KC Parent Magazine December 2017

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Merry & Bright YOUR KC CHRISTMAS GUIDE

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DECEMBER 2017

IN EVERY ISSUE 12 Teacher Talk 14 Healthy Kids

16-PAGE HOLIDAY GUIDE, PG. 36

37 Craft Corner 41 Media Mix 46 Word from Dad

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTIONS 24 Party Guide 36 Holiday Guide 52 Calendar of Events

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48

Hot Letters

Save Money

Sweet Memories

Cool off a hot temper through letter writing

Tips for helping kids stay out of debt

Create memories with a visit to local sweet shops

Our cover features Ally from Lenexa.

Cover and select interior photos by KiaBondurant.com.

FREE | December 2017 | KCParent.com | Since 1985

ON THE COVER

Merry & Bright YOUR KC CHRISTMAS GUIDE

GREAT GIFTS

Special Needs Playdates

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Better Mornings

22

Yarn Wrapped Trees

37

Great Gift Ideas

42

Sweet Holiday Traditions

48

FESTIVE CRAFTS SWEET TRADITIONS

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Tips FOR EASIER MORNINGS IN YOUR HOME!

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EDITOR’SLETTER DECEMBER 2017

Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design Kim@KCParent.com Advertising Sales Darrell Dean Advertising@KCParent.com Digital Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Event Calendar Susan Lynn Calendar@KCParent.com Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com Distribution To be added to our distribution list, e-mail Distribution@KCParent.com Local Contributing Writers

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GREAT GIFTS FESTIVE CRAFTS SWEET TRADITIONS

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Merry Christmas to you, Kansas City!

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his year I celebrated 10 years working with KC Parent magazine. It’s hard to imagine that when I started I had a preschooler and kindergartener and now I have a daughter in middle school and one in high school! Where does the time go?!? As a part of my 10-year celebration, my younger was graciously asked to be on the cover (a lifelong dream of hers). I’m one proud mama, seeing her on the cover and she and my older on pg. 36. Thanks to Family Media Group for being so wonderful to work for the past 10 years! Here’s to the next 10!

Speaking of celebrations, they are a big part of December, and we’re here to help! Our 16-page Holiday Guide is chock-full of great info to help you stay sane during the next 31 days. Need some gift ideas? Check out pg. 42 for gifts that won’t take up much space but will create lasting memories. Want to teach kids that it’s more important to give than receive? We’ve got ideas on 10 ways kids can give back during the holiday season on pg. 40. Looking for a clever craft to keep kids occupied or a new recipe for a sweet treat to take to that party? Check and check!

Head to pg. 37 to make adorable yarn trees and pg. 47 for cherry cheesecakes.

And, on a personal note, this December brings the second anniversary of my dad’s unexpected passing. I miss him dearly, think of him daily and enjoy the little reminders of him that pop up. Recently, my sister was playing a recording of a voicemail he had left her. I was driving as I listened to it and happened to be stopped at a stoplight. The car in front of me had a sticker from the dealership where it was purchased. That sticker read, “Vic,” Dad’s name. It made me smile.

If you’re so inclined, raise a glass to my Pops on Dec. 11 for a life well lived. He is missed.

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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.

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KCPARENTWEBSITE

KCParent.com Even More Local Parenting Information, Articles, Events and Surprises

SEARCH KCPARENT.COM FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOLIDAY FUN IDEAS: 1. Ultimate KC Christmas Guide 2. Free & Cheap Indoor Fun 3. Best Hot Cocoa in Kansas City

4. KC Going Places Guide 5. Calendar of Events 6. Christmas Shows and Pageants

SPOTLIGHT

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Stroll through holiday wonderlands enchanted by the magic of candlelit trails and beautiful music. Or, load the family in the car and drive around town to enjoy great light displays all over KC. For a complete list, search “Holiday Lights” at KCParent.com.

7. Great Giveaways 8. Santa Sightings

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. Best of December 10. Money-Saving Coupons

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

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tips for playdates

with special needs kids The most important thing to note is that kids with disabilities or special needs are just like anyone else: They want to interact with friends and be loved and appreciated.

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laydates are an important part of childhood. They offer time for kids to interact socially without the structure of school or extracurricular activities. They also help kids learn to share, socialize and play freely while still having support from their parents as needed. Kids with special needs are no exception and benefit from playdates as much as their peers. Although playdates for them may take a little more planning and patience, the effort is well worth it for everyone involved. Here are some tips for hosting a playdate with kids with disabilities.

BE OPEN Our natural reaction may be to avoid talking about any disabilities a child may have, but addressing any questions or concerns beforehand is best so everyone is more comfortable and knows what to expect. “I am up front and honest about my daughter before we go to anyone’s house for a playdate,” says Barb Walker-Shapiro, mom of six from Omaha. “Her brain doesn’t work like other kids’. She may have a seizure and is prone to major meltdowns. I find that when other parents know what’s ‘wrong’ with my daughter, they are more tolerant and compassionate towards her.”

Talking to your children openly about differences they may have with their friends is important too. Explain that just because others may seem different or express their joy differently doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy playdates or making new friends as well.

Prior to the playdate, be sure to check in with the other parents about whether there are any food allergies or restrictions and anything else important you should know.

BE STRATEGIC Prior to the playdate, talk with the other parents about the best location to have the playdate. For some, their own home is more comfortable and successful. For others, staying at home may encourage the special needs child to say hello then retreat quickly to his own room while company visits. In this case, it may be better to go to a public place that everyone can enjoy, such as a park, museum or zoo.

On the other hand, parents who have a child

prone to running away or hiding may find a public place overwhelming. Discuss your plans with all the parents involved and come up with the best solution for everyone.

Another great strategy is to plan activities that unite the kids. Kids who struggle with talking to peers or sharing toys may find that a common interest helps them feel more at ease. Find out the interests of the kids you are hosting and offer an activity that excites all. Ideas could include a craft, a game or visiting somewhere that fosters that interest.

For example, if they are interested in nature, visit the Overland Park Arboretum or go on a backyard scavenger hunt. If they are interested in tractors and farm animals, visit a farm, such as Deanna Rose.

BE PATIENT Whenever kids are involved, patience is important. Try to understand that kids may have different reactions to situations, things may not go exactly as expected and that it may take some time for kids with special needs to warm up to the situation. Some children with special needs may prefer to participate in parallel play, where kids play beside each other but do not interact with one another. Children who play alone during parallel play still enjoy the time together and are usually interested in what the other children are doing. If things do not go as planned, it’s okay to cut the playdate short and try again in the future.

something your child isn’t happy with or that isn’t appropriate, allow them to use words to tell them. Sometimes that is more powerful than the adults intervening.”

BE UNDERSTANDING Parenting is not easy, and we all struggle with different challenges when it comes to our children. Ask the parents if they need help with anything prior to the playdate. “I almost always have a few extra things to carry, so please don’t be shy about asking if I need help,” says Taylor. “I also need a lot of grace.”

Try to be patient and understanding. The other parent may be overwhelmed or tired.

Getting there may have been challenging.

All parents have great days where everything goes as planned and tough days where it seems nothing does. Listen and offer a hand when needed, and the other parent most likely will offer the same in return.

The most important tip for having playdates with a special needs child is just to have them. The occasion may take a little more planning and patience than the average playdate, but it is so worth it to both the parents and kids involved. Playdates offer a great chance for kids to interact with peers and make friends in a non-stressful way, and they are also a great time for parents to connect and build each other up as well.

Mom of six Sarah Lyons lives in Olathe with her family.

BE INCLUSIVE The most important thing to note is that kids with disabilities or special needs are just like anyone else: They want to interact with friends and be loved and appreciated. When hosting a playdate with kids with disabilities, greet them and interact with them as you would anyone else you meet. “Please say hi to my son. Smile at him, even if he doesn’t smile back,” says Marie Taylor, Olathe mother of two.

Even if the child is nonverbal or doesn’t seem to hear you, speaking to him is important. Angela Leever, Olathe special education teacher and mother of three, says, “Encourage the parents and children to speak to the child with special needs, not about them. If the child with special needs does

PLAYDATE ACTIVITIES THAT UNITE Choosing activities that encourage common interests will help foster friendships. Here are some ideas: • Build something: Legos, blocks, wooden train sets.

• Pick something they are both interested in and go do it.

• Do arts and crafts.

• Go outside and play.

• Make quiet stations for the quieter group. Set up puzzles, coloring sheets, books, blocks.

• Set up a sensory bin.

• Pick a neutral location: museum, park or zoo.

kcparent.com kcparent.com december2017 2017 december

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helping kids with learning

TEACHERTALK

MATH

U.S. STUDENTS FALLING FLAT ON MATH U.S. SCORE BELOW INTERNATIONAL AVERAGE U.S. MATH EDUCATION STILL IN THE DOLDRUMS

H

ave you seen any of the headlines regarding U.S. students and their performance in mathematics?

The headlines are alarming. They paint a very bleak picture for our students and the future of this nation when it comes to mathematical thinking. But if you dig a little deeper into the actual data, the situation might not be as alarming as it first appears.

The Programme for International Student Assessment, known as PISA, assesses 15-year-olds in 72 different nations worldwide. The test is administered every three years, and it works out to be given to about one out of every 50 students. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Assessment (TIMSS) is given to select fourth and eighth grade students every four years.

These are two examples of assessments that rank our nation versus the rest. I will say the same thing I have said to many parents who become very concerned after one low score from their high-achieving student: This is only a snapshot of a much larger picture.

In lieu of breaking down why our nation’s scores seem lower than other nations’, I would rather offer up some ideas on how we

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can help our children moving forward in this crucial content area.

Instead of taking a drill and kill approach to helping your student, find ways to make his learning relevant to his life and the world around him. Yes, learning basic math facts is very important as children continue to develop their mathematical skills.

However, offering an opportunity for your child to make a connection between his learning and real life can do wonders for his overall education, as well as his outlook toward learning in general.

As educators are preparing students for their futures, small, tangible connections at home can help prepare them as well. Look for ways to work in mathematical thinking while you’re out running errands or even while you are at home working on your next DIY project. As adults, we solve realworld problems on a daily basis at home.

Next time, include your child in the process and find ways to incorporate math.

Another way to help your child improve is to connect her learning with other content areas. Whether you are helping her on a social studies project or a science

experiment, seek out opportunities to incorporate math skills she currently is learning. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education is not a buzzword like other initiatives that have come and gone. Researchers, educators and the top minds in the corporate world all have realized that learning skills in isolation is not beneficial for students.

As parents, you can help integrate kids’ learning with cross-curricular opportunities at home.

If you dig deep into the data, you’ll see proof we are headed in the right direction.

Over the past eight years on the TIMSS, both fourth grade and eighth grade results in math and science have been on the rise. Instead of paying attention to the negative, attention-seeking headlines, we need to continue to support our students in the growth and strides they are actually making.

Brandon Lewis is an Innovation & Learning Coach for Liberty Public Schools. He and his wife, Jeni, live in Kansas City with their two children, Zoey and Ezra.

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13

HEALTHYKIDS

What about melatonin? More and

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early every parent you interact with in any setting will agree that sleep is so important for kids. Without the right amount of sleep, our little angels quickly can turn into emotional animals.

Some babies start sleeping through the night early on, and others can take a long time. As much as we wish it, children don’t fall into one neat box when it comes to how much sleep they need and the best way to get them to sleep. Although there is no foolproof method, here are some proven tips to improve your child’s sleep.

Create a bedtime routine. That having

an established bedtime and a routine have a positive effect on our children’s being good sleepers is no surprise. The bedtime routine should be relaxing and can include things like a shower or bath and books. Bedtime should be close to the same time every day, whether weekday or weekend. A bedtime that varies more than one-and-a-half hours from the norm can cause a big struggle for many kids (WebMD.com). Make sure the room is dark and at a comfortable temperature.

dealing with sleep issues Plan food and drink. Avoid any type

of caffeine at least six hours prior to the bedtime routine. Caffeine can be found in some surprising items such as chocolate, so be aware of what kids are ingesting. A small snack close to bedtime is usually fine, but large meals should be finished hours before bedtime (WebMD.com).

Anticipate needs. Before putting your

child to bed for the night, anticipate his needs. Does he get up for drinks of water throughout the night? Put a cup of water beside his bed. Take one last trip to the bathroom, give hugs and gather any item he may want to sleep with. Try to limit excess trips out of bed (Parents.com).

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All kinds of people can qualify to foster a child. Whether you are single or married, own or rent your home, have children already or don’t, work full-time or stay home, you may be eligible.

How will I handle saying goodbye to the child if and when it’s safe for them to go home?

This is no doubt difficult, but any sadness is outweighed by the safety and love you will give to a child during a time of crisis. Plus, you’re encouraged to maintain life-long connections with the child and family. Thousands of children in the Kansas City area are in need of caring foster families. If not you, then who?

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more parents are turning to melatonin to help their child get some needed sleep.

Melatonin is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the impact on children is still unknown, especially long term (Health.USNews.com). Studies have shown that melatonin does have fewer side effects than most other sleeping medicines, but it has not been shown effective for all individuals (WebMD.com). Because not much information regarding melatonin’s safety and dosage for children is available, call your physician with specific questions regarding this over-the-counter medication.

Many children may struggle to get to sleep in the evening, but some suffer from actual sleep disorders. With more than 40 accredited pediatric sleep centers around the nation, treatment options are becoming more widespread. Speak with your physician if you feel like you need extra assistance.

Jessica Heine is a labor and delivery nurse. She lives in Olathe with her family.

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

tying the perfect knot

5 tips for tying shoes

By Margaret Sarver

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Some of our historical elite, such as President Lincoln, wrote what they termed a “hot letter.”

If he was upset with someone, rather than speak from an angry place, he would pen his feelings but never send the missive.

HOT letters can COOL a temper

S

ome of our historical elite, such as President Lincoln, wrote what they termed a “hot letter.” If he was upset with someone, rather than speak from an angry place, he would pen his feelings but never send the missive.

After he vented in the letter, he found access to the strength of wisdom he needed. On the hot letters he’d write: Never sent. Never Signed. President Truman wrote them.

Churchill too.

These hot letters in the annals of our world leaders make for eye-opening and sometimes funny reading. How easily the

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first things out of these people’s minds, their reactionary responses, could have led to major, negative impacts for our governments and, by extension, the world.

Bringing it down to scale, I personally have used the backspace key and watched a message fall apart word by word when I wisely rethought a spiky text and chose to reword my message. A box of journals sits in my closet, old, quiet and deflated, and in them I see many hot letters. In your own life, you might recall a few of these, especially when the genre is expanded to a fuller breadth. Writing the unsent letter can

serve a person far more than simply cooling hot emotions. Many love notes have been written and not sent. Much grief has been facilitated on paper when a broken heart couldn’t find the strength to show up and speak words. Mark Twain, a man who also was known for his gift of humorous and wise correspondence, said these types of letters provided him “unallowable frankness and freedom.”

