Everything you need for baby –
and a personal birth planner for you! When baby is on the way, it’s nice to have a little extra help. That’s why all Parkview hospitals now offer you a personal birth planner. Someone to guide you through every step of the process – pre-registration, tours of the Family Birthing Centers, signing up for classes, and more. She’ll even create an individualized pregnancy and delivery plan – just for you. Your personal birth planner is here to answer all your questions and make things easier for you. Best of all, her services are free!
To find out more, call the birth planner at the Parkview hospital nearest you: Parkview Women’s & Children’s Hospital 260.672.6185 Parkview Hospital Randallia 260.373.6856 Parkview Huntington Hospital 260.355.3651 Parkview LaGrange Hospital 260.463.9300 Parkview Noble Hospital 260.347.8345 Parkview Whitley Hospital 260.248.9321
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© 2012 Parkview Health PWC-A-036h
Do what our parents did. Check this out and choose!
Dylan Bower
We chos e!
Spencer Arington
Indiana’s Scholarship Act supports your ability to choose the best education for your child. Visit schoolchoiceindiana.com to see if you qualify. We foster economic freedom through education. fwFamily.com
September/October 2012
1
CONTENTS
>>>
16-20 COVER STORY
6
Healthy recipes, lunch ideas, and tips for making the most of meal time with kids
BABIES | 0-1 YEARS
Introduction to real food can be fun for babies
14
TYKES | 4-8 YEARS
Chicago with small kids? One family’s experience
Life Steps
Special features, tips and more
6
EXPECTING Save on your baby’s nursery
8-9
BABIES | 0-1 YEARS Treat mealtimes as an experience
10-11
TODDLERS | 1-3 YEARS Block play = learning math concepts
7 7 9 20 23 25 30
12-13
TYKES | 4-8 YEARS Chicago a great city for kids
14-15
PRETEENS | 9-12 YEARS Want to be involved in your child’s school?
22-23
TEENS | 13-18 YEARS Activities help boost college applications
Teachable moments 5
POOPED-OUT PARENT PAGE Have fun and get it all done
Parents can learn how to ‘redirect’ children’s behavior PCs For Youth in need of computer donations Erin’s House has interim home Musical training can improve mental processing Could my child have lead poisoning? Ice Cream Ball a fun activity with kids Alert parents can help prevent substance abuse
Humor Helps 26-29
FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Local families share their funny stories
Calendar 26-29
FAMILY EVENTS Activities for you and your family
JOEY STELNECKER, 3, AND AUSTIN HARNEY, 4, prepare to enjoy a family-
ON THE COVER >>> style lunch at the New Beginnings Preschool and Child Care in Milford. Students in all classes receive their lunches in large bowls to pass around the lunch table.
2
September/October 2012
fwFamily.com
<<< LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to our September/October issue! Welcome to this issue all about food — enjoying food and eating together with family and/or friends … feeding the mind as well as the body by sharing your day, laughter, plans. Listening. Discussing. It’s no coincidence that students who report eating many or most of their meals with their family consistently have higher grades and test scores and less alcohol and drug use than students who have little or no family meal time. At a very young age, children can help with meal preparation if they have patient parents. It is fascinating to learn what young children are capable of. “WATCH” was the main instruction to parents as their That was one of the themes of the children enjoyed the activities at the before5.org before5.org booth booth at KidCity on Aug. 4 at the Noble County at this year’s Fairgrounds. KidCity. Keep that TV turned off and watch real life! When we Skype with our granddaughter who lives in Norway, it is often during meal time or when her mother is doing simple chores like folding laundry. Although she has a number of nice toys, Jane often turns household items and clothes into playthings. Big shoes, mittens and hats of all sizes are among her JANE strikes a pose — maybe trying to look like a big favorites. Sometimes we just see sister? her in the background. Sometimes she “speaks” directly to us. Thank you, again, to the many people who share photos and humor or who volunteer to write articles. Our goal is to have Family reflect you and your interests; we couldn’t do it without reader input. Thank you! Thank you also to our Friends of the Family. They keep this magazine free for everyone in the greater Fort Wayne area who requests it. Enjoy your family!
Grace Housholder Editor, graceh@fwfamily.com
fwFamily.com
Volume 8, Issue 5 September/October 2012 Greater FW Family aims to provide parents with helpful information so they can make sound decisions while raising and educating their children. Every child is unique. Please consider your child’s individual development and needs when using parenting information. Authors’ opinions and advice presented in FW Family do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FW Family and may not be applicable to all children. We welcome your comments.
Greater FW Family Publisher
Terry Housholder terryh@fwfamily.com Editor
Grace Housholder graceh@fwfamily.com Photographs by Chad Kline, dreamstime.com, Metro Creative Connection, MultiAd Builder and contributing organizations and individuals For Advertising Information and Rates Contact Advertising Director Karen Bloom 260-347-0400, Ext. 110 karenb@kpcnews.net Presentation Editor
Erin Doucette erind@fwfamily.com Creative Manager
Jane Minick
Fort Wayne Office
3306 Independence Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Telephone 260-426-2640 info@fwfamily.com fwfamily.com Greater FW Family magazine is a publication of
KPC Media Group Inc. President
Terry Housholder Vice President of Sales/General Manager
Don Cooper Chief Financial Officer
Donna Scanlon Copyright 2012. Greater FW Family Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this magazine. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein. For quality reprints, please call 260-347-0400, ext. 176. Outside the greater Fort Wayne area mail delivery is $15 for 12 issues.
September/October 2012
3
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER CONTRIBUTORS >>>
>>>
JOSEPH DYER
Dyer of Fort Wayne is a high school teacher and former substitute teacher. He and his wife have two daughters and a cat. Contact him at josephdyer70@gmail.com.
>>> CHAD KLINE Kline works for the Noble County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher and is a member of the Corunna Volunteer Fire Department. He also takes photos for KPC Media Group. He can be reached at ckline@kpcnews.net.
<<< KATE COFFMAN
<<<
MONA MEIGHAN Meighan, Ed.D., is an education consultant and author of “What Are You Doing for Lunch? A Friendly Guide to Brown Bagging as a Better Way to Lunch,” written in collaboration with Sara S. DeHart, a former nursing instructor with a doctorate in developmental psychology. A portion of proceeds from sales of the books are being donated to charities that support awareness of healthy, economical lunches. Online: whatareyoudoingforlunch.com
Coffman is program manager for the College and Career Counseling (C3) initiative of the Indiana Youth Institute. C3 offers the free driveofyourlife.org and triptocollege.org websites, which allow Hoosier students to explore career options and Hoosier students and families to find more for college, respectively.
>>>
ERIN DOUCETTE
<<<
Doucette is the presentation editor for KPC Media Group, leading design and layout for several of its publications. She, her husband, Stephen and daughters Ella, 5, and Eva, 2, live in Huntertown. Her blog is at fwfamily.com. She can be e-mailed at erind@fwfamily.com.
MAISIE KNOWLES
<<< BETH ALDRICH
Knowles co-founded FreeShipping.org with her husband. She spends most of her time at home with her two young girls.
Aldrich is the author of the award-winning new book, “Real Moms Love to Eat.” She is a certified health coach through Columbia University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Online: RealMomsLoveToEat.com
>>>
TRICIA WILLARD
Willard is the manager of parent programs at Early Childhood Alliance. She lives in Fort Wayne with her husband and their three children. Contact her at twillard@ECAlliance.org or 745-2501. 4
September/October 2012
<<< KRISTY (GAFF) JOHNSON
Johnson is a 2003 East Noble High School graduate. She studied physics at Dickinson College and the University of Maryland and now lives in southern California with her husband, Michael, and their son, Felix, 1. Contact her at kristina.t.johnson@gmail.com.
fwFamily.com
<<< POOPED-OUT PARENT PAGE
H AV E F U N A N D G E T I T A L L D O N E !
