliable, sociable, confident and active. By focusing your eyes, you’re also improving concentration, which helps you fully understand what the speaker is saying.

Don’t interrupt. Before trying to respond, allow the person speaking to complete his or her thought. Avoid interrupting, finishing sentences or rushing the speaker. Also, don’t try guessing or assuming where her thoughts are going. Just listen.

Always ask questions. When you ask the speaker questions, you show you’re listening and interested in what’s being said.

Repeat back what the speaker says. In your own words, repeat the main

Spend time in the kitchen cooking or baking together. Read

points of the message. This will ensure you heard and understood what was said.

It’s important to note that a child’s listening comprehension is more than just hearing what was said. It’s her ability to understand the meaning of the words she hears and to relate to them in some way. For example, when a child hears a story, he will be able to understand it, talk about it, and retell it in his own words.

Now that you and your child have the steps to become active listeners, it’s time to practice, practice, practice! Here are some great activities to help develop and perfect your child’s active-listening skills.

the recipe to him while he listens and follows each step to complete the recipe correctly.

Read stories with your child. Ask her to make a prediction about what will happen next. In order to make a logical guess, she will have to listen closely to the details of the story.

Identify sounds. While your child’s eyes are closed, make sounds and have him try to identify them.

Play a game that requires listening. For example, the telephone game. Get a small group together (friends or family members), and have one person whisper a sentence or two to the next person. Each person then repeats it to the next person until you reach the final person. Have the last person repeat aloud what he heard. It’s always fun to see how much the sentence(s) change.

Carry on a conversation about something your child is interested in. This gives her a chance to practice both speaking and listening while engaging in a real conversation.

Play a “Follow the Directions” game. Give your children short, simple instructions and have them draw according to the directions they hear.

Becoming a better listener takes a lot of concentration, determination and practice.

By putting these active-listening techniques into action with your kids, you will help them become better communicators and build listening skills they will use for life.

Gina Klein is a mom and author who resides in Kansas City with her husband, two daughters and a houseful of pets.

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33

tips for saving money on birthday gifts

party guide

Make a plan for how you will handle the party and gifts ahead of time. This will allow you to shop sales, pick up items on clearance and take advantage of valuable coupons.

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irthdays are exciting milestones during childhood.

Each new age brings new opportunities, new skills to learn and new experiences. For parents, birthdays are often bittersweet. We are excited to see our children grow, change and learn, but saying good-bye to the previous stage of childhood is often emotional. “I love and hate my son’s birthday,” Amber Stubbs, Olathe mom, says. “I love seeing him grow older and watching him become this amazing person—but every year I look back on his baby days and feel nostalgic.”

For many families, one part of birthdays is buying presents. Going overboard buying gifts is easy, and many parents are looking for ways to reign in birthday spending.

Here are some tips from metro parents on how to slow your family’s spending at birthday time:

Plan ahead. Make a plan for how you will handle the party and gifts ahead of time. This will allow you to shop sales, pick up items on clearance and take advantage of valuable coupons.

Shop all year. This advice may sound like it would cause you to spend more, but shopping during off-seasons can add up to big savings. “I buy birthday gifts all year when things go on sale. It takes a bit of planning, but it can help make the money stretch further,” Amy Parks, Gardner mom,

says. “I shop for Christmas during end-of-summer sales and for birthdays during end-of-winter sales. It is a great way to save money on toys and clothes.”

Know what your child wants. When your child expresses an interest, take note. If you have a running list of what your child would like, you can share it with family members and friends, allowing them to plan ahead and shop sales ahead of time.

Think outside the box. Birthday gifts don’t have to mean toys. Experiences, events or even classes can be a wonderful gift. “For my daughter’s birthday, my mom paid for a year of dance lessons. Things were tight for us, and this allowed her to have something to look forward to every week. It was an amazing gift,” says Rachel Griffin, Kansas City, MO, mom.

Skip the trimmings. Wrapping paper, bows and cards are a quick way to add to the birthday budget.

Consider reusing gift bags or finding other creative ways to package gifts. Children rarely take the time to admire the wrapping!

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

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9 WAYS TO TEACH KIDS A

Love of Learning

“Kids who enjoy learning tend to explore things more deeply, work harder and be more successful in school and in life.”

– Kathy Seal, coauthor of Motivated Minds: Raising Children to Love Learning

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ddition and subtraction facts, details about World War II and the elements on the periodic table are good to know, but are just limited skills and facts. So often kids get bogged down by the importance of having good grades that they lose their curiosity and interest in the world around them. What’s really important is that kids develop an overall love of learning that follows them into adulthood. Here are a few ways to help your children fall in love with learning.

Read to them.

A love for reading opens up many doors to learning. Reading to your children from an early age helps them improve their vocabulary and phonics and is proven to boost their cognitive development, which enhances their ability to think and understand things on their own. The “Becoming a Nation of Readers” report

from 1985 concluded that “the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” If children are read to every day, reading becomes a habit that paves the way to learning throughout their lifetime. Keep books easily accessible for them, read a book every night before bed and encourage questions to help with

likely to remember the information if they see it in person, as opposed to just reading it in a book. They also won’t even realize they’re learning because of all the fun they will be having!

Ask questions.

If your kids are anything like mine, they can ask hundreds of questions a day.

Do your best to take the time to answer their questions—and keep the discussion going with open-ended questions of your own. If you don’t have the answer, work together to help them find the right resource to answer it. Maybe a book or film could explain the answer better than you could. Taking the time to have these conversations validates and encourages your child’s curiosity.

Apply it to the real world.

If your children are learning about money, maybe it’s a good time to show them how money works in the real world. Have them count the money in their piggy banks and take them to the bank to open a savings account, or let them count out the money for you next time you’re paying at a checkout. Teaching your kids how things work in the real world will mean more to them than simply telling them or having them read it from a book. understanding the book. As they grow older, they will to turn to books, newspapers and magazines on their own to feed their curiosities. Also, be a role model. Let your kids see you reading, and they will show more interest as well.

Make learning hands-on.

Kids are much more likely to enjoy learning if it’s fun! Hand-on activities can help connect information they are learning to real-life experience, making it easier for kids to retain the information. If your children are learning about different types of reptiles, take them to a zoo. If they’re learning about astronomy, take them to a planetarium or space museum. They will be much more

Let them play.

Children are born ready to discover new things. Let them explore on their own through play. Allow them to decide how to play with their toys rather than your showing them. You might be surprised where their imaginations take them.

Do your best to leave out only a few toys at a time. Kids will spend much more time with those few toys instead of being overstimulated and jumping from toy to toy.

Promote problem solving.

Instead of giving your children directions, let them solve problems and make decisions on their own. This will

challenge their minds, force them to think for themselves and give them a bit of independence as well.

Discover your child’s learning style.

Finding your children’s learning styles will help you teach them more effectively.

Visual learners process information when it’s written or in a photo, auditory learners like to hear information, and kinesthetic learners learn best through movement and touch. Once you’ve discovered your child’s learning style, the possibilities are endless!

Follow their passions.

Take the time to see what things interest your children and encourage them in their passions. If they seem interested in baking, sign them up for a baking class. If they enjoy science, research some fun science experiments you can do together. It’s also important to share your passions with them, so they can see how you continue to feed your passions and learn every day, even as an adult.

Place less emphasis on grades.

According to a 2002 study conducted by the University of Michigan, 80 percent of students based their self-worth on their academic success, leading to low self-esteem and other mental health issues. Children can tend to strive for memorizing facts to get a good grade on a test and please their parents, rather than really learning the material.

Memorized facts kids cram for before a test will fade away, but really showing interest and gaining knowledge about a topic lasts a lifetime.

Regan Lyons is a freelance writer who lives in St. Joseph, MO, with her husband, 6-year-old daughter and newborn baby girl. kcparent.com september 2020

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eight things mindful parents do differently

Being a mindful parent doesn’t mean being a perfect parent.

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tress or frustration in the midst of parenting can sometimes lead to hurtful or unhelpful remarks directed at our kids: There’s no reason to cry. Why can’t you be more like your sister?! Hurry up!!

Fortunately, as Maya Angelou once quipped, “When you know better, you do better”—and that’s the gentle place where mindful parenting begins.

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What is mindful parenting? “Being

a mindful parent doesn’t mean being a perfect parent,” says Amy Zoe Schonhoff, a mindfulness trainer, educator and founder of Mindfulness in the Heartland. “It means bringing awareness to the relationship we’re having with ourselves and with our child.

We’re trying to bring more nonjudgmental acceptance to this process of parenting, both in terms of how we’re relating to ourselves and how we’re relating to our child.”