Our social media today is full of whiplike retorts that come not from a place of wisdom, but of anger and bravado. The norm has begun to lean toward striking

first, then thinking deeply second. Our children aren’t immune to this. Adult culture, of course, gets funneled down to the playground, classroom and school hallways.

These environments are at risk of becoming more volatile with pint-sized problems evoking rapid fire responses.

Ironically, this rapid response cycle is one we generally used to label as childish and immature. We see these quick-fire and often hurtful exchanges as developmentally on cue for our children, but we push them to grow beyond this kind of communication.

With the adult communication world backsliding a bit, our children can use even more help up the hill.

When I heard Lincoln’s perfect metaphor of hot letters, the whole process of expressing feelings without throwing spears at actual people became really teachable for me. I had the infrastructure for hot letters in my own past; I just needed his perfect two-

word branding to gussy it up for my kids.

(The worthiest form of advertising is that which tugs on our need for wisdom. Thank you, Mr. President.).

As fate would have it, the very day I read of Lincoln’s term, I picked both my girls up from school and found them both in different storms of feelings (which is a lot of weather in one car, as many of you can attest). The older, 12, was upset by the actions of a friend, and the younger, 7, was upset with her teacher. I explained how hot letters work and asked whether, when we got home, they would want to write them.

My kids got the message that these letters would help them like a healing balm. They were both so on board I was stunned—but then again, wisdom is elegant, and elegance is simple, and children are simple in the best and brightest of ways. First thing after they hung up their backpacks, they wrote their letters. My younger daughter wasn’t yet able to spell proficiently and was worried about not expressing exactly what she felt. I suggested she draw a picture of her feelings.

I was ready for her frustration after I said this, but she went to work with her crayons.

When they finished, I didn’t ask to look at their letters. I wanted to give them the freedom to express themselves in their own words or pictures. I wanted them to know that when they reached for this type of letter again, what they said or drew could be spiky and loaded without my intervening and trying to “nice it up.” I wanted them to know these emotions were their own to herd out of their brains in the ways that resonated with them.

My want was satisfied. I wanted to help them feel better without making others or themselves feel worse. On the flipside of letting our angry emotions fly, when we roll over our emotions and stuff them down, we can walk around with an unidentified heaviness in our mental world. And as we too well know, unheard, cumulative negative emotions can turn highly combative in different ways after a period of time.

However mean or angry their letters sounded, those emotions were no longer only stuffed inside their minds.

We paraded our letters out to the fire pit and burned them, which seemed totally appropriate for hot letters. I have to add that if you can include the element of letting children safely burn their letters, this adds significantly to the wow factor of the whole event—makes it more of a ceremony.

I could tell writing and burning their hot letters allowed my daughters to own and manage their feelings in a way they hadn’t previously experienced.

I could tell writing and burning their hot letters allowed my daughters to own and manage their feelings in a way they hadn’t previously experienced. Not only did they get to more safely feel the feelings and let them go, but they stood up straighter (I think) from the authentic thrill of empowerment. This is what we want for ourselves and our children. Life is never without emotional challenge. You can read that even the sages get tripped up by their own emotions sometimes.

On the way back into the house after burning her letter, my older daughter said, “Mom you should be a psychologist.” To which I thought, thank you, Mr. President, your wisdom has been honored here today.

Maggie Uhl lives in Waldo with her family.

kcparent.com december 2017

17

mean mom

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s mothers we strive to be so many things. We want to set strong examples for our children. We want to be the ones who nurture them, love them and laugh with them. One thing most moms do not want to be is the “mean” mom.

“Mom, you are so MEAN!” are words we dread to hear.

“My daughter has a special face she makes when she tells me that I am being mean. It involves eye rolling and hair tossing, and I hate hearing it. The tone of her voice when she calls me mean makes me feel like I am ruining her whole world,” says Shelli Stiller, Overland Park mom.

Despite the unhappy shrieks of our children, are there times when it actually pays to be the “mean” mom? According to data from the FBI and the National Highway Association, being a kid in America has never been safer. Fewer children ages 5 to 14 are abducted, fewer children are hit by cars and fewer children are murdered than at any time in the last 40 years. If our children are safer, parents must be doing something right. And that includes being the mean

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mom on occasion. So, to remain on the path of safety and do what is best for the kids, when are the best times to be the mean mom? Metro moms weigh in on when being mean is the best thing.

When they are experimenting with technology. There is a lot of technology in our children’s lives. It helps connect the world and provides unlimited amounts of information and access to ideas.

It also can bring your child into contact with people they would never otherwise meet.

“I worry about who might try to contact my kids on social media or when they are online. I use parental controls and have pretty strict rules for screen time. I just want them to be safe,” says Coleen Sands, Kansas City, MO, mom. Technology also can open the doors to social pressures and bullying that rises to a level well above what kids faced before the age of social media.

“I monitor texts and social media for my children,” says Nancy Watson, Kansas City, KS, mom. “They hate it, but it is my job to keep them safe.”

W

When they are meeting new people. As children grow, their social circles grow as well. When they are branching out and meeting new people, it is good to check in and make sure they are staying safe. “My son doesn’t understand it, but I always insist on meeting new friends before he goes out the door with them. Especially if he is spending the night or riding with their parents,” says Monica Cameron, Olathe mom. Knowing the friends with whom your child spends time, as well as their parents, can ease your mind and help maintain a set of rules and expectations, even when your child leaves the house.

When they are breaking the rules.

We set rules to keep our children safe and guide them in a healthy direction. When children break those rules, parents have choices to make. “If my daughter is regularly breaking the rules, I know it is time for a talk,” says Gail Reed, Olathe mom. “Either she needs more attention or something else is going on, but even if I have to be the

mean mom, I have to rein her in when she is breaking the rules.” Children who are allowed to break the rules often continue to push boundaries. Whether the rule is not crossing the street alone or not attending parties where there is underage drinking, the rules are there to be followed for the child’s safety.

In the world of parenting, no one enjoys negatively impacting their child’s happiness.

If you are having challenges where you need to set strong boundaries and feel you are saying no a lot, you might feel like you are the mean mom all the time. This can be rough on mom and on the kids. Try to find little things you can say yes to and find ways to connect with your kids over positive things. Encourage family time together and remind them of all the positive things you share! If you need additional help, reach out to your pediatrician or a family counselor for support.

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer and mom of two living in Overland Park.

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hen it comes to teaching financial literacy, parents play a vital role in how kids will manage their money in the future. Here are ways to raise smart money managers.

Teach them to save Many families are only one job loss, medical crisis or legal issue away from falling into serious financial trouble. Understanding the value of saving is a simple first lesson in personal finance. Provide a piggy bank for your youngster to collect change. Later, open a personal savings account in your child’s name for him to squirrel away half of all his earnings and monetary gifts.

Budget together

10 money lessons to help your kids avoid debt 20

kcparent.com december 2017

Demonstrate to your kids how you manage expenses like groceries, bills, mortgage and car payments, while still setting money aside for savings like college, retirement and emergencies. If your own financial history is spotty, talk about how poor budgeting decisions have caused you problems.

“There is nothing wrong with being honest with children and letting them see you improve yourself. It’s actually a very valuable and humbling teaching opportunity,” says Tonya Jensen, Credit Law Center, Lee’s Summit.

Discuss the importance of living within your means by prioritizing necessities and carefully choosing the types of items you purchase on credit. Stress the importance of paying off credit cards to avoid getting saddled with long-term debt.

Help them understand debt Do your children receive a weekly allowance? Next time they ask to borrow money, create an I.O.U. and bill them for your loan.

“When it’s payday, lay out the money that they are to receive. Then, go back to the debt they owe you and take it away,” recommends Latoya Goree, director of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Office of Financial Literacy.

For example, if your child receives a $10 allowance and owes you $7, lay out 10 one dollar bills and take away seven to collect on the loan. Your child will realize he’ll have to manage on $3 until next payday.

“This gives them a visual example of what it means to be in debt and how it feels in the moment,” Goree says.

Teach them to plan ahead Maggie Root, Lenexa, says that any money her sons, ages 12 and 17, earn or receive is divided three ways: 50 percent toward extras, 30 percent for education and 20 percent for charity.

“By expecting our boys to plan for college, advanced degrees, etc., this gives them more ownership of their future,” Root says. “We’ve noticed that our oldest is intent on getting higher ACT scores so that he can qualify for scholarships, thus using less of his nest egg for education and maybe using that for something else once he’s out of school.”

Offer incentives Root’s older son, Jack, uses a portion of his earnings from his part-time job toward his car insurance.

“We agree to pay for his vehicle and tags as long as he meets our requirements for academic and leadership performance,” Root says. “If he makes the scholar roll, we will pay his insurance the following semester.”

Balance a checkbook Open a checking account for earnings to cover expenses like gas, insurance and entertainment. Although many people now use debit cards and bank online, kids still should learn how to write a check and balance a checkbook.

Establish a positive credit history According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, the average credit card debt of U.S. households is roughly $5,700.

“Credit affects every area of our life and future,” Jensen says. Teens can open a CD credit builder loan through a local bank, which will count as an installment line of credit.

Another option is to add your child as an authorized user on your credit card.

“Parents don’t even have to tell their child or give them the actual card,” Jensen says.

“This will build their credit and give them instant history for a revolving line of credit.”

But proceed with caution. If disaster strikes and you have to file bankruptcy or are unable to pay the credit card off, your child’s credit score will be damaged too.

“I would rather the student or the child acquire credit on his or her own merit. But a parent should be diligent in helping to educate their child about wise use of credit,” Goree advises.

A parent should be diligent in helping to educate their child about wise use of credit.

Borrow smart If kids get in the habit of only making the minimum payment on credit cards during their college years, they’ll start off their careers under a burden of debt. Plus the accrued interest can negatively affect their credit score, making it harder for them to buy their first home or a car.

Student loan debt is another area where young adults can get into trouble. Encourage your children to borrow only what they need even if they qualify for more. “If they borrow too much, it affects their ability to maximize their income later,” Goree says.

Raise an investor Root helped Jack set up a small investment account to manage. “He really took to it and has used this in his high school business class,” Root says. “He has a good understanding of the stock market compared to his peers.”

Check to see whether your child’s school participates in the Stock Market Game, which is a national competition for grades 4-12. The game provides $100,000 in virtual cash for student teams to invest in real companies. UMKC, which sponsors the Stock Market Game for Missouri schools, has reached 17,000 students this year.

Give back Help your child understand the value of giving back to the community. “Charitable giving builds character,” Goree says. “It builds commitment to the community and it builds integrity as you are producing productive citizens for society.”

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Her latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

Financial Literacy by Age • K-6: Learn to save. Make choices: “What purchases are you willing to give up in order to have what you want most?” Consider offering allowance for extra household chores at around age 10.

• Middle school: Learn the basics of budgeting. Manage first-time earnings into savings and weekly expenditures.

• High school: Budget earnings, discuss credit cards. Plan for future needs like college or for a new car. Learn about investing and the importance of charitable giving.

Source: Latoya Goree, UMKC

kcparent.com december 2017

21

4 Get up earlier 4 Pack lunches night before 4 Week’s lunches planned

by Sunday 4 Create command central 4 Choose outfits night before 4 “Getting Ready for School” checklist 4 No breakfast battles 4 Parents get up first 4 Kids to bed early

y

better mornings

ears ago when I was a mom to babies and toddlers, a friend with older, school-aged kids told me she loved when her kids had a break from school.

WHAT?! I couldn’t fathom it. After several years straight of never having a quiet day, never having more than an hour to myself during which a child didn’t climb on me, try to reenter my uterus or need me to wipe him, I was baffled. She LIKED when her kids were home all day and didn’t have school?! But now that I have kids in school, I get it. One of the many reasons she enjoyed these days was because she got a break from the morning rush.

You know how it goes. “Get your shoes on! We are late! Did you brush your teeth?!

I don’t know where your library books are.

That’s not my responsibility. Can you please eat more breakfast? You cannot wear that.

Because it’s 45 degrees outside. Yes, you need a coat. Yes, you do.”

And on. And on. Every morning. I get it, parents. I fight the battle daily too. But here are a few tips I’ve tried that have helped make our mornings go more smoothly.

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kcparent.com december 2017

Get up earlier

I know, I know. The sound of that dreaded alarm is not a happy one. But getting the kids (and you) up 15-20 minutes earlier might make a huge difference. More time means less stress. And less stress means less yelling about shoes and breakfast and outfits and library books.

Create a homework/calendar center to keep you organized

This one is a huge time saver. If all your kids have to do come 8:05 is reach in the fridge and grab their lunch boxes, you’ve shaved 10 minutes off your morning routine!

We have three kids, so each one has his or her own marker board on which we write that child’s schedule for the week: practices, after-school activities, field trips, show and tell, etc. Also, under their marker boards are baskets for homework papers and hooks for backpacks and coats. Having each child maintain his or her own area keeps us organized and helps our mornings run smoothly, as all know where their belongings are and what’s in store for the day.

Have the week’s lunch plan decided by Sunday night

Choose outfits the night before

Pack lunches the night before

Speaking of lunches, do your kids buy hot lunch? Mine do two or three times per week. We look at the week’s choices Sunday night, choose which days are hot or cold lunch and write them down. This helps our morning routine run smoothly (and our evenings—if the following day is a hot lunch day, no lunch needs to be packed.)

If you have a little girl like I do, the process of choosing an outfit might be an arduous one. Don’t save this for the morning before school! My daughter chooses every piece before she goes to bed—down to the socks, necklace and headband. This procedure is also helpful for times of the year like fall or spring when the temperature

could be 50 degrees or 80. We check the next day’s weather so she chooses appropriate clothes. And we don’t fight in the morning about what she’s going to wear!

Organize backpacks the night before

After school each day, I comb through backpacks, sign agendas, look through papers, etc. I immediately recycle what can be tossed and file away anything important.

Is tomorrow library day? Find your library books TONIGHT and pack your backpack.

Homework should be complete and neatly placed in the backpack BEFORE going to bed. This way, in the morning, your kids can grab their backpacks and go, and you are not searching the house for that permission slip or math packet.

Post a “Getting Ready for School” checklist

My son is an early riser and usually has time to play a little iPad before school. But NOT until he gets dressed, brushes his teeth

and has breakfast. Add whatever else you want to your list: Make beds, take medicine, feed the dog. If your child is efficient, he might get time to play and that can motivate him to move through the checklist faster.