^5 4 family dinners * Experts say that eating dinner as a family lowers a child’s risk of obesity, drug and alcohol abuse and eating disorders. Plus, it increases their chances of graduating from high school. Good stuff! But what pooped-out parent has the time to shop, chop and sauté? Relax. No one’s saying you need to go all Food Network about it … just focus on being together as a family and try these fun ideas: Let kids help with dinner Kids are more likely to eat meals they help prepare. Even very young children can set the table and find things in the refrigerator or cupboard. (For easy cooking ideas visit Quick Creative Cuisine at dinnerdone.com)
Dress up a drive-thru meal ccess Dinner from the drive-thru looks and tastes better on nice plates and real silverware … so ditch the wrappers and Styrofoam and bring on the Corelle.
Have kids wait on you
Want more ideas? Visit before5.org Children thrive when parents visit before5.org
Kids love to play waiter, so once in a while let them serve up the food themselves. It will teach them how to treat a real waiter or waitress for those special times when your family eats out.
Get everyone talking Remember overall that family dinners are more about family than dinner. Try to make sure that the conversation and experience is good for everyone!
For the rest of us it’s * “High fives for family dinners!” fwFamily.com
September/October 2012
5
FRUGAL MAMA
Save on your baby’s nursery Shop vintage furniture, borrow from friends, create own artwork to cut expenses BY MAISIE KNOWLES Cribs, rockers, changing tables, wall decor. Oh, the excitement of creating a cozy haven for your little one! It’s a fun project to fill time while you wait for your new baby to arrive. However, before you start shelling out serious cash for your nursery, take some time and get creative with these moneysaving tips.
1. Browse and create Find ideas online for the look and feel of your nursery. Pinterest.com is my all-time favorite resource for home decor and creative ways to repurpose items. Create your own Pinterest board and start collecting pictures of nurseries that PHOTO CONTRIBUTED you love – you’ll see a recurring theme of design styles that you are drawn to. Once “FOR A MERE $12,” Maisie Knowles made this piece for her daughter’s room and customized it with her birth date. you’ve narrowed down your style and theme, look specifically for ideas that will vintage wooden rocker, you can refinish 5. Get free samples bring that to life. and repaint it to reflect your own style. As a new mom, I really wasn’t sure You may be able to find a small, which products would work best for my 2. Big furniture first babies, despite the advice I received from Start building your nursery by finding cushioned lounge chair for your nursery, which you can reupholster or even paint. other moms. Since every child is different, those big furniture items first. I suggest it’s helpful to load up your nursery with starting with a crib and buying it new to 4. Beg and borrow samples of wipes, diapers and formula so ensure it meets all current safety requireyou don’t spend a bundle on a product You likely know friends or family who ments. Don’t limit yourself. You can also that ultimately doesn’t work. You can ask have had babies within the last year or check FreeShipping.org for a list of your doctor or pediatrician for available so. Ask around to borrow items they may online stores that offer free shipping on samples, or better yet, find free baby stuff have in storage while they’re between baby essentials. online at MrFreeStuff.com. babies, or items they’re just trying to get rid of. If the item is something like a crib 3. Shop vintage or a baby swing, check the age and 6. DIY decor For items like a rocker or changing condition of the item before you commit Wall decor can easily be made if you’re table, hit up your local flea market or to it. Safety is first when it comes to willing to take some time and get creative. antique mall. You can repurpose a low items like those. Canvas artwork is easy to make and can dresser and use it as a changing table just be customized for your baby and nursery. by adding a changing pad. If you find a 6
September/October 2012
fwFamily.com
<<< ONGOING EDUCATION
Parents can learn how to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;redirectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior Children First is accepting registrations for its next Redirecting Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Behavior parent education class scheduled to begin Sept. 11. The class will be held at Children First, 1752 Wesley Road, Auburn, from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday evening for five weeks, with the last class scheduled for Oct. 9. The cost for the five-week course is $25 per person or $40 for couples sharing books. Two scholarships are available. Through guided discussions and role modeling, participants will discuss ways to get out and stay out of power struggles. Also offered will be facilitated guidance on easy steps to setting limits, along with effective parenting techniques to help with bickering, whining, not listening, homework, bedtime and chore battles with children. Pam Deetz, a quality assurance coordinator for First Steps who will facilitate the class, says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parenting can be tough and emotionally draining and all of us can benefit from the support and energy that come from being part of a group of people that are facing the same challenges and working toward the same goals.â&#x20AC;? Children First has resources, expertise, knowledge and materials that are of value to everyone who has children. Great parents create a strong family unit, better decision making, fewer crisis situations and a more stable home environment. A stable home positively supports children in their academic endeavors and may lead to improved school performance. To enroll or to get more information contact the Children First Center at 800824-2698 or 925-3865.
PCs For Youth in need of computer donations PCs For Youth held its annual fundraising dinner banquet Aug. 7 at the Shipshewana Town Center with more than 80 guests in attendance. The organization gives free computers to students in LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, DeKalb, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties. Students receiving free computers may be middle/high school, college students or adults trying to obtain their GED. Executive director Colton Strawser announced he will be stepping down as the executive director in 2013, and moving into the role of director of development. Samuel Lovelace, previous director of technology for PCs For Youth, will be taking over the
position once Strawser steps down. PCs For Youth is expanding to its seventh county in 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Whitley County. Strawser said he will be working with Whitley County schools and organizations over the next couple of months to get the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information out. PCs For Youth is seeking computer donations from businesses and community members. They also accept flat screen monitors, hard drives, computer parts, storage devices, keyboards, mice and ink cartridges. For more information about PCs For Youth or to make a donation email info@pcsforyouth.org, call 220-9268 or visit pcsforyouth.org.
IPFW Community Arts Academy Art
Dance
Music
Theatre
Grades Pre K - 12
Saturday Classes Begin September 8 s 0HOTOGRAPHY s $ $ !RT s 4HEATRE
s "ALLET s 4AP s (IP (OP
s 0RIVATE -USIC )NSTRUCTION #LARINET 3AXOPHONE 'UITAR 0ERCUSSION 0IANO 4RUMPET #ORNET 6IOLIN 6IOLA -USIC #OMPOSITION AND -USIC 4HEORY
Call or Go Online for Complete Schedule and to Register! 260-481-6059 www.ipfw.edu/vpa/caa Indiana Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Purdue University Fort Wayne IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University. fwFamily.com
September/October 2012
7
DEVELOPMENT
Treat mealtimes as an
experience
‘‘
Squishing, smashing, swirling, slurping and swallowing offers more stimulation than a whole aisle of gizmos at a toy store. Kristy Johnson
’’ 8
September/October 2012
BY KRISTY JOHNSON As a fresh 1-year old, Felix is a food fanatic. Even without teeth, Felix devours roasted curry cauliflower, sautéed zucchini, Indian butter chicken, scrambled eggs with spinach and herbs, and — his personal favorite — salmon. To cultivate an adventurous eater was our goal from the start, and at least so far, it seems to be working. After exclusively breastfeeding for his first six months of life, per the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, we gradually introduced Felix to a variety of foods, encompassing a range of tastes, textures, sizes, shapes and colors. Instead of the traditional puréed “baby foods,” Felix gnawed on raw carrots and sucked the “juice” out of green beans. He PHOTO CONTRIBUTED ripped apart spinach leaves and massacred eating a nectarine. FELIX ripe avocados. The goal was not necessarily sustenance, as breast milk would continue to supply the bulk of his nutrients until his first birthday, but rather broad exposure his age, and as long as his weekly nutritional and a ton of fun. intake is relatively balanced and he’s growing well, After all, squishing, smashing, swirling, then we do not insist that he clear his plate. Not slurping and swallowing offers more stimulation only does this approach alleviate mealtime power than a whole aisle of gizmos at a toy store. struggles, but research suggests that self-regulation Thus, we try to treat food and mealtimes as an — i.e., listening and responding to the body’s experience — a little slice of life that would make hunger cues — tends to decrease future risks of Sam I Am and his green eggs proud. In addition, obesity. we encourage Felix to regulate the majority of his Of course, self-regulation is no match for sugar, food intake. He gobbles up some meals, practically so we try to avoid juice and keep sweets and treats competing with my husband, while he only to a minimum. nibbles a few bites at others. Of course, this whimsical eating style is not uncommon for kids See MEALTIME Page 9 fwFamily.com
<<< GRIEVING SUPPORT
MEALTIME From Page 8
The benefits, however, extend well beyond Felix and meals often become fond memories. We get to share in the new flavors that Felix discovers, and we have been inspired to be more diverse diners ourselves. On the practical side, his meals represent a minuscule portion of the family budget and take no extra time to prepare. And while this approach to baby cuisine is a little messier at times, the perks seem to outweigh the extra dirty bibs. The terrible twos may quickly turn our plans (and our plates) upside down, but for now, we just hope that as Felix’s fork gets bigger, so does his curiosity and
love for food! A few notes: • Before beginning any type of non-liquid foods, your child should have sufficient head control and ideally be able to sit unassisted or voluntarily bring her body forward. • NEVER leave your child unattended during meals, even if she is feeding herself. Choking is always a concern. • Some gagging is normal and expected when transitioning to solid or textured foods. • Babies’ gums are surprisingly strong! Even without teeth, your baby can likely gnaw through anything you can cut with the side of a fork. • Be especially attentive when introducing foods containing common allergens, such as milk, nuts, fish and eggs.