How do parents leaning into mindfulness parent differently?

They care for themselves. Recognize

when your tank is running low. When we’re hungry, tired, cranky, stressed from work or not feeling well, we’re more likely to say things we wish we hadn’t.

“It’s natural for parents to say things they regret,” says parent coach Julia Harkleroad, facilitator of the project ON Parenting: Powerful Conversations to Raise Successful Kids. “It’s excellent practice to understand the catalyst behind these statements and set up an environment that is more conducive to mindful, intentional responses.”

Create daily self-care rituals, like meditation, exercise or connecting with friends, which can help you better manage day-to-day stress.

They pause before reacting. We’re

more likely to say something hurtful when emotions take the wheel.

“Step one is to give yourself a time-out when you feel like you are about to unload on your child—even if that means delaying needed correction of the child,” says Mindy Hart, a Kansas City divorce coach specializing in communication strategies and child-centered parenting. “Better to delay and come back at a rational point than to cause emotional scars and disengagement of the child altogether.”

When you tell your child you need a break, you model healthy emotional regulation skills.

“It’s good for our kids to see us doing this because we are modeling to them that they can do that too—that they can recognize when they’re getting dis-regulated and then hopefully take action,” Schonhoff says.

They learn about brain development. Our kids often behave

in ways that seem neither reasonable nor logical from our adult vantage point. But

usually their behavior directly correlates to their brain development.

“Our children’s capacity to self-regulate is not fully developed until they’re in their early 20s,” Schonhoff says. “Things are happening in the brain that oftentimes explain the behaviors that parents see that make them absolutely batty.”

To better understand why your child acts out or pushes your buttons, learn whether their actions are developmentally appropriate. Then, strategize ways to best address the specific behavior.

They get curious. If your child frequently runs late in the morning or makes poor choices in school, instead of getting frustrated or angry, get curious.

Harkleroad recommends asking questions or making statements that start with how, tell me about, I wonder if and I made up in my head that you….

“This leaves room for the child’s experience to inform the parent and help the entire situation to resolve itself more effectively,” Harkleroad says. “Repeating what you have heard your child say back to them is also very helpful. Then you can ask ‘Did I get that right?’”

Schonhoff realized the value of curiosity when her daughter was in preschool.

“We were always running late. One morning I found her hiding in the closet.

She looked like a terrified wild animal. I recognized in that moment something was wrong. This was not just about not wanting to go to school,” Schonhoff says.

She soon learned that her youngster had sensory processing issues. Putting clothing on was uncomfortable and time-consuming.

By getting curious, rather than labeling her daughter as “always running late, never on time,” Schonhoff was able to better understand the issue and modify their morning routine.

They acknowledge feelings.

Repeatedly dismissing a child’s feelings (i.e., “You need to toughen up,” or “Quit acting like a baby.”) can be detrimental as kids grow into adulthood.

This “produces a highly insecure child that either only knows how to do what other people want them to do, who can’t make decisions independently or who doesn’t listen to anyone ever anymore and can’t tolerate constructive criticism,” Harkleroad says.

Instead, empathize. For example, if your child is upset about leaving a playdate, you might say: “I know it’s hard to leave. You and James have fun together.”

They focus on desired behavior.

Getting kids to comply through hurtful labels or judgmental comparisons can create confusion and insecurity.

Among divorced couples, Hart recommends avoiding cutting remarks: “You are just like your father (or mother)!” or “I can’t wait for you to go to your mom/dad so I can have peace.”

“Address the behavior without likening it to the other parent—‘Johnny, remember we don’t throw things when we are upset. How about we take a walk?’” Hart says.

Otherwise, children may worry, “What if I am a little like the parent my other parent ‘hates.’ Will they stop loving me too?”

Establishing structure and a plan of action can help you proactively coach desired behaviors (when everyone is calm), while still giving kids a sense of control.

“I believe in using warnings, scales, providing choices and, most especially, having an evaluation process together with the child after an event or experience,” Harkleroad says.

They reflect. Take time to consider how your values can guide you as a parent.

“These could be principles such as patience, compassion, hard work, education, responsibility,” Harkleroad says. “When a parent is modeling these values and guiding the child toward these values with their parental words, I believe the process flows much more smoothly.”

They apologize. For many of us, apologizing when we make a mistake or hurt someone is an essential part of our value system.

“The most transformative interaction a parent can have with a child is to repair together after a misunderstanding or conflict,” Harkleroad says. “Done well, this helps a child learn how to be accountable for themselves by watching their parents do this very thing.”

Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published freelance writer based in Olathe. A regular meditation practice and daily walks help her more mindfully parent her teens! kcparent.com september 2020

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Routines Matter

Setting a Smart Family Schedule

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outines and schedules. Some people hate the concepts and some love them. Our brains function better when we have them. Or at least a rough one. Truth is, all sorts of families function all sorts of ways, depending on lots of different things: jobs, school, age, family, personal interests, the list could go on. The fact is that no single routine or schedule will fit everyone’s needs.

Are you the type of person who runs the other way when you hear the word schedule or plan? I suggest giving a framework another consideration. Are you the type who gets overwhelmed because you have a thousand things to get done but when you make your list, it’s not quite as intimidating?

Most likely you have a to-do list like you do a calendar, all on your phone. I challenge you to write it down.

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Physically write your activities; do some different colors. Whatever works for your brain. This will help you to see what’s going on and potentially provide some structure. Even minimal structure will help. When you physically write out a calendar, it may look like a lot, but don’t let it discourage you. Yes, we’re all busy, but getting a realistic picture of things helps us make smart decisions for our family.

When you look at that packed schedule, do you feel like you need more downtime? Schedule it. You may think I’m nuts when I tell you to schedule downtime. If you don’t schedule it, will you take some? We’ll have every intention of doing it, but we won’t. Then we’ll be even more stressed. In today’s world, downtime seems a luxury we have to work

for. I think downtime should be a necessity.

Give yourself time to recharge. Even if that means sitting down to read, watch your favorite show or do an art project, whatever it is that helps you recharge. We will ultimately burn out if we don’t take the time.

In the end, your schedule belongs to your family. Before you accommodate anyone outside the family, make sure to preserve time for the things your family needs to function well. Remember this eye-opening thought: When you or anyone in your family says yes to anything, you are saying no to something else. Set your priorities and form your routines and schedules in the way that works best for you. Be lenient with yourself and allow wiggle room. I’ve found setting routines to be a good start and using my schedule as a somewhat rigid guideline to work best for me.

Our brains function better when we have routines and schedules. Or at least a rough one.

All of us can fly by the seat of our pants for a little while. Eventually, though, we sail cluelessly past something important.

Any schedule and routine regularly implemented is a smart schedule. That implementation can be tricky to achieve, though.

Do you notice a theme? Make the schedule that works for you first. Maybe it will take you a month or two to figure out a groove. Keep shifting and adjusting.

Eventually something will work. Just don’t be surprised when the seasons shift and your schedule needs a shift.

Here are some tips to help. These come from my own experiences, as well as some who have raised families successfully.

Think these things through:

1. Take into account your family goals.

• Do you want less screen time?

• Do you want a family day? Or a family morning or afternoon? Should it be weekly or monthly?

• Aim for simple structure. Schedules don’t have to be complicated or stressful.

2. At month’s end, take 20 to 30 minutes to reevaluate areas.

• Things happen and change; your schedule very well may need to shift (that’s okay).

• Make sure the calendar is visible to all.

• Get input from everyone. Make the process fun for everyone, so they are excited and engaged in the calendar. It might be more effective.

3. Start with chunks of time with a little wiggle room.

• Work, classes, practices and other activities take time. Put in the recurring time chunks.

• Add in the smaller things after big chunks.

• When you have free time, be intentional with it. Don’t waste it.

4. Individual Interests

• Give family time for individual interests.

• Set some time for one person to pick a shared activity with the family, so you can all do it together. You may not all enjoy the same things, but this approach builds shared interests and strong relationships.

Lauren Dreher lives in Stilwell with her husband and two toddlers. She enjoys setting and following a daily routine.

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kcparent.com september 2020

41

GRANDPARENTS

Rock!

Experience is one of the things that makes grandparents so special. Grandparents have a bird’s eye view of things while we parents are mired in the muck of daily parenting

challenges. In other words, they see it all before it happens.

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arents of parents have absolutely no substitution. That’s right folks, it’s old people time! Seriously, the greatest gift the universe has ever graced humanity with is grandparents. We parents never really give our parents the medals they truly deserve. No, really—grandparents really don’t get enough credit. I don’t know about you, but when the kiddos are tap dancing on my last nerve, the first person I usually call to ask for advice is my mom.