Avoid breakfast battles

Before school is not the time to fight with your child about trying a new recipe. That’s a good Saturday morning activity. Monday through Friday, have a simple breakfast ready to go that your child likes and can eat relatively quickly. Making sure their bellies are full with good nutrition before they start their day of learning is so important. Our choices are usually pretty simple: cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, cheese, fruit, etc.

Parents, get up first

I know it’s tempting to hit snooze one more time, but if you have to be somewhere in the morning as well, you’ll find it helpful to get yourself ready first. Then you can devote that last half hour to making sure their teeth are brushed, their bellies are full and their

shoes are on the right feet. Trying to get ready alongside your kids is a recipe for disaster that could lead to stressful mornings.

Put kids to bed early on school nights

I have one early riser and two who like to sleep in. My daughter is a bear in the mornings and can be a challenge to drag out of bed. She’s only 6 years old, so it’s my job to ensure she has had enough sleep. We might let our kids stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights to watch a movie or hang out with friends, but on school nights, we declare, “Lights out!” at a reasonable time to avoid grumpy mornings.

And on mornings when you’ve tried everything and it still doesn’t go well, remember, winter break is coming up and they can hang out in pajamas all day!

Olathe mom Karen Johnson has three kids, ages 8, 6 and 4. She writes at The21stCenturySAHM.com.

For easy breakfast ideas, log onto KCParent.com.

kcparent.com december 2017

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ages Kids who are several years apart might not fare well with a combined party; separate interests and friends might hinder planning a party that pleases everyone. Keep in mind that the older the children, the more guests they can handle. Young kids tend to get overwhelmed easily, so having a joint party for 4-year-olds and inviting 30 guests will probably result in overstimulation for the kids (and parents, too!).

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COMING CLEAN: Organization Skills for Kids

D

oes your child’s bedroom look like a tornado recently swept through?

What about the backpack or school locker? If your pack rat can’t seem to find homework projects, library books or a favorite pair of shoes, it may be time to instil some basic organizational know-how.

Strong organizational skills serve children well through grade school, college and beyond and help them avoid the daily stress of hunting down lost items—not to mention tardy slips, missed buses and late classwork.

Research from the New York University Child Study Center shows that organizational skills training boosts school performance and reduces family squabbles in children with ADHD. And experts say every child can learn to be more organized, beginning in toddlerhood.

Here’s how to get started, at any age.

TODDLER/PRESCHOOL YEARS 2-5 Model behavior Do you complain about after-dinner cleanup or moan about making your bed? Your toddler will pick up on your attitude about organization, says behavioral psychologist Richard Rende, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown Medical School in Providence, RI. Model a positive attitude about daily tidying up to foster cooperation in tiny tots.

Children as young as 18 months can begin learning basic guidelines for organization (just don’t expect a spotless bedroom quite yet!). And because toddlers

often enjoy cleanup, parents can take advantage of tots’ enthusiasm to begin instilling good habits. Start by setting a few simple family rules—for example, cleaning up one activity before starting another or always putting dirty clothes in the hamper— and follow through. Young children can learn and sing a “cleanup song” when it’s time to put toys away.

ELEMENTARY YEARS 6-12 Schoolwork shuffle Homework assignments, permission slips and other school paperwork can pile up for grade-schoolers—and losing track of these school papers creates a hassle for both students and parents. Now’s the time

“Collaborate with your teen to develop organizational strategies.

Their buy-in is important. Teens are more prone to follow through with strategies if they’ve been a part of the decision-making process,” Meadows says.

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kcparent.com december 2017

to begin teaching children how to keep school items organized, says Karen Meadows, Ph.D., supervisor of K-8 counseling for Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC. First, create a spot for school papers at home—a hanging file folder or wall file works well—as well as a special place for your child to put papers that need a parent’s attention, like permission slips or class newsletters.

Set a daily time for homework and provide the tools your student needs to stay on track, like a timer and calendar. Help your child develop daily routines that support organization: emptying his or her backpack at the end of the school day, writing assignment due dates on the calendar and chunking up big projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.

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Schedule sync If anyone needs a well-ordered schedule, it’s a teenager. Between academics, after-school jobs and extracurricular activities, a teen’s daily routine can be incredibly hectic. Parents can help teens learn vital organization skills to manage a busy schedule—just make sure teens are the ones doing the organizing to keep the focus on skill-building. “Collaborate with your teen to develop organizational strategies. Their buy-in is important. Teens are more prone to follow through with strategies if they’ve been a part of the decision-making process,” Meadows says.

When it comes to bedroom cleanliness, teens can set their parameters while upholding certain family guidelines. The floor must be visible, for example, and any food wrappers or dishes need to be cleaned up daily. Visual cues can help a scattered teen stay organized, so invest in a white board or a large write-on calendar for a teen’s bedroom. And use teens’ love of all things tech to teach self-management skills using apps with daily schedule reminders, homework calendars and task timers. Once teens clean up their act, Meadows says, praise consistent progress. “The best way to always be organized is to stay organized!”

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Call Spring Terburgh at 913-636-4472 LOCATED RIGHT OFF I-35 AND 119TH ST IN OLATHE AND IN SOUTH KCMO kcparent.com december 2017

29

How to Rock Family Fun Night with Tweens & Teens

how to rock family fun night with tweens & teens

w

hen your kids were younger, family fun took center stage, whether that meant a riveting game of Chutes and Ladders or a backyard light saber duel. But now that the kids are older, how do you get your tweens and teens to want to hang out with the folks?

Besides creating great memories, family fun nights with tweens and teens also mean parents worry less about where the kids are going, who they’re with and what they’re doing. To make hanging with the family something tweens and teens look forward to, try these ideas to jumpstart the family fun.

Family Dinner A fun family dinner can be as simple as ordering a pizza or take-out barbecue and eating out on the back porch for a change of scenery.

But to up the fun factor, try these mouthwatering ideas:

n

30

Declare a “kids in the kitchen” night where your tweens and teens get to be in charge from start to finish. Let them create the menu, shop for the ingredients and cook the meal—with parents on cleanup duty. kcparent.com december 2017

n

Try to recreate a dish from your favorite restaurant at home, either by trialand-error cooking or some culinary sleuthing online for copycat recipes.

n

Pick a different ethnic food to cook together, such as Mexican or Greek cuisine, as a fun way to explore other cultures.

n

Engage in a friendly competition, where each family member makes a different course (entrée, dessert, etc.).

Afterward, everyone talks about which creation wins top honors.

n

Take your kids to farmers markets, food festivals or similar events to help them select some never-tried-before produce. It gives them a hands-on experience and encourages them to try new foods.

Movie Night Everyone loves to watch a great flick, but what can take the movie-watching experience from good to great? Consider upgrading your home theater environment to create a space that makes kids want to stay home. Depending on your budget, you

can hang fun movie posters, build a new DVD case and install dimmable lighting (less expensive options) or install surround sound, get a larger TV or even buy custom leather seats (higher ticket options).

You want to feel like you’re front and center, explains David Pidgeon, CEO of Dallas-based Starpower, the largest seller of projectors in the United States. “With a 120inch screen, you actually feel like you’re at the movies, giving you the complete theater experience but without the crowds and sticky floors,” says Pidgeon.

The key is to create a media room that brings everyone together. “Don’t make it the parents’ room that the kids get to use,” he says. “Make it fun for the whole family.”

Creating a fun media room yields a great side benefit too. “I want our home to be the place that our kids want to hang out with us and their friends,” says Pidgeon, a father of three teenagers. “When you provide a fun atmosphere at home, the kids gather there and you worry less about where they’re going.”

Game Night Get your game on! Goodbye Chutes and Ladders and hello strategy games, cooperative games and party games good for a crowd. Play something fun that engages kids and stimulates their minds. Need a few ideas? Take your cue from these moms:

“When you provide a fun atmosphere at home, the kids gather there and you worry less about where they’re going.”

From Betsy McMenamin (three kids ages 14-22): Pandemic is awesome! You don’t play in teams—all players work together collectively.

You either all win or you all lose.

From Suzan Dees (two kids ages 13 and 21): I brought out an old favorite game, Scattergories, and my kids loved it! It was so much fun to see what they came up with.

Other family games perfect for tweens and teens: Apples to Apples, Reverse Charades, Clue, Spontuneous and Settlers of Catan.

Whether you’re whipping up tamales in the kitchen, watching your favorite thriller on the big screen or playing a board game, you can bring your family together—even the tweens and teens—for a night of fun.

Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist and copywriter for hire. Her work has been published in Good Housekeeping, USA Today Back to School, Parents, Edible Orlando and more. Check out her writer’s website at LisaBeachWrites.com.

For even more great games your family will enjoy, log onto KCParent.com.

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ne crazy? ryo ve

is t he

y dog drivin l i g m e fa

team up to train your pet with these five tips

f

amily pets should inspire happy thoughts of loyal companionship, not grumblings of frustration over an ever-expanding list of bad behaviors: running away, digging up the yard, jumping and barking.

Untrained family dogs are not only a source of irritation, but are dangerous as well. Rambunctious dogs knock over toddlers, innocently nipping and scratching.

Aggressive dogs pull at the leash and cause falls, bruises and broken bones. Illmannered dogs dash through doorways, cause tripping accidents and risk getting hit in the street.

Your family probably already has worked together to decide which dog to bring home, what to name it and how to share the workload of feeding, walking and cleaning.

Shouldn’t you also team up as a family to train your pet? Teamwork in training provides the consistency that guarantees you’ll be on your way to having a wellbehaved dog everyone loves.

Take a dog training class as a family or appoint one person to learn and then teach everyone else. Formal training eliminates confusion, especially for the dog.

Dog training classes also give real world practice for taking your dog to the park, the veterinarian’s office or on a walk down the street.

Create goals for your dog’s behavior.

Have a family meeting to discuss and write down behaviors everyone does and does not want to see in your dog. Is the dog allowed on the couch? Where does the dog sleep at night? How should the dog behave on a leash? Can he have table scraps?

Begin with the end in mind.

While a rambunctious 7-pound puppy may be cute, you want him to become a well-mannered 70-pound adult. Start ageappropriate training right away. Older dogs can be retrained. Correct bad habits by training with the new “goal behavior” clearly in mind.

Make a note of the times when problems arise and use teamwork to intervene. For instance, assign someone to closely monitor the dog’s behavior while you answer the door. Once your dog understands your expectations for his behavior (go to a designated place, remain calm, receive a reward), he’ll require less attention.

Have follow-up family meetings

to review what is and is not working.

Discuss any problems individuals are having and review training techniques. Watch or read dog training programs together to get help with specific problems.

Dogs are family members. A wellmannered family pet generates feelings of happiness and pride for everyone who has worked together to care for and train it.

Karen Kight, her husband, and three children, teamed up to train their German shepherd and toy fox terrier. Their family dogs inspire happy thoughts…most of the time.

Is your family ready for a pet? Find out at KCParent.com.

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kcparent.com december 2017

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Hygge:

the art of cozy

H

Hygge. If you haven’t stumbled upon this easily mispronounced concept yet, it’s only a matter of time before you do. The Danish way of life, roughly translating to “cozy,” has become an international craze and buzzword, landing a well-earned place in the Oxford Dictionary and spurring the production of more than 20 books on U.S. soil last year alone.

Social media has been abuzz with interest too. Pinterest estimates it to be one of the hottest trends for home decor after a 286 percent surge in hygge-related searches came up over the past year. Twitter and Instagram are equally littered with hygge hashtags, as subscribers seek to define what constitutes legitimate coziness.

Hygge—pronounced much like a car horn in a black and white cartoon (“hoo-guh”)—is something of a Danish national manifesto and for good reason. Despite harsh winters, bookended with dark and dreary days (the nation averages more than 171 days of rain annually), the Danes are notoriously happy people, ranking among the most congenial according to surveys conducted by the United Nations and others. While hygge is a year-round pursuit within Scandinavian culture, its mass appeal is highest in the winter season. No longer does Old Man Winter have to be endured. Thanks to hygge, he can be embraced fully.

Hygge is hard to define clearly because it’s something of an open-ended concept, laced throughout the Danish vernacular like rows in a cross-stitch. In the mother tongue, hygge can be used as a noun, adjective, verb or a compound noun (take, for instance, the tongue-in-cheek hyggebukser which roughly translates to “pants I would never in a million years wear in public, but let’s be honest, I wore them all weekend at home” or the equally impressive hyggekrog, “a little corner in my house where I can get cozy”—think bay window or a small reading nook in the den). The Danes are crazy about adding hygge to words to define the act of making everyday activities and places warm and inviting, peaceful and comforting.

What can be defined clearly as hygge is this: ambiance, aesthetic and that warm fuzzy feeling you get when both are just right. This is most aptly characterized by candlelit nooks, woolen socks, hot tea and pastries and a roaring fire. The Danes view candlelight as the most intrinsically important, more a natural antidepressant than a fire hazard, which is perhaps one of the reasons tapers and votives find themselves gracing the shelves of schoolrooms and workspaces as much as hearth and home. Not surprisingly, the Danes consume more unscented candles than any other people in the world, burning more than 13 pounds of melted wax per person each year. We Americans tend to utilize this ambient lighting best throughout the holidays but shelve it at the start of the year. Is it any wonder the winter blues tend to reach full effect in January? Hygge gives its patrons full license to indulge in holiday illumination all throughout the winter season.

Hygge imparts equal value on relationship toward environment, food and people. It’s embodied in thick porridge,

hearty stew and mulled cider, but experienced more fully when all are partaken with those whom you love most. Hygge, at its heart, is about savoring but it’s also about simplicity. It’s indulgence with moderation. Hygge cannot be bought. It’s found in being grateful for what you have, determining to find joy and beauty in the midst of the daily grind, while seeking to live authentically and fully engaged with friends and family. Because it’s not so much about having the right candles or the right mugs as having the right perspective.

Ways to “Hygge-ify” a Home Playing a board game with your son, finger knitting with your daughter, looking through old family photo albums with your mother. Chances are, you’ve already engaged in hygge at one time or another without realizing it. Here are some other ways you can up the hygge factor in your home.

• More face time, less Facetime. Put limits on how much

screen time you and your family engage in on a daily basis.

Consider downloading an app that restricts usage after a certain point to keep everyone in check. Place a basket in a convenient location where everyone can put their devices during mealtimes and family activities (make sure all phones and tablets are placed on silent so updates do not interrupt guarded time). When devices are used, install a blue light filter to ensure usage does not impact your ability to sleep well at night (especially important because it gets dark so early throughout the winter months).

•D eclare a daily teatime. Or coffee. Or chai. Whatever

your favorite hot drink of choice is, pick a fancy cup and a convenient time when you and your family can indulge and then guard it as sacred. You’ll be amazed at how revered that time will become. Break out the fine china or surprise everyone with an indoor picnic session complete with a tablecloth on the floor by the fireplace. Simple snacks like biscotti and lemon curd add extra pizzazz. And consider this: Teatime may be one of the best times to read to your children (after all, when little hands are busy and mouths are full, it’s hard to interrupt or get distracted!).