Erin’s House has interim home On the heels of Erin’s House for Grieving Children’s announcement about plans to build a stand-alone home in 2013, another move for the organization is in the works. Due to the expiration of the lease at the current Parkwest location, Erin’s House will be moving to Georgetown Square until the completion of the building project. For information about program nights or other services, contact Erin’s House at 423-2466. Erin’s House was founded in 1993 in honor of grieving children and their families. All Erin’s House programs and services are provided at no cost. The address for Erin’s House as of Sept. 5 will be 6718 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne.
newER
State of the art. Close to home.
DeKalbHealth.com
fwFamily.com
September/October 2012
9
DEVELOPING MINDS
‘‘
In addition to math skills, children develop language and social skills. Children talk about what they are building, use their imaginations, and develop confidence as their structures become bigger and more elaborate. Tricia Willard
’’ Block play = learning math concepts BY TRICIA WILLARD What do boxes, pots and pans, empty containers and blocks have in common for children? They are all tools for block play — using items of varied shapes and sizes to sort, count, and make patterns and structures. Block play is important for a child’s math development, also called numeracy — the math equivalent to literacy. Children are ready for numeracy as early as infancy. Studies indicate that infants can distinguish the differences
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September/October 2012
in quantity during their first few months while toddlers are able to solve non-verbal calculations as early as 3 years old. Long before children enter traditional school years, they are developing the skills for later achievement. Blocks aren’t the only way to develop math and science skills, but they do provide a fun way. Sequencing, classifying, patterning, counting and working with height, width and area all happen during block play. Children can also learn about estimating,
fwFamily.com
predicting and comparing, along with more advanced experiments regarding gravity, balance, and cause and effect, which are important concepts in science. Can a large block balance on a small block? How many blocks can be stacked without falling? Visual discrimination and visual-spatial skills increase as children use a structure’s appearance to make choices and figure out relationships between objects and space. See BLOCKS Page 11
BLOCKS From Page 10
Through the repetitive motion of building, the brain’s motor pathways develop, fine-tuning children’s motor skills. In addition to math skills, children develop language and social skills. Children talk about what they are building, use their imaginations, and develop confidence as their structures become bigger and more elaborate. Block play can also help children learn to work in a Plank-A-Palooza group, planning, communicating and building together, WHAT: Come out to thus, developing trust and watch advanced block respect for their playmates. play in action as teams What can parents and design and build caregivers do to provide this structures in 30 minutes, important learning tool? using KEVA planks. It’s a First, it’ s important to allow free event for spectators. children to discover math WHEN: Oct. 13 at 10 concepts on their own rather a.m. than be taught by wellmeaning adults. The intellecWHERE: The Summit — tual skills will fall into place Eicher Student Commons as children become ready. 1025 W. Rudisill Blvd., A variety of activities for Fort Wayne children of all ages and abilities can help provide MORE INFORMATION: Early Childhood Alliance opportunities for learning. raises funds from this For infants, singing annual event through counting songs, sorting entry fees, sponsorships blocks by shape and color, and donations. Visit identifying common items by ECAlliance.org for more shape, and allowing babies to information plus photos touch and move objects all from the 2011 Plank-Ahelp with early math Palooza. concepts. With toddlers, parents and caregivers can count as they touch objects, trace around objects of different sizes and shapes, and provide a variety of boxes for building. More advanced activities are good for preschoolers, such as measuring in the kitchen or creating patterns by making necklaces with beads, colored macaroni or cereal. Just as letters are a part of daily life, numbers are everywhere as well. By recognizing the relationship between block play and math concepts, parents and caregivers can provide opportunities for children to develop math skills and reach their learning potential.
fwFamily.com
September/October 2012
11
FAMILY TRIP
EVA DOUCETTE,
2, and Ella, 5, in the front of a quadcyle rented at Navy Pier in Chicago. STEPHEN DOUCETTE
Chicago a great city to take kids Train ride makes trip more enjoyable; so many things to do for whole family in city
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September/October 2012
BY ERIN DOUCETTE
Planning ahead
While my family enjoyed a day in Chicago last year, we wondered how a longer visit with a 2 and 5-year-old in tow would work out. The short answer: Fabulous. My first lesson learned was that Facebook is a valuable tool when vacation planning. Why not seek out your friends’ and family’s advice with one easy Facebook post? I quickly learned from coworkers and friends that while the Amtrak train goes out of Waterloo, it is expensive, and can be unreliable. People spoke highly of the commuter train out of South Bend Airport and also chimed in on their favorite Chicago activities and hotels. I was ready to start my research.
fwFamily.com
At the top of our list of things to do with the kids was Shedd Aquarium. But I’ve heard the line to get in Shedd can be very long, especially on weekends, so we bought our tickets online, ahead of time, and breezed right up to the front. You can find packages that include aquarium tickets with your hotel, but we purchased separately. We also booked our hotel, Hotel 71, based on its fabulous location near the train station and Millennium Park. It came recommended by friends. See CHICAGO Page 13
<<< FAMILY TRIP
CHICAGO From Page 12
As far as tickets for museums, we didn’t purchase any ahead of time. You could, though, and if you have a list of sites you know you want to go to, purchasing a CityPASS may be the way to go. For a discounted price, the pass gets you into a whole slew of city attractions. Check out cityPASS.com.
Public transportation The train ride was great. It’s not like flying at all. Not really any security to speak of – just buy your tickets and hop on. For our family of four the tickets cost $47 for all four of us, both ways. If you consider gas money and parking in Chicago, which is about $40 per day, it makes sense. Not to mention, we could relax. We read books and talked. No stressful driving around in Chicago traffic. I do recommend arriving a bit early if you want your pick of seats. On each train there is a set of seats that face each other, which is ideal if you are traveling as a family. People told me that the subway and buses are easy to use, but honestly we found that when our kids were tired (and usually we were too) we found it easiest just to hop in a taxi. We looked into riding one of the double decker red buses on our last day, but honestly we found it expensive to do for one day. There is a good deal on a 3-day pass that I would look into next time. ($31.50 per adult, $15 for kids 3-12, free for kids under 3).
Having fun As planned our hotel, Hotel 71, was a short walk from the train station. While I can’t say that hotels in downtown Chicago are going to be cheap — between $200 and $250 a night seem like a range for a nice hotel downtown — the location and view are worth it. The hotel overlooked the river and was close to many things. We had wonderful breakfasts at our hotel and the neighboring hotel with The Chicago Tribune and many other Chicago skyscrapers looming above.
ERIN DOUCETTE
ELLA AND EVA DOUCETTE enjoy the South Shore commuter train ride to Chicago’s Millenium
Station.