In all reality, we rarely slow down to perceive how our children resemble us as children, until we’re tested and a memory gets sparked. You know what I mean. I can think back on so many times when I got a little cheeky with my mom. Now that I’m older, and a little more experienced, I can totally say I UNDERSTAND! So how do they do it? What makes grandparents so grand? Keep reading ... you’ll find out.

Experience is one of the things that makes grandparents so special.

Grandparents have a bird’s eye view of things while we parents are mired in the muck of daily parenting challenges. In other words, they see it all before it happens.

Grandparents can reference their life experiences and our childhoods to give them a wise perspective we can’t yet see.

Grandparents, with years of experience, practice patience. Think about it: They often process and relay information much more deliberately than we or our children do.

They have lived so much and are an essential resource. I know my own grandparents always give me so many anecdotes of how they handled their problems with half the resources we have today. Their patience and experience offer me surprising techniques and perspectives.

Grandparents are also the best babysitters. Talk about people I trust! They have oodles of kid experience, are free and have enough blankets to get you through a snowstorm on the coldest days. Nana and Pop Pop are the ones to call—and kids love seeing their grandparents.

When I think back to sleepovers at my grandparents’ house, I remember the late night movies and the stories my grandma and papa would tell me of the trouble my parents would get into and how many times they had to get them out of trouble. We ate so much food and laughed most of the night.

My grandpa would reel me in to a good story with one of his 1,000-piece puzzles. He would take me to the den (his man cave), pour out the big box of pieces and tell me how he was working on a new one this week and how it was so much better than the last. Now that I think back, I’m pretty sure it was the same puzzle every time! We never actually finished

the puzzles, but he always had a funny story of how my mom snuck out and how he and my grandma would punish her and my aunts and uncle with endless chores when they found out. I didn’t consider it then, but the puzzle kept me busy, taught me how to be more patient and think things through.

The stories, believe it or not, kept me out of trouble. I mean who wants to wash endless mounds of dishes?

Grandparents are also tech savvy.

According to the Huffington Post, grandparents are encouraged in this generation to become more computer literate. Up to 75 percent of grandparents are online, 70 percent use search engines to find information and 63 percent of grandparents now shop online. I remember coaching my grandma on how to turn her computer on. It always took us a little bit, but we always got it! Today, she calls me to update me on the Facebook status of my distant cousins and their children.

A relationship between a child and grandparent is vitally important.

Grandparents teach, aid as well as learn.

Although we may not perceive it in the heat of parenting, we and our kids soak up loads of love and collect more common sense than we realize from grandparents—not to mention some of the best recipes ever.

Jessica Samuel lives in Kansas City and is a freelance writer and photographer.

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT GRANDPARENTS: National Grandparents Day is Sept. 13.

Because women outnumber and outlive men, grandmas outnumber grandpas.

Grandparents have the best home remedies.

10 percent of grandparents have tattoos.

Grandparents can fill you in on the decades you missed.

Grandparents keep the SECRET recipes.

Grandparents have the best stories.

More than half of grandparents are baby boomers and are around the age of 48.

According to Considerable.com, nine of 10 grandparents enjoy talking about their grandchildren to everyone.

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1

Include them in the cooking.

Pull up a chair or stool to the kitchen counter and teach those babies how to cook! They will have an investment in the process and be proud to present and try the meal they helped make. Sit down and ask what some of their favorite meals are and put the ingredients on the shopping list.

2

Include them in the shopping.

3

Heck, include them in the growing.

4

It’s all about presentation … and sauces!

5

Presto change-o.

Sometimes kids are picky simply because they want to exert their independence. One strategy to help them along this stage is to take them grocery shopping with you and let them choose some new things to try.

10 strategies to deal with a picky eater

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ant to know how parents of young kids can kick the chicken nugget, fruit snack and mac ’n

cheese habit? Check out these tried-and-true strategies to get picky eaters to switch to a healthier way of life.

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Cynthia Hiebert, mom of two, says, “Planting a garden is a great way to interest kids in partaking of the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor! We have a huge garden, and my kids will even eat pickled beets … I believe it’s because they helped weed the garden, pull up the beets and then can them with their dad.”

I know kids love fries, so I make sweet potatoes and carrots into long, thin pieces and bake them on a pan in the oven. Sauces and toppings are a must, so offer a variety. Ketchup, steak sauce, sour cream, ranch dip and others make your kids more likely to give something foreign a chance.

Change the fast food chicken nugget into a breadcrumbed, baked version. Courtney Ludwig-Shay, mom of one, says, “We try to take the beloved foods and make them in a healthy version. We make chicken bites instead of nuggets, fruit leathers instead of fruit snacks.”

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Just try it.

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Variety is the spice of life ... and no restaurant kids meals!

8

Be cool as a cucumber at mealtime.

“I try to provide at least one thing they’ll eat at each meal. If they don’t finish the rest, they don’t get to have a separate meal or snacks later. I also request they at least try each item, even if they ‘know’ they don’t like it,” says Annette M. Whipple, mom of three.

Cynthia Hiebert says, “I just fed my kids a wide variety of foods, including all types of ethnic foods, from the time they started on solids. Also, don’t order kids meals at restaurants; give them some of your food, or two or three kids could share a regular menu meal.”

Don’t engage in food battles but do hold your ground.

“I don’t make them finish their plates,” Gina Kennedy, mom of two, says. “They know when they’re full, and what’s left can be wrapped up for later. Plus, they’re more willing to try new things if they know they only have to try one bite instead of finishing every last crumb.”

9

Take your time in picky eater rehab.

Shannon Watkins, mom of seven, says, “I would say it’s a process. Take one meal per day and try to make healthier options. So if a child likes chicken nuggets, make homemade nuggets.”

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Repeat exposure.

Above all, be patient. Kennedy says, “A note on trying a bite: That’s not for new foods; that’s for all foods. Even foods they’re convinced they hate. The repeat exposure builds familiarity.”

Have fun with the process, try to be patient and you will likely soon be rewarded with a child who doesn’t fight you on every new thing, but who shocks you with wanting to try all sorts of food adventures!

Kerrie McLoughlin (TheKerrieShow.com) is the seasoned parent of five kids who will eat pretty much anything.

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HAVE KIDS, WILL PLAY

WAYS TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY YOUR KIDS

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hildhood is fleeting. It arrives quickly and leaves even faster.

Just a few short months ago, one of the biggest parenting fears was that we were so busy, scheduled and on-the-go-exhausted that we were missing pivotal childhood moments that we’d never get back.

So, someone rubbed the genie’s lamp and asked for more time with our children. And we got it. There’s a reason for the saying “Be careful what you wish for.”

Times have officially changed. Rather than running from sports events to private lessons to birthday parties, we’re mostly standing still. At home. Together. And as the nation slowly begins to reopen, parents have been given a gift. The gift of time with their children. Here’s a reminder of how to stop and enjoy the parenting, even when things are uncertain.

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Stop and See the Funny When you’re working and schooling from home, you have plenty of opportunities to see disaster and chaos. Try to turn those moments on their head by finding the humor in the situation. When your child accidentally dumps a glass of milk on the counter, halt the default reaction of critique and frustration. Take a breath and know that these moments must occur so that, someday, your child will learn how to keep them from happening. Dip some Fruit Loops in the milk that’s still on the table—not the floor—and show your child you can make some darned good cereal out of spilt milk.

Make a Reservation When it seems like all you have is time with your kids, be sure to carve out time that is just for them. Maybe it’s just one

single hour in the evening. Put your phone down, turn the TV off, and focus on them only. Play a game they want to play, not one that you prefer. (I can’t be the only one who hates playing Sorry.) Make a pizza together.

These moments to spend together are passing quickly; take advantage before they’re gone.

Mess It Up I can feel the cringes already, but hear me out. Kids have been cooped up for months, away from their friends, away from extended family and away from the “let off steam” time they’ve known their entire lives.

So go on, encourage a Tasmanian Devil moment. Let them dump the entire contents of their Lego bin onto the floor. Let them throw pillows or stuffed animals from the second floor down to the first floor. Make slime. Build a fort. Scream together at the

top of your lungs. Color outside the lines on purpose. Eat cookie dough with your fingers. Do something that deconstructs perfection. Let messy rule the day—or at least the hour.