• T ake dinner up a notch. There’s no need to make filet

mignon every night to have a special dinner. After all, presentation is everything. Even if supper consists of a prepackaged meal, you still can make it magical with the right mood. Stream instrumental music, turn down the house lights and adorn your table with battery-operated candles (completely kid safe). No fireplace? No worries. There’s an app for that (I kid you not).

Lauren Greenlee has been a huge fan of hygge long before she knew it to have a name. She handicrafts by firelight (and writes) from her Olathe home. kcparent.com december 2017

35

Holiday Guide table of contents

37 yarn wrapped christmas trees

38 bring joy back

40 10 ways for kids to give back

41 media mix

42 gifts worth remembering

44 what kind of holiday mom are you?

46 word from dad

47 cherry cheesecakes

48 sweet holiday memories

51 songs of the season

CRAFTCORNER

Materials Needed:

Even little toddler hands can help wrap yarn around cardboard triangles to create these cute little trees!

• Green yarn • Pom-poms sequins, buttons • Red yarn • Cardboard • Hot glue gun • Scissors

Step One: Cut a small triangle shape out of some cardboard scraps.

yarn wrapped christmas trees

M

aking homemade Christmas ornaments is a tradition that kids love to do every year. Finding an ornament craft everyone is able to do can be tricky, but these yarn wrapped Christmas trees are a hit for kids of any age. Even little toddler hands can help wrap yarn around cardboard triangles to create these cute little trees! Make some extra ornaments to give to Grandma or add to the top of a wrapped gift!

Megan Kapple is a blogger from Kansas City, MO, where she lives with her husband and four children. She loves anything DIY and crafty and blogs about her adventures at HomemadeGinger.com.

DIY Snow Globe

Paper Sculptures

Step Two: Wrap the green yarn around the cardboard triangle.

Continue wrapping in different directions until the cardboard is completely covered in green yarn.

Step Three: Tie off the green yarn on the back to secure.

Step Four: Glue a loop of red yarn to the back of the triangle.

Finger Print Charms

Step Five: Add sequins, pom-

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

poms and buttons on the tree with hot glue. kcparent.com december 2017

37

bring back

Joy to the Holidays

B

eing a mother during the holidays can be light years away from being a child

during the holidays. I didn’t realize how much work my parents did to make Christmas so magical for my brother and me. I think back fondly on my childhood with a magical awe and anticipation of what was yet to come.

Now, seven years into motherhood, I am annoyed at the anxiety that hits me with even a thought about the holiday season. I feel pressure to make this the most magical time of year for my children. And pressure that I only get so many years to try to achieve this goal, pressure to do all the magical activities, pressure to carve out quiet nights at home, pressure to get all the perfect photographs capturing our magical season, pressure to make it not about gifts (but to still find the perfect gifts), and pressure to not appear like I’m feeling under pressure!

I just want the feeling I had as a kid at Christmas. I know that’s selfish, but somehow, I want to experience that and magically have my kids absorb it without my having to do a whole lot.

So what are we parents to do to bring the joy back into this magical time of year?

I’ve found the secret lies primarily in the planning and prepping beforehand. This means beginning to think of the holidays as the warm summer breezes shift to the crisp autumn air. We know Christmas is coming.

It shouldn’t take us by surprise each year. I realized I hesitated to start planning earlier because I wanted to wait until it started to feel like the holiday season. This cannot be my reality anymore. If I want to enjoy the holiday season, I have to plan ahead. Try some of these ideas to help you recover the joy.

First off, determine your overall holiday budget and add on a little wiggle room. The budget should cover not only gifts for all (family, friends, neighbors, office and school exchanges, teachers and hostess gifts for any parties), but also extra baking ingredients, decorations (indoor and outdoor), holiday parties and service projects. Make sure to agree upon the overall total with your spouse and have clear communication and expectations to adhere to the budget.

Consider what your family’s priorities are for the holiday season and what memories you would like to make. Calendars fill up quickly, so be sure to pencil in as much family and quiet time as your brood needs to recover from the hustle and bustle of the season. Be intentional about not overscheduling yourself and have a go-to answer to politely decline, such as, “Our season is already full this year, but thank you for the invitation. Perhaps next year.” Then be sure to stick to it.

Jennifer Willis, Olathe mother of four, says, “We have very few traditions that we have to get done. Less stuff to do, less stress, more joy! The one thing we do every year is bake easy cookies (no cutouts, no fancy candy, just simple chocolate chip) for the neighbors. The kids love ringing doorbells, and I love making cookies. Win-win!”

Rachel Rhinehart, Overland Park mother of three, agrees and says, “We stay home.

No traveling, no family coming to us. We make it just the five of us on the actual day and days leading up to. Only a few gifts and no lists of things that have to be done.

We make food we all enjoy and drink hot chocolate and listen to Pentatonix Christmas albums.”

One way to bring actual joy instead of dread back to holiday decorating is to make sure you reevaluate your decor. Tastes and preferences change over the years, so if you’re setting out knick-knacks that appear as

“If I want to enjoy the holiday season, I have to plan ahead.” clutter to you, donate them so a new family can find joy in them. Our homes should be a place to which we can come to recharge and relax. Putting out a bunch of decorations that add any form of stress to you shouldn’t be a part of your enjoyment of the holidays. The holiday season is another opportunity to feel like you need to keep up with the Joneses, but the reality may be that the Joneses envy your simpler Christmas and your house seems like a refuge from their over-the-top decorated dwelling.

Gift giving itself tends to be stressful. As a mom, I tend to be the idea factory for other family members looking for ideas for our children. Obviously, having people want to give gifts to our children is a blessing, but it’s a bit overwhelming to think of many things for people to give that the kids don’t already have, would like and won’t clutter up our home. This area gives me more anxiety than any other associated with the holidays. I have

to breathe through the idea of a bunch of new things coming into the home I’m constantly trying to declutter throughout the year.

For many people, gift giving is a large part of how they express their love for others—and it’s a wonderful thing! But less is definitely more. For our own family, we have loosely adopted the Four Gift Rule: giving something you want, something you need, something you wear and something you read. Ironically, I express love through gift giving and have a hard time sticking to this rule. We also do stocking gifts and, currently, a couple from the big guy in red. Last year, I was so overwhelmed by the sheer number of new things we had to make room for in our house that I initiated a new gift giving guideline for our extended family. I asked that they keep their gifts to two, to please consult the children’s wish lists created on Amazon.com, to consult my husband or me to make sure duplicate items weren’t being purchased and to include a gift receipt in case an exchange or return needs to be made.

Suggesting gifts that keep giving all year long and don’t take up space is a great idea as well. For example, annual passes to local attractions, punch cards to your local gymnastics academy for open gyms or a gift card to a favorite ice cream shop are gifts of treasured experiences.

My children are blessed with an abundance of generous grandparents and family—who all live in different states.

Because of the geography and the numbers, our family needs help to avoid duplicate gifts.

Communication is key! Also, creating wish lists over the course of the year on your phone is helpful, as well as purchasing and wrapping gifts early. You’ll be that much more ahead and able to sit back and enjoy the twinkling lights reflecting on the wrapped packages while sipping your hot cocoa instead of downing it for fuel to tackle the next thing.

In the end, maybe, just maybe, kids have the magic within them and we are just putting far too much pressure on ourselves when they will experience the magic in spite of us.

Stephanie Loux is the mother of Layla, 7, Mason, 5, and Slade, 2, and writes from her home. You can check out more of her writing at LettersfromtheLouxs.blogspot.com. kcparent.com december 2017

39

10

WAYS

kids can give back during the holidays

t

he holidays are the perfect time to reflect on all we have and to show how grateful we are by helping others. Even if you personally don’t have much, teaching your kids that there are always ways in which your family can help others is an excellent endeavor. I am always amazed by how many opportunities exist to teach our children how to give to others. Below are some ideas for ways kids can give back during the holiday season in your community—and worldwide.

1

Take a needy family a full meal. If you can’t handle the time or money commitment right now, join with some other families to make it happen. Check with your local Meals on Wheels program to see whether they need help delivering meals to the housebound during the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas.

2

Have your kids make fliers and get the word out in your neighborhood, church or school that you are accepting items to take to a local crisis pregnancy center. Be sure to let everyone know what items are needed most, such as diapers, baby wipes, clothing, formula, etc.

3

Older kids are eligible to participate in many physical volunteer opportunities,

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like serving food at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, or sorting food at a food bank. Head to VolunteerMatch.org to search for listings based on specific criteria (age, location, etc.)

4

Sponsor a child in another nation. Your kids will love receiving pictures and letters from your new friend and writing back to him or her while learning about another country.

5

Sell not-too-hot chocolate and muffins in lieu of a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to an animal shelter, then volunteer some time there feeding, brushing and loving on the furry friends.

6

Clear out the house and donate goods to charity. Giving our things away is always easier for my family when we know someone else really needs our coats, clothing, toys, books, etc.

7

Help a neighbor by raking leaves in his yard or doing some home repairs he may not be able to afford or doesn’t have the ability to do himself.

8

Take your kids shopping for a military care package and explain how many service men and women won’t be with

their families this holiday season. People in the military enjoy receiving crossword puzzles, snacks, cards, small-sized toiletries and more. Check out Military.com/spouse/ content/military-life/military-resources/ how-to-support-our-troops.html to find many organizations that help members of the military and their spouses.

9

Head to a nursing home or assisted living facility for a nice visit with the residents, and be sure to take some homemade cards.

Call ahead to see what they could accept in the way of a snack or gift.

10

Put out the word on email or Facebook that you’re having a food drive and that people can drop things off at your house and you will take all of it to a local food bank on a certain day. Even if you have nothing to give yourself, the fact that your family coordinated such a thing is a big help. Have the kids help accept and pack up items in boxes and go with you to take the donations.

Overland Park mom Kerrie McLoughlin (TheKerrieShow.com) loves it when her kids get excited about helping others and hopes they will always have such passion for giving.

MEDIAMIX

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS Tales of friendship and magic fill the shelves this winter

By McGeath Freeman

Pig the Elf

Top Elf

Love, Santa

By Aaron Blabey

By Caleb Zane Huett

Best for: Ages 3-5

Best for: Ages 8-12

By Martha Brockenbrough Illustrated by Lee White Best for: Ages 8-13

Pig the Pug is back. This unruly and greedy dog is excited about Christmas.

In fact, he has written Santa a letter with a very long list of items he wants.

But when Santa arrives and leaves only a small stack of gifts, Pig gets testy.

He nips at Santa all the way up the chimney. Blabey does an excellent job engaging readers with clever rhyming and illustrations that overflow with personality. As much fun as Pig’s escapades are, they also set a poor behavior example for little ones. The pug is ill-behaved and unrepentant to the end. Plus, Pig never really receives a punishment for his actions.

What’s good: Engaging illustrations and wonderful rhyming.

What’s bad: Some children may get the wrong message about behavior.

What would happen if becoming the next Santa Claus were like a reality TV show competition? As the title suggests, this is a cut-throat competition against other elves—and even Santa’s four children. This tale follows best friends Ollie Gnome and Cecilia Pixie as they compete in Santa-themed events. Just imagine trying to eat more than 100 cookies with milk. Friendship is at the heart of this book. The competitions are fun and engaging, but the relationship between our two heroes is why children will want to keep reading.

This book will be fun to read as a family this holiday season. It has enough action and twists to keep older kids interested, yet it is light and full of puns.

You’ll be smiling—or at least grinning.

Whats good: A fun way to get geared up for Santa’s big night.

Most people are familiar with Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. Now parents should become familiar with Love, Santa. Before you even open this book, the wrap indicates what is inside: “When you are ready to share the beautiful truth about Santa.” Upon opening the book, we meet 5-year-old Lucy as she writes a letter to Santa. Time after time, Lucy writes to Santa, and Santa delivers wonderful presents on Christmas morning. When Lucy is 8, she writes a different letter. This time, it is to her mom. The response is what Brockenbrough wrote to her own daughter in real life. Together, they posted the letter online the next year. Then, the New York Times picked the Santa Claus letter up and ran it. Now, we get to see this story accompanied by White’s heartfelt illustrations.

What’s good: A good book for a tricky

What’s bad: Too many conversational

subject.

asides.

What’s bad: Just be sure you’re ready to share. kcparent.com december 2017

41

gifts

giving

worth remembering practical and creative ideas for children’s Christmas presents

t

his year, Lee’s Summit mom Kathryn Adams wanted to give her 4-year-old son a Christmas gift he would talk about for years to come. They decided to head to Branson to take a ride on the Polar Express train—something bound to captivate any imaginative train-loving boy.

“My husband and I chose to take our son to ride the Polar Express because he loves trains,” Kathryn says. “He has plenty of toys, so we thought this experience would be a lifelong memory.”

When the toys and clutter begin piling up in your home and you want to give your children something more meaningful for Christmas, consider these ideas: █

EMBERSHIPS. Kansas City boasts an abundance of familyM friendly destinations, and many offer yearly or seasonal memberships. Having memberships to these places can create hours of entertainment and enjoyment, and they can serve as a solution any time the kids are bored. █

OVIE/CONCERT TICKETS. M These can be perfect indoor activities during the winter months.

█

ONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COLLEGE FUNDS. This is C definitely a lesson in delayed gratification for something that’s not necessarily a “fun” gift, but teaching children to appreciate a college contribution as a gift will go far in helping them prioritize their future needs.

█

OOKS, ART SUPPLIES AND MAGAZINE B SUBSCRIPTIONS. These can make for fun and educational gifts.

█

ESSONS OF SOME KIND: music, swimming or other sports.

L Not only are such lessons educational, they also can help children reach their goals.

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kcparent.com december 2017

█

LOTHES. Accepting clothes as gifts can help C children learn to be grateful for the necessities in life.

█

AMP. Give the gift of summer camp! For details visit C KanakukSummer.com.

█

OUCHERS for various experiences and privileges children V can redeem at times of their choosing. For a number of years, Lee’s Summit mom Kristin Gravatt has been giving her daughter vouchers for things such as “get out of making your bed,” “choose dinner plans,” “choose what park you want to go to,” “manicure and pedicure” and “movie night.” She said her daughter gets quite excited to pull them out and redeem them, and most of the activities are family-based and not materialistic. “It’s the little things in life that sometimes mean more than the things of material value,” Gravatt says. “It doesn’t take money to make people happy.”