South Shore Line ONLINE: For commuter train information, go to nictd.com Find a quick schedule at the bottom of the site. COSTS: From South Bend Airport to Millenium Station Adults: $11.75 one way Children: 13 and younger free with an accompanying adult
Shedd Aquarium was a good time. We even did the dolphin show and an interactive Dora the Explorer movie — which was the kids’ favorite of the two. The dolphin show was actually a little too old for my kids. There was more talking and learning about training techniques than dolphin tricks, which is what my kids wanted to see. There were two restaurants at the aquarium. One was a little more walletfriendly and served burgers and other sandwiches (and was packed). The other was a little more upscale with some really interesting and local, organic choices. We chose the latter. Food is half the fun of a fwFamily.com
vacation to us. The rest of the trip was a mix of spontaneous excursions. Among them, we • walked all around Millennium Park. A beautiful park with the famous sculpture refered to as “the bean,” an amphitheater, a flower garden, a zen foot bath … a lot to see. • walked along shops one day (although this is something better done without kids!). • took a water taxi to the Sears Tower (at $10 for the whole family, we felt like it was a great little river tour and way to get across town.) • went up the Sears Tower. (After some tears from Ella, she decided to brave it, and enjoyed it.) • rode a quad-cycle at Navy Pier. (Very fun, a little scary at first crossing intersections, but you get used to it!). We had done the huge ferry ride last year, so we skipped it this time. (Also, I think it’s a little terrifying.) • ate deep dish pizza at Giordano’s — I hear Gino’s is great too. We usually went back to the hotel once each day so everyone could unwind and get a little rest too. I think the kids needed that. All in all, it was the perfect mix of doing fun things and relaxing. I think Chicago is a great city to take kids. We can’t wait to go back. September/October 2012
13
PA R E N T I N V O LV E M E N T
‘‘
If you are unsure about scheduling a substitute day at school, FWCS makes the process simple. They use an online program enables you to see months ahead on the online calendar.
Joseph Dyer
’’
Want to be involved in your child’s school?
Work there! BY JOSEPH DYER Who were those mysterious people who would fill in for your teacher when you were in school? Sometimes they were strict and reserved, punishing the slightest curvature from the lesson plans they had been given, or they were
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September/October 2012
hilarious, fun and made you think about the subject from a different angle. Some were young college students, people between careers, or in some cases, a parent of an overly embarrassed student in the classroom. Those people were, of course, substitute teachers, and although they are used in sitcoms and movies as punching bags, they were, and still are, vital to education.
fwFamily.com
If your child sometimes brings work home you do not understand (the work is getting hard) wouldn’t it be beneficial to know the teacher, and the classroom, first-hand because you have worked in the room? Perhaps your child tells you they have short recesses, and you could actually monitor a recess period and see if it is short, or if your child simply wants to play longer. When your See SUBSTITUTE Page 15
Kohl’s Healthy Kids:
SUBSTITUTE From Page 14
child tells you of their day, and discusses walking to a particular class, wouldn’t it be nice to picture the actual hallway and room they are describing? All school districts need substitutes, and there are different ways to apply to become one. For all districts, you must complete the application, and for most districts, these applications are on their website and can be filled out at your leisure from home. The criteria are different for each school district. Some require at least a Bachelor’s degree in any field, and precedence is given to regular licensed teachers. Some require at least 60 hours of college credit or more. Some require only a high school diploma and experience working with children. All school districts require license.doe.in.gov is the portal background checks. Pay also differs among for all license/permits for the districts. education. If you are unsure about scheduling a substitute day at school, FWCS makes the process simple. They use an online program that enables you to see months ahead on the online calendar. A job will appear online (typically the morning of) and you can see the school name and address, grade level, subject, hours, etc. There is even a place for special notes you can review before you make a decision on a job. The special notes can include where to park, car rider line duties, or if locker room coverage is required. You can choose to work only certain days of the week, and the online program will not show jobs on your nonworking days. It is also possible to be on a call list and an automated machine will phone you, and you will simply choose yes or no. Parents, young or old, new or experienced, biological or step, know their child’s education is the foundation for the rest of their future. Involved parents check book bags as they come home, monitor school websites for information, and attend parent teacher conferences. But why not take it one step further? Why not get into the school itself, and discover where your child spends over half of his or her waking hours? When your children see you caring about education, see you are in their school and care about it, then they will care more about being in school. You will model the need for education. What more could an involved parent want?
Meal-time Mania Try these strategies to maximize nutrition and enjoyment at your family’s dinner table. æ Lead by example — If you’re asking your child to eat certain foods, then you should eat them too. æ A parent decides when and what to offer — The child decides which and how much to eat. Do not give your child adult-sized portions or force him or her to clean the plate. æ Don’t give up on healthy alternatives — Continue to offer healthy foods along with family favorites. It can take up to 20 or more exposures for a child to accept a new food. æ Get creative — Try hiding small amounts of pureed or grated vegetables, such as carrots, in casseroles, soups or sauces. æ Kitchen helper — Involve your child with ageappropriate tasks. Kids are more interested in what is served when they help plan or prepare meals. Your child will enjoy helping to prepare this recipe. Leave the apple slicing to a parent.
Turkey, Spinach and Apple Wrap 1 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayo 2 tsp. honey mustard 2 whole-wheat flour tortillas 4 thin slices turkey breast (4 ounces) 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced paper thin 2 c. baby spinach leaves, or two large leaves of soft, leafy green lettuce Wash and dry spinach. Combine mayo and mustard. Spread edges of each tortilla with mayo mixture. Leaving a margin free on the side closest to you, arrange a layer of spinach on top of tortillas and top each layer with turkey. Evenly divide apple slices and lay lengthwise across turkey. Fold over the end of the tortilla closest to you, then the two sides. Roll the tortilla as tightly as possible. Cover each tortilla tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate, seam side down, up to 4 hours before serving. When ready to serve, remove plastic wrap and cut each wrap in half, at an angle. Reference: www.aicr.org
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FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD
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Easy recipes BY GRACE HOUSHOLDER We enjoyed this recipe for breakfast a few months ago at a bed and breakfast in Stratford, Ontario. When I made it for a recent family gathering I increased the recipe by about 1/3, used a 9x13 glass pan and increased the baking time slightly. I also added some leftover fresh basil.
Easy three cheese pie • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz.) • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (4 oz.) • 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (4 oz.) • 1 medium onion chopped (about 1/2 cup) • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour • 4 eggs • 1 cup milk • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp dry mustard • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce • 2 medium tomatoes sliced thin (optional) Mix cheese, onion and flour; spread in sprayed 10-inch glass pie plate. Beat eggs slightly; beat in milk, salt, dry mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over cheese mixture. Bake uncovered in a 350 oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Arrange tomato slices around edge of pie, overlapping slightly. More RECIPES AND HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS, pages 18-19
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<<< FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD
Fall in love with your food Real moms love to eat BY GRACE HOUSHOLDER One of the most enjoyable ways to be healthy is to “fall in love with food.” Melissa Pilz helps nurture the love of healthy food with the children (toddlers to age 12) who come to New Beginnings Preschool and Child Care in Milford. Some of New Beginnings’ children are pictured on our cover and in these photos. At New Beginnings Preschool, children discuss with their teachers foods that they like to eat and how things taste, says Pilz, the director. They also communicate with each other during meal time “and feel like a family while enjoying healthy meals.” Tacos, chicken salads, spaghetti and grilled cheese are among the favorites. The children assist with menu planning, washing fruits and vegetables and mixing items that need to be baked. They also set the table. Pilz advises parents to take the time “to allow your child to help you prepare the meal.” In addition, she urges families to sit down together to eat meals. “So many families are in a hurry and they CHAD KLINE are missing out on great time with their children by not allowing them to be more a LAKELIE AVERY, 3, right, passes a bowl of hamburgers to fellow classmate Brianna part of the meal,” she says. “Being able to have Zentz, 6, during a lunch at the New your child help you with dinner helps teach Beginnings Preschool and Child Care in them the skills of everyday life. Making dinner Milford. a family activity is the best way to spend time with your children!”