Allow Discovery The calendar always shows something “up next.” Our constant to-do lists pose a very real threat to our children’s sense of self-discovery. Several weeks ago, my son was taking forever to get out of the car. I started to raise my voice and tell him to hurry it up, but something stopped me. The look on his face as he stood in the threshold of the door was inquisitive and pensive. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, “Nothing, but what is that?” He pointed to a bug on the pavement. It wasn’t a special bug by any means, but it was one he had never seen before. I lowered him from the car, and we examined the insect together for several moments. He asked me questions to which I did not have the answers, and then he gave

the bug a name: Beetle-Scorpion. He was thrilled. This entire encounter added only two minutes to my schedule, and I nearly missed it. Don’t miss it.

Get Out of Your Own Way I am not a Pinterest mom. My cookies are never Instagram worthy and you will never see me spontaneously create a craft from items around my house. However, I’m aware that children love nothing more than to create—with their parents. Consider trying a recipe or activity you can execute with relative precision and just do it. If or when you fail, don’t you dare try to hide it.

Don’t huff and puff at your imperfections.

Say, “Well, this pinwheel didn’t come out like the picture, but I actually like ours even better!” Showing our kids how to fail as much as we succeed is integral to ensuring they become self-aware and humble adults. Fail in front of them and have fun with it. Overthinking gives you premature wrinkles anyway.

We have a finite number of minutes, hours and seconds with our children that they actually want to share with us.

We too easily can convince ourselves we can do this later, create that in a minute and try out that thing next week. If the current state of the world is any indication, time with our kids is more precious than ever. The next 10 years aren’t a given, nor are the next 10 minutes. Get over yourself, your insecurities and your selfinflicted impossible standards. Be a kid with your kid. Time with them is more important than any conference call or climb up the corporate ladder. Seize the moments while they’re here and laugh the entire time.

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

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Having a philosophy about discipline—about which you remind yourself in those tense moments—will help you keep your eye on the goal of raising a respectful, responsible person.

Managing Misbehavior

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usan’s son was only a few years old when he started acting out, not listening and having strong, physical outbursts of frustration. Thinking it might be the normal behavior of a 2-year old, Susan and her husband tried the standard forms of discipline, believing things would work themselves out. They did not. The trials and tensions continued into their son’s teens.

Disobedience must be accompanied by consistent and effective discipline, but what will make a difference with your child? It’s often a frustrating time as you work to discover what will effectively curb your child’s unwanted behavior. Although discipline ideas abound, here are some that are universally agreed upon, accepted and effective.

Hold a Philosophy of Discipline Just the other day, I was reading an article about Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of those habits is to start with the end in mind. It doesn’t matter whether you are building a business, saving for a vacation or writing a book, you need to know what you want to achieve before you will actually achieve it. The same goes for discipline.

What are your discipline goals? What do you want your kids to learn? Stop misbehaving? To respect your authority? Do what you tell them to do? Listen? Do you want them to grow through the experience?

In its purest form, discipline is instruction. We discipline to help children know they’ve made the wrong decision, taken the wrong action or have the wrong attitude. Yet it’s important to understand that our goal isn’t to shame a child because he took a wrong turn, but to put him on the right course. Identifying wrong behavior is only half of discipline. Correcting and encouraging your child completes it.

Having a philosophy about discipline—about which you remind yourself in those tense moments—will help you keep your eye on the goal of raising a respectful, responsible person. It will also help you ensure that discipline doesn’t end with just the punishment, but also the follow-through of a better plan of action.

Agree Even before the beginning of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln knew that, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” What is true of a nation is true in our homes. Agreement is vital when it comes to discipline. If you and your spouse don’t have it, you could end up fighting with each other instead of standing together to stop poor behavior. It can be challenging. You may think your spouse is too harsh or too lenient, but it’s important to discuss those disagreements behind closed doors when the situation isn’t emotionally charged. Arguing in front of your child undermines your authority as parents and takes the focus off of the opportunity to teach correct behavior. It can also shake your child’s sense of security when he sees his parents arguing about him.

Don’t Underestimate the Young Mind The preschool years are an incredible time of learning and understanding. Maria Montessori, who began the Montessori schools, refers to this phenomenon as “the absorbent mind.”

She says, “From birth to (approximately) age 6, your child’s brain works in a very different way than an adult’s does. At this age, her mind is like a sponge, soaking up huge amounts of information from her environment. She is absorbing everything around her, effortlessly, continuously, and indiscriminately.”

You many notice your child repeating your words and hand gestures. She’s learning, and she can also learn the difference between right and wrong. Kansas City pediatrician Dr.Robert Cohen says that a child can be put into time-out about the same time he learns to walk.

“I recommend a time-out for as many years in age they are.

For example, if a child is 1 year old, they get one minute of time-out. If 2, then two minutes of time-out. They can handle that and they can learn early when they disobey.”

Pick Your Battles When your child is acting out at every conceivable moment, trying to correct all the behaviors is overwhelming.

It’s too much for them to take in, it’s too much for you to keep up with, and it’s exhausting. What you need to do is pick your battles.

I recently saw a quote that said, “Choose your battles wisely because if you fight them all you’ll be too tired to win the really important ones.” What is the most glaring offense in your child’s behavior? Start there. Let your child know what is expected of him, what the consequences are if he breaks the rules and don’t budge. You will need to be consistent, always.

Starting this when an issue first arises or when kids are young is the best time to confront behavior, but any time is better than allowing bad behavior to continue.

You will get tired of saying the same thing and be tempted to give up. Don’t. Because sometimes the battle is one of attrition. It’s your will against theirs, and the one who lasts the longest wins. You will be amazed when one day your child simply accepts what is expected. That battle will be over and your consistent parenting will be the victor.

Our ultimate goal as parents is to raise a whole and complete person who can adapt, adjust and fit well into society.

Allowing misbehavior to continue will not help you achieve that goal. The endeavor requires time, effort and patience, and you won’t do it perfectly. It may not feel as though you are winning every battle, but in the end, you will win the war.

Christian Barnes lives in Kansas City with her husband and two nearly grown sons. She’s fascinated by how children think and learn and enjoys sharing any information she’s gathered with others. kcparent.com kcparent.com september 2020 2020 september

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MAKING THE NIGHTTIME MONSTERS

GO AWAY!

SIMPLE STEPS CAN HELP YOUR CHILD OVERCOME A FEAR OF THE DARK

Making the nighttime monsters go away Simple steps can help your child overcome a fear of the dark

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hat shadow looked creepy! I can’t see anything in here! Where are you?

Sound familiar? Many children experience being afraid of the dark, a fear officially known as nyctophobia. It can make bedtime difficult and evenings in the winter challenging, but there are some practical ways for kids to move past that fear and turn those shadows into more friendly imaginative creatures.

Simone Moody, PhD, a clinical psychologist with Children’s Mercy, says children are susceptible to fears as their brains develop and they begin to understand that it is possible to experience harm.

She says the first step to helping kids overcome this fear is having them acknowledge it and asking for specifics about their fear. As they discuss how they feel, you may discover some changes you can do to help. This might include using a night-light, a comfort item or closing the closet door. Also, you might find they don’t struggle with the fear as much when their room is clean and various objects are not casting shadows on the wall.

Lee’s Summit mom Beka Baumgarten says although her children have not experienced significant fear of the dark, she lets them choose a color of night-light as a fun way of enjoying nighttime in their rooms.

Reassuring kids they are safe is important, but don’t overdo it, Moody says.

Drawing excessive attention to the fear will reinforce the perceived threat in kids’ minds, she says. Additionally, avoid rescuing a child when she is not in danger, as this can prevent kids from learning how to self-calm.

“You may unintentionally reinforce the fear by allowing your child to escape or avoid the dark when they are scared,” Moody says. “Rescuing your child can prevent them from learning the self-calming skills they need to cope without you.”

Gradually challenge children to face their fear in small, tolerable ways, she says.

This practice can teach kids their fear of the dark is a false alarm and gives them an opportunity to learn to regulate their emotions on their own.

“Meet children where they are at,” Moody says. “For example, you may start with challenging them to 30 seconds in the dark with a parent during the day. You can gradually fade parental presence, increase the length of the exposure and change the time of day to build their confidence.”

Having the child make positive statements, such as “I am safe in the dark” and “The dark helps me sleep,” can build confidence as well, according to Moody.

Lee’s Summit mom Carol Quinnelly says her young son was often scared to go downstairs to retrieve his blanket when some lights were off. She says she assured him it was okay to go downstairs and no monsters were down there. After facing this challenge a few times, he began to realize there were no monsters downstairs.

In many instances, fear of the dark is rooted in an active imagination, as kids often think they see things that are not real.

“Imagination is part of brain development,” Moody says. “Channel their

imaginations to make them experience less fear or make the situation less scary.”

To accomplish this, make positive associations with the dark. Consider having fun family conversations after dark and ask the kids to come up with funny stories while talking in a mostly dark room.