█

RIPS. Branson has many attractions worth visiting during the T Christmas season, including the Polar Express train and Silver Dollar City. Gravatt says her family has enjoyed many trips to Branson around Christmastime, but this year they are stepping up the traveling and going on a cruise to Mexico.

Another creative approach to giving children’s gifts is to develop categories of gifts. Lee’s Summit mom Bree Raymond is trying to minimize around her home and, after seeing discussion on the Facebook group of popular minimalist mom Allie Casazza, she decided to create four categories of gifts for her children.

Her daughters will be receiving gifts that classify as something they want, something they need, something they can do and something they can read.

“We’ve always felt our house is filled with unnecessary toys our kids never play with after Christmas,” Raymond says. “We are drowning in stuff, and we are trying to live more minimalist.”

Some of the gifts her daughters have chosen include sewing classes, a skateboard, a fishing pole and bow and arrow. Other gifts include a membership with Sluggerr’s Blue Crew at the Royals and paddle boarding with Dad. Raymond says they also are doing a nonelectronic Christmas filled with gifts that do not involve technology.

This approach to Christmas, she says, will help her family reduce the amount of possessions in the house, as the gifts are more focused on activities.

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

For more great gift ideas, visit KCParent.com.

membership ideas Are you looking for gifts to keep your children entertained throughout the year?

Consider memberships to the following family-friendly Kansas City destinations and organizations: █

█

█

egoLand Discovery Center/ L Sea Life Aquarium The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures eanna Rose Children’s D Farmstead

Kansas City Zoo

█

Kansas City Zoo

█

Science City

█

Paradise Park

█

Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun

█

Powell Gardens

Sea Life Aquarium

█

L ocal community centers with indoor pools (Legacy Park Community Center, Matt Ross Community Center and the new Lenexa Rec Center are great ideas.)

Union Station

kcparent.com december 2017

43

what kind of

holiday mom are you?

t

he holidays are a time for family, reminiscing and magic. They’re also a time for more stress than most of us care to experience. Of all the holiday roles to play, “Mom” is one of the hardest. So ignore the dust mites under the TV cabinet for a few minutes and take our quiz to see what kind of holiday mom you are. t’s Dec. 1. Here’s how you feel about Q: IChristmas music:

• Thanks to Pandora and Spotify, I listen all year round.

• I can’t handle Karen Carpenter singing about logs on the fire. Ever.

• I’ve created a fake account so I can buy Sia’s and Gwen Stefani’s Christmas albums the minute they come out without anyone knowing. Shhhhh.

he fourth grade holiday bake sale is Q: Ttomorrow afternoon. Your baked goods: • Have been made since Tuesday. I found a great recipe on Pinterest that I made while I drank wine.

• Are coming from the closest grocery store that also sells wine. Bonus points if they see my frazzled hair and give me a free cookie.

• Look, it’s my fourth-grader’s’ bake sale, so my fourth-grader can make the cookies while I supervise and drink wine.

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oliday cards get more elaborate every Q: Hyear.

How does your family’s shape up?

• Don’t judge, but I love holiday cards!

It’s certainly no picnic getting everyone to hold still, but worth it so we can share an updated photo and year’s overview with friends and loved ones.

• Last year we tried to do a holiday family photo with matching outfits. Several incidents conspired to prevent that from becoming a reality—I’m lucky my husband isn’t in jail. Hark, the herald generic angel card FTW this year.

• This is what Facebook and Instagram are for.

Q: Y ou and your husband are arguing. Why? • There are 48 hours in the Christmas weekend. We

must somehow divide them equally amongst four families that each live a minimum of 50 miles away from each other. We haven’t done math this hard since eighth grade.

• The details are fuzzy, but it started with his asking, “What’s for dinner?”

• We’re out of coffee and neither of us wants to drive.

1, 2, 3, not it.

Q: Y ou’re drinking out of your favorite holiday mug. What’s inside?

• All. The. Coffee.

• Look at my cork collection and you won’t need to ask this question.

• Specialty Earl Grey tea that costs more than a gym membership. But it’s the only calm part of my day. hat Christmas movie most accurately Q: Wrepresents your holiday mom-style?

• Home Alone. No really, everyone leave. I need a nap and five minutes of quiet.

• It’s a Wonderful Life. Look, the holidays are hard, but we are truly lucky to have one another.

• Die Hard. Two kids’ Christmas plays, 49 wrapped presents, cookies out for Santa, three pies in the oven, a turkey ready for the morning…Yippee-ki-yay!

Q: Your favorite holiday tradition is:

• Opening presents on Christmas Day. The look on my children’s faces is all I need to remind me that the chaos is all worth it.

ou’ve just been asked to participate in the Q: Yholiday planning committee at the office.

What role have you been asked to fill?

• Jug of juice provider. Done and done.

• Do offices have holiday committees? That’s cute. My office consists of watching over a boss who isn’t potty trained and just ate a Lego.

• I left at 3:30 to pick up my son from preschool and take my daughter to taekwondo. They know better than to ask me to do anything.

magic wand waves and you get the Q: Aperfect gift from your family for Christmas.

What is it?

• A week away at the beach with family.

• Six months of prepaid, prearranged house cleaning.

• Tickets to see my favorite band and a babysitter for the next morning so I can recover in peace.

results: If you’re reading this and realize you relate to all of the choices: Congrats! You’re totally normal. The holidays can make anyone a little kooky. Relax, take a breath and book a spa appointment. Then sit your family down and plan the holidays together; no one should have to go it alone.

If you’re reading this and think that being a Holiday Mom sounds like a sentence of torture: That’s okay, you aren’t a mom just yet. And maybe you don’t want to be.

Either way, chances are you know a mom in your life. Give her a hug and maybe even bring her some spiked egg nog. She’ll appreciate it.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I had no idea my wife was this stressed”: Look at you! Doing some sneaky research to get inside your wife’s psyche. Here are the facts: She loves your family, but the holidays are taking a toll. A lovely bouquet of flowers and a night off from the chaos for both of you is a good start. Happy holidays!

• Volunteering at the local mission or animal shelter.

Remembering this time of year to give to those less fortunate is important.

• Putting up Christmas decorations. To see the accumulation of ornaments each year shows how far we’ve come as a family and never fails to bring a sentimental tear to my eye.

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

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WORDFROMDAD

new traditions

I

an turned to me at Thanksgiving dinner. “Dad, when are we going to put up our tree?”

With the thought that live trees are best left to enhance nature, we have an artificial one and its wear was clear.

Sandi bought it second-hand almost 35 years ago, and broken twigs with thinning needles were now the rule.

We’d made do with strands of garland tucked into the thin spots; however, its lifespan was nearing an end.

But, children on the autism spectrum don’t deal well with change. Instead of viewing structure as confining, these kids see it as reassuring. A new tree might not be welcomed and could deprive the holiday season of traditional warmth.

“Guys, I have some bad news. Our Christmas tree is tired and needs to rest. We have to buy a new one.”

“Get another tree?” James sat up straight, his eyes serious.

“What about our old one? It won’t be Christmas.”

“It needs to retire.” I spoke to each boy in turn. “We’ll donate it to the barn and they can use it for the jumps. You’ll see it every week.”

They didn’t object. So, on the first weekend in December, we went shopping and came home with a new tree.

James studied the box with a skeptical eye. “Will this be as good?”

“We’ll do our very best.”

For the next few hours, we trimmed and decorated, like we did with our old tree, but this time was different. The fresh needles left no holes to fill and hanging the decorations with eye-popping results was almost too easy.

James turned out all the lights except the tree and stood beside me. “You know, Dad.” He rested his elbow on my shoulder while we admired our handiwork. “I think this tree is going to work.”

William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.

BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY

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kcparent.com december 2017

holiday baking for family and friends

A

holiday season filled with gatherings calls for simple recipes that make baking for family and friends easy and enjoyable.

Traditions are often enjoyed more around the holidays and some classic flavors are must-haves for seasonal parties and dinners.

Individually portioned desserts are ideal for entertaining, and these smooth, creamy cheesecakes with vivid holiday color are a perfect single serving that is sure to brighten any dessert table.

Find more inspiration for this season’s holiday baking at LuckyLeaf.com.

Mini Marbled Cherry Cheesecakes

Heat oven to 350 F. Line muffin tins with 18 paper liners.

18 chocolate cookies with white filling 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 can (21 ounces) Lucky Leaf Premium Cherry Fruit Filling, divided

Place one chocolate cookie in bottom of each paper liner.

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Fold in half of fruit filling. Fill each muffin liner about threefourths full with mixture.

Bake 20-25 minutes, or until done. Cool. Top each cheesecake with spoonful of remaining fruit filling.

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kcparent.com december 2017

47

Sweet holiday memories… kansas city style

h

oliday memories are even sweeter with a visit to one of these local sites where they put a special twist on Christmas classics.

A Christmas Village Made Entirely of Gingerbread Crown Center (2500 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, CrownCenter.com) has been hosting holiday memories for generations of Kansas Citians with the magic of the 100-foot-tall mayor’s Christmas tree, ice skating, photographs with Santa and holiday magic. Still, our favorite holiday attraction at Crown Center is the gingerbread village on display through December.

This whimsical holiday village, made entirely of real gingerbread and sweets, is a true feast for the eyes. If you’d like to make your own village, we have the shopping list for you:

• 170 lbs. sugar • 165 lbs. flour • 1,620 eggs • 8 gal. egg whites • 20 lbs. ginger • 20 gal. molasses • 20 lbs. baking soda • 14 lbs. salt • 180 lbs. assorted candies

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hot chocolate, cookies and arts and crafts while listening to great holiday music. Register at LawrenceKS.org.

• Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt Gardner: Dec. 19, 5:30,

Cornerstone Park (Gardner, KS). $3/ea. for ages 2-12. Register at GardnerKansas.gov.

Larger-Than-Life Gingerbread House Paradise Park (1021 NE Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO, 816.246.5224) is home to a bigger-than-life gingerbread house creation and is the coolest place to warm your holiday spirits and have a blast too. Kids enjoy this play area featuring a laser light show, holiday music and indoor snow for an enchanting, fairy tale memory your whole family will love.

Sugar Cookie Decorating

Sweet Treats at WinterFest This year marks the inaugural WinterFest at Worlds of Fun, and the festivities offer many treats to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth! Their restaurants will offer an array of unique holiday goodies and Christmas classics. Only at WinterFest can guests enjoy holiday nachos: sweet potato fries with swiss cheese sauce, chicken, cranberries and topped with a crispy fried brussels sprout. Other delicious foods include mint cannolis, apple pie, candy cane ice cream, pumpkin ice cream, funnel cakes with holiday toppings and, of course, hot chocolate.

Coca-Cola’s holiday commercials and trademarks are beloved, and you’ll see a 30-foot-tall inflatable Coca-Cola Santa holding an ice cold bottle, and the Coca-Cola polar bear. Don’t forget to stop by Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, where you can decorate your own box of cookies baked with her top-secret recipe—with Mrs. Claus herself.

In addition to sweet treats, enjoy holiday shows with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang, a live holiday show called Tinker’s Toy Factory and more. Visit Artisan Alley, enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas as the theme park is decorated with holiday lights, ride the Holly Jolly Trolley, ice skate and visit a stable of animals reminding us of the first Christmas.

Decorating sugar cookies is a beloved holiday tradition, but there’s no way to get around the mess it makes—or is there? MeMa’s Bakery (1360 Walnut, Kansas City, MO, 816.283.3939, MeMasBakery.com) in the Power & Light District offers Christmas cookie decorating every Friday and Saturday until Christmas, 4:00-9:00, for a nominal fee. Each participant gets to decorate three cookies of her choice; they provide the icing, decorations and cooking space. Sip some hot cocoa while you work and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the bakery.

Candy Cane Hunts Local parks and recreation departments host annual candy cane hunts. Children bring flashlights to find all the candy canes Santa has hidden in local parks.

• The Great Candy Cane Hunt Olathe: Dec. 2, 5:30, Stagecoach

Park (1205 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS). $5-10/ea. up to age 12. Special candy canes are redeemed for prizes. The event includes additional crafts, activities and hot chocolate. Register at OlatheKS.org.

• Candy Cane Hunt Lawrence: Dec. 2, 4:00-6:00, Holcom Park

Recreation Center (2700 W. 27th St., Lawrence, KS). Also enjoy

Chocolate Christmas Village Houses For many North Kansas Citians, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without a chocolate house from Wally’s Pastry Shop (3855 N. Oak Trafficway, North Kansas City, MO, 816.452.7535). Master pastry chefs Wally Uhl and his son, Manfred, were trained in Europe and they’ve been preparing their confections for Kansas Citians, including President Truman and other local celebrities, for decades.

Their delightful Christmas village houses are both whimsical and delicious—the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table. kcparent.com december 2017

49

Made-from-Scratch Gingerbread Houses Mely’s Yogurt & Ice Cream (4051 Somerset Dr., Prairie Village, KS, 913.381.9642) has been a Corinth Square landmark for more than 30 years. In addition to the frozen treats, patrons delight in the holiday confections. Mely’s bakes beautiful gingerbread houses and they offer both decorated and undecorated houses for customers. You may buy their premade houses to decorate at home. In addition to the gingerbread houses, they also sell sugar arts (sugar bells, sugar balls, Christmas tree, lamb) and peanut brittle.

Traditional Treats Many local shops specialize in holiday treats with a rich heritage. Some of our favorites include:

• Strawberry Hill Povitica (7226 W. Frontage Rd., Merriam, KS, 800.634.1002). The shop makes handmade European sweet bread in an open kitchen where customers can watch as the bread is baked from scratch.

• Dolce Bakery Yule Log (3930 W. 69th Ter., Prairie Village, KS, 913.236.4411). The chocolate yule log cake is just one of the favorite pastries at this shop, which also specializes in cookies, cakes and treats.

• André’s Confiserie Suisse Buche Noel (5018 Main St., Kansas

City, MO, 816.561.3440). Andre’s refers to their Christmas cake shaped as a yule log by its French name, Buche Noel. The cake lives up to its reputation as a delicious and beautiful dessert.

• Annedore’s Fine Chocolates Plaza Christmas Lights (5000 State

Line Rd., Westwood Hills, KS, 913.831.0302). Annedore’s makes an array of gourmet chocolates, but their holiday signature is a box of chocolate Country Club Plaza Christmas lights wrapped in an artisan box with a gold bow—they’re almost too pretty to eat!

• Topsy’s Popcorn in the Christmas Tin (Multiple locations:

TopsysPopcorn.com). Serving Kansas City their famous gourmet popcorn since 1950, Topsy’s makes it seem like Christmas. At our house, their popcorn is essential to our holiday celebration, in flavors of cinnamon, cheese and caramel, presented in their beautiful Plaza tin.