Fall in love with food When parents juggle busy lives, enjoying food together as a family is often at the bottom of the “to do” list. Beth Aldrich, author of the award-winning new book, “Real Moms Love to Eat,” says “eating in front of the TV is not savoring.” CHAD KLINE
STUDENTS AT NEW BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE in See FOOD Page 19
Milford enjoy a family style meal for lunch at the facility in August. Pictured are, from top left counter clockwise Brianna Zentz, 6, Austin
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Harney, 4, Emerson Krull, 4, Joey Stelnecker, 3, Frank Perales, 4 and Lakelie Avery, 3.
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COVER STORY
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Brown-bagging’s a bore? Tips for fast, fun lunches-to-go BY MONA MEIGHAN Luke, 26, did not show up for work one morning in 2009. A concerned co-worker stopped by Luke’s apartment and found him dead in his bed. An autopsy determined he died from complications of undiagnosed diabetes. For seven years, through college and into his work life, my son Luke lived on pizza and fast foods, sodas and sweet desserts. Since we have no diabetes in our family, I can only believe Luke’s diet contributed to his death. Too often, young people aren’t aware of how food affects their health. As an educator, I thought the best way to remember my son was to give people the tools to change their lunch habits. By brownbagging, you can avoid a lot of processed foods loaded with calories and carbohydrates.
Recipes Pesto and Tomato Sandwich:
Add 3 tablespoons plain or vanilla yogurt to 4-6 tablespoons prepared pesto. Spread on four slices of whole-wheat bread. Add thinly sliced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. (Place in a toaster oven for 2-3 minutes, if desired.)
Hummus Salad Wrap:
Spread ¼ cup hummus over two wholewheat or flour tortillas and add one tomato, thinly sliced, two thin slices of Swiss cheese, and two lettuce leaves, cut up. Tightly roll the tortillas and spear with a toothpick.
Tips • Do you have what you need to pack your lunch? Do you need a cooler-style lunchbox? How about reusable containers for sandwiches and soups? (Going green is, of course, better for the planet, and it saves money on items like disposable baggies and plastic cutlery.) • Decide how many days you want to pack lunch this week, and plan your menu. Take stock of the ingredients you already have, and make a list of those you need to purchase. (To save even more money, either repeat lunches or plan lunches with similar ingredients.) • If you’re used to going out for lunch five days a week, start slowly. Try brown-bagging twice a week at first. • Make it more interesting by finding a buddy and taking turns preparing a lunch for two. If you eat at your desk, plan a rewarding way to spend your lunch hour, whether it’s running an errand or taking a walk in a park.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED to pack your lunch? The variety of reusable lunch bags, coolers, thermos, salad containers and all around food storage has grown enormously the last few years.
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HEALTHY DINNER
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Apple sweet potato pork This recipe is from “Save Your Money, Save Your Family: Guide to Savvy Shopping Skills” by Toni House. The author said it’s a good way to use up left over pork and have a colorful meal. INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 pounds left over cooked pork tenderloin • 4 medium sweet potatoes, sliced thin • 4 medium apples, cored and sliced • 9 oz. bag frozen baby green beans Prepare frozen green beans per package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On six large pieces of foil layer pork with sweet potatoes, then apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon, salt and pepper. Wrap well and cook no more than 20 minutes until potatoes and apples are done. (The pork is already cooked.) Serve on a white plate with the green beans to one side and pork with the sweet potatoes and apples on top on the other side of the plate. It is very pretty.
<<< FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD
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One of the swiftest paths to an unhealthy snacking binge is readymade, highly-processed sweets and baked goods. ... It leads to a spike in blood sugar, a crash and then – another monster-sized craving. Beth Aldrich
’’ I am
FOOD From Page 16
“There are plenty of great healthy ingredients that you can turn into new foods to love, even healthier versions of those favorite comfort foods from childhood. You’ll finish meals feeling energized, emotionally satisfied and best of all, not guilty. And you’ll look great in your skinny jeans!” she says. Aldrich offers these tips: • Remember the food experiences of your childhood. Remember the simple joy you had crunching into a sweet apple. How does that compare with the high-fructose corn syrupdrenched, refined wheat-flour products that leave you bloated and craving more? Foods eaten in their natural, unprocessed state, such as a baked potato versus French fries — give you a fuller eating experience, increase energy and help you look great! • Our earliest ancestors were hunter-gatherers
who foraged for and consumed a wide variety of calories, mostly consisting of raw veggies. Your body will thank you not long after you include more raw food into your diet. Add fresh berries to your breakfast yogurt, include fresh nuts with your lunch, or replace coleslaw from the supermarket deli with a fresh recipe made from scratch. • One of the swiftest paths to an unhealthy snacking binge is ready-made, highly-processed sweets and baked goods. The craving-attack occurs when moms are busy and haven’t planned their meals for the day and it leads to a spike in blood sugar, a crash and then – another monster-sized craving. Have healthy options ready to go. Nutrient-dense whole grains such as quinoa, whole-grain toast with sesame butter, and oatmeal will quickly stop cravings. • High-quality dark chocolate contains natural chemicals that boost mood and elevate serotonin levels, which enhance our sense of well-being. In addition, dark chocolate helps keep blood vessels elastic and increases antioxidant levels.
for the child.
Lift Up a child’s voice. a child’s life.
Serving DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben & Whitley Counties
Help an abused or neglected child. Visit neincasa.net
260.636.6101 fwFamily.com
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IMPROVING THE MIND
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KENNETH X. JIANG met his wife, Natalie, a native of
Fremont, when they both were with Global Christian Fellowship, a ministry organization that welcomes international students.
Musical training can improve mental processing DriveOfYourLife.org Of f
TripToCollege.org C
A dynamic pianist, who has been teaching piano in Fort Wayne for 11 years, believes children can achieve far more on the piano than is commonly believed. Kenneth X. Jiang (pronounced Ling John) got his degree at Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York City. The piano method he designed enables students to learn at a faster rate than most other methods. Music education has been proven to improve students’ mental processing. “All natural talents can be used to learn music if the teacher goes according to the student’s own discovered pace,” he said. “Any one of them could reach the level of so called advanced music playing in their first year. “The benefit is that the now-trained mind can tackle other subjects with ease. Logic is enhanced, memory is directed and clear and imagination is creative and specific.”
All they need are the tools to get there. These resources are online and totally FREE! Explore different career paths. Prepare for career training or college. Plus students and parents can network and stay up-to-date on the latest college and career planning news via Trip To College on Facebook.
find us on facebook: facebook.com/triptocollege 20
September/October 2012
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COLLEGE PLANNING
Activities help boost college applications
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Athletics, music, drama, community service, and faith-based organizations all carry equal weight in evaluations by the admissions office. Each college’s admissions office wants to recruit a diverse group of students who will contribute academically and socially to the campus environment. Kate Coffman
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BY KATE COFFMAN Students’ high school course selections, grades and test scores are often the most important aspects of their college applications. But activities and leadership experiences can be key factors in setting apart and pushing ahead some applicants over others. Activities and experiences can also help students learn important life skills such as time management, problem solving, communicating with others and organizational skills that help them succeed in college. Students should avoid “membership overload” — joining any and every club at school but playing no significant role in that club. A college admissions officer would much rather see students develop a pattern of involvement in activities that highlights their passions and in which they demonstrate a progression of leadership. An example would be a student who joined student government as a freshman, continued participation as a sophomore, ran for office junior year, and became treasurer senior year. Athletics, music, drama, community service, and faith-based organizations all carry equal weight in evaluations by the admissions office. Each college’s admissions office wants to recruit a diverse group of students who will contribute academically and socially to the campus environment. Working during high school can be very fwFamily.com
important as well. Many students need to work to support their family or to save money for college or other expenses. This often can impact the time they have for activities, which is why detailing their work history on a college application is important. They can also use the personal statement or essay to discuss why they choose to work, what they learned from the experience and the skills they gained from their employment. Activities and high school employment also can help students meet individuals who can write meaningful letters of recommendation on their behalf. Most colleges want to see at least one academic reference who can speak to the student’s performance in the classroom. However, a coach or a manager can make a strong contribution to a college application by writing about a student’s work ethic, passion, drive and dedication. See COLLEGE ADMISSION page 23
<<< CHILD SAFETY
Could my child have lead poisoning? Peeling paint chips, some children’s toys, jewelry can be sources of lead The Centers for Disease Control recently cut in half the level of lead exposure deemed to be a health risk. In the meantime, Congress allocated only $2 million for lead-poisoning prevention this year, compared to $29 million the year before. That leaves very few staff members to get the word out. A toxicologist, Dr. Jennifer Lowry, says it’s up to parents and pediatricians to become more proactive. The CDC recommends that lead testing occur at the age of 1 year and at 2 years and actually
COLLEGE ADMISSION From Page 22
Another benefit to many high school service organizations is access to college scholarship opportunities. A local organization’s advisor should know if an affiliation exists with a national organization and whether or not scholarship opportunities exist. Students also can check the national organization’s website to see if it offers scholarships. Many companies offer their employees scholarships as well, and parents can speak with the hiring manager or check on the company’s website to learn more. Finally, being involved in campus activities and working part-time jobs often helps students learn what they want to do professionally. Having a career goal can be a prime motivator for students to successfully complete college. So encourage students to get involved in activities that interest them — but also help them create some balance that ensures they enjoy their activities and seek out leadership roles while keeping up good grades in classes that will prepare them for education after high school.