The good news is most kids generally outgrow this fear on their own. Before you know it, your child who was once afraid of the dark might begin enjoying nighttime activities.

HAVING FUN IN THE DARK It’s hard to be afraid of the dark when the dark is fun! How can you make the dark places fun for your child?

Moody offers the following tips for making positive associations with nighttime: • Have the child imagine a monster doing a stilly activity or dressing in a funny costume. Drawing the monster with funny characteristics is bound to make the child laugh as well.

• Practice making shadow puppets.

• Have a dance party with glow sticks.

• Play flashlight tag.

Other ideas for fun: • Teach your child to appreciate nighttime outside by looking up at the stars together. Consider getting a small telescope for better gazing.

• When it gets dark, read a book of jokes by flashlight. This will help the child begin associating the dark with laughter.

• Play soothing music when it is dark.

• If they are ready for a challenge, go camping and teach them that the sounds they hear at night have explanations.

Allison Gibeson is a Lee’s Summit writer and mom.

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

kcparent.com september 2020

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Tall Grasses of Kansas

GET OUTDOORS AND EXPLORE

Autumn in Kansas means beautiful tall prairie grasses glistening in the sun. Visit the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Kansas where the motto is “Tall in the Fall”—the grasses reach their maximum heights in September and October. The preserve is home to nearly 11,000 acres of wide open spaces where tall grass, wildflowers, wildlife and bison live. The scenic vistas overlook a historic ranch and one-room school with limestone buildings. Visitors are invited to hike or bike ride through the prairie. This national preserve is considered the jewel of the Kansas Flint Hills. Plan your visit with tips at NPS.gov/tapr/planyourvisit/index.htm.

Orchards and Overlooks in Weston, MO

Fall is a special time in the Midwest. From fiery autumn sunsets in the Flint Hills of Kansas, to golden fields of sunflowers, to crisp red apples begging to be picked … you can enjoy the best of autumn with these local ideas!

Weston is a favorite fall day trip destination. We love visiting the Weston Orchard & Vineyard (OrchardWeston. com) for fall apple and pumpkin picking.

The farm offers hayrides, jumping pillows, a zipline and beautiful views of the rolling hills of Weston. In addition to the orchard, Weston visitors enjoy exploring historic Main Street, home to many quaint boutiques and restaurants.

The Weston State Park nearby features paved trails for biking or hiking and is also a great place for a fall family campout. The trails lead to an overlook with views of the Missouri River, or you can head to the old Tobacco Barn where you’ll see a bit of local history.

Early Autumn Sunflowers Take a signature fall family photo at a local sunflower field. Two of Kansas’ most loved sunflower farms are Grinter’s Farm (24154 Stillwell Rd., Lawrence) and Berry Hill UPick Farm Sunflowers (5950 Southeast Croco Rd., Berryton, KS). Both farms update fans with their blooming status on Facebook. If you visit Grinter’s in Lawrence, spend some time at Prairie Park Nature Center. Enjoy

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hands-on nature exhibits for kids and scenic nature trails. Berryton’s is near Topeka, where kids love visiting the Kansas Discovery Center, one of the best hands-on children’s museums in the region, and the Topeka Zoo, where feeding giraffes is a favorite activity.

Black Hoof Park

Hand Picked Vegetables, Apples and Pumpkins

Legacy Park in Lee’s Summit

Johnson’s Farm (JohnsonFarms.net) in Belton is one of our favorite local pumpkin patches and family farms. In the fall, families enjoy picking apples and fresh vegetables, in addition to visiting the pumpkin patch. The farm features beautiful multicolored sunflowers, a wide range of fall produce you can pick from the garden (including peppers, tomatoes, lettuces, squash, zucchini and more) and their famous mums. Johnson’s Farm is a fantastic fall destination for all your landscaping and produce needs, in addition to being one of the most fun pumpkin patches in the area.

Fresh Apple Cider The Louisburg Cider Mill (LouisburgCiderMill.com) is the quintessential fall destination. Apple cider is processed at the mill, where visitors are invited to watch the process firsthand. (A glass viewing area protects the cider press.) Watching the making of cider donuts is another mouthwatering experience. The mill is also home to a country store that sells a variety of tasty treats and decorative items. Adjacent to the mill and store you’ll find the family farm and pumpkin patch where visitors enjoy hayrides and fall family fun.

Try a New Trail Kansas City boasts many beautiful trails for fall hiking. A few of our favorites:

Parkville Nature Sanctuary (100-198 E. 12th St., Parkville). This wooded trail leads to a beautiful waterfall.

(9053 Monticello Rd., Lenexa). This paved trail goes around Lenexa Lake and over the beautiful Lenexa Lake Dam with it’s beautiful cascading layers of water.

The scenic trail winds through woods and around the lake.

(1501 NE Legacy Park Dr., Lee’s Summit).

The park features paved trails through woods and around a pond.

Indian Creek Trail The 26-mile trail heads are at Blue River Greenway Trail just south of East Bannister Road (Kansas City, MO) and Hampton Park at South Warwick Street.

(Olathe). The paved trail is one of the most popular walking and biking trails in the metro. It crosses creeks, urban areas, and goes through wooded terrain.

Berkley Riverfront Park (1892 River Front Dr., Kansas City, MO).

Enjoy amazing views of Downtown Kansas City, as well as the architecture of the downtown bridges and the mighty Missouri River. You may rent bikes on this trail.

Shawnee Mission Park (7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee). The park is home to a variety of nature trails. You can explore woods, prairie and the lake on foot or on a bike.

Blue River Greenway Trail (East Red Bridge Road & Blue River Road).

The paved trail is ideal for walking, biking and even wheelchairs. Explorers will find love locks on the Old Red Bridge, historic ruins, the Alex George Lake and, of course, the Little Blue River.

Burr Oak Woods Nature Center Trails (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs).

Carl Chinnery Trail at Unity Village (1901 NW Blue Pkwy., Unity Village, MO). This 2.6-mile gravel trail features a natural bridge and leads to Unity Lake and Little Cedar Creek.

Jerry Smith Conservation Area Trail (139th & Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, MO). The beautiful trail (fairly even but mostly gravel, not smooth for wheels) goes through the prairies of Missouri.

Loose Park (5200 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO).

The park, rightfully dubbed the Jewel of Kansas City, is home to a spectacular rose garden, lovely duck pond and beautiful paved trails for a stroll through the city’s prettiest urban park.

Longview Lake Trails (9898 Longview Rd., Kansas City, MO). If you park at Shelter 14 (near the marina), you can rent bikes from BikeKC. The view around the lake is beautiful, and the kids enjoy going through the tunnel and in the woods.

Rock Island Trail There are two official trailheads: 98th Street (12600 E. 98th St., Kansas City, MO) and Hartman Park (700 SW Pryor Rd., Lee’s Summit). The trail is fairly smooth and covered in chat gravel, making it ideal for walking and biking.

A favorite spot on the trail is the Vale Tunnel (a former railroad tunnel) that is closest to the 98th Street trailhead.

Kristina Light loves fall most of all and looks forward to apples, pumpkins and trail time with her daughters.

You’ll find paved and unpaved trails for walking and hiking. The main trail around the center also features the Discover Nature Classroom for kids. kcparent.com september 2020

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A B CS OF FALL

IDEAS TO KICK-START YOUR COOLER, COLORFUL FALL SEASON

F

all has arrived! We’ve made it through a warm, sometimes sweltering, and active summer, and the change of season brings promise and hope, along with more unique activities. Our area boasts some of the tastiest treats, memory-making locales and miles of trails, fall foliage and activities. No matter what school looks like this year, make a point to give your children an extra dose of extracurricular fun to make up for any activities they may miss out on. A positive attitude and a bit of creativity will get us through!

A

IS FOR APPLES. We are so

lucky to have orchards nearby that give us the opportunity to pick our own apples and lots more! Fun fall memories can be made going on hayrides, drinking apple cider, fishing and more. Check out Cider Hill Family Orchard, Johnson Farms, Alldredge Orchards and more. Simply do a little research to find the location that suits your family. Make sure to check orchard hours before you go.

B

IS FOR BOBBER. Cooler temps make fishing

all the more fun and picnics a pleasant treat as you toss in your line. Pack up your bait, sandwiches, fresh water and granola bars and scout out your local stocked ponds. Catch and release or bring some home to enjoy for dinner.

C

IS FOR CORN MAZE. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead immediately pops to mind for many of us who’ve taken our children there over the years. In addition to a completely kid-friendly hay bale maze, they offer pony rides, horse-drawn hayrides and a petting zoo.