• Laura Little’s Candy Kitchen Fudge (2100 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS, 913.722.2226). Laura Little’s makes beautiful chocolates, and they’ll even personalize them for your loved ones—but their fudge can’t be beat.

Kristina Light loves the gingerbread village at Crown Center and can’t wait to sample the sweet treats at Winterfest.

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

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

SEARCH HOSPITALS BY: • LOCATION • NICU LEVEL • CLASSES OFFERED

• MIDWIFERY

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kcparent.com december 2017

Songs

of the season

D

ecember is here, and Christmas music is part of the festive fun.

Has it been playing in your home for months? Or can you stomach it for only a short period of time? It’s not my fave. I couldn’t listen to it for more than one month out of the year, my husband can give it about a week, but my girls love it! And so, for roughly 25 days, we hear a lot of the same songs over and over and over—and over.

My Spotify playlist of Christmas favorites includes:

• Mary’s Boy Child, which, in my

humble opinion, is not played nearly enough on the radio!

• Feliz Navidad. My siblings and I have

a gift exchange each year and we have named the yearly event “Feliz” because of the song.

• Merry Cherry Christmas is a lesser-

known Neil Diamond Christmas song that my younger loves. I always wonder, what is a Cherry Christmas anyway?

• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. When my older was just about 2, this song was playing on the radio and after Andy William sings, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I heard a little voice say, “It really IS the most wonderful time of the year.” Such a great memory!

• Do They Know It’s Christmas? Can I be a child of the 80s and not love this song? Best line, of course, is when Bono sings, “Well tonight, thank God, it’s them instead of you.”

• Christmastime. My sister-in-law put together a Christmas CD and this was on it—first time I had heard it.

We listen to the CD when we bake cookies, so this reminds me of cookie baking.

• Same Old Lang Syne For years I didn’t really consider this a Christmas song— guess I still really don’t—but I like it and it gets played a lot during the Christmas season.

• Silent Night is beautiful and sums up the true meaning of the season. Each year our Christmas Eve church service ends with a candle-lit sing-along of this tune.

And the worst? That song about the boy who wants to buy his mom Christmas shoes. So depressing!

What are your faves? Shoot me an email and let me know some new ones I need to add to my list!

• Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

I know you are surprised a U2 song didn’t rank higher on my list.

• Christmas Canon. I just think it’s a very pretty song.

Margaret Sarver jams to Christmas tunes for one month from her home in Lenexa (and in her minivan, which makes her ultra-cool).

kcparent.com december 2017

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december

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

CALENDAR

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

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kcparent.com december 2017

Child of Hope by the Störling Dance Company

see

watch

party

listen

celebrate

Take the family to see Child of Hope thru Dec. 3. The Störling Dance Company tells the dramatic and moving true story of the anticipation and arrival of Jesus.

CultureHouse.com

The KC Rep’s performance of A Christmas Carol returns for its 37th season. A favorite holiday tradition! See it live and on stage through Dec. 24.

KCRep.org

Celebrate the holidays 1950s style at Retro Holiday Fun! on Dec. 9 at Jo Co Arts & Heritage Center.

Explore the AllElectric House and KidScape! $3-$5.

913.826.2787

Enjoy Christmas stories Dec. 23 at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. See festive decorations while hearing stories about holidays past.

816.235.8000

Welcome 2018 with family activities at Noon Year’s Eve Dec. 31 at Science City. Events include science demos, music, dancing and a HUGE balloon drop!

UnionStation.org

1 Friday

Child of Hope Thru Dec 3, Oak Park Mall Studio.

See Storing Dance Studio’s portrayal of the Nativity story. CultureHouse.com

Kristkindl Markt Today & tomorrow, Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ.

Shop, eat, make gingerbread houses and more.

816.523.4813

Holiday Luminary Walk Today & tomorrow, Overland Park Arboretum. The arboretum transforms into a wonderland of candles, music and holiday fun. $8. OPKansas.org

Holiday Lights & Festive Sights 5:00, Sylvester Powell, Jr Community Center. Visit Santa, enjoy carriage rides, s’mores, entertainment and more. MissionKS.org

The Nativity Thru Dec 3, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. Paul Mesner Puppets brings 7-foot biblical puppet characters to life. $12-$17.

816.756.3500

Santa’s Wonderland 6:00, Gillham Park. Celebrate the holidays with festive entertainment, light displays and a visit from Santa and his friends. Free. 816.513.7500

2 Saturday Breakfast with Santa and Craft Fair 8:00, Grinter Place. Enjoy breakfast with Santa and shop for holiday gifts at the craft fair. $5-$9.

KSHS.org

Liberty Light Show Thru Dec 3 & Dec 8-10, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Free Christmas light display synchronized with live musicians!

PleasantValley.org.

Breakfast with St Nick 8:00, Strawberry Hill Museum. Enjoy breakfast, a visit with St Nicholas and one picture. $10.

StrawberryHillMuseum.org

Christmas on the River 6:00, Downtown Parkville. Live entertainment including Park Hill school choir, family fun, dining, treats and holiday fireworks. ParkvilleMo.org

Santa Trains 9:00, 10:30, 1:30 & 3:00, Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad. Winter train ride with Santa! Hot chocolate and a cookie after. Pre-reg at BeltonRailroad.org.

Soup’s on with Santa 6:30, Irene B French Community Center. Soup for supper, holiday games and crafts and tree lighting ceremony.

Pre-reg at Merriam.org.

Gingerbread House 9:00, Home Depot. Build holiday memories where you and your child create a wooden gingerbread house. Free.

HomeDepot.com Mayor’s Christmas Carnival 9:00, Roger T Sermon Community Center. Carnival games, face painting, balloon creation and Santa! Free.

816.325.7370 Small Mall 9:00, CW Parker Carousel Museum.

Elves help kids shop for gifts and then enjoy a free carousel ride. Craft sale for adults.

913.683.2434 Holiday Extravaganza 9:00, Sports Pavilion (Lawrence). Annual show brings artisans and vendors from all over the state for shoppers.

LawrenceKS.org Christmas Tales by Mrs Claus 10:00, MCPL (Riverside). Follow the reindeer tracks to the North Pole and sit a spell with Mrs Claus.

Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

Narrative Art 10:00, Nerman Museum. Ages 8-11 will learn about works of art that tell stories, and then create a watercolor painting triptych. Pre-reg at NermanMuseum.org.

COLEMAN DOLLHOUSE OPENING / Saturday, December 2 / 10AM - 4PM The annual tradition returns! Get an up-close look at T/m’s I’m making a list!

nine-foot-tall dollhouse decked out for the holidays.

FATHER CHRISTMAS / Sunday, December 17 / 1-2:30PM Father Christmas is stopping by to engage the entire family in interactive tales of holiday traditions.

GIVE THE GIFT OF IMAGINATION / Give one-time free admission for $5 or a year’s worth with memberships starting at $25!

OPEN DAILY: 10 AM – 4PM, CLOSED TUESDAYS

5235 OAK STREET K ANSAS CIT Y, MO 64112

816.235.8000

TOYANDMINIATUREMUSEUM.ORG

kcparent.com december 2017

53

Santa’s Gingerbread Station Thru Dec. 31, Crown Center Shops. Explore interactive exhibit and have photo taken with Santa Claus. CrownCenter.com

Coleman Open House 10:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. See the museum’s 9-foot-tall dollhouse decked out for the holiday season. 816.235.8000 Nutcracker Tea Party Today & tomorrow, Ritz Charles. Enjoy finger food and tea while watching a condensed version of The Nutcracker. $35-$50. NutcrackerTeaParty.org A Visit from St Nicholas 10:00, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Take a break from the present and experience a 19th-century Christmas. 816.792.2655 Holiday Marketplace 10:00, Roeland Park Community Center. Children enjoy a visit from Santa, holiday crafts and a special shopping experience. 913.826.3160 Christmas on the Farm 10:00, Watkins Woolen Mill. Enjoy caroling, samples of treats, plum pudding flaming demonstrations, Father Christmas and more. 816. 580.3387

OLATHE, KANSAS Est. 1858

Animals in Winter 10:00, Anita B Gorman Conservation Center. Learn what certain animals do to survive the low temperatures, and make a craft.

816.759.7300 Breakfast with Santa 10:00, Irene B French Community Center. Holiday fun includes story time, face painting, elf craft and Santa! $5.

Pre-reg at Merriam.org.

Christmas Concert 1:00, Lanesfield Historic Site. A special Christmas concert, followed by a visit from Santa, crafts and refreshments.

913.715.2575

Strolling Santa Weekends thru Dec 17, 3:00-5:00, Summit Fair Shopping. Visit with Santa as he spreads cheer and take a #SelfieWithSanta! SummitFairShopping.com

Christkindlmarkt 2:00, Downtown Shawnee.

Live entertainment, kids crafts, fruit cake races, Santa, holiday trolley, food trucks and more!

CityOfShawnee.org

The Great Candy Cane Hunt 5:30, Stage Coach Park. Bring flashlights to find candy canes Santa dropped in the park. $8-$10. OlatheKS.org

Traveling West Point Trunks 2:00, Midwest Genealogy Center. Come hear, see and touch pieces of history. All ages. Pre-reg at 816.252.7228.

Santa’s Wonderland 5:30, Penguin Park.

Experience the wonder of the season at Kansas City’s holiday tradition, Santa’s Wonderland!

Free. 816.513.7500

Start your holiday season with a visit to our free

Christmas Open House Saturday, December 2 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mahaffie Dinners

Saturday, December 9 $49/person

Registration Required—Visit Mahaffie.org

1200 Kansas City Road Olathe, KS 54

kcparent.com december 2017

mahaffie.org 913-971-5111

Anderson House Christmas Today & tomorrow, Battle of Lexington Historic Site. Tour the Anderson house while it is decorated for the holidays. 660.259.4654

Holiday Party 1:00, Westport-Roanoke Community Center. Family fun includes games, crafts, treats and visits from Santa Claus himself!

816.513.7660

Toddle Time 10:00, Bonner Springs Community Center. Bring little ones 9 months through 5 years to play on the large assortment of toys. $2. BonnerSprings.org

Ring in the Holidays 7:30, Liberty Performing Arts Theatre. Holiday concert featuring t​ he William Jewell College Handbell Choir. $8-$10.

LibertySymphony.org

Festival of Lights 3:00, Powell Gardens.

Botanically-themed lighting stretches along a winding pathway through six gardens.

PowellGardens.org

Artsy Baby 10:15, Indian Creek Library.

Let Baby create fridge-worthy art all while exploring both messy and mess-free supplies. Pre-reg at 913.971.6874.

Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear 8:00, Carlsen Center. Enjoy modern soulful/folk music magic created by this mother and son duo.

JCCC.edu/theseries

The Nativity 3:00, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. Mesner Puppet Theater brings 7-foot biblical puppet characters to life. $11-$16.

816.756.3500

Tuba Christmas Noon, Kauffman Center.

Lunch-hour concert to listen to the sounds of the season, tuba-style! Free. KCSymphony.org

3 Sunday

Winterfest 5:00, Worlds of Fun. Sparkling lights transform the park that features live shows, holiday characters and activities, cookie decorating and more! WorldsOfFun.com

Santa Dives with Penguins Weekends thru Dec 17, Kansas City Zoo. What’s red and swimming with the penguins? Santa! Watch as penguins torpedo around him.

KansasCityZoo.org Holiday Classic Movie 12:30, 3:00, 5:30 & 8:00, Union Station. See the family favorite Home Alone on the big screen! $3. UnionStation.org art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

4 Monday

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

913.322.5550

Moms Free Monday 9:30, Paradise Park. Moms are free at the Children’s EduTainment Center with a paid child’s admission. 816.246.5224

Toddler Time 10:00, Legoland and Sea Life.

On Tuesdays thru Dec 5, one toddler (4 and under) and one adult enjoy entry for only $14.

816.471.4386

Santa’s Gingerbread Station 10:00, Crown Center Shops. Explore interactive exhibit and have photo taken with Santa Claus.

CrownCenter.com

Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 5:30, Main Street (Blue Springs). Entertainment by local schools, refreshments and Santa!

BlueSpringsGov.com

A FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY, DRIVE-IN CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAY SYNCHRONIZED WITH LIVE MUSICIANS! Enjoy the 15-minute show featuring live performances of your Christmas favorites from the comfort of your vehicle. Parking is first-come, first-serve.

LIVE PERFORMANCE SHOWTIMES: 6pm • 6:45pm • 7:30pm • 8:15pm • 9pm LIVE PERFORMANCE DATES Friday, Dec. 1 Saturday, Dec 2 Sunday, Dec 3 Friday, Dec 8 Saturday, Dec 9 Sunday, Dec 10 Automated shows (without live musicians and glowsticks) will run Dec 11 through Dec 24 from 6pm to 11pm each night.

HELD AT PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH 1600 N. 291 Hwy. Liberty, MO 64068 Please enter from 291 Hwy./96th St.

LIBERTYLIGHTSHOW.COM kcparent.com december 2017

55

WinterFest Thru Dec. 30, Worlds of Fun. Sparkling lights transform the park that features live shows, holiday characters and activities, cookie decorating and more! WorldsOfFun.com

Cirque Musica Holiday 7:00, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. See incredible feats of strength, skill and grace set to great holiday music favorites. CirqueMusica.com

Open Gym Noon, Integrity Gymnastics.

A great time to practice, get familiar with the gym and for kids to release energy. $6. IntegrityOP.com

K-LOVE Christmas Tour 7:00, Connection Point Church. Christmas tour with a live concert featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, PLUMB and more. KLOVE.com

Story Time with Santa 6:30, MCPL (Smithville). Santa is making a special trip to read a holiday story. After the story, sit on Santa’s knee. Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

6 Wednesday

7 Thursday

Playgroup at FBC 9:00, First Baptist Church of Shawnee. A safe place for kids to run and play and for parents to enjoy coffee and conversation. Free. 913.226.9438

Santa’s Gingerbread Station 10:00, Crown Center Shops. Explore interactive exhibit and have photo taken with Santa Claus.

CrownCenter.com

Retro Story and Art Fun 10:00, Jo Co Arts and Heritage Center. Listen to Frosty the Snowman and enjoy an art activity for little hands. $2.

JoCoGov.org

Toddler Tumbling 10:00, Kansas City North Community Center. Bring toddlers for fun exercise while allowing them to build motor skills. $4. 816.784.6100

A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 24, Spencer Theatre.

The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 37th season. A favorite holiday tradition! KCRep.org

Raggedy Ann & Andy’s Christmas Adventure 10:00, H&R Block City Stage. The loveable dolls go on an adventure to rescue light, warmth and the spirit of Christmas. TYA.org

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

JumpCityKC.com

The Nutcracker Thru Dec 24, Kauffman Center. The classic story set to the celebrated Tchaikovsky’s score and wrapped with sparkling costumes. KCBallet.org

Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting 6:00, the View Community Center. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, carol performances and tree lighting!