annually up until the age of 6 years. Lowry suggests that doctors go to the CDC website and make themselves aware of the new guidelines. She also recommends that parents talk to their pediatricians about testing. New studies have found attention problems and reduced IQ in kids who are within the new guidelines. Sources of lead include toys, children’s jewelry, paint chips from old houses, and sometimes even the soil around houses. Hoosier parents with concerns about lead can call the Indiana Family Helpline at 800433-0746. Lowry says parents need to get rid of old paint chips in houses built before 1978. Dusting the floors and toys in such houses is important. She adds that houses with old paint on the outside can make the nearby
soil hazardous as play areas or for planting vegetables. “If there’s peeling paint chips out in the soil from the home, it gets into the soil and the lead can get there. Usually, it concentrates around the first feet around the home.” Some soil has also been contaminated from the old leaded gasoline. This contamination can happen in houses near highways or around old factory sites. The CDC says that all houses built before 1978 probably contain some lead. When the paint deteriorates and gets into the dust, it causes problems. The CDC says that more than 20 million houses have elevated levels of lead contamination in house dust. More information is at cdc.gov.
Mid-Morning with Lynne Ford
weekdays 10-11 a.m. EDT
Relationships
TALK Worth Talking Tall k i ng About Ab o u t
wbcl wbcl.org wb b c l o rg fwFamily.com
Spirit SSpiritual Growth p pirit September/October 2012
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HUMOR HELPS >>>
Bonnie’s daughter, Diane Weeks, had a “tea party” for her granddaughters, Rylee, 5, and Shayla Frain, 3, and several guests. The party was complete with jewelry, hats, scarves, dresses, gloves and refreshments. When the party was over the girls said they wanted to have another one sometime, but wanted to have dragon dresses for it. Being the great-grandma Bonnie was not at all excited about her beautiful girls going “Goth.” She felt better when they explained that “dragon dresses” weren’t black, they just dragged on the ground! They had draggin’ dresses for the next party!
HUMOR
HELPS
Readers, if you have a true funny kid story (or a collection of stories) involving you or your co-workers, friends, students or family, please call me at 260-347-0738 or email me at graceh@fwfamily.com.
— BY GRACE HOUSHOLDER
Anne and her husband Nate were watching their wedding video and the wedding reception slide show that included Anne and Nate’s growing up years. About three-fourths of the way through Micah, Anne and Nate’s youngest child, turned to his father and said, “So you growed up to be our Daddy?” — ANNE LOWE OF LIGONIER
— BONNIE BROWNELL OF ALBION
Connie’s daughter’s family had experienced some illnesses. One night before supper Isobel, 3, said grace: “Dear God, I pray for Elisabeth (her 4-month-old sister) that she feels better, please, ‘cause her crying makes my head hurt. I pray for Kendra’s shot (her 7-yearold sister) to be better, please, ‘cause she is a whiny butt, and I pray for Grandma Jane. Please make her better so I can get out of here and play with her.”
Jacob, 6, had gone with his mother to pick up his two sisters and a friend from dance camp. They were all talking non-stop when all of a sudden Jacob said, “YUCK! It smells like girls in here!” Was he realizing he was the only boy in a car full of girls or did the car really smell after the girls had just danced for three hours! — SASHA FRAZIER (MOTHER OF JACOB) OF KENDALLVILLE
Caden, 4, and his father Dalen were having a dinner table conversation with a cousin, Lydia, 15. The topic was schools. Dalen explained to Caden how people progress through school — kindergarten, elementary school and then to high school like Lydia. Dalen said that after high school Lydia would be going to college. Wanting to indicate that finding a job was the next level, Dalen then asked Caden, “What should Lydia do after that?” Without hesitation Caden answered, “TAKE A NAP!” — SUZANNE ZUEHSOW (GRANDMOTHER OF CADEN) OF LAOTTO
— CONNIE BLOTKAMP (GRANDMOTHER) OF AUBURN
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<<< PRODUCT REVIEW
HUMOR
YAYLAB’S ICE CREAM BALL WITH INFLATABLE COVER retails for
HELPS
Jamin, 8, lives where there are a lot of little girls. He is the only boy who is nice to them, so they like to play with him. One day Jamin told his mom that the sister of one of his playmates likes him. Jamin’s mom replied, “Oh?” Jamin continued, “She likes me and and she doesn’t even know what I do for a living.” His mom asked, “What do you do for a living?” Jamin replied, “Play … and I’m lazy!” — RITA MAURER (GREAT AUNT) OF KENDALLVILLE
Kimberley shares this story about a child she babysits. Kimberley: “OK, friends, let’s pray.” Malachi, 3: “Ms. Kim, why do we have to pray before snack?” Kimberley: “So we can tell God thank you for giving us food for our hungry tummies.” Then they prayed. Malachi (after eating a cracker): “Oh! God’s crackers are good!” — KIMBERLEY HOUSEHOLDER OF FORT WAYNE
$39.99 (for the pint size) and $49.99 (for the quart) at Amazon and other toy specialty retailers.
Ice Cream Ball a fun activity with kids I have to say, the packaging for the Inflatable Ice Cream Ball got my kids and myself excited to try this product out. With simple instructions on the container, a fun-looking ball contraption, stickers inside, and ice cream to look forward to, my kids were ready to go! The ingredients are simple: heavy cream, vanilla and sugar for the ice cream. And rock salt and ice to help make the ice cream. I will warn you that when I stopped at our grocery store, Kroger, it didn’t have rock salt. I was sent to the neighboring Do It Best hardware store, where they did indeed have it. Also, you could experiment with different flavors if you want — I think mint chocolate chip may be in my future. Anyway, the procedure is simple: mix ice cream ingredients in bowl, then pour into center column of the ball. Next, add rock salt and ice to exterior chamber of the ball. Then throw (with the inflatable cover on), or roll across carpet as we did, the ball for 10 minutes. After that, you will need to stop, scrape the ice cream stuck on the sides down, and roll for 10 more minutes. And voila, you have fresh homemade ice cream. And it was very good! — Erin Doucette fwFamily.com
STEPHEN DOUCETTE
ELLA DOUCETTE, 5, pours heavy cream into a bowl for the ice cream mixture that will go into the Inflatable Ice Cream Ball.
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EVENTS
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NOTE: All phone numbers begin with 260 unless otherwise indicated.
SERVING THE GREATER FORT WAYNE AREA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 “Half-Stitched” Sept. 1 - Oct. 31. Blue Gate Theater, S.R. 5, Shipshewana. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s best-selling Amish Novel adapted for stage. Musical comedy. Poignant,heart-stirring ballads, humorous songs. Fun for entire family. Blue Gate Theater, 195 N Van Buren St. Shipshewana. Contact: 888-447-4725; BlueGateTheater.com.