And of course, plenty of pumpkins. Kirby Farm in Bonner Springs offers a kids corn maze, zip line and a spook house.

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D

IS FOR DAYTRIP. Many historical, educational places are great to visit during the fall season.

Lexington, MO, is home to the historic Battle of the Hemp Bales, and you can take a walking tour through the Anderson House and more. Restaurants in town are family oriented, and it’s a short drive through scenic countryside. Search other nearby venues to fit your family’s interests.

E

IS FOR EMU. Or eagle,

elephant and Eskimo dog.

Begin with this letter and learn about each animal you come up with. Then, select a letter a day and have your children think of animals that begin with that letter and research what they eat, where they live and how they play. Don’t forget the new elephant exhibit at the KC Zoo!

F

IS FOR FIREPIT. Build your own!

Search online for many do-ityourself tricks to create your own.

There is nothing better than a glowing fire on a cool evening for roasting hot dogs, toasting marshmallows and telling stories.

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L

H

M

IS FOR GARDENING. Plant bulbs that will come to life next spring. Scout your local garden store for such spring bloomers as daffodils, iris, tulips and wildflowers. Pick a spot and teach your kiddos how to dig with their own small shovels, then place the bulb at the proper depth. Mark the spot with a cute statue or flag, and record on the calendar when you planted and when you expect them to bloom. After the long winter, all of you will relish the surprise of watching bright yellow daffodils pop up through the earth!

IS FOR HAYRIDE. Many venues offer hayrides

through the fall season. Why not have your own? Little ones will enjoy filling the trailer behind your riding lawn mower with hay, then riding around the yard or street. Make sure you have a blanket to cover the itchy hay!

I

IS FOR INSECT. Through the summer, we battle plenty

of bugs, including mosquitos, ants, crickets and worms.

Then, as fall approaches, fireflies light the sky and locusts sing in the trees. Get sticker books that feature crawlies and have your children see whether they can find the pictured insects. Discuss how bugs help us and why they appear at different times of the year. Include discussion about the honeybee and its value!

J

IS FOR JELLY. Why not take a morning or afternoon

to try your hands at canning your own jelly? A wide array of fresh fruit is available now, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and peaches. Your children will delight in making their own special companion for peanut butter and biscuits. Recipes online are simple, and Mason jelly jars are on the shelves of your dollar stores and Wal-Mart.

K

IS FOR KANSAS CITY CHIEFS! We all hope to see our Super Bowl champs take the field in front of a live crowd, but even if they play in an empty stadium, get your kids excited! Make posters, wear your Chiefs gear and create a great home tailgate party. And if the NFL does allow crowds, go to a game!

IS FOR LEAVES. They are everywhere! Instead of mulching them with your mower, why not do some old-fashioned raking? Your children will like making piles and jumping in them and hiding from one another. Take a drive in the country and discuss why the leaves turn gold, red and yellow in this season. It’s sort of like shedding the old coat for the new.

IS FOR MAKE A NON-SCARY HALLOWEEN. We may not know exactly what

kind of Halloween is in store for us this year, but we can determine to have some fun. Whether trick-ortreaters appear or not, we can dress for the occasion. This season create your own costumes. A little ingenuity will pay off; check websites for easy ideas. Looking for a scary surprise for your own kiddos? Hang up a shower curtain around your porch, then set out a bowl with grapes in Jell-O for eyeballs, cold spaghetti in water for brains and, of course, a bowl of dry ice to make mysterious night air.

N

IS FOR NEST. All summer, you have watched birds flying around, collecting grass and leaves for their eggs and babies. Why not take a walk in a park and search for nests? If you want more birds around for the fall, make a pinecone bird feeder. Recipes are online and involve such simple items as peanut butter, bird seed and string. If you don’t have a pinecone, use an old paper towel holder! Hang it where you can watch the birds forage. And if you use sunflower seeds, you may see a sunflower grow up beside your feeder!

O

IS FOR ORANGE. Around this time of year,

the leaves begin to range from golden to orange to auburn, the sun is tilted in the sky resembling an orange ball, and pumpkins dot the landscape.

Why not create your own orange collage? Discuss why the leaves turn and how to grow pumpkins. Toast some pumpkin seeds and discuss planting some next spring. Try naming and eating as many orange foods as you can, from peaches to sweet potatoes to cantaloupe!

P

IS FOR PUMPKIN. The timeless activity of carving

or painting pumpkins delights young and old. Their bright orange color is a cheerful sight as you drive around. Select your own and make a visit to Louisburg Cider Mill, Carolyn’s Country Cousins, Weston Red Barn Farm or other festive locales to truly get into the autumn mood.

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Q

IS FOR QUILTS. The art of quilt making is popular right now, and KC Maker Studio owner Patti Meier welcomes all ages to learn the craft.

Her home in Kansas City is ideal for learning, and she offers a Kids Can Quilt class. This four-session class will be Saturday mornings beginning Sept. 26, from 10:00 to noon, and children will learn to make a small throw or a quilted pillow. Visit KCMakerStudio.com or call Meier at 816.686.3570.

R

IS FOR RENT A CABIN IN THE WOODS, OR EVEN AN RV. Many campgrounds have RVs to

rent, and this is a great opportunity to enjoy nature and the nice, crisp fall weather without breaking the bank. For active kiddos, a woodsy rental can be much better than renting a hotel room! Check websites for spots nearby.

S

IS FOR SCARECROW.

Make your own! Many garden stores, even Lowe’s and Wal-Mart, have corn stalks for sale. Rummage through your old flannel shirts, scarves and hats to dress the guy. Involve your kids in the process and ask whether they want a boy or a girl scarecrow or even a family with children. Use hay to stuff the shirt, pants or skirt and tie it up with a belt. The face can be a paper plate your kids draw a face on!

T

IS FOR TASTE TESTING. Take advantage of

the cooler temps to bake apple crisp, make hot apple cider, simmer hot chocolate and dip caramel apples.

Come up with a list of treats your kids would like and make each an event. For example, when making hot chocolate, spread peppermint candy, cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, shaved chocolate and gingersnap cookies on a decorative tablecloth for your children to add in. Visit a dime store for creative mugs for everybody!

U

IS FOR USEFUL. In this time of caring for others,

have a conversation with your children about how they can be useful in their own neighborhood. Perhaps the neighbor needs his grass mowed, or trash has accumulated along the road. Bake some cookies or fresh banana bread for the older neighbor and then deliver the goodies. Check your church to see whether they can help you begin a donation drive for a charity. The art of giving can be taught at any age.

V

IS FOR VISIT. Whether via Zoom or Facetime,

make an effort to visit a different person every week.

Remember people who may feel alone and friends who live far away. If possible, plan a trip to see them and bring cheer with you, including pies, cookies, special drawings and fall mums.

W

IS FOR WINNING!

At such games as horseshoes, croquet, cornhole and dominoes. These games will get your kiddos off their computers and help them learn new skills. Make your own cornhole game featuring whatever logo you wish. You can find DIY instructions online to make this simple game. Horseshoes will amaze your kids, and again, this is simple. Put a stake in the yard and toss away. Cheer each other on, then give everyone a prize just for playing!

X

IS FOR X-RAY...vision, that is! Pick items or animals and pretend you can see the insides of them.

Your dog just ate food? Where does it go? Inside his stomach!

Talk about what goes on inside your own head and research the areas of the brain that make you happy or sad. Let your kids pick what they want to investigate.

Y

IS FOR YOU! Discuss how important your children are in this world, even with the worry and trouble going on. Make your children feel special by writing down their strengths. For example, you are the best at coloring, you are the best friend to your baby brother, you are caring to everyone you meet, and more. Detail these special traits and hang them on the fridge or bathroom mirror so they will begin each day with a positive attitude.

Z

IS FOR ZIP LINE. This activity beckons at a variety of locations around the city. Check out Adventure Zip KC in Bonner Springs or Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Swope Park in Kansas City, MO. You’ll find a number of zip line parks in Branson, MO, if you want to make that trip. Silver Dollar City is also on the way!

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

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SIX-STOP TOUR

OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT IN OVERLAND PARK 1. GO ON AN ART HUNT

2. JUMP FOR JOY

3. SHOP LOCAL

4. LEARN LOCAL HISTORY

5. PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY

6. FEAST ON BARBECUE

There are hundreds of pieces of public art in Overland Park. You can take a tour of these local masterpieces throughout the city. You’ll find traditional and modern outdoor sculptures celebrating the city’s history, nature and whimsy. Use this map to visit OP’s public art: bit.ly/3kwnUSp.