816.316.4888

BAPTIST

A festive Christmas event featuring LBC’s full worship choir and orchestra.

• FREE to the public • Dessert buffet included • Childcare provided - 3 yrs & under

DECEMBER 9, 2017 | 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

•

DECEMBER 10, 2017 | 5:00 PM

CHRISTMAS EVE EVE SERVICE

Saturday, December 23 | 5:00PM in the Koinonia Hall

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Sunday, December 24 | 5:00PM in the Worship Center

For more information on all of our Christmas services, visit lenexabaptist.com.

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8 Friday Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park.

A special time for those 5 and under to enjoy access to the playground and trampoline attractions. $5-$10. 913.298.0626 Paint Me a Story 10:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire.

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

Polar Express Pajama Party 12:30, 3:00, 5:30 & 8:00, Union Station. Come dressed in your PJs to enjoy the show and receive free mini train ride! $3. UnionStation.org/holidays A Country School Christmas 1:00, Lanesfield Historic Site. Write a letter to Santa with pen and ink and create your very own ornament.

JoCoGov.org

Liberty Light Show Dec 8-10, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Free Christmas light display synchronized with live musicians!

PleasantValley.org.

Santa Trains 9:00, 10:30, 1:30 & 3:00, Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad. Winter train ride with Santa! Hot chocolate and a cookie after. Pre-reg at BeltonRailroad.org.

Canes, Cocoa and Claus 6:00, Shawnee Indian Mission Museum. Bring a flashlight and hunt for candy canes in the Christmas tree forest. Ages 10 and under. 913.262.0867

Merry Science Day 10:00, Science City. A day jam-packed full of holiday fun! Create at Toy Workshop, decorate cookies and enjoy science demos. ScienceCity.com

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Thru Dec 10, Culture House at Oak Park Mall. A hilarious Christmas classic featuring lots of laughs!

CultureHouse.com Holiday Luminary Walk Today & tomorrow, Overland Park Arboretum. The arboretum transforms into a wonderland of candles, music and holiday fun. $8. OPKansas.org

9 Saturday

Fine Art Friday 1:00, Kemper Museum.

Interactive experiences in the galleries encourage students to examine art. Includes tour with docent. Free. KemperArt.org

Breakfast at the North Pole 8:00, White Building (Jo Co Fairgrounds). Spend a morning with your family at the North Pole! Pancakes, crafts and Santa. GardnerKansas.gov

Puppets for Paws with Santa Claus 6:00, Summit Fair Shops. Puppet show, craft project, Santa photos and more! Bring items for Furry Kids’ Refuge. SummitFairShopping.com

Breakfast with Santa 9:00, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Bring a parent and have breakfast followed by a visit with Santa. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

The Holiday Swing 10:00, Union Station.

Shop more than 100 handmade and vintage vendors at the number one handmade holiday shopping experience. TheStrawberrySwing.com Whoville Holidays Today & tomorrow, City Market. Calling all Who’s! ‘Tis the season for holiday Whospitality. Visit the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. TheCityMarket.org Hands-On History 11:00, National World War I Museum and Memorial. History is brought to life.

Handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org Holly Jolly Christmas Puppet Show 11:00 & 2:00, Puppetry Arts Institute. Bring the family to see Holly Jolly Christmas by Kraig Kensinger. $6. Hazelle.org

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Free Crafts for Kids 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Every Saturday Lakeshore Learning offers free crafts for kids. Materials supplied.

LakeshoreLearning.com Retro Holiday Fun! 11:30, Jo Co Arts & Heritage Center. Celebrate the holidays 1950s style!

Explore the All-Electric House and play in KidScape! $3-$5. 913.826.2787 Open Gym 12:30, Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics.

Run, jump and play in the foam pit, rope swings and more. EliteGymSwim.com A Kansas City Christmas Today & tomorrow, Lenexa Baptist Church. Enjoy Christmas music featuring the LBC choir and orchestra, followed by dessert buffet. LenexaBaptist.com Selfies with Santa and Seaman 2:00, Nat’l Frontier Trails Museum. Take a photo with Santa and Seaman, the dog who accompanied Lewis and Clark. Free. 816.325.7576 Mahaffie Dinners 4:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop. Enjoy a hearty meal in the stagecoach stop dining room! $49. Pre-reg at Mahaffie.org.

Second Saturdays 4:00, Downtown Weston.

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

WestonMO.com

Once Upon a Time

Daddy & Daughter Dance FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018, 6-9 PM AND SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 5-8 PM PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CHURCH 10113 LENEXA DRIVE, LENEXA, KS

WinterFest 5:00, Worlds of Fun. Sparkling lights transform the park that features live shows, holiday characters and activities, cookie decorating and more! WorldsOfFun.com Holiday Nights 7:00, Atkins-Johnson Farm. Live holiday music and carolers, holiday crafts for adults and kids, spiced cider, vintage toy display and more. Free. 816.423.4107 A Christmas Gathering: Danú and the Kansas City Chorale 8:00, Carlsen Center. Irish ensemble presents a taste of Ireland’s holiday events. JCCC.edu/theseries

10 Sunday WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

Cinderella & Belle Proceeds Will Benefit Global Missions and Forest Avenue Family Shelter

PRICE INCLUDES

JACK STACK & CHICK-FIL-A DINNER

H

PLUS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTO AND MORE

Register by Jan. 10th and take advantage of the early bird discount: $65 per couple ($15 for each additional daughter). Registration after Jan. 10th is $75 per couple/$20 each additional.

EVENT WILL SELL OUT H TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE REGISTER AT WWW.SOVGRACEKC.ORG/DANCE

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Winter Holiday Show 11:00, Line Creek Ice Arena. Don’t miss out on this figure skating and synchronized skating holiday show.

816.513.0760 Preschool Story Time 1:30, Nelson-Atkins.

Story time in Noguchi Court presented by librarians from the Kansas City Public Library.

Nelson-Atkins.org Christmas Crèches 2:00, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Hear a talk about the history and tradition of holiday crèches.

Cookies and cider after. 816.235.8000

Festival of Lights 3:00, Powell Gardens.

Botanically-themed lighting that stretches along a winding pathway through six gardens.

PowellGardens.org

11 Monday

Family in town?

Mummies of the World 10:00, Union Station.

Embark on a journey into the extraordinary world of mummies and mummification.

UnionStation.org Toddle Time 10:00, Bonner Springs Community Center. Bring little ones 9 months through 5 years to play on the large assortment of toys. $2. BonnerSprings.org Open Jump 4:00, Urban Air. A hyped-up, healthy dose of jumping, climbing, swinging, crawling, flying and dunking. UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com Santa’s Wonderland Thru Dec 24, Bass Pro Shop. Make crafts, write letters to the North Pole and visit Santa. Need Bass Pass for photo, available at store. BassPro.com Story Time with Santa and Mrs Claus 6:30, MCPL (Lone Jack). Santa is making a special trip to read a holiday story. After, sit on Santa’s lap.

Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

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

913.895.6350

45th & Oak | nelson-atkins.org | FREE NelsonAtkins_KCParent_FamilyInTown_Dec2017_FNL.indd 1

10/24/17 4:17 PM

Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace.

Take a spin on the ice at Kansas City’s only public outdoor skating rink. 816.274.8411 Creative Story Time 10:30, Ceramic Café. Hear a story, create a pottery piece and enjoy a simple snack. $12. CeramicCafe.com Family Feast Day Pizza Shoppe. Get a single topping king pizza, two Shoppe house salads and an order of garlic cheese bread for only $19.99. PizzaShoppe.com

13 Wednesday Baby Bounce Story Time 9:30 & 10:30, Plaza Library. Stories and activities for the youngest set, ages newborn through 18 months.

816.701.3481 Open Gym Noon, Integrity Gymnastics. A great time to practice, get familiar with the gym and for kids to release energy. $6. IntegrityOP.com

kcparent.com december 2017

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december by the numbers

25

1915 The year Hallmark made its first Christmas cards.

11

December date in 1933 on which the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opened.

11.2 Average centimeters of December snowfall in Kansas City.

Price in cents for children to visit the Fairy Princess and tell her their Christmas wishes at Kline’s store in Downtown KC. Now, visitors see her at the KC Museum.

45

Height in feet of the Legends Outlets holiday tree, which is lit and synchronized to music through the season.

1826 On Dec. 15 of this year, Jackson County, MO, was established.

12,000

45

Years the KC Rep has performed A Christmas Carol.

Seasons of ice skating enjoyed

by Kansas Citians at Crown Center.

Number of LED lights bedazzling the Lee’s Summit Magic Tree every Christmas.

37

Winter Solstice Hike 5:00, George Owens Nature Park. Enjoy the beginning of winter with a walk along a torch-lit path and then warm up at the outdoor fire. 816.325.7115

Nighttime Tour 6:30, Strawberry Hill Museum.

Tour the museum, illuminated with Victorian oil lamps and special Christmas lighting.

StrawberryHillMuseum.org

Clara’s Dream Today & tomorrow, Olathe South High School. A beautiful adaptation of the classical Nutcracker ballet. $6 - $25.

MillerMarley.com

Fairy Princess Thru Dec 17, Kansas City Museum. Arts, crafts and a visit with the Fairy Princess. Must pre-purchase tickets at KansasCityMuseum.org.

16 Saturday

A Charlie Brown Christmas 2:00, Lied Center.

The classic animated television special comes to life featuring all of your favorite characters.

Lied.KU.edu

A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 24, Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 37th season. A favorite holiday tradition!

KCRep.org

14 Thursday Ginormous Gingerbread House Party 9:30, Paradise Park. A laser light show and holiday music make this the best interactive gingerbread house. Paradise-Park.com Nature Story Time 10:00 & 11:00, George Owens Nature Park. A nature-focused story time and craft for children. 816.325.7115 Overland Park Civic Band Holiday Concert 7:30, Bell Center. Holiday cheer will be heard at this 2017 Christmas concert. Free.

913.553.0876

15 Friday

A Royal Breakfast Event 8:00, Spring Hill Middle School South. Breakfast with Santa and Sluggerrr. Photos, choirs, dance performance and more. SpringHillRec.org Farmers Market Holiday Mart 9:00, Lee’s Summit Elementary Gym. Vendors from the farmers market have gifts and goodies for sale.

DowntownLS.org Santa Dives with Penguins Weekends thru Dec 17, Kansas City Zoo. What’s red and swimming with the penguins? Santa! Watch as penguins torpedo around him.

KansasCityZoo.org Visit Santa 10:00, the Village at Burlington Creek. Enjoy face painting, cookie decorating, photos with Santa, DIY ornament station and more! BurlingtonCreek.com Whoville Holidays Today & tomorrow, City Market. Calling all Who’s! ‘Tis the season for holiday Whospitality. Visit the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. TheCityMarket.org

Skate with Santa 2:00, Line Creek Community Center. Who knew Saint Nick was so great on skates? Enjoy an afternoon on ice with Santa. $4. 816.513.0760 Strolling Santa Weekends thru Dec 17, 3:00-5:00, Summit Fair Shopping. Visit with Santa as he spreads cheer and take a #SelfieWithSanta! SummitFairShopping.com Winter Solstice Celebration 4:30, Ernie Miller.

Take a break from the busy holidays and walk through the woods lit by luminaries. $6-$8.

913.764.7759

17 Sunday Father Christmas Visits 1:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Father Christmas comes to the museum to share stories of holidays past.

Bring a camera for photos! 816.235.8000 art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park.

A special time for those 5 and under to enjoy access to the playground and trampoline attractions. $5-$10. 913.298.0626

Holiday Greening 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Learn to decorate using all native plants and trees. Fashion a festive holiday swag. 816.759.7300

Indoor Playground 9:30, Sylvester Powell Community Center. Developmental toys, inflatable and more for kids in a safe, clean indoor play area. 913.722.8200

Holiday Bricktacular Today & tomorrow, Legoland. Festive fun for Lego builders!

816.471.4386

The Nutcracker Thru Dec 24, Kauffman Center. The classic story set to the celebrated Tchaikovsky’s score and wrapped with sparkling costumes. KCBallet.org

Holiday Party 10:00, Southeast Community Center. Kids and families can enjoy games, crafts, treats and visits from Santa Claus himself!

816.513.0632

Hermon Mehari Quintet 7:00, Carlsen Center. Enjoy the sounds of international performing trumpet player Hermon Mehari.

JCCC.edu/theseries

Trombone Christmas 11:00, Union Station.

Enjoy the sounds of the holidays as played on trombones! Free. UnionStation.org/holidays

18 Monday

Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Thru Dec 19, Union Station. Visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive train. UnionStation.org Kids Night Out 5:30, Johnson County Museum.

Kids, come have fun while grownups are out!

Visit KidScape, art activities, dance and more! $15. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Gingerbread House Competition 6:00, Garrison Community Center. Kids will be provided with materials to compete for the best gingerbread house. 816.784.1140 Winter Holiday Party 6:00, Gymboree Play & Music (Zona Rosa). Activities, craft, snack parachute and of course, bubbles! $20. Call 816.505.3344 to pre-reg.

Story Time: War Game 11:00, National World War I Museum and Memorial. Join us for an award-winning short animated film.

TheWorldWar.org Open Gym 12:30, Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics.

Run, jump and play in the foam pit, rope swings and more. EliteGymSwim.com Elves’ Workshop 1:00, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Face painting, treats, crafts, small mall, Santa and more! $3. 816.781.8598

Santa’s Gingerbread Station 10:00, Crown Center Shops. Explore interactive exhibit and have photo taken with Santa Claus.

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

JumpCityKC.com Toddle Time 10:00, Bonner Springs Community Center. Bring little ones 9 months through 5 years to play on the large assortment of toys. $2. BonnerSprings.org kcparent.com december 2017

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Noon Year’s Eve Dec. 31, Science City. Welcome 2018 with family activities in a safe, kid-friendly environment. UnionStation.org

MakerSpace Beginner Night 6:00, Jo Co Library (Central Resource). Introduction to 3D printing, laser cutting, design software and more. JoCoLibrary.org

Rockhurst Winter Basketball Clinic Thru Dec 22, Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse. Learn to build skills, encourage teamwork and have fun! DrewDienerCamps.com

19 Tuesday

20 Wednesday

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park.