Shipshewana Angola
LaGrange
Elkhart County
Steuben County
LaGrange County
Bryan
Goshen
Williams County Kendallville
DeKalb County
Albion
Artistry in Wood Sept. 1 - 16. Garrett Museum of Art, 100 S. Randolph St., Garrett. Twelve area woodcarvers will be presenting their work and some of the art is for sale.
Noble County
Auburn
Defiance
Defiance County Kosciusko County Warsaw
Paulding
Columbia City
Whitley County
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Sept. 1 - 2. Auburn. Community wide. Enjoy the Parade of Classics, downtown cruise-in, ice cream social, antique show, collector car auctions and much more. Contact: acdfestival.org; 925-3600.
Allen County
Paulding County
Fort Wayne
Van Wert
Fun on Sylvan Rome City. Sylvan Lake Improvement Association fireworks (postponed from the Fourth of July), flotilla at 4 p.m., Ducks over Sylvan contest, clowns. Rain date is Sept. 2.
Van Wert County
Huntington Decatur
Huntington County
Bluffton
Wells County
Ligonier Marshmallow Festival Sept. 1 - 3. Downtown Ligonier. Selected ABA’s Top 100 Events in North America for group travel. Crafts, amusement rides, car show, entertainment, games, food. Free. Contact: themarshmallowfestival.com; 215-1982.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Soothing Summer Gardens Sept. 1 - 15. Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. What could be more restorative than a quiet stroll through a summer garden designed with restfulness in mind? Each small garden “room” will have its own character and art piece to admire, with strategic seating for those who wish to linger.
Sylvan Springs Open House 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sylvan Springs, Northport Road, Rome City. Come share the beautiful Sylvan Springs. Sample Sylvan Spring’s refreshing mineral water. Compare it scientifically to other drinks. Stroll lovely grounds. Enjoy refreshments. Step back in time on guided tour of main building; tour is $3 adults; $1 seniors and teens.
Art and Tours every weekend 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 1 - 2. Old Mill Shoppes and Art Gallery, 6770 E. C.R. 750N, Fremont. Free tours of the Mill and regional art from the Tri State area. margaretcarlson@hotmail.com. Free Outdoor Concert 5 p.m. Prairie Heights High School, Brushy Prairie. Rock out with Fireflight as they head to the Angola area for the 6th Annual PBnJ Concert. Fireflight will be joined by Ashes Remain and the Matt & Jason Band. Free outdoor concert; food and beverages available for purchase. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Sponsored by People Believin’ in Jesus (PBnJ). Contact: star883.com. Bluegrass Festival Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Tri-state Bluegrass Festival. Noble County Fairgrounds, 580 N. Fair St., Kendallville. Online: bluegrassusa.net/nibgas.htm
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Michiana Farm Toy Collector’s Club 25th annual show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elkhart County Fairground, 17746D C.R. 34, Goshen. The show will feature more than 250 tables of farm toys, trucks, cars and construction items for sale and on display. Admission is $4 for age 12 and older. Kendallville Chess Club 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Kendallville Public Library, Kendallville. Meets every Monday.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Little River Ramblers 9-11 a.m. Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and fwFamily.com
Adams County
30. Eagle Marsh Barn, South Side Engle R, one-half mile east of W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne. Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, to explore the preserve’s interesting plants and wildlife. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info@lrwp.org or 478-2515 for information. Story time 10 a.m. Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, 322 S. Wayne St., Angola. For toddlers 12-24 months. Story time 1 p.m. Sept. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, Oct. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 30. Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, 322 S. Wayne St., Angola. For preschool-aged children, 4 years old and up.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Free Family Fun Day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, 1600 South Wayne Street, Auburn. Free admission for DeKalb County residents.
CALENDAR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
MOMS Club 9:15 a.m. Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. MOMS Club, Angola. Phone: 665-3092.
‘A Few Good Men’ Sept. 8 - 16. Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne. “A Few Good Men” by Aaron Sorkin. Online: fwcivic.org.
$1 Night at Botanical Conservatory 5-8 p.m. Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. On the first Thursday of the month, the Botanical Conservatory offers $1 admissions from 5-8 p.m. for adults and children. iPad Users Group 7 p.m. Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Kendallville Public Library, Kendallville. New iPad users will discuss the use of apps and share experiences with the powers and the problems of the Apple iPad.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Hot Air Festival Sept. 7 - 9. Van Wert County Fairgrounds, 1055 S Washington St, Van Wert. The 2012 Van Wert, Ohio “Hot Air Festival” to feature 15 balloons ascending from the Van Wert County Fairgrounds and airport on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and performing “Balloon Glows” on both Friday and
Whitley County Autumn Arts Festival 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whitley County Autumn Art Festival, Downtown Columbia City- Courthouse Lawn. Over 30 artists plus dance groups and musicians throughout the day, student art show, children’s art activity tent, silent auction,chalk walk, carriage rides, food vendors, exhibitors and more. tlmlonghenry@yahoo.com. wcaaf.org.
Saturday evenings at the fairgrounds. Other events include corn hole tournaments, old time Indy Car racing, helicopter and airplane rides and fireworks on the Saturday. Tethered and distant balloon rides are also being offered, along with rides for the smaller children such as the merry-go-round and roller coaster. On Friday, Kendallville native Todd Allen Herendeen will sing his latest hit, “My Name is America.” Allen will be on stage at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand. $4 fee at the gate to get on the grounds, but show is free. Free-will offerings appreciated.
Grandparents As Parents 10 a.m. Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Grandparents As Parents, 2690 C.R. 36A, Auburn. Grandparents As Parents support group for grandparents raising their grandchildren meets second Saturday at 10 a.m. at 2690 C.R. 36A in DeKalb County. Free child care provided. Stone’s Trace Pioneer Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9. Stone’s Trace Historical Society, U.S. 33 and S.R. 5, Ligonier. 1.5 miles south of Ligonier. Learn about life in Noble County in the mid 1800s. Music, food, crafts, activities. $5 admission; 12 years and younger free. Free parking at West Noble High School.
The excitement is BUILDING!
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CALENDAR
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Carnegie Story Time Sept. 10 - 13, 17 - 20, 24 - 27, Oct. 1 - 4, 8 - 11, 15 - 18. Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, 322 S. Wayne St., Angola. No deadline on registration. Story time includes stories, songs, activities, craft. Parents or caregiver required for toddlers and 2-3 year-old class. Fall story time is week of Sept. 10 through Oct. 18. Monday 10 a.m., 2-3 year-old story time; Tuesday 10 a.m. is toddler story time ages 12 months-24 months; Tuesday 1 p.m. is preschool story time; Wednesday 10 a.m. is 2-3 year-old story time; Thursday 10 a.m. is preschool story time; Thursday 1 p.m. is preschool story time. Please call to register, 665-3362, ext 25. Robyne Spillers, children’s librarian Online: steuben.lib.in.us.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Omnibus Lecture Series 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and Oct. 24. IPFW Campus, , Fort Wayne. 18th year. All lectures require free tickets, available to be picked up three weeks prior to event. Mia Farrow, Sept. 12; Jeffrey Toobin, Oct. 24; Jon Meacham, Nov. 7; Naomi Tutu, Feb. 21; Grant Imahara, March 25; Susan Orlean, April 18. Free convenient parking. Online: omnibuslectures.org; ipfw.edu/box-office Phone: 481-6808.