Urban Air Overland Park is a great place to enjoy indoor fun. This indoor venue includes a Kidzone, Urban Air Warrior Course, foam pit, slam dunk trampoline experience and a variety of trampolines. Open Jump is held daily and is perfect for any age, fitness level or athletic ability. UrbanAir TrampolinePark.com

Downtown Overland Park is situated on the historic Santa Fe Trail. The district is now a bustling shopping district with a farmers market and nearly 300 locally owned businesses. Enjoy delicious dining, local boutiques, shops and businesses as you explore the charm of an old-fashioned Main Street district.

DowntownOP.org

The Johnson County Museum is a great resource for local history.

With exhibits and displays remembering local businesses, as well as changing exhibits, the museum is a great place to spend a day.

Little ones love KidScape where they can play and imagine they are grown up in a pint-sized village.

JoCoMuseum.org

Ceramic Café is a local paint-yourown pottery shop where you may try your hand at clay building, ceramic painting and glass fusing. Make a reservation to paint at the shop or purchase supplies to paint at home.

The shop also offers special events, parties and more.

CeramicCafeKC.com

Q39 is one of the city’s newer barbecue restaurants, but it’s already claimed a spot in the heart of many locals. The restaurant introduced a new concept in barbecue and wood-fire grilling, opening the area’s first open barbecue scratch kitchen.

The atmosphere and delicious food have made it one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in the metro.

Q39KC.com kcparent.com september 2020

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FOR EVEN

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

september

CALENDAR

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

Please call to verify event details.

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Elephant Expedition at the Kansas City Zoo

visit

shop

enjoy

listen

help

If you haven’t been yet, head to Kansas City Zoo to see the new Elephant Expedition!

Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family.

KansasCItyZoo.org

Saturday mornings bring the Farmers Market in the Shawnee City Hall parking lot.

Purchase fresh produce and other goods from local vendors.

CityOfShawnee.org

Kids will enjoy Retro Story Time on Sept. 10 at 10:00 at the Johnson County Museum. Enjoy a story from long ago and a craft activity.

Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

On Sept. 20 at 5:00 enjoy the Outdoor Concert Series at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa.

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner.

Lenexa.com

Sept. 26 is Dream Big Day to benefit Children’s Mercy.

Virtual celebration and walk to help find hope for kids.

For more info and to register, visit DreamBigDay.org.

1 Tuesday Dinosaur Road Trip 9:00, Union Station. A walk-through prehistoric adventure with 26 lifesize animatronic dinosaurs that you and your family won’t want to miss! UnionStation.org Elephant Expedition 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The new elephant exhibition is open at the zoo.

Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family. KansasCItyZoo.org

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

816.235.8000 Little Leapers 10:00, Sky Zone. A time for little ones to bounce under the supervision of their parents and without interference from the big kids. SkyZone.com

3 Thursday Kidscape 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Bring the family to visit the experience where kids time travel to different periods and communities from the region’s past. JCPRD.com/museum

Fall Homeschool Day Today & tomorrow, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm.

Homeschool families are invited to compare work and play of the 1860s to today.

Mahaffie.org Fun and Games 10:00, Powell Gardens. Spend your summer playing outside in the gardens, where new games and activities are popping up in this summer exhibit. PowellGardens.org Nature Story Time 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Join for music, movement and adventures outdoors. Ages 2-5 with a parent.

Pre-reg at OPKansas.org.

First Fridays 5:00, Crossroads Arts District.

Galleries and shops remain open later on the first Friday of each month. KCCrossroads.org Friday in the Park 11:30, Macken Park. Enjoy a free live performance in a beautiful park setting. Music by local bands. NKC.org Independence Days Today & tomorrow, Bernard Park (Lansing). Rescheduled from July.

Enjoy music, food, fireworks and family fun!

Lansing.ks.us

10:00am-7:00pm 7 days a week

Movie in the Park 8:00, Cornerstone Park (Gardner). Brink a blanket or chairs, pack some snacks and head to the park to see Sonic the Hedgehog! GardnerKansas.gov Light Up the Lawn 8:30, Nerman Museum Lawn. Enjoy a concert by Kansas City-based Tullamore, one of the Heartland’s premier Celtic bands. JCCC.edu/carlsencenter

5 Saturday

4 Friday

Open Sept. 19-Oct. 31

Sounds on the Square 7:00, Linden Square.

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

LindenSquare.info

Farmers Market 7:00, City Hall parking lot (Shawnee). Shop local! Purchase fresh produce and other goods from local vendors.

CityOfShawnee.org First Saturday Event 10:00, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Enjoy family activities and historical demonstrations of life in Missouri during the 19th century. 816.792.2655 Saturday Feeder 3:30 tour, 4:00 feeding, Cedar Cove. Come to see the public feeding of the cats, weather permitting. Tour sizes limited.

SaveOurSiberians.org

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 $2 off single admission.

Cannot be combined with other offers.

kcparent.com september 2020

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Parkville Cruise Nights 4:00, Downtown Parkville. Hang out with friends, listen to music, come see all the cars, while also exploring downtown Parkville. ParkvilleMo.org

6 Sunday 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 Outdoor Concert Series 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (Lenexa). Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy a variety of live music at the Grand Pavilion. Lenexa.com

7 Monday LABOR DAY Jazz on the Square 5:30, Corbin Theatre. The Corbin Theatre presents Jazz on the Square on the first Monday of every month. Free.

CorbinTheatre.org

8 Tuesday Visit the Nature Center 8:00, Burr Oak Woods.

The building is closed, but the trails are open!

Take a hike on a trail and enjoy all nature has to offer. Nature.mdc.mo.gov

HAVING A BABY SOON? Check out KC Parent’s Interactive Virtual Hospital Labor & Delivery Guide at KCParent.com

Cooks and Books 9:30, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. Enjoy listening to a favorite book and then make a tasty treat. Ages 2-5 with an adult. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Pottery Painting 10:00, Ceramic Café. Make a reservation and bring the kids in to create a masterpiece. Creative assistants will guide you through the process. CeramicCafeKC.com Elephant Expedition 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The new elephant exhibition is open at the zoo.

Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family. KansasCItyZoo.org

9 Wednesday

Our interactive virtual Hospital Labor & Delivery Guide has images, complete descriptions, video, social media links and much more.

SEARCH HOSPITALS BY: LOCATION | NICU LEVEL | CLASSES OFFERED

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Retro Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Enjoy a story from long ago, read by a special guest. Craft activity is included! Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

Little Leapers 10:00, Sky Zone. A time for little ones to bounce under the supervision of their parents and without interference from the big kids. SkyZone.com

10 Thursday Visit the Farm Johnson Farms. Bring the family for a visit to the farm! Offering u-pick sunflowers and fall vegetable patch. Visit JohnsonFarms.net for details.

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

816.235.8000

11 Friday Dinosaur Road Trip 9:00, Union Station. A walk-through prehistoric adventure with 26 lifesize animatronic dinosaurs that you and your family won’t want to miss! UnionStation.org Visit the Nature Center 9:00, Lakeside Nature Sanctuary. Visit the nature sanctuary with the family. Download a scavenger hunt from LakesideNatureCenter.org.

• 22,000 Garden Mums in 36 Varieties • U-Pick Apples, Veggies, Sunflowers and Pumpkins • Friendly Farm Animals • Jumping Pillows and Plenty of Outside Play Area • Pumpkin Donuts and Cider Slushies

FAMILY SEASON PASSES AVAILABLE 177th and Holmes • 816.331.1067 www.johnsonfarms.net

Friday Night Concert 7:00, Macken Park Pavilion. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and join us at the Festival Shelter in Macken Park to sit back, relax and listen to live music. NKC.org

12 Saturday Farmers Market 7:00, City Hall parking lot (Shawnee). Shop local! Purchase fresh produce and other goods from local vendors.

CityOfShawnee.org Opening Day Historic Weston Orchard. Bring the family out for the first day of fun for pumpkin season. WestonOrchardAndVineyard.com Nature Story Time 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Join for music, movement and adventures outdoors. Ages 2-5 with a parent.

Pre-reg at OPKansas.org.

NOW OPEN!

Saturday Feeder 3:30 tour, 4:00 feeding, Cedar Cove. Come to see the public feeding of the cats, weather permitting. Tour sizes limited.

SaveOurSiberians.org

LIMITED Group Size Morning and Afternoon Sessions Enhanced Cleaning

Fiesta on the Square 7:00, Linden Square. The evening features food and dancing and music

by KC Latin Orchestra and 3 Amigos Mariachi.