A special time for those 5 and under to enjoy access to the playground and trampoline attractions. $5-$10. 913.298.0626

Story Telling 10:00, Jo Co Arts & Heritage Center. Local story teller Jo Ho delights and entertains. Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Rec Center. Kids ages 5 and under play with push toys, riding toys, balls, inflatables and more. $2. Lenexa.com

Raggedy Ann & Andy’s Christmas Adventure 10:00, H&R Block City Stage. The loveable dolls go on an adventure to rescue light, warmth and the spirit of Christmas. TYA.org

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

913.895.6350

The Magic of the Holidays 2:00, MCPL (Lee’s Summit). Eric Vaughn and his furry sidekick Mr. Tinkles perform and bring merriment to all.

Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

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

WinterFest 5:00, Worlds of Fun. Sparkling lights transform the park that features live shows, holiday characters and activities, cookie decorating and more! WorldsOfFun.com

21 Thursday Festival of Lights 3:00, Powell Gardens.

Botanically-themed lighting that stretches along a winding pathway through six gardens.

PowellGardens.org A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 24, Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 37th season. A favorite holiday tradition!

KCRep.org

santa sightings in kc

These are some of our favorite local Santa sightings. Find a complete guide on KCParent.com.

Santa Dives with Penguins Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO) on Dec. 2, 3, 9-10 and 16-17, 2:00.

What’s red and white and swimming with the penguins at Helzberg Penguin Plaza?

Santa! Get a one-of-a-kind photo of Santa as penguins torpedo around him. Watch the penguin bubbles trail the man in the red suit and hear the children giggle.

Wonderland Workshop: Drop-in Gift Making for Families Powell Gardens (1609 NW US Hwy. 50, Kingsville, MO) on Dec. 2, 2:00-6:00 Bring your little elves to Powell Gardens for a fun-filled afternoon of ornament making, Christmas card designing, bird feeder constructing and storytelling in front of a fire! Get a family photo made for the holiday season, ask Santa for that pony you’ve always wanted.

Father Christmas Comes to National Museum of Toys & Miniatures National Museum of Toys & Miniatures (5235 Oak St., Kansas City, MO) on Dec. 17, 1:00-2:30 Father Christmas is stopping by T/m to share stories of holiday traditions.

Professional storyteller Jim “Two Crows” Wallen will engage the entire family with interactive tales of Old Saint Nick. Be sure to bring your camera so you can snap a keepsake photo of your family with the man in red!

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Story Time with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Holiday Luminary Walk at the Arboretum Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS), Dec. 1-2 and 8-9, 5:00-9:00. Admission charged.

Experience mile of candles, holiday lights, live entertainment, Santa Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot cider around a campfire and mystical gnome and fairy villages. Children will be thrilled to see Santa’s Woodland Depot in the Train Garden and chat with him nightly from 5:30 to 8:30.

Mid-Continent Public Library, various locations and dates throughout December, MyMCPL.org. FREE. Registration required.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are making a special trip from the North Pole to read a holiday story at the library. After the story, sit on Santa’s lap to tell him what you want for Christmas. Parents, don’t forget your cameras!

Strolling Santa & Mrs. Claus Summit Fair Shopping Center (Lee’s Summit, MO), Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17, 3:00-5:00.

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus as they stroll about Summit Fair enjoying the cheer of the holiday season. Bring your cameras and make sure to snap a #SelfieWithSanta!

Kids Day Out 7:30, Jo Co Arts & Heritage Center. Have fun when school is out! Kids participate in a variety of activities. $30. Pre-reg at JoCoGov.org/dept/museum/home.

22 Friday Laser Holiday Magic 10:30 & 1:00, Gottlieb Planetarium (Union Station). Favorite holiday tunes brought to life with laser choreography. $2.50-$7.00. UnionStation.org/holiday Paint Me a Story 10:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire. Paint a pottery piece that goes along with a favorite story.

Snack included. $13-$15. Pre-reg at 913.661.2529.

A Charlie Brown Christmas 2:00, 4:00 & 7:00, the Coterie. Join Charlie Brown on a memorable journey as he tries to direct the school Christmas pageant. TheCoterie.org Shen Yun Today & tomorrow, Music Hall.

Chinese dance does the storytelling of beautifully diverse ethnic and folk traditions.

ShenYun.com/KC

23 Saturday Free Crafts for Kids 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Every Saturday Lakeshore Learning offers free crafts for kids. Materials supplied.

LakeshoreLearning.com

Hands-On History 11:00, National World War I Museum and Memorial. History is brought to life.

Handle Great War artifacts. TheWorldWar.org An Olde World Christmas Noon, Strawberry Hill Museum. The museum presents ethnic traditions and customs from around the world. $5-$10. 913.371.3264 Open Gym 12:30, Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics.

Run, jump and play in the foam pit, rope swings and more. EliteGymSwim.com Christmas Stories 1:00, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Enjoy festive decorations while hearing stories about holidays past.

816.235.8000 Christmas Eve Eve Service 5:00, Lenexa Baptist Church. Celebrate the true meaning of the season with a communion service. LenexaBaptist.com

24 Sunday

25 Monday CHRISTMAS DAY Merry Christmas from KC Parent! Thanks to the Kansas City community for 32 years of readership and support!

26 Tuesday Kids Day Out 7:30, Jo Co Arts & Heritage Center. Have fun when school is out! Kids participate in a variety of activities. $30. Pre-reg at JoCoGov.org/dept/museum/home.

Trees, Tremendous Trees 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Learn about wildlife, go on a tree hike and take part in an art project.

816.759.7300

Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace.

Take a spin on the ice at Kansas City’s only public outdoor skating rink. 816.274.8411

Dive Clinic 1:00, Midwest Aquatics Pool. Want to learn to dive? This clinic is designed for the entry level diver. Pre-reg at 913.402.0403.

The Nutcracker 1:00, Kauffman Center. The classic story set to the celebrated Tchaikovsky’s score and wrapped with sparkling costumes.

KCBallet.org

Family Feast Day Pizza Shoppe. Get a single topping king pizza, two Shoppe house salads and an order of garlic cheese bread for only $19.99. PizzaShoppe.com

Holidays at the Library Join us for music, merriment, and good cheer as we give thanks, celebrate the season and prepare for the New Year!

Get ready to hear A Christmas Carol, enjoy Storytime with Santa, sing along with Mr. Stinky Feet's Christmas and so much more!

For a list of holiday programs at our branches and to register, visit mymcpl.org/holidays

Access Community

kcparent.com december 2017

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27 Wednesday

29 Friday

Toddler Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Library (Antioch). Story time includes short stories, finger plays and movement activities.

Ages 2-3. JoCoLibrary.org

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air Trampoline Park.

A special time for those 5 and under to enjoy access to the playground and trampoline attractions. $5-$10. 913.298.0626

Twelve Days of Christmas in Missouri 10:30, MCPL (Parkville). Learn about all the ways to celebrate Christmas in our great state. Pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

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

Open Gym Noon, Integrity Gymnastics.

A great time to practice, get familiar with the gym and for kids to release energy. $6.

IntegrityOP.com

28 Thursday Santa’s Gingerbread Station 10:00, Crown Center Shops. Explore interactive exhibit and have photo taken with Santa Claus.

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

JumpCityKC.com

a

Rhythm and Music 1:30, Jo Co Library (Edgerton).

Interactive performance with shaking, rattling, clapping, stomping and more! JoCoLibrary.org

30 Saturday Free Crafts for Kids 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Every Saturday Lakeshore Learning offers free crafts for kids. Materials supplied.

LakeshoreLearning.com Music in the Museum 1:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Take a break from the hectic holiday season to enjoy traditional holiday music. 816.235.8000 A Country School Christmas 1:00, Lanesfield Historic Site. Write a letter to Santa with pen and ink and create your very own ornament.

JoCoGov.org

JOURNEY TO JUDEA Dec. 1-3, Countryside Baptist Church, 14150 W. 175th St., Overland Park, KS, JourneyToJudea.com, FREE. Every year Christmas comes and goes, but many people do not know the whole story behind the story. Some have heard that Christmas is about Jesus’ birth in a town called Bethlehem in Judea, but few understand this was a major climax in human history. Come listen to Moses, David, Isaiah and others foretell the coming of the King. Come see the busy innkeeper and the young pregnant couple who were denied residence by him. Watch the angels tell good news to shepherds. Come witness the empty cross and the open tomb and hear the next chapter of the story.

THE NATIVITY Dec. 1-17, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO, MesnerPuppets.org, admission charged.

This celebrated annual spectacle comes alive again this December!

Come see beautiful, 7-foot-tall puppets gracefully move through the aisles of the historic cathedral with live musical and choral accompaniment.

A cast of more than 40 puppeteers brings these larger-than-life biblical characters to life.

kcparent.com december 2017

31 Sunday

New

Y ear’s Eve Zoo Year’s Eve 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Ring in the new year at the zoo! Watch the ball drop to the sea lions at noon. KansasCityZoo.org Noon Year’s Eve Noon, Science City. Welcome 2018 with family activities in a safe, kid-friendly environment. UnionStation.org New Year’s Eve Party Noon, Paradise Park. Ring in 2018 early with the legendary ball drop in the Foam Factory. Early-evening, kid-friendly party. Paradise-Park.com New Year’s Eve Full Moon Hikes 5:00, George Owens Nature Park. Enjoy an outdoor hike with the family before ringing in the new year.

Pre-reg at 816.325.7115.

kansas city’s living nativity guide

s you celebrate this holiday season, set aside time to remember the birth of Christ at a local living Nativity or pageant. Find more living Nativity events on KCParent.com

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WinterFest 5:00, Worlds of Fun. Sparkling lights transform the park that features live shows, holiday characters and activities, cookie decorating and more! WorldsOfFun.com

CHILD OF HOPE Nov. 30 & Dec. 1-3, Oak Park Mall Theater, Overland Park, KS, StorlingDance.org, admission charged.

Child of Hope is a professional production and collaboration between Störling Dance Theater and the Culture House. Child of Hope presents the Nativity story as only Störling can tell it. Biblically accurate and sensitive to the historic nature of the coming of Jesus Christ, this dramatic and moving true story of the anticipation and arrival of Jesus will touch your heart.

Störling and included dancers will tell the story, not fairy tale, of the Child of Hope, bringing us closer to appreciation of what was really going on in that manger so long ago.

DRIVE-THROUGH LIVING NATIVITY Dec. 9, 5:30-7:30, First Baptist Church of Kansas City, 100 W. Red Bridge Rd., Kansas City, MO, FBCKCMO.net, FREE. Drive through this Nativity with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus represented. Live animals are part of the tour. Each family receives a CD to play along the route.

CHRISTMAS IN THE BARN Dec. 24, Johnson Farms, 17701 Holmes Rd., Belton, MO, JohnsonFarms.net, freewill donation.

Come to the 10th annual Christmas in the Barn and join Lord of Love Lutheran Church Pastor Meggan Prosser-Gebhardt for a full sensory celebration of our savior’s birth. Homemade sweets and hot beverages will be served, and live music will set the mood. A freewill donation will benefit Lord of Love Lutheran Church’s Wednesday night community meal.

5,000 Years of Civilization Reborn

“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world.”

— Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“An extraordinary experience!”

— Cate Blanchett, Academy Award–winning actress

“A Must See!” — Broadway World

The Perfect Gift SHEN YUN’S UNIQUE artistic vision expands theatrical experience into a multi-dimensional, inspiring journey through one of humanity’s greatest treasures—the five millennia of traditional Chinese culture. Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms—classical Chinese dance—along with patented scenographical effects and all-original orchestral works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a civilization of enchanting beauty and enlightening wisdom.

Dec 22–23, 2017 • Music Hall Order today! Selling out across the globe. 800-745-3000 | 913-701-SHOW (7469) | ShenYun.com/KC

33

Christmas Productions Christmas Productions for the whole family! for the whole family!

Classes Classes & & Workshops Workshops 1 00 + in the arts!

10 in the arts!

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Gifts for for the the Gifts performer & artist artist performer & in your life! in your life!

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Now two locations locations to serve you!

Opening!

GrandGrand Opening Nov. 2017!

OakPark ParkMall!

Mall! atatOak

Nov.30-Dec. 30-Dec. Nov. 33

Experience Störling Experience Störling Dance Theater’s Dance Theater’s stunning portrayal stunning portrayal of the Nativity story of the Nativity story through dance, through dance, music, beautiful music, beautiful costumes and performers. costumes and performers.

Dec. 8-10 Dec. 7-10

One of the One of the funniest holiday funniest holiday plays ever!

See plays ever!

See Herdman thethe Herdman Family wreak havoc church Family wreak havoc onon thethe church Christmas play and help Christmas play and help us us all all getget n thChristmas e Christmaspirit. s spirit. in ithe

Dec. 14-17 Dec. 14-17

Celebrating Celebrating thethe Season in Song!

Season in Song!

Join some of the Join some of the best musicians best musicians and singers Kansas City classic and singers in in Kansas City forfor classic Christma&s & Holidamusic y musat ic aitst ibest! ts best!

Christmas Holiday Maybe Santa arrive Maybe Santa willwill arrive a special visit! forfor a special visit!

For && tickets Formore moreinformation information tickets wwww ww . c. u c lutlut ruer he oh uo sues.ec.ocm om kcparent.com december 2017

65

Tickets On Sale Now! SAVE $5 ON TICKETS Use offer code: KCPARENT

Valid on $20 ticket only. Valid on up to 6 tickets. No double discounts. Fees and other charges may apply.

SPRINT CENTER JAN 12 – 14 1703299

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Experience a Magical Kansas City Tradition

HOLIDAYS

at Union Station

2017 Holiday Highlights DEC 1 - 7: Holiday Classic Movie: Home Alone DEC 8 - 14: Holiday Classic Movie: Polar Express DEC 3: Holiday Dance Showcase DEC 9: Merry Science Day in Science City DEC 10: Strawberry Swing’s “Holiday Swing” Indie Craft Fair

DEC 15 - 19: 17th Annual Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train

DEC 16 - JAN 7: NEW! Holiday Laser Shows in the Planetarium

DEC 16: Trombone Christmas Concert & Snow Globe Performance

DEC 31: Noon Year’s Eve in Science City New Year’s Swingin’ Eve

JAN 1:

FINAL DAY - Mummies of the World

For complete details, visit UnionStation.org/Calendar

FIFTH ANNUAL

12.31.17

Noon-7 pm

Hands-on Demos • Science Stage Show HUGE Balloon Drop • Special Guests…

& MORE!

S CIENCE C ITY.COM

Explore

Kansas City Zoo

December 2 & 3 Meet Santa at the Zoo/Holiday Wild Santa Dives with Penguins King and Gentoo Penguin March December 9 & 10 Zootastik Learning Fest—Caribou Santa Dives with Penguins King and Gentoo Penguin March December 16 & 17 Winter Wonderland Lion & Christmas Trees Santa Dives with Penguins King and Gentoo Penguin March December 31 Zoo Year’s Eve

Always a New Adventure!

Open Year Round Check online for more Zoomazing experiences!

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