NATALIE SCHMUCKER
NATALIE SCHMUCKER took this photo of Jaeger Kenneth Heidenreich nestled on his father’s fireman coat. Jaeger is the son of John and Abby Heidenreich of Fort Wayne. He was born in May and only 3 weeks old when the photo was taken.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Community Picnic 11:30 a.m. Avilla Town park, West Albion Street, Avilla. Avilla community invited to free picnic hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church, Avilla. Food, games, fellowship, fun. More information: 897-2071 or immanuellutheranavilla.com. Free to Breathe Fort Wayne 1 p.m. Headwater’s Park West, 330 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. The inaugural Free to Breathe Fort Wayne 5K Run/Walk & 1-mile Walk is looking for participants to raise awareness and help build the movement to defeat lung cancer. For more info and to register for the event, go to FreeToBreathe.org/fortwayne.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Encourage, Empower and Enjoy the Autism Spectrum 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Easter Seals Arc, 4919 Projects Drive, Fort Wayne. Parents, grandparents, teachers, professionals and others wanting to learn more about autism are welcome. Topics vary monthly. For more information contact Susan Crowell at eeeautismspectrum@yahoo.com or call 637-4409.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Light the Night 5 p.m. East Noble High School parking lot, Kendallville. 2012 Northeast Indiana Light the Night
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September/October 2012
More events online at fwfamily.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 walk for Noble, LaGrange, DeKalb and Steuben counties begins with team check-in from 5-7 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Activities in children’s area start at 5:30 p.m. and the Mini Walk on the high school track will begin at 6 p.m. The Mini Walk is for young children or adults who are unable to walk the longer route. The annual walk raises funds for the battle against leukemia and lymphoma. This year’s goal is 1,000 walkers raising at least $60,000. Team captains, individual walkers needed. Pre-registration encouraged at lightthenight.org or contact Kim Davidson at Dekko Foundation, 347-1278 or kdavidson@dekkofoundation.org. (See photo on Page 29.)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Carmina Burana 8 p.m. Sept. 21; 2:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne. This famous work will be staged as a full ballet featuring the Fort Wayne Ballet, the professional singers of Heartland, the Heartland Festival Chorus and Orchestra and the Concert Choir of the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir. Online: heartlandchorale.org Phone: 4368080. fwFamily.com
Walk to End Alzheimer’s 10 a.m. Headwaters Park, 333 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a united movement to reclaim the future for millions. Start or join a team at alz.org/walk or call 800-272-3900. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Roar ‘n’ Snore Saturday 6 p.m. to Sunday 9 a.m. Family overnight tent camp. Black Pine Animal Sanctury, Albion. Online: blackpine.org
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 DeKalb County Free Fall Fair Sept. 24 - 29. Downtown Auburn and DeKalb County Fairgrounds. Online: dekalbcountyfair.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Cruise-in 5 p.m. Downtown Orland, S.R. 327 and S.R. 120.
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
Wild Game Cook Off 6-9 p.m. Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site. Rome City. Local conservation groups, wildlife experts and conservation will prepare an evening of “wild” tastes. Cooks will be preparing foods made from Indiana fish and game. Try out some foods. Campfire and s’mores! Donations will cover the cost of paper products and go towards future event programming.
Plank-A-Palooza 10 a.m. The Summit; Eicher Student Commons, 1025 W. Rudisill Blvd., Fort Wayne. Watch advanced block play in action as teams design and build structures in 30 minutes, using KEVA planks. Free for spectators. More information: ECAlliance.org. (See article on Page 10.)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 Pumpkin Fantasyland Oct. 1-31 at Fashion Farm, 2 miles west of downtown Ligonier. Phone: 894-4498
Autumn Tea Noon to 4 p.m. Gene StrattonPorter State Historic Site, 1205 Pleasant Point, Rome City. $25 per person. Reservations required. Experience an elegant and beautiful tea. Guest speaker will provide afternoon of entertainment. Guided tour of cabin and gardens. (Bring appropriate walking shoes if you wear your tea time best.)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 Apple Festival of Kendallville 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 6; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7. Noble County 4-H Fairgrounds, Kendallville. Step back in time at the fairgrounds and also Kendallville’s Historic Main Street. Food, entertainment, crafts, games. Fun for the entire family. Visit the Gene Stratton-Porter staff and Memorial Society in the demonstration barn at the fairgrounds. Learn how to press flowers and how to incorporate them into every day decor. Free shuttle buses. Online: applefestival.org.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 Kids Count Golf Classic 1 p.m. Crooked Stick Golf Club, 1964 Burning Tree Lane, Carmel. Golfers have the rare opportunity to play Indiana’s premier championship golf course, Crooked Stick in Carmel. Registration is open for the Inaugural Kids Count Golf Classic to benefit the Indiana Mentoring Partnership, a program of the Indiana Youth Institute. The event takes place, Oct. 8, and the cost is $2,500 per foursome and $750 for a single player. Registration for this event is open at iyi.org/golf.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 Common Grace 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk 2 p.m. Bixler Lake Park, Lake Park Drive, Kendallville. Course will loop around the entire lake. Freewill donation. No registration fee. More info at runindiana.com or call Common Grace office, 349-1942. Money raised will help Noble County families in great need. Matching funds, sponsorship by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
TERRY HOUSHOLDER
Owl-Oween 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 19 - 20. Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site, 1205 Pleasant Point, Sylvan Lake, Rome City. $3 per person, under 4 free. Learn what goes bump in the night! Fun-filled evening provides great way to explore the woods while learning about bats, owls, coyotes and other creatures of the night. Kids can explore owl pellets, make crafts and receive goodies along the way. Costumes encouraged! Contact: Tiffany Conrad, naturalist, tconrad@indianamuseum.org Phone: 854-3790.
More events online at fwfamily.com.
LIGHT THE NIGHT SEPT. 18. Allison Burton, a fourth-grade student at
Oak Farm Montessori School near Avilla, was diagnosed a year ago with acute leukemia. She had extensive treatment at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and is doing well. Allison, one of the four children of Lance and Belinda Burton of Auburn, is the honoree for this year’s Northeast Indiana Light the Night Walk Sept. 18 which begins and ends at East Noble High School in Kendallville. Participants will carry illuminated balloons — white for survivors, red for supporters and gold for individuals or teams walking in memory of someone. The family-friendly event begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. A “mini walk” will be held for children and adults who prefer a shorter route. Corporate sponsors include Dekko Investment Services, AMI Investment Management, Campbell & Fetter Bank, Parkview Noble Hospital, Kendallville Walmart, KPC Media Group and Culligan Water. For more information contact The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Northeastern Branch Office at 435-2525, or visit lightthenight.org/in. Pictured with Allison and her parents are her older sister Marie and her younger brother David. Not pictured is her brother Reid.
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September/October 2012
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PREVENTION
>>>
G R O W I N G PA I N S
Alert parents can help
prevent substance abuse
Talking, listening are important tool
‘‘
Teenagers need independence and boundaries. Trying to maintain both can be a tricky balance for parents. Courtney Stewart
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September/October 2012
Parenting teens and steering them away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco use is made even more difficult by easy access to the Internet. In a matter of seconds, teens can obtain information online about where to purchase drugs, such as prescription pain pills, and they can find resources that show them how to get high using over-the-counter drugs. The use of social networking sites and slang terms for drugs and alcohol are methods that teens use to keep parents in the dark about what they are doing with free time. “Teenagers need independence and boundaries,” said Courtney Stewart, research associate at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University. “Trying to maintain both can be a tricky balance for parents.” So, how do parents keep a step ahead while not stifling their kids’ development? “It may sound simple but it can be very difficult — talk to your teens, let them know you notice that something seems different about their behavior and most importantly, when your teen talks to you, listen and don’t interrupt,” Stewart said. Other important steps parents can take include helping teens make a plan for how to refuse drugs if the situation arises; making it clear parents expect their children not to use drugs; and making teens fwFamily.com
aware of family rules concerning drug, alcohol and substance use. Stewart said parents should be involved in their teens’ lives, know their friends and know their friends’ parents. “Encourage your teen to get involved in activities outside school like volunteering and working,” she said. Some common methods teens use to fool their parents about substance use: • Avoidance. This is seen when teens stay away from home until parents are in bed, or when they spend most of their time at a friend’s house where boundaries and supervision may not be as strict as in their own home. This also includes faking illness or sleeping in order to be left alone. • Lying. This can include giving parents false information about who they are with, where they are going and what they are doing. • Manipulation. Teens may act as if they want help for a substance use problem in order to satisfy their parents, when in reality they are still using drugs or alcohol. This article was provided by The Indiana Prevention Resource Center, a part of the Department of Applied Health Science in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University.
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