LindenSquare.info Raytown Live 7:00, Greenspace in Town Center. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a family-friendly concert with neighbors and friends. Raytown.live

Museum

8788 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS jocoahc.com

For more info & to book your session: JCPRD.com/Museum kcparent.com september 2020

61

Pumpkin Patch Giveaway Visit KCParent.com to win tickets to all of your favorite pumpkin patches. Fall fun for the whole family! KCParent.com

13 Sunday GRANDPARENTS DAY Grandparents Day Noon, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Grandparents Day is a great day to share 1860s living history with the whole family! Mahaffie.org KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com

Elephant Expedition 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The new elephant exhibition is open at the zoo. Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family.

KansasCItyZoo.org Intro to Sports 10:00, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. Explore the world of sports! Kids can try out several popular sports and see what interests them. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

15 Tuesday

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

Register for Dream Big Day Children’s Mercy.

Virtual celebration and walk to rally the community around finding hope for kids. For more info and to register, visit DreamBigDay.org.

Kidscape 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Bring the family to visit the experience where kids time travel to different periods and communities from the region’s past. JCPRD.com/museum

14 Monday

16 Wednesday

17 Thursday

Fall Session Begins Kansas City Young Audiences. Now more than ever, kids need the arts. Virtual or in-person classes available for kids age 5-18. KCYA.org

Farmers Market 8:00, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Support local! Flowers, honey and produce available from local farms.

DowntownLS.org/market

Pottery Painting 10:00, Ceramic Café. Make a reservation and bring the kids in to create a masterpiece. Creative assistants will guide you through the process. CeramicCafeKC.com

VOTED TOP 10 ORCHARDS IN THE NATION BY USA TODAY

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. 12 - OCT. 31

Open 7 days a week 9:00-5:00 $10/person on weekends – $8 for active military $7/person Monday-Thursday – $5 for active military

WINE TASTINGS DAILY 18545 Co Rd H | Weston, Missouri 816.253.8240 | WestonOrchardAndVineyard.com

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18 Friday Kids Day Out 7:30, Johnson County Museum.

Discover history through KidScape and museum exhibits, play games and enjoy downtime. Pre-reg at 913.826.2787.

Opening Day 8:00, Louisburg Cider Mill. Fall fun for the entire family! Enjoy hayrides, corn maze, corn crib, tire tower, cider donuts, pumpkins and much more! LouisburgCiderMill.com Friday in the Park 11:30, Macken Park. Enjoy a free live performance in a beautiful park setting.

Music by local bands. NKC.org Brush Creek Art Walk Thru Sunday, Brush Creek.

Ninth Annual plein air painting competition along the walkways of Brush Creek. KCParks.org Gardner Glow 7:30, 8:30 or 9:30, Winwood Park.

Come ready to glow in neon clothing, glow-inthe-dark face paint, glow jewelry, and more.

Then run or walk. Pre-reg at GardnerKansas.gov.

19 Saturday Farmers Market 7:00, City Hall parking lot (Shawnee). Shop local! Purchase fresh produce and other goods from local vendors.

CityOfShawnee.org

Opening Day Carolyn’s Country Cousins. Bring the family out to the pumpkin patch! First day of fun for the season. See pg. 59 for a moneysaving coupon! CarolynsCountryCousins.com Sounds on the Square 7:00, Linden Square. Bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a familyfriendly concert. Picnics allowed. LindenSquare.info

20 Sunday KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. $.75/ride. KCNRR.com Group Hayrides Thru Nov 22, Shawnee Mission and Heritage Parks. Call to schedule your group hayride and enjoy the great outdoors! Ride concludes with a campfire. 913.831.3359 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 Outdoor Concert Series 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (Lenexa). Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy a variety of live music at the Grand Pavilion. Lenexa.com

21 Monday Pottery Painting 10:00, Ceramic Café. Make a reservation and bring the kids in to create a masterpiece. Creative assistants will guide you through the process. CeramicCafeKC.com Elephant Expedition 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The new elephant exhibition is open at the zoo.

Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family. KansasCItyZoo.org

22 Tuesday Visit the Nature Center 9:00, Lakeside Nature Sanctuary. Visit the nature sanctuary with the family. Download a scavenger hunt from LakesideNatureCenter.org.

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

816.235.8000 Little Leapers 10:00, Sky Zone. A time for little ones to bounce under the supervision of their parents and without interference from the big kids. SkyZone.com

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

25 Friday Friday in the Park 11:30, Macken Park. Enjoy a free live performance in a beautiful park setting.

Music by local bands. NKC.org Group Hayrides Thru Nov 22, Shawnee Mission and Heritage Parks. Call to schedule your group hayride and enjoy the great outdoors! Ride concludes with a campfire. 913.831.3359 Kids Night Out 6:00, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse. Night of mystery! Play games, make your own dessert and more! Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

26 Saturday Farmers Market 7:00, City Hall parking lot (Shawnee). Shop local! Purchase fresh produce and other goods from local vendors.

CityOfShawnee.org

Dream Big Day Children’s Mercy. Virtual celebration and walk to rally the community around finding hope for kids. For more info and to register, visit DreamBigDay.org.

Museum FREE Day 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Experience the museum with your family for FREE today. Timed sessions available.

Pre-reg at 913.826.2787.

Opening Day Johnson Farms. Today is the first day of pumpkin season! Come visit for fall fun for the whole family! JohnsonFarms.net

27 Sunday Outdoor Concert Series 5:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (Lenexa). Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy a variety of live music at the Grand Pavilion.

Lenexa.com

28 Monday

Visit the Nature Center 8:00, Burr Oak Woods.

The building is closed, but the trails are open!

Take a hike on a trail and enjoy all nature has to offer. Nature.mdc.mo.gov Kidscape 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Bring the family to visit the experience where kids time travel to different periods and communities from the region’s past. JCPRD.com/museum

30 Wednesday Farmers Market 8:00, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Support local! Flowers, honey and produce available from local farms.

DowntownLS.org/market

Look for KC Parent’s

Elephant Expedition 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The new elephant exhibition is open at the zoo.

Reserve a time online and plan a visit with the family. KansasCItyZoo.org

WE ARE OPEN!

Check our website and Facebook for the latest details on open hours and admissions. Check out our new MATS activities Wednesdays starting September 9.

29 Tuesday

W

BIG PUMPKIN PATCH GUIDE

in the October issue and online at KCParent.com!

WEE

Child Development Center ORKSHOP “Where Your Child is Special”

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

“Where Your Child Is Special”

Ages 2 weeks to 12 years 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

10% OFF infant room for Two Convenient Locations: Child Development nd & enrollment.

MetcalfCenter Ave 127th &year Antioch first with162 new “Where Your Child is Special” 913.681.2191 913.681.2190 7/31/19

2 weeks to 12 since years FamilyAges Owned and Operated Part-Time Preschool (Ages 1990 3-5) 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

9:00-11:30 or 9:00-3:00 weeworkshopchildcare.com Mother’s Day Out (12 mos-3 years) 9:00-3:00

Two Convenient Locations: 127th & Antioch

162nd & Metcalf Ave

913.681.2190 Two Convenient913.681.2191 Locations:

162nd &and Metcalf Ave 127 & Antioch Family Owned 913.681.2191 913.681.2190 Operated Since 1990 Family Owned and Operated since 1990 weeworkshopchildcare.com weeworkshopchildcare.com th

1200 Kansas City Road Olathe, Kansas • 913.971.5111 Activities vary by season Visit www.mahaffie.org

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1ST SATURDAY EVENTS September 5 16TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL October 3rd 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS December 12th 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

816.792.2655

ShoalCreekLivingHistoryMuseum.com

DARE TO DREAM BIG WITH US!

Sat., Sept. 26 Create a team with your friends and family! Register for a fun-filled day of virtual activities at DreamBigDay.org.

Your End of Summer Adventure

as

DinoSAUR

low

Tic ket s a s

$10 *

Open Daily

UNION STATION

.org UnionStation

Prehistoric Walk-Thru Adventure

*Excludes Taxes & Fees

“Every family needs this fun escape!”

OPEN LABOR DAY! Voted “Favorite FamilyFriendly Attraction” -VisitKC

NOW OPEN: Three New Adventures For Your Youngest Learners

Let’s Play

Creative Corner

Plan Your Visit Today ScienceCity.com • Union Station Members visit FREE

All Aboard Proud to be a

Smithsonian Affiliate

Go Wild

Visit the

New

Elephan Expediti t on NOW OP

EN!

Reserve Your Timed Ticket Online at KansasCityZoo.org

Check online for more Zoomazing experiences!

kansascityzoo.org | 816.595.1234 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.

Audi Shawnee Mission #AudiTogether

The all-new Audi Q7 Room for Seven.

You can even bring the Grandparents.